"Game on, Tiny"
October 18, 2018 5:19 PM Subscribe
Last Sunday's “60 Minutes” aired an interview by Lesley Stahl with Donald Trump, who informed her, twice, "I'm not a baby." (Transcript) Among other highlights, Trump, bobbing and weaving to avoid the truth, tried to cast blame on China when pressed about Russian interference in the 2016 campaign election, declared he knew more about NATO than Defense Secretary Jim Mattis (a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander Transformation), suggested climate change will "change back again", and let slip, "I don’t trust everybody in the White House". The AP reports 11.7 million viewers tuned in to watch, just over half the audience that Stormy Daniels had on the CBS newsmagazine last spring. CNN tracks 11 noteworthy moments from Trump's '60 Minutes' interview.
Headline Roundup:
• Stormy Daniels vs. Donald J. Trump roundup: On Monday, a Federal judge dismissed Stormy Daniels' defamation lawsuit against Trump (CNN). The next morning, @realDonaldTrump tweeted, "Great, now I can go after Horseface and her 3rd rate lawyer in the Great State of Texas. She will confirm the letter she signed! She knows nothing about me, a total con!", to which @StormyDaniels replied, "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present your president. In addition to his...umm...shortcomings, he has demonstrated his incompetence, hatred of women and lack of self control on Twitter AGAIN! And perhaps a penchant for bestiality. Game on, Tiny." Trump still believes his ‘Horseface’ Tweet is politically brilliant (Daily Beast) (Earlier this week, Daniels told NY Magazine's Olivia Nuzzi, fighting on Twitter is "great sport for me. That’s how I entertain myself on flights now. Who’s being mean to me today?") Meanwhile, Michael Avenatti has filed an appeal.
• Michael Cohen flip roundup: Vanity Fair: As the Midterms Approach, Michael Cohen Is Doubling Down On His Civic Duty—As Trump campaigns, Cohen has willingly talked to government investigators for more than 50 hours. Cohen also reportedly wants to campaign for Democrats in the midterms and 2020 (CNN). And Cohen and his attorney met Wednesday with a group of state and federal law enforcement officials investigating Trump's family business and charitable organization (CNN). In an interview with the AP on Tuesday, Trump described Cohen as “a PR person who did small legal work” and said it was “very sad” he had struck a deal to “achieve a lighter sentence.”
• Trump fraud roundup: Is Fraud Part of the Trump Organization’s Business Model? (The New Yorker's Adam Davidson); Pump and Trump: Donald Trump claims he only licensed his name for real estate projects developed by others. But an investigation of a dozen Trump deals shows deep family involvement in projects that often involved deceptive practices (ProPublica); Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. Were Close to Being Charged With Felony Fraud—New York prosecutors were preparing a case. Then the D.A. overruled his staff after a visit from a top donor: Trump attorney Marc Kasowitz. (ProPublica) Revealed: Aras Agalarov set up U.S. shell company before Trump Tower meeting. (Guardian)
• Khashoggi murder coverup roundup: The Trump Administration and the Saudi Royal Family Are Searching For a Mutually Agreeable Explanation For The Death of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi (WaPo); Saudi Arabia Transfers $100 Million to U.S. Amid Crisis over Khashoggi (WaPo) Khashoggi Disappearance May Disrupt Trump Administration’s Plans to Squeeze Iran (NYT) (See also the dedicated Jamal Khashoggi FPP)
• Federal deficit roundup: Federal Deficit Jumps 17 Percent As Tax Cuts Eat Into Government Revenue (NPR); The Numbers Are In, And Trump's Tax Cut Didn't Reduce The Deficit – Despite His Many Promises (John Hardwood, CNBC). But the deficit is the perfect occasion for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to discuss cuts to Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid: McConnell Blames Entitlements, Not GOP, for Rising Deficits (Bloomberg). Flashback to September 2017: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin: GOP Tax Plan Would More Than Offset Its Cost—‘Not only will this tax plan pay for itself, but it will pay down debt,’ he says (WSJ)
• Election security roundup: DHS Finds Increasing Attempts To Hack U.S. Election Systems Ahead of Midterms—The assessment said the feds don't know who is behind the attacks, but none have been successful (NBC); U.S. Still Hasn’t Finalized Election Security Plans—and the Midterms Are Weeks Away (Daily Beast); Facebook's former security chief: U.S. is unprepared for 2018 elections “The real question is what are our adversaries going to do in 2018?” Alex Stamos said in an interview. (NBC). Also, US Voter Records From 19 States Sold On Hacking Forum (ZDNET)
• Midterm voter turnout news roundup: Suburban Women Are Fed Up With The Republican Party And Could Drive A Blue Wave—If there's a Democratic sweep in November, politically moderate suburban women will be a big reason why. “Now I’m Democratic. I’ve never been before,” said Bobbie, a retired woman spending a morning browsing the shops of Birmingham, Michigan, an idyllic suburb of Detroit. (Buzzfeed); Young Voters Might Actually Show Up At The Polls This Year—At least, more of them than usual might. (538); Uncertainty Over a Blue Wave: NBC News Finds Democratic and GOP Voter Registrations At Same Level As Past Election Cycles—The data in some key Senate battleground states shows a mixed picture. (NBC)
In Other News:
• Elizabeth Warren Calls On Fed to Maintain Growth Cap On Wells Fargo Until It Fires CEO Tim Sloan (CNBC); So, Senator Warren, You're Clearly Running for President. (The Nation) (See also the dedicated Elizabeth Warren FPP)
• Despite initial reports that Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke fired the agency's Inspector General and replaced her with a loyalist political operative, the existing IG is still on the job and has concluded Zinke violated the department’s policy on travel. (Interior Department officials blame HUD Secretary Ben Carson for issuing a statement containing "100 percent false information.").
• Russian Billionaire Aras Agalarov Set Up U.S. Shell Company Before Trump Tower Meeting Aras Agalarov, who helped arrange the meeting with Donald Trump Jr in June 2016, formed a shell company with an accountant who has had clients accused of money laundering and embezzlement. (Guardian); Russian Man at Trump Jr Meeting Had Links to Businessman with Alleged Soviet Intelligence ties, US Investigators Said Irakly Kaveladze’s business links to a Soviet-born banker with alleged ties to former KGB officials attracted interest from US investigators in the 1990s (Guardian)
• Kelly, Bolton Get in Profane Shouting Match Outside the Oval Office (Bloomberg). The dispute appears to be centered around DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, immigration, and Trump's threat to close the southern border. The White House did not deny the shouting match but rather put out a statement inexplicably blaming Democrats.
• Trump Tells Cabinet Departments to Propose 5% Cuts in Spending During a meeting Wednesday, Trump told his Cabinet, “I’m going to ask everybody to come back with a 5 percent cut for our next meeting. There may be a special exemption, perhaps. I don’t know who that exemption would be.”(Bloomberg)
• FBI Raids San Juan City Offices Weeks After Trump Alleges Corruption An agency spokesman said that Tuesday's raid was related to an ongoing investigation into contract favoritism by the mayor's office and city officials. (MSN)
• California Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's Ties To Russia Are Front and Center As His Tight House Race Goes Down To The Wire (CNBC); Republican Hatred for Dianne Feinstein Is Making Her Lefty Opponent Competitive (NYMag) (See also dedicated California ballot measures FPP)
• Russia Says Putin-Trump Meeting In Paris On November 11 Possible They will both be there to observe the centenary of WWI's armistice. (Reuters)
• More Than 1,300 Still Missing In Florida After Hurricane Michael Public-safety platform CrowdSource Rescue said it has open cases for 800 missing adults, 141 children and 396 elderly—for a total of 1,337 people. Crews have already rescued nearly 1,500. (UPI)
• ACA Signups: Presenting The GOP Pre-Existing Condition Gaslighter Rogues Gallery! After a decade of disparaging, undermining, sabotaging, and attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Republicans have realized that some of the law's key provisions are so popular that officials who are actively fighting to end coverage for pre-existing conditions are campaigning on their pledges to protect it, hoping voters won't notice. An exhaustive compendium of the double-talk.
Remember to check your voter registration: voter registration deadlines are coming up.
Previously in U.S. Politics Megathreads: "pRoVen INnoCeNt". Thanks to box and zachlipton for collaborating on this FPP on the MeFiWiki.
Elsewhere in MetaFilter: On MeTa, what Mefites are doing to improve things and getting out the vote; and on AskMe, How to help get out the vote without stepping outside my front door and nonpolitical volunteering from home.
As always, please consider MeFi chat and the unofficial PoliticsFilter Slack for hot-takes and live-blogging breaking news, the current MetaTalk venting thread for catharsis and sympathizing, and funding the site if you're able. Also, for the sake of the ever-helpful mods, please keep in mind the MetaTalk on expectations about U.S. political discussion on MetaFilter.
Headline Roundup:
• Stormy Daniels vs. Donald J. Trump roundup: On Monday, a Federal judge dismissed Stormy Daniels' defamation lawsuit against Trump (CNN). The next morning, @realDonaldTrump tweeted, "Great, now I can go after Horseface and her 3rd rate lawyer in the Great State of Texas. She will confirm the letter she signed! She knows nothing about me, a total con!", to which @StormyDaniels replied, "Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present your president. In addition to his...umm...shortcomings, he has demonstrated his incompetence, hatred of women and lack of self control on Twitter AGAIN! And perhaps a penchant for bestiality. Game on, Tiny." Trump still believes his ‘Horseface’ Tweet is politically brilliant (Daily Beast) (Earlier this week, Daniels told NY Magazine's Olivia Nuzzi, fighting on Twitter is "great sport for me. That’s how I entertain myself on flights now. Who’s being mean to me today?") Meanwhile, Michael Avenatti has filed an appeal.
• Michael Cohen flip roundup: Vanity Fair: As the Midterms Approach, Michael Cohen Is Doubling Down On His Civic Duty—As Trump campaigns, Cohen has willingly talked to government investigators for more than 50 hours. Cohen also reportedly wants to campaign for Democrats in the midterms and 2020 (CNN). And Cohen and his attorney met Wednesday with a group of state and federal law enforcement officials investigating Trump's family business and charitable organization (CNN). In an interview with the AP on Tuesday, Trump described Cohen as “a PR person who did small legal work” and said it was “very sad” he had struck a deal to “achieve a lighter sentence.”
• Trump fraud roundup: Is Fraud Part of the Trump Organization’s Business Model? (The New Yorker's Adam Davidson); Pump and Trump: Donald Trump claims he only licensed his name for real estate projects developed by others. But an investigation of a dozen Trump deals shows deep family involvement in projects that often involved deceptive practices (ProPublica); Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. Were Close to Being Charged With Felony Fraud—New York prosecutors were preparing a case. Then the D.A. overruled his staff after a visit from a top donor: Trump attorney Marc Kasowitz. (ProPublica) Revealed: Aras Agalarov set up U.S. shell company before Trump Tower meeting. (Guardian)
• Khashoggi murder coverup roundup: The Trump Administration and the Saudi Royal Family Are Searching For a Mutually Agreeable Explanation For The Death of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi (WaPo); Saudi Arabia Transfers $100 Million to U.S. Amid Crisis over Khashoggi (WaPo) Khashoggi Disappearance May Disrupt Trump Administration’s Plans to Squeeze Iran (NYT) (See also the dedicated Jamal Khashoggi FPP)
• Federal deficit roundup: Federal Deficit Jumps 17 Percent As Tax Cuts Eat Into Government Revenue (NPR); The Numbers Are In, And Trump's Tax Cut Didn't Reduce The Deficit – Despite His Many Promises (John Hardwood, CNBC). But the deficit is the perfect occasion for Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to discuss cuts to Medicare, Social Security, and Medicaid: McConnell Blames Entitlements, Not GOP, for Rising Deficits (Bloomberg). Flashback to September 2017: Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin: GOP Tax Plan Would More Than Offset Its Cost—‘Not only will this tax plan pay for itself, but it will pay down debt,’ he says (WSJ)
• Election security roundup: DHS Finds Increasing Attempts To Hack U.S. Election Systems Ahead of Midterms—The assessment said the feds don't know who is behind the attacks, but none have been successful (NBC); U.S. Still Hasn’t Finalized Election Security Plans—and the Midterms Are Weeks Away (Daily Beast); Facebook's former security chief: U.S. is unprepared for 2018 elections “The real question is what are our adversaries going to do in 2018?” Alex Stamos said in an interview. (NBC). Also, US Voter Records From 19 States Sold On Hacking Forum (ZDNET)
• Midterm voter turnout news roundup: Suburban Women Are Fed Up With The Republican Party And Could Drive A Blue Wave—If there's a Democratic sweep in November, politically moderate suburban women will be a big reason why. “Now I’m Democratic. I’ve never been before,” said Bobbie, a retired woman spending a morning browsing the shops of Birmingham, Michigan, an idyllic suburb of Detroit. (Buzzfeed); Young Voters Might Actually Show Up At The Polls This Year—At least, more of them than usual might. (538); Uncertainty Over a Blue Wave: NBC News Finds Democratic and GOP Voter Registrations At Same Level As Past Election Cycles—The data in some key Senate battleground states shows a mixed picture. (NBC)
In Other News:
• Elizabeth Warren Calls On Fed to Maintain Growth Cap On Wells Fargo Until It Fires CEO Tim Sloan (CNBC); So, Senator Warren, You're Clearly Running for President. (The Nation) (See also the dedicated Elizabeth Warren FPP)
• Despite initial reports that Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke fired the agency's Inspector General and replaced her with a loyalist political operative, the existing IG is still on the job and has concluded Zinke violated the department’s policy on travel. (Interior Department officials blame HUD Secretary Ben Carson for issuing a statement containing "100 percent false information.").
• Russian Billionaire Aras Agalarov Set Up U.S. Shell Company Before Trump Tower Meeting Aras Agalarov, who helped arrange the meeting with Donald Trump Jr in June 2016, formed a shell company with an accountant who has had clients accused of money laundering and embezzlement. (Guardian); Russian Man at Trump Jr Meeting Had Links to Businessman with Alleged Soviet Intelligence ties, US Investigators Said Irakly Kaveladze’s business links to a Soviet-born banker with alleged ties to former KGB officials attracted interest from US investigators in the 1990s (Guardian)
• Kelly, Bolton Get in Profane Shouting Match Outside the Oval Office (Bloomberg). The dispute appears to be centered around DHS Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, immigration, and Trump's threat to close the southern border. The White House did not deny the shouting match but rather put out a statement inexplicably blaming Democrats.
• Trump Tells Cabinet Departments to Propose 5% Cuts in Spending During a meeting Wednesday, Trump told his Cabinet, “I’m going to ask everybody to come back with a 5 percent cut for our next meeting. There may be a special exemption, perhaps. I don’t know who that exemption would be.”(Bloomberg)
• FBI Raids San Juan City Offices Weeks After Trump Alleges Corruption An agency spokesman said that Tuesday's raid was related to an ongoing investigation into contract favoritism by the mayor's office and city officials. (MSN)
• California Republican Rep. Dana Rohrabacher's Ties To Russia Are Front and Center As His Tight House Race Goes Down To The Wire (CNBC); Republican Hatred for Dianne Feinstein Is Making Her Lefty Opponent Competitive (NYMag) (See also dedicated California ballot measures FPP)
• Russia Says Putin-Trump Meeting In Paris On November 11 Possible They will both be there to observe the centenary of WWI's armistice. (Reuters)
• More Than 1,300 Still Missing In Florida After Hurricane Michael Public-safety platform CrowdSource Rescue said it has open cases for 800 missing adults, 141 children and 396 elderly—for a total of 1,337 people. Crews have already rescued nearly 1,500. (UPI)
• ACA Signups: Presenting The GOP Pre-Existing Condition Gaslighter Rogues Gallery! After a decade of disparaging, undermining, sabotaging, and attempting to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Republicans have realized that some of the law's key provisions are so popular that officials who are actively fighting to end coverage for pre-existing conditions are campaigning on their pledges to protect it, hoping voters won't notice. An exhaustive compendium of the double-talk.
Remember to check your voter registration: voter registration deadlines are coming up.
Previously in U.S. Politics Megathreads: "pRoVen INnoCeNt". Thanks to box and zachlipton for collaborating on this FPP on the MeFiWiki.
Elsewhere in MetaFilter: On MeTa, what Mefites are doing to improve things and getting out the vote; and on AskMe, How to help get out the vote without stepping outside my front door and nonpolitical volunteering from home.
As always, please consider MeFi chat and the unofficial PoliticsFilter Slack for hot-takes and live-blogging breaking news, the current MetaTalk venting thread for catharsis and sympathizing, and funding the site if you're able. Also, for the sake of the ever-helpful mods, please keep in mind the MetaTalk on expectations about U.S. political discussion on MetaFilter.
Because Trump's embarked on a three-day campaign rally run (which will add up to five rallies in the next week), the Washington Post looks at them as a cultural phenomenon: Frozen In Time, President Trump and His Supporters Celebrate At His Campaign Rallies As Though It’s Still 2016
Meanwhile, the Toronto Star's Daniel Dale is live-tweeting/fact-checking Trump's Missoula, Montana rally tonight. Highlights so far:
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:58 PM on October 18, 2018 [24 favorites]
Meanwhile, the Toronto Star's Daniel Dale is live-tweeting/fact-checking Trump's Missoula, Montana rally tonight. Highlights so far:
—"I love these hangars. I love a hangar. There's nothing like a hangar," Trump begins. He is in a hangar.* According to Donald Trump, a lot of people are crying around Donald Trump. (Toronto Star)
—Trump on military planes: "You have F-35s, you have the F-18s, the Super-Dupers -- the Hornets. We have them all."
—Trump, on immigration, says Democrats have told him "we're not giving to give you the laws that you need," but, still, he is persevering: "We're taking it and we're doing it and we have great things happening."
—! Trump repeats Matt Gaetz's unfounded theory that the caravan migrants are being given money to get to the U.S. "by election day."
—Trump continuing with his hugely-misleading-at-best claim about Democrats and the migrants: "They also figure everybody coming in's going to vote Democrat...they're not so stupid when you think about it. But they are crazy."
—Trump to the "fake news" on immigration: "I have caused the problem. I'm taking full blame. You know why? Everyone's like in shock...it's my problem, I caused it: because I have created such an incredible economy, I have created so many jobs...that everybody wants to come in."
—Combo Tears Alert* and Sir Alert: Trump says that when he was walking in, "a big strong guy grabbed me, and he was almost crying, and it happens every time, and many times. And he said: 'Sir, Mr. President, thank you so much for saving our country.'"
—Trump, ranting about Clinton's emails, tells people to forget everything other than that, then says: "You can never forget about Benghazi, ever. You can forget about everything else. Never forget Benghazi. But forget about all the other things -- 33,000 emails."
—Trump is wayyy off script tonight, just ranting.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:58 PM on October 18, 2018 [24 favorites]
• FBI Raids San Juan City Offices Weeks After Trump Alleges Corruption An agency spokesman said that Tuesday's raid was related to an ongoing investigation into contract favoritism by the mayor's office and city officials
What I hate about this is that we can’t know if Trump talked about corruption because he had advance knowledge of the state of the investigation because he is an idiot, or if he sent the FBI after a political enemy because he’s a fascist thug. And one of those is definitely worse than the other.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:59 PM on October 18, 2018 [19 favorites]
What I hate about this is that we can’t know if Trump talked about corruption because he had advance knowledge of the state of the investigation because he is an idiot, or if he sent the FBI after a political enemy because he’s a fascist thug. And one of those is definitely worse than the other.
posted by schadenfrau at 5:59 PM on October 18, 2018 [19 favorites]
The rally has gotten weirder and worser:
—Trump after a woman shouts I Love You: "It's finally a woman! You know I get it from the men all the time."
—Trump, mocking pundits for their 2016 predictions, begins to talk about the late conservative pundit Charles Krauthammer, so there is applause, but Trump was intending to criticize him, and he says, "He treated you better than he treated me."
—Trump criticizes people who criticized Melania's Africa attire as colonialist. Then he segues to the fire on Melania's plane. Trump says that once he found out Melania was okay, "I asked, how was she? Was she SCAAARED? 'No sir.'"
—Trump: "You love my hair? Thank you. She knows what to say. She knows how to make me happy. 'I love your hair.' Well the one thing that has been really great about this whole endeavour is they used to say 'he wears a hairpiece, he wears a hairpiece.' They don't say that anymore." Trump says that people no longer say he wears a hairpiece because they've seen his hair blown around in every kind of wind...and then he segues to the recent hurricanes...and then back to his hair. "So that's one good thing, nobody ever says that anymore."
—This is one of the very weirdest speeches I've ever heard Trump give.
And then, @seungminkim: Omg Trump on Gianforte: "By the way, never wrestle him." Trump on Gianforte's assault of @Bencjacobs -- "I think it might help him, and it did." Big cheers in crowd as Trump mentions a reporter getting assaulted. Wow.
@ZekeJMiller: WOW Trump in Missoula praising Gianforte: "Any guy that can do a body slam he's my kind of guy"
This, incidentally, came moments after decrying Democrats as the party of violent mobs.
posted by zachlipton at 6:08 PM on October 18, 2018 [69 favorites]
—Trump after a woman shouts I Love You: "It's finally a woman! You know I get it from the men all the time."
—Trump, mocking pundits for their 2016 predictions, begins to talk about the late conservative pundit Charles Krauthammer, so there is applause, but Trump was intending to criticize him, and he says, "He treated you better than he treated me."
—Trump criticizes people who criticized Melania's Africa attire as colonialist. Then he segues to the fire on Melania's plane. Trump says that once he found out Melania was okay, "I asked, how was she? Was she SCAAARED? 'No sir.'"
—Trump: "You love my hair? Thank you. She knows what to say. She knows how to make me happy. 'I love your hair.' Well the one thing that has been really great about this whole endeavour is they used to say 'he wears a hairpiece, he wears a hairpiece.' They don't say that anymore." Trump says that people no longer say he wears a hairpiece because they've seen his hair blown around in every kind of wind...and then he segues to the recent hurricanes...and then back to his hair. "So that's one good thing, nobody ever says that anymore."
—This is one of the very weirdest speeches I've ever heard Trump give.
And then, @seungminkim: Omg Trump on Gianforte: "By the way, never wrestle him." Trump on Gianforte's assault of @Bencjacobs -- "I think it might help him, and it did." Big cheers in crowd as Trump mentions a reporter getting assaulted. Wow.
@ZekeJMiller: WOW Trump in Missoula praising Gianforte: "Any guy that can do a body slam he's my kind of guy"
This, incidentally, came moments after decrying Democrats as the party of violent mobs.
posted by zachlipton at 6:08 PM on October 18, 2018 [69 favorites]
More weirdness from Missoula via @ddale8
Also, we've seen what Trump's hair looks like in the wind, and it isn't pretty (or convincing).
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:09 PM on October 18, 2018 [13 favorites]
—Trump: "You love my hair? Thank you. She knows what to say. She knows how to make me happy. 'I love your hair.' Well the one thing that has been really great about this whole endeavour is they used to say 'he wears a hairpiece, he wears a hairpiece.' They don't say that anymore."When Dale says that "This is one of the very weirdest speeches I've ever heard Trump give.", you know it's batshit insane.
—Trump says that people no longer say he wears a hairpiece because they've seen his hair blown around in every kind of wind...and then he segues to the recent hurricanes...and then back to his hair. "So that's one good thing, nobody ever says that anymore."
—Trump: "Democrats produce mobs. Republicans produce jobs." A few seconds later, he says, "By the way, this is the most beautiful sky. Well, Big Sky -- I guess there's a reason for everything, right...someday, one of you will explain exactly why."
—Trump says that nobody even challenges him when he calls Democrats the "party of crime." He then adds, "Maybe they have, who knows." He says he has to hedge because if he doesn't he'll get Pinocchios from @GlennKesslerWP.
—Trump on his Montana performance in 2016: "I won by a fortune of votes."
Also, we've seen what Trump's hair looks like in the wind, and it isn't pretty (or convincing).
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:09 PM on October 18, 2018 [13 favorites]
It’s like watching a man have an hours long stroke on stage only the man isn’t having a stroke and he’s the leader of “the free world”. There aren’t enough drinks in the world.
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 6:12 PM on October 18, 2018 [27 favorites]
posted by Homo neanderthalensis at 6:12 PM on October 18, 2018 [27 favorites]
He is having a stroke, just not that kind of stroke.
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:16 PM on October 18, 2018 [52 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:16 PM on October 18, 2018 [52 favorites]
ABC exclusive: According to a senior Turkish official, Mike Pompeo heard the Khashoggi recording earlier today, and was given a transcript; the State Department denies these things.
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:21 PM on October 18, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:21 PM on October 18, 2018 [18 favorites]
This rally. That tweet. When will those reporting just drop the pretense of objective observation and just start calling out the sheer madness of this situation. The actual POTUS is basically performing Violet Beauregarde in a bad suit and there is literally nothing he can say or do that will sway the idiot seals clapping the show.
The only sane method of engagement now is to simply state, over and over and over: “Something is very wrong here”. Say it to his face, append it to every sentence written about him, blanket hashtag, just render the analysis redundant with the starkest, least contestable statement possible and don’t let up til the f@*cker cracks.
posted by freya_lamb at 6:29 PM on October 18, 2018 [49 favorites]
The only sane method of engagement now is to simply state, over and over and over: “Something is very wrong here”. Say it to his face, append it to every sentence written about him, blanket hashtag, just render the analysis redundant with the starkest, least contestable statement possible and don’t let up til the f@*cker cracks.
posted by freya_lamb at 6:29 PM on October 18, 2018 [49 favorites]
China's local governments have up to $6 trillion in off the books debt, which may cause a default crisis. I wonder how that will tie into our stupid trade war.
posted by double block and bleed at 6:49 PM on October 18, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by double block and bleed at 6:49 PM on October 18, 2018 [8 favorites]
NYPD Arrests First Proud Boy for Manhattan Fight With Antifa
Geoffrey Young, 38, of New City, New York was arrested around 7 p.m. on charges of riot and attempted assault. He was among 12 people the NYPD wanted in connection with a fight between the two groups following a speech by Proud Boys leader Gavin McInnes at the Metropolitan Republican Club in Manhattan.
Still worth celebrating despite the chance that the NYPD misspelled "hired" as "arrested."
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:20 PM on October 18, 2018 [33 favorites]
Geoffrey Young, 38, of New City, New York was arrested around 7 p.m. on charges of riot and attempted assault. He was among 12 people the NYPD wanted in connection with a fight between the two groups following a speech by Proud Boys leader Gavin McInnes at the Metropolitan Republican Club in Manhattan.
Still worth celebrating despite the chance that the NYPD misspelled "hired" as "arrested."
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:20 PM on October 18, 2018 [33 favorites]
In an effort to paper over his record of voting to limit access to addiction services, Dave Brat met with 100 incarcerated people struggling with addiction and showed the GOP version of empathy: "You think you’re having a hard time—I got $5 million worth of negative ads going at me." When an inmate complained that transitional housing is only offered in drug-ridden neighborhoods exposing them to temptation, Brat said upscale neighborhoods are not all they’re cracked up to be, "You won’t believe the depression in those hoity-toity neighborhoods."
posted by peeedro at 7:25 PM on October 18, 2018 [37 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 7:25 PM on October 18, 2018 [37 favorites]
Daniel Dale signs off:
Meanwhile, Maggie Haberman serves up another access-journalism special for the NYT: A President Who Believes He Is Entitled to His Own Facts
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:28 PM on October 18, 2018 [14 favorites]
—Trump's concluding framing: "A vote for Republicans is a vote to reject the Democrat politics of hatred and anger and division and to celebrate the greatness and the glory of being American."Journo-twitter is, of course, appalled at Trump's celebration of Gianforte's assault of Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs. We'll see if it makes any difference in the media coverage of his truly appalling rally.
—Trump has concluded. That was comprehensively bonkers. By far the most significant part was his praise for a congressman's assault on a journalist.
—This was also a significant moment: Trump returning for the first time in a long while to his baseless conspiracy theories about illegal immigrants voting, this time applying it to the midterms and the caravan.
—In case anyone has forgotten, Gianforte pleaded guilty to the unprovoked crime the president praised tonight. He got a six-month deferred sentence, 40 hours of community service, 20 hours of anger management, and a small fine.
Meanwhile, Maggie Haberman serves up another access-journalism special for the NYT: A President Who Believes He Is Entitled to His Own Facts
Aides to Mr. Trump insisted that his reaction to the disappearance of Mr. Khashoggi and the mounting evidence that he was murdered by a Saudi hit squad had been repeatedly mischaracterized. They pointed out that early on he had said he wanted an investigation.And Haberman's response on Twitter to Trump's praise for Gianforte? "Beating up a reporter is funny, get it?" She is a fundamentally unserious person, a tabloid cynic trolling the libs from the safety of the Paper of Record.
Mr. Trump has appeared to grow noticeably more comfortable in the role of president, according to advisers, and that comfort level has reinforced his confidence in his own instincts, including what he regards as facts. Mr. Trump often points to a key moment — his election in 2016, which defied the polls — as proof that agreed-upon data can be wrong.
His long career in the New York real estate world convinced Mr. Trump that all people are prone to shading their views according to their own self-interest. Objectivity is not something he expects of people, and he long ago came to believe that “facts” are really arbitrary.[...]
But in briefings and meetings, Mr. Trump has frequently chosen to adhere to his own beliefs on issues such as the Iran nuclear deal. He has declared that pact to be “a horrible one-sided deal that should have never, ever been made,” based on his belief that Iran was not in compliance with it, despite evidence to the contrary.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:28 PM on October 18, 2018 [14 favorites]
Heidi Cruz "doesn't regret voting for Trump"
A Republican will proudly vote for a candidate who says they're ugly and that their spouse's dad killed JFK if that candidate is Republican.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:32 PM on October 18, 2018 [44 favorites]
A Republican will proudly vote for a candidate who says they're ugly and that their spouse's dad killed JFK if that candidate is Republican.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:32 PM on October 18, 2018 [44 favorites]
What's the issue with Haberman's tweet about Gianforte? It's clearly sarcastic.
posted by Justinian at 7:41 PM on October 18, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 7:41 PM on October 18, 2018 [13 favorites]
When will those reporting just drop the pretense of objective observation and just start calling out the sheer madness of this situation.
This will never happen. The election run-up proved they were unwilling, the post 11/9 reporting proved they are incapable.
>>Journo-twitter is, of course, appalled at Trump's celebration of Gianforte's assault of Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs. We'll see if it makes any difference in the media coverage of his truly appalling rally.
Corporate media coverage will never change. After it is decimated á la The Music Industry it will get really weird, but it will fundamentally never change. It is not able to do so.
By the way Sir Doktor Zed, your posts are par excellence super fab and groovy and I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we pass the audition.
posted by petebest at 7:45 PM on October 18, 2018 [24 favorites]
This will never happen. The election run-up proved they were unwilling, the post 11/9 reporting proved they are incapable.
>>Journo-twitter is, of course, appalled at Trump's celebration of Gianforte's assault of Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs. We'll see if it makes any difference in the media coverage of his truly appalling rally.
Corporate media coverage will never change. After it is decimated á la The Music Industry it will get really weird, but it will fundamentally never change. It is not able to do so.
By the way Sir Doktor Zed, your posts are par excellence super fab and groovy and I'd like to say thank you on behalf of the group and ourselves and I hope we pass the audition.
posted by petebest at 7:45 PM on October 18, 2018 [24 favorites]
Yeah, I have plenty of problems with Haberman, but an article about how Trump doesn't give a shit about the truth and a sardonic tweet pointing out that's he's joking about violence against journalists doesn't seem to be evidence that she's "trolling the libs."
posted by neroli at 7:47 PM on October 18, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by neroli at 7:47 PM on October 18, 2018 [14 favorites]
What's the issue with Haberman's tweet about Gianforte? It's clearly sarcastic.
It's in remarkably poor taste, especially since the all the rest of her colleagues on Twitter are treating Trump's statement with the appropriate seriousness. Her sophomoric attitude is striking at odds with her peers'. Instead, she's playing into Trump's cynical treatment of his role as political showman instead of president of the United States.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:49 PM on October 18, 2018 [14 favorites]
It's in remarkably poor taste, especially since the all the rest of her colleagues on Twitter are treating Trump's statement with the appropriate seriousness. Her sophomoric attitude is striking at odds with her peers'. Instead, she's playing into Trump's cynical treatment of his role as political showman instead of president of the United States.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:49 PM on October 18, 2018 [14 favorites]
Found on Facebook: the best correction to that awful painting Trump has.
(note the tie, heh)
posted by TwoStride at 7:54 PM on October 18, 2018 [14 favorites]
(note the tie, heh)
posted by TwoStride at 7:54 PM on October 18, 2018 [14 favorites]
"Beating up a reporter is funny, get it?"
If you are widely believed or suspected to be treating an authoritarian/dictator with kid gloves, one whose rise to power was defined by "jokes" that were not jokes, whose neo-nazi followers' rise was defined by nazi "jokes" that were not jokes, expect your words to be believed. It's a choice to see sarcasm in the words of an accomplice to someone who never, ever jokes. I'm not willing to do that.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:55 PM on October 18, 2018 [27 favorites]
If you are widely believed or suspected to be treating an authoritarian/dictator with kid gloves, one whose rise to power was defined by "jokes" that were not jokes, whose neo-nazi followers' rise was defined by nazi "jokes" that were not jokes, expect your words to be believed. It's a choice to see sarcasm in the words of an accomplice to someone who never, ever jokes. I'm not willing to do that.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:55 PM on October 18, 2018 [27 favorites]
WaPo, Robert Costa and Karoun Demirjian, Conservatives mount a whisper campaign smearing Khashoggi in defense of Trump
posted by zachlipton at 7:57 PM on October 18, 2018 [37 favorites]
Hard-line Republicans and conservative commentators are mounting a dark whisper campaign against Jamal Khashoggi that is designed to protect President Trump from criticism of his handling of the dissident journalist’s alleged murder by Saudi Arabian operatives — and support Trump’s continued aversion to a forceful response to the oil-rich desert kingdom.This is some Ed Whelan shit right here. Like do they just have this playbook on their desks in a big red emergency binder?
In recent days, a cadre of conservative House Republicans allied with Trump has been privately exchanging articles from right-wing outlets that fuel suspicion of Khashoggi, highlighting his association with the Muslim Brotherhood during his youth and raising conspiratorial questions about his work decades ago as an embedded reporter covering Osama bin Laden, according to four GOP officials involved in the discussions who were not authorized to speak publicly.
Those aspersions — which many lawmakers have been wary of stating publicly due to the political risks of doing so — have begun to flare into public view as conservative media outlets have amplified the claims, which are aimed in part in protecting Trump as he works to preserve the U.S.-Saudi relationship and avoid confronting the Saudis on human rights.
posted by zachlipton at 7:57 PM on October 18, 2018 [37 favorites]
Pointed out on Lawrence O'Donnell was the anti-Tester ads have a lot of reference to Tester voting with Schumer. He absolutely neglects to follow up and call it out as an anti-semitic dogwhistle to white supremacists in Montana. Media, do your fucking jobs.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:58 PM on October 18, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:58 PM on October 18, 2018 [6 favorites]
Another moment from Trump's rally sticks out: "You know what we do ... we fight! And we fight, and we win and we fight harder than anybody ever ... and then they say, 'oh, it's obstruction' ... if you fight back today its called obstruction - no no no, we fight back! Call it whatever the hell you want. We fight back."
Daniel Dale's right to call this a "pre-emptive defense against obstruction allegations", but there's something darker at work with Trump's exhortations at a rally to fight and fight and fight harder.
Seriously, a university study of incidence of violence in cities hosting 2016 campaign rallies found a spike in assaults wherever Trump made an appearance but no such corresponding link with Clinton.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:08 PM on October 18, 2018 [58 favorites]
Daniel Dale's right to call this a "pre-emptive defense against obstruction allegations", but there's something darker at work with Trump's exhortations at a rally to fight and fight and fight harder.
Seriously, a university study of incidence of violence in cities hosting 2016 campaign rallies found a spike in assaults wherever Trump made an appearance but no such corresponding link with Clinton.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:08 PM on October 18, 2018 [58 favorites]
Seriously, a university study of incidence of violence in cities hosting 2016 campaign rallies found a spike in assaults wherever Trump made an appearance but no such corresponding link with Clinton.
From today's Missoula rally: Former GOP chair urges Trump supporters to bring guns to rally in case of violent protests
Trump Country is bloodthirsty.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:13 PM on October 18, 2018 [21 favorites]
From today's Missoula rally: Former GOP chair urges Trump supporters to bring guns to rally in case of violent protests
Trump Country is bloodthirsty.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:13 PM on October 18, 2018 [21 favorites]
megathread crafters, fpp drafters (& company) oughta get a fuckin pulitzer.
posted by 20 year lurk at 8:14 PM on October 18, 2018 [93 favorites]
posted by 20 year lurk at 8:14 PM on October 18, 2018 [93 favorites]
These have been a real-time archive of this horroshow. That this history is documented and preserved is important.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:19 PM on October 18, 2018 [65 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:19 PM on October 18, 2018 [65 favorites]
Can't imagine the Secret Service would let people bring their guns to a Trump rally.
posted by awfurby at 8:22 PM on October 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by awfurby at 8:22 PM on October 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Can't imagine the Secret Service would let people bring their guns to a Trump rally.
It was meant for the protests outside the rally.
Missoula's my nearest city. I know people who protested today and I know people who hid in their homes all day or drove as far away as they could. Watching him gloat over Gianforte's assault felt pretty personal.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:24 PM on October 18, 2018 [29 favorites]
It was meant for the protests outside the rally.
Missoula's my nearest city. I know people who protested today and I know people who hid in their homes all day or drove as far away as they could. Watching him gloat over Gianforte's assault felt pretty personal.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:24 PM on October 18, 2018 [29 favorites]
megathread crafters, fpp drafters (& company) oughta get a fuckin pulitzer
I was just thinking something similar. I remember back to the halcyon days of nine months ago, when all I had to do to create a Potus45 FPP was put four or five topical links in a paragraph of text and add a Simpsons quote for the title.
The chroniclers crafting these latest high-octane megathread posts are clearly of a higher calibre. Thanks to all of you for your outstanding archival work.
posted by darkstar at 8:25 PM on October 18, 2018 [50 favorites]
I was just thinking something similar. I remember back to the halcyon days of nine months ago, when all I had to do to create a Potus45 FPP was put four or five topical links in a paragraph of text and add a Simpsons quote for the title.
The chroniclers crafting these latest high-octane megathread posts are clearly of a higher calibre. Thanks to all of you for your outstanding archival work.
posted by darkstar at 8:25 PM on October 18, 2018 [50 favorites]
Heidi Cruz "doesn't regret voting for Trump"
Also from this interview:
On the impacts on their family, I really sympathize. But who seriously thinks it's a good idea to go around talking about the financial challenges of being a dual-income US Senator and investment banker family?
posted by zachlipton at 8:26 PM on October 18, 2018 [98 favorites]
Also from this interview:
It means Heidi is working 70-hour weeks not only because she wants to, but also because she has to.Ted Cruz makes $174,000 as a Senator, putting his income alone in the top 3% of Americans, plus royalties from his books, which apparently people are willing to pay actual money for. Heidi Cruz is a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs. Together, their salaries alone would give them at least eight times the median household income in Texas, plus bonuses and other income.
“I really feel mission-driven on what he’s accomplishing,” she clarified. But “it does take some supportiveness, you know. Six to seven years in it, with me being the primary breadwinner—it’s like, ‘Uh, yeah, this is when people say thank you. I’ll now take that appreciation.’” She laughed. “Yeah, we’re seven years into this, and we’re not buying a second home anytime soon.”
On the impacts on their family, I really sympathize. But who seriously thinks it's a good idea to go around talking about the financial challenges of being a dual-income US Senator and investment banker family?
posted by zachlipton at 8:26 PM on October 18, 2018 [98 favorites]
“Yeah, we’re seven years into this, and we’re not buying a second home anytime soon.”
I have a feeling this quote may find its way into a Beto ad soon.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:27 PM on October 18, 2018 [42 favorites]
I have a feeling this quote may find its way into a Beto ad soon.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:27 PM on October 18, 2018 [42 favorites]
For the life of me, and this is going to be a completely lame point, I cannot believe anyone still invests the time to listen to this clown speak. I feel sorry for those who have to cover it.
posted by sfts2 at 8:36 PM on October 18, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by sfts2 at 8:36 PM on October 18, 2018 [11 favorites]
megathread crafters, fpp drafters (& company) oughta get a fuckin pulitzer.
I think the Pullitzer is only awarded for original long form journalism. What kind of prizes are available to archivists?
posted by Meatbomb at 8:38 PM on October 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
I think the Pullitzer is only awarded for original long form journalism. What kind of prizes are available to archivists?
posted by Meatbomb at 8:38 PM on October 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
After much more rigamorale than expected I dropped of my absentee ballot to the US Consulate in Sydney whose security is more unforgiving than TSA. On the plus side, I got a lot of steps on my malfunctioning Fitbit.
Protip: get a locker at the State Library of New South Wales to drop off all your stuff except your documents, wallet and phone otherwise you will need to find storage facilities after being denied entry to the consulate which gets inconvenient and expensive. They also will not let a anyone watch your stuff outside the consulate either. Also, to find the damn building that has the consulate refer to the street view of the address otherwise, too much GPS drift and canyon effect.
posted by jadepearl at 8:39 PM on October 18, 2018 [14 favorites]
Protip: get a locker at the State Library of New South Wales to drop off all your stuff except your documents, wallet and phone otherwise you will need to find storage facilities after being denied entry to the consulate which gets inconvenient and expensive. They also will not let a anyone watch your stuff outside the consulate either. Also, to find the damn building that has the consulate refer to the street view of the address otherwise, too much GPS drift and canyon effect.
posted by jadepearl at 8:39 PM on October 18, 2018 [14 favorites]
Rocket Fuel malt liquor DAAMN! [reference]
Via LGM, this is apparently a real ad targeting African-Americans on behalf of a Republican candidate in Arkansas.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:10 PM on October 18, 2018 [8 favorites]
Via LGM, this is apparently a real ad targeting African-Americans on behalf of a Republican candidate in Arkansas.
posted by Joe in Australia at 9:10 PM on October 18, 2018 [8 favorites]
The most important work is not happening in this thread but is whatever you're doing to win the midterms right now :)
(If you're actively in the process of eradicating malaria or something else even more globally important, apologies.)
posted by zachlipton at 9:15 PM on October 18, 2018 [18 favorites]
(If you're actively in the process of eradicating malaria or something else even more globally important, apologies.)
posted by zachlipton at 9:15 PM on October 18, 2018 [18 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 19 days until Election Day //
** 2018 House:
// 19 days until Election Day //
** 2018 House:
-- KS-03: Siena poll has Dem Davids up 48-39 on GOP incumbent Yoder [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Clinton 47-46 | Cook: Lean D]** 2018 Senate:
-- ME-02: Siena poll has Dem Golden tied 41-41 with GOP incumbent Poliquin [MOE: +/- 4.8%]. [Trump 51-41 | Cook: Tossup]
-- NJ-11: Siena poll has Dem Sherrill up 49-38 on GOPer Webber [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Trump 49-48 | Cook: Lean D]
-- CO-06: Siena poll has Dem Crow up 47-38 on GOP incumbent Coffman [MOE: +/- 4.5%]. [Clinton 50-41 | Cook: Lean D]
-- NH-01: St Anselm poll has Dem Pappas up 44-36 on GOPer Edwards [MOE: +/- 6.5%]. [Trump 48-47 | Cook: Likely D]
-- NH-02: St Anselm poll has Dem incumbent Kuster up 49-22 on GOPer Negron [MOE: +/- 6.6%]. [Clinton 49-46 | Cook: Solid D]
-- FL-15: Survey USA poll has Dem Carlson tied 45-45 with GOPer Spano [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Trump 53-43 | Cook: Lean R]
-- WV-03: Siena poll has GOPer Miller up 46-41 on Dem Ojeda [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. [Trump 73-23 | Cook: Lean R]
-- TX-23: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Hurd up 53-38 on Dem Ortiz Jones [MOE: +/- 5.0%]. [Clinton 50-46 | Cook: Lean R]
-- CA-45: Public Opinion Strategies poll has GOP incumbent Walters up 50-46 on Dem Porter [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. This poll was commissioned by the Walters campaign. [Clinton 50-44 | Cook: Tossup]
-- AK-AL: Alaska Survey Research poll has GOP incumbent Young up 49-47 on indy/Dem Galvin [MOE: +/- 4.4%]. | Lake Research poll has Young up 48-44 [ no MOE listed]. This poll was commissioned by the Galvin campaign. [Trump 53-38 | Cook: Likely R] => Both of these are from Dem polling shops, and the Lake is an internal, but it does feel like Young may have a bit of a fight on his hands. I haven't seen that the Young campaign has released any of their own numbers to counter.
-- NJ: Monmouth poll has Dem incumbent Menendez up 49-40 on GOPer Hugin in their standard turnout model. Low turnout, Menendez up 51-39; high turnout, 50-39. [MOE: +/- 4.3%].** Odds & ends:
-- IN: Vox Populi poll has Dem incumbent Donnelly up 44-36 on GOPer Braun. With leaners forced to choose, Donnelly up 55-45 [MOE: +/- 3.7%].
-- NV: Vox Populi poll has Dem Rosen tied 44-44 with GOP incumbent Heller. With leaners forced to choose, Rosen up 51-49 [MOE: +/- 3.5%]. | Kaiser Family poll has Heller up 45-44. [MOE: +/- 3.0%].
-- WV: Vox Populi poll has Dem incumbent Manchin up 45-40 on GOPer Morrisey. With leaners forced to choose, Manchin up 53-47 [MOE: +/- 3.5%].
-- FL: Kaiser Family poll has Dem incumbent Nelson up 48-45 on GOPer Scott [MOE: +/- 3.0%].
-- TN: SSRS poll has Dem Bredesen up 44-43 on GOPer Blackburn [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. => This is the first poll to have Bredesen up in a while. My personal guess would be that Blackburn is up a couple of points.
-- NY: Quinnipiac poll has Dem incumbent Gillibrand up 58-33 on GOPer Farley [MOE: +/- 4.4%].
-- KS gov: Every living Kansas governor of either party (with the exception of much reviled GOPer Brownback) is supporting Dem Laura Kelly. | GOP candidate Kobach desperately trying to block release of his deposition video from the voter suppression trial earlier this year. [Cook: Tossup]** Averages & forecasts:
-- NV gov: Same Vox Populi poll has Dem Sisolak up 42-40 on GOPer Laxalt. With leaners forced to choose, Sisolak up 52-48. | Same Kaiser Family poll has Laxalt up 46-40. [Cook: Tossup]
-- NH gov: St Anselm poll has GOP incumbent Sununu up 49-39 on Dem Kelly [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Cook: Likely R]
-- FL gov: Same Kaiser Family poll has Dem Gillup up 48-40 on GOPer DeSantis. [Cook: Tossup]
-- HI gov: Civil Beat poll has Dem incumbent Ige up 52-31 on GOPer Tupola [MOE: +/- 3.2%]. [Cook: Solid D] => Admit it, you didn't even know there was a Hawaii governor election this year, did you?
-- NY gov: Same Quinnipiac poll has Dem incumbent Cuomo up 58-35 on GOPer Molinaro. [Cook: Solid D]
-- TN gov: Same SSRS poll has GOPer Lee up 48-37 on Dem Dean. [Cook: Likely R]
-- MN gov: RGA has apparently given up Johnson's campaign for dead, cancels all remaining ad buys. Given that there are some close races in MN - MN-01, the state AG - this is good to hear.
-- WI gov: A fourth member of GOP governor Walker's administration has endorsed his Democratic challenger, Tony Evers. [Cook: Tossup]
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.4 (49.7/41.3)posted by Chrysostom at 9:47 PM on October 18, 2018 [41 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 84.4% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 20.3% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 23.7 states.
Note that those 23.7 states have 60% of the population living in them! Hooray.
posted by Justinian at 9:49 PM on October 18, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 9:49 PM on October 18, 2018 [9 favorites]
I'm terrified the polls for this upcoming election will fail the way polls for 2016 did, when Clinton was looking decent headed up to the election. Has the methodology changed in any general was since then?
posted by Rinku at 9:50 PM on October 18, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Rinku at 9:50 PM on October 18, 2018 [7 favorites]
Yeah, I just felt that quoting the populations made it a little harder intuitively to follow, although I agree that's the accurate way to think about it. Another way is: Dems favored to pick up eight seats.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:50 PM on October 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:50 PM on October 18, 2018 [2 favorites]
Has the methodology changed in any general was since then?
Depends on the poll, i'm sure, but the NYT/Siena polls to pick a big example do weight for things like education which wasn't always the case for polls in 2016.
Plus the polls have been fairly decent this year. They haven't always been right on the money but there hasn't been any particular systemic bias for or against Republican candidates in evidence.
posted by Justinian at 9:52 PM on October 18, 2018
Depends on the poll, i'm sure, but the NYT/Siena polls to pick a big example do weight for things like education which wasn't always the case for polls in 2016.
Plus the polls have been fairly decent this year. They haven't always been right on the money but there hasn't been any particular systemic bias for or against Republican candidates in evidence.
posted by Justinian at 9:52 PM on October 18, 2018
Not to re-litigate 2016, but:
A) 2016 polling was quite accurate in terms of overall vote share (it was off by about 2%). The issue largely was that the electoral college greatly magnifies the impact of specific errors. That's not a feature of Senate/House races.
B) Polls began dropping for Clinton after the Comey letter was released a few days out. She *was* in decent shape slightly earlier. She no longer was on Election Day, but everyone's memory is of the earlier position. It's entirely possible for some real world event to happen that impacts the race, but you can't expect polling to accommodate that.
Justinian is right that some pollsters are making adjustments to try and deal with things, some aren't.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:04 PM on October 18, 2018 [40 favorites]
A) 2016 polling was quite accurate in terms of overall vote share (it was off by about 2%). The issue largely was that the electoral college greatly magnifies the impact of specific errors. That's not a feature of Senate/House races.
B) Polls began dropping for Clinton after the Comey letter was released a few days out. She *was* in decent shape slightly earlier. She no longer was on Election Day, but everyone's memory is of the earlier position. It's entirely possible for some real world event to happen that impacts the race, but you can't expect polling to accommodate that.
Justinian is right that some pollsters are making adjustments to try and deal with things, some aren't.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:04 PM on October 18, 2018 [40 favorites]
I mean I can only see my race, and a few races I that I have friends working on, plus what I can extrapolate from what I see here, and-- I don't want to scare anyone, but I am extremely nervous, in a way I very definitely was not at this point in 2017. (Go knock doors.)
posted by dogheart at 10:16 PM on October 18, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by dogheart at 10:16 PM on October 18, 2018 [5 favorites]
Sonoma lawmaker fights back against threat to ‘slut-shame’ her
A Sonoma city councilwoman’s visits to Burning Man didn’t stay on the Playa. They came back to threaten her re-election campaign in the form of an anonymous website replete with a photo of her scantily clad, allegations of “lascivious, drunk and drug-addled behavior” and an email threat to further expose her if she didn’t withdraw from November’s council race.posted by homunculus at 10:27 PM on October 18, 2018 [60 favorites]
But Rachel Hundley, 35, formerly mayor of the small city, decided not to give in to the threats. Instead of quitting, or just ignoring the accusations, she recorded a video in historic Sonoma Plaza, called her anonymous attackers “spineless individuals” and accused them of “slut shaming.”
The only sane method of engagement now is to simply state, over and over and over: “Something is very wrong here”. Say it to his face, append it to every sentence written about him, blanket hashtag, just render the analysis redundant with the starkest, least contestable statement possible and don’t let up til the f@*cker cracks.
I like this. May I suggest using "You're a loser" instead?
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:42 PM on October 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
I like this. May I suggest using "You're a loser" instead?
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:42 PM on October 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
Ajit Pai killed rules that could have helped Florida recover from hurricane - Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica
The Federal Communications Commission chairman slammed wireless carriers on Tuesday for failing to quickly restore phone service in Florida after Hurricane Michael, calling the delay "completely unacceptable."posted by ZeusHumms at 10:48 PM on October 18, 2018 [23 favorites]
But FCC Chairman Ajit Pai's statement ignored his agency's deregulatory blitz that left consumers without protections designed to ensure restoration of service after disasters, according to longtime telecom attorney and consumer advocate Harold Feld.
The Obama-era FCC wrote new regulations to protect consumers after Verizon tried to avoid rebuilding wireline phone infrastructure in Fire Island, New York, after Hurricane Sandy hit the area in October 2012. But Pai repealed those rules, claiming that they prevented carriers from upgrading old copper networks to fiber. Pai's repeal order makes zero mentions of Fire Island and makes reference to Verizon's response to Hurricane Sandy only once, in a footnote.
I would say that this (it's a political cartoon, not a painting) is the most accurate revision of that picture.
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:10 PM on October 18, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:10 PM on October 18, 2018 [17 favorites]
A) 2016 polling was quite accurate in terms of overall vote share (it was off by about 2%). The issue largely was that the electoral college greatly magnifies the impact of specific errors. That's not a feature of Senate/House races.
Not to relitigate a nonrelitigation, but though Silver titled his most recent review The Polls are All Right, he does acknowledge, I think correctly, that while not remarkably bad, 2016 was a relatively bad year. Looking at the first table there, the total combined polling error was nearly 1.5 standard deviations larger than usual, and more than 2 standard deviations if you don't count the earliest, worst year in their dataset, 1998. The general presidential error average was the largest it's been since 1998, the state level presidential poll errors (Table 2) were tied for second largest since 1972, and the percent of Senate and Governor races that were called correctly was the lowest it's been since 1998 and the House was the lowest since 2000 (Table 3). Most importantly, this wasn't just due to random noise, but a large part of it was due to systematic bias: the overall 3 point Dem bias (ie, overpredicting for the Dems) was the largest pro-Dem bias since 1998 (Table 4), and is second only to the 4.3 point 1998 pro-Republican bias in absolute size over the last 20 years. So even though the total errors (3-6 points, depending on how you average things) aren't huge, they were unusually large and unusually biased.
That said, if folks want something more heartening, the party likely to win also seems more likely to be underpredicted, so as the ongoing 2017-2018 pro-Republican polling error at the top of Table 4 suggests, the Democrats may be more likely to be the beneficiaries of error than not this time around.
posted by chortly at 11:26 PM on October 18, 2018 [5 favorites]
Not to relitigate a nonrelitigation, but though Silver titled his most recent review The Polls are All Right, he does acknowledge, I think correctly, that while not remarkably bad, 2016 was a relatively bad year. Looking at the first table there, the total combined polling error was nearly 1.5 standard deviations larger than usual, and more than 2 standard deviations if you don't count the earliest, worst year in their dataset, 1998. The general presidential error average was the largest it's been since 1998, the state level presidential poll errors (Table 2) were tied for second largest since 1972, and the percent of Senate and Governor races that were called correctly was the lowest it's been since 1998 and the House was the lowest since 2000 (Table 3). Most importantly, this wasn't just due to random noise, but a large part of it was due to systematic bias: the overall 3 point Dem bias (ie, overpredicting for the Dems) was the largest pro-Dem bias since 1998 (Table 4), and is second only to the 4.3 point 1998 pro-Republican bias in absolute size over the last 20 years. So even though the total errors (3-6 points, depending on how you average things) aren't huge, they were unusually large and unusually biased.
That said, if folks want something more heartening, the party likely to win also seems more likely to be underpredicted, so as the ongoing 2017-2018 pro-Republican polling error at the top of Table 4 suggests, the Democrats may be more likely to be the beneficiaries of error than not this time around.
posted by chortly at 11:26 PM on October 18, 2018 [5 favorites]
And wouldn't you think that if the pollsters' postmortem analysis doesn't accurately identify the exact cause for the 2016 errors, their current analysis is more likely to err in the opposite direction. My last glimmer of political optimism makes me feel that the Blue Wave could be even bigger than expected. But of course, my growing core of pessimism (and 40 years of electoral experience) tells me "we're doomed".
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:53 PM on October 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by oneswellfoop at 11:53 PM on October 18, 2018 [1 favorite]
In the last thread, progosk linked to the latest episode of Gaslit Nation (10/10/18, "Robert Mueller Will Not Save You"). (Thank you!) I found a lot of it depressing, but here's a quick transcript of parts that were more motivating to get out and DO: 1. Andrea Chalupa and Sarah Kendzior taking the long view, and 2. they interview Sydette Harry (@blackamazon) for "advice on how to survive in an autocratic political landscape."
1. 42:30 "The people who are always on the front lines are PoC, especially ***women***, and just a reminder, as exhausted as you may be, . . . sure, stay in your despair for a bit but then get out as soon as you can & choose faith over despair. Any little action you can take . . . especially look out for campaigns of People of Color or community organizations especially with Women of Color . . . their lives literally depend on it, & you can understand being a human being yourself they must be exhausted, so anything you can do to lend your energy, spirit, encouragement, get in there, say "How can I help you, what do you need help with?" Don't lose faith in your country. We still have a lot of resources to turn this around. We still have time, there absolutely is time. Just begin, now. Ten years from the midterms, what kind of country do you want to have?"
47:20 Chalupa: "Going into the midterms, it's about the kind of country you want to create. America's burning . . . What kind of country to you want to rebuild? What are your dreams right now for your country? . . . Start now with whatever that intention is, 'cause that'll be waiting for you years from now."
Kendzior: "Reach out to people . . . have big ideas, follow your own values , beliefs, ambitions, if those ambitions are thwarted even repeatedly it doesn't mean they're necessarily dead. . . . Things can change dramatically . . . [Dispense] with the notion that what people think of you matters, especially for women. . . [50:00] We have to look out for each other. We The People are the last remaining check."
2. Sydette Harry: 1:07:00 "What I want to know is, Who are we going to take care of? [ie the most vulnerable] I can't control what [alt-right, Nazis, etc] do. Their goal is my destruction. What I CAN control is what we do, what resources we build. . . .What are we going to do to protect each other and ourselves? . . . [1:08:30] Have hard conversations that don't center what they're [Nazis, fascists, etc] going to do, but What do we care about, Who do we care about, Why do we care about them, How are we taking care of them? if they're destroying health care at a federal level, how do we take care of it at the local level? . . .
"I learned at the hands of old West Indian church ladies: . . . my fundamental strategy at this point is called "Baby Has Hat." Does baby have hat? If baby does not have hat, we give baby hat. If I cannot give baby hat, I need to figure out why baby doesn't have hat. Do I need to sew the hat? Is the transportation wrong? Is somebody standing in the middle of the doorway between me and giving the baby hat? Sometimes making sure the baby has hat means if you are standing in the doorway and I need to shoulder-tackle you to get you out of the way, that might be part of it, but that's not the focus. . . . My focus is, Are we doing the thing we say we care about?"
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 1:13 AM on October 19, 2018 [43 favorites]
1. 42:30 "The people who are always on the front lines are PoC, especially ***women***, and just a reminder, as exhausted as you may be, . . . sure, stay in your despair for a bit but then get out as soon as you can & choose faith over despair. Any little action you can take . . . especially look out for campaigns of People of Color or community organizations especially with Women of Color . . . their lives literally depend on it, & you can understand being a human being yourself they must be exhausted, so anything you can do to lend your energy, spirit, encouragement, get in there, say "How can I help you, what do you need help with?" Don't lose faith in your country. We still have a lot of resources to turn this around. We still have time, there absolutely is time. Just begin, now. Ten years from the midterms, what kind of country do you want to have?"
47:20 Chalupa: "Going into the midterms, it's about the kind of country you want to create. America's burning . . . What kind of country to you want to rebuild? What are your dreams right now for your country? . . . Start now with whatever that intention is, 'cause that'll be waiting for you years from now."
Kendzior: "Reach out to people . . . have big ideas, follow your own values , beliefs, ambitions, if those ambitions are thwarted even repeatedly it doesn't mean they're necessarily dead. . . . Things can change dramatically . . . [Dispense] with the notion that what people think of you matters, especially for women. . . [50:00] We have to look out for each other. We The People are the last remaining check."
2. Sydette Harry: 1:07:00 "What I want to know is, Who are we going to take care of? [ie the most vulnerable] I can't control what [alt-right, Nazis, etc] do. Their goal is my destruction. What I CAN control is what we do, what resources we build. . . .What are we going to do to protect each other and ourselves? . . . [1:08:30] Have hard conversations that don't center what they're [Nazis, fascists, etc] going to do, but What do we care about, Who do we care about, Why do we care about them, How are we taking care of them? if they're destroying health care at a federal level, how do we take care of it at the local level? . . .
"I learned at the hands of old West Indian church ladies: . . . my fundamental strategy at this point is called "Baby Has Hat." Does baby have hat? If baby does not have hat, we give baby hat. If I cannot give baby hat, I need to figure out why baby doesn't have hat. Do I need to sew the hat? Is the transportation wrong? Is somebody standing in the middle of the doorway between me and giving the baby hat? Sometimes making sure the baby has hat means if you are standing in the doorway and I need to shoulder-tackle you to get you out of the way, that might be part of it, but that's not the focus. . . . My focus is, Are we doing the thing we say we care about?"
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 1:13 AM on October 19, 2018 [43 favorites]
I found some clips from the ad. When they say it's the most vile ad of the campaign, they're not kidding. It's conspiracy porn.
Duncan Hunter returns to the spotlight with one of the most vile political ads this year
Duncan Hunter returns to the spotlight with one of the most vile political ads this year
THE ABILITY of Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R-Calif.) to go low was pretty well demonstrated in August when he and his wife were indicted on federal charges of using campaign funds for personal expenses. There was no thought of stepping aside; only blame — to Democrats (for a “witch-hunt”) and his wife (“whatever she did, that’ll be looked at, too, I’m sure, but I didn’t do it.”). Yet even Mr. Hunter has managed to astonish with what may be the most vile political ad of this year’s midterm elections.posted by scalefree at 1:14 AM on October 19, 2018 [16 favorites]
The controversial ad by Mr. Hunter attacks his Democratic challenger for his Palestinian heritage and goes so far as to warn that Ammar Campa-Najjar has terrorist ties and is seeking to “infiltrate” Congress. The ad’s claims have been thoroughly discredited, earning a four Pinocchios rating from The Post’s Fact Checker, which concludes the Hunter campaign ignored or distorted basic biographical facts about Mr. Campa-Najjar.
Did anyone watch Beto o'Rourke on CNN? How did he do? What are the impressions of Mefites in Texas? I see a string of articles of he is doomed, but that could be the usual miasma of defeat funk of Democrats fanned by proxies problem.
posted by jadepearl at 1:34 AM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by jadepearl at 1:34 AM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
You want numbers? We got numbers. Josh Marshall's curated Twitter list of 23 polling & election data experts .
posted by scalefree at 1:37 AM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 1:37 AM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
a bit of levity: Ted likes White Castle
stay for the "C'mon... ...Teehd."
posted by From Bklyn at 2:08 AM on October 19, 2018 [25 favorites]
stay for the "C'mon... ...Teehd."
posted by From Bklyn at 2:08 AM on October 19, 2018 [25 favorites]
I'm terrified the polls for this upcoming election will fail the way polls for 2016 did, when Clinton was looking decent headed up to the election. Has the methodology changed in any general was since then?
I just finished Jill Lepore's awesome, excellent, highly-recommended history of the United States, These Truths, which treats Native American history, the history of black Americans, movements like the suffragists, and more as integral parts of the story. She brings her history right up to the present day, a risky move (it's hard to write history when you're living in the middle of it) that I think she makes pay off.
Toward the end of the book, she talks about the crisis in polling, a major element of which is the fact that more than 90% of people contacted refuse to participate. Along with other factors, this extremely low level of participation is one of the things driving the inaccuracy of even the best-respected polls, which is problematic because they are relied upon so heavily for news and commentary.
Read it! Or listen to the audiobook, like I did. Very worthwhile. And fascinating from the perspective of putting our current dumpster fire in the context of all the other dumpster fires that have been burning since the very beginning.
posted by Orlop at 2:16 AM on October 19, 2018 [20 favorites]
I just finished Jill Lepore's awesome, excellent, highly-recommended history of the United States, These Truths, which treats Native American history, the history of black Americans, movements like the suffragists, and more as integral parts of the story. She brings her history right up to the present day, a risky move (it's hard to write history when you're living in the middle of it) that I think she makes pay off.
Toward the end of the book, she talks about the crisis in polling, a major element of which is the fact that more than 90% of people contacted refuse to participate. Along with other factors, this extremely low level of participation is one of the things driving the inaccuracy of even the best-respected polls, which is problematic because they are relied upon so heavily for news and commentary.
Read it! Or listen to the audiobook, like I did. Very worthwhile. And fascinating from the perspective of putting our current dumpster fire in the context of all the other dumpster fires that have been burning since the very beginning.
posted by Orlop at 2:16 AM on October 19, 2018 [20 favorites]
a bit of levity: Ted likes White Castle
Harsh but true. There are no White Castles in Texas but Whataburger is everywhere. I can think of 4 within a 15 minute drive of my place in Austin, there may be more. And they're all open 24 hours.
stay for the "C'mon... ...Teehd."
Yeah, Ted. C'mon.
posted by scalefree at 3:51 AM on October 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
Harsh but true. There are no White Castles in Texas but Whataburger is everywhere. I can think of 4 within a 15 minute drive of my place in Austin, there may be more. And they're all open 24 hours.
stay for the "C'mon... ...Teehd."
Yeah, Ted. C'mon.
posted by scalefree at 3:51 AM on October 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
...she talks about the crisis in polling, a major element of which is the fact that more than 90% of people contacted refuse to participate.
The last time I participated in a poll (via phone) the questions became odder and odder over the course, until it was glaringly obvious that it was actually a push poll. I hung up on them and swore to never volunteer to take a poll again. And I haven't.
There's also the issue of my phone being bombarded regularly with all manner of spam calls. I simply don't answer a call from a number I don't recognize.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:55 AM on October 19, 2018 [24 favorites]
The last time I participated in a poll (via phone) the questions became odder and odder over the course, until it was glaringly obvious that it was actually a push poll. I hung up on them and swore to never volunteer to take a poll again. And I haven't.
There's also the issue of my phone being bombarded regularly with all manner of spam calls. I simply don't answer a call from a number I don't recognize.
posted by Thorzdad at 3:55 AM on October 19, 2018 [24 favorites]
I'm trying to link a Guardian comment Trump is crude on Saudi Arabia, but he’s simply continuing US policy but I can't make it work. It's worth searching for, if you have the time.
The American love for Saudi Arabia is a mysterious thing, and it is consistent across presidencies, including Obama's. The Younge-piece suggests it's about lobby-money, but I think there's something else there. I also think the Iran deal was a tiny beginning to end it, and that it was obvious that Trump would go against it, both because he hates everything Obama, and because he was bought by the Saudis (he is so easy to buy).
posted by mumimor at 4:01 AM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
The American love for Saudi Arabia is a mysterious thing, and it is consistent across presidencies, including Obama's. The Younge-piece suggests it's about lobby-money, but I think there's something else there. I also think the Iran deal was a tiny beginning to end it, and that it was obvious that Trump would go against it, both because he hates everything Obama, and because he was bought by the Saudis (he is so easy to buy).
posted by mumimor at 4:01 AM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
~Former GOP chair urges Trump supporters to bring guns to rally in case of violent protests
~Trump Country is bloodthirsty.
The right has increasingly been depicting...well, anyone...not in-step with Trump as being part of violent mobs rioting throughout the US. The ads here supporting the GOP Senate candidate are rife with highly treated video snippets of all manner of violent street protests, with absolutely no context. They could be from some third-world dictatorship fifteen years ago for all anyone knows. Hell, they could easily have been staged on a backlot, for all anyone knows. These are usually overlaid with pics of Pelosi and/or Schumer and/or Bernie and/or Warren.
They really do see themselves as standing up to a world going to hell.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:12 AM on October 19, 2018 [23 favorites]
~Trump Country is bloodthirsty.
The right has increasingly been depicting...well, anyone...not in-step with Trump as being part of violent mobs rioting throughout the US. The ads here supporting the GOP Senate candidate are rife with highly treated video snippets of all manner of violent street protests, with absolutely no context. They could be from some third-world dictatorship fifteen years ago for all anyone knows. Hell, they could easily have been staged on a backlot, for all anyone knows. These are usually overlaid with pics of Pelosi and/or Schumer and/or Bernie and/or Warren.
They really do see themselves as standing up to a world going to hell.
posted by Thorzdad at 4:12 AM on October 19, 2018 [23 favorites]
The right has increasingly been depicting...well, anyone...not in-step with Trump as being part of violent mobs rioting throughout the US.
...
They really do see themselves as standing up to a world going to hell.
It is absolutely no coincidence that this is exactly what Nazi propaganda looked like.
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:25 AM on October 19, 2018 [90 favorites]
...
They really do see themselves as standing up to a world going to hell.
It is absolutely no coincidence that this is exactly what Nazi propaganda looked like.
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:25 AM on October 19, 2018 [90 favorites]
Right. About the rhetoric depicting the left as violent--I remember early on in this shit show that someone pointed out that assertions that were wildly, demonstrably false were never intended to be accurate statements about current reality. Instead, those scenarios are what would need to be true in order to justify whatever evil they have planned next. Those wild, demonstrable lies are setting the pretext for whatever outrage is next.
Trump and the right spun wild tales about dangerous immigrants and Mexican rapists, and then put babies in cages and build concentration camps for kids in Texas.
Trump and the right spun wild tales about illegal voting, and now voter suppression is completely transparent and deployed on a wide scale.
And now Trump and the right are spewing a lot of hot rhetoric about how dangerous the left is.
I am afraid things are about to get very, very ugly.
posted by Sublimity at 4:31 AM on October 19, 2018 [72 favorites]
Trump and the right spun wild tales about dangerous immigrants and Mexican rapists, and then put babies in cages and build concentration camps for kids in Texas.
Trump and the right spun wild tales about illegal voting, and now voter suppression is completely transparent and deployed on a wide scale.
And now Trump and the right are spewing a lot of hot rhetoric about how dangerous the left is.
I am afraid things are about to get very, very ugly.
posted by Sublimity at 4:31 AM on October 19, 2018 [72 favorites]
Mumimor: Trump is crude on Saudi Arabia, but he’s simply continuing US policy
He's clearly holding a "leesplankje", a Dutch teaching aid from 1894 to teach spelling and pronunciation to six-year olds (17 simple images with the words underneath, and the pupil is supposed to create those words from loose cards printed with the characters and diphthongs): aap, noot, mies, scha-pen.
This one probably goes Sheikh, De-sert, Oil, Ter-ro-rist.
posted by Stoneshop at 4:34 AM on October 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
He's clearly holding a "leesplankje", a Dutch teaching aid from 1894 to teach spelling and pronunciation to six-year olds (17 simple images with the words underneath, and the pupil is supposed to create those words from loose cards printed with the characters and diphthongs): aap, noot, mies, scha-pen.
This one probably goes Sheikh, De-sert, Oil, Ter-ro-rist.
posted by Stoneshop at 4:34 AM on October 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
I am afraid things are about to get very, very ugly.
The escalation is a sign of desperation. They're losing the House & they know it so they're doing anything they can to fend it off. They'll deal with the repercussions afterwards, they just have to stop it from happening. Sooner or later they'll find a Beast like that isn't so easy to put back in the box.
posted by scalefree at 4:40 AM on October 19, 2018 [20 favorites]
The escalation is a sign of desperation. They're losing the House & they know it so they're doing anything they can to fend it off. They'll deal with the repercussions afterwards, they just have to stop it from happening. Sooner or later they'll find a Beast like that isn't so easy to put back in the box.
posted by scalefree at 4:40 AM on October 19, 2018 [20 favorites]
The Trump Administration and the Saudi Royal Family Are Searching For a Mutually Agreeable Explanation For The Death of Journalist Jamal Khashoggi
I'm utterly shocked Trump hasn't let loose with one of insane, offhand remarks over this. Something along the lines of "Great way to deal with the corrupt press."
C'mon...You can read that in his voice without even trying, can't you?
posted by Thorzdad at 4:49 AM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
I'm utterly shocked Trump hasn't let loose with one of insane, offhand remarks over this. Something along the lines of "Great way to deal with the corrupt press."
C'mon...You can read that in his voice without even trying, can't you?
posted by Thorzdad at 4:49 AM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
The American love for Saudi Arabia is a mysterious thing, and it is consistent across presidencies, including Obama's. The Younge-piece suggests it's about lobby-money, but I think there's something else there.
I may have a clue.
I remember as a child in the 70s that there was a strange sort of ad campaign in print media about Saudi Arabia. Or, rather, about Americans doing business with Saudi Arabia - one I remember in particular was about Americans who had moved there for business and how their kids were coping (I vividly remember a picture of a little boy in a baseball uniform with Arabic lettering on it; he was on the father's company-sponsored little league team, I think was the point). I'm pretty sure that the ads were taken out by some kind of oil company, or a company that was trying to turn public sentiment in favor of cooperating with the Saudis for their oil or something like that - an issue that would have alleviated the 70s energy crisis.
That was 40 years ago. 40 years of pro-Saudi PR probably has had an impact.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:49 AM on October 19, 2018 [15 favorites]
I may have a clue.
I remember as a child in the 70s that there was a strange sort of ad campaign in print media about Saudi Arabia. Or, rather, about Americans doing business with Saudi Arabia - one I remember in particular was about Americans who had moved there for business and how their kids were coping (I vividly remember a picture of a little boy in a baseball uniform with Arabic lettering on it; he was on the father's company-sponsored little league team, I think was the point). I'm pretty sure that the ads were taken out by some kind of oil company, or a company that was trying to turn public sentiment in favor of cooperating with the Saudis for their oil or something like that - an issue that would have alleviated the 70s energy crisis.
That was 40 years ago. 40 years of pro-Saudi PR probably has had an impact.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:49 AM on October 19, 2018 [15 favorites]
Adam Curtis's Bitter Lake is probably well known here. It starts with a meeting between FDR and King Abdulaziz after WW2 where it seems they reached an agreement to ensure the growth of American consumer society based on the consumption of unlimited oil, in exchange for inestimable wealth. A Devils's pact, if ever there was one.
posted by stonepharisee at 5:12 AM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 5:12 AM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
The American love for Saudi Arabia is a mysterious thing
The Wikipedia page on Saudi Arabia-United States relations is very informative about this. The relation goes back to the 1930s, and was always propped by 1) oil and later oil/weapons sales and 2) common geopolitical interests. Even when the latter diverged at some point (oil crisis, 9/11...), the falling out never lasted more than a few years, probably due to 1).
posted by elgilito at 5:22 AM on October 19, 2018 [9 favorites]
The Wikipedia page on Saudi Arabia-United States relations is very informative about this. The relation goes back to the 1930s, and was always propped by 1) oil and later oil/weapons sales and 2) common geopolitical interests. Even when the latter diverged at some point (oil crisis, 9/11...), the falling out never lasted more than a few years, probably due to 1).
posted by elgilito at 5:22 AM on October 19, 2018 [9 favorites]
So the methodology for ranking was changed, and now the US is the most innovative country for the first time in a decade.
In fact, Wednesday's report found that US healthy life expectancy—the number of years a newborn today can expect to live in good health—ticks in at just 67.7 years in the US.
That is lower than in Sri Lanka and China and three years below the average in advanced economies. It is a full six years behind Singapore and Japan, the report found.
The WEF report also cautioned that the US rate of adoption of information and communications technologies was fairly low compared to other advanced economies.
posted by infini at 5:24 AM on October 19, 2018 [27 favorites]
In fact, Wednesday's report found that US healthy life expectancy—the number of years a newborn today can expect to live in good health—ticks in at just 67.7 years in the US.
That is lower than in Sri Lanka and China and three years below the average in advanced economies. It is a full six years behind Singapore and Japan, the report found.
The WEF report also cautioned that the US rate of adoption of information and communications technologies was fairly low compared to other advanced economies.
posted by infini at 5:24 AM on October 19, 2018 [27 favorites]
Toward the end of the book, she talks about the crisis in polling, a major element of which is the fact that more than 90% of people contacted refuse to participate. Along with other factors, this extremely low level of participation is one of the things driving the inaccuracy of even the best-respected polls, which is problematic because they are relied upon so heavily for news and commentary.
It also kind of seems like polling now is akin to Newtonian physics circa the early years of particle physics. A fine predictor to a certain point, but basically an overlay of truth that can't help us answer more fundamental questions or explain those eccentric orbits.
posted by petebest at 5:25 AM on October 19, 2018 [19 favorites]
It also kind of seems like polling now is akin to Newtonian physics circa the early years of particle physics. A fine predictor to a certain point, but basically an overlay of truth that can't help us answer more fundamental questions or explain those eccentric orbits.
posted by petebest at 5:25 AM on October 19, 2018 [19 favorites]
I remember as a child in the 70s that there was a strange sort of ad campaign in print media about Saudi Arabia.
Or you know, from March this year:
Trump’s Publisher Pal Puts Saudi Propaganda Magazine in U.S. Supermarkets
The owners of the National Enquirer have a slick, ad-free magazine on U.S. newsstands praising crown prince Mohammed bin Salman—and insist they had no outside help for it.
...
Greeting Americans on newsstands is a high-quality glossy advertisement for MBS, The New Kingdom. It retails for $13.99, has no ads and its 200,000 copies can be found in venues ranging from U.S. airports to WalMart, Safeway and Kroger’s—raising questions about the magazine’s financing and its origins. The Saudis say they don’t know how it came to be. AMI, which publishes The National Enquirer, insists it had no outside editorial or financial assistance, from the Trump administration or otherwise.
And if you believe that you'll believe the front page of the National Enquirer.
posted by PenDevil at 5:28 AM on October 19, 2018 [18 favorites]
Or you know, from March this year:
Trump’s Publisher Pal Puts Saudi Propaganda Magazine in U.S. Supermarkets
The owners of the National Enquirer have a slick, ad-free magazine on U.S. newsstands praising crown prince Mohammed bin Salman—and insist they had no outside help for it.
...
Greeting Americans on newsstands is a high-quality glossy advertisement for MBS, The New Kingdom. It retails for $13.99, has no ads and its 200,000 copies can be found in venues ranging from U.S. airports to WalMart, Safeway and Kroger’s—raising questions about the magazine’s financing and its origins. The Saudis say they don’t know how it came to be. AMI, which publishes The National Enquirer, insists it had no outside editorial or financial assistance, from the Trump administration or otherwise.
And if you believe that you'll believe the front page of the National Enquirer.
posted by PenDevil at 5:28 AM on October 19, 2018 [18 favorites]
So the methodology for ranking was changed, and now the US is the most innovative country for the first time in a decade.
So I've seen Trump boasting about this in the last few days & wondered how it happened since so many of our rankings have fallen. Now I see why. I have to wonder if there's any hanky-panky involved.
posted by scalefree at 5:37 AM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
So I've seen Trump boasting about this in the last few days & wondered how it happened since so many of our rankings have fallen. Now I see why. I have to wonder if there's any hanky-panky involved.
posted by scalefree at 5:37 AM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
Harsh but true. There are no White Castles in Texas but Whataburger is everywhere. I can think of 4 within a 15 minute drive of my place in Austin, there may be more. And they're all open 24 hours.
There are four in DC, and then you have to roll up to Pennsylvania and New Jersey...
So, if you dig in, you find out that it's even more of a burn... Might as well be up in Canada. These ads are really taking it to the next level.
posted by mikelieman at 6:03 AM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
There are four in DC, and then you have to roll up to Pennsylvania and New Jersey...
So, if you dig in, you find out that it's even more of a burn... Might as well be up in Canada. These ads are really taking it to the next level.
posted by mikelieman at 6:03 AM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
-- ME-02: Siena poll has Dem Golden tied 41-41 with GOP incumbent Poliquin [MOE: +/- 4.8%]. [Trump 51-41 | Cook: Tossup]
538 predicts this as Golden +11. I'm wondering what 538 bases that on? Because nobody here believes it will actually be Golden +11. This poll *feels* more accurate.
posted by anastasiav at 6:04 AM on October 19, 2018
538 predicts this as Golden +11. I'm wondering what 538 bases that on? Because nobody here believes it will actually be Golden +11. This poll *feels* more accurate.
posted by anastasiav at 6:04 AM on October 19, 2018
The American love for Saudi Arabia is a mysterious thing
It's really not. It's pretty much boilerplate "country keeping its population in line in order to allow major American corporate interests to make a shit-ton of money and secure strategic power in that region" American foreign policy.
posted by Rykey at 6:06 AM on October 19, 2018 [26 favorites]
It's really not. It's pretty much boilerplate "country keeping its population in line in order to allow major American corporate interests to make a shit-ton of money and secure strategic power in that region" American foreign policy.
posted by Rykey at 6:06 AM on October 19, 2018 [26 favorites]
I'm utterly shocked Trump hasn't let loose with one of insane, offhand remarks over this. Something along the lines of "Great way to deal with the corrupt press."
In his rally last night, Trump praised the criminal assault of a Guardian journalist by a Republican.
posted by mikelieman at 6:06 AM on October 19, 2018 [23 favorites]
In his rally last night, Trump praised the criminal assault of a Guardian journalist by a Republican.
posted by mikelieman at 6:06 AM on October 19, 2018 [23 favorites]
> 538 predicts this as Golden +11. I'm wondering what 538 bases that on? Because nobody here believes it will actually be Golden +11. This poll *feels* more accurate.
On the 538 ME-2 forecast page I see -0.4/+2/+1.9 on the lite/classic/deluxe models, was the +11% the spread in the chance of winning maybe?
posted by papercrane at 6:13 AM on October 19, 2018
On the 538 ME-2 forecast page I see -0.4/+2/+1.9 on the lite/classic/deluxe models, was the +11% the spread in the chance of winning maybe?
posted by papercrane at 6:13 AM on October 19, 2018
awfurby said: Can't imagine the Secret Service would let people bring their guns to a Trump rally.
You know, 45 is forever going on about how big burly men "grabbed him and started crying", and I'm thinking, where the hell is the SS that random loonies can grab the president? (I mean, I know the whole trope of strong men crying around 45 is pure narcissistic delusion, but how has no reporter with access asked him how all these crying towers of testosterone are getting past the best bodyguards in the world?)
My point being, if you can get him on the ropes about little lies, it becomes so much easier for his fans to believe that he's telling big lies too.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 6:27 AM on October 19, 2018 [29 favorites]
You know, 45 is forever going on about how big burly men "grabbed him and started crying", and I'm thinking, where the hell is the SS that random loonies can grab the president? (I mean, I know the whole trope of strong men crying around 45 is pure narcissistic delusion, but how has no reporter with access asked him how all these crying towers of testosterone are getting past the best bodyguards in the world?)
My point being, if you can get him on the ropes about little lies, it becomes so much easier for his fans to believe that he's telling big lies too.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 6:27 AM on October 19, 2018 [29 favorites]
My point being, if you can get him on the ropes about little lies, it becomes so much easier for his fans to believe that he's telling big lies too.
At this point, after the whole stealing babies from their families thing, everyone still a Republican is irrational.
One of the big lessons of Operation C-F is: "Do not plan on irrational people either understanding rational arguments or behaving in rational ways."
posted by mikelieman at 6:34 AM on October 19, 2018 [44 favorites]
At this point, after the whole stealing babies from their families thing, everyone still a Republican is irrational.
One of the big lessons of Operation C-F is: "Do not plan on irrational people either understanding rational arguments or behaving in rational ways."
posted by mikelieman at 6:34 AM on October 19, 2018 [44 favorites]
My point being, if you can get him on the ropes about little lies, it becomes so much easier for his fans to believe that he's telling big lies too.
He's been blatantly, obviously, baldly lying since day one (ie, the size of his inauguration crowd). His fans know he's lying. They don't care. He's lying "to own the libs". That's all that matters to them.
posted by Roommate at 6:35 AM on October 19, 2018 [51 favorites]
He's been blatantly, obviously, baldly lying since day one (ie, the size of his inauguration crowd). His fans know he's lying. They don't care. He's lying "to own the libs". That's all that matters to them.
posted by Roommate at 6:35 AM on October 19, 2018 [51 favorites]
His fans know he's lying. They don't care. He's lying "to own the libs". That's all that matters to them.
100% this. We are literally years past the point where there is any reason to try to find rational explanations for why Republicans aren't aghast at his lies. Knowing he's lying but going along with it anyways because the lie serves as fig leaf for their real goals is literally how they show their fealty to their dictator-in-chief.
posted by tocts at 6:48 AM on October 19, 2018 [59 favorites]
100% this. We are literally years past the point where there is any reason to try to find rational explanations for why Republicans aren't aghast at his lies. Knowing he's lying but going along with it anyways because the lie serves as fig leaf for their real goals is literally how they show their fealty to their dictator-in-chief.
posted by tocts at 6:48 AM on October 19, 2018 [59 favorites]
Joe Donnelly's latest political ad is basically a copy of a Jonah Ryan ad from Veep.
posted by peeedro at 6:51 AM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 6:51 AM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
A little thing, but: The city of Boston and a local family today announced a scholarship fund for students at local community colleges (and the University of Massachusetts Boston) who are nearing graduation but who might have to drop out because of financial hardships. Among those eligible: "Undocumented and/or DACA students with limited options for financial assistance."
posted by adamg at 6:57 AM on October 19, 2018 [41 favorites]
posted by adamg at 6:57 AM on October 19, 2018 [41 favorites]
Paul Krugman talking about Republicans cutting the safety net, and subtweeting his own paper again:
Why do they think they can get away with this? The main answer is obviously contempt for their own supporters, many of whom get their news from Fox and other propaganda outlets that slavishly follow the party line. And even in appeals to those supporters who rely on other sources, Republicans believe that they can neutralize the deep unpopularity of their actual policies by misrepresenting their positions, and win by playing to racism and fear.posted by T.D. Strange at 6:59 AM on October 19, 2018 [69 favorites]
But let’s be clear: G.O.P. cynicism also involves a lot of contempt for the mainstream news media. Historically, media organizations have been remarkably unwilling to call out lies; the urge to play it safe with he-said-she-said reporting has very much worked to Republicans’ advantage, given the reality that the modern G.O.P. lies a lot more than Democrats do. Even the most blatant falsehood tends to be reported with headlines about how “Democrats say” it’s false, not that it’s actually false.
The only lies that Trumpoids care about are his promises that haven't come to fruition yet -- that he will Build The Wall, that he will Lock Her Up, that he will Drain The Swamp, that people not in the Trump fold will be Made To Know Their Place in the American social order.
And they have more reasons than H&R Block why those things not happening isn't Trump's fault.
posted by delfin at 7:01 AM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
And they have more reasons than H&R Block why those things not happening isn't Trump's fault.
posted by delfin at 7:01 AM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
Trump Says He ‘Barely Knows’ Saudi Prince
via
“In conversations with allies, the president has begun to distance himself from Prince Mohammed, 33, saying he barely knows him. And he has played down the relationship that Mr. Kushner has cultivated with the Saudi heir.”
...During his conversation with The Times, Mr. Trump was uncharacteristically guarded. He declined repeated requests to discuss the chain of events that led to Mr. Khashoggi’s disappearance or the crown prince’s role.
...While Mr. Trump’s views appeared to be hardening, Mr. Kushner was still lobbying his father-in-law to stand by Prince Mohammed, arguing the scandal would eventually pass, according to two people who have had recent discussions with White House officials.
...The director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, will have to reconcile the differences between the C.I.A. ["MbS did it"] and National Security Agency assessments ["MbS may have done it"]. Mr. Coats has privately expressed concerns about presenting an appraisal that boxes in Mr. Trump or poses a challenge to the president’s intention to maintain a close relationship with the kingdom.
Gee I wonder if the people that bum-rushed an alcoholic sexual assaulter onto the Supreme Court will keep everything the same with Saudi Arabia. The NYT sure wants us to think it's a question.
posted by petebest at 7:04 AM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
via
“In conversations with allies, the president has begun to distance himself from Prince Mohammed, 33, saying he barely knows him. And he has played down the relationship that Mr. Kushner has cultivated with the Saudi heir.”
...During his conversation with The Times, Mr. Trump was uncharacteristically guarded. He declined repeated requests to discuss the chain of events that led to Mr. Khashoggi’s disappearance or the crown prince’s role.
...While Mr. Trump’s views appeared to be hardening, Mr. Kushner was still lobbying his father-in-law to stand by Prince Mohammed, arguing the scandal would eventually pass, according to two people who have had recent discussions with White House officials.
...The director of national intelligence, Dan Coats, will have to reconcile the differences between the C.I.A. ["MbS did it"] and National Security Agency assessments ["MbS may have done it"]. Mr. Coats has privately expressed concerns about presenting an appraisal that boxes in Mr. Trump or poses a challenge to the president’s intention to maintain a close relationship with the kingdom.
Gee I wonder if the people that bum-rushed an alcoholic sexual assaulter onto the Supreme Court will keep everything the same with Saudi Arabia. The NYT sure wants us to think it's a question.
posted by petebest at 7:04 AM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
the urge to play it safe with he-said-she-said reporting has very much worked to Republicans’ advantage, given the reality that the modern G.O.P. lies a lot more than Democrats do. Even the most blatant falsehood tends to be reported with headlines about how “Democrats say” it’s false, not that it’s actually false.
I noted late in the previous thread that NPR "national political reporter" (and unacknowledged Fox News correspondent) Mara Liasson had a segment yesterday analyzing the "closing arguments" of the two parties in the weeks leading to the election. She offered this summary:
As I pointed out, the three points of the last sentence are verifiably, objectively true. They're facts -- Mitch McConnell suggested the deficit calls for cutting Social Security and Medicare only this week, and Paul Ryan is on record saying the same.
So the unpopularity of Republican policies results in them running overtly racist lies, and the Democrats' key argument is to tell the truth about Republican policies. And NPR, as they like to put it in their defense of their lame "he said, she said" reporting, leaves it to the listener to judge who is telling the truth. And in doing so, giving advantage to the liars and racists running Republican campaigns.
Feh.
posted by Gelatin at 7:12 AM on October 19, 2018 [43 favorites]
I noted late in the previous thread that NPR "national political reporter" (and unacknowledged Fox News correspondent) Mara Liasson had a segment yesterday analyzing the "closing arguments" of the two parties in the weeks leading to the election. She offered this summary:
LIASSON: Well, the closing argument from Republicans, who began thinking that that tax cut bill and the booming economy would boost them - but as the tax cuts got less popular, their closing argument is now warning voters that Democrats will take away the tax cuts, put regulations back on the economy, wreck the economy.
They're kind of reverting to the Trump culture war issues, which do energize their base, talking about hordes of criminal illegal aliens coming to kill people. And I'm looking at a fundraising pitch from Mimi Walters, a Republican congresswoman from California who says, we just learned that my socialist pro-tax opponent outraised us; we can't let the Democrat mob take over Congress.
Now, Democrats, on the other hand, have stuck to health care, which is the No. 1 issue for voters this year, except for they're refining it a little bit. They're now saying Republicans gave tax cuts to the rich, created a huge deficit, and to close that hole they are going to come and cut your Medicare and Social Security.
As I pointed out, the three points of the last sentence are verifiably, objectively true. They're facts -- Mitch McConnell suggested the deficit calls for cutting Social Security and Medicare only this week, and Paul Ryan is on record saying the same.
So the unpopularity of Republican policies results in them running overtly racist lies, and the Democrats' key argument is to tell the truth about Republican policies. And NPR, as they like to put it in their defense of their lame "he said, she said" reporting, leaves it to the listener to judge who is telling the truth. And in doing so, giving advantage to the liars and racists running Republican campaigns.
Feh.
posted by Gelatin at 7:12 AM on October 19, 2018 [43 favorites]
Did anyone watch Beto o'Rourke on CNN? How did he do? What are the impressions of Mefites in Texas? I see a string of articles of he is doomed, but that could be the usual miasma of defeat funk of Democrats fanned by proxies problem.
posted by jadepearl at 1:34 AM on October 19
I'm not a Texan--I'm not even an American--but I did watch some of this, and, to me, it was uninspiring.
I haven't watched Beto at all, but I've read about him a lot here on the Blue: about how inspiring he is and what a good speaker he is, and how he's the next great hope, etc., and honestly, he was completely underwhelming, especially after that kind of a build up.
He gave typical political standard, non-specific answers. On the questions he did try to answer specifically, I found him wishywashy. (A woman asked about universal health care, and he ended up backing into an employer-based model.) One man asked him what he was going to do with the millions in funds he has raised, and how (or if) he was going to help out other Democrats--either individually or as members of the party--and he got kind of miffed about the question. Essentially his answer was people gave him their money and trusted him, and his race was so important, so he couldn't even think of sharing.
I'm a political junky and really enjoy watching political debates and town halls, and I'm betting I've watched way more US political discourse than the average American, but he just couldn't keep my attention. I ended up flipping back and forth between CNN and Martha Stewart reruns, and that was only while Martha was in commercials.
posted by sardonyx at 7:28 AM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by jadepearl at 1:34 AM on October 19
I'm not a Texan--I'm not even an American--but I did watch some of this, and, to me, it was uninspiring.
I haven't watched Beto at all, but I've read about him a lot here on the Blue: about how inspiring he is and what a good speaker he is, and how he's the next great hope, etc., and honestly, he was completely underwhelming, especially after that kind of a build up.
He gave typical political standard, non-specific answers. On the questions he did try to answer specifically, I found him wishywashy. (A woman asked about universal health care, and he ended up backing into an employer-based model.) One man asked him what he was going to do with the millions in funds he has raised, and how (or if) he was going to help out other Democrats--either individually or as members of the party--and he got kind of miffed about the question. Essentially his answer was people gave him their money and trusted him, and his race was so important, so he couldn't even think of sharing.
I'm a political junky and really enjoy watching political debates and town halls, and I'm betting I've watched way more US political discourse than the average American, but he just couldn't keep my attention. I ended up flipping back and forth between CNN and Martha Stewart reruns, and that was only while Martha was in commercials.
posted by sardonyx at 7:28 AM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
jadepearl I won't say Beto is doomed, but odds are **VERY** slim for a victory. He's a great candidate, it's wonderful that he's doing what he's doing, I'm 100% behind him, and I'd be absolutely delighted if he won. But its extremely unlikely. Texas is still solidly Republican. In another 10 years he'd have a real chance of winning, and in another 15 or 20 he'd be a shoe in.
That's not standard Democratic pre-defeat assumptionism, just a sad fact of the current voting population in Texas. I'm assuming a Cruz win because, sadly, that's the (much) more likely outcome.
That said, I think Beto is doing very good stuff that can help build up the Texas Democratic Party and at the very least he's turned what should have been a walk in the park automatic victory for Cruz into a real contest where Cruz is having to spend money rather than funding other Republicans. I really hope Beto won't drop out of politics if he loses, but rather will continue to rally the Party here in Texas and build up our voting base and speed up the shift of Texas from solid red to purple.
If he does win I'll be dancing in the streets. Literally, I'll go into a street and dance and I'll post a link to the video here on MeFi so you can all laugh at my pathetic old white guy dance moves. But don't expect a Beto victory, that's a surefire way to be disappointed.
posted by sotonohito at 7:52 AM on October 19, 2018 [43 favorites]
That's not standard Democratic pre-defeat assumptionism, just a sad fact of the current voting population in Texas. I'm assuming a Cruz win because, sadly, that's the (much) more likely outcome.
That said, I think Beto is doing very good stuff that can help build up the Texas Democratic Party and at the very least he's turned what should have been a walk in the park automatic victory for Cruz into a real contest where Cruz is having to spend money rather than funding other Republicans. I really hope Beto won't drop out of politics if he loses, but rather will continue to rally the Party here in Texas and build up our voting base and speed up the shift of Texas from solid red to purple.
If he does win I'll be dancing in the streets. Literally, I'll go into a street and dance and I'll post a link to the video here on MeFi so you can all laugh at my pathetic old white guy dance moves. But don't expect a Beto victory, that's a surefire way to be disappointed.
posted by sotonohito at 7:52 AM on October 19, 2018 [43 favorites]
I watched it, and I live in TX, since 2004.
My thoughts on it: he toed lines, a lot. He was also asked questions that were set up to be damning, as far as anyone undecided's concerned. "You want open borders." "You want to legalize drugs." "You want to impeach Trump." And, from the left: "you've raised so much money and you're being selfish and not giving it to the party [Ed. : that doesn't support 90% of candidates]" Which, come the fuck on.
It all felt like an attempted hit job. And I thought he handled it as well as anyone could have. Could, for example, Ted Cruz stand up and answer questions like that? Since, y'know, that's who he's running against. How it played out? I have no idea. But the audience reactions there were pretty positive. Granted, a lot of the audience was made up of UT students. I think he handled it better than just about anyone, on the spot, could have.
I'm going to see him tonight at Pod Save America's Austin taping. Will report back whether the shine is real.
posted by rp at 7:58 AM on October 19, 2018 [11 favorites]
My thoughts on it: he toed lines, a lot. He was also asked questions that were set up to be damning, as far as anyone undecided's concerned. "You want open borders." "You want to legalize drugs." "You want to impeach Trump." And, from the left: "you've raised so much money and you're being selfish and not giving it to the party [Ed. : that doesn't support 90% of candidates]" Which, come the fuck on.
It all felt like an attempted hit job. And I thought he handled it as well as anyone could have. Could, for example, Ted Cruz stand up and answer questions like that? Since, y'know, that's who he's running against. How it played out? I have no idea. But the audience reactions there were pretty positive. Granted, a lot of the audience was made up of UT students. I think he handled it better than just about anyone, on the spot, could have.
I'm going to see him tonight at Pod Save America's Austin taping. Will report back whether the shine is real.
posted by rp at 7:58 AM on October 19, 2018 [11 favorites]
To not abuse the edit window: I really do hope that Beto is playing the long game here and has a solid plan in place for a post-defeat continued campaign for Texas Democrats in general. We're basically written off by the national party, the Democratic candidate for the House seat in my hometown got jack from the national party, not even a call back when he phoned them up to ask what to do next after he got the nomination.
Texas is likely to turn purple due to demographic shift, but that's not guaranteed, and we need a really solid and aggressive state Democratic Party. If Beto can help our state Party grow and improve, and maybe even get us something more than the finger from the national Party I'd count that as a win even if Ted Cruz gets the Senate seat.
Among other things, Beto is showing that you can get a lot of enthusiasm and (hopefully) votes just by being a middle of the road Democrat who doesn't really call for anything to the left of the Party Platform. It's kind of horrifying, but simply being a Democrat who talks about the official Party Platform can make you sound like a fire breathing leftist compared to many/most elected Democrats.
And Beto is showing that the message of the Democratic Platform is popular even in Texas.
While a Beto victory would be amazing, I'd take a Beto influenced or led state Party as a second prize without too much griping. We really, desperately, need some organizing and leadership.
posted by sotonohito at 8:00 AM on October 19, 2018 [24 favorites]
Texas is likely to turn purple due to demographic shift, but that's not guaranteed, and we need a really solid and aggressive state Democratic Party. If Beto can help our state Party grow and improve, and maybe even get us something more than the finger from the national Party I'd count that as a win even if Ted Cruz gets the Senate seat.
Among other things, Beto is showing that you can get a lot of enthusiasm and (hopefully) votes just by being a middle of the road Democrat who doesn't really call for anything to the left of the Party Platform. It's kind of horrifying, but simply being a Democrat who talks about the official Party Platform can make you sound like a fire breathing leftist compared to many/most elected Democrats.
And Beto is showing that the message of the Democratic Platform is popular even in Texas.
While a Beto victory would be amazing, I'd take a Beto influenced or led state Party as a second prize without too much griping. We really, desperately, need some organizing and leadership.
posted by sotonohito at 8:00 AM on October 19, 2018 [24 favorites]
Sabine Parish judge rules Louisiana's split-jury law unconstitutional [Gordon Russell, The Advocate]
Less than a month before Louisiana voters weigh in on the future of the state’s unusual split-jury law, a Sabine Parish judge has issued a sweeping decision that declares the law was crafted with racist intent, continues to have a discriminatory impact today and thus violates the Fourteenth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.posted by melissasaurus at 8:01 AM on October 19, 2018 [28 favorites]
The ruling by 11th District Court Judge Stephen Beasley relied heavily on research by historians and legal scholars as well as an exhaustive analysis published this year by The Advocate of jury trials conducted across the state over a six-year period. The judge ruled that the newspaper's data provided "uncontroverted" proof that the state's split-verdict law has a disparate impact on both black defendants and black jurors. [...]
Louisiana’s law allows for verdicts in felony cases as long as 10 of 12 jurors agree. Oregon is the only other state with such a law. [...]
On Nov. 6, Louisiana voters will decide on a constitutional amendment that would, for the first time in 120 years, require Louisiana juries to return unanimous verdicts. If voters pass the measure, it would lessen the impact of Beasley's ruling substantially -- but not entirely. [...]
Beasley said his ruling applies to pending prosecutions as well as people who were found guilty but haven't run out of direct appeals. Even so, if the constitutional amendment passes, the ruling might only affect a handful of cases in Sabine Parish. But if it fails, [Sabine DA] Burkett said he'd almost certainly appeal.
Beto's "victory" is this. He's gained incredible recognition on the national level. I would like to see -- should he not be in the senate -- him as the VP on a 2020 ticket with Harris/Gillibrand/TBD. Time to try "Not Old White Men" for a while...
posted by mikelieman at 8:01 AM on October 19, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by mikelieman at 8:01 AM on October 19, 2018 [10 favorites]
Patagonia endorses Jon Tester in Montana and Jacky Rosen in Nevada, In what may be a first, Patagonia endorses two Senate candidates (WaPo):
posted by peeedro at 8:10 AM on October 19, 2018 [25 favorites]
What Patagonia is doing is different. For as much money as corporate interests have pumped into politics after the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision in 2010, Patagonia's pair of endorsements may constitute the first time any corporation has explicitly endorsed a candidate for office, experts say.Endorsements like these are usually done by political action committees established by corporations, not by the corporation itself, and wouldn't have been legal before Citizens United.
posted by peeedro at 8:10 AM on October 19, 2018 [25 favorites]
Meanwhile, down in Florida, the Tallahassee DSA along with other mutual Aide groups like Acvocate For The Poor are on the second week of clean up efforts
posted by The Whelk at 8:15 AM on October 19, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 8:15 AM on October 19, 2018 [15 favorites]
That would be the Patagonia that is owned by the Kochs, right?
posted by ArgentCorvid at 8:17 AM on October 19, 2018
posted by ArgentCorvid at 8:17 AM on October 19, 2018
No, that would be Patagonia, the company that uses Cordura nylon, much like nearly all of their competitors. Where did you get the notion that they’re owned by the Koch’s?
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 8:22 AM on October 19, 2018 [31 favorites]
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 8:22 AM on October 19, 2018 [31 favorites]
Patagonia is owned by Yvon Chouinard and is a certified California B corporation.
posted by peeedro at 8:25 AM on October 19, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 8:25 AM on October 19, 2018 [12 favorites]
Just because it was lost at the end of the old thread: Mara Liasson, Fox/NPR dual duty
posted by benzenedream at 8:30 AM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 8:30 AM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
Thank this stupid article for the Patagonia confusion. We went around about it a few threads ago.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 8:31 AM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by paper chromatographologist at 8:31 AM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
Beto's "victory" is this. He's gained incredible recognition on the national level.
And he's exposed Cruz as a skinsuit full of beetles who will abandon any principle to gain or retain power. I know that most of us saw that long ago, but Ted Cruz is a Republican who is hanging on by his fingernails in Texas. Has there been a statewide election that was remotely scary for a Texas Republican in this century?
posted by Etrigan at 8:31 AM on October 19, 2018 [21 favorites]
And he's exposed Cruz as a skinsuit full of beetles who will abandon any principle to gain or retain power. I know that most of us saw that long ago, but Ted Cruz is a Republican who is hanging on by his fingernails in Texas. Has there been a statewide election that was remotely scary for a Texas Republican in this century?
posted by Etrigan at 8:31 AM on October 19, 2018 [21 favorites]
Beto's "victory" is...
...his popularity and voters he brings to the polls will hopefully help carry a couple of Texas Ds to victory in House races.
posted by chris24 at 8:38 AM on October 19, 2018 [14 favorites]
...his popularity and voters he brings to the polls will hopefully help carry a couple of Texas Ds to victory in House races.
posted by chris24 at 8:38 AM on October 19, 2018 [14 favorites]
And he's exposed Cruz as a skinsuit full of beetles who will abandon any principle to gain or retain power.
I've been looking for ways to express this idea concisely than "just a walking, writhing mass of insects wearing Ted Cruz like a cheap suit." Thank you for this.
posted by Mayor West at 8:42 AM on October 19, 2018 [20 favorites]
I've been looking for ways to express this idea concisely than "just a walking, writhing mass of insects wearing Ted Cruz like a cheap suit." Thank you for this.
posted by Mayor West at 8:42 AM on October 19, 2018 [20 favorites]
I'm utterly shocked Trump hasn't let loose with one of insane, offhand remarks over this. Something along the lines of "Great way to deal with the corrupt press.
@nickwiger: We’re about a week out from the rally where Trump does an impression of Khashoggi getting murdered
posted by Atom Eyes at 8:48 AM on October 19, 2018 [41 favorites]
@nickwiger: We’re about a week out from the rally where Trump does an impression of Khashoggi getting murdered
posted by Atom Eyes at 8:48 AM on October 19, 2018 [41 favorites]
Just for the record, it looks like BitterOldPunk should get credit for first calling Cruz a skinsuit full of insects on MetaFilter at least.
posted by Etrigan at 8:49 AM on October 19, 2018 [32 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 8:49 AM on October 19, 2018 [32 favorites]
A political action committee run by Republican women opposed to Donald Trump is getting involved in Michigan's most competitive Congressional races — and supporting the Democrat candidates.
Republican Women for Progress PAC tells Metro Times it has taken out $50,000 television ad buys in Michigan's 11th and 8th Congressional District races. Both races feature a moderate Democrat against a Trump-aligned Republican. In MI-11, Democrat Haley Stevens is up against Republican Lena Epstein, the former Michigan chair for the Trump campaign. In MI-08, Elissa Slotkin is trying to unseat incumbent Rep. Mike Bishop.
“We think the best thing that we can do for the party and for the country right now is to make sure there are good women — Democrat or Republican — that are elected to office and who can serve as a check on this administration and on the president," says Meghan Milloy, co-founder of Republican Women for Progress. "[This effort] really was inspired by us talking to Republican women in these districts where they said there was just no way that they could vote for the Republican.”
Kindly note that this PAC is funded by California billionaire Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn fame, which is something of a disappointment only because I would love it all the more if it were a grass-roots thing. But hey, don't get me wrong. Happy to see this.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:52 AM on October 19, 2018 [11 favorites]
Republican Women for Progress PAC tells Metro Times it has taken out $50,000 television ad buys in Michigan's 11th and 8th Congressional District races. Both races feature a moderate Democrat against a Trump-aligned Republican. In MI-11, Democrat Haley Stevens is up against Republican Lena Epstein, the former Michigan chair for the Trump campaign. In MI-08, Elissa Slotkin is trying to unseat incumbent Rep. Mike Bishop.
“We think the best thing that we can do for the party and for the country right now is to make sure there are good women — Democrat or Republican — that are elected to office and who can serve as a check on this administration and on the president," says Meghan Milloy, co-founder of Republican Women for Progress. "[This effort] really was inspired by us talking to Republican women in these districts where they said there was just no way that they could vote for the Republican.”
Kindly note that this PAC is funded by California billionaire Reid Hoffman of LinkedIn fame, which is something of a disappointment only because I would love it all the more if it were a grass-roots thing. But hey, don't get me wrong. Happy to see this.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:52 AM on October 19, 2018 [11 favorites]
Trump Tells Cabinet Departments to Propose 5% Cuts in Spending During a meeting Wednesday, Trump told his Cabinet, “I’m going to ask everybody to come back with a 5 percent cut for our next meeting. There may be a special exemption, perhaps. I don’t know who that exemption would be.”
This is such transparent reality show bullshit. The executive branch doesn't set the budget, Trump's own budget proposals have been largely ignored even by the Republican-controlled Congress, and all but maybe two of the cabinet-level department heads (Defense and Homeland Security) actively want to cut their own budgets anyway. Zinke, for example, would happily shrink the Department of the Interior down to an oil, gas, mining, and cattle ranching lease sales office.
posted by jedicus at 8:55 AM on October 19, 2018 [23 favorites]
This is such transparent reality show bullshit. The executive branch doesn't set the budget, Trump's own budget proposals have been largely ignored even by the Republican-controlled Congress, and all but maybe two of the cabinet-level department heads (Defense and Homeland Security) actively want to cut their own budgets anyway. Zinke, for example, would happily shrink the Department of the Interior down to an oil, gas, mining, and cattle ranching lease sales office.
posted by jedicus at 8:55 AM on October 19, 2018 [23 favorites]
Trump Tells Cabinet Departments to Propose 5% Cuts in Spending During a meeting Wednesday, Trump told his Cabinet, “I’m going to ask everybody to come back with a 5 percent cut for our next meeting. There may be a special exemption, perhaps. I don’t know who that exemption would be.”
Remember when that Randian nitwit who destroyed Sears turned it into an interdepartmental contest?
posted by mikelieman at 9:00 AM on October 19, 2018 [23 favorites]
Remember when that Randian nitwit who destroyed Sears turned it into an interdepartmental contest?
posted by mikelieman at 9:00 AM on October 19, 2018 [23 favorites]
Where did you get the notion that they’re owned by the Koch’s?
Probably from skimming one of the previous threads.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 9:00 AM on October 19, 2018
Probably from skimming one of the previous threads.
posted by ArgentCorvid at 9:00 AM on October 19, 2018
Access to the ballot box in November will be more difficult for some people in Dodge City, where Hispanics now make up 60 percent of its population and have remade an iconic Wild West town that once was the destination of cowboys and buffalo hunters who frequented the Long Branch Saloon.
At a time when many rural towns are slowly dying, the arrival of two massive meatpacking plants boosted Dodge City’s economy and transformed its demographics as immigrants from Mexico and other countries flooded in to fill those jobs.
But the city located 160 miles (257 kilometers) west of Wichita has only one polling site for its 27,000 residents. Since 2002, the lone site was at the civic center just blocks from the local country club — in the wealthy, white part of town. For this November’s election, local officials have moved it outside the city limits to a facility more than a mile from the nearest bus stop, citing road construction that blocked the previous site.
“It is shocking that we only have one polling place, but that is only kind of scratching the surface of the problem,” said Johnny Dunlap, chairman of the Ford County Democratic Party. “On top of that, not only is it irrational and ridiculous that we have only one polling place, but Dodge City is one of the few minority majority cities in the state.”
A Democratic Party database compiled from state voter data shows Hispanic turnout during non-presidential elections is just 17 percent compared to 61 percent turnout for white voters in Ford County in 2014.
Dodge City’s turnout is below the national turnout rate of 27 percent among Latino eligible voters in 2014, which in itself was a record low that year for the country, according to the Pew Research Center .
“That is terrible,” Dunlap said of the sole polling site’s former location in a white neighborhood. “What that has contributed to is a way below average Hispanic turnout in voting in Dodge City,” Dunlap said.
Hispanic voters tend to vote Democratic and could be a factor in Kansas’ tight governor’s race featuring a champion of immigration restrictions, Republican Kris Kobach, against Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly.
Some local voters and the American Civil Liberties Union have long criticized the use of a lone Dodge City polling site even before its move just weeks before the midterm election.
That single polling site services more than 13,000 voters in the Dodge City area, compared to an average of 1,200 voters per polling site at other locations, said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU in Kansas.
Dodge City voters sometimes have to wait more than an hour in line to vote, and freight trains frequently block intersections at railroad tracks that split the town, Dunlap said.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:02 AM on October 19, 2018 [30 favorites]
At a time when many rural towns are slowly dying, the arrival of two massive meatpacking plants boosted Dodge City’s economy and transformed its demographics as immigrants from Mexico and other countries flooded in to fill those jobs.
But the city located 160 miles (257 kilometers) west of Wichita has only one polling site for its 27,000 residents. Since 2002, the lone site was at the civic center just blocks from the local country club — in the wealthy, white part of town. For this November’s election, local officials have moved it outside the city limits to a facility more than a mile from the nearest bus stop, citing road construction that blocked the previous site.
“It is shocking that we only have one polling place, but that is only kind of scratching the surface of the problem,” said Johnny Dunlap, chairman of the Ford County Democratic Party. “On top of that, not only is it irrational and ridiculous that we have only one polling place, but Dodge City is one of the few minority majority cities in the state.”
A Democratic Party database compiled from state voter data shows Hispanic turnout during non-presidential elections is just 17 percent compared to 61 percent turnout for white voters in Ford County in 2014.
Dodge City’s turnout is below the national turnout rate of 27 percent among Latino eligible voters in 2014, which in itself was a record low that year for the country, according to the Pew Research Center .
“That is terrible,” Dunlap said of the sole polling site’s former location in a white neighborhood. “What that has contributed to is a way below average Hispanic turnout in voting in Dodge City,” Dunlap said.
Hispanic voters tend to vote Democratic and could be a factor in Kansas’ tight governor’s race featuring a champion of immigration restrictions, Republican Kris Kobach, against Democratic state Sen. Laura Kelly.
Some local voters and the American Civil Liberties Union have long criticized the use of a lone Dodge City polling site even before its move just weeks before the midterm election.
That single polling site services more than 13,000 voters in the Dodge City area, compared to an average of 1,200 voters per polling site at other locations, said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU in Kansas.
Dodge City voters sometimes have to wait more than an hour in line to vote, and freight trains frequently block intersections at railroad tracks that split the town, Dunlap said.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:02 AM on October 19, 2018 [30 favorites]
Because if there is one thing we need more of in our political process, it is corporate speech:
In a last-ditch attempt to defeat one of the most far-reaching environmental measures on the 2018 ballot, a fossil fuel giant is blanketing Colorado television with election-focused political ads that it now claims are outside the purview of all state campaign finance laws. The maneuver — which pioneers a novel way for corporations to circumvent disclosure statutes and inject money directly into elections — has been blessed by the office of Secretary of State Wayne Williams, who has led a Republican political group bankrolled by the same fossil fuel corporation that is airing the ads.
At issue is Proposition 112, a landmark measure that would force fossil fuel companies to set their drilling and fracking operations further away from hospitals, schools, child care centers and residential neighborhoods. Natural gas colossus Noble Energy and its subsidiaries have been among the most prominent opponents of the initiative, disclosing $7.1 million in contributions to Protect Colorado, the issue committee opposing the initiative.
Noble has also given $200,000 to a PAC supporting the Republican majority in the state senate, which in recent years has been a bulwark against Democratic attempts to pass stronger safety and environmental protections regarding oil and gas operations.
However, on top of those disclosed and regulated expenditures, documents reviewed by Capital & Main show that Noble has also been airing its own corporate television ads against the measure — and the company refuses to tell state campaign finance regulators any details about the ads or about the amount it is spending on the spots.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:15 AM on October 19, 2018 [9 favorites]
In a last-ditch attempt to defeat one of the most far-reaching environmental measures on the 2018 ballot, a fossil fuel giant is blanketing Colorado television with election-focused political ads that it now claims are outside the purview of all state campaign finance laws. The maneuver — which pioneers a novel way for corporations to circumvent disclosure statutes and inject money directly into elections — has been blessed by the office of Secretary of State Wayne Williams, who has led a Republican political group bankrolled by the same fossil fuel corporation that is airing the ads.
At issue is Proposition 112, a landmark measure that would force fossil fuel companies to set their drilling and fracking operations further away from hospitals, schools, child care centers and residential neighborhoods. Natural gas colossus Noble Energy and its subsidiaries have been among the most prominent opponents of the initiative, disclosing $7.1 million in contributions to Protect Colorado, the issue committee opposing the initiative.
Noble has also given $200,000 to a PAC supporting the Republican majority in the state senate, which in recent years has been a bulwark against Democratic attempts to pass stronger safety and environmental protections regarding oil and gas operations.
However, on top of those disclosed and regulated expenditures, documents reviewed by Capital & Main show that Noble has also been airing its own corporate television ads against the measure — and the company refuses to tell state campaign finance regulators any details about the ads or about the amount it is spending on the spots.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:15 AM on October 19, 2018 [9 favorites]
Etrigan Has there been a statewide election that was remotely scary for a Texas Republican in this century?
Depends on how you define "in this century". If you mean "since the year 2000" then no. If you mean "in the past 100 years" then hell yes. Back before the great party realignment of 1968 Texas was solidly racist Democratic/Dixiecrat and didn't vote in Republicans to state offices since the end of the Civil War. And later, during the party realignment confusion, several actually pretty decent Democrats got elected in Texas including but not limited to Ann Richards.
Texas has only had about 30 or so years of being a Republican stronghold, though admittedly that's mostly just because politics is tribal and it took a while for the people who went around saying they'd never vote for the party of Lincoln to die off.
posted by sotonohito at 9:16 AM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
Depends on how you define "in this century". If you mean "since the year 2000" then no. If you mean "in the past 100 years" then hell yes. Back before the great party realignment of 1968 Texas was solidly racist Democratic/Dixiecrat and didn't vote in Republicans to state offices since the end of the Civil War. And later, during the party realignment confusion, several actually pretty decent Democrats got elected in Texas including but not limited to Ann Richards.
Texas has only had about 30 or so years of being a Republican stronghold, though admittedly that's mostly just because politics is tribal and it took a while for the people who went around saying they'd never vote for the party of Lincoln to die off.
posted by sotonohito at 9:16 AM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
And Away We Go! Early Voting Clues Point To Very High Interest Election
University of Florida professor Michael McDonald, who runs the United States Election Project blog, expects that some 45-50 percent of eligible U.S. voters will participate in the midterms—a figure not seen in a midterm election since 1970. In the 2014 midterms, slightly over a third of eligible voters, or 37 percent, cast ballots.posted by kirkaracha at 9:32 AM on October 19, 2018 [17 favorites]
The Virginia Public Access Project has a nifty visualization on early voting* in Va. Compared to 2017 statewide elections, early voting is up 75%, in VA-10 it's up 131% (buh-bye Barbara Comstock).
*Virginia doesn't really have early voting, but you can cast an early absentee ballot in person or by mail.
posted by peeedro at 9:38 AM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
*Virginia doesn't really have early voting, but you can cast an early absentee ballot in person or by mail.
posted by peeedro at 9:38 AM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
Texas has only had about 30 or so years of being a Republican stronghold, though admittedly that's mostly just because politics is tribal and it took a while for the people who went around saying they'd never vote for the party of Lincoln to die off.
Specifically WRT Texas governors: After Republican Edmund J. Davis left office in 1874, it would be 105 years before the state elected another Republican. (Of course, after Ann Richards left office in 1995, it's been a complete and utter horror show: five years of George W. Bush, thirteen years of Rick Perry, and three years and counting of current dipshit Greg Abbott.)
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:38 AM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
Specifically WRT Texas governors: After Republican Edmund J. Davis left office in 1874, it would be 105 years before the state elected another Republican. (Of course, after Ann Richards left office in 1995, it's been a complete and utter horror show: five years of George W. Bush, thirteen years of Rick Perry, and three years and counting of current dipshit Greg Abbott.)
posted by Atom Eyes at 9:38 AM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
*Virginia doesn't really have early voting, but you can cast an early absentee ballot in person or by mail.
And while we don't have "early voting" proper, the reasons one can claim (most without providing proof) for needing to vote absentee are pretty wide and varied. For VA-10 in particular the "I work outside my district" option applies for the sizable number of folks in Loudoun commuting into DC for their government jobs. I've found that with every passing election more people are aware of this. Hopefully someday we'll just drop the pretense and let folks vote when they want for whatever reason.
posted by phearlez at 9:45 AM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
And while we don't have "early voting" proper, the reasons one can claim (most without providing proof) for needing to vote absentee are pretty wide and varied. For VA-10 in particular the "I work outside my district" option applies for the sizable number of folks in Loudoun commuting into DC for their government jobs. I've found that with every passing election more people are aware of this. Hopefully someday we'll just drop the pretense and let folks vote when they want for whatever reason.
posted by phearlez at 9:45 AM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
Julian Assange: Wikileaks co-founder to take legal action against Ecuador
NO I WILL NOT CLEAN MY BATHROOM OR CARE FOR MY CAT
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:47 AM on October 19, 2018 [83 favorites]
NO I WILL NOT CLEAN MY BATHROOM OR CARE FOR MY CAT
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:47 AM on October 19, 2018 [83 favorites]
And while we don't have "early voting" proper, the reasons one can claim (most without providing proof) for needing to vote absentee are pretty wide and varied.
If you like data, VPAP is also tracking the reasons given for requesting absentee ballots, scroll down to select county/city.
posted by peeedro at 9:55 AM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
If you like data, VPAP is also tracking the reasons given for requesting absentee ballots, scroll down to select county/city.
posted by peeedro at 9:55 AM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
Years ago, in POTUS45 years, we had a lot of talk about how informed the questions asked of Zuck by Congress seemed to be. I've mentioned before the articles talking about how brain-drain from legislative staff has resulted in Congress leaning more on supplied sample law from lobbyist and interest groups. There's a new piece here about the diminishing number of Congressional staff over the last forty years and it's pretty grim. In that time CRS staff is down 28%, GAO down by 44%, and full-time committee staffing and committee hearings are down by about a quarter.
It's grim but quick reading.
posted by phearlez at 10:11 AM on October 19, 2018 [22 favorites]
It's grim but quick reading.
posted by phearlez at 10:11 AM on October 19, 2018 [22 favorites]
Even when the latter diverged at some point
Crucial, in retrospect, was the seizure and recapture of the Grand Mosque in Mecca in '79. Hardly remarked upon and mostly forgotten, but this was the nexus point. The King made a deal with the hardliner Wahabbists that they could basically control religion in the Kingdom, to quell further reactionary rebellion, and here we are.
Before that all signs were pointing to gradual reform. Iran and Afghanistan, too. It never had to be like this, these places could have been relatively normal liberal democracies by now if things had gone slightly differently...
posted by Meatbomb at 10:16 AM on October 19, 2018 [16 favorites]
Crucial, in retrospect, was the seizure and recapture of the Grand Mosque in Mecca in '79. Hardly remarked upon and mostly forgotten, but this was the nexus point. The King made a deal with the hardliner Wahabbists that they could basically control religion in the Kingdom, to quell further reactionary rebellion, and here we are.
Before that all signs were pointing to gradual reform. Iran and Afghanistan, too. It never had to be like this, these places could have been relatively normal liberal democracies by now if things had gone slightly differently...
posted by Meatbomb at 10:16 AM on October 19, 2018 [16 favorites]
@WalshFreedom
The President encourages & applauds physical violence against a journalist.
Hey Republicans, don't ever complain again about violence coming from the Left.
18 Oct 2018
(rewind)
@WalshFreedom
On November 8th, I'm voting for Trump.
On November 9th, if Trump loses, I'm grabbing my musket.
You in?
26 Oct 2016
Republicans like Joe Walsh might talk like they're on our side when it'll get them attention, but don't think they won't get right back to calling for your murder as soon as the wind shifts.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:17 AM on October 19, 2018 [55 favorites]
The President encourages & applauds physical violence against a journalist.
Hey Republicans, don't ever complain again about violence coming from the Left.
18 Oct 2018
(rewind)
@WalshFreedom
On November 8th, I'm voting for Trump.
On November 9th, if Trump loses, I'm grabbing my musket.
You in?
26 Oct 2016
Republicans like Joe Walsh might talk like they're on our side when it'll get them attention, but don't think they won't get right back to calling for your murder as soon as the wind shifts.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:17 AM on October 19, 2018 [55 favorites]
A vile ad supports French Hill's reelection in Arkansas. (Linked audio in tweet.) The Washington Post commented on the ad.
Hill has said he condemns the ad, but he has not demanded that stations pull it.
According to Ben Jacobs, "this ad comes from a group whose treasurer is a guy with no connection to French Hill's campaign who has a history of running provocative content just for attention and making money in the process."
Here's a link to donate to Hill's opponent Clarke Tucker.
posted by jgirl at 10:40 AM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
Hill has said he condemns the ad, but he has not demanded that stations pull it.
According to Ben Jacobs, "this ad comes from a group whose treasurer is a guy with no connection to French Hill's campaign who has a history of running provocative content just for attention and making money in the process."
Here's a link to donate to Hill's opponent Clarke Tucker.
posted by jgirl at 10:40 AM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
For all the hand-wringing over potential 2020 presidential candidates I don't know why people aren't embracing the obvious choice: naked guy punching NYPD car
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:02 AM on October 19, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:02 AM on October 19, 2018 [19 favorites]
Republicans like Joe Walsh might talk like they're on our side when it'll get them attention
It's Debord's world now.
"All that once was directly lived has become mere representation."
posted by Buntix at 11:07 AM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
It's Debord's world now.
"All that once was directly lived has become mere representation."
posted by Buntix at 11:07 AM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
Hill has said he condemns the ad, but he has not demanded that stations pull it is totally willing to benefit from it.
Since Republicans have gone all-in on following Trump in the most blatant appeals to racism, not one of them deserves the least benefit of the doubt when it comes to "condemning" garbage racist appeals made on their behalf.
We've talked before about how Democrats seem unwilling to attack Republicanism as a brand, but truly, the Republican Fausitan bargain with racism is one of that party's Achilles' heels. After the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Republicans could have joined with Democrats and declared racism has no place in American politics.
Instead, Lee Atwater and Richard Nixon cooked up the odious "Southern Strategy," and here we are.
posted by Gelatin at 11:09 AM on October 19, 2018 [10 favorites]
Since Republicans have gone all-in on following Trump in the most blatant appeals to racism, not one of them deserves the least benefit of the doubt when it comes to "condemning" garbage racist appeals made on their behalf.
We've talked before about how Democrats seem unwilling to attack Republicanism as a brand, but truly, the Republican Fausitan bargain with racism is one of that party's Achilles' heels. After the passage of the Civil Rights Act, Republicans could have joined with Democrats and declared racism has no place in American politics.
Instead, Lee Atwater and Richard Nixon cooked up the odious "Southern Strategy," and here we are.
posted by Gelatin at 11:09 AM on October 19, 2018 [10 favorites]
> For all the hand-wringing over potential 2020 presidential candidates I don't know why people aren't embracing the obvious choice: naked guy punching NYPD car
That led me to wonder what Vermin Supreme is up to these days.
Political activist Vermin Supreme sues to run for Kansas attorney general
AG gets outside help for lawsuit from Vermin Supreme
VERMIN SUPREME ATTORNEY GENERAL OF KANSAS
posted by homunculus at 11:26 AM on October 19, 2018 [16 favorites]
That led me to wonder what Vermin Supreme is up to these days.
Political activist Vermin Supreme sues to run for Kansas attorney general
AG gets outside help for lawsuit from Vermin Supreme
VERMIN SUPREME ATTORNEY GENERAL OF KANSAS
posted by homunculus at 11:26 AM on October 19, 2018 [16 favorites]
Georgia Purged About 107,000 People From Voter Rolls
With every report, the number just keeps growing.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 11:28 AM on October 19, 2018 [30 favorites]
With every report, the number just keeps growing.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 11:28 AM on October 19, 2018 [30 favorites]
@rubycramer [video]: Well, after a rally with Liz Watson in Bloomington, Indiana, @BernieSanders decided he wanted to walk to a polling place 0.6 miles away — he picked up a horde of a couple hundred running, screaming, crying, chanting fans and students, and a walking jazz band. I am sweating.
This is what democracy looks like.
Of course, the next tweet is also what democracy looks like: Also one persistent protester who shouted, “Go back to (expletive) 4chan, incels!“ to a bunch of college students.
posted by zachlipton at 11:35 AM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
This is what democracy looks like.
Of course, the next tweet is also what democracy looks like: Also one persistent protester who shouted, “Go back to (expletive) 4chan, incels!“ to a bunch of college students.
posted by zachlipton at 11:35 AM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
Julian Assange: Wikileaks co-founder to take legal action against Ecuador
NO I WILL NOT CLEAN MY BATHROOM OR CARE FOR MY CAT
This historical period will be known as the revolt of the manchild
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:36 AM on October 19, 2018 [45 favorites]
NO I WILL NOT CLEAN MY BATHROOM OR CARE FOR MY CAT
This historical period will be known as the revolt of the manchild
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:36 AM on October 19, 2018 [45 favorites]
Georgia Purged About 107,000 People From Voter Rolls
To the GOP, Georgia's not a state but a proving ground.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:37 AM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
To the GOP, Georgia's not a state but a proving ground.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:37 AM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
It's Friday, and that means somebody's getting charged with a crime! WaPo, Justice Dept. charges Russian woman with interference in midterm elections
posted by zachlipton at 11:38 AM on October 19, 2018 [31 favorites]
The Justice Department on Friday charged a Russian woman for her role in a conspiracy to interfere with the 2018 U.S. election, marking the first criminal case prosecutors have brought against a foreign national for interfering in the upcoming Midterms.Here's the DOJ press release and the criminal complaint.
Elena Khusyaynova, 44, was charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States. Prosecutors said she managed the finances of “Project Lakhta,” a foreign influence operation they said was designed “to sow discord in the U.S. political system” by pushing arguments and misinformation online about a whole host of divisive political issues, including immigration, the Confederate flag, gun control, and the NFL national anthem protests.
The charges against Khusyaynova came just as the Office of the Director of National Intelligence warned that it was concerned about “ongoing campaigns” by Russia, China and Iran to interfere with the upcoming Midterm elections and even the 2020 race — an ominous warning that comes just weeks before voters head to the polls.
posted by zachlipton at 11:38 AM on October 19, 2018 [31 favorites]
A Remarkable Unverified Claim by the President of Guatemala: 100 Migrants Linked to Terrorism Arrested in That Country
Congressional homeland security committees and DHS need to get to the bottom of this claim
Congressional homeland security committees and DHS need to get to the bottom of this claim
At a public conference attended by reporters and Vice President Mike Pence last week, Guatemala President Jimmy Morales made a striking claim based on what he said was classified intelligence.posted by scalefree at 11:44 AM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
The newspaper Prensa Libre quoted President Morales saying, during his turn at the lectern of a major regional security conference, that his administration had captured "close to 100 people completely linked to terrorist issues, with ISIS, and that not only have we arrested them within our territory, but they have been deported to their countries of origin."
The Guatemalan president was speaking October 11 during the second Conference for Prosperity and Security in Central America. Senior American officials were in attendance with the vice president, as was Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernandez, El Salvadoran Vice President Oscar Ortiz, Mexican Secretary of Foreign Affairs Luis Videgaray, and Mexican Secretary of Governance Alfonso Navarrete, among others.
No U.S. media reported the remarks; the Associated Press only reported Vice President Pence's speech, and the U.S. State Department posted the remarks of Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo. As far as is known, no U.S. official has commented on President Morales' remarkable claim of apprehending so many terrorist migrants.
Healthy skepticism is warranted here. (Guatemala happens to have requested $15 billion in border security assistance, and President Morales is laboring under accusations of corruption).
But the government of Guatemala apparently is standing by the claim, one that would carry significant implications to U.S. border security and immigration policy were it to vet out as even partly true.
@matthewamiller: Very strange that DNI/FBI/et al put out a statement accusing "Russia, China & other foreign actors" of trying to undermine confidence in democratic institutions less than an hour before DOJ indicts a Russian for interference. Would love to know the genesis of that statement.
Gosh, it's like someone took Trump's ranting about China literally and turned it into intelligence. Here's the full statement from ODNI, FBI, and DHS: Combating Foreign Influence in U.S. Elections.
posted by zachlipton at 11:45 AM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
Gosh, it's like someone took Trump's ranting about China literally and turned it into intelligence. Here's the full statement from ODNI, FBI, and DHS: Combating Foreign Influence in U.S. Elections.
posted by zachlipton at 11:45 AM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
To the GOP, Georgia's not a state but a proving ground.
There are reasons you'd expect Georgia to be one of the most effective states to do this in; the margins on the governor race are razor-thin and it's one of the lowest-elasticity states, so mere persuasion won't move the needle as much as getting out (or suppressing) the vote.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 11:48 AM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
There are reasons you'd expect Georgia to be one of the most effective states to do this in; the margins on the governor race are razor-thin and it's one of the lowest-elasticity states, so mere persuasion won't move the needle as much as getting out (or suppressing) the vote.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 11:48 AM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
Ted can break anything.
@AlexThomasDC Ted Cruz just tried to do a Facebook Live but his staff seems to have no idea how an iPhone camera works — here’s two minutes of bizarreness
[video?]
posted by scalefree at 11:55 AM on October 19, 2018 [15 favorites]
@AlexThomasDC Ted Cruz just tried to do a Facebook Live but his staff seems to have no idea how an iPhone camera works — here’s two minutes of bizarreness
[video?]
posted by scalefree at 11:55 AM on October 19, 2018 [15 favorites]
No, this headline is not from 1933: South Carolina Is Lobbying to Allow Discrimination Against Jewish Parents
The Trump Administration is considering whether to grant a South Carolina request that would effectively allow faith-based foster care agencies in the state the ability to deny Jewish parents from fostering children in its network. The argument, from the state and from the agency, is that the federal Religious Freedom Restoration Act should not force a Protestant group to work with Jewish people if it violates a tenet of their faith.posted by zombieflanders at 11:56 AM on October 19, 2018 [75 favorites]
The case being made by South Carolina is an extension of the debate around RFRA, which is more commonly associated with discrimination against LGBTQ people, but by no means applies exclusively to that group.
If granted, the exemption would allow Miracle Hill Ministries, a Protestant social service agency working in the state’s northwest region, to continue receiving federal dollars while “recruiting Christian foster families,” which it has been doing since 1988, according to its website. That discrimination would apply not just to Jewish parents, but also to parents who are Muslim, Catholic, Unitarian, atheist, agnostic or other some other non-Protestant Christian denomination.
No, this headline is not from 1933: South Carolina Is Lobbying to Allow Discrimination Against Jewish Parents
Sooner or later, they always come for the Jews.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:59 AM on October 19, 2018 [48 favorites]
Sooner or later, they always come for the Jews.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:59 AM on October 19, 2018 [48 favorites]
Ted Cruz just tried to do a Facebook Live but his staff seems to have no idea how an iPhone camera works — here’s two minutes of bizarreness
"oh my god. It gets worse"
posted by kirkaracha at 12:08 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
"oh my god. It gets worse"
posted by kirkaracha at 12:08 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
@AlexThomasDC Ted Cruz just tried to do a Facebook Live but his staff seems to have no idea how an iPhone camera works — here’s two minutes of bizarreness
[video?]
if you listen carefully you can hear a voice saying "libera te tutemet ex inferis"
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:11 PM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
[video?]
if you listen carefully you can hear a voice saying "libera te tutemet ex inferis"
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:11 PM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
That discrimination would apply not just to Jewish parents, but also to parents who are Muslim, Catholic, Unitarian, atheist, agnostic or other some other non-Protestant Christian denomination
I have no doubt that once they whittle out the obvious "others" they would turn their attention towards making sure they only work with the "right" kind of Protestants. This is what a lot of "religious freedom" folks I know fail to anticipate, that eventually they could find themselves practicing "wrong" kind of Christianity.
posted by history_denier at 12:11 PM on October 19, 2018 [17 favorites]
I have no doubt that once they whittle out the obvious "others" they would turn their attention towards making sure they only work with the "right" kind of Protestants. This is what a lot of "religious freedom" folks I know fail to anticipate, that eventually they could find themselves practicing "wrong" kind of Christianity.
posted by history_denier at 12:11 PM on October 19, 2018 [17 favorites]
Sooner or later, they always come for the Jews.
Yeah, but they haven't always also demanded taxpayer dollars while they're doing it.
posted by Gelatin at 12:13 PM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
Yeah, but they haven't always also demanded taxpayer dollars while they're doing it.
posted by Gelatin at 12:13 PM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
Manafort's sentencing has been set for Feb 8 for his Virginia trial and the 10 deadlocked charges have been dropped. Also from the WaPo:
Manafort, 69, appeared in court in a wheelchair Friday and did not rise when Ellis spoke to him. Defense attorney Kevin Downing said in court that there are “significant issues with Mr. Manafort’s health right now that have to do with his confinement.”posted by peeedro at 12:15 PM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
Those conditions are for Manafort’s safety, Downing said, but he asked that Ellis expedite the pre-sentence investigation so Manafort could move as soon as possible out of a local jail and presumably to a federal prison. Downing did not elaborate on Manafort’s health issues.
No, they just made them pay for the cost of their yellow stars.
posted by Melismata at 12:18 PM on October 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 12:18 PM on October 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
More detail on Manafort's health complaints from TPM
…Manafort showed up in a wheelchair, with his right foot appearing to be in some sort of white sock or wrapping…posted by murphy slaw at 12:18 PM on October 19, 2018
Downing was seeking to expedite Manafort’s sentencing, suggesting that moving him to the prison where he’d be detained long term would help him with his health condition.
Ellis set a sentencing date for February 8, 2019.
A person familiar with Manafort’s condition said it was a serious medical condition that had to do with inflammation related to his diet.
Trump, last night: "This will be an election of Kavanaugh, the caravan, law and order, and common sense...it's going to be an election of those things."
AP-NORC Poll: Just 1 in 4 thinks Kavanaugh told entire truth
"Thirty-nine percent said they believe Kavanaugh was mostly honest but hiding something when he testified last month before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the drama’s most unforgettable day. Another 31 percent said he was largely lying, and 25 percent said he was totally truthful. [...] Overall, 43 percent disapprove of Kavanaugh’s confirmation while 35 percent approve."
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:18 PM on October 19, 2018 [11 favorites]
AP-NORC Poll: Just 1 in 4 thinks Kavanaugh told entire truth
"Thirty-nine percent said they believe Kavanaugh was mostly honest but hiding something when he testified last month before the Senate Judiciary Committee, the drama’s most unforgettable day. Another 31 percent said he was largely lying, and 25 percent said he was totally truthful. [...] Overall, 43 percent disapprove of Kavanaugh’s confirmation while 35 percent approve."
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:18 PM on October 19, 2018 [11 favorites]
inflammation related to his diet.
... gout? It would be thematically appropriate for such a high-living individual.
posted by suelac at 12:20 PM on October 19, 2018 [29 favorites]
... gout? It would be thematically appropriate for such a high-living individual.
posted by suelac at 12:20 PM on October 19, 2018 [29 favorites]
i think that's pronounced 'guilt'.
posted by Harry Caul at 12:29 PM on October 19, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by Harry Caul at 12:29 PM on October 19, 2018 [12 favorites]
"oh my god. It gets worse"
How could SNL have predicted this one so accurately?
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:32 PM on October 19, 2018 [10 favorites]
How could SNL have predicted this one so accurately?
posted by JoeZydeco at 12:32 PM on October 19, 2018 [10 favorites]
Don't know how significant this is, but the Houston Chronicle, which supported Cruz in 2012, has endorsed Beto O'Rourke for Senate.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:35 PM on October 19, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 12:35 PM on October 19, 2018 [33 favorites]
Etrigan: "Has there been a statewide election that was remotely scary for a Texas Republican in this century?"
The AG and LG races this year are not considered GOP shoo-ins.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:35 PM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
The AG and LG races this year are not considered GOP shoo-ins.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:35 PM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
Owner of Major League Baseball team among funders of racist super PAC
White billionaire Charles Johnson is among those funding Black Americans for the President's Agenda and its outrageous racist radio ads. According to a tweet from the writer, of the 26 funders, the first 23 were all white. He hasn't been able to ID the remaining three yet.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:37 PM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
White billionaire Charles Johnson is among those funding Black Americans for the President's Agenda and its outrageous racist radio ads. According to a tweet from the writer, of the 26 funders, the first 23 were all white. He hasn't been able to ID the remaining three yet.
posted by Bella Donna at 12:37 PM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
They’re running the “Democrats will lynch black people” ad here in Missouri as well.
posted by EarBucket at 12:38 PM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by EarBucket at 12:38 PM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
What is it about the name 'Charles Johnson?'
posted by phearlez at 12:45 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by phearlez at 12:45 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
NBC, F-bombs and a storm-out among Trump's top staff as tensions rise over border policies, with further details
posted by zachlipton at 12:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [51 favorites]
During a meeting Thursday about the issue, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was explaining an 80 percent rise in immigrant families crossing the border when Bolton interrupted her to criticize her handling of the issue, two people familiar with the meeting said.International and federal law requires that the government allow people to seek aslyum at border crossings.
Bolton said Nielsen, a close Kelly ally, was doing a poor job with the border and that her department was not producing the needed results, these people said. He argued that she was failing at one of the signature tasks she has as Homeland Security secretary, they said. Bolton, as well as Trump's senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, also proposed sending armed guards to the border and denying entry to anyone without proper documentation, including asylum seekers, according to three people familiar with the discussions.
What began as a policy discussion turned into a harsh exchange between the two senior officials steps from the Oval Office in which Kelly told Bolton that he lacked an understanding of the complexities of immigration policy, and Bolton told Kelly his efforts so far have not been effective, people familiar with the discussion said. The exchange between Bolton and Kelly was first reported by Bloomberg.
According to three people familiar with the exchange, Kelly repeatedly used the f-word to punctuate his points. These people said Kelly, who had served as Trump’s first Secretary of Homeland Security, fiercely defended Nielsen, who has come under fire from Trump over her handling of the border.
The advisers then went into the Oval Office to discuss the matter with the president. Kelly ultimately stormed out of the White House early with no resolution on the issue, these people said. "I’m f---ng out of here," Kelly said, according to one person briefed on the exchange. The White House has not responded to request for comment about the exchange.
posted by zachlipton at 12:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [51 favorites]
every other completely fucked thing in that Kelly/Bolton story aside, how fucked is it that Kelly and Nielsen are the moderates on immigration policy in this administration?
posted by murphy slaw at 12:51 PM on October 19, 2018 [60 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 12:51 PM on October 19, 2018 [60 favorites]
There's kind of a lot of news today, isn't there? WSJ, Mueller Probes WikiLeaks’ Contacts With Conservative Activists
Mr. Mueller’s team has recently questioned witnesses about the activities of longtime Trump confidante Roger Stone, including his contacts with WikiLeaks, and has obtained telephone records, according to the people familiar with the matter.posted by zachlipton at 12:51 PM on October 19, 2018 [9 favorites]
Investigators also have evidence that the late GOP activist Peter W. Smith may have had advance knowledge of details about the release of emails from a top Hillary Clinton campaign official by WikiLeaks, one person familiar with the matter said. They have questioned Mr. Smith’s associates, the person said.
Right-wing pundit Jerome Corsi was also questioned by investigators about his interactions with Mr. Stone and WikiLeaks before a grand jury in September, according to a person familiar with the matter. Mr. Corsi declined to comment. A lawyer for Mr. Stone said he hasn’t been contacted by the special counsel. Mr. Smith died last year.
International and federal law requires that the government allow people to seek aslyum at border crossings.
Do you truly believe that the likes of Stephen Miller and John Bolton imagine themselves bound by either?
Plus, "we don't consider those to be actual 'people'" is floating through their heads.
posted by delfin at 12:52 PM on October 19, 2018 [9 favorites]
Do you truly believe that the likes of Stephen Miller and John Bolton imagine themselves bound by either?
Plus, "we don't consider those to be actual 'people'" is floating through their heads.
posted by delfin at 12:52 PM on October 19, 2018 [9 favorites]
The maneuver — which pioneers a novel way for corporations to circumvent disclosure statutes and inject money directly into elections — has been blessed by the office of Secretary of State Wayne Williams, who has led a Republican political group bankrolled by the same fossil fuel corporation that is airing the ads.
Wayne Williams, who was one of two Secretaries of State to cooperate with Kobach's voter fraud commission which led to over 4K Colorado voters removing themselves from the rolls, who was previously the Clerk and Recorder of El Paso County, whose wife is running for El Paso County Board of commisioners in my district, and who has questionable taste in western wear that he may have misused discretionary funds to purchase, is up for re-election. I cannot wait to vote for Jena Griswold, a former Obama voter protection lawyer, who is running on a platform of stopping dark money in CO politics.
posted by danielleh at 12:55 PM on October 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
Wayne Williams, who was one of two Secretaries of State to cooperate with Kobach's voter fraud commission which led to over 4K Colorado voters removing themselves from the rolls, who was previously the Clerk and Recorder of El Paso County, whose wife is running for El Paso County Board of commisioners in my district, and who has questionable taste in western wear that he may have misused discretionary funds to purchase, is up for re-election. I cannot wait to vote for Jena Griswold, a former Obama voter protection lawyer, who is running on a platform of stopping dark money in CO politics.
posted by danielleh at 12:55 PM on October 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
For all you Dodger fans out there, the MLB team with the principal owner donating to racist super PACs is San Francisco Giants. As if you needed a second guess.
posted by sideshow at 12:55 PM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by sideshow at 12:55 PM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
NYT:
The Trump administration is planning to tell Russian leaders next week that it is preparing to exit the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, according to American officials and foreign diplomats.posted by Chrysostom at 12:56 PM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
President Trump has been moving toward leaving the three-decade-old treaty because Russia has been violating it for years and because it is constraining the United States from deploying new weapons to counter the growing arsenal of intermediate-range weapons that China has deployed in seeking greater influence in the Western Pacific.
The White House said that no official decision had been made to leave the treaty, known as I.N.F., which was signed in 1987 by Ronald Reagan and was considered a critical step in defusing Cold War tensions. In the coming weeks, Mr. Trump is expected to sign off on the decision, which would mark the first time he has scrapped a major arms control treaty.
every other completely fucked thing in that Kelly/Bolton story aside, how fucked is it that Kelly and Nielsen are the moderates on immigration policy in this administration?
Perhaps it's hair-splitting, but I think it's less a matter of being more moderate about policy and more a matter of having some sense of awareness of actual law and a desire not to get dragged in front of a court. Trump, Bolton, Miller - these are all people who believe in just doing what they fucking please and they possess a (perhaps not entirely unreasonable) belief that they're never going to actually have to account for anything. Kelly and Nielsen, perhaps only reflexively after being in the system for this long, still have concern about fitting within the structures.
posted by phearlez at 12:57 PM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
Perhaps it's hair-splitting, but I think it's less a matter of being more moderate about policy and more a matter of having some sense of awareness of actual law and a desire not to get dragged in front of a court. Trump, Bolton, Miller - these are all people who believe in just doing what they fucking please and they possess a (perhaps not entirely unreasonable) belief that they're never going to actually have to account for anything. Kelly and Nielsen, perhaps only reflexively after being in the system for this long, still have concern about fitting within the structures.
posted by phearlez at 12:57 PM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
Although in all seriousness, the Giants have like 30 owners and I was under the impression that the "face" of the ownership group was Larry Baer.
posted by sideshow at 12:57 PM on October 19, 2018
posted by sideshow at 12:57 PM on October 19, 2018
Perhaps it's hair-splitting, but I think it's less a matter of being more moderate about policy and more a matter of having some sense of awareness of actual law and a desire not to get dragged in front of a court.
yeah i mean we're basically at the point where the moderate wing of the president's cabinet are the ones who consider the requirements of the law for several milliseconds before forming a plan to route around it
posted by murphy slaw at 1:00 PM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
yeah i mean we're basically at the point where the moderate wing of the president's cabinet are the ones who consider the requirements of the law for several milliseconds before forming a plan to route around it
posted by murphy slaw at 1:00 PM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
Bolton said Nielsen, a close Kelly ally, was doing a poor job with the border and that her department was not producing the needed results, these people said. He argued that she was failing at one of the signature tasks she has as Homeland Security secretary, they said. Bolton, as well as Trump's senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, also proposed sending armed guards to the border and denying entry to anyone without proper documentation, including asylum seekers, according to three people familiar with the discussions.
See, you (for values of "you" that equal "Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen") appease the fascists by setting up concentration camps for children, and they attack you for not militarizing the border.
We need to have a Nuremberg-level tribunal once this gang of criminals is out of power.
posted by Gelatin at 1:03 PM on October 19, 2018 [23 favorites]
See, you (for values of "you" that equal "Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen") appease the fascists by setting up concentration camps for children, and they attack you for not militarizing the border.
We need to have a Nuremberg-level tribunal once this gang of criminals is out of power.
posted by Gelatin at 1:03 PM on October 19, 2018 [23 favorites]
If elected, I will work closely with the folks who say I am a deep state communist MS-13 child trafficker
Immigration - There is no way I can ever support the "illegal immigrant juicer" that my opponent says must be installed along the border with Mexico, but I am willing to build more tent cities where confiscated illegal immigrant children can be auctioned off to weird foster parents banging at the gates like zombies.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:04 PM on October 19, 2018 [15 favorites]
Immigration - There is no way I can ever support the "illegal immigrant juicer" that my opponent says must be installed along the border with Mexico, but I am willing to build more tent cities where confiscated illegal immigrant children can be auctioned off to weird foster parents banging at the gates like zombies.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:04 PM on October 19, 2018 [15 favorites]
Hey, you know what's even more cost-effective than building a wall across a couple of thousand miles of border terrain?
Stationing armed guards across a couple of thousand miles of border terrain.
Unless Bolton and Miller think that we can put up a CROSS HERE sign and all of the migrants will form an orderly line...
posted by delfin at 1:10 PM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
Stationing armed guards across a couple of thousand miles of border terrain.
Unless Bolton and Miller think that we can put up a CROSS HERE sign and all of the migrants will form an orderly line...
posted by delfin at 1:10 PM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
From, wow, only earlier this month:
President Donald Trump was lobbied by immigration senior adviser Stephen Miller to stop issuing visas to Chinese students seeking to study in the United States. In the end, Trump agreed with Miller’s opponents in the debate.
Now I wonder if it were Kelly who slammed the brakes on this boneheaded racist fantasy.
In any case, Miller is a fucking racist scumbag. It's appalling and terrifying that people have to get between him and president dipshit.
posted by adept256 at 1:11 PM on October 19, 2018 [17 favorites]
President Donald Trump was lobbied by immigration senior adviser Stephen Miller to stop issuing visas to Chinese students seeking to study in the United States. In the end, Trump agreed with Miller’s opponents in the debate.
Now I wonder if it were Kelly who slammed the brakes on this boneheaded racist fantasy.
In any case, Miller is a fucking racist scumbag. It's appalling and terrifying that people have to get between him and president dipshit.
posted by adept256 at 1:11 PM on October 19, 2018 [17 favorites]
It's worth taking a few minutes to read through the latest Russia complaint, particularly starting around page 14 where it discusses how messages were targeted (some of the highlights are available in tweet form too).
A lot of the messaging efforts are more sophisticated than what we've seen before. For instance:
There's also the paid Russian troll who tweeted "I hope that all those Internet Research Agency f*ckers will be sent to gitmo," which is really a nice touch.
And then there's US Person 2, who was all in after being invited by a Russian troll to become an admin of the StopAllInvaders Facebook page, but had some concerns (ellipses in original):
posted by zachlipton at 1:15 PM on October 19, 2018 [26 favorites]
A lot of the messaging efforts are more sophisticated than what we've seen before. For instance:
For instance, "Citing an online news article titled "McCain Says Thining a Wall Will Stop Illegal Immigration is 'Crazy,'" from on or about August 5, 2017, a member of the Conspiracy directed that the article be messaged in the following way:Another example is to brand Paul Ryan "a complete and absolute nobody incapable of any decisiveness" and to support Brice. Another post instructs the trolls to warn of "forces of civil retribution" during the election if anti-Trump Republicans "will not stop acting as traitors," citing Michael Savage. CNN and Jeb! are attacked with language straight out of Trump's mouth, including claims that CNN published fake polls predicting a Clinton win and claims that news outlets were paid by the Clinton campaign. And they created Twitter accounts including the now-suspended @CovfefeNationUS.Brand McCain as an old geezer who has lost it and who long ago belonged in a home for the elderly. Emphasize that John McCain's pathological hatred towards Donald Trump and towards all his initiatives crosses all reasonable borders and limits. State that dishonorable scoundrels, such as McCain, immediately aim to destroy all the conservative voters' hopes as soon as Trump tries to fulfill his election promises and tries to protect the American interests. (Preliminary translation of Russian text.)
There's also the paid Russian troll who tweeted "I hope that all those Internet Research Agency f*ckers will be sent to gitmo," which is really a nice touch.
And then there's US Person 2, who was all in after being invited by a Russian troll to become an admin of the StopAllInvaders Facebook page, but had some concerns (ellipses in original):
US Person 2: but please tell me I'm not going to jail for thisOops.
...
Malone: jeez why would u
Malone: just page lol
Malone: i'll vouch fou 4 mb u get some money out that even
...
US Person 2: i trust you
posted by zachlipton at 1:15 PM on October 19, 2018 [26 favorites]
Palm Beach Post, EXCLUSIVE: Mar-a-Lago member Lana Marks headed to South Africa post?
President Donald Trump is said to be ready to nominate couture handbag designer and Palm Beach resident Lana Marks to become ambassador to South Africa, making her the fourth member of the Mar-a-Lago Club that the president has tapped for an ambassadorship.Besides the fact that she literally pays the President money every year, her resume has other qualities that appeal to Trump:
In more than a dozen past lawsuits against her in Aspen, New York, California and South Florida, Marks has repeatedly been accused of stiffing her attorneys, accountants, landlords and employees. She is also embroiled in bitter, international legal battles in South Africa and Israel with her siblings over a family trust and the care for their 89-year-old mother.posted by zachlipton at 1:23 PM on October 19, 2018 [14 favorites]
Palm Beach Post, EXCLUSIVE: Mar-a-Lago member Lana Marks headed to South Africa post?
Her credentials were sent to the SA Presidency about 3 weeks ago. I mean she's no Patrick Gaspard, but at least she isn't (previously rumoured nominee and Breitbart Editor) Joel Pollak.
posted by PenDevil at 1:29 PM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
Her credentials were sent to the SA Presidency about 3 weeks ago. I mean she's no Patrick Gaspard, but at least she isn't (previously rumoured nominee and Breitbart Editor) Joel Pollak.
posted by PenDevil at 1:29 PM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
WSJ, Justice Neil Gorsuch’s Speech to Catholic Group Closed to the Media
We're just not even pretending anymore.
posted by zachlipton at 1:33 PM on October 19, 2018 [51 favorites]
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch’s doctoral study on a conservative philosophy called natural law is a prime reason right-leaning legal thinkers recommended him to President Trump. But the public won’t have a chance to learn the jurist’s latest thoughts on the theory when he speaks Friday at a conference of Catholic legal scholars seeking to expand Christian influence on public policy.@KlasfeldReports: S̶e̶p̶a̶r̶a̶t̶i̶o̶n̶ ̶o̶f̶ ̶[̶R̶E̶D̶A̶C̶T̶E̶D̶]̶ ̶a̶n̶d̶ ̶[̶R̶E̶D̶A̶C̶T̶E̶D̶]̶
The sponsor, the Thomistic Institute, is barring journalists from covering the conference, titled “Christianity and the Common Good,” being held Friday and Saturday at Harvard Law School.
In an email, the Thomistic Institute’s director, the Rev. Dominic Legge, said coverage of Justice Gorsuch’s remarks would interfere with the event’s educational value. “The focus of this event is on the students having a fruitful encounter and exchange with the justice on an academic theme,” Father Legge said by email. “The decision that the event would be closed was mine, not the justice’s, and it was made in accord with our normal policy for such events.”
We're just not even pretending anymore.
posted by zachlipton at 1:33 PM on October 19, 2018 [51 favorites]
I'm envisioning less armed guards, more armed drones. At least, I'm sure that's what they'd like to have.
posted by BungaDunga at 1:34 PM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 1:34 PM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
President Trump has been moving toward leaving the three-decade-old treaty because Russia has been violating it for years and because it is constraining the United States from deploying new weapons to counter the growing arsenal of intermediate-range weapons that China has deployed in seeking greater influence in the Western Pacific.
I don't know if Russia has really been violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and though that paragraph presents the violation as fact, the sourcing in is vague. But I do know that I wouldn't trust Trump's word that the Russians are doing so, because he tells lies to get what he wants.
posted by Gelatin at 1:34 PM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
I don't know if Russia has really been violating the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, and though that paragraph presents the violation as fact, the sourcing in is vague. But I do know that I wouldn't trust Trump's word that the Russians are doing so, because he tells lies to get what he wants.
posted by Gelatin at 1:34 PM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
The Russians have been dicking about with the INF for years, the Obama administration thought they were in violation, too.
posted by BungaDunga at 1:37 PM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 1:37 PM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
Can Latin America do something to us? Like, isn't there some way Mexico could kick us in the balls? We've had it coming for a long time, from Mexico, I mean. It would be satisfying if Mexico kicked U.S.A.'s ass; maybe the humility that would ensue would make America tolerable again
posted by angrycat at 1:42 PM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 1:42 PM on October 19, 2018 [3 favorites]
No, this headline is not from 1933: South Carolina Is Lobbying to Allow Discrimination Against Jewish Parents
Of course, Miracle Hill covers Greenville, Pickens and Spartanburg counties. They should've made Lake Hartwell bigger and flooded the entire upstate. This paragraph is the kicker, tho:
posted by octobersurprise at 1:44 PM on October 19, 2018 [18 favorites]
Of course, Miracle Hill covers Greenville, Pickens and Spartanburg counties. They should've made Lake Hartwell bigger and flooded the entire upstate. This paragraph is the kicker, tho:
“I think that if Trump knew about this in detail, he wouldn’t be for it,” Lesser said. “Because he’s not a religious nut.” She’s a proud supporter of the president — and, she offered, she wanted Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh to be confirmed.If only the Tsar knew!
posted by octobersurprise at 1:44 PM on October 19, 2018 [18 favorites]
¡Pobre México, tan lejos de Dios y tan cerca de los Estados Unidos!
posted by kirkaracha at 1:45 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 1:45 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
Jefferson's Wall of Separation Letter
In which he writes to baptists about the establishment clause and building a wall of separation between Church & State.
I thought these guys were all about building walls.
posted by adept256 at 1:50 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
In which he writes to baptists about the establishment clause and building a wall of separation between Church & State.
I thought these guys were all about building walls.
posted by adept256 at 1:50 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
Separation between church and state doesn't mean a judge can never address a religious group. That doesn't violate Article 6 or the 1st amendment.
I don't like it and it appears to be unusual for a SCJ but I don't know that there are solid civic grounds to object.
posted by Miko at 1:55 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
I don't like it and it appears to be unusual for a SCJ but I don't know that there are solid civic grounds to object.
posted by Miko at 1:55 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
From upthread:
Ray Walston, Luck Dragon: This historical period will be known as the revolt of the manchild
Sure, they're revolting... but let's be honest, they've always been pretty revolting.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:00 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
Ray Walston, Luck Dragon: This historical period will be known as the revolt of the manchild
Sure, they're revolting... but let's be honest, they've always been pretty revolting.
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:00 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
Separation between church and state doesn't mean a judge can never address a religious group.It is not crazy, though, to have concerns when a highly politically polarized Supreme Court justice is addressing a religious group whose stated aim is "seeking to expand Christian influence on public policy," and the public is intentionally barred from learning what was discussed.
posted by Nerd of the North at 2:02 PM on October 19, 2018 [59 favorites]
For a Change, Democrats Seem Set to Equal or Exceed Republicans in Turnout
posted by kirkaracha at 2:05 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
A wide range of evidence indicates that Democratic voters are poised to vote in numbers unseen in a midterm election in at least a decade.Ceterum autem censeo Trumpem esse delendam
Democrats have largely erased the turnout deficit that hobbled them during the Obama presidency, according to results from more than 50 New York Times Upshot/Siena College polls of the most competitive House battleground districts.
Democrats may even be poised to post higher turnout than Republicans, a rarity, in many relatively white suburban districts on Nov. 6.
But it’s not clear if this blue turnout surge will extend much further, particularly among young and nonwhite voters. Whether Democrats turn out broadly could make the difference between a fairly close fight for control of the House and sweeping Democratic gains of 40 or more seats.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:05 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
how fucked is it that Kelly and Nielsen are the moderates on immigration policy in this administration
LE vs. CE
posted by Bovine Love at 2:06 PM on October 19, 2018 [14 favorites]
LE vs. CE
posted by Bovine Love at 2:06 PM on October 19, 2018 [14 favorites]
Sports Illustrated (just go with it, it's Friday), Emma Baccellieri, Meet the New York Teenager Who Created the 'Mets Are a Good Team' Super PAC
“My name’s Ben Aybar, and I’m a high school student. I’ve been working on how to form Super PACs for….” he took a beat, trying to remember how long it’s been. “A little over a week, now?”posted by zachlipton at 2:09 PM on October 19, 2018 [21 favorites]
Was he at school right now? Yeah, he said. Free period. He had a chem test later, but that’s later. Still: Could he talk after school, maybe, with his parents’ permission?
“Well, fun fact,” he said. “My parents don’t actually know that I’ve started a Super PAC.”
Later that day, he came clean to them.
“It’s really not something that my husband and I know anything about, how to form a Super PAC,” said his mother, Susie Aybar. “But I suppose it’s not that hard a thing to do, as he’s established.”
It's curious that “Mormon” isn't in the list of religious orientations ineligible for foster parenting
posted by XMLicious at 2:19 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by XMLicious at 2:19 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
And it's highly problematic that Scalia regularly took all expenses paid trips with Republican donors, and that Thomas' wife runs a partisan Republican attack group.
It's well past time to codify some enforceable ethics rules that apply to the Court. It might take a Constitutional amendment.
We can include that along with our court packing plan.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:24 PM on October 19, 2018 [42 favorites]
It's well past time to codify some enforceable ethics rules that apply to the Court. It might take a Constitutional amendment.
We can include that along with our court packing plan.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:24 PM on October 19, 2018 [42 favorites]
Hey cats and kittens! Who's ready to get fun-kay?! The latest Michael Cohen is tiiiight! Let's kick it!
"Listen, here's my recommendation. Grab your family, grab your friends, grab your neighbors, and get to the poll, because if not, you are going to have another two or another six years of this craziness," Cohen told CNN in a brief interview outside of his Manhattan home. "So, make sure you vote. All right?"
...Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, said his client changed his party registration back to Democrat last week. Cohen was a Democrat for years, but changed his official registration to Republican after the 2016 election.
... to become deputy finance chair of the Republican National Committee. As one does.
I mean, I don't ... is this real life?
Check out the pic, he's got a whole Leonard Cohen vibe happening ... which ... I don't ...
posted by petebest at 2:28 PM on October 19, 2018 [15 favorites]
"Listen, here's my recommendation. Grab your family, grab your friends, grab your neighbors, and get to the poll, because if not, you are going to have another two or another six years of this craziness," Cohen told CNN in a brief interview outside of his Manhattan home. "So, make sure you vote. All right?"
...Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, said his client changed his party registration back to Democrat last week. Cohen was a Democrat for years, but changed his official registration to Republican after the 2016 election.
... to become deputy finance chair of the Republican National Committee. As one does.
I mean, I don't ... is this real life?
Check out the pic, he's got a whole Leonard Cohen vibe happening ... which ... I don't ...
posted by petebest at 2:28 PM on October 19, 2018 [15 favorites]
Julian Assange is fighting the Ecuadorian government over a cat
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:32 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 2:32 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, said his client changed his party registration back to Democrat last week. Cohen was a Democrat for years, but changed his official registration to Republican after the 2016 election.In general I'm in favor of welcoming repentant Republicans back into the fold but Cohen? Screw him. Is there any way for the Democratic Party to officially say "umm.. Thanks, but no"?
posted by Nerd of the North at 2:33 PM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
Julian Assange is fighting the Ecuadorian government over a cat
TIL that proff’s cat has an instagram acct.
EmbassyCat
posted by scalefree at 2:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
TIL that proff’s cat has an instagram acct.
EmbassyCat
posted by scalefree at 2:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
Why doesn't Ecuador just kick him out like a shitty tenant and let whatever happens to him happen to him? Why are they even bothering to put up with him anymore?
posted by fluttering hellfire at 2:52 PM on October 19, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 2:52 PM on October 19, 2018 [17 favorites]
What seems more significant to me than the Houston Chronicle endorsement mentioned above is a Longview News-Journal endorsement for Beto! I've lived in Texas for most of my life, and in my mind it doesn't get any redder than deep East Texas like Longview's neck of the woods.
posted by marshmallow peep at 2:57 PM on October 19, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by marshmallow peep at 2:57 PM on October 19, 2018 [17 favorites]
> TIL that proff’s cat has an instagram acct.
EmbassyCat
What a weird account. It comes close to having humor but then... just doesn't. Maybe it's the thought of being stuck in a room with any of those people.
What is "proff," in this context?
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:58 PM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
EmbassyCat
What a weird account. It comes close to having humor but then... just doesn't. Maybe it's the thought of being stuck in a room with any of those people.
What is "proff," in this context?
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:58 PM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
NYT, Katie Benner, Justice Dept. Rank-and-File Tell of Discontent Over Sessions’s Approach, featuring interviews with two dozen current and former career lawyers.
In one instance, Mr. Sessions directly questioned a career lawyer, Stephen Buckingham, who was asked to find ways to file a lawsuit to crack down on sanctuary laws protecting undocumented immigrants. Mr. Buckingham, who had worked at the Justice Department for about a decade, wrote in a brief that he could find no legal grounds for such a case.posted by zachlipton at 3:01 PM on October 19, 2018 [11 favorites]
Reminding Mr. Buckingham of the attorney general’s bona fides as an immigration hard-liner, Mr. Sessions asked him to come to a different conclusion, according to three people who worked alongside Mr. Buckingham in the federal programs division and were briefed on the exchange.
To Mr. Buckingham’s colleagues, the episode was an example of Mr. Sessions stifling dissent and opening the department to losses in court.
Mr. Buckingham resigned a few months later, and Mr. Sessions got his lawsuit. A federal judge dismissed most of the case, and the department has appealed. Both Mr. Buckingham and Ms. Flores declined to comment on the episode.
"Proff" was a screenname used at one point by Assange.
posted by Kadin2048 at 3:02 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Kadin2048 at 3:02 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
WaPo, Trump appointee tapped days ago to run Interior Department’s watchdog office resigns amid controversy
posted by zachlipton at 3:04 PM on October 19, 2018 [26 favorites]
A top Trump administration political appointee who just two days ago was on track to lead the Interior Department’s inspector general’s office resigned Friday from the federal government, according to an administration official.This entire story, which has featured Interior putting out a statement declaring that Ben Carson put disseminated "false information" and now a sudden resignation, has been utterly bonkers and I have no idea what's going on.
Suzanne Israel Tufts was scheduled to be interviewed Friday morning for another inspector general position elsewhere in the government, according to a person with knowledge of the interview. But she did not show up for the appointment.
posted by zachlipton at 3:04 PM on October 19, 2018 [26 favorites]
"Proff" was a screenname used at one point by Assange.
Yep, it's what he called himself on IRC back in the day when we hung out on #hack. It's still weird to see him in the news.
posted by scalefree at 3:09 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
Yep, it's what he called himself on IRC back in the day when we hung out on #hack. It's still weird to see him in the news.
posted by scalefree at 3:09 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
This entire story, which has featured Interior putting out a statement declaring that Ben Carson put disseminated "false information" and now a sudden resignation, has been utterly bonkers and I have no idea what's going on.
I've yet to see anything approaching an explanation of how it happened, whose idea it was.
posted by scalefree at 3:11 PM on October 19, 2018
I've yet to see anything approaching an explanation of how it happened, whose idea it was.
posted by scalefree at 3:11 PM on October 19, 2018
Julian Assange is fighting the Ecuadorian government over a cat
Classic forced centrism from establishment media. It's definitely Ecuador and the cat versus Assange.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:14 PM on October 19, 2018 [11 favorites]
Classic forced centrism from establishment media. It's definitely Ecuador and the cat versus Assange.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:14 PM on October 19, 2018 [11 favorites]
Jamal Khashoggi is dead, Saudi Arabian state television confirms
The news, which cited preliminary findings from an official investigation, was announced on state television on Friday. It said a fight broke out between Khashoggi and people who met him in the consulate, leading to the death of the reporter.
[they brought a coroner and a bonesaw]
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:24 PM on October 19, 2018 [18 favorites]
The news, which cited preliminary findings from an official investigation, was announced on state television on Friday. It said a fight broke out between Khashoggi and people who met him in the consulate, leading to the death of the reporter.
[they brought a coroner and a bonesaw]
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:24 PM on October 19, 2018 [18 favorites]
It said a fight broke out between Khashoggi and people who met him in the consulate
In the same way a fight broke out between Leon Trotsky and Ramon Mercader.
posted by dng at 3:29 PM on October 19, 2018 [36 favorites]
In the same way a fight broke out between Leon Trotsky and Ramon Mercader.
posted by dng at 3:29 PM on October 19, 2018 [36 favorites]
MBS and Susan Collins believe something happened to Khashoggi, but they don't believe who did it. If he was really murdered, why didn't he come forward sooner? An investigation should get to the bottom of this, but not one that's allowed to interview MBS or any of the 15 hitmen.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:30 PM on October 19, 2018 [66 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:30 PM on October 19, 2018 [66 favorites]
Let this henceforth define gaslighting.
posted by stonepharisee at 3:30 PM on October 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by stonepharisee at 3:30 PM on October 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
It's curious that “Mormon” isn't in the list of religious orientations ineligible for foster parenting
If you are referring to an actual list, then yeah that makes sense since "Mormon" is a term used by outsiders to describe members of the The Church of Latter Day Saints.
posted by sideshow at 3:31 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you are referring to an actual list, then yeah that makes sense since "Mormon" is a term used by outsiders to describe members of the The Church of Latter Day Saints.
posted by sideshow at 3:31 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
If you are referring to an actual list, then yeah that makes sense since "Mormon" is a term used by outsiders to describe members of the The Church of Latter Day Saints.
Well, since like a month ago or whatever, officially. But most LDS church members use the term still, and have for a long time.
posted by eyesontheroad at 3:38 PM on October 19, 2018 [14 favorites]
Why doesn't Ecuador just kick him out like a shitty tenant and let whatever happens to him happen to him? Why are they even bothering to put up with him anymore?
I would imagine that they've been told, in no uncertain terms, that very bad things will happen (up to and including polonium milkshakes) should they fail to keep Assange out of the hands of the Western powers.
posted by delfin at 3:39 PM on October 19, 2018
I would imagine that they've been told, in no uncertain terms, that very bad things will happen (up to and including polonium milkshakes) should they fail to keep Assange out of the hands of the Western powers.
posted by delfin at 3:39 PM on October 19, 2018
can we call lies lies and let gaslighting refer to the fairly specific thing it originally meant? cause it was a useful descriptor for an ongoing pattern of behavior, common in DV situations, and now it just kinda means lying in general.
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:40 PM on October 19, 2018 [41 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 3:40 PM on October 19, 2018 [41 favorites]
Well, since like a month ago or whatever, officially. But most LDS church members use the term still, and have for a long time.
The church president released the new LDS name policy a month ago, unironically I assume, on his official twitter account @MormonNewsroom and posted on his official web site MormonNewsroom.org.
posted by JackFlash at 3:51 PM on October 19, 2018 [23 favorites]
The church president released the new LDS name policy a month ago, unironically I assume, on his official twitter account @MormonNewsroom and posted on his official web site MormonNewsroom.org.
posted by JackFlash at 3:51 PM on October 19, 2018 [23 favorites]
The American Economy Is Rigged, by Nobel-winning economist Joe Stiglitz, in that left-wing rag, Scientific American.
"Since the mid-1970s the rules of the economic game have been rewritten, both globally and nationally, in ways that advantage the rich and disadvantage the rest. And they have been rewritten further in this perverse direction in the U.S. than in other developed countries—even though the rules in the U.S. were already less favorable to workers. From this perspective, increasing inequality is a matter of choice: a consequence of our policies, laws and regulations."
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 3:52 PM on October 19, 2018 [52 favorites]
"Since the mid-1970s the rules of the economic game have been rewritten, both globally and nationally, in ways that advantage the rich and disadvantage the rest. And they have been rewritten further in this perverse direction in the U.S. than in other developed countries—even though the rules in the U.S. were already less favorable to workers. From this perspective, increasing inequality is a matter of choice: a consequence of our policies, laws and regulations."
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 3:52 PM on October 19, 2018 [52 favorites]
The Alaska governor's race just got funkier- the incumbent independent Bill Walker dropped out, but it's too late to take his name off the ballot. He was expected to take a chunk of the reasonable-person vote and leave Mike Dunleavy (R) the winner in a three-way race.
He endorsed the Democratic candidate on his way out the door. The race is now former Anchorage mayor and one-term Senator Mark Begich (D) vs. Dunleavy. Getting people to NOT vote for Walker will take a significant amount of voter education...everyone pray for a blue wave even up here.
posted by charmedimsure at 4:01 PM on October 19, 2018 [41 favorites]
He endorsed the Democratic candidate on his way out the door. The race is now former Anchorage mayor and one-term Senator Mark Begich (D) vs. Dunleavy. Getting people to NOT vote for Walker will take a significant amount of voter education...everyone pray for a blue wave even up here.
posted by charmedimsure at 4:01 PM on October 19, 2018 [41 favorites]
It's worth taking a few minutes to read through the latest Russia complaint, particularly starting around page 14 where it discusses how messages were targeted (some of the highlights are available in tweet form too).
Yes... READ THE COMPLAINT!
Now, I've been following the filings during Operation C-F, and I'm reading through this and realize....
This is their finance person. They have the books.
Game over, man. Game over. Now it's just following the money back to, say... Roger Stone... Maybe this is old news, because Manafort was in on it.
Congratulations to Mueller's team, for the most 100% leak-proof investigation I've ever heard of.
posted by mikelieman at 4:05 PM on October 19, 2018 [38 favorites]
Yes... READ THE COMPLAINT!
Now, I've been following the filings during Operation C-F, and I'm reading through this and realize....
This is their finance person. They have the books.
Game over, man. Game over. Now it's just following the money back to, say... Roger Stone... Maybe this is old news, because Manafort was in on it.
Congratulations to Mueller's team, for the most 100% leak-proof investigation I've ever heard of.
posted by mikelieman at 4:05 PM on October 19, 2018 [38 favorites]
Jeff Tiedrich no one could have predicted that the party of Nazis, child molesters, wife beaters, con artists, embezzlers, stock market cheaters, pedophile wrestling coaches, compromised Russian assets and blackout-drunk rapist judges would also be the party of bone saw murder apologists
posted by growabrain at 4:22 PM on October 19, 2018 [106 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 4:22 PM on October 19, 2018 [106 favorites]
can we call lies lies and let gaslighting refer to the fairly specific thing it originally meant? cause it was a useful descriptor for an ongoing pattern of behavior, common in DV situations, and now it just kinda means lying in general.
So as I understand it gaslighting is a form of persuasion to make you doubt what you know is true. The Saudi explanation isn't particularly believable & isn't meant to be believed, so no, not gaslighting.
posted by scalefree at 4:28 PM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
So as I understand it gaslighting is a form of persuasion to make you doubt what you know is true. The Saudi explanation isn't particularly believable & isn't meant to be believed, so no, not gaslighting.
posted by scalefree at 4:28 PM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
Because it wouldn't be a Friday night news dump without something from SCOTUS…
Buzzfeed's Chris Geidner: "BREAKING: Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily halts discovery and the upcoming trial in the kids’ climate change case, pending a response to DOJ’s stay request, which is due by 3p Wednesday. The trial was slated to start at the end of this month; it’s not clear how quickly after Wednesday #SCOTUS will resolve the stay request."
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:30 PM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
Buzzfeed's Chris Geidner: "BREAKING: Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily halts discovery and the upcoming trial in the kids’ climate change case, pending a response to DOJ’s stay request, which is due by 3p Wednesday. The trial was slated to start at the end of this month; it’s not clear how quickly after Wednesday #SCOTUS will resolve the stay request."
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:30 PM on October 19, 2018 [13 favorites]
Chief Justice John Roberts temporarily halts discovery and the upcoming trial in the kids’ climate change case
There's no way a court with Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, and Thomas on it is going to recognize a constitutionally-protected right to a functioning climate.
posted by suelac at 4:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [26 favorites]
There's no way a court with Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, and Thomas on it is going to recognize a constitutionally-protected right to a functioning climate.
posted by suelac at 4:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [26 favorites]
John Bolton pushing Trump to withdraw from Russian nuclear arms treaty.
Former US officials say Bolton is blocking talks on extending the 2010 New Start treaty with Russia limiting deployed strategic nuclear warheads and their delivery systems.
posted by adamvasco at 4:49 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Former US officials say Bolton is blocking talks on extending the 2010 New Start treaty with Russia limiting deployed strategic nuclear warheads and their delivery systems.
posted by adamvasco at 4:49 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
At this point the Saudis should just run every statement through Sarah Huckabee Sanders, because it's the same "Fuck you, I don't have to explain anything" response she gives to everything. The lies aren't meant to fool anyone. They're only a transparent veil over an upturned middle finger.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 4:59 PM on October 19, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 4:59 PM on October 19, 2018 [24 favorites]
Here's an article from The Verge that nicely summarises the recent Russian interference charges:
Russian woman charged with managing budget for US election interference plot
posted by michswiss at 5:02 PM on October 19, 2018 [11 favorites]
Russian woman charged with managing budget for US election interference plot
posted by michswiss at 5:02 PM on October 19, 2018 [11 favorites]
At this point the Saudis should just run every statement through Sarah Huckabee Sanders
Which reminds me... did they just give up on the daily brief completely? I can't remember the last time I saw Sanders at the podium?
posted by Justinian at 5:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
Which reminds me... did they just give up on the daily brief completely? I can't remember the last time I saw Sanders at the podium?
posted by Justinian at 5:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [2 favorites]
Which reminds me... did they just give up on the daily brief completely? I can't remember the last time I saw Sanders at the podium?
Basically, yes. They do not do daily on-camera briefings anymore. In September, there was only one. I have no idea what SHS does every day if she doesn't have to prep for a daily press pool.
posted by dis_integration at 5:55 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
Basically, yes. They do not do daily on-camera briefings anymore. In September, there was only one. I have no idea what SHS does every day if she doesn't have to prep for a daily press pool.
posted by dis_integration at 5:55 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
I'm going to be really impressed with tactics if/when future cases against the current actual leaders on the US side (Stone, Trump) heavily rely on details from all these existing cases that were already successfully prosecuted.
Offhand, I recall it's been:
1) U.S. v. George Papadopoulos (1:17-cr-182, District of Columbia) ( Trump campaign )
2) U.S. v. Michael T. Flynn (1:17-cr-232, District of Columbia) ( Trump campaign, transition, admin )
3) U.S. v. Richard Pinedo, et al (1:18-cr-24, District of Columbia) ( Identity theft, stolen bank accounts )
Then Mueller's team pivots
4) U.S. v. Internet Research Agency, et al (1:18-cr-32, District of Columbia) ( Russian COMPANY )
5) U.S. v. Alex van der Zwaan (1:18-cr-31, District of Columbia) (Manafort/Gates/Ukraine)
6) U.S. v. Paul J. Manafort, Jr., and Richard W. Gates III (1:18-cr-83, Eastern District of Virginia)
7) U.S. v. Konstantin Kilimnik (1:17-cr-201, District of Columbia) (Obstruction )
8) U.S. v. Viktor Borisovich Netyksho, et al (1:18-cr-215, District of Columbia) **** ( RUSSIAN GOV'T OFFICERS)
9) U.S. v. Paul J. Manafort, Jr. (1:17-cr-201, District of Columbia) ( Plea deal )
And now this...
10) Russian woman charged with managing budget for US election interference plot...
Indeed, he's laying brick by brick to make a foundation that will not fail...
posted by mikelieman at 6:02 PM on October 19, 2018 [32 favorites]
Offhand, I recall it's been:
1) U.S. v. George Papadopoulos (1:17-cr-182, District of Columbia) ( Trump campaign )
2) U.S. v. Michael T. Flynn (1:17-cr-232, District of Columbia) ( Trump campaign, transition, admin )
3) U.S. v. Richard Pinedo, et al (1:18-cr-24, District of Columbia) ( Identity theft, stolen bank accounts )
Then Mueller's team pivots
4) U.S. v. Internet Research Agency, et al (1:18-cr-32, District of Columbia) ( Russian COMPANY )
5) U.S. v. Alex van der Zwaan (1:18-cr-31, District of Columbia) (Manafort/Gates/Ukraine)
6) U.S. v. Paul J. Manafort, Jr., and Richard W. Gates III (1:18-cr-83, Eastern District of Virginia)
7) U.S. v. Konstantin Kilimnik (1:17-cr-201, District of Columbia) (Obstruction )
8) U.S. v. Viktor Borisovich Netyksho, et al (1:18-cr-215, District of Columbia) **** ( RUSSIAN GOV'T OFFICERS)
9) U.S. v. Paul J. Manafort, Jr. (1:17-cr-201, District of Columbia) ( Plea deal )
And now this...
10) Russian woman charged with managing budget for US election interference plot...
Indeed, he's laying brick by brick to make a foundation that will not fail...
posted by mikelieman at 6:02 PM on October 19, 2018 [32 favorites]
This is their finance person. They have the books.
Game over, man. Game over. Now it's just following the money back to, say... Roger Stone... Maybe this is old news, because Manafort was in on it.
The Untouchables: The Bookkeeper
posted by scalefree at 6:10 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Game over, man. Game over. Now it's just following the money back to, say... Roger Stone... Maybe this is old news, because Manafort was in on it.
The Untouchables: The Bookkeeper
posted by scalefree at 6:10 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Charles Pierce: The Ratf*ckers Are Hard at Work All Over This Fair Nation: In Missouri, North Carolina, and Georgia, Republicans are working overtime.
Donald Trump Is Not the President* of the United States in Any Way That Matters: He has transformed the office into just another adjunct of the multigenerational criminal enterprise to which he was heir.
posted by homunculus at 6:44 PM on October 19, 2018 [35 favorites]
Donald Trump Is Not the President* of the United States in Any Way That Matters: He has transformed the office into just another adjunct of the multigenerational criminal enterprise to which he was heir.
posted by homunculus at 6:44 PM on October 19, 2018 [35 favorites]
Trump Praises Saudi Arabia’s Response to Killing
President Trump said the Saudi arrests in Khashoggi killing are ‘great first step,’ doesn’t want any sanctions to include arms deals, the Washington Post reports.
Trump said that he’ll work with Congress on what the U.S. response should be, but that he’d prefer not to hurt American companies and jobs by cutting billions of dollars in arms sales to the kingdom.
(via)
Yeah what about are jorbs! It's okay WaPo, just put "kickbacks" in there. Nothin's gonna happen.
posted by petebest at 6:47 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
President Trump said the Saudi arrests in Khashoggi killing are ‘great first step,’ doesn’t want any sanctions to include arms deals, the Washington Post reports.
Trump said that he’ll work with Congress on what the U.S. response should be, but that he’d prefer not to hurt American companies and jobs by cutting billions of dollars in arms sales to the kingdom.
(via)
Yeah what about are jorbs! It's okay WaPo, just put "kickbacks" in there. Nothin's gonna happen.
posted by petebest at 6:47 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
I give it 2 days before Trump praises Saudi Arabia as a job creator, for example creating openings for newspaper columnists.
posted by Justinian at 6:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 6:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [9 favorites]
Again, the KC star is the superior paper of this state. The McCaskill story in the Pierce piece is a big deal and isn't even on the front page of the Post-Dispatch. Local media, do your fucking jobs.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 6:51 PM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 6:51 PM on October 19, 2018 [4 favorites]
@kylegriffin1 [video]: Reporter: "What evidence do you have that these are hardened criminals that are coming to the United States?" Trump: "Oh, please. Please. Don't be a baby. OK?"
You will be unsurprised to learn that the reporter he attacked was a woman, the New York Times' Emily Cochrane. And many of the migrants he's calling hardened criminals are, in fact, literal babies. He went on to explain that you can tell that they're criminals by looking, just to make it clear he's being racist.
posted by zachlipton at 7:18 PM on October 19, 2018 [40 favorites]
You will be unsurprised to learn that the reporter he attacked was a woman, the New York Times' Emily Cochrane. And many of the migrants he's calling hardened criminals are, in fact, literal babies. He went on to explain that you can tell that they're criminals by looking, just to make it clear he's being racist.
posted by zachlipton at 7:18 PM on October 19, 2018 [40 favorites]
To recap, Trump, last night, on Gianforte: "I said, 'Oh, this is terrible. He's going to lose the election," Trump said. "Then I said, 'Well, wait a minute. I know Montana pretty well — I think it might help him.' And it did."
This morning, White House Correspondents' Association president Olivier Knox: "All Americans should recoil from the president's praise for a violent assault on a reporter doing his Constitutionally protected job. This amounts to the celebration of a crime by someone sworn to uphold our laws and an attack on the First Amendment by someone who has solemnly pledged to defend it. We should never shrug at the president cheerleading for a violent act targeting a free and independent news media."
Early this afternoon, Rep. Steve Scalise: "President Trump was clearly ribbing Congressman Gianforte for last year’s incident, which he apologized for last year. It’s obvious he was not encouraging his supporters to engage in attacks, and not one person harassed the numerous media reporters who were present."
And Eric Trump, on Fox News: "Stop, he wasn’t the guy who body-slammed anybody. He can have fun. By the way, this is exactly why my father won. Because so many people are so sick and tired of … the perfectly scripted politician who memorize their little soundbite and they went out there and had no crowds and weren’t any fun and they had no charisma, they had no personality. Hey, to go out and say as a guy who’s a little bit — who is un-PC and probably won because he is un-PC — “Anybody who body-slams somebody, he’s my kind of guy” — and joke about it, and the whole crowds laughing, like, stop."
But later there was this exchange:
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:20 PM on October 19, 2018 [31 favorites]
This morning, White House Correspondents' Association president Olivier Knox: "All Americans should recoil from the president's praise for a violent assault on a reporter doing his Constitutionally protected job. This amounts to the celebration of a crime by someone sworn to uphold our laws and an attack on the First Amendment by someone who has solemnly pledged to defend it. We should never shrug at the president cheerleading for a violent act targeting a free and independent news media."
Early this afternoon, Rep. Steve Scalise: "President Trump was clearly ribbing Congressman Gianforte for last year’s incident, which he apologized for last year. It’s obvious he was not encouraging his supporters to engage in attacks, and not one person harassed the numerous media reporters who were present."
And Eric Trump, on Fox News: "Stop, he wasn’t the guy who body-slammed anybody. He can have fun. By the way, this is exactly why my father won. Because so many people are so sick and tired of … the perfectly scripted politician who memorize their little soundbite and they went out there and had no crowds and weren’t any fun and they had no charisma, they had no personality. Hey, to go out and say as a guy who’s a little bit — who is un-PC and probably won because he is un-PC — “Anybody who body-slams somebody, he’s my kind of guy” — and joke about it, and the whole crowds laughing, like, stop."
But later there was this exchange:
Reporter: "Do you regret bringing up, last night at your rally, the assault on a reporter by a Congressman?"Daniel Dale has a clear-eyed take of this familiar news cycle:
President Trump: "No, not at all ... That was a different league and different world."
He wasn’t “ribbing” Gianforte, he was praising him. He said Gianforte’s body-slam made Gianforte “my kind of - he’s my guy.” He then acknowledged, “I shouldn’t say this.” Then he told Gianforte, “There’s nothing to be embarrassed about.”(Incidentally, Dale's taking tonight off, so coverage of Trump's Mesa, Arizona rally tonight is looking spotty.)
We’ve had three years of this: Trump makes bigoted/authoritarian/otherwise offensive remark, people react to what he said, Trump’s aides and supporters insist against all evidence that he was joking. The cycle often ends with Trump making extra-clear that he wasn’t joking.
Annnd, as usual, we have arrived at the part of the cycle where Trump makes clear he wasn’t joking. “He’s a tough cookie. And I’ll stay with that,” he said just now of Gianforte.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:20 PM on October 19, 2018 [31 favorites]
We’ve had three years of this: Trump makes bigoted/authoritarian/otherwise offensive remark, people react to what he said, Trump’s aides and supporters insist against all evidence that he was joking.
OF COURSE Trump's aides say he was joking. Trump is a bully and "what's the matter, I was joking, can't you take a joke" is 100% classic bully behavior.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:31 PM on October 19, 2018 [58 favorites]
OF COURSE Trump's aides say he was joking. Trump is a bully and "what's the matter, I was joking, can't you take a joke" is 100% classic bully behavior.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:31 PM on October 19, 2018 [58 favorites]
The Dale threads should be handled the same way we do giving in an info link to whatever live thing is happening
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:34 PM on October 19, 2018
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:34 PM on October 19, 2018
Trump's AZ rally seems to be more of the same, which is to say, appalling, but nothing like yesterday. (Sample highlights: "The Democrats have become an angry, unhinged mob determined to get power by any means necessary."; "It is amazing how you can delete 33k e-mails after getting a subpoena from the United States Congress and our Justice Department doesn't do anything about it."; "Our Justice Department, headed by many people from the Obama administration."; "The Democrats don't care that a flood of illegal immigration is going to totally bankrupt our country. Because all the Democrats want is power.") Even Fox News has grown tired of his rallies' diminishing ratings, however, and isn't airing this one.
Still, it's important to keep a close eye on Trump's public appearances and closed-door meetings—e.g. his Scottsdale fundraiser earlier, during which he met with Joe Arpaio—and not leave it to regular filtered coverage.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:08 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Still, it's important to keep a close eye on Trump's public appearances and closed-door meetings—e.g. his Scottsdale fundraiser earlier, during which he met with Joe Arpaio—and not leave it to regular filtered coverage.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:08 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Getting people to NOT vote for Walker will take a significant amount of voter education...everyone pray for a blue wave even up here
Yeah, it’s a hell of a thing. Early voting starts Monday. How many folks won’t hear that Walker suspended his campaign?
posted by leahwrenn at 8:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yeah, it’s a hell of a thing. Early voting starts Monday. How many folks won’t hear that Walker suspended his campaign?
posted by leahwrenn at 8:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [1 favorite]
Things like this, incidentally, are why I have mixed feelings about lengthy early voting periods.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:03 PM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:03 PM on October 19, 2018 [7 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 18 days until Election Day //
** 2018 House:
// 18 days until Election Day //
** 2018 House:
-- FL-15: Siena poll has Dem Carlson tied 43-43 with GOPer Spano [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Trump 53-43 | Cook: Lean R]** 2018 Senate:
-- PA-08: Siena poll has Dem incumbent Cartwright up 52-40 on GOPer Chrin [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Trump 53-44 | Cook: Likely D]
-- MI-08: Target Insyght poll has GOP incumbent Bishop up 48-45 on Dem Slotkin [MOE: +/- 4.5%]. [Trump 51-44 | Cook: Tossup]
-- MI-11: Target Insyght poll has Dem Stevens tied 48-48 with GOPer Epstein [MOE: +/- 4.5%]. [Trump 50-45 | Cook: Lean D]
-- PA-07: Muhlenberg College poll has Dem Wild up 48-41 on GOPer Nothstein [MOE: +/- 5.5%]. [Clinton 49-48 | Cook: Lean D]
-- Silver: The crazy fundraising disparity between Dems and GOP has unclear impacts for the forecast model.
-- Walter: Making this a referendum on Pelosi isn't going to work for the GOP.
-- Cohn: At minimum, Dem turnout expected to be a lot better this year. May be concentrated in white suburbs, though.
-- AZ: Data Orbital poll has Dem Sinema up 47-41 on GOPer McSally in their average midterm model. In their Dem surge model, it's Sinema up 48-40 [MOE: +/- 4.0%].** Odds & ends:
-- NV: PPP poll has Dem Rosen up 48-46 on GOP incumbent Heller [no MOE listed]. Poll was commissioned by a pro-ACA group.
-- AK gov: Incumbent independent governor Bill Walker has ended his re-election campaign and endorsed Democrat Mark Begich. Previously, this was an excellent chance for a GOP pickup; it probably moves it to just a good chance. [Cook: Lean R]** Averages & forecasts:
-- NH gov: UNH poll has GOP incumbent Sununu up 50-39 on Dem Kelly [MOE: +/- 4.4%]. [Cook: Likely R]
-- RI gov: RGA has begun to cancel ad buys, as it looks like the GOP is starting to triage this seat. [Cook: Lean D]
-- SD gov: Both of the state's major newspapers have endorsed Dem candidate Sutton. Meanwhile, the Republican AG has not yet decided which candidate to endorse. CNN look at the race. [Cook: Tossup]
-- 538: Lots of possible Senate/governor splits this year.
-- Josh Marshall has a list of election-related Twitter follows. I endorse most of these, a few of them are too annoying.
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.4 (49.7/41.3)posted by Chrysostom at 9:48 PM on October 19, 2018 [15 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 84.3% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 20.7% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 23.9 states.
We’ve had three years of this: Trump makes bigoted/authoritarian/otherwise offensive remark, people react to what he said, Trump’s aides and supporters insist against all evidence that he was joking. The cycle often ends with Trump making extra-clear that he wasn’t joking.
This? This right here? That's gaslighting.
posted by scalefree at 9:53 PM on October 19, 2018 [43 favorites]
This? This right here? That's gaslighting.
posted by scalefree at 9:53 PM on October 19, 2018 [43 favorites]
The Activists Waging a War to Make The Far Right Go Broke - Elizabeth King, Splinter News
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:18 PM on October 19, 2018 [65 favorites]
... Though fascists and their ilk fundraised aggressively to cover their legal costs in the wake of “Unite the Right,” many of them, especially the organizers and those directly linked to violence in Charlottesville, appear to be broke and enjoy few options for financial recourse. This comes despite the fact that the GOP, and, all too often the mainstream press, have either embraced or given cover for various violent far-rightists.It's a good long feature, highlighting many examples showing success and work yet to be done.
“I wouldn’t say they’re faring very well,” Keegan Hankes, a senior research analyst with the Southern Poverty Law Center, told Splinter of the “alt-right’s” financial status. “The vast majority of outspoken white supremacists or otherwise extremist groups have lost access to fundraising platforms like PayPal, Google Pay, and others like [them] have started enforcing their longstanding terms of services.” The white nationalist movement has by no means been entirely taken out by these efforts, but they’re not exactly rolling in dough right now.
One largely under-reported contributor to these circumstances is the meticulous, ongoing work of anti-racist and anti-fascist activists and civil rights groups. Using a common anti-fascist tactic called “no platform” which denies a person or group a platform to speak or organize (it’s sometimes called “de-platforming”), activists have helped make it difficult for white nationalists to fundraise online, stymying fascist activism by cutting off their income and fundraising capabilities. In a financial context, no platform means cutting the far right off from fundraising—both from crowdsourced fundraising platforms such as Patreon, and from collecting money directly via their own websites.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:18 PM on October 19, 2018 [65 favorites]
Pat Robertson on Khashoggi: Let’s not risk “$100 billion worth of arms sales”
It's what Jesus would want.
It least the faux investigation will put off the Trump "Middle East Peace Plan" for a few years: Israel and the US join Saudi Arabia verses Iran in a Sunni/Shiʿah civil war.
posted by Marky at 10:24 PM on October 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
It's what Jesus would want.
It least the faux investigation will put off the Trump "Middle East Peace Plan" for a few years: Israel and the US join Saudi Arabia verses Iran in a Sunni/Shiʿah civil war.
posted by Marky at 10:24 PM on October 19, 2018 [6 favorites]
Chief justice halts discovery, trial in youth climate lawsuit - Chris Mills Rodrigo, The Hill
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:25 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts on Friday temporarily halted discovery and the upcoming trial of a case brought by a group of young Americans claiming that the federal government needs to do more to confront climate change.See also: Government returns in climate change lawsuit (UPDATED), Amy Howe, SCOTUSblog
The landmark trial was set to begin in less than two weeks in federal court in Oregon.
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to delay the case on Thursday, citing concerns about the case's effect on the separation of powers.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:25 PM on October 19, 2018 [5 favorites]
Pat Robertson on Khashoggi: Let’s not risk “$100 billion worth of arms sales”
It's what Jesus would want.
Blessed are the arms dealers.
posted by scalefree at 10:40 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
It's what Jesus would want.
Blessed are the arms dealers.
posted by scalefree at 10:40 PM on October 19, 2018 [8 favorites]
Pat Robertson on Khashoggi: Let’s not risk “$100 billion worth of arms sales”
Exodus: “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. "
posted by mikelieman at 11:39 PM on October 19, 2018 [22 favorites]
Exodus: “Alas, this people has sinned a great sin. They have made for themselves gods of gold. "
posted by mikelieman at 11:39 PM on October 19, 2018 [22 favorites]
Wouldn’t it be nice if justices wore the names of their benefactors the way F1 drivers do?
I'm so old, I remember when the 1975 movie Rollerball ( the audience rising for the Corporate Anthem ) was dystopian fiction.
posted by mikelieman at 12:10 AM on October 20, 2018 [14 favorites]
I'm so old, I remember when the 1975 movie Rollerball ( the audience rising for the Corporate Anthem ) was dystopian fiction.
posted by mikelieman at 12:10 AM on October 20, 2018 [14 favorites]
Pat Robertson is exactly the sort of "religious" leader Jesus criticized:
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 12:36 AM on October 20, 2018 [30 favorites]
Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cumin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel. Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.Matthew 23:23-26
posted by Jonathan Livengood at 12:36 AM on October 20, 2018 [30 favorites]
NYT, Georgia Voting Begins Amid Accusations of Voter Suppression. Hmm, what kind of accusations?
posted by zachlipton at 12:41 AM on October 20, 2018 [79 favorites]
Wim Laven arrived to his polling location in Atlanta’s northern suburbs this week unsure what to make of recent allegations of voter difficulties at the ballot box. Then he waited two hours in the Georgia sun; saw one person in the line treated for heat exhaustion; and watched a second collapse, receive help from paramedics, yet refuse to be taken to the hospital — so he could remain in line and cast his ballot.Most places in the world that aren't actively trying to suppress the vote manage to produce a voting system that doesn't involve people passing out.
Mr. Laven is now a believer.
“I have a hard time imaging this is anything but an intentional effort,” said Mr. Laven, who teaches political science at Kennesaw State University. “I can’t imagine this is just pure incompetence. Everyone knew how serious people have been around here about getting out the vote.”
...
The Democratic Party of Georgia, through a spokesman, said its voter protection hotline has received about 300 calls a day since early voting began.
posted by zachlipton at 12:41 AM on October 20, 2018 [79 favorites]
Pat Robertson on Khashoggi
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 1:51 AM on October 20, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by quonsar II: smock fishpants and the temple of foon at 1:51 AM on October 20, 2018 [3 favorites]
zachlipton posted: Sports Illustrated (just go with it, it's Friday), Emma Baccellieri, Meet the New York Teenager Who Created the 'Mets Are a Good Team' Super PAC
That's an interesting article but the good stuff is buried. This kid has "used one of his other hobbies—computer programming—to build election forecast models." And, being interested in politics, he wants to make a difference. So:
I think that's pretty cool.
posted by CCBC at 2:00 AM on October 20, 2018 [18 favorites]
That's an interesting article but the good stuff is buried. This kid has "used one of his other hobbies—computer programming—to build election forecast models." And, being interested in politics, he wants to make a difference. So:
“I sort of was interested in using the idea that I could form a Super PAC as being a point against Super PACs,” he said, now speaking outside of school hours. “Look how easy this is to do. If I could do it, anyone can.” Still, he was surprised at just how easy it was. Google turned up the paperwork, and he filled it out within a few minutes.
Aybar wants to embrace the team’s traditional status as an underdog by advocating for what he deems their political equivalent: new candidates, operating without the backing of large corporate donations.
I think that's pretty cool.
posted by CCBC at 2:00 AM on October 20, 2018 [18 favorites]
Pat Robertson on Khashoggi: Let’s not risk “$100 billion worth of arms sales”
Why let the death of just one man keep you from your pieces of silver?
You're a fraud Pat. You're a Fake Christian. C'mon ... PAT.
posted by adept256 at 2:08 AM on October 20, 2018 [23 favorites]
Why let the death of just one man keep you from your pieces of silver?
You're a fraud Pat. You're a Fake Christian. C'mon ... PAT.
posted by adept256 at 2:08 AM on October 20, 2018 [23 favorites]
can we call lies lies and let gaslighting refer to the fairly specific thing it originally meant? cause it was a useful descriptor for an ongoing pattern of behavior, common in DV situations, and now it just kinda means lying in general.
It's probably too late; the usual process of semantic dilution, because a thing is fun to say and makes you sound smart, has happened.
posted by thelonius at 2:20 AM on October 20, 2018 [4 favorites]
It's probably too late; the usual process of semantic dilution, because a thing is fun to say and makes you sound smart, has happened.
posted by thelonius at 2:20 AM on October 20, 2018 [4 favorites]
The confusion about the term gaslighting is because the typical tactic is for the abuser to outright contradict the evidence before the victim's senses. No, those lights aren't dimmer, it must just be you. No, I don't hear strange noises from the attic, you must be losing your mind. No, I didn't yell at you, you're misremembering.
And that kind of flagrant denial of facts is the same kind of thing you get from despots and authoritarians. I guess the main difference is whether or not someone is trying to make the audience doubt their own perceptions, but I think that's a matter of opinion when it comes to politics. Because some people will absolutely believe they didn't hear that thing they heard if Trump tells them they didn't. And others see it as obvious lying that no one would ever believe.
posted by threeturtles at 2:31 AM on October 20, 2018 [32 favorites]
And that kind of flagrant denial of facts is the same kind of thing you get from despots and authoritarians. I guess the main difference is whether or not someone is trying to make the audience doubt their own perceptions, but I think that's a matter of opinion when it comes to politics. Because some people will absolutely believe they didn't hear that thing they heard if Trump tells them they didn't. And others see it as obvious lying that no one would ever believe.
posted by threeturtles at 2:31 AM on October 20, 2018 [32 favorites]
I wonder if the reason he keeps declaring he is not a baby or calling other people babies is that he is dimly aware there is a literal baby balloon Trump floating around. It was in Los Angeles yesterday, I think. So now he's got 'I'm not a baby. You're a baby!' lodged in his little hamster wheel-based brain.
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:33 AM on October 20, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by A Terrible Llama at 4:33 AM on October 20, 2018 [34 favorites]
Early voting has started in North Carolina on the 17th and there is a huge amount of signs at most major intersections in my area alerting everyone that we are in early voting and where to vote. Very encouraging. I managed to knock mine out yesterday.
posted by kabong the wiser at 5:21 AM on October 20, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by kabong the wiser at 5:21 AM on October 20, 2018 [8 favorites]
The Trump administration is planning to tell Russian leaders next week that it is preparing to exit the landmark Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, according to American officials and foreign diplomats.
Russia Today: After Nuclear Holocaust, We’ll Go to Heaven As Martyrs; Attackers Will Die As Sinners – Putin
Taking a victory lap at Sochi, a relaxed and confident Putin (Bloomberg) said on Thursday that America's global dominance is coming to an end, with the U.S. itself accelerating that process with a string of mistakes "typical of an empire." (ABC)
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:02 AM on October 20, 2018 [18 favorites]
Russia Today: After Nuclear Holocaust, We’ll Go to Heaven As Martyrs; Attackers Will Die As Sinners – Putin
“Any aggressor should know that retribution will be inevitable and he will be destroyed. And since we will be the victims of his aggression, we will be going to heaven as martyrs. They will simply drop dead, won’t even have time to repent,” Putin said during a session of the Valdai Club in Sochi.n.b. New Satellite Images Suggest Military Buildup In Russia's Strategic Baltic Enclave (CNN)
Taking a victory lap at Sochi, a relaxed and confident Putin (Bloomberg) said on Thursday that America's global dominance is coming to an end, with the U.S. itself accelerating that process with a string of mistakes "typical of an empire." (ABC)
The Russian president, speaking at the Valdai forum in the Black Sea resort town of Sochi, criticized the U.S. for implementing sanctions against Russia and other nations, arguing that doing so undermined trust in the dollar as the world's universal currency.But he did have some nice words for his asset Donald: "I have a completely normal and professional dialogue with him, and of course he listens. I see that he reacts to his interlocutor's arguments. [...] Maybe he acts like that {listening only to himself} with someone else, but in that case they are to blame."
"It's a typical mistake of an empire," Putin said. "An empire always thinks that it can allow itself to make some little mistakes, take some extra costs, because its power is such that they don't mean anything. But the quantity of those costs, those mistakes inevitably grows.
"And the moment comes when it can't handle them, neither in the security sphere or the economic sphere. [...] Thank God, this situation of a unipolar world, of a monopoly, is coming to an end," Putin said. "It's practically already over."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:02 AM on October 20, 2018 [18 favorites]
adept256:
You're a fraud Pat. You're a Fake Christian. C'mon ... PAT.
I literally heard someone say this at a bar last night. "Trump is right! What is one life to a $100 billion dollar sale?" I know the guy well enough that I am 75% sure he was being serious. It's....
Fuck it. Who is the recommended person to donate to today to combat shit like that? Heidi Heitkamp has asked in the last 12 hours, but I think I remember that the money would be well spent on other candidates?
I just signed up for more texting for Beto and immediately after finishing this comment, will look at texting for Adrienne Bell (she just sent an ask for $14 specifically for texting. I just sent $14 to her 5 days ago, so I would rather start being boots on the ground for her and I am not super flush with cash.) but any other candidates in close races I can pitch a couple of bucks to, to get out of this hellscape asap?
Thx. I know y'all will come up with great names.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:16 AM on October 20, 2018 [4 favorites]
Pat Robertson on Khashoggi: Let’s not risk “$100 billion worth of arms sales”Why let the death of just one man keep you from your pieces of silver?
You're a fraud Pat. You're a Fake Christian. C'mon ... PAT.
I literally heard someone say this at a bar last night. "Trump is right! What is one life to a $100 billion dollar sale?" I know the guy well enough that I am 75% sure he was being serious. It's....
Fuck it. Who is the recommended person to donate to today to combat shit like that? Heidi Heitkamp has asked in the last 12 hours, but I think I remember that the money would be well spent on other candidates?
I just signed up for more texting for Beto and immediately after finishing this comment, will look at texting for Adrienne Bell (she just sent an ask for $14 specifically for texting. I just sent $14 to her 5 days ago, so I would rather start being boots on the ground for her and I am not super flush with cash.) but any other candidates in close races I can pitch a couple of bucks to, to get out of this hellscape asap?
Thx. I know y'all will come up with great names.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:16 AM on October 20, 2018 [4 favorites]
Claire McCaskill and Cort VanOstran
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:30 AM on October 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:30 AM on October 20, 2018 [1 favorite]
I live in a pretty extreme political bubble but this morning on my local Nextdoor, one of those mysterious and elusive Obama-Trump voters* posted a wall o' text. It's going to get bahleeted as soon as the mod logs on, but the tl;dr is big Trump regrets. I have to say, it's the first time I've legit seen this in the wild in my real actual life rather than pseudonymous retweets of debatable provenance. Dude is fired up to vote Blue. I hope he's able to reflect a little about why he was taken in in the first place.
*I don't actually find them all that mysterious. Obama was their cool, nonthreatening black friend, their vote for him absolved them of all future racism, so they could vote for the white nationalist that entertained them and gave them good tribal feels and still think of themselves as good people.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:57 AM on October 20, 2018 [34 favorites]
*I don't actually find them all that mysterious. Obama was their cool, nonthreatening black friend, their vote for him absolved them of all future racism, so they could vote for the white nationalist that entertained them and gave them good tribal feels and still think of themselves as good people.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:57 AM on October 20, 2018 [34 favorites]
*I don't actually find them all that mysterious.
I don’t either, but we see very different dynamics at work. I’m in NYC. The Obama/Trump people I’ve run into — and then heard more about from the guy who actually owns the place where I ran into them (different dudes, different times, eventually sparked a convo about it) — were very much about the misogyny. They didn’t say “because I’m a misognyist,” but they hated HRC for reasons they had difficulty articulating, and they liked Trump because he was strong, tough, etc etc. He spoke to the stupidest sort of macho fantasy, and they liked it.
Depressingly, even here in NYC, the guy who owned the store said a lot of guys admitted to liking Trump in private, which I took to mean “when there weren’t women around.” And in his specific words: “not just white guys.”
To this day one of the most hair-raising conversations I’ve ever had.
ETA: this is at a coffee shop in Crown Heights, so not like...a secret bastion of Republican support.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:09 AM on October 20, 2018 [38 favorites]
I don’t either, but we see very different dynamics at work. I’m in NYC. The Obama/Trump people I’ve run into — and then heard more about from the guy who actually owns the place where I ran into them (different dudes, different times, eventually sparked a convo about it) — were very much about the misogyny. They didn’t say “because I’m a misognyist,” but they hated HRC for reasons they had difficulty articulating, and they liked Trump because he was strong, tough, etc etc. He spoke to the stupidest sort of macho fantasy, and they liked it.
Depressingly, even here in NYC, the guy who owned the store said a lot of guys admitted to liking Trump in private, which I took to mean “when there weren’t women around.” And in his specific words: “not just white guys.”
To this day one of the most hair-raising conversations I’ve ever had.
ETA: this is at a coffee shop in Crown Heights, so not like...a secret bastion of Republican support.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:09 AM on October 20, 2018 [38 favorites]
With Obama-Trump voters, there is the misogyny, the "we elected a black president so what's the big deal about race!" and I've observed something else, and in talking on another board this was confirmed by some other posters: there are low-information voters who think that the President is like a king, or a CEO, and will just "take care of everything." These people don't get that city councils and state assemblies and governors are in charge of local stuff. Want the roads fixed, or local jobs, or just a politician who has time to listen to you? That's all local. The President really doesn't have anything to do with your potholes or local parks or whatever.
They're the ones who were "ready for a change" or thought Trump could create jobs out of thin air or just vaguely MAGA! Along with the racism and the sexism is the vast cluelessness about what government is and how it operates.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 8:16 AM on October 20, 2018 [25 favorites]
They're the ones who were "ready for a change" or thought Trump could create jobs out of thin air or just vaguely MAGA! Along with the racism and the sexism is the vast cluelessness about what government is and how it operates.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 8:16 AM on October 20, 2018 [25 favorites]
Remember when the Daily Show did a special on undecided voters? Like...way back in the before times? I think maybe 2004? Or 2008?
And it was just like a panel of cheerful ignorance and stupidity. The eventual conclusion was: “they’re morons.” As in “what political party wants the support of these utter fucking morons?”
I think about that a lot.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:21 AM on October 20, 2018 [55 favorites]
And it was just like a panel of cheerful ignorance and stupidity. The eventual conclusion was: “they’re morons.” As in “what political party wants the support of these utter fucking morons?”
I think about that a lot.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:21 AM on October 20, 2018 [55 favorites]
Yeah, the misogyny is a given. This guy even says he still likes how "gruff" Trump is and assumed he'd direct that at our enemies rather than our allies. And he doesn't mind the "rudeness" (unspoken: because it's never directed at his white male ass). So yeah, misogyny.
Last week The Weeds podcast addressed Trump support among men of color via the Kanye thing, if anyone feels like taking a deep dive into that particular pit of despair.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:43 AM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
Last week The Weeds podcast addressed Trump support among men of color via the Kanye thing, if anyone feels like taking a deep dive into that particular pit of despair.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:43 AM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
Rep. Comstock’s donors: ‘A who’s who of the conservative movement in Washington’ (Jenna Portnoy, WaPo)
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:58 AM on October 20, 2018 [9 favorites]
Rep. Barbara Comstock (R-Va.) has relied on a vast network of Republicans from a lifetime in GOP politics to help her raise more money overall than Democratic challenger Jennifer Wexton in their hotly contested Northern Virginia race.Fuck off out of my district, Babs.
From Vice President Pence to 2012 Republican presidential nominee and current Senate candidate Mitt Romney to House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.), Comstock’s campaign has benefitted from national starpower.
Pence also plans to campaign this weekend in Richmond for two congressional candidates in close races — Rep. Dave Brat and Republican Denver Riggleman — as well as Ryan McAdams, a Republican minister running in a safe Democratic district.
Comstock’s Northern Virginia district is one of the most competitive in the nation and one that Democrats say they need to win to take back control of the House. Hillary Clinton carried the district in the 2016 presidential race.
Wexton, a state senator, has collected endorsements from Clinton, former president Barack Obama and former vice president Joe Biden.
Although four public polls show that Comstock is behind, her supporters say the data does not take into account the two-term congresswoman’s knowledge and connection to the district, where she has lived for more than three decades.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:58 AM on October 20, 2018 [9 favorites]
TMZ: Senator Mitch McConnell confronted at restaurant by angry customers
Great praxis: angry customers
Bad praxis: the other customers being all "oh no leave the poor little feller alone"
Very bad late-stage capitalism inadvertently leading to good praxis via dissemination: woman filming saying "I'm gonna sell this to TMZ"
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:02 AM on October 20, 2018 [50 favorites]
Great praxis: angry customers
Bad praxis: the other customers being all "oh no leave the poor little feller alone"
Very bad late-stage capitalism inadvertently leading to good praxis via dissemination: woman filming saying "I'm gonna sell this to TMZ"
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:02 AM on October 20, 2018 [50 favorites]
TMZ: Senator Mitch McConnell confronted at restaurant by angry customers
THis needs to become the norm. It should be impossible for htis guy to go into a restaurant and not have some patron loudly say "well, I just lost my appetite."
posted by ocschwar at 10:11 AM on October 20, 2018 [33 favorites]
THis needs to become the norm. It should be impossible for htis guy to go into a restaurant and not have some patron loudly say "well, I just lost my appetite."
posted by ocschwar at 10:11 AM on October 20, 2018 [33 favorites]
> Found on Facebook: the best correction to that awful painting Trump has.
I like this one.
posted by homunculus at 10:49 AM on October 20, 2018 [9 favorites]
I like this one.
posted by homunculus at 10:49 AM on October 20, 2018 [9 favorites]
That liberal rag The Seattle Times endorses perennial Republican scumbag Dino Rossi (R) for WA-08.
Seattle is not pleased.
posted by gurple at 11:04 AM on October 20, 2018 [18 favorites]
Seattle is not pleased.
posted by gurple at 11:04 AM on October 20, 2018 [18 favorites]
From gurple's not pleased link above:
Claiming any Republican in 2018 is going to bring bipartisanship back to DC is comically naïve at best. You might as well try to shut down a meat processing plant by sending an especially stubborn cow.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 11:29 AM on October 20, 2018 [77 favorites]
We have frequently expressed grave concerns in editorials about President Donald Trump’s divisiveness and policies on everything from immigration to tariffs to environmental rollbacks. But Congress needs more people like Rossi, a pragmatic lawmaker with a demonstrated record of working across the aisle with Democrats for solutions that work for the greater good. [emphasis mine]Look assholes, it's 2018. Whatever this guy's record at the state level might be, there 👏 is 👏 no 👏 bipartisanship 👏 in 👏 DC. Not anymore. Not a single soul with an R next to their name has made a meaningful effort to reach across the aisle in years, mostly thanks to McConnell the one-man wrecking ball of functional democracy, and most Democrats that have tried have learned to regret it (see also Scorpion v Frog).
Claiming any Republican in 2018 is going to bring bipartisanship back to DC is comically naïve at best. You might as well try to shut down a meat processing plant by sending an especially stubborn cow.
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 11:29 AM on October 20, 2018 [77 favorites]
For the third day in a row, Trump is holding a rally, this time in Elko, Nevada. Daniel Dale's exhaustive live-tweeting/fact-checking thread can be found here.
Trump's been staying at his typical level of inflammatory rhetoric and lies, with nothing like his Thursday ranting. So far, he's called the "Democrat Party" an "angry, ruthless, unhinged mob determined to get power by any means necessary", lied about his passing the Veterans Choice health program, described Rep. Maxine Waters as "a low-IQ individual", bamboozled his audience about Republicans protecting people with pre-existing conditions, and shared vague conspiracy theories about migrant caravans. Mostly, it's a combination of his greatest hits from 2016 and reruns from rallies earlier this fall (n.b. his persistent use of "loco" as a dog-whistle).
Trump has just learned about hashtags, however: "Democrats produce mobs, Republicans produce jobs. Hashtag. Right? That's called hashtag. That's a new hashtag. That's a hot one."
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:59 AM on October 20, 2018 [12 favorites]
Trump's been staying at his typical level of inflammatory rhetoric and lies, with nothing like his Thursday ranting. So far, he's called the "Democrat Party" an "angry, ruthless, unhinged mob determined to get power by any means necessary", lied about his passing the Veterans Choice health program, described Rep. Maxine Waters as "a low-IQ individual", bamboozled his audience about Republicans protecting people with pre-existing conditions, and shared vague conspiracy theories about migrant caravans. Mostly, it's a combination of his greatest hits from 2016 and reruns from rallies earlier this fall (n.b. his persistent use of "loco" as a dog-whistle).
Trump has just learned about hashtags, however: "Democrats produce mobs, Republicans produce jobs. Hashtag. Right? That's called hashtag. That's a new hashtag. That's a hot one."
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:59 AM on October 20, 2018 [12 favorites]
These people don't get that city councils and state assemblies and governors are in charge of local stuff. Want the roads fixed, or local jobs, or just a politician who has time to listen to you? That's all local.
The dynamic I found my frustrating on my road trip across country were the small towns decked out in Trump regalia where a person of color is nary to be seen, and all the jobs have obviously been taken by Walmart. How did immigration and a return to manufacturing come to resonate so strongly with them over support for local business? And I'm super glad there aren't any minorities in these towns, because many of the local bars and tattoo parlors (this is often all that's left of local culture) will have signs reading "Patriots Only!" which I think a person of color would have to read as meaning, at least in part, as "Whites Only!" if only to be on the safe side. As a society, we're in a dark place when people can't see the problems right in front of them, and insist on blaming bogeymen.
posted by xammerboy at 12:05 PM on October 20, 2018 [23 favorites]
The dynamic I found my frustrating on my road trip across country were the small towns decked out in Trump regalia where a person of color is nary to be seen, and all the jobs have obviously been taken by Walmart. How did immigration and a return to manufacturing come to resonate so strongly with them over support for local business? And I'm super glad there aren't any minorities in these towns, because many of the local bars and tattoo parlors (this is often all that's left of local culture) will have signs reading "Patriots Only!" which I think a person of color would have to read as meaning, at least in part, as "Whites Only!" if only to be on the safe side. As a society, we're in a dark place when people can't see the problems right in front of them, and insist on blaming bogeymen.
posted by xammerboy at 12:05 PM on October 20, 2018 [23 favorites]
Yeah, looks like nothing is going to come out of this unless more pressure is applied to the Trump administration:
Trump says 'we have a tremendous order' with Saudi Arabia, doesn't want to cancel defense contracts 'as retribution' for Jamal Khashoggi's death
But he always seems to have been quite miserly:
Donald Trump Once Cashed A 13-Cent Check
Trump says 'we have a tremendous order' with Saudi Arabia, doesn't want to cancel defense contracts 'as retribution' for Jamal Khashoggi's death
Turning to the executives around the table, Trump added, "I don't want to tell them 'By the way, we're going to take $25 billion worth of sales away from you.' Because that would mean a lot of jobs, it would mean a lot of everything."Principles? Who needs 'em!
"I would prefer if there was going to be some form of sanction," Trump said, adding that "we don't use as retribution, canceling $110 billion worth of work, which means 600,000 jobs. I know it sounds easy and it sounds good."
But he always seems to have been quite miserly:
Donald Trump Once Cashed A 13-Cent Check
Back in 1990, a New York-based monthly called Spy magazine decided to run a little social experiment. So it sent out letters to 58 of the richest people in the city that contained checks for $1.11 for "services that you were overcharged for."posted by PontifexPrimus at 1:10 PM on October 20, 2018 [46 favorites]
Remarkably, 26 people cashed them, so Spy magazine kept sending the checks but cut the amount, this time to 64 cents.
When 13 of those 26 cashed them, the magazine sent those 13 respondents a 13- cent check. Only two people cashed them this time: one was a Saudi arms dealer, and the other was Donald Trump.
Trump: When referring to the USA, I will always capitalize the word Country!
Diane Newberry: When referring to the President, I will always capitalize Obama
posted by growabrain at 1:17 PM on October 20, 2018 [18 favorites]
Diane Newberry: When referring to the President, I will always capitalize Obama
posted by growabrain at 1:17 PM on October 20, 2018 [18 favorites]
When 13 of those 26 cashed them, the magazine sent those 13 respondents a 13- cent check. Only two people cashed them this time: one was a Saudi arms dealer, and the other was Donald Trump.And courtesy of the "it's a small world" department: the Saudi arms dealer (and also peripheral Iran-Contra Scandal figure) in question was Adnan Khashoggi, uncle of Jamal Khashoggi.
posted by Nerd of the North at 1:22 PM on October 20, 2018 [56 favorites]
Miami GOP Chairman just caught leading Proud Boys in attack on Democratic campaign office
Historical precedents, folks.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:55 PM on October 20, 2018 [73 favorites]
Historical precedents, folks.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:55 PM on October 20, 2018 [73 favorites]
Roll Call, Trump Pushes New Tax Cuts Before Election Day
It really hasn't been adequately reported the extent to which GOP policies are so unpopular that their primary messaging for the midterms has been based on a series of egregious lies.
posted by zachlipton at 2:22 PM on October 20, 2018 [14 favorites]
President Donald Trump told reporters on Saturday that his administration was working with House Republicans on new tax cuts ahead of Election Day.Um, *checks calendar*, *checks Congress's calendar*. That's not happening.
Trump said his administration was “looking at putting in a very major tax cut for middle-income people.”
“And if we do that, it’ll be sometime just prior, I would say, to November,” he said, speaking before boarding Air Force One after a campaign rally in Elko, Nevada.
Both the House and Senate are effectively out of session until the postelection lame-duck session, but if one were to take Trump at face value, he did point to “putting in” the tax legislation before then.
“Kevin Brady is working on it, Paul Ryan is working, we’re all working on it,” the president said, referring the to the House Ways and Means chairman and the speaker. “I would say sometime around the first of November, maybe a little before that.”
It really hasn't been adequately reported the extent to which GOP policies are so unpopular that their primary messaging for the midterms has been based on a series of egregious lies.
posted by zachlipton at 2:22 PM on October 20, 2018 [14 favorites]
A near-perfect op-ed-toon about Trump "inconsistency".
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:34 PM on October 20, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 2:34 PM on October 20, 2018 [6 favorites]
ABC News (Australian) is reporting “Trump says US will pull out of nuclear arms treaty with Russia”. link
posted by awfurby at 2:47 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by awfurby at 2:47 PM on October 20, 2018 [2 favorites]
"And we're not going to let them violate a nuclear agreement and go out and do weapons and we're not allowed to."
Leader of the USA. This timeline is just trolling, now.
posted by The otter lady at 2:57 PM on October 20, 2018 [7 favorites]
Leader of the USA. This timeline is just trolling, now.
posted by The otter lady at 2:57 PM on October 20, 2018 [7 favorites]
The Missouri GOP is sending out mailers with false voting information...to republican voters to drive republican turnout up.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 4:45 PM on October 20, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 4:45 PM on October 20, 2018 [7 favorites]
Avenatti: “You are not going to beat Trump through a message of puppies and daisies,” he said. “You’re gonna have to take the fight to Donald Trump and it’s gonna have to be a brutal campaign if the Democrats hope to take back the White House.”
While many of the people weighing 2020 runs would make “exceptional presidents,” most have “no shot,” Avenatti added.
“It’s gonna take a fighter and it’s gonna be a very, very brutal campaign,” the attorney said. “And if the Democrats don’t come to that realization quickly, he’s gonna be re-elected in 2020.”
posted by growabrain at 4:48 PM on October 20, 2018 [6 favorites]
While many of the people weighing 2020 runs would make “exceptional presidents,” most have “no shot,” Avenatti added.
“It’s gonna take a fighter and it’s gonna be a very, very brutal campaign,” the attorney said. “And if the Democrats don’t come to that realization quickly, he’s gonna be re-elected in 2020.”
posted by growabrain at 4:48 PM on October 20, 2018 [6 favorites]
The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder: 'You're the Single Greatest Threat To My Family': Man Berates GOP Rep. Tom MacArthur Over AHCA
Powerful words, powerfully spoken.
posted by scalefree at 5:08 PM on October 20, 2018 [19 favorites]
Powerful words, powerfully spoken.
posted by scalefree at 5:08 PM on October 20, 2018 [19 favorites]
@haroldpollack North Carolina's stated reason for shutting down Sunday voting was that counties with heavy Sunday voting were disproportionately African-American, and that African-Americans tended to be Democrats. Appeal: 16-1468 Doc: 150 Filed: 07/29/2016 …
posted by scalefree at 5:14 PM on October 20, 2018 [37 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 5:14 PM on October 20, 2018 [37 favorites]
Apparently they figured it'd be worse to admit it was racism that drove the decision so they decided it'd be better to say "no, it wasn't racism, it's just that black people tend to vote Democrat & we wanted to block people from voting Democrat."
posted by scalefree at 5:18 PM on October 20, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 5:18 PM on October 20, 2018 [4 favorites]
Apparently they figured it'd be worse to admit it was racism that drove the decision so they decided it'd be better to say "no, it wasn't racism, it's just that black people tend to vote Democrat & we wanted to block people from voting Democrat."
It does make a great deal of difference exactly how they word their argument. Race is a protected class but political party is not.
The Supreme Court, dominated by a conservative majority, has been reluctant to define even the most egregious partisan gerrymandering as unconstitutional. But gerrymandering on the basis of race everyone agrees is unconstitutional. So Republicans need to be very careful in how they frame their election law strategy -- they can use party but they can't use race. That's why they dance around the issue, even though in many southern states everyone knows that African American and Democrat are much the same.
posted by JackFlash at 5:55 PM on October 20, 2018 [10 favorites]
It does make a great deal of difference exactly how they word their argument. Race is a protected class but political party is not.
The Supreme Court, dominated by a conservative majority, has been reluctant to define even the most egregious partisan gerrymandering as unconstitutional. But gerrymandering on the basis of race everyone agrees is unconstitutional. So Republicans need to be very careful in how they frame their election law strategy -- they can use party but they can't use race. That's why they dance around the issue, even though in many southern states everyone knows that African American and Democrat are much the same.
posted by JackFlash at 5:55 PM on October 20, 2018 [10 favorites]
McCaskill canvassing update. The focus now is on making sure that people know their polling place, the hours, the id, transportation etc. We are also emphasizing to voters that the Missouri ballot this year is FOUR PAGES LONG which means that there will be long lines, so voting now has to have active planning to do. Missouri has no early voting, btw.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 6:00 PM on October 20, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 6:00 PM on October 20, 2018 [7 favorites]
The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder: 'You're the Single Greatest Threat To My Family': Man Berates GOP Rep. Tom MacArthur Over AHCAMacArthur revived the ACA repeal effort by brokering a deal with the Freedom Caucus that led to it finally passing the house - all while buying and selling health care stock. He's also the only representative from NJ who voted for the GOP's tax plan. He votes with Trump 95% of the time.
Powerful words, powerfully spoken.
He's currently running neck and neck with Democrat Andy Kim in NJ-3. NJ-3 is in southwest NJ outside Philly and is drivable from NYC, Baltimore, and even DC as well. Come get out the vote with us and send this miserable rep packing.
posted by galaxy rise at 6:09 PM on October 20, 2018 [31 favorites]
Saudi People Shocked by Flip-Flop on Khashoggi
Saudi Arabia’s about-face admission that journalist and government critic Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in Istanbul earlier this month sent shockwaves through a country where many had believed — and defended — initial official claims that the authorities had nothing to do with it
Said one Saudi man: “A very sad day for this nation, to see what the country had descended into.”
I feel ya, bro.
posted by petebest at 7:11 PM on October 20, 2018 [48 favorites]
Saudi Arabia’s about-face admission that journalist and government critic Jamal Khashoggi was killed inside its consulate in Istanbul earlier this month sent shockwaves through a country where many had believed — and defended — initial official claims that the authorities had nothing to do with it
Said one Saudi man: “A very sad day for this nation, to see what the country had descended into.”
I feel ya, bro.
posted by petebest at 7:11 PM on October 20, 2018 [48 favorites]
Miami GOP Chairman just caught leading Proud Boys in attack on Democratic campaign office
Which of course is why Democrats are being called a mob from every GOP corner.
posted by M-x shell at 9:34 PM on October 20, 2018 [41 favorites]
Which of course is why Democrats are being called a mob from every GOP corner.
posted by M-x shell at 9:34 PM on October 20, 2018 [41 favorites]
Dropped my ballot in the mail today. Felt good to finally be able to do that.
posted by azpenguin at 10:27 PM on October 20, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 10:27 PM on October 20, 2018 [8 favorites]
The Guardian: Nicola Sturgeon has pulled out of a conference being jointly hosted by the BBC next month after learning that Donald Trump’s former strategist Steve Bannon had been invited to take part.
Scotland’s first minister said that allowing Bannon to freely express his opinions risked “legitimising or normalising far-right, racist views”.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:59 PM on October 20, 2018 [39 favorites]
Scotland’s first minister said that allowing Bannon to freely express his opinions risked “legitimising or normalising far-right, racist views”.
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:59 PM on October 20, 2018 [39 favorites]
TERRI GROSS: Wait. Wait. Could we just stop a second?
SUZZANNE CRAIG: Yep.
TERRI GROSS: I don't really understand how 3-year-old Donald Trump can be his father's landlord. Can you explain that?
'Times' Journalists Puncture Myth Of Trump As Self-Made Billionaire
An excellent interview with NYT investigative reporters Susanne Craig and David Barstow.
posted by bz at 11:01 PM on October 20, 2018 [45 favorites]
SUZZANNE CRAIG: Yep.
TERRI GROSS: I don't really understand how 3-year-old Donald Trump can be his father's landlord. Can you explain that?
'Times' Journalists Puncture Myth Of Trump As Self-Made Billionaire
An excellent interview with NYT investigative reporters Susanne Craig and David Barstow.
posted by bz at 11:01 PM on October 20, 2018 [45 favorites]
Sturgeon elaborated, tweeting on Saturday: “I believe passionately in free speech but as @ScotGovFM I have to make balanced judgments – and I will not be part of any process that risks legitimising or normalising far-right, racist views. I regret that the BBC has put me and others in this position.”
She later added: “The email the BBC sent to my office justifying Bannon’s inclusion described him as a ‘powerful and influential figure … promoting an anti-elite movement’. This kind of language to describe views that many would describe as fascist does seem to me to run the risk of normalisation.” [At Threadreader]
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:03 PM on October 20, 2018 [67 favorites]
She later added: “The email the BBC sent to my office justifying Bannon’s inclusion described him as a ‘powerful and influential figure … promoting an anti-elite movement’. This kind of language to describe views that many would describe as fascist does seem to me to run the risk of normalisation.” [At Threadreader]
posted by Iris Gambol at 11:03 PM on October 20, 2018 [67 favorites]
Georgia opens up a new front in the War on Democracy.
Georgia Is Using Amateur Handwriting Analysis to Disenfranchise Minority Voters The scourge of “signature mismatch” laws strikes again.
Georgia Is Using Amateur Handwriting Analysis to Disenfranchise Minority Voters The scourge of “signature mismatch” laws strikes again.
Say you live in Georgia. You’re eager to vote in this year’s election—a tight race between Democrat Stacey Abrams and Republican Trump acolyte Brian Kemp—so you fill out an absentee ballot and mail it in. Then, days or weeks after the election, you receive a notice in the mail. The signature on your absentee ballot, it explains, looked different from the signature on your voter-registration card. So an election official threw out your ballot. There is nothing you can do. Your vote has been voided.posted by scalefree at 11:58 PM on October 20, 2018 [48 favorites]
If Georgia’s signature-mismatch law remains in effect through the November election, this fate will befall thousands of would-be voters. The statute directs elections officials to apply amateur handwriting analysis to voters’ signatures and reject any potential “mismatch.” Nearly 500 ballots in Gwinnett County alone have already been rejected for mismatch, a disproportionate number of them cast by minority voters. Now the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia is suing, demanding that the state give all citizens an opportunity to cure ballots rejected for mismatch. Its suit will help determine how successfully Georgia will suppress minority votes in the upcoming race.
Signature-mismatch laws are a scourge of American elections. The very premise makes no sense: In a similar lawsuit filed in New Hampshire, a forensic document examiner testified that effective signature comparison requires 10 signature samples “at a minimum” to account for variability. Even then, experts may struggle to verify a signature, because our signatures often change over time. Voters who are disabled or elderly, or are nonnative English speakers, are especially likely to have variation between signatures. That’s one reason why New Hampshire’s mismatch law disproportionately impacted seniors, California’s disproportionately impacts first-generation Asian Americans, and Florida’s disproportionately impacts Hispanics.
But there’s likely something more insidious going on here too. The extreme racial disparities among those affected by mismatch laws may also reflect the broad discretion that election officials have to toss ballots. In states with stringent mismatch rules, a handful of election officials are frequently responsible for the vast majority of ballots voided for mismatch. And those officials routinely work in counties with large minority communities.
HuffPo: Rep. Steve King Goes Full White Nationalist In Interview With Austrian Site. A shocking interview with a far-right propaganda site offers the clearest look yet at the congressman's racist ideology
posted by Joe in Australia at 1:45 AM on October 21, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 1:45 AM on October 21, 2018 [9 favorites]
How many kids have cheque books? You can get through your day/week/year without having to use your signature now. I wouldn't be surprised if this generation haven't really developed a signature, or even use cursive. Or use a mailbox. Or know what a stamp is.
And the youth vote swings left. Coincidentally, boomers are probably the only people who still use cheques. I think that's what Donald meant when he said you needed ID when you buy groceries, because they'd always want to cross check his weird signature.
I've been seeing here and elsewhere grim stories about voter suppression in GA. I remember an activist telling Trevor Noah that government branches where a state ID can be obtained are being closed, meaning that you might have to take a day off work to a travel to your nearest one. I'd bet the offices that are still open are convenient for the right kind of people though.
Another story I heard, I think in the same interview, was that you need a birth certificate to get a state ID, and getting one can be expensive, time consuming and require supporting documentation including, you guessed, a state ID.
In other words, to get a state ID, you must first have a state ID. Which is sort of perfect.
I am unashamed to say that I support Stacey Abrams for GA governor for the symbolic value of her becoming the first black woman to be a state governor anywhere in America, AND as a democrat, AND in crimson Georgia.
'Voter suppression' is too mild a term for what's happening. How about vote gagging, or vote killing. We have to start using terms that convey the impact of the crime.
posted by adept256 at 3:19 AM on October 21, 2018 [35 favorites]
And the youth vote swings left. Coincidentally, boomers are probably the only people who still use cheques. I think that's what Donald meant when he said you needed ID when you buy groceries, because they'd always want to cross check his weird signature.
I've been seeing here and elsewhere grim stories about voter suppression in GA. I remember an activist telling Trevor Noah that government branches where a state ID can be obtained are being closed, meaning that you might have to take a day off work to a travel to your nearest one. I'd bet the offices that are still open are convenient for the right kind of people though.
Another story I heard, I think in the same interview, was that you need a birth certificate to get a state ID, and getting one can be expensive, time consuming and require supporting documentation including, you guessed, a state ID.
In other words, to get a state ID, you must first have a state ID. Which is sort of perfect.
I am unashamed to say that I support Stacey Abrams for GA governor for the symbolic value of her becoming the first black woman to be a state governor anywhere in America, AND as a democrat, AND in crimson Georgia.
'Voter suppression' is too mild a term for what's happening. How about vote gagging, or vote killing. We have to start using terms that convey the impact of the crime.
posted by adept256 at 3:19 AM on October 21, 2018 [35 favorites]
> "'Voter suppression' is too mild a term for what's happening. How about vote gagging, or vote killing. We have to start using terms that convey the impact of the crime."
They're literally throwing away votes. Democracy is being strangled to death by the Republican party.
posted by kyrademon at 3:41 AM on October 21, 2018 [37 favorites]
They're literally throwing away votes. Democracy is being strangled to death by the Republican party.
posted by kyrademon at 3:41 AM on October 21, 2018 [37 favorites]
While many of the people weighing 2020 runs would make “exceptional presidents,” most have “no shot,” Avenatti added.
“It’s gonna take a fighter and it’s gonna be a very, very brutal campaign,” the attorney said. “And if the Democrats don’t come to that realization quickly, he’s gonna be re-elected in 2020. yt ”
He's not wrong...
Paging Senator Kamala Harris to the red courtesy phone. Senator Kamala Harris please pick up the red courtesy phone. ( Harris/O'Rourke... Tammy Duckworth sec.def. Barbara Underwood for AG, since Harris will be unavailable. Keep Warren in the senate as maj. leader. That's a winning team... )
posted by mikelieman at 4:08 AM on October 21, 2018 [19 favorites]
“It’s gonna take a fighter and it’s gonna be a very, very brutal campaign,” the attorney said. “And if the Democrats don’t come to that realization quickly, he’s gonna be re-elected in 2020. yt ”
He's not wrong...
Paging Senator Kamala Harris to the red courtesy phone. Senator Kamala Harris please pick up the red courtesy phone. ( Harris/O'Rourke... Tammy Duckworth sec.def. Barbara Underwood for AG, since Harris will be unavailable. Keep Warren in the senate as maj. leader. That's a winning team... )
posted by mikelieman at 4:08 AM on October 21, 2018 [19 favorites]
One of my (community college) students the other day was bemoaning the fact that her kid isn't being taught cursive in school.
posted by angrycat at 4:15 AM on October 21, 2018
posted by angrycat at 4:15 AM on October 21, 2018
Sanders hints at reckoning with Warren over 2020 ambitions
The two progressive icons are on a collision course.
The two progressive icons are on a collision course.
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Bernie Sanders says he speaks with Elizabeth Warren nearly every day — just not about 2020.posted by scalefree at 4:19 AM on October 21, 2018
But with the two progressive behemoths on a collision course in the presidential primary — and with some progressive activists alarmed that they might split the vote, allowing a more moderate Democrat to win the nomination — Sanders suggested Friday that a pre-2020 discussion among like-minded candidates could be forthcoming.
Asked whether he and other progressive contenders should hold talks in an effort to ensure one of them prevails, Sanders told POLITICO, “I suspect that in the coming weeks and months, there will be discussions.”
Asked whether he has spoken already with Warren or Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) about the 2020 campaign, Sanders said, "No, not really."
An aide to Warren did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The Trump administration is considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the most drastic move yet in a governmentwide effort to roll back recognition and protections of transgender people under federal civil rights law.
posted by nikaspark at 5:28 AM on October 21, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by nikaspark at 5:28 AM on October 21, 2018 [36 favorites]
'Times' Journalists Puncture Myth Of Trump As Self-Made Billionaire
This interview mentions frequent discussions Trump had with his siblings before and after their father's death about the business, and how Trump was always going to his father to get bailed out of one disaster or another.
Call me crazy, but I really suspect that there's a weak spot among the siblings. someone who's harboring some kind of jealousy that they've been squelching in the sake of family harmony. Can one of them please speak up?
....Unless they're also now keeping silent because they want the same thing Trump wants too, and are just telling themselves "well, it's the leopard-eating faces party..."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:54 AM on October 21, 2018 [4 favorites]
This interview mentions frequent discussions Trump had with his siblings before and after their father's death about the business, and how Trump was always going to his father to get bailed out of one disaster or another.
Call me crazy, but I really suspect that there's a weak spot among the siblings. someone who's harboring some kind of jealousy that they've been squelching in the sake of family harmony. Can one of them please speak up?
....Unless they're also now keeping silent because they want the same thing Trump wants too, and are just telling themselves "well, it's the leopard-eating faces party..."
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 5:54 AM on October 21, 2018 [4 favorites]
The department argued in its memo that key government agencies needed to adopt an explicit and uniform definition of gender as determined “on a biological basis that is clear, grounded in science, objective and administrable.” The agency’s proposed definition would define sex as either male or female, unchangeable, and determined by the genitals that a person is born with, according to a draft reviewed by The Times. Any dispute about one’s sex would have to be clarified using genetic testing.
Defined by genitalia, defined by genetic testing, grounded in science – PICK ONE.
Not everybody is born with a penis or vulva. Some people born with penises have two X chromosomes; some people born with vulvas have an X and a Y; some have cells containing three sex chromosomes. Some people have a mixture of cells, especially including many mothers! Some people change their apparent gender at puberty without any surgical intervention. There's basically every combination and variance one could imagine; "male" and "female" are not well-defined groups. They're trying to legislate some imaginary distinction into reality because the real world doesn't work that way.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:00 AM on October 21, 2018 [77 favorites]
Defined by genitalia, defined by genetic testing, grounded in science – PICK ONE.
Not everybody is born with a penis or vulva. Some people born with penises have two X chromosomes; some people born with vulvas have an X and a Y; some have cells containing three sex chromosomes. Some people have a mixture of cells, especially including many mothers! Some people change their apparent gender at puberty without any surgical intervention. There's basically every combination and variance one could imagine; "male" and "female" are not well-defined groups. They're trying to legislate some imaginary distinction into reality because the real world doesn't work that way.
posted by Joe in Australia at 6:00 AM on October 21, 2018 [77 favorites]
Trump went to the Washington Post yesterday to defend present US-KSA relations, especially over Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and the Khashoggi murder:
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:25 AM on October 21, 2018 [10 favorites]
He did not call for the ouster of Mohammed and instead praised his leadership, calling the prince “a strong person, he has very good control.”And he has to defend Jared's role in this mess, echoing his usual exculpation failson strategy of emphasizing their supposed youth:
During the 20-minute interview, Trump repeatedly talked about the importance of the economic ties between the United States and Saudi Arabia and Mohammed’s role in that relationship.
“He’s seen as a person who can keep things under check,” he said. “I mean that in a positive way.”
The president said he does not prefer that another leader replace the 33-year old prince because he said he has read about others and Mohammed, known as MBS, is “considered by far the strongest person” and “he truly loves his country.” [...]
“Nobody has told me he’s responsible. Nobody has told me he’s not responsible. We haven’t reached that point. I haven’t heard either way,” he said. He added, echoing the Saudi version of events: “There is a possibility he found out about it afterward. It could be something in the building went badly awry. It could be that’s when he found about it. He could have known they were bringing him back to Saudi Arabia.”[...]
“I would love if he wasn’t responsible,” he said of MBS. “I think it’s a very important ally for us. Especially when you have Iran doing so many bad things in the world, it’s a good counterbalance to the world. Iran, they’re as evil as it gets. They’re probably laughing at this situation as they see it. Iran is as evil as it gets.”
White House officials said there has been a deliberate effort during the Khashoggi controversy to sideline Jared Kushner, the president’s son-in-law and adviser, who has developed a strong relationship with MBS. Trump has grown frustrated with Kushner, White House officials said, though he offered his son-in-law some support in the Post interview.Of course, Trump's bullshitting about business relationships, as the Kushner Company has strong indirect ties to Saudi investment: Kushners' Blackstone Connection Put on Display in Saudi Arabia (Bloomberg)
“Jared doesn’t do business with Saudi Arabia. They’re two young guys. Jared doesn’t know him well or anything,” he said. “They are just two young people. They are the same age. They like each other I believe. Jared has done a very good job. I think he’ll make peace with Israel. But there are a lot of setbacks. This is a setback for that.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:25 AM on October 21, 2018 [10 favorites]
Jared doesn’t do business with Saudi Arabia. They’re two young guys. Jared doesn’t know him well or anything,” he said. “They are just two young people. They are the same age. They like each other I believe. Jared has done a very good job. I think he’ll make peace with Israel. But there are a lot of setbacks. This is a setback for that.
When do wealthy people become adults? Jared and MBS are both in their thirties.
posted by srboisvert at 6:52 AM on October 21, 2018 [33 favorites]
When do wealthy people become adults? Jared and MBS are both in their thirties.
posted by srboisvert at 6:52 AM on October 21, 2018 [33 favorites]
In lieu of donating to specific candidates, consider donating to voting rights groups, who will certainly need the money up through election day and behind.
Southern Coalition for Social Justice works on voting rights
Georgia specific group
posted by spamandkimchi at 7:34 AM on October 21, 2018 [16 favorites]
Southern Coalition for Social Justice works on voting rights
Georgia specific group
posted by spamandkimchi at 7:34 AM on October 21, 2018 [16 favorites]
When do wealthy people become adults?
Not until they're actually convicted of crimes and sentenced to jail time. Then, like Manafort and Cosby, they suddenly become frail old men, knocking on death's door; serving their full sentences would be a crime against humanity, don't you have any compassion???
posted by melissasaurus at 7:36 AM on October 21, 2018 [94 favorites]
Not until they're actually convicted of crimes and sentenced to jail time. Then, like Manafort and Cosby, they suddenly become frail old men, knocking on death's door; serving their full sentences would be a crime against humanity, don't you have any compassion???
posted by melissasaurus at 7:36 AM on October 21, 2018 [94 favorites]
Ian Bremmer: McKinsey helped draft Saudi Arabia Vision 2030...and apparently helped the government identify key critics. The Saudi govt took it from there:
Avi Asher-Schapiro
The New York Times has obtained documents showing the consultancy firm McKinsey helping Saudi Arabia identify influential Saudis who opposed the government's line on Twitter—individuals who were later imprisoned & targeted with sophisticated spyware
The NYT article in question. Includes a Twitter insider working for KSA
posted by infini at 7:44 AM on October 21, 2018 [6 favorites]
Avi Asher-Schapiro
The New York Times has obtained documents showing the consultancy firm McKinsey helping Saudi Arabia identify influential Saudis who opposed the government's line on Twitter—individuals who were later imprisoned & targeted with sophisticated spyware
The NYT article in question. Includes a Twitter insider working for KSA
posted by infini at 7:44 AM on October 21, 2018 [6 favorites]
Georgia Is Using Amateur Handwriting Analysis to Disenfranchise Minority Voters
Handwriting analysis is junk science just like polygraph tests and phrenology. This is like rejecting voters because of their head shape.
Or lets call it like it is, because of the color of their skin. Georgia's elections are not legitimate, full stop. This is exactly what John Roberts knew would happen, and what he wanted to happen in Shelby County.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:11 AM on October 21, 2018 [41 favorites]
Handwriting analysis is junk science just like polygraph tests and phrenology. This is like rejecting voters because of their head shape.
Or lets call it like it is, because of the color of their skin. Georgia's elections are not legitimate, full stop. This is exactly what John Roberts knew would happen, and what he wanted to happen in Shelby County.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:11 AM on October 21, 2018 [41 favorites]
Twitter has had difficulty combating the trolls.
...
The specialists found the jobs through Twitter itself, responding to ads that said only that an employer sought young men willing to tweet for about 10,000 Saudi riyals a month, equivalent to about $3,000.
This reminds me of the senate hearings questioning a facebook representative over their involvement in Russian campaign interference. A senator asked, incredulously:
Even setting aside what the currency was, someone is offering $3000 a month for tweeting. That seems like a lot! Shouldn't that have set off some alarms?
The extent that they even try is just to satisfy PR. Twitter is garbage, put it in the bin.
posted by adept256 at 8:16 AM on October 21, 2018 [20 favorites]
...
The specialists found the jobs through Twitter itself, responding to ads that said only that an employer sought young men willing to tweet for about 10,000 Saudi riyals a month, equivalent to about $3,000.
This reminds me of the senate hearings questioning a facebook representative over their involvement in Russian campaign interference. A senator asked, incredulously:
How did Facebook, which prides itself on being able to process billions of data points and instantly transform them into personal connections for its users, somehow not make the connection that electoral ads paid for in rubles were coming from Russia? Those are two data points. American political ads and Russian money, rubles. How could you not connect those two dots?So, Twitter, while you were having difficulty combating trolls, did you not think to investigate the ads offering a comfortable wage for tweeting, paid for in Saudi riyals?
Even setting aside what the currency was, someone is offering $3000 a month for tweeting. That seems like a lot! Shouldn't that have set off some alarms?
The extent that they even try is just to satisfy PR. Twitter is garbage, put it in the bin.
posted by adept256 at 8:16 AM on October 21, 2018 [20 favorites]
Alarmed by dropping vaccination rates among school kids, Arizona public-health officials created an online program, aimed at parents, about the benefits of shots. Anti-vaxxers complained. According to the Arizona Republic, a state board that looks at the impacts of government regulations responded by canceling the course. The board's members were all appointed by Gov. Doug Ducey.
posted by adamg at 9:41 AM on October 21, 2018 [31 favorites]
posted by adamg at 9:41 AM on October 21, 2018 [31 favorites]
In March, Trump said the Saudi military deals would produce 40,000 jobs.
A week ago, he made it 450,000 jobs. Wednesday, 500,000 jobs. Yesterday afternoon, 600,000 jobs.
Yesterday evening: "The million jobs."
posted by growabrain at 9:45 AM on October 21, 2018 [32 favorites]
A week ago, he made it 450,000 jobs. Wednesday, 500,000 jobs. Yesterday afternoon, 600,000 jobs.
Yesterday evening: "The million jobs."
posted by growabrain at 9:45 AM on October 21, 2018 [32 favorites]
Even setting aside what the currency was, someone is offering $3000 a month for tweeting. That seems like a lot! Shouldn't that have set off some alarms?
I dunno about Saudi standards specifically, but it doesn't seem particularly out of range for a Twitter operator salary. Also remember that it was less than a month ago that the establishment informed us we have always been at war with Saudiarabia. Just a month ago we were still being told MBS was a forward-thinking reformer, Saudi Arabia was modernizing in a visionary fashion, etc.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 10:01 AM on October 21, 2018
I dunno about Saudi standards specifically, but it doesn't seem particularly out of range for a Twitter operator salary. Also remember that it was less than a month ago that the establishment informed us we have always been at war with Saudiarabia. Just a month ago we were still being told MBS was a forward-thinking reformer, Saudi Arabia was modernizing in a visionary fashion, etc.
posted by save alive nothing that breatheth at 10:01 AM on October 21, 2018
On brink of 'worst famine in 100 years' - BBC News reporting on the famine in Yemen. Lots of sick babies in the video, if you'd rather not watch.
From wikipedia:
Since 2016, a famine has been ongoing in Yemen which started during the Yemeni Civil War. Over 17 million of Yemen's population are at risk; over 3.3 million children and pregnant or lactating women suffer from acute malnutrition. Over 100,000 of the affected children are in Al Hudaydah Governorate, with the city of Al Hudaydah worst affected area of the province.
...
After 5 November 2017, the famine in Yemen worsened because the Saudis, with the help of the United States, tightened their sea, air and land blockade.
Since Donald likes numbers, let's talk about the biggest man-made famine in history. 3.3 million children and mothers. I checked the citation for that and it's from UNICEF. I would like to check your citation for Saudi arms deals supporting millions of jobs stateside, but you haven't given one.
The brazen assassination of a dissident should invoke sanctions. Not doing so because it risks your complicity in a manufactured humanitarian crisis... and you say it provides jobs?
The weapons you're selling are killing children. But it creates jobs! Such a pragmatist.
posted by adept256 at 10:08 AM on October 21, 2018 [41 favorites]
From wikipedia:
Since 2016, a famine has been ongoing in Yemen which started during the Yemeni Civil War. Over 17 million of Yemen's population are at risk; over 3.3 million children and pregnant or lactating women suffer from acute malnutrition. Over 100,000 of the affected children are in Al Hudaydah Governorate, with the city of Al Hudaydah worst affected area of the province.
...
After 5 November 2017, the famine in Yemen worsened because the Saudis, with the help of the United States, tightened their sea, air and land blockade.
Since Donald likes numbers, let's talk about the biggest man-made famine in history. 3.3 million children and mothers. I checked the citation for that and it's from UNICEF. I would like to check your citation for Saudi arms deals supporting millions of jobs stateside, but you haven't given one.
The brazen assassination of a dissident should invoke sanctions. Not doing so because it risks your complicity in a manufactured humanitarian crisis... and you say it provides jobs?
The weapons you're selling are killing children. But it creates jobs! Such a pragmatist.
posted by adept256 at 10:08 AM on October 21, 2018 [41 favorites]
it was less than a month ago that the establishment informed us we have always been at war with Saudiarabia
The establishment has done no such thing. The Saudis have long been problematic and the establishment, both Republican and Democratic, has bowed to it. It remains to be seen whether this latest issue will have any real impact on our actual policies.
posted by Candleman at 10:18 AM on October 21, 2018 [6 favorites]
The establishment has done no such thing. The Saudis have long been problematic and the establishment, both Republican and Democratic, has bowed to it. It remains to be seen whether this latest issue will have any real impact on our actual policies.
posted by Candleman at 10:18 AM on October 21, 2018 [6 favorites]
*lowers voice to a whisper* Would it be mentioned out loud that 9/11 was Saudi citizens?
posted by infini at 10:22 AM on October 21, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by infini at 10:22 AM on October 21, 2018 [19 favorites]
‘God help us’ - Krugman warns Trump just tipped off what he’ll do if Dems take the House
posted by growabrain at 10:29 AM on October 21, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 10:29 AM on October 21, 2018 [14 favorites]
Krugman's right—yesterday @realDonaldTrump went all caps on delegitimizing the midterms: "All levels of government and Law Enforcement are watching carefully for VOTER FRAUD, including during EARLY VOTING. Cheat at your own peril. Violators will be subject to maximum penalties, both civil and criminal!"
His supporters are now amplifying this message, e.g. Rick Saccone, sore loser to Conor Lamb in the PA-18 special election: "We had a hearing in the PA Assembly last week confirming the voter fraud in PA. Dems still in denial. It is incredible. We need to take federal action. 100,000 unauthorized aliens registered by PENNDot."
Voter fraud is of course one of the wedge issues Russian operatives are using in their ongoing information warfare campaign, per Mueller's criminal complaint against Elena Khusyaynova, e.g. @TheTrainGuy13 (3/14/18): "VOTER FRAUD IS A FELONY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT .@realDonaldTrump .@POTUS"
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:48 AM on October 21, 2018 [30 favorites]
His supporters are now amplifying this message, e.g. Rick Saccone, sore loser to Conor Lamb in the PA-18 special election: "We had a hearing in the PA Assembly last week confirming the voter fraud in PA. Dems still in denial. It is incredible. We need to take federal action. 100,000 unauthorized aliens registered by PENNDot."
Voter fraud is of course one of the wedge issues Russian operatives are using in their ongoing information warfare campaign, per Mueller's criminal complaint against Elena Khusyaynova, e.g. @TheTrainGuy13 (3/14/18): "VOTER FRAUD IS A FELONY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT .@realDonaldTrump .@POTUS"
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:48 AM on October 21, 2018 [30 favorites]
In the face of the Trump administration's desire to erase trans people, a lot of cis people are wondering how to help. Wonder no more. Courtesy of @knroberts720 and Thread Reader, non Twitter folks can read some excellent advice here. In a followup thread, @knroberts720 noted that we need to go to our state governments and loudly lobby for state protections for transgender individuals.
In March 2017, when Roger Severino because the head of the Office for Civil Rights within Health and Human Services, ProPublica noted the following (and more):
Based on his prior writings, Severino will likely take the agency in a different direction than it had under the Obama administration. Last year, the agency issued rules banning discrimination against transgender patients, carrying out provisions of the Affordable Care Act. (A federal judge put those rules on hold on Dec. 31, siding with a Catholic hospital system, other religious health providers and five states that challenged them. The Trump administration has not sought to overturn the injunction.)
When those rules were proposed, Severino and a Heritage colleague wrote a scathing critique, saying they jeopardized the religious liberty and freedom of conscience of health care providers.
“By prohibiting differential treatment on the basis of ‘gender identity’ in health services, these regulations propose to penalize medical professionals and health care organizations that, as a matter of faith, moral conviction, or professional medical judgment, believe that maleness and femaleness are biological realities to be respected and affirmed, not altered or treated as diseases,” Severino wrote with colleague Ryan Anderson.
In a column for the conservative website Daily Signal, Severino and Anderson wrote that the HHS rule would force doctors to perform sex reassignment surgeries. “They would effectively require controversial procedures, such as ‘sex-reassignment’ surgery, that respected medical professionals argue have not been proven effective in treating serious mental health conditions.”
Despite the column’s assertions, federal rules cannot force doctors to perform procedures for which they are not trained or competent. Moreover, professional societies support coverage for gender transition treatments.
I. Can't. Even.
posted by Bella Donna at 11:22 AM on October 21, 2018 [30 favorites]
In March 2017, when Roger Severino because the head of the Office for Civil Rights within Health and Human Services, ProPublica noted the following (and more):
Based on his prior writings, Severino will likely take the agency in a different direction than it had under the Obama administration. Last year, the agency issued rules banning discrimination against transgender patients, carrying out provisions of the Affordable Care Act. (A federal judge put those rules on hold on Dec. 31, siding with a Catholic hospital system, other religious health providers and five states that challenged them. The Trump administration has not sought to overturn the injunction.)
When those rules were proposed, Severino and a Heritage colleague wrote a scathing critique, saying they jeopardized the religious liberty and freedom of conscience of health care providers.
“By prohibiting differential treatment on the basis of ‘gender identity’ in health services, these regulations propose to penalize medical professionals and health care organizations that, as a matter of faith, moral conviction, or professional medical judgment, believe that maleness and femaleness are biological realities to be respected and affirmed, not altered or treated as diseases,” Severino wrote with colleague Ryan Anderson.
In a column for the conservative website Daily Signal, Severino and Anderson wrote that the HHS rule would force doctors to perform sex reassignment surgeries. “They would effectively require controversial procedures, such as ‘sex-reassignment’ surgery, that respected medical professionals argue have not been proven effective in treating serious mental health conditions.”
Despite the column’s assertions, federal rules cannot force doctors to perform procedures for which they are not trained or competent. Moreover, professional societies support coverage for gender transition treatments.
I. Can't. Even.
posted by Bella Donna at 11:22 AM on October 21, 2018 [30 favorites]
Not that we have time to waste on the civility debate, but here's a nice response from @lmichet, someone who actually researched it:
in college I took a class on early American culture. my final paper was 30pgs about how in the 1700s, ordinary and legit political action involved fistfighting your opponents, or disassembling their home board by board with your bare hands. so yeah yelling in restaurants is fine
it's not true that yelling at a politician in a public place is some kind of shocking inappropriate thing perverting our politics. Sometimes you gotta go to the Tear Your Mayor's House Apart With Your Bare Hands Zone and if this means "yell at them at wendys" that's 1000% chill
posted by Bella Donna at 12:45 PM on October 21, 2018 [74 favorites]
in college I took a class on early American culture. my final paper was 30pgs about how in the 1700s, ordinary and legit political action involved fistfighting your opponents, or disassembling their home board by board with your bare hands. so yeah yelling in restaurants is fine
it's not true that yelling at a politician in a public place is some kind of shocking inappropriate thing perverting our politics. Sometimes you gotta go to the Tear Your Mayor's House Apart With Your Bare Hands Zone and if this means "yell at them at wendys" that's 1000% chill
posted by Bella Donna at 12:45 PM on October 21, 2018 [74 favorites]
I wouldn't overstrain that "actually researched it." It's not like the's the first to understand this. A 30 page college paper on that is not generating new knowledge (here's a scholarly paper going back to the 60s apologizing for colonial American mob violence and here's one you can crib if you blew off your reading). The existence of mob violence in Colonial and early America is well known and not controversial. It's a stretch, though, to say it was "legit." Yes, there were plenty of equivalents of the Proud Boys or Free Staters willing to go to extremes, egged on by people who stayed safe in their parlors or on the western or northern fringes of the colonies, but let's be clear that the rioters were doing this while politically under the control of a government they hadn't yet overthrown - it's not as though that government sanctioned those tactics. Had a few things gone the other way every identified rioter would have been shot or hung. It's also not as thought that there weren't complicated opinions even by people who favored independence but didn't all favor the revolutionary path, and plenty of dissension on whether these tactics were productive, appropriate or useful.
The longer I've studied history, and the longer I live, the less I believe that I - or most people - would side with colonial America's small proportion of white male violent revolutionaries acting on behalf of "oppressed" wealthy merchants.
posted by Miko at 1:00 PM on October 21, 2018 [25 favorites]
The longer I've studied history, and the longer I live, the less I believe that I - or most people - would side with colonial America's small proportion of white male violent revolutionaries acting on behalf of "oppressed" wealthy merchants.
posted by Miko at 1:00 PM on October 21, 2018 [25 favorites]
Wouldn’t it be nice if justices wore the names of their benefactors the way F1 drivers do?
Way upthread, but this has been suggested before for members of CA congress, and I have a vague recollection of it being brought up during the initial furor over Citizen's United.
posted by aspersioncast at 1:18 PM on October 21, 2018
Way upthread, but this has been suggested before for members of CA congress, and I have a vague recollection of it being brought up during the initial furor over Citizen's United.
posted by aspersioncast at 1:18 PM on October 21, 2018
Compare and contrast…
NBC reports: NBC/WSJ Poll: Democrats Hold 9-Point Advantage For Midterm Elections—Two weeks out, Democrats retain an edge but "unprecedented enthusiasm" is fueling both parties. The Democratic advantage has decreased—the GOP's favorability has risen by 1%. As one pollster puts it, “Despite these improvements [for Republicans], you’ve got to look where the tilt is going. And the tilt didn’t change.”
The (Murdoch-owned) WSJ has their own take: Interest in Midterms Surges, Boosting Trump Approval Rating—Democrats’ still favored by voters in latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll as the party to lead Congress (@WSJ link) Trump's approval rating is only 47%, which the highest of his presidency in their polling. And among likely voters it drops to 45% approve/52% disapprove.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:30 PM on October 21, 2018
NBC reports: NBC/WSJ Poll: Democrats Hold 9-Point Advantage For Midterm Elections—Two weeks out, Democrats retain an edge but "unprecedented enthusiasm" is fueling both parties. The Democratic advantage has decreased—the GOP's favorability has risen by 1%. As one pollster puts it, “Despite these improvements [for Republicans], you’ve got to look where the tilt is going. And the tilt didn’t change.”
The (Murdoch-owned) WSJ has their own take: Interest in Midterms Surges, Boosting Trump Approval Rating—Democrats’ still favored by voters in latest Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll as the party to lead Congress (@WSJ link) Trump's approval rating is only 47%, which the highest of his presidency in their polling. And among likely voters it drops to 45% approve/52% disapprove.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:30 PM on October 21, 2018
Apologies if this has been posted before. I have searched this thread and not seen it. Healthcare-focused attorney and writer Matthew Cortland is asking public health professionals to leave comments that may be useful in the expected legal fight against the administration's treatment of immigrant children. (Emphasis below mine.)
Trump has ordered DHS to adopt new rules allowing these children to be imprisoned indefinitely, in private facilities. These converted big box stores and tent camps are held to no meaningful standards of care and are subject to no meaningful oversight. But these rules will be challenged in court. Your comments will be a vital part of the record before the judge – your comments can help persuade the federal court to defend kids. ... Use this guide to write a comment opposing Trump's barbaric proposal. Submit your comment to DHS by November 6th. Share this guide with colleagues.
posted by Bella Donna at 1:30 PM on October 21, 2018 [8 favorites]
Trump has ordered DHS to adopt new rules allowing these children to be imprisoned indefinitely, in private facilities. These converted big box stores and tent camps are held to no meaningful standards of care and are subject to no meaningful oversight. But these rules will be challenged in court. Your comments will be a vital part of the record before the judge – your comments can help persuade the federal court to defend kids. ... Use this guide to write a comment opposing Trump's barbaric proposal. Submit your comment to DHS by November 6th. Share this guide with colleagues.
posted by Bella Donna at 1:30 PM on October 21, 2018 [8 favorites]
it's not as though that government sanctioned those tactics. Had a few things gone the other way every identified rioter would have been shot or hung.
A couple weeks ago, about 100 Redcoat re-enactors landed on Long Wharf in Boston Harbor to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the landing of real Redcoats there, sent to try to restore order in an increasingly restive colony. Boston 1775 is "reporting" on the events that followed (the tactic didn't work; two years later, troops opened fire during a fight turned into a riot and shot five colonists dead).
posted by adamg at 1:31 PM on October 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
A couple weeks ago, about 100 Redcoat re-enactors landed on Long Wharf in Boston Harbor to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the landing of real Redcoats there, sent to try to restore order in an increasingly restive colony. Boston 1775 is "reporting" on the events that followed (the tactic didn't work; two years later, troops opened fire during a fight turned into a riot and shot five colonists dead).
posted by adamg at 1:31 PM on October 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
Had a few things gone the other way every identified rioter would have been shot or hung
Didn’t this happen pretty regularly when the armed thugs had the backing of the authorities? Like during strikes? I feel like a lot of union organizers and laborers died, or am I making that up
posted by schadenfrau at 2:04 PM on October 21, 2018 [7 favorites]
Didn’t this happen pretty regularly when the armed thugs had the backing of the authorities? Like during strikes? I feel like a lot of union organizers and laborers died, or am I making that up
posted by schadenfrau at 2:04 PM on October 21, 2018 [7 favorites]
Remember that “Afghan-on-Afghan incident” in which a gunman wearing an Afghan army uniform killed three senior provincial officials that we discussed in passing in the previous thread? It turns out that among the three Americans who were also wounded was Army Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Smiley, which the Pentagon had initially tried to hush up.
Meanwhile, in the Afghanistan election, voters defy violence to cast ballots (BBC).
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:38 PM on October 21, 2018 [5 favorites]
Meanwhile, in the Afghanistan election, voters defy violence to cast ballots (BBC).
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:38 PM on October 21, 2018 [5 favorites]
The Trump administration is considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the most drastic move yet in a governmentwide effort to roll back recognition and protections of transgender people under federal civil rights law.
Anyone not see this coming? Anyone at all?
Whose rights are next?
Help. Blue wave, please.
posted by loquacious at 2:44 PM on October 21, 2018 [45 favorites]
Anyone not see this coming? Anyone at all?
Whose rights are next?
Help. Blue wave, please.
posted by loquacious at 2:44 PM on October 21, 2018 [45 favorites]
It really hurts my heart that nominating Kavanaugh has energized the right and that this makes our chances of taking the Senate worse. Like, I don't believe in God, but if I was God, I would right now just be like some of my children are just awful where did I go wrong as a parent.
posted by angrycat at 3:05 PM on October 21, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 3:05 PM on October 21, 2018 [9 favorites]
It really hurts my heart that nominating Kavanaugh has energized the right and that this makes our chances of taking the Senate worse. Like, I don't believe in God, but if I was God, I would right now just be like some of my children are just awful where did I go wrong as a parent.
Nothing riles up the GOP base more than seeing a rich white man encounter a small but easily surmounted obstacle put there by a woman smarter than them.
posted by dis_integration at 3:15 PM on October 21, 2018 [37 favorites]
Nothing riles up the GOP base more than seeing a rich white man encounter a small but easily surmounted obstacle put there by a woman smarter than them.
posted by dis_integration at 3:15 PM on October 21, 2018 [37 favorites]
Per Nate Silver (as trustworthy a source as any in a field that's hard to measure), there wasn't really much of a "Kavanaugh boost." Voters always seem to come home, so to speak, in the weeks leading up to Election Day. And, again according to what I've read on FiveThirtyEight, the Senate was always going to be an uphill battle for us this time. The map was just against us, even though the party not in the White House usually has the advantage.
Taking back the House is a much safer bet, and stanching the bleeding in the Senate so that next election cycle we are operating from more of an advantage. (We really blew it in 2010 and 2014 and are clawing back to baseline.)
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 3:21 PM on October 21, 2018 [13 favorites]
Taking back the House is a much safer bet, and stanching the bleeding in the Senate so that next election cycle we are operating from more of an advantage. (We really blew it in 2010 and 2014 and are clawing back to baseline.)
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 3:21 PM on October 21, 2018 [13 favorites]
Nothing riles up the GOP base more than seeing a rich white man encounter a small but easily surmounted obstacle put there by a woman smarter than them.
One aspect, but in Kavanaugh's case, where nominating someone without the "Did he sexually assault someone?" issue would have been trivial, might I suggest that:
Nothing riles up the GOP base more than seeing... a man dominate a woman. They literally ENJOYED the Kavanaugh hearings and subsequent events at a visceral level. Evil is the word to use.
posted by mikelieman at 3:38 PM on October 21, 2018 [39 favorites]
One aspect, but in Kavanaugh's case, where nominating someone without the "Did he sexually assault someone?" issue would have been trivial, might I suggest that:
Nothing riles up the GOP base more than seeing... a man dominate a woman. They literally ENJOYED the Kavanaugh hearings and subsequent events at a visceral level. Evil is the word to use.
posted by mikelieman at 3:38 PM on October 21, 2018 [39 favorites]
The Trump administration is considering narrowly defining gender as a biological, immutable condition determined by genitalia at birth, the most drastic move yet in a governmentwide effort to roll back recognition and protections of transgender people under federal civil rights law.
Forgive me, but didn't they already do this? There were no legal protections for transgender people to begin with, except for whatever the Obama administration said there were, the actual law was still being litigated, and the second Sessions and Devos put their butts in a chair, the Title IX lawsuits were dropped and new rules and interpretations were promulgated. I think I even remember this exact wording. They have already sent the message, multiple times, "we think it's fine and legal to discriminate against trans people."
I can't imagine what they think this will do. I expect it's just a culture war nugget, but if I'm wrong it could be very, very bad.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 4:05 PM on October 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
Forgive me, but didn't they already do this? There were no legal protections for transgender people to begin with, except for whatever the Obama administration said there were, the actual law was still being litigated, and the second Sessions and Devos put their butts in a chair, the Title IX lawsuits were dropped and new rules and interpretations were promulgated. I think I even remember this exact wording. They have already sent the message, multiple times, "we think it's fine and legal to discriminate against trans people."
I can't imagine what they think this will do. I expect it's just a culture war nugget, but if I'm wrong it could be very, very bad.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 4:05 PM on October 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
No government in the world has ever spent a year discussing if it is okay to use DNA testing of people as a way of assessing their gender binary purity.
This is an expansion of evil.
posted by nikaspark at 4:15 PM on October 21, 2018 [37 favorites]
This is an expansion of evil.
posted by nikaspark at 4:15 PM on October 21, 2018 [37 favorites]
This memo, if enacted will pave the way for the wholesale erasure (aka genocide) of trans people in the US.
This is real folks. I’m not exaggerating.
posted by nikaspark at 4:17 PM on October 21, 2018 [39 favorites]
This is real folks. I’m not exaggerating.
posted by nikaspark at 4:17 PM on October 21, 2018 [39 favorites]
Gorbachev Calls Trump’s Treaty Withdrawal ‘Not the Work of a Great Mind’ - Andrew E. Kramer, NYTimes
Mr. Gorbachev, who is now 87 years old, cast Mr. Trump’s decision as a threat to peace.posted by ZeusHumms at 4:28 PM on October 21, 2018 [24 favorites]
“Under no circumstances should we tear up old disarmament agreements,” he said. “Is it really that hard to understand that rejecting these agreements is, as the people say, not the work of a great mind.”
Mr. Gorbachev, in an interview with the Interfax news agency, called Mr. Trump’s rollback of the disarmament agreement “very strange.”
“Rejecting the INF is a mistake,” Mr. Gorbachev said. “Do they really not understand in Washington what this can lead to?
I can't imagine what they think this will do. I expect it's just a culture war nugget, but if I'm wrong it could be very, very bad.
What happens if it, eg, revokes people's passports? What happens if people can no longer access government services if they and their birth-assigned documents don't match? I can think of all kinds of ways that this can be used to exclude people, and I am worried that if the government can do something like this by fiat, well, what else can they do?
Trans people won't be the last. If they can basically take away a lot of rights just by saying "this is how we define gender", think about all the other stuff. 'This is how we define sexuality", "this is how we define the aptitudes of women", "this is how we define race". This is about one step from the part in Handmaid's Tale where everyone with an "F" on their ID has their bank account cut off.
Think about a society in which the government can, by fiat, overnight, without passing a law, just...declare a whole group non-people. Think about how that changes everything. Think about how it's going to feel for you if you know that the government can write a memo that says, for instance, "there is no such thing as homosexuality" or "women are not physically capable of doing certain jobs because Fake Science" or "the races have different biological aptitudes and it is all right to take this into consideration in hiring". The only reason "trans people don't exist" doesn't strike you as equally bizarre is because you've been conditioned to think that trans people's lives are the subject of entertaining debate.
I am as afraid of the cultural effects as the law, because what this says to the right is "you are correct, trans people are not people". And that really means, "you are correct, anyone who does not look like a 1950s TV ad isn't people".
Everyone who is TERF-adjacent or who doesn't call out their TERF acquaintances (since I assume the TERFs are cheering) should be aware that you did this. You treated "trans people: humans who deserve rights, liars, tumblr snowflakes or perverts?" as a legit debate. If you no-platformed it we wouldn't be in this mess.
posted by Frowner at 4:31 PM on October 21, 2018 [85 favorites]
What happens if it, eg, revokes people's passports? What happens if people can no longer access government services if they and their birth-assigned documents don't match? I can think of all kinds of ways that this can be used to exclude people, and I am worried that if the government can do something like this by fiat, well, what else can they do?
Trans people won't be the last. If they can basically take away a lot of rights just by saying "this is how we define gender", think about all the other stuff. 'This is how we define sexuality", "this is how we define the aptitudes of women", "this is how we define race". This is about one step from the part in Handmaid's Tale where everyone with an "F" on their ID has their bank account cut off.
Think about a society in which the government can, by fiat, overnight, without passing a law, just...declare a whole group non-people. Think about how that changes everything. Think about how it's going to feel for you if you know that the government can write a memo that says, for instance, "there is no such thing as homosexuality" or "women are not physically capable of doing certain jobs because Fake Science" or "the races have different biological aptitudes and it is all right to take this into consideration in hiring". The only reason "trans people don't exist" doesn't strike you as equally bizarre is because you've been conditioned to think that trans people's lives are the subject of entertaining debate.
I am as afraid of the cultural effects as the law, because what this says to the right is "you are correct, trans people are not people". And that really means, "you are correct, anyone who does not look like a 1950s TV ad isn't people".
Everyone who is TERF-adjacent or who doesn't call out their TERF acquaintances (since I assume the TERFs are cheering) should be aware that you did this. You treated "trans people: humans who deserve rights, liars, tumblr snowflakes or perverts?" as a legit debate. If you no-platformed it we wouldn't be in this mess.
posted by Frowner at 4:31 PM on October 21, 2018 [85 favorites]
The ‘sniveling coward’ and the ‘maniac’ are now allies, as Trump stumps for Cruz - Ashley Parker, Washington Post
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:31 PM on October 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 4:31 PM on October 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
Per Nate Silver (as trustworthy a source as any in a field that's hard to measure), there wasn't really much of a "Kavanaugh boost." Voters always seem to come home, so to speak
This is what makes me cautious about a "blue wave". Clinton polled up as much as 13 or 15 early, and all those "reluctant" Republicans and nice suburban white women and "Republican leaning 'undecideds'"...all broke for Trump at the end, despite what they told pollsters.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:35 PM on October 21, 2018 [6 favorites]
This is what makes me cautious about a "blue wave". Clinton polled up as much as 13 or 15 early, and all those "reluctant" Republicans and nice suburban white women and "Republican leaning 'undecideds'"...all broke for Trump at the end, despite what they told pollsters.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:35 PM on October 21, 2018 [6 favorites]
This is what makes me cautious about a "blue wave". Clinton polled up as much as 13 or 15 early, and all those "reluctant" Republicans and nice suburban white women and "Republican leaning 'undecideds'"...all broke for Trump at the end, despite what they told pollsters.
I'm struggling to find any historical polls from 2016 that had Clinton at +13 nationally in late October. I'm one of those that are in the "despite the freakout, in the end the polls were not that wrong except in a few key states (like wisconsin)" camp, and I think voter suppression is responsible for a lot of the difference here in WI in 2016.
The polls are alright, and I think will be largely predictive. They match the fundraising difference between the GOP and the Democrats so that, at least, tracks.
posted by dis_integration at 4:43 PM on October 21, 2018 [7 favorites]
I'm struggling to find any historical polls from 2016 that had Clinton at +13 nationally in late October. I'm one of those that are in the "despite the freakout, in the end the polls were not that wrong except in a few key states (like wisconsin)" camp, and I think voter suppression is responsible for a lot of the difference here in WI in 2016.
The polls are alright, and I think will be largely predictive. They match the fundraising difference between the GOP and the Democrats so that, at least, tracks.
posted by dis_integration at 4:43 PM on October 21, 2018 [7 favorites]
Historically, late undecided voters vote against the in party, as they tend to be people looking for a reason to vote against the incumbent and so they eventually find one, whatever it is. That cut against the Democrats in 2016 but would work to their advantage in 2018. For a lot of reasons I'll be panicked until the results come in on Election Day but it isn't the case that these things always cut against us. They just follow patterns that hurt us in 2016 but might help us now.
posted by gerryblog at 4:46 PM on October 21, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by gerryblog at 4:46 PM on October 21, 2018 [7 favorites]
What happens if it, eg, revokes people's passports?
When they take people's passports away, it's so they can't escape what's going to happen next.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 5:11 PM on October 21, 2018 [23 favorites]
When they take people's passports away, it's so they can't escape what's going to happen next.
posted by the man of twists and turns at 5:11 PM on October 21, 2018 [23 favorites]
Is there anyone on the public stage with clout questioning the wisdom of the U.S. selling the Saudi Arabian government weapons at all? I'm not even talking "as a punitive measure for this extrajudicial killing of a journalist", just as "do we really want to be publicly directly responsible for what they do with the weapons?"
posted by Selena777 at 5:17 PM on October 21, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Selena777 at 5:17 PM on October 21, 2018 [11 favorites]
When they take people's passports away, it's so they can't escape what's going to happen next.
Probably worth mentioning then that I've been hearing a lot of stories on Twitter from trans people the last few months about the government either revoking their passport or refusing to issue them a passport. According to this story they're claiming that there's been no change in policy and each of these cases just features unique administrative mistakes, but in light of the "exact match" voter suppression strategy some of this is looking very familiar.
posted by IAmUnaware at 5:25 PM on October 21, 2018 [34 favorites]
Probably worth mentioning then that I've been hearing a lot of stories on Twitter from trans people the last few months about the government either revoking their passport or refusing to issue them a passport. According to this story they're claiming that there's been no change in policy and each of these cases just features unique administrative mistakes, but in light of the "exact match" voter suppression strategy some of this is looking very familiar.
posted by IAmUnaware at 5:25 PM on October 21, 2018 [34 favorites]
AP: A ragged, growing army of migrants resumes march toward US
A ragged army marches toward us.
Debased as it is, it's still impressive how eagerly mainstream media embraces far-right phrasing and framing. The victory of fascist rhetoric has nothing to do with any inherent effectiveness or universal appeal. It's that, by and large, the prominent outlets have chosen their side.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:30 PM on October 21, 2018 [65 favorites]
A ragged army marches toward us.
Debased as it is, it's still impressive how eagerly mainstream media embraces far-right phrasing and framing. The victory of fascist rhetoric has nothing to do with any inherent effectiveness or universal appeal. It's that, by and large, the prominent outlets have chosen their side.
posted by Rust Moranis at 5:30 PM on October 21, 2018 [65 favorites]
On the plus side, language calls out to both the decent and the debased. By definition, he and she who are ragged, needy and persecuted are the friends of all good people.
“You have to help the next person. Today it’s for them, tomorrow for us,” Valdivia said, adding that he was getting a valuable gift from those he helped: “From them we learn to value what they do not have.”
Maria Teresa Orellana, a resident of Lorenzo, handed out sandals. “It’s solidarity,” she said. “They’re our brothers.”
She even had kind words for Mexican police: “We are very grateful to them because even though they closed the doors to us (at the border), they are coming behind us taking care of us.”
They get it. Many, many Americans also get it. We just have to come out and fucking outnumber and outshout the people who choose not to.
posted by delfin at 5:49 PM on October 21, 2018 [14 favorites]
“You have to help the next person. Today it’s for them, tomorrow for us,” Valdivia said, adding that he was getting a valuable gift from those he helped: “From them we learn to value what they do not have.”
Maria Teresa Orellana, a resident of Lorenzo, handed out sandals. “It’s solidarity,” she said. “They’re our brothers.”
She even had kind words for Mexican police: “We are very grateful to them because even though they closed the doors to us (at the border), they are coming behind us taking care of us.”
They get it. Many, many Americans also get it. We just have to come out and fucking outnumber and outshout the people who choose not to.
posted by delfin at 5:49 PM on October 21, 2018 [14 favorites]
WaPo, Special counsel examines conflicting accounts as scrutiny of Roger Stone and WikiLeaks deepens
posted by zachlipton at 5:57 PM on October 21, 2018 [22 favorites]
In recent weeks, a grand jury in Washington has listened to more than a dozen hours of testimony and FBI technicians have pored over gigabytes of electronic messages as part of the special counsel’s quest to solve one burning mystery: Did longtime Trump adviser Roger Stone — or any other associate of the president — have advance knowledge of WikiLeaks’ plans to release hacked Democratic emails in 2016?This is really the whole ball game. It's just straight up "did the Trump campaign collude?" And will anything happen if Mueller demonstrates that the answer is yes?
While outwardly quiet for the last month, Robert S. Mueller III’s investigators have been aggressively pursuing leads behind the scenes about whether Stone was in communication with the online group, whose disclosures of emails believed to have been hacked by Russian operatives disrupted the 2016 presidential campaign, according to people familiar with the special counsel probe.
Stone, who boasted during the race that he was in touch with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, has said since that his past comments were exaggerated or misunderstood. Both he and WikiLeaks have adamantly denied they were in contact.
However, prosecutors are closely examining both public comments and alleged private assertions that Stone made in 2016 suggesting he had a way to reach Assange, the people said.
Last month, Randy Credico, a onetime Stone friend, told the grand jury that the Trump loyalist confided during the 2016 campaign that he had a secret back channel to WikiLeaks, according to a person familiar with the matter.
posted by zachlipton at 5:57 PM on October 21, 2018 [22 favorites]
On the plus side, language calls out to both the decent and the debased. By definition, he and she who are ragged, needy and persecuted are the friends of all good people.
Sure, but I don't think Rust Moranis was calling out the "ragged" part so much as the "marching army" part. There will be fewer sympathetic or neutral terms used as the fascist movement strengthens and becomes more mainstream.
posted by contraption at 6:04 PM on October 21, 2018 [5 favorites]
Sure, but I don't think Rust Moranis was calling out the "ragged" part so much as the "marching army" part. There will be fewer sympathetic or neutral terms used as the fascist movement strengthens and becomes more mainstream.
posted by contraption at 6:04 PM on October 21, 2018 [5 favorites]
This administrations new policy toward transgender people is a big step toward getting rid of us entirely. As mentioned above, it paves the way for refusing us services. For treating us as non-persons. There is no way they will stop with this. They will declare us mentally ill, or criminal by nature. Out of one side of their mouths they'll say they're doing it for our own good, while making sure that their base knows their real motivations.
They want us dead, or at a distant second, back in the closet.
I'm not going back in the closet.
posted by Tabitha Someday at 6:06 PM on October 21, 2018 [102 favorites]
They want us dead, or at a distant second, back in the closet.
I'm not going back in the closet.
posted by Tabitha Someday at 6:06 PM on October 21, 2018 [102 favorites]
There will be fewer sympathetic or neutral terms used as the fascist movement strengthens and becomes more mainstream.
If AP headlines look like this now, imagine the first surges of climate refugees and the attendant heating of the reactionary atmosphere. They'll openly advocate genocide.
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:13 PM on October 21, 2018 [14 favorites]
If AP headlines look like this now, imagine the first surges of climate refugees and the attendant heating of the reactionary atmosphere. They'll openly advocate genocide.
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:13 PM on October 21, 2018 [14 favorites]
I don't really care for the doom-y predictions. Can we not borrow trouble? There seems to be plenty of real trouble going around.
posted by j_curiouser at 6:22 PM on October 21, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by j_curiouser at 6:22 PM on October 21, 2018 [23 favorites]
The right-wing media machine will openly advocate genocide.
The "mainstream" sources will merely give equal time to those advocating genocide, treat them as if they're rational and worthy of airtime, and state that Opinions Are Divided in a very serious voice.
posted by delfin at 6:24 PM on October 21, 2018 [13 favorites]
The "mainstream" sources will merely give equal time to those advocating genocide, treat them as if they're rational and worthy of airtime, and state that Opinions Are Divided in a very serious voice.
posted by delfin at 6:24 PM on October 21, 2018 [13 favorites]
Reuters continues to be better than AP on this: Thousands of Hondurans in U.S.-bound migrant caravan head into Mexico
posted by contraption at 6:30 PM on October 21, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by contraption at 6:30 PM on October 21, 2018 [12 favorites]
Kate Starbird on Russian disinfo ops on Twitter. (Sorry if Medium isn't a qualifying source for the purposes of this thread, but Starbird is a legit researcher; previously.)
posted by eirias at 6:46 PM on October 21, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by eirias at 6:46 PM on October 21, 2018 [9 favorites]
I see where you're coming from, but they have literally announced a policy to strip a bunch of us of our identities. Do you not consider this real trouble? Looking at the likely direct effects of what they are actually doing doesn't strike me as inappropriate or uncalled for at this point.
I don't really care for the doom-y predictions. Can we not borrow trouble? There seems to be plenty of real trouble going around.
posted by Tabitha Someday at 6:51 PM on October 21, 2018 [65 favorites]
I think they meant the "what about when climate change comes big" speculation.
posted by Meatbomb at 7:09 PM on October 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Meatbomb at 7:09 PM on October 21, 2018 [3 favorites]
If we don't get well on our way to fixing the crisis of wealthy straight white Western male misogyny in *checks watch*, eh, 10 years or so, then yes we will mostly be fucked by climate change, and yall know who won't get the lifeboats.
Solidarity, now.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:19 PM on October 21, 2018 [19 favorites]
Solidarity, now.
posted by tivalasvegas at 7:19 PM on October 21, 2018 [19 favorites]
Arthur Gregg Sulzberger, publisher of the New York Times, said "We won’t be baited into becoming ‘the opposition.’ And we won’t be applauded into becoming ‘the opposition.’"
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:35 PM on October 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by oneswellfoop at 7:35 PM on October 21, 2018 [2 favorites]
The trouble is, he has an editor somewhere reading headlines like "TRUMP LIES ABOUT X" (which is true, and exactly the fact that a good journalist would report) and deciding "Gosh, that makes us sound like 'the opposition'" and changing them to "OPINIONS DIFFER ON X".
I'm completely fine if they focus 100% on reporting facts but that's not what's happening here. When one side is anti-fact, the traditional "report both sides" approach doesn't work.
posted by mmoncur at 7:45 PM on October 21, 2018 [30 favorites]
I'm completely fine if they focus 100% on reporting facts but that's not what's happening here. When one side is anti-fact, the traditional "report both sides" approach doesn't work.
posted by mmoncur at 7:45 PM on October 21, 2018 [30 favorites]
"I won't be baited into becoming 'the opposition!'"
— Frog in a pot of relaxing warm water, 2018
posted by Behemoth at 7:51 PM on October 21, 2018 [42 favorites]
— Frog in a pot of relaxing warm water, 2018
posted by Behemoth at 7:51 PM on October 21, 2018 [42 favorites]
"We won't be baited into becoming 'the opposition!'"
— New York Times on its fawning coverage of Hitler until 1939
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:54 PM on October 21, 2018 [35 favorites]
— New York Times on its fawning coverage of Hitler until 1939
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:54 PM on October 21, 2018 [35 favorites]
"We won’t be baited into becoming ‘the opposition.’
We know, you're already "the collaborators". But thanks for stating it clearly.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:54 PM on October 21, 2018 [34 favorites]
We know, you're already "the collaborators". But thanks for stating it clearly.
posted by T.D. Strange at 7:54 PM on October 21, 2018 [34 favorites]
You would think having a fellow journalist chopped into pieces might overcome a chronic case of bothsidesism, but no. The NYT will be that way until they are bankrupted. Don't give them a dime.
posted by benzenedream at 8:00 PM on October 21, 2018 [49 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 8:00 PM on October 21, 2018 [49 favorites]
Trans people won't be the last. If they can basically take away a lot of rights just by saying "this is how we define gender", think about all the other stuff. 'This is how we define sexuality", "this is how we define the aptitudes of women", "this is how we define race".
The White House could turn a lot of civil rights legislation around if it defined white people as the victims of discrimination. We've seen similar things with, e.g., admission into prestigious universities. Trump's own rhetoric has occasionally been an inch away from the 14 words; I'm sure there will be people pushing for measures to prevent "white genocide" as soon as they think they can get away from it.
posted by Joe in Australia at 8:49 PM on October 21, 2018 [9 favorites]
The White House could turn a lot of civil rights legislation around if it defined white people as the victims of discrimination. We've seen similar things with, e.g., admission into prestigious universities. Trump's own rhetoric has occasionally been an inch away from the 14 words; I'm sure there will be people pushing for measures to prevent "white genocide" as soon as they think they can get away from it.
posted by Joe in Australia at 8:49 PM on October 21, 2018 [9 favorites]
I'm not going back in the closet.
Me either. Is it time for ACT UP styled die-ins on the capitol steps or did they make that kind of protesting a federal felony yet?
Because this is a life or death issue for trans people. They don't even have to build prisons, camps or anything to start killing trans people. Making life even more difficult and reducing access to treatment will do the trick invisibly and quietly.
I may have reached the "standing on a street corner holding an angry sign" phase. TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.
Please vote. I haven't felt this voiceless, ever.
posted by loquacious at 9:58 PM on October 21, 2018 [90 favorites]
Me either. Is it time for ACT UP styled die-ins on the capitol steps or did they make that kind of protesting a federal felony yet?
Because this is a life or death issue for trans people. They don't even have to build prisons, camps or anything to start killing trans people. Making life even more difficult and reducing access to treatment will do the trick invisibly and quietly.
I may have reached the "standing on a street corner holding an angry sign" phase. TRANS RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS.
Please vote. I haven't felt this voiceless, ever.
posted by loquacious at 9:58 PM on October 21, 2018 [90 favorites]
I got my ballot this week.
I was going to vote in a few days, and then drop it in the ballot dropbox on my way to work one day. (I'm in WA State, so the vast majority of us vote by mail, and then either drop that ballot in the mail, or in a ballot drop box run by the county.) Then, the news hit - and I made sure my ballot was filled out and dropped off tonight.
Trans rights are Human rights!
posted by spinifex23 at 11:03 PM on October 21, 2018 [25 favorites]
I was going to vote in a few days, and then drop it in the ballot dropbox on my way to work one day. (I'm in WA State, so the vast majority of us vote by mail, and then either drop that ballot in the mail, or in a ballot drop box run by the county.) Then, the news hit - and I made sure my ballot was filled out and dropped off tonight.
Trans rights are Human rights!
posted by spinifex23 at 11:03 PM on October 21, 2018 [25 favorites]
I've made a profound mistake not renewing my passport while Obama was still in office.
posted by michswiss at 11:52 PM on October 21, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by michswiss at 11:52 PM on October 21, 2018 [9 favorites]
Apologies if this has been posted before. I have searched this thread and not seen it. Healthcare-focused attorney and writer Matthew Cortland is asking public health professionals to leave comments that may be useful in the expected legal fight against the administration's treatment of immigrant children. (Emphasis below mine.)
posted by Bella Donna at 1:30 PM on October 21 [6 favorites +] [!]
If it was posted before, I missed it, so thank you for making me aware of the request. I'm on it.
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:17 AM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 1:30 PM on October 21 [6 favorites +] [!]
If it was posted before, I missed it, so thank you for making me aware of the request. I'm on it.
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:17 AM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
After Kavanaugh was confirmed there was a slew of articles like these, arguing that John Roberts must be dismayed because preserving the appearance of the Court's impartiality and lack of partisanship was of the highest importance to him.
Meanwhile, the judge he's appointed to review the ethics complaints against Kavanaugh is a judge whose appointment to the federal court Kavanaugh campaigned for personally.
... I'm starting to think that maybe, possibly, he's not a true custodian of the impartiality of the Supreme Court.
posted by trig at 2:45 AM on October 22, 2018 [55 favorites]
Meanwhile, the judge he's appointed to review the ethics complaints against Kavanaugh is a judge whose appointment to the federal court Kavanaugh campaigned for personally.
... I'm starting to think that maybe, possibly, he's not a true custodian of the impartiality of the Supreme Court.
posted by trig at 2:45 AM on October 22, 2018 [55 favorites]
Arthur Gregg Sulzberger, publisher of the New York Times, said "We won’t be baited into becoming ‘the opposition.’ And we won’t be applauded into becoming ‘the opposition.’"
And the Trump regime draws unwanted attention to yet another dynastic failson.
posted by srboisvert at 5:22 AM on October 22, 2018 [14 favorites]
And the Trump regime draws unwanted attention to yet another dynastic failson.
posted by srboisvert at 5:22 AM on October 22, 2018 [14 favorites]
I don't really care for the doom-y predictions. Can we not borrow trouble? There seems to be plenty of real trouble going around.
I don't really care for doom-y predictions either but in under 10 years I have to renew my green card. As it currently stands those applications are apparently being rejected for typos. So for me there is already the terror of the possibility that a mendacious bureaucrat following mendacious policy could casually with the press of a key ruin the life I live. This status uncertainty means I won't be buying a home. This means I won't expand my business or start another.
Now imagine if you were faced with this bullshit and didn't have a Canada to return to. Imagine you had nowhere to run when the country you live in and are a citizen of turns on you?
posted by srboisvert at 5:37 AM on October 22, 2018 [56 favorites]
I don't really care for doom-y predictions either but in under 10 years I have to renew my green card. As it currently stands those applications are apparently being rejected for typos. So for me there is already the terror of the possibility that a mendacious bureaucrat following mendacious policy could casually with the press of a key ruin the life I live. This status uncertainty means I won't be buying a home. This means I won't expand my business or start another.
Now imagine if you were faced with this bullshit and didn't have a Canada to return to. Imagine you had nowhere to run when the country you live in and are a citizen of turns on you?
posted by srboisvert at 5:37 AM on October 22, 2018 [56 favorites]
... I'm starting to think that maybe, possibly, he's not a true custodian of the impartiality of the Supreme Court.
Civility and impartiality and being above the politics of it all are always, always, always masks.
posted by Etrigan at 5:44 AM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
Civility and impartiality and being above the politics of it all are always, always, always masks.
posted by Etrigan at 5:44 AM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
"First they came for the X..." doomsaying seems reasonably appropriate at the moment in which the current government in power sends out a press release stating that next, they are coming for X.
posted by delfin at 5:47 AM on October 22, 2018 [82 favorites]
posted by delfin at 5:47 AM on October 22, 2018 [82 favorites]
I've been wondering about the timing of the INF treaty withdrawal. I know he keeps a pile of treaties and agreements in the bathroom, and it seems just as arbitrary to reach for this one next.
First, I came across the video of Reagan and Gorbachev signing the agreement, and this moment of levity between the two, having a chuckle. Then they go to the side and sign away 2100 nuclear weapons. This moment of laughter is when The Great Unpuckering began, because by 1991, verified by both parties, there were 2100 fewer nuclear weapons in the world.
So in that sense, the purpose of the treaty was fulfilled decades ago, so why now? Most opinions say 'China', in which case we get an arms race and Cold War 2. Which is bloody awful, and I wish we left all that shit behind in the last century. But it may not be that. This time last year:
Russia and Saudi Arabia 'sign $3bn arms deal'
We've already heard Trump say that if the US doesn't sell Saudi Arabia weapons, someone else will, meaning China or Russia. Now I see how the negotiations over the arms deal may have happened. MBS would have told Kushner or Trump about the Russian weapons that violate the treaty, and what a pity about this darn treaty! Without it we could buy them from you!
So he wants to sell the Saudis banned weapons and tearing up treaties is NBD. And it has to happen now before the pressure to impose sanctions is too great.
It's a theory, but I haven't read any other compelling reasons to do this now.
posted by adept256 at 6:50 AM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
First, I came across the video of Reagan and Gorbachev signing the agreement, and this moment of levity between the two, having a chuckle. Then they go to the side and sign away 2100 nuclear weapons. This moment of laughter is when The Great Unpuckering began, because by 1991, verified by both parties, there were 2100 fewer nuclear weapons in the world.
So in that sense, the purpose of the treaty was fulfilled decades ago, so why now? Most opinions say 'China', in which case we get an arms race and Cold War 2. Which is bloody awful, and I wish we left all that shit behind in the last century. But it may not be that. This time last year:
Russia and Saudi Arabia 'sign $3bn arms deal'
We've already heard Trump say that if the US doesn't sell Saudi Arabia weapons, someone else will, meaning China or Russia. Now I see how the negotiations over the arms deal may have happened. MBS would have told Kushner or Trump about the Russian weapons that violate the treaty, and what a pity about this darn treaty! Without it we could buy them from you!
So he wants to sell the Saudis banned weapons and tearing up treaties is NBD. And it has to happen now before the pressure to impose sanctions is too great.
It's a theory, but I haven't read any other compelling reasons to do this now.
posted by adept256 at 6:50 AM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—- Martin Niemöller
Because I was not a socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.
Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:02 AM on October 22, 2018 [18 favorites]
Stacey Abrams on Track to Achieve Historic Upheaval of Voter Suppression; Trump Half-Asses a Tweet - Whitney Kimball, Splinter News.
When Donald Trump fires a sloppy attack tweet at a state politician, it’s usually a sign that Republicans are running another shit candidate in a solidly red state which is now at risk of a Democratic win. He did, and they are, and it is. On Saturday, Trump tweeted his “Strong Endorsement” [caps his] for gubernatorial candidate and current Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp, who’s now neck-and-neck with Democrat Stacey Abrams in a state [Georgia] which hasn’t elected a Democratic governor since 1998 or a Democratic president since 1996. If she wins, she’ll be America’s first black woman governor.posted by ZeusHumms at 7:05 AM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
In the same tweet, Trump called Kemp’s unnamed “opponent” “totally unqualified” and “Would destroy a great state!”
The first people they went after were the transgender people:
"On 6 May 1933, the German Student Union made an organised attack on Magnus Hirschfeld's Institute of Sex Research. Its library and archives of around 20,000 books and journals were publicly hauled out."
posted by nikaspark at 7:07 AM on October 22, 2018 [54 favorites]
"On 6 May 1933, the German Student Union made an organised attack on Magnus Hirschfeld's Institute of Sex Research. Its library and archives of around 20,000 books and journals were publicly hauled out."
posted by nikaspark at 7:07 AM on October 22, 2018 [54 favorites]
Stacey Abrams on Track to Achieve Historic Upheaval of Voter Suppression; Trump Half-Asses a Tweet
Stacey Abrams was the first candidate I have ever actually donated to; I may do so again. Kemp is reprehensible for all sorts of reason, and if he wins it will make voter suppression an even more attractive strategy for Republicans.
I did early voting last week in Georgia and there was a steady stream of voters, more than I usually see. Also seemed like more minority voters as well, but where I live there is a large army base and there are a lot of Republicans who aren’t white, so I don’t know what to make of that. I used a passport card as my voter ID just to be different and it was no problem. I was dismayed to see how many Republicans were running unopposed in local races and just wrote in “Anybody Else” rather than vote for them.
posted by TedW at 7:23 AM on October 22, 2018 [17 favorites]
Stacey Abrams was the first candidate I have ever actually donated to; I may do so again. Kemp is reprehensible for all sorts of reason, and if he wins it will make voter suppression an even more attractive strategy for Republicans.
I did early voting last week in Georgia and there was a steady stream of voters, more than I usually see. Also seemed like more minority voters as well, but where I live there is a large army base and there are a lot of Republicans who aren’t white, so I don’t know what to make of that. I used a passport card as my voter ID just to be different and it was no problem. I was dismayed to see how many Republicans were running unopposed in local races and just wrote in “Anybody Else” rather than vote for them.
posted by TedW at 7:23 AM on October 22, 2018 [17 favorites]
9 experts warn that Latino dislike of Trump may not translate into midterm turnout - Li Zhou, Vox
It really comes down to whether Democrats invest in voter outreachDemocratic outreach to Latino voters doesn’t look much better than it did in 2016 - Li Zhou, Vox
Most Latino voters say they haven’t experienced any kind of midterms outreach.posted by ZeusHumms at 7:28 AM on October 22, 2018 [10 favorites]
Carl Bernstein on CNN (via Mediaite): Trump Is Preparing to Declare Midterms ‘Illegitimate’ If Democrats Win
"I talked to people in touch with the White House on Friday who believe that, if the congressional midterms are very close and the Democrats were to win by five or seven seats, that Trump is already talking about how to throw legal challenges into the courts, sow confusion, declare a victory actually, and say that the election’s been illegitimate — that is really under discussion in the White House."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:38 AM on October 22, 2018 [35 favorites]
"I talked to people in touch with the White House on Friday who believe that, if the congressional midterms are very close and the Democrats were to win by five or seven seats, that Trump is already talking about how to throw legal challenges into the courts, sow confusion, declare a victory actually, and say that the election’s been illegitimate — that is really under discussion in the White House."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:38 AM on October 22, 2018 [35 favorites]
Carl Bernstein on CNN (via Mediaite): Trump Is Preparing to Declare Midterms ‘Illegitimate’ If Democrats Win
That's rich, too, given that Trump's win was illegitimate -- which is, of course, what all his fear and loathing of the Mueller probe is about -- but that point of view didn't get any more traction in the so-called "liberal media" than recognizing that George W. Bush's 2000 victory was illegitimate because of an obviously partisan SCOTUS decision.
Democrats need to not be shy about declaring Trump an illegitimate president, the product of verifiable election interference by Russia.
posted by Gelatin at 7:44 AM on October 22, 2018 [14 favorites]
That's rich, too, given that Trump's win was illegitimate -- which is, of course, what all his fear and loathing of the Mueller probe is about -- but that point of view didn't get any more traction in the so-called "liberal media" than recognizing that George W. Bush's 2000 victory was illegitimate because of an obviously partisan SCOTUS decision.
Democrats need to not be shy about declaring Trump an illegitimate president, the product of verifiable election interference by Russia.
posted by Gelatin at 7:44 AM on October 22, 2018 [14 favorites]
If AP headlines look like this now, imagine the first surges of climate refugees and the attendant heating of the reactionary atmosphere. They'll openly advocate genocide.
I agree with what you're saying, except: the Hondurans *are* climate refugees. The starvation & social instability they are fleeing is absolutely fueled by food shortages as a direct result of climate disruption-driven droughts and crop loss. The first surges of climate refugees have already started. Why the media is not acknowledging this aspect of the migration is left as an exercise to the reader.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 7:45 AM on October 22, 2018 [80 favorites]
I agree with what you're saying, except: the Hondurans *are* climate refugees. The starvation & social instability they are fleeing is absolutely fueled by food shortages as a direct result of climate disruption-driven droughts and crop loss. The first surges of climate refugees have already started. Why the media is not acknowledging this aspect of the migration is left as an exercise to the reader.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 7:45 AM on October 22, 2018 [80 favorites]
"I talked to people in touch with the White House on Friday who believe that, if the congressional midterms are very close and the Democrats were to win by five or seven seats, that Trump is already talking about how to throw legal challenges into the courts, sow confusion, declare a victory actually, and say that the election’s been illegitimate — that is really under discussion in the White House."
Saying and doing aren't the same, and neither are doing and succeeding. I think that the only thing everyone can do is to proceed as planned, hope for a real wave and then stand up to challenges if/when they occur.
I also think that this would be where there have to be massive, shut-down-DC protests if, eg, legitimately elected people are not seated. I think this is the make-or-break election. Every time an election goes normally, it gets that much harder to stage a coup in 2020. Everything is important, god knows, but in the immediate moment maybe the most important thing is to insure that people who are elected are seated.
I really think that if there's one "drop everything and go to DC and sit on the pavement" situation, it would be that one, not because I love the Democrats or think that American democracy is so strong and perfect but because if there are no more elections, there's nothing at all short of armed resistance to keep the GOP from doing anything they want to anyone at all, and it's better not to cut to armed resistance unless you're sure you have a decent chance of winning.
posted by Frowner at 7:48 AM on October 22, 2018 [37 favorites]
And by "anything they want" I don't just mean "our current bad situation", I mean Brazilian junta, Santiago stadium, burning research institutes things.
posted by Frowner at 7:53 AM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Frowner at 7:53 AM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
Democrats need to not be shy about declaring Trump an illegitimate president, the product of verifiable election interference by Russia.
I disagree. The problem with this argument is that it leads people to believe the results of elections cannot be trusted. If this is true then there is no way to vote our way out of the situation we are in. We would already have fallen into tyranny, and what's worse, a pro-democracy movement would be pointless, because if elections don't work, democracy does not work. In a world where democracy does not work, we are back to the middle ages -- different factions back different would-be kings and go to war, and the winner gets to sit on the throne. Every time a king dies there is the potential for a succession crisis, unless his son (or other chosen successor) brutally consolidates power early on.
That is how human society worked for most of human history, and how much of human society STILL works. And if we cannot trust the results of elections, that is the alternative.
You know I am totally alert to the dangers of Russian interference. But one of the primary goals of that interference is to undermine confidence in democracy itself, as a system of government. The "Trump is illegitimate" narrative serves that goal almost as well as the "Clinton is illegitimate" narrative the Russians had planned to promote.
We need to be super careful to oppose Trump without undermining the foundations of democracy.
posted by OnceUponATime at 7:59 AM on October 22, 2018 [42 favorites]
I disagree. The problem with this argument is that it leads people to believe the results of elections cannot be trusted. If this is true then there is no way to vote our way out of the situation we are in. We would already have fallen into tyranny, and what's worse, a pro-democracy movement would be pointless, because if elections don't work, democracy does not work. In a world where democracy does not work, we are back to the middle ages -- different factions back different would-be kings and go to war, and the winner gets to sit on the throne. Every time a king dies there is the potential for a succession crisis, unless his son (or other chosen successor) brutally consolidates power early on.
That is how human society worked for most of human history, and how much of human society STILL works. And if we cannot trust the results of elections, that is the alternative.
You know I am totally alert to the dangers of Russian interference. But one of the primary goals of that interference is to undermine confidence in democracy itself, as a system of government. The "Trump is illegitimate" narrative serves that goal almost as well as the "Clinton is illegitimate" narrative the Russians had planned to promote.
We need to be super careful to oppose Trump without undermining the foundations of democracy.
posted by OnceUponATime at 7:59 AM on October 22, 2018 [42 favorites]
"I talked to people in touch with the White House on Friday who believe that, if the congressional midterms are very close and the Democrats were to win by five or seven seats, that Trump is already talking about how to throw legal challenges into the courts, sow confusion, declare a victory actually, and say that the election’s been illegitimate — that is really under discussion in the White House."
Saying and doing aren't the same, and neither are doing and succeeding. I think that the only thing everyone can do is to proceed as planned, hope for a real wave and then stand up to challenges if/when they occur.
Republicans have already successfully done this once with a presidential election (Bush Jr. versus Gore). They even staged a fake riot that was the pretext for the Supreme Court authorizing what was effectively a coup pre-empting a proper recount of votes.
So doing has been done before.
posted by srboisvert at 8:00 AM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
Saying and doing aren't the same, and neither are doing and succeeding. I think that the only thing everyone can do is to proceed as planned, hope for a real wave and then stand up to challenges if/when they occur.
Republicans have already successfully done this once with a presidential election (Bush Jr. versus Gore). They even staged a fake riot that was the pretext for the Supreme Court authorizing what was effectively a coup pre-empting a proper recount of votes.
So doing has been done before.
posted by srboisvert at 8:00 AM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
The Price of Rage — There is a rising tide of anger in America. But those who have earned their fury are often the ones who are punished for it.
Donald Trump is an anger troll. Rage is the one thing he capably nurtures and grows. He stoked anger in people horrified by Kavanaugh’s confirmation and is now turning it against them. This is an old tactic: drive people crazy, then call them so. As projects of government go, this one is as familiar as it is contemptible. He wants to make his followers feel threatened. To achieve this, he needs his opponents to seem irrational. So he sets about making them angry.posted by tonycpsu at 8:09 AM on October 22, 2018 [65 favorites]
He insults them, railroads them, calls people protesting for justice liars and profit-seekers even as he openly enriches his friends. He gives them offensive nicknames and mocks their pain for fun, and to get them to lose control. He’s doing this in plain sight—it’s pretty obvious why people are angry—but his goal is to make their reaction look inexplicable, beyond the pale. After leading angry crowds to yell abuse at anyone he points to, he turns around and marvels at how irrational and dangerous his targets are.
As tactics go, this one is dumb and transparent, but it’s worth describing it because it works. It works a lot. Trump is not a genius. But he instinctively understands the dynamic of provoking and then delegitimizing someone else’s pain. As Adam Serwer wrote, he’s energized by the suffering he causes others and—secondarily—by the bond that ritualized cruelty forges with his base, which has been connected by fear of others. From Trump’s perspective, it’s kind of fun that people feel compassion for the families he separated. It’s delightful that women are worried about rights he has expressly said he wanted to take from them. And, after insulting and belittling people he’s supposed to be governing, he enjoys acting surprised that they mind.
It’s a silly and ugly game, but it’s the only true rule of Trumpism: be the sorest winner imaginable. Aspire to nothing but power and status. Hold no principle sacred. Withhold justice and insult those who object. Yes, the effects of this are predictable. It doesn’t take a genius of social engineering to be the “why are you hitting yourself?” guy. All it takes is a willingness to be him.
We need to be super careful to oppose Trump without undermining the foundations of democracy.
Of course, but twice in this century a Republican has been elevated to the presidency on the basis of actually illegitimate shenanigans, they gained much power to do real damage and did do real damage to this nation, and the media basically shrugged and said "what're you gonna do?"
And the fact is, not much -- especially with Trump and his supine Republican Congress not only refusing to act as a check on his power but also actively aiding and abetting the cover-up. But even if Congress was moved to act, it's so enormously difficult to successfully remove a president from office thru impeachment that it's never been done. And if it was, we'd just have, in our current case, Mike Pence as President.
The result is that there's little incentive not to seize the office of president by fair means or foul, because once you're there, you have four years to do as you please -- even act in the blatant interest of unfriendly foreign powers -- and there's little anyone can do to stop you.
I haven't the faintest idea of what the solution might be, but we also need to be super careful of allowing a political party that represents a minority of Americans waltz into the presidency after an emboldened program of electoral interference, with barely a shrug from the so-called "liberal media."
posted by Gelatin at 8:13 AM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
Of course, but twice in this century a Republican has been elevated to the presidency on the basis of actually illegitimate shenanigans, they gained much power to do real damage and did do real damage to this nation, and the media basically shrugged and said "what're you gonna do?"
And the fact is, not much -- especially with Trump and his supine Republican Congress not only refusing to act as a check on his power but also actively aiding and abetting the cover-up. But even if Congress was moved to act, it's so enormously difficult to successfully remove a president from office thru impeachment that it's never been done. And if it was, we'd just have, in our current case, Mike Pence as President.
The result is that there's little incentive not to seize the office of president by fair means or foul, because once you're there, you have four years to do as you please -- even act in the blatant interest of unfriendly foreign powers -- and there's little anyone can do to stop you.
I haven't the faintest idea of what the solution might be, but we also need to be super careful of allowing a political party that represents a minority of Americans waltz into the presidency after an emboldened program of electoral interference, with barely a shrug from the so-called "liberal media."
posted by Gelatin at 8:13 AM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
But one of the primary goals of that interference is to undermine confidence in democracy itself, as a system of government. The "Trump is illegitimate" narrative serves that goal almost as well as the "Clinton is illegitimate" narrative the Russians had planned to promote.
Well, they've already succeeded, because the "Trump is illegitimate" argument has the virtue of being true. He is a minority president elected with the declared and obvious interference of a hostile foreign state, serving the interests of that foreign power above the country he allegedly leads.
Not pointing that out loudly and consistently deprives us of a powerful, truthful and righteous argument. We have to save democracy from Trump before we can worry about the long term damage done by the Russians and his election. That damage is already done and we're battling now to define the extent of it.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:16 AM on October 22, 2018 [35 favorites]
Well, they've already succeeded, because the "Trump is illegitimate" argument has the virtue of being true. He is a minority president elected with the declared and obvious interference of a hostile foreign state, serving the interests of that foreign power above the country he allegedly leads.
Not pointing that out loudly and consistently deprives us of a powerful, truthful and righteous argument. We have to save democracy from Trump before we can worry about the long term damage done by the Russians and his election. That damage is already done and we're battling now to define the extent of it.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:16 AM on October 22, 2018 [35 favorites]
just wrote in “Anybody Else” rather than vote for them.
Now we have a slogan for 2020!
posted by adept256 at 8:19 AM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
Now we have a slogan for 2020!
posted by adept256 at 8:19 AM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
Early voting opens in Texas today. Reports are that lines exist in San Antonio, Dallas suburbs, Harris county, where Houston is, also flood zones are problematic right now. If your area is affected by the floods, check the Secretary of state site for looking locations.
Also Austin and surrounding areas are now in a Boil Water alert. Floods have overwhelmed the purification plant, according to NPR.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:22 AM on October 22, 2018 [9 favorites]
Also Austin and surrounding areas are now in a Boil Water alert. Floods have overwhelmed the purification plant, according to NPR.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:22 AM on October 22, 2018 [9 favorites]
Well, they've already succeeded, because the "Trump is illegitimate" argument has the virtue of being true.
I've been trying to say something along the lines of "He won. He's the president. But he committed crimes in the course of the campaign and in office, and needs to be impeached."
I have a list of those crimes and the evidence for them handy in case anyone asks.
I guess the problem is that it's hard to communicate nuance. There are degrees of legitimacy, and I can agree with the message that the elections were not legitimate enough, not free enough, not fair enough. But it's hard to communicate that without giving people the impression that vote totals were made up and the whole thing was a meaningless charade. In which case, what is the point of political activism, or even voting? People will do what people in dictatorships do -- retreat into their private lives, behind closed doors, and keep their opinions to themselves for the safety of their families.
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:23 AM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
I've been trying to say something along the lines of "He won. He's the president. But he committed crimes in the course of the campaign and in office, and needs to be impeached."
I have a list of those crimes and the evidence for them handy in case anyone asks.
I guess the problem is that it's hard to communicate nuance. There are degrees of legitimacy, and I can agree with the message that the elections were not legitimate enough, not free enough, not fair enough. But it's hard to communicate that without giving people the impression that vote totals were made up and the whole thing was a meaningless charade. In which case, what is the point of political activism, or even voting? People will do what people in dictatorships do -- retreat into their private lives, behind closed doors, and keep their opinions to themselves for the safety of their families.
posted by OnceUponATime at 8:23 AM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
That's rich, too, given that Trump's win was illegitimate ...
But if doesn’t get roped in this November it doesn’t matter - possession is 9/10th is the law.
Shit is keeping me up at night. The increasingly ‘pessimistic’ assessments by the MSM as to the likelihood of the Democrats taking the majority in the House at least, I gotta think is a damper on the enthusiasm of the less strident anti-Trump voters. I mean that it feels like the fix is in.
posted by From Bklyn at 8:23 AM on October 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
But if doesn’t get roped in this November it doesn’t matter - possession is 9/10th is the law.
Shit is keeping me up at night. The increasingly ‘pessimistic’ assessments by the MSM as to the likelihood of the Democrats taking the majority in the House at least, I gotta think is a damper on the enthusiasm of the less strident anti-Trump voters. I mean that it feels like the fix is in.
posted by From Bklyn at 8:23 AM on October 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
Some good news on the voting front: A record 44 percent of U.S. firms will give workers paid time off to vote Nov. 6, up from 37 percent in 2016, according to reports from the Society for Human Resources Management. (Bloomberg) "More than 400 companies have also signed on to efforts with ElectionDay.org and Time to Vote to boost voter turnout in a variety of ways. That doesn’t necessarily mean shutting down or officially giving workers time off. Some firms, like Lyft Inc., have instituted “no meetings” policies or provided on-site voter registration."
Of course, what we really need is a federal holiday for Voting Day.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:25 AM on October 22, 2018 [28 favorites]
Of course, what we really need is a federal holiday for Voting Day.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:25 AM on October 22, 2018 [28 favorites]
just wrote in “Anybody Else” rather than vote for them.
Doesn't this invalidate a ballot if a recount is needed?
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:28 AM on October 22, 2018
Doesn't this invalidate a ballot if a recount is needed?
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:28 AM on October 22, 2018
Only if your state's voting laws are very restrictive on write-ins. I assume he was using the write-in line and not scratching out their name on the ballot and writing "Anyone Else" in the margins.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:34 AM on October 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:34 AM on October 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
Of course, what we really need is a federal holiday for Voting Day.
I see this said over and over, but when I get federal holidays off from my white-collar gig (that allows me the flexibility to go vote and pays for private transport that will get me there) I often times find myself patronizing businesses that are open on that holiday and staffed by the people who lack those options. I am unsure that the holiday concept provides much or possibly any benefit for the people who actually need additional help getting to the polls.
posted by phearlez at 8:34 AM on October 22, 2018 [22 favorites]
I see this said over and over, but when I get federal holidays off from my white-collar gig (that allows me the flexibility to go vote and pays for private transport that will get me there) I often times find myself patronizing businesses that are open on that holiday and staffed by the people who lack those options. I am unsure that the holiday concept provides much or possibly any benefit for the people who actually need additional help getting to the polls.
posted by phearlez at 8:34 AM on October 22, 2018 [22 favorites]
We may not be able to get a national holiday for Election Day, but at the very least it seems we should be able to get some of the bluer municipalities to make it a city holiday, or a civic event with parades and floats and parties and so on.
There's no excuse for the big Democratic stronghold cities like NYC, LA, Chicago, and so on not to make Election Day a huge citywide event even if they can't pass laws mandating employers in that area give workers paid time off to vote. Get the various veteran's groups to parade (they love just about any excuse for that) and use that to leverage other groups. Election day should be a celebration of democracy, an event where you go to vote and your "I Voted" sticker lets you join the parade and get a free corndog or whatever.
Get all the people who do vending at state fairs to open funnel cake stands and the like! Have a contest for best patriotic float!
Right now in the USA voting is a dreary exercise in civic responsibility. Even if it isn't a time consuming hassle that makes you late for work (or late getting home, or whatever) it's bland and blah. People like an event, so make election day an event. We can start in the big cities where we basically run things unopposed and use that as leverage to spread the idea into red country.
posted by sotonohito at 8:35 AM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
There's no excuse for the big Democratic stronghold cities like NYC, LA, Chicago, and so on not to make Election Day a huge citywide event even if they can't pass laws mandating employers in that area give workers paid time off to vote. Get the various veteran's groups to parade (they love just about any excuse for that) and use that to leverage other groups. Election day should be a celebration of democracy, an event where you go to vote and your "I Voted" sticker lets you join the parade and get a free corndog or whatever.
Get all the people who do vending at state fairs to open funnel cake stands and the like! Have a contest for best patriotic float!
Right now in the USA voting is a dreary exercise in civic responsibility. Even if it isn't a time consuming hassle that makes you late for work (or late getting home, or whatever) it's bland and blah. People like an event, so make election day an event. We can start in the big cities where we basically run things unopposed and use that as leverage to spread the idea into red country.
posted by sotonohito at 8:35 AM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
The Misreading of Ted Cruz - Jim Newell, Slate
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:40 AM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
The Texas senator doesn’t win in spite of being a smug, calculated, point-scoring politician. He wins because of it.He's incredibly disciplined too, focused to a fault. Some people, I guess, would call that inflexibility.
…
For all the contempt directed at the Texas senator and the now baked-in assumption that he’s an insufferable jerk, Cruz knows that his smarmy, dripping calculation, so off-putting to his enemies, is his greatest strength as a politician.
Ted Cruz is on track to win his re-election on Nov. 6. Despite the national frenzy surrounding his opponent—an inspirational figure whose campaign is more like a movement—Cruz is leading the race comfortably, by about 5 to 10 percentage points on average. And cutting against the narrative, put forward even by some of his close friends, that he has a “likability” problem relative to the charming O’Rourke, he now has a higher favorability rating in Texas than the “congressman from El Paso,” as Cruz refers to O’Rourke in a way that sounds, somehow, like an insult.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:40 AM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
There are degrees of legitimacy, and I can agree with the message that the elections were not legitimate enough, not free enough, not fair enough.
And Democrats should absolutely communicate that message -- that Republicans do not have power because their message appeals to a majority of the population or even to a majority of voters, but because they gerrymander, purge voter rolls, disenfranchise minorities, and engage in other shenanigans.
The media should be talking about the fact that Republican Senators represent only a fraction of the population Democratic Senators do the way Republicans tricked them into talking about "the 60-vote requirement for passing legislation" as a way of normalizing their abuse of the filibuster -- another antidemocratic tactic, thank you.
posted by Gelatin at 8:44 AM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
And Democrats should absolutely communicate that message -- that Republicans do not have power because their message appeals to a majority of the population or even to a majority of voters, but because they gerrymander, purge voter rolls, disenfranchise minorities, and engage in other shenanigans.
The media should be talking about the fact that Republican Senators represent only a fraction of the population Democratic Senators do the way Republicans tricked them into talking about "the 60-vote requirement for passing legislation" as a way of normalizing their abuse of the filibuster -- another antidemocratic tactic, thank you.
posted by Gelatin at 8:44 AM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
> just wrote in “Anybody Else” rather than vote for them.
Doesn't this invalidate a ballot if a recount is needed?
Do you mean the other votes on the ballot for other offices? Not here in Virginia where I have been a poll worker. Write-ins get tabulated in another form (regardless of how pointless they are) but it doesn't change the machine-counted totals for other lines on the ballot. Really, any sorts of fuckupedness on a given line doesn't impact the other items. When you feed in a ballot with an over-vote the scanner will barf it back out and the voter gets an option to spoil that ballot and vote a new one or it can be resubmitted if they insist on moving forward. But any non-ruined vote still gets counted.
There are some contentions that happen in a recount but everything I have seen in the media (I worked the polls, I never participated in official certification or recounts) indicates that the presumption leans towards counting something in a vote. Campaigns will challenge a vote if the mark is so feeble that it might possibly be perceived as an accidental mark, but usually those things come down to situations where someone scratched through something and bubbled another choice, creating an overvote so the counter needs to pick which of multiple options were intended. I don't see that attitude/presumption leading to a case where they discard other choices that are not ambiguous.
posted by phearlez at 8:44 AM on October 22, 2018
Doesn't this invalidate a ballot if a recount is needed?
Do you mean the other votes on the ballot for other offices? Not here in Virginia where I have been a poll worker. Write-ins get tabulated in another form (regardless of how pointless they are) but it doesn't change the machine-counted totals for other lines on the ballot. Really, any sorts of fuckupedness on a given line doesn't impact the other items. When you feed in a ballot with an over-vote the scanner will barf it back out and the voter gets an option to spoil that ballot and vote a new one or it can be resubmitted if they insist on moving forward. But any non-ruined vote still gets counted.
There are some contentions that happen in a recount but everything I have seen in the media (I worked the polls, I never participated in official certification or recounts) indicates that the presumption leans towards counting something in a vote. Campaigns will challenge a vote if the mark is so feeble that it might possibly be perceived as an accidental mark, but usually those things come down to situations where someone scratched through something and bubbled another choice, creating an overvote so the counter needs to pick which of multiple options were intended. I don't see that attitude/presumption leading to a case where they discard other choices that are not ambiguous.
posted by phearlez at 8:44 AM on October 22, 2018
Right now in the USA voting is a dreary exercise in civic responsibility.
Bake sales and small precincts do wonders. I'm not the only one who looks forward to the Election Day bake sale at the school where we vote (and who gets disappointed in primaries because they only hold the bake sales for general elections). Plus, it's a good way to catch up with some of your neighbors. But then, the two precincts in the school where we vote are small and there's rarely much of a line - it's not like, oh, we have to drive out of town and stand in line for hours at the only polling place for the entire city.
posted by adamg at 8:44 AM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
Bake sales and small precincts do wonders. I'm not the only one who looks forward to the Election Day bake sale at the school where we vote (and who gets disappointed in primaries because they only hold the bake sales for general elections). Plus, it's a good way to catch up with some of your neighbors. But then, the two precincts in the school where we vote are small and there's rarely much of a line - it's not like, oh, we have to drive out of town and stand in line for hours at the only polling place for the entire city.
posted by adamg at 8:44 AM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
We may not be able to get a national holiday for Election Day, but at the very least it seems we should be able to get some of the bluer municipalities to make it a city holiday, or a civic event with parades and floats and parties and so on.
If you have parades, that's more people that have to work that day as event staff (in addition to places that don't close for holidays - hospitals, restaurants, etc.)
posted by mikepop at 8:46 AM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
If you have parades, that's more people that have to work that day as event staff (in addition to places that don't close for holidays - hospitals, restaurants, etc.)
posted by mikepop at 8:46 AM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
Belief in Widespread Voter Fraud Is Even Worse Than QAnon or Birtherism - David Atkins, Washington Monthly.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:50 AM on October 22, 2018 [32 favorites]
One could say more here, but the point should already be clear. Not only does this sort of thing [widespread voting fraud via impersonation] not happen, it’s ludicrous to even postulate that it might happen. It also, of course, presupposes a number of ugly and fantastical prejudices about immigrants and people of color.It's a 'feels' trip. Invoking voter impersonation fraud touches on cultural themes of fairness and unfairness, and how 'advantages' are unfair.
These supposed schemes would be literally impossible to pull off without getting caught, the logistical effort to make them happen would far outstrip any potential electoral rewards, and the risk of failure would be catastrophic. And yet for some reason it’s treated as a credible fear and a legitimate policy problem.
Political journalists are keen to dismiss the wackier conspiracy theories like Obama birtherism or QAnon tomfoolery–and well they should. But there is no reason to treat belief in widespread voter impersonation fraud any differently. ... The notion is so far beyond ridiculous that it makes people who question the moon landing seem serious by contrast.
It would be just as reasonable if conservatives started setting up unconstitutional searches and seizures of students and people of color to guarantee against alien body snatcher invasions, as it is to implement restrictive hurdles against voting rights to guarantee against voter fraud.
But the political press doesn’t treat it that way. Instead, fears of voter impersonation are bizarrely treated as a normal part of our politics, with dire consequences for the rights of voters and for democracy itself. That must change, and quickly.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:50 AM on October 22, 2018 [32 favorites]
I live in one of those places with fifty thousand people, and one polling place. And it's not even because it's Democrat leaning, or people of color, it's because this dumb place still operates like we're 5000 people from ten years ago.
That said, with all the California imports we've seenseen in North texas, my hand to gods that they are all closet liberals and we unseat Pete sessions.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:51 AM on October 22, 2018 [9 favorites]
That said, with all the California imports we've seenseen in North texas, my hand to gods that they are all closet liberals and we unseat Pete sessions.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:51 AM on October 22, 2018 [9 favorites]
If you have parades, that's more people that have to work that day as event staff (in addition to places that don't close for holidays - hospitals, restaurants, etc.)
A buddy and his team at the LAPD are working a bunch of overtime this week because the Dodgers made it into the World Series and now he and his peeps are tasked with planning out a potential victory parade. This is just the cops, I'm sure the DWP, Sanitation, LAFD, City/County governments, etc., etc., are also doing a bunch of stuff just case the Dodgers pull it off.
So, adding a parade means lots of other people have to work extra, not just leading up to the day but on the day itself.
posted by sideshow at 8:52 AM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
A buddy and his team at the LAPD are working a bunch of overtime this week because the Dodgers made it into the World Series and now he and his peeps are tasked with planning out a potential victory parade. This is just the cops, I'm sure the DWP, Sanitation, LAFD, City/County governments, etc., etc., are also doing a bunch of stuff just case the Dodgers pull it off.
So, adding a parade means lots of other people have to work extra, not just leading up to the day but on the day itself.
posted by sideshow at 8:52 AM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
TLDR on the Ted Cruz article: He's a talking-point robot who never gets baited into giving a human response to anything, which means he's always on message and never generates anything that a Republican voter would perceive as a gaffe.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:53 AM on October 22, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:53 AM on October 22, 2018 [16 favorites]
There's no excuse for the big Democratic stronghold cities like NYC, LA, Chicago, and so on not to make Election Day a huge citywide event even if they can't pass laws mandating employers in that area give workers paid time off to vote.
NYC employees have the day off. Thats about 300k people.
This is basically the only good thing i have to say about how voting here works. A holiday isnt the solution as everyone has noted the people who most need accommodation for voting are the least likely to be given the day off. vote from home, multi-day voting periods (a whole week even) with distributed ballot collection sites would all be vastly better (currently you can early vote/in-person absentee but only if you make the trip to the Board of Elections office which is inconvenient for many).
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:54 AM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
NYC employees have the day off. Thats about 300k people.
This is basically the only good thing i have to say about how voting here works. A holiday isnt the solution as everyone has noted the people who most need accommodation for voting are the least likely to be given the day off. vote from home, multi-day voting periods (a whole week even) with distributed ballot collection sites would all be vastly better (currently you can early vote/in-person absentee but only if you make the trip to the Board of Elections office which is inconvenient for many).
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 8:54 AM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
As Trump administration eyes writing transgender people ‘out of existence,’ a reckoning for a transgender Republican [Wapo]
posted by Is It Over Yet? at 9:01 AM on October 22, 2018 [43 favorites]
“For trans people to be phased out of existence, that would be a violation of individual rights,” she said. “How can we stand for individual liberties if we are ready and willing to use the force of government — completely antithetical to what Republicans believe — to deny someone’s ability to exist in our society? As Republicans, we should be appalled at that.”Excuse me while I go scream into the fucking void.
posted by Is It Over Yet? at 9:01 AM on October 22, 2018 [43 favorites]
"As Republicans, we should be appalled at that." (emphasis mine)
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
posted by phearlez at 9:05 AM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.
posted by phearlez at 9:05 AM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
Republicans have already successfully done this once with a presidential election (Bush Jr. versus Gore). They even staged a fake riot that was the pretext for the Supreme Court authorizing what was effectively a coup pre-empting a proper recount of votes.
In the event of what should be a close Democratic electoral victory with a small Democratic majority, power will go to the party with the most will-to-power. Which party institution do you think will fight harder for control and dominance?
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:06 AM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
In the event of what should be a close Democratic electoral victory with a small Democratic majority, power will go to the party with the most will-to-power. Which party institution do you think will fight harder for control and dominance?
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:06 AM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
To hell with civility: Enough with the pity party for Mitch McConnell, please
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:21 AM on October 22, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:21 AM on October 22, 2018 [19 favorites]
How can we stand for individual liberties if we are ready and willing to use the force of government — completely antithetical to what Republicans believe
*sigh* She's close to figuring it out, but she can't quite get there. With the possible exception of coercion people don't do things antithetical to what they actually believe. If you see your party do something you thought was antithetical to your party the only conclusion you can really draw from that is you were wrong. It was antithetical to your idea of your party, but the actual party doesn't care about your idea.
I can only hope she moves on from Denial and moves on to the other stages of grief.
posted by Green With You at 9:26 AM on October 22, 2018 [21 favorites]
*sigh* She's close to figuring it out, but she can't quite get there. With the possible exception of coercion people don't do things antithetical to what they actually believe. If you see your party do something you thought was antithetical to your party the only conclusion you can really draw from that is you were wrong. It was antithetical to your idea of your party, but the actual party doesn't care about your idea.
I can only hope she moves on from Denial and moves on to the other stages of grief.
posted by Green With You at 9:26 AM on October 22, 2018 [21 favorites]
Right-wing twitter is abuzz at the moment with chatter about Cory Booker being accused of sexually assaulting a man in a bathroom.
I have not found any sources more credible than Gateway Pundit and The Blaze pushing it as news yet, which is to say that I have not found any sources that are credible at all providing any evidence. But, as usual, that doesn't stop Donnie Jr. from running his mouth.
(This is not to say that it did not happen, just that no one in the mainstream has touched this yet. Which is, of course, proof to the knuckledraggers that it's being suppressed.)
posted by delfin at 9:36 AM on October 22, 2018
I have not found any sources more credible than Gateway Pundit and The Blaze pushing it as news yet, which is to say that I have not found any sources that are credible at all providing any evidence. But, as usual, that doesn't stop Donnie Jr. from running his mouth.
(This is not to say that it did not happen, just that no one in the mainstream has touched this yet. Which is, of course, proof to the knuckledraggers that it's being suppressed.)
posted by delfin at 9:36 AM on October 22, 2018
Shit is keeping me up at night. The increasingly ‘pessimistic’ assessments by the MSM as to the likelihood of the Democrats taking the majority in the House at least, I gotta think is a damper on the enthusiasm of the less strident anti-Trump voters. I mean that it feels like the fix is in.
The "Dems in disarray" narrative is one of the only two stories that the media can cover, along with "both sides do it".
If you want to feel slightly better, the 538 House average has an 86% chance of Democratic control, and avg gain of +40 seats for 234D-201R. That kind of margin would be difficult to ratfuck away.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:38 AM on October 22, 2018 [26 favorites]
The "Dems in disarray" narrative is one of the only two stories that the media can cover, along with "both sides do it".
If you want to feel slightly better, the 538 House average has an 86% chance of Democratic control, and avg gain of +40 seats for 234D-201R. That kind of margin would be difficult to ratfuck away.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:38 AM on October 22, 2018 [26 favorites]
If you want to feel slightly better, the 538 House average has an 86% chance of Democratic control, and avg gain of +40 seats for 234D-201R. That kind of margin would be difficult to ratfuck away.
If we've ever seen an organization ready willing and able to take on a difficult ratfucking it's this one. I read an 86% chance based on models as 50/50 when the fascists aren't perfectly spherical and in a vacuum.
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:44 AM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
If we've ever seen an organization ready willing and able to take on a difficult ratfucking it's this one. I read an 86% chance based on models as 50/50 when the fascists aren't perfectly spherical and in a vacuum.
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:44 AM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
The "Dems in disarray" narrative is one of the only two stories that the media can cover, along with "both sides do it".
If you want to feel slightly better, the 538 House average has an 86% chance of Democratic control, and avg gain of +40 seats for 234D-201R. That kind of margin would be difficult to ratfuck away.
I keep telling myself this - and normally, I'm a very upbeat and positive person, but I think I still have November 2016 PTSD (welcome to the club!). I'm definitely in "hope and work for the best, just prepare for the worst" territory. I hate being like this...I really do...it's not my nature! But 2016...
One thing to remember, any increased Democratic turnout is vital for down-ballot races, too - and no matter what happens in the House and Senate, whether you live in a red state or a blue state, if you have competent, progressive local government or corrupt, -ist local government makes a HUGE difference to your life. And it's easier than ever to find voting guides online! Some states even have their own threads! I'm so grateful for the online guide that the League of Women Voters provides, as a Californian who has to wade through a yuuuuuuuuge ballot with often confusingly-worded propositions.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 9:49 AM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
If you want to feel slightly better, the 538 House average has an 86% chance of Democratic control, and avg gain of +40 seats for 234D-201R. That kind of margin would be difficult to ratfuck away.
I keep telling myself this - and normally, I'm a very upbeat and positive person, but I think I still have November 2016 PTSD (welcome to the club!). I'm definitely in "hope and work for the best, just prepare for the worst" territory. I hate being like this...I really do...it's not my nature! But 2016...
One thing to remember, any increased Democratic turnout is vital for down-ballot races, too - and no matter what happens in the House and Senate, whether you live in a red state or a blue state, if you have competent, progressive local government or corrupt, -ist local government makes a HUGE difference to your life. And it's easier than ever to find voting guides online! Some states even have their own threads! I'm so grateful for the online guide that the League of Women Voters provides, as a Californian who has to wade through a yuuuuuuuuge ballot with often confusingly-worded propositions.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 9:49 AM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
If we've ever seen an organization ready willing and able to take on a difficult ratfucking it's this one. I read an 86% chance based on models as 50/50 when the fascists aren't perfectly spherical and in a vacuum.I'm agnostic on the spherical part, but I'd love for them to be in a vacuum.
posted by Tabitha Someday at 10:02 AM on October 22, 2018 [30 favorites]
This is different. The VA House Incumbent Who Airs Dirty Laundry As His Re-Election Strategy - Matthew Barakat, AP/via TPM
Virginia Del. Lee Carter wants you to know that he is in the midst of his third divorce, can’t hold a job, lobbed homophobic insults when he was young, and may even have explicit photos of himself floating around on the internet.posted by ZeusHumms at 10:03 AM on October 22, 2018 [10 favorites]
It’s not that the incumbent Democrat wants to lose the election next year; he just wants to get all of the potentially damning information out there before any of his opponents can.
“I think we’ve moved past the age where folks in politics can pretend that their past doesn’t exist,” Carter, a 31-year-old first-term delegate from Manassas, told The Associated Press in explaining his decision to release the less-appealing aspects of his life in a series of 15 tweets.
Bake sales and small precincts do wonders.
In the NYS hamlet in which I grew up, the Ladies' Aid of my mom's church held an oyster stew upper on election night at the polling place.
posted by jgirl at 10:15 AM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
In the NYS hamlet in which I grew up, the Ladies' Aid of my mom's church held an oyster stew upper on election night at the polling place.
posted by jgirl at 10:15 AM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
One thing to remember, any increased Democratic turnout is vital for down-ballot races, too - and no matter what happens in the House and Senate, whether you live in a red state or a blue state, if you have competent, progressive local government or corrupt, -ist local government makes a HUGE difference to your life.
I can't emphasize this enough. Although I don't live there anymore, I spent my early professional life in Houston, Texas. The state, of course, has a reputation in other parts of the country and world for being solid red and many outside the state are incredulous that Beto has any chance at all of beating mass-of-beetles-in-a-human-suit Ted Cruz. But Texas truly is a land of contrasts, at least politically. Houston, for example, leans liberal--the city has had Democratic mayors since 1981. Even if Ted Cruz manages to hold on, Beto-driven turn-out in the larger cities (especially Houston) will have a huge impact on local races. Judicial races are particularly important. State judges in Texas are elected, and next month just in Harris County there are 10 appellate, 36 district, and 24 county judicial races on the ballot. And of course there are also the U.S. Representative, State Senator and Representative, and various county positions (including several Justices of the Peace) on the ballot.
And most of those races will be won on party line votes driven by the top of the ticket. For example, when Obama was elected in 2008, Democratic turnout was very high and a whole slew of Republican judges in Houston and Dallas were swept out of office, replaced by Democrats. Although I'm not as close to it as I used to be, I expect a similar pattern next month.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 10:21 AM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
I can't emphasize this enough. Although I don't live there anymore, I spent my early professional life in Houston, Texas. The state, of course, has a reputation in other parts of the country and world for being solid red and many outside the state are incredulous that Beto has any chance at all of beating mass-of-beetles-in-a-human-suit Ted Cruz. But Texas truly is a land of contrasts, at least politically. Houston, for example, leans liberal--the city has had Democratic mayors since 1981. Even if Ted Cruz manages to hold on, Beto-driven turn-out in the larger cities (especially Houston) will have a huge impact on local races. Judicial races are particularly important. State judges in Texas are elected, and next month just in Harris County there are 10 appellate, 36 district, and 24 county judicial races on the ballot. And of course there are also the U.S. Representative, State Senator and Representative, and various county positions (including several Justices of the Peace) on the ballot.
And most of those races will be won on party line votes driven by the top of the ticket. For example, when Obama was elected in 2008, Democratic turnout was very high and a whole slew of Republican judges in Houston and Dallas were swept out of office, replaced by Democrats. Although I'm not as close to it as I used to be, I expect a similar pattern next month.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 10:21 AM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
One thing to remember, any increased Democratic turnout is vital for down-ballot races, too - and no matter what happens in the House and Senate, whether you live in a red state or a blue state, if you have competent, progressive local government or corrupt, -ist local government makes a HUGE difference to your life.
Relevant link roundup:
WaPo: Which state legislatures might go blue this fall? [lots of infographics]
538: These 8 Attorney-General Races Could Make A Big Difference To Trump’s Agenda
Tax Foundation: Top State Tax Ballot Initiatives to Watch in 2018
Governing Magazine: State elections forecast (gov, AG, SoS, legislature)
Vox: The 9 most important state legislature elections in 2018, explained
Roll Call: November Elections Bring High Stakes for Medicaid
Ballotpedia: Municipal Elections 2018
posted by melissasaurus at 10:22 AM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
Relevant link roundup:
WaPo: Which state legislatures might go blue this fall? [lots of infographics]
538: These 8 Attorney-General Races Could Make A Big Difference To Trump’s Agenda
Tax Foundation: Top State Tax Ballot Initiatives to Watch in 2018
Governing Magazine: State elections forecast (gov, AG, SoS, legislature)
Vox: The 9 most important state legislature elections in 2018, explained
Roll Call: November Elections Bring High Stakes for Medicaid
Ballotpedia: Municipal Elections 2018
posted by melissasaurus at 10:22 AM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
Chrysostom: Cohn: At minimum, Dem turnout expected to be a lot better this year. May be concentrated in white suburbs, though
Anecdotes fromtwo five* hours of door-to-door polling in Albuquerque:
- White folks were a lot less likely to be home, or open the door
- POC who opened the door were generally happy to talk, and I even got hand-shakes and a fist bump (after the guy, who was on the phone, told whoever he was on the phone "you're going to vote, right? You have to vote!")
- Most confusing interaction: a nice, older Hispanic woman was happy enough to talk as I fumbled through my script, but when I asked to clarify that she was voting for Dems (after she said "of course I'm voting, it's an important year") she said "Oh no, I'm voting for Republicans this time." I was utterly flabbergasted. "Sorry for the bother, have a good day."
I know my limited experience wasn't a statistically sound sample, but let's not discount the people of color, who (unfortunately, and to be honest) might have more to lose in this election. Of the few people who answered doors, they were the more positive, and in some cases really wanted to reassure me that they were going to vote, even if they didn't have a plan on when they were going to vote.
* It was my first time canvassing, and when I called to get scheduled, I was told "oh, it'll be about two hours." More than 60 doors across 2-3 scattered neighborhoods + not knowing the road names = 5 hours of trekking, but it was a pretty good first time. I'd like to go back next weekend, schedule allowing, but this time I'll review my script in advance and get comfortable with it, then study the map and label the unlabeled streets.
The local outfit, like New Mexico voting system itself, is a bit basic, and just like the NM ballots, are all paper-based. But with a smartphone, it wasn't too bad to navigate the addresses and manage the printed-out list of people to talk with.
And next time, I'll tell people to verify that they're registered (I assumed they were, if they're identified as Democrats or Declined to State on my list) by going to VoteSaveAmerica (thanks, Fizz!), because nothing in my literature had a good way to check that info, and one young lady wasn't sure (and wanted to be sure her parents were registered). I didn't even know if they could still register (the cut-off is 28 days prior to the election :( ), or that there's a handy URL for New Mexico: NMVote.org.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:29 AM on October 22, 2018 [52 favorites]
Anecdotes from
- White folks were a lot less likely to be home, or open the door
- POC who opened the door were generally happy to talk, and I even got hand-shakes and a fist bump (after the guy, who was on the phone, told whoever he was on the phone "you're going to vote, right? You have to vote!")
- Most confusing interaction: a nice, older Hispanic woman was happy enough to talk as I fumbled through my script, but when I asked to clarify that she was voting for Dems (after she said "of course I'm voting, it's an important year") she said "Oh no, I'm voting for Republicans this time." I was utterly flabbergasted. "Sorry for the bother, have a good day."
I know my limited experience wasn't a statistically sound sample, but let's not discount the people of color, who (unfortunately, and to be honest) might have more to lose in this election. Of the few people who answered doors, they were the more positive, and in some cases really wanted to reassure me that they were going to vote, even if they didn't have a plan on when they were going to vote.
* It was my first time canvassing, and when I called to get scheduled, I was told "oh, it'll be about two hours." More than 60 doors across 2-3 scattered neighborhoods + not knowing the road names = 5 hours of trekking, but it was a pretty good first time. I'd like to go back next weekend, schedule allowing, but this time I'll review my script in advance and get comfortable with it, then study the map and label the unlabeled streets.
The local outfit, like New Mexico voting system itself, is a bit basic, and just like the NM ballots, are all paper-based. But with a smartphone, it wasn't too bad to navigate the addresses and manage the printed-out list of people to talk with.
And next time, I'll tell people to verify that they're registered (I assumed they were, if they're identified as Democrats or Declined to State on my list) by going to VoteSaveAmerica (thanks, Fizz!), because nothing in my literature had a good way to check that info, and one young lady wasn't sure (and wanted to be sure her parents were registered). I didn't even know if they could still register (the cut-off is 28 days prior to the election :( ), or that there's a handy URL for New Mexico: NMVote.org.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:29 AM on October 22, 2018 [52 favorites]
“I think we’ve moved past the age where folks in politics can pretend that their past doesn’t exist,” Carter, a 31-year-old first-term delegate from Manassas, told The Associated Press in explaining his decision to release the less-appealing aspects of his life in a series of 15 tweets.I’ve been waiting for this. If you’re 31, you most likely entered college in 2005, one year after the introduction of Facebook, and several years after the introduction of MySpace. In a few years, we’ll have candidates who were in their dumbest, most careless adolescent years right when social media was becoming endemic but before the youths realized how terrible that was.
But...there are still pictures out there. I have a feeling that white men won’t suffer a lot of blowback for pictures of their youthful indiscretions, but everyone else...
I mean. You know how it goes.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:36 AM on October 22, 2018 [34 favorites]
I was at Pod Save America's Austin HBO taping on Friday. It was way, way better than their first show.
Lines were around the block. Pretty much 100% Beto backers.
No idea how it translates to turnout, but we, in this neighborhood, on this block, in this town, are super Beto. Having it air on HBO might be a good thing! Not gonna crit the editing and camera work, but it was better than the first one by miles.
"We should be the greatest collective threat they've ever seen"
Goddamn, I hope we can get enough out for Beto to make this happen. It's nervewracking. We're all out.
posted by rp at 10:38 AM on October 22, 2018 [13 favorites]
Lines were around the block. Pretty much 100% Beto backers.
No idea how it translates to turnout, but we, in this neighborhood, on this block, in this town, are super Beto. Having it air on HBO might be a good thing! Not gonna crit the editing and camera work, but it was better than the first one by miles.
"We should be the greatest collective threat they've ever seen"
Goddamn, I hope we can get enough out for Beto to make this happen. It's nervewracking. We're all out.
posted by rp at 10:38 AM on October 22, 2018 [13 favorites]
The neighborhood where I canvassed Sunday here in Indianapolis was mostly POC. I got about an 11% response rate (and when the name on my list had moved, I still dropped off a flyer with voting instructions and best wishes), so I'm hopeful that I motivated a couple of folks to get out to vote. And one of the last people I talk to not only committed to vote on the first day of early voting, but also asked for information on volunteering.
Looking at my statistics from MiniVAN, if they answered the door at all, they were excited and fired up about voting. It's anecdotal, but I expect Joe Donnelly to win re-election based on my experiences.
posted by Gelatin at 10:39 AM on October 22, 2018 [13 favorites]
Looking at my statistics from MiniVAN, if they answered the door at all, they were excited and fired up about voting. It's anecdotal, but I expect Joe Donnelly to win re-election based on my experiences.
posted by Gelatin at 10:39 AM on October 22, 2018 [13 favorites]
Rust Moranis: Miami GOP Chairman just caught leading Proud Boys in attack on Democratic campaign office
The subtitle: "Yesterday, Miami GOP Chairman Nelson Diaz told me he never even heard of the Proud Boys, but the hate group’s own video proves otherwise."
Emphasis mine, because FFS, if you're going to say "I don't know these guys," make sure they're not filming you in one of their self-documented attacks seems like a pretty obvious thing to do.
Then again, I've never thought of physically attacking the headquarters of the Republicans as a way to send any sort of message.
Meanwhile, Entire broadband industry sues Vermont to stop state net neutrality law -- State law says ISPs must follow net neutrality to get government contracts. (Jon Brodkin, Oct. 19, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 10:55 AM on October 22, 2018 [19 favorites]
The subtitle: "Yesterday, Miami GOP Chairman Nelson Diaz told me he never even heard of the Proud Boys, but the hate group’s own video proves otherwise."
Emphasis mine, because FFS, if you're going to say "I don't know these guys," make sure they're not filming you in one of their self-documented attacks seems like a pretty obvious thing to do.
Then again, I've never thought of physically attacking the headquarters of the Republicans as a way to send any sort of message.
Meanwhile, Entire broadband industry sues Vermont to stop state net neutrality law -- State law says ISPs must follow net neutrality to get government contracts. (Jon Brodkin, Oct. 19, 2018)
The nation's largest broadband industry lobby groups have sued Vermont to stop a state law that requires ISPs to follow net neutrality principles in order to qualify for government contracts.New York and Montana both passed similar laws that require any ISP that have contracts with the state to ensure net neutrality.
The lawsuit (PDF) was filed yesterday in US District Court in Vermont by mobile industry lobby CTIA, cable industry lobby NCTA, telco lobby USTelecom, the New England Cable & Telecommunications Association, and the American Cable Association (ACA), which represents small and mid-size cable companies.
CTIA, NCTA, USTelecom, and the ACA also previously sued California to stop a much stricter net neutrality law, but they're now expanding the legal battle to multiple states. These lobby groups represent all the biggest mobile and home Internet providers in the US and hundreds of smaller ISPs. Comcast, Charter, AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile US, Sprint, Cox, Frontier, and CenturyLink are among the groups' members.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:55 AM on October 22, 2018 [19 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump: Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S. We will now begin cutting off, or substantially reducing, the massive foreign aid routinely given to them.
Hey, you know what really makes migrants want to stay in their country of origin? Deliberately taking steps to make life shittier where they are.
posted by delfin at 10:59 AM on October 22, 2018 [54 favorites]
Hey, you know what really makes migrants want to stay in their country of origin? Deliberately taking steps to make life shittier where they are.
posted by delfin at 10:59 AM on October 22, 2018 [54 favorites]
Checking in from Dallas here -
My facebook wall is filled with early voting stickers (and Beto tags).
Some of the most conservative neighborhoods I drive through have equal part Beto and Cruz signs which is something I have never seen here.
It may be surprising for people not from Texas that Dallas is actually a very blue city. As soon as you get outside of city-center though that changes.
I've never seen there be so much ferver for a Democratic candidate among my peers and community. If the race isn't close I'd be very shocked. Either I've become completely delusional or if this isn't the time for Beto to win, I'm not sure when or if it would ever be.
posted by hillabeans at 11:00 AM on October 22, 2018 [23 favorites]
My facebook wall is filled with early voting stickers (and Beto tags).
Some of the most conservative neighborhoods I drive through have equal part Beto and Cruz signs which is something I have never seen here.
It may be surprising for people not from Texas that Dallas is actually a very blue city. As soon as you get outside of city-center though that changes.
I've never seen there be so much ferver for a Democratic candidate among my peers and community. If the race isn't close I'd be very shocked. Either I've become completely delusional or if this isn't the time for Beto to win, I'm not sure when or if it would ever be.
posted by hillabeans at 11:00 AM on October 22, 2018 [23 favorites]
Shit is keeping me up at night. The increasingly ‘pessimistic’ assessments by the MSM as to the likelihood of the Democrats taking the majority in the House at least, I gotta think is a damper on the enthusiasm of the less strident anti-Trump voters. I mean that it feels like the fix is in.
I have found that the solution to this is to take action. Sitting at home worrying will make you feel worse and will do nothing to impact the election. Please consider getting out and canvassing. At the end of a shift I'm tired but feel so much better.
posted by mcduff at 11:00 AM on October 22, 2018 [20 favorites]
I have found that the solution to this is to take action. Sitting at home worrying will make you feel worse and will do nothing to impact the election. Please consider getting out and canvassing. At the end of a shift I'm tired but feel so much better.
posted by mcduff at 11:00 AM on October 22, 2018 [20 favorites]
Was talking at a community college thing about how students could get involved in activist efforts; why they asked me, I don't know, but I guess I have some stories. Then we were asking what the students cared about and two were like mass incarceration and the organizer and I were like yeah yeah good what else and the same two were like health care! And we're like good good access and affordability and--
actually the students were convinced that the government knew how to cure cancer and were keeping the cure a secret for nefarious reasons. One kid claimed the government knew that cancer was caused by the venom of a certain bee.
There were three of us there, a counselor, a student organizer, and me, an instructor. I could feel each of us carefully not looking at the other. Because we were trying to get these students politically active, and saying "lo you have filled your mind with bullshit" really didn't seem to be a winning argument.
But here's the thing: one of the 'government knows the cure to cancer' students was one of my comp students, and she's a smart cookie.
But somebody is filling their minds with bullshit.
The counselor did the wisest thing which was wait until we had moved on a bit from the cancer-causing bee thing and emphasized knowing about your subject and getting good sources. Thank you, counselor guy, you handled it right.
posted by angrycat at 11:05 AM on October 22, 2018 [60 favorites]
actually the students were convinced that the government knew how to cure cancer and were keeping the cure a secret for nefarious reasons. One kid claimed the government knew that cancer was caused by the venom of a certain bee.
There were three of us there, a counselor, a student organizer, and me, an instructor. I could feel each of us carefully not looking at the other. Because we were trying to get these students politically active, and saying "lo you have filled your mind with bullshit" really didn't seem to be a winning argument.
But here's the thing: one of the 'government knows the cure to cancer' students was one of my comp students, and she's a smart cookie.
But somebody is filling their minds with bullshit.
The counselor did the wisest thing which was wait until we had moved on a bit from the cancer-causing bee thing and emphasized knowing about your subject and getting good sources. Thank you, counselor guy, you handled it right.
posted by angrycat at 11:05 AM on October 22, 2018 [60 favorites]
@jeffmason1: Breaking: @realDonaldTrump national security adviser @AmbJohnBolton says he told Russian counterparts that Russian meddling in U.S. elections hardly had any real effect
Um, are they going to take this as encouragement to take it up to 11 then?
posted by zachlipton at 11:08 AM on October 22, 2018 [14 favorites]
Um, are they going to take this as encouragement to take it up to 11 then?
posted by zachlipton at 11:08 AM on October 22, 2018 [14 favorites]
But here's the thing: one of the 'government knows the cure to cancer' students was one of my comp students, and she's a smart cookie. But somebody is filling their minds with bullshit.
Conspiratorial/paranoid thinking is (1) psychologically common and ubiquitous in all societies to some degree (2) actually warranted right now, if often misdirected, since there are plenty of real nefarious conspiracies at work, and (3) is currently being promoted by our unique ongoing period of technological/socio-economic reality-shattering.
What's more normal these days than believing that cancer is caused by the venom of a certain bee?
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:16 AM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
Conspiratorial/paranoid thinking is (1) psychologically common and ubiquitous in all societies to some degree (2) actually warranted right now, if often misdirected, since there are plenty of real nefarious conspiracies at work, and (3) is currently being promoted by our unique ongoing period of technological/socio-economic reality-shattering.
What's more normal these days than believing that cancer is caused by the venom of a certain bee?
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:16 AM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
"Comrade Bolton, we KNOW what effect it had. It's why you're HERE NOW."
posted by delfin at 11:17 AM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by delfin at 11:17 AM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
@jeffmason1: Breaking: @realDonaldTrump national security adviser @AmbJohnBolton says he told Russian counterparts that Russian meddling in U.S. elections hardly had any real effect
Why do I think that Mueller's team has a sealed indictment showing the cause/effect relationship of various Russian meddling schemes in using appropriate metrics for "effect"
posted by mikelieman at 11:17 AM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
Why do I think that Mueller's team has a sealed indictment showing the cause/effect relationship of various Russian meddling schemes in using appropriate metrics for "effect"
posted by mikelieman at 11:17 AM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump: Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S.
This is your regular reminder that seeking asylum is a legal process and does not require legal entry into the host country.
posted by Gelatin at 11:18 AM on October 22, 2018 [78 favorites]
This is your regular reminder that seeking asylum is a legal process and does not require legal entry into the host country.
posted by Gelatin at 11:18 AM on October 22, 2018 [78 favorites]
filthy light thief, it's interesting: I've been canvassing in Orange County, Calif., which is sort of quintessential white suburbia*, yet I too find that enthusiasm seems anecdotally lower among white voters. (*It's now ~18% Asian, and a third Latinx, not that you'd know it in the "classic" coastal/southern communities.) The extremely psyched voters I talk to in D-45, for instance, are almost always Asian.
White voters, on the other hand, are the absolute most likely group to gruffly declare that they aren't voting/don't care/haven't looked into the election. They are also the only people who have cursed at me, threatened me, or otherwise gotten aggro. (Note: I am white, and dress "respectably" while going door-to-door. I don't want to know what kind of interactions I'd be having otherwise.)
posted by desert outpost at 11:27 AM on October 22, 2018 [20 favorites]
White voters, on the other hand, are the absolute most likely group to gruffly declare that they aren't voting/don't care/haven't looked into the election. They are also the only people who have cursed at me, threatened me, or otherwise gotten aggro. (Note: I am white, and dress "respectably" while going door-to-door. I don't want to know what kind of interactions I'd be having otherwise.)
posted by desert outpost at 11:27 AM on October 22, 2018 [20 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump: Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S.
This is your regular reminder that seeking asylum is a legal process and does not require legal entry into the host country.
Also, it is generally considered a human right to leave a country. Countries that restrict citizens from leaving are authoritarian regimes.
posted by papercrane at 11:33 AM on October 22, 2018 [66 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump: Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador were not able to do the job of stopping people from leaving their country and coming illegally to the U.S.
Is he... is he suggesting that countries should STOP people from leaving if they want to? Because that sounds very East Germany/North Korea to me and I don't like it one bit.
As far as I understood it, my US passport requests that other countries allow me to enter not that the US government has given me permission to leave. I get that this can amount to the same thing and that we are living in a dystopian nightmare but WTF?
posted by Is It Over Yet? at 11:35 AM on October 22, 2018 [27 favorites]
Is he... is he suggesting that countries should STOP people from leaving if they want to? Because that sounds very East Germany/North Korea to me and I don't like it one bit.
As far as I understood it, my US passport requests that other countries allow me to enter not that the US government has given me permission to leave. I get that this can amount to the same thing and that we are living in a dystopian nightmare but WTF?
posted by Is It Over Yet? at 11:35 AM on October 22, 2018 [27 favorites]
the 'government knows the cure to cancer' students was one of my comp students, and she's a smart cookie. But somebody is filling their minds with bullshit.
The government does know the cure (preventative anyway) for a subset of cancers. It's the HPV vaccine and I believe the reason this isn't announced from every fucking government rooftop by blaring speakers and huge LED screens is due to a puritan theocratic conspiracy that really wants people to be afraid of sex at all costs including several thousands of preventable deaths a year.
posted by srboisvert at 11:35 AM on October 22, 2018 [50 favorites]
The government does know the cure (preventative anyway) for a subset of cancers. It's the HPV vaccine and I believe the reason this isn't announced from every fucking government rooftop by blaring speakers and huge LED screens is due to a puritan theocratic conspiracy that really wants people to be afraid of sex at all costs including several thousands of preventable deaths a year.
posted by srboisvert at 11:35 AM on October 22, 2018 [50 favorites]
Michael Avenatti's feet of clay are sizeable indeed, the Daily Beast finds: Michael Avenatti Lived the High Life While Owing Millions to IRS—As Michael Avenatti floats a 2020 presidential run, court records reveal the lawyer and his companies owed millions in unpaid taxes and judgments. (Earlier this summer, Avenatti told CNN, “You know, look, I’ll be happy to put my tax records and background up against the president’s background and his tax records,” )
Also yesterday, Avenatti tweeted, "A lot of misinformation being thrown about re my tax returns. Be clear - on Aug. 12 (This Week interview on ABC), I stated I would release my tax returns if I ran. On Sept. 28 (Texas Tribune interview), I stated the same thing. Both on video. My position remains the same."
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:57 AM on October 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
Also yesterday, Avenatti tweeted, "A lot of misinformation being thrown about re my tax returns. Be clear - on Aug. 12 (This Week interview on ABC), I stated I would release my tax returns if I ran. On Sept. 28 (Texas Tribune interview), I stated the same thing. Both on video. My position remains the same."
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:57 AM on October 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
While we're on the subject, this just happened today: Michael Avenatti hit with $4.85-million judgment for unpaid debt as court orders eviction of his law firm
posted by zachlipton at 12:03 PM on October 22, 2018 [40 favorites]
Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels, was hit with a personal judgment of $4.85 million on Monday for his failure to pay a debt to a former colleague at his longtime Newport Beach firm.Please do not make this man the President.
Less than hour after his defeat in the Los Angeles lawsuit, the firm, Eagan Avenatti, suffered another setback at a trial in Santa Ana: The Irvine Co. won a court order evicting Avenatti and his staff from their suite at Fashion Island mall for failing to pay the last four months of rent.
posted by zachlipton at 12:03 PM on October 22, 2018 [40 favorites]
@jeffmason1: Breaking: @realDonaldTrump national security adviser @AmbJohnBolton says he told Russian counterparts that Russian meddling in U.S. elections hardly had any real effect
Er, it's kind of different in context, Bolton in an interview on Moscow radio:
posted by zachlipton at 12:16 PM on October 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
Er, it's kind of different in context, Bolton in an interview on Moscow radio:
I told our Russian colleagues today that I do not think their interference in our electoral process had any real effect. But it's not the most important thing. The very desire to interfere in our affairs causes distrust when it comes to the Russians, to Russia. And I believe it is impossible to tolerate, it should not be allowed.Since I kind of get the feeling Russia doesn't really care about our level of distrust, this still just feels like encouragement to do more.
posted by zachlipton at 12:16 PM on October 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
In response to questions about protecting transgendered people—
What do trans people have to lose except for their careers, their marriages, their children, and their lives?
posted by XMLicious at 12:17 PM on October 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
I'm protecting everyone!
What do trans people have to lose except for their careers, their marriages, their children, and their lives?
posted by XMLicious at 12:17 PM on October 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
Avenatti has feet of clay? Sure. But he’s the only one that is taking the fight to Trump.
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want Avenatti for Pres or even Representative, or really anything having to do with government. But I want him to keep taking pot shots at Trump. Lots of them.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:28 PM on October 22, 2018 [21 favorites]
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want Avenatti for Pres or even Representative, or really anything having to do with government. But I want him to keep taking pot shots at Trump. Lots of them.
posted by From Bklyn at 12:28 PM on October 22, 2018 [21 favorites]
“He’s not Lyin’ Ted anymore. He’s Beautiful Ted.”
Assumes beauty not in evidence.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:29 PM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
Assumes beauty not in evidence.
posted by kirkaracha at 12:29 PM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
Because there is very little chance of him actually clinching the nomination, Avenatti is a great practice candidate for us liberals to work on developing our not-eating-our-own skills. Like, we can literally just leave it to the GOP to make the arguments against him, and he almost certainly will not become the nominee regardless of anything we do or don't say! Let's get this figured out before Kamala Harris announces, please
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:30 PM on October 22, 2018 [49 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:30 PM on October 22, 2018 [49 favorites]
Counterpoint: "The crazy, unqualified guy will obviously lose, so let's just worry about who's going to be the one who cleans up after that" was exactly the GOP field's strategy for Trump.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:39 PM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 12:39 PM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
Although a lot of attention will be paid to the folks who lined up early to see the Cruz/Trump rally, there are a lot of people lined up for early voting in Houston. Click through the slideshow to see lots of photos of Beto addressing those early voters.
posted by mcdoublewide at 12:42 PM on October 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by mcdoublewide at 12:42 PM on October 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want Avenatti for Pres or even Representative, or really anything having to do with government. But I want him to keep taking pot shots at Trump. Lots of them.
And Avenatti's recent comments about how the DNC needs to get their heads out of their ass and go on a wartime footing is something that needs to be said.
I think the whole "running for president" thing is a tool to disarm his actual points. The DNC isn't doing what they need to do. Attack. Attack. Attack. And let Avenatti go back to being a loudmouth on TV...
posted by mikelieman at 12:42 PM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
And Avenatti's recent comments about how the DNC needs to get their heads out of their ass and go on a wartime footing is something that needs to be said.
I think the whole "running for president" thing is a tool to disarm his actual points. The DNC isn't doing what they need to do. Attack. Attack. Attack. And let Avenatti go back to being a loudmouth on TV...
posted by mikelieman at 12:42 PM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
counter to the counterpoint, if it turns out that Avenatti is what gets the base all fired up and ready to vote, maybe we should just quietly shake our heads at our fellow humans, realize that our fingers are have utterly failed to find the pulse of the electorate, and accept that prescriptive internet punditing is not a role in which we shine
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:53 PM on October 22, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 12:53 PM on October 22, 2018 [16 favorites]
Christopher Ingraham, WaPo: Low voter turnout is no accident - ranking ease of voting across all 50 states:
I hope that even if Beto loses in TX, he gooses up the down-ballot races enough that local laws can make voting easier, as I think this holds Democrats back more than just about anything else.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 1:00 PM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
There are a lot of factors that affect voter turnout in the United States — race, income, education, electoral competitiveness, the list goes on and on.Take a bow, Oregon - you're #1 with your mail-in voting! Colorado is #2, California #3, and all are blue to purple states...hmmm, what a coincidence! (Though high-ranked North Dakota is red.) The lowest-ranking states are Mississippi, Virginia, Tennessee, Indiana and Texas (all red except Virginia, most former Confederate states, and the KKK had a huge presence in Indiana for years).
Many of those factors are outside policymakers' control. But there’s one big realm that they have a lot of influence over: voting access laws, which vary significantly from state to state. Is early voting allowed? How about no-excuse absentee voting? Are there strict voter ID laws, lax ones or none at all? Can convicted felons vote?
I hope that even if Beto loses in TX, he gooses up the down-ballot races enough that local laws can make voting easier, as I think this holds Democrats back more than just about anything else.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 1:00 PM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
Though high-ranked North Dakota is red.Would that be the high-ranked North Dakota that critics are claiming will effectively disenfranchise large numbers of a minority population group (Native Americans) with its voting policy requiring a postal address in order to vote?
posted by Nerd of the North at 1:06 PM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
- national security adviser @AmbJohnBolton says he told Russian counterparts
If only.
Bolton: I told our Russian colleagues today that I do not think their interference in our electoral process had any real effect.
colleague: a person with whom one works, especially in a profession or business.
synonyms: coworker, fellow worker, workmate, teammate, associate, partner, collaborator, ally, confederate
It's more of a pep talk. Bolton believes they could do better.
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:08 PM on October 22, 2018 [9 favorites]
If only.
Bolton: I told our Russian colleagues today that I do not think their interference in our electoral process had any real effect.
colleague: a person with whom one works, especially in a profession or business.
synonyms: coworker, fellow worker, workmate, teammate, associate, partner, collaborator, ally, confederate
It's more of a pep talk. Bolton believes they could do better.
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:08 PM on October 22, 2018 [9 favorites]
Someone like Avenetti couldn't be a Democratic Presidential candidate because, unlike Republicans, Democrats generally aren't craven morons who will vote for the sleaziest, most unqualified, ridiculous, person running. Democrats have a reasonable amount of quality control over who becomes a candidate.
posted by Liquidwolf at 1:10 PM on October 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Liquidwolf at 1:10 PM on October 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
Please do not make this man the President.
@MichaelAvenatti
We should not and cannot eliminate ICE.
God damn it. We coulda had a good thing, Mikey.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:13 PM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
@MichaelAvenatti
We should not and cannot eliminate ICE.
God damn it. We coulda had a good thing, Mikey.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:13 PM on October 22, 2018 [15 favorites]
You know, even though I remain pessimistic about his chances, it does change my mood when I look at facebook and one of my friends has posted a video she took of Beto showing up at her polling station and standing on a truck in a parking lot to yell at a massive crowd about universal healthcare and a woman's right to choose, to raucous applause.
In Texas.
No matter what happens with that race, I'm proud.
posted by threeturtles at 1:17 PM on October 22, 2018 [78 favorites]
In Texas.
No matter what happens with that race, I'm proud.
posted by threeturtles at 1:17 PM on October 22, 2018 [78 favorites]
Washington Post book critic Carlos Lozada is livetweeting Scaramucci's book, which turns out to inexplicably exist and is, for some reason, not a small pamphlet.
Spoiler alert: it's bad.
posted by zachlipton at 1:18 PM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
Spoiler alert: it's bad.
posted by zachlipton at 1:18 PM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
Wondering how many people will buy a lottery ticket this week versus how many people will end up voting (or ever end up voting).
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:21 PM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:21 PM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
This is picking nits, but Democrats have a reasonable amount of quality control with who becomes the nominee. The field of candidates is usually a bit peculiar early on, so Avenatti would be like fourth weirdest. He's not ticket material but he is a publicity machine - if he raises a bunch of important issues (as he seems to like to do) before dropping out for some plum gig, while altering some viable candidate's platform and policies for the better, that's not the worst thing.
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:24 PM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:24 PM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
Wondering how many people will buy a lottery ticket this week versus how many people will end up voting (or ever end up voting).
I believe that various countries (and even cities in the US) have experimented with tying voting to a lottery which rewards a random voter with real cash.
posted by chaz at 1:28 PM on October 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
I believe that various countries (and even cities in the US) have experimented with tying voting to a lottery which rewards a random voter with real cash.
posted by chaz at 1:28 PM on October 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
One hurdle to voter registration has been knocked over in New Hampshire.
With just over two weeks to go until voters head to the polls, a judge has blocked the state from using new voter registration regulations that require voters to prove they live where they're trying to vote. Instead, the judge says the state needs to switch back to the registration forms used in 2016.
Hillsborough County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Brown issued his ruling on the voter law — commonly referred to as "Senate Bill 3" or "SB3" — on Monday afternoon. You can read his full order here.
Brown's ruling drew heavily on testimony from experts about the burdens SB3 could place on individual voters and on New Hampshire's voting system as a whole. That testimony came during a two-week hearing held earlier this fall to decide the law's fate. (You can catch up on NHPR's full coverage of that hearing here.)
The judge pointed to testimony from a literacy expert that the language SB3 adds to new voter registration documents "would be incredibly difficult for the average adult to read and understand." Brown also cited testimony about the potential impact SB3 might have on delays at the polls. Based on that analysis, the judge concluded that "SB3 will result in potentially significant increases in waiting times at polling places throughout the state, particularly those with large turnout."
Additionally, the judge wrote that the legal team challenging the new voting law "presented credible testimony that the negative impact of SB3 will be greater for certain groups of people," including young adults, people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and people experiencing homelessness.
Among other arguments presented during the earlier SB3 hearing, the state attorneys defending the law argued that it had been in effect since 2017 without incident. But the judge said the elections for which the law has been in place — many of them at the local level — are not comparable to the turnout expected in November.
Brown also addressed the argument, presented both in court and among broader supporters of SB3, that the law is needed to improve the "integrity" of the state's elections.
"All remarks regarding improving confidence in and the integrity of the State's elections were made in the context of closing 'loopholes' and tightening up the 'lax' system that supposedly enables ineligible voters to cast ballots throughout the State," the judge wrote. "However, as documented throughout the preliminary injuction hearing and as acknowledged by the legislature, voter fraud is not widespread or even remotely commonplace."
Even if the issue were more serious, Brown said SB3 doesn't seem to do anything to prevent it.
"Therefore, instead of combating fraud, the law simply imposes additional burdens on legitimate voters," the judge wrote.
I strongly encourage reading the order itself.
posted by schoolgirl report at 1:39 PM on October 22, 2018 [33 favorites]
With just over two weeks to go until voters head to the polls, a judge has blocked the state from using new voter registration regulations that require voters to prove they live where they're trying to vote. Instead, the judge says the state needs to switch back to the registration forms used in 2016.
Hillsborough County Superior Court Judge Kenneth Brown issued his ruling on the voter law — commonly referred to as "Senate Bill 3" or "SB3" — on Monday afternoon. You can read his full order here.
Brown's ruling drew heavily on testimony from experts about the burdens SB3 could place on individual voters and on New Hampshire's voting system as a whole. That testimony came during a two-week hearing held earlier this fall to decide the law's fate. (You can catch up on NHPR's full coverage of that hearing here.)
The judge pointed to testimony from a literacy expert that the language SB3 adds to new voter registration documents "would be incredibly difficult for the average adult to read and understand." Brown also cited testimony about the potential impact SB3 might have on delays at the polls. Based on that analysis, the judge concluded that "SB3 will result in potentially significant increases in waiting times at polling places throughout the state, particularly those with large turnout."
Additionally, the judge wrote that the legal team challenging the new voting law "presented credible testimony that the negative impact of SB3 will be greater for certain groups of people," including young adults, people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds and people experiencing homelessness.
Among other arguments presented during the earlier SB3 hearing, the state attorneys defending the law argued that it had been in effect since 2017 without incident. But the judge said the elections for which the law has been in place — many of them at the local level — are not comparable to the turnout expected in November.
Brown also addressed the argument, presented both in court and among broader supporters of SB3, that the law is needed to improve the "integrity" of the state's elections.
"All remarks regarding improving confidence in and the integrity of the State's elections were made in the context of closing 'loopholes' and tightening up the 'lax' system that supposedly enables ineligible voters to cast ballots throughout the State," the judge wrote. "However, as documented throughout the preliminary injuction hearing and as acknowledged by the legislature, voter fraud is not widespread or even remotely commonplace."
Even if the issue were more serious, Brown said SB3 doesn't seem to do anything to prevent it.
"Therefore, instead of combating fraud, the law simply imposes additional burdens on legitimate voters," the judge wrote.
I strongly encourage reading the order itself.
posted by schoolgirl report at 1:39 PM on October 22, 2018 [33 favorites]
Christopher Ingraham, WaPo: Low voter turnout is no accident - ranking ease of voting across all 50 states:
Minnesota #1 in turnout. Fuck yeah!
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:40 PM on October 22, 2018 [13 favorites]
Minnesota #1 in turnout. Fuck yeah!
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:40 PM on October 22, 2018 [13 favorites]
"However, as documented throughout the preliminary injuction hearing and as acknowledged by the legislature, voter fraud is not widespread or even remotely commonplace."
Remember the tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents Trumpies said were being bused to New Hampshire to vote in 2016? Thank you, your honor, for recognizing we only go to New Hampshire for tax-free liquor, foliage, skiing and to get to Maine (and, OK, Storyland if we have young kids).
posted by adamg at 1:44 PM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
Remember the tens of thousands of Massachusetts residents Trumpies said were being bused to New Hampshire to vote in 2016? Thank you, your honor, for recognizing we only go to New Hampshire for tax-free liquor, foliage, skiing and to get to Maine (and, OK, Storyland if we have young kids).
posted by adamg at 1:44 PM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
Minnesota #1 in turnout. Fuck yeah!
Probably relatedly - MN has same-day registration that even has a mechanism for folks without any ID or mail to get registered and vote immediately. You can be vouched for by an existing voter who says they know you so long as you both live in the same election precinct.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:01 PM on October 22, 2018 [37 favorites]
Probably relatedly - MN has same-day registration that even has a mechanism for folks without any ID or mail to get registered and vote immediately. You can be vouched for by an existing voter who says they know you so long as you both live in the same election precinct.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:01 PM on October 22, 2018 [37 favorites]
While the New Hampshire order is good and right, what are the consequences for those attempting voter suppression? I just feel there should be some penalty for attempting to subvert democracy. At the moment, it just seems to be 'nice try, better luck next time'.
posted by adept256 at 2:19 PM on October 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by adept256 at 2:19 PM on October 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
So Trump's approval hit an all-time high today (excluding the month after his inauguration) while the generic ballot continues to deteriorate for Republicans. So that's a mixed bag. The former is absolutely depressing but it's something to be concerned about after the midterms, and the generic ballot polls are very encouraging for the House.
My theory is that the focus on the midterms and the Mueller investigation (mostly) laying low because of said midterms have combined to push the fact that Trump is an insane tweeting monster out of the forefront of people's minds and once we get past the next few weeks people will remember, once again, that he's an insane tweeting racist homophobic narcissistic monster.
posted by Justinian at 2:26 PM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
My theory is that the focus on the midterms and the Mueller investigation (mostly) laying low because of said midterms have combined to push the fact that Trump is an insane tweeting monster out of the forefront of people's minds and once we get past the next few weeks people will remember, once again, that he's an insane tweeting racist homophobic narcissistic monster.
posted by Justinian at 2:26 PM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
It would be good to have some sort of punitive consequences for passing voter-suppression laws but I would think that it's difficult to set sanctions up which can't also be turned against any legislator attempting to protect voting rights or election observers.
posted by XMLicious at 2:28 PM on October 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by XMLicious at 2:28 PM on October 22, 2018 [1 favorite]
the Mueller investigation (mostly) laying low because of said midterms
It occurred to me after the latest unsealed charge against Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova that Mueller may be watching the midterms and the schenanigans that go on in real time. Which may give him far more ammunition to use after the elections.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 2:36 PM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
It occurred to me after the latest unsealed charge against Elena Alekseevna Khusyaynova that Mueller may be watching the midterms and the schenanigans that go on in real time. Which may give him far more ammunition to use after the elections.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 2:36 PM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
Bad news: The aforementioned Trump approval number is driven by his stunningly high approval among non-college men.
Good news: His numbers with college-educated white women continues to plummet.
Better news: college-educated white women are the demographic most likely to turn out for midterm elections. (from Dave Wasserman)
posted by Justinian at 2:40 PM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
Good news: His numbers with college-educated white women continues to plummet.
Better news: college-educated white women are the demographic most likely to turn out for midterm elections. (from Dave Wasserman)
posted by Justinian at 2:40 PM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
Perhaps I missed something about a million Scaramuccis ago, but why does the Mueller investigation have to tiptoe around midterm elections when Trump isn't one of the people actually running in this election? I feel like an insane, illogical premise has been snuck into everyone's minds.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 2:40 PM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Kitty Stardust at 2:40 PM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
I expect many people who might support the administration's proposed trans-exclusionary regulations would change their mind if they realised that everybody is going to be scrutinised by the gender police, especially kids around puberty. It's going to be horrible and humiliating and there will be times when people close to them will be harassed with demands that they prove that they're “really” the gender they claim to be. In that light, here's James Hamblin in The Atlantic: Against a Federal Registry of Genitals
posted by Joe in Australia at 2:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 2:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [17 favorites]
the schenanigans that go on in real time
Worst 24 reboot ever
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 2:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
Worst 24 reboot ever
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 2:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
Perhaps I missed something about a million Scaramuccis ago, but why does the Mueller investigation have to tiptoe around midterm elections when Trump isn't one of the people actually running in this election?
Legally and even per regulations it doesn't. But Mueller is smart and undoubtedly doesn't want to give TrumpCo ammunition to use to try to discredit Mueller as a partisan witchhunt trying to mess up the midterms. Which of course Trump will do anyway but no reason to make it easy for him.
It's not like Mueller's team isn't still working, they're just laying low.
posted by Justinian at 2:42 PM on October 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
Legally and even per regulations it doesn't. But Mueller is smart and undoubtedly doesn't want to give TrumpCo ammunition to use to try to discredit Mueller as a partisan witchhunt trying to mess up the midterms. Which of course Trump will do anyway but no reason to make it easy for him.
It's not like Mueller's team isn't still working, they're just laying low.
posted by Justinian at 2:42 PM on October 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
why does the Mueller investigation have to tiptoe around midterm elections when Trump isn't one of the people actually running in this election?
Especially when he keeps asserting that he isn't linked to the people under investigation. He can't have it both ways.
posted by Joe in Australia at 2:42 PM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
Especially when he keeps asserting that he isn't linked to the people under investigation. He can't have it both ways.
posted by Joe in Australia at 2:42 PM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
Beto O'Rourke's going to every freaking country is legendary stuff. It reminds of what I've heard about RFK, about what I saw with Obama, and what I've read about LBJ's election to the House of Representatives:
posted by kirkaracha at 2:44 PM on October 22, 2018 [21 favorites]
A third major reason for Johnson's longshot victory was how hard he worked for it. The young politician began campaigning the morning after he announced, several days before Governor Allred even set the election day, and campaigned day after day after day straight through until an emergency appendectomy hospitalized him forty-eight hours before the election. For forty straight days he worked like a man possessed from before sun-up till well after midnight. He raced by automobile across the 8,000 square miles of the Tenth District speaking at rallies, attending barbecues he paid to stage, consulting with political leaders, and talking with every single voter he could possibly find.O'Rourke's spent a lot of time and energy going to deep-red counties that are unlikely to vote for him. It really shows he wants to represent everyone in Texas. C'mon, Texas, he deserves to win!
"He kept going back to towns, visiting repeatedly not just the six 'big' towns in which the candidates campaigned but tiny villages which most of the other candidates never visited at all". Other candidates might cancel campaign swings or appearances because of a blue norther that brought blizzard conditions to Central Texas, but not Lyndon. Others tended to concentrate their efforts on Saturday when farmers came to town, Johnson campaigned every hour every day.
...
The election results proved the wisdom of this strategic decision. While Johnson got only 28% of the votes cast and lost the eastern prairie counties, he carried four of the five Hill Country counties and won these counties by overwhelming margins.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:44 PM on October 22, 2018 [21 favorites]
The recent precedent is Mueller should drop whatever action he's going to take 9 days before the election. That's next Sunday.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:45 PM on October 22, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:45 PM on October 22, 2018 [20 favorites]
I feel like an insane, illogical premise has been snuck into everyone's minds.
It was. Donald Trump was elected president almost two years ago.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:45 PM on October 22, 2018 [13 favorites]
It was. Donald Trump was elected president almost two years ago.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:45 PM on October 22, 2018 [13 favorites]
I do not get this Avenatti talk. His attempts to go after Trump in court haven't gone well and he doesn't say the right things. Plus, he's not polling well. Who wants this? Why are we acting like it's a serious challenge? Is the pull of white dude that strong?
posted by asteria at 2:48 PM on October 22, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by asteria at 2:48 PM on October 22, 2018 [20 favorites]
I have been on the anti-Avenatti train for a while now (ok more of a anti-pro-Avenatti train) and it's a lonely place. Forget it, asteria, it's chinatown.
posted by Justinian at 2:49 PM on October 22, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:49 PM on October 22, 2018 [16 favorites]
It would be good to have some sort of punitive consequences for passing voter-suppression laws
In a functioning democracy not built on white supremacy, shame would be this consequence. (See also, Talia Lavin's The Death Of Shame: "In one of America’s two major political parties, the 2018 election cycle has been marked by the noted absence, perhaps the death, of shame.") People who actively inhibit democracy would, in any sensible system, be yelled at, voted out, and unwelcome in polite society. That's how social shaming works.
But we don't have that. We have a party that lies time and time again without shame and actively whips up white supremacist furry. Passing voter suppression laws doesn't get you shunned; it's what gets you re-elected.
I keep hearing the Democrats need to fight as hard as Republicans, and I don't disagree, but I'm not sure how to do that without abandoning any sense of shame. And it seems that what we need is more shame in this country, not less, so that when people with power want to do things that are inherently shameful, like suppress the vote, they are shamed into not doing so. I don't know how to do that: "Make America Shameful Again" is hardly a winning slogan (some would say it's been the Democratic Party's motto for decades).
posted by zachlipton at 2:49 PM on October 22, 2018 [16 favorites]
In a functioning democracy not built on white supremacy, shame would be this consequence. (See also, Talia Lavin's The Death Of Shame: "In one of America’s two major political parties, the 2018 election cycle has been marked by the noted absence, perhaps the death, of shame.") People who actively inhibit democracy would, in any sensible system, be yelled at, voted out, and unwelcome in polite society. That's how social shaming works.
But we don't have that. We have a party that lies time and time again without shame and actively whips up white supremacist furry. Passing voter suppression laws doesn't get you shunned; it's what gets you re-elected.
I keep hearing the Democrats need to fight as hard as Republicans, and I don't disagree, but I'm not sure how to do that without abandoning any sense of shame. And it seems that what we need is more shame in this country, not less, so that when people with power want to do things that are inherently shameful, like suppress the vote, they are shamed into not doing so. I don't know how to do that: "Make America Shameful Again" is hardly a winning slogan (some would say it's been the Democratic Party's motto for decades).
posted by zachlipton at 2:49 PM on October 22, 2018 [16 favorites]
Who wants this?
nobody in this joint, which is why it baffles me how vigorously we keep getting warned against succumbing to his lawyerly charms.
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:56 PM on October 22, 2018 [22 favorites]
nobody in this joint, which is why it baffles me how vigorously we keep getting warned against succumbing to his lawyerly charms.
posted by prize bull octorok at 2:56 PM on October 22, 2018 [22 favorites]
People who actively inhibit democracy would, in any sensible system, be yelled at, voted out, and unwelcome in polite society. That's how social shaming works.
But we don't have that. We have a party that lies time and time again without shame and actively whips up white supremacist furry. Passing voter suppression laws doesn't get you shunned; it's what gets you re-elected.
I keep hearing the Democrats need to fight as hard as Republicans, and I don't disagree, but I'm not sure how to do that without abandoning any sense of shame. And it seems that what we need is more shame in this country, not less, so that when people with power want to do things that are inherently shameful, like suppress the vote, they are shamed into not doing so.
We do have this, look at Mitch McConnell's dinner confrontation. The problem is this doesn't happen to him every single time he leaves the house, and that it doesn't happen to every elected Republican every single time they leave the house. And that the people who rightly threw Mitch's dinner on the floor and got in his face were immediately attacked by the Civility Police in the media, at the same time those same Civility Police were repeating Trump's defense of literal murder without a hint of concern for civility on the other side.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:04 PM on October 22, 2018 [13 favorites]
But we don't have that. We have a party that lies time and time again without shame and actively whips up white supremacist furry. Passing voter suppression laws doesn't get you shunned; it's what gets you re-elected.
I keep hearing the Democrats need to fight as hard as Republicans, and I don't disagree, but I'm not sure how to do that without abandoning any sense of shame. And it seems that what we need is more shame in this country, not less, so that when people with power want to do things that are inherently shameful, like suppress the vote, they are shamed into not doing so.
We do have this, look at Mitch McConnell's dinner confrontation. The problem is this doesn't happen to him every single time he leaves the house, and that it doesn't happen to every elected Republican every single time they leave the house. And that the people who rightly threw Mitch's dinner on the floor and got in his face were immediately attacked by the Civility Police in the media, at the same time those same Civility Police were repeating Trump's defense of literal murder without a hint of concern for civility on the other side.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:04 PM on October 22, 2018 [13 favorites]
Beto O'Rourke's going to every freaking country is legendary stuff.
He toured with an indie band. That's hard work. Seriously, the logistics of touring is insane when you don't have big label support. It's driving all day, playing all night, sleeping in the van with your head in the kick drum (there's a pillow in there), brutal stuff. And you usually end up with just enough gas money to get to the next gig. If only it were so easy as remembering three chords, as some people think.
On Pod Save America this weekend they said he wasn't taking any PAC money or corporate donations. So it is a bit like an indie campaign.
As far as transferable skills go, touring with a band is probably a great primer for campaigning.
posted by adept256 at 3:07 PM on October 22, 2018 [71 favorites]
He toured with an indie band. That's hard work. Seriously, the logistics of touring is insane when you don't have big label support. It's driving all day, playing all night, sleeping in the van with your head in the kick drum (there's a pillow in there), brutal stuff. And you usually end up with just enough gas money to get to the next gig. If only it were so easy as remembering three chords, as some people think.
On Pod Save America this weekend they said he wasn't taking any PAC money or corporate donations. So it is a bit like an indie campaign.
As far as transferable skills go, touring with a band is probably a great primer for campaigning.
posted by adept256 at 3:07 PM on October 22, 2018 [71 favorites]
Disregarding the problem of the illegitimate supreme court, how feasible is it to draft and enforce criminal penalties for disenfranchisement intent? Are there federal laws on the books that are not being enforced, or is it really left almost completely to the states?
It is completely ridiculous that I will get 5 years for tossing one person's vote by mail ballot in the trash, but Kris Kobach and Brian Kemp are free men while disenfranchising tens of thousands.
posted by benzenedream at 3:39 PM on October 22, 2018 [30 favorites]
It is completely ridiculous that I will get 5 years for tossing one person's vote by mail ballot in the trash, but Kris Kobach and Brian Kemp are free men while disenfranchising tens of thousands.
posted by benzenedream at 3:39 PM on October 22, 2018 [30 favorites]
Trump distances himself from a potential GOP thumping
According to two people familiar with the conversations, Trump is distancing himself from a potential Republican thumping on Election Day. He’s telling confidants that he doesn’t see the midterms as a referendum on himself, describing his 2020 reelection bid as “the real election.” And he says that he holds House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell responsible for protecting their majorities in Congress.posted by kirkaracha at 4:03 PM on October 22, 2018 [9 favorites]
According to one person with knowledge of these talks, Trump has said of Ryan and McConnell: “These are their elections … and if they screw it up, it’s not my fault.”
Trump's pure lies & nonsense are exposed for what they are.
@ddale [image: transcript of Trump trying to explain his middle class tax cut lie, very badly]
posted by scalefree at 4:04 PM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
@ddale [image: transcript of Trump trying to explain his middle class tax cut lie, very badly]
posted by scalefree at 4:04 PM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
Daniel Dale, Donald Trump’s strategy as midterms approach: lies and fear-mongering
posted by zachlipton at 4:11 PM on October 22, 2018 [63 favorites]
Democrats will kick seniors off their health insurance. Democrats will end insurance protections for people with health problems. Democrats will destroy the Social Security retirement system. Democrats will give illegal immigrants free cars. Democrats will abolish America’s borders. Democrats are behind the latest migrant caravan from Latin America. That caravan includes people from the Middle East.Imagine if an American paper could say it so clearly and simply.
False, false, false, false, false, false, false.
U.S. President Donald Trump made a brief attempt to campaign on his record of accomplishments but, as the November congressional elections approach, he has traded that shiny new positivity for the well-worn tactic that helped him win the presidency in 2016: a blizzard of fear-mongering and lies, many of them about darker-skinned foreigners.
Trump has been a serial liar about just about everything for his entire tenure in office, but he has rarely before deployed so many complete fabrications about so many important subjects at the same time.
posted by zachlipton at 4:11 PM on October 22, 2018 [63 favorites]
My friend got diagnosed with brain cancer last week. One of the first things he said to me about it is that he's terrified of leaving his wife and children destitute because of his medical bills. Please canvass, phonebank, textbank, write postcards, donate and vote so that no dying parent in this country ever has to spend their last months worrying about this.
posted by mcduff at 4:26 PM on October 22, 2018 [60 favorites]
posted by mcduff at 4:26 PM on October 22, 2018 [60 favorites]
A ray of hope on, of all things, Fox and Friends.
Every news organization that fails to note that is fucking complicit at this point. And also: beneath contempt. Jesus Christ, it’s pathetic. Above all it’s pathetic. If you are a journalist or a news editor, your one, highest duty is to tell the truth. And these motherfuckers get you to stand up every day and spout lies for them. You stand for nothing.
Tell the truth. Call them liars until they are forced to respond. Stand for something.
posted by schadenfrau at 4:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [33 favorites]
When "Fox & Friends" co-host Steve Doocy asked a panel of independent voters for their thoughts on a caravan of 5,000 Central American migrants traveling through Mexico to reach the United States, he seemed surprised by their answers, which expressed sympathy for the individuals fleeing poverty, oppression and violence.Interestingly, they all say things like, “of course they should be processed properly.” These are low information people who are generally reasonable; they just don’t think too deeply. These are exactly the people who buy the bullshit Republican rationalizations. These are exactly the people who need to hear the truth: the Republicans are lying.
Every news organization that fails to note that is fucking complicit at this point. And also: beneath contempt. Jesus Christ, it’s pathetic. Above all it’s pathetic. If you are a journalist or a news editor, your one, highest duty is to tell the truth. And these motherfuckers get you to stand up every day and spout lies for them. You stand for nothing.
Tell the truth. Call them liars until they are forced to respond. Stand for something.
posted by schadenfrau at 4:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [33 favorites]
...it’s like he’s wraithed the entire industry.
posted by schadenfrau at 4:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 4:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
[image: transcript of Trump trying to explain his middle class tax cut lie, very badly]
The Trump administration will pay accounting companies millions of dollars to build several small scale models of the tax cut and will distribute photos of actual middle-class tax cuts being constructed during the Obama administration. Some parts of the final Trump tax cut may be “transparent”.
posted by XMLicious at 4:52 PM on October 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
NYT, The Day John Kelly and Corey Lewandowski Squared Off Outside the Oval Office, in which we're still learning about what went down in February and everyone is trying to get Kelly fired:
An argument last February between the White House chief of staff, John F. Kelly, and Corey Lewandowski, an informal adviser to President Trump, turned into a physical altercation that required Secret Service intervention just outside the Oval Office, according to a half-dozen people familiar with the events.Don't worry, there's a grift angle:
The episode, details of which have not been previously reported, is the latest illustration of the often chaotic atmosphere Mr. Trump is willing to tolerate in the White House as well as a reflection of the degree to which Mr. Kelly’s temper can be provoked.
The near brawl — during which Mr. Kelly grabbed Mr. Lewandowski by the collar and tried to have him ejected from the West Wing — came at a time when the chief of staff was facing uncertainty about how long Mr. Trump would keep him in his job. A guessing game over his departure has colored his tenure ever since.
Mr. Kelly criticized Mr. Lewandowski to Mr. Trump for making so much money off the president in the form of his contract with the super PAC supporting the president’s re-election. Mr. Kelly also expressed his anger that Mr. Lewandowski had been criticizing him on television for his handling of the security clearance controversy related to Mr. Porter.posted by zachlipton at 4:56 PM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
What is THAT!? A middle class tax cut FOR ANTS!!??
posted by j_curiouser at 4:58 PM on October 22, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by j_curiouser at 4:58 PM on October 22, 2018 [17 favorites]
According to two people familiar with the conversations, Trump is distancing himself from a potential Republican thumping on Election Day. He’s telling confidants that he doesn’t see the midterms as a referendum on himself
Trump, at rally in September: "Get out in 2018, because you’re voting for me in 2018. You're voting for me."
@ddale [image: transcript of Trump trying to explain his middle class tax cut lie, very badly]
It's worth quoting the sorry exchange in its entirety, per the WH Pool Report:
Trump, at rally in September: "Get out in 2018, because you’re voting for me in 2018. You're voting for me."
@ddale [image: transcript of Trump trying to explain his middle class tax cut lie, very badly]
It's worth quoting the sorry exchange in its entirety, per the WH Pool Report:
Q You said "lower tax cuts." You said that you wanted tax cuts by November 1st. Congress isn't even in session. How is that possible?posted by Doktor Zed at 5:08 PM on October 22, 2018 [35 favorites]
THE PRESIDENT: No, we're going to be passing -- no, no. We're putting in a resolution sometime in the next week, or week and a half, two weeks.
Q A resolution where?
THE PRESIDENT: We're going to put in -- we're giving a middle-income tax reduction of about 10 percent. We're doing it now for middle-income people. This is not for business; this is for middle. That's on top of the tax decrease that we've already given them.
Q Are you signing an executive order for that?
THE PRESIDENT: No. No. No. I'm going through Congress.
Q But Congress isn't in session though.
THE PRESIDENT: We won't have time to do the vote. We'll do the vote later.
Q Congress is out.
THE PRESIDENT: We'll do the vote after the election.
Daniel Dale reflects, "I've fact-checked every word Trump has uttered for two full years. This is one of his most dishonest weeks in political life. He's lying about so many different things at once, and in big ways -- not exaggerating or stretching, completely making stuff up."
With that in mind, here's his live-tweet/fact-check of Trump's rally with Ted Cruz in Houston. Sample: "Trump keeps talking about the tax cut nobody else including his aides knows anything about: "We're going to be putting in a 10% tax cut for middle-income tax families...Kevin Brady is working on it...all middle-income people, a big tax cut...we'll be putting it in next (week?)." (That last bit is unintelligible as even Trump can't spit out that bullshit schedule.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:12 PM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
With that in mind, here's his live-tweet/fact-check of Trump's rally with Ted Cruz in Houston. Sample: "Trump keeps talking about the tax cut nobody else including his aides knows anything about: "We're going to be putting in a 10% tax cut for middle-income tax families...Kevin Brady is working on it...all middle-income people, a big tax cut...we'll be putting it in next (week?)." (That last bit is unintelligible as even Trump can't spit out that bullshit schedule.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:12 PM on October 22, 2018 [12 favorites]
Well, this isn't great.
[NBC News] Republicans outpacing Democrats in early voting in key states, NBC News finds
[NBC News] Republicans outpacing Democrats in early voting in key states, NBC News finds
Republican-affiliated voters have outpaced Democratic-affiliated voters in early voting in seven closely watched states, according to data provided by TargetSmart and independently analyzed by the NBC News Data Analytics Lab.posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 5:13 PM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
GOP-affiliated voters have surpassed Democratic-affiliated ones in early voting in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Montana, Tennessee and Texas, the data showed.
Only in Nevada have Democratic-affiliated voters exceeded Republican-affiliated voters so far in early voting, according to the data.
Trump has adopted a new tactic: literally mumbling when it's time to say when the tax cut is happening so nobody can understand what he's saying.
posted by zachlipton at 5:13 PM on October 22, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 5:13 PM on October 22, 2018 [19 favorites]
Nate Silver on early voting, for what it's worth.
posted by gimonca at 5:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by gimonca at 5:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
While the New Hampshire order is good and right, what are the consequences for those attempting voter suppression? I just feel there should be some penalty for attempting to subvert democracy. At the moment, it just seems to be 'nice try, better luck next time'.
Yeah, bad news is that that's what they're doing. We've got HB 1264 due to take effect in 2019, which would merge definitions of "domiciled" with being a "resident" of the state, which impacts how voting works, since those statues currently refer to people being "domiciled" here.
The definition of "resident" is stricter than being domiciled, and includes things like, if you have a license, you need to switch it to a NH one, and register your car here. Overview here. It's a targeted strike on college students and transient people/a poll tax.
posted by damayanti at 5:50 PM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
Yeah, bad news is that that's what they're doing. We've got HB 1264 due to take effect in 2019, which would merge definitions of "domiciled" with being a "resident" of the state, which impacts how voting works, since those statues currently refer to people being "domiciled" here.
The definition of "resident" is stricter than being domiciled, and includes things like, if you have a license, you need to switch it to a NH one, and register your car here. Overview here. It's a targeted strike on college students and transient people/a poll tax.
posted by damayanti at 5:50 PM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
@chrisgeidner: BREAKING: #SCOTUS Halts Deposition Of Commerce Secretary In Challenge To Census Citizenship Question, Allows Deposition of DOJ Official To Proceed. While #SCOTUS stopped the Ross deposition for now and allowed the deposition of Gore and other discovery to go ahead, Gorsuch, joined by Thomas, would have granted the stay as sought by DOJ — halting both depositions and the extra discovery. The Chief found a way to keep this to only two justices voicing disagreement with the order. That's an impressive compromise — which involved quite a bit of work inside the court, I have to imagine.
More details on what happens next (the Justice Department has a bit more time to again ask the Supreme Court to sheild Ross from being deposed).
posted by zachlipton at 5:55 PM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
More details on what happens next (the Justice Department has a bit more time to again ask the Supreme Court to sheild Ross from being deposed).
posted by zachlipton at 5:55 PM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
So, most of the Republicans in my area have been using blue signs. GOP candidates for Gov, Rep, and state house ... all the signs are blue. Cowards. Is this the case everywhere?
posted by Dashy at 6:10 PM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Dashy at 6:10 PM on October 22, 2018 [3 favorites]
I wouldn't read much into that. Yard signs are almost always blue. Reagan/Bush, Bush/Quayle, Dole/Kemp, Bush/Cheney, McCain/Palin, Romney/Ryan, Trump/Pence: all blue. Clinton/Gore '96 had probably the reddest yard sign (half-red) over that time period. The whole "blue state" and "red state" thing only dates to 2000 anyway, but it's never translated to campaign marketing materials.
posted by stopgap at 6:22 PM on October 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by stopgap at 6:22 PM on October 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
In things-we-already-pretty-much-knew news, Trump says "I'm a nationalist" at Cruz's rally.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:27 PM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 6:27 PM on October 22, 2018 [5 favorites]
The NBC story appears to be counting absentee and in-person voting together, and an overall GOP advantage in that total is not nearly as surprising as it would be for in-person alone.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:27 PM on October 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:27 PM on October 22, 2018 [4 favorites]
As mentioned on the Grey this afternoon, that article was published at 1:45PM on the very first day of early voting in Texas, well before any of the after-work folks could have hit the polls, so I take that data with several hefty grains of salt. Anecdotal reports is that early voting lines are filling up and swelling here as they are elsewhere--we'll see what the actual data comes out with in November.
posted by sciatrix at 6:28 PM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by sciatrix at 6:28 PM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
Beto's all-county visits and the attention paid to it remind me of the first person I was actually enthusiastic to vote for, Lawton Chiles.
posted by phearlez at 6:29 PM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by phearlez at 6:29 PM on October 22, 2018 [8 favorites]
Early vote numbers are pure haruspicy, guys. Don't be somebody who stares at them and frets all day, or follows every real-time NYT poll and worries at the ones with fewer than 100 respondents, or flips out at every 0.2 point uptick in the R congressional balance.
I do that for you so you don't have to. I'm like the sin-eater. Leave it to the expert.
posted by Justinian at 6:33 PM on October 22, 2018 [108 favorites]
I do that for you so you don't have to. I'm like the sin-eater. Leave it to the expert.
posted by Justinian at 6:33 PM on October 22, 2018 [108 favorites]
I was called today by a DCCC fundraiser citing the report on early voting returns--very much "the sky is falling" in tone--and I argued with her that it wasn't true in CO based on numbers I'd seen. Then I told her that I was volunteering, knocking doors and making phone calls, and I didn't want to waste any more of her time because I wasn't going to be donating (I have been donating to candidates, just not through the DCCC). My kid and I did some GOTV this afternoon and I returned my ballot this evening.
posted by danielleh at 6:35 PM on October 22, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by danielleh at 6:35 PM on October 22, 2018 [23 favorites]
Gorsuch, joined by Thomas, would have granted the stay as sought by DOJ — halting both depositions and the extra discovery.
There's a bit more to it than that. Gorsuch's dissent from the order is staggeringly deceitful, saying that the only evidence of "bad faith" from Ross is that he changed his mind on the need for a citizenship question after joining the administration -- nary a mention of telling Congress two different stories about how the question came to be.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:38 PM on October 22, 2018 [16 favorites]
There's a bit more to it than that. Gorsuch's dissent from the order is staggeringly deceitful, saying that the only evidence of "bad faith" from Ross is that he changed his mind on the need for a citizenship question after joining the administration -- nary a mention of telling Congress two different stories about how the question came to be.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 6:38 PM on October 22, 2018 [16 favorites]
Trump has adopted a new tactic: literally mumbling when it's time to say when the tax cut is happening so nobody can understand what he's saying.
He said the sheriff's near.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:39 PM on October 22, 2018 [25 favorites]
He said the sheriff's near.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:39 PM on October 22, 2018 [25 favorites]
Anecdata from Massachusetts: saw my first (ever?) political ad for the Republican governor, Charlie Baker, feature all people who identified themselves as "a proud Democrat voting for Charlie Baker."
Seems to me like even though he's got an extremely high approval rating, Baker is very worried about being tainted with the Republican label in a midterm backlash...
posted by TwoStride at 6:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
Seems to me like even though he's got an extremely high approval rating, Baker is very worried about being tainted with the Republican label in a midterm backlash...
posted by TwoStride at 6:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
saw my first (ever?) political ad for the Republican governor, Charlie Baker, feature all people who identified themselves as "a proud Democrat voting for Charlie Baker."
That must be the ad touting his bipartisanship as he walks thoughtfully with, among others, Dan Rivera, the Democratic mayor of Lawrence, who's been in the news a lot of late, what with the local gas company blowing up parts of his city. It's actually nothing new for Baker; of more concern, if this were an actual campaign, would be his support of the rabid Trumpkin running against Elizabeth Warren.
posted by adamg at 6:51 PM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
That must be the ad touting his bipartisanship as he walks thoughtfully with, among others, Dan Rivera, the Democratic mayor of Lawrence, who's been in the news a lot of late, what with the local gas company blowing up parts of his city. It's actually nothing new for Baker; of more concern, if this were an actual campaign, would be his support of the rabid Trumpkin running against Elizabeth Warren.
posted by adamg at 6:51 PM on October 22, 2018 [6 favorites]
Anat Ronen's mural "VOTE BETO" @ Harrisburg / Sampson in Houston
posted by growabrain at 7:11 PM on October 22, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 7:11 PM on October 22, 2018 [16 favorites]
In things-we-already-pretty-much-knew news, Trump says "I'm a nationalist" at Cruz's rally.
It's worth taking the context [video] on this one:
But it's Trump's little "we're not supposed to use that word" that's the tell. He knows exactly what he's doing. He's been directly told not to talk like this.
I was going to end this comment by saying that Trump knows exactly where talking like this leads, but since I'm incapable of getting through a complete thought without looking at Twitter, I happened to see this first, which really answers that question: NYT, Explosive Device Found Near George Soros’s Home in Westchester County
posted by zachlipton at 7:38 PM on October 22, 2018 [60 favorites]
It's worth taking the context [video] on this one:
Radical Democrats want to turn back the clock, restore the rule of corrupt, power-hungry globalists. You know what a globalist is, right? You know what a globalist is? A globalist is a person that wants the globe to do well, frankly, not caring about our country so much. And you know what? We can't have that. You know, they have a word, it sort of became old fashioned. It's called a nationalist. And I say really, we're not supposed to use that word. You know what I am? I'm a nationalist, ok? [cheering] I'm a nationalist. Nationalist. Nothing. Use that word. Use that word. [USA chants]It was too much even for Le Pen: @PGourevitch: Even Marine Le Pen of the National Front, when I interviewed her in 2011, steered clear of that label: “I prefer ‘nationals.’ ‘Nationalists’ sounds a little...” she said, waving a hand under her nose to indicate the foul stench.
But it's Trump's little "we're not supposed to use that word" that's the tell. He knows exactly what he's doing. He's been directly told not to talk like this.
I was going to end this comment by saying that Trump knows exactly where talking like this leads, but since I'm incapable of getting through a complete thought without looking at Twitter, I happened to see this first, which really answers that question: NYT, Explosive Device Found Near George Soros’s Home in Westchester County
posted by zachlipton at 7:38 PM on October 22, 2018 [60 favorites]
John Whitehouse (Media Matters):
Meanwhile while Republicans now claim to want to protect preexisting conditions:
All of the evening news broadcasts are leading with what Republicans want as the top story.Our media is choosing to repeat Republican lies over any actual coverage of real issues.
Meanwhile, they did not air a single health care segment for all of 2018. This same thing happened in 2014, when these shows covered Ebola for just before the election ... right before it magically stopped being an issue. It is no secret what's going on here. They're quite open about it on Fox News. Here's the NBC segment. Watch how little time and emphasis they give to noting that Trump's claim is a total lie. (And then frame the migrants as taking on Trump personally, for some reason). Here's ABC. They repeat twice that Trump's claim has no evidence, but take at face value apparently Trump's claim that this is a national emergency. CBS teased a segment about the midterms, before going to a full segment on the caravan. They framed it as one of Trump's talking points for the rally tonight. CBS in a subsequent segment portrayed Trump's lie as him "ramping up the rhetoric on immigration." They then interviewed two people in MAGA hats before airing one line about Democrats hoping Trump's remarks backfire. And let's say you disagree with me on the characterization of these segments. Fine. The newscasts are still making a categorical error in giving it this much attention. Just because Trump tweets something does not make it the top story. They can't even agree where the caravan is headed and yet it's still the top story. and trump's bragging about his strategy working.Trump is straight up telling cable news they are playing directly into his hands:
per @USATODAY, re: the caravan lies, "[Trump] said the TV footage that showed them straggling north was rebounding to the political benefit of Republicans in the midterms."
Meanwhile while Republicans now claim to want to protect preexisting conditions:
Trump Administration releases new rule to allow states to add plans which don’t cover pre-existing conditions.Zero stories on the nightly news.
2 week’s before an election in which GOP is claiming this isn’t really their strategy.
Republicans: We're going to cut taxes for the rich next year and also cut Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security.posted by T.D. Strange at 7:42 PM on October 22, 2018 [64 favorites]
Democrats: THEY'RE GOING TO CUT TAXES FOR THE RICH AND CUT MEDICARE, MEDICAID, AND SOCIAL SECURITY!
Trump: GUATAMALA IS ISIS!!
Nightly News: Is Guatemala ISIS?
Regarding NBC's early voting article, a word from the CEO of TargetSmart:
@tbonier:
Folks, our partnership with NBC allows them to perform their own analysis with our data. Sometimes I agree with what they do, sometimes I don't. The piece today falls into the latter category.
posted by chris24 at 7:46 PM on October 22, 2018 [21 favorites]
@tbonier:
Folks, our partnership with NBC allows them to perform their own analysis with our data. Sometimes I agree with what they do, sometimes I don't. The piece today falls into the latter category.
posted by chris24 at 7:46 PM on October 22, 2018 [21 favorites]
NYT, Explosive Device Found Near George Soros’s Home in Westchester County
They even soft pedaled a mail bomb:
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:30 PM on October 22, 2018 [48 favorites]
They even soft pedaled a mail bomb:
“An employee of the residence opened the package, revealing what appeared to be an explosive device,” the police said in a statement. “The employee placed the package in a wooded area and called the Bedford police.”"found near". It was found in his mailbox and his staff took it inside his house and opened it.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:30 PM on October 22, 2018 [48 favorites]
TwoStride: "Anecdata from Massachusetts: saw my first (ever?) political ad for the Republican governor, Charlie Baker, feature all people who identified themselves as "a proud Democrat voting for Charlie Baker."
Seems to me like even though he's got an extremely high approval rating, Baker is very worried about being tainted with the Republican label in a midterm backlash..."
I'd be shocked if Baker won by as little as 20 points. I don't think he's that worried.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:50 PM on October 22, 2018
Seems to me like even though he's got an extremely high approval rating, Baker is very worried about being tainted with the Republican label in a midterm backlash..."
I'd be shocked if Baker won by as little as 20 points. I don't think he's that worried.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:50 PM on October 22, 2018
Justinian: "Early vote numbers are pure haruspicy, guys."
Mmm, I think it's more like nephelomancy.
Seriously, I think there *can* be some value extracted from early voting info. That said:
a) It's at best a supporting indicator, like fundraising. It may tell you something, but less than polling or PVI.
b) You really need to be familiar with the state/region, and what can be expected in order to draw reasonable inferences, and the number of people who have that kind of detailed background is pretty small. It's kind of like knowing last Election Day that Northern Virginia comes in late, so don't freak out over an early GOP lead, but way more so.
Where people I trust say, "This looks like a positive indicator for Dems," I'm glad to hear that, but that's about as far as I take it.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:56 PM on October 22, 2018 [13 favorites]
Mmm, I think it's more like nephelomancy.
Seriously, I think there *can* be some value extracted from early voting info. That said:
a) It's at best a supporting indicator, like fundraising. It may tell you something, but less than polling or PVI.
b) You really need to be familiar with the state/region, and what can be expected in order to draw reasonable inferences, and the number of people who have that kind of detailed background is pretty small. It's kind of like knowing last Election Day that Northern Virginia comes in late, so don't freak out over an early GOP lead, but way more so.
Where people I trust say, "This looks like a positive indicator for Dems," I'm glad to hear that, but that's about as far as I take it.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:56 PM on October 22, 2018 [13 favorites]
NYT, Explosive Device Found Near George Soros’s Home in Westchester County
Trump is a stochastic terrorist, full stop. He doesn't get to wash his hands of the absolutely foreseeable results of his words and deeds.
posted by Justinian at 9:19 PM on October 22, 2018 [28 favorites]
Trump is a stochastic terrorist, full stop. He doesn't get to wash his hands of the absolutely foreseeable results of his words and deeds.
posted by Justinian at 9:19 PM on October 22, 2018 [28 favorites]
Keith Ellison has now slipped behind Doug Wardlow in the polls in the MN AG race.
He does not have high name recognition, while Keith does, though lots of people have a negative opinion of Ellison. And for the near constant RNC attack ads I see towards Keith Ellison, I have yet to see one attack ad on Wardlow, who is an extreme right winger with noxious views relying on his lack of name recognition to try to sneak in as a moderate (and, so far, succeeding). Which really makes me wonder what the fuck the Democrats/DCCC are spending their money on in Minnesota?!?
posted by triggerfinger at 9:20 PM on October 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
He does not have high name recognition, while Keith does, though lots of people have a negative opinion of Ellison. And for the near constant RNC attack ads I see towards Keith Ellison, I have yet to see one attack ad on Wardlow, who is an extreme right winger with noxious views relying on his lack of name recognition to try to sneak in as a moderate (and, so far, succeeding). Which really makes me wonder what the fuck the Democrats/DCCC are spending their money on in Minnesota?!?
posted by triggerfinger at 9:20 PM on October 22, 2018 [7 favorites]
You really need to be familiar with the state/region, and what can be expected in order to draw reasonable inferences
I do follow Ralston's analysis of the early vote in Nevada since he's intimately familiar with what it means. I don't know who can provide equivalent context for other places like FL, GA, TX etc though so I never link anything.
posted by Justinian at 9:21 PM on October 22, 2018
I do follow Ralston's analysis of the early vote in Nevada since he's intimately familiar with what it means. I don't know who can provide equivalent context for other places like FL, GA, TX etc though so I never link anything.
posted by Justinian at 9:21 PM on October 22, 2018
Steve Shale is probably the Ralston of Florida. Not sure about elsewhere.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:24 PM on October 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:24 PM on October 22, 2018 [2 favorites]
Reno Gazette Journal, 12 Laxalt family members oppose Laxalt for Nevada governor. Here's why, in their own words by [deep breath] Gabriel Urza, Kevin Nomura, Amy Nomura Solaro, Alexandra Urza, Kevan Danielle Laxalt, Michelle Terese Laxalt, Peter Laxalt, Michelle Janet Laxalt, Dr. Kevin Marie Laxalt, Dr. Kristin Laxalt, Monique Laxalt and Meggan Laxalt Mackey.
It starts off by calling him a carpetbagger poser and continues from there.
posted by zachlipton at 9:29 PM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
It starts off by calling him a carpetbagger poser and continues from there.
posted by zachlipton at 9:29 PM on October 22, 2018 [11 favorites]
I'd be shocked if Baker won by as little as 20 points. I don't think he's that worried.
528 has Baker as the 2nd most secure governor only behind Ige in Hawaii.
For an ostensibly Blue state, Massachusetts sure does love electing Republican governors and fucking over the only veto-proof Democratic Senate majority we'll ever see in our lifetimes.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [9 favorites]
528 has Baker as the 2nd most secure governor only behind Ige in Hawaii.
For an ostensibly Blue state, Massachusetts sure does love electing Republican governors and fucking over the only veto-proof Democratic Senate majority we'll ever see in our lifetimes.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:41 PM on October 22, 2018 [9 favorites]
I take your broader point - get it together, Dems of the Bay State! - but aside from Massachusetts, Democrats also have the supermajority in the Senates of Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Vermont. And they only need one more seat to achieve it in California, and two in Nevada.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:50 PM on October 22, 2018
posted by Chrysostom at 9:50 PM on October 22, 2018
For an ostensibly Blue state, Massachusetts sure does love electing Republican governors and fucking over the only veto-proof Democratic Senate majority we'll ever see in our lifetimes.
Hi, Maryland here. We heard there's a challenger to our rightful place on the "blue state that stupidly gives Republicans another chance to run the state on occasion" throne. Have you seen our latest MD-Gov polls?
You've got your work cut out for you, Massholes.
posted by CommonSense at 10:03 PM on October 22, 2018 [21 favorites]
Hi, Maryland here. We heard there's a challenger to our rightful place on the "blue state that stupidly gives Republicans another chance to run the state on occasion" throne. Have you seen our latest MD-Gov polls?
You've got your work cut out for you, Massholes.
posted by CommonSense at 10:03 PM on October 22, 2018 [21 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 15 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
// 15 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
-- AZ: Siena poll has GOPer McSally up 48-46 on Dem Sinema [MOE: +/- 4.2%].** 2018 House:
-- FL: A slew of Florida Senate polls today.-- OnMessage has GOPer Scott up 51-46 on Dem incumbent Nelson [MOE: +/- 2.1%]. This poll was commissioned by the Scott campaign.-- IN: American Viewpoint poll has GOPer Braun up 44-40 on Dem incumbent Donnelly [no MOE listed]. This poll was commissioned by the Braun campaign. => If you want to see what energetic BS reads like, check out this polling memo. It goes on at great length about how the Donnelly campaign is cratering, and then has the exact same race numbers as a couple of weeks ago. Not to say that Donnelly will win, but this document is not providing an objective assessment of anything. | Elsewhere, a Purdue University poll has Donnelly up 41-40 [MOE: +/- 4.6%].
-- Quinnipiac has Nelson up 52-46 [MOE: +/- 3.5%].
-- Survey USA has Nelson up 49-41 [MOE: +/- 5.0%].
-- SEA Polling has Scott up 47-45 [no MOE listed].
-- SSRS has Nelson up 50-45 [MOE: +/- 4.2%].
-- St Pete Polls has Scott up 47-48 [MOE: +/- 2.5%].
-- MN (A): Mason-Dixon poll has Dem incumbent Klobuchar up 56-33 on GOPer Newberger [MOE: +/- 3.5%].
-- MN (B): Same Mason-Dixon poll has Dem incumbent Smith up 47-41 on GOPer Housley.
-- MO: Remington Research poll has GOPer Hawley up 48-47 on Dem incumbent McCaskill [MOE: +/- 2.7%].
-- ND: Strategic Research poll has GOPer Cramer up 56-40 on Dem incumbent Heitkamp [MOE: +/- 3.9%]. => There have been some eyebrows raised about Strategic Research polls - this is apparently their first foray into political polling. That said, a lead for Cramer seems pretty clear at this point.
-- WV: Strategic Research poll has Dem incumbent Manchin up 52-36 on GOPer Morrisey [MOE: +/- 3.9%].
-- Pan Atlantic Research poll has indy incumbent King at 57, GOPer Brakey at 30, and Dem Ringelstein at 8 [MOE: +/- 4.4%].
-- VT: Braun Research poll has indy incumbent Sanders up 60-19 on GOPer Zupan [MOE: +/- 4.0%]. => Before there are any wisecracks, they were polling governor and stuff, and there's no reason not to ask about this race, too, even though it is a foregone conclusion.
-- ME-01: Same Pan Atlantic Research poll has Dem incumbent Pingree at 53, GOPer Holbrook at 29, indy Grohman at 11. [Clinton 54-39 | Cook: Solid D]** Odds & ends:
-- ME-02: Same Pan Atlantic Research poll has GOP incumbent Poliquin tied 37-37 with Dem Golden, indy Bond at 6. They did ask about second choice, but a high percentage of people were unsure. [Trump 51-41 | Cook: Tossup]
-- FL-27: Siena poll has Dem Shalala up 44-37 on GOPer Salazar [MOE: +/- 5.0%]. [Clinton 59-39 | Cook: Tossup] => Siena had a lot of trouble getting good responses on this, so it ended up heavily weighted; approach with caution.
-- VT-AL: Same Braun Research poll has Dem incumbent Welch up 55-18 on GOPer Tynio. [Clinton 57-30 | Cook: Solid D]
-- AR-02: Hendrix College poll has GOP incumbent Hill up 52-40 on Dem Tucker [MOE: +/- 4.0%]. [Trump 52-42 | Cook: Lean R]
-- FL-15: Remington Research poll has GOPer Spano up 47-41 on Dem Carlson [MOE: +/- 2.6%]. Poll was commissioned by the Spano campaign. [Trump 53-43 | Cook: Lean R]
-- GA-07: JMC/BBC poll has GOP inumbent Woodall up 49-43 on Dem Bourdeaux [MOE: +/- 4.5%]. [Trump 51-45 | Cook: Lean R]
-- NY-19: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Faso up 44-43 on Dem Delgado [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Trump 51-44 | Cook: Tossup] => This is the race with the incredibly racist GOP messaging. Well, I know, but one of the top three.
-- WA-03: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Herrera Beutler up 48-41 on Dem Long [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Trump 50-43 | Cook: Lean R]
-- VA-05: Siena poll has Dem Cockburn up 46-45 on GOPer Riggleman [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Trump 53-42 | Cook: Lean R] => Riggleman is the Bigfoot guy.
-- IL-12: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Bost 48-39 on Dem Kelly [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Trump 55-40 | Cook: Tossup]
-- VA-02: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Taylor up 45-42 on Dem Luria [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Trump 49-45 | Cook: Tossup]
-- CO gov: YouGov poll has Dem Polis up 54-42 on GOPer Stapleton [MOE: +/- 3.5%]. [Cook: Lean D]** Averages & forecasts:
-- FL gov: Of course, the FL Senate pollsters were asking about governor, too. (if you're wondering, Quinnipiac is releasing their governor poll separately on Tuesday) [Cook: Tossup]-- OnMessage has GOPer DeSantis up 48-45 on Dem Gillum. Again, this poll was commissioned by the Scott campaign. Also, I believe this is the only poll since the primary to have DeSantis leading.-- ME gov: Same Pan Atlantic Research poll has Dem Mills at 44, GOPer Moody at 36, and indy Hayes at 8. [Cook: Tossup]
-- SEA has Gillum up 48-42.
-- Survey USA has Gillum up 49-42.
-- SSRS has Gillum up 54-42.
-- St Pete has Gillum up 47-46.
-- MN gov: Same Mason-Dixon poll has Dem Walz up 45-39 on GOPer Johnson. [Cook: Likely D]
-- VT gov: Same Braun Research poll has GOP incumbent Scott up 42-28 on Dem Hallquist. [Cook: Solid R] | Downballot: LG: Dem Zuckerman up 47-30 on GOPer Turner. AG: Dem Donovan up 56-17 on GOPer Willhoit. SOS" Dem Condos up 45-22 on GOPer Paige.
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.6 (49.9/41.3)posted by Chrysostom at 11:01 PM on October 22, 2018 [28 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 86.5% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 21.6% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 24.1 states.
but aside from Massachusetts, Democrats also have the supermajority in the Senates of Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Rhode Island, and Vermont
I think he meant when they replaced Ted Kennedy with a Republican, thus knocking the Democratic majority in the US Senate from 60 down to 59.
posted by Justinian at 11:18 PM on October 22, 2018 [9 favorites]
I think he meant when they replaced Ted Kennedy with a Republican, thus knocking the Democratic majority in the US Senate from 60 down to 59.
posted by Justinian at 11:18 PM on October 22, 2018 [9 favorites]
Yeah, I realized that later. I have state legislatures on the brain.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:23 PM on October 22, 2018
posted by Chrysostom at 11:23 PM on October 22, 2018
So is anybody taking numbers for vote suppression & folding them into projections for specific races? I'm not sure how you'd do it; is there any way to combine them with any degree of precision?
posted by scalefree at 12:00 AM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 12:00 AM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
As much as I love Chrysostom's updates, poll watching is mostly worthless (as we saw in 2016), unless you are using them to decide where your dollars or time can best be spent, or you are a political operative. I am never again going to assume a race is safe because of fucking polls. So many assumptions have been weakened --engagement, voter supression, Trump's cult influence, and the reshaping of the two main parties all add noise into an already imprecise model. Please take any time you might spend zombieing out to poll watching (guilty!) and do anything concrete, even if it's just baking cookies for your local (non nazi) dogcatcher candidate, or better yet, GOTV efforts. Even if you're in a deep blue region odds are you are within a one hour drive of a tossup suburban/exurban district.
posted by benzenedream at 12:35 AM on October 23, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 12:35 AM on October 23, 2018 [18 favorites]
Trans rights are under threat in the US, but Uruguay is massively expanding them
Via
posted by homunculus at 1:11 AM on October 23, 2018 [18 favorites]
Via
posted by homunculus at 1:11 AM on October 23, 2018 [18 favorites]
They did ask about second choice, but a high percentage of people were unsure
For those not aware, the races in ME for CD1 and CD2 will use ranked choice voting.
The race for Governor - the seat that got all this started in the first place - will not, because the Maine Republican Party refuses to work with the Dems to make the necessary changes to the Maine Constitution, and have, in fact, gone to court a few times attempting to get ranked choice tossed out entirely.
posted by anastasiav at 4:16 AM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
For those not aware, the races in ME for CD1 and CD2 will use ranked choice voting.
The race for Governor - the seat that got all this started in the first place - will not, because the Maine Republican Party refuses to work with the Dems to make the necessary changes to the Maine Constitution, and have, in fact, gone to court a few times attempting to get ranked choice tossed out entirely.
posted by anastasiav at 4:16 AM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
I have yet to see one attack ad on Wardlow
I've seen one in rotation. I can't quote you who funded it, I think the Ellison campaign. It's a pretty good ad: one of the pull quotes is around "Wardlow wants to throw doctors in jail who do reproductive health care for women". Can't find it on YouTube.
(This is how I know the DCCC or comparable weren't involved....it's a good ad that bring up real issues and doesn't pull punches. I'm assuming DCCC doesn't fund state AG races.)
Also, as long as I'm on the subject, any poll involving the StarTribune is likely to be laughably bad. Ellison still has a fight on his hands, but I've seen too many ridiculous Strib polls to take any given one seriously.
Further aside: this is where get out the vote efforts in the cities are super important. We need to rack up big, big totals in Hennepin, Ramsey, etc. to counter any potential weakness outstate, or people voting for super-popular Amy Klobuchar and skipping the downballot races.
posted by gimonca at 5:09 AM on October 23, 2018 [7 favorites]
I've seen one in rotation. I can't quote you who funded it, I think the Ellison campaign. It's a pretty good ad: one of the pull quotes is around "Wardlow wants to throw doctors in jail who do reproductive health care for women". Can't find it on YouTube.
(This is how I know the DCCC or comparable weren't involved....it's a good ad that bring up real issues and doesn't pull punches. I'm assuming DCCC doesn't fund state AG races.)
Also, as long as I'm on the subject, any poll involving the StarTribune is likely to be laughably bad. Ellison still has a fight on his hands, but I've seen too many ridiculous Strib polls to take any given one seriously.
Further aside: this is where get out the vote efforts in the cities are super important. We need to rack up big, big totals in Hennepin, Ramsey, etc. to counter any potential weakness outstate, or people voting for super-popular Amy Klobuchar and skipping the downballot races.
posted by gimonca at 5:09 AM on October 23, 2018 [7 favorites]
For an ostensibly Blue state, Massachusetts sure does love [...] fucking over the only veto-proof Democratic Senate majority we'll ever see in our lifetimes.
Massachusetts, like any other state, has its own local politics to contend with, and if you're unhappy about how Scott Brown got into office, you can put the blame squarely on Ted Kennedy himself. In 2004 when John Kerry was running for president, the law of the land was that the Governor appoints a replacement until the next election in case the Senate seat becomes vacant. With Kerry potentially creating a vacancy (if he won) and a Republican governor in place (Mitt Romney), the Democrats cooked up a scheme to change the law so that it was via a special election, specifically to thwart this potential short-term loss. This scheme was driven primarily by Ted Kennedy.
Kerry of course did not get elected, the seat was not vacant, and it didn't matter. Except, then years later, Ted Kennedy on his death bed tried to get it changed back, so that the now-Governor (Democrat Deval Patrick) could appoint someone to his seat after he died instead of let there be a special election. This failed, and we had the special election only possible because of Kennedy's earlier bad faith fucking with the system. The Democrats then also ran a pretty shitty candidate who assumed the seat was clearly owed to her party, and the rest is history.
Turns out when you've got a single-party state and get up to bullshit shenanigans, it occasionally bites you in the ass.
posted by tocts at 5:34 AM on October 23, 2018 [25 favorites]
Massachusetts, like any other state, has its own local politics to contend with, and if you're unhappy about how Scott Brown got into office, you can put the blame squarely on Ted Kennedy himself. In 2004 when John Kerry was running for president, the law of the land was that the Governor appoints a replacement until the next election in case the Senate seat becomes vacant. With Kerry potentially creating a vacancy (if he won) and a Republican governor in place (Mitt Romney), the Democrats cooked up a scheme to change the law so that it was via a special election, specifically to thwart this potential short-term loss. This scheme was driven primarily by Ted Kennedy.
Kerry of course did not get elected, the seat was not vacant, and it didn't matter. Except, then years later, Ted Kennedy on his death bed tried to get it changed back, so that the now-Governor (Democrat Deval Patrick) could appoint someone to his seat after he died instead of let there be a special election. This failed, and we had the special election only possible because of Kennedy's earlier bad faith fucking with the system. The Democrats then also ran a pretty shitty candidate who assumed the seat was clearly owed to her party, and the rest is history.
Turns out when you've got a single-party state and get up to bullshit shenanigans, it occasionally bites you in the ass.
posted by tocts at 5:34 AM on October 23, 2018 [25 favorites]
@kylegriffin1: The Garland County [Arkansas] Election Commission left Susan Inman, the Democratic candidate for secretary of state, off the election ballot. Early voting began without her as an option. Sites had to be shut down. Inman says the glitch left her in "sheer disbelief."
@darth: wow what are the fuckin odds
posted by zombieflanders at 5:45 AM on October 23, 2018 [81 favorites]
@darth: wow what are the fuckin odds
posted by zombieflanders at 5:45 AM on October 23, 2018 [81 favorites]
Also, as long as I'm on the subject, any poll involving the StarTribune is likely to be laughably bad. Ellison still has a fight on his hands, but I've seen too many ridiculous Strib polls to take any given one seriously.
The current owner of the StarTribune, Glen Taylor, was expected to exert a rightward pull on what was already a conservative newspaper when he purchased it.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:20 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
The current owner of the StarTribune, Glen Taylor, was expected to exert a rightward pull on what was already a conservative newspaper when he purchased it.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:20 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yeah, I don't know how much to trust that poll on the Wardlow/Ellison race, but it's scary enough that I'm going to try to phonebank for Ellison this weekend. Wardlow is fucking terrifying.
posted by dinty_moore at 6:25 AM on October 23, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by dinty_moore at 6:25 AM on October 23, 2018 [9 favorites]
Political ad spending tops $71 million in Minnesota - Kelly Busche, Christian King, Imani Cruzen, Emily Gray and Hailey Almsted, MinnPost.com
Candidates and interest groups had bought space for more than 330,000 TV and radio ads as of Oct. 9, still a month before election day. On network and cable television, the ad buys account for nearly 2,600 hours of ad time – enough to cover 107 full days of nothing but political commercials.posted by ZeusHumms at 6:37 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
If that number seems higher than other estimates floating around, there’s a reason for that. This is the first election cycle for which political advertising can be quantified across radio, television and cable without visiting individual stations; the Federal Communications Commission only now requires cable operators to file ad purchases electronically. Other studies about this year’s campaign ad spending mostly utilize documents from Minnesota’s Campaign Finance Board or the Federal Elections Commission. But the delays in reporting campaign activity to those organizations can be lengthy, while the FCC database is updated regularly.
Still, a complete accounting of the ads isn’t an easy process. Each TV network station, cable company and radio station files its reports via a pdf document, meaning each ad purchase must be collected and counted individually. The process, done on a week-by-week basis, provides an opportunity to study election advertising by campaigns and outside groups in close to real time. (The data doesn’t include satellite companies, who are not required to file in as timely a manner.)
That accounting was done by a team of student journalists at the University of Minnesota, which has been reviewing each filing for Minnesota’s eight congressional races, two U.S. Senate races and the statewide races for governor, attorney general, state treasurer and state auditor. The process, done on a week-by-week basis, provides an opportunity to study election advertising by campaigns and outside groups in close to real time.
“I think getting a fuller picture of who’s influencing voters is always helpful,” said Dan Weiner, the senior counsel at the Brennan Center’s Democracy Program at New York University. “The really important disclosure is the big ad buys, because those are the things that actually bring leverage to people in power.”
Following Trump’s Lead, GOP Leans Hard Into Culture Wars In Closing Ads - Cameron Joseph, TPM
[fake] Consequences of not voting Republican:
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:13 AM on October 23, 2018 [19 favorites]
[fake] Consequences of not voting Republican:
- Ray Stantz: Fire and brimstone coming down from the skies! Rivers and seas boiling!
- Egon Spengler: 40 years of darkness! Earthquakes, volcanoes!
- Winston Zeddemore: The dead rising from the grave!
- Peter Venkman: Human sacrifice, dogs and cats living together, mass hysteria!
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:13 AM on October 23, 2018 [19 favorites]
Following Trump’s Lead, GOP Leans Hard Into Culture Wars In Closing Ads - Cameron Joseph, TPM
Mashing hard on the "rile up the base" button isn't a sign of a party that expects to amass a lot of popular support. Vile as it is, it's also an admission by the Republicans that they feel they're losing.
posted by Gelatin at 7:20 AM on October 23, 2018 [11 favorites]
Mashing hard on the "rile up the base" button isn't a sign of a party that expects to amass a lot of popular support. Vile as it is, it's also an admission by the Republicans that they feel they're losing.
posted by Gelatin at 7:20 AM on October 23, 2018 [11 favorites]
The hack gap: how and why conservative nonsense dominates American politics
The hack gap has two core pillars. One is the constellation of conservative media outlets — led by Fox News and other Rupert Murdoch properties like the Wall Street Journal editorial page, but also including Sinclair Broadcasting in local television, much of AM talk radio, and new media offerings such as Breitbart and the Daily Caller — that simply abjure anything resembling journalism in favor of propaganda.posted by T.D. Strange at 7:59 AM on October 23, 2018 [53 favorites]
The other is that the self-consciousness journalists at legacy outlets have about accusations of liberal bias leads them to bend over backward to allow the leading conservative gripes of the day to dominate the news agenda. Television producers who would never dream of assigning segments where talking heads debate whether it’s bad that the richest country on earth also has millions of children growing up in dire poverty think nothing of chasing random conservative shiny objects, from “Fast & Furious” (remember that one?) to Benghazi to the migrant caravan.
And more than Citizens United or even gerrymandering, it’s a huge constant thumb on the scale in favor of the political right in America.
Mod note: One deleted; there's a separate thread for Jamal Khashoggi news.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:02 AM on October 23, 2018
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 8:02 AM on October 23, 2018
gimonca: "Also, as long as I'm on the subject, any poll involving the StarTribune is likely to be laughably bad. Ellison still has a fight on his hands, but I've seen too many ridiculous Strib polls to take any given one seriously."
Well, Mason-Dixon did the actual polling, and they're pretty well regarded (B+ from 538). That said, there have been a grand total of three polls from two firms in this race, and I get increasingly skeptical as races move down the ballot. Admittedly, this is a pretty high profile race.
If I had to place money on it, I'd say Ellison squeaks it out - although MN is not as blue as outsiders appear, the Klobuchar race is dead, and the Smith and governor's races pretty close to it.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:03 AM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Well, Mason-Dixon did the actual polling, and they're pretty well regarded (B+ from 538). That said, there have been a grand total of three polls from two firms in this race, and I get increasingly skeptical as races move down the ballot. Admittedly, this is a pretty high profile race.
If I had to place money on it, I'd say Ellison squeaks it out - although MN is not as blue as outsiders appear, the Klobuchar race is dead, and the Smith and governor's races pretty close to it.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:03 AM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
anastasiav: "the Maine Republican Party refuses to work with the Dems to make the necessary changes to the Maine Constitution"
Worth pointing out that trifecta control is within reach for Maine Dems - they are only a seat short in the Senate.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:06 AM on October 23, 2018 [4 favorites]
Worth pointing out that trifecta control is within reach for Maine Dems - they are only a seat short in the Senate.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:06 AM on October 23, 2018 [4 favorites]
Take two minutes to watch The #BlueWave Trailer (by Portland/Vancouver-based Eleven Films).
posted by progosk at 8:14 AM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by progosk at 8:14 AM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Two little things in the WaPo:
Rep. Dave Brat, an economist, borrowed heavily from Bernanke in academic paper. Three entire pages of Bernanke's writing ended up in a 2005 paper(pdf) without proper attribution. It was discovered by a fellow at the London School of Economics who called it "plagiarism" and referred it to Brat's former school concerning "apparent academic misconduct."
Chinese-owned company qualifies for Trump’s anti-China farm bailout. Part of the bailout is a $558 million program to buy pork to distribute to food banks and schools and large operators are at an advantage to obtain these contracts. In normal years the program has a budget of around $30 million with a majority going to the two largest pork producers: Smithfield Foods, owned by Chinese conglomerate WH Group, and the Brazilian company JBS. Trump's tariff bailout will likely be a windfall for these companies.
posted by peeedro at 8:17 AM on October 23, 2018 [28 favorites]
Rep. Dave Brat, an economist, borrowed heavily from Bernanke in academic paper. Three entire pages of Bernanke's writing ended up in a 2005 paper(pdf) without proper attribution. It was discovered by a fellow at the London School of Economics who called it "plagiarism" and referred it to Brat's former school concerning "apparent academic misconduct."
Chinese-owned company qualifies for Trump’s anti-China farm bailout. Part of the bailout is a $558 million program to buy pork to distribute to food banks and schools and large operators are at an advantage to obtain these contracts. In normal years the program has a budget of around $30 million with a majority going to the two largest pork producers: Smithfield Foods, owned by Chinese conglomerate WH Group, and the Brazilian company JBS. Trump's tariff bailout will likely be a windfall for these companies.
posted by peeedro at 8:17 AM on October 23, 2018 [28 favorites]
Cook ratings moves. Two right, eight left.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:17 AM on October 23, 2018 [30 favorites]
IL-12 (Bost) | Tossup => Lean RTotals:
TX-31 (Carter) | Lean R => Likely R
AK-AL (Young) | Likely R => Lean R
AZ-08 (Lesko) | Solid R => Likely R
FL-06 (open) | Likely R => Lean R
FL-15 (open) | Lean R => Tossup
FL-27 (open) | Tossup => Lean D
NY-23 (Reed) | Solid R => Likely R
OK-05 (Russell) | Solid R => Likely R
TX-22 (Olson) | Likely R => Lean R
Solid D - 182 (182 D, 0 R)218 needed for majority.
Likely D - 12 (8 D, 4 R)
Lean D - 15 (2 D, 13 R)
Tossup - 30 (1 D, 29 R)
Lean R - 27 (1 D, 26 R)
Likely R - 27 (1 D, 26 R)
Solid R - 142 (0 D, 142 R)
posted by Chrysostom at 8:17 AM on October 23, 2018 [30 favorites]
Chrysostom, those number really hit home in terms of how hard this all is to call and how critical Dem turnout is. The first 3 categories add up to 209 so we'd need all those plus 9 tossup races, right? Yikes.
I also just finished season 5 of Veep (no spoilers please!) so the whole nail-biting down to the wire thing is fresh in my mind. I'm going to take the day after election day off like I did in 2016 to either rejoice or freak out.
posted by freecellwizard at 8:32 AM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
I also just finished season 5 of Veep (no spoilers please!) so the whole nail-biting down to the wire thing is fresh in my mind. I'm going to take the day after election day off like I did in 2016 to either rejoice or freak out.
posted by freecellwizard at 8:32 AM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
freecellwizard, if you want the glass half full version, the GOP would have to win all of their Solid/Likely/Lean plus another 22 seats to hold their majority. And if you expand the middle, and put the "Lean" seats into "Tossup" on both sides, the Dems would need to win 14 of the "Tossup/Lean" seats and the GOP would have to win 49. 3 Dem seats are at risk to flip, while that number on the GOP side is 46.
Nothing is ever for certain until things are actually done, but these are better numbers for the House than we've seen in a long time.
posted by azpenguin at 8:39 AM on October 23, 2018 [17 favorites]
Nothing is ever for certain until things are actually done, but these are better numbers for the House than we've seen in a long time.
posted by azpenguin at 8:39 AM on October 23, 2018 [17 favorites]
Statistics was one of my favorite subjects in college, and I love to talk about sampling biases and likely-voter screens and how pollsters may or not be under-counting or over-counting certain populations. But at this point, I just want to vote in my own district (VA-05) and see what happens on election night.
I'm worried that a lot of pollsters may have have been tweaking their likely-voter screening methodologies after getting burned in Virginia and special elections, and they're not telling us how they're doing that. They're usually not very transparent about how they do likely-voter screens. Most of them treat likely-voter screens as proprietary pixie dust. It may make polling in the run-up to this election less reliable than usual. We'll see.
Thanks to all of you who've been volunteering and contributing to Democratic candidates. I can't thank you enough.
posted by nangar at 8:59 AM on October 23, 2018 [20 favorites]
I'm worried that a lot of pollsters may have have been tweaking their likely-voter screening methodologies after getting burned in Virginia and special elections, and they're not telling us how they're doing that. They're usually not very transparent about how they do likely-voter screens. Most of them treat likely-voter screens as proprietary pixie dust. It may make polling in the run-up to this election less reliable than usual. We'll see.
Thanks to all of you who've been volunteering and contributing to Democratic candidates. I can't thank you enough.
posted by nangar at 8:59 AM on October 23, 2018 [20 favorites]
Thanks to all of you who've been volunteering and contributing to Democratic candidates. I can't thank you enough.
I'm doing it for the ice cream. And democracy. But also ice cream. Ben and Jerry created sepcial edition flavors for some of the congressional races, and Ben will be at Stephany Rose Spaulding's campaign office tomorrow with Rocky Mountain Rose ice cream.
posted by danielleh at 9:12 AM on October 23, 2018 [18 favorites]
I'm doing it for the ice cream. And democracy. But also ice cream. Ben and Jerry created sepcial edition flavors for some of the congressional races, and Ben will be at Stephany Rose Spaulding's campaign office tomorrow with Rocky Mountain Rose ice cream.
posted by danielleh at 9:12 AM on October 23, 2018 [18 favorites]
Meanwhile, the White House Council of Economic Advisers has released a report on the evils of socialism to commemorate Karl Marx's 200th birthday, where – I swear to God this is not made up – they write that Nordic-style social democracy would be doomed to fail in the United States because its positive outcomes are only possible thanks to the natural tendency for people of Nordic descent to be more well-off than other ethnicities.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:15 AM on October 23, 2018 [77 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:15 AM on October 23, 2018 [77 favorites]
Nordic-style social democracy would be doomed to fail in the United States because its positive outcomes are only possible thanks to the natural tendency for people of Nordic descent to be more well-off than other ethnicities.
Jesus fucking Christ. Just call it the "master race" guys, and call it a day - save us all some time.
posted by nubs at 9:18 AM on October 23, 2018 [47 favorites]
Jesus fucking Christ. Just call it the "master race" guys, and call it a day - save us all some time.
posted by nubs at 9:18 AM on October 23, 2018 [47 favorites]
Hey friends - can I pitch a local city council race that needs some support?
Joey Brunelle is a DSA backed candidate for City Council here in Portland, ME. He's running against eight-term (21 year) incumbent Nick Mavodones, who recently got a HUGE and contribution ($7300) from the National Association of Realtors Fund. This is pretty much unprecedented in little Portland, ME for a council race, but it speaks to the gentrification issue here in Portland and how much the realtors and the business community feel that Mavodones has done for them.
The catch, though is that Brunelle is only accepting donations from folks who have an address (even a summer address) in Maine. Here's his giving link.
I know there are megathread readers here in Maine. If you can, would you toss Joey a few bucks? He's great, and he needs the money. Thanks.
posted by anastasiav at 9:21 AM on October 23, 2018 [19 favorites]
Joey Brunelle is a DSA backed candidate for City Council here in Portland, ME. He's running against eight-term (21 year) incumbent Nick Mavodones, who recently got a HUGE and contribution ($7300) from the National Association of Realtors Fund. This is pretty much unprecedented in little Portland, ME for a council race, but it speaks to the gentrification issue here in Portland and how much the realtors and the business community feel that Mavodones has done for them.
The catch, though is that Brunelle is only accepting donations from folks who have an address (even a summer address) in Maine. Here's his giving link.
I know there are megathread readers here in Maine. If you can, would you toss Joey a few bucks? He's great, and he needs the money. Thanks.
posted by anastasiav at 9:21 AM on October 23, 2018 [19 favorites]
Meanwhile, the White House Council of Economic Advisers has released a report on the evils of socialism to commemorate Karl Marx's 200th birthday, where – I swear to God this is not made up – they write that Nordic-style social democracy would be doomed to fail in the United States because its positive outcomes are only possible thanks to the natural tendency for people of Nordic descent to be more well-off than other ethnicities.
Where do you see this? This report is bullshit but its premise seems to be that the Nordic model isn't great from a USA perspective, not that there's something special about them that makes it work.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:32 AM on October 23, 2018 [9 favorites]
Where do you see this? This report is bullshit but its premise seems to be that the Nordic model isn't great from a USA perspective, not that there's something special about them that makes it work.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:32 AM on October 23, 2018 [9 favorites]
Yeah, I don't know how much to trust that poll on the Wardlow/Ellison race, but it's scary enough that I'm going to try to phonebank for Ellison this weekend. Wardlow is fucking terrifying.
As a follow up, just got my first pro-Ellison text. I'm guessing it's not just me (and a good portion of my facebook feed) that's freaked out about Wardlow right now.
posted by dinty_moore at 9:35 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
As a follow up, just got my first pro-Ellison text. I'm guessing it's not just me (and a good portion of my facebook feed) that's freaked out about Wardlow right now.
posted by dinty_moore at 9:35 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
azpenguin: "freecellwizard, if you want the glass half full version, the GOP would have to win all of their Solid/Likely/Lean plus another 22 seats to hold their majority. And if you expand the middle, and put the "Lean" seats into "Tossup" on both sides, the Dems would need to win 14 of the "Tossup/Lean" seats and the GOP would have to win 49. 3 Dem seats are at risk to flip, while that number on the GOP side is 46.
Nothing is ever for certain until things are actually done, but these are better numbers for the House than we've seen in a long time."
Right. Based on what I've read about Cook accuracy (this probably holds true for Sabato, too, but I find his layout uglier), you might expect *maybe* one Likely race to go against prediction, and 1-2 Lean races. On the tossups, the challenger was actually slightly more likely to flip than not. And that's all on average - in a wave situation (Rs in 2010, for example), you generally see races to break towards the wave party.
FWIW #1: the 538 forecast, which is generally more Dem optimistic than Cook, has exactly 218 in Solid/Likely/Lean Dem races.
FWIW #2: The expected distribution of outcomes this time is not even - it has a long tail left. So we have a small-ish chance of the GOP holding control, a most likely scenario of fairly modest Dem gains (but gaining control), and a small-ish chance of substantial to truly massive Dem gains.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:40 AM on October 23, 2018 [6 favorites]
Nothing is ever for certain until things are actually done, but these are better numbers for the House than we've seen in a long time."
Right. Based on what I've read about Cook accuracy (this probably holds true for Sabato, too, but I find his layout uglier), you might expect *maybe* one Likely race to go against prediction, and 1-2 Lean races. On the tossups, the challenger was actually slightly more likely to flip than not. And that's all on average - in a wave situation (Rs in 2010, for example), you generally see races to break towards the wave party.
FWIW #1: the 538 forecast, which is generally more Dem optimistic than Cook, has exactly 218 in Solid/Likely/Lean Dem races.
FWIW #2: The expected distribution of outcomes this time is not even - it has a long tail left. So we have a small-ish chance of the GOP holding control, a most likely scenario of fairly modest Dem gains (but gaining control), and a small-ish chance of substantial to truly massive Dem gains.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:40 AM on October 23, 2018 [6 favorites]
nangar: "I'm worried that a lot of pollsters may have have been tweaking their likely-voter screening methodologies after getting burned in Virginia and special elections, and they're not telling us how they're doing that. They're usually not very transparent about how they do likely-voter screens. Most of them treat likely-voter screens as proprietary pixie dust. It may make polling in the run-up to this election less reliable than usual. We'll see."
Heartily endorse this comment. Turnout models are problematic this year (go check out out one of the NYT/Siena polls and you can see how drastically outcome change with different assumptions). How high is Dem interest? How high is Dem interest versus GOP interest? How high is Dem interest in each demographic group (i.e., the famous "Dems have a Hispanic problem")?
I'm sure there will be a lot of interesting papers coming out of this, but bleagh.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:44 AM on October 23, 2018 [4 favorites]
Heartily endorse this comment. Turnout models are problematic this year (go check out out one of the NYT/Siena polls and you can see how drastically outcome change with different assumptions). How high is Dem interest? How high is Dem interest versus GOP interest? How high is Dem interest in each demographic group (i.e., the famous "Dems have a Hispanic problem")?
I'm sure there will be a lot of interesting papers coming out of this, but bleagh.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:44 AM on October 23, 2018 [4 favorites]
It's not the lynchpin of their argument, but Page 33 points out that Americans of Nordic descent earn 25% more than the national average.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:45 AM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:45 AM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
It's not the lynchpin of their argument, but Page 33 points out that Americans of Nordic descent earn 25% more than the national average.
See! It isn't white privilege! It's ... um ... something else.
posted by Gelatin at 9:48 AM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
See! It isn't white privilege! It's ... um ... something else.
posted by Gelatin at 9:48 AM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
It's not the lynchpin of their argument, but Page 33 points out that Americans of Nordic descent earn 25% more than the national average.
how does that compare to white folks in general, though?
posted by murphy slaw at 9:48 AM on October 23, 2018
how does that compare to white folks in general, though?
posted by murphy slaw at 9:48 AM on October 23, 2018
At the same time, people of Nordic descent currently living in the U.S. have incomes about 25 percent above the average American (regardless of descent), and therefore have incomes about 50 percent above the average of the people resident of their home country. In other words, if the U.S. were to take on all the characteristics of a Nordic country, it could expect its incomes to be sharply lower.I fucking hate feeling like I'm defending this administration but the argument they're making is about American exceptionalism, not racial superiority.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:49 AM on October 23, 2018 [7 favorites]
I really don't think they are making the argument that you think they are making. They're trying to say that even if everybody in the USA was like a Nordic person, they would still have lower incomes in a socialist sytem. Obviously whether that's true or not is .... whatever, but this isn't explicitly some white nationalist document.
From the relevant page of the report:
posted by permiechickie at 9:51 AM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
From the relevant page of the report:
The average real GDP per capita in the U.S. is about 20 percent above the averages in Denmark,
Finland, Iceland, and Sweden. The comparison with Norway is similar, too, if we adjust for
Norway’s large oil income. Indeed, Alaska and North Dakota—U.S. States that, like Norway,
have high oil output per person—enjoy per capita GDP that is 15 and 4 percent higher,
respectively, than Norway’s.
At the same time, people of Nordic descent currently living in the U.S. have incomes about 25
percent above the average American (regardless of descent), and therefore have incomes
about 50 percent above the average of the people resident of their home country. In other
words, if the U.S. were to take on all the characteristics of a Nordic country, it could expect its
incomes to be sharply lower.
posted by permiechickie at 9:51 AM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
In other words, if the U.S. were to take on all the characteristics of a Nordic country, it could expect its incomes to be sharply lower.
Well, maybe, but much of the population -- not just wealthy whites -- would enjoy a higher standard of living beyond its income. Conservatives have played the "You'll earn less!" / omitting to mention you'll get more sleight of hand for decades now.
posted by Gelatin at 9:52 AM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Well, maybe, but much of the population -- not just wealthy whites -- would enjoy a higher standard of living beyond its income. Conservatives have played the "You'll earn less!" / omitting to mention you'll get more sleight of hand for decades now.
posted by Gelatin at 9:52 AM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Also, if every person in the USA was of Nordic descent, surströmming would be way more popular.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:53 AM on October 23, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:53 AM on October 23, 2018 [15 favorites]
See! It isn't white privilege! It's ... um ... something else.
Oh, I'm 100% sure that this number comes from white privilege. That's not the argument that the report is making, though.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:53 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oh, I'm 100% sure that this number comes from white privilege. That's not the argument that the report is making, though.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:53 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
The Trump administration continues to run purity tests on non-partisan appointments, the Washington Post finds: ‘I’ve never seen these positions politicized’: White House rejection of veterans judges raises concerns of partisanship
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:57 AM on October 23, 2018 [19 favorites]
The Board of Veterans’ Appeals has long filled a nonpartisan role in the federal government, run by dozens of judges charged with sorting through a thicket of regulations to determine whether an injured veteran is entitled to lifetime benefits.The results were three Democrats and one independent rejected and three Republicans and one (GOP primary–voting) independent approved.
But this summer, the White House rejected half of the candidates selected by the board chairwoman to serve as administrative judges, who make rulings on the disability claims. The rejections came after the White House required them to disclose their party affiliation and other details of their political leanings, according to documents viewed by The Washington Post.
Such questions had not been asked of judge candidates in the past, according to former judges and board staff.
As part of the process, the candidates were asked to provide links to their social media profiles and disclose whether they had ever given a speech to Congress, spoken at a political convention, appeared on talk radio, or published an opinion piece in a conservative forum such as Breitbart News or a liberal one such as Mother Jones, according to one candidate, who requested anonymity because the person is not authorized to speak to the media.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:57 AM on October 23, 2018 [19 favorites]
Put another way: even if Americans of Nordic descent made less than the average, the (specious) argument in this report that they're better off here still works, and I really think that 25% number is kind of red herring in what they're trying to do here.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:59 AM on October 23, 2018
posted by OverlappingElvis at 9:59 AM on October 23, 2018
But this summer, the White House rejected half of the candidates selected by the board chairwoman to serve as administrative judges, who make rulings on the disability claims. The rejections came after the White House required them to disclose their party affiliation and other details of their political leanings, according to documents viewed by The Washington Post.
Such questions had not been asked of judge candidates in the past, according to former judges and board staff.
This is your occasional reminder that the US' current nonpartisan civil service system originated from the nation already having experience with political patronage and the "spoils system," and finding it woefully corrupt and inefficient.
So many conservative ideas involve regressing to obsolete ideas that the nation already experimented with and rejected, often at no small cost.
posted by Gelatin at 10:01 AM on October 23, 2018 [43 favorites]
Such questions had not been asked of judge candidates in the past, according to former judges and board staff.
This is your occasional reminder that the US' current nonpartisan civil service system originated from the nation already having experience with political patronage and the "spoils system," and finding it woefully corrupt and inefficient.
So many conservative ideas involve regressing to obsolete ideas that the nation already experimented with and rejected, often at no small cost.
posted by Gelatin at 10:01 AM on October 23, 2018 [43 favorites]
@davidfrum
If liberals insist that enforcing borders is a job only fascists will do, then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals won't. Me in @TheAtlantic on the attempt by 7000 Central Americans to force entry into the US
#nevertrump GOP Resistance Hero David Frum: literal fascism is great if it means stopping the browns.
There's your reasonable Republican who will surely help lead us back to an era in which everything is normal again. Likewise by publishing him, The Atlantic shows once again that liberal capitalism will always, always, always side with fascism when the other side gives even a token nod to socialism.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:05 AM on October 23, 2018 [52 favorites]
If liberals insist that enforcing borders is a job only fascists will do, then voters will hire fascists to do the job liberals won't. Me in @TheAtlantic on the attempt by 7000 Central Americans to force entry into the US
#nevertrump GOP Resistance Hero David Frum: literal fascism is great if it means stopping the browns.
There's your reasonable Republican who will surely help lead us back to an era in which everything is normal again. Likewise by publishing him, The Atlantic shows once again that liberal capitalism will always, always, always side with fascism when the other side gives even a token nod to socialism.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:05 AM on October 23, 2018 [52 favorites]
The Trump administration continues to run purity tests on non-partisan appointments, the Washington Post finds: ‘I’ve never seen these positions politicized’: White House rejection of veterans judges raises concerns of partisanship
Remember a few months ago when the Trump administration threw out the rules for selecting Administrative Law Judges? Now we're seeing how the new process will work in practice.
You only get to be a VA or SSA judge if you've published in Brietbart or voted in a GOP primary.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:08 AM on October 23, 2018 [10 favorites]
Remember a few months ago when the Trump administration threw out the rules for selecting Administrative Law Judges? Now we're seeing how the new process will work in practice.
You only get to be a VA or SSA judge if you've published in Brietbart or voted in a GOP primary.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:08 AM on October 23, 2018 [10 favorites]
Liberals insist that "enforcing borders" != "putting people in concentration camps."
Note that Frum's argument, such as it is, is a variation on the one Republicans deployed when they were caught in the legal and moral crime of torturing people. They moved the goalposts to insist that the "effective program" of torture was the only way they could protect the US, and that opposing it meant liberals and others with a working moral compass wanted the US left undefended.
Don't be fooled again.
posted by Gelatin at 10:10 AM on October 23, 2018 [27 favorites]
Note that Frum's argument, such as it is, is a variation on the one Republicans deployed when they were caught in the legal and moral crime of torturing people. They moved the goalposts to insist that the "effective program" of torture was the only way they could protect the US, and that opposing it meant liberals and others with a working moral compass wanted the US left undefended.
Don't be fooled again.
posted by Gelatin at 10:10 AM on October 23, 2018 [27 favorites]
I think this is turning into a derail, so, I think seeing racism in everything this administration does is a reasonable default explanation, and I'm not going to say it doesn't apply here. I'm just saying there's all kinds of rhetorical shittiness they can and do deploy, and maybe that's what's happening in this one report.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 10:10 AM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by OverlappingElvis at 10:10 AM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
I know there are megathread readers here in Maine.
Kicked in a bit!
posted by mikepop at 10:11 AM on October 23, 2018 [11 favorites]
Kicked in a bit!
posted by mikepop at 10:11 AM on October 23, 2018 [11 favorites]
I fucking hate feeling like I'm defending this administration but the argument they're making is about American exceptionalism, not racial superiority.
It's both! It's neither!
The "argument" is basically:
income = (genetic fitness) * (economic system)
The Norse people are 25% more genetically fit than the average American, but Norway is only 90% as rich, so:
.9 = 1.25 * (Norse economy / US economy)
Norse economy = .72 * US economy
See, the Norse economy is only 72% as efficient as the American one! QED!
Technically, I guess you'd call this using racism to "prove" nationalism. But really, the whole this is so transparently stupid that I'm pretty sure I put more thought into interpreting it than the authors did in writing it.
posted by bjrubble at 10:12 AM on October 23, 2018 [24 favorites]
It's both! It's neither!
The "argument" is basically:
income = (genetic fitness) * (economic system)
The Norse people are 25% more genetically fit than the average American, but Norway is only 90% as rich, so:
.9 = 1.25 * (Norse economy / US economy)
Norse economy = .72 * US economy
See, the Norse economy is only 72% as efficient as the American one! QED!
Technically, I guess you'd call this using racism to "prove" nationalism. But really, the whole this is so transparently stupid that I'm pretty sure I put more thought into interpreting it than the authors did in writing it.
posted by bjrubble at 10:12 AM on October 23, 2018 [24 favorites]
How to Understand (and Survive) All the Election Predictions You See - Chris White, Slate
1. "There's no real way to test these models". If their truth can't be evaluated other than by holding an election, they're useless.
2. We often confuse complexity and elegance (e.g. fancy graphics) for data and model accuracy.
3. Suspect motivations. Do motivations include education or enrichment, or worries or neuroses?
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:25 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
The New York Times’ wavering needle is back, FiveThirtyEight has new predictions every day, and then there’s Twitter. Here’s how to process all those numbers.Reasons:
…
However, just like we should never go food shopping when we’re hungry, so too should we be wary of consuming data journalism without the proper bearings. I catch myself treating these analyses not merely as venues to broaden my understanding of a particular issue but as omniscient oracles foretelling the future in empirical tea leaves. My rational self … scolds me for forgetting that these models aren’t perfect and reminds me that there are actually some basic reasons to be skeptical about election modeling.
1. "There's no real way to test these models". If their truth can't be evaluated other than by holding an election, they're useless.
2. We often confuse complexity and elegance (e.g. fancy graphics) for data and model accuracy.
3. Suspect motivations. Do motivations include education or enrichment, or worries or neuroses?
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:25 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
I am an American of Nordic descent, and I make an above average income. I also have a genetic disorder, and this whole conversation is simultaneously creeping me out and pissing me off.
posted by Quonab at 10:26 AM on October 23, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by Quonab at 10:26 AM on October 23, 2018 [28 favorites]
Economists who defend robber-baron capitalism hate the Nordic countries because there wealth is more evenly distributed and everyone has the basic rights of health, housing, education and care while the inhabitants are obviously well off and the economies are strong and stable.
Among their different weak arguments, some are always racist. It's as certain as death. Always has been.
posted by mumimor at 10:34 AM on October 23, 2018 [12 favorites]
Among their different weak arguments, some are always racist. It's as certain as death. Always has been.
posted by mumimor at 10:34 AM on October 23, 2018 [12 favorites]
How to Understand (and Survive) All the Election Predictions You See - Chris White, Slate
I feel like this comment is subtweeting someone...but WHO?
posted by Chrysostom at 10:39 AM on October 23, 2018 [9 favorites]
I feel like this comment is subtweeting someone...but WHO?
posted by Chrysostom at 10:39 AM on October 23, 2018 [9 favorites]
Mod note: Maybe enough on the Nordic thing for now.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:40 AM on October 23, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:40 AM on October 23, 2018 [14 favorites]
Chuck Schumer: "Make no mistake: Despicable acts of violence and harassment are being carried out by radicals across the political spectrum—not just by one side. Regardless of who is responsible, these acts are wrong and must be condemned by Democrats and Republicans alike. Period."
Good god.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:40 AM on October 23, 2018 [26 favorites]
Good god.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 10:40 AM on October 23, 2018 [26 favorites]
Chuck Schumer: "Make no mistake: Despicable acts of violence and harassment are being carried out by radicals across the political spectrum—not just by one side. Regardless of who is responsible, these acts are wrong and must be condemned by Democrats and Republicans alike. Period."
You have to click through for the full effect, in which a rock thrown through a window is compared to a literal mail bomb to make the "both sides" point.
posted by zachlipton at 10:43 AM on October 23, 2018 [33 favorites]
You have to click through for the full effect, in which a rock thrown through a window is compared to a literal mail bomb to make the "both sides" point.
posted by zachlipton at 10:43 AM on October 23, 2018 [33 favorites]
Think about all the fascists who'd been salivating over the idea of blowing up Soros who have now been shamed and chastened by Schumer's brave stand against violence on all sides
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:55 AM on October 23, 2018 [40 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:55 AM on October 23, 2018 [40 favorites]
Drawing in the comments of Schumer's tweet that puts a bow on it
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:58 AM on October 23, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:58 AM on October 23, 2018 [16 favorites]
I really think that 25% number is kind of red herring in what they're trying to do here
did you mean: storsild
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 10:59 AM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
did you mean: storsild
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 10:59 AM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
Tampa Bay Times, in a story combining really all of my interests: Records show FBI agents gave Andrew Gillum tickets to ‘Hamilton’ in 2016: " The records, released by former lobbyist Adam Corey today, appear to refute what his campaign has said about the trip."
The text messages show that, contrary to what his campaign has said, Gillum knew the tickets came from "Mike Miller," who was an FBI agent posing as a developer looking into city corruption.posted by zachlipton at 11:00 AM on October 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
"Mike Miller and the crew have tickets for us for Hamilton tonight at 8 p.m.," Corey texted Gillum on Aug. 10, 2016.
"Awesome news about Hamilton," Gillum replied, according to the records.
The texts appear to refute what Gillum's campaign said just days after his unlikely win in the Democratic primary for Florida governor.
The campaign said in a Sept. 4 press release that Gillum's brother, Marcus, gave him the ticket.
Can I just Play Devil's Advocate against the machine? is the best social media response I've seen to the constant bandying about "civility"
posted by nakedmolerats at 11:10 AM on October 23, 2018 [31 favorites]
posted by nakedmolerats at 11:10 AM on October 23, 2018 [31 favorites]
Amy Walter points out that:
- In 2014, those who disliked both parties favored the GOP House candidate by 17 points.
- In 2018, those who dislike both parties favor the Dem House candidate by 15 points.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:19 AM on October 23, 2018 [15 favorites]
- In 2014, those who disliked both parties favored the GOP House candidate by 17 points.
- In 2018, those who dislike both parties favor the Dem House candidate by 15 points.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:19 AM on October 23, 2018 [15 favorites]
zachlipton: "@chrisgeidner: BREAKING: #SCOTUS Halts Deposition Of Commerce Secretary In Challenge To Census Citizenship Question, Allows Deposition of DOJ Official To Proceed. "
Most of the takes have been that this is Quite Bad, but interesting analysis here from Tom Wolf of the Brennan Center that the Administration got rather less than it might seem.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:25 AM on October 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
Most of the takes have been that this is Quite Bad, but interesting analysis here from Tom Wolf of the Brennan Center that the Administration got rather less than it might seem.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:25 AM on October 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
Even Rep. McCarthy isn't saying the damage to his office was political violence. While all the headlines use the word "vandalized," McCarthy is saying the two men took "office equipment."
Sending a mail bomb to Soros is pretty inherently political. It's entirely possible that the two guys in Bakersfield had some political motivation, but as with most thefts of office equipment, it also could just be, well, crime.
posted by zachlipton at 11:35 AM on October 23, 2018 [31 favorites]
Sending a mail bomb to Soros is pretty inherently political. It's entirely possible that the two guys in Bakersfield had some political motivation, but as with most thefts of office equipment, it also could just be, well, crime.
posted by zachlipton at 11:35 AM on October 23, 2018 [31 favorites]
Vox, Sarah Kliff, A White House report points out that Mao and I both like low health care costs. True, but…
Some days you go to work and not much exciting happens.posted by zachlipton at 11:41 AM on October 23, 2018 [48 favorites]
Other days you go to work and the White House describes you as “similar” to Russian communist revolutionary Vladimir Lenin and former chair of the Communist Party of China Mao Zedong.
...
The reason that other countries have lower health care spending is that their governments set prices that are significantly lower than ours. The most powerful tool that our peer countries use to tamp down on health care spending is price regulation. The increased efficiency and reduced administrative costs are a nice byproduct of this.
The health care prices in the United States are, in a word, outlandish. On average, an MRI in the United States costs $1,119. That same scan costs $503 in Switzerland and $215 in Australia. And keep in mind, these are just averages — I’ve had readers send me bills for MRIs here in the United States that are as high as $25,000.
In 2003, a team of influential economists published a paper pointing out that prices are the key problem in American health care. It came with the title: “It’s the Prices, Stupid.” When you review other countries — not just single-payer countries, but also countries like Switzerland with competing, private insurers — you see that the thing they have in common is that they’re regulating health care prices.
Chuck Schumer: "Make no mistake: Despicable acts of violence and harassment are being carried out by radicals across the political spectrum—not just by one side. Regardless of who is responsible, these acts are wrong and must be condemned by Democrats and Republicans alike. Period."
So here's a little backstory: not only had I been voting for Chuck Schumer in every one of the elections he's been in since 1992, I even attended a fundraiser for him that one of my old bosses threw.
I just tried calling him to express my dismay over this tweet - the lines are full. so instead I emailed him to mention that this is how long I'd been supporting him, but that this Tweet was the last straw "because any reasonable thinking individual would have to admit that one side more so than the other is committing the most violence at this day and age, and if you can't see that, I can only assume you are no longer a reasonable thinking individual".
He's done.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:43 AM on October 23, 2018 [67 favorites]
So here's a little backstory: not only had I been voting for Chuck Schumer in every one of the elections he's been in since 1992, I even attended a fundraiser for him that one of my old bosses threw.
I just tried calling him to express my dismay over this tweet - the lines are full. so instead I emailed him to mention that this is how long I'd been supporting him, but that this Tweet was the last straw "because any reasonable thinking individual would have to admit that one side more so than the other is committing the most violence at this day and age, and if you can't see that, I can only assume you are no longer a reasonable thinking individual".
He's done.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:43 AM on October 23, 2018 [67 favorites]
It would be so easy to corrupt me with Hamilton tickets. I wouldn't even think twice.
Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp will have their first debate tonight. Prior to the debate, a story about Abrams burning a Georgia state flag emerged. This was part of a protest in the nineties against a Georgia state flag that was designed to flaunt Georgia's response to integration. There's also audio of Kemp addressing supporters at a ticketed event about his concern over Abrams voters exercising their right to vote. Kemp's comments aren't exactly a smoking gun, except that he's already suppressing minority vote in an election where he's also a candidate.
posted by gladly at 11:44 AM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
Stacey Abrams and Brian Kemp will have their first debate tonight. Prior to the debate, a story about Abrams burning a Georgia state flag emerged. This was part of a protest in the nineties against a Georgia state flag that was designed to flaunt Georgia's response to integration. There's also audio of Kemp addressing supporters at a ticketed event about his concern over Abrams voters exercising their right to vote. Kemp's comments aren't exactly a smoking gun, except that he's already suppressing minority vote in an election where he's also a candidate.
posted by gladly at 11:44 AM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
@JasonLeopold [with document]: #FOIA UPDATE: The FBI has not been able to locate any photographs of James Comey and Robert Mueller hugging and kissing. (Trump said he had 100)
@Comey: My wife is so relieved. 😂
posted by zachlipton at 11:49 AM on October 23, 2018 [70 favorites]
@Comey: My wife is so relieved. 😂
posted by zachlipton at 11:49 AM on October 23, 2018 [70 favorites]
My rational self … scolds me for forgetting that these models aren’t perfect and reminds me that there are actually some basic reasons to be skeptical about election modeling.
Reasons:
1. "There's no real way to test these models". If their truth can't be evaluated other than by holding an election, they're useless.
2. We often confuse complexity and elegance (e.g. fancy graphics) for data and model accuracy.
3. Suspect motivations. Do motivations include education or enrichment, or worries or neuroses?
I'm on board with #2 or #3 but...#1 seems like a challenge to statistical models in general. Yes, you can't test them except by examining how they correspond to some observed reality, which may well be another set of polled statistics (which is what an election is). It's correct to note this means these models have limits, which is understood by their students and practitioners, it's probably even a good thing to try and help those limits be more broadly understood. It's very wrong to confuse that with "they're useless."
Examining *why* you want the information and what its limits are is a good idea. The "why" that best justifies paying attention to polls probably leads to action that might reasonably make a desirable outcome more likely.
posted by wildblueyonder at 11:54 AM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Reasons:
1. "There's no real way to test these models". If their truth can't be evaluated other than by holding an election, they're useless.
2. We often confuse complexity and elegance (e.g. fancy graphics) for data and model accuracy.
3. Suspect motivations. Do motivations include education or enrichment, or worries or neuroses?
I'm on board with #2 or #3 but...#1 seems like a challenge to statistical models in general. Yes, you can't test them except by examining how they correspond to some observed reality, which may well be another set of polled statistics (which is what an election is). It's correct to note this means these models have limits, which is understood by their students and practitioners, it's probably even a good thing to try and help those limits be more broadly understood. It's very wrong to confuse that with "they're useless."
Examining *why* you want the information and what its limits are is a good idea. The "why" that best justifies paying attention to polls probably leads to action that might reasonably make a desirable outcome more likely.
posted by wildblueyonder at 11:54 AM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Also, from that same article, I don't think "right" always functions the way the author thinks it does. It *can* function as a qualifier, but it's often functioning as a signifier that the person using it is trying to walk their audience through a chain of reasoning.
posted by wildblueyonder at 11:58 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by wildblueyonder at 11:58 AM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
@JasonLeopold [with document]: #FOIA UPDATE: The FBI has not been able to locate any photographs of James Comey and Robert Mueller hugging and kissing. (Trump said he had 100)
@Comey: My wife is so relieved. 😂
@bartona104: did you specifically query "in a tree"?
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:02 PM on October 23, 2018 [29 favorites]
@Comey: My wife is so relieved. 😂
@bartona104: did you specifically query "in a tree"?
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:02 PM on October 23, 2018 [29 favorites]
My California mail-in ballot is filled out, stamped, signed, dated and mailed! Done and dusted! Thank you, zachlipton, for compiling the Fiat Lux thread, which was a YUGE help, especially with all the judicial votes. Proud to be a little drop in the #bluewave. #Ivoted
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 12:15 PM on October 23, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 12:15 PM on October 23, 2018 [20 favorites]
BuzzFeed, White Nationalist Richard Spencer’s Wife Says In Divorce Filings That He Physically and Emotionally Abused Her (contains descriptions of physical abuse)
Every. Single. Time.
posted by zachlipton at 12:18 PM on October 23, 2018 [84 favorites]
Every. Single. Time.
posted by zachlipton at 12:18 PM on October 23, 2018 [84 favorites]
Reuters: U.S. Treasury Sanctions Target Taliban, Iranian Backers
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:23 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
“Iran’s provision of military training, financing and weapons to the Taliban is yet another example of Tehran’s blatant regional meddling and support for terrorism,” said Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin. “The United States and our partners will not tolerate the Iranian regime exploiting Afghanistan to further their destabilizing behavior.”No word about sanctions on other Taliban supporters like Pakistan or Russia—or the Saudis—but Team Trump wants a war with Iran, not them.
Mnuchin was visiting the Middle East this week to discuss ways to fight terrorist financing and upcoming Iran sanctions. The Taliban sanctions also were imposed by the seven members of the Terrorist Financing Targeting Center (TFTC), a U.S.-Gulf initiative to stem finance to militant groups.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:23 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Chrysostom re: Maine Ranked Choice constitutional changes - Worth pointing out that trifecta control is within reach for Maine Dems - they are only a seat short in the Senate.
Just saw this - only a seat short of control, but they need a " two-thirds vote of the members present in both chambers" to send the amendment back to the voters for ratification. We're quite a ways from that.
posted by anastasiav at 12:24 PM on October 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
Just saw this - only a seat short of control, but they need a " two-thirds vote of the members present in both chambers" to send the amendment back to the voters for ratification. We're quite a ways from that.
posted by anastasiav at 12:24 PM on October 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
ZeusHumms: Wondering how many people will buy a lottery ticket this week versus how many people will end up voting (or ever end up voting).
Or spend a fraction of time following sports as they do thinking about the upcoming election. That was a thought that struck me as I was canvassing on a Sunday afternoon, hearing TVs blaring football games and seeing plenty of sports stickers on cars but few political stickers.
Dashy: So, most of the Republicans in my area have been using blue signs. GOP candidates for Gov, Rep, and state house ... all the signs are blue. Cowards. Is this the case everywhere?
The shitty Tea Party* Governor candidate here in New Mexico has signs "Democrats for Pearce," and as I've linked in a prior MegaThread, an online form to join the Democrats for Pearce coalition. Lots of blue signs, I can't recall seeing him sporting any Republican signs. He even had the gall to say he'd "stand up to Trump" which made me shout "Why start now? You've stood with him 90% of the time so far!" (538's "Trump Score").
Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish: the White House Council of Economic Advisers [wrote that] ... the natural tendency for people of Nordic descent to be more well-off than other ethnicities.
My wife shared her view on so many complaints of white men: THEY'RE SITUATIONS MADE BY WHITE MEN. Those Proud, Nordic Men set up systems that stacked the decks for people who looked like them when it came to education and social welfare, and then get upset when Other People aren't as invested in education and they are. Redlining was not a self-inflicted wound upon POC, but another example of White Men making their lives harder, only to then be confused why POC aren't better off. FFS.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:26 PM on October 23, 2018 [22 favorites]
Or spend a fraction of time following sports as they do thinking about the upcoming election. That was a thought that struck me as I was canvassing on a Sunday afternoon, hearing TVs blaring football games and seeing plenty of sports stickers on cars but few political stickers.
Dashy: So, most of the Republicans in my area have been using blue signs. GOP candidates for Gov, Rep, and state house ... all the signs are blue. Cowards. Is this the case everywhere?
The shitty Tea Party* Governor candidate here in New Mexico has signs "Democrats for Pearce," and as I've linked in a prior MegaThread, an online form to join the Democrats for Pearce coalition. Lots of blue signs, I can't recall seeing him sporting any Republican signs. He even had the gall to say he'd "stand up to Trump" which made me shout "Why start now? You've stood with him 90% of the time so far!" (538's "Trump Score").
Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish: the White House Council of Economic Advisers [wrote that] ... the natural tendency for people of Nordic descent to be more well-off than other ethnicities.
My wife shared her view on so many complaints of white men: THEY'RE SITUATIONS MADE BY WHITE MEN. Those Proud, Nordic Men set up systems that stacked the decks for people who looked like them when it came to education and social welfare, and then get upset when Other People aren't as invested in education and they are. Redlining was not a self-inflicted wound upon POC, but another example of White Men making their lives harder, only to then be confused why POC aren't better off. FFS.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:26 PM on October 23, 2018 [22 favorites]
Those texts and calls between Spencer and his wife are damning. (Major CW obviously). A person who initiates a conversation with his wife by asking if she thinks her parents would attend her funeral is one of Trump's "very fine people on both sides."
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:30 PM on October 23, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:30 PM on October 23, 2018 [17 favorites]
So, most of the Republicans in my area have been using blue signs. GOP candidates for Gov, Rep, and state house ... all the signs are blue. Cowards. Is this the case everywhere?
I can tell you one thing about southeast and mid-Michigan: I have not seen one Republican candidate with "Republican" or "GOP" on a sign. Not every Democrat has "Democrat" on them, but zero Republicans do.
posted by Etrigan at 12:32 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
I can tell you one thing about southeast and mid-Michigan: I have not seen one Republican candidate with "Republican" or "GOP" on a sign. Not every Democrat has "Democrat" on them, but zero Republicans do.
posted by Etrigan at 12:32 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
@markknoller: .@FLOTUS and @BetsyDeVosED host 30 6th graders in the WH screening room, to watch "Wonder." Mrs Trump calls it "an amazing movie encouraging kindness." The event is pegged to National Bullying Prevention Month, which she says "encourages everybody to be kind to each other."
Ok then.
Her husband, meanwhile, went on a bonkers rant in which he claimed that California has a ton of water, it's terrible that people have brown lawns, and threatens to take money away from the state because he doesn't like our forest management practices. Then whenever this is:
@ddale8: Trump calls on a man in the audience at his White House state leadership event to talk about this California fires-and-farms subject. He says he has no idea who the man is but that he is good-looking and seems like he knows what he's talking about.
And finally, he doubled down on his nationalist talk: "Call me a nationalist if you'd like, but I don't want companies leaving."
posted by zachlipton at 12:43 PM on October 23, 2018 [17 favorites]
Ok then.
Her husband, meanwhile, went on a bonkers rant in which he claimed that California has a ton of water, it's terrible that people have brown lawns, and threatens to take money away from the state because he doesn't like our forest management practices. Then whenever this is:
@ddale8: Trump calls on a man in the audience at his White House state leadership event to talk about this California fires-and-farms subject. He says he has no idea who the man is but that he is good-looking and seems like he knows what he's talking about.
And finally, he doubled down on his nationalist talk: "Call me a nationalist if you'd like, but I don't want companies leaving."
posted by zachlipton at 12:43 PM on October 23, 2018 [17 favorites]
And finally, he doubled down on his nationalist talk: "Call me a nationalist if you'd like, but I don't want companies leaving."
Not exactly doubling down -- he's trying to redefine "nationalist" as "protectionist," pretending it only means that he's concerned about the US economy.
Which means someone explained, again, how toxic the word "nationalist" it means and that it implies things that're harmful to his and the Republican brands, and that they're doing the usual Republican trick of trying to move the Overton window by pretending something horrible is necessary and ordinary (because it seems the horrible is ordinary for Republicans).
posted by Gelatin at 12:57 PM on October 23, 2018 [18 favorites]
Not exactly doubling down -- he's trying to redefine "nationalist" as "protectionist," pretending it only means that he's concerned about the US economy.
Which means someone explained, again, how toxic the word "nationalist" it means and that it implies things that're harmful to his and the Republican brands, and that they're doing the usual Republican trick of trying to move the Overton window by pretending something horrible is necessary and ordinary (because it seems the horrible is ordinary for Republicans).
posted by Gelatin at 12:57 PM on October 23, 2018 [18 favorites]
Of possible interest: Daily Kos endorses 12 candidates crucial to flipping state legislatures. Donate!
posted by Chrysostom at 1:09 PM on October 23, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 1:09 PM on October 23, 2018 [10 favorites]
Y'all, I just made a newscaster and crew laugh out loud. They were doing a local color report on things to do while waiting to vote of something similar, and they asked me what I thought of Senate candidates, and I said, (imagine if you will, the deepest Texas accent you ever did hear, for that is the accent I used), "Well, one of em pets kittens, and the other probably eats them, one of them shows Christian compassion for his fellow man, and the other is 10,000 live cockroaches in a badly fitting human suit, so....
I'm pretty sure they turned the camera off, and it'll never see air, but y'all, the whole coffeehouse laughed and clapped. Gods willing, Beto triumphs over the roaches.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 1:20 PM on October 23, 2018 [168 favorites]
I'm pretty sure they turned the camera off, and it'll never see air, but y'all, the whole coffeehouse laughed and clapped. Gods willing, Beto triumphs over the roaches.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 1:20 PM on October 23, 2018 [168 favorites]
(those candidates are all women, sorry, meant to mention that)
posted by Chrysostom at 1:21 PM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 1:21 PM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
This hasn't really gotten much attention, but is pretty disturbing. Mike Pence Cites False Statistic On Terrorists At The Southwest Border
posted by zachlipton at 1:29 PM on October 23, 2018 [50 favorites]
Pence said it was “inconceivable that there are not people of Middle Eastern descent in a crowd of more than 7,000 people advancing toward our border” and that there were statistics to back up Trump’s claim.As the story points out:
The only statistic he cited was about terrorists ― and it was wrong.
“In the last fiscal year we apprehended more than 10 terrorists or suspected terrorists per day at our southern border from countries that are referred to in the lexicon as ‘other than Mexico’ ― that means from the Middle East region,” Pence said.
The administration has offered no evidence that this is true. Even if it was, being from the Middle East doesn’t mean someone is a terrorist, or even an illegitimate asylum-seeker.The conflation by the Vice President of people "of Middle Eastern descent" (who do not, in fact, appear to be part of this group) and "terrorists or suspected terrorists" is, well, terrifying.
posted by zachlipton at 1:29 PM on October 23, 2018 [50 favorites]
Pence said it was “inconceivable that there are not people of Middle Eastern descent in a crowd of more than 7,000 people advancing toward our border” and that there were statistics to back up Trump’s claim.
Trump used that exact phrasing a week or so back. Classic Pencing towards the Führer.
That many now receive "of middle eastern descent" as a few years ago they would have taken "ISIS-affiliated terrorist" is indicative of how much genocidal ideology is becoming the water in which we swim.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:35 PM on October 23, 2018 [19 favorites]
Trump used that exact phrasing a week or so back. Classic Pencing towards the Führer.
That many now receive "of middle eastern descent" as a few years ago they would have taken "ISIS-affiliated terrorist" is indicative of how much genocidal ideology is becoming the water in which we swim.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:35 PM on October 23, 2018 [19 favorites]
Arizona superintendent fails in last attempt to limit evolution teaching - John Timmer, Ars Technica
Not reelected, sees standards written by science educators adopted over her dissent.posted by ZeusHumms at 1:38 PM on October 23, 2018 [41 favorites]
zachlipton:
Remember he was a talk radio host as poisonous as Limbaugh. We think of him as putting a genial facade on the horrors within, but that's just by comparison to Trump. In truth there's not even a pretense.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:44 PM on October 23, 2018 [14 favorites]
The conflation by the Vice President of people "of Middle Eastern descent" (who do not, in fact, appear to be part of this group) and "terrorists or suspected terrorists" is, well, terrifying.It's like the fifth-worst thing about that story, but it looks like Pence is also doing that thing where "Mexico" becomes shorthand for "all of the Americas south of the USA". I would assume that the 10 border-crossers "suspected" of terrorism were simply from other South American places (e.g Nicaragua). But for someone like Pence that's like saying a Japanese person is "not from China", it just doesn't compute.
Remember he was a talk radio host as poisonous as Limbaugh. We think of him as putting a genial facade on the horrors within, but that's just by comparison to Trump. In truth there's not even a pretense.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:44 PM on October 23, 2018 [14 favorites]
‘other than Mexico’ ― that means from the Middle East region
I don't believe that's a real euphemism (dysphemism?) anyone uses but I suppose I can take further thoughts on this matter to FFXVI. Ugh.
conflation by the Vice President of people "of Middle Eastern descent" (who do not, in fact, appear to be part of this group) and "terrorists or suspected terrorists" is, well, terrifying.
Also that.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 1:47 PM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
I don't believe that's a real euphemism (dysphemism?) anyone uses but I suppose I can take further thoughts on this matter to FFXVI. Ugh.
conflation by the Vice President of people "of Middle Eastern descent" (who do not, in fact, appear to be part of this group) and "terrorists or suspected terrorists" is, well, terrifying.
Also that.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 1:47 PM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
‘other than Mexico’ ― that means from the Middle East region
I don't believe that's a real euphemism (dysphemism?) anyone uses.
I've seen it in none other than Steven Seagal's QAnon-esque novel Way of the Shadow Wolves, released last year. So it's been floating around for at least a year or two.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:51 PM on October 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
I don't believe that's a real euphemism (dysphemism?) anyone uses.
I've seen it in none other than Steven Seagal's QAnon-esque novel Way of the Shadow Wolves, released last year. So it's been floating around for at least a year or two.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:51 PM on October 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
@kylegriffin1: The Garland County [Arkansas] Election Commission left Susan Inman, the Democratic candidate for secretary of state, off the election ballot. Early voting began without her as an option. Sites had to be shut down. Inman says the glitch left her in "sheer disbelief."
I think we can all agree that this is the ultimate rat-fuck, whether intentional or no.
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:58 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
I think we can all agree that this is the ultimate rat-fuck, whether intentional or no.
posted by Mental Wimp at 1:58 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Trump says 'it's OK to grab women by their private parts' says man accused of groping woman on plane
(Linking to DailyKos, because of Washington Post paywall. CW for description of alleged assault, which took place Sunday on a SouthWest flight. Further warning, the DailyKos article also mentions Jessica Leeds, who alleges that Trump assaulted her on a flight some 30 years ago; those details, from a 2016 NYT article, are included.)
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:21 PM on October 23, 2018 [7 favorites]
(Linking to DailyKos, because of Washington Post paywall. CW for description of alleged assault, which took place Sunday on a SouthWest flight. Further warning, the DailyKos article also mentions Jessica Leeds, who alleges that Trump assaulted her on a flight some 30 years ago; those details, from a 2016 NYT article, are included.)
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:21 PM on October 23, 2018 [7 favorites]
A private memo reavealed that prank calls nearly shut ICE down completely
posted by The Whelk at 2:28 PM on October 23, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 2:28 PM on October 23, 2018 [36 favorites]
Weird how this keeps happening. WaPo, ‘I thought it was very nice’: VA official showcased portrait of KKK’s first grand wizard
A senior official at the Department of Veterans Affairs is under fire for displaying a portrait in his Washington, D.C., office of the Ku Klux Klan’s first grand wizard.The guy is a career civil servant, not a Trump appointee. As the article notes, information on who Nathan Bedford Forrest was is readily available with a simple Google search, and the official already knew it depicted a confederate general, which is really all anybody should need to know. Unsurprisingly:
David J. Thomas Sr. is deputy executive director of VA’s Office of Small and Disadvantaged Business Utilization, which certifies veteran-owned businesses seeking government contracts. His senior staff is mostly African American.
Thomas said he removed the painting Monday after a Washington Post reporter explained that its subject, Nathan Bedford Forrest, was a Confederate general and slave trader who became the KKK’s first figurehead in 1868. He professed to be unaware of Forrest’s affiliation with the hate group, which formed after the Civil War to maintain white control over newly freed blacks through violence and intimidation.
Racial tensions have flared between Thomas and several of his employees, at least three of whom have pending claims of racial discrimination against him. An attorney representing two of these employees said the portrait is evidence that Thomas is not comfortable around African Americans. “You don’t hire someone who puts a picture of the Klan in his office unless you’re” racially insensitive, said the lawyer, John Rigby.posted by zachlipton at 2:29 PM on October 23, 2018 [34 favorites]
NYT, Julie Hirschfeld Davis, The Ripple Effect of a Trump Tweetstorm: When President Trump began tweeting warnings and threats about a caravan of migrants headed for the border, his own government could not explain what he meant
This is a really nice little timeline of what happens every damn day: Fox News broadcasts some nonsense, Trump tweets about it, reporters spend the rest of their day asking everyone to back it up (thus making whatever nonsense Trump wants the Story Of The Day), and spokespeople from various agencies respond off the record but no actual answers are provided.
So everybody knows that this is how the system works now, but what if they just didn't do this? What if we could short-cut the whole process to: Fox News broadcasts nonsense, Trump tweets, reporters give the White House a one-hour deadline to provide actual information, and after that time expires, the story is either ignored because it's unsubstantiated or reported as "Trump tweets nonsense off TV again, own White House has no idea what he's talking about."
The entire White House press corps does not, in fact, need to spend an entire day chasing down his bullshit.
posted by zachlipton at 3:00 PM on October 23, 2018 [66 favorites]
This is a really nice little timeline of what happens every damn day: Fox News broadcasts some nonsense, Trump tweets about it, reporters spend the rest of their day asking everyone to back it up (thus making whatever nonsense Trump wants the Story Of The Day), and spokespeople from various agencies respond off the record but no actual answers are provided.
So everybody knows that this is how the system works now, but what if they just didn't do this? What if we could short-cut the whole process to: Fox News broadcasts nonsense, Trump tweets, reporters give the White House a one-hour deadline to provide actual information, and after that time expires, the story is either ignored because it's unsubstantiated or reported as "Trump tweets nonsense off TV again, own White House has no idea what he's talking about."
The entire White House press corps does not, in fact, need to spend an entire day chasing down his bullshit.
posted by zachlipton at 3:00 PM on October 23, 2018 [66 favorites]
I don't think any employee of the United States Government should display anything—portrait, flag, Johnny Reb hat, noose—in their office inspired by traitorous slavers who tried to overthrow the fucking United States Government.
Including everyone in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches from the top down.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:01 PM on October 23, 2018 [51 favorites]
Including everyone in the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches from the top down.
posted by kirkaracha at 3:01 PM on October 23, 2018 [51 favorites]
One factor in why everything is so terrible: Old people can't tell the difference between facts and opinion. And they vote. Every time.
posted by Justinian at 3:04 PM on October 23, 2018 [30 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 3:04 PM on October 23, 2018 [30 favorites]
I was saving that link for the next time we get told to sprinkle some ~*~*~* media literacy *~*~*~ around, like in the old days when Walter Cronkite and Paul Harvey and Mike Wallace told Americans the truth!
posted by the man of twists and turns at 3:28 PM on October 23, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 3:28 PM on October 23, 2018 [4 favorites]
One factor in why everything is so terrible: Old people can't tell the difference between facts and opinion. And they vote. Every time.
Well that's inconvenient, because I thought we had all decided to blamesnake people millenials being brainwashed by the internet for being unable to differentiate between facts and opinions.
posted by Literaryhero at 4:16 PM on October 23, 2018 [12 favorites]
Well that's inconvenient, because I thought we had all decided to blame
posted by Literaryhero at 4:16 PM on October 23, 2018 [12 favorites]
I've seen it in none other than Steven Seagal's QAnon-esque novel Way of the Shadow Wolves, released last year.
why would you do this to yourself
posted by schadenfrau at 4:23 PM on October 23, 2018 [36 favorites]
why would you do this to yourself
posted by schadenfrau at 4:23 PM on October 23, 2018 [36 favorites]
One factor in why everything is so terrible: Old people can't tell the difference between facts and opinion.As the article says, the big correlation is with "exposure to television news", which is lower in younger people.
I've had this driven home rather forcefully recently, seeing an elderly friend who was originally very loving & open-hearted become more and more racist & fearful as she became isolated through ill-health & started relying on talkback radio & TV current affairs for news.
Now that she's no longer using that as her window to the world she's becoming her old self again. Love your old folks, talk to them, take them books to read - and don't let them rely on fearmongering conservative media for "information" about the world…
posted by Pinback at 4:33 PM on October 23, 2018 [45 favorites]
I was doing my usual browse of gritty gifs so I could properly insult somebody on twitter, and then noticed an alarming new one: Gritty knocking over two people on the ice, one person labeled 'liberals' and the other 'fascists.' I don't know what Libertarian thought he could claim Gritty, but he's ours, dude.
posted by angrycat at 4:35 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 4:35 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Ted Cruz Says Beto O’Rourke Can Have ‘Double Occupancy Cell With Hillary Clinton’ After Supporter Chants ‘Lock Him Up’
Now that Cruz is stealing trump's bits, I wonder how long it'll be before he's calling his own wife ugly and accusing his father of murdering JFK.
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:52 PM on October 23, 2018 [56 favorites]
Now that Cruz is stealing trump's bits, I wonder how long it'll be before he's calling his own wife ugly and accusing his father of murdering JFK.
posted by Atom Eyes at 4:52 PM on October 23, 2018 [56 favorites]
angrycat, lots of folks on the left draw a distinction between "liberals" and "Leftists." Also, my understanding is that Gritty is an anarchist.
posted by contraption at 4:52 PM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by contraption at 4:52 PM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
angrycat: guessing that gritty meme is from a leftist, not a libertarian. it makes sense if you live in a place where the left/liberal distinction is taken seriously and seems like crazy nonsense in a place where everything to the right of fascism gets called liberalism.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 4:56 PM on October 23, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 4:56 PM on October 23, 2018 [6 favorites]
contraption: jinx! and yeah, gritty’s definitely an anarchist, even though DSA keeps trying to claim him as one of theirs.
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 4:57 PM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 4:57 PM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Ted Cruz Says Beto O’Rourke Can Have ‘Double Occupancy Cell With Hillary Clinton’ After Supporter Chants ‘Lock Him Up’
Provide me with some context - what crime has Beto allegedly committed? I mean, other than being a popular democrat running against Cruz?
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:00 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Provide me with some context - what crime has Beto allegedly committed? I mean, other than being a popular democrat running against Cruz?
posted by Joey Michaels at 5:00 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
what crime has Beto allegedly committed? I mean, other than being a popular democrat running against Cruz?
Nothing. This is our new normal, promising prison to political enemies to baying rabble.
posted by Candleman at 5:04 PM on October 23, 2018 [95 favorites]
Nothing. This is our new normal, promising prison to political enemies to baying rabble.
posted by Candleman at 5:04 PM on October 23, 2018 [95 favorites]
Democrats finally wake up to their voting problem
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:09 PM on October 23, 2018 [53 favorites]
First, on one level it is inexcusable that this infrastructure was not put into place earlier. A party that coasted on the popularity of President Barack Obama, to the dismay of many activists, did not build this infrastructure previously. That accounts in part for the disappointing results for Democrats in previous elections.Remember when Obama and Congressional Democrats collectively fell over each other to see who could be first to kill the most effective Democratic registration and GOTV organization in the country because James O'Keefe made a video? Wouldn't it have been nice to have had ACORN still on the ground since 2010?
Second, this is much easier to pull off when there are diverse candidates who look like the irregular voters they are trying to reach.
...
Finally, if Democrats are going to commit to expanding the electorate, this will have to be a multiyear effort. A substantial increase in low-propensity voters may not be evident for years, but with Republicans maximizing the white vote and working to make voting more difficult for many voters, Democrats have no choice but to try to counteract these trends.
...
Once in office, Democrats at the state level will need to take measures to expand access (e.g., automatic registration, voting by mail).
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:09 PM on October 23, 2018 [53 favorites]
Provide me with some context - what crime has Beto allegedly committed?
He's been convicted of the crime of deliciousness.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:17 PM on October 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
He's been convicted of the crime of deliciousness.
posted by kirkaracha at 5:17 PM on October 23, 2018 [3 favorites]
Heather Cox Richardson, Boston Globe: ‘Voter fraud’ is a myth that helps Republicans win, even when their policies aren’t popular
The modern myth of voter fraud began in 1986, President Ronald Reagan’s sixth year in office, when Republicans recognized that their policies could not attract a majority of voters. Their budget cuts had hit black Americans particularly hard...posted by Rosie M. Banks at 5:18 PM on October 23, 2018 [21 favorites]
Actual voter fraud is virtually nonexistent. But voter suppression is increasingly widespread. In 2013, the Supreme Court took the federal government out of the business of protecting the vote by gutting the 1965 Voting Rights Act, and states quickly enacted new voter policies. “Exact match” ID policies hit people of color, who disproportionately fill out error-prone paper forms, and women, whose names often change with their marital status. Limiting voting places can shut out a whole population. Limiting voting machines suppresses the vote by making wait times discouragingly long.
The modern-day Republican Party likes voter suppression, because it shrinks the electorate. They have pushed the voter fraud myth because it enables them to win even when their policies are unpopular. It also reflects their worldview: Even if a majority believes the government should regulate business and promote social welfare, those voters should have no say in the nation’s government because their ideas are suspect, even un-American.
what crime has Beto allegedly committed? I mean, other than being a popular democrat running against Cruz?
Nothing. This is our new normal, promising prison to political enemies to baying rabble.
It started in earnest during the 2016 GOP Convention: The Republican National Convention and the criminalization of politics
posted by homunculus at 5:19 PM on October 23, 2018 [9 favorites]
Nothing. This is our new normal, promising prison to political enemies to baying rabble.
It started in earnest during the 2016 GOP Convention: The Republican National Convention and the criminalization of politics
posted by homunculus at 5:19 PM on October 23, 2018 [9 favorites]
Brian Beutler, The 2018 Midterms Are 2016 All Over Again
But the larger purpose of all the disinformation—about Democrats paying Muslim caravaners to infiltrate the country, and Republicans advancing a middle-class tax cut plan that doesn’t exist—is to pervade the news environment with storylines that, beyond the slander and lies, aren’t particularly relevant to next month’s vote. And to that end, it has been a stunning success.posted by zachlipton at 5:23 PM on October 23, 2018 [31 favorites]
Credulous or critical, the news is absolutely saturated with coverage of these issues. There have been plenty of stories debunking President Trump’s claims about the composition of the caravan, and the risk it poses to the United States. If you burrow into the details, you’ll probably learn that Trump has fabricated a Republican middle-income tax cut plan from whole cloth, because the corporate tax cut he actually signed is terribly unpopular. But every column inch and minute of airtime spent scrutinizing fiction is lost forever and does nothing to actually inform people about the true stakes of the coming midterms.
I've been thinking that Trump's uptick in popularity is probably completely due to the massive advertising that is going into Republican candidate support. The Republicans have to unite and pretend until after the election when they will drop Trump like a hot potato.
While that goes against the grain of the narrative that the Republicans are embracing Trump (they are), they are embracing him because they have no choice for now. But after the election they can shovel all the unpopular aspects of Repubicanism on big mouth.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:54 PM on October 23, 2018
While that goes against the grain of the narrative that the Republicans are embracing Trump (they are), they are embracing him because they have no choice for now. But after the election they can shovel all the unpopular aspects of Repubicanism on big mouth.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:54 PM on October 23, 2018
A private memo reavealed that prank calls nearly shut ICE down completely
"The emails also show how ICE responded internally to the calls, discouraging reporters from covering the issue while discussing the possibility of providing crime victims as Fox News interview subjects to 'balance' coverage."
That's fair. Remember that time when, left to its own devices for vetting for ICE-related interview subjects, Fox mistakenly booked Massachusetts state Sen. Barbara L'Italien.
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:03 PM on October 23, 2018 [4 favorites]
"The emails also show how ICE responded internally to the calls, discouraging reporters from covering the issue while discussing the possibility of providing crime victims as Fox News interview subjects to 'balance' coverage."
That's fair. Remember that time when, left to its own devices for vetting for ICE-related interview subjects, Fox mistakenly booked Massachusetts state Sen. Barbara L'Italien.
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:03 PM on October 23, 2018 [4 favorites]
But after the election they can shovel all the unpopular aspects of Republicanism on big mouth.Except, of course, for the ones that are inherent in the party orthodoxy and have been for decades. They've developed an advanced propaganda apparatus because when plainly stated many of their policies are unpopular. That didn't start with Trump.
posted by Nerd of the North at 6:05 PM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
after the election when they will drop Trump like a hot potato.
No, they'll just latch on to the next reason their own power is tied up with his.
posted by Rykey at 6:05 PM on October 23, 2018 [11 favorites]
No, they'll just latch on to the next reason their own power is tied up with his.
posted by Rykey at 6:05 PM on October 23, 2018 [11 favorites]
Do we even have to say “Republican” any more? Can't we just call them “the Nationalists” at this point? I mean, if the actual leader of their party is openly stating that he's a nationalist now and no one is rejecting that.
Cross out the ‘E’ on those Shepard-Fairey-esque posters that say “NOPE” and it can stand for “Nationalist Old Party.”
posted by XMLicious at 6:12 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Cross out the ‘E’ on those Shepard-Fairey-esque posters that say “NOPE” and it can stand for “Nationalist Old Party.”
posted by XMLicious at 6:12 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
So my coworker today was just doing some research on a health care topic, when she ran into this . I know this can't be legal, but it just doesn't matter anymore, right? But still, this is really egregious. Why is this not even news that they are doing this? This is straight up RNC propaganda/election ad bullshit presented as a whitehouse.gov FACT SHEET. And here she found aother one. And our office was all up in arms and looked at the news and...nothing.
posted by mkim at 6:30 PM on October 23, 2018 [29 favorites]
posted by mkim at 6:30 PM on October 23, 2018 [29 favorites]
My ballot finally arrived! I could use some help finding a better ballot guide to supplement my own research. If anyone feels motivated to help an Oregonian out, memail me please.
posted by christopherious at 6:33 PM on October 23, 2018
posted by christopherious at 6:33 PM on October 23, 2018
Other whitehouse.gov "fact sheets" with today's date, filed under Immigration:
Democrat-Backed Catch and Release Loopholes Create a Border Crisis
By The Numbers: Understanding The Border Crisis Being Driven By Congressional Democrat Backed Loopholes
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:38 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Democrat-Backed Catch and Release Loopholes Create a Border Crisis
By The Numbers: Understanding The Border Crisis Being Driven By Congressional Democrat Backed Loopholes
posted by Iris Gambol at 6:38 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Democrat-Backed Catch and Release Loopholes Create a Border Crisis
Fishing term for releasing animals instead of killing them -> cop/ICE thug term disparaging not abusing people -> common right-wing media behemoth term for not stuffing millions of people in concentration camps -> whitehouse.gov press release term for releasing animals instead of killing them
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:43 PM on October 23, 2018 [14 favorites]
Fishing term for releasing animals instead of killing them -> cop/ICE thug term disparaging not abusing people -> common right-wing media behemoth term for not stuffing millions of people in concentration camps -> whitehouse.gov press release term for releasing animals instead of killing them
posted by Rust Moranis at 6:43 PM on October 23, 2018 [14 favorites]
Five Principles of a Leftist Foreign Policy Plan
posted by The Whelk at 6:44 PM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 6:44 PM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
That ... straight-up propaganda? ... on whitehouse.gov is terrifying. Is that unprecedented? It feels unprecedented.
posted by uncleozzy at 6:50 PM on October 23, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by uncleozzy at 6:50 PM on October 23, 2018 [34 favorites]
There was an extremely-tonally-weird minute about the White House propaganda at the end of Marketplace on NPR tonight. You can hear it here. It's at 26.45 or so. I couldn't tell if the whole "gosh, isn't Washington interesting!" thing was "oh holy crap, this is what fascism looks like, isn't it?" or "I am a wry NPR commentator being wry and NPR-y, because that's the only way I know how to be." It's Marketplace, so probably the latter.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:03 PM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:03 PM on October 23, 2018 [5 favorites]
Minor thing maybe, but Marketplace isn't NPR, it's American Public Media, which is a different entity.
posted by adamg at 7:11 PM on October 23, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by adamg at 7:11 PM on October 23, 2018 [9 favorites]
Peter Alexander: "Trump admits he has no evidence to back up his claim that "unknown Middle Easterners" are in the caravan: "There’s no proof of anything. There’s no proof of anything, but there could very well be."
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:13 PM on October 23, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:13 PM on October 23, 2018 [10 favorites]
If 2018 can be summed up in one sentence it's definitely "Trump admits he has no evidence to back up his claim."
posted by Marticus at 7:17 PM on October 23, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Marticus at 7:17 PM on October 23, 2018 [11 favorites]
Kai Ryssdal has been known to go full nihilist about current events over on the Make Me Smart podcast. On Marketplace he generally masks it as "I am a wry NPR commentator being wry and NPR-y" but if you listen closely you can hear the "hahaha sob" undercurrent of quiet desperation.
posted by Flannery Culp at 7:21 PM on October 23, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by Flannery Culp at 7:21 PM on October 23, 2018 [22 favorites]
Alexandra Erin's new short story, "Indelible," starts: "This is a story about a man who likes beer." It's a free-to-read post on her Patreon, and it's a horror story. ("Content Note: This story contains references to sexual assault and depictions of self-harm.")
She notes on Twitter: "This is a story about a man who drinks until he blacks out. If it makes you think of a man but that man has never in his life gotten blackout drunk, this story is not about him."
posted by brainwane at 7:25 PM on October 23, 2018 [25 favorites]
She notes on Twitter: "This is a story about a man who drinks until he blacks out. If it makes you think of a man but that man has never in his life gotten blackout drunk, this story is not about him."
posted by brainwane at 7:25 PM on October 23, 2018 [25 favorites]
on the Public Radio Wokeness Scale I'd say Kai is somewhat to the right of like Sam Sanders and the On The Media crew, but way left of the excruciatingly bothsidesy Morning Edition/All Things Considered. He's the only mainstream business journalist I know who occasionally seems to consider that capitalism might be an insane way to run a society.
posted by theodolite at 7:29 PM on October 23, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 7:29 PM on October 23, 2018 [28 favorites]
Marketplace is also one of the few public radio shows to straight up call Trump a liar, even before the election.
posted by jedicus at 7:54 PM on October 23, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by jedicus at 7:54 PM on October 23, 2018 [20 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 14 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
** 2018 House:
// 14 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
-- MS: Marist poll has GOP incumbent Wicker up 60-32 on Dem Baria [MOE: +/- 6.1%].
-- MS (special): Same Marist poll has GOP incumbent Hyde-Smith at 38, Dem Espy at 29, and GOP nutcase McDaniel at 15. Hyde-Smith would beat Espy in a runoff, 50-36. => Dems' only real shot at this race was a rerun of the Alabama special, with McDaniel playing the part of Roy Moore. If this is anywhere near close, though, he's not going to make the runoff.
-- IN: Mason Strategies poll has GOPer Braun up 47-43 on Dem incumbent Donnelly [MOE: +/- 3.9%].
-- MT: MSU-Billings poll has Dem incumbent Tester up 47-38 on GOPer Rosendale [MOE: +/- 4.5%]. | Meanwhile, an MSU-Bozeman poll has Tester up 46-43. [MOE: +/- 2.0%]. => You probably didn't even know that Montana State had campuses in Billings *and* Bozeman, did you?
-- TX: GBA Strategies poll has GOP incumbent Cruz up 50-46 on Dem O'Rourke [MOE: +/- 4.0%]. Poll was commissioned by End Citizens United.
** 2018 House:
-- CA-48: Monmouth poll has GOP incumbent Rohrabacher up 50-48 on Dem Rouda in their standard turnout model. Low turnout has Rohrabacher up 52-46; high turnout has Rouda up 50-48 [MOE: +/- 5.1%]. [Clinton 48-46 | Cook: Tossup] => Not to be unskewing the polls, but this one does have an implausibly high Trump approval rating of +8.** Odds & ends:
-- MN-01: Survey USA poll has Dem Feehan up 47-45 on GOPer Hagedorn [MOE: +/- 4.4%]. [Trump 53-38 | Cook: Tossup]
-- GA-06: JMC/BBC poll has GOP incumbent Handel up 49-45 on Dem McBath [MOE: +/- 4.5%]. [Trump 48-47 | Cook: Lean R]
-- ME-02: GSG poll has Dem Golden up 48-42 on GOP incumbent Poliquin [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. Poll was commissioned by End Citizens United. [Trump 51-41 | Cook: Tossup]
-- OH-12: Clarity Campaigns poll has GOP incumbent Balderson up 48-46 on Dem O'Connor [MOE: +/- 3.9%]. Poll was commissioned by End Citizens United. [Trump 53-42 | Cook: Tossup] => It's quite rare for a special rematch to go the other way, but there's been talk of this as a sleeper race - O'Connor has been doing gangbuster fundraising.
-- TX-21: WPA Intelligence poll has GOPer Roy up 50-38 on Dem Kopser [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. Poll was commissioned by CLF (the GOP SuperPAC). [Trump 53-43 | Cook: Likely R]
-- NM-02: Siena poll has GOPer Herrell up 45-44 on Dem Torres Small [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Trump 50-40 | Cook: Tossup]
-- MT-AL: Same MSU-Billings poll has GOP incumbent Gianforte up 44-41 on Dem Williams | Same MSU-Bozeman poll has Gianforte up 48-40. [Trump 57-36 | Cook: Lean R]
-- WI-01: Change Research poll has Dem Bryce up 45-44 on GOPer Steil [no MOE listed]. Poll was commissioned by the Bryce campaign. [Trump 53-42 | Cook: Lean R] => Pretty underwhelming for an internal.
-- CA-39: Siena poll has Dem Cisneros up on 47-46 on GOPer Kim [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Clinton 52-43 | Cook: Tossup]
-- WP poll of 69 "battleground districts" finds that Dems lead by an average of 50-47. This has led to much commentary to the effect of, "yes, close districts are close."
-- Rakich: A fair number of competitive districts haven't been polled out at all, that's not so great.
-- Nate Cohn with another one of the ever popular "what kinds of districts will determine who wins the House" articles.
-- If you missed it, Harry Enten now has a nice page with his forecasts and stuff.
-- Silver: The relation - if any - between Trump approval and GOP chances.
-- AK gov: Some states allow early/mail voters to change their mind and submit a new ballot, but Alaska has made clear they won't be allowing voters for since-dropped-out governor Walker to vote for an active candidate. [Cook: Lean R]** Averages & forecasts:
-- WI gov: Enten: Not looking great for GOP incumbent Walker. [Cook: Tossup]
-- CT gov: Sacred Heart poll has Dem Lamont up 40-36 on GOPer Stefanowski [MOE:+/- 4.3%]. [Cook: Tossup]
-- FL gov: Quinnipiac poll has Dem Gillum up 52-46 on GOPer DeSantis [MOE:+/- 3.5%]. [Cook: Tossup]
-- GA gov: Opinion Savvy poll has Dem Abrams tied 48-48 with GOPer Kemp [MOE:+/- 3.4%]. [Cook: Tossup] => Reminder that if no one clears 50%, this will go to a runoff.
-- MI gov: Marketing Research Group poll has Dem Whitmer up 50-36 on GOPer Schuette [MOE:+/- 4.0%]. [Cook: Lean D] => MI governor and Senate races are getting to the level where it may start suppressing GOP turnout in downballot races.
-- KS gov: PPP poll has Dem Kelly at 41, GOPer Kobach at 41, indy Orman at 10. In a theoreical head to head, Kelly tops Kobach 48-44. [MOE:+/- 3.7%]. [Cook: Tossup] => That head to head might be a positive, as third party candidates usually underperform their polls, and it looks like those folks might slightly break left.
-- Mason-Dixon poll of the MN AG race has GOPer Wardlow up 43-36 on Dem Ellison [MOE:+/- 3.5%]. => FWIW, I've seen some pushback about this poll seeming a bit off.
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.6 (49.9/41.3)posted by Chrysostom at 9:22 PM on October 23, 2018 [22 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 85.1% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 19.0% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 24.1 states.
Historian Matt Karp with a super interesting thread [Twitter | Threadreader] about how in the 1850s and 60s, anti-slave forces attacked the legitimacy of the Supreme Court in the face of their intransigent support of slavery. This was basically successful, and allowed Reconstruction to go ahead. Obvious parallels apply currently.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:29 PM on October 23, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:29 PM on October 23, 2018 [28 favorites]
I plan to keep using Republican to bury the term.
How about calling them the Nationalist Republican America Party? Y'know, NRAP, instead of NSDAP.
Or some variant thereof.
posted by aramaic at 9:49 PM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
How about calling them the Nationalist Republican America Party? Y'know, NRAP, instead of NSDAP.
Or some variant thereof.
posted by aramaic at 9:49 PM on October 23, 2018 [1 favorite]
That Twitter thread about abolitionists attacking SCOTUS' legitimacy in the mid 1800s makes a couple references to life tenure as a compelling justification for skepticism. Of course, back then, average life expectancy was somewhere around 40, and... yeah.
posted by tonycpsu at 9:56 PM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 9:56 PM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
The geography of voting — and not voting
posted by kirkaracha at 10:16 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
These maps show a turnout percentage based on two numbers for each county: ballots cast in the 2016 presidential race and the estimated population of voting-age citizens. Among the low-voting counties, those with turnout of 55 percent or less, there are some striking differences.Ceterum autem censeo Trumpem esse delendam
For example, low-voting areas span the entire urban-rural spectrum. On the map, rural areas and small towns may dominate visually. But there are far more potential votes in low-turnout metropolitan counties.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:16 PM on October 23, 2018 [8 favorites]
Regarding supreme court lifetime appointments in the mid1800s, average life expectancy for 30-40 year old white men (the likely age cohort for appointment) in the US in 1850 was about 64-67. The average life expectancy for a white male at birth in 1850 was around 38 years, but that's based mostly by infant mortality in the first few years of life.
posted by mabelstreet at 10:21 PM on October 23, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by mabelstreet at 10:21 PM on October 23, 2018 [21 favorites]
Masterpiece Cakeshop question returns to the Supreme Court
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:24 PM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:24 PM on October 23, 2018 [2 favorites]
Do we even have to say “Republican” any more? Can't we just call them “the Nationalists” at this point?
Fun fact: In the Spanish Civil War the elected liberal government was the Republicans and the rebellious right-wing (and Nazi-supported, and eventually victorious) side was the Nationalists.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:26 PM on October 23, 2018 [6 favorites]
Fun fact: In the Spanish Civil War the elected liberal government was the Republicans and the rebellious right-wing (and Nazi-supported, and eventually victorious) side was the Nationalists.
posted by kirkaracha at 10:26 PM on October 23, 2018 [6 favorites]
I always say republicanos in my head to maintain the distinction but there's probably one or more instances in Latin American history I'm unaware of, or elsewhere in the former Spanish Empire, that re-flip the script and have the republicanos as the Nazis again.
posted by XMLicious at 10:37 PM on October 23, 2018
posted by XMLicious at 10:37 PM on October 23, 2018
I know this is old news from, like, 3 days ago but I still can't get over how brazenly Trump is lying about this SA arms deal thing. Last I heard he was claiming $450billion in deals with SA and over a million jobs. To put that in perspective, a million jobs would be something like 3x the number of employees of every defense contractor in the US combined. Triple. It would be around, I believe, 0.75% of all jobs in the USA. And $450billion is somethng like 2.5% of the entire economy of the United States and nearly the entire economy of Saudi Arabia.
He's claiming that this phantom deal is equivalent in value to a non-trivial fraction of the US's entire economic output, and would employ almost 1 out of every 100 people in the workforce.
And somehow the dumbnuts who vote Republican and watch Fox News think this makes perfect sense.
posted by Justinian at 2:21 AM on October 24, 2018 [41 favorites]
He's claiming that this phantom deal is equivalent in value to a non-trivial fraction of the US's entire economic output, and would employ almost 1 out of every 100 people in the workforce.
And somehow the dumbnuts who vote Republican and watch Fox News think this makes perfect sense.
posted by Justinian at 2:21 AM on October 24, 2018 [41 favorites]
They don't think it makes sense because it lines up with the facts. They think it makes sense because it feels good to believe. Hedonistic epistemology will kill us.
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:33 AM on October 24, 2018 [48 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 2:33 AM on October 24, 2018 [48 favorites]
That thing about how old people are worse than young people at telling the difference between facts and opinions? It did not make me any happier to go read TFA and discover that "Forty-four percent of younger people identified all five opinions as opinions, while only 26 percent of older people did."
Perhaps it is partly a methodology issue (skipping a statement counted against a respondent, which seems reasonable) but there is no comfort in finding out that in the sample, respondents aged 18 to 29 did the best at identifying factual statements as factual–and only 34% correctly identified all 5 statements of fact. It was 30% for those 30 to 49. This is not good news for our country. Yikes.
It makes me all the more enraged about the mainstream media and honestly, I did not think that was possible. This is one of the reasons why the reporting principle of simply offering facts to the public and allowing them to decide what those facts mean is both morally bankrupt and financially lucrative.
posted by Bella Donna at 2:36 AM on October 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
Perhaps it is partly a methodology issue (skipping a statement counted against a respondent, which seems reasonable) but there is no comfort in finding out that in the sample, respondents aged 18 to 29 did the best at identifying factual statements as factual–and only 34% correctly identified all 5 statements of fact. It was 30% for those 30 to 49. This is not good news for our country. Yikes.
It makes me all the more enraged about the mainstream media and honestly, I did not think that was possible. This is one of the reasons why the reporting principle of simply offering facts to the public and allowing them to decide what those facts mean is both morally bankrupt and financially lucrative.
posted by Bella Donna at 2:36 AM on October 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
That Twitter thread about abolitionists attacking SCOTUS' legitimacy in the mid 1800s makes a couple references to life tenure as a compelling justification for skepticism. Of course, back then, average life expectancy was somewhere around 40, and... yeah.
posted by tonycpsu at 9:56 PM on October 23 [+] [!]
Momentary derail on that topic, because I've seen that error made several times. Life expectancy at birth was very short back then, but that's because children died a lot. When you visit graveyards from back then, it's astounding how many graves are for 0-5 y.o. kids (and their mothers). Between antiseptics, antibiotics, and vaccines, that problem has been largely eliminated. Once someone reached young adulthood, life expectancy was pretty good and well past 40. For example in 1850, a 20-year-old's life expectancy was 60, and by the time they reached the age of 50, expectancy was up to 70 years.
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:54 AM on October 24, 2018 [39 favorites]
posted by tonycpsu at 9:56 PM on October 23 [+] [!]
Momentary derail on that topic, because I've seen that error made several times. Life expectancy at birth was very short back then, but that's because children died a lot. When you visit graveyards from back then, it's astounding how many graves are for 0-5 y.o. kids (and their mothers). Between antiseptics, antibiotics, and vaccines, that problem has been largely eliminated. Once someone reached young adulthood, life expectancy was pretty good and well past 40. For example in 1850, a 20-year-old's life expectancy was 60, and by the time they reached the age of 50, expectancy was up to 70 years.
posted by Mental Wimp at 2:54 AM on October 24, 2018 [39 favorites]
Note that in all cases people weren't being asked to evaluate whether something was true but only whether it was a statement which represented an opinon or not. A false statement of fact should still have been identified as a fact rather than opinion.
For example; if presented with the sentence "Elvis Presley was the first President of the United States" they should have identified that as a statement of fact, despite it being manifestly false. And if given the statement "Firefly was grossly overrated" they should have identified that as a statement of opinon, despite it being manifestly true.
People were much more likely to claim something was a fact, even if it wasn't, if they agreed with the sentence and much more likely to claim something was an opinion, even if a fact, if it was an inconvenient fact for their worldview. Perhaps that was to be expected but it is still discouraging.
posted by Justinian at 3:24 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
For example; if presented with the sentence "Elvis Presley was the first President of the United States" they should have identified that as a statement of fact, despite it being manifestly false. And if given the statement "Firefly was grossly overrated" they should have identified that as a statement of opinon, despite it being manifestly true.
People were much more likely to claim something was a fact, even if it wasn't, if they agreed with the sentence and much more likely to claim something was an opinion, even if a fact, if it was an inconvenient fact for their worldview. Perhaps that was to be expected but it is still discouraging.
posted by Justinian at 3:24 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
And to be slightly fair, there's one opinion I might have mis-identified if the question was given to me when I wasn't paying close attention: "Increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour is essential for the health of the US economy." My knee-jerk response would be: "Damn right, that's true & factural."
You'd have a lot of company. (link to another write-up of the study with some additional info). 37% of Democrats incorrectly identified that statement as one of fact. That is much less depressing than the equal number of Republicans (37%) who wrongly identified the statement that Obama was born in the USA as one of opinion.
posted by Justinian at 3:32 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
You'd have a lot of company. (link to another write-up of the study with some additional info). 37% of Democrats incorrectly identified that statement as one of fact. That is much less depressing than the equal number of Republicans (37%) who wrongly identified the statement that Obama was born in the USA as one of opinion.
posted by Justinian at 3:32 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
6 rhetorical devices that have served Trump well
posted by Joe in Australia at 3:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Joe in Australia at 3:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Maybe it's my epistemic bias clouding my judgement, but "Increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour is essential for the health of the US economy" seems awfully close to being a testable proposition, and thus not a great model of an "opinion" statement. Sure, "essential" and "health" are vague hand-wavy language, but it's not like it's saying "Increasing the minimum wage to $15 per hour is the morally right thing to do" or something.
Interestingly, it's the only one from the opinion column with a tie between 18-49 and 50+ respondents.
posted by obliviax at 4:00 AM on October 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
Interestingly, it's the only one from the opinion column with a tie between 18-49 and 50+ respondents.
posted by obliviax at 4:00 AM on October 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
The conflation by the Vice President of people "of Middle Eastern descent" (who do not, in fact, appear to be part of this group) and "terrorists or suspected terrorists" is, well, terrifying.
Indeed. And has been going on under Republican administrations since Dick Cheney.
posted by Gelatin at 4:44 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Indeed. And has been going on under Republican administrations since Dick Cheney.
posted by Gelatin at 4:44 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
> "For example; if presented with the sentence 'Elvis Presley was the first President of the United States' they should have identified that as a statement of fact, despite it being manifestly false."
This is the definition of "fact" taught in grade school, but it is not the way the word is actually used by anyone anywhere. Try telling people, "It is a fact that the moon is made of green cheese", and note how many of them disagree with you that this is a fact.
posted by kyrademon at 4:52 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
This is the definition of "fact" taught in grade school, but it is not the way the word is actually used by anyone anywhere. Try telling people, "It is a fact that the moon is made of green cheese", and note how many of them disagree with you that this is a fact.
posted by kyrademon at 4:52 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
It doesn't look like any of the factual statements were actually false in the Pew study. From the methodology section:
Researchers used a multistep, deliberative process to construct and select the final statements used in the survey. The factual statements were drawn from a variety of sources, including news organizations, government sources, research organizations and fact-checking entities. The factual statements included only accurate – as opposed to inaccurate – statements that were fact-checked by the research team from primary data sources, fact-checking organizations and news stories, among other sources.
posted by Avelwood at 5:00 AM on October 24, 2018
Researchers used a multistep, deliberative process to construct and select the final statements used in the survey. The factual statements were drawn from a variety of sources, including news organizations, government sources, research organizations and fact-checking entities. The factual statements included only accurate – as opposed to inaccurate – statements that were fact-checked by the research team from primary data sources, fact-checking organizations and news stories, among other sources.
posted by Avelwood at 5:00 AM on October 24, 2018
Mod note: If folks want to really dig in on the Pew fact/opinion quiz, it should probably get its own thread at this point.
posted by taz (staff) at 5:32 AM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 5:32 AM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
This commercial is now on rotation on Twin Cities TV. Running directly from the Dean Phillips campaign.
The media outlets quoted in the commercial spend 2 minutes "fact-checking", then take in bushel baskets of money for running the same commercials that lie for the rest of the day. It's a shame the Phillips campaign has to do this, but I'm glad they're doing it.
posted by gimonca at 5:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
The media outlets quoted in the commercial spend 2 minutes "fact-checking", then take in bushel baskets of money for running the same commercials that lie for the rest of the day. It's a shame the Phillips campaign has to do this, but I'm glad they're doing it.
posted by gimonca at 5:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
I really liked this blog post about a Los Angeles film director who has started a PAC that makes low-cost, high-quality video ads for candidates for state offices. She came to Iowa and shot a ton of really nice-looking ads for Democratic candidates for the state legislature. It makes me wonder what skills the rest of us have that we could put to use in some way.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:56 AM on October 24, 2018 [39 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 5:56 AM on October 24, 2018 [39 favorites]
Her husband, meanwhile, went on a bonkers rant in which he claimed that California has a ton of water, it's terrible that people have brown lawns, and threatens to take money away from the state because he doesn't like our forest management practices.
You hear conservatives say that ideas like higher minimum wage, student debt forgiveness, all around stronger social safety net, etc. are childish fantasies cooked up by irresponsible twerps -- "you get a pony! everybody gets a free pony while we're at it!"
In its abandonment of sound, science-driven environmental policy, the right has completely bought the fantasy of unlimited natural resources for everyone, everywhere, forever. Perfect green lawns forever in a semiarid climate, folks! God help you if you pull a Jimmy Carter and encourage people to suck it up, put on a sweater and not be so wasteful.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 6:07 AM on October 24, 2018 [27 favorites]
You hear conservatives say that ideas like higher minimum wage, student debt forgiveness, all around stronger social safety net, etc. are childish fantasies cooked up by irresponsible twerps -- "you get a pony! everybody gets a free pony while we're at it!"
In its abandonment of sound, science-driven environmental policy, the right has completely bought the fantasy of unlimited natural resources for everyone, everywhere, forever. Perfect green lawns forever in a semiarid climate, folks! God help you if you pull a Jimmy Carter and encourage people to suck it up, put on a sweater and not be so wasteful.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 6:07 AM on October 24, 2018 [27 favorites]
Explosive Device Found in Mail Sent to the Clintons
posted by guiseroom at 6:23 AM on October 24, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 6:23 AM on October 24, 2018 [16 favorites]
Explosive Device Found in Mail Sent to the Clintons
Cue handwringing about some random yutz throwing a rock at a random Republican campaign office in 3...2...
posted by Gelatin at 6:33 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Cue handwringing about some random yutz throwing a rock at a random Republican campaign office in 3...2...
posted by Gelatin at 6:33 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
GA gov: Opinion Savvy poll has Dem Abrams tied 48-48 with GOPer Kemp [MOE:+/- 3.4%]. [Cook: Tossup] => Reminder that if no one clears 50%, this will go to a runoff.
Last night during their debate, current Secretary of State and candidate for governor Brian Kemp refused to recuse himself if the GA governors race goes to a recount. So, yeah.
posted by gladly at 6:34 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
Last night during their debate, current Secretary of State and candidate for governor Brian Kemp refused to recuse himself if the GA governors race goes to a recount. So, yeah.
posted by gladly at 6:34 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
God help you if you pull a Jimmy Carter and encourage people to suck it up, put on a sweater and not be so wasteful.
This sort of reminds me of when Obama suggested people switch over to LED lightbulbs to save billions in energy costs and Republicans went bananas, because "freedom". I get that the lightbulbs had some problems, but the reaction deeply embarrassed me. Is there no sacrifice too small to be made for the country, or even the planet? With global warming, will we not even... try anything? Is this really the same country that went through the depression and WWII? It's hard to believe we had the stomach for it.
posted by xammerboy at 6:36 AM on October 24, 2018 [54 favorites]
This sort of reminds me of when Obama suggested people switch over to LED lightbulbs to save billions in energy costs and Republicans went bananas, because "freedom". I get that the lightbulbs had some problems, but the reaction deeply embarrassed me. Is there no sacrifice too small to be made for the country, or even the planet? With global warming, will we not even... try anything? Is this really the same country that went through the depression and WWII? It's hard to believe we had the stomach for it.
posted by xammerboy at 6:36 AM on October 24, 2018 [54 favorites]
Is there no sacrifice too small to be made for the country
It has nothing to do with the sacrifice. It's throwing a tantrum because mom (read: an authority figure they don't respect) told them to pick up their dirty socks. (To be clear: if dad told them to pick up their socks, they'd have done it immediately.)
posted by uncleozzy at 6:42 AM on October 24, 2018 [33 favorites]
It has nothing to do with the sacrifice. It's throwing a tantrum because mom (read: an authority figure they don't respect) told them to pick up their dirty socks. (To be clear: if dad told them to pick up their socks, they'd have done it immediately.)
posted by uncleozzy at 6:42 AM on October 24, 2018 [33 favorites]
Her husband, meanwhile, went on a bonkers rant in which he claimed that California has a ton of water, it's terrible that people have brown lawns,
Californian here - I HATE lawns. HATE them. They do not belong in our climate. They started as an imitation of wealthy British country estates - a status symbol from a cool, damp climate that shouldn't be in Cali's warm dry one.
There are a lot of beautiful landscapes that can be done with xeriscaping - my neighbors have a gorgeous xeriscaped yard, and I'm going to go the same way when I can afford it.
I am so glad that California's state and local government (BLUE state, remember?) knows what is best for us and will act accordingly. I live in a tinderbox as it is (there was a fire in the open space about a mile from my house this summer...omg omg I was going to have to literally herd cats) and fuck right in the ear anyone who tells me we have plenty of water.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 6:46 AM on October 24, 2018 [43 favorites]
Californian here - I HATE lawns. HATE them. They do not belong in our climate. They started as an imitation of wealthy British country estates - a status symbol from a cool, damp climate that shouldn't be in Cali's warm dry one.
There are a lot of beautiful landscapes that can be done with xeriscaping - my neighbors have a gorgeous xeriscaped yard, and I'm going to go the same way when I can afford it.
I am so glad that California's state and local government (BLUE state, remember?) knows what is best for us and will act accordingly. I live in a tinderbox as it is (there was a fire in the open space about a mile from my house this summer...omg omg I was going to have to literally herd cats) and fuck right in the ear anyone who tells me we have plenty of water.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 6:46 AM on October 24, 2018 [43 favorites]
Meanwhile, Yutu, a Category 5 typhoon, will soon be making landfall in the U.S. Commonwealth of Saipan (population 50,000) and hardly a peep about it.
This is what moral leaders are supposed to do: be on top of issues that affect tens of thousands of lives.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:46 AM on October 24, 2018 [24 favorites]
This is what moral leaders are supposed to do: be on top of issues that affect tens of thousands of lives.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:46 AM on October 24, 2018 [24 favorites]
It has nothing to do with the sacrifice. It's throwing a tantrum because mom (read: an authority figure they don't respect) told them to pick up their dirty socks.
There is something really bloody-minded baked into American culture. I used to volunteer in the area of pet rescue and adoption, and you'd run into people all the time whose response to "Hey, you should spay and neuter your pets because look here's some math about overpopulation and also here's some sad pictures meant to activate your empathy" was NUH-UH AND BECAUSE YOU ASKED ME TO DO IT I'M GOING TO SPECIFICALLY NOT, SO THERE AND TAKE THAT!
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [39 favorites]
There is something really bloody-minded baked into American culture. I used to volunteer in the area of pet rescue and adoption, and you'd run into people all the time whose response to "Hey, you should spay and neuter your pets because look here's some math about overpopulation and also here's some sad pictures meant to activate your empathy" was NUH-UH AND BECAUSE YOU ASKED ME TO DO IT I'M GOING TO SPECIFICALLY NOT, SO THERE AND TAKE THAT!
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [39 favorites]
I promise not to harp on Yutu anymore, but the Dvorak readings have it at 175 mph. May be the second worst ever speed at landfall on U.S. soil.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:53 AM on October 24, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 6:53 AM on October 24, 2018 [11 favorites]
Now a package has been sent to the Obamas.
posted by guiseroom at 6:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by guiseroom at 6:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Luckily, their mail is screened by the Secret Service.
posted by all about eevee at 6:58 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by all about eevee at 6:58 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
I promise not to harp on Yutu anymore, but the Dvorak readings have it at 175 mph. May be the second worst ever speed at landfall on U.S. soil.
Harp away! The fact that we aren't hearing a peep about this through normal or official channels is criminal.
posted by bcd at 7:00 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Harp away! The fact that we aren't hearing a peep about this through normal or official channels is criminal.
posted by bcd at 7:00 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Phew, we can all breathe easier: Trump explains that his tariffs don't actually exist.
No, really.
Article:
posted by PontifexPrimus at 7:02 AM on October 24, 2018 [25 favorites]
No, really.
Article:
“We don’t even have tariffs. I’m using tariffs to negotiate,” the president said, describing the tariffs on steel and aluminum he imposed this year as “small.”Who are ya gonna believe, me or your lyin' eyes?
The U.S. this year imposed tariffs on steel, aluminum, washers and solar panels, as well as tariffs on an additional $250 billion of Chinese imports. Some businesses have supported the tariffs, but many have said they hurt their profits and could lead to higher prices for customers.
“Where do we have tariffs? We don’t have tariffs anywhere,” Mr. Trump said when asked about the risks tariffs pose to the economy. “You know what happens? A business that’s doing badly always likes to blame Trump and the tariffs, because it’s a good excuse for some incompetent guy that’s making $25 million a year.”
posted by PontifexPrimus at 7:02 AM on October 24, 2018 [25 favorites]
Now a package has been sent to the Obamas.
A further detail from the NYT's story: "Two explosive devices were found in mail sent to the offices of former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Secret Service said Wednesday. The devices were similar to one found on Monday at the home of the billionaire philanthropist George Soros, two law enforcement officials said."
Obama was, however, away at a midterm campaign rally in Las Vegas, where he pulled no punches (ABC):
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:06 AM on October 24, 2018 [80 favorites]
A further detail from the NYT's story: "Two explosive devices were found in mail sent to the offices of former President Barack Obama and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the Secret Service said Wednesday. The devices were similar to one found on Monday at the home of the billionaire philanthropist George Soros, two law enforcement officials said."
Obama was, however, away at a midterm campaign rally in Las Vegas, where he pulled no punches (ABC):
—"I’m here just to get one thing from you -- and this is for you to vote. This November’s elections are more important than any in my lifetime and that includes when I was on the ballot."I miss having a fact-based president.
—"When you hear all this talk about economic miracles, remember who started it. I hope people realize there's a pattern that every time [Republicans] run things into the ground and we've got to clean it up."
—"I know you can bet on anything here in Vegas, but you don't want to bet that Republicans are going to protect your healthcare."
—"Unlike some, I actually try to state facts—I believe in facts. I believe in a fact-based reality, a fact-based politics. I don’t believe in just making stuff up. I think you should say what’s true."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:06 AM on October 24, 2018 [80 favorites]
While simultaneously ranting about how great those tarrifs are.
The same day. The mind boggles.
posted by bcd at 7:07 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
The same day. The mind boggles.
posted by bcd at 7:07 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
"We don’t even have tariffs. I’m using tariffs to negotiate"
This is one of those liars paradox logic problems, isn't it?
posted by dng at 7:12 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
This is one of those liars paradox logic problems, isn't it?
posted by dng at 7:12 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
And now they're evacuating the NY offices of CNN.
posted by zombieflanders at 7:18 AM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 7:18 AM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
Today feels like a real turning point. The bombs sent to Soros, Clintons and Obamas -- and now it looks like CNN? -- ARE the stochastic terrorism we've been warning about forever. This is the beginning of something and how the media responds to it and how elected Republican officials respond to it will tell us a lot.
I hope the media can manage to focus on how fucking scary and messed up this is for at least as long as they harped on Sarah Sanders ruined lunch and Alan Dershowitz's social problems at Martha's Vineyard. I'm not optimistic.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 7:19 AM on October 24, 2018 [61 favorites]
I hope the media can manage to focus on how fucking scary and messed up this is for at least as long as they harped on Sarah Sanders ruined lunch and Alan Dershowitz's social problems at Martha's Vineyard. I'm not optimistic.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 7:19 AM on October 24, 2018 [61 favorites]
The White House is condemning the mailbombs, as one would expect. It'll be perversely fascinating to see if Trump has enough discipline not to mention the targets in his next few rallies & how long it'll take until he does. How will he try to thread the needle? Trump does not unilaterally disarm.
And CNN gets a bomb of their own. Truly tragic for Trump, the true victim in all this.
posted by scalefree at 7:20 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
And CNN gets a bomb of their own. Truly tragic for Trump, the true victim in all this.
posted by scalefree at 7:20 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Stochastic terrorism. In a large enough population (e.g., the United States), there will always be someone willing to literally carry out other's rhetorical threats.
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:23 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by monju_bosatsu at 7:23 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
A pipe bomb has also apparently been sent to the White House.
posted by all about eevee at 7:23 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by all about eevee at 7:23 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
NAACP: Georgia votes for Democrat Stacey Abrams are being changed to Republican Brian Kemp - Matthew Rozsa, Salon
The Georgia NAACP is filing a complaint claiming that votes for Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams in that state's race for governor have been changed to Republican candidate Brian Kemp.posted by ZeusHumms at 7:33 AM on October 24, 2018 [33 favorites]
The NAACP's state conference electronically filed complaints with the Georgia Secretary of State's office (which is held by Kemp himself) claiming that votes cast for Abrams in Bartow and Dodge counties were initially registered to Kemp, according to USA Today. As of Tuesday, the Georgia NAACP also had plans to file additional complaints in Henry and Cobb counties, likewise claiming that votes intended for Abrams had initially been changed to Kemp. Eight voters in total are alleging that they noticed their votes had been changed.
"We’ve experienced this before. They ended up taking these old dilapidated machines out of service. The ones giving the problems. They should have been replaced about 10 years ago," Phyllis Blake, president of the Georgia NAACP, told USA Today.
no White House bomb per USSS [Fox News]
posted by scalefree at 7:35 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 7:35 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Mod note: A few comments deleted. Let's not run off into speculating/dark jokes about what will happen, "oh these fuckers probably ___" etc.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:35 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:35 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
(I made a post about the Pew fact-vs-opinion study.)
posted by box at 7:39 AM on October 24, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by box at 7:39 AM on October 24, 2018 [16 favorites]
I called my Senator Chuck Grassley's DC office to express concern about the assassination attempts on George Soros, President and Secretary Clinton and President Obama. I asked whether the Senator had made any statements about the attacks; the staffer informed me that he had not.
I noted that the Senator had claimed that George Soros had paid anti-Kavanaugh protesters to harass him in Congress. He had promoted many conspiracy theories against President Obama, such as the famous Obamacare Death Panels. And, he and every Senate Republican had supported Kavanaugh's claim that the Clintons were responsible for crafting the false allegations of sexual assault against the nominee.
Does the Senator, I asked, have any experience with explosives?
The staffer said that she did not know of any experience and that the question was inappropriate. Why was it inappropriate, I asked. She said, "He is a U.S. Senator. He is not mailing explosives." I said, "Oh, because that would be inappropriate. Is it appropriate of the Senator to accuse George Soros of paying protestors to harass him?" The staffer said she would pass on my concerns.
I asked, "Has the Senator made any statements about any other Jews who are paying protesters to harass him?". The staffer said the Senator had not made any reference to George Soros's ethnicity. I noted that George Soros was at the center of global neo-Nazi conspiracy theories, a fact of which the staffer claimed to be unaware. I suggested that she do a little Googling on the subject, something which the Senator had undoubtedly already done, else he would not be accusing George Soros of being the puppet-master of a conspiracy against him. I said that as an Iowan and a Jew, I was alarmed that the Senator appeared to be transitioning from being a crypto-fascist, to just being a regular old fascist. I said that my request to the Senator would be to stop saying false, insane, racist, xenophobic, dangerous things, and retire. I was thanked and my message will be passed along
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [131 favorites]
I noted that the Senator had claimed that George Soros had paid anti-Kavanaugh protesters to harass him in Congress. He had promoted many conspiracy theories against President Obama, such as the famous Obamacare Death Panels. And, he and every Senate Republican had supported Kavanaugh's claim that the Clintons were responsible for crafting the false allegations of sexual assault against the nominee.
Does the Senator, I asked, have any experience with explosives?
The staffer said that she did not know of any experience and that the question was inappropriate. Why was it inappropriate, I asked. She said, "He is a U.S. Senator. He is not mailing explosives." I said, "Oh, because that would be inappropriate. Is it appropriate of the Senator to accuse George Soros of paying protestors to harass him?" The staffer said she would pass on my concerns.
I asked, "Has the Senator made any statements about any other Jews who are paying protesters to harass him?". The staffer said the Senator had not made any reference to George Soros's ethnicity. I noted that George Soros was at the center of global neo-Nazi conspiracy theories, a fact of which the staffer claimed to be unaware. I suggested that she do a little Googling on the subject, something which the Senator had undoubtedly already done, else he would not be accusing George Soros of being the puppet-master of a conspiracy against him. I said that as an Iowan and a Jew, I was alarmed that the Senator appeared to be transitioning from being a crypto-fascist, to just being a regular old fascist. I said that my request to the Senator would be to stop saying false, insane, racist, xenophobic, dangerous things, and retire. I was thanked and my message will be passed along
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 7:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [131 favorites]
FYI, our friend Senator Collins has chosen today to send out her first fundraising email for 2020. From the text of the email, I'd say she's leaving the idea of being a moderate behind...
posted by anastasiav at 7:46 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by anastasiav at 7:46 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Voter-suppression shuffle: Officials close only polling site in majority-Latino Kansas town - Igor Derysh, Salon
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [23 favorites]
Dodge City, Kansas, which has a 60 percent Hispanic population, had its only polling site moved outside the city limits to a suburban location with no access to public transportation, the Wichita Eagle reports.Dodge City went to one polling site in 2002, citing accessibility requirements imposed under the ADA.
Once famous as a boozy, violent frontier town of the Old West, Dodge City today is a community of 27,000 people roughly 160 miles west of Wichita. In recent years it has relied on a single polling site for its 13,000 voters, compared to an average of 1,200 voters at other sites. The polling site was located in a wealthy, predominantly white neighborhood near a local country club.
This year, local officials have shuttered Dodge City's lone polling place, citing road construction in the area, and moved it to a facility outside the city limits that is more than a mile from the nearest bus stop.
“It is shocking that we only have one polling place, but that is only kind of scratching the surface of the problem,” Ford County Democratic Party chair Johnny Dunlap told the Wichita newspaper. “On top of that, not only is it irrational and ridiculous that we have only one polling place, but Dodge City is one of the few minority-majority cities in the state.”
State voter data shows that Hispanic voters in Ford County had just a 17 percent turnout in the 2014 elections, compared to a 61 percent rate among white voters. The national Hispanic turnout rate in 2014 was 27 percent.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [23 favorites]
The Georgia NAACP is filing a complaint claiming that votes for Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams in that state's race for governor have been changed to Republican candidate Brian Kemp.
The odd thing about this story is that voters are able to see the effects of the change immediately. If it weren't for that, many of those changed votes would never be caught.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:51 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
The odd thing about this story is that voters are able to see the effects of the change immediately. If it weren't for that, many of those changed votes would never be caught.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:51 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
The Georgia NAACP is filing a complaint claiming that votes for Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams in that state's race for governor have been changed to Republican candidate Brian Kemp.
Republicans can't win without cheating.
By their actions, they admit that they know they can't win without cheating.
posted by Gelatin at 7:55 AM on October 24, 2018 [27 favorites]
Republicans can't win without cheating.
By their actions, they admit that they know they can't win without cheating.
posted by Gelatin at 7:55 AM on October 24, 2018 [27 favorites]
I have a question -- please MeMail me privately with your suggestions, I do not want this to derail the thread. If I can come up with 3 or 4 free days to drive to a state to help with get out the vote efforts, where would be the most important/effective? Indiana, Missouri, or North Dakota? Those are all within driving distance (for me) of Chicago. Thank you.
posted by W Grant at 7:58 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by W Grant at 7:58 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Watching Fox News. It's thoroughly fascinating to watch them shift gears & point their propaganda machine in the opposite direction from what it's just been doing. Repeated admonitions not to get ahead of ourselves & ascribe a motivation to these attacks, there are many possible motivations including mental illness which brings up the recent mailbomb attacks in Austin, we go now to our reporter in Austin. Also Don, Jr & the Chair of the GOP offer their condemnations, we can disagree on things without letting it get too acrimonious. Did we mention that people who send these sorts of things are frequently found to be mentally ill?
It reminds me of nothing so much as that scene in Titanic where Jack & Rose are running through the bowels of the ship & find themselves in the engine room just as the engines shift from forward to reverse. All those massive cams slow down, come to a stop then shudder as they engage in the opposite direction.
posted by scalefree at 8:05 AM on October 24, 2018 [22 favorites]
It reminds me of nothing so much as that scene in Titanic where Jack & Rose are running through the bowels of the ship & find themselves in the engine room just as the engines shift from forward to reverse. All those massive cams slow down, come to a stop then shudder as they engage in the opposite direction.
posted by scalefree at 8:05 AM on October 24, 2018 [22 favorites]
I made an FPP for Yutu.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:05 AM on October 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 8:05 AM on October 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
The same day. The mind boggles
The mind is meant to boggle. Trump is the supreme example of the danger of bullshit and the ease with which the conscienceless can use it to wreak destruction. Case in point: I have been ridiculously busy with work for the last month, and as a result I have not followed the Khashoggi case as closely as I have followed other events of the last 2 years. As a result, I have been legitimately confused by the torrent of competing stories and contradictory claims that are fed to me with no vetting by online news headlines. I cannot keep up with the facts of that case right now, and a cursory glance at headlines is completely insufficient when every news outlet now credulously perrots what each warring faction *says* without evaluating it for the public.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 8:18 AM on October 24, 2018 [26 favorites]
The mind is meant to boggle. Trump is the supreme example of the danger of bullshit and the ease with which the conscienceless can use it to wreak destruction. Case in point: I have been ridiculously busy with work for the last month, and as a result I have not followed the Khashoggi case as closely as I have followed other events of the last 2 years. As a result, I have been legitimately confused by the torrent of competing stories and contradictory claims that are fed to me with no vetting by online news headlines. I cannot keep up with the facts of that case right now, and a cursory glance at headlines is completely insufficient when every news outlet now credulously perrots what each warring faction *says* without evaluating it for the public.
posted by Vic Morrow's Personal Vietnam at 8:18 AM on October 24, 2018 [26 favorites]
Everything Shows a GOP Resurgence Except for the Evidence
I’m not here to unskew the polls for you. The Senate map has shifted significantly against the Democrats over the last month. There are also worrisome nuggets of information. President Trump’s personal numbers have popped up. The latest NBC poll showed Republicans closing the enthusiasm gap with Democrats. Each of these give me pause and make me wonder whether they’re leading indicators of some shift. But when I look at all the numbers combined, there’s just no evidence for this shift which is dominating the media narrative.posted by kirkaracha at 8:24 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
The best baseline I think in terms of is the generic ballot poll. That’s been highly consist, between 8 and 9 points for the last two months.
If you think a Democratic takeover of the House is critical to the country’s future, I’m not here to tell you, don’t worry, everything’s going to be fine. That’s not how I feel. But I will say that almost all the evidence that we have is that we’re looking at a high probability of a Democratic takeover of the House and that things look pretty similar to what they’ve looked like for the last six months. The numbers don’t bear this media narrative.
Staring into the abyss of today's headlines... signing up for another canvassing shift, ordering another 10 addresses for Postcards to Voters, and kicking in what little I can afford to Democrats in close races. Working to keep panic to a manageable level. Deeeeeeeeeeeeeeep breaths, all, and hugs to those who need them.
posted by duffell at 8:31 AM on October 24, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by duffell at 8:31 AM on October 24, 2018 [28 favorites]
The mind is meant to boggle. Trump is the supreme example of the danger of bullshit and the ease with which the conscienceless can use it to wreak destruction.
I believe the traditional relationship between cause & effect are actually twisted in Trump's mind, a result of his narcissism further enhanced by his exposure to Norman Vincent Peale as well as his belief in eugenics. For Trump things are true because he needs them to be & only as long as that need persists. If & when he needs the opposite to be true, that's what happens. So he can have the benefits of tariffs working for us without the downsides of them working against us simultaneously. It's Trump's world, we're just renters.
posted by scalefree at 8:37 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
I believe the traditional relationship between cause & effect are actually twisted in Trump's mind, a result of his narcissism further enhanced by his exposure to Norman Vincent Peale as well as his belief in eugenics. For Trump things are true because he needs them to be & only as long as that need persists. If & when he needs the opposite to be true, that's what happens. So he can have the benefits of tariffs working for us without the downsides of them working against us simultaneously. It's Trump's world, we're just renters.
posted by scalefree at 8:37 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
ZeusHumms: "Voter-suppression shuffle: Officials close only polling site in majority-Latino Kansas town - Igor Derysh, Salon "
The mayor of Dodge City would like you to know it's not the city that makes the polling location decisions, it's the county or the state. And they are offering free door-to-door rides to the polls for anyone who needs it. (fb link)
posted by Chrysostom at 8:42 AM on October 24, 2018 [21 favorites]
The mayor of Dodge City would like you to know it's not the city that makes the polling location decisions, it's the county or the state. And they are offering free door-to-door rides to the polls for anyone who needs it. (fb link)
posted by Chrysostom at 8:42 AM on October 24, 2018 [21 favorites]
Voter-suppression shuffle: Officials close only polling site in majority-Latino Kansas town - Igor Derysh, Salon
The polling site was moved outside the town limits to a place where there is no public transportation. Voto Latino is working to provide free rides to the polls in there and are asking for donations to help fund it. You can donate here.
posted by mcduff at 8:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [21 favorites]
The polling site was moved outside the town limits to a place where there is no public transportation. Voto Latino is working to provide free rides to the polls in there and are asking for donations to help fund it. You can donate here.
posted by mcduff at 8:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [21 favorites]
The terrifying uncertainty at the heart of FiveThirtyEight’s election forecasts - Andrew Prokop, Vox
FiveThirtyEight’s “classic” forecast — which has become the gold standard in elections forecasting — gives Democrats an 85.6 percent chance of retaking the House and Republicans a 81.3 percent chance of holding the Senate, as of Tuesday evening.posted by ZeusHumms at 8:44 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
So both of those are highly likely to happen, right?
Well, one person who’s been trying to complicate that assessment is FiveThirtyEight founder Nate Silver himself.
One point Silver has made over and over again in recent weeks is that even if you take his House and Senate forecasts at face value, when you think about both of them together, there’s around a 40 percent chance that one of them will be wrong.
He elaborated on this on Twitter this week, making a point that’s important to understand — that a “very normal-sized polling error” in either direction could result in a dramatically different outcome.
…
These days, savvy election watchers have to keep two ideas in their heads at the same time:In other words: uncertainty, uncertainty, uncertainty.
- The best way to get some sense of what the Election Day outcome will be is to look at polling averages or models like FiveThirtyEight’s.
- But polls of state or House races often get the final margin wrong by several points, and just because a forecast shows an outcome as unlikely, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible.
Ivanka can't admit that certain people are mortal human beings and not evil demons from libtardland, so in her statement she decided to literally other Soros.
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:54 AM on October 24, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 8:54 AM on October 24, 2018 [16 favorites]
For a little humor, let's turn to Rhode Island, where the Boston Globe reports the somewhat unpopular Democratic governor could win re-election because a peeved Republican state rep is running as an independent against the incumbent and the Republican nominee. The story includes an anecdote about a dust up between the now independent, Joe Trillo, and another state rep:
Trillo claimed Ehrhardt tried to poke him in the eyes “like the Three Stooges” and in response, “I slapped him a few times.”posted by adamg at 8:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [33 favorites]
Ehrhardt confirmed most of Trillo’s story, with one exception: He never poked Trillo’s eyes.
“When he got angry and up close to me, I could not resist the urge to reach out and tweak his nose,” he said.
The fight, Ehrhardt recalls, was over legislation regulating the inspection of boat toilets.
Yeah, that's Rhode Island all right.
posted by Melismata at 8:59 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 8:59 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Needs more coffee milk.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:00 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:00 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
Ehrhardt confirmed most of Trillo’s story, with one exception: He never poked Trillo’s eyes.
“When he got angry and up close to me, I could not resist the urge to reach out and tweak his nose,” he said.
My sister and I have been arguing over a similar incident for the last 30 years. I maintain I went to tweak, she swears I deliberately poked her in the eyes, our mother refuses to take either side. Our fight was over her disturbing me as I was reading The Crow.
posted by Molesome at 9:06 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
“When he got angry and up close to me, I could not resist the urge to reach out and tweak his nose,” he said.
My sister and I have been arguing over a similar incident for the last 30 years. I maintain I went to tweak, she swears I deliberately poked her in the eyes, our mother refuses to take either side. Our fight was over her disturbing me as I was reading The Crow.
posted by Molesome at 9:06 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
Joe Trillo looks like Austin Powers: Trillo+Trump pic
No one in Rhodey wants him.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:06 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
No one in Rhodey wants him.
posted by wenestvedt at 9:06 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Who "tweaks" a nose? Sounds fake, like boxing someone's ears.
posted by orrnyereg at 9:07 AM on October 24, 2018
posted by orrnyereg at 9:07 AM on October 24, 2018
our mother refuses to take either side
30 years without taking a side in that argument is 30 years well spent.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 9:11 AM on October 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
30 years without taking a side in that argument is 30 years well spent.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 9:11 AM on October 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
Who "tweaks" a nose? Sounds fake, like boxing someone's ears.
Reminder: This is Rhode Island, where a man was re-elected mayor of the state's largest city despite being convicted for attacking a guy he thought was sleeping with his ex-wife with a fireplace log (and a lit cigarette, for good measure).
posted by adamg at 9:11 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Reminder: This is Rhode Island, where a man was re-elected mayor of the state's largest city despite being convicted for attacking a guy he thought was sleeping with his ex-wife with a fireplace log (and a lit cigarette, for good measure).
posted by adamg at 9:11 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
And now they're evacuating the NY offices of CNN.
CNN's Jeremy Diamond: "From CNN's Brynn Gingras, Mary Anne Fox & David Shortell: The package with an explosive device sent to CNN’s NY offices today was addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan, according to city and local law enforcement officials. Brennan is an NBC national security analyst"
Meanwhile, in Miami, the NBC affiliate reports, Police Investigating Suspicious Package at Sunrise Office of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz "Footage showed a bomb squad and firefighters responding to the building"
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:14 AM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
CNN's Jeremy Diamond: "From CNN's Brynn Gingras, Mary Anne Fox & David Shortell: The package with an explosive device sent to CNN’s NY offices today was addressed to former CIA Director John Brennan, according to city and local law enforcement officials. Brennan is an NBC national security analyst"
Meanwhile, in Miami, the NBC affiliate reports, Police Investigating Suspicious Package at Sunrise Office of Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz "Footage showed a bomb squad and firefighters responding to the building"
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:14 AM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
The polling site was moved outside the town limits to a place where there is no public transportation. Voto Latino is working to provide free rides to the polls
I predict this fact will be used, dishonestly, to bolster Republican claims of "vote fraud."
posted by Gelatin at 9:15 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
I predict this fact will be used, dishonestly, to bolster Republican claims of "vote fraud."
posted by Gelatin at 9:15 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Wasserman Schultz's address was reportedly used as the return address on all the bombs. It appears she was both scapegoated and targeted. (Not that anyone reasonable would actually believe her office sent them, of course.)
posted by the turtle's teeth at 9:30 AM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by the turtle's teeth at 9:30 AM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
> Ivanka can't admit that certain people are mortal human beings and not evil demons from libtardland
Please don't use that term. I know you're being ironic, but it's based on a slur and bet it's not yours to reclaim.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:31 AM on October 24, 2018 [23 favorites]
Please don't use that term. I know you're being ironic, but it's based on a slur and bet it's not yours to reclaim.
posted by The corpse in the library at 9:31 AM on October 24, 2018 [23 favorites]
Unbelievable -- a Fox News segment fear-mongering about the 'left-wing mob' and 'incivility' toward Mitch McConnell at a restaurant was interrupted by breaking news coverage of a string of bombs sent to prominent Democrats
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:32 AM on October 24, 2018 [61 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:32 AM on October 24, 2018 [61 favorites]
November 6, 2018: the day Americans learn just which Republicans will still be elected even after refusing to condemn remarks about the recipients of the explosive devices "deserving it" —or even after making such remarks themselves.
Lone bomber or not, this is some serious shit going on right here. We're turning a corner, people.
posted by Rykey at 9:33 AM on October 24, 2018 [22 favorites]
Lone bomber or not, this is some serious shit going on right here. We're turning a corner, people.
posted by Rykey at 9:33 AM on October 24, 2018 [22 favorites]
MSNBC now reporting Eric Holder was also targeted.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:41 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:41 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
And Sen. Kamala Harris as well
posted by zombieflanders at 9:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 9:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
MSNBC now reporting Eric Holder was also targeted.
This incident isn't just a one-off, as horrible as sending a single package bomb is. It's a wave of attacks. A wave of terrorist attacks that Donald Trump encouraged, forget about failed to prevent.
posted by Gelatin at 9:50 AM on October 24, 2018 [44 favorites]
This incident isn't just a one-off, as horrible as sending a single package bomb is. It's a wave of attacks. A wave of terrorist attacks that Donald Trump encouraged, forget about failed to prevent.
posted by Gelatin at 9:50 AM on October 24, 2018 [44 favorites]
Another suspicious package intercepted. This is the San Diego Union Tribune's building, which also hosts one of Kamala Harris's offices.
posted by halation at 9:50 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by halation at 9:50 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Exclusive: In Leaked Audio, Brian Kemp Expresses Concern Over Georgians Exercising Their Right to Vote - Jamil Smith, Rolling Stone
The Republican gubernatorial candidate spoke to donors about the growing threat of the Stacey Abrams campaign as the midterm elections approachposted by ZeusHumms at 9:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
MSNBC now reporting Eric Holder was also targeted.
Specifically, the bomb found at DWS' office was actually meant for Holder, but was misaddressed and returned to the purported sender.
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [11 favorites]
Specifically, the bomb found at DWS' office was actually meant for Holder, but was misaddressed and returned to the purported sender.
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [11 favorites]
ZeusHumms: "The odd thing about this story is that voters are able to see the effects of the change immediately. If it weren't for that, many of those changed votes would never be caught."
It's likely just because these are old and shitty machines that have known issues. That's not to say it's okay that these haven't been replaced, but we shouldn't assume the errors were intentional.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
It's likely just because these are old and shitty machines that have known issues. That's not to say it's okay that these haven't been replaced, but we shouldn't assume the errors were intentional.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Is it odd that there don't seem to be any reports of those machines changing votes in the other direction, from Kemp to Abrams?
posted by SpaceBass at 10:00 AM on October 24, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by SpaceBass at 10:00 AM on October 24, 2018 [18 favorites]
For a snapshot of the moment's response to the mailbombs from the base and the "reasonable conservative" wings of the right, let's compare the most common themes at subreddits /r/the_donald and /r/conservative, from most to least frequent.
/r/the_donald:
1) Obvious false flag by the Clintons, the Deep State, Jim Acosta and the Jews
2) Bombing them is good
3) LOL look how triggered the lib NPCs are
/r/conservative:
1) Let's wait and see who did it before we leap to conclusions
2) Whatabout Scalise and Antifa
3) Obvious false flag by the Clintons, the Deep State, Jim Acosta andthe Jews Soros
4) Bombing them is good
5) This is not what we stand for
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:04 AM on October 24, 2018 [34 favorites]
/r/the_donald:
1) Obvious false flag by the Clintons, the Deep State, Jim Acosta and the Jews
2) Bombing them is good
3) LOL look how triggered the lib NPCs are
/r/conservative:
1) Let's wait and see who did it before we leap to conclusions
2) Whatabout Scalise and Antifa
3) Obvious false flag by the Clintons, the Deep State, Jim Acosta and
4) Bombing them is good
5) This is not what we stand for
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:04 AM on October 24, 2018 [34 favorites]
Well, sure, you can't rule out malfeasance with Kemp involved. But why - for example - show the error on the machine? You could just change it under the hood, as it were. Or just fudge the count on Election Day.
Norden is a recognized expert on voting technology (you might find this report interesting), so I'm inclined to give some credence to his take.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:04 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Norden is a recognized expert on voting technology (you might find this report interesting), so I'm inclined to give some credence to his take.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:04 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Pro-Trump Media Insists Bomb Threats Against Clinton, Obama, CNN are ‘Pure BS,’ a ‘False Flag’
Dam Phiffer: Pro-Trump media is a leading indicator of what will be mainstream Republican orthodoxy next week
A Skinsuit full of cockroaches: Violence is never OK. Reports of bombs sent to the homes of Obama, Clinton, and Soros are deeply, deeply disturbing. America is better than this. Political disagreements are fine, even healthy, but we should always be civil and respect each other’s humanity.
Rita Konaev (Tufts): Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination was preceded by a radicalization & dehumanization campaign depicting him as a traitor & Nazi who must be stopped, locked up or worse
These words remind me of what those who led that campaign (inc. current PM Netanyahu) said after Rabin was murdered
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:05 AM on October 24, 2018 [31 favorites]
Dam Phiffer: Pro-Trump media is a leading indicator of what will be mainstream Republican orthodoxy next week
A Skinsuit full of cockroaches: Violence is never OK. Reports of bombs sent to the homes of Obama, Clinton, and Soros are deeply, deeply disturbing. America is better than this. Political disagreements are fine, even healthy, but we should always be civil and respect each other’s humanity.
Rita Konaev (Tufts): Yitzhak Rabin’s assassination was preceded by a radicalization & dehumanization campaign depicting him as a traitor & Nazi who must be stopped, locked up or worse
These words remind me of what those who led that campaign (inc. current PM Netanyahu) said after Rabin was murdered
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:05 AM on October 24, 2018 [31 favorites]
The false flag stuff doesn't make sense by usual conspiracy theory standards. Why both with Brennan? He's not in office. Or Kamala Harris? She's not up for election. How does this "help" her?
posted by asteria at 10:06 AM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by asteria at 10:06 AM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
Is it odd that there don't seem to be any reports of those machines changing votes in the other direction, from Kemp to Abrams?
If this is an issue of old touchscreen voting machines, then it's not odd- their errors tend to systematically misjudge the position of a touch in a particular direction, and (for some reason) the order of candidates on a ballot is not randomized. So the misrecorded votes will systematically favor one candidate. The organizational failure is probably in not replacing the old machines, rather than explicitly tampering with machines to change votes in a chosen direction.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:09 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
If this is an issue of old touchscreen voting machines, then it's not odd- their errors tend to systematically misjudge the position of a touch in a particular direction, and (for some reason) the order of candidates on a ballot is not randomized. So the misrecorded votes will systematically favor one candidate. The organizational failure is probably in not replacing the old machines, rather than explicitly tampering with machines to change votes in a chosen direction.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:09 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
5) This is not what we stand for
Yes, it is. A wave of terrorist attacks against your political opponents. The "this is not what we stand for" ship sailed in 2016 with two more years' worth of "LOCK HER UP" chants sending it off.
For some reason, I am reminded of "never Trump" Jonah Goldberg's silly book from George W. Bush's presidency that tried to claim that fascism was a liberal phenomenon. Ha.
posted by Gelatin at 10:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [32 favorites]
Yes, it is. A wave of terrorist attacks against your political opponents. The "this is not what we stand for" ship sailed in 2016 with two more years' worth of "LOCK HER UP" chants sending it off.
For some reason, I am reminded of "never Trump" Jonah Goldberg's silly book from George W. Bush's presidency that tried to claim that fascism was a liberal phenomenon. Ha.
posted by Gelatin at 10:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [32 favorites]
UPDATE: Per Sen. Kamala Harris' comm's director, the package was NOT addressed to Sen. Harris.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 10:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Quick reminder that chat is open for those interested or in need.
posted by yoga at 10:11 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by yoga at 10:11 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Yesterday's Schumer tweet sure hasn't aged well, but Chuck has yet to make any kind of statement today, just some mealy-mouthed grandstanding about pre-existing conditions. Hoping that he (or anyone, really) starts debunking this 'false flag' bullshit, but I'm not real optimistic here.
NY Gov Cuomo just confirmed at a press conference that his Manhattan office was also targeted with a package.
posted by halation at 10:12 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
NY Gov Cuomo just confirmed at a press conference that his Manhattan office was also targeted with a package.
posted by halation at 10:12 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
The only logic is to absolve Republicans of all responsibility and blame Democrats for somehow causing their own victimhood. That’s how organized dehumainzation and eliminationist rhetoric works. They’re not presenting a coherent argument, they’re working to justify future violence even at this moment.
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:12 AM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 10:12 AM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
A Skinsuit full of cockroaches: Violence is never OK. Reports of bombs sent to the homes of Obama, Clinton, and Soros are deeply, deeply disturbing. America is better than this. Political disagreements are fine, even healthy, but we should always be civil and respect each other’s humanity.
As someone pointed out on Twitter, just the night before Cruz was leading a chant of "LOCK HIM UP" aimed at his political opponent, apparently for the unspeakable crime of running for office as a Democrat in Texas.
posted by Gelatin at 10:12 AM on October 24, 2018 [38 favorites]
As someone pointed out on Twitter, just the night before Cruz was leading a chant of "LOCK HIM UP" aimed at his political opponent, apparently for the unspeakable crime of running for office as a Democrat in Texas.
posted by Gelatin at 10:12 AM on October 24, 2018 [38 favorites]
Seems unbelievable that Elizabeth Warren and Maxine Waters have not been targeted. I can't imagine how the folks at their offices are feeling today. I hope every major news outlet eviscerates the Republicans/Conservatives pointing fingers at Democrats and screaming FALSE FLAG. Of course Trump will never acknowledge his incendiary rhetoric as a cause of this, but every reporter should ask about it every chance they get to every elected official, every appointee, every GOP mouthpiece.
posted by pjsky at 10:15 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by pjsky at 10:15 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
As far as Abrams to Kemp vote switching goes, much as I hate the Republicans I think its mechanical error not fraud.
First, and most important, if you're going to actually swap votes around on a voting machine it is trivial to do so without displaying that on the screen. No actual vote theft would involve showing what you're doing to the victim.
Also, there's basically two kinds of touch screen. The good but expensive kind is the kind on your phone, the shitty but cheap kind is the kind found on older voting machines and some older PIN pads in grocery stores (and more recently on those touch screen ten thousand and one flavor soda fountains). The cheap and shitty kind frequently needs to be recalibrated and, worse, will eventually permanently fail in a way that recalibration can't fix.
I spent a lot of time as a young tech working with the old and shitty touch screens, and in general when they did start failing they'd **TEND** to fail by interpreting input as being closer to the center of the screen and further from the edges. Which would, assuming alphabetic order, tend to swap Abrams for Kemp, but not Kemp for Abrams. A person trying to vote Kemp on a machine failing like that would likely just have to touch the Kemp area harder, or wiggle their finger around, which is still a machine error but not the kind most people really notice or pay attention to in the way they would when seeing the machine swap their vote.
TL;DR: It seems extremely unlikely that the Abrams to Kemp vote swapping on the machines is deliberate fraud, it's just evidence of our voting infrastructure being cheap and old and in desperate need of updating or downdating to paper ballots, take your pick.
posted by sotonohito at 10:17 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
First, and most important, if you're going to actually swap votes around on a voting machine it is trivial to do so without displaying that on the screen. No actual vote theft would involve showing what you're doing to the victim.
Also, there's basically two kinds of touch screen. The good but expensive kind is the kind on your phone, the shitty but cheap kind is the kind found on older voting machines and some older PIN pads in grocery stores (and more recently on those touch screen ten thousand and one flavor soda fountains). The cheap and shitty kind frequently needs to be recalibrated and, worse, will eventually permanently fail in a way that recalibration can't fix.
I spent a lot of time as a young tech working with the old and shitty touch screens, and in general when they did start failing they'd **TEND** to fail by interpreting input as being closer to the center of the screen and further from the edges. Which would, assuming alphabetic order, tend to swap Abrams for Kemp, but not Kemp for Abrams. A person trying to vote Kemp on a machine failing like that would likely just have to touch the Kemp area harder, or wiggle their finger around, which is still a machine error but not the kind most people really notice or pay attention to in the way they would when seeing the machine swap their vote.
TL;DR: It seems extremely unlikely that the Abrams to Kemp vote swapping on the machines is deliberate fraud, it's just evidence of our voting infrastructure being cheap and old and in desperate need of updating or downdating to paper ballots, take your pick.
posted by sotonohito at 10:17 AM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Also, Nancy Pelosi and Dianne Feinstein. What a terrifying day.
posted by all about eevee at 10:18 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by all about eevee at 10:18 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Just recalled the statements Trump made at his recent rally about the politician that hit a reporter being "my kind of guy" and that there was "nothing to be ashamed about."
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 10:19 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by joseph conrad is fully awesome at 10:19 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
As it turns out, the real victims here are Republicans, and especially Meghan McCain.
posted by zombieflanders at 10:20 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 10:20 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
Yesterday's Schumer tweet sure hasn't aged well, but Chuck has yet to make any kind of statement today
Along with the realization that institutions aren't going to save us, we should all have long since concluded that Chuck Schumer specifically isn't going to save us. He has demonstrated time and again that he is not up to the challenge, and is always going to fall back on some combination of both-sides-ism and a belief in a level of decorum that has long since ceased to exist.
The sooner he is ousted, the better.
posted by tocts at 10:21 AM on October 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
Along with the realization that institutions aren't going to save us, we should all have long since concluded that Chuck Schumer specifically isn't going to save us. He has demonstrated time and again that he is not up to the challenge, and is always going to fall back on some combination of both-sides-ism and a belief in a level of decorum that has long since ceased to exist.
The sooner he is ousted, the better.
posted by tocts at 10:21 AM on October 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
The most surprising thing about the bombs today is that it took almost two years into the Trump presidency for it to happen. Glad no bombs have actually detonated...so far.
posted by COD at 10:21 AM on October 24, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by COD at 10:21 AM on October 24, 2018 [24 favorites]
All of these bulky packages seem to have been mailed on the same day. I wonder how you do that without anybody remembering you or anyone noticing the bogus return address. Any word whether the shipper was USPS, FedEx or UPS.
posted by JackFlash at 10:22 AM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by JackFlash at 10:22 AM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
So, so fitting that instead of any kind of response to the attempted mass-bombing of his entire party, Schumer's last tweet is:
@SenSchumer
It is simply not true that Republicans will protect coverage for pre-existing conditions, Mr. President.
Dude is going to "it is simply not true, Mister President" us into Hell itself.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:23 AM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
@SenSchumer
It is simply not true that Republicans will protect coverage for pre-existing conditions, Mr. President.
Dude is going to "it is simply not true, Mister President" us into Hell itself.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:23 AM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
"@bessbell Bess Kalb
We're calling this person the Magabomber. Pass it on.
Then vote."
posted by pjsky at 10:24 AM on October 24, 2018 [76 favorites]
We're calling this person the Magabomber. Pass it on.
Then vote."
posted by pjsky at 10:24 AM on October 24, 2018 [76 favorites]
>>Voter-suppression shuffle: Officials close only polling site in majority-Latino Kansas town >The polling site was moved outside the town limits to a place where there is no public transportation. Voto Latino is working to provide free rides to the polls in there and are asking for donations to help fund it.
Lyft is also offering free rides.
posted by msalt at 10:24 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
Lyft is also offering free rides.
posted by msalt at 10:24 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
A bit of good news: the SD Union-Trib / Harris incident appears to be unrelated, or, at the very least, it's an entirely different MO. The suspicious packages were harmless, just boxes full of apparently-abandoned household items, and were not mailed, but were left at the building last night (with a suspect caught on security footage).
posted by halation at 10:37 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by halation at 10:37 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
I can summarize some of the recent "the left is also violent" rhetoric by paraphrasing Mel Brooks: violence is when you raise your voice at me in a restaurant. Civility is when you receive a bomb in the mail and die.
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:37 AM on October 24, 2018 [56 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 10:37 AM on October 24, 2018 [56 favorites]
I know we should be past being alarmed and appalled, but it is seriously alarming and appalling just how rapidly Republicans are mainstreaming the false flag theory, a.k.a. the sneaky Democrats are bombing themselves.
It usually takes a day or two for the conspiracy theories to make it from the batshit bloggers/Tweeters to mainstream commentators and another day or two for elected officials to start alluding to them. Today, it's only been a couple hours and a few mainstream GOP/rightwing commentators (Coulter, Limbaugh) are already saying the Dems must have done this.
At this rate, some of the more low-rent congressmen will be spouting the conspiracy theory by dinnertime and Trump will declare the theory "very likely" at his rally tonight.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 10:38 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
It usually takes a day or two for the conspiracy theories to make it from the batshit bloggers/Tweeters to mainstream commentators and another day or two for elected officials to start alluding to them. Today, it's only been a couple hours and a few mainstream GOP/rightwing commentators (Coulter, Limbaugh) are already saying the Dems must have done this.
At this rate, some of the more low-rent congressmen will be spouting the conspiracy theory by dinnertime and Trump will declare the theory "very likely" at his rally tonight.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 10:38 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
The false flag stuff doesn't make sense by usual conspiracy theory standards. Why both with Brennan? He's not in office. Or Kamala Harris? She's not up for election. How does this "help" her?
Anything that makes them feel bad is fake. Their side is nothing but virtuous. Anything that might hurt them or make them look or feel bad can only be the lies of the Enemy.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:39 AM on October 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
Anything that makes them feel bad is fake. Their side is nothing but virtuous. Anything that might hurt them or make them look or feel bad can only be the lies of the Enemy.
posted by Pope Guilty at 10:39 AM on October 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
“obviously it's a huge false equivalence to place "being rude at a diner" to "sending bombs" but what i'm how much america has been prepped to grade right wing/reactionary behavior on a curve
harassment/threats against abortion clinics has been "well, what're you gonna do"” @spacetwinks
When you expect a group to be terrible, they get more leniacy to be terrible. The fact that a lot of right wing groups got domestic terror training by trying to bomb abortion clinics and assassinate doctors just seems to get ignored.
posted by The Whelk at 10:39 AM on October 24, 2018 [22 favorites]
harassment/threats against abortion clinics has been "well, what're you gonna do"” @spacetwinks
When you expect a group to be terrible, they get more leniacy to be terrible. The fact that a lot of right wing groups got domestic terror training by trying to bomb abortion clinics and assassinate doctors just seems to get ignored.
posted by The Whelk at 10:39 AM on October 24, 2018 [22 favorites]
My all-time favorite take currently percolating through all strata of the right-wing internet: "it has to be a false flag, because we conservatives know how to make bombs that go off properly."
Sums it up pretty good, I think.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:39 AM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
Sums it up pretty good, I think.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:39 AM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
Let's take a moment to appreciate the brave postal and delivery service workers who deal with the possibility of being collateral damage in some lunatic's deranged plot every single day that they show up to work.
posted by MrVisible at 10:39 AM on October 24, 2018 [102 favorites]
posted by MrVisible at 10:39 AM on October 24, 2018 [102 favorites]
It usually takes a day or two for the conspiracy theories to make it from the batshit bloggers/Tweeters to mainstream commentators and another day or two for elected officials to start alluding to them. Today, it's only been a couple hours and a few mainstream GOP/rightwing commentators (Coulter, Limbaugh) are already saying the Dems must have done this.
They've had decades of practice following each other without directly communicating.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:41 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
They've had decades of practice following each other without directly communicating.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:41 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
When you expect a group to be terrible, they get more leniacy to be terrible.
Which is exactly the media failure mode Trump has exploited since the beginning of his campaign.
posted by Gelatin at 10:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Which is exactly the media failure mode Trump has exploited since the beginning of his campaign.
posted by Gelatin at 10:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Seems unbelievable that Elizabeth Warren and Maxine Waters have not been targeted.
Suspicious package intercepted by Capitol Hill police was addressed to Democratic California congresswoman Maxine Waters, according to three sources.
posted by zombieflanders at 10:45 AM on October 24, 2018 [24 favorites]
Suspicious package intercepted by Capitol Hill police was addressed to Democratic California congresswoman Maxine Waters, according to three sources.
posted by zombieflanders at 10:45 AM on October 24, 2018 [24 favorites]
The explanations about voting machines from Jpfed and sotonohito both make sense. Nonetheless, I can imagine the local authorities using those facts as a reason to not replace the machines: "If there's no malice going on, then why change anything?"
Also, while I'm generally against electronic voting for all the usual reasons, this sounds more like a problem in the realm of butterfly ballots and similar physical/mechanical issues. I actually support touchscreen interfaces (with some kind of screen reader for blind voters?) as the theoretically-ideal input system for generating paper ballots that the voter inspects physically. Then you can always improve them as needed from one election to another (e.g add more language translation options, randomize the list of candidates, change the voting system itself to a drag-and-drop ranked order, etc). The output could be as simple as the candidate's name on its own (with some corresponding machine-readable bit) so that almost no possible confusion is left once the ballot is cast.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 10:45 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Also, while I'm generally against electronic voting for all the usual reasons, this sounds more like a problem in the realm of butterfly ballots and similar physical/mechanical issues. I actually support touchscreen interfaces (with some kind of screen reader for blind voters?) as the theoretically-ideal input system for generating paper ballots that the voter inspects physically. Then you can always improve them as needed from one election to another (e.g add more language translation options, randomize the list of candidates, change the voting system itself to a drag-and-drop ranked order, etc). The output could be as simple as the candidate's name on its own (with some corresponding machine-readable bit) so that almost no possible confusion is left once the ballot is cast.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 10:45 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Kemp is Secretary of State. He was part of the decision to not replace the fucking 16 year old Windows 2000 touch screen nightmares. I don't care if they are malfunctioning or programmed to change all votes to his, I just want them gone and to fill in a damn bubble with a damn pencil on a damn piece of paper that goes into a damn scanner machine that counts my damn votes while also saving the damn piece of paper in case we need a damn recount.
posted by hydropsyche at 10:47 AM on October 24, 2018 [53 favorites]
posted by hydropsyche at 10:47 AM on October 24, 2018 [53 favorites]
In addition to the bomb threats, several families in the Dallas area (Richardson specifically, a suburb just north of the city) woke up just after midnight on Tuesday because the Beto O'Rourke and Colin Allred signs in their yards were set on fire.
People with children are now waking up to the fire dept putting out their yards in the middle of the night in my city, but they'll investigate it as "criminal mischief."
It's not just elected Dems or donors in the crosshairs anymore. It feels like it's all of us. I'm also getting reports from friends in Irving that they're seeing people wearing solid red shirts stand in parking spaces, block walkways/roads and verbally harass non-white voters entering early polling locations.
Everyone please be careful out there...
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 10:48 AM on October 24, 2018 [68 favorites]
People with children are now waking up to the fire dept putting out their yards in the middle of the night in my city, but they'll investigate it as "criminal mischief."
It's not just elected Dems or donors in the crosshairs anymore. It feels like it's all of us. I'm also getting reports from friends in Irving that they're seeing people wearing solid red shirts stand in parking spaces, block walkways/roads and verbally harass non-white voters entering early polling locations.
Everyone please be careful out there...
posted by Unicorn on the cob at 10:48 AM on October 24, 2018 [68 favorites]
JFC, they've fixed it now, but Fox News tweeted: (emphasis mine)
"Suspicious package sent to CNN contained 'some kind' of white power, NYPD says"
see @kashanacauley Kashana for screen shot
posted by pjsky at 10:48 AM on October 24, 2018 [27 favorites]
"Suspicious package sent to CNN contained 'some kind' of white power, NYPD says"
see @kashanacauley Kashana for screen shot
posted by pjsky at 10:48 AM on October 24, 2018 [27 favorites]
What would we call an Islamic religious leader who said that journalists were the enemies of the people, and that it was good to attack journalists, and who tried to help an Islamic government cover up the political murder of a journalist?
Most Americans would have little difficulty in calling him a terrorist leader.
What would we call the people banding together to financially and politically aid such a leader?
Most Americans would have little difficulty in calling them a terrorist organization.
However, I suspect that the Senator Ernst (R-IA) DC office staffer who finally admitted to me that the Republican Party was a terrorist organization was mainly trying to get me to hang up the phone
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:48 AM on October 24, 2018 [61 favorites]
Most Americans would have little difficulty in calling him a terrorist leader.
What would we call the people banding together to financially and politically aid such a leader?
Most Americans would have little difficulty in calling them a terrorist organization.
However, I suspect that the Senator Ernst (R-IA) DC office staffer who finally admitted to me that the Republican Party was a terrorist organization was mainly trying to get me to hang up the phone
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 10:48 AM on October 24, 2018 [61 favorites]
Part of me (the part that has spent too much time on the internet) wonders if the date of October 24 was chosen to coincide with the reveal of Operation Gladio back in 1990, because that seems like the kind of too-clever-and-entirely-dumb sort of thing that happens at the centre of the Dark Enlightenment / Warhammer 40K Venn diagram where this kind of hideousness festers. I mean, this conspiracy has everything: NATO cold war shit, CIA/MI6/Deep State involvement, paramilitary arms caches, false-flag terrorist attack coordination protocols, a code-name of the word for an ancient Roman footsoldier's sword and a cool motto in Latin ("Silendo Libertatem Servo")...
posted by halation at 10:51 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by halation at 10:51 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
2018: Fox News reporter Griff Jenkins hides in bushes to harass Honduran refugees
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:52 AM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:52 AM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
hydropsyche: "Kemp is Secretary of State. He was part of the decision to not replace the fucking 16 year old Windows 2000 touch screen nightmares. I don't care if they are malfunctioning or programmed to change all votes to his, I just want them gone and to fill in a damn bubble with a damn pencil on a damn piece of paper that goes into a damn scanner machine that counts my damn votes while also saving the damn piece of paper in case we need a damn recount."
200% yes. Just trying to distinguish between passive and active malfeasance.
(remember to vote for Barrow for Georgia SOS!)
posted by Chrysostom at 10:55 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
200% yes. Just trying to distinguish between passive and active malfeasance.
(remember to vote for Barrow for Georgia SOS!)
posted by Chrysostom at 10:55 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
How Republicans are using the language of #MeToo against Democrats - Anna North, Vox
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:56 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
… Republican candidates largely seem interested in speaking out against harassment and assault as a way to score political points. They’re attempting to thread a needle on Ford — claiming to believe she was assaulted but not that Kavanaugh was the perpetrator, even though Ford says she is “100 percent” certain of his identity. And then they’re criticizing Democrats for failing to “believe women” — sometimes when no women have even come forward.Standard Republican play - turn an opponents strength into a weakness. Or as we say these days, 'weaponizing'.
...
There will be times, for both parties, when supporting women who report sexual misconduct will be politically inconvenient. Democrats have already seen that with Franken. Republicans, however, have yet to accept this reality. For them, #MeToo remains little more than a political tool — something they can use to attack their opponents, and simply put away when it’s no longer needed.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:56 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Kemp is Secretary of State. He was part of the decision to not replace the fucking 16 year old Windows 2000 touch screen nightmares.
He and comrade Kislyak, right? I hope something finally blows that weird visit open.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 10:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
He and comrade Kislyak, right? I hope something finally blows that weird visit open.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 10:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
So, so fitting that instead of any kind of response to the attempted mass-bombing of his entire party, Schumer's last tweet is:
@SenSchumer
It is simply not true that Republicans will protect coverage for pre-existing conditions, Mr. President.
Dude is going to "it is simply not true, Mister President" us into Hell itself.
That tweet was part of a multi-tweet thread, all of which Twitter says were tweeted at 6:30. That means that it was unlikely to have been typed in at 6:30; it was written beforehand (we have no idea of knowing when) and scheduled to go out at that time. The fact that it was not written to address the bombing situation is therefore not surprising.
Also, no shit Schumer isn't going to "save you". Since when does the minority leader of the Senate have anything to do with mail bombers? What effect do you expect him, had he taken the optimal course of action, to have on the situation?
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
@SenSchumer
It is simply not true that Republicans will protect coverage for pre-existing conditions, Mr. President.
Dude is going to "it is simply not true, Mister President" us into Hell itself.
That tweet was part of a multi-tweet thread, all of which Twitter says were tweeted at 6:30. That means that it was unlikely to have been typed in at 6:30; it was written beforehand (we have no idea of knowing when) and scheduled to go out at that time. The fact that it was not written to address the bombing situation is therefore not surprising.
Also, no shit Schumer isn't going to "save you". Since when does the minority leader of the Senate have anything to do with mail bombers? What effect do you expect him, had he taken the optimal course of action, to have on the situation?
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
JFC, they've fixed it now, but Fox News tweeted: (emphasis mine)
"Suspicious package sent to CNN contained 'some kind' of white power, NYPD says"
That realization you're typing a phrase so much that autocorrect has learned it and starts suggesting it all the time.
posted by mikepop at 10:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
"Suspicious package sent to CNN contained 'some kind' of white power, NYPD says"
That realization you're typing a phrase so much that autocorrect has learned it and starts suggesting it all the time.
posted by mikepop at 10:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
Mrs. Betty Bowers @BettyBowers
Giveaway that the domestic terrorist is a Trump supporter: They spelled Florida "FLORIDS" on the return address.
includes photo of envelop mailed to John Brennan/CNN
posted by pjsky at 10:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
Giveaway that the domestic terrorist is a Trump supporter: They spelled Florida "FLORIDS" on the return address.
includes photo of envelop mailed to John Brennan/CNN
posted by pjsky at 10:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
There will be times, for both parties, when supporting women who report sexual misconduct will be politically inconvenient. Democrats have already seen that with Franken.
But politically inconvenient or no, Democrats did the right thing -- Franken resigned. Republicans refuse to relinquish power so easily.
posted by Gelatin at 10:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
But politically inconvenient or no, Democrats did the right thing -- Franken resigned. Republicans refuse to relinquish power so easily.
posted by Gelatin at 10:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
I normally don't do the meta stuff but I have to give a strong and enthusiastic vote for not talking about how much we hate Chuck Schumer right now
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:01 AM on October 24, 2018 [45 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:01 AM on October 24, 2018 [45 favorites]
According to the Guardian:
Another suspicious package has been intercepted at a Congressional mail screening facility in Capitol Heights, Maryland, according to CNN.
The Capitol Police bomb squad responded.
Other suspicious packages found around the country have proved to be false alarms. The California building containing offices of Sen. Kamala Harris and the San Diego Union-Tribune was briefly evacuated after someone spotted a stack of packages they found suspicious, the paper reported, but they were found to contain a shoe, children’s books, an empty bag of chips and other miscellaneous items.
This day gets curiouser and curiouser. Empty bag of chips?
posted by pjsky at 11:01 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Another suspicious package has been intercepted at a Congressional mail screening facility in Capitol Heights, Maryland, according to CNN.
The Capitol Police bomb squad responded.
Other suspicious packages found around the country have proved to be false alarms. The California building containing offices of Sen. Kamala Harris and the San Diego Union-Tribune was briefly evacuated after someone spotted a stack of packages they found suspicious, the paper reported, but they were found to contain a shoe, children’s books, an empty bag of chips and other miscellaneous items.
This day gets curiouser and curiouser. Empty bag of chips?
posted by pjsky at 11:01 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
ABC News White House correspondent Tara Palmeri now reporting that the latest suspicious package intercepted at the Congressional screening office was addressed to Rep Maxine Waters.
posted by pjsky at 11:06 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by pjsky at 11:06 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
the right-wing fever swamp machine will very soon label it as a false flag operation done by the Democrats/leftists
They already are doing that:
• Limbaugh's show right now is basically indistinguishable from what Alex Jones would say. A caller says she suspects the Democrats paid someone to send the bombs. Limbaugh: "Exactly!"
• Pro-Trump Media Insists Bomb Threats Against Clinton, Obama, CNN are ‘Pure BS,’ a ‘False Flag’
posted by StrawberryPie at 11:07 AM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
They already are doing that:
• Limbaugh's show right now is basically indistinguishable from what Alex Jones would say. A caller says she suspects the Democrats paid someone to send the bombs. Limbaugh: "Exactly!"
• Pro-Trump Media Insists Bomb Threats Against Clinton, Obama, CNN are ‘Pure BS,’ a ‘False Flag’
posted by StrawberryPie at 11:07 AM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
Meanwhile, CNN reports that FBI is still investigating whether the attempted bombings have a "nexus to terrorism," which is sort of like wondering whether the Boston Strangler had a nexus to murder.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:09 AM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:09 AM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
The Onion: "Chuck Schumer Relieved He’s Never Taken Stance Meaningful Enough To Have Someone Mail Him Explosive"
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 11:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [96 favorites]
posted by CheesesOfBrazil at 11:10 AM on October 24, 2018 [96 favorites]
NY Gov Cuomo just confirmed at a press conference that his Manhattan office was also targeted with a package.
Update on this one: it turned out to be a harmless package of "literature." Why Cuomo rushed to a press conference to announce he had received a package after his office denied the same is a mystery.
posted by zachlipton at 11:11 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Update on this one: it turned out to be a harmless package of "literature." Why Cuomo rushed to a press conference to announce he had received a package after his office denied the same is a mystery.
posted by zachlipton at 11:11 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Why Cuomo rushed to a press conference to announce he had received a package after his office denied the same is a mystery.
Because the most dangerous place in Albany is between Andrew Cuomo and a camera?
posted by Etrigan at 11:13 AM on October 24, 2018 [37 favorites]
Because the most dangerous place in Albany is between Andrew Cuomo and a camera?
posted by Etrigan at 11:13 AM on October 24, 2018 [37 favorites]
"Expert guy" on MSNBC conjecturing about how this is probably a pre-election false flag
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:18 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 11:18 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
NBC is live-broadcasting the First Lady talking about how her Be Best campaign helps combat drug abuse. That's what is happening in our plane of reality right now
Her husband, the President, praised her for being able to speak English.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:21 AM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
Her husband, the President, praised her for being able to speak English.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:21 AM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
Plane bearing Luftwaffe markings crashes and burns on California freeway
Normal country, normal era
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:28 AM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
Normal country, normal era
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:28 AM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
The President says that acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in America. Presumably this is a recent development that occurred after the President praised Representative Gianforte for his criminal assault on a journalist, the enemy of the people. Now we must wait to see if the winds of change blow once more upon our great nation, and the moral worthiness of political violence therein
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:28 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:28 AM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
Trump is speaking at his opioids event. He starts off by thanking his wife for the introduction: "that's just one of many languages that you know, so it's so amazing that you can do it."
He reads carefully off the prompter on the mail bombs without, usual platitudes about safety being his highest priority, he's had a briefing from officials, there's an investigation, we'll bring those responsible to justice, etc... "Acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United State of America" says the man who offered to pay the legal fees of people who commit violence at his rallies.
He's very proud of himself for getting through that without screwing it up, so he ad-libs: "it's a very bipartisian statement, I can tell you from both sides we both agree on that." He's also "extremely angry, upset and unhappy."
And we've now moved on to the portion of the program where he tells lies about how he's solved the opioid crisis, which seems to consist of reading dozens and dozens of names of politicians and saying thank you.
posted by zachlipton at 11:29 AM on October 24, 2018 [22 favorites]
He reads carefully off the prompter on the mail bombs without, usual platitudes about safety being his highest priority, he's had a briefing from officials, there's an investigation, we'll bring those responsible to justice, etc... "Acts or threats of political violence of any kind have no place in the United State of America" says the man who offered to pay the legal fees of people who commit violence at his rallies.
He's very proud of himself for getting through that without screwing it up, so he ad-libs: "it's a very bipartisian statement, I can tell you from both sides we both agree on that." He's also "extremely angry, upset and unhappy."
And we've now moved on to the portion of the program where he tells lies about how he's solved the opioid crisis, which seems to consist of reading dozens and dozens of names of politicians and saying thank you.
posted by zachlipton at 11:29 AM on October 24, 2018 [22 favorites]
"Expert guy" on MSNBC conjecturing about how this is probably a pre-election false flag
What, on MSNBC? Are you sure? Do you know who it was? I want to see a video!
posted by Justinian at 11:34 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
What, on MSNBC? Are you sure? Do you know who it was? I want to see a video!
posted by Justinian at 11:34 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Unless the bombs were in packages of under 13 ounces, they would have had to have been mailed from inside a post office.
United States Postal Service: If your mailpiece weighs more than 13 oz and you're using postage stamps, take it to a Post Office retail counter to mail it. If put in your mailbox for pickup service, the carrier will leave it. If dropped in a blue collection box or lobby location, it will be returned to you.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:34 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
United States Postal Service: If your mailpiece weighs more than 13 oz and you're using postage stamps, take it to a Post Office retail counter to mail it. If put in your mailbox for pickup service, the carrier will leave it. If dropped in a blue collection box or lobby location, it will be returned to you.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 11:34 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
@AriBerman:
Breaking: federal court rules Georgia can't reject absentee ballots for mismatched signatures. 1 in 10 absentee ballots rejected in Gwinnett County, GA's 2nd largest. Blacks, Latinos & Asian-American voters more likely to have ballots rejected than whites. via @sophlin229 @ACLUposted by Chrysostom at 11:36 AM on October 24, 2018 [72 favorites]
I believe the USPS weight thing is an anti-terrorism move post-Sept 11.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:36 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 11:36 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
I flipped to MSNBC. Jesus, Ray is right... except the person I see riding this false flag shit is not a rando... it's frikkin Stephanie Ruhle. I can't believe she knows what she's saying?
posted by Justinian at 11:37 AM on October 24, 2018
posted by Justinian at 11:37 AM on October 24, 2018
Supposedly some or all of these packages were delivered by courier or otherwise not through the postal service. None of the pictures posted online have a postmark or anything to mark the postage stamps on the envelopes as cancelled (i.e. used for postage) so it seems like they may just be there so the package could blend in with properly delivered mail.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:38 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 11:38 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Meanwhile, CNN reports that FBI is still investigating whether the attempted bombings have a "nexus to terrorism," which is sort of like wondering whether the Boston Strangler had a nexus to murder.
Susan Hennessey tweets:
Susan Hennessey tweets:
People are criticizing this but "terrorism" is a legal term of art for federal law enforcement and we should not want them to use it until the determination is supported by sufficient facts.posted by a snickering nuthatch at 11:39 AM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
There are circumstances in which it is reasonable to colloquially use the term terrorism, that do not yet meet statutory or guideline definitions. My point is we shouldn't read a value judgment into these agencies' decisions to wait to make a formal determination.
I wrote this three years ago in a different context but it includes analysis of when and why the federal government uses the term "terrorism" in early investigative decisions.
says the man who offered to pay the legal fees of people who commit violence at his rallies
And don't forget the “Second Amendment solutions” if his followers didn't get things they wanted during a Clinton 45 admnistration.
posted by XMLicious at 11:40 AM on October 24, 2018 [27 favorites]
I feel for Ali Velshi on MSNBC dealing with all these numpties saying "who could know who is doing this?" and implying that it could be a feint by the bomber that they first picked liberals.
(edit: corrected last name)
posted by bootlegpop at 11:40 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
(edit: corrected last name)
posted by bootlegpop at 11:40 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
Supposedly some or all of these packages were delivered by courier or otherwise not through the postal service.
Good. Otherwise, I was expecting Trump's presser to lambast the USPS for delivering so many packages two days late.
posted by delfin at 11:41 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Good. Otherwise, I was expecting Trump's presser to lambast the USPS for delivering so many packages two days late.
posted by delfin at 11:41 AM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
I feel for Ali Vashid on MSNBC dealing with all these numpties
Yeah, thankfully Velshi is not putting up with any bullshit. My impression is that Ruhle is playing "devil's advocate". But that's really not a good look. We don't need anyone advocating for the devil right now, Trump is good enough at doing it.
posted by Justinian at 11:41 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
Yeah, thankfully Velshi is not putting up with any bullshit. My impression is that Ruhle is playing "devil's advocate". But that's really not a good look. We don't need anyone advocating for the devil right now, Trump is good enough at doing it.
posted by Justinian at 11:41 AM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
I flipped to MSNBC. Jesus, Ray is right... except the person I see riding this false flag shit is not a rando... it's frikkin Stephanie Ruhle. I can't believe she knows what she's saying?
If there is one lesson to be learned by our time, it's to believe people when they say "I support fascism."
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:42 AM on October 24, 2018 [21 favorites]
If there is one lesson to be learned by our time, it's to believe people when they say "I support fascism."
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:42 AM on October 24, 2018 [21 favorites]
Plane bearing Luftwaffe markings crashes and burns on California freeway
Normal country, normal era
If you wanted to know the "era" when military planes of various sort weren't flying out of Camarillo/Point Mugu/etc, you'd probably have to go to before the Wright Bros. This isn't even the first German plane to crash around that area is recent memory.
posted by sideshow at 11:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Normal country, normal era
If you wanted to know the "era" when military planes of various sort weren't flying out of Camarillo/Point Mugu/etc, you'd probably have to go to before the Wright Bros. This isn't even the first German plane to crash around that area is recent memory.
posted by sideshow at 11:43 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
I believe the USPS weight thing is an anti-terrorism move post-Sept 11.
Actually, weight restrictions went into effect in '96 largely in response to the Unabomber, but the limit was lowered from 16 ounces to 13 ounces after 9/11.
posted by SpaceBass at 11:44 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Actually, weight restrictions went into effect in '96 largely in response to the Unabomber, but the limit was lowered from 16 ounces to 13 ounces after 9/11.
posted by SpaceBass at 11:44 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
It's sensible to acknowledge that a small-scale "false flag" operation is a possibility and that we shouldn't jump to conclusions regarding the attacker. Saying it's a probability is a dangerous lie. One thing that is not in doubt is that the President of the United States has explicitly endorsed political violence, while telling the most barbaric lies to demonize his opponents in politics and the press. Trump is already responsible for political violence; the addition of explosives seemed inevitable from day one.
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:44 AM on October 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 11:44 AM on October 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
The entire "who could know who is doing this" and "false flag" framing strikes me as misguided. Ignore political parties for a second. The bombs were sent to the people and entities the President, who encourages violence, has attacked time and time again. Forget making assumptions about which "side" the bomber is on, focus on the guy picking the targets.
posted by zachlipton at 11:44 AM on October 24, 2018 [37 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:44 AM on October 24, 2018 [37 favorites]
Unless the bombs were in packages of under 13 ounces, they would have had to have been mailed from inside a post office.
This is true only for packages mailed with normal stamps. You can mail a package with a printed label ordered through usps.com of any weight through a drop box, as long as you can get it to fit. (Of course, you need a credit card to buy a printed label, so in theory there is some traceability, but credit card numbers can be stolen.)
posted by enn at 11:45 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
This is true only for packages mailed with normal stamps. You can mail a package with a printed label ordered through usps.com of any weight through a drop box, as long as you can get it to fit. (Of course, you need a credit card to buy a printed label, so in theory there is some traceability, but credit card numbers can be stolen.)
posted by enn at 11:45 AM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
This person used a ton of stamps. Like, way more postage than necessary.
posted by all about eevee at 11:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by all about eevee at 11:49 AM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
This person used a ton of stamps. Like, way more postage than necessary.
That's one of the things to watch for, because it means the person was specifically avoiding interacting with a clerk and wanted to make sure it didn't get rejected for insufficient postage. Other things to watch out for include misspelled addressees and weird lumpy packages, so this batch is practically training aids for the mail room.
posted by Etrigan at 11:54 AM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
That's one of the things to watch for, because it means the person was specifically avoiding interacting with a clerk and wanted to make sure it didn't get rejected for insufficient postage. Other things to watch out for include misspelled addressees and weird lumpy packages, so this batch is practically training aids for the mail room.
posted by Etrigan at 11:54 AM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
Waiting for the "false-false-flag theory": the packages were sent by conservatives trying to make it appear as though they were liberals trying to make it appear as though they were conservatives.
posted by gurple at 11:56 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by gurple at 11:56 AM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
Something crystallized in my mind recently when we criticize and express disappointment in journalists and media sources (like NPR, NYT etc)
1) The journalists don't want to end up like Jamal Koshogghi
2) it was the republicans who sold us the notion that these are left-leanjng instead of right-leaning sources
3) they have bills to pay and need access and cooperation from the government and powerful corporations.
so i too am disappointed and we should still call out their shit. but i guess my outrage is switching to acceptance.
if republicans steal the november elections these journalists and media companies will not save us, they will save themselves and maintain peace and public order and not stir up rebellion. If we are looking to the as a vanguard they will diaappoint.
posted by Anchorite_of_Palgrave at 11:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
1) The journalists don't want to end up like Jamal Koshogghi
2) it was the republicans who sold us the notion that these are left-leanjng instead of right-leaning sources
3) they have bills to pay and need access and cooperation from the government and powerful corporations.
so i too am disappointed and we should still call out their shit. but i guess my outrage is switching to acceptance.
if republicans steal the november elections these journalists and media companies will not save us, they will save themselves and maintain peace and public order and not stir up rebellion. If we are looking to the as a vanguard they will diaappoint.
posted by Anchorite_of_Palgrave at 11:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Waiting for the "false-false-flag theory": the packages were sent by conservatives trying to make it appear as though they were liberals trying to make it appear as though they were conservatives.
You're joking but I have seen literally this crazy theory put forward in seriousness. The idea being that conservatives will totally buy the false-flag theory and will thus be pissed off at the libs and will turn out to vote.
posted by Justinian at 11:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
You're joking but I have seen literally this crazy theory put forward in seriousness. The idea being that conservatives will totally buy the false-flag theory and will thus be pissed off at the libs and will turn out to vote.
posted by Justinian at 11:57 AM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
the right-wing fever swamp machine will very soon label it as a false flag operation done by the Democrats/leftists
They already are doing that
And then the so-called "liberal media" will inject those talking points into the national discourse by quoting Trump or Don Jr. or whoever, despite there being no evidence whatever that it's true, nor that anyone should accept the Trumps' word about anything, up to and including whether it's day or night.
Long before Obama was even elected liberal bloggers called the fever swamp - Limbaugh - Drudge - mainstream media chain -- in which the media airs the same worthless talking points from Drudge that they wouldn't from Limbaugh -- the "Mighty Wurlitzer" or sometimes the "Puke Funnel." And the mainstream media falls for it time and again, which means they aren't really falling for it at all.
posted by Gelatin at 12:00 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
They already are doing that
And then the so-called "liberal media" will inject those talking points into the national discourse by quoting Trump or Don Jr. or whoever, despite there being no evidence whatever that it's true, nor that anyone should accept the Trumps' word about anything, up to and including whether it's day or night.
Long before Obama was even elected liberal bloggers called the fever swamp - Limbaugh - Drudge - mainstream media chain -- in which the media airs the same worthless talking points from Drudge that they wouldn't from Limbaugh -- the "Mighty Wurlitzer" or sometimes the "Puke Funnel." And the mainstream media falls for it time and again, which means they aren't really falling for it at all.
posted by Gelatin at 12:00 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Its really horrifying how MSNBC is apparently hellbent on becoming FOX lite. I don't know why they seem to feel that the path forward is to become a right wing propaganda outlet, but they do.
Yesterday Megyn Kelly spent several minutes lamenting the fact that white people can't dress up in blackface for Halloween anymore, and today they had on a right wing apologist telling us the assassination attempts on several major Democratic figures is a "false flag".
Did they decide that since they haven't yet fired Rachel Maddow they need to "balance" her by having every other program on their lineup be extreme far right or what?
posted by sotonohito at 12:02 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Yesterday Megyn Kelly spent several minutes lamenting the fact that white people can't dress up in blackface for Halloween anymore, and today they had on a right wing apologist telling us the assassination attempts on several major Democratic figures is a "false flag".
Did they decide that since they haven't yet fired Rachel Maddow they need to "balance" her by having every other program on their lineup be extreme far right or what?
posted by sotonohito at 12:02 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
if republicans steal the november elections these journalists and media companies will not save us, they will save themselves and maintain peace and public order and not stir up rebellion. If we are looking to the as a vanguard they will disappoint.
This is the charitable interpretation. There's also: since fascism is friendlier to capital than socialism is, liberal capitalism's for-profit media will always side with fascism when given the choice.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:02 PM on October 24, 2018 [30 favorites]
This is the charitable interpretation. There's also: since fascism is friendlier to capital than socialism is, liberal capitalism's for-profit media will always side with fascism when given the choice.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:02 PM on October 24, 2018 [30 favorites]
MSNBC analyst says he has information he doesn't want to share because it could interfere with the ongoing operation. Maybe concern about encouraging copy-cats?
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:04 PM on October 24, 2018
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:04 PM on October 24, 2018
Julian Assange: Wikileaks co-founder to take legal action against Ecuador
Reuters: Exclusive: Ecuador No Longer to Intervene With UK For Wikileaks Assange - Foreign Minister
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:04 PM on October 24, 2018 [21 favorites]
Reuters: Exclusive: Ecuador No Longer to Intervene With UK For Wikileaks Assange - Foreign Minister
Ecuador does not plan to intervene with the British government on behalf of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in talks over his situation as an asylee in the South American country’s London embassy, Ecuador’s foreign minister said on Tuesday.But whatever will happen to Embassy Cat if Assange is evicted?
Foreign Minister José Valencia said in an interview with Reuters that Ecuador’s only responsibility was looking after Assange’s wellbeing, after the Australian national sued the country over new conditions placed on his asylum in the London embassy.
“Ecuador has no responsibility to take any further steps,” Valencia said. “We are not Mr. Assange’s lawyers, nor are we representatives of the British government. This is a matter to be resolved between Assange and Great Britain.”[...]
Valencia said he was “frustrated” by Assange’s decision to file suit in an Ecuadorean court last week over new terms of his asylum, which required him to pay for medical bills and telephone calls and to clean up after his pet cat.
“There is no obligation in international agreements for Ecuador to pay for things like Mr. Assange’s laundry,” he said.
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:04 PM on October 24, 2018 [21 favorites]
Oh, Mr. Bigglesworth, you have performed a public service.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 12:08 PM on October 24, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 12:08 PM on October 24, 2018 [36 favorites]
You're joking but I have seen literally this crazy theory put forward in seriousness. The idea being that conservatives will totally buy the false-flag theory and will thus be pissed off at the libs and will turn out to vote
this is honestly what i'm assuming
MSNBC analyst says he has information he doesn't want to share because it could interfere with the ongoing operation. Maybe concern about encouraging copy-cats?
Perhaps, but I think it's more likely that there are social-media-based coordination efforts, and investigators don't want the evidence deleted before it's properly preserved and followed-up-on.
posted by halation at 12:08 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
this is honestly what i'm assuming
MSNBC analyst says he has information he doesn't want to share because it could interfere with the ongoing operation. Maybe concern about encouraging copy-cats?
Perhaps, but I think it's more likely that there are social-media-based coordination efforts, and investigators don't want the evidence deleted before it's properly preserved and followed-up-on.
posted by halation at 12:08 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
If Julian Assange is unhappy with his conditions in the Ecuadorean embassy, a good method of seeking resolution prior to civil action would be, um, the action of... of walking out of the front door...
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:09 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 12:09 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
"Expert guy" on MSNBC conjecturing about how this is probably a pre-election false flag
I'm sorry, how did baseless bullshit like "false flag" get mainstreamed? (I mean, I know, that's really rhetorical.) In what way does it make any sense at this point to invent paranoid & counter-intuitive motives for these attempted mailbombs? We really have come to the point where Kent Brockman is asking whether, in the absence of any real evidence, viewers should start cracking each other's heads open and feasting on the goo inside.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:10 PM on October 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
I'm sorry, how did baseless bullshit like "false flag" get mainstreamed? (I mean, I know, that's really rhetorical.) In what way does it make any sense at this point to invent paranoid & counter-intuitive motives for these attempted mailbombs? We really have come to the point where Kent Brockman is asking whether, in the absence of any real evidence, viewers should start cracking each other's heads open and feasting on the goo inside.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:10 PM on October 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
It's possible these are just ironic letter bombs.
posted by theodolite at 12:10 PM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 12:10 PM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
The journalists don't want to end up like Jamal Koshogghi
I haven't run into anyone in person who scoffs at the Khashoggi stuff but I really want to ask someone who supports Trump's dissembling... we had other countries torture people for us, in those other countries, during the Bush II administration. If you find it acceptable for someone to be supposedly “just tortured” in a Saudi consulate in Turkey, would you actually object any more strenuously if other countries were torturing people for our government here in embassies and consulates within US borders?
The abetting of torture with no subsequent consequences under Obama (hello Gina Haspel in Saudi Arabia as the CIA director!) seemed like it put us on rails headed towards a day when we'll publicly accept pretexts for the US government to torture its own citizens.
posted by XMLicious at 12:13 PM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Yeah like when they go off confetti and balloons pop out of the bomb and the sound of applause. It could be.
posted by angrycat at 12:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 12:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
I'm sorry, how did baseless bullshit like "false flag" get mainstreamed?
I am genuinely surprised "false flag" isn't already trending on Twitter, to the point where I'm wondering if I have my settings wrong. This is where the right-wing nutjob sphere always goes, whether we're talking about people threatening and harassing women game developers or straight-up domestic mass shootings. The point of all that noise is to mainstream the idea.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
I am genuinely surprised "false flag" isn't already trending on Twitter, to the point where I'm wondering if I have my settings wrong. This is where the right-wing nutjob sphere always goes, whether we're talking about people threatening and harassing women game developers or straight-up domestic mass shootings. The point of all that noise is to mainstream the idea.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
It's possible these are just ironic letter bombs.
I think you mean "locker room bombs".
posted by Justinian at 12:17 PM on October 24, 2018 [34 favorites]
I think you mean "locker room bombs".
posted by Justinian at 12:17 PM on October 24, 2018 [34 favorites]
I'm sorry, how did baseless bullshit like "false flag" get mainstreamed?
The Republican march to the right brought paranoid lunacy into the mainstream, particularly Alex Jones, of whom Donald Trump is and for a long time has been a huge fan.
posted by Pope Guilty at 12:19 PM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
The Republican march to the right brought paranoid lunacy into the mainstream, particularly Alex Jones, of whom Donald Trump is and for a long time has been a huge fan.
posted by Pope Guilty at 12:19 PM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Put Caravan of Love on your protest music playlist. It's a perfect fit for this moment in history.
posted by adept256 at 12:19 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by adept256 at 12:19 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Plane bearing Luftwaffe markings crashes and burns on California freeway ... Normal country, normal era
It is in fact pretty normal for there to be antique Axis-power aircraft, more common antique aircraft modified to appear more like Axis aircraft, and more common antique aircraft in Axis livery flying around.
While I expect there is at least one actual rich nazi-loving fuckwit painting his old T-6-family plane in Luftwaffe colors just to be a dick, the primary reason these things exist is so that they can go to airshows and be dramatic as they fly around with Allied-power warbirds.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 12:24 PM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
It is in fact pretty normal for there to be antique Axis-power aircraft, more common antique aircraft modified to appear more like Axis aircraft, and more common antique aircraft in Axis livery flying around.
While I expect there is at least one actual rich nazi-loving fuckwit painting his old T-6-family plane in Luftwaffe colors just to be a dick, the primary reason these things exist is so that they can go to airshows and be dramatic as they fly around with Allied-power warbirds.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 12:24 PM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
Mod note: Suggestion to reel it back in a little from the jokes, songs, "these fuckers how could they" etc.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:28 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 12:28 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
@willsommer: House Republicans are launching a new attack ad featuring billionaire Democratic donor George Soros—two days after a bomb was found in his mailbox.
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:31 PM on October 24, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:31 PM on October 24, 2018 [26 favorites]
While I expect there is at least one actual rich nazi-loving fuckwit painting his old T-6-family plane in Luftwaffe colors just to be a dick
I know of at least one such dick in particular, in the area where this crash occurred, who keeps his Nazi plane in a private hangar where he also stores a bunch of other Nazi shit along with, just coincidentally, a bunch of Antebellum shit. He likes antiques, see, he's just a collector.
posted by contraption at 12:35 PM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
I know of at least one such dick in particular, in the area where this crash occurred, who keeps his Nazi plane in a private hangar where he also stores a bunch of other Nazi shit along with, just coincidentally, a bunch of Antebellum shit. He likes antiques, see, he's just a collector.
posted by contraption at 12:35 PM on October 24, 2018 [17 favorites]
I don't see how we stop this bleed from facts not being facts and wild conspiracy theories are propagated by the "authority figures" they benefit. I've been increasingly worried about that for a long time because they have no reason to stop right now and how would they even stop once they started?
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 12:36 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by OnTheLastCastle at 12:36 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Today in very good people on both sides, Democratic 2020 front runner Joe Biden:
This country has to come together. This division, this hatred, this ugliness has to end.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
This country has to come together. This division, this hatred, this ugliness has to end.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
Donald Trump, earlier this afternoon: "I just want to tell you that in these times, we have to unify. We have to come together[.]" (via GOP Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel)
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:48 PM on October 24, 2018
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:48 PM on October 24, 2018
Even the so-called "false flag" argument its stupid, because it concedes that when someone mails a bunch of letter bombs to Democratic politicians, of course people will presume conservatives -- and not, say, Islamic terrorists, Bolsheviks, or the Baader-Meinhof gang -- are behind it.
Now, why would anyone do that?
posted by Gelatin at 12:51 PM on October 24, 2018 [25 favorites]
Now, why would anyone do that?
posted by Gelatin at 12:51 PM on October 24, 2018 [25 favorites]
Statement from CNN Worldwide President Jeff Zucker:
posted by zachlipton at 12:52 PM on October 24, 2018 [61 favorites]
There is a total and complete lack of understanding at the White House about the seriousness of their continued attacks on the media. The President, and especially the White House Press Secretary, should understand their words matter. Thus far, they have shown no comprehension of that.Tough words from one of the people responsible for all this.
posted by zachlipton at 12:52 PM on October 24, 2018 [61 favorites]
Brad Heath (USA Today):
A federal court has ruled that a section of President Trump's executive order blocking "sanctuary cities" from receiving government grants is unconstitutional.posted by Chrysostom at 12:56 PM on October 24, 2018 [54 favorites]
I'm sorry, how did baseless bullshit like "false flag" get mainstreamed?
Because the channels that serve as intermediaries between primary sources/first-person experiences and the rest of us, to communicate information to us about the world beyond one's immediate physical location, are deeply corrupted. Our media do not present any consistent version of an objective, true view of the world.
If these bombs were in fact sent by a random individual, I have no doubt that thousands and thousands of paid employees of, e.g., Russia's IRA, immediately leveraged this 'serendipitous' news to propagate false flag theories, hashtags, etc., and probably also are astroturfing the other side with posts and threads of faux-outrage about these horrible Republicans claiming 'false flag' already, we should be very angry with them and respond to that 'false flag' charge! These are the weapons being deployed against us (aside from, tragically, actual weapons like package bombs).
Our media are corrupted, they are the primary mode and means through which war continues to be waged on upon us, internally and by outside actors aplenty. This is how things are now; in fact, I would be surprised if these (so far) attempted bombings weren't immediately followed by people blaming Democrats for getting themselves bombed.
posted by LooseFilter at 12:58 PM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
Because the channels that serve as intermediaries between primary sources/first-person experiences and the rest of us, to communicate information to us about the world beyond one's immediate physical location, are deeply corrupted. Our media do not present any consistent version of an objective, true view of the world.
If these bombs were in fact sent by a random individual, I have no doubt that thousands and thousands of paid employees of, e.g., Russia's IRA, immediately leveraged this 'serendipitous' news to propagate false flag theories, hashtags, etc., and probably also are astroturfing the other side with posts and threads of faux-outrage about these horrible Republicans claiming 'false flag' already, we should be very angry with them and respond to that 'false flag' charge! These are the weapons being deployed against us (aside from, tragically, actual weapons like package bombs).
Our media are corrupted, they are the primary mode and means through which war continues to be waged on upon us, internally and by outside actors aplenty. This is how things are now; in fact, I would be surprised if these (so far) attempted bombings weren't immediately followed by people blaming Democrats for getting themselves bombed.
posted by LooseFilter at 12:58 PM on October 24, 2018 [10 favorites]
The apparent attempts at terrorist bombings were absolutely predictable (Paul Waldman, WaPo)
But what we can say is this: Given what Trump has done and said, this was absolutely predictable. In fact, it’s a wonder that it took this long.posted by Barack Spinoza at 12:58 PM on October 24, 2018 [37 favorites]
So to sum up, there have been 6 explosive devices reported on. 3 were addressed to the private residences of Soros, the Clintons and the Obamas. One showed up at the CNN office in Times Square, addressed to John Brennan; one showed up at the main Congressional mailroom and was addressed to Maxine Waters; one showed up at the office of Debbie Wasserman Schultz and had been addressed to Eric Holder. DWS's office was the return address for all of them. They were not carried by USPS.
One device was reported to show up at the White House, but it was a mistaken report. Sen Kamala Harris and that Cuomo guy both had false alarms.
Do I have all that right?
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 1:13 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
One device was reported to show up at the White House, but it was a mistaken report. Sen Kamala Harris and that Cuomo guy both had false alarms.
Do I have all that right?
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 1:13 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Clarence Thomas’s Wife is Sharing Fake News About the “Caravan”
posted by peeedro at 1:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by peeedro at 1:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Hey, we had a bunch of terrorist packages sent to media figures and Democratic politicians the last time a Republican became president without winning the popular vote! These recycled plot points are getting old.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [23 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 1:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [23 favorites]
Sen Kamala Harris and that Cuomo guy both had false alarms.
It turns out that the Cuomo package was, apparently, a thumb drive of background information on the Proud Boys, almost assuredly related to the recent assaults in Manhattan following that Proud Boys event.
posted by halation at 1:18 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
It turns out that the Cuomo package was, apparently, a thumb drive of background information on the Proud Boys, almost assuredly related to the recent assaults in Manhattan following that Proud Boys event.
posted by halation at 1:18 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
Life comes at you fast.
@kenvogel INTERESTING: President TRUMP, who hasn't contributed a penny to his campaign since taking office, pledges in a fundraising email to "match" $3M worth of grassroots donations to his campaign ahead of the midterms. Yet another first for a sitting president in the modern era.
[image: top of campaign flyer]
@kenvogel UPDATE: The TRUMP campaign tells me that @POTUS is NOT going to donate any of his own $ to his campaign, despite emailing donors asking them to "make a contribution of $5 … & I will MATCH it dollar-for-dollar."
Apparently that refers to him transferring DONOR $ to the RNC.
[image: bottom of campaign flyer]
posted by scalefree at 1:50 PM on October 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
@kenvogel INTERESTING: President TRUMP, who hasn't contributed a penny to his campaign since taking office, pledges in a fundraising email to "match" $3M worth of grassroots donations to his campaign ahead of the midterms. Yet another first for a sitting president in the modern era.
[image: top of campaign flyer]
@kenvogel UPDATE: The TRUMP campaign tells me that @POTUS is NOT going to donate any of his own $ to his campaign, despite emailing donors asking them to "make a contribution of $5 … & I will MATCH it dollar-for-dollar."
Apparently that refers to him transferring DONOR $ to the RNC.
[image: bottom of campaign flyer]
![bottom of campaign flyer]](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DqR_moSU0AEZdKJ.jpg){kind=link}
posted by scalefree at 1:50 PM on October 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
The government says Britain needs to trade with Saudi Arabia. It’s a myth
David Wearing, The Guardian
Many assume that UK-Saudi ties are all about oil, but only 3% of UK oil imports come from Saudi Arabia, with much consumption coming from our own reserves. In any case, given Saudi dependence on oil income, any use of the “oil weapon” – limiting supply – would rebound on Riyadh. What the British state and British capitalism really value is not Saudi oil, so much as the wealth generated by its sale.
posted by mumimor at 1:58 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
David Wearing, The Guardian
Many assume that UK-Saudi ties are all about oil, but only 3% of UK oil imports come from Saudi Arabia, with much consumption coming from our own reserves. In any case, given Saudi dependence on oil income, any use of the “oil weapon” – limiting supply – would rebound on Riyadh. What the British state and British capitalism really value is not Saudi oil, so much as the wealth generated by its sale.
posted by mumimor at 1:58 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
BuzzFeed, Hamed Aleaziz, ICE Misled A Federal Court About Why Iraqi Detainees Couldn’t Be Sent Home, Documents Show
Documents unsealed in a federal court in Michigan this week show that ICE officials repeatedly misled the court about the status of Iraqi detainees, insisting that it had an agreement with the Iraqi government to repatriate them when it appears that it did not.posted by zachlipton at 2:10 PM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
The apparently misleading claims allowed ICE to keep the Iraqis in detention months longer than would normally have been permitted, the ACLU of Michigan claims.
The issue is the latest example of what advocates say is the Trump administration’s willingness to offer misleading information as it tries to restrict immigration.
...
At one point, ICE even told Goldsmith that it was his order that had stopped a repatriation flight when in fact Iraq had refused to accept the flight.
THE PRESIDENT'S MATCH
Offer does not include presidential matching.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:12 PM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Offer does not include presidential matching.
The Democrats will invoke violent mob rule, endless witch hunts against anyone they want, open borders, job-killing regulations, assaults on the Constitution, high taxes, and high crime -- all to empower themselves.Meanwhile he's evoking violence, assaulting the Constitution, avoiding taxes, and committing high crimes and misdemeanors.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:12 PM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Would it do any good whatsoever to flat out say to Trump that everything he accuses everyone else of is exactly what he himself is doing?
posted by yoga at 2:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by yoga at 2:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
Democratic 2020 front runner Joe Biden
oh come on, he is no such thing
posted by thelonius at 2:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [34 favorites]
oh come on, he is no such thing
posted by thelonius at 2:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [34 favorites]
It's glaring that the White House Press Secretary seems to go out of her way to exclude Soros from the condemnation, unless you can consider him a "public servant".
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 2:16 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by RobotVoodooPower at 2:16 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
The Justice Department today told the U.S. Supreme Court that businesses can discriminate against workers based on their gender identity without violating federal law.
posted by nikaspark at 2:26 PM on October 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by nikaspark at 2:26 PM on October 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
ok, i apologize in advance, but: does the White House appear to be panicking in an appropriate way? like has trump made a statement? does he seem bothered, or smug?
I just keep having a few things rattling through my head.
- That Trump kept referencing "something" that could happen before the midterms, the way he talked about Hillary's emails when we now know he was conspiring with the Russian government to influence the election via hacking.
- That he, and the right wing, are obsessed with "false flag" operations, and that it is always projection with these people.
- That oh my fucking God why why is this something I have to actually consider, why is insane hypervigilance an actual rational reaction ALL THE TIME now
Good Lord I feel so crazy. And yet I felt exactly as crazy when we were discussing the possibility that the Russian state had conspired with the Trump campaign to influence the election.
Fuck EVERYTHING. Feel free to talk me down.
posted by schadenfrau at 2:30 PM on October 24, 2018 [34 favorites]
I just keep having a few things rattling through my head.
- That Trump kept referencing "something" that could happen before the midterms, the way he talked about Hillary's emails when we now know he was conspiring with the Russian government to influence the election via hacking.
- That he, and the right wing, are obsessed with "false flag" operations, and that it is always projection with these people.
- That oh my fucking God why why is this something I have to actually consider, why is insane hypervigilance an actual rational reaction ALL THE TIME now
Good Lord I feel so crazy. And yet I felt exactly as crazy when we were discussing the possibility that the Russian state had conspired with the Trump campaign to influence the election.
Fuck EVERYTHING. Feel free to talk me down.
posted by schadenfrau at 2:30 PM on October 24, 2018 [34 favorites]
Democratic 2020 front runner Joe Biden
oh come on, he is no such thing
I hate to be the one to break this to you
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:32 PM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
oh come on, he is no such thing
I hate to be the one to break this to you
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:32 PM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
NYT: Slumping Stock Market Enters Negative Territory for the Year
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:34 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Stocks have fallen for 13 of the past 15 trading days, including a 3.3 percent drop on Oct. 10 that was the market’s worst fall in eight months. The S.&P. 500 is now down more than 0.6 percent for the year. ... The sell-off arrived despite an economy that looks otherwise strong: Unemployment is as low as it has been in nearly a half-century and the economy expanded at a 4 percent pace in the second quarter.NYT's Pick from the Readers' Comments:
Matt gineo: It's the Black Kenyan's fault!! MAGA(Yes, I think it's sarcastic. Probably.)
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:34 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
From the r/politics thread (seen several like this):
posted by schadenfrau at 2:35 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Hey guys I know everyone is in a state of shock right now. But what happens if it ends up being a left wing progressive supporter? The people targeted were all establishment Democrats, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if a sick Bernie Bro did this. Will you guys apologize to conservatives if that's the case?Anyone know if the bots are going with this already across a bunch of platforms?
posted by schadenfrau at 2:35 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
> I hate to be the one to break this to you
apparently 5% of democrats want John Kerry to be the nominee?
If we have to dig up failed presidential candidates from Massachusetts, couldn't we have Dukakis instead? I kinda liked that guy...
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 2:36 PM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
apparently 5% of democrats want John Kerry to be the nominee?
If we have to dig up failed presidential candidates from Massachusetts, couldn't we have Dukakis instead? I kinda liked that guy...
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 2:36 PM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
Democratic 2020 front runner Joe Biden
oh come on, he is no such thing
I hate to be the one to break this to you
This is an artifact of plurality voting, which just gets worse and worse the more candidates are running. Any other not-intentionally-bad system would be better, especially for such a crowded field.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 2:37 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
oh come on, he is no such thing
I hate to be the one to break this to you
This is an artifact of plurality voting, which just gets worse and worse the more candidates are running. Any other not-intentionally-bad system would be better, especially for such a crowded field.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 2:37 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Carter's eligible.
posted by kirkaracha at 2:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 2:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [24 favorites]
>> I hate to be the one to break this to you
> apparently 5% of democrats want John Kerry to be the nominee?
Okay, we're soon going to need a prohibition on pre-litigating the primaries... (Sigh)
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
> apparently 5% of democrats want John Kerry to be the nominee?
Okay, we're soon going to need a prohibition on pre-litigating the primaries... (Sigh)
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [12 favorites]
Mod note: Let's not pre-litigate the primaries.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 2:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [81 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 2:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [81 favorites]
That was fast.
posted by scalefree at 2:45 PM on October 24, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 2:45 PM on October 24, 2018 [25 favorites]
Anyone know if the bots are going with this already across a bunch of platforms?
I'd be shocked if they weren't. And it doesn't even make sense; so far as I am aware Maxine Waters has never been the target of the left's ire. And while there is a strain of antisemitism on the left I don't think Soros has been on the pointed end of it. So you've gotta ignore like 1/3 of the packages to even begin to get this to fit into the evvviiil Bernie Bro hobby horse.
That said, I hope everyone who was so vituperative with the language about DWS takes a hard look at whether they can do better. She was on the receiving end of a lot of ugly attacks from all across the spectrum .
posted by Justinian at 2:54 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
I'd be shocked if they weren't. And it doesn't even make sense; so far as I am aware Maxine Waters has never been the target of the left's ire. And while there is a strain of antisemitism on the left I don't think Soros has been on the pointed end of it. So you've gotta ignore like 1/3 of the packages to even begin to get this to fit into the evvviiil Bernie Bro hobby horse.
That said, I hope everyone who was so vituperative with the language about DWS takes a hard look at whether they can do better. She was on the receiving end of a lot of ugly attacks from all across the spectrum .
posted by Justinian at 2:54 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
When Trump Phones Friends, the Chinese Listen and Learn
Mr. Trump’s aides have repeatedly warned him that his cellphone calls are not secure, and they have told him that Russian spies are routinely eavesdropping on the calls, as well. But aides say the voluble president, who has been pressured into using his secure White House landline more often these days, has still refused to give up his iPhones. White House officials say they can only hope he refrains from discussing classified information when he is on them.
Mr. Trump’s use of his iPhones was detailed by several current and former officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so they could discuss classified intelligence and sensitive security arrangements. The officials said they were doing so not to undermine Mr. Trump, but out of frustration with what they considered the president’s casual approach to electronic security.
The US government has probably executed people for less obvious transmission of US intel to foreign parties
posted by PenDevil at 2:57 PM on October 24, 2018 [54 favorites]
Mr. Trump’s aides have repeatedly warned him that his cellphone calls are not secure, and they have told him that Russian spies are routinely eavesdropping on the calls, as well. But aides say the voluble president, who has been pressured into using his secure White House landline more often these days, has still refused to give up his iPhones. White House officials say they can only hope he refrains from discussing classified information when he is on them.
Mr. Trump’s use of his iPhones was detailed by several current and former officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity so they could discuss classified intelligence and sensitive security arrangements. The officials said they were doing so not to undermine Mr. Trump, but out of frustration with what they considered the president’s casual approach to electronic security.
The US government has probably executed people for less obvious transmission of US intel to foreign parties
posted by PenDevil at 2:57 PM on October 24, 2018 [54 favorites]
Florida:
@kevinsidonohoe: DeSantis supporters carrying signs that say “fake news, fake bombs” outside tonight’s debate.
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:58 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
@kevinsidonohoe: DeSantis supporters carrying signs that say “fake news, fake bombs” outside tonight’s debate.
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:58 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
From the r/politics thread (seen several like this):
Hey guys I know everyone is in a state of shock right now. But what happens if it ends up being a left wing progressive supporter? The people targeted were all establishment Democrats, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if a sick Bernie Bro did this. Will you guys apologize to conservatives if that's the case?
Anyone know if the bots are going with this already across a bunch of platforms?
Given how many of the Bernie Bros were bots I think this might just mean that the bots are claiming credit.
posted by srboisvert at 2:59 PM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
Hey guys I know everyone is in a state of shock right now. But what happens if it ends up being a left wing progressive supporter? The people targeted were all establishment Democrats, I honestly wouldn't be surprised if a sick Bernie Bro did this. Will you guys apologize to conservatives if that's the case?
Anyone know if the bots are going with this already across a bunch of platforms?
Given how many of the Bernie Bros were bots I think this might just mean that the bots are claiming credit.
posted by srboisvert at 2:59 PM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
In the second day of early voting, 955,694 Texans cast in-person ballots and 231,313 cast mail-in ballots in the 30 counties where most registered voters in the state — 78 percent — live. That turnout equals 59 percent of the total votes cast in those counties during the entire two-week early voting period in the last midterm election in 2014.
C'mon, guys. We're looking at turnout levels for the past two days that appear to be consistently equivalent to 2016-level turnouts, and generally two or three times what they were in 2014. Come on. (Note that the highest increase in voter turnout is, perhaps unsurprisingly, in El Paso.)
posted by sciatrix at 3:01 PM on October 24, 2018 [28 favorites]
C'mon, guys. We're looking at turnout levels for the past two days that appear to be consistently equivalent to 2016-level turnouts, and generally two or three times what they were in 2014. Come on. (Note that the highest increase in voter turnout is, perhaps unsurprisingly, in El Paso.)
posted by sciatrix at 3:01 PM on October 24, 2018 [28 favorites]
Given how many of the Bernie Bros were bots I think this might just mean that the bots are claiming credit.
Not to mention that Russian troll/bot accounts tracked by Hamilton 68 are pushing #magabomber and #falseflag among their hashtag-propaganda and the bomb story is all over their trending topics. (Their other favorites include #walkaway, #migrantmob, #khashoggi, #greatreturnmarch, and #boycottisrael.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:13 PM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Not to mention that Russian troll/bot accounts tracked by Hamilton 68 are pushing #magabomber and #falseflag among their hashtag-propaganda and the bomb story is all over their trending topics. (Their other favorites include #walkaway, #migrantmob, #khashoggi, #greatreturnmarch, and #boycottisrael.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:13 PM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Dare I even ask what "#greatreturnmarch" is supposed to mean.
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:21 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Faint of Butt at 3:21 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
It's ok though. They think Trump probably isn't discussing secrets on insecure calls because he can't be bothered to read them:
The more alarming part is the influence campaign to talk to Trump through his friends, about which people felt compelled to go to the Times because they can't seem to stop it any other way.
Can you imagine what Republicans in Congress would be doing if there was a report that Obama was blabbing away to foreign powers because he couldn't be bothered to follow security instructions?
posted by zachlipton at 3:21 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
They said they had further confidence he was not spilling secrets because he rarely digs into the details of the intelligence he is shown and is not well versed in the operational specifics of military or covert activities.
The more alarming part is the influence campaign to talk to Trump through his friends, about which people felt compelled to go to the Times because they can't seem to stop it any other way.
Can you imagine what Republicans in Congress would be doing if there was a report that Obama was blabbing away to foreign powers because he couldn't be bothered to follow security instructions?
posted by zachlipton at 3:21 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Dare I even ask what "#greatreturnmarch" is supposed to mean
It's likely a reference to The Great March of Return (one name for a series of Palestinian protests in the Gaza Strip), and likely goes along with the #boycottisrael hashtag.
posted by halation at 3:25 PM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
It's likely a reference to The Great March of Return (one name for a series of Palestinian protests in the Gaza Strip), and likely goes along with the #boycottisrael hashtag.
posted by halation at 3:25 PM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Not to mention that Russian troll/bot accounts tracked by Hamilton 68 are pushing #magabomber and #falseflag among their hashtag-propaganda and the bomb story is all over their trending topics.
That is the opposite of talking me down
posted by schadenfrau at 3:26 PM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
That is the opposite of talking me down
posted by schadenfrau at 3:26 PM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
Can you imagine what Republicans in Congress would be doing if there was a report that Obama was blabbing away to foreign powers because he couldn't be bothered to follow security instructions?
Can you imagine the NYT coverage if Hilary Clinton didn't follow email server best practices? Wait.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:32 PM on October 24, 2018 [31 favorites]
Can you imagine the NYT coverage if Hilary Clinton didn't follow email server best practices? Wait.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:32 PM on October 24, 2018 [31 favorites]
The DOJ memo is another thing that literally already happened. i promise you i am not trying to minimize or somehow say it's okay, quite the opposite, i'm pretty distressed and I have been for a year and a half now, i'm trying to provide context. These are all Vox/German Lopez pieces unless otherwise specified.
Feb 22 2017: Trump administration sent out a letter officially revoking Obama-era guidance on protecting trans students in federally funded schools
Oct 5, 2017: Trump's DOJ rescinded a memo protecting trans workers. The EEOC has somehow had a different policy, though, this whole time they've been telling people that trans workers are protected.
May 2018: Trump administration stripped protections for trans prisoners.
July 2018, NBC news, Trump administration 'exacerbating' LGBTQ health care discrimination, report says
Dominic Holden of Buzzfeed seems to be following this topic, among others, and he guested on a Vox podcast recently.
The DOJ memo/policy is a year old. What's new is that there's a specific court case where the EEOC is suing on behalf of a transgender person, and they argued the case in circuit court, but they cannot represent the government in the Supreme Court; only the DOJ can, and they won't. SCOTUS has not actually taken up the case yet, and there are two other cases that also involve transgender discrimination that (if I understand correctly) are ahead of it in line.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 3:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [27 favorites]
Feb 22 2017: Trump administration sent out a letter officially revoking Obama-era guidance on protecting trans students in federally funded schools
Oct 5, 2017: Trump's DOJ rescinded a memo protecting trans workers. The EEOC has somehow had a different policy, though, this whole time they've been telling people that trans workers are protected.
May 2018: Trump administration stripped protections for trans prisoners.
July 2018, NBC news, Trump administration 'exacerbating' LGBTQ health care discrimination, report says
In May 2017, HHS began the process of rolling back an Obama-era rule that clarified the nondiscrimination provision of the Affordable Care Act, section 1557, to include discrimination based on gender identity as sex discrimination.
Then in January 2018, HHS announced the creation of a religious freedom division that would defend health care providers who refused care on the basis of their religious or moral beliefs, and proposed a rule that would that would expand the ability of insurers and health care providers to deny service on the basis of religious or moral objections.
Dominic Holden of Buzzfeed seems to be following this topic, among others, and he guested on a Vox podcast recently.
The DOJ memo/policy is a year old. What's new is that there's a specific court case where the EEOC is suing on behalf of a transgender person, and they argued the case in circuit court, but they cannot represent the government in the Supreme Court; only the DOJ can, and they won't. SCOTUS has not actually taken up the case yet, and there are two other cases that also involve transgender discrimination that (if I understand correctly) are ahead of it in line.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 3:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [27 favorites]
They said they had further confidence he was not spilling secrets because he rarely digs into the details of the intelligence he is shown and is not well versed in the operational specifics of military or covert activities.
Have no fear, Trump is too dumb to talk about serious details over the phone. He only does that when he has Russian officials in the Oval Office and he can spill enough top secret info to wreck covert operations in progress for close allies, right?
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:53 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Have no fear, Trump is too dumb to talk about serious details over the phone. He only does that when he has Russian officials in the Oval Office and he can spill enough top secret info to wreck covert operations in progress for close allies, right?
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:53 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Oh, and the NYT story said that the HHS memo was initiated "last spring", so maybe between March and June of 2017. The tweets about transgender troops were in July of 2017. The DOD report on transgender troops, and Mattis' recommendations, came out in Mar 2018.
Here's another recent Vox piece with the same context and timeline I just sort of laid out.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 3:55 PM on October 24, 2018
Here's another recent Vox piece with the same context and timeline I just sort of laid out.
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 3:55 PM on October 24, 2018
That is the opposite of talking me down
Occam's Razor suggests that the Trump administration could, if given opportunity, fuck up a grilled cheese sandwich. I find it far more likely that, instead of a widespread conspiracy to intimidate prominent Democrats and double-false-flag America into falsely believing that Democrats want Americans to falsely believe that a Republican is responsible for today's circus, that the answer is far simpler:
...if your propaganda engines howl to the fucking moon 24/7 for years on end that Hillary and Bill are Satan and the Obamas are Lucifer and Soros is the Antichrist and All Democrats Are Horribly Evil And Twisted Demons and Oh Won't Someone Rid America Of These Troublesome Liberals, sooner or later some of them are going to be dumb enough to try to help out.
No Russians required. No DIRECT action from the Trump camp required. Is it possible that some ratfucker on Team Trump had an inkling about this? Jeez, I hope not, but it IS possible. But it's a lot more likely that this is four decades of conservative Mirror Universe Media Machine bleating come home to roost yet again.
posted by delfin at 4:00 PM on October 24, 2018 [30 favorites]
Occam's Razor suggests that the Trump administration could, if given opportunity, fuck up a grilled cheese sandwich. I find it far more likely that, instead of a widespread conspiracy to intimidate prominent Democrats and double-false-flag America into falsely believing that Democrats want Americans to falsely believe that a Republican is responsible for today's circus, that the answer is far simpler:
...if your propaganda engines howl to the fucking moon 24/7 for years on end that Hillary and Bill are Satan and the Obamas are Lucifer and Soros is the Antichrist and All Democrats Are Horribly Evil And Twisted Demons and Oh Won't Someone Rid America Of These Troublesome Liberals, sooner or later some of them are going to be dumb enough to try to help out.
No Russians required. No DIRECT action from the Trump camp required. Is it possible that some ratfucker on Team Trump had an inkling about this? Jeez, I hope not, but it IS possible. But it's a lot more likely that this is four decades of conservative Mirror Universe Media Machine bleating come home to roost yet again.
posted by delfin at 4:00 PM on October 24, 2018 [30 favorites]
Valencia said he was “frustrated” by Assange’s decision to file suit in an Ecuadorean court last week over new terms of his asylum, which required him to pay for medical bills and telephone calls and to clean up after his pet cat.
Assange is such a brat.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 4:01 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
Assange is such a brat.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 4:01 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
I agree with delfin. We're not looking at false flags, umpty-dimensional chess, or any kind of headfake. We're looking at some, ahem, "lone wolf terrorist" who took his cue from stuff that the right-wing hate-o-sphere from Trump on down has been shouting since 2008 or so. Dollars to donuts it's some right-wing, gun-hoarding, birther type with an anti-Semitic streak a mile wide (no, I don't think it's coincidence that Debbie Wasserman-Schultz was particularly targeted, along with Soros).
This is my belief and I'm sticking to it until further evidence.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 4:12 PM on October 24, 2018 [25 favorites]
This is my belief and I'm sticking to it until further evidence.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 4:12 PM on October 24, 2018 [25 favorites]
I don't think the Magabomber is really part of the Russian/Republican information warfare operation for several reasons.
1. The smart play would have been to fake an assassination attempt against Trump or some other prominent right wing figure. This would allow them to paint themselves as victims and put a scary brown liberal terrorist patsy out there to dominate new coverage for the last weeks of the campaign. No, this is the opposite. The choice of targets makes the right look crazy and violent.
2. If this had been a professional operation targeting the leaders of the opposition party, the bombs would have gone off. They had five targets. They would have gotten at least one of them. Why even use bombs? If you're a pro, there's plenty of opportunities to shoot any of those people any time you want.
3. They're all in on making "scary caravan of brown people" the drum they're going to beat from now until the election. This just cost them at least one news cycle, and probably more depending on how long it takes them to catch the bomber(s). The "false flag" bot activity is damage control, not a planned op.
I think all signs point to right wing stochastic terrorism that popped off at an inconvenient time.
posted by vibrotronica at 4:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [22 favorites]
1. The smart play would have been to fake an assassination attempt against Trump or some other prominent right wing figure. This would allow them to paint themselves as victims and put a scary brown liberal terrorist patsy out there to dominate new coverage for the last weeks of the campaign. No, this is the opposite. The choice of targets makes the right look crazy and violent.
2. If this had been a professional operation targeting the leaders of the opposition party, the bombs would have gone off. They had five targets. They would have gotten at least one of them. Why even use bombs? If you're a pro, there's plenty of opportunities to shoot any of those people any time you want.
3. They're all in on making "scary caravan of brown people" the drum they're going to beat from now until the election. This just cost them at least one news cycle, and probably more depending on how long it takes them to catch the bomber(s). The "false flag" bot activity is damage control, not a planned op.
I think all signs point to right wing stochastic terrorism that popped off at an inconvenient time.
posted by vibrotronica at 4:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [22 favorites]
That four of the six targets are part of the so called deep state cabal trying to destroy prezzie shitstain says a good deal, I think. Our suspect takes as reality one of the various conspiracy theories.
posted by vrakatar at 4:20 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by vrakatar at 4:20 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
McSweeney's LEST WE FORGET THE HORRORS: A CATALOG OF TRUMP’S WORST CRUELTIES, COLLUSIONS, CORRUPTIONS, AND CRIMES, ATROCITIES 113-197, by BEN PARKER and STEPHANIE STEINBRECHER
113. March 1, 2017 – The Justice Department reported: Attorney General Jeff Sessions met twice with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak before Trump took office. Sessions did not mention the meetings during his confirmation hearings. Moreover, Sessions had claimed under oath that he was unaware of any contacts between Trump surrogates and Russia.posted by the man of twists and turns at 4:21 PM on October 24, 2018 [23 favorites]
114. March 2, 2017 – Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from the Justice Department’s ongoing Russia investigation after reports surfaced that he had two undisclosed meetings with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak. The New York Times reported Donald Trump tried to convince Sessions not to recuse himself, and that he expected Sessions to protect him in the investigation.
...
196. April 29, 2017 – On Face the Nation, Donald Trump falsely suggested the new Republican healthcare bill, called the American Health Care Act, would protect health insurance for those with pre-existing conditions. The most recent draft of the legislation contained no such stipulation.
197. April 30, 2017 – Donald Trump invited Rodrigo Duterte, the authoritarian leader of the Philippines, to visit the White House. Duterte’s regime had carried out extrajudicial killings of drug users and drug dealers, garnering global condemnation. As of January 2018, Human Rights Watch had counted over 12,000 such murders’. Two senior officials in the White House said they expected significant pushback internally, should Duterte accept Trump’s invitation. The two leaders met in November, during which time Trump reported the pair had a “great relationship.”
The Brown Shirts are now Red Hats
posted by growabrain at 4:28 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 4:28 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
...if your propaganda engines howl to the fucking moon 24/7 for years on end that Hillary and Bill are Satan and the Obamas are Lucifer and Soros is the Antichrist and All Democrats Are Horribly Evil And Twisted Demons and Oh Won't Someone Rid America Of These Troublesome Liberals, sooner or later some of them are going to be dumb enough to try to help out.
This is explicitly their plan. It's the same playbook that leads inexorably to violence, and they follow it knowingly and intentionally on a daily basis, only to disclaim any responsibility for things like today, or the OKC bombing, or George Tiller. Just spewing eliminationism to a wide audience regularly is enough to trigger some subset of that audience to act, and it only takes one. They know this, indeed count on it. There's no other reason for doing it.
The seminal voice on this stuff for years has been Dave Neiwert. This is from 2006:
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:41 PM on October 24, 2018 [38 favorites]
This is explicitly their plan. It's the same playbook that leads inexorably to violence, and they follow it knowingly and intentionally on a daily basis, only to disclaim any responsibility for things like today, or the OKC bombing, or George Tiller. Just spewing eliminationism to a wide audience regularly is enough to trigger some subset of that audience to act, and it only takes one. They know this, indeed count on it. There's no other reason for doing it.
The seminal voice on this stuff for years has been Dave Neiwert. This is from 2006:
It isn't only Muslims and Jews who are being included in this kind of talk. Probably the leading targets of hateful rhetoric in the past year have been illegal immigrants. But the range of targets is fairly broad, and now includes gays and lesbians; environmentalists; civil-rights advocates; journalists; and the most common target of the past decade, liberals generally. The first real uptick in this rhetoric was associated with the initial liberal resistance to the invasion of Iraq, which produced a real flood of elimination talk from the rabid American right, including such leading pundits as Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh.If you have 2 hours, the entire 10 part series is extremely relevant.
Today, the right's rose-petaled enterprise has turned to shit, just as the "treasonous" bastards warned them it would -- so of course, those same bastards are now to blame. This is the way it always works for the right, the people of the party of responsibility, who seem unable to accept any responsibility whatsoever for the disasters created at their own express behest, and instead blame those with the foresight to warn against them beforehand.
posted by T.D. Strange at 4:41 PM on October 24, 2018 [38 favorites]
Unicorn on the cob: In addition to the bomb threats, several families in the Dallas area (Richardson specifically, a suburb just north of the city) woke up just after midnight on Tuesday because the Beto O'Rourke and Colin Allred signs in their yards were set on fire.
All the Beto signs in my Dallas-almost-Richardson neighborhood seem to have vanished today. I guess the torrential rains prevented the usual arson.
posted by skippyhacker at 4:51 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
All the Beto signs in my Dallas-almost-Richardson neighborhood seem to have vanished today. I guess the torrential rains prevented the usual arson.
posted by skippyhacker at 4:51 PM on October 24, 2018 [3 favorites]
Trump starts his rally (I will not liveblog it, but this particular segment important) by discussing the package bombs again. He reads the same bland statement off the prompter: aggressive investigation, bring them to justice, blah blah. "Any acts or threats of political violence are an attack on our democracy itself" (there's like one cheer at this point). He sounds like he's blandly and uncaringly reading a disclaimer. There is sporadic applause for "we want all sides to come together in peace and harmony." "Those engaged in the political arena must stop treating political opponents as morally defective." "No one should carelessly compare political opponents to historical villains...we should not mob people in public spaces or destroy public property" (that last bit gets a decent cheer).
Then he bothsides this by blaming the media: "the media also has a responsibility to set a civil tone and stop the endless hostility and...often negative and false stories. They've got to stop."
Trump is so proud of himself as he launches into a bland version of his stump speech (Democrats want high taxes, Republicans low) that he interrupts himself mid-sentence to say "do you see how nice I'm behaving tonight? Have you ever seen this? We're all behaving very well and hopefully we can keep it that way, right? We're going to keep it that way."
posted by zachlipton at 5:06 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Then he bothsides this by blaming the media: "the media also has a responsibility to set a civil tone and stop the endless hostility and...often negative and false stories. They've got to stop."
Trump is so proud of himself as he launches into a bland version of his stump speech (Democrats want high taxes, Republicans low) that he interrupts himself mid-sentence to say "do you see how nice I'm behaving tonight? Have you ever seen this? We're all behaving very well and hopefully we can keep it that way, right? We're going to keep it that way."
posted by zachlipton at 5:06 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Chris Hayes: So apparently the sticker on the bombs said "Git Er Done" in a faux ISIS font with silhouetted mudflap ladies? What the hell.
He follows up to clarify that he is not, in fact, joking. I just can't anymore.
posted by Justinian at 5:10 PM on October 24, 2018 [35 favorites]
He follows up to clarify that he is not, in fact, joking. I just can't anymore.
posted by Justinian at 5:10 PM on October 24, 2018 [35 favorites]
The Toronto Star has published Daniel Dale's cheat sheet: A Handy Guide to Donald Trump’s Most-Frequent Campaign Rally Lies and False Claims
The sad fact of Trump coverage is that the mainstream US media has effectively given him a pass on repeating the same lies and falsehoods at rally after rally. Dale has also observed that whatever controversy Trump may stir up at one of these events, the local coverage in the next morning's local papers is always deferential and even respectful, running the most presidentially photogenic images of Trump the night before (and not, say, miming the body-slamming of a reporter to the applause of his supporters). Anyroad, here's the link to Dale's upcoming live-tweet/fact-check.
NBC's Monica Alba already reports, "Well. We’re barely into the pre-program here in Wisconsin and the crowd is already chanting “LOCK HER UP! LOCK HER UP!” after senate candidate Leah Vukmir mentions Hillary Clinton in passing."
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:12 PM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
The sad fact of Trump coverage is that the mainstream US media has effectively given him a pass on repeating the same lies and falsehoods at rally after rally. Dale has also observed that whatever controversy Trump may stir up at one of these events, the local coverage in the next morning's local papers is always deferential and even respectful, running the most presidentially photogenic images of Trump the night before (and not, say, miming the body-slamming of a reporter to the applause of his supporters). Anyroad, here's the link to Dale's upcoming live-tweet/fact-check.
NBC's Monica Alba already reports, "Well. We’re barely into the pre-program here in Wisconsin and the crowd is already chanting “LOCK HER UP! LOCK HER UP!” after senate candidate Leah Vukmir mentions Hillary Clinton in passing."
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:12 PM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
So I'm starting to get good vibes out of Florida and pretty bad ones out of Nevada. That would make sense if you subscribe to the recent hypothesis that Trump's rural base has come home to him in a big way and are turning out while the more suburban swing voter types (read: white people who prefer their racism in gentile form plus college educated women appalled by Trump) are still strong against the GOP since Florida has a lot more and bigger suburban battlegrounds than Nevada. Which is really characterized by Vegas vs the rest of the state with Reno breaking slightly one way or the other depending on the cycle.
The bad news if my scooby sense is correct is that Rosen would be in trouble. The good news is that Nelson wouldn't be, plus Gillum... and the House delegation out of Nevada is basically set in stone barring a monster wave in either direction while we have a good chance at flipping some in Florida.
posted by Justinian at 5:41 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
The bad news if my scooby sense is correct is that Rosen would be in trouble. The good news is that Nelson wouldn't be, plus Gillum... and the House delegation out of Nevada is basically set in stone barring a monster wave in either direction while we have a good chance at flipping some in Florida.
posted by Justinian at 5:41 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
You know, people harassing me over my vote for Beto or any Democrat, fuck, ANY candidate just gels my commitment to voting because "FUCK YOU, this is my country, too. My ancestors, friends, family, and community built and died for this country, in and out of uniform. FUCK YOU, for thinking you can take my rights and duties away from me with your violence and words; that I have a backbone made of wet paper. I am COMMITTED and do not veer. I will bake your ashes in my bread and shit you out so some good comes from you."
I hope the folks voting Democrat know that their vote does count because the thugs are spending a lot of energy trying to stop you. Fuck'em.
posted by jadepearl at 5:42 PM on October 24, 2018 [45 favorites]
I hope the folks voting Democrat know that their vote does count because the thugs are spending a lot of energy trying to stop you. Fuck'em.
posted by jadepearl at 5:42 PM on October 24, 2018 [45 favorites]
Ah okay so they were ironic letter bombs. Sorry for Lathe of Heavening that one, I'll try to think about good stuff from now on
posted by theodolite at 5:46 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 5:46 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Ann Coulter: From the Haymarket riot to the Unibomber [sic], bombs are a liberal tactic.
Dan Kaszeta: Tell that to Oklahoma City you Dollar Tree Eva Braun
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 5:47 PM on October 24, 2018 [125 favorites]
Dan Kaszeta: Tell that to Oklahoma City you Dollar Tree Eva Braun
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 5:47 PM on October 24, 2018 [125 favorites]
White people who prefer their racism in gentile form
I can’t tell if this is funny, sad, or autocorrect.
posted by Rumple at 5:51 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
I can’t tell if this is funny, sad, or autocorrect.
posted by Rumple at 5:51 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
Tell that to Oklahoma City you Dollar Tree Eva Braun
That's the biggest example obviously. But not nearly the only one. Eric Rudolph (Olympic bomber) was a right winger. The KKK bombed a bunch of people and places. Not particularly recently but the freakin' Haymarket riot was what, 150 years ago or some crap? I could go on but whats the point. She's spouting propaganda not anything like engaging in debate.
So I'd say she's more of a dollar tree Leni Riefenstahl except that Riefenstahl was extremely talented.
on preview: woops. I'm not saying "gentile" was a typo but i'm not not saying it was a typo.
posted by Justinian at 5:53 PM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
That's the biggest example obviously. But not nearly the only one. Eric Rudolph (Olympic bomber) was a right winger. The KKK bombed a bunch of people and places. Not particularly recently but the freakin' Haymarket riot was what, 150 years ago or some crap? I could go on but whats the point. She's spouting propaganda not anything like engaging in debate.
So I'd say she's more of a dollar tree Leni Riefenstahl except that Riefenstahl was extremely talented.
on preview: woops. I'm not saying "gentile" was a typo but i'm not not saying it was a typo.
posted by Justinian at 5:53 PM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
It rained today here in Colorado Springs. I still spent a little over 2 hours chasing voters for Stephany--specifically targeting young and first time voters, so the addresses were not in a nice tight, walkable little turf, but I have good wool socks and a weather-proof coat. I had lots of encouraging conversations today, folks who have their plans to vote and know how important it is. There was an ice cream social at Stephany's office today with Ben of Ben & Jerry's giving away free scoops and talking about the limited edition flavor for Stephany's campaign--Rocky Mountain Rose, which will be made with Colorado Palisade peaches (they're just about out of season, so that's gonna be tough to source) and pecans in a caramel base. I arrived early with my kids, got hugs from the candidate, commiserated with the intern Drew about knocking doors in the rain, we ate our ice cream and then looked on gobsmacked at the line of folks that filled the office and spilled out into the street and around the block. I don't exactly feel hopeful about our chances, but I feel fiercely determined.
posted by danielleh at 5:58 PM on October 24, 2018 [38 favorites]
posted by danielleh at 5:58 PM on October 24, 2018 [38 favorites]
Chris Hayes: So apparently the sticker on the bombs said "Git Er Done" in a faux ISIS font with silhouetted mudflap ladies? What the hell.
Really. Explosive device sent to CNN featured parody ISIS flag, 'Get Er Done' inscription
posted by zachlipton at 6:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [18 favorites]
Really. Explosive device sent to CNN featured parody ISIS flag, 'Get Er Done' inscription
An image on the explosive device sent to former CIA Director John Brennan on Tuesday appears to be a parody of an ISIS flag taken from a meme that has been circulating on right-wing corners of the internet since 2014.There's also a picture of a face, but nobody seems to know who that is.
The print-out appears to show a parody flag that replaces Arabic characters with the silhouette of three women in high heels, and a middle inscription reading “Get ‘Er Done” — which is the catchphrase of standup comedian Larry the Cable Guy.
...
The “Get ‘Er Done” flag was originally created in 2014 by the right-wing parody site World News Bureau, for an article titled “ISIS Vows Retribution For Counterfeit Flags.” It has since been shared as a meme on right-wing websites and forums.
posted by zachlipton at 6:14 PM on October 24, 2018 [18 favorites]
@Tom_Winter: BREAKING / NBC News: The FBI says in a statement that they have confirmed two ADDITIONAL packages, both addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters, that are similar in appearance to the other packages found today.
posted by zachlipton at 6:19 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 6:19 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
@Tom_Winter: BREAKING / NBC News: The FBI says in a statement that they have confirmed two ADDITIONAL packages, both addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters, that are similar in appearance to the other packages found today.
The bomber doesn't actually follow the news all that closely & he ran out of names so he just started over.
posted by scalefree at 6:37 PM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
The bomber doesn't actually follow the news all that closely & he ran out of names so he just started over.
posted by scalefree at 6:37 PM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
The dumbest insurgency.
Welcome to Y'all Qaida.
posted by NoxAeternum at 6:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [55 favorites]
Welcome to Y'all Qaida.
posted by NoxAeternum at 6:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [55 favorites]
at this point i'm about ready to believe that 2018 is proof that chaos magic is real and grant morrison fucked up our entire timeline somehow, maybe trying to write a sequel to The Invisibles or something
Does anybody have a clearer / complete image of the memes taped to the device? I'd like to get a closer look at the face, if possible.
posted by halation at 6:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Does anybody have a clearer / complete image of the memes taped to the device? I'd like to get a closer look at the face, if possible.
posted by halation at 6:38 PM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
Also, from tonight's FL gubinatorial debate, Gillum goes "not racist, but #1 with racists" on DeSantis - with receipts.
That dog hollered indeed.
posted by NoxAeternum at 6:44 PM on October 24, 2018 [78 favorites]
That dog hollered indeed.
posted by NoxAeternum at 6:44 PM on October 24, 2018 [78 favorites]
It's not just elected Dems or donors in the crosshairs anymore. It feels like it's all of us.
I was in college during the lead up to the 2004 election. One day I left my apartment to go to work and discovered that all four of my car tires were flat. I don't remember anymore whether they actually got slashed or if someone just let the air out.
At the time I just had no idea what to think. I chalked it up to an irritating unsolved mystery. I didn't have any more enemies than your average college age person. I had a couple of exes but nothing particularly acrimonious. My car was parked in a lot that was sort of on the way back to campus from an area where a lot of bars were, so random drunk people probably cut through there at least occasionally.
I had a couple of bumper stickers. I definitely had this one from MoveOn saying M̶i̶s̶s̶i̶o̶n̶ Nothing Accomplished/ Defeat Bush '04. I don't remember specifically beyond that but I probably also had a Kerry/Edwards sticker. But at the time I really just did not think those would anger any rational human enough to vandalize a stranger's car. I didn't think about it again for a long time.
I have been thinking about this incident more and more lately. I still don't know and never will, maybe it was an ex or someone who knew me personally, but I find it more and more believable as time goes by that maybe a bumper sticker WAS enough to anger the wrong person into doing that to me. And so now, it haunts me and I think about it all the time. Every time I speak out, every time I think about putting a bumper sticker on my car (shameful confession: I just recently while cleaning came across my pristine Hillary 2016 sticker, having never been brave enough to actually put it on my car), or wearing a T-shirt that reveals political feelings, or attending protests, or donating to campaigns. Who might I anger? Which one has a gun or just anger control/violence issues? Who could find out more about me, doxx me, harass me at work? Is it only a matter of time in this country before protestors and activists are simply jailed and/or murdered? Will my history of cautious and limited political activism still come back and bite me in the ass then?
I don't know what the point of this comment is honestly. I want to do so much more, speak out so much more, be active, fight, but I'm scared, and it seems like for good reason. This is all just so fucked up. For the first time in my life I'm questioning what beliefs and morals I would actually be willing to put my life on the line for. I hope it doesn't come to that but if push comes to shove I think I would have to and it's surreal to think about.
posted by robotdevil at 6:45 PM on October 24, 2018 [39 favorites]
I was in college during the lead up to the 2004 election. One day I left my apartment to go to work and discovered that all four of my car tires were flat. I don't remember anymore whether they actually got slashed or if someone just let the air out.
At the time I just had no idea what to think. I chalked it up to an irritating unsolved mystery. I didn't have any more enemies than your average college age person. I had a couple of exes but nothing particularly acrimonious. My car was parked in a lot that was sort of on the way back to campus from an area where a lot of bars were, so random drunk people probably cut through there at least occasionally.
I had a couple of bumper stickers. I definitely had this one from MoveOn saying M̶i̶s̶s̶i̶o̶n̶ Nothing Accomplished/ Defeat Bush '04. I don't remember specifically beyond that but I probably also had a Kerry/Edwards sticker. But at the time I really just did not think those would anger any rational human enough to vandalize a stranger's car. I didn't think about it again for a long time.
I have been thinking about this incident more and more lately. I still don't know and never will, maybe it was an ex or someone who knew me personally, but I find it more and more believable as time goes by that maybe a bumper sticker WAS enough to anger the wrong person into doing that to me. And so now, it haunts me and I think about it all the time. Every time I speak out, every time I think about putting a bumper sticker on my car (shameful confession: I just recently while cleaning came across my pristine Hillary 2016 sticker, having never been brave enough to actually put it on my car), or wearing a T-shirt that reveals political feelings, or attending protests, or donating to campaigns. Who might I anger? Which one has a gun or just anger control/violence issues? Who could find out more about me, doxx me, harass me at work? Is it only a matter of time in this country before protestors and activists are simply jailed and/or murdered? Will my history of cautious and limited political activism still come back and bite me in the ass then?
I don't know what the point of this comment is honestly. I want to do so much more, speak out so much more, be active, fight, but I'm scared, and it seems like for good reason. This is all just so fucked up. For the first time in my life I'm questioning what beliefs and morals I would actually be willing to put my life on the line for. I hope it doesn't come to that but if push comes to shove I think I would have to and it's surreal to think about.
posted by robotdevil at 6:45 PM on October 24, 2018 [39 favorites]
Also, from tonight's FL gubinatorial debate, Gillum goes "not racist, but #1 with racists" on DeSantis - with receipts.
That was actually the first I saw of Gillum and holy hell, we’re gonna see a lot more from him and it’s gonna be great.
(Please no milkshake bulshit. Pleeeeeease.)
posted by schadenfrau at 6:51 PM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
That was actually the first I saw of Gillum and holy hell, we’re gonna see a lot more from him and it’s gonna be great.
(Please no milkshake bulshit. Pleeeeeease.)
posted by schadenfrau at 6:51 PM on October 24, 2018 [9 favorites]
DeSantis looks like he's going to cry.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:56 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 6:56 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
DeSantis looks like he's going to cry.
I came here to post this exact sentence. That guy has the worst poker face.
Also Gillum 2020 please
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:04 PM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
I came here to post this exact sentence. That guy has the worst poker face.
Also Gillum 2020 please
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 7:04 PM on October 24, 2018 [5 favorites]
Justinian: "and the House delegation out of Nevada is basically set in stone barring a monster wave in either direction"
If you would like to freak out some more, both NV-03 and NV-04 are only Lean Dem, and both have been talked about as being on the very short list of possible GOP pickups.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:06 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
If you would like to freak out some more, both NV-03 and NV-04 are only Lean Dem, and both have been talked about as being on the very short list of possible GOP pickups.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:06 PM on October 24, 2018 [2 favorites]
But at the time I really just did not think those would anger any rational human enough to vandalize a stranger's car. I didn't think about it again for a long time. I have been thinking about this incident more and more lately.
Last year I had a letter to the editor printed in the paper in favor of single payer -- from a business owner's perspective, with my name and company in the signature. Later that week I was driving on the highway when one of my car wheels almost fell off. All five lug nuts were loose, really loose. They don't just loosen themselves. Not saying for sure it was sabotage, but I'm going with that assumption. The way things are, I'd rather be proven wrong about that than be proven wrong assuming the opposite. Be safe if you can, but don't let danger keep you from resisting, because it's also dangerous not to resist. They are counting on us to be afraid.
posted by M-x shell at 7:43 PM on October 24, 2018 [42 favorites]
Last year I had a letter to the editor printed in the paper in favor of single payer -- from a business owner's perspective, with my name and company in the signature. Later that week I was driving on the highway when one of my car wheels almost fell off. All five lug nuts were loose, really loose. They don't just loosen themselves. Not saying for sure it was sabotage, but I'm going with that assumption. The way things are, I'd rather be proven wrong about that than be proven wrong assuming the opposite. Be safe if you can, but don't let danger keep you from resisting, because it's also dangerous not to resist. They are counting on us to be afraid.
posted by M-x shell at 7:43 PM on October 24, 2018 [42 favorites]
I find it more and more believable as time goes by that maybe a bumper sticker WAS enough to anger the wrong person into doing that to me. And so now, it haunts me and I think about it all the time. Every time I speak out, every time I think about putting a bumper sticker on my car (shameful confession: I just recently while cleaning came across my pristine Hillary 2016 sticker, having never been brave enough to actually put it on my car), or wearing a T-shirt that reveals political feelings, or attending protests, or donating to campaigns. Who might I anger? Which one has a gun or just anger control/violence issues? Who could find out more about me, doxx me, harass me at work? Is it only a matter of time in this country before protestors and activists are simply jailed and/or murdered? Will my history of cautious and limited political activism still come back and bite me in the ass then?
I feel the same way. Hell, it's possible that my putting up a sign on my patio has led to my being robbed if someone was angry enough, maybe that caused it for all I know. Everyone is hair trigger angry all the time and out for revenge and I live in a toxic environment and just...yeah.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:52 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
I feel the same way. Hell, it's possible that my putting up a sign on my patio has led to my being robbed if someone was angry enough, maybe that caused it for all I know. Everyone is hair trigger angry all the time and out for revenge and I live in a toxic environment and just...yeah.
posted by jenfullmoon at 7:52 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
Some good news: F.B.I. Arrests White Nationalist Leader Who Fled the Country for Central America
Robert Rundo was arrested. Article says, "He is the founder of the Rise Above Movement, a neo-Nazi gang based in Southern California whose members were involved in violent activity at protests throughout California in 2017. He and three other Californians associated with the group — Robert Boman, 25, Tyler Laube, 22, and Aaron Eason, 38 — were charged with inciting riots, according to court documents. Mr. Boman and Mr. Laube were arrested on Tuesday morning in Southern California. The F.B.I. said it was still searching for Mr. Eason.
Earlier this month, another four members of the Rise Above Movement — Benjamin Daley, Michael Miselis, Thomas Gillen and Cole White — were indicted on conspiracy to riot charges for attacking counterprotesters during last year’s Unite The Right rally in Charlottesville, Va. Mr. Rundo left the country shortly after the four were arrested at the beginning of the month."
posted by Sublimity at 7:55 PM on October 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
Robert Rundo was arrested. Article says, "He is the founder of the Rise Above Movement, a neo-Nazi gang based in Southern California whose members were involved in violent activity at protests throughout California in 2017. He and three other Californians associated with the group — Robert Boman, 25, Tyler Laube, 22, and Aaron Eason, 38 — were charged with inciting riots, according to court documents. Mr. Boman and Mr. Laube were arrested on Tuesday morning in Southern California. The F.B.I. said it was still searching for Mr. Eason.
Earlier this month, another four members of the Rise Above Movement — Benjamin Daley, Michael Miselis, Thomas Gillen and Cole White — were indicted on conspiracy to riot charges for attacking counterprotesters during last year’s Unite The Right rally in Charlottesville, Va. Mr. Rundo left the country shortly after the four were arrested at the beginning of the month."
posted by Sublimity at 7:55 PM on October 24, 2018 [19 favorites]
If you would like to freak out some more
I would not.
But while I probably did overstate NV-03's solidness... I'd be very very shocked if NV-04 flipped. It's possible but I would think that would mean a very long, sad night was happening for the good guys.
posted by Justinian at 7:58 PM on October 24, 2018
I would not.
But while I probably did overstate NV-03's solidness... I'd be very very shocked if NV-04 flipped. It's possible but I would think that would mean a very long, sad night was happening for the good guys.
posted by Justinian at 7:58 PM on October 24, 2018
Here's the full Gilliam/DeSantis exchange, which shows a) how badly DeSantis fucked things up, b) that he did so because he made an assumption about what the moderator was going to ask, and c) the moderator basically saying "well, had you waited for me to finish, you wouldn't be where you are now, but since you didn't, Mr. Gilliam now gets to serve you your ass on a platter. Enjoy."
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:15 PM on October 24, 2018 [67 favorites]
posted by NoxAeternum at 8:15 PM on October 24, 2018 [67 favorites]
I find it more and more believable as time goes by that maybe a bumper sticker WAS enough to anger the wrong person into doing that to me.
After voting in 2004, I stopped at a liqour store with my friend to buy beer for what we thought was going to be the celebration of the downfall of King Bush. He was wearing one of those yellow anti-war buttons, something he put on basically just because it was election day and we were walking to the polling place. A guy in the liqour store saw that button and started cursing us out in the store, and the owner asked him to leave. After we paid and exited, this guy was lurking in the alley outside, and followed us home at a distance, yelling all the time, calling us fa**ots and so on. I thought for sure he was going to shoot us, and I've been apprehensive about wearing obvious political statements ever since then. This is a violent and broken country, with a violent and broken people.
posted by dis_integration at 8:17 PM on October 24, 2018 [21 favorites]
After voting in 2004, I stopped at a liqour store with my friend to buy beer for what we thought was going to be the celebration of the downfall of King Bush. He was wearing one of those yellow anti-war buttons, something he put on basically just because it was election day and we were walking to the polling place. A guy in the liqour store saw that button and started cursing us out in the store, and the owner asked him to leave. After we paid and exited, this guy was lurking in the alley outside, and followed us home at a distance, yelling all the time, calling us fa**ots and so on. I thought for sure he was going to shoot us, and I've been apprehensive about wearing obvious political statements ever since then. This is a violent and broken country, with a violent and broken people.
posted by dis_integration at 8:17 PM on October 24, 2018 [21 favorites]
Nate Silver is playing a horrible game: We’re Back From The Future. Which Of These Wildly Different Midterm Outcomes Would You Believe?
posted by growabrain at 8:20 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 8:20 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
Well, I've told the story here before about how we had to sell our old house and move because I'd been openly Arabic before 911, and after 911, we had flags planted in our yard, and things got real ugly for awhile. Subsequently, I have avoided things like bumper stickers, campaign signs, or canvassing near where I live. The nationalists have been scary for a long time y'all. A real long time. The teahadists weren't created by the republicans, they were just emboldened.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:27 PM on October 24, 2018 [65 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 8:27 PM on October 24, 2018 [65 favorites]
The Post's Josh Dawsey and Felicia Sonmez Trump takes aim at media after homemade bombs sent to Clinton, Obama and CNN sum it up nicely:
Trump appeared to make a show of behaving civil throughout his remarks to supporters in this town of about 4,000 people in central Wisconsin. He was relatively subdued as he spoke, interrupted himself several times to point out that he was “trying to be nice” and took no responsibility for his own role in contributing to the country’s civic discourse.posted by zachlipton at 8:30 PM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
“No nation can succeed that tolerates violence or the threat of violence as a method of political intimidation, coercion or control,” Trump said as he opened his remarks. “We want all sides to come together in peace and harmony.”
Moments later, he took aim at one of his favorite targets, the news media. “The media also has a responsibility to set a civil tone and to stop the endless hostility and constant negative — and oftentimes, false — attacks and stories,” Trump said.
...
The president, who has frequently used nicknames such as “Lyin’ Ted” or “Crooked Hillary” to mock his rivals, called for those in the political arena to “stop treating their opponents as morally defective.”
...
And he stopped himself several times to point out that he was making an effort to tone down his typically combative rhetoric.
“By the way, do you see how nice I’m behaving?” Trump said. “We’re all behaving very well. And hopefully we can keep it that way.”
I feel like Trump needs one of those signs next to him when he gives a speech, like the ones claiming some number of “days since an industrial accident” you might see in a factory. Only, for Trump, the sign would say something like “Sentences since an industrial lie / attempt to foment unrest”. And about every thirty or sixty seconds, some longsuffering OHSA rep would have to walk back over to the sign and reset the counter on it to zero.
posted by darkstar at 8:41 PM on October 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by darkstar at 8:41 PM on October 24, 2018 [14 favorites]
filthy light thief has you covered, darkstar.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:47 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:47 PM on October 24, 2018 [4 favorites]
KNUC, Death And Politics Collide Yet Again In This Year's Election, on the various parts of the country that still elect coroners (strangely, often as a partisan office), the unqualified people who run ("And my particular opponent has never even touched a dead body. She's 22"), and the push to stop this madness and use qualified medical examiners instead.
I also learned today that Arizona elects its Mine Inspector, and well [photos]: Took a look at the people running for Arizona Mine Inspector and I was not disappointed. If this guy showed up and told you he was the mine inspector you wouldn’t even ask for ID.
This is normally where I'd tell you about the only elected town dogcatcher in the country, which is a lovely little diversion with dialogue that should be straight out of a Parks and Recreation episode, but it turns out the spoilsports at NPR ruined that, because we can't have nice things. It turns out that dogcatchers are not an officially elected position in the state of Vermont, even though Zeb Towne has been elected to the post in Duxbury for 15 years in a row. While Towne has hardly been a secret, it was apparently news to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, which earlier this year declared that dogcatchers must be appointed, not elected. Towne has now been appointed dogcatcher instead, but our nation lost our only elected dogcatcher position, and this is a great tragedy.
posted by zachlipton at 9:04 PM on October 24, 2018 [31 favorites]
I also learned today that Arizona elects its Mine Inspector, and well [photos]: Took a look at the people running for Arizona Mine Inspector and I was not disappointed. If this guy showed up and told you he was the mine inspector you wouldn’t even ask for ID.
This is normally where I'd tell you about the only elected town dogcatcher in the country, which is a lovely little diversion with dialogue that should be straight out of a Parks and Recreation episode, but it turns out the spoilsports at NPR ruined that, because we can't have nice things. It turns out that dogcatchers are not an officially elected position in the state of Vermont, even though Zeb Towne has been elected to the post in Duxbury for 15 years in a row. While Towne has hardly been a secret, it was apparently news to the Vermont League of Cities and Towns, which earlier this year declared that dogcatchers must be appointed, not elected. Towne has now been appointed dogcatcher instead, but our nation lost our only elected dogcatcher position, and this is a great tragedy.
posted by zachlipton at 9:04 PM on October 24, 2018 [31 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 13 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
// 13 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
-- FL: Another multi-poll day:** 2018 House:--FAU poll has GOPer Scott up 42-41 on Dem incumbent Nelson [MOE: +/- 3.6%].-- MO: OnMessage poll has GOPer Hawley up 49-42 on Dem incumbent McCaskill [MOE: +/- 3.5%]. Poll was commissioned by the Hawley campaign.
-- St. Leo poll has Nelson up 47-38 [MOE: +/- 3.5%].
-- Gravis poll has Nelson up 49-45 [MOE: +/- 3.5%].
-- NJ: Rutgers poll has Dem incumbent Menendez up 51-46 on GOPer Hugin [MOE: +/- 5.1%].
-- NV: Ipsos poll has GOP incumbent Heller up 47-41 on Dem Rosen [MOE: +/- 3.3%]. => Worth noting that Jon Ralston, among others, had a lot of questions about this poll.
-- TX: Ipsos poll has GOP incumbent Cruz up 49-44 on Dem O'Rourke [MOE: +/- 3.1%].
-- WI: Ipsos poll has Dem incumbent Baldwin up 54-39 on GOPer Vukmir [MOE: +/- 3.2%].
-- MI: Marketing Research Group poll has Dem incumbent Stabenow up 53-37 on GOPer James [MOE: +/- 4.0%].
-- WV: Fabrizio, Lee poll has GOPer Morrisey up 44-42 on Dem incumbent Manchin [MOE: +/- 4.0%]. Poll was commissioned by the NRSC. => This is classic trying to hard with an internal. You could have had Manchin +2, and said Morrisey is closing the gap, and that might have been believable, but you had to go for the gold, I guess.
-- There were a whole batch of polls from TargetPoint, which is a GOP pollster. They say that *someone* commissioned them, but they don't want to say who. And they don't list MOE. So, regard these with a grain of salt:** Odds & ends:-- NY-21: GOP incumbent Stefanik up 50-40 on Dem Cobbs. [Trump 54-40 | Cook: Likely R]-- VA-10: GSG poll has Dem Wexton up 49-39 on GOP incumbent Comstock [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. Poll was commissioned by Gabby Gifford's PAC. => This is way closer to other polling - mostly high single digit Wexton leads - than the TargetPoint.
-- OH-16: GOPer Gonzalez up 48-39 on Dem Palmer. [Trump 56-40 | Cook: Solid R]
-- TX-02: GOPer Crenshaw up 49-40 on Dem Litton. [Trump 52-43 | Cook: Likely R]
-- CA-45: GOP incumbent Walters up 50-42 on Dem Porter. [Clinton 50-44 | Cook: Tossup]
-- VA-05: GOPer Riggleman up 48-43 on Dem Cockburn. [Trump 53-42 | Cook: Lean R]
-- VA-10: Dem Wexton tied 47-47 with GOP incumbent Comstock. [Clinton 52-42 | Cook: Lean D]
-- PA-01: Dem Wallace up 49-45 on GOP incumbent Fitzpatrick. [Clinton 49-47 | Cook: Tossup]
-- CO-06: Dem Crow up 48-43 on GOP incumbent Coffman. [Clinton 50-41 | Cook: Lean D]
-- OH-12: GBA Strategies poll has Dem O'Connor tied 47-47 with GOP incumbent Balderson [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. Poll was commissioned by the O'Connor campaign. [Trump 53-42 | Cook: Tossup] => Two Dem polls in two days showing a very tight race, no response from Balderson yet.
-- FL-15: GQR poll has Dem Carlson tied 47-47 with GOPer Spano [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. Poll was commissioned by the Carlson campaign. [Trump 53-43 | Cook: Tossup]
-- NY-22: Siena poll has Dem Brindisi up 46-45 on GOP incumbent Tenney [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Trump 55-39 | Cook: Tossup]
-- FL-26: Siena poll has Dem Mucarsel-Powell up 45-44 on GOP incumbent Curbelo [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. [Clinton 57-41 | Cook: Tossup]
-- ME-02: GOP incumbent Poliquin refused to say he wouldn't take legal action if he loses his race only due to ranked choice voting (a distinct possibility). [Trump 51-41 | Cook: Tossup]
-- SC-01: GOP candidate Arrington appears to have been caught threatening a local mayor for not endorsing her. [Trump 54-40 | Cook: Lean R]
-- SD gov: Mason-Dixon poll has Dem Sutton tied 45-45 with GOPer Noem [MOE: +/- 4.5%]. [Cook: Tossup] => This is the first independent polling of this race. Sutton has released two internals with him narrowly in the lead, Noem hasn't released any of her own, meaning it's probably tied to a narrow Sutton lead.** Averages & forecasts:
-- FL gov: [Cook: Tossup] => I'm not a professional race rater, but it kind of feels like this race should move to Lean D.-- FAU: Dem Gillum up 41-37 on GOPer DeSantis.-- FL downballot: Same St. Leo poll has: AG: Dem Shaw up 40-36 on GOPer Moody. Ag Comm: Dem Fried up 40-33 on GOPer Caldwell. CFO: Dem Ring up 37-34 on GOP incumbent Patronis.
-- St. Leo: Gillum up 49-37.
-- Gravis: Gillump 49-43.
-- MI downballot: Same Marketing Research Group poll has: AG: Dem Nessel up 39-34 on GOPer Leonard. SOS: Dem Benson up 41-33 on GOPer Lang.
-- NV gov: Same Ipsos poll has GOPer Laxalt up 46-41 on Dem Sisolak. [Cook: Tossup]
-- TX gov: Same Ipsos poll has GOP incumbent Abbott up 53-38 on Dem Valdez. [Cook: Solid R]
-- WI gov: Same Ipsos poll has Dem Evers up 48-45 on GOP incumbent Walker. [Cook: Tossup]
-- OK gov: Magellan Strategies poll has GOPer Stitt up 51-44 on Dem Edmondson [MOE: +/- 4.4%]. [Cook: Lean R] => Magellan is an R outfit, but says they aren't working for anyone in the race. Polling here has been scanty, but has been mostly low mid-single digit leads for Stitt.
-- GA gov: Marist poll has GOPer Kemp up 46-45 on Dem Abrams [MOE: +/- 4.8%]. [Cook: Tossup]
--Vox: How pollsters responded to issues in 2016 (a topic that's come up here a bit).
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.2 (49.9/41.7)posted by Chrysostom at 9:05 PM on October 24, 2018 [21 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 84.0% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 17.6% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 23.9 states.
-- NY-22: Siena poll has Dem Brindisi up 46-45 on GOP incumbent Tenney [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Trump 55-39 | Cook: Tossup]
-- FL-26: Siena poll has Dem Mucarsel-Powell up 45-44 on GOP incumbent Curbelo [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. [Clinton 57-41 | Cook: Tossup]
These races are two that I'm going to be watching early on election night to try to get a feel for how things are shaping up, along with probably VA-05 and VA-07. All Eastern time and should report pretty early. If we take 3 of the 4 I'm gonna start the good drinking. If we lose 3 of the 4 I'm gonna start the bad drinking. If we split them 2-2 I'm gonna start the drinking drinking.
posted by Justinian at 9:25 PM on October 24, 2018 [26 favorites]
-- FL-26: Siena poll has Dem Mucarsel-Powell up 45-44 on GOP incumbent Curbelo [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. [Clinton 57-41 | Cook: Tossup]
These races are two that I'm going to be watching early on election night to try to get a feel for how things are shaping up, along with probably VA-05 and VA-07. All Eastern time and should report pretty early. If we take 3 of the 4 I'm gonna start the good drinking. If we lose 3 of the 4 I'm gonna start the bad drinking. If we split them 2-2 I'm gonna start the drinking drinking.
posted by Justinian at 9:25 PM on October 24, 2018 [26 favorites]
Add KY-6 to your watch list. Polls close at 6est and KY usually reports fairly quickly. If McGrath wins it's a real good sign that the blue wave is a real thing. We can retake the House without that race, but if she wins early it's going to be a good night.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:32 PM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:32 PM on October 24, 2018 [8 favorites]
[pedantry] Kentucky polls close at 6 pm local time, so part of the state at 6 ET, part of the state at 7 ET. [/pedantry]
Obviously, KY-06 (Lexington) is in the east. And agree on that's one to watch early. Florida reports fast, too, and there are a several of Tossup to Lean R seats there to watch. NY-19/22/24 are interesting, but New York is pretty poky on counting.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:46 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
Obviously, KY-06 (Lexington) is in the east. And agree on that's one to watch early. Florida reports fast, too, and there are a several of Tossup to Lean R seats there to watch. NY-19/22/24 are interesting, but New York is pretty poky on counting.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:46 PM on October 24, 2018 [1 favorite]
zachlipton: I also learned today that Arizona elects its Mine Inspector, and well [photos]: Took a look at the people running for Arizona Mine Inspector and I was not disappointed. If this guy showed up and told you he was the mine inspector you wouldn’t even ask for ID.
I love Bill Pierce! He's come to several of our LD meetings over the past year. Not only is he straight out of Central Casting, he legit knows his stuff (confirmed by a friend who is a very picky geologist type) and has all the right priorities. Fingers crossed.
posted by Superplin at 10:06 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
I love Bill Pierce! He's come to several of our LD meetings over the past year. Not only is he straight out of Central Casting, he legit knows his stuff (confirmed by a friend who is a very picky geologist type) and has all the right priorities. Fingers crossed.
posted by Superplin at 10:06 PM on October 24, 2018 [13 favorites]
So I have half a hand in IL-12 and IL-13. If any of you are close enough to help with those, please MeMail me. These are very flippable, and we really need help. IL-13 in particular is gonna come down to volunteer margin.
posted by dogheart at 10:11 PM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by dogheart at 10:11 PM on October 24, 2018 [7 favorites]
Partisan elected offices in some counties in Pennsylvania include register of wills, recorder of deeds, clerk of courts, prothonotary, and coroner.
posted by Chrysostom at 10:29 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 10:29 PM on October 24, 2018 [6 favorites]
prothonotary
How positively Byzantine of them.
posted by Justinian at 10:43 PM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
How positively Byzantine of them.
posted by Justinian at 10:43 PM on October 24, 2018 [15 favorites]
... said Justinian to Chrysostom....
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 11:00 PM on October 24, 2018 [126 favorites]
posted by Reclusive Novelist Thomas Pynchon at 11:00 PM on October 24, 2018 [126 favorites]
Ha'aretz: Republicans and Democrats Both Try to Paint the Other Side’s Candidates as Worse for the Jews
That's a bold strategy on the Republican side.
posted by Joe in Australia at 12:09 AM on October 25, 2018
That's a bold strategy on the Republican side.
posted by Joe in Australia at 12:09 AM on October 25, 2018
Amazon pitched its facial recognition to ICE, released emails show
Emails in FOIA release show Amazon "ready and willing" to help with "vital" ICE mission.
posted by XMLicious at 2:30 AM on October 25, 2018 [30 favorites]
Emails in FOIA release show Amazon "ready and willing" to help with "vital" ICE mission.
posted by XMLicious at 2:30 AM on October 25, 2018 [30 favorites]
Turns out facial recognition is way easier when all you have to do is detect skin color.
posted by mmoncur at 2:52 AM on October 25, 2018 [29 favorites]
posted by mmoncur at 2:52 AM on October 25, 2018 [29 favorites]
CNN is reporting another suspicious device in Tribecca; device has the same appearance as the other packages, apparently is addressed to Robert DeNiro.
Welcome to your fresh morning of hell. Never ends in this timeline.
posted by andruwjones26 at 3:31 AM on October 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
Welcome to your fresh morning of hell. Never ends in this timeline.
posted by andruwjones26 at 3:31 AM on October 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
In case you're wondering why Deniro ended up on the right-wing loony conspiracy list, apparently he had words to say about Trump at the Tony awards this summer.
posted by mmoncur at 4:45 AM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by mmoncur at 4:45 AM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
Re: Republicans don't bomb, liberals do.
There have been 42 bombings of abortion clinics by rightwing extremists since 1977. That's in addition to 8 murders, 17 attempted murders, and 186 arsons. Republicans have always been terrorists.
posted by chris24 at 4:51 AM on October 25, 2018 [89 favorites]
There have been 42 bombings of abortion clinics by rightwing extremists since 1977. That's in addition to 8 murders, 17 attempted murders, and 186 arsons. Republicans have always been terrorists.
posted by chris24 at 4:51 AM on October 25, 2018 [89 favorites]
And we had the home-schooled conservative Christian-raised white male Mark Conditt killing black people with bombs in Austin, Texas just six months ago.
posted by chris24 at 5:05 AM on October 25, 2018 [37 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 5:05 AM on October 25, 2018 [37 favorites]
NBC News: Law enforcement officials say a package addressed to former VP Biden, similar to others, was found this morning at a postal facility in New Castle, Delaware, @PeteWilliamsNBC reports.
posted by PenDevil at 5:07 AM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 5:07 AM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
So... having gotten his top priority, i.e. jewish, black and/or female, targets sent out first, the next day the magabomber continued down the list to generic white males who have offended his (it's always his) liege?
Could be just variation in the speed of the mail or courier, but the order of his enemies list doesn't look accidental.
posted by bcd at 5:26 AM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
Could be just variation in the speed of the mail or courier, but the order of his enemies list doesn't look accidental.
posted by bcd at 5:26 AM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
Much like thinking Breenen works at CNN the DeNiro thing is inexplicable until you remember it occupied like a soild week of airtime on Fox News and an entire “I’m destroying all my Denoir related objects!” Internet cycle.
posted by The Whelk at 5:29 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 5:29 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
Also two people died in a white suoremecist related shooting at a supermarket yesterday and it doesn’t even make the news.
Reminder that after Cville a lot of people who watch far right spaces said they were talking about doing less rallies and marches and focusing on seemingly unconnected “lone wolf” attacks,
posted by The Whelk at 5:31 AM on October 25, 2018 [26 favorites]
Reminder that after Cville a lot of people who watch far right spaces said they were talking about doing less rallies and marches and focusing on seemingly unconnected “lone wolf” attacks,
posted by The Whelk at 5:31 AM on October 25, 2018 [26 favorites]
There have been 42 bombings of abortion clinics by rightwing extremists since 1977. That's in addition to 8 murders, 17 attempted murders, and 186 arsons. Republicans have always been terrorists.
And we had the home-schooled conservative Christian-raised white male Mark Conditt killing black people with bombs in Austin, Texas just six months ago.
And the Las Vegas shooter was deep into right-wing conspiracy theories. And the arsonist for one of the big CA fires was a huge fan of the alt-right. And the Toronto attacker was an incel. And the Parkland shooter was a MAGA chud. And the Quebec mosque shooter loved Breitbart. And the "Atomwaffen" neo-Nazis have claimed half a dozen lives.
And.
And.
And.
.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:53 AM on October 25, 2018 [99 favorites]
And we had the home-schooled conservative Christian-raised white male Mark Conditt killing black people with bombs in Austin, Texas just six months ago.
And the Las Vegas shooter was deep into right-wing conspiracy theories. And the arsonist for one of the big CA fires was a huge fan of the alt-right. And the Toronto attacker was an incel. And the Parkland shooter was a MAGA chud. And the Quebec mosque shooter loved Breitbart. And the "Atomwaffen" neo-Nazis have claimed half a dozen lives.
And.
And.
And.
.
posted by zombieflanders at 5:53 AM on October 25, 2018 [99 favorites]
BTW, the events I listed above are only a fraction of the killings attributable to the right in just the last two years. The body count from the "alt-right" alone was over 100 as of February. And remember, these are the death tolls; the number of people injured, the holes in families and people's lives, and the effect on the political environment at every level are among many other consequences of right-wing domestic terrorism in North America that many times aren't even taken into account.
posted by zombieflanders at 6:18 AM on October 25, 2018 [32 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 6:18 AM on October 25, 2018 [32 favorites]
Dave Wasserman with a tweet showing why rural voters returning to Trump strongly wouldn't change the odds of taking the House greatly while simultaneously lowering the ceiling for gains: Of the 46 R seats we rate as most vulnerable (Toss Up or worse), *33* are predominantly suburban. Only a handful more rural like #IA01 or #ME02.
So yeah, if Democrats clean up in the suburbs they take the House. But they would need a bunch of rural districts for a supersized 35 or 40+ wave.
'Course the competing waves theory where GOP has surged rurally while Blue is still sweeping the suburbs is purely hypothetical until we see the results and is totally based on poll divergences in House vs Senate races. But the tweet illustrates why the House still looks good for us as long as we show lots of strength in suburbia.
posted by Justinian at 6:33 AM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
So yeah, if Democrats clean up in the suburbs they take the House. But they would need a bunch of rural districts for a supersized 35 or 40+ wave.
'Course the competing waves theory where GOP has surged rurally while Blue is still sweeping the suburbs is purely hypothetical until we see the results and is totally based on poll divergences in House vs Senate races. But the tweet illustrates why the House still looks good for us as long as we show lots of strength in suburbia.
posted by Justinian at 6:33 AM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Trump couldn't go a full day without a tweet blaming the media for being attacked by a terrorist. I won't link his tweet because its evil forking bullshirt but, yeah, he's going all in on it being the media's (and one presumes Obama&the Clintons) fault if they get murdered.
posted by Justinian at 6:38 AM on October 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 6:38 AM on October 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
I'm kind of freaked out that Republicans didn't even wait a couple days, or even for accusations to surface, before claiming the bombs were a liberal plot. The usual thing is to wait a while, see what investigators say, wait a while, gather some info at least, and then put out your crazy alternate theories online. It's like they don't even want to wait, because they know they won't believe whatever is found out officially. They don't even want to know the truth.
posted by xammerboy at 7:05 AM on October 25, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by xammerboy at 7:05 AM on October 25, 2018 [12 favorites]
They don't even want to know the truth. The Khashoggi Protocol.
posted by Harry Caul at 7:11 AM on October 25, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Harry Caul at 7:11 AM on October 25, 2018 [14 favorites]
I'm kind of freaked out that Republicans didn't even wait a couple days, or even for accusations to surface, before claiming the bombs were a liberal plot.
With elections so close, and donations as they are, they're going after free press coverage in hopes of dragging down or discouraging those who would vote for the Democratic party.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:12 AM on October 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
With elections so close, and donations as they are, they're going after free press coverage in hopes of dragging down or discouraging those who would vote for the Democratic party.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:12 AM on October 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
David Fahrenthold will be tweeting from the Trump Foundation civil trial today.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:15 AM on October 25, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:15 AM on October 25, 2018 [21 favorites]
RealPressSecBot is handy for not-quite-really-linking
@TrumpOrNotBot is another helpful retweeter, with the added benefit of reminding us that Trump is not the sole creator of the tweets on @realDonaldTrump. This was always the case under Dan Scavino, but once Bill Shine came on board and the midterm campaigning heated up, the account has turned into a much more directed, even conventional feed. TrumpOrNotBot's natural-language algorithm for determining the probability of the tweets' authorship helps bypass the inciting effect Team Trump wants out of them.
For instance, it calculates a 79% chance Trump wrote this himself, which suggests at a partial element message discipline behind the scenes:
As for @realDonaldTrump's next tweet, the Trump White House knows that the NYT's eavesdropping scoop is a scandal in the making and that it needs to quell it fast. Unsurprisingly, @TrumpOrNotBot calculates only a 48% chance of Trump originality:
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:31 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
@TrumpOrNotBot is another helpful retweeter, with the added benefit of reminding us that Trump is not the sole creator of the tweets on @realDonaldTrump. This was always the case under Dan Scavino, but once Bill Shine came on board and the midterm campaigning heated up, the account has turned into a much more directed, even conventional feed. TrumpOrNotBot's natural-language algorithm for determining the probability of the tweets' authorship helps bypass the inciting effect Team Trump wants out of them.
For instance, it calculates a 79% chance Trump wrote this himself, which suggests at a partial element message discipline behind the scenes:
A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!(John Brennan tartly responded: "Stop blaming others. Look in the mirror. Your inflammatory rhetoric, insults, lies, & encouragement of physical violence are disgraceful. Clean up your act....try to act Presidential. The American people deserve much better. BTW, your critics will not be intimidated into silence.")
As for @realDonaldTrump's next tweet, the Trump White House knows that the NYT's eavesdropping scoop is a scandal in the making and that it needs to quell it fast. Unsurprisingly, @TrumpOrNotBot calculates only a 48% chance of Trump originality:
The New York Times has a new Fake Story that now the Russians and Chinese (glad they finally added China) are listening to all of my calls on cellphones. Except that I rarely use a cellphone, & when I do it’s government authorized. I like Hard Lines. Just more made up Fake News!Of course, "I like Hard Lines" is something Trump never said, ever, but it would be hilarious to imagine, if it weren't an emerging national security crisis.
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:31 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
-- NY-22: Siena poll has Dem Brindisi up 46-45 on GOP incumbent Tenney [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Trump 55-39 | Cook: Tossup]
Ny-22 is adjacent to my district NY-23 and there is a LOT of enthusiasm for Brindisi. Lots of volunteers, lots of signs and I really hope that the truly despicable Tenney gets roundly thrown from office. I wish NY-23 was going the same direction (the affable liar Tom Reed is the GOP incumbent against the truly awesome Tracy Mitrano) but it doesn't look good. Although in my canvassing for Mitrano, there has been a number of conversations akin to 'I wanna throw the bums out' referring to the GOP. We're pretty red here in upstate NY but I also think people are pretty fed up and maybe the Republicans won't go to the polls.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:40 AM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
Ny-22 is adjacent to my district NY-23 and there is a LOT of enthusiasm for Brindisi. Lots of volunteers, lots of signs and I really hope that the truly despicable Tenney gets roundly thrown from office. I wish NY-23 was going the same direction (the affable liar Tom Reed is the GOP incumbent against the truly awesome Tracy Mitrano) but it doesn't look good. Although in my canvassing for Mitrano, there has been a number of conversations akin to 'I wanna throw the bums out' referring to the GOP. We're pretty red here in upstate NY but I also think people are pretty fed up and maybe the Republicans won't go to the polls.
posted by bluesky43 at 7:40 AM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
They don't even want to know the truth. The Khashoggi Protocol.
I think this hits really close to the mark. On a subconscious level they know the truth. But to admit that truth would be to admit they've been wrong, their whole world-view might be wrong, and that they're a bad person on the wrong side. Allowing themselves to have those sorts of thoughts feels terrible. Instead, they start off by denying the truth. By loudly denying that truth to those they see as the enemy they also deny that truth to themselves. As more evidence emerges that makes a straight denial harder and harder to believe they'll switch to obfusticating the truth with wild conspiracy theories and accusations of false flag operations and all that other crazy BS.
As things have escalated it's become more and more obvious what the truth is and harder and harder to straight-up deny which causes the whole pattern to accelerate.
So the speed with which we got to "it's a false flag op by teh libs!" is a sign that those mental walls are starting to crumble as many on the right scramble to shore them up. But the cracks are forming faster than they can be patched now.
Eventually some folks are going to realize they've been fighting for evil the whole time and will work to turn themselves around and some who will be utterly broken by the realization. How big and dangerous that latter group ends up being will determine a lot about the direction the county takes next.
posted by VTX at 7:41 AM on October 25, 2018 [25 favorites]
I think this hits really close to the mark. On a subconscious level they know the truth. But to admit that truth would be to admit they've been wrong, their whole world-view might be wrong, and that they're a bad person on the wrong side. Allowing themselves to have those sorts of thoughts feels terrible. Instead, they start off by denying the truth. By loudly denying that truth to those they see as the enemy they also deny that truth to themselves. As more evidence emerges that makes a straight denial harder and harder to believe they'll switch to obfusticating the truth with wild conspiracy theories and accusations of false flag operations and all that other crazy BS.
As things have escalated it's become more and more obvious what the truth is and harder and harder to straight-up deny which causes the whole pattern to accelerate.
So the speed with which we got to "it's a false flag op by teh libs!" is a sign that those mental walls are starting to crumble as many on the right scramble to shore them up. But the cracks are forming faster than they can be patched now.
Eventually some folks are going to realize they've been fighting for evil the whole time and will work to turn themselves around and some who will be utterly broken by the realization. How big and dangerous that latter group ends up being will determine a lot about the direction the county takes next.
posted by VTX at 7:41 AM on October 25, 2018 [25 favorites]
David Fahrenthold will be tweeting from the Trump Foundation civil trial today.
Adam Klasfeld is there as well with more timely live-tweeting.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:42 AM on October 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
Adam Klasfeld is there as well with more timely live-tweeting.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 7:42 AM on October 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
"Your inflammatory rhetoric, insults, lies, & encouragement of physical violence are disgraceful. Clean up your act....try to act Presidential. The American people deserve much better."
This is what I want to see from the media, pretty much all the time. It's not disrespectful. It's exactly what I would say to any other adult who kept feeding me lines of bullshit.
posted by xammerboy at 7:47 AM on October 25, 2018 [51 favorites]
This is what I want to see from the media, pretty much all the time. It's not disrespectful. It's exactly what I would say to any other adult who kept feeding me lines of bullshit.
posted by xammerboy at 7:47 AM on October 25, 2018 [51 favorites]
On a subconscious level they know the truth. But to admit that truth would be to admit they've been wrong, their whole world-view might be wrong, and that they're a bad person on the wrong side. Allowing themselves to have those sorts of thoughts feels terrible. Instead, they start off by denying the truth. By loudly denying that truth to those they see as the enemy they also deny that truth to themselves. As more evidence emerges that makes a straight denial harder and harder to believe they'll switch to obfusticating the truth with wild conspiracy theories and accusations of false flag operations and all that other crazy BS.
Kind of like how "perhaps a young Kavanaugh did take advantage of intoxicated girls at high school parties" evolves into "George Soros paid multiple women to lie repeatedly under oath, at great personal cost to themselves, solely because they all hate America and President Trump so much" as what they feel is the most likely scenario.
It's dehumanization at its core. To conservatives, America has a caste system where anyone they consider to be beneath them simply doesn't count as relevant or equal or rational. It's easier to classify them as ranting animals and dismiss anything they say as ravings and lies than to acknowledge their humanity and have to address their points and logic.
posted by delfin at 7:54 AM on October 25, 2018 [20 favorites]
Kind of like how "perhaps a young Kavanaugh did take advantage of intoxicated girls at high school parties" evolves into "George Soros paid multiple women to lie repeatedly under oath, at great personal cost to themselves, solely because they all hate America and President Trump so much" as what they feel is the most likely scenario.
It's dehumanization at its core. To conservatives, America has a caste system where anyone they consider to be beneath them simply doesn't count as relevant or equal or rational. It's easier to classify them as ranting animals and dismiss anything they say as ravings and lies than to acknowledge their humanity and have to address their points and logic.
posted by delfin at 7:54 AM on October 25, 2018 [20 favorites]
Somehow this seems aposite regarding the reaction to the bombings:
A Narcissist's Prayerposted by jaduncan at 7:56 AM on October 25, 2018 [93 favorites]That didn't happen.
And if it did, it wasn't that bad.
And if it was, that's not a big deal.
And if it is, that's not my fault.
And if it was, I didn't mean it.
And if I did...
You deserved it.
In fact, I'm not sure why I'm limiting that. It just applies to pretty much everything.
posted by jaduncan at 7:59 AM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 7:59 AM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Briefly interrupting the horror/shitshow of bombs and Trump being Trump for something uplifting, a candidate for Florida state senate in my area who is brave (challenging the most unabashedly Trumpy of Trumpers, in major Trump territory) and resilient: Sarasota Candidate Aims to Become First State Legislator With a Disability
(yes, set aside the astonishment that Florida has never elected someone with a disability, and just check out a well-done story.)
posted by martin q blank at 8:06 AM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
(yes, set aside the astonishment that Florida has never elected someone with a disability, and just check out a well-done story.)
posted by martin q blank at 8:06 AM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Turns out facial recognition is way easier when all you have to do is detect skin color.
Community was ahead of its time only slightly: "Wireless racism...the future of the past is now."
I'm kind of freaked out that Republicans didn't even wait a couple days, or even for accusations to surface, before claiming the bombs were a liberal plot. [...] They don't even want to know the truth.
I'm not surprised by that last bit, Republicans parted ways with any version of objective truth sometime during Reagan's first term or so. But I too am surprised by the speed of accusations/denials. I take it as a sign that maybe, just maybe, empirical reality is finally starting to take hold for many, and become undeniable. As the accusations and counter-accusations from right-wing media spill out even before the events are done happening, they are more desperate and far-fetched, which presents opportunity for more individuals to see that desperation and sense that maybe, juuuuust maybe, one of our two political parties is more consistently, structurally dishonest, and is perhaps not as interested in the best outcomes for everybody as they claim to be.
You know, surely this....
posted by LooseFilter at 8:07 AM on October 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
Community was ahead of its time only slightly: "Wireless racism...the future of the past is now."
I'm kind of freaked out that Republicans didn't even wait a couple days, or even for accusations to surface, before claiming the bombs were a liberal plot. [...] They don't even want to know the truth.
I'm not surprised by that last bit, Republicans parted ways with any version of objective truth sometime during Reagan's first term or so. But I too am surprised by the speed of accusations/denials. I take it as a sign that maybe, just maybe, empirical reality is finally starting to take hold for many, and become undeniable. As the accusations and counter-accusations from right-wing media spill out even before the events are done happening, they are more desperate and far-fetched, which presents opportunity for more individuals to see that desperation and sense that maybe, juuuuust maybe, one of our two political parties is more consistently, structurally dishonest, and is perhaps not as interested in the best outcomes for everybody as they claim to be.
You know, surely this....
posted by LooseFilter at 8:07 AM on October 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
They don't even want to know the truth. The Khashoggi Protocol.
See also: truthiness, coined by Stephen Colbert (wiki entry)
See also: truthiness, coined by Stephen Colbert (wiki entry)
The quality of seeming or being felt to be true, even if not necessarily true.posted by ZeusHumms at 8:14 AM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Sarasota Candidate Aims to Become First State Legislator With a Disability
Postcards to Voters is writing Gillum/Babis GOTV postcards! Join us!
posted by melissasaurus at 8:16 AM on October 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
Postcards to Voters is writing Gillum/Babis GOTV postcards! Join us!
posted by melissasaurus at 8:16 AM on October 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
But I too am surprised by the speed of accusations/denials.
Me too. The speed of the denials is one thing that draws me toward thinking the bombs and the response are coordinated. The whole thing feels very anthrax-y*** to me, except in this case I can't figure out what their angle would be. On the other hand they are so twisted, maybe they think a false false flag operation would work? I dunno, it seems a stretch even for them.
*** Re anthrax: my best theory is Hatfill didn't do it but someone in his chain of command did then tried to hang him for it, but he had the receipts to hold them off, so they pinned it on someone else. Always remember: cui bono?
posted by M-x shell at 8:28 AM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Me too. The speed of the denials is one thing that draws me toward thinking the bombs and the response are coordinated. The whole thing feels very anthrax-y*** to me, except in this case I can't figure out what their angle would be. On the other hand they are so twisted, maybe they think a false false flag operation would work? I dunno, it seems a stretch even for them.
*** Re anthrax: my best theory is Hatfill didn't do it but someone in his chain of command did then tried to hang him for it, but he had the receipts to hold them off, so they pinned it on someone else. Always remember: cui bono?
posted by M-x shell at 8:28 AM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Hm, I wonder if the bomber will turn out to be a white man.
They seem to be somewhat overrepresented in the pool of domestic terrorists.
posted by Dashy at 8:39 AM on October 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
They seem to be somewhat overrepresented in the pool of domestic terrorists.
posted by Dashy at 8:39 AM on October 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
The speed of the denials is one thing that draws me toward thinking the bombs and the response are coordinated.wut? No. You don't need a double false flag operation for the #MAGA-sphere to see a news report that's bad for them and reflexively reply with "actually, it's the libs' fault."
posted by cnelson at 8:39 AM on October 25, 2018 [26 favorites]
that's a trivially false statement: Brian Mast is a double amputee currently representing Florida's 18th Congressional district
The article, and the headline that appeared right before the part you quoted, say "State Legislature", not "any elected position from Florida".
(I agree with the rest of your comment, but Mast was never in the Florida Legislature.)
posted by Etrigan at 8:43 AM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
The article, and the headline that appeared right before the part you quoted, say "State Legislature", not "any elected position from Florida".
(I agree with the rest of your comment, but Mast was never in the Florida Legislature.)
posted by Etrigan at 8:43 AM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
AP leak: Mattis Expected to Send Hundreds of Troops to Border
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:46 AM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis is expected to sign an order as early as Thursday sending 800 or more troops to the southern border to support the Border Patrol, a U.S. official said.(This could be a scoop from Pentagon sources or just a trial balloon from Team Trump. We'll see what develops...)
Mattis is responding to a request from President Donald Trump, who says he’s “bringing out the military” to address what he’s calling a national emergency at the border.
The U.S. official was not authorized to speak publicly because not all details of the military arrangement had been worked out, and so spoke on condition of anonymity.
The additional troops are to provide what one official described as logistical support to the Border Patrol. This would include a variety of things such as vehicles, tents and equipment, and perhaps medical support. It was not immediately clear how many, if any, of the extra troops would be armed. Because they would not be performing law enforcement duties they would not be in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the federal government from using the armed forces in a domestic police role.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:46 AM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
If only there were some type of force already in place to protect our country. We could call it CountriGard. No, that's not it. How about National Guard?
posted by kirkaracha at 8:51 AM on October 25, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 8:51 AM on October 25, 2018 [12 favorites]
Republicans facing close races in three states send voters incorrect ballot info - Igor Derysh, Salon
Coincidence? GOP candidates in New York, Missouri and Ohio send out erroneous info to voters, blame their printersposted by ZeusHumms at 8:51 AM on October 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
Re: 800 troops etc: Every time I think about how we could be sending more refugee processing capacity to the crossings they're likely to use, setting up temporary housing ahead of time, and lining up space in resettlement programs and instead are getting ready to point guns at scared, desperate, exhausted people, I want to cry and/or punch something.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:54 AM on October 25, 2018 [42 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 8:54 AM on October 25, 2018 [42 favorites]
I applaud Olivia Babis's run, and I hope she wins, but that's a trivially false statement
cjelli, my apologies -- the story is technically correct but my shorthand was wrong. Babbis would be the first *state* legislator with a disability. Mast is a Floridian in the US House of Representatives.
Your greater points on disabilities, and perceptions of them, are spot-on, though.
posted by martin q blank at 8:59 AM on October 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
cjelli, my apologies -- the story is technically correct but my shorthand was wrong. Babbis would be the first *state* legislator with a disability. Mast is a Floridian in the US House of Representatives.
Your greater points on disabilities, and perceptions of them, are spot-on, though.
posted by martin q blank at 8:59 AM on October 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
I remember back when conservative Texans were flipping their shit because of Jade Helm, a training exercise in which the US military wouldn't even be carrying live ammo.
Today they're cheering because the US military is being deployed to Texas (and other places) on an actual combat operation with real weapons and ammo.
Hypocrisy isn't the word, just double standards.
posted by sotonohito at 9:12 AM on October 25, 2018 [31 favorites]
Today they're cheering because the US military is being deployed to Texas (and other places) on an actual combat operation with real weapons and ammo.
Hypocrisy isn't the word, just double standards.
posted by sotonohito at 9:12 AM on October 25, 2018 [31 favorites]
They seem to be somewhat overrepresented in the pool of domestic terrorists.
David Perry's article is 6 months out of date, but his point still applies:
David Perry's article is 6 months out of date, but his point still applies:
But maybe it's time to panic a little, or at least understand that these incidents are connected and require an organized response from our politicians, law enforcement, and media. When hundreds of "lone wolves" are reading the same websites, talking to each other, consuming the same stories, picking up easily accessible weapons, and killing the same targets, they have become a pack.posted by gladly at 9:20 AM on October 25, 2018 [26 favorites]
Nobody should be surprised by the instinctual and reflexive "they faked the thing they deserve" from the right.
"It didn't happen, but it would be good if it did" is these people's bread and butter. See also: "Trump never said that, but even if he did say it, it's true!" See also: "we never put kids in cages, we should strafe the caravan with an A-10 Warthog." See also: Holocaust denial. The fascist mind is monstrous and embraces the desires of a monster but still feels the need to wear a comical little human-style hat. It's a strange kind of cognitive dissonance that must originate deep in the lizard brain.
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:22 AM on October 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
"It didn't happen, but it would be good if it did" is these people's bread and butter. See also: "Trump never said that, but even if he did say it, it's true!" See also: "we never put kids in cages, we should strafe the caravan with an A-10 Warthog." See also: Holocaust denial. The fascist mind is monstrous and embraces the desires of a monster but still feels the need to wear a comical little human-style hat. It's a strange kind of cognitive dissonance that must originate deep in the lizard brain.
posted by Rust Moranis at 9:22 AM on October 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
Yeah, I'm relieved that "false flag" is the current narrative, since it implies (for now) some degree of distaste with the idea of murdering political enemies. Yeah, sure, optics, but as I've said before, it's basically good that those are the optics. That even in this hellscape it would be something of a bad look for the president to just say, hey everyone, we need to find the culprit so we can give him a medal and some pointers on proper explosive construction.
God forbid he gets pressed on the "Do you condemn?" question too much, though.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 9:27 AM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
God forbid he gets pressed on the "Do you condemn?" question too much, though.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 9:27 AM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
@DLind: Trump: Mexico must stop the caravan!
Mexico: ::stops about half the caravan::
Trump: why don’t people apply for asylum in Mexico?
1700 people and counting: ::apply for asylum in Mexico::
Trump: TROOPS, BORDER, NOW
More details in her story, The caravan is still weeks from the US border — and it’s already shrinking
posted by zachlipton at 9:28 AM on October 25, 2018 [29 favorites]
Mexico: ::stops about half the caravan::
Trump: why don’t people apply for asylum in Mexico?
1700 people and counting: ::apply for asylum in Mexico::
Trump: TROOPS, BORDER, NOW
More details in her story, The caravan is still weeks from the US border — and it’s already shrinking
posted by zachlipton at 9:28 AM on October 25, 2018 [29 favorites]
Mother Jones, Dan Friedman, Text Messages Show Roger Stone Was Working to Get a Pardon for Julian Assange
In early January, Roger Stone, the longtime Republican operative and adviser to Donald Trump, sent a text message to an associate stating that he was actively seeking a presidential pardon for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange—and felt optimistic about his chances. “I am working with others to get JA a blanket pardon,” Stone wrote, in a January 6 exchange of text messages obtained by Mother Jones. “It’s very real and very possible. Don’t fuck it up.” Thirty-five minutes later Stone added: “Something very big about to go down.”posted by zachlipton at 9:31 AM on October 25, 2018 [20 favorites]
The recipient of the messages was Randy Credico, a New York-based comedian and left-leaning political activist who Stone has identified as his backchannel to WikiLeaks during the 2016 campaign—a claim Credico strongly denies. During the election, Stone, a political provocateur who got his start working for Richard Nixon’s presidential campaign, made statements that suggested he had knowledge of WikiLeaks’ plans to publish emails stolen from Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman, John Podesta, and other Democrats, and his interactions with WikiLeaks have become an intense focus of Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing investigation into Russian election interference. As Mueller’s team zeroes in on Stone, they have examined his push for an Assange pardon—which could be seen as an attempt to interfere with the Russia probe—and have questioned at least one of Stone’s associates about the effort.
Democrats Hold Big Lead In Most Competitive Districts
posted by kirkaracha at 9:39 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
A new Cook Political Report/LSU poll finds Democrats hold a nine point lead over Republicans in the 72 most competitive House races, as rated by the Cook Political Report.Ceterum autem censeo Trumpem esse delendam
“Among voters who say President Trump will be a factor in their choice, more plan to use their vote so to show opposition to the President than to show support for the President, especially in competitive districts.”>
posted by kirkaracha at 9:39 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
Looks like this hasn't been posted yet: CIA director listens to audio of journalist's alleged murder
Of course, we already know how Gina Haspel handles gruesome recordings of torture.
posted by martin q blank at 9:45 AM on October 25, 2018 [15 favorites]
Of course, we already know how Gina Haspel handles gruesome recordings of torture.
posted by martin q blank at 9:45 AM on October 25, 2018 [15 favorites]
Marcy Wheeler has been posting superior commentary/analysis about Stone, Wikileaks, and the Special Counsel recently:
• Mueller Had Learned by February 22 That Roger Stone Was Pushing an Assange Pardon In January
• The Universe of Hacked and Leaked Emails From 2016: Podesta Emails
• Detour: Roger Stone's Epically Shitty Explanation For His Podesta Tweet
• The Universe of Hacked and Leaked Emails From 2016: DNC Emails
• On the Roger Stone Investigation
In that last link, she concludes, sensibly, "The larger point, however, is that isolated details from Stone-friendly witnesses (and from Stone himself) may not be the most reliable way to understand where Mueller is going with his investigation of Stone. Certainly not witnesses who say Mueller has spent 8 months scrutinizing whether Stone lied about his foreknowledge of WikiLeaks’ actions."
(Leaks about Stone and the Mueller investigation have been picking up their pace in the last week or so, but since Roger the Ratfucker is obviously hard at work playing the media, it's harder to tell than usual what could be going on behind the scenes at the grand jury and Special Counsel's office.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:51 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
• Mueller Had Learned by February 22 That Roger Stone Was Pushing an Assange Pardon In January
• The Universe of Hacked and Leaked Emails From 2016: Podesta Emails
• Detour: Roger Stone's Epically Shitty Explanation For His Podesta Tweet
• The Universe of Hacked and Leaked Emails From 2016: DNC Emails
• On the Roger Stone Investigation
In that last link, she concludes, sensibly, "The larger point, however, is that isolated details from Stone-friendly witnesses (and from Stone himself) may not be the most reliable way to understand where Mueller is going with his investigation of Stone. Certainly not witnesses who say Mueller has spent 8 months scrutinizing whether Stone lied about his foreknowledge of WikiLeaks’ actions."
(Leaks about Stone and the Mueller investigation have been picking up their pace in the last week or so, but since Roger the Ratfucker is obviously hard at work playing the media, it's harder to tell than usual what could be going on behind the scenes at the grand jury and Special Counsel's office.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:51 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
Sen. Grassley has made a criminal referral to the Justice Department of Julie Swetnick and Michael Avenatti for false statements during the Kavanaugh confirmation, as laid out in a 12 page letter that spends a bunch of time attacking their credibility on unrelated matters.
posted by zachlipton at 10:00 AM on October 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 10:00 AM on October 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
> Today in very good people on both sides, Democratic 2020 front runner Joe Biden: This country has to come together. This division, this hatred, this ugliness has to end.
Yglesias: Democrats need to learn to name villains rather than vaguely decrying “division” — There’s a method — and a cause — to the madness.
Yglesias: Democrats need to learn to name villains rather than vaguely decrying “division” — There’s a method — and a cause — to the madness.
This is, of course, a vast and diverse country. Its population of more than 300 million people includes all kinds of weirdos, assholes, and maniacs of varying political perspectives, and a generalized push toward niceness and decency would be welcome. But there is also a very specific thing happening in the current American political environment that is driving the elevated level of concern. And that thing is not just a nameless force of “division.”posted by tonycpsu at 10:01 AM on October 25, 2018 [81 favorites]
It’s a deliberate political strategy enacted by the Republican Party, its allies in partisan media, and its donors to foster a political debate that is centered on divisive questions of personal identity rather than on potentially unifying themes of concrete material interests. It’s a strategy whose downside is that it tends to push American society to the breaking point, but whose upside is that it facilitates the enacting of policies that serve the concrete material interests of a wealthy minority rather than those of the majority. [...]
Combating this strategy of demagoguery and nonsense is difficult, but the first step is to correctly identify it rather than spouting vague pieties about togetherness.
Oh my god the stories have merged. Beast, Betsy Woodruff and Erin Banco, Saudi Spy Met With Team Trump About Taking Down Iran: Mueller’s investigators examined a series of meetings between an Israeli social media strategist, the general blamed for Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, and Trump adviser Michael Flynn.
I really really don't want to restart the whole Avenatti discussion again, but this is so jaw-droppingly awful *deep breath* Michael Avenatti's Past Won't Stop Him From Running in 2020:
posted by zachlipton at 10:08 AM on October 25, 2018 [40 favorites]
Gen. Ahmed Al-Assiri, the Saudi intelligence chief taking the fall for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, hobnobbed in New York with Michael Flynn and other members of the transition team shortly before Trump’s inauguration. The topic of their discussion: regime change in Iran.----
Mohammed bin Salman, the powerful Saudi crown prince, dispatched Assiri from Riyadh for the meetings, which took place over the course of two days in early January 2017, according to communications reviewed by The Daily Beast. The January meetings have come under scrutiny by Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s office as part of his probe into foreign governments’ attempts to gain influence in the Trump campaign and in the White House, an individual familiar with the investigation told The Daily Beast. A spokesperson for Mueller declined to comment.
The New York meetings were attended and brokered by George Nader, a Lebanese-American with close ties to leaders in the United Arab Emirates who is currently cooperating with Mueller’s team. Also present at the meetings was Israeli social media strategist Joel Zamel, who has been questioned by Mueller for his role in pitching top campaign officials on an influence operation to help Trump win the election—overtures that could have broken federal election laws. Steve Bannon was involved as well in conversations on Iran regime change during those two days in January, according to the communications.
I really really don't want to restart the whole Avenatti discussion again, but this is so jaw-droppingly awful *deep breath* Michael Avenatti's Past Won't Stop Him From Running in 2020:
A run for President would thrust Avenatti into the middle of the party’s identity crisis. The Democrats have not been this powerless since the 1920s, and their members have responded by nominating a historic number of women and people of color for office. But when it comes to the party’s presidential nominee in 2020, Avenatti thinks in different terms. “I think it better be a white male,” he says. He hastens to add that he wishes it weren’t so, but it’s undeniable that people listen to white men more than they do others; it’s why he’s been successful representing Daniels and immigrant mothers, he says. “When you have a white male making the arguments, they carry more weight,” he says. “Should they carry more weight? Absolutely not. But do they? Yes.”As a personal favor, if this could not generate 100 comments, that would be great.
posted by zachlipton at 10:08 AM on October 25, 2018 [40 favorites]
Yeah, sorry, I don’t really want to “come together” with racists, sexists, anti-semites, and terrorists
posted by gucci mane at 10:09 AM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 10:09 AM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Because they would not be performing law enforcement duties they would not be in violation of the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits the federal government from using the armed forces in a domestic police role.
So they get around Posse Comitatus Act because they are using armed forces to break the law on refugee handling. That's some awesome rules lawyering right there.
posted by srboisvert at 10:12 AM on October 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
So they get around Posse Comitatus Act because they are using armed forces to break the law on refugee handling. That's some awesome rules lawyering right there.
posted by srboisvert at 10:12 AM on October 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
On a subconscious level they know the truth. But to admit that truth would be to admit they've been wrong, their whole world-view might be wrong, and that they're a bad person on the wrong side. Allowing themselves to have those sorts of thoughts feels terrible. Instead, they start off by denying the truth.
Cognitive dissonance is a hell of a drug.
posted by Gelatin at 10:21 AM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
Cognitive dissonance is a hell of a drug.
posted by Gelatin at 10:21 AM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
But when it comes to the party’s presidential nominee in 2020, Avenatti thinks in different terms. “I think it better be a white male,” he says. He hastens to add that he wishes it weren’t so, but it’s undeniable that people listen to white men more than they do others; it’s why he’s been successful representing Daniels and immigrant mothers, he says. “When you have a white male making the arguments, they carry more weight,” he says. “Should they carry more weight? Absolutely not. But do they? Yes.”
I get why people will be outraged by this. But honestly, Avenatti is stating the truth of about what just about every woman just about everywhere has experienced.
posted by bluesky43 at 10:21 AM on October 25, 2018 [25 favorites]
I get why people will be outraged by this. But honestly, Avenatti is stating the truth of about what just about every woman just about everywhere has experienced.
posted by bluesky43 at 10:21 AM on October 25, 2018 [25 favorites]
Sen. Grassley has made a criminal referral to the Justice Department of Julie Swetnick and Michael Avenatti for false statements during the Kavanaugh confirmation, as laid out in a 12 page letter that spends a bunch of time attacking their credibility on unrelated matters.
This case will never see the light of day because if it did, the FBI would have to interview all the corroborating witnesses Trump told the FBI not to interview and they would all have to testify in public before a jury. Trump and Sessions are never going to let that happen.
Most noteworthy is what isn't in Grassley's little letter. Grassley does not challenge the truth of Christine Ford or Deborah Ramirez.
posted by JackFlash at 10:21 AM on October 25, 2018 [20 favorites]
This case will never see the light of day because if it did, the FBI would have to interview all the corroborating witnesses Trump told the FBI not to interview and they would all have to testify in public before a jury. Trump and Sessions are never going to let that happen.
Most noteworthy is what isn't in Grassley's little letter. Grassley does not challenge the truth of Christine Ford or Deborah Ramirez.
posted by JackFlash at 10:21 AM on October 25, 2018 [20 favorites]
The midterms are already hacked. You just don’t know it yet. - Benjamin Wofford, Vox
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:29 AM on October 25, 2018 [38 favorites]
An investigation into the US election system reveals frightening vulnerabilities at almost every level.Very long, very sobering.
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:29 AM on October 25, 2018 [38 favorites]
So what do we DO
posted by agregoli at 10:36 AM on October 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by agregoli at 10:36 AM on October 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
But honestly, Avenatti is stating the truth of about what just about every woman just about everywhere has experienced.
Yes, but he could say, "...therefore, I will work to solve this problem." rather than "...therefore, I will accept this unearned benefit of whitemaledom."
posted by Etrigan at 10:41 AM on October 25, 2018 [30 favorites]
Yes, but he could say, "...therefore, I will work to solve this problem." rather than "...therefore, I will accept this unearned benefit of whitemaledom."
posted by Etrigan at 10:41 AM on October 25, 2018 [30 favorites]
A little good news in the struggle against white supremacy, as Page 6 reports: Megyn Kelly Out at NBC After Defending Blackface
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:41 AM on October 25, 2018 [42 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:41 AM on October 25, 2018 [42 favorites]
So what do we DO
Get ready for most institutions to tell you to just keep voting and keep your head down.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:42 AM on October 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
Get ready for most institutions to tell you to just keep voting and keep your head down.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:42 AM on October 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
Uh yeah they are already doing that. What can we do about the fact that no matter how many people we get to the polls, it might not matter, because the system is fucked? No one seems to even want to attempt to answer.
posted by agregoli at 10:43 AM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by agregoli at 10:43 AM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Uh yeah they are already doing that. What can we do about the fact that no matter how many people we get to the polls, it might not matter, because the system is fucked? No one seems to even want to attempt to answer.
Me? I'm an Albany County NY Election Inspector. ( Poll worker ), and I do my damnedest to make sure the 3 wards that vote at my location work as smoothly and fairly as possible. We have pretty good technology ( scantron ballots, scanned, then stored in a sealed lockbox ), so if everyone in the county does their job, I have high confidence.
Of course, I live in Albany NY, so we don't have the denial of service wait-times you hear about which from my POV requires spending more money to have N+1 machines to handle one going down.
Other states have other issues, but I do what I can, where I can.
posted by mikelieman at 10:56 AM on October 25, 2018 [40 favorites]
Me? I'm an Albany County NY Election Inspector. ( Poll worker ), and I do my damnedest to make sure the 3 wards that vote at my location work as smoothly and fairly as possible. We have pretty good technology ( scantron ballots, scanned, then stored in a sealed lockbox ), so if everyone in the county does their job, I have high confidence.
Of course, I live in Albany NY, so we don't have the denial of service wait-times you hear about which from my POV requires spending more money to have N+1 machines to handle one going down.
Other states have other issues, but I do what I can, where I can.
posted by mikelieman at 10:56 AM on October 25, 2018 [40 favorites]
Ann Coulter: From the Haymarket riot to the Unibomber [sic], bombs are a liberal tactic.
The convicted bombers in the The Haymarket riot were anarchists as was the Unabomber. Not exactly liberals.
Oh and the haymarket 'rioters' were being attacked by police for having the incredible temerity to protest for an 8 hour work day when the bombs were thrown.
posted by srboisvert at 11:04 AM on October 25, 2018 [27 favorites]
The convicted bombers in the The Haymarket riot were anarchists as was the Unabomber. Not exactly liberals.
Oh and the haymarket 'rioters' were being attacked by police for having the incredible temerity to protest for an 8 hour work day when the bombs were thrown.
posted by srboisvert at 11:04 AM on October 25, 2018 [27 favorites]
So after seeing the latest example of disgusting Republican advertising in my local area, (TW: transphobia) it just feels so incredibly desperate. Like Republicans everywhere are freaking out so badly that they are letting loose all self-control.
I mean, my experience with Republican mailers is pictures of white men in suits with their perfect nuclear families, maybe standing with some cattle (rural Texas) or a tractor. This is...something else. Surely it turns off some GOP voters as well?
Have we really gone so far down the internet clickbait rabbithole that this kind of thing doesn't come off as frothing at the mouth?
posted by threeturtles at 11:06 AM on October 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
I mean, my experience with Republican mailers is pictures of white men in suits with their perfect nuclear families, maybe standing with some cattle (rural Texas) or a tractor. This is...something else. Surely it turns off some GOP voters as well?
Have we really gone so far down the internet clickbait rabbithole that this kind of thing doesn't come off as frothing at the mouth?
posted by threeturtles at 11:06 AM on October 25, 2018 [6 favorites]
That's great...on an individual level. We can't all become poll workers. Is any organized group anywhere addressing the hacking, etc?
posted by agregoli at 11:06 AM on October 25, 2018
posted by agregoli at 11:06 AM on October 25, 2018
Ann Coulter: From the Haymarket riot to the Unibomber [sic], bombs are a liberal tactic.
Timothy McVeigh.
posted by clawsoon at 11:07 AM on October 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
Timothy McVeigh.
posted by clawsoon at 11:07 AM on October 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
... Kaczynski was -specifically- anti-leftist. I get that these guys are engaging in classic projection and ignoring the evils of their own side, and so on, but that dude was -specifically- one of theirs. So were innumerable abortion clinic bombers, and McVeigh.
and if we're bringing the Haymarket bombing into it, that was in freaking 1886. I feel like our political parties have changed a wee bit since then, and comparing those guys to current parties is a little dubious at best.
Bombs are -not- a new tool on the right, and this pretense that they would -never- wears super thin.
posted by Archelaus at 11:11 AM on October 25, 2018 [25 favorites]
and if we're bringing the Haymarket bombing into it, that was in freaking 1886. I feel like our political parties have changed a wee bit since then, and comparing those guys to current parties is a little dubious at best.
Bombs are -not- a new tool on the right, and this pretense that they would -never- wears super thin.
posted by Archelaus at 11:11 AM on October 25, 2018 [25 favorites]
agregoli the answer, of course, is either accepting a crooked outcome or a general strike leading to a peaceful change of government, or a civil war. The mods get kinda tired of the civil war talk, so they've asked we not do it much.
And, honestly, at this point in America the actual answer to "if hte election is blatantly cheated what will happen" is: a lot of internet outrage followed by some protest marches followed by a lot of nothing.
It takes a **LOT** for the average person to be willing to support the sort of general strike and weeks long shutting down major cities type of mass protest that we saw during the Arab Spring. I don't think the average person would see a blatantly stolen election as being worth it. And an actual, no fooling, civil war takes even more worse and more horrible conditions than a general strike would.
So basically the answer at this point to the question of what happens if the election is blatantly stolen is: we learn to live with it because the country is simply not in a place where any other outcome than grudging acceptance with occasional mostly irrelevant protests will happen.
posted by sotonohito at 11:12 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
And, honestly, at this point in America the actual answer to "if hte election is blatantly cheated what will happen" is: a lot of internet outrage followed by some protest marches followed by a lot of nothing.
It takes a **LOT** for the average person to be willing to support the sort of general strike and weeks long shutting down major cities type of mass protest that we saw during the Arab Spring. I don't think the average person would see a blatantly stolen election as being worth it. And an actual, no fooling, civil war takes even more worse and more horrible conditions than a general strike would.
So basically the answer at this point to the question of what happens if the election is blatantly stolen is: we learn to live with it because the country is simply not in a place where any other outcome than grudging acceptance with occasional mostly irrelevant protests will happen.
posted by sotonohito at 11:12 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
That's the answer, "of course?" I'm asking if any organized group, political or grassroots, has a PLAN for stopping, addressing or dealing with the aftermath of direct hacking. The answer appears to be no, or we don't know of one.
posted by agregoli at 11:14 AM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by agregoli at 11:14 AM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
(We've been seeing the "our voting machines are fucked" articles for 20 years now.)
posted by agregoli at 11:16 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by agregoli at 11:16 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
I don't think the protests were worthless and I think the idea that they don't produce immediate results = worthless is wrong. It's weird how many people on the left have internalized very right wing views on protest.
posted by asteria at 11:17 AM on October 25, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by asteria at 11:17 AM on October 25, 2018 [34 favorites]
Seems to me that the election industry is dominated by relatively weak players with lots of small players nibbling on the edges. I wonder if greed (in the way of federal incentives) could draw in large players with experience making secure systems and/or quickly meeting government specs, i.e. defense industry and/or gambling machine manufacturers.
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:21 AM on October 25, 2018
posted by ZeusHumms at 11:21 AM on October 25, 2018
Karl Rove and David Axelrod partner for online class on winning elections
Why is it that Democrats like Obama and Clinton (remember Mark Penn) always get such shitty people to run their campaigns? Is it just the case that you have to reach into the sewers for amoral operatives in order to beat the bad guys?
I hope not. One would hope they could do better.
posted by JackFlash at 11:22 AM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Why is it that Democrats like Obama and Clinton (remember Mark Penn) always get such shitty people to run their campaigns? Is it just the case that you have to reach into the sewers for amoral operatives in order to beat the bad guys?
I hope not. One would hope they could do better.
posted by JackFlash at 11:22 AM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
agregoli "Of course" because there's literally no other possible outcome. Legalisms and systems and investigations and paperwork will not and cannot fix a stolen election because if they're stealing elections then they will ignore all legalisms and other normal avenues of political change.
If the 2018 elections are openly stolen there are exactly three things that can happen:
1) Acceptance
2) Mass peaceful protest and a general strike forcing a change
3) Civil war
There is literally no other possibility. If the election in is openly hacked then that means all normal legal and political channels for change are closed, which leaves the three options I listed above.
And America, right now, is simply too comfortably middle class to accept even a general strike and Arab Spring style mass, shut down the country until we get results, peaceful protest.
posted by sotonohito at 11:23 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
If the 2018 elections are openly stolen there are exactly three things that can happen:
1) Acceptance
2) Mass peaceful protest and a general strike forcing a change
3) Civil war
There is literally no other possibility. If the election in is openly hacked then that means all normal legal and political channels for change are closed, which leaves the three options I listed above.
And America, right now, is simply too comfortably middle class to accept even a general strike and Arab Spring style mass, shut down the country until we get results, peaceful protest.
posted by sotonohito at 11:23 AM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
> A little good news in the struggle against white supremacy, as Page 6 reports: Megyn Kelly Out at NBC After Defending Blackface
VSB: Megyn Kelly Is (Probably) Losing Her Job Because She Sucks At It, Not Because She's Racist
VSB: Megyn Kelly Is (Probably) Losing Her Job Because She Sucks At It, Not Because She's Racist
In your jubilance, just make sure not to congratulate NBC. Or CAA. Or anyone else who is congratulating themselves today for cutting ties with her. Firing her for saying a dumb and racially insensitive thing is like firing the bird you just hired because it decided to fly. She was hired (and Tamron Hall fired) and given tens of millions of dollars specifically because of the profile she built at Fox News, where she attempted to brand herself as the least racist racist in a moat of bigots. The Coke Zero in the racist cooler. MAGA Regina George will soon lose her job, not because she’s racist, but because she’s just really, really, really, really bad at it.Atrios: What Did He Hire The Racist White Lady For
Megyn Kelly was hired because she is a racist white lady, and she certainly was not fired because she is a racist white lady. The racism was an excuse.Josh Marshall: The Quick Downfall of Megyn Kelly
The man who hired her is the one with the racism problem.
This is one of those cases where I am a bit confused by what appears to be her sudden downfall. That’s not because I’m surprised by the response so much as because it’s not really clear why this is doing her in after so many other things didn’t.posted by tonycpsu at 11:24 AM on October 25, 2018 [41 favorites]
It’s worth remembering that Kelly made her name running a day time show on Fox News which specialized in standard issue Fox News conspiracy theories and race-baiting news story arcs like the endless coverage of the obscure and minuscule New Black Panther Party during the early years of the Obama administration.
Whatever ‘that’ is Kelly was good at it. She’s smart, aggressive and does that Fox News thing well. Believe me, I’ve had to watch Fox News for more than a decade. I have a lot of experience in Foxology. It’s a mystery to me why anyone thought she could make the transition to a mainstream, largely apolitical environment. It just doesn’t make sense. Why is anyone surprised by this?
Call him what he is - The MAGABOMBER
posted by growabrain at 11:25 AM on October 25, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 11:25 AM on October 25, 2018 [12 favorites]
sotonohito: America, right now, is simply too comfortably middle class to accept even a general strike
I think some/many Americans are not comfortably middle class enough to be able to risk losing their jobs.
posted by Too-Ticky at 11:26 AM on October 25, 2018 [53 favorites]
I think some/many Americans are not comfortably middle class enough to be able to risk losing their jobs.
posted by Too-Ticky at 11:26 AM on October 25, 2018 [53 favorites]
As a refresher, here's This Week Tonight's recap of Kelly's career as a "unifying force."
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:31 AM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:31 AM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
At least some of us are middle class enough to not be able to afford losing our healthcare which is attached to our jobs.
posted by Fleebnork at 11:31 AM on October 25, 2018 [29 favorites]
posted by Fleebnork at 11:31 AM on October 25, 2018 [29 favorites]
VSB: Megyn Kelly Is (Probably) Losing Her Job Because She Sucks At It, Not Because She's Racist
It’s a mystery to me why anyone thought she could make the transition to a mainstream, largely apolitical environment. It just doesn’t make sense. Why is anyone surprised by this?
This. Read up on her and NBC; they had big plans for her, helping out with the Olympics and other things, but she was so idiotic in her existing assignments, including pissing off Today guests who said they'd never worth with her again. I guess NBC was hoping for some "both sides" coverage or something, but it blew up in their face, big time.
posted by Melismata at 11:32 AM on October 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
It’s a mystery to me why anyone thought she could make the transition to a mainstream, largely apolitical environment. It just doesn’t make sense. Why is anyone surprised by this?
This. Read up on her and NBC; they had big plans for her, helping out with the Olympics and other things, but she was so idiotic in her existing assignments, including pissing off Today guests who said they'd never worth with her again. I guess NBC was hoping for some "both sides" coverage or something, but it blew up in their face, big time.
posted by Melismata at 11:32 AM on October 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
I think some/many Americans are not comfortably middle class enough to be able to risk losing their jobs.
And it probably goes back to the hierarchy of needs / day-to-day impact thing. Like, if I lose my job because I didn't show up, and I can't afford housing and food, that's bad, but if my country gets a dictator for life but the trains run on time and I still have my home and can afford food...?
And on that note, don't we have a large amount of the population not voting because it "doesn't matter"?
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 11:33 AM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
And it probably goes back to the hierarchy of needs / day-to-day impact thing. Like, if I lose my job because I didn't show up, and I can't afford housing and food, that's bad, but if my country gets a dictator for life but the trains run on time and I still have my home and can afford food...?
And on that note, don't we have a large amount of the population not voting because it "doesn't matter"?
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 11:33 AM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
An awful lot of the middle class probably can't afford a strike either- they have income but not savings.
posted by BungaDunga at 11:36 AM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 11:36 AM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Every time election tampering is brought up, it must be emphasized: There's nothing binary about it. It's not that the result will be free and fair or it will be fundamentally predetermined. People still conceptualize the returns as coming from a single source vulnerable to compromise, leading to a "hacked result". But it's not that simple, and nether is fighting it.
The vote is being attacked on numerous fronts, from hacking of various servers to all kinds of official, sanctioned suppression and related ratfuckery. Fighting back is just the same: You get out the vote, you nab every misdeed you can, you push for reforms that limit the ratfuckery. What probably won't happen is this: Turnout is about as high as it could be, all the key races are win by Democrats with wide margins... but then a nebulous "they" fixes the result in favor of Republicans. Even at the height of the corrupt boss system it didn't quite work that way, as I understand it.
So it's not like watching the World Series and seeing the Dodgers win five games in a row followed by the MLB officially declaring that the Red Sox won. (Or vice versa depending on your allegience there.) It's more like corrupt umpires making biased calls: if the Dodgers play well enough, they can probably overcome that hurdle (and then somehow achieve more power in the structure of the MLB itself, if that's how it worked). That said, the whole thing was still tainted enough that it's totally correct to call the match "stolen" if won by the cheating team. It's just not necessarily hopeless.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 11:36 AM on October 25, 2018 [34 favorites]
The vote is being attacked on numerous fronts, from hacking of various servers to all kinds of official, sanctioned suppression and related ratfuckery. Fighting back is just the same: You get out the vote, you nab every misdeed you can, you push for reforms that limit the ratfuckery. What probably won't happen is this: Turnout is about as high as it could be, all the key races are win by Democrats with wide margins... but then a nebulous "they" fixes the result in favor of Republicans. Even at the height of the corrupt boss system it didn't quite work that way, as I understand it.
So it's not like watching the World Series and seeing the Dodgers win five games in a row followed by the MLB officially declaring that the Red Sox won. (Or vice versa depending on your allegience there.) It's more like corrupt umpires making biased calls: if the Dodgers play well enough, they can probably overcome that hurdle (and then somehow achieve more power in the structure of the MLB itself, if that's how it worked). That said, the whole thing was still tainted enough that it's totally correct to call the match "stolen" if won by the cheating team. It's just not necessarily hopeless.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 11:36 AM on October 25, 2018 [34 favorites]
An awful lot of the middle class probably can't afford a strike either- they have income but not savings.
I've been re-reading Zinn's "People's History", and it appears that before you think about calling for a general strike, you need to have co-op resource in place for the entire raft of needs. Food, Water, Rent Strike Support, Healthcare, etc.
At that time, everything was local, so your local dairies, if joining in, provided milk.
posted by mikelieman at 11:42 AM on October 25, 2018 [40 favorites]
I've been re-reading Zinn's "People's History", and it appears that before you think about calling for a general strike, you need to have co-op resource in place for the entire raft of needs. Food, Water, Rent Strike Support, Healthcare, etc.
At that time, everything was local, so your local dairies, if joining in, provided milk.
posted by mikelieman at 11:42 AM on October 25, 2018 [40 favorites]
Nobody's said the "R" word yet, but Portugal transitioned from a long-lasting authoritarian state to a democracy via the non-violent Carnation Revolution. It was essentially a bloodless military coup. If the US military got fed up with the US government then they could easily pull off something similar. I don't think our military has any particularly strong discontent at the moment though, and even if they did I think they lack the class consciousness necessary for a peaceful transition to something more free than what we've got now. It probably made a huge difference that the Portuguese military wasn't volunteer-only, it was full of reluctant soldiers who'd been drafted.
More realistically, I expect that another likely stolen election would lead to more (justified) radicalization of anyone who's not a Republican. Like we saw following 2016, I'd expect a growth in membership in the DSA and other socialist and communist organizations. I'd expect these organizations to amp up their organizing efforts within their communities while comfortable liberals keep complaining online.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 11:51 AM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
More realistically, I expect that another likely stolen election would lead to more (justified) radicalization of anyone who's not a Republican. Like we saw following 2016, I'd expect a growth in membership in the DSA and other socialist and communist organizations. I'd expect these organizations to amp up their organizing efforts within their communities while comfortable liberals keep complaining online.
posted by One Second Before Awakening at 11:51 AM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
And America, right now, is simply too comfortably middle class to accept even a general strike and Arab Spring style mass, shut down the country until we get results, peaceful protest.
A prolonged shutdown is not going to happen precisely because we are NOT comfortably middle class.
But even a short general strike will wipe out any illusion of this regime's legitimacy.
So to bang on the general strike drum: a general strike is like a bad blizzard or a hurricane. You prep for it the same way. Do it as best you can.
posted by ocschwar at 11:53 AM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
A prolonged shutdown is not going to happen precisely because we are NOT comfortably middle class.
But even a short general strike will wipe out any illusion of this regime's legitimacy.
So to bang on the general strike drum: a general strike is like a bad blizzard or a hurricane. You prep for it the same way. Do it as best you can.
posted by ocschwar at 11:53 AM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
A general strike is a lot like a boycott; the hardest part is to get enough people to participate for the intended targets to even notice.
posted by delfin at 12:00 PM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by delfin at 12:00 PM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
The fascist mind is monstrous and embraces the desires of a monster but still feels the need to wear a comical little human-style hat.
Actually, the characteristic Eco identifies that seems most suited to this moment is another
Every day Eco's diagnosis of our age seems more and more astute.
If the 2018 elections are openly stolen there are exactly three things that can happen:
1) Acceptance 2) Mass peaceful protest and a general strike forcing a change 3) Civil war. There is literally no other possibility.
Not to linger on unpleasant probabilities, but this remark reminds me of Nicholas Riasanovsky's 1984 observation that the Soviet system was "not likely to last, not likely to change fundamentally by evolution, and not likely to be overthrown a revolution." I do think the fourth possibility is a period of increasing low level civil strife and maybe state level legal confrontations, further polarization, and continuing civil disintegration leading to ...? History, as Riasanovsky concluded, "has a way of advancing even when that means leaving historians behind."
posted by octobersurprise at 12:03 PM on October 25, 2018 [24 favorites]
"The followers must feel humiliated by the ostentatious wealth and force of their enemies ... However, the followers must be convinced that they can overwhelm the enemies. Thus, by a continuous shifting of rhetorical focus, the enemies are at the same time too strong and too weak."— Umberto Eco
Actually, the characteristic Eco identifies that seems most suited to this moment is another
"To people who feel deprived of a clear social identity, Ur-Fascism says that their only privilege is the most common one, to be born in the same country. This is the origin of nationalism. Besides, the only ones who can provide an identity to the nation are its enemies. Thus at the root of the Ur-Fascist psychology there is the obsession with a plot, possibly an international one. The followers must feel besieged."(And for all that I believe that there is plenty of evidence to prove foreign meddling in the last election, it must be conceded that the "an obsession with a plot" presently transcends political allegiances. And given the storification of history by a 24/7 media and its atomization by social media "an obssession with plot" seems characteristic as well.)
Every day Eco's diagnosis of our age seems more and more astute.
If the 2018 elections are openly stolen there are exactly three things that can happen:
1) Acceptance 2) Mass peaceful protest and a general strike forcing a change 3) Civil war. There is literally no other possibility.
Not to linger on unpleasant probabilities, but this remark reminds me of Nicholas Riasanovsky's 1984 observation that the Soviet system was "not likely to last, not likely to change fundamentally by evolution, and not likely to be overthrown a revolution." I do think the fourth possibility is a period of increasing low level civil strife and maybe state level legal confrontations, further polarization, and continuing civil disintegration leading to ...? History, as Riasanovsky concluded, "has a way of advancing even when that means leaving historians behind."
posted by octobersurprise at 12:03 PM on October 25, 2018 [24 favorites]
The poor and desperate go on strike because they have nothing to lose. The nordics go on strike because their union regulations permit industrial action. There's a reason why the middle class is called the middle. The American system has been designed to create exactly this kind of paralysis of the populace, kept helpless by their mortgage, healthcare, and dependency on the car.
posted by infini at 12:07 PM on October 25, 2018 [40 favorites]
posted by infini at 12:07 PM on October 25, 2018 [40 favorites]
From today's NYT article this morning, predicting that Kelly is probably out:
The events of the week were a dramatic shift for Ms. Kelly, who left Fox News for NBC in January 2017 in a splashy, high-priced signing. NBC gave her a rich deal through 2020 that was worth a reported $17 million a year and signaled that she would be a centerpiece of the network.posted by Melismata at 12:07 PM on October 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
Ms. Kelly would host the third hour of NBC’s morning franchise, “Today,” and a Sunday night magazine program that would challenge the CBS stalwart “60 Minutes.” In addition, she would provide a boost to election specials and Olympics coverage. That was the plan, at least.
...
Within a month, Ms. Kelly’s Sunday magazine show debuted to middling ratings. And before long Ms. Kelly became the scourge of parents of the Sandy Hook shootings when she interviewed the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and posted a photograph of the two smiling together.
NBC quietly announced earlier this year that her Sunday show would return “periodically.”
The morning show, which started in September 2017, would be the source of more headaches. Throughout its run, “Megyn Kelly Today” has trailed the rival program “Live with Kelly and Ryan” by a significant margin.
Ms. Kelly’s show even attracted a smaller audience than the cheaper hour of “Today” that preceded her arrival. The previous version, a genial, low-key affair hosted by Al Roker, Dylan Dreyer and Sheinelle Jones, did not depend on the magnetism of a star performer.
In the early episodes of her morning show, Ms. Kelly offended several celebrity guests, including Debra Messing, a star of NBC’s “Will & Grace,” who said after an appearance that she would never return to the show. Ms. Kelly later got into a dustup with Jane Fonda — by asking her pointedly about her plastic surgery — in what would eventually develop into a monthslong feud.
In an effort to convey a sunnier persona, Ms. Kelly danced awkwardly on the air with a “Today” show colleague, Hoda Kotb, to a Pitbull song. The clip of that moment was shared widely on social media (not in a good way).
...
Early in 2018, there were signs that Ms. Kelly and NBC were not on the same page. The network did not assign her as part of the team to cover the Olympics coverage in February, saying it did not want to disrupt her momentum.
After an extended period of pedestrian ratings, Ms. Kelly and Mr. Lack had a discussion earlier this month — well before the “blackface” remarks — on the possible winding-down of her portion of the “Today” show by the end of the year, according to two people briefed on the conversation. And Ms. Kelly has openly told friends in recent weeks about her unhappiness with top executives at NBC News.
Would love it if she had to stay off the air to keep her package, but I doubt we'd be that lucky.
posted by armacy at 12:10 PM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by armacy at 12:10 PM on October 25, 2018 [1 favorite]
WaPo, Mike DeBonis, Holocaust memorial group unwittingly funded Rep. King’s meeting with far-right Austrians, in which From the Depths paid for King's airfare to/from Europe, and he just paid for the extra-racist bits within Austria himself. Why?
@mikedebonis: King today said visiting Auschwitz was a “very, very powerful experience” then described wanting to get a “Polish perspective” apart from the "Jewish perspective." He said asked the Poles: Who was worse, the Nazis or the Soviets? "They don’t know the answer to that." He went to on defend his attacks on George Soros and repeated the uncorroborated allegation that he collaborated with Nazis against his fellow Jews as a young teen.
posted by zachlipton at 12:33 PM on October 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
@mikedebonis: King today said visiting Auschwitz was a “very, very powerful experience” then described wanting to get a “Polish perspective” apart from the "Jewish perspective." He said asked the Poles: Who was worse, the Nazis or the Soviets? "They don’t know the answer to that." He went to on defend his attacks on George Soros and repeated the uncorroborated allegation that he collaborated with Nazis against his fellow Jews as a young teen.
posted by zachlipton at 12:33 PM on October 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
I’m hedging my bets On municipalism and mutual aid networks, myself. Maybe the Manhattan Commune will be better.
posted by The Whelk at 12:35 PM on October 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 12:35 PM on October 25, 2018 [7 favorites]
I phone bank. I knock doors. I drive people to the polls every election. I vote. When I have found myself in a state where those things look like they won't help, I take vacation days and fly to a state where they will, and I keep working hard to try to change things the best way I know how. I call my representatives. I visit my representatives in person and let them know how unhappy I am with how things are going. Those are the things I can do to help. I don't think that's giving up, by any means.
posted by all about eevee at 12:38 PM on October 25, 2018 [46 favorites]
posted by all about eevee at 12:38 PM on October 25, 2018 [46 favorites]
Mod note: I know everyone's having a rough time. That makes it extra important that we keep triggery/despairing/apocalyptic conversation siloed, so that people who do not find imagining worst case scenarios helpful can continue to participate here. Thanks.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 12:46 PM on October 25, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 12:46 PM on October 25, 2018 [34 favorites]
When Trump Phones Friends, the Chinese Listen and Learn
NBC backs up, partially, the NYT's story about cellphone-gate: U.S. Officials Concerned Trump Discussing Sensitive Information On Unsecured Cellphone
And China is now just trolling Team Trump's op sec—“If they are really very worried about Apple phones being bugged, then they can change to using Huawei*. If they are still not at ease, then in order to have an entirely secure device, they can stop using all forms of modern communication devices and cut off all ties with the outside world,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying (Reuters)
* Huawei's cell phones, mega-thread readers will recall, were called potential security risk by the DNI and the heads of the CIA, FBI, NSA earlier this year. (CNBC)
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:50 PM on October 25, 2018 [32 favorites]
NBC backs up, partially, the NYT's story about cellphone-gate: U.S. Officials Concerned Trump Discussing Sensitive Information On Unsecured Cellphone
U.S. officials told NBC News on Thursday that they have been concerned for months that President Donald Trump has been discussing sensitive information on an unsecured cellphone with informal advisers, including Sean Hannity of Fox News.See also this Politico article about Trump's phone habits from May: ‘Too Inconvenient’: Trump Goes Rogue on Phone Security—The president has kept features at risk for hacking and resisted efforts by staff to inspect the phones he uses for tweeting.
The information comes after The New York Times reported that Chinese and Russian spies have been listening to personal phone calls Trump has made from his cellphones.[...]
NBC News has not confirmed aspects of that report.[...]
A former aide to Trump — Omarosa Manigault Newman — disputed his response {i.e. "I like Hard Lines."} later Thursday, tweeting that the president "ALWAYS" used his personal iPhone in the White House “even after being told over and over again about the security risk.”
"He disliked his secure gov issued cell — he said it was slow and 'buggy,'" she tweeted.
And China is now just trolling Team Trump's op sec—“If they are really very worried about Apple phones being bugged, then they can change to using Huawei*. If they are still not at ease, then in order to have an entirely secure device, they can stop using all forms of modern communication devices and cut off all ties with the outside world,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying (Reuters)
* Huawei's cell phones, mega-thread readers will recall, were called potential security risk by the DNI and the heads of the CIA, FBI, NSA earlier this year. (CNBC)
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:50 PM on October 25, 2018 [32 favorites]
XMLicious: Amazon pitched its facial recognition to ICE, released emails show Emails in FOIA release show Amazon "ready and willing" to help with "vital" ICE mission.
mmoncur: Turns out facial recognition is way easier when all you have to do is detect skin color.
Funny you say that ... from the Ars Technica article linked by XMLicious:
Once again, technology will not save us, it will only make the police state cost more.
NPR Gets It Right(er), But Also More Wrong: Biden, Robert De Niro Targeted In Wave Of Suspect Packages Aimed At Trump Critics -- good on them for identifying the targets as critical of Trump, but they somehow chose to highlight two white men as the targets in the headline, instead of former President Barack Obama, "former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,"* and two to Rep. Maxine Waters, who were mentioned in the body of the article.
* Is there a journalistic guide on which title to give someone? Former SOS may be shorter than writing 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate and ongoing target of Trump, Hillary Clinton.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:02 PM on October 25, 2018 [26 favorites]
mmoncur: Turns out facial recognition is way easier when all you have to do is detect skin color.
Funny you say that ... from the Ars Technica article linked by XMLicious:
In July, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California published results of a test they had conducted using photos of members of Congress and a public database of 25,000 arrest mugshots. In total, 28 members of Congress, including six members of the Congressional Black Caucus, were flagged as matches. The ACLU test followed a number of studies—including one by the US Government Accountability Office (PDF) in March of 2017—that found unacceptable rates of false positives in facial recognition systems. An MIT Media Lab study found that facial recognition systems often misidentified people with darker skin (NYT).... and by funny, I mean fucking tragic. (Emphasis mine)
Once again, technology will not save us, it will only make the police state cost more.
NPR Gets It Right(er), But Also More Wrong: Biden, Robert De Niro Targeted In Wave Of Suspect Packages Aimed At Trump Critics -- good on them for identifying the targets as critical of Trump, but they somehow chose to highlight two white men as the targets in the headline, instead of former President Barack Obama, "former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton,"* and two to Rep. Maxine Waters, who were mentioned in the body of the article.
* Is there a journalistic guide on which title to give someone? Former SOS may be shorter than writing 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate and ongoing target of Trump, Hillary Clinton.
posted by filthy light thief at 1:02 PM on October 25, 2018 [26 favorites]
The only apocalyptic thinking I need today has been filled up by that Vox article that ZeusHumms posted above. We're talking about defending our elections, how does one get into this field? What schooling is needed for this?
posted by gucci mane at 1:07 PM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 1:07 PM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
WSJ, Michael Bender, Trump’s DEA Chief Vetted Candidates and Then Took the Job Himself, Riling Police Groups
NY Post, Trump used charity money to buy his own portrait because no one else would: lawyers
posted by zachlipton at 1:10 PM on October 25, 2018 [38 favorites]
As one of President Trump’s top compliance and ethics attorneys in the White House, Uttam Dhillon had urged several candidates for Drug Enforcement Administration chief to withdraw from consideration, citing concerns about their background checks. Then, he accepted the job himself.Say it with me now everybody: Only. The. Best. People.
Mr. Dhillon’s rise to the top of the world’s largest drug-fighting agency—after being closely involved in the selection process—has riled police groups that had pushed the White House to choose a DEA administrator with a law-enforcement background.
...
His appointment as acting administrator in July also illustrates a persistent issue in the Trump administration nearly halfway through the president’s first term: Some jobs have been filled multiple times, while vacancies remain at about half of the roughly 700 key offices that require Senate confirmation.
...
Before joining the White House, Mr. Dhillon was chief counsel for the House Financial Services Committee. He was an assistant U.S. attorney in California and worked under James Comey when the former FBI director was a deputy attorney general. Five years after Mr. Dhillon was confirmed as head of the Office of Counternarcotics Enforcement under President George W. Bush, the inspector general in the Department of Homeland Security reported that the office “has had trouble fulfilling statutory responsibilities.” It was shuttered under President Obama.
NY Post, Trump used charity money to buy his own portrait because no one else would: lawyers
“So Mr. Trump donates $10,000 to start the bidding, and then when the bidding goes on and no one else bids, they’re stuck with the painting,” his attorney Alan Futerfas told Manhattan Supreme Court Judge Saliann Scarpulla as he asked for the case to be dismissed.Love when Trump's legal strategy requires humiliating Trump.
And so the “Art of the Deal” author got the raw end of the deal and wound up having to plunk down $10,000 on the portrait. But rather than fork over the dough himself, Trump billed his own Donald J. Trump Foundation for the cost.
Prosecutors say Trump also used charitable foundation money to pay off his creditors, decorate one of his golf clubs with the portrait, and boost his presidential campaign.
“They’re making a mountain out of a molehill,” Futerfas said of the allegations.
posted by zachlipton at 1:10 PM on October 25, 2018 [38 favorites]
Once again, technology will not save us, it will only make the police state cost more.
More likely, technology will make the police state more efficient at lower cost. But either way it makes it more possible. Blow up your "smart speaker" kthxbye.
posted by msalt at 1:12 PM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
More likely, technology will make the police state more efficient at lower cost. But either way it makes it more possible. Blow up your "smart speaker" kthxbye.
posted by msalt at 1:12 PM on October 25, 2018 [2 favorites]
NPR Gets It Right(er), But Also More Wrong
What? That article is obviously an update on the Thursday morning developments in the mail bomb story. The lede is "The investigation into a wave of homemade pipe bombs addressed to political enemies of President Trump expanded Thursday with the discovery of more suspicious packages in New York and Delaware."
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 1:12 PM on October 25, 2018 [14 favorites]
What? That article is obviously an update on the Thursday morning developments in the mail bomb story. The lede is "The investigation into a wave of homemade pipe bombs addressed to political enemies of President Trump expanded Thursday with the discovery of more suspicious packages in New York and Delaware."
posted by ultraviolet catastrophe at 1:12 PM on October 25, 2018 [14 favorites]
NBC replaced two African American hosts, Al Roker and Tamron Hall, with Megyn Kelly. Hall subsequently left the network. They should bring her back.
Would love it if she had to stay off the air to keep her package, but I doubt we'd be that lucky.
Her contract was for three years at $23 million per year.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:19 PM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Would love it if she had to stay off the air to keep her package, but I doubt we'd be that lucky.
Her contract was for three years at $23 million per year.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:19 PM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Are contracts like that guaranteed? I hope to hell there's a clause for termination if you say racist things on TV.
posted by msalt at 1:22 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by msalt at 1:22 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
octobersurprise: "Not to linger on unpleasant probabilities, but this remark reminds me of Nicholas Riasanovsky's 1984 observation that the Soviet system was "not likely to last, not likely to change fundamentally by evolution, and not likely to be overthrown a revolution.""
One is reminded of Herb Stein's comment that, "If something cannot go on, it will stop."
posted by Chrysostom at 1:28 PM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
One is reminded of Herb Stein's comment that, "If something cannot go on, it will stop."
posted by Chrysostom at 1:28 PM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
Adam Server: The Republican Party’s midterm closing message is pretending to have dem positions on the social safety net and white identity politics, but none of the people who typically complain about identity politics have a problem with that.
posted by zombieflanders at 1:30 PM on October 25, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 1:30 PM on October 25, 2018 [26 favorites]
If the election is stolen, while the disenfranchisement of white people will be new, or at least more massive than before, the disenfranchisement of minority groups has gone on to a similar degree for much of our nation's history. The Civil Rights movement sprang up and fought back. That will be our model.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:33 PM on October 25, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 1:33 PM on October 25, 2018 [15 favorites]
WaPo, Careless cruelty: Civil servants said separating families was illegal. The administration ignored us. By Scott Shuchart, former senior adviser at the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and current CAP fellow.
That was false. The next day, I called around to colleagues who confirmed that there had been multiple interagency phone calls and documents, involving the State and Justice departments as well as DHS, making clear that lawyers throughout the government worried that deliberately separating families could violate migrants’ rights under humanitarian treaties or U.S. law. But the political appointees simply didn’t listen. And a few weeks later, I came across an April 24 memo — signed by the very officials I had met with a month later — acknowledging, but dismissing, the legal risks. Even worse, it encouraged indicting immigrants specifically because doing so would justify separating families, arguing that the government’s “legal position” on “separating adults and children through the immigration process . . . is likely strongest [when] separation occurs in connection with a referral of an adult family member for criminal prosecution.”posted by zachlipton at 1:34 PM on October 25, 2018 [24 favorites]
...
The culture ingrained at CBP, though, is one where the Border Patrol’s union opened its podcast (“The Green Line”) with the oath of the Night’s Watch from “Game of Thrones” — the pledge of a band of warrior monks to protect a magical kingdom from an army of ice zombies. If federal law enforcement agents see Central American children as the moral equivalent of the frozen undead, we can’t expect them to understand intuitively how to detain and process them humanely without training, guidance and leadership. That’s why my colleagues and I were pushing for record-keeping, communication and other policies that Trump appointees ignored. (Representatives of the Border Patrol union did not immediately return requests for comment from The Post.)
Caitlyn Jenner: I thought Trump would help the LGBTQ community. I was wrong.
'I never thought leopards would eat MY face,' sobs woman who voted for the Leopards Eating People's Faces Party.
I mean, he did hold up a flag and promise to protect our “L, G, B, T … Q” citizens. He was lying.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:36 PM on October 25, 2018 [49 favorites]
'I never thought leopards would eat MY face,' sobs woman who voted for the Leopards Eating People's Faces Party.
I mean, he did hold up a flag and promise to protect our “L, G, B, T … Q” citizens. He was lying.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:36 PM on October 25, 2018 [49 favorites]
filthy light thief: "* Is there a journalistic guide on which title to give someone? Former SOS may be shorter than writing 2016 Democratic Presidential Candidate and ongoing target of Trump, Hillary Clinton."
Seriously, I think it's normally your highest held office, with the Cabinet considered to outrank the Senate.
Personally, I'd prefer only using titles for current office holders, and referring to her as Ms. Clinton.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:36 PM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
Seriously, I think it's normally your highest held office, with the Cabinet considered to outrank the Senate.
Personally, I'd prefer only using titles for current office holders, and referring to her as Ms. Clinton.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:36 PM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
Nate Sivler: The Lite (f/k/a "polls-only") version of our model gives the GOP about a 25 percent chance to hold the House. Which is…not good but also not bad? But essentially all of that comes from the possibility of a correlated polling error, i.e. where polls are off systematically.
Same is true for Democrats in the Senate.
posted by Justinian at 1:52 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Same is true for Democrats in the Senate.
posted by Justinian at 1:52 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Mentioned in that Adam Serwer piece linked by zombieflanders is one of the more puzzling recent lies from Donald's mouth: that Californians are "rioting" against immigration and sanctuary cities.
If someone told you the doofus was lying about nonexistent riots, you'd assume he was attributing them to one of the many groups he considers the enemy, right? The whole "scary antifa/non-whites/anarchists" narrative. But no, apparently he wants people to believe there is even more violence coming from people in his camp then we actually have observed.
And it's maybe unsurprising that he would aim for that as a tactic, because time and time again violence-bordering civil disturbance from the right is framed, in the national perception, as a sign of possibly legitimate grievance, where any left-wing equivalent is not. Dr MLK's description "the language of the unheard" is implicitly applied if the "unheard" people are the actually-very-much-heard deplorables. (I don't think this stretches infinitely; even many Republican leaders were thrown off by Unite the Right until Donald gave permission to consider them "fine people", and as I said earlier, it's to everyone's benefit that the bombings are, for now, seen as crossing a line, perhaps even worse then heckling McConnell in a restaurant.)
So perversely, they benefit from spreading a narrative that everyone is behaving as a mob, rather than the more obvious approach of "The other side represents chaos, but we are about safety". The idea is: you, the American bystander, should side with the reactionary mob over the lefty one, because that's what your gut tells you, right?
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:52 PM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
If someone told you the doofus was lying about nonexistent riots, you'd assume he was attributing them to one of the many groups he considers the enemy, right? The whole "scary antifa/non-whites/anarchists" narrative. But no, apparently he wants people to believe there is even more violence coming from people in his camp then we actually have observed.
And it's maybe unsurprising that he would aim for that as a tactic, because time and time again violence-bordering civil disturbance from the right is framed, in the national perception, as a sign of possibly legitimate grievance, where any left-wing equivalent is not. Dr MLK's description "the language of the unheard" is implicitly applied if the "unheard" people are the actually-very-much-heard deplorables. (I don't think this stretches infinitely; even many Republican leaders were thrown off by Unite the Right until Donald gave permission to consider them "fine people", and as I said earlier, it's to everyone's benefit that the bombings are, for now, seen as crossing a line, perhaps even worse then heckling McConnell in a restaurant.)
So perversely, they benefit from spreading a narrative that everyone is behaving as a mob, rather than the more obvious approach of "The other side represents chaos, but we are about safety". The idea is: you, the American bystander, should side with the reactionary mob over the lefty one, because that's what your gut tells you, right?
posted by InTheYear2017 at 1:52 PM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Caitlyn, we were trying to tell you that ALL ALONG.
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:53 PM on October 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:53 PM on October 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
zachlipton:
JackFlash:
The letter is complaining that documents submitted to the committee by Avenatti appear to have been contradicted in some details in TV interviews Swetnick gave. So the accusation is basically that she's been too presidential in the way she states her claims.
It also hilariously tries to emphasize that Kavanaugh and Judge's denials were made “under penalty of felony” as if they were actually being held to a higher standard, or even the same standard, as Kavanaugh's accusers.
Archelaus:
From his Wikipedia article:
Sen. Grassley has made a criminal referral to the Justice Department of Julie Swetnick and Michael Avenatti for false statements during the Kavanaugh confirmation, as laid out in a 12 page letter that spends a bunch of time attacking their credibility on unrelated matters.
JackFlash:
Most noteworthy is what isn't in Grassley's little letter. Grassley does not challenge the truth of Christine Ford or Deborah Ramirez.
The letter is complaining that documents submitted to the committee by Avenatti appear to have been contradicted in some details in TV interviews Swetnick gave. So the accusation is basically that she's been too presidential in the way she states her claims.
It also hilariously tries to emphasize that Kavanaugh and Judge's denials were made “under penalty of felony” as if they were actually being held to a higher standard, or even the same standard, as Kavanaugh's accusers.
Archelaus:
Kaczynski was -specifically- anti-leftist. I get that these guys are engaging in classic projection and ignoring the evils of their own side, and so on, but that dude was -specifically- one of theirs.
From his Wikipedia article:
posted by XMLicious at 1:56 PM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]Anders Behring Breivik, the perpetrator of the 2011 Norway attacks, published a manifesto in which large chunks of text were copied from [the Unabomber's manifesto] with certain terms substituted (e.g., replacing "leftists" with "cultural Marxists" and "multiculturalists").
Philadelphia City Council resolution: Gritty is Antifa
I used to be certain that chaos-magic memetic warfare was a weird 4chanian wart on the flank of the alt-right but after seeing Pepes genuinely bothered by Gritty memes, I'm starting to wonder.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:58 PM on October 25, 2018 [30 favorites]
I used to be certain that chaos-magic memetic warfare was a weird 4chanian wart on the flank of the alt-right but after seeing Pepes genuinely bothered by Gritty memes, I'm starting to wonder.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:58 PM on October 25, 2018 [30 favorites]
I Respected Scott Walker. Then I Worked for Him. - Peter Bildsten, The Atlantic
Peter Bildsten is former secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. He opposed many of Walkers actions which weakened financial regulations in the state.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:59 PM on October 25, 2018 [13 favorites]
Peter Bildsten is former secretary of the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. He opposed many of Walkers actions which weakened financial regulations in the state.
National attention made the governor care more about his standing in the GOP than about the people of Wisconsin.One can only hope.
…
Walker wanted to do right by Wisconsin when he was first elected governor—or so it seemed to me. But the longer he was in office, and the more public attention came his way, the more he changed his focus from improving the lot of the people of his state to improving his standing with the Republican Party. In so doing, he made decisions that were bad for Wisconsin and—if the latest polls are right—ultimately bad for his political aspirations as well.
posted by ZeusHumms at 1:59 PM on October 25, 2018 [13 favorites]
I used to be certain that chaos-magic memetic warfare was a weird 4chanian wart on the flank of the alt-right but after seeing Pepes genuinely bothered by Gritty memes, I'm starting to wonder.
posted by Rust Moranis
This particular little battlefront in the overall weird world of 2016-present is honestly making me question and rethink some conclusions I'd come to previously about how reality works.
posted by the phlegmatic king at 2:00 PM on October 25, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by Rust Moranis
This particular little battlefront in the overall weird world of 2016-present is honestly making me question and rethink some conclusions I'd come to previously about how reality works.
posted by the phlegmatic king at 2:00 PM on October 25, 2018 [25 favorites]
This is from The Intercept (which several/many? on MF do not consider a trustworthy source) by Melissa del Bosque: Border Patrol Union Endorses Extremist Video Featuring White Nationalists (because of course it does).
THE NATIONAL BORDER Patrol Council, the union representing Border Patrol agents across the country, is featured in a new video that includes white nationalists and anti-Muslim extremists. The video, titled “Killing Free Speech,” was endorsed by the union and recently shown by agents at a private screening in San Diego. The video is also expected to be shown in Texas, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., according to union representative Terence Shigg, president of the San Diego chapter of the NBPC.
The nearly hour-and-half-long video refers to Democrats as “dark and evil” and features a bevy of American and European far-right, anti-Muslim white nationalists who make a correlation between gang rapes, Islam, and immigration. The documentary also features members of the Proud Boys, a hate group designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center, that often aligns with white nationalists and are known for being misogynists and anti-Muslim. The Proud Boys participated in the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and in mid-October several members of the Proud Boys were arrested in New York City after a violent street confrontation with anti-fascists.
posted by Bella Donna at 2:07 PM on October 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
THE NATIONAL BORDER Patrol Council, the union representing Border Patrol agents across the country, is featured in a new video that includes white nationalists and anti-Muslim extremists. The video, titled “Killing Free Speech,” was endorsed by the union and recently shown by agents at a private screening in San Diego. The video is also expected to be shown in Texas, Los Angeles, and Washington, D.C., according to union representative Terence Shigg, president of the San Diego chapter of the NBPC.
The nearly hour-and-half-long video refers to Democrats as “dark and evil” and features a bevy of American and European far-right, anti-Muslim white nationalists who make a correlation between gang rapes, Islam, and immigration. The documentary also features members of the Proud Boys, a hate group designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center, that often aligns with white nationalists and are known for being misogynists and anti-Muslim. The Proud Boys participated in the deadly “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and in mid-October several members of the Proud Boys were arrested in New York City after a violent street confrontation with anti-fascists.
posted by Bella Donna at 2:07 PM on October 25, 2018 [9 favorites]
I think there are four former high level Scott Walker employees who have endorsed his opponent. He must be a real charmer.
posted by Chrysostom at 2:10 PM on October 25, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 2:10 PM on October 25, 2018 [20 favorites]
Phil Bildsten: He opposed many of Walkers actions which weakened financial regulations in the state.
Way to take the high road, Phil. But how'd you feel about:
* gutting public employee bargaining rights
* gutting higher education spending
* implementing one of the worst voter ID laws in the country
* using taxpayer dollars to pay for a new Bucks stadium, because THAT'S where public money needs to go
Probably fine I'd guess.
I mean, I'm glad you're seeing Scumbag Walker for who he is, and I hope your speaking out against him helps submarine his rapidly sinking chances. But also, fuck you.
posted by mcstayinskool at 2:20 PM on October 25, 2018 [13 favorites]
Way to take the high road, Phil. But how'd you feel about:
* gutting public employee bargaining rights
* gutting higher education spending
* implementing one of the worst voter ID laws in the country
* using taxpayer dollars to pay for a new Bucks stadium, because THAT'S where public money needs to go
Probably fine I'd guess.
I mean, I'm glad you're seeing Scumbag Walker for who he is, and I hope your speaking out against him helps submarine his rapidly sinking chances. But also, fuck you.
posted by mcstayinskool at 2:20 PM on October 25, 2018 [13 favorites]
Imagine how many actual reporters NBC could’ve hired for $69 million.
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:27 PM on October 25, 2018 [78 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 2:27 PM on October 25, 2018 [78 favorites]
So Republican Carol Miller is running for Congress in West Virginia's third district. She is wealthy. Oddly, she consistently pays her property taxes late. Ryan Grim, DC Bureau Chief for The Intercept, has a theory about that.
The property tax she has owed over these years, but not paid on time, adds up to some $88,972.29. The interest that Cabell County charges, though, is 0.75%. That extremely low, and whenever wealthy people have a chance to get cash at that rate, they take it. In other words, Carol Miller has been using the cash-strapped municipal government of Cabell County to extract extremely low-interest loans. It's a version of wealthy welfare, taken at the expense of the county.
Guess the gravy train never ends for the white, the wealthy, the entitled. About to finish my absentee ballot so I can get it in the mail tomorrow. Many thanks to all the MeFites who have been working so hard for so long to get out the vote. Your community service is appreciated!
posted by Bella Donna at 2:29 PM on October 25, 2018 [39 favorites]
The property tax she has owed over these years, but not paid on time, adds up to some $88,972.29. The interest that Cabell County charges, though, is 0.75%. That extremely low, and whenever wealthy people have a chance to get cash at that rate, they take it. In other words, Carol Miller has been using the cash-strapped municipal government of Cabell County to extract extremely low-interest loans. It's a version of wealthy welfare, taken at the expense of the county.
Guess the gravy train never ends for the white, the wealthy, the entitled. About to finish my absentee ballot so I can get it in the mail tomorrow. Many thanks to all the MeFites who have been working so hard for so long to get out the vote. Your community service is appreciated!
posted by Bella Donna at 2:29 PM on October 25, 2018 [39 favorites]
0.75%? Is it that low in other cities in the US? In the Toronto area most municipalities charge 1.25% per month.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:36 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 2:36 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
but after seeing Pepes genuinely bothered by Gritty memes, I'm starting to wonder.
In the grim darkness of the not-too-distant future, there is only war beneath the flags of Gritty and Pepe.
posted by octobersurprise at 2:39 PM on October 25, 2018 [22 favorites]
In the grim darkness of the not-too-distant future, there is only war beneath the flags of Gritty and Pepe.
posted by octobersurprise at 2:39 PM on October 25, 2018 [22 favorites]
Dunno about interest rates tbh. In the good news department, "Tennessee Court rules that voters in Shelby County must be permitted to fix voter registration issues at polling place & cast regular ballots. County must also provide updates on number of people with pending/deficient applications & must notify applicants immediately." I was able to confirm this from a headline on Google News but not able to pull up the news story, alas, b/c I am outside the US.
posted by Bella Donna at 2:43 PM on October 25, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 2:43 PM on October 25, 2018 [18 favorites]
THE NATIONAL BORDER Patrol Council, the union representing Border Patrol agents across the country, is featured in a new video that includes white nationalists and anti-Muslim extremists.
I don't know much about the nuts and bolts of organized labor, but my understanding is that while obviously it's bad to try to constrain the political speech of a labor union under most conditions, labor unions are still subject to the equal protection clause and forbidden to disciminate in certain ways because of compelled membership, etc.
The cases I'm thinking of are about racist railroad unions and early civil rights era stuff, and I'm not sure where the law on that is now.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:49 PM on October 25, 2018
I don't know much about the nuts and bolts of organized labor, but my understanding is that while obviously it's bad to try to constrain the political speech of a labor union under most conditions, labor unions are still subject to the equal protection clause and forbidden to disciminate in certain ways because of compelled membership, etc.
The cases I'm thinking of are about racist railroad unions and early civil rights era stuff, and I'm not sure where the law on that is now.
posted by snuffleupagus at 2:49 PM on October 25, 2018
Imagine how many actual reporters NBC could’ve hired for $69 million
Honestly, fuck NBC forever for this. Not one of their lawyers were able to add a "If you say something so racist on air that we have to fire you, you will not get your full compensation" clause to her contract?
posted by coffee and minarets at 2:55 PM on October 25, 2018 [20 favorites]
Honestly, fuck NBC forever for this. Not one of their lawyers were able to add a "If you say something so racist on air that we have to fire you, you will not get your full compensation" clause to her contract?
posted by coffee and minarets at 2:55 PM on October 25, 2018 [20 favorites]
IANAL, but I imagine in any litigation following her termination for saying racist shit, her lawyers might just run a clip tape of all the racist shit she said to get the job in the first place and then just point to it with a sort of Chandler Bing flair.
posted by schadenfrau at 3:09 PM on October 25, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by schadenfrau at 3:09 PM on October 25, 2018 [16 favorites]
There are generally clauses which would apply if you are fired for cause. But in many cases the compensation is paid out anyway because it's cheaper to pay out the contract than litigate in court and being sued for the remainder of the compensation is very common. Plus there's the whole burning bridges thing. Yeah, you should burn your bridges with racists but media companies are super risk averse.
Which is why we should make it riskier to associate with racists than to piss them off.
posted by Justinian at 3:10 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Which is why we should make it riskier to associate with racists than to piss them off.
posted by Justinian at 3:10 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
NYT, Voter applications said to be missing in Georgia
posted by zachlipton at 3:28 PM on October 25, 2018 [42 favorites]
Fears of voter suppression were again ignited in Georgia on Thursday after state Democratic officials said that more than 4,700 vote-by-mail applications were missing in DeKalb County, one of Georgia’s most populous and liberal-leaning regions.This. Keeps. Happening.
County officials acknowledged the missing applications in a phone conversation this week with Democratic voter protection officials, and pledged to call the thousands of voters to inform them of the error, according to multiple people familiar with the conversation.
A spokesman for the DeKalb County elections board would not confirm the details of the call. Sam Tillman, the chairman of the board, added that “there is no evidence that there are any missing or lost absentee ballot request forms.” He said of a list of 4,700 names provided by the Democratic officials, he could confirm that the county had only received 48 of the requests.
posted by zachlipton at 3:28 PM on October 25, 2018 [42 favorites]
Megyn Kelley is an Albany Law grad. Despite her continually failing to meet expectations, I'm still holding onto the hope that she's not a complete nitwit. So much for being the "Intellectual Anne Coulter"...
posted by mikelieman at 3:29 PM on October 25, 2018
posted by mikelieman at 3:29 PM on October 25, 2018
I'm still holding onto the hope that she's not a complete nitwit.
A person can simultaneously be incredibly intelligent and heinously racist.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 3:50 PM on October 25, 2018 [33 favorites]
A person can simultaneously be incredibly intelligent and heinously racist.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 3:50 PM on October 25, 2018 [33 favorites]
They're not even pretending:
Newt Gingrich: 'We'll see whether or not the Kavanaugh fight was worth it'
Republicans never cared about the legitimacy of the Supreme Court or the rule of law. Not even John Roberts. They plan on ruling through Christian Ayatollahs on the bench, they're saying so out loud.
The only way to achieve progressive policy goals is ending the Supreme Court's control over American politics by any means necessary, either stealing it back or defanging it completely.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:59 PM on October 25, 2018 [57 favorites]
Newt Gingrich: 'We'll see whether or not the Kavanaugh fight was worth it'
During a live interview on Oct. 25 at The Washington Post, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said that if Democrats re-take control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections and subpoena the president's tax returns, it would likely force a fight in the U.S. Supreme Court. "And," Gingrich said,"we'll see whether or not the Kavanaugh fight was worth it."Listen to the crowd.
Republicans never cared about the legitimacy of the Supreme Court or the rule of law. Not even John Roberts. They plan on ruling through Christian Ayatollahs on the bench, they're saying so out loud.
The only way to achieve progressive policy goals is ending the Supreme Court's control over American politics by any means necessary, either stealing it back or defanging it completely.
posted by T.D. Strange at 3:59 PM on October 25, 2018 [57 favorites]
Megyn Kelley is an Albany Law grad.
Speaking as a lawyer, there are any number of utter nitwits who have law degrees. The test of a law degree isn't reasoning ability or critical thinking: it's being able to remember as many relevant issues/facts as possible and regurgitating them to get as many points on the essay question as you can.
posted by mightygodking at 3:59 PM on October 25, 2018 [33 favorites]
Speaking as a lawyer, there are any number of utter nitwits who have law degrees. The test of a law degree isn't reasoning ability or critical thinking: it's being able to remember as many relevant issues/facts as possible and regurgitating them to get as many points on the essay question as you can.
posted by mightygodking at 3:59 PM on October 25, 2018 [33 favorites]
NBC News, New questions raised about Avenatti claims regarding Kavanaugh
posted by zachlipton at 4:13 PM on October 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
In the NBC News interview that aired on Oct. 1, Swetnick back-tracked on or contradicted parts of her sworn statement where she alleged she witnessed then-Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh "cause girls to become inebriated and disoriented so they could then be 'gang raped' in a side room or bedroom by a 'train' of boys."Setting his political ambitions aside, Avenatti does not appear to be representing his clients in an appropriate manner that matches their interests.
NBC News also found other apparent inconsistencies in a second sworn statement from another woman whose statement Avenatti provided to the Senate Judiciary Committee in a bid to bolster Swetnick's claims.
In the second statement, the unidentified woman said she witnessed Kavanaugh "spike" the punch at high school parties in order to sexually take advantage of girls. But less than 48 hours before Avenatti released her sworn statement on Twitter, the same woman told NBC News a different story. Referring to Kavanaugh spiking the punch, "I didn't ever think it was Brett," the woman said to reporters in a phone interview arranged by Avenatti on Sept. 30 after repeated requests to speak with other witnesses who might corroborate Swetnick's claims. As soon as the call began, the woman said she never met Swetnick in high school and never saw her at parties and had only become friends with her when they were both in their 30s.
...
Shortly after tweeting out the woman's allegations on Oct. 2, Avenatti confirmed to NBC News that it was the same woman interviewed by phone on Sept. 30. But when questioned on Oct. 3 about the discrepancies between what she said in the phone interview and the serious allegations in the sworn declaration, Avenatti said he was "disgusted" with NBC News. At one point, in an apparent effort to thwart the reporting process, he added in the phone call, "How about this, on background, it's not the same woman. What are you going to do with that?"
posted by zachlipton at 4:13 PM on October 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
Avenatti is a piece of shit, and the sooner he becomes persona non grata, the better. Good work digging up Trump's infidelity and the associated campaign finance violations, pal, but 1) we already knew about the infidelity and 2) SDNY was on top of the campaign finance violations as soon as Cohen stumbled into the borders of the Mueller investigation.
Any other credible lawyer can see to Ms. Clifford's legal needs, and Avenatti can fuck right off and go deal with getting his life in order.
posted by Room 101 at 5:03 PM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
Any other credible lawyer can see to Ms. Clifford's legal needs, and Avenatti can fuck right off and go deal with getting his life in order.
posted by Room 101 at 5:03 PM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
Saudi Spy Met With Team Trump About Taking Down Iran.
Mueller’s investigators examined a series of meetings between an Israeli social media strategist, the general blamed for Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, and Trump adviser Michael Flynn.
Gen. Ahmed Al-Assiri, the Saudi intelligence chief taking the fall for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, hobnobbed in New York with Michael Flynn and other members of the transition team shortly before Trump’s inauguration. The topic of their discussion: regime change in Iran.
posted by adamvasco at 5:09 PM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Mueller’s investigators examined a series of meetings between an Israeli social media strategist, the general blamed for Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, and Trump adviser Michael Flynn.
Gen. Ahmed Al-Assiri, the Saudi intelligence chief taking the fall for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, hobnobbed in New York with Michael Flynn and other members of the transition team shortly before Trump’s inauguration. The topic of their discussion: regime change in Iran.
posted by adamvasco at 5:09 PM on October 25, 2018 [4 favorites]
Oh for fucks sake can we please not have the millionth round of avenatti Y/N/GRAR
posted by lazaruslong at 5:20 PM on October 25, 2018 [42 favorites]
posted by lazaruslong at 5:20 PM on October 25, 2018 [42 favorites]
Hmm. David Schraub @schraubd
This ... isn't subtle. And, regardless of what one thinks of the "a-ok" sign as a White Power symbol generally, in this context (a white hand doing it juxtaposed against a Black Power fist) I wouldn't exactly say NCGOP deserves benefit of the doubt.posted by Joe in Australia at 5:30 PM on October 25, 2018 [17 favorites]
SF Chronicle, Tal Kopan, Trump administration considers travel ban-like order for Mexican border
posted by zachlipton at 6:03 PM on October 25, 2018 [28 favorites]
The Trump administration is considering an executive action that could use travel ban-like authority to block certain asylum seekers at the Mexican border, sources familiar with the discussions said Thursday.They're considering manufacturing a crisis and throwing the law out the window to try to win the midterms.
The proposal is not yet finalized and could ultimately be cast aside, said the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the plan is in the formative stages. If President Trump approved such a plan, it would represent a dramatic escalation in border enforcement as a migrant caravan works its way north through Mexico. The administration is working rapidly to draft the possible executive action, which could effectively use the same legal authority that Trump invoked last year in imposing a ban against people from several mainly Muslim countries from traveling to the U.S., said a government source who has seen a working version of the plan and several sources who had it described to them.
...
The plan would take two steps, according to sources familiar with the discussions.
First, Homeland Security and the Justice Department would issue a rule limiting immigrants’ ability to seek asylum if they are part of a population barred by the president. The rule would take effect immediately, unlike most, and be justified as an extraordinary situation.
That would clear the way for Trump to issue a proclamation directed at a specific population, expected to target the 7,000-plus Central Americans heading toward the U.S.
posted by zachlipton at 6:03 PM on October 25, 2018 [28 favorites]
if we could just get the camera to pull back a little, i'm confident we'd see that that fist belongs to a football player in the process of glorious athletic play, while that other hand is pulling the pin from a hand grenade.
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:32 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by 20 year lurk at 6:32 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Avenatti is a piece of shit, and the sooner he becomes persona non grata, the better.
I mean, I want Avenatti to help Stormy Daniels get whatever she’s entitled to. Beyond that I want him nowhere near actual politics. The fact that some people are taking him seriously as a potential candidate is revolting.
Back in ‘16 I joked that Trump would start a war with either Mexico or Canada. I guess I’m not surprised that he’s actually going to do that.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:33 PM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
I mean, I want Avenatti to help Stormy Daniels get whatever she’s entitled to. Beyond that I want him nowhere near actual politics. The fact that some people are taking him seriously as a potential candidate is revolting.
Back in ‘16 I joked that Trump would start a war with either Mexico or Canada. I guess I’m not surprised that he’s actually going to do that.
posted by octobersurprise at 6:33 PM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
Ain't No Sunshine: Andrew Gillum Reads Dusty Florida Man to Wreckage
Florida gubernatorial rivals Andrew Gillum and a sentient patch of swamp algae going by the alias Ron DeSantis held their second contentious debate last night and, honey, there were yikes a-plenty! It's been over 12 hours since Gillum read grease-stained takeout bag DeSantis to smithereens on live television and I am just now regaining consciousness. Gillum's evisceration was so thorough I went into a fugue state; I was knocked over and also lifted up. Flat as a board; stiff as a rail; do not resuscitate!posted by kirkaracha at 6:49 PM on October 25, 2018 [55 favorites]
...
While Andrew Gillum blew DeSantis' weave back one follicle at a time, DeSantis simply stared forlornly into the camera like he was in a Sarah McLachlan commercial. "Just one dollar a day can help this pitiful man buy back a scintilla of self-respect."
...
Honey, "the racists think you are a racist" is the read 2018 deserves. It's the social justice version of "Look at your life, look at your choices." Like, it's hilarious and on point but also, oof, too real. Gillum is giving us 10,000 oofs, when all we need is a yikes. Isn't that ironic? Don't you think?
I forgot DeSantis was the weirdo who used his kid in the Trump brainwashing commercial. He also said, "You look at this girl, Ocasio-Cortez, or whatever she is." Christ, what an asshole.
During the gubernatorial debate his answer to a question about whether Donald Trump is a good role model for kids was a detour about moving our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:58 PM on October 25, 2018
During the gubernatorial debate his answer to a question about whether Donald Trump is a good role model for kids was a detour about moving our embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem.
posted by kirkaracha at 6:58 PM on October 25, 2018
Avenatti is a piece of shit, and the sooner he becomes persona non grata, the better.
The ol' circular firing squad in action.
You do NOT understand how loathsome and persuasive the Right Wing's cult of personality is. Avenatti is the only axe-weilding maniac we have on our side at the moment, up against a legion of machete murderers who want to rob children from their families and normalize neo-nazis.
I want Avenatti to go away only when his voice is so attenuated, it's no longer necessary. Now is not the time. Pick up a goddamn bullhorn, and go at it.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:08 PM on October 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
The ol' circular firing squad in action.
You do NOT understand how loathsome and persuasive the Right Wing's cult of personality is. Avenatti is the only axe-weilding maniac we have on our side at the moment, up against a legion of machete murderers who want to rob children from their families and normalize neo-nazis.
I want Avenatti to go away only when his voice is so attenuated, it's no longer necessary. Now is not the time. Pick up a goddamn bullhorn, and go at it.
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:08 PM on October 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
oh god can we please not do yet another round of this?
posted by dogheart at 7:11 PM on October 25, 2018 [27 favorites]
posted by dogheart at 7:11 PM on October 25, 2018 [27 favorites]
However useful Avenatti might be, the details regarding the Swetnick allegation don't look good. If it turns out Avenatti tried to frame a guilty man, I'm going to be really pissed at him.
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:11 PM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Faint of Butt at 7:11 PM on October 25, 2018 [11 favorites]
Former GOP Candidate Arrested for Attempting to Kill With ‘Radioactive Material’
(Jeremy Ryan, who came in 5th in the WI-01 GOP primary this year)
posted by Chrysostom at 7:14 PM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
(Jeremy Ryan, who came in 5th in the WI-01 GOP primary this year)
posted by Chrysostom at 7:14 PM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
I'll muzzle myself on the Avenatti topic in the interests of comity and the mod's blood pressure. See, I can be trained!
Polls out of Florida continue to improve. There is some speculation among poll numbers people that the Democrats Latinx base is starting to energize. Still speculative but a number of recent polls in districts with large Latinx populations have appeared to move modestly but consistently blueward. Cross your fingers for this to be a real thing.
posted by Justinian at 7:15 PM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
Polls out of Florida continue to improve. There is some speculation among poll numbers people that the Democrats Latinx base is starting to energize. Still speculative but a number of recent polls in districts with large Latinx populations have appeared to move modestly but consistently blueward. Cross your fingers for this to be a real thing.
posted by Justinian at 7:15 PM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
bluesky43: " I wish NY-23 was going the same direction (the affable liar Tom Reed is the GOP incumbent against the truly awesome Tracy Mitrano) but it doesn't look good."
There's a Mitrano internal that has her down by 2, fwiw.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:17 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
There's a Mitrano internal that has her down by 2, fwiw.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:17 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
Oh yay! We are talking about my Mayor, Andrew Gillum! Mayor Gillum is dreamy. My family happened to have a sudden horrible thing happen, on the day before the primary election. Our house burned down. Mayor Gillum called my wife on the day before election day to offer sympathy and condolences and whatever help he could. What did Ron DeSantis do when my house burned down? Jack shit. I am a campaign professional, so I fucking well know how busy candidates and staff are on the day before e-day. Also, Mayor Gillum was out filling sandbags and removing tree limbs from streets for real without a campaign camera crew, when Hurricane Michael hit Tallahassee. I have major feels for Andrew Gillum, as a constituent. He's the real deal.
posted by Cookiebastard at 7:17 PM on October 25, 2018 [91 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 7:17 PM on October 25, 2018 [91 favorites]
Avenatti is the only axe-weilding maniac we have on our side at the moment,
What if I concede that, like Stalin, Avenatti is someone I can consider an ally against a greater evil but not someone I’d remotely want to be governed by?
posted by octobersurprise at 7:25 PM on October 25, 2018 [13 favorites]
What if I concede that, like Stalin, Avenatti is someone I can consider an ally against a greater evil but not someone I’d remotely want to be governed by?
posted by octobersurprise at 7:25 PM on October 25, 2018 [13 favorites]
Mod note: Couple comments removed, please bring it down a little. I know shits fucked but going all caps at each other etc. isn't going to unfuck it. Totally okay to shout in the shouting thread.
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:26 PM on October 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 7:26 PM on October 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
Hey Chuck Grassley doesn't give a shit about Avenatti. He did this because the Kavenaugh thing makes the Republicans bloodthirsty and gave their side one of the biggest boosts we've seen in a while. That's mostly worn off now though so Grassley's trying to bring poor, innocent, framed Kavenaugh back to the forefront again to boost election turnout for the GOP. This is the reddest of red meat.
posted by triggerfinger at 7:33 PM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by triggerfinger at 7:33 PM on October 25, 2018 [5 favorites]
What if I concede that, like Stalin, Avenatti is someone I can consider an ally against a greater evil but not someone I’d remotely want to be governed by?
Oh, good lord. Avenatti is now Stalin. And we wonder why we lose election after election...
No, to spell it out clearly, Avenatti is a pro-democracy, pro-human-rights lawyer who took legal action against an anti-democracy, anti-human-rights presidential administration, and won. More than once. He is not Stalin, nor anywhere in Stalin's zipcode. Why would you even bring up the comparison?
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:37 PM on October 25, 2018 [26 favorites]
Oh, good lord. Avenatti is now Stalin. And we wonder why we lose election after election...
No, to spell it out clearly, Avenatti is a pro-democracy, pro-human-rights lawyer who took legal action against an anti-democracy, anti-human-rights presidential administration, and won. More than once. He is not Stalin, nor anywhere in Stalin's zipcode. Why would you even bring up the comparison?
posted by Slap*Happy at 7:37 PM on October 25, 2018 [26 favorites]
NYT, Voter applications said to be missing in Georgia
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action."
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:46 PM on October 25, 2018 [24 favorites]
"Once is happenstance. Twice is coincidence. Three times is enemy action."
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:46 PM on October 25, 2018 [24 favorites]
I'm seeing lots of chatter that this is a terrible miscalculation on Grassley's part because it just puts Kavanaugh under the legal spotlight again -- possibly even, at the very least, being questioned as part of a new, less-hampered investigation. Is there any merit to this or is it just pointless optimism? Is there a plausible scenario whereby Swetnick experiences kind of legal penalty for supposedly misleading testimony... while Kavanaugh is never even questioned in the interim? Or will this all probably amount to nothing whatsoever?
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:50 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by InTheYear2017 at 7:50 PM on October 25, 2018 [3 favorites]
More on the potential executive action, Trump Considers Closing Southern Border to Migrants
posted by zachlipton at 7:51 PM on October 25, 2018 [27 favorites]
Details of the plan, including a web of complicated legal issues that will most likely prompt a swift challenge in federal courts, were still being completed on Thursday, according to the people who described it, all of whom insisted on anonymity to discuss a proposal that is still under development. The president, who is prone to changing his mind, could still decide not to take action, they stressed.What's striking to me is that they're looking at all the protests and chaos and legal battles over the travel ban, and they see a repeat of that as a net positive for the midterms, something they actively want to court. They want the injunction, they want Trump angrily tweeting "SEE YOU IN COURT." They want their closing argument for the midterms to be "people with brown skin are trying to invade the country, the entire liberal establishment wants to do stupid things like follow the law, and only Trump can stop them." And despite the fact that these people are largely hungry women and children, they're more than 1,000 miles away from the border, and many have already claimed asylum in Mexico, the administration will provoke a crisis, regardless of whether their actions even have any effect at all, to get the headlines. And it just well could work.
But three people briefed on the plan being considered said it envisioned Mr. Trump issuing a proclamation on Tuesday. It would invoke broad presidential powers to bar foreigners from entering the country for national security reasons — under the same section of immigration law that underpinned the travel ban — to block Central American migrants from crossing the southern border, they said.
At the same time, the people said, the administration would put in place new rules that would disqualify migrants who cross the border in between ports of entry from claiming asylum. Exceptions would be made, according to those briefed, for people facing torture at home.
Taken together, the actions would effectively prevent hundred of people in the caravan from gaining entry into the United States and making an asylum claim. But the longer-term implications could be more profound, potentially shutting down altogether an avenue — permitted under both United States and international law — that many people fleeing violence and persecution use to take refuge here.
posted by zachlipton at 7:51 PM on October 25, 2018 [27 favorites]
I'll add that there's a weird thing going on: the government is suddenly releasing thousands of Central American migrants at the border, overwhelming nonprofit groups that provide initial services. Family arrivals are up, and the government is citing lack of detention space (their math doesn't make sense either), but it's not quite clear what they're doing, but some advocates fear they're trying to create an emergency to attack the Flores settlement (which limits how long children can be detained) before the midterms.
posted by zachlipton at 8:05 PM on October 25, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 8:05 PM on October 25, 2018 [22 favorites]
Former GOP Candidate Arrested for Attempting to Kill With ‘Radioactive Material’
(Jeremy Ryan, who came in 5th in the WI-01 GOP primary this year)
It sounds like he came in way down in the results but there were very few votes separating him from a third place finish. (Bovin, the candidate he 'beat', withdrew before the voting). So very middle of the pack (of losers) performance.
Bryan Steil (R) 51.6 30,883
Nick Polce (R) 14.9 8,945
Paul Nehlen(R) 11.1 6,635
Kevin Steen(R) 10.5 6,262
Jeremy Ryan(R) 10.4 6,221
Bradley Thomas "Brad" Boivin (R) 1.5 924
posted by srboisvert at 8:31 PM on October 25, 2018
(Jeremy Ryan, who came in 5th in the WI-01 GOP primary this year)
It sounds like he came in way down in the results but there were very few votes separating him from a third place finish. (Bovin, the candidate he 'beat', withdrew before the voting). So very middle of the pack (of losers) performance.
Bryan Steil (R) 51.6 30,883
Nick Polce (R) 14.9 8,945
Paul Nehlen(R) 11.1 6,635
Kevin Steen(R) 10.5 6,262
Jeremy Ryan(R) 10.4 6,221
Bradley Thomas "Brad" Boivin (R) 1.5 924
posted by srboisvert at 8:31 PM on October 25, 2018
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 12 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
** 2018 House:
// 12 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
-- CA: PPIC poll has incumbent Feinstein up 43-27 on challenger de León [MOE: +/- 4.2%].
-- FL: Strategic Research Associates poll has Dem incumbent Nelson up 46-45 on GOPer Scott [MOE: +/- 3.5%].
-- MI: EPIC-MRA poll has Dem incumbent Stabenow up 49-42 on GOPer James [MOE: +/- 4.0%]. => EPIC-MRA has been posting numbers in both MI gov and Sen a fair bit more right than other pollsters. They have a good rep, though.
** 2018 House:
-- CA-04: Clarity Campaign Labs poll has GOP incumbent McClintock up 49-45 on Dem Morse [MOE: +/- 3.4%]. Poll was commissioned by the Morse campaign. [Trump 54-39 | Cook: Likely R]** Odds & ends:
-- CA-22: Change Research poll has Dem incumbent Nunes up 51-46 on Dem Janz [no MOE listed]. Poll was commissioned by a Democratic PAC. [Trump 52-43 | Solid R]
-- CA-49: Siena poll has Dem Levin up 53-39 on GOPer Harkey [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. [Clinton 51-43 | Lean D]
-- GA-06: Thirty-Ninth Street Strategies poll has GOP incumbent Handel up 48-47 on Dem McBath [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. Poll was commissioned by the McBath campaign. [Trump 48-47 | Lean R] => This one seems to be moving up everyone's lists all of a sudden.
-- NJ-03: [Trump 51-45 | Tossup]-- Monmouth poll has Dem Kim up 48-46 on GOP incumbent MacArthur in their standard turnout model. Low turnout, Kim up 49-46; high turnout, Kim up 50-44 [MOE: +/- 5.2%].-- OH-01: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Chabot up 50-41 on Dem Pureval [MOE: +/- 4.5%]. [Trump 51-45 | Cook: Tossup]
-- Siena poll has MacArthur up 45-44 [MOE: +/- 4.8%].
-- OR-02: Patinkin Research poll has GOP incumbent Walden up 49-40 on Dem McLeod-Skinner [MOE: +/- 5.0%]. Poll was commissioned by the McLeod-Skinner campaign. [Trump 57-36 | Cook: Solid R]
-- IL-13: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Davis up 46-41 on Dem Londrigan [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Trump 50-44 | Cook: Lean R]
-- TX-07: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Culberson up 46-45 on Dem Fletcher [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Clinton 49-47 | Cook: Tossup]
-- VA-10: George Mason poll has Dem Wexton up 56-43 on GOP incumbent Comstock [MOE: +/- 6.5%]. [Clinton 52-42 | Cook: Lean D]
-- MT-AL: The victim of GOP incumbent Gianforte's physical assault says Gianforte is violating their settlement by lying about it, and sent him a cease & desist. Meanwhile, Gianforte just put $1M of his own money into the campaign, which doesn't seem like something you would do if you were safe. [Trump 57-36 | Cook: Lean R]
-- 538: The astonishing rise of ActBlue.
-- Rakich: Likely ballpark of the number of women to be elected (a lot, less than it should be).
-- CA gov: Same PPIC poll has Dem Newsom up 49-38 on GOPer Cox. [Cook: Solid D] Initiatives: Prop 6 (repeal gas tax) NO up 48-41. Prop 10 (allow rent control) NO up 60-25.posted by Chrysostom at 8:37 PM on October 25, 2018 [18 favorites]
-- FL gov: [Cook: Tossup]-- Same Strategic Research Associates poll has GOPer DeSantis up 48-45 on Dem Gillum. => We've talked before about these SRA polls. I don't want to just throw them out, but this result is not at all consistent with any other polling.-- MI gov: [Cook: Lean D]
-- 1892 Polling has DeSantis up 47-46 [MOE: +/- 2.0%]. Poll was commissioned by the DeSantis campaign.-- Same EPIC-MRA poll has Dem Whitmer up 46-41 on GOPer Schuette.** Averages & forecasts:
-- Anzalone Liszt Grove poll has Whitmer up 47-36 [MOE: +/- 3.3%]. Poll was commissioned by the Whitmer campaign.-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.0 (50.0/42.0)
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 84.4% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 17.4% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 23.8 states.
What if I concede that, like Stalin, Avenatti is someone I can consider an ally against a greater evil but not someone I’d remotely want to be governed by?
Resolved: Avenatti is both totally unlike Stalin & utterly unfit to be allowed within 1000 miles of the levers of power. His street fighting style has proven uncannily effective at getting under Trump's skin & scoring points against him in the court of public opinion; his raft of personal baggage & complete lack of governing experience & temperament mandate a fairly short shelf life on the American political stage, long before any shred of viability is allowed to accumulate.
posted by scalefree at 9:15 PM on October 25, 2018 [33 favorites]
Resolved: Avenatti is both totally unlike Stalin & utterly unfit to be allowed within 1000 miles of the levers of power. His street fighting style has proven uncannily effective at getting under Trump's skin & scoring points against him in the court of public opinion; his raft of personal baggage & complete lack of governing experience & temperament mandate a fairly short shelf life on the American political stage, long before any shred of viability is allowed to accumulate.
posted by scalefree at 9:15 PM on October 25, 2018 [33 favorites]
We sent this to our Senators tonight. Feel free to copy & paste and modify, for your own messages:
"Dear Senator, as a regular churchgoer, I am asking you to issue a statement pushing back against federal initiatives that define trans people out of existence, and which allow businesses to discriminate against them. Trans people are already at high risk of being, at best, discriminated against by bigots, and at worst, murdered by them. These initiatives will embolden bigots. Your silence on this issue will embolden bigots. Please speak out for this group of vulnerable people who are literally under direct attack by those who hold the most powerful offices in the country."
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 10:45 PM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
"Dear Senator, as a regular churchgoer, I am asking you to issue a statement pushing back against federal initiatives that define trans people out of existence, and which allow businesses to discriminate against them. Trans people are already at high risk of being, at best, discriminated against by bigots, and at worst, murdered by them. These initiatives will embolden bigots. Your silence on this issue will embolden bigots. Please speak out for this group of vulnerable people who are literally under direct attack by those who hold the most powerful offices in the country."
posted by cybercoitus interruptus at 10:45 PM on October 25, 2018 [10 favorites]
My prediction is that Avenatti will soon be an adjective used to describe ten Scaramouchies of limelight time. If he did what it sounds like he did, goose up a sworn statement to sound like Swetnick was claiming she personally witnessed Kavanaugh drug girls so they could be gang raped when she did not, then he's toast. If this is what he did, by the way, then good riddance, not least because it will give credence to the argument that all the accusations against Kavanaugh are politically motivated, made up, or mistaken.
posted by xammerboy at 11:23 PM on October 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by xammerboy at 11:23 PM on October 25, 2018 [8 favorites]
Resolved: Avenatti is both totally unlike Stalin & utterly unfit to be allowed within 1000 miles of the levers of power.
Agreed.
His street fighting style has proven uncannily effective at getting under Trump's skin & scoring points against him in the court of public opinion
Agreed.
his raft of personal baggage & complete lack of governing experience & temperament mandate a fairly short shelf life on the American political stage, long before any shred of viability is allowed to accumulate.
Wait, what? No, stawp. Halt, cease, desist. Hannity is implicated in actual crimes, and you don't like Avenatti's swag? What the literal hey?
Knock it off, for serious. This mid-term is an actual life-or-death struggle affecting actual Americans, with life-or-death consequences. Figure out which side you're on. Making an elaborate point that boils down to "I don't like imperfect Democrat Hay-Makers" while bombs are being shipped may mean you're not on the right one.
posted by Slap*Happy at 11:49 PM on October 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
Agreed.
His street fighting style has proven uncannily effective at getting under Trump's skin & scoring points against him in the court of public opinion
Agreed.
his raft of personal baggage & complete lack of governing experience & temperament mandate a fairly short shelf life on the American political stage, long before any shred of viability is allowed to accumulate.
Wait, what? No, stawp. Halt, cease, desist. Hannity is implicated in actual crimes, and you don't like Avenatti's swag? What the literal hey?
Knock it off, for serious. This mid-term is an actual life-or-death struggle affecting actual Americans, with life-or-death consequences. Figure out which side you're on. Making an elaborate point that boils down to "I don't like imperfect Democrat Hay-Makers" while bombs are being shipped may mean you're not on the right one.
posted by Slap*Happy at 11:49 PM on October 25, 2018 [19 favorites]
It's 3 in the morning, and the President is attacking CNN. I'm so tired.
posted by zachlipton at 12:32 AM on October 26, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 12:32 AM on October 26, 2018 [15 favorites]
He's up rage tweeting at 3:20am. That can't be good?
This is how I feel now all the time.
posted by Justinian at 12:48 AM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
This is how I feel now all the time.
posted by Justinian at 12:48 AM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
It's 3 in the morning, and the President is attacking CNN. I'm so tired.
Remember people that the Trump twitter account is also run by Dan Scavino. El Supreme Presidente could be deep in downer-assisted sleep while Scavino does his best impression.
posted by PenDevil at 1:39 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Remember people that the Trump twitter account is also run by Dan Scavino. El Supreme Presidente could be deep in downer-assisted sleep while Scavino does his best impression.
posted by PenDevil at 1:39 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
75% chance of Trump authorship, calculates the Trump or Not Bot. So maybe a one quarter Bill Shine-Dan Scavino attack on CNN, three quarters Donald Trump narcissistic injury-driven insomnia (e.g. "Some of these people, they don’t sleep at night! They twist, and turn, and sweat, and their mattress is soaking wet! Because they’re thinking all night about victory the next day against some poor person that doesn’t have a chance.”).
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:32 AM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:32 AM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
I really hope they're not medicating him, because I really don't want to see what happens when he develops a tolerance for say, clonozepan.
posted by angrycat at 4:02 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 4:02 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Speaking as a lawyer, there are any number of utter nitwits who have law degrees. The test of a law degree isn't reasoning ability or critical thinking: it's being able to remember as many relevant issues/facts as possible and regurgitating them to get as many points on the essay question as you can.
My Megyn Kelly point was that I hope she's smart enough to not waste time with litigation which will only bury her more.
posted by mikelieman at 4:13 AM on October 26, 2018
My Megyn Kelly point was that I hope she's smart enough to not waste time with litigation which will only bury her more.
posted by mikelieman at 4:13 AM on October 26, 2018
My Megyn Kelly point was that I hope she's smart enough to not waste time with litigation which will only bury her more.
What would she even be suing for? She already gets the full $69 million.
Megyn Kelly out at 'Today,' will still collect $69 million
posted by scalefree at 4:20 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
What would she even be suing for? She already gets the full $69 million.
Megyn Kelly out at 'Today,' will still collect $69 million
posted by scalefree at 4:20 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Megyn Kelly out at 'Today,' will still collect $69 million
In lieu of venting my inarticulate rage at this news, I offer this reminder that the Fucking Fuck XVI thread is available for all your inarticulate rage venting needs.
posted by mikelieman at 4:52 AM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
In lieu of venting my inarticulate rage at this news, I offer this reminder that the Fucking Fuck XVI thread is available for all your inarticulate rage venting needs.
posted by mikelieman at 4:52 AM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
This is an insightful piece from The Walrus: America's Next Civil War. The perspective is Canadian, but the analysis isn't.
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:03 AM on October 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 5:03 AM on October 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
It's 3 in the morning, and the President is attacking CNN. I'm so tired.
Not only that, but doing so while the magabomber is still at large, and potentially active, and in a way that they are almost certainly going to interpret as validation and encouragement.
It's only an agreement of payment for services rendered away from actually just ordering a hit.
posted by Buntix at 5:27 AM on October 26, 2018 [22 favorites]
Not only that, but doing so while the magabomber is still at large, and potentially active, and in a way that they are almost certainly going to interpret as validation and encouragement.
It's only an agreement of payment for services rendered away from actually just ordering a hit.
posted by Buntix at 5:27 AM on October 26, 2018 [22 favorites]
Nobody told Trump that he's supposed to tweet "Will no one rid me of this troublesome CNN" BEFORE they're attacked, not after, if he wants to maintain even a crumb of plausible deniability.
posted by delfin at 5:44 AM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by delfin at 5:44 AM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
FBI: The #FBI has confirmed an 11th package has been recovered in Florida, similar in appearance to the others, addressed to Sen. Cory Booker.
posted by PenDevil at 5:51 AM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by PenDevil at 5:51 AM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
I hope Senator Elizabeth Warren's mail is being thoroughly screened.
posted by carmicha at 5:59 AM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by carmicha at 5:59 AM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
I hope no postal or other workers are hurt by one going off before being intercepted.
posted by Westringia F. at 6:04 AM on October 26, 2018 [32 favorites]
posted by Westringia F. at 6:04 AM on October 26, 2018 [32 favorites]
Petition calls on Scottish Govt to issue Unexplained Wealth Order on Donald Trump
posted by Buntix at 6:06 AM on October 26, 2018 [65 favorites]
UK Government guidance on UWO’s states: “A UWO requires a person who is reasonably suspected of involvement in, or of being connected to a person involved in, serious crime to explain the nature and extent of their interest in particular property, and to explain how the property was obtained, where there are reasonable grounds to suspect that the respondent’s known lawfully obtained income would be insufficient to allow the respondent to obtain the property.”Once nationalised they'll make really nice centres for helping resettle refugees, I reckon.
...
Kerevan added that the Court of Session could legally seize Trump’s Scottish properties if he did not respond to a UWO about them.
posted by Buntix at 6:06 AM on October 26, 2018 [65 favorites]
Cory will be so happy that he qualified.
On a less snarky note, I truly hope that the likes of Peter Strzok, the Ohrs, Lisa Page, etc. have adequate security and/or food tasters, since the Mirror Universe Media has been chanting their names as full-on enemies of the state for months now. I have no idea what kinds of protections such government functionaries who are not elected officials are entitled to in these circumstances.
Not that pretty much ANYONE who is visibly left-of-center doesn't need to keep their eyes open. Journalists in general. ACLU offices. Planned Parenthood staff and patrons. People with certain stickers on their cars. It's not to suggest that those WILL be targeted -- but that an open lack of discouragement opens those doors.
But the Hannities of the world have done everything short of holding up pictures of Strzok et al. with red circle-slashes over them and screaming GET THEM on-air. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure who will be on the violent morons' hit lists.
posted by delfin at 6:08 AM on October 26, 2018 [25 favorites]
On a less snarky note, I truly hope that the likes of Peter Strzok, the Ohrs, Lisa Page, etc. have adequate security and/or food tasters, since the Mirror Universe Media has been chanting their names as full-on enemies of the state for months now. I have no idea what kinds of protections such government functionaries who are not elected officials are entitled to in these circumstances.
Not that pretty much ANYONE who is visibly left-of-center doesn't need to keep their eyes open. Journalists in general. ACLU offices. Planned Parenthood staff and patrons. People with certain stickers on their cars. It's not to suggest that those WILL be targeted -- but that an open lack of discouragement opens those doors.
But the Hannities of the world have done everything short of holding up pictures of Strzok et al. with red circle-slashes over them and screaming GET THEM on-air. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure who will be on the violent morons' hit lists.
posted by delfin at 6:08 AM on October 26, 2018 [25 favorites]
Breitbart Snowflakes Threaten To Sue People Who Have Asked Advertisers To Stop Advertising On Breitbart
posted by M-x shell at 6:38 AM on October 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 6:38 AM on October 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
I’m not saying defend Avenatti, but why are we taking Grassley at his word? Let’s ask the FBI to investigate everyone, like they should have before Kavanaugh was confirmed.
posted by Glibpaxman at 6:50 AM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Glibpaxman at 6:50 AM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
During a live interview on Oct. 25 at The Washington Post, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich said that if Democrats re-take control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 2018 midterm elections and subpoena the president's tax returns, it would likely force a fight in the U.S. Supreme Court. "And," Gingrich said,"we'll see whether or not the Kavanaugh fight was worth it."
Note that Gingrich confirms not only that Kavanaugh's appointment was more about placing a ringer for Trump on SCOTUS than simply confirming another conservative judge, but also that Trump has something to hide in his tax returns, as if there was any doubt.
"What is Trump hiding?" should be the question asked by any Democrat that gets in front of a microphone from now until Trumpleaves office winds up in prison where racketeers like him belong.
posted by Gelatin at 6:55 AM on October 26, 2018 [33 favorites]
Note that Gingrich confirms not only that Kavanaugh's appointment was more about placing a ringer for Trump on SCOTUS than simply confirming another conservative judge, but also that Trump has something to hide in his tax returns, as if there was any doubt.
"What is Trump hiding?" should be the question asked by any Democrat that gets in front of a microphone from now until Trump
posted by Gelatin at 6:55 AM on October 26, 2018 [33 favorites]
ABC7-KVIA: "El Paso is shattering early voting records this year because infrequent voters are flocking to the polls, analysis of county election data shows. Younger voters are also coming out in much larger numbers than in previous midterm elections.
More than 39,000 El Pasoans cast ballots in the first two days of early voting Monday and Tuesday, exceeding the turnout for all 12 days of early voting in the last midterm election in 2014."
posted by chris24 at 6:58 AM on October 26, 2018 [47 favorites]
More than 39,000 El Pasoans cast ballots in the first two days of early voting Monday and Tuesday, exceeding the turnout for all 12 days of early voting in the last midterm election in 2014."
posted by chris24 at 6:58 AM on October 26, 2018 [47 favorites]
Not only that, but doing so while the magabomber is still at large, and potentially active
This is what's totally infuriating me right now. Not even a "Watch out, asshole, the full force of the federal and state governments is coming for you" or a "My fellow Americans, as your President, I want to assure you that I will not rest until this terrorist is brought to justice" or a "An attack on our political system is an an attack on us all, and so these attempted bombings are my top concern right now"?
I mean, it's Trump, so no surprise that he, personally, couldn't care less about his political enemies being mailed bombs, and badly bungles his public response to the situation. But what about the rest of his party? If Mitch McConnell had been mailed a dimestore smoke bomb that wasn't even rigged to detonate, can you imagine the level of outrage and "America under attack" rhetoric that would be flying right now? And we don't even get a "This will not stand."
The entire Republican party is complicit in Trumpist fascism, the mainstream media is not structurally equipped to do its job as a guardian of democracy, and our other institutions will not save us. Which means this election is almost certainly fucked.
posted by Rykey at 7:00 AM on October 26, 2018 [34 favorites]
This is what's totally infuriating me right now. Not even a "Watch out, asshole, the full force of the federal and state governments is coming for you" or a "My fellow Americans, as your President, I want to assure you that I will not rest until this terrorist is brought to justice" or a "An attack on our political system is an an attack on us all, and so these attempted bombings are my top concern right now"?
I mean, it's Trump, so no surprise that he, personally, couldn't care less about his political enemies being mailed bombs, and badly bungles his public response to the situation. But what about the rest of his party? If Mitch McConnell had been mailed a dimestore smoke bomb that wasn't even rigged to detonate, can you imagine the level of outrage and "America under attack" rhetoric that would be flying right now? And we don't even get a "This will not stand."
The entire Republican party is complicit in Trumpist fascism, the mainstream media is not structurally equipped to do its job as a guardian of democracy, and our other institutions will not save us. Which means this election is almost certainly fucked.
posted by Rykey at 7:00 AM on October 26, 2018 [34 favorites]
The Triad City Beat (NC) reports some voting machines in Guilford County are changing votes, but quotes elections officials as saying not to worry, it's only a "calibration" problem on a small number of machines and that voters can always look at their votes before they're registered.
posted by adamg at 7:04 AM on October 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
Guilford County Elections Director Charlie Collicutt said that while the issue is serious, it’s not widespread.The story quotes a local rabbi who realized some of his votes for Democrats had been switched to Republicans.
“This is not an issue to be minimized, but we’re not getting a lot of first-person accounts,” he said. “What I’m hearing is the same couple of stories.”
posted by adamg at 7:04 AM on October 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
seanmpuckett: "This is an insightful piece from The Walrus: America's Next Civil War. The perspective is Canadian, but the analysis isn't."
Wow, that dude REALLY hates the USA.
But beneath that, yeah, the predictions and analysis of the current situation in the US don't seem far-fetched at all, and that was a terrifying read. I need to move somewhere, and it doesn't seem like back to Canada is far enough away...
posted by Grither at 7:09 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Wow, that dude REALLY hates the USA.
But beneath that, yeah, the predictions and analysis of the current situation in the US don't seem far-fetched at all, and that was a terrifying read. I need to move somewhere, and it doesn't seem like back to Canada is far enough away...
posted by Grither at 7:09 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Trump, Partisan and Pugilist, Abandons Calls for Unity After Bomb Scares
posted by kirkaracha at 7:10 AM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
Upset that critics linked a spate of pipe bombs targeting his adversaries to his own angry messaging, Mr. Trump abandoned the scripted call for national solidarity he issued the day before and lashed out at perceived enemies for fomenting the toxic political environment they say he has encouraged.Gee, where'd they get that idea?
posted by kirkaracha at 7:10 AM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
M-x shell: Breitbart Snowflakes Threaten To Sue People Who Have Asked Advertisers To Stop Advertising On Breitbart
Don't be racist, conspiracy-mongering, xenophobic, assholes and people won't hate you so much. Just sayin'.
Oh, I know the short way of saying this: why not try civility? Ooh, that's the ticket.
Or, maybe you should try to be less shrill? Smile more!
And a little sunshine from NPR: Poll: Trump Seen As Important Factor In Americans' Vote, As Democrats Open Up Lead
posted by filthy light thief at 7:11 AM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
Don't be racist, conspiracy-mongering, xenophobic, assholes and people won't hate you so much. Just sayin'.
Oh, I know the short way of saying this: why not try civility? Ooh, that's the ticket.
Or, maybe you should try to be less shrill? Smile more!
And a little sunshine from NPR: Poll: Trump Seen As Important Factor In Americans' Vote, As Democrats Open Up Lead
This election really is about Donald Trump.Emphasis mine; which is a nice way of saying "rational people, especially women, see Trump as the problem, Democrats as the solution"
Roughly two-thirds of voters say President Trump is a factor (either major or minor) in their vote in this year's midterms, far more than said so in 2014 about President Obama, according to a new NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll.
Among women, though, it's even more acute — 51 percent of women overall said Trump will be a "major" factor in their vote in two weeks; 54 percent of suburban women said the same. Among those who said Trump is a "major factor," 64 percent said they were more likely to vote Democratic in November and 32 percent said they were more likely to vote Republican.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:11 AM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
There are now Beto t-shirts of Beto wearing a DEVO Energy Dome (obv. shopped), saying to "Use Your Freedom of Choice". Available at Beerland, Texas in Austin.
Duty now for the future, spuds.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:13 AM on October 26, 2018 [43 favorites]
Duty now for the future, spuds.
posted by Capt. Renault at 7:13 AM on October 26, 2018 [43 favorites]
The President is complaining about losing Twitter followers.
Twitter has removed many people from my account and, more importantly, they have seemingly done something that makes it much harder to join - they have stifled growth to a point where it is obvious to all. A few weeks ago it was a Rocket Ship, now it is a Blimp! Total Bias?posted by guiseroom at 7:22 AM on October 26, 2018 [24 favorites]
I need to move somewhere, and it doesn't seem like back to Canada is far enough away...
It’s not. There’s nowhere far enough away that you won’t be affected by the complete implosion of the US. You could definitely avoid the worst of it, but then you’d be in exile forever, probably in a place that is about to get even more fucked by global warming.
I tried to game out escape scenarios after 2016. I might even have one, depending. But...I’ve since come to believe that if you have any power here at all, any agency, any way at all to fight — we need you. We need as many people to fight this as possible. Nobody in Canada can do a damn thing to stop this, but people here can. You can volunteer for campaigns, you can help set up mutual aid networks, you can organize, you can open up your home to people who need it. And everyone has unique skills.
So if you’re in a position to do so, think about what you’re really good at, and try to figure out how to put that to use stopping fascism. We need all the help we can get.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:25 AM on October 26, 2018 [40 favorites]
It’s not. There’s nowhere far enough away that you won’t be affected by the complete implosion of the US. You could definitely avoid the worst of it, but then you’d be in exile forever, probably in a place that is about to get even more fucked by global warming.
I tried to game out escape scenarios after 2016. I might even have one, depending. But...I’ve since come to believe that if you have any power here at all, any agency, any way at all to fight — we need you. We need as many people to fight this as possible. Nobody in Canada can do a damn thing to stop this, but people here can. You can volunteer for campaigns, you can help set up mutual aid networks, you can organize, you can open up your home to people who need it. And everyone has unique skills.
So if you’re in a position to do so, think about what you’re really good at, and try to figure out how to put that to use stopping fascism. We need all the help we can get.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:25 AM on October 26, 2018 [40 favorites]
The President is complaining about losing Twitter followers.
Everything is a forum war.
posted by The Whelk at 7:27 AM on October 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
Everything is a forum war.
posted by The Whelk at 7:27 AM on October 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
Why would you even bring up the comparison?
My apologies for comparing Avenatti to Stalin. It was late and I was tired, cranky, and not entirely sober. The comparison was meant to highlight my willingness to root for someone I probably wouldn't trust for a moment in other circumstances and shouldn't be construed as an appraisal of his views on kulaks, Trots, or, really, anything else at all.
• Vann R. Newkirk II, Oct 24, 2018, Atlantic,"Voter Suppression Is the New Old Normal."
• Forward.com, October 25, 2018, "House Majority Leader Deletes Tweet Saying Soros, Bloomberg Are Buying Midterms"
Two items not directly connected to the news of the moment, but interesting:
• Short twitter thread on Larry Gibson (1946-2012), of Kayford Mt, WV, who kept the mountain from being stripmined.
•Karen Cook Bell, October 25, 2018, AAIHS, "Slavery, Land Ownership, and Black Women’s Community Networks," on the networks and survival strategies developed by black women in the post-slavery era.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:27 AM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
My apologies for comparing Avenatti to Stalin. It was late and I was tired, cranky, and not entirely sober. The comparison was meant to highlight my willingness to root for someone I probably wouldn't trust for a moment in other circumstances and shouldn't be construed as an appraisal of his views on kulaks, Trots, or, really, anything else at all.
• Vann R. Newkirk II, Oct 24, 2018, Atlantic,"Voter Suppression Is the New Old Normal."
"Democracy in America is only a little over five decades old. That’s difficult to square with the America that exists in the storytelling tradition: a brave experiment in a government run for and by the people. In reality, the country has always been defined as much by whom it’s kept from voting as by who is allowed to participate, and the ideal of democracy has always been limited by institutions designed to disenfranchise. Put another way: The great majority of all elections in American history would have been entirely illegitimate under modern law."• Atlanta Antifascists, "Racist Southern Secessionist is Republican Party Precinct Chairman for East Ellijay, Georgia." (CW: for bigotry and general nastiness)
• Forward.com, October 25, 2018, "House Majority Leader Deletes Tweet Saying Soros, Bloomberg Are Buying Midterms"
Two items not directly connected to the news of the moment, but interesting:
• Short twitter thread on Larry Gibson (1946-2012), of Kayford Mt, WV, who kept the mountain from being stripmined.
•Karen Cook Bell, October 25, 2018, AAIHS, "Slavery, Land Ownership, and Black Women’s Community Networks," on the networks and survival strategies developed by black women in the post-slavery era.
posted by octobersurprise at 7:27 AM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
The Triad City Beat (NC) reports some voting machines in Guilford County are changing votes, but quotes elections officials as saying not to worry, it's only a "calibration" problem on a small number of machines and that voters can always look at their votes before they're registered.
...The story quotes a local rabbi who realized some of his votes for Democrats had been switched to Republicans.
If it was a "calibration problem" -- I'll bet it is, pal -- one would imagine we'd also hear complaints about votes being switched the other way, and yet we never seem to.
Black box electronic voting machines are incompatible with a functioning democracy, period, full stop.
posted by Gelatin at 7:30 AM on October 26, 2018 [25 favorites]
...The story quotes a local rabbi who realized some of his votes for Democrats had been switched to Republicans.
If it was a "calibration problem" -- I'll bet it is, pal -- one would imagine we'd also hear complaints about votes being switched the other way, and yet we never seem to.
Black box electronic voting machines are incompatible with a functioning democracy, period, full stop.
posted by Gelatin at 7:30 AM on October 26, 2018 [25 favorites]
The President is complaining about losing Twitter followers.
He used a lot more words than I expected.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:30 AM on October 26, 2018
He used a lot more words than I expected.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:30 AM on October 26, 2018
guiseroom: The President is complaining about losing Twitter followers.
Hahahahahaha ... "where have all the robots gone?" ponders Preteen-like Social Media Addicted President, less than two weeks away from significantmidterm congressional* election.
* This is a tip I got before canvassing: call it the congressional election, instead of "midterms," which doesn't have the same serious sound to it.
Speaking of serious, I recently saw a stark black background billboard with white text, stating "Vote like your daughter's life depended on it. Because it does." (pics via Twitter)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:34 AM on October 26, 2018 [36 favorites]
Hahahahahaha ... "where have all the robots gone?" ponders Preteen-like Social Media Addicted President, less than two weeks away from significant
* This is a tip I got before canvassing: call it the congressional election, instead of "midterms," which doesn't have the same serious sound to it.
Speaking of serious, I recently saw a stark black background billboard with white text, stating "Vote like your daughter's life depended on it. Because it does." (pics via Twitter)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:34 AM on October 26, 2018 [36 favorites]
His latest is even better -- complaining how the media is covering the assassination attempts more than how well the Republicans are doing in early midterm voting.
Luckily, National Treasure John Dingell is on the case.
posted by delfin at 7:42 AM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
Luckily, National Treasure John Dingell is on the case.
posted by delfin at 7:42 AM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
I’m not saying defend Avenatti, but why are we taking Grassley at his word?
It's Swetnick that's claiming Avenatti twisted her words. She says she only scanned her sworn statement before signing it, and it doesn't match what she told him.
It sounds like Swetnick meant to say she attended parties where there were gang rapes in high school with girls that were drugged, and it was generally assumed Kavanaugh's crew were generally responsible for at least spiking the punch. If you squint (real hard) at the sworn statement, it could be read to mean this.
If it's true, it's not good, obviously. I found the Swetnick claim to be highly credible, in part, because of the sworn statement and multiple corroborators. Claiming something that is not true in a sworn statement is a crime. At the very least, this all suggests extreme carelessness on Avenatti's part.
posted by xammerboy at 7:42 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
It's Swetnick that's claiming Avenatti twisted her words. She says she only scanned her sworn statement before signing it, and it doesn't match what she told him.
It sounds like Swetnick meant to say she attended parties where there were gang rapes in high school with girls that were drugged, and it was generally assumed Kavanaugh's crew were generally responsible for at least spiking the punch. If you squint (real hard) at the sworn statement, it could be read to mean this.
If it's true, it's not good, obviously. I found the Swetnick claim to be highly credible, in part, because of the sworn statement and multiple corroborators. Claiming something that is not true in a sworn statement is a crime. At the very least, this all suggests extreme carelessness on Avenatti's part.
posted by xammerboy at 7:42 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
A few weeks ago it was a Rocket Ship, now it is a Blimp!
(Now who's the little [failed] rocket man?)
Lawmakers Seek Review of Pentagon Cloud Contract, Thought to Favor Amazon (Aris Martineau for Wired, Oct. 25, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:46 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
(Now who's the little [failed] rocket man?)
Lawmakers Seek Review of Pentagon Cloud Contract, Thought to Favor Amazon (Aris Martineau for Wired, Oct. 25, 2018)
TWO MEMBERS OF Congress are seeking a formal investigation into claims that the bidding process for a contentious $10 billion Pentagon contract (another Wired link) was rigged in favor of Amazon.FWIW, Google backed out of the competition for the 10-year, $10 BILLION single-source contract because the solicitation "was not right for the company for several different reasons." (Federal News Network)
The contract in question would give one company full reign over the Defense Department’s Joint Enterprise Defense Initiative, or JEDI Cloud—a program that the Pentagon has described as “truly about increasing the lethality of our department.” JEDI is part of the DOD’s quest to bring military operations into the modern era by partnering with a commercial cloud provider to streamline defense operations, upgrade data-analytics programs using artificial intelligence, and provide soldiers with real-time mission data.
In a letter to the Defense Department’s inspector general on Monday, House Appropriations committee members Tom Cole of Oklahoma and Steve Womack of Arkansas, both Republicans, accused military leaders of violating federal law and departmental ethics standards by moving forward with plans to award the JEDI contract to a single company, despite extensive criticism from industry leaders and lawmakers. Womack is also chair of the House Budget Committee; Cole chairs an appropriations subcommittee.
“We couldn’t be assured that it would be aligned with our artificial intelligence (AI) principles. There is one single cloud vendor,” she said. “We determined there were portions of the contract that were out of scope given current government certifications and requirements. Had JEDI allowed the opportunity to have multiple vendors we could’ve submitted a very compelling solution for portions of it. Google believes a multi-cloud approach is in the best interest of government agencies because it allows them to choose the right cloud for the right workload. At a time when new technology is constantly becoming available, customers really should, like DoD, take advantage of that innovation.”And IBM wasn't a fan of it, either: JEDI: Why We’re Protesting
The U.S. Department of Defense faces a critically important challenge as it solicits bids for JEDI, the Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure. JEDI is intended to modernize and consolidate the defense department’s IT systems into an enterprise-level commercial cloud.Emphasis original. And the other reasons IBM has concerns about JEDI Cloud are "JEDI turns its back on government-recognized best practices" and "the JEDI solicitation restricts the field of competition."
The importance of this transition cannot be overstated: JEDI will be the foundation for integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and augmented reality into America’s warfighting capability.
Unfortunately, JEDI, as outlined in the final solicitation, would not provide the strongest possible foundation for the 21st century battlefield.
For that reason, IBM today filed a protest of the JEDI solicitation with the U.S. Government Accountability Office.
– IBM knows what it takes to build a world-class cloud. No business in the world would build a cloud the way JEDI would and then lock in to it for a decade. JEDI turns its back on the preferences of Congress and the administration, is a bad use of taxpayer dollars and was written with just one company in mind. America’s warfighters deserve better. –
JEDI’s primary flaw lies in mandating a single cloud environment for up to 10 years.
posted by filthy light thief at 7:46 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
She says she only scanned her sworn statement before signing it
FFS.
So she employed Michael Friggin Avenatti to put together a not-particularly-damning affadavit? And then didn't really read it?
I guess the moral of the story is that everyone is either a grifter or incompetent or both.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:47 AM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
FFS.
So she employed Michael Friggin Avenatti to put together a not-particularly-damning affadavit? And then didn't really read it?
I guess the moral of the story is that everyone is either a grifter or incompetent or both.
posted by mcstayinskool at 7:47 AM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
Re: The president's twitter followers
I dimly remember a short story by Ephraim Kishon that was both funny and a bit cruel at the same time; a guy tells a friend about the time he ruined a writer for a local paper.
He initially started by sending glowing fan letters, praising each and every column, extensively gushing over every well-turned phrase, finding no flaws.
He kept this up for quite a while, with clockwork regularity, to ensure the author became reliant on the steady praise.
Then he started to put in slight criticisms. Minor things like "wasn't really into today's column", "are you coming down with something?", stuff like that. He recalls that the columns around this time started to get more elaborate, artful and complex, trying to fish for those elusive compliments that the author had become habituated to.
He continued the downward trajectory of his letters despite this:"are you letting a ghost writer do your work for you?" "really disappointed about your recent output" etc.
Then he finishes by how he sent a final mail, telling the author he would never again read anything written by him, how he threw out his scrapbooks with past cut-outs from the paper, and how much of a blow that was to him.
The author never published another column.
I wonder if someone is doing the same to Trump right now, slowly removing the followers to get him in one of the few places where he directly, measurably feels validated by others.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 7:49 AM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
I dimly remember a short story by Ephraim Kishon that was both funny and a bit cruel at the same time; a guy tells a friend about the time he ruined a writer for a local paper.
He initially started by sending glowing fan letters, praising each and every column, extensively gushing over every well-turned phrase, finding no flaws.
He kept this up for quite a while, with clockwork regularity, to ensure the author became reliant on the steady praise.
Then he started to put in slight criticisms. Minor things like "wasn't really into today's column", "are you coming down with something?", stuff like that. He recalls that the columns around this time started to get more elaborate, artful and complex, trying to fish for those elusive compliments that the author had become habituated to.
He continued the downward trajectory of his letters despite this:"are you letting a ghost writer do your work for you?" "really disappointed about your recent output" etc.
Then he finishes by how he sent a final mail, telling the author he would never again read anything written by him, how he threw out his scrapbooks with past cut-outs from the paper, and how much of a blow that was to him.
The author never published another column.
I wonder if someone is doing the same to Trump right now, slowly removing the followers to get him in one of the few places where he directly, measurably feels validated by others.
posted by PontifexPrimus at 7:49 AM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
I'm sure that the big IT corporations casually not bidding on JEDI is actually related to the certainty that in the event of any kind of military emergency the first thing that would happen is the seizing of every bit of IT infrastructure that military relies on.
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:05 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 8:05 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Greg Sargent: President Trump has found his Reichstag fire
[T]he very fact that Trump has had to lie relentlessly about the caravan’s makeup — he has claimed it is infiltrated by criminals and terrorists, which is utterly false — itself neatly illustrates that it does not present the emergency he and Republicans have hyped into existence. The backdrop to this is an even bigger lie — Trump’s constant suggestion that the border is overrun by undocumented immigrant invaders. In fact, illegal crossings are substantially lower than the levels in recent years.posted by zombieflanders at 8:06 AM on October 26, 2018 [47 favorites]
To turn this fake emergency into fodder for a closing campaign message, Trump and Republicans have layered additional lies on top of all those other ones: Democrats orchestrated the caravan; Democrats want to give undocumented immigrants cars and support open borders; and so on.
Trump is also set to send 1,000 troops to the border, so that in the election’s final days, the airwaves are saturated with split screen imagery: On one side, massive dark hordes making their way toward the United States. On the other, American military might marshaled by Trump to protect voters from that menace — a danger Democrats will not protect you from, because they secretly want those hordes to cross the border.
This is Trump’s Reichstag fire. Not in the sense that Trump is Hitler, but rather in the more general way this term is sometimes used: Trump is perverting imagery of a real event to create a false narrative about what is happening and why; to justify his chosen response to it; and to manipulate public opinion toward other ends. But the caravan’s existence, and Trump’s response to it, actually reveal that on his signature issue, he’s failing.
BREAKING NEWS: Justice Dept. Spox Sarah Isgur Flores announces a man in Florida has been taken into custody for questioning in the mail bomb case: We can confirm one person is in custody. We will hold a press conference at the Department of Justice at 2:30pm ET.
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:07 AM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:07 AM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
BREAKING NEWS: Justice Dept. Spox Sarah Isgur Flores announces a man in Florida has been taken into custody for questioning in the mail bomb case: We can confirm one person is in custody. We will hold a press conference at the Department of Justice at 2:30pm ET.
The subject matter expert NPR interviewed yesterday evening pointed out that since none of the bombs exploded, they were a treasure trove of information about everything from the mechanism to the printing and stamps used to possibly even DNA from the saliva used to seal the envelopes.
Normally bomb investigators have to piece together scraps of information from the debris left behind from an explosion, which still often yields clues, as Timothy McVeigh discovered.
posted by Gelatin at 8:12 AM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
The subject matter expert NPR interviewed yesterday evening pointed out that since none of the bombs exploded, they were a treasure trove of information about everything from the mechanism to the printing and stamps used to possibly even DNA from the saliva used to seal the envelopes.
Normally bomb investigators have to piece together scraps of information from the debris left behind from an explosion, which still often yields clues, as Timothy McVeigh discovered.
posted by Gelatin at 8:12 AM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
So that many bombs were sent, and not one went off? Not even prematurely or postmaturely? Was the person an idiot, or was it on purpose? /not familiar with how difficult it is to make bombs
posted by Melismata at 8:15 AM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 8:15 AM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
Well that didn't take long re:mail bombing suspect, but I'll shut up lest I jinx things. And of course it was Florida because that's the way it is here.
In more anecdotal news, boots on the ground (and more than slightly undercover-Democrat for various professional/funding reasons that I won't go into here) opinion on the FL election is encouraging. Even among R folks, and the higherups/donor class that we are forced to sample from, DeSantis isn't popular and a few have straight up admitted, if in private, that they won't be pulling the lever for him. A subset of those won't pull the lever for Gillium either of course but that's fine, take what we can get. Of course they may be lying as well, but the feel is that they're being honest in these settings/conclaves.
Yours in continued subversion from inside the FL beast,
RoE
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:15 AM on October 26, 2018 [25 favorites]
In more anecdotal news, boots on the ground (and more than slightly undercover-Democrat for various professional/funding reasons that I won't go into here) opinion on the FL election is encouraging. Even among R folks, and the higherups/donor class that we are forced to sample from, DeSantis isn't popular and a few have straight up admitted, if in private, that they won't be pulling the lever for him. A subset of those won't pull the lever for Gillium either of course but that's fine, take what we can get. Of course they may be lying as well, but the feel is that they're being honest in these settings/conclaves.
Yours in continued subversion from inside the FL beast,
RoE
posted by RolandOfEld at 8:15 AM on October 26, 2018 [25 favorites]
We should know his political leanings soon, he apparently drove one of those crazy vans with stickers and writing all over it.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:21 AM on October 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:21 AM on October 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
NBC is saying a 50yo man with a van covered in "right wing paraphernalia" (picture) is the suspect.
posted by zombieflanders at 8:22 AM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 8:22 AM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
Including “Trump paraphernalia” and “windows completely covered with pictures of Trump” because of course (NBC News)
posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:23 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 8:23 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
I just looked at the feed on CNN, and the officers have already thrown a blue cover over the van so you can't see any of the stickers any more.
posted by gladly at 8:24 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by gladly at 8:24 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
The mainstream media is not structurally equipped to do its job as a guardian of democracy
The latest Pod Save America did some quick debunking of the caravan story. I was aware that by the time the last one reached the U.S. it was comprised of only a few people, but I was not aware that migrant caravans are pretty much the normal migration pattern and happen fairly regularly. This was surprising to me. This story has taken over the airwaves, and it's not about something dangerous or unusual in the least. The news media has basically broken.
posted by xammerboy at 8:25 AM on October 26, 2018 [44 favorites]
The latest Pod Save America did some quick debunking of the caravan story. I was aware that by the time the last one reached the U.S. it was comprised of only a few people, but I was not aware that migrant caravans are pretty much the normal migration pattern and happen fairly regularly. This was surprising to me. This story has taken over the airwaves, and it's not about something dangerous or unusual in the least. The news media has basically broken.
posted by xammerboy at 8:25 AM on October 26, 2018 [44 favorites]
Those look like full color pictures of Trump and Pence.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:27 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:27 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Newsweek: Bumper Stickers = Road Rage
posted by M-x shell at 8:28 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 8:28 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
@LOLGOP: This van looks like how Jeanine Pirro's show sounds.
posted by zombieflanders at 8:31 AM on October 26, 2018 [38 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 8:31 AM on October 26, 2018 [38 favorites]
Melismata: So that many bombs were sent, and not one went off? Not even prematurely or postmaturely? Was the person an idiot, or was it on purpose? /not familiar with how difficult it is to make bombs
It's not easy. If the bomb-maker is even capable of making a functional, reliable device, then there's a good chance they blow themselves up before delivering it -- hence the existence of suicide bombing to bypass that as a concern.
This particular culprit doesn't seem especially detail-oriented, considering the misspelling of "Schulz" and such, so they probably would have trouble following, e.g, instructions in the Anarchist's Cookbook. Two other examples of mishaps that come to mind are the Weather Underground, who I think only ever harmed themselves with their explosives, and the Columbine shooters, who planted multiple bombs that never went off.
This is also why the "without guns, criminals would just use X" falls flat. Aside from assault rifles (and perhaps vehicles, but that's a separate conversation), bombs do have the most significant potential to kill large numbers of people, so they'll be considered by anyone planning a massacre. But assuming the devices can't be bought off the shelf of Wal-Mart like an AR-15 can, then making and deploying them involves a lot of intervening challenges.
To be clear: Explosives of any kind are still immensely dangerous, but a bit more like Russian Roulette than a gun with all the chambers filled.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 8:32 AM on October 26, 2018 [15 favorites]
It's not easy. If the bomb-maker is even capable of making a functional, reliable device, then there's a good chance they blow themselves up before delivering it -- hence the existence of suicide bombing to bypass that as a concern.
This particular culprit doesn't seem especially detail-oriented, considering the misspelling of "Schulz" and such, so they probably would have trouble following, e.g, instructions in the Anarchist's Cookbook. Two other examples of mishaps that come to mind are the Weather Underground, who I think only ever harmed themselves with their explosives, and the Columbine shooters, who planted multiple bombs that never went off.
This is also why the "without guns, criminals would just use X" falls flat. Aside from assault rifles (and perhaps vehicles, but that's a separate conversation), bombs do have the most significant potential to kill large numbers of people, so they'll be considered by anyone planning a massacre. But assuming the devices can't be bought off the shelf of Wal-Mart like an AR-15 can, then making and deploying them involves a lot of intervening challenges.
To be clear: Explosives of any kind are still immensely dangerous, but a bit more like Russian Roulette than a gun with all the chambers filled.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 8:32 AM on October 26, 2018 [15 favorites]
We now pause while 1/4 of Americans hear "the suspected bomber is a Florida man driving a van covered in right-wing stickers" and think to themselves:
Please don't let it be Grandpa
Please don't let it be Uncle Ralph
Please don't let it be Cousin Jimmy
posted by delfin at 8:34 AM on October 26, 2018 [99 favorites]
Please don't let it be Grandpa
Please don't let it be Uncle Ralph
Please don't let it be Cousin Jimmy
posted by delfin at 8:34 AM on October 26, 2018 [99 favorites]
This is Trump’s Reichstag fire. Not in the sense that Trump is Hitler, but rather in the more general way this term is sometimes used: Trump is perverting imagery of a real event to create a false narrative about what is happening and why; to justify his chosen response to it; and to manipulate public opinion toward other ends. But the caravan’s existence, and Trump’s response to it, actually reveal that on his signature issue, he’s failing.
And using it to bump other news off the front page. There seems to have been a lot of breaking news like that this week.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:42 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
And using it to bump other news off the front page. There seems to have been a lot of breaking news like that this week.
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:42 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Archelaus: "Kaczynski was -specifically- anti-leftist. I get that these guys are engaging in classic projection and ignoring the evils of their own side, and so on, but that dude was -specifically- one of theirs."
I just recently had a long back and forth with conservative friends-of-friends on Facebook. They were adamant that at Charlottesville "both sides were libs". They provided zero evidence, and treated it like a simple fact.
posted by jetsetsc at 8:51 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
I just recently had a long back and forth with conservative friends-of-friends on Facebook. They were adamant that at Charlottesville "both sides were libs". They provided zero evidence, and treated it like a simple fact.
posted by jetsetsc at 8:51 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Closer pictures of what appears to be the van in question, taken by someone who previously encountered it out in the wild.
posted by zombieflanders at 8:55 AM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 8:55 AM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
Cook rating moves:
NJ Sen: Lean D => Tossup
OK gov: Lean R => Tossup
NH gov: Likely R => Lean R
posted by Chrysostom at 8:55 AM on October 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
NJ Sen: Lean D => Tossup
OK gov: Lean R => Tossup
NH gov: Likely R => Lean R
posted by Chrysostom at 8:55 AM on October 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
I just recently had a long back and forth with conservative friends-of-friends on Facebook. They were adamant that at Charlottesville "both sides were libs". They provided zero evidence, and treated it like a simple fact.
Duh, it's called the National Socialist Party. Socialists = libs. Nazis = libs. If you want the government to do anything other than cut taxes for the rich and brutalize various underclasses, you're a lib and a commie and a nazi.
This is what most conservatives actually believe.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:56 AM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Duh, it's called the National Socialist Party. Socialists = libs. Nazis = libs. If you want the government to do anything other than cut taxes for the rich and brutalize various underclasses, you're a lib and a commie and a nazi.
This is what most conservatives actually believe.
posted by Rust Moranis at 8:56 AM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
So, Chrysostom, what are you going to do after the midterms, anyway? Go to Hawaii? Crawl into a cave and drink six bottles of champagne? Eat a cake and wrap yourself in a blanket?
posted by Melismata at 8:59 AM on October 26, 2018 [41 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 8:59 AM on October 26, 2018 [41 favorites]
No, they don't believe it. They want to believe it. Nothing upsets racists so much as being called what they are.
posted by emjaybee at 8:59 AM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by emjaybee at 8:59 AM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
The mainstream media is not structurally equipped to do its job as a guardian of democracy
The news media has basically broken.
Ezra Klein had a good in-depth discussion about this idea on his podcast recently.
(Edit: fixed link.)
posted by Rykey at 9:00 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
The news media has basically broken.
Ezra Klein had a good in-depth discussion about this idea on his podcast recently.
(Edit: fixed link.)
posted by Rykey at 9:00 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Closer pictures of what appears to be the van in question
"Top youth soccer recruits for Trump" is a really specific demographic.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:02 AM on October 26, 2018 [33 favorites]
"Top youth soccer recruits for Trump" is a really specific demographic.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:02 AM on October 26, 2018 [33 favorites]
NJ Sen: Lean D => Tossup
This puzzled me when I saw the headline because all the polling has been good (though not great) for Menendez, and then I read the Cook writeup and am still confused at the justification. So just as a heads up: Menendez still has a consistent polling advantage.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:04 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
This puzzled me when I saw the headline because all the polling has been good (though not great) for Menendez, and then I read the Cook writeup and am still confused at the justification. So just as a heads up: Menendez still has a consistent polling advantage.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 9:04 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
There's a bunch of soccer related stuff on the back window, too. The only conclusion we can draw from this van is that the bomber was motivated by a radical pro-soccer agenda
posted by theodolite at 9:05 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by theodolite at 9:05 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
The person in custody has been identified by NY1 and confirmed by NBC.
posted by melissasaurus at 9:05 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by melissasaurus at 9:05 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Here is my take re Menendez: I respect Cook, but I don't always agree with them. NJ Senate is one of those.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:06 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:06 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Melismata: "So, Chrysostom, what are you going to do after the midterms, anyway? Go to Hawaii? Crawl into a cave and drink six bottles of champagne? Eat a cake and wrap yourself in a blanket?"
Might get some sleep for a few days. Then it's only one year until the 2019 elections - there are ton of interesting races to watch!
posted by Chrysostom at 9:08 AM on October 26, 2018 [51 favorites]
Might get some sleep for a few days. Then it's only one year until the 2019 elections - there are ton of interesting races to watch!
posted by Chrysostom at 9:08 AM on October 26, 2018 [51 favorites]
TWO MEMBERS OF Congress are seeking a formal investigation into claims that the bidding process for a contentious $10 billion Pentagon contract (another Wired link) was rigged in favor of Amazon.
I guess this has finally made it to MeFi after being discussed to death on HN forever.
What's happening is that the DoD wants to use AWS since someone over there feels their products fit the best. However, the procurement laws in place don't allow the feds to just pick a vendor, they must take bids.
So, the requirements are just written in a way that only AWS can fulfill them. And we're not talking about extreme architecture/product differences either. Virtual servers must haveGB of disk space type stuff. Someone just went to the product pages of all the big players (Amazon/Google/Microsoft/Oracle/etc.) and choose all the things that Amazon had, but the rest did not.
This is bog standard when it comes to this kinda of procurement. It's like if you wanted to buy a car, had decided on a car, had decided on all the options of the car, yet federal law required you to drive to every other car dealership first before actually buying that car.
I'm not saying there isn't some sort of bribery/kickbacks going on, or that Google really didn't actually decide that this project isn't worth their time. But. the industry consensus is Google et. al. would have taken the business and they are just using the same old procurement bullshit as way to get some good PR out of it.
posted by sideshow at 9:10 AM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
I guess this has finally made it to MeFi after being discussed to death on HN forever.
What's happening is that the DoD wants to use AWS since someone over there feels their products fit the best. However, the procurement laws in place don't allow the feds to just pick a vendor, they must take bids.
So, the requirements are just written in a way that only AWS can fulfill them. And we're not talking about extreme architecture/product differences either. Virtual servers must have
This is bog standard when it comes to this kinda of procurement. It's like if you wanted to buy a car, had decided on a car, had decided on all the options of the car, yet federal law required you to drive to every other car dealership first before actually buying that car.
I'm not saying there isn't some sort of bribery/kickbacks going on, or that Google really didn't actually decide that this project isn't worth their time. But. the industry consensus is Google et. al. would have taken the business and they are just using the same old procurement bullshit as way to get some good PR out of it.
posted by sideshow at 9:10 AM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
So, the requirements are just written in a way that only AWS can fulfill them.
That's called a cold spec and it is illegal. However, at this level, it's more or less impossible to purchase IT services in a way that's all three of: legal, cost-effective, and can be done quickly. Just ask the FBI or the IRS.
posted by M-x shell at 9:19 AM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
That's called a cold spec and it is illegal. However, at this level, it's more or less impossible to purchase IT services in a way that's all three of: legal, cost-effective, and can be done quickly. Just ask the FBI or the IRS.
posted by M-x shell at 9:19 AM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Closer pictures of what appears to be the van in question
Riffing on soccer stickers aside—and let's not even get into "Native Americans for Trump"—this looks like a very probable match, but it's absolutely worthwhile to check out the windows anyway as representative of the Trumpist mindset. It's as though someone collected the most popular memes in the responses in Trump's Twitter feed and pasted them on the side of van. Images range from flattering ones of Trump and Pence to "CNN Sucks" and that one of Trump bestride a battle tank with fireworks and, worst of all, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Michael Moore in red crosshairs. No wonder some random Twitter user photographed it—the van's like rolling probable cause for domestic terror.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:21 AM on October 26, 2018 [29 favorites]
Riffing on soccer stickers aside—and let's not even get into "Native Americans for Trump"—this looks like a very probable match, but it's absolutely worthwhile to check out the windows anyway as representative of the Trumpist mindset. It's as though someone collected the most popular memes in the responses in Trump's Twitter feed and pasted them on the side of van. Images range from flattering ones of Trump and Pence to "CNN Sucks" and that one of Trump bestride a battle tank with fireworks and, worst of all, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Michael Moore in red crosshairs. No wonder some random Twitter user photographed it—the van's like rolling probable cause for domestic terror.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:21 AM on October 26, 2018 [29 favorites]
Closer pictures of what appears to be the van in question, taken by someone who previously encountered it out in the wild.
Ah, crud, he's a Tar Heel fan. (Who's apparently very proud of the fact that they won most beautiful campus in the south from US News and World Report??)
This also fits in with the soccer fandom, and specifically then, *women's* soccer fandom. (Because Carolina men's soccer is...OK, I guess; the women, on the other hand, basically are the USWNST.)
posted by damayanti at 9:22 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Ah, crud, he's a Tar Heel fan. (Who's apparently very proud of the fact that they won most beautiful campus in the south from US News and World Report??)
This also fits in with the soccer fandom, and specifically then, *women's* soccer fandom. (Because Carolina men's soccer is...OK, I guess; the women, on the other hand, basically are the USWNST.)
posted by damayanti at 9:22 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
> So, the requirements are just written in a way that only AWS can fulfill them.
It could also be that AWS really is the only one that can meet their requirements, as they are miles beyond all of the other cloud providers. If you are looking at mixing legacy stuff and new stuff while having a ton of supported platforms and regions, AND you need one that can meet federal requirements - your options are EXTREMELY limited.
There are a ton of requirements for handling federal contracts in general that a lot of service providers cannot meet or are unwilling to mee. It could be that while many of the others meet some regulatory requirements that AWS was the only one who could meet them all, just looking at pre-existing regulations on the books.
Source: Me, having worked for a IBM partnered provider that handled some federal contracts, but had to reject many.
posted by MysticMCJ at 9:22 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
It could also be that AWS really is the only one that can meet their requirements, as they are miles beyond all of the other cloud providers. If you are looking at mixing legacy stuff and new stuff while having a ton of supported platforms and regions, AND you need one that can meet federal requirements - your options are EXTREMELY limited.
There are a ton of requirements for handling federal contracts in general that a lot of service providers cannot meet or are unwilling to mee. It could be that while many of the others meet some regulatory requirements that AWS was the only one who could meet them all, just looking at pre-existing regulations on the books.
Source: Me, having worked for a IBM partnered provider that handled some federal contracts, but had to reject many.
posted by MysticMCJ at 9:22 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Something else to worry about - a number of states look likely likely to pass initiatives to establish non-partisan redistricting commissions. But what if SCOTUS says that's unconstitutional?
posted by Chrysostom at 9:24 AM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:24 AM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
Closer pictures of what appears to be the van in question
I have just been introduced to a useful new word for all such vehicles covered in political propaganda: "vanifesto."
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:31 AM on October 26, 2018 [119 favorites]
I have just been introduced to a useful new word for all such vehicles covered in political propaganda: "vanifesto."
posted by Faint of Butt at 9:31 AM on October 26, 2018 [119 favorites]
that one of Trump bestride a battle tank with fireworks
In the Before Time I'd post that image on Facebook because it was such a ridiculous tacky joke. In the Before Time.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:36 AM on October 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
In the Before Time I'd post that image on Facebook because it was such a ridiculous tacky joke. In the Before Time.
posted by kirkaracha at 9:36 AM on October 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
It could also be that AWS really is the only one that can meet their requirements, as they are miles beyond all of the other cloud providers. If you are looking at mixing legacy stuff and new stuff while having a ton of supported platforms and regions, AND you need one that can meet federal requirements - your options are EXTREMELY limited.
I agree. Amazon is truly the leader in this space, and it's very likely that DoD is just going through the motions when it comes to the bidding process. That's why the "Google is pulling out because they know what's up" and "AWS is getting this bid because they just love to give the Feds sekret infos" stories are very disingenuous, at best.
posted by sideshow at 9:38 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
I agree. Amazon is truly the leader in this space, and it's very likely that DoD is just going through the motions when it comes to the bidding process. That's why the "Google is pulling out because they know what's up" and "AWS is getting this bid because they just love to give the Feds sekret infos" stories are very disingenuous, at best.
posted by sideshow at 9:38 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
So, the requirements are just written in a way that only AWS can fulfill them. And we're not talking about extreme architecture/product differences either. Virtual servers must have GB of disk space type stuff. Someone just went to the product pages of all the big players (Amazon/Google/Microsoft/Oracle/etc.) and choose all the things that Amazon had, but the rest did not.
This is also how a lot of hiring works- when you see a position listed with a huge and highly specific set of requirements that don't seem relevant to a job, or seem very excessive, that's almost always because it's a sanitized version of the resume of the person the hiring manager wants but needs to not be seen simply to choose without a process.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:42 AM on October 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
This is also how a lot of hiring works- when you see a position listed with a huge and highly specific set of requirements that don't seem relevant to a job, or seem very excessive, that's almost always because it's a sanitized version of the resume of the person the hiring manager wants but needs to not be seen simply to choose without a process.
posted by Pope Guilty at 9:42 AM on October 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
What DoD is doing with Amazon is what every company does that posts a job opening with full intention of hiring someone specific.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 9:43 AM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 9:43 AM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
when you see a position listed with a huge and highly specific set of requirements that don't seem relevant to a job
Another tell is the job posting period. If the listing is only open for a week, then they probably already know who they want to hire.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 9:45 AM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
Another tell is the job posting period. If the listing is only open for a week, then they probably already know who they want to hire.
posted by C'est la D.C. at 9:45 AM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
Cesar Sayoc: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know (Kate Prengel, Heavy)
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:47 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:47 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
This is how a TON of federal hiring works. The post is open for 3 days Friday-Sunday and only 1 opening? That's not really an open solicitation, it's just to meet legal requirements before they hire who they already know they want.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:49 AM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:49 AM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
From yesterday: Mail bombing is a generational form of American terrorism - Bijan Stephen, The Verge
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:50 AM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Anyone who mails their political opinion in the form of a bomb must feel deeply that something has been lostThe suspect in custody today is 54.
…
While mail bombs are outside the bounds of normal political discourse by any conceivable measure, they are by no means unfamiliar in American political culture. Mail bombing is perhaps the most American form of political terrorism for a particular generation. From the late 1960s through the 1970s, planting bombs was a way for fringe elements to draw attention to the political issues of the day, whether those concerns were about the government, the environment, technology, or the Vietnam War. (Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, carried that tradition through the 1980s.)
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:50 AM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Oh, so I checked with the mods, and they were fine with having a separate Election Day thread just for the election results (like we did last year for NJ/VA). So I would like to call dibs, if that's all right. Feel free to MeMail me any links you'd like to put in there.
(I mentioned this in the FPP wiki, too)
posted by Chrysostom at 9:52 AM on October 26, 2018 [70 favorites]
(I mentioned this in the FPP wiki, too)
posted by Chrysostom at 9:52 AM on October 26, 2018 [70 favorites]
@ddale8: Trump criticizes the media, then laughs approvingly at someone who shouted "fake news," then says "I won't use examples" because it's a "special day" in which somebody was arrested for attempted bombings.
posted by zombieflanders at 9:54 AM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 9:54 AM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
CNBC: California gas tax repeal in danger of failing.
This is good a) on its own merits, and b) this was seen as a way to goose GOP turnout, so might help keep that down.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:54 AM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
This is good a) on its own merits, and b) this was seen as a way to goose GOP turnout, so might help keep that down.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:54 AM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
President Trump has found his Reichstag fire
And Trump's miffed that a domestic terrorist bomber is distracting everyone from his narrative.
During this morning's tweet-storm, @realDonaldTrump complained, "Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this “Bomb” stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows - news not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!" (TrumpOrNotBot calculates a 96% match for authorial Trumpiness.)
This was the first time Trump's mentioned the bombs on Twitter (he previously retweeted a perfunctory statement of condemnation from Pence, adding, "I agree wholeheartedly!").
Daniel Dale astutely glosses this:
Anyhoo, Trump's moved on to talking about Kayne West, "fake polls," and foreign aid, so it's going to be that kind of day in Trumpland.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:55 AM on October 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
And Trump's miffed that a domestic terrorist bomber is distracting everyone from his narrative.
During this morning's tweet-storm, @realDonaldTrump complained, "Republicans are doing so well in early voting, and at the polls, and now this “Bomb” stuff happens and the momentum greatly slows - news not talking politics. Very unfortunate, what is going on. Republicans, go out and vote!" (TrumpOrNotBot calculates a 96% match for authorial Trumpiness.)
This was the first time Trump's mentioned the bombs on Twitter (he previously retweeted a perfunctory statement of condemnation from Pence, adding, "I agree wholeheartedly!").
Daniel Dale astutely glosses this:
The Trump Three-Step:And now Dale's live-tweeting Trump's Young Black Leadership Summit event, and he's predictably nuts. (The group's comms director is Candace Owens, who has claimed, in a since-deleted tweet, that there was "0% chance that these “suspicious packages” were sent out by conservatives" and that "leftists" were behind them in order to disrupt the midterms.)
1) Read perfunctory conventional statement from TelePrompTer
2) Express unhappiness about being forced to be scriptedly “nice,” start revealing true thoughts
3) Abandon any pretense of nice, tweet or blurt true thoughts
Upon further review, this is more like the third step in a four- or five-step process. Still lots of time for him to say the words “false flag.”
—"We're going to have a lot of fun," Trump says to cheers from the young black conservatives, "but before I do, I'd like to begin...today's remarks by providing an update on the packages and devices that have been mailed to high-profile figures...and a media organization."The takeaway from all Trump's folderol is, of course, that he desperately does not want to draw attention to the fact that the FBI has arrested a full-blown Trumpist—white, male, and late middle-aged, the trifecta of his hardcore supporters' demographic—in connection with the bombs.
—Trump announces the apprehending of a suspect. The crowd cheers. "Incredible job by law enforcement," Trump says. "These terrorizing acts are despicable and have no place in our country. No place."
—Trump says they will prosecute "them, him, her, whoever it may be" to the "fullest extent of the law." He says "committed to doing everything in my power" to stop political violence, and "stop it now."
Anyhoo, Trump's moved on to talking about Kayne West, "fake polls," and foreign aid, so it's going to be that kind of day in Trumpland.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:55 AM on October 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
Scene report from early voting in Indianapolis:
The polling station at a local community college was busy. I voted there and then at the behest of my Democratic volunteer coordinator, who has been setting up voting events for small groups. The process was simple and highly technology-focused:
I'll be back out for GOTV efforts Sunday.
posted by Gelatin at 9:57 AM on October 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
The polling station at a local community college was busy. I voted there and then at the behest of my Democratic volunteer coordinator, who has been setting up voting events for small groups. The process was simple and highly technology-focused:
- One presented one's ID, which was placed into a scanner on the back of a tablet computer. The voter's signature and the clerk's were captured on the tablet's touch screen
- One was handed a long paper ballot, which was blank save for the clerks' initials. One scanned the ballot's bar code at an electronic touch screen machine (I know, uh oh, but bear with me here) and fed it into the machine.
- One then used touch screen options to vote. (I voted for ballot issues supporting the local public schools, against a balanced budget amendment to the state constitution, and for school board candidate not funded by the charter system. In addition, pressing the straight party button, which i did for the Democrats, of course, presented the various candidates' screens for confirmation with the vote already registered.)
- When done, the voter reviews his or her picks, then the ballot is fed back out printed with the voter's choices, which can be inspected and verified. For early voting, this ballot is then placed into an envelope which is signed by the voter and two more clerks, and then deposited in a secured container.
I'll be back out for GOTV efforts Sunday.
posted by Gelatin at 9:57 AM on October 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
Daily Beast, alleged bomber’s twitter feed full of threats, obsession with paid actors, right wing conspircary
posted by The Whelk at 9:57 AM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 9:57 AM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
and let's not even get into "Native Americans for Trump"
There are two references to the Seminole Tribe on the van including the flag. That twitter account, if it's his, says he works for Hard Rock which is owned by the Seminoles, and he refers to "We Unconquered Seminole Tribe" (Seminoles commonly refer to themselves as the "Unconquered People"). So it's possible he identifies as a member of the tribe.
posted by peeedro at 10:05 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
There are two references to the Seminole Tribe on the van including the flag. That twitter account, if it's his, says he works for Hard Rock which is owned by the Seminoles, and he refers to "We Unconquered Seminole Tribe" (Seminoles commonly refer to themselves as the "Unconquered People"). So it's possible he identifies as a member of the tribe.
posted by peeedro at 10:05 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Mod note: Folks, let's not spend a bunch of time linking to a Twitter account of someone who is clearly not well and mocking them, whether or not the identity of the owner is actually confirmed.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 10:07 AM on October 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 10:07 AM on October 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
I meant that given Trump's long-held problematic views about Native Americans, it's hard to imagine him receiving much support from that demographic. But cognitive dissonance makes for strange bedfellows.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:08 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:08 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
His self-identity as Seminole may vaguely complicate the narrative, in the same way a lot of right-wingers latched onto "George Zimmerman is half-Hispanic (and also we absolutely support his killing of Trayvon Martin)!" It also makes it even more surprising that (as far as I know) Elizabeth Warren was never targeted.
Ugggh, I can already hear Donald in my head, spinning this into some weird riff about how the bomber is a "reeeal Indian".
posted by InTheYear2017 at 10:09 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Ugggh, I can already hear Donald in my head, spinning this into some weird riff about how the bomber is a "reeeal Indian".
posted by InTheYear2017 at 10:09 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
@Jordanfabian: Trump hits "globalists" at WH event after call for unity in wake of bomb-scare suspects arrested. Several audience members shout out "George Soros" and others shout "lock 'em up." Trump chuckles, points and repeats "lock 'em up."
posted by zombieflanders at 10:11 AM on October 26, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by zombieflanders at 10:11 AM on October 26, 2018 [24 favorites]
So it's possible he identifies as a member of the tribe.
From wiki article on the Seminole Tribe: As of 2000 there were around 2,000 enrolled members in the tribe, with over 1,300 living on the reservations.
And I don't have a good-hard citation but Seminole Tribal members who are on the roll (ie not just self-identifying which I really don't want to get in the weeds on) have very large dividend checks issued every year, upwards of $100k or so, so I find the van to be a unique choice of transport for someone in the tribe to choose.
Anything can happen but I just wanted to put out there some facts that, I think, make it pretty unlikely that he's a member of the Seminole tribe and, please, could we not complicate things with speculation to that end just yet.
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:13 AM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
From wiki article on the Seminole Tribe: As of 2000 there were around 2,000 enrolled members in the tribe, with over 1,300 living on the reservations.
And I don't have a good-hard citation but Seminole Tribal members who are on the roll (ie not just self-identifying which I really don't want to get in the weeds on) have very large dividend checks issued every year, upwards of $100k or so, so I find the van to be a unique choice of transport for someone in the tribe to choose.
Anything can happen but I just wanted to put out there some facts that, I think, make it pretty unlikely that he's a member of the Seminole tribe and, please, could we not complicate things with speculation to that end just yet.
posted by RolandOfEld at 10:13 AM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
Fox News is also blurring out the stickers on the van so they don’t you know, implicate themselves or their audience.
posted by The Whelk at 10:13 AM on October 26, 2018 [65 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 10:13 AM on October 26, 2018 [65 favorites]
That's called a cold spec and it is illegal. However, at this level, it's more or less impossible to purchase IT services in a way that's all three of: legal, cost-effective, and can be done quickly. Just ask the FBI or the IRS.
I'm on old programmer, and missed some of the nuances of contemporary technical models, but wasn't the purpose of "containers" to enable you to isolate your requirements and have an atomic unit that can be deployed to whatever container-hosting cloud gives you the best bang for the buck -- at that time...
posted by mikelieman at 10:14 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm on old programmer, and missed some of the nuances of contemporary technical models, but wasn't the purpose of "containers" to enable you to isolate your requirements and have an atomic unit that can be deployed to whatever container-hosting cloud gives you the best bang for the buck -- at that time...
posted by mikelieman at 10:14 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
it's possible that the guy who wants to feed Ron Howard to alligators is not a reliable narrator about his heritage
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:14 AM on October 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:14 AM on October 26, 2018 [18 favorites]
AWS: no conspiracy. They have mileage. Perfectly justified sole-source. I *begged* my last DoD client to go GovCloud instead of self hosting. Alas...
posted by j_curiouser at 10:16 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by j_curiouser at 10:16 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Man, we had a vanifesto guy hanging around our small and very progressive town. Except it was a Prius because WA state, I guess. But covered in huge Trump stickers flags, and other random alt right crap, and I'm kind of wishing I took pics of it now.
I haven't seen him around town in months, so I'm guessing he wore out his welcome and moved on. He kept doing really unnerving things like coming in to the non profit community place I was working at this summer and trying to twitch stream and take pics of *everything* with his cell phone on a selfie stick. Like he'd go and scan the entire inside of the venue and the flier boards and even who was in there and stuff, like almost every day.
It was obvious he treated it like he was on some furtive spy mission of great importance and we're standing there like "Dude, we're just a soup kitchen." Most of those fliers are printed by the state and county as information for stuff like health care, domestic violence shelters and how to get help for addiction. The rest of the fliers were mainly music events or yoga studios and stuff.
I'm really wishing I turned the camera back on him and his Prius full of crazy because I definitely got the thought of "Oh man, this creep is probably going to shoot something up some day real soon."
I'm going to make a point to grab good archival photographs if this happens to me again, and unfortunately I know it will.
posted by loquacious at 10:25 AM on October 26, 2018 [37 favorites]
I haven't seen him around town in months, so I'm guessing he wore out his welcome and moved on. He kept doing really unnerving things like coming in to the non profit community place I was working at this summer and trying to twitch stream and take pics of *everything* with his cell phone on a selfie stick. Like he'd go and scan the entire inside of the venue and the flier boards and even who was in there and stuff, like almost every day.
It was obvious he treated it like he was on some furtive spy mission of great importance and we're standing there like "Dude, we're just a soup kitchen." Most of those fliers are printed by the state and county as information for stuff like health care, domestic violence shelters and how to get help for addiction. The rest of the fliers were mainly music events or yoga studios and stuff.
I'm really wishing I turned the camera back on him and his Prius full of crazy because I definitely got the thought of "Oh man, this creep is probably going to shoot something up some day real soon."
I'm going to make a point to grab good archival photographs if this happens to me again, and unfortunately I know it will.
posted by loquacious at 10:25 AM on October 26, 2018 [37 favorites]
A small moment of levity: Last night at a promotional event for her new book, Food TV star Ina Garten, the "Barefoot Contessa," was asked what she'd serve to some noted politicians:
posted by dnash at 10:27 AM on October 26, 2018 [154 favorites]
Elizabeth Warren? “Lobster macaroni and cheese.”If you can't cook your own shade, store bought is fine.
Beto O’Rourke? “Pulled pork shoulder with maple beans, cornbread, and a kale salad.”
Joe Biden? “Something fun, like a lobster and clambake.”
Donald Trump? “A subpoena.”
posted by dnash at 10:27 AM on October 26, 2018 [154 favorites]
I have just been introduced to a useful new word for all such vehicles covered in political propaganda: "vanifesto."
Be careful, the mainstream media will probably pick that up and not give you credit for it.
So I would like to call dibs, if that's all right.
IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT?? Will somebody please hug Chrysostom?
posted by Melismata at 10:29 AM on October 26, 2018 [44 favorites]
Be careful, the mainstream media will probably pick that up and not give you credit for it.
So I would like to call dibs, if that's all right.
IF THAT'S ALL RIGHT?? Will somebody please hug Chrysostom?
posted by Melismata at 10:29 AM on October 26, 2018 [44 favorites]
This came up at various Q rallies and events which attract usually over 50 types .... how much of this is traceable to the fact that there’s no actual medical care in this country? Like there was a guy talking about how there was a conspiracy to rot the teeeth out of his head and I was like “ damn well you’re not NOT right.”
There’s a lot of factors involved but say, making event halfway decent preventative care a fucking fantasy for the bulk of aamericans seems like a really big one,
posted by The Whelk at 10:35 AM on October 26, 2018 [25 favorites]
There’s a lot of factors involved but say, making event halfway decent preventative care a fucking fantasy for the bulk of aamericans seems like a really big one,
posted by The Whelk at 10:35 AM on October 26, 2018 [25 favorites]
So did he take a road trip to hand-deliver the bombs to CNN and George Soros, or was he working with other people?
posted by MrVisible at 10:38 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by MrVisible at 10:38 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
how much of this is traceable to [...]
environmental lead poisoning.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 10:39 AM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
environmental lead poisoning.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 10:39 AM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
I don’t have any particular knowledge about this DoD/AWS thing but I’ll say that some of the reporting reminds me of the way media breathlessly reports on routine court filings in high profiles cases. “Attorney in case of man arrested with human hand in mouth files motion to dismiss!” Thank you for the legal equivalent of “sun rises in east,” reporter person.
Well, “challenge filed in billion dollar procurement” is the government bid process version of that. I once worked on a piece of software for USDA that was for reviewers to use in scoring bids. It went to huge lengths to make it impossible to tell who a bid was from and generated reporting designed to be used to respond to a challenge. Because the assumption was that there was inevitable a challenge. I am reasonably certain our firm pocketed close to a half million bucks just to make and run this thing being used to evaluate the bid.
posted by phearlez at 10:40 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Well, “challenge filed in billion dollar procurement” is the government bid process version of that. I once worked on a piece of software for USDA that was for reviewers to use in scoring bids. It went to huge lengths to make it impossible to tell who a bid was from and generated reporting designed to be used to respond to a challenge. Because the assumption was that there was inevitable a challenge. I am reasonably certain our firm pocketed close to a half million bucks just to make and run this thing being used to evaluate the bid.
posted by phearlez at 10:40 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
he might have just stalked soccer players
That is...not significantly better. Especially given how nobody gives a shit when men stalk women. Plus it’s easier. So he might have actually been successful at it.
Anyway. With any normal timeline I’d say this wasn’t catastrophic for the GOP, but this the Onnishambles Line. I think how much this moves the needle will be an inverse measure of how fucked we are.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:40 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
That is...not significantly better. Especially given how nobody gives a shit when men stalk women. Plus it’s easier. So he might have actually been successful at it.
Anyway. With any normal timeline I’d say this wasn’t catastrophic for the GOP, but this the Onnishambles Line. I think how much this moves the needle will be an inverse measure of how fucked we are.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:40 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
There are “vanifesto” people in Portland but they’re usually in huge trucks and I’ve even seen some driving around with actual Confederate flags. The places outside of Portland are usually where these people live (Vernonia, OR; Vancouver, Camas, and Washougal, WA) but I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a sizeable contingent of them living here as well.
posted by gucci mane at 10:41 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 10:41 AM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Of course there's a subreddit for vehicles covered in conspiracy theory stuff.
posted by loquacious at 10:43 AM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by loquacious at 10:43 AM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
The Whelk: This came up at various Q rallies and events which attract usually over 50 types .... how much of this is traceable to the fact that there’s no actual medical care in this country? Like there was a guy talking about how there was a conspiracy to rot the teeeth out of his head and I was like “ damn well you’re not NOT right.”
There’s a lot of factors involved but say, making event halfway decent preventative care a fucking fantasy for the bulk of aamericans seems like a really big one,
Internet diagnosis or no, it's obvious that this person needed help a long time ago. I like to think that something like Medicare For All combined with much better mental health services would help catch people like this and give them meds or counseling or whatever before they started sending bombs to people. I dream of a social capital WPA that includes mental health and addiction care. (And the more Democrats we elect, and SDAs in the smaller local offices to build up a base, the closer we can come to that dream.)
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 10:43 AM on October 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
There’s a lot of factors involved but say, making event halfway decent preventative care a fucking fantasy for the bulk of aamericans seems like a really big one,
Internet diagnosis or no, it's obvious that this person needed help a long time ago. I like to think that something like Medicare For All combined with much better mental health services would help catch people like this and give them meds or counseling or whatever before they started sending bombs to people. I dream of a social capital WPA that includes mental health and addiction care. (And the more Democrats we elect, and SDAs in the smaller local offices to build up a base, the closer we can come to that dream.)
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 10:43 AM on October 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
CNN is confirming that two additional bombs were sent to Sen. Kamala Harris and Dem donor Tom Steyer.
posted by Barack Spinoza at 10:48 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Barack Spinoza at 10:48 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
@ddale8, 9:57 AM - 26 Oct 2018
Trump exaggerates the U.S. trade deficit, which is in the hundreds of billions, and then says, "'Billion.' Nobody even knows what it is. What does that mean. It's so much, it's like, 'What does it mean?'"posted by kirkaracha at 10:49 AM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Trump exaggerates the U.S. trade deficit, which is in the hundreds of billions, and then says, "'Billion.' Nobody even knows what it is. What does that mean. It's so much, it's like, 'What does it mean?'"
Yeah, I already passed the point where I can't deny anymore that President Grandpa is sundowning, but his persona for his entire existence as a celebrity has been "billionaire Donald Trump". He's really telling on himself at this point.
posted by Etrigan at 10:51 AM on October 26, 2018 [27 favorites]
Yeah, I already passed the point where I can't deny anymore that President Grandpa is sundowning, but his persona for his entire existence as a celebrity has been "billionaire Donald Trump". He's really telling on himself at this point.
posted by Etrigan at 10:51 AM on October 26, 2018 [27 favorites]
zombieflanders: Closer pictures of what appears to be the van in question, taken by someone who previously encountered it out in the wild.
worst of all, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Michael Moore in red crosshairs. No wonder some random Twitter user photographed it—the van's like rolling probable cause for domestic terror.
Also on the back of his van: "I Am Donald Trump & I Approve This Message" (and some garbled text about Democrat\ Lib\ Left\ ?, and the next line says Harvey Weinstein). Yup, sounds about right.
j_curiouser: AWS: no conspiracy. They have mileage. Perfectly justified sole-source. I *begged* my last DoD client to go GovCloud instead of self hosting. Alas...
The problem is 1) sole-sourcing A HUGE DEFENSE SYSTEM, and 2) then locking it down for TEN YEARS.
Google backed out because they didn't like aspects of the offer, including the fact it's "single cloud," and IBM has the same (and more) concerns. Nothing against AWS, it's about the contract proposal itself. If some Republicans decide to attack the deal because it's Amazon, whatevs, Amazon will survive. The point is that the contract should still be split into pieces, if nothing else to provide another level of resilience. If there's a hack or bug that successfully attacks AWS, that'll be a HUGE thing, but it shouldn't also compromise A HUGE CHUNK of US Defenses.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:52 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
worst of all, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Michael Moore in red crosshairs. No wonder some random Twitter user photographed it—the van's like rolling probable cause for domestic terror.
Also on the back of his van: "I Am Donald Trump & I Approve This Message" (and some garbled text about Democrat\ Lib\ Left\ ?, and the next line says Harvey Weinstein). Yup, sounds about right.
j_curiouser: AWS: no conspiracy. They have mileage. Perfectly justified sole-source. I *begged* my last DoD client to go GovCloud instead of self hosting. Alas...
The problem is 1) sole-sourcing A HUGE DEFENSE SYSTEM, and 2) then locking it down for TEN YEARS.
Google backed out because they didn't like aspects of the offer, including the fact it's "single cloud," and IBM has the same (and more) concerns. Nothing against AWS, it's about the contract proposal itself. If some Republicans decide to attack the deal because it's Amazon, whatevs, Amazon will survive. The point is that the contract should still be split into pieces, if nothing else to provide another level of resilience. If there's a hack or bug that successfully attacks AWS, that'll be a HUGE thing, but it shouldn't also compromise A HUGE CHUNK of US Defenses.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:52 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
He's... just saying it's hard for human minds to grasp just how much a billion is. This has nothing to do with sundowning.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:54 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 10:54 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
He's... just saying it's hard for human minds to grasp just how much a billion is. This has nothing to do with sundowning.
It's pretty well-established that when he talks about what "people" know, he's talking about himself. Admitting that "people" can't even conceive of the number that he has spent his whole adult life attaching to himself is weird.
posted by Etrigan at 10:57 AM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
It's pretty well-established that when he talks about what "people" know, he's talking about himself. Admitting that "people" can't even conceive of the number that he has spent his whole adult life attaching to himself is weird.
posted by Etrigan at 10:57 AM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
It's pretty well-established that when he talks about what "people" know, he's talking about himself.
it's well-established in megathreadian trumpology, but we don't exactly send our findings out for peer review
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:04 AM on October 26, 2018 [23 favorites]
it's well-established in megathreadian trumpology, but we don't exactly send our findings out for peer review
posted by prize bull octorok at 11:04 AM on October 26, 2018 [23 favorites]
Anybody surprised to learn that this guy harassed a(t least one) woman on Twitter? Anybody surprised that Twitter didn't do anything about it?
Heck of a job, @jackie.
posted by uncleozzy at 11:05 AM on October 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
Heck of a job, @jackie.
posted by uncleozzy at 11:05 AM on October 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
Meanwhile, on the Trump-Russia front, the Atlantic's Natasha Bertrand reports: George Papadopoulos Wants Immunity From the Senate—The former Trump-campaign adviser may be worried that his testimony could implicate him in a crime, according to legal experts. "The former Trump-campaign adviser George Papadopoulos, who pleaded guilty last year to lying to the FBI about his conversations with a foreign professor that were relevant to the Russia investigation, has asked for immunity to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee, according to two knowledgeable congressional sources. [...] It’s unlikely that the Senate will accept his request, according to one of the sources."
Back at HPSCI, it's been revealed that a federal judge had denied Devin Nunes access to secret depositions on Steele dossier. (Fresno Bee/McClatchy)
And John Bolton, winding up his visit to Russia, says Putin has been invited to visit Washington in early 2019 (Politico) “We have invited President Putin to Washington after the first of the year for, basically, a full day of consultations,” Bolton said at a news conference in Georgia, according to Fox News. “What the scheduling of that is we don’t quite know yet."
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:13 AM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
Back at HPSCI, it's been revealed that a federal judge had denied Devin Nunes access to secret depositions on Steele dossier. (Fresno Bee/McClatchy)
And John Bolton, winding up his visit to Russia, says Putin has been invited to visit Washington in early 2019 (Politico) “We have invited President Putin to Washington after the first of the year for, basically, a full day of consultations,” Bolton said at a news conference in Georgia, according to Fox News. “What the scheduling of that is we don’t quite know yet."
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:13 AM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
it's well-established in megathreadian trumpology, but we don't exactly send our findings out for peer review
then what the hell are all these favorites ive been using for?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:14 AM on October 26, 2018 [61 favorites]
then what the hell are all these favorites ive been using for?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:14 AM on October 26, 2018 [61 favorites]
“We have invited President Putin to Washington after the first of the year for, basically, a full day of consultations,” Bolton said
Please be the week of the Women's March - im not sure i can schedule two separate trips to DC that close to the holidays.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:15 AM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
Please be the week of the Women's March - im not sure i can schedule two separate trips to DC that close to the holidays.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 11:15 AM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
Tallahassee's Vanifesto guy is mainly circumcision-flavored, with a soupçon of chemtrails...
posted by Cookiebastard at 11:17 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Cookiebastard at 11:17 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
@RochelleRitchie
Hey @Twitter remember when I reported the guy who was making threats towards me after my appearance on @FoxNews and you guys sent back a bs response about how you didn’t find it that serious. Well guess what it’s the guy who has been sending #bombs to high profile politicians!!!!
SCREENSHOTS
posted by chris24 at 11:21 AM on October 26, 2018 [105 favorites]
Hey @Twitter remember when I reported the guy who was making threats towards me after my appearance on @FoxNews and you guys sent back a bs response about how you didn’t find it that serious. Well guess what it’s the guy who has been sending #bombs to high profile politicians!!!!
SCREENSHOTS
posted by chris24 at 11:21 AM on October 26, 2018 [105 favorites]
I was thinking, hmm, it is sort of interesting the van is so sparkling, because if I came across it no lie I'd probably do a little scrachitti work. But then this is in Florida, and a reasonable person would say, 'good chance the person has a gun and will shoot me and get away with it because of stand your ground laws" Hell, maybe that's why the van looks so pristine, people are terrified of it.
posted by angrycat at 11:25 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 11:25 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Twitter has removed many people from my account and, more importantly, they have seemingly done something that makes it much harder to join - they have stifled growth to a point where it is obvious to all. A few weeks ago it was a Rocket Ship, now it is a Blimp! Total Bias?
I want to come back to this, because I've been thinking about it all morning, and there's a really disturbing angle.
The complaints about his follower count are one thing. I can get him obsessing over the number of adorning fans he has. The overall trend is up, but there's a bit of a dip, and Twitter's deletion of suspended accounts over the summer lowered follower counts. But the "they have seemingly done something that makes it much harder to join - they have stifled growth to a point where it is obvious to all" bit is really weird. Why does Trump care about Twitter's growth numbers?
Twitter has done something that stifles growth: they've aggressively started requiring verification of email addresses and particularly phone numbers on new accounts. Which certainly hurts growth, but helps prevent bots. Bots of the sort run by people under indictment by Robert Mueller, for instance.
So why has Trump (or Scavino) taken out such a public and aggressive stand against Twitter's anti-bot measures just before the midterms? He apparently decided to tweet after Fox Business discussed Twitter's drop in user numbers as the result of deletion of bots, but he seems oddly and suspiciously aware that Twitter's efforts to curtail bots are particularly bad for him personally.
posted by zachlipton at 11:28 AM on October 26, 2018 [30 favorites]
I want to come back to this, because I've been thinking about it all morning, and there's a really disturbing angle.
The complaints about his follower count are one thing. I can get him obsessing over the number of adorning fans he has. The overall trend is up, but there's a bit of a dip, and Twitter's deletion of suspended accounts over the summer lowered follower counts. But the "they have seemingly done something that makes it much harder to join - they have stifled growth to a point where it is obvious to all" bit is really weird. Why does Trump care about Twitter's growth numbers?
Twitter has done something that stifles growth: they've aggressively started requiring verification of email addresses and particularly phone numbers on new accounts. Which certainly hurts growth, but helps prevent bots. Bots of the sort run by people under indictment by Robert Mueller, for instance.
So why has Trump (or Scavino) taken out such a public and aggressive stand against Twitter's anti-bot measures just before the midterms? He apparently decided to tweet after Fox Business discussed Twitter's drop in user numbers as the result of deletion of bots, but he seems oddly and suspiciously aware that Twitter's efforts to curtail bots are particularly bad for him personally.
posted by zachlipton at 11:28 AM on October 26, 2018 [30 favorites]
Always.
@JordanSchachtel
"Mail bomb" sender Cesar Sayoc priors:
91- Theft
94- Domestic Violence
03- Bomb threat
04- Illegal ID
04- Controlled substance
04- Evidence tampering
09- Foreclosure
09- operating w/out license
13- Theft
13- Battery
14- Theft
15- Probation violation
+many traffic & drug arrests
posted by chris24 at 11:29 AM on October 26, 2018 [53 favorites]
@JordanSchachtel
"Mail bomb" sender Cesar Sayoc priors:
91- Theft
94- Domestic Violence
03- Bomb threat
04- Illegal ID
04- Controlled substance
04- Evidence tampering
09- Foreclosure
09- operating w/out license
13- Theft
13- Battery
14- Theft
15- Probation violation
+many traffic & drug arrests
posted by chris24 at 11:29 AM on October 26, 2018 [53 favorites]
And there are more.
@SovernNation [Doug Sovern, local radio news]: Breaking: two more suspicious pipe bomb packages addressed to @SenKamalaHarris and @TomSteyer discovered at Bay Area postal facility. @KCBSRadio'S @jennalane is on her way to the scene
posted by zachlipton at 11:32 AM on October 26, 2018
@SovernNation [Doug Sovern, local radio news]: Breaking: two more suspicious pipe bomb packages addressed to @SenKamalaHarris and @TomSteyer discovered at Bay Area postal facility. @KCBSRadio'S @jennalane is on her way to the scene
posted by zachlipton at 11:32 AM on October 26, 2018
Does anyone know what the "Unconquored Seminole Tribe" is so I do not have to accidentally give them clicks?
posted by Karmakaze at 11:32 AM on October 26, 2018
posted by Karmakaze at 11:32 AM on October 26, 2018
Bloomberg: U.S. Says ‘Others’ Are Under Scrutiny in Cohen Grand Jury Probe
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:36 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
The grand jury investigating President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen is also scrutinizing “others” who may not be aware of prosecutors’ interest in them, the U.S. said in a court filing.Also, in D.C., Buzzfeed's Zoe Tillman reports: "Judge has agreed to push back the schedule in alleged Russian agent Maria Butina's case — next status conference (aka her next appearance) moved from Nov. 13 to Dec. 6"
Prosecutors made the disclosure Thursday in opposing a media request to obtain papers related to the search warrants used in the April 9 raid of Cohen’s home, hotel and business. Federal prosecutors in New York filed a public brief that doesn’t specify who is targeted in the investigation or named in the warrant papers.
“Numerous uncharged third parties” are named in the documents, the government said. Protecting their privacy interests make it impractical to release the warrant papers in redacted form, they argued.
“The disclosure would almost certainly result in a very public guessing game in which the media and members of the public attempted to guess the identities of the uncharged parties described in the materials -– particularly the campaign finance portions” of the investigation, prosecutors said in the filing.[...]
The government submitted a separate filing, for the eyes of U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley only, that “identifies specific portions of the warrant affidavits and other facts pertinent to the ongoing government investigation, as well as to the privacy interests of uncharged parties.”
A court hearing on the media’s request is scheduled for Nov. 2.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:36 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
wasn't the purpose of "containers" to enable you to isolate your requirements and have an atomic unit that can be deployed to whatever container-hosting cloud gives you the best bang for the buck -- at that time...
The "problem" is that if you need multi-factor authentication, for example, you can either deploy an MFA service container...or you can use magic plug-and-play, set it and forget it, no user-serviceable parts inside, Amazon MFA. Which of course is not a drop-in replacement for Azure's Active Directory MFA capabilities (and vice-versa). And Google's identity-aware proxy is certainly not swappable in either direction with Active Directory or Amazon MFA either.
And so on and so on all the way down the chart of value-added services.
Are there ways to make an application cloud-provider agnostic? Absolutely. But it'll cost you because you can't use the fancy optimized ready-to-go services.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 11:37 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
The "problem" is that if you need multi-factor authentication, for example, you can either deploy an MFA service container...or you can use magic plug-and-play, set it and forget it, no user-serviceable parts inside, Amazon MFA. Which of course is not a drop-in replacement for Azure's Active Directory MFA capabilities (and vice-versa). And Google's identity-aware proxy is certainly not swappable in either direction with Active Directory or Amazon MFA either.
And so on and so on all the way down the chart of value-added services.
Are there ways to make an application cloud-provider agnostic? Absolutely. But it'll cost you because you can't use the fancy optimized ready-to-go services.
posted by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug at 11:37 AM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Does anyone know what the "Unconquored Seminole Tribe" is so I do not have to accidentally give them clicks?
From upthread, the Seminole are a Native tribe who refer to themselves as "The Unconquered People." Whether MAGAbomber is an actual member of the Seminole tribe is unknown at this time.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:37 AM on October 26, 2018
From upthread, the Seminole are a Native tribe who refer to themselves as "The Unconquered People." Whether MAGAbomber is an actual member of the Seminole tribe is unknown at this time.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:37 AM on October 26, 2018
I'm aware of the tribe, I wasn't sure if that exact phrasing was a dog-whistle, given that he was using it was if it were his name while threatening someone's life.
posted by Karmakaze at 11:38 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Karmakaze at 11:38 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Polling places still hard to find on Texas state college campuses. At TSU in San Marcos students don't get the full early voting capability, and at other campuses you can only vote on Election Day but not early and it's causing delays:
...civil rights attorneys, voting rights advocates and local Democrats are now raising the specter that the hour-and-a-half waits that students faced at the polling location could not only dim student turnout but also violate state and federal law.
In a letter sent to the county Thursday evening, lawyers with the Texas Civil Rights Project — on behalf of two Texas State students, MOVE Texas Action Fund and the League of Women Voters of Hays County — demanded that the county reopen the early voting location on campus and add an Election Day voting site to avoid a lawsuit.
Requesting a response by 12 p.m. Friday, the Texas Civil Rights Project alleged that the county’s decision to limit early voting at the on-campus location was a violation of the U.S. Constitution because it specifically targets a class of voters.
posted by emjaybee at 11:39 AM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
...civil rights attorneys, voting rights advocates and local Democrats are now raising the specter that the hour-and-a-half waits that students faced at the polling location could not only dim student turnout but also violate state and federal law.
In a letter sent to the county Thursday evening, lawyers with the Texas Civil Rights Project — on behalf of two Texas State students, MOVE Texas Action Fund and the League of Women Voters of Hays County — demanded that the county reopen the early voting location on campus and add an Election Day voting site to avoid a lawsuit.
Requesting a response by 12 p.m. Friday, the Texas Civil Rights Project alleged that the county’s decision to limit early voting at the on-campus location was a violation of the U.S. Constitution because it specifically targets a class of voters.
posted by emjaybee at 11:39 AM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
BTW, he registered to vote in 2016 and voted early in both the primary and the general. As a convicted felon. So yet again a rare actual instance of vote fraud is a Republican.
(And yes I think felons who have served their time should be able to vote. Just pointing out the technicality.)
posted by chris24 at 11:39 AM on October 26, 2018 [76 favorites]
(And yes I think felons who have served their time should be able to vote. Just pointing out the technicality.)
posted by chris24 at 11:39 AM on October 26, 2018 [76 favorites]
@Pervaizistan: NYPD investigator tells @MichaelDalynyc that pipe bombs were made more deadly by mixing bits of metal and glass in with the black powder.
@igorvolsky: NRA's website keep bragging about how they fought back government regulations to make black powder more readily available despite concerns that it could be used in bomb making
posted by zombieflanders at 11:40 AM on October 26, 2018 [30 favorites]
@igorvolsky: NRA's website keep bragging about how they fought back government regulations to make black powder more readily available despite concerns that it could be used in bomb making
posted by zombieflanders at 11:40 AM on October 26, 2018 [30 favorites]
BTW, he registered to vote in 2016 and voted early in both the primary and the general. As a convicted felon. So yet again a rare actual instance of vote fraud is a Republican.
In fairness, he might have had his suffrage restored. He seems like just the type Rick Scott would want to help out.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:43 AM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
In fairness, he might have had his suffrage restored. He seems like just the type Rick Scott would want to help out.
posted by Faint of Butt at 11:43 AM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
MAGAmedia is already leaning harder into false flag conspiracy. This will be on Hannity tonight and at a Trump rally tomorrow.
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:45 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by T.D. Strange at 11:45 AM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Courthouse News's Adam Klasfeld reports on the citizenship census question case:
Scathing is right—talk about laying down the law.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:46 AM on October 26, 2018 [34 favorites]
NEW: Judge refuses to postpone the #2020Census trial, currently slated to begin on Nov. 5.The ruling states, "Put simply, the pending challenge to this Court's Order authorizing a deposition of Secretary Ross notwithstanding, Defendants provide no basis to deviate from the well-established and well-justified procedures that have generally been applied in federal courts for generations—whereby district courts decide cases in the first instance, followed by an appeal by the losing party, on a full record, to the court of appeals and, thereafter, a petition to the Supreme Court."
Background: https://www.courthousenews.com/judge-in-census-case-wary-of-trial-delay/
Ruling: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/5021565-Census-Stay-10-26-18.html
Reading through the ruling now. This is a scathing decision.
For example, here's Judge Furman defending his preliminary finding of Wilbur Ross's "bad faith" and effectively telling Justice Gorsuch (who criticized it in a SCOTUS dissent): What do you need, a confession?
Another swipe at Gorsuch:
"It should go without saying that the dissent did not carry the day in the Supreme Court; instead, it represents the views of only two Justices."
Scathing is right—talk about laying down the law.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:46 AM on October 26, 2018 [34 favorites]
the Seminole want nothing to do with this guy:
Seminole Tribe spox Gary Bitner: “There’s no record of him being a member of the Tribe. He’s not a member of the Seminole Tribe, has never been a member of the Seminole Tribe.“posted by murphy slaw at 11:46 AM on October 26, 2018 [47 favorites]
I'm aware of the tribe, I wasn't sure if that exact phrasing was a dog-whistle
I don't think it's a dog whistle, "unconquered" has a very longstanding usage with the Seminole Tribe.
The Tribe says the magabomber is not a member.
posted by peeedro at 11:47 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
I don't think it's a dog whistle, "unconquered" has a very longstanding usage with the Seminole Tribe.
The Tribe says the magabomber is not a member.
posted by peeedro at 11:47 AM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
It's possible that he's a tribe member but it seems really unlikely
He's apparently been claiming some affiliation since at least 2014, though not necessarily claimed being on the rolls. His (possible?) employment at the Seminole-owned Hard Rock seems to be the only obvious connection, though, and he's not originally from Florida, nor is his family; he's from Bensonhurst in Brooklyn, NY. And has a history of bomb threats dating back to at least 2002, though he apparently was not registered to vote at any point in his adult life until the 2016 election.
posted by halation at 11:47 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
He's apparently been claiming some affiliation since at least 2014, though not necessarily claimed being on the rolls. His (possible?) employment at the Seminole-owned Hard Rock seems to be the only obvious connection, though, and he's not originally from Florida, nor is his family; he's from Bensonhurst in Brooklyn, NY. And has a history of bomb threats dating back to at least 2002, though he apparently was not registered to vote at any point in his adult life until the 2016 election.
posted by halation at 11:47 AM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
This seems to have gotten lost in this morning's chaos. Trump administration discovers 14 more separated children are in its custody
posted by zachlipton at 11:56 AM on October 26, 2018 [22 favorites]
The Trump administration said it recently discovered 14 more migrant children who had been separated from their parents at the border and were not in the official count of separated minors.I wonder how many they'll "discover" next month.
The discovery raises the official number of children separated from families when the administration carried out its zero-tolerance policy to 2,668.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) acknowledged the miscount Thursday night in federal court. In a court-ordered filing, the department's Office of Refugee Resettlement stated it learned this during a "review of case management records.”
posted by zachlipton at 11:56 AM on October 26, 2018 [22 favorites]
The FBI is confirming that the van we've all been looking at was Sayoc's van. They say his Tweets have misspellings that match the envelopes.
You can read about this and more in the criminal complaint.
@jaketapper: FB[I] Director Wray says 13 IED's were sent, each one with PVC pipe, battery, wiring and other material. "These are not hoax devices," he says
The FBI says Sayoc's fingerprint was found on the envelope sent to Rep. Waters along with "a possible DNA association."
@matthewamiller: That was an obvious but important statement from Sessions making clear this was political violence. Good for him.
posted by zachlipton at 12:04 PM on October 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
You can read about this and more in the criminal complaint.
@jaketapper: FB[I] Director Wray says 13 IED's were sent, each one with PVC pipe, battery, wiring and other material. "These are not hoax devices," he says
The FBI says Sayoc's fingerprint was found on the envelope sent to Rep. Waters along with "a possible DNA association."
@matthewamiller: That was an obvious but important statement from Sessions making clear this was political violence. Good for him.
posted by zachlipton at 12:04 PM on October 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
Thank you to the folks who posted actual facts about his tribal (or lack thereof) status and I hope we can be a bit less quick to speculate that he was part of the less than 0.01% of the Florida population that are Seminole tribal members based upon one of many of the crazy stickers on a very crazy van.
posted by RolandOfEld at 12:04 PM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by RolandOfEld at 12:04 PM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
MAGAmedia is already leaning harder into false flag conspiracy.
Well, it IS Laura Loomer. Sayoc could go on Hannity tonight and explain how, why and when he did the mailings in excruciating detail, and Loomer would subsequently present her own theory that Sayoc was kidnapped and replaced with an exact clone being mind-controlled by Peter Strzok.
Not that she's the only one who will cling until death to willfully ignorant we're-good-everyone-else-is-evil-ism.
posted by delfin at 12:09 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Well, it IS Laura Loomer. Sayoc could go on Hannity tonight and explain how, why and when he did the mailings in excruciating detail, and Loomer would subsequently present her own theory that Sayoc was kidnapped and replaced with an exact clone being mind-controlled by Peter Strzok.
Not that she's the only one who will cling until death to willfully ignorant we're-good-everyone-else-is-evil-ism.
posted by delfin at 12:09 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
The "unconquered" line comes from the fact the Seminole never signed a treaty with the US. It was a huge selling point when they got into the roadside attraction business in the 1930's, of being the last "wild" Indians in the United States. Of the four Seminole tribes extent in the US, only three are recognized, as the Independent Traditional Seminole Nation refuses to incorporate or be recognized by the gov, laying claim to truly being the unconquered.
posted by bonefish at 12:13 PM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by bonefish at 12:13 PM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Thank you to the folks who posted actual facts about his tribal (or lack thereof) status and I hope we can be a bit less quick to speculate that he was part of the less than 0.01% of the Florida population that are Seminole tribal members based upon one of many of the crazy stickers on a very crazy van.
I mean, sure? But the speculation is kinda expected given he refers to himself as being a member of the tribe over and over again. It's not like it was just based on some unrelated tidbit.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:14 PM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
I mean, sure? But the speculation is kinda expected given he refers to himself as being a member of the tribe over and over again. It's not like it was just based on some unrelated tidbit.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:14 PM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
MAGAmedia is already leaning harder into false flag conspiracy.
The usual conspiracy theory epistemology: argue that something that plainly exists, in front of your face, is actually impossible (the stickers are a "professional job", they look too new, they wouldn't last in the Florida sun) combined with contradictory Gish galloping (no one has seen the van anyway, the photos of it that exist must also be plants).
posted by thelonius at 12:17 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
The usual conspiracy theory epistemology: argue that something that plainly exists, in front of your face, is actually impossible (the stickers are a "professional job", they look too new, they wouldn't last in the Florida sun) combined with contradictory Gish galloping (no one has seen the van anyway, the photos of it that exist must also be plants).
posted by thelonius at 12:17 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
But the speculation is kinda expected given he refers to himself as being a member of the tribe over and over again.
We are just barely past a pretty big discussion that started because of the pre-Twitter equivalent of putting "UNCONQUERED SEMINOLE" in one's bio. Pausing a bit on passing along that sort of thing is maybe better just at this exact moment in time.
posted by Etrigan at 12:21 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
We are just barely past a pretty big discussion that started because of the pre-Twitter equivalent of putting "UNCONQUERED SEMINOLE" in one's bio. Pausing a bit on passing along that sort of thing is maybe better just at this exact moment in time.
posted by Etrigan at 12:21 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Faint of Butt: "In fairness, he might have had his suffrage restored. He seems like just the type Rick Scott would want to help out."
Those restoration hearings are public record. I would hope someone is digging in to that.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:24 PM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Those restoration hearings are public record. I would hope someone is digging in to that.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:24 PM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
But the speculation is kinda expected given he refers to himself as being a member of the tribe over and over again.
Lately, I feel like there needs to be a fucking Native Identity 101 focus that's akin to the Transgender 101 type of stuff that we as a site have agreed to use as a baseline understanding or starting point for things that touch on these issues. I don't have the energy or the eloquence to start it but shesus christ this is tiresome to encounter time and again and, yet again, I apologize to that community for coming in fast and hot before on topics that are pertinent to them but, until that moment, were outside of my field of experience/empathy.
On preview, thanks Etrigan.
posted by RolandOfEld at 12:26 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
Lately, I feel like there needs to be a fucking Native Identity 101 focus that's akin to the Transgender 101 type of stuff that we as a site have agreed to use as a baseline understanding or starting point for things that touch on these issues. I don't have the energy or the eloquence to start it but shesus christ this is tiresome to encounter time and again and, yet again, I apologize to that community for coming in fast and hot before on topics that are pertinent to them but, until that moment, were outside of my field of experience/empathy.
On preview, thanks Etrigan.
posted by RolandOfEld at 12:26 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
@matthewamiller: Based on Wray’s remarks, the FBI had identified Sayoc by late last night. Surely they briefed the WH immediately. Might explain Trump’s losing it on Twitter at 3:14 am.
@AshaRangappa_: Which means he knew who [the] suspect was when he tweeted about “this bomb stuff” (suggesting that it’s made up) and then praising that Candace woman who propagated false flag theory. Unbelievable.
posted by zachlipton at 12:26 PM on October 26, 2018 [48 favorites]
@AshaRangappa_: Which means he knew who [the] suspect was when he tweeted about “this bomb stuff” (suggesting that it’s made up) and then praising that Candace woman who propagated false flag theory. Unbelievable.
posted by zachlipton at 12:26 PM on October 26, 2018 [48 favorites]
No, Asha, it's totally believable.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 12:27 PM on October 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 12:27 PM on October 26, 2018 [12 favorites]
I’m not saying defend Avenatti, but why are we taking Grassley at his word?
I'm not. What I am saying is, he makes a fantastic attack dog but displays none of the qualities I look for in a leader. I'm fine with letting him off his leash to take some bites out of Trump but have no interest in seeing him advance any plans beyond that, just based on what I can see of his temperament & personality even if all the claims against him are disproven.
posted by scalefree at 12:38 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm not. What I am saying is, he makes a fantastic attack dog but displays none of the qualities I look for in a leader. I'm fine with letting him off his leash to take some bites out of Trump but have no interest in seeing him advance any plans beyond that, just based on what I can see of his temperament & personality even if all the claims against him are disproven.
posted by scalefree at 12:38 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
I suspect that if Sayoc were from farther to the west rather than Florida he'd have latched on to the sovereign citizen thing instead of appropriating from the Seminole.
posted by Karmakaze at 12:39 PM on October 26, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Karmakaze at 12:39 PM on October 26, 2018 [15 favorites]
We are just barely past a pretty big discussion that started because of the pre-Twitter equivalent of putting "UNCONQUERED SEMINOLE" in one's bio. Pausing a bit on passing along that sort of thing is maybe better just at this exact moment in time.
...
Lately, I feel like there needs to be a fucking Native Identity 101 focus that's akin to the Transgender 101 type of stuff that we as a site have agreed to use as a baseline understanding or starting point for things that touch on these issues. I don't have the energy or the eloquence to start it but shesus christ this is tiresome to encounter time and again and, yet again, I apologize to that community for coming in fast and hot before on topics that are pertinent to them but, until that moment, were outside of my field of experience/empathy.
It feels like we are talking past each other. It's clear that he isn't a member of the tribe, thanks to Seminole Tribe Leader Gary Bitner. Discussing the suspect's own words (and clearly, he doesn't get to just opt himself into the Seminole tribe) isn't like, a crazy thing to do. And yes, Metafilter can do better when it comes to Native Identity.
Pretty sure we're all on the same team, here. It's a tough day and speaking for myself, my nerves are shot to hell.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:40 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
...
Lately, I feel like there needs to be a fucking Native Identity 101 focus that's akin to the Transgender 101 type of stuff that we as a site have agreed to use as a baseline understanding or starting point for things that touch on these issues. I don't have the energy or the eloquence to start it but shesus christ this is tiresome to encounter time and again and, yet again, I apologize to that community for coming in fast and hot before on topics that are pertinent to them but, until that moment, were outside of my field of experience/empathy.
It feels like we are talking past each other. It's clear that he isn't a member of the tribe, thanks to Seminole Tribe Leader Gary Bitner. Discussing the suspect's own words (and clearly, he doesn't get to just opt himself into the Seminole tribe) isn't like, a crazy thing to do. And yes, Metafilter can do better when it comes to Native Identity.
Pretty sure we're all on the same team, here. It's a tough day and speaking for myself, my nerves are shot to hell.
posted by lazaruslong at 12:40 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
I would like to remind all of you to take a deep breath, center yourselves, still your nerves, and then consider that we still have a week and a half remaining for this election season to get weirder.
posted by delfin at 12:42 PM on October 26, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by delfin at 12:42 PM on October 26, 2018 [28 favorites]
And now Dale's live-tweeting Trump's Young Black Leadership Summit event, and he's predictably nuts. (The group's comms director is Candace Owens, who has claimed, in a since-deleted tweet, that there was "0% chance that these “suspicious packages” were sent out by conservatives" and that "leftists" were behind them in order to disrupt the midterms.)
Candace Owens previously on MeFi. Because it's never so weird that it can't get weirder.
posted by scalefree at 12:59 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Candace Owens previously on MeFi. Because it's never so weird that it can't get weirder.
posted by scalefree at 12:59 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
So, to sum up the MAGABomber situation - he's an older white guy who lives in Florida, with multiple prior arrests for theft, battery, domestic violence (of course), probation violation, etc., he drives a creepy Vanifesto with MAGA / Trump / Pence / youth soccer decorations, he may have been committing voter fraud, and he took advantage of bomb-making materials that the NRA fought to keep easily accessible. Oh, and he may or may not have been falsely representing himself as a member of an American Indian tribe.
Wow, the false flag operation runs so deep, it's tunneling through the ground and coming out in China at this point.
posted by RedOrGreen at 1:00 PM on October 26, 2018 [40 favorites]
Wow, the false flag operation runs so deep, it's tunneling through the ground and coming out in China at this point.
posted by RedOrGreen at 1:00 PM on October 26, 2018 [40 favorites]
Why am I not surprised that the bomber is a middle-aged man with a long criminal record, past domestic violence and harassment citations, is a one-man subscriber to "isms," indeed a very prototype of right-wing conspiracy theories?
So the next chin-stroker who says "Akshully, Trumpism is all about economic anxiety" really ought to reconsider.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 1:08 PM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
So the next chin-stroker who says "Akshully, Trumpism is all about economic anxiety" really ought to reconsider.
posted by Rosie M. Banks at 1:08 PM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Daily Beast, Bolton Kept DHS in the Dark in His Push to Seal the Border Against the Migrant Caravan
National Security Adviser John Bolton championed a plan to send U.S. troops to the southern border to keep migrants out, after rejecting a proposal by Homeland Security to employ the UN refugee agency to set up migrant camps in Mexico, senior administration officials tell The Daily Beast.posted by zachlipton at 1:09 PM on October 26, 2018 [27 favorites]
Bolton shared plans directly with a like-minded Donald Trump, cutting out the president’s chief of staff and the head of Homeland Security, two senior administration officials tell The Daily Beast.
...
When Bolton initially refused to share those details or his Oval Office conversations with Chief of Staff John Kelly, that led to the a shouting match between Bolton and Kelly, as previously reported by Bloomberg News, and confirmed by two of the officials. Kelly was so furious with the border drama that he left the White House for the rest of the day to cool off, two of the officials said.
“John Bolton is yelling fire in the crowded movie theater that is Trump’s mind,” one of the senior administration officials added.
...
A West Wing official told The Daily Beast that one of the reasons Bolton wanted to keep the circle small on the plan was due to his ongoing campaign to clamp down on national-security leaks to the press. This official noted the “rich irony” of this apparently and inadvertently resulting in these leaks to The Daily Beast.
It feels like we are talking past each other. It's clear that he isn't a member of the tribe, thanks to Seminole Tribe Leader Gary Bitner.
Probably, and I admit that current US politics as well as site history/behavior maybe has those of us that are directly tied to the identity v. heritage discussion a bit strung out as well. So yea, I got a bit touchy when a comment I made praising folks that posted facts was responded to with a nudge towards how speculation is something we can't, even here on Metafilter, hold off on doing ourselves because, well, I don't know, because hot-takes are human nature I guess.
The simple fact that a tribal leader had to waste whatever time he/she spent on, what I'm betting was, a red alert, high priority check to see if this dangerous individual was part of their roll because of a sticker on his van is frustrating enough.
It's worth mentioning that the Seminoles are an even more complex example of this, as I have touched on here before myself, because that sort of sticker isn't uncommon and denotes another type of fandom/culture altogether.
On Preview:
The Seminole stuff is really beginning to feel like a derail, guys.
and
Or at the very least a discussion that Metafilter Does Not Do Well Yet.
Wholeheartedly, yes, and yes. Which is why maybe we should not speculate where it is concerned and rely on facts from, ideally, reliable tribal sources before jumping into the pen with the pigs. I'll leave it at that.
posted by RolandOfEld at 1:12 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
Probably, and I admit that current US politics as well as site history/behavior maybe has those of us that are directly tied to the identity v. heritage discussion a bit strung out as well. So yea, I got a bit touchy when a comment I made praising folks that posted facts was responded to with a nudge towards how speculation is something we can't, even here on Metafilter, hold off on doing ourselves because, well, I don't know, because hot-takes are human nature I guess.
The simple fact that a tribal leader had to waste whatever time he/she spent on, what I'm betting was, a red alert, high priority check to see if this dangerous individual was part of their roll because of a sticker on his van is frustrating enough.
It's worth mentioning that the Seminoles are an even more complex example of this, as I have touched on here before myself, because that sort of sticker isn't uncommon and denotes another type of fandom/culture altogether.
On Preview:
The Seminole stuff is really beginning to feel like a derail, guys.
and
Or at the very least a discussion that Metafilter Does Not Do Well Yet.
Wholeheartedly, yes, and yes. Which is why maybe we should not speculate where it is concerned and rely on facts from, ideally, reliable tribal sources before jumping into the pen with the pigs. I'll leave it at that.
posted by RolandOfEld at 1:12 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
Steve Inskeep parachuted into Cuba, MO and demonstrated why I go doorknock.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 1:16 PM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 1:16 PM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
Rural Texas report, early voting lines were 20 minutes for a voting screen. Volunteers said they'd never seen it this busy. No funny business with votes switching on mine, but I didn't choose straight ticket because I wanted to mark the square for every Democrat running. There were a ton of judgeship races with only republicans, and none with only Dems.
The county where I live says that more than 20% of all registered voters have already cast a ballot. We have already, on day five, exceeded all of the early votes in 2016, if I'm reading correctly. This looks to be true in all of the big counties.
That said, numbers alone are no indication of how people voted, but they are coming out to vote.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 1:22 PM on October 26, 2018 [31 favorites]
The county where I live says that more than 20% of all registered voters have already cast a ballot. We have already, on day five, exceeded all of the early votes in 2016, if I'm reading correctly. This looks to be true in all of the big counties.
That said, numbers alone are no indication of how people voted, but they are coming out to vote.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 1:22 PM on October 26, 2018 [31 favorites]
elaborating on Inskeep's tweet - he says prior to the arrest conservative MO voters would have refused to believe one of their own could do this. . .
im not sure why he thinks facts will make them change their minds?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:22 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
im not sure why he thinks facts will make them change their minds?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 1:22 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
I don't know either. He doesn't live in or understand the midwest. Would it have been so terrible for NPR to talk to Jason Rosenbaum or Rachel Lippman?
posted by fluttering hellfire at 1:24 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 1:24 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Vanessa Trump has decided that she, too, would like to be a part of this narrative, by choosing this exact moment as the perfect time to tell the Administration's good friend at Axios about the time in February she opened an envelope containing white powder (it was a hoax: corn starch addressed to Don Jr.)
posted by zachlipton at 1:34 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:34 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
When asked why bomb suspect Cesar Sayoc was targeting Democrats, Attorney General Jeff Sessions replied, "I don't know. Other than what you might normally expect. He may have been -- he appears to be partisan but that will be determined by the facts as the case goes forward. I'm not able to comment on that."
posted by Karmakaze at 1:38 PM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Karmakaze at 1:38 PM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
Mod note: Barring some specific new information, it seems like the tribal identification/status of this guy is not a productive line of conversation. Let's move on. Thanks.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 1:39 PM on October 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 1:39 PM on October 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
So if you’re in NYC and you want to help flip a few seats there’s going to be a Big Blue Call (and text and postcard) event this Saturday in Brooklyn and Manhattan and another big call on the 4th in Brooklyn
Twitter
Facebook
posted by The Whelk at 1:41 PM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 1:41 PM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
ACLU of Kanas is suing the Ford County clerk over the various shenanigans about voting in Dodge City.
You know, I know some folks here are not big ACLU fans due to their zealotry on free speech, insofar as it intersects with the neo-Nazis, and I get it, and I agree with that. But it cannot be overstated how much good stuff they have worked on in the past two years for voting rights, prison reform, etc. They are, on balance, a very positive thing.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:42 PM on October 26, 2018 [52 favorites]
You know, I know some folks here are not big ACLU fans due to their zealotry on free speech, insofar as it intersects with the neo-Nazis, and I get it, and I agree with that. But it cannot be overstated how much good stuff they have worked on in the past two years for voting rights, prison reform, etc. They are, on balance, a very positive thing.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:42 PM on October 26, 2018 [52 favorites]
Jack Dorsey is complicit.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 1:52 PM on October 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 1:52 PM on October 26, 2018 [14 favorites]
What's extra infuriating about the MAGABomber is how Republicans will say this is all a mental health issue and not political while they keep on working to make mental health care harder to acquire.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:52 PM on October 26, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:52 PM on October 26, 2018 [33 favorites]
@ddale8: Trump to reporters: "I did not see my face on the van. I don't know. I heard he was a person that preferred me over others, but I did not see that."
I think he's seen his face on the van.
@christinawilkie [video, in which he also insists the media is "very unfair" repeatedly]: Asked whether he could tone down his rhetoric, Trump said no. "I think I've been toned down, I have. I could really tone it up."
@christinawilkie: Reporter: Will you call Obama and the Clintons [after the pipe bombs]?
Trump: "They wanted me to, but we’ll pass."
I'm going to spend the next week wondering who "they" are now
posted by zachlipton at 1:57 PM on October 26, 2018 [52 favorites]
I think he's seen his face on the van.
@christinawilkie [video, in which he also insists the media is "very unfair" repeatedly]: Asked whether he could tone down his rhetoric, Trump said no. "I think I've been toned down, I have. I could really tone it up."
@christinawilkie: Reporter: Will you call Obama and the Clintons [after the pipe bombs]?
Trump: "They wanted me to, but we’ll pass."
I'm going to spend the next week wondering who "they" are now
posted by zachlipton at 1:57 PM on October 26, 2018 [52 favorites]
Sayoc appears to have been managing a road show for a male strip dancing company
Muggle Mike
CNN, as of 5pm EST today: Authorities have intercepted at least 13 packages, officials said. They were addressed to:
CNN link continues - Authorities on Friday also were investigating:
- A suspicious package in Sacramento, California, addressed to Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris, a law enforcement official said.
- A suspicious package in Burlingame, California, addressed to major Democratic donor Tom Steyer, according to a law enforcement source.
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:05 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
Muggle Mike
CNN, as of 5pm EST today: Authorities have intercepted at least 13 packages, officials said. They were addressed to:
Billionaire investor George Soros: One package, delivered to his home in New York. The package was reported to police Monday and rendered safe.[I've read through five times now, still only counting 12 package in this list]
Hillary Clinton: One package addressed to her in New York but intercepted by the Secret Service on Tuesday evening. Clinton's home is in Chappaqua, but the Secret Service said the package was addressed to her in broader Westchester County.
Barack Obama: One package mailed to Washington but intercepted by the Secret Service at a screening facility. The Secret Service reported the existence of this package Wednesday.
Former Attorney General Eric Holder: This package, announced Wednesday, was addressed to him but sent to the Florida office of Democratic US Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
Democratic US Rep. Maxine Waters: Two suspicious packages were announced Wednesday: one intercepted at a congressional mail-screening facility in Maryland and a second one found at a postal facility in Los Angeles.
John Brennan: A "live explosive device," according to New York police Commissioner James O'Neill, was addressed to the former CIA director and delivered by courier to CNN's offices at the Time Warner Center in New York. It was discovered there Wednesday morning.
Actor Robert De Niro: A suspicious package sent to him at the Manhattan building where his production company is based was reported to police Thursday. It shows similarities to the other pipe bomb packages, sources said.
Former Vice President Joe Biden: Two packages intercepted at post offices in Delaware. Authorities reported their discovery Thursday.
Democratic US Sen. Cory Booker: A package addressed to Booker's Camden, New Jersey, office was found in Florida and is similar in appearance to the others, the FBI said Friday.
Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper: A package addressed to Clapper and CNN was found at a New York City postal facility, a law enforcement official said Friday.
CNN link continues - Authorities on Friday also were investigating:
- A suspicious package in Sacramento, California, addressed to Democratic Sen. Kamala Harris, a law enforcement official said.
- A suspicious package in Burlingame, California, addressed to major Democratic donor Tom Steyer, according to a law enforcement source.
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:05 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
RedOrGreen: Wow, the false flag operation runs so deep, it's tunneling through the ground and coming out in China at this point.
Russia. I think you meant to write it goes through the ground and comes out in Russia. Don't try to pin this on Chinese influences. {/not totally hamburger here, TBH, but I'm not really blaming Russia, either, except the fact that it has amplified violent rhetoric}
zachlipton: I think he's seen his face on the van.
Depends on which channel he watched. Remember that Fox blurred the stickers on the van
Meanwhile, Net neutrality delay: Calif. agrees to suspend law until after court case -- State net neutrality law won't take effect on January 1. (Jon Brodkin for Ars Technica, Oct. 26, 2018)
Russia. I think you meant to write it goes through the ground and comes out in Russia. Don't try to pin this on Chinese influences. {/not totally hamburger here, TBH, but I'm not really blaming Russia, either, except the fact that it has amplified violent rhetoric}
zachlipton: I think he's seen his face on the van.
Depends on which channel he watched. Remember that Fox blurred the stickers on the van
Meanwhile, Net neutrality delay: Calif. agrees to suspend law until after court case -- State net neutrality law won't take effect on January 1. (Jon Brodkin for Ars Technica, Oct. 26, 2018)
California has agreed to delay enforcement of its net neutrality law until after litigation that will determine whether states can implement their own net neutrality rules.posted by filthy light thief at 2:08 PM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
California's net neutrality law was slated to take effect on January 1, 2019. But the Trump administration's Department of Justice and broadband industry sued to block the law and were seeking a preliminary injunction that would halt enforcement until litigation is over.
The DOJ and broadband industry had a good chance of winning a preliminary injunction because the Federal Communications Commission had declared that all state net neutrality rules are preempted. As the DOJ argued, the US District Court for the Eastern District of California must presume that the FCC preemption of state laws is valid since that preemption has not been overturned by any court.
The core question of whether the FCC can preempt state net neutrality laws is expected to be decided by the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. In that case, 22 state attorneys general and other parties sued the FCC to overturn its net neutrality repeal and preemption of state laws. Oral arguments are scheduled for February 1, 2019.
In a US District Court filing today (PDF), California agreed to take no action to enforce the state net neutrality law until after the US Court of Appeals case is decided and all appeals have been exhausted.
coming out in China
It's a reference to this.
posted by Major Clanger at 2:13 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
It's a reference to this.
posted by Major Clanger at 2:13 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Depends on which channel he watched. Remember that Fox blurred the stickers on the van
This is apparently not true. Some of the camera shots were just blurry, on all networks.
posted by zachlipton at 2:13 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
This is apparently not true. Some of the camera shots were just blurry, on all networks.
posted by zachlipton at 2:13 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
And more from Ars Technica: Facebook yanks content tied to Iranian effort due to “inauthentic behavior” -- Detected last week by investigators, accounts targeted US and UK users to "spread discord." (Sean Gallagher, Oct. 26, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 2:18 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Today, Facebook took down 30 pages, 33 Facebook accounts, three Facebook groups, and 16 Instagram accounts that Facebook's head of Cybersecurity Policy Nathaniel Gleicher said were tied to an influence campaign by a group of actors in Iran.The included photos are ... not what I was expecting. TBH, some are things I'd post if I wanted to get in virtual shouting matches with some family and friends.
"It’s still early days, and while we have found no ties to the Iranian government, we can’t say for sure who is responsible," Gleicher said in a call with press this afternoon. He added that Facebook found some overlap in the accounts' activity with a group of Iran-linked accounts taken down by the company in August. "Given the elections, we took action as soon as we’d completed our initial investigation and shared the information with US and UK government officials, US law enforcement, Congress, other technology companies, and the Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Research Lab," Gleicher said. He added that Facebook shared information not just with federal officials but with state and local election officials as well to keep them advised of any emerging threat.
The accounts, pages, and groups had approximately 1.02 million combined followers across Facebook and Instagram. While the accounts and pages associated with the latest takedown were created as early as 2016, most of their activity occurred over the past year. That includes a very small Facebook ad buy—two advertisements, for under $100 US, purchased in US and Canadian currency—as well as seven events hosted by the pages. Details of the events have not yet been shared by Facebook.
Facebook did not take down the accounts and pages for their content but rather because of "inauthentic behavior." The accounts and group and page administrators had represented themselves as US and British citizens. Like other influence campaigns recently exposed, the content posted by the accounts and pages was targeted "at spreading discord," as Gleicher described it—focusing on hot-button issues such "race relations, certain political leaders, and immigration."
This is consistent with content posted by Iranian actors taken down by Facebook in August, and with posts on Twitter identified as being part of an Iranian influence campaign dating back to 2014. But unlike recent Russian influence campaigns, the Iranian actors focused on promoting sentiments and activities that tended to be in opposition to President Trump (and in some cases, UK prime minister Theresa May).
Data released by Twitter last week showed Iranian actors posted hundreds of times with the #BlackLivesMatter hashtag, for example, and they posted over 30,000 anti-Trump tweets through the accounts Berniecrats, RiseAgainstTheRight, and RealProgressiveFront.
posted by filthy light thief at 2:18 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
So one thing about the immediate move to label this man as mentally ill... As someone who used to screen people for mental illness for a living, I'm not at all sure how you would tell this individual apart from hundreds of thousands (or more?) of right-wing conspiracy kooks out there.
Like on the one hand, his postings and van look nuts, right? But there's kinda a LOT of not-that-different examples out there. And maybe many of those people have Some Sort of mental illness, the kind of mental illness that one in four people in this country have.
But honestly, this guy seems to have much more in common with terrorists than the people with severe mental illness that I worked with. He's an extremist, he's obsessed, he's also abusing/abused drugs including explicitly steroids which seems to me potentially more relevant to his current mental and emotional state than some innate mental issue.
Frankly I think rather than looking at this man as a lone wolf with a medical problem we have to accept the idea that there is a certain percentage of the population who, when exposed to years of propaganda, conspiracy theories, partisan news, and vilification of an Other, will have their mind affected. The most extreme cases end in violence, as we've seen over and over again. The less extreme merely end in broken families, relationships, and online obsessive behavior.
posted by threeturtles at 2:25 PM on October 26, 2018 [59 favorites]
Like on the one hand, his postings and van look nuts, right? But there's kinda a LOT of not-that-different examples out there. And maybe many of those people have Some Sort of mental illness, the kind of mental illness that one in four people in this country have.
But honestly, this guy seems to have much more in common with terrorists than the people with severe mental illness that I worked with. He's an extremist, he's obsessed, he's also abusing/abused drugs including explicitly steroids which seems to me potentially more relevant to his current mental and emotional state than some innate mental issue.
Frankly I think rather than looking at this man as a lone wolf with a medical problem we have to accept the idea that there is a certain percentage of the population who, when exposed to years of propaganda, conspiracy theories, partisan news, and vilification of an Other, will have their mind affected. The most extreme cases end in violence, as we've seen over and over again. The less extreme merely end in broken families, relationships, and online obsessive behavior.
posted by threeturtles at 2:25 PM on October 26, 2018 [59 favorites]
Forbes reports further problems with Trump's embattled Commerce Secretary: Wilbur Ross Scheduled Meetings With Chevron, Boeing Despite Conflicts of Interest
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:25 PM on October 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
New evidence suggests that Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross put himself at risk of violating a criminal conflict-of-interest law by discussing business matters with Chevron executives — while his wife apparently owned a stake in the company worth more than $250,000.Ross's failure to divest from his myriad financial holdings when he came on board the Trump Administration looks only more and more suspicious.
On March 22, 2017, Ross hosted Chevron’s then-CEO John Watson, along with two other executives, in his conference room, according to the commerce secretary’s calendar. Forbes first reported the existence of the meeting in July, but both the Department of Commerce and Chevron refused to say what was discussed during the sit-down. After a legal battle that lasted more than six months, however, the government watchdog group American Oversight released a detailed version of Ross’ calendar last week, which shows that the agenda centered on oil and gas developments, tax reform and trade issues.[...]
It also wasn’t the only questionable meeting Ross held. Shortly after the Chevron event, his calendar lists an appointment with the CEO of Boeing, a company in which Ross’ wife owned a stake worth more than $2 million at the time. A representative for Ross did not answer questions about that meeting either, but a Boeing spokesperson made it clear the aviation company was there to talk business. “Boeing meets regularly with officials across the U.S. government to discuss policy matters impacting our business, the aerospace industry, and our workforce,” the spokesperson said. “These meetings were in line with that long-standing practice.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 2:25 PM on October 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
The included photos are ... not what I was expecting. TBH, some are things I'd post if I wanted to get in virtual shouting matches with some family and friends.
QFT. We, as a people, really need to quit with the meme photos. It's making our discourse look like #vanifesto.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 2:30 PM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
QFT. We, as a people, really need to quit with the meme photos. It's making our discourse look like #vanifesto.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 2:30 PM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
@ViceNews:
Sayoc also reportedly worked as a pizza deliveryman for Papa John's, tweeting about his love for delivering Papa John's pizzas.
So apparently he didn't make the USPS do all of his dirty work for him.
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:32 PM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
Sayoc also reportedly worked as a pizza deliveryman for Papa John's, tweeting about his love for delivering Papa John's pizzas.
So apparently he didn't make the USPS do all of his dirty work for him.
posted by Atom Eyes at 2:32 PM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
> "... Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross put himself at risk of violating a criminal conflict-of-interest law ... " Ross's failure to divest from his myriad financial holdings when he came on board the Trump Administration looks only more and more suspicious.
In any other administration - any other, even the Dick Cheney one - this would be a late-Friday bad news dump that would nevertheless ignite a 5-day scandal. Here, I skim-read and didn't even raise an eyebrow - and I just feel compelled to come back and leave a comment to say that no, this is NOT normal. This is naked corruption, exceeded only by the corruption at the top of the administration.
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:33 PM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
In any other administration - any other, even the Dick Cheney one - this would be a late-Friday bad news dump that would nevertheless ignite a 5-day scandal. Here, I skim-read and didn't even raise an eyebrow - and I just feel compelled to come back and leave a comment to say that no, this is NOT normal. This is naked corruption, exceeded only by the corruption at the top of the administration.
posted by RedOrGreen at 2:33 PM on October 26, 2018 [19 favorites]
Ross's failure to divest from his myriad financial holdings when he came on board the Trump Administration looks only more and more suspicious criminal.
posted by baltimoretim at 2:34 PM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by baltimoretim at 2:34 PM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
Sayoc also reportedly worked as a pizza deliveryman for Papa John's, tweeting about his love for delivering Papa John's pizzas.This guy is going to turn out to be the alt-right equivalent of Forrest Gump, isn't he?
posted by Nerd of the North at 2:39 PM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
A word cloud of MAGABomber's twitter feed
posted by BungaDunga at 2:50 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by BungaDunga at 2:50 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
On MAGABomber's foreclosure:
The foreclosure was done by IndyMac, which was bought out when it failed and became... OneWest Bank! Steven Mnuchin's bank, in other words, which filed a fraudulent foreclosure against a guy suspected in sending pipe bombs to prominent Dems.posted by BungaDunga at 2:53 PM on October 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
CNN's update has an additional detail on the utility-company-related 'bomb threat' arrest, as part of the suspect's record of arrests:
Notable among them was a 2002 arrest in which Miami police alleged Sayoc threatened to bomb the Florida Power and Light Co. and said that "it would be worse than September 11th."
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:54 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Notable among them was a 2002 arrest in which Miami police alleged Sayoc threatened to bomb the Florida Power and Light Co. and said that "it would be worse than September 11th."
posted by Iris Gambol at 2:54 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Yo, cheetoh! Is this Trump supporter deplorable?
posted by j_curiouser at 3:02 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by j_curiouser at 3:02 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
So one thing about the immediate move to label this man as mentally ill... As someone who used to screen people for mental illness for a living, I'm not at all sure how you would tell this individual apart from hundreds of thousands (or more?) of right-wing conspiracy kooks out there.
As I put it in another forum:
As I put it in another forum:
When you accuse George Soros of heading a Jewish conspiracy to pay protesters against Brett Kavanaugh, -- what do you think the least-emotionally stable Republicans are going to do?posted by mikelieman at 3:12 PM on October 26, 2018 [52 favorites]
When you accuse Hillary Clinton of running a child sex trafficking ring out of the basement of a pizza place without a basement -- what do you think the least-emotionally stable Republicans are going to do?
When you accuse Barack Obama of having a fake birth certificate and being a "Secret Muslim" -- what do you think the least-emotionally stable Republicans are going to do?
When you accuse CNN of being the "Enemy of the people" -- what do you think the least-emotionally stable Republicans are going to do?
13 packages shipped across the country ... 5 bombs all on the East coast I might believe was one guy getting a very bad idea during a manic phase. 13 bombs is pushing the limits of that explanation. I was gonna say it's starting to sound like more than one person, but also:
Mental illness or no, whether it was this particular person or not, whoever did it formed the goal and worked towards it in an organized way over a period of at least a week. They clearly understood what bombs do - if they understood bombs well enough to make a functional one. They understood that the goal they had in mind was criminal and could really hurt people. They waited until all 13 were complete before sending them. They had lots of time to "snap out of it" and change their mind.
this is not the time and place for my thesis, it's just ... By clinical standards whoever did this almost certainly does have some mental illness, almost by definition if he's homicidal. By criminal standards, that mental illness isn't really relevant to their guilt. Their actions are the actions of someone who knew what they were doing. And the fucking news coverage and the popular discourse tends to be really sloppy with this subject (and it's something that gets under my skin and it's one of the reasons I stick to MeFi) and I like to point out what these words are doing in different contexts. thank u
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 3:13 PM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
Mental illness or no, whether it was this particular person or not, whoever did it formed the goal and worked towards it in an organized way over a period of at least a week. They clearly understood what bombs do - if they understood bombs well enough to make a functional one. They understood that the goal they had in mind was criminal and could really hurt people. They waited until all 13 were complete before sending them. They had lots of time to "snap out of it" and change their mind.
this is not the time and place for my thesis, it's just ... By clinical standards whoever did this almost certainly does have some mental illness, almost by definition if he's homicidal. By criminal standards, that mental illness isn't really relevant to their guilt. Their actions are the actions of someone who knew what they were doing. And the fucking news coverage and the popular discourse tends to be really sloppy with this subject (and it's something that gets under my skin and it's one of the reasons I stick to MeFi) and I like to point out what these words are doing in different contexts. thank u
posted by Rainbo Vagrant at 3:13 PM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
Terrorism is falling worldwide ...except in the US
posted by The Whelk at 3:17 PM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 3:17 PM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
Here is my take re Menendez: I respect Cook, but I don't always agree with them. NJ Senate is one of those.
It seems to me that Cook is often more concerned with not being wrong than with giving a full and accurate picture of the map. I read a stat where the Senate seats classified as "Lean R/D" by Cook this late in the cycle go in the called direction 97% of the time.
97% is not "lean". It's "Solid". If your lean Senate seats are going in the lean direction 97% of the time you're being an order of magnitude too conservative.
So when Cook moves NJ to "tossup" it could mean that Menendez is a 94% favorite.
posted by Justinian at 3:19 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
It seems to me that Cook is often more concerned with not being wrong than with giving a full and accurate picture of the map. I read a stat where the Senate seats classified as "Lean R/D" by Cook this late in the cycle go in the called direction 97% of the time.
97% is not "lean". It's "Solid". If your lean Senate seats are going in the lean direction 97% of the time you're being an order of magnitude too conservative.
So when Cook moves NJ to "tossup" it could mean that Menendez is a 94% favorite.
posted by Justinian at 3:19 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
elaborating on Inskeep's tweet - he says prior to the arrest conservative MO voters would have refused to believe one of their own could do this. . .
For the record, here are some of the most prominent Trump backers who have suggested the bombs are a liberal hoax, via The Guardian's Jon Swaine:
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:21 PM on October 26, 2018 [27 favorites]
For the record, here are some of the most prominent Trump backers who have suggested the bombs are a liberal hoax, via The Guardian's Jon Swaine:
Ann CoulterAdd Lou Dobbs to the list, too.
Rush Limbaugh
Michael Savage
James Woods
Mike Flynn Jr.
Frank Gaffney
Kurt Schlichter
Candace Owens
David Horowitz
John Cardillo
Laura Loomer
Jacob Wohl
Chadwick Moore
John Lott
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:21 PM on October 26, 2018 [27 favorites]
Alexandra Petri, who promises to return to jokes next week, One president’s scary story is a country’s scary world
Donald Trump, alone of all people on earth, has the luxury of not caring at all what Donald Trump says. He dwells inside a pasteboard nightmare where everything is horrifying and 10 or 20 times larger than life — Hillary Clinton is an enormous spider presiding over untold conspiracies; a caravan full of “Middle Eastern terrorists” is making its way to the border; he is being hunted by witches, ceaselessly, for no reason — but nothing is real. He invents this world. He does not have to live there. He tells these stories, and his world does not change.posted by zachlipton at 3:25 PM on October 26, 2018 [24 favorites]
At the end of the rallies, having been more or less applauded, he gets back onto the plane. He is presented with the same steak and the same cable channels. The only enduring change in his existence since becoming president is now the television sometimes yells back. Why should he not tell these stories?
So, Sayoc went to a February 2017 Melbourne, FL Trump rally. What did Trump say there? That day he wrote a tweet saying, The FAKE NEWS media (failing @nytimes, @NBCNews, @ABC, @CBS, @CNN) is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People! 5:48 PM - Feb 17, 2017. Sayoc, paying attention, sent a bomb to CNN.
Trump railed against the fake news at the rally. Here is video and a transcript. It seems less unhinged than the recent rallies.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 3:51 PM on October 26, 2018 [17 favorites]
Trump railed against the fake news at the rally. Here is video and a transcript. It seems less unhinged than the recent rallies.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 3:51 PM on October 26, 2018 [17 favorites]
Hi Fox News Here- Did you take this photo? If so, can we have permission to use on Fox News Channel, Fox Business Network, Fox Nation and all Fox News Edge affiliates across all platforms until further notice with courtesy to you?
posted by growabrain at 3:53 PM on October 26, 2018 [57 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 3:53 PM on October 26, 2018 [57 favorites]
So my question to Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
The accused bomber Cesar Sayoc attended President Trump's February 2017 rally on the day he declared, quote: "The FAKE NEWS media..." and among others he named CNN "... is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People." Sayoc is accused of sending a bomb to CNN. Does the president accept any responsibility for inciting such an action?
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:07 PM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
The accused bomber Cesar Sayoc attended President Trump's February 2017 rally on the day he declared, quote: "The FAKE NEWS media..." and among others he named CNN "... is not my enemy, it is the enemy of the American People." Sayoc is accused of sending a bomb to CNN. Does the president accept any responsibility for inciting such an action?
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:07 PM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
So was Trump saying the enemy of the American people is not his enemy?
The MAGAbomber may or may not be crazy, but his van of stickers is no more crazy than the gifs plastering an average right wing Reddit thread.
posted by xammerboy at 4:08 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
The MAGAbomber may or may not be crazy, but his van of stickers is no more crazy than the gifs plastering an average right wing Reddit thread.
posted by xammerboy at 4:08 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
Trump's Reaction to Cesar Sayoc's Arrest Was a Total Shitshow
posted by kirkaracha at 4:09 PM on October 26, 2018 [35 favorites]
Within a few minutes, he was musing that “no one gets attacked more than me,” which uh, seems a bit tone deaf considering several of his political opponents were mailed bombs.Ceterum autem censeo Trumpem esse delendam
posted by kirkaracha at 4:09 PM on October 26, 2018 [35 favorites]
BBC, Khashoggi fiancée snubs Trump invitation to White House
The fiancée of murdered Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi says she has declined an invitation to the White House from US President Donald Trump, accusing him of not being sincere about investigating the killing.posted by zachlipton at 4:12 PM on October 26, 2018 [41 favorites]
Hatice Cengiz told Turkish TV she thought the invitation was aimed at influencing public opinion in the US.
Trump at his Charlotte rally on the explosive devices: the crowd boos when he mentions it, then cheers about the suspect being "captured." He then reads the boilerplate disclaimer "must be prosecuted and punished to the fullest extent of the law" stuff of the prompter in a truly board and unengaged tone, but gets more excited: "Political violence must never ever be allowed in America, and I will do everything in my power to stop it. In recent days, we've had a broader conversation about the tone and civility of our national dialogue. Everyone will benefit if we can end the politics of personal destruction. We must unify as a nation...The media has a major role to play whether they want to or not [big round of boos and huge 'CNN Sucks' chants] and they do indeed have a major role to play as far as tone and as far as everything. The media's constant unfair coverage, deep hostility, and negative attacks, you know that, only serve to drive people apart and unermind healthy debate. For example, we have seen an effort by the media in recent hours to use the sinister actions of one individual to score political points...Yet when a Bernie Sanders supporter tried to murder congressional republicans...we did not use that haneous attempt at mass murder for political gains because that would have been wrong. It would have been the wrong thing to do." He pivots to explaining how wonderful his supporters are, that they're "loyal to our country, all they want is a government that is loyal to them in return, and that is what they're getting from me."
The 'CNN Sucks' chants were loud and vicious and clearly expected.
And this is clearly all scripted and the new talking point for today: @KFaulders: When asked by @tarapalmeri if @realDonaldTrump bears some responsibility for the pipe bomb plot, @VP says “No. Not at all. And neither did Bernie Sanders bear any responsibility when the Illinois man opened fire at a Republican baseball practice.”
Meanwhile, the New York Times has decided to bothsides bomb recipients themselves with an article headlined They Were Sent Pipe Bombs. Here’s What They’ve Said About Trump: "A look at the contentious words between the president and some of his most outspoken critics. "
posted by zachlipton at 4:24 PM on October 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
The 'CNN Sucks' chants were loud and vicious and clearly expected.
And this is clearly all scripted and the new talking point for today: @KFaulders: When asked by @tarapalmeri if @realDonaldTrump bears some responsibility for the pipe bomb plot, @VP says “No. Not at all. And neither did Bernie Sanders bear any responsibility when the Illinois man opened fire at a Republican baseball practice.”
Meanwhile, the New York Times has decided to bothsides bomb recipients themselves with an article headlined They Were Sent Pipe Bombs. Here’s What They’ve Said About Trump: "A look at the contentious words between the president and some of his most outspoken critics. "
posted by zachlipton at 4:24 PM on October 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
floam: So according to the complaint, packages we have photos of with missing postmarks were actually delivered by the postal service, they were not hand-delivered. I imagine conspiracy nuts will seize on this.
I thought that the photos came from the photos that the USPS takes of all the parcels that it processes. E.g., see this article. So, these photos would make sense if that system is taking the photos before the postmark gets applied.
posted by mhum at 4:35 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
I thought that the photos came from the photos that the USPS takes of all the parcels that it processes. E.g., see this article. So, these photos would make sense if that system is taking the photos before the postmark gets applied.
posted by mhum at 4:35 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Threats, conservative memes fill Twitter accounts of mail bomb suspect
Jamie Dupree of the AJC got to Sayoc's Twitter account before it was taken down.
posted by jgirl at 4:36 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
Jamie Dupree of the AJC got to Sayoc's Twitter account before it was taken down.
posted by jgirl at 4:36 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
I clock it at 17 minutes from Trump's "we've had a broader conversation about the tone and civility of our national dialogue. Everyone will benefit if we can end the politics of personal destruction" to big "Lock Her Up" chants when Clinton was mentioned.
Trump realizes how the chants will look on TV, but appears unconcerned: "Oh boy. They're going to be reporting about you tonight [big cheers]." Then he praised someone's hat.
posted by zachlipton at 4:43 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Trump realizes how the chants will look on TV, but appears unconcerned: "Oh boy. They're going to be reporting about you tonight [big cheers]." Then he praised someone's hat.
posted by zachlipton at 4:43 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
I've been asking my community college students where they get the news. Some of the younger ones were all The Shade Room on Instagram it's great so today I looked at The Shade Room and got a window into the content of the news diet of some of my students, and I died a little inside. It's like, so that's why you can hear a pin drop if I mention Giuliani but mention Cardi B and I can't calm them down for ten minutes. And I adore Cardi B. Maybe she can come to my classroom and motivate students to get politically involved. I think I'd have about fifteen heart attacks on my hands.
posted by angrycat at 4:45 PM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by angrycat at 4:45 PM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
Chrysostom:
A look at their recent featured cases shows them doing outstanding work on a ton of important issues.
Just like the politicians I support, I don't agree with the ACLU on everything, but I am immensely grateful for the work they do, and I try to support it when I can.
posted by kristi at 4:49 PM on October 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
ACLU of Kansas is suing the Ford County clerk over the various shenanigans about voting in Dodge City.I believe they were the main organization behind the initial lawsuit to stop the family separations at the border.
You know, I know some folks here are not big ACLU fans due to their zealotry on free speech, insofar as it intersects with the neo-Nazis, and I get it, and I agree with that. But it cannot be overstated how much good stuff they have worked on in the past two years for voting rights, prison reform, etc. They are, on balance, a very positive thing.
A look at their recent featured cases shows them doing outstanding work on a ton of important issues.
Just like the politicians I support, I don't agree with the ACLU on everything, but I am immensely grateful for the work they do, and I try to support it when I can.
posted by kristi at 4:49 PM on October 26, 2018 [21 favorites]
Meanwhile, the New York Times has decided to bothsides bomb recipients themselves with an article headlined They Were Sent Pipe Bombs. Here’s What They’ve Said About Trump: "A look at the contentious words between the president and some of his most outspoken critics. "
what.the.hell NYT. The article is as bad as the headline - a back and forth selection of statements form people POTENTIALLY KILLED BY BOMBS and Trump's twitter comments about them. I mean what is the point exactly?
posted by bluesky43 at 4:54 PM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
what.the.hell NYT. The article is as bad as the headline - a back and forth selection of statements form people POTENTIALLY KILLED BY BOMBS and Trump's twitter comments about them. I mean what is the point exactly?
posted by bluesky43 at 4:54 PM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
@VP says “No. Not at all. And neither did Bernie Sanders bear any responsibility when the Illinois man opened fire at a Republican baseball practice.”
I don't recall Bernie Sanders calling Republican representatives enemies of the people, complimenting people for assaulting reporters, or leading Lock Him and/or Her chants at his rallies, but maybe I missed something.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:57 PM on October 26, 2018 [61 favorites]
I don't recall Bernie Sanders calling Republican representatives enemies of the people, complimenting people for assaulting reporters, or leading Lock Him and/or Her chants at his rallies, but maybe I missed something.
posted by kirkaracha at 4:57 PM on October 26, 2018 [61 favorites]
floam: They do but the photos with missing postmarks are clearly taken on a table, with a camera
Ah, you are correct. That is a bit puzzling.
posted by mhum at 4:58 PM on October 26, 2018
Ah, you are correct. That is a bit puzzling.
posted by mhum at 4:58 PM on October 26, 2018
I've looked at bombs from both sides now
From left and right and still somehow
It's Trump's nonstop incitements of violence I recall
I really don't know bombs at all
posted by kirkaracha at 4:59 PM on October 26, 2018 [43 favorites]
From left and right and still somehow
It's Trump's nonstop incitements of violence I recall
I really don't know bombs at all
posted by kirkaracha at 4:59 PM on October 26, 2018 [43 favorites]
The cancelled stamps thing is already being debunked:
From a NY NBC affiliate:
From a NY NBC affiliate:
Four separate officials briefed on, or involved with, the investigation have told NBC this week that some packages were not postmarked because the soft packaging could not go through the postal machines.From (of all places) The Weekly Standard:
In fact, the U.S. Postal Service's own website says postmarks aren't required in all cases.
"Postmarks are not required for mailings bearing a permit, meter, or precanceled stamp for postage, nor to pieces with an indicia applied by various postage evidencing systems," the USPS says on this page.
Lastly, the premise that if a stamp is not canceled it was therefore not mailed through the USPS is incorrect. As the executive director of the American Philatelic Society, Scott English, tells TWS Fact Check, “It is possible for mail to go through the mail without being cancelled by the USPS. … There are still hand-stamped packages and in other cases, a postal clerk will use a magic marker to draw a line through stamps. There is no standard throughout the country.”posted by peeedro at 5:09 PM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
On all sides this Democrat-connivance theory holds no water.
It's not a conspiracy theory. They weren't cancelled because the shape won't go in the sorter and then no one hand stamped it. It happens to mail everyday.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:17 PM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:17 PM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
That we're even talking about uncancelled stamps is bananas. Imagine going to visit 2014 you and saying that this day was the day you had.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:22 PM on October 26, 2018 [40 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:22 PM on October 26, 2018 [40 favorites]
This guy's radicalization isn't just about Trump, it's the long-tail of the housing crisis and decisions by the Obama admiistration to punish no one and help bankers while fucking over defrauded homeowners:
Bomber suspect was victim of Wall Street’s fraudulent foreclosure grindhouse
Bomber suspect was victim of Wall Street’s fraudulent foreclosure grindhouse
Documents turned up by foreclosure fraud expert David Dayen show Sayoc’s mortgage was one of the many tainted by illegal “robosigning” practices undertaken to cover up the illegitimate nature of the pillaging firms like Mnuchin’s specialized in. Trillions of dollars in houses were fraudulently passed through the bubble and the robosigning mill, but the government struck face-saving paper-tiger settlements with the culprits without ever clawing back the vast majority of stolen homes. (Dayen has the gory legal specifics of Sayoc’s case here.)posted by T.D. Strange at 5:37 PM on October 26, 2018 [23 favorites]
...
Since the looters were never held to account in the years that followed, victims of the housing bubble and subsequent foreclosure fraud boom had cause to wonder whether the government even cared that they’d been screwed. Such resentment can curdle fast, as people who felt like they’d finally made it discovered they’d been cheated, were worse off than before, and had no prospect of being rescued, let alone made whole.
...
The dismal history Sayoc’s public records sketch out doubles as the perfect recipe for a populist political seduction. The bright red hat with the simple who-could-disagree-with-THAT? slogan that Sayoc proudly sports in numerous pictures from his social media accounts was tailor-made for people like him; it’s the 21st century version of the muscle-morons depicted in Michael Bay’s Pain & Gain, desperate and credulous toward any sufficiently inspiring snake oil that comes with the right machismo attached.
“Economic anxiety” is usually a fig leaf for reporters and political consultants looking to sidestep Trump’s racism, xenophobia, and seething cruelty, to pretend they’re not the main attractions that they are to his supporters. But in this episode from Sayoc’s life story — almost a gender-flipped version of the scene in The Big Short where a stripper details the many expensive houses she’s bought — the connection between simple people who dreamed big and the horrifying white-collar predators who made fortunes off of their un-savvy ambition is clearer than usual. Trump wasn’t the first rich guy in a bad suit to get Sayoc bought into a pipe dream. And unlike the bankers who fractured America’s striving working class a decade ago, the bill of goods Trump’s selling involves naked aggression, hating neighbors instead of just trying to have them.
It doesn't surprise me in the slightest that we're talking about uncancelled stamps. We always end up talking about uncancelled stamps, or long form birth certificates, or the melting point of steel beams, or swiftboat typewriter fonts. Every fucking time.
These prissy little counterfactual details are the mortar that cements the structure of the right-wing edifice. It's 100% conspiracy theory, 24/7. All chemtrails, all the time. All the way down.
posted by Horkus at 5:46 PM on October 26, 2018 [79 favorites]
These prissy little counterfactual details are the mortar that cements the structure of the right-wing edifice. It's 100% conspiracy theory, 24/7. All chemtrails, all the time. All the way down.
posted by Horkus at 5:46 PM on October 26, 2018 [79 favorites]
those addressees are not "his most outspoken critics." not by a long shot. for the most part, as critics, they are, nowadays, perfectly anodyne, middle-of-the-road advocates for (what used to be) uncontroversial values and principles of US governance. (except... i mean... does bobby d do anything political beyond annexing barbuda? and, does george soros even produce words?)
they are, however, reliable, top-ranked bêtes noires* of the reactionary right, sure to trigger apoplexy in a significant proportion of that cohort (again, except bobby d? i guess? like, why him and not, say, susan sarandon, jane fonda, or lena dunham -- against each of whom pundits of the right routinely fulminate).
i'm kinda inured to nyt & npr bothsiderfulness -- which is to say i expect it from them, not that it doesn't irk and enrage me every time -- but the misrepresentation of the significance of the recipients' identities strikes me as offensively facile, willfully stupid. there were certainly dozens of further-outspoken critics of the president on nyt's newsroom floor at the moment that line was written. or does nyt, by "outspoken," really mean famous or otherwise enjoying ready access to media cameras and airtime?
the significant difference? that bombjerk is not aware of those newsroom critics, has not been primed to view them, particularly, as demonic subhumans worth killing.
*tangential inquiry concerning possibility of appropriate and inoffensive continued use of the idiom "bête noire"...?
posted by 20 year lurk at 5:47 PM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
they are, however, reliable, top-ranked bêtes noires* of the reactionary right, sure to trigger apoplexy in a significant proportion of that cohort (again, except bobby d? i guess? like, why him and not, say, susan sarandon, jane fonda, or lena dunham -- against each of whom pundits of the right routinely fulminate).
i'm kinda inured to nyt & npr bothsiderfulness -- which is to say i expect it from them, not that it doesn't irk and enrage me every time -- but the misrepresentation of the significance of the recipients' identities strikes me as offensively facile, willfully stupid. there were certainly dozens of further-outspoken critics of the president on nyt's newsroom floor at the moment that line was written. or does nyt, by "outspoken," really mean famous or otherwise enjoying ready access to media cameras and airtime?
the significant difference? that bombjerk is not aware of those newsroom critics, has not been primed to view them, particularly, as demonic subhumans worth killing.
*tangential inquiry concerning possibility of appropriate and inoffensive continued use of the idiom "bête noire"...?
posted by 20 year lurk at 5:47 PM on October 26, 2018 [8 favorites]
This guy's radicalization isn't just about Trump, it's the long-tail of the housing crisis and decisions by the Obama admiistration to punish no one and help bankers while fucking over defrauded homeowners:
I'm glad we figured out how this is Obama's fault.
posted by Justinian at 5:48 PM on October 26, 2018 [76 favorites]
I'm glad we figured out how this is Obama's fault.
posted by Justinian at 5:48 PM on October 26, 2018 [76 favorites]
I'm glad we figured out how this is Obama's fault related to Eric Holder in a significant way. Dude was primed to put on the red hat.
posted by j_curiouser at 5:52 PM on October 26, 2018
posted by j_curiouser at 5:52 PM on October 26, 2018
And apparently he really was a registered Democrat before 2016. The point isn't that the bombing is "Obama's fault", it's that poor governance, ruling on behalf of the 1%, and Democrats refusing to exercise the power of the government when in power has long and unforeseeable effects. Like Trump winning. Like this guy becoming a violent MAGAhat. But throwing millions of people out on the street based on pure fraud did have predictably bad effects on the trajectory of their lives, and that was a choice.
If you don't see some causal undercurrent here I think you're deliberately refusing to look at the full picture. Learn from and understand past failures, and refuse to let this hopefully upcoming Democratic Congress refuse to govern again like they did last time, and 10 years after that maybe there'll be fewer unstable people with legitimate grievances against the government primed to be activated by the next demagogue.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:08 PM on October 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
If you don't see some causal undercurrent here I think you're deliberately refusing to look at the full picture. Learn from and understand past failures, and refuse to let this hopefully upcoming Democratic Congress refuse to govern again like they did last time, and 10 years after that maybe there'll be fewer unstable people with legitimate grievances against the government primed to be activated by the next demagogue.
posted by T.D. Strange at 6:08 PM on October 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
Obama's decisions had ramifications, sure. The...something...Butterfly Effect have you seen it.
Meanwhile, there is a wailing pile of trash running all three branches of government that is goading terrorists into action. They need to be removed from power, the frothing maga terrorists need to be considered a national cancer and excised, as in we need to explicitly remove access to guns and improve monitoring for problematic white males with a history of domestic abuse, support for Trump needs to be exposed for the leading indicator of violence that it is, and we need to build a better government that doesn't build its power on the threat of random extrajudicial violence.
He built and mailed bombs. That's terrorism. It's time for the government to get tough on terrorism and terrorist rhetoric, or it's time to vote in one that will.
posted by saysthis at 6:23 PM on October 26, 2018 [32 favorites]
Meanwhile, there is a wailing pile of trash running all three branches of government that is goading terrorists into action. They need to be removed from power, the frothing maga terrorists need to be considered a national cancer and excised, as in we need to explicitly remove access to guns and improve monitoring for problematic white males with a history of domestic abuse, support for Trump needs to be exposed for the leading indicator of violence that it is, and we need to build a better government that doesn't build its power on the threat of random extrajudicial violence.
He built and mailed bombs. That's terrorism. It's time for the government to get tough on terrorism and terrorist rhetoric, or it's time to vote in one that will.
posted by saysthis at 6:23 PM on October 26, 2018 [32 favorites]
those addressees are not "his most outspoken critics." not by a long shot. for the most part, as critics, they are, nowadays, perfectly anodyne, middle-of-the-road advocates for (what used to be) uncontroversial values and principles of US governance. (except... i mean... does bobby d do anything political beyond annexing barbuda? and, does george soros even produce words?)
De Niro actually speaks out against Trump pretty much every time Hollywood gives him a platform; being De Niro, that's pretty often. It's all aggressive, much of it foul: "Fuck Trump!" “I mean, he’s so blatantly stupid. He’s a punk, he’s a dog, he’s a pig, he’s a con.” “He wants to punch people in the face? Well, I’d like to punch him in the face.”
Soros is the omnipresent Boogie Man, ritually summoned to open his bottomless coffers & pay people to attend every protest, every march because only filthy lucre could motivate anyone to show their face & support such a degenerate cause. He doesn't have to have any real-world connection to any event, it's an article of faith that he's the octopus pulling all the strings.
posted by scalefree at 6:49 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
De Niro actually speaks out against Trump pretty much every time Hollywood gives him a platform; being De Niro, that's pretty often. It's all aggressive, much of it foul: "Fuck Trump!" “I mean, he’s so blatantly stupid. He’s a punk, he’s a dog, he’s a pig, he’s a con.” “He wants to punch people in the face? Well, I’d like to punch him in the face.”
Soros is the omnipresent Boogie Man, ritually summoned to open his bottomless coffers & pay people to attend every protest, every march because only filthy lucre could motivate anyone to show their face & support such a degenerate cause. He doesn't have to have any real-world connection to any event, it's an article of faith that he's the octopus pulling all the strings.
posted by scalefree at 6:49 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
Justinian: "It seems to me that Cook is often more concerned with not being wrong than with giving a full and accurate picture of the map. I read a stat where the Senate seats classified as "Lean R/D" by Cook this late in the cycle go in the called direction 97% of the time.
97% is not "lean". It's "Solid". If your lean Senate seats are going in the lean direction 97% of the time you're being an order of magnitude too conservative.
So when Cook moves NJ to "tossup" it could mean that Menendez is a 94% favorite."
Eh, I don't disagree with your broad thrust, but I think the stat for Tossup (at least in House races) was like 47% win for the incumbent.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:04 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
97% is not "lean". It's "Solid". If your lean Senate seats are going in the lean direction 97% of the time you're being an order of magnitude too conservative.
So when Cook moves NJ to "tossup" it could mean that Menendez is a 94% favorite."
Eh, I don't disagree with your broad thrust, but I think the stat for Tossup (at least in House races) was like 47% win for the incumbent.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:04 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
I don't care how much criticism certain Obama policies are due. They did not cause this. If they did, were be seeing it from a more representative group of the people hurt worse, and we're not. It's still white men with entitlement issues and bigotry. The train to do things differently isn't to appease this particularly volatile and college segment of the population. It's because it's the right thing to do for vast majority of decent people. Not because a certain demographic is again still always threatening violence.
posted by Salamandrous at 7:15 PM on October 26, 2018 [53 favorites]
posted by Salamandrous at 7:15 PM on October 26, 2018 [53 favorites]
Eh, I don't disagree with your broad thrust, but I think the stat for Tossup (at least in House races) was like 47% win for the incumbent.
That's interesting, the extraordinarily high win rate I read was just in the Senate, I don't know why it would be so different. I'll see if I can find the cite for what I saw.
posted by Justinian at 7:31 PM on October 26, 2018
That's interesting, the extraordinarily high win rate I read was just in the Senate, I don't know why it would be so different. I'll see if I can find the cite for what I saw.
posted by Justinian at 7:31 PM on October 26, 2018
>And apparently he really was a registered Democrat before 2016.
Do you have any evidence for this claim? I've seen plenty of what I assume are photoshopped images, allegedly from Lexis Nexis, that show his party registration as "Democrat Party" (sic). Not very convincing. Unless of course Lexis Nexis actually uses the "alt-right" version of the party's name. Perhaps your evidence is more plausible?
posted by GeckoDundee at 7:32 PM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Do you have any evidence for this claim? I've seen plenty of what I assume are photoshopped images, allegedly from Lexis Nexis, that show his party registration as "Democrat Party" (sic). Not very convincing. Unless of course Lexis Nexis actually uses the "alt-right" version of the party's name. Perhaps your evidence is more plausible?
posted by GeckoDundee at 7:32 PM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
they are, however, reliable, top-ranked bêtes noires* of the reactionary right, sure to trigger apoplexy in a significant proportion of that cohort (again, except bobby d? i guess? like, why him and not, say, susan sarandon, jane fonda, or lena dunham -- against each of whom pundits of the right routinely fulminate).
It often amuses me how vastly they exaggerate the importance and influence of people like Nancy Pelosi, Michael Moore, Jane Fonda, and Maxine Waters.
Nancy Pelosi: she was my representative when she was Speaker of the House, and I cried with pride. But now it's time for new blood.
Michael Moore: I really enjoy some of his movies, but the less I see of him the better.
Jane Fonda: has never been relevant to me, and I was alive (but a child) during the Vietnam War.
Maxine Waters: I absolutely love her, but how influential is she really?
posted by kirkaracha at 7:48 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
It often amuses me how vastly they exaggerate the importance and influence of people like Nancy Pelosi, Michael Moore, Jane Fonda, and Maxine Waters.
Nancy Pelosi: she was my representative when she was Speaker of the House, and I cried with pride. But now it's time for new blood.
Michael Moore: I really enjoy some of his movies, but the less I see of him the better.
Jane Fonda: has never been relevant to me, and I was alive (but a child) during the Vietnam War.
Maxine Waters: I absolutely love her, but how influential is she really?
posted by kirkaracha at 7:48 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
And apparently he really was a registered Democrat before 2016. The point isn't that the bombing is "Obama's fault", it's that poor governance, ruling on behalf of the 1%, and Democrats refusing to exercise the power of the government when in power has long and unforeseeable effects. Like Trump winning. Like this guy becoming a violent MAGAhat.
This seems like an iteration of the argument that white people voted for Trump en masse because of economic reasons, when racism is the more obvious answer, given that many of those who voted for Trump were very comfortably off, and are - as we see everyday - racists.
posted by lesbiassparrow at 7:50 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
This seems like an iteration of the argument that white people voted for Trump en masse because of economic reasons, when racism is the more obvious answer, given that many of those who voted for Trump were very comfortably off, and are - as we see everyday - racists.
posted by lesbiassparrow at 7:50 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
The (very Democratic) mayor of Somerville, MA used the van to attack the (very Trumpie) Republican Senate candidate in MA:
posted by adamg at 7:52 PM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
The outside of this guy's van looks like the inside of Geoff Diehl's head.Diehl, no doubt delighted his name even got mentioned on the news, demanded Elizabeth Warren condemn the mayor.
posted by adamg at 7:52 PM on October 26, 2018 [6 favorites]
I guess I've been out of touch with the technology, but I was surprised that the FBI received the Maxine Waters' package on Thursday and got a DNA sample tested and a database match by the next morning.
I can remember when the CSI TV show started back in 2000 and the big joke was that they were able to do DNA tests in less than a week. Now I guess they really can do it in a few hours.
We aren't far away from a Charlie Stross novel set in the year 2020 when TSA identifies you in real time at the airport by spitting into a tube.
posted by JackFlash at 7:54 PM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
I can remember when the CSI TV show started back in 2000 and the big joke was that they were able to do DNA tests in less than a week. Now I guess they really can do it in a few hours.
We aren't far away from a Charlie Stross novel set in the year 2020 when TSA identifies you in real time at the airport by spitting into a tube.
posted by JackFlash at 7:54 PM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
In a bit of a shocker (and no, that is not at all sarcastic), the Sioux City Journal has has endorsed J.D. Scholten over Steve King. The Journal has always endorsed King in the past, and their editorial line (and readership) is conservative.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:57 PM on October 26, 2018 [31 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:57 PM on October 26, 2018 [31 favorites]
A small question of rhetoric: many of the follow-up stories are referring to this series of incidents as a "bomb scare". Do people normally use that phrase after it's been established that there is an actual bomb?
I feel like I've heard "bomb scare" used to refer to the threat: either an ongoing situation in which it's not clear whether or not there's a bomb, or talking about a situation in the past where there wasn't one but we'd had to act as if there was.
Like, if someone waves a gun I could call that a "gun scare" or "gun threat". But if they acutally fire it at people, even if they miss, I'd call that a gun attack. Am I off-base?
posted by Riki tiki at 7:57 PM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
I feel like I've heard "bomb scare" used to refer to the threat: either an ongoing situation in which it's not clear whether or not there's a bomb, or talking about a situation in the past where there wasn't one but we'd had to act as if there was.
Like, if someone waves a gun I could call that a "gun scare" or "gun threat". But if they acutally fire it at people, even if they miss, I'd call that a gun attack. Am I off-base?
posted by Riki tiki at 7:57 PM on October 26, 2018 [13 favorites]
I went and looked, and the numbers I had for Cook accuracy are as of the April ratings. They're still pretty good, but a lot lower than I assume October numbers are.
posted by Chrysostom at 7:59 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Chrysostom at 7:59 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
He was identified by fingerprint per Chris Wray
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:59 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 7:59 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
I can see how it looks, but to me this NY Times bit with the quotes is nowhere in the same league as, say, the "Nazis also eat spaghetti" stuff. It's obvious to me that the intent -- and the effect -- is to weigh in on the conversation of "Is this terrorist really a Trump cultist?" (on the "yes he is" side). I saw no hint at anything like "Is violent Trump cultism justified?" However, I grant that the Times hasn't earned much benefit of the doubt here, especially because of the Nazi profiles, and all the other stuff they've dont. It's just not, to me, actually a sympathy-for-the-bomber puff piece -- which I definitely wouldn't put it past them to print tomorrow.
On a similar note, I'm a little miffed at the theme I've seen in a lot of corners that excessive coverage of the migrant caravan is inherently letting the right set the narrative. Okay, sure, maybe, but... is the national pulse really that shitty, that just depicting desperate people of color is apparently inherently some kind of primer for White America to shift Trumpward, and thus shame must befall any outlets who report on it? Isn't that just a rephrasing of the deplorables' you-made-me-do-this argument?
I mean, I for one think it's a scandal that the government doesn't simply give them a ride and automatic citizenship. I know that's an extreme view but I'm not alone in at least having sympathy -- in particular the ongoing story of child kidnapping has mostly torn at people's hearts, even white people's (barely). I really don't think it's some kind of permanent winning formula for Republicans. I hope not, at least.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 8:05 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
On a similar note, I'm a little miffed at the theme I've seen in a lot of corners that excessive coverage of the migrant caravan is inherently letting the right set the narrative. Okay, sure, maybe, but... is the national pulse really that shitty, that just depicting desperate people of color is apparently inherently some kind of primer for White America to shift Trumpward, and thus shame must befall any outlets who report on it? Isn't that just a rephrasing of the deplorables' you-made-me-do-this argument?
I mean, I for one think it's a scandal that the government doesn't simply give them a ride and automatic citizenship. I know that's an extreme view but I'm not alone in at least having sympathy -- in particular the ongoing story of child kidnapping has mostly torn at people's hearts, even white people's (barely). I really don't think it's some kind of permanent winning formula for Republicans. I hope not, at least.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 8:05 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
What? The NYT article is practically a cheat sheet for right-wing radicals.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:08 PM on October 26, 2018
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:08 PM on October 26, 2018
That Scholten endorsement is good stuff.
posted by murphy slaw at 8:13 PM on October 26, 2018 [32 favorites]
As a congressman, we believe Scholten would choose his words carefully, create no national controversies, bring no embarrassment to the district, seek to unite and not divide, focus his time and energy almost exclusively on issues directly impacting the lives and livelihoods of constituents, and hold regular town halls with the public. He represents changes we believe speak to the best interests of this congressional district as a whole.Translation: Steve King is so busy trolling for airtime with racist bullshit that he forgot to represent his district.
posted by murphy slaw at 8:13 PM on October 26, 2018 [32 favorites]
Jack Flash, the procedure used to develop a DNA fingerprint takes at most a few hours (and has since 2000). My guess is that the biggest factors in turnaround now are prioritization of the lab work (in this case, right at the top of the priority list) and the speed of the comparison of the result against the database. The latter has probably speeded up considerably since 2000.
posted by Sublimity at 8:24 PM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Sublimity at 8:24 PM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
A faint light of hope: early voting my tiny county in Tennessee is up 440% over 2014, per the local paper.
posted by workerant at 8:29 PM on October 26, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by workerant at 8:29 PM on October 26, 2018 [28 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 11 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
** Averages & forecasts:
// 11 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
-- MT: University of Montana poll has Dem incumbent Tester up 49-39 on GOPer Rosendale [MOE: +/- 4.3%].** 2018 House:
-- NM: Pacific Market Research poll has Dem incumbent Heinrich at 40, GOPer Rich at 28, Libertarian Johnson at 22 [MOE: +/- 4.9%].
-- TX: YouGov poll has GOP incumbent Cruz up 51-45 on Dem O'Rourke [MOE: +/- 3.2%].
-- MT-AL: Safe U of M poll has Dem Williams up 46-45 on GOP incumbent Gianforte. [Trump 57-36 | Cook: Lean R]** Odds & ends:
-- IL-06: Siena poll has Dem Casten up 46-44 on GOP incumbent Roskam [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Clinton 50-43 | Cook: Lean D]
-- SD-AL: Mason-Dixon poll has GOPer Johnson up 54-31 on Dem Bjorkman [MOE: +/- 3.2%]. [Trump 62-32 | Cook: Solid R]
-- UT-04: Siena poll has Dem McAdams tied 45-45 with GOP incumbent Love [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Trump 39-32 | Cook: Tossup]
-- CA-10: Siena poll has Dem Harder up 47-45 on GOP incumbent Denham [MOE: +/- 3.2%]. [Clinton 49-46 | Cook: Tossup]
-- NY-23: Change Research poll has GOP incumbent Reed up 49-47 on Dem Mitrano [no MOE listed]. [Trump 55-40 | Cook: Likely R] => Some mention of this race as a possible sleeper, Reed has had some close calls in the past.
-- PA-10: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Perry up 45-43 on Dem Scott [MOE: +/- 3.2%]. [Trump 52-43 | Cook: Tossup]
-- NM gov: Same PMR poll has Dem Lujan Grisham up 55-45 on GOPer Pearce. [Cook: Lean D]
-- TX gov: Same YouGov poll has GOP incumbent Abbott up 56-37 on Dem Valdez. [Cook: Solid D] | Downballot: LG: GOP incumbent Patrick up 53-35 on Dem Collier. AG: GOP incumbent Paxton up 48-36 on Dem Nelson.
-- SD gov: Dem Sutton endorsed by former GOP Senator Larry Pressler. [Cook: Tossup]
-- MI initiatives: EPIC/MRA poll has:-- Prop 1 (legal recreational pot): YES 57-41
-- Prop 2 (non-partisan districting commission): YES 59-29
-- Prop 3 (various voting reforms): YES 68-26
** Averages & forecasts:
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.2 (50.1/41.9)posted by Chrysostom at 8:38 PM on October 26, 2018 [26 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 84.4% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 17.4% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 23.9 states.
That Scholten endorsement is more than a bit of a shocker, I never thought I'd see the day. And as frustrated as I am with the Journal's politics, they went beyond a handwavey "anybody but King" and they're actually trying to persuade in a way that I think will resonate around here - the frustrations with King abdicating his responsibility to try and be an ag leader in congress are real.
Also very surprised that they endorsed the excellent Tim Kacena, who used to represent me when I lived across town. Luckily my current state house rep, Chris Hall, is another great Democratic candidate who is running unopposed.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:39 PM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
Also very surprised that they endorsed the excellent Tim Kacena, who used to represent me when I lived across town. Luckily my current state house rep, Chris Hall, is another great Democratic candidate who is running unopposed.
posted by jason_steakums at 8:39 PM on October 26, 2018 [10 favorites]
odinsdream: "I'm done voting for white men, not even slightly kidding about it either. No more. None. Ever. For anything."
So, serious question. You live in Utah's fourth district. Decent seeming Democrat Ben McAdams (white guy) is running against lousy Republican incumbent Mia Love (black woman). What will you do?
posted by Chrysostom at 8:41 PM on October 26, 2018 [32 favorites]
So, serious question. You live in Utah's fourth district. Decent seeming Democrat Ben McAdams (white guy) is running against lousy Republican incumbent Mia Love (black woman). What will you do?
posted by Chrysostom at 8:41 PM on October 26, 2018 [32 favorites]
The Housing Crisis started happening under Bush, not Obama...
I get the guy is angry that he didn't receive support from the Obama administration or that they didn't go after those responsible, but if you're going to be angry at the administration most responsible for you losing your home, that is the Bush administration not by a little but by miles.
posted by xammerboy at 8:48 PM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
I get the guy is angry that he didn't receive support from the Obama administration or that they didn't go after those responsible, but if you're going to be angry at the administration most responsible for you losing your home, that is the Bush administration not by a little but by miles.
posted by xammerboy at 8:48 PM on October 26, 2018 [16 favorites]
Let’s talk about four stories over the past week and how they relate:
- the Proud Boys’ mob assault
- the Rise Above Movement arrests
- the Kroger killer
- the MAGA bomber
More specifically, let’s look at what they have in common and what they don’t.
posted by The Whelk at 8:49 PM on October 26, 2018 [24 favorites]
- the Proud Boys’ mob assault
- the Rise Above Movement arrests
- the Kroger killer
- the MAGA bomber
More specifically, let’s look at what they have in common and what they don’t.
posted by The Whelk at 8:49 PM on October 26, 2018 [24 favorites]
Nate Cohn points out that 10 of 13 Tossup races polled have had margins of 1% or less. We're on a knife edge between a long cliffhanger of a night and a serious asskicking by Dems.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:58 PM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 8:58 PM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
You can blame Obama for not taking on Wall Street -- I do. However, I can understand why he did not because, based on nothing but conjecture, I am sure the conversation went something like "You can try to fix the economy, end the wars, and pass ACA, but if you come at us we'll kill you."
posted by M-x shell at 9:06 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 9:06 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
It bugs the shit out of me to see the MAGAbomber being mentally ill as reasoning for his motive. Calling the anger of patriarchy "mental illness" does a great disservice to those of us who are mentally ill. And perhaps the guy IS mentally ill. But that has nothing to do with the fact that he was just taking the President's rhetoric to its logical conclusion.
posted by Ruki at 9:23 PM on October 26, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by Ruki at 9:23 PM on October 26, 2018 [33 favorites]
(again, except bobby d? i guess? like, why him and not, say, susan sarandon, jane fonda, or lena dunham -- against each of whom pundits of the right routinely fulminate).
Robert DeNiro recently made a "fuck Trump" speech at the Tony awards
posted by thelonius at 9:27 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Robert DeNiro recently made a "fuck Trump" speech at the Tony awards
posted by thelonius at 9:27 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
More on the MAGAbomber at WAPO:
posted by xammerboy at 9:27 PM on October 26, 2018 [22 favorites]
The white van he drove to deliver pizzas was covered in disturbing images, she said, so the restaurant required him to park it on the side where it could not be seen.In his own way, he's beginning to sound like a perfect exemplar of the Trump movement: pure hate, set in motion by economic anxiety and a need to blame and punish someone else for it.
“It was puppets with their heads cut off, mannequins with their heads cut off, Ku Klux Klan, a black person being hung, anti-gay symbols, torchings, bombings, you name it, it was all over his truck,” Gureghian said.
Sayoc was kept on because he did his work reliably and good drivers are hard to find, she said. But he disturbed his co-workers with racist comments and texts, she said.
“He was very angry and angry at the world, at blacks, Jews, gays,” she said. “He always talked about ‘if I had complete autonomy none of these gays or these blacks would survive.’
posted by xammerboy at 9:27 PM on October 26, 2018 [22 favorites]
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro." -HST
posted by Meatbomb at 9:29 PM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Meatbomb at 9:29 PM on October 26, 2018 [9 favorites]
He was living in the van. This is ironic- he was a 50+ adult kicked out of his parents house and living in his vanifesto and the alt-right accuse protesters of having no jobs and living in their parents basements.
But it is also very sad. This man's life was sad. He never felt any self worth, could only feel good if he was getting revenge on, or victory over, his imaginary foes. He has been, no doubt, some kind of lost all his life. I am sad for him. I'm glad he's caught, and yes I blame donnie shitstain and the whole hyper-reality alt-right culture that seemed to comfort him, but what a sad rigid life he must have had. People are not supposed to develop into him. Somewhere in his past there might have been a chance for him to have a normal-ish life, to know love and empathy and the sense of self that makes the "other" not a threat or a demon, to be just another person trying to just live among the people. This ideology, if it even amounts to one, warps people into monsters. Lonely angry monsters. The whole fucking world needs therapy.
posted by vrakatar at 9:29 PM on October 26, 2018 [46 favorites]
But it is also very sad. This man's life was sad. He never felt any self worth, could only feel good if he was getting revenge on, or victory over, his imaginary foes. He has been, no doubt, some kind of lost all his life. I am sad for him. I'm glad he's caught, and yes I blame donnie shitstain and the whole hyper-reality alt-right culture that seemed to comfort him, but what a sad rigid life he must have had. People are not supposed to develop into him. Somewhere in his past there might have been a chance for him to have a normal-ish life, to know love and empathy and the sense of self that makes the "other" not a threat or a demon, to be just another person trying to just live among the people. This ideology, if it even amounts to one, warps people into monsters. Lonely angry monsters. The whole fucking world needs therapy.
posted by vrakatar at 9:29 PM on October 26, 2018 [46 favorites]
And even more about him and his long history of telling false stories about himself:
Years later, in a bombastic and wide-ranging 2014 deposition in a civil lawsuit, Sayoc said that he played soccer professionally for A.C. Milan, one of the highest-profile soccer clubs in Europe. (There is no apparent record of Sayoc being on the team’s professional roster.) He also said he joineda professional wrestling training camp with the hopes of doing WWE-style wrestling.posted by zachlipton at 9:30 PM on October 26, 2018 [11 favorites]
Sayoc also claimed to have played professional arena football in the U.S. in Arizona and Charlotte before going on to various business ventures, where he hyped his success — especially as a booker and road manager for a Chippendales-style men’s strip show, which he said he had done since 1982. “I’m the best at this business,” he said of his work at strip clubs and shows.
Even when being grilled by lawyers, Sayoc had a flair for unapologetic promotion that was positively Trumpian. “Chippendales … We’re the number one name in entertainment,” Sayoc said in a deposition involving a strip club where he later worked. “Put them on any stage and we’ll blow them out of the water, because there ain’t nobody that stands with us on any entertainment stage. I’ll put a hundred thousand dollars against anybody that says so, let them put all their clubs together and we’ll embarrass them.”
But the real Chippendales has a much dimmer view of Sayoc’s stories. “This man never worked for us,” said Michael Caprio, a spokesman for the revue, who added that it appeared that Sayoc actually worked for a company that Chippendales has sued for infringing on the group’s name.
You can blame Obama for not taking on Wall Street -- I do.
Me too, but Obama ran on giving clemency to Wall Street. There was practically a national referendum on it. It was one of the reasons I was so pro-Hillary. It's hard to put that all on Obama. The country wanted to move forward.
posted by xammerboy at 9:32 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Me too, but Obama ran on giving clemency to Wall Street. There was practically a national referendum on it. It was one of the reasons I was so pro-Hillary. It's hard to put that all on Obama. The country wanted to move forward.
posted by xammerboy at 9:32 PM on October 26, 2018 [3 favorites]
Do you have any evidence for this claim? I've seen plenty of what I assume are photoshopped images, allegedly from Lexis Nexis, that show his party registration as "Democrat Party" (sic). Not very convincing. Unless of course Lexis Nexis actually uses the "alt-right" version of the party's name. Perhaps your evidence is more plausible?
Per AP 2016 was the first year he registered to vote, in Florida as a Republican.
Bomb suspect was cash-strapped ex-stripper devoted to Trump
Per AP 2016 was the first year he registered to vote, in Florida as a Republican.
Bomb suspect was cash-strapped ex-stripper devoted to Trump
Florida voter records show Sayoc first registered in March 2016 as a Republican and cast a ballot in that November's presidential election.posted by scalefree at 9:37 PM on October 26, 2018 [7 favorites]
That shows that he wasn't previously registered to vote in Florida, not that he was a registered Democrat. He seems also to have been a felon since what, 2002, and resident in NY previously. So, again, what evidence is there that he was ever a registered democrat?
posted by GeckoDundee at 9:49 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by GeckoDundee at 9:49 PM on October 26, 2018 [2 favorites]
So, again, what evidence is there that he was ever a registered democrat?
I think the person was agreeing with you.
posted by thelonius at 9:55 PM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
I think the person was agreeing with you.
posted by thelonius at 9:55 PM on October 26, 2018 [5 favorites]
The comma suggests otherwise, but if so, I'm sorry for taking it the wrong way. My original question to the first commenter still stands. I don't think we should have misleading comments that push the twitter-bot line.
posted by GeckoDundee at 9:58 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by GeckoDundee at 9:58 PM on October 26, 2018 [1 favorite]
Actually, it doesn't of course, sorry. But there's only evidence for the sentence without the comma. 2016 may be the first year he was registered to vote in Florida as a Republican. That doesn't mean he was registered at any other time, in any other place as a Democrat as claimed by the first commenter.
posted by GeckoDundee at 10:03 PM on October 26, 2018
posted by GeckoDundee at 10:03 PM on October 26, 2018
I assume that if there were records of him registering in another state previous to 2016, AP would have checked for & found them. So 2016 was the first year he was registered anywhere, Florida is where it happened & Republican is the party he chose. Apologies if my comma threw you off.
posted by scalefree at 10:21 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by scalefree at 10:21 PM on October 26, 2018 [4 favorites]
Fucking commas, how do they work?
posted by kirkaracha at 10:28 PM on October 26, 2018 [37 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 10:28 PM on October 26, 2018 [37 favorites]
I am gobsmacked as an observer from Europe that this vanifesto thing was in it's present incarnation since at least as far back as Nov 1st 2017 as documented an a Twitter users post.
Would you not "see something, say something"?
posted by Wilder at 2:23 AM on October 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
Would you not "see something, say something"?
posted by Wilder at 2:23 AM on October 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
You grossly underestimate how many crazies with Trump shit all over there are.
posted by Justinian at 2:33 AM on October 27, 2018 [85 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:33 AM on October 27, 2018 [85 favorites]
I found a comment to the extent this is Sayoc's retirement plan, to have a roof over his head and some 'diversity averse" gym buddies, and no one was injured, very persuasive.
But I CANNOT comprehend the use or words like bomb scare or alert when this was a bomb attack! At least Maddow calls it a campaign but come on.... Maddow really was as one Mefite further upthread says 'on fire' putting it in its historical frame, along with the more recent arrest of the Proud Boys.
The thing I disagreed with her about is she rejects the notion that this is a paramilitary wing of the Trump movement. Only in it's lack of hierarchical, monolithic formation. In all other respects, access to weapons, getting a pass and a wink wink from the Dear Leader when violent, craven submission of the rest of the Party...you've got your Brown/blackshirts lads they just wear red hats.
posted by Wilder at 2:35 AM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
But I CANNOT comprehend the use or words like bomb scare or alert when this was a bomb attack! At least Maddow calls it a campaign but come on.... Maddow really was as one Mefite further upthread says 'on fire' putting it in its historical frame, along with the more recent arrest of the Proud Boys.
The thing I disagreed with her about is she rejects the notion that this is a paramilitary wing of the Trump movement. Only in it's lack of hierarchical, monolithic formation. In all other respects, access to weapons, getting a pass and a wink wink from the Dear Leader when violent, craven submission of the rest of the Party...you've got your Brown/blackshirts lads they just wear red hats.
posted by Wilder at 2:35 AM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Wilder, see here.
It's not...every day but it's not uncommon, especially in more rural and red areas (but also seen in very blue areas)? There's a real undercurrent of throbbing crazy in America that is seldom touched on.
Just personally speaking, here's one I saw back in 2008 at a random gas station in Utah in the mididle of nowhere. Here's a flyer I saw in San Francisco for comparison.
I briefly moved from California to Alabama and nearly got run off the road by a dude in a jacked-up pickup truck screaming about LIBERALS because of my California plates and that was before Trump started stirring them up.
And this guy has been reported and even arrested several times but it didn't seem to do any good. Not sure what else you'd have us do.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 3:17 AM on October 27, 2018 [21 favorites]
It's not...every day but it's not uncommon, especially in more rural and red areas (but also seen in very blue areas)? There's a real undercurrent of throbbing crazy in America that is seldom touched on.
Just personally speaking, here's one I saw back in 2008 at a random gas station in Utah in the mididle of nowhere. Here's a flyer I saw in San Francisco for comparison.
I briefly moved from California to Alabama and nearly got run off the road by a dude in a jacked-up pickup truck screaming about LIBERALS because of my California plates and that was before Trump started stirring them up.
And this guy has been reported and even arrested several times but it didn't seem to do any good. Not sure what else you'd have us do.
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 3:17 AM on October 27, 2018 [21 favorites]
> the packages we have photos of with missing postmarks actually were delivered by the postal service. They apparently were not hand-delivered. I imagine conspiracy nuts will seize on this detail.
We Await Silent Tristero's Empire.
I have a bit of a philately fetish, and for various reasons I receive a lot of stamped mail -- on average one two two hand-addressed, stamped items a day. I can say (with enough data to establish statistical confidence intervals, which I might do later if I have some time b/c it's a very serious fetish) that a surprisingly large fraction of the mail I receive has stamps that are not cancelled. Some of them have upwards of $10 worth of stamps that have evaded a postmark -- in fact, it's typically the larger pieces of mail where this happens. A much much smaller but still noticeable number arrive cancelled but without a postmark -- just a ball-point pen striking out the stamp.
So... it happens.
posted by Westringia F. at 5:40 AM on October 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
We Await Silent Tristero's Empire.
I have a bit of a philately fetish, and for various reasons I receive a lot of stamped mail -- on average one two two hand-addressed, stamped items a day. I can say (with enough data to establish statistical confidence intervals, which I might do later if I have some time b/c it's a very serious fetish) that a surprisingly large fraction of the mail I receive has stamps that are not cancelled. Some of them have upwards of $10 worth of stamps that have evaded a postmark -- in fact, it's typically the larger pieces of mail where this happens. A much much smaller but still noticeable number arrive cancelled but without a postmark -- just a ball-point pen striking out the stamp.
So... it happens.
posted by Westringia F. at 5:40 AM on October 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
Would you not "see something, say something"?
---
You grossly underestimate how many crazies with Trump shit all over there are.
And here again a great illustration of the difference between right and left. Vanifesto with a rifle scope target on Hillary drives around for a year, no issues, just a typical rightwinger/Trumpette. If someone had been driving around with a target over former First Lady Laura Bush, or former SOS Condoleezza Rice, someone would've said something in a year. The expectation and acceptance of violence and violent rhetoric is built in for Rs. They get away with it because that's just how they are. Just like they get away with the lying and the hypocrisy and and and... because it's who they are. They're bad people and get judged on a curve by the press and others because everybody knows it but no one will admit it.
posted by chris24 at 5:59 AM on October 27, 2018 [82 favorites]
---
You grossly underestimate how many crazies with Trump shit all over there are.
And here again a great illustration of the difference between right and left. Vanifesto with a rifle scope target on Hillary drives around for a year, no issues, just a typical rightwinger/Trumpette. If someone had been driving around with a target over former First Lady Laura Bush, or former SOS Condoleezza Rice, someone would've said something in a year. The expectation and acceptance of violence and violent rhetoric is built in for Rs. They get away with it because that's just how they are. Just like they get away with the lying and the hypocrisy and and and... because it's who they are. They're bad people and get judged on a curve by the press and others because everybody knows it but no one will admit it.
posted by chris24 at 5:59 AM on October 27, 2018 [82 favorites]
Vanifesto with a rifle scope target on Hillary drives around for a year, no issues, just a typical rightwinger/Trumpette.
Yes, and: If you live in a small town, where voting Republican is assumed, then bumper-sticker screaming, or massive homemade signs on the lawn, or messages painted on the outside of houses, well, that's just fervent support. "He really loves the president" becomes the local norm, so no one has to talk about being worried, or about (shamed whisper) possible mental health issues, or about the logistical and financial stresses of getting help for Uncle Pete. If you live in a small town, and you see these screams in the grocery store lot, or on a tradesman's truck outside of your house, you say nothing, because these folks are neighbors. You know where they live. They know where you live. And the informal, unspoken pressure to say nothing because we all have to get along where we are is very strong. "It's a small town, son, and we ALL support the team." Vanifesto is the elephant in the room in more ways than one.
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:45 AM on October 27, 2018 [57 favorites]
Yes, and: If you live in a small town, where voting Republican is assumed, then bumper-sticker screaming, or massive homemade signs on the lawn, or messages painted on the outside of houses, well, that's just fervent support. "He really loves the president" becomes the local norm, so no one has to talk about being worried, or about (shamed whisper) possible mental health issues, or about the logistical and financial stresses of getting help for Uncle Pete. If you live in a small town, and you see these screams in the grocery store lot, or on a tradesman's truck outside of your house, you say nothing, because these folks are neighbors. You know where they live. They know where you live. And the informal, unspoken pressure to say nothing because we all have to get along where we are is very strong. "It's a small town, son, and we ALL support the team." Vanifesto is the elephant in the room in more ways than one.
posted by MonkeyToes at 6:45 AM on October 27, 2018 [57 favorites]
The thing I disagreed with her about is she rejects the notion that this is a paramilitary wing of the Trump movement. Only in it's lack of hierarchical, monolithic formation. In all other respects, access to weapons, getting a pass and a wink wink from the Dear Leader when violent, craven submission of the rest of the Party...you've got your Brown/blackshirts lads they just wear red hats.
Trust Trump to build a paramilitary wing with a lazy, slipshod structure.
posted by scalefree at 6:58 AM on October 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
Trust Trump to build a paramilitary wing with a lazy, slipshod structure.
posted by scalefree at 6:58 AM on October 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
Normally not a fan of Murdoch's New York Post, but this is a pretty good headline: CAUGHT RED HATTED
posted by gwint at 7:09 AM on October 27, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by gwint at 7:09 AM on October 27, 2018 [25 favorites]
tl;dr - if you can, do something nice for your volunteers at the polling place.
I did not sleep well at all last night. I remember waking up twice and the wife says I was up at least four times. I had one of those profound existential dreams (for obvious reasons?) that woke me up for good at 6:30 a.m. or so.
I knew I was up for the day and knew early voting started at 7 a.m., so I got dressed and made it to the polling place by 6:45. (It is two blocks from my house. I love it.)
Volunteer: I'm sorry, we can't allow you to vote yet.
Me: I know. I was wondering if y'all want coffee or breakfast.
Volunteer: Really? Yes, please! Breakfast burritos would be fine.
I hit one of the local taquerias and get real breakfast burritos (not the Whataburger or Jack in the Box tiny ones) and then hit Starbucks to get two of those massive traveller things of coffee that they offer and bring them back to the volunteers.
They were blown away by the gesture. When my wife woke up and went to vote 90 minutes later, she told me she heard one of them point to me and say, "That's who brought us breakfast!"
I also gave them my contact information to volunteer next year.
Do what you can, y'all. It may feel like pissing in the ocean, but every drop counts.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:14 AM on October 27, 2018 [103 favorites]
I did not sleep well at all last night. I remember waking up twice and the wife says I was up at least four times. I had one of those profound existential dreams (for obvious reasons?) that woke me up for good at 6:30 a.m. or so.
I knew I was up for the day and knew early voting started at 7 a.m., so I got dressed and made it to the polling place by 6:45. (It is two blocks from my house. I love it.)
Volunteer: I'm sorry, we can't allow you to vote yet.
Me: I know. I was wondering if y'all want coffee or breakfast.
Volunteer: Really? Yes, please! Breakfast burritos would be fine.
I hit one of the local taquerias and get real breakfast burritos (not the Whataburger or Jack in the Box tiny ones) and then hit Starbucks to get two of those massive traveller things of coffee that they offer and bring them back to the volunteers.
They were blown away by the gesture. When my wife woke up and went to vote 90 minutes later, she told me she heard one of them point to me and say, "That's who brought us breakfast!"
I also gave them my contact information to volunteer next year.
Do what you can, y'all. It may feel like pissing in the ocean, but every drop counts.
posted by a non mouse, a cow herd at 7:14 AM on October 27, 2018 [103 favorites]
I know I’m preaching to the choir, for the most part, but it’s important to actually say this, every time:
if we treated domestic violence seriously—you know, as real assault, attempted murder, etc, and not just “things got heated between a man and his woman”—these guys would, for the most part, already be in prison.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:27 AM on October 27, 2018 [100 favorites]
if we treated domestic violence seriously—you know, as real assault, attempted murder, etc, and not just “things got heated between a man and his woman”—these guys would, for the most part, already be in prison.
posted by schadenfrau at 7:27 AM on October 27, 2018 [100 favorites]
On a related note, if you want to bring treats to GoTV people, can I suggest that you bring something like a veggie plate and hummus? Every year I get a little concerned that the field organizers are living on pizza and Halloween candy, and there's a non-zero risk that one of them is going to get scurvy.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:27 AM on October 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 7:27 AM on October 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
Normally not a fan of Murdoch's New York Post, but this is a pretty good headline: CAUGHT RED HATTED
The Post’s first allegiance is to the headline, always
(It’s the only thing I grudgingly like about that paper, but I’m a native New Yorker, so...c’mon)
posted by schadenfrau at 7:28 AM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
The Post’s first allegiance is to the headline, always
(It’s the only thing I grudgingly like about that paper, but I’m a native New Yorker, so...c’mon)
posted by schadenfrau at 7:28 AM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
As a side note to the Atlantic's story above about George Papadopoulos asking for immunity in his Senate testimony, he's also threatening to pull out of Mueller plea agreement (Politico).
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:29 AM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Former Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos said on Friday that he is considering withdrawing from a cooperation agreement he entered into with special counsel Robert Mueller, the investigator probing allegations of collusion between the 2016 Trump campaign and the Russian government.It's all part of his bizarre media campaign to, well, I honestly don't know what he thinks he can possibly accomplish from this. If Manafort and Cohen couldn't wrangle pardon hints from Trump with their discrete leaks to the media, it's hard to imagine Flood and Cipollone being swayed, no matter what kind of spectacle Papadopoulos makes of himself on Fox & Friends for Trump's viewing pleasure.
“I believe there was tremendous misconduct on the government's behalf regarding my case,” Papadopoulos told “Fox & Friends” host Brian Kilmeade. “And given certain information I learned just yesterday that I can't publicly disclose right now, I'm actually even considering withdrawing my agreement I have come to with the government.”
Papadopoulos, who advised the Trump campaign on foreign policy issues and was sentenced in September to two weeks in jail, despite reaching a plea deal with Mueller for lying to investigators, said he believes he has been “set up” by the government and that his plea deal was the result of inadequate counsel.
“Let's just say, maybe it was [a] chaotic moment when I pled and that's exactly why I have new counsel now,” he said. “And we are actively looking into new options. And possibly withdrawing from this agreement right now.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:29 AM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
We have a vanifesto in house form in our neighborhood, which I've posted about before. It changes frequently but is always terrible. The police get lots of calls about it, but to my knowledge the only two times they've come out and asked him to remove signs were when he used the C word for Hillary and when he called for the death of all children whose parents receive welfare.
It's one block from my kids' school.
posted by gerstle at 7:42 AM on October 27, 2018 [21 favorites]
It's one block from my kids' school.
posted by gerstle at 7:42 AM on October 27, 2018 [21 favorites]
Mod note: Couple deleted; big resounding "meh" to "i feel badly for the guy because of x,y,z" vs "feeling badly for people like this is bad and you're bad" vs "but common humanity" vs "but baseline morality" vs etc etc etc. Just consider that we've had that particular do-si-do many many times.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:49 AM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 7:49 AM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
Not sure if this is actually related yet, but there's an active shooter situation at a synagogue here in Pittsburgh. Hoping soren_lorenson and the other Pgh crew are all safe.
https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/10/27/heavy-police-presence-near-synagogue-in-squirrel-hill/
posted by miratime at 7:50 AM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
https://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2018/10/27/heavy-police-presence-near-synagogue-in-squirrel-hill/
posted by miratime at 7:50 AM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Trump’s Incoherent Rally in Charlotte (Atlantic)
posted by petebest at 7:54 AM on October 27, 2018 [51 favorites]
A few hours before he went on stage, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of Cesar Sayoc ... Trump has spent the last three days cycling rapidly through perspectives on the bombing, from a somber vow to catch the perpetrator to blaming the media to suggesting that the attack was a “false flag” designed to hurt the Republican Party.Mark it, Dude. October .. 27th, 2018. A "major" publication finally plainly says Trump is lying. At this rate, his political fortunes will be complete toast by the end of his second term.
Trump started out measured in Charlotte, and tried to strike a measured tone. The only problem was that someone kept tripping him up: himself.
“Political violence must never ever be allowed in America and I will do everything in my power to stop it,” he said. “We must unify as a nation in peace, love, and in harmony.”
In literally the next breath he began a lengthy rhetorical barrage against the press, as though it was the mainstream media and not he that had celebrated and incited violence.
“We all say this in all sincerity”—he was not being sincere—“but the media’s constant unfair coverage, deep hostility, and negative attacks—you know that—only to serve to drive people apart and to undermine healthy debate,” he said.
“It is time for us to replace the politics of anger and destruction with real debate about the real issues,” he said. “We want honest coverage from the media. That’s all we want.”
If you insist, Mr. President—but a good place to start would be a little reciprocal honesty. In Charlotte, Trump claimed once again that he would cut taxes 10 percent before election day, an entirely chimerical promise. He said that Democrats wanted to eliminate Medicare (if anything, they want to expand it) and to eliminate protections for people with pre-existing conditions, while saying Republicans would protect those people. In fact, the Trump administration is seeking to roll back protections, and Republicans around the country have voted to do so or sued to try to eliminate the protections. It is a remarkably brazen lie.
posted by petebest at 7:54 AM on October 27, 2018 [51 favorites]
On a related note, if you want to bring treats to GoTV people, can I suggest that you bring something like a veggie plate and hummus? Every year I get a little concerned that the field organizers are living on pizza and Halloween candy, and there's a non-zero risk that one of them is going to get scurvy.
can confirm. the stuff I have eaten on campaigns, y'all. one time I drank a can of chicken and stars soup, just. straight from the can. or a tortilla with goldfish crackers and hot sauce. it's pretty dire. there's just not a lot of time to eat.
posted by dogheart at 8:10 AM on October 27, 2018 [23 favorites]
can confirm. the stuff I have eaten on campaigns, y'all. one time I drank a can of chicken and stars soup, just. straight from the can. or a tortilla with goldfish crackers and hot sauce. it's pretty dire. there's just not a lot of time to eat.
posted by dogheart at 8:10 AM on October 27, 2018 [23 favorites]
Miratime’s link has been updated: a mass shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue during service. Seven confirmed dead. Police have exchanged gunfire with the shooter, reports of people barricaded in the synagogue.
I think I’m out of words.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:17 AM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
I think I’m out of words.
posted by schadenfrau at 8:17 AM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
Not sure if this is actually related yet, but there's an active shooter situation at a synagogue here in Pittsburgh. Hoping soren_lorenson and the other Pgh crew are all safe.
Seven reported dead, two police officers shot. CBS news.
posted by bluesky43 at 8:17 AM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Seven reported dead, two police officers shot. CBS news.
posted by bluesky43 at 8:17 AM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Twitter says sorry for not shutting down the MAGA bomber.
posted by bluesky43 at 8:20 AM on October 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 8:20 AM on October 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
Been listening to the scanner. The guy surrendered and is in custody now and they're working to clear the scene still. Mid 40s caucasian guy, they IDed him on the stream. He was spewing hate speech so motive seems clear. Heartbreaking. :(
posted by miratime at 8:20 AM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by miratime at 8:20 AM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
A take away I had from the Maddow show was how this is / was a literal terrorist ticking bomb scenario. In that a bomb (or non hoax device containing explosive materials) was discovered after the capture of the suspect and the suspect was reportedly not cooperating. So the possibility that other bombs had not been discovered could be a reasonable question.
posted by phoque at 8:20 AM on October 27, 2018
posted by phoque at 8:20 AM on October 27, 2018
New poll finds Tracy Mitrano within shouting distance of the affable liar Tom Reed. NY 23rd!. This is big. Tom Reed is a favorite of Trump.
posted by bluesky43 at 8:29 AM on October 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by bluesky43 at 8:29 AM on October 27, 2018 [8 favorites]
NBCNews: Researchers say they are seeing an increase in anti-Semitic posts from far-right users of Instagram and Twitter, and that the services aren’t doing enough about it.
posted by gwint at 8:32 AM on October 27, 2018 [45 favorites]
posted by gwint at 8:32 AM on October 27, 2018 [45 favorites]
File under "I just do 'Nazi' the problem here"...
Owensboro [Kentucky] man draws ire on social media for Nazi Halloween costume
Owensboro [Kentucky] man draws ire on social media for Nazi Halloween costume
In a story first reported by WEHT Eyewitness News, Bryant Goldbach dressed himself as a Nazi solder and his school-aged son as Adolf Hitler before going to a Trunk-or-Treat event Thursday evening.posted by Rykey at 8:34 AM on October 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
[...]
Goldbach complained about the treatment he and his family received at the event, saying:
"....we saw people dressed as murderers, devils, serial killers, blood and gore of all sorts. Nobody batted an eye. But my little boy and i, dress as historical figures, and it merits people not only making snide remarks, but approaching us and threatening my little 5 year old boy. ... Yes liberalism is alive and well. And we had the displeasure of dealing with the fruits of the so called "Tolerant Left."
Just yesterday Trump attacked globalists in a speech and laughed and repeated it when his audience chanted about locking up Soros.
posted by chris24 at 8:35 AM on October 27, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 8:35 AM on October 27, 2018 [26 favorites]
CMU sent us an alert earlier about "police activity" a couple miles from campus, then a second one about an active shooter at the synagogue. If I practiced a certain religion, my family and I might be among the victims this morning. Just another day in Donald Trump's America. These monsters have blood on their hands.
My heart aches for the Jewish community here in Pittsburgh and across America.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:37 AM on October 27, 2018 [23 favorites]
My heart aches for the Jewish community here in Pittsburgh and across America.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:37 AM on October 27, 2018 [23 favorites]
Yes, and: If you live in a small town, where voting Republican is assumed, then bumper-sticker screaming, or massive homemade signs on the lawn, or messages painted on the outside of houses, well, that's just fervent support. "He really loves the president" becomes the local norm, so no one has to talk about being worried, or about (shamed whisper) possible mental health issues, or about the logistical and financial stresses of getting help for Uncle Pete. If you live in a small town, and you see these screams in the grocery store lot, or on a tradesman's truck outside of your house, you say nothing, because these folks are neighbors. You know where they live. They know where you live. And the informal, unspoken pressure to say nothing because we all have to get along where we are is very strong. "It's a small town, son, and we ALL support the team." Vanifesto is the elephant in the room in more ways than one.
Just to cover this in a little more detail, I lived in a smallish Alabama town for a while, and it really was everywhere. The airport was there and when you got off the puddle jumper, you could hear every TV in the place blaring Fox News. There was a giant wall of TVs on the way to baggage claim that was always blaring Fox News. You'd get in your car to drive home and pass billboards with a combination of "Rehab for meth/painkillers" and apocalyptic "REPENT YE SINNERS THE END IS AT HAND!" and similar billboards. Every politicial commercial on TV was conservatives trying to out-conservative each other. TV in the doctor's office? Fox News. Waiting area for an oil change? Fox News. It. Is. Everywhere. And. It. Never. Stops. Like I said, I had a guy almost run me off the road for my California plates and I didn't have any stickers on my car. So what's a guy driving a van covered in stickers with the same shit you're immersed in every day?
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 8:37 AM on October 27, 2018 [51 favorites]
Just to cover this in a little more detail, I lived in a smallish Alabama town for a while, and it really was everywhere. The airport was there and when you got off the puddle jumper, you could hear every TV in the place blaring Fox News. There was a giant wall of TVs on the way to baggage claim that was always blaring Fox News. You'd get in your car to drive home and pass billboards with a combination of "Rehab for meth/painkillers" and apocalyptic "REPENT YE SINNERS THE END IS AT HAND!" and similar billboards. Every politicial commercial on TV was conservatives trying to out-conservative each other. TV in the doctor's office? Fox News. Waiting area for an oil change? Fox News. It. Is. Everywhere. And. It. Never. Stops. Like I said, I had a guy almost run me off the road for my California plates and I didn't have any stickers on my car. So what's a guy driving a van covered in stickers with the same shit you're immersed in every day?
posted by Ghostride The Whip at 8:37 AM on October 27, 2018 [51 favorites]
NY-19: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Faso up 44-43 on Dem Delgado [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Trump 51-44 | Cook: Tossup] => This is the race with the incredibly racist GOP messaging. Well, I know, but one of the top three.We’re visiting a relative in this district and the Faso TV ads are eye-opening: fear the other. Fear Them. Fear! Delgado’s ads are a lot more focused on issues and reality, which I hope is a good thing.
It’s surprisingly hard to be patient when you’re talking with someone who loathes Trump but needs to be convinced that they have to go out and vote because this isn’t NYC where the outcome is a given.
posted by adamsc at 8:38 AM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
I go past that synagogue every week day on my way to work. This is just so horrible.
posted by octothorpe at 8:39 AM on October 27, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 8:39 AM on October 27, 2018 [21 favorites]
Hey guys. I'm sitting in a Barnes and Noble,b having just checked my phone because I was about to send a funny picture to my husband, but now I'm crying. That's two blocks from my kid's school, it's my parents' neighborhood. My parents belong to the JCC a few blocks away and take my kid swimming there all the time. I'm 100% positive I know multiple members of that congregation. That neighborhood is the hub of Pittsburgh's very large and diverse Jewish community, Tree of Life is one of many large synagogues in a very small radius. I don't know what to think or feel except for rage and fear.
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:40 AM on October 27, 2018 [127 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 8:40 AM on October 27, 2018 [127 favorites]
The reporter on KDKA said that the gunman was yelling "All jews must die".
posted by octothorpe at 8:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 8:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
But my little boy and i, dress as historical figures, and it merits people not only making snide remarks, but approaching us and threatening my little 5 year old boy.
The notion that dressing a kid as a Nazi for Halloween makes you a monster and the kid in need of help has been a pretty unquestionable bit of cultural wisdom for, oh, at least 25 years now.
posted by jackbishop at 8:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
The notion that dressing a kid as a Nazi for Halloween makes you a monster and the kid in need of help has been a pretty unquestionable bit of cultural wisdom for, oh, at least 25 years now.
posted by jackbishop at 8:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
This is so, so sad. I love pittsburgh and lived there for a bit and while I don't have any Jewish friends living there now, plenty who grew up there. I can't imagine what that entire congregation must have felt. Fuck.
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 8:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 8:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
That synagogue is where i went to hebrew school and high holidays as a kid.
Im trying to focus on the normalcy of a saturday with soccer, halloween costumes and videogames, but it is difficult.
posted by Lord_Pall at 8:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [53 favorites]
Im trying to focus on the normalcy of a saturday with soccer, halloween costumes and videogames, but it is difficult.
posted by Lord_Pall at 8:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [53 favorites]
The Guardian, Feb. 2018: Antisemitic incidents in the US surged 57% in 2017, the Anti-Defamation League said on Tuesday, the largest year-on-year increase since the Jewish civil rights group began collecting data in 1979. Close to 2,000 cases of harassment, vandalism and physical assault were recorded, the highest number of antisemitic incidents since 1994, it said.
Scientific American, June 2018: Study makes strong case that president’s Twitter activity encourages anti-Muslim crimes. A disturbing new paper by researchers Karsten Müller and Carlo Schwarz of the University of Warwick suggests that Donald Trump’s Islamic-related tweets may be directly linked to an increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes over the past few years. If Trump’s tweets have, in fact, played a role in spurring hate crimes, then social media may be playing an even more powerful role in people’s lives than previously thought.
USA Today, July 2018: The total number of hate crimes in the 10 largest cities in America jumped in 2017, marking four straight years for an uptick in such incidents.
Washington Post, March 2018: Reported hate crimes with racial or ethnic bias jumped the day after President Trump won the 2016 election, from 10 to 27, according to an analysis of FBI hate crime statistics by The Washington Post.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [35 favorites]
Scientific American, June 2018: Study makes strong case that president’s Twitter activity encourages anti-Muslim crimes. A disturbing new paper by researchers Karsten Müller and Carlo Schwarz of the University of Warwick suggests that Donald Trump’s Islamic-related tweets may be directly linked to an increase in anti-Muslim hate crimes over the past few years. If Trump’s tweets have, in fact, played a role in spurring hate crimes, then social media may be playing an even more powerful role in people’s lives than previously thought.
USA Today, July 2018: The total number of hate crimes in the 10 largest cities in America jumped in 2017, marking four straight years for an uptick in such incidents.
Washington Post, March 2018: Reported hate crimes with racial or ethnic bias jumped the day after President Trump won the 2016 election, from 10 to 27, according to an analysis of FBI hate crime statistics by The Washington Post.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [35 favorites]
For context, there was just a vote this week to arm school police in Pittsburgh public schools. It failed by a 1-8 vote, which I think was the right outcome, but I can't help but wonder if it would have passed unanimously if the vote had been held next week instead.
Governor Wolf and Sen. Casey just arrived on the scene.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:50 AM on October 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
Governor Wolf and Sen. Casey just arrived on the scene.
posted by tonycpsu at 8:50 AM on October 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
One more thing about the vanifestos that I don't think anyone has mentioned is that even in places where the community at large isn't cool with them, where there isn't a huge amount of pressure to just go along, conservative crazies still get away with a lot because many police forces are considerably more conservative than the communities they police. There are a lot of police forces in this country where very conservative people or even out-and-out white supremacists have control of hiring, and they do their best to keep bringing in more of their own and to ensure that the culture of the force is hostile to anyone who doesn't support their views. This is part of why we still have police forces that reliably enforce the law in very obviously racist ways even in otherwise progressive areas.
Even if there are messages on these vans or houses or whatever that are violating the law (such as specific threats), the cops in many places are likely to decide not to enforce the law because of tribalism or because they enjoy the fact that the messages terrify liberals. The rules only exist when the people enforcing them want them to exist.
posted by IAmUnaware at 8:55 AM on October 27, 2018 [44 favorites]
Even if there are messages on these vans or houses or whatever that are violating the law (such as specific threats), the cops in many places are likely to decide not to enforce the law because of tribalism or because they enjoy the fact that the messages terrify liberals. The rules only exist when the people enforcing them want them to exist.
posted by IAmUnaware at 8:55 AM on October 27, 2018 [44 favorites]
As an occasional congregant of the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church, I want to extend my deepest love and compassion to the Jewish community of Pittsburgh. My heart is breaking for you.
posted by workerant at 8:58 AM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by workerant at 8:58 AM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
I woke up to a text from my mom about the Tree of Life shooting. I'm a Chatham alumna and I've long fantasized about living in Squirrel Hill. My heart is broken for those lost and the entire community and all of us, I mean, ALL of us, Jew and gentile alike.
posted by Ruki at 9:14 AM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by Ruki at 9:14 AM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
Pending an FPP, please go easy on the media intake about the shooting (in general, not specifically the comments) just to take care of yourself so that you can help others. The Trump Years are really expensive mental-health-wise, so use some of those saved vacation days or whatever you need to do to deal. We're going to get through it.
[doughnut of the day recommendation: Yes.]
posted by petebest at 9:23 AM on October 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
[doughnut of the day recommendation: Yes.]
posted by petebest at 9:23 AM on October 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
Nazi costume guy tried to lock down his Facebook account but his Facebook Likes are still visible. A lot of historical stuff, sure, but pretty much all WW2 German. Couple those with his political likes and he's not just a "history buff."
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:29 AM on October 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 9:29 AM on October 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
Trump, commenting on the Tree of Life shooting from Andrews, literally just responded to a reporter's question about stronger gun laws by saying "if they had had protection inside, this wouldn't have happened."
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 9:38 AM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 9:38 AM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
Laura Rozen
alleged suspect had post 2hrs ago blaming jewish immigration resettlement org for caravan, “likes to bring invaders in that kill our people”
• Pittsburgh suspect Robert Bowers posted this AM “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people..I’m going in” https://archive.fo/1gI5n
• HIAS is Hebrew immigration aid society he seemed recently obsessed w/. “1488” at top of his social media page apparently anti semitic symbol SCREENSHOT
• 17 days ago, Bowers wrote HIAS likes “to bring in hostile invaders to dwell among us? We appreciate the list of friends you have provided” SCREENSHOT
posted by chris24 at 9:38 AM on October 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
alleged suspect had post 2hrs ago blaming jewish immigration resettlement org for caravan, “likes to bring invaders in that kill our people”
• Pittsburgh suspect Robert Bowers posted this AM “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people..I’m going in” https://archive.fo/1gI5n
• HIAS is Hebrew immigration aid society he seemed recently obsessed w/. “1488” at top of his social media page apparently anti semitic symbol SCREENSHOT
• 17 days ago, Bowers wrote HIAS likes “to bring in hostile invaders to dwell among us? We appreciate the list of friends you have provided” SCREENSHOT
posted by chris24 at 9:38 AM on October 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
CNN has heard a recording of Trump warning of* violence if the GOP loses their majority in the midterms.
*i originally wrote “threatening”; the headline is “warns”
posted by schadenfrau at 9:44 AM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
*i originally wrote “threatening”; the headline is “warns”
posted by schadenfrau at 9:44 AM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
“1488” at top of his social media page apparently anti semitic symbol
The 1488 appears on a shooting chronograph, so he's saying he's into nazi shit and guns.
posted by peeedro at 9:49 AM on October 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
The 1488 appears on a shooting chronograph, so he's saying he's into nazi shit and guns.
posted by peeedro at 9:49 AM on October 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
If the stuff I'm seeing on Twitter about the shooter's particular views on Trump are true I think that both I and my husband may have encountered this dude in the past year. We both at different times got accosted and handed lit by a guy who was ranting about Trump, only to actually look at the lit later to find that this guy's entire problem with Trump was that he's "controlled by the Jews".
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:49 AM on October 27, 2018 [27 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 9:49 AM on October 27, 2018 [27 favorites]
alleged suspect had post 2hrs ago...
As always, people should be careful of spreading things like this before they are confirmed. There's always a lot of fakes floating around.
posted by neroli at 9:50 AM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
As always, people should be careful of spreading things like this before they are confirmed. There's always a lot of fakes floating around.
posted by neroli at 9:50 AM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Massachusetts's South Shore has a Camryfesto - a middle-aged white woman in a Camry (with "Choose Life" plates) who has a series of racist, anti-gay and anti-Democratic signs that she flashes at black and brown people at traffic lights - and sometimes just while tooling down I-93. She's been doing it for at least two years now.
posted by adamg at 9:58 AM on October 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by adamg at 9:58 AM on October 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
Yeah, he appears to hate Trump not because he's leftwing, but because Trump isn't Nazi enough.
But regardless of hating Trump for not being extreme enough, Trump with his demagoguery about the caravan, his attacks on globalists and Soros, his Nazis are very fine people, is directly responsible for this. We have a wave of white supremacist terror – Vanifesto, Kroger's and now this – and it's because we have a white supremacist in the White House not only not doing anything to prevent it, but actively encouraging it.
VOTE and make sure everybody you know does as well.
posted by chris24 at 10:02 AM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
But regardless of hating Trump for not being extreme enough, Trump with his demagoguery about the caravan, his attacks on globalists and Soros, his Nazis are very fine people, is directly responsible for this. We have a wave of white supremacist terror – Vanifesto, Kroger's and now this – and it's because we have a white supremacist in the White House not only not doing anything to prevent it, but actively encouraging it.
VOTE and make sure everybody you know does as well.
posted by chris24 at 10:02 AM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
Blame the victims.
Trump says Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh has “little to do with” gun laws, says the synagogue should have “had some kind of a protection” inside the temple, and later blames synagogue for not having armed guards.
I want off this planet.
posted by tonycpsu at 10:04 AM on October 27, 2018 [57 favorites]
Trump says Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh has “little to do with” gun laws, says the synagogue should have “had some kind of a protection” inside the temple, and later blames synagogue for not having armed guards.
I want off this planet.
posted by tonycpsu at 10:04 AM on October 27, 2018 [57 favorites]
From what I am seeing, the shooter had an account on a right wing 'free speech' twitter clone called Gab. His feed is as horribly anti-semitic as you can imagine.
I personally don't care to get into the argument about how much Trump may have influenced this shooter. It's been well established that he emboldens this sort of violence. Trump has two years of statements as president that we can condemn him for. I wouldn't be surprised if Trump complains on camera that there were 'fine people' on both sides of this shooting.
posted by Catblack at 10:10 AM on October 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
I personally don't care to get into the argument about how much Trump may have influenced this shooter. It's been well established that he emboldens this sort of violence. Trump has two years of statements as president that we can condemn him for. I wouldn't be surprised if Trump complains on camera that there were 'fine people' on both sides of this shooting.
posted by Catblack at 10:10 AM on October 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
Naziism should be illegal in this country, like it is in others.
A year and a half ago myself and others got a lot of shit (not just on here, though it happened here too) for suggesting that Nazis should be met with violent resistance. We can't pacify Nazis or love them away.
Gonna go kick in $20 to the GoFundMe for the dude that jumped Heather Heyer's murderer in jail.
posted by lazaruslong at 10:15 AM on October 27, 2018 [41 favorites]
A year and a half ago myself and others got a lot of shit (not just on here, though it happened here too) for suggesting that Nazis should be met with violent resistance. We can't pacify Nazis or love them away.
Gonna go kick in $20 to the GoFundMe for the dude that jumped Heather Heyer's murderer in jail.
posted by lazaruslong at 10:15 AM on October 27, 2018 [41 favorites]
In more upbeat news: They Want To Register Voters In Jail. The Sheriff Won’t Let Them Inside To Do It. ACLU organizers are standing outside California’s Orange County jail to register inmates as they’re released overnight.
posted by Bella Donna at 10:16 AM on October 27, 2018 [33 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 10:16 AM on October 27, 2018 [33 favorites]
You can draw a straight line from Trump's anger about nobody "closing the border" to this guy. They're all swimming in violently anti-immigrant rhetoric- that the border has to be militarized, that people need to be stopped, by any means necessary. I mean, for God's sake, Steve King gave an interview praising The Camp of the Saints.
If you're a Nazi, and you see all these people in power talking about how this needs to be fixed and it not changing- no wall is built, the border isn't closed, asylum is still granted- no wonder you want to do something that your leaders aren't able or willing to do. No wonder, as a Nazi, that he sees Trump as cucked by the Jewish globalists.
posted by BungaDunga at 10:29 AM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
If you're a Nazi, and you see all these people in power talking about how this needs to be fixed and it not changing- no wall is built, the border isn't closed, asylum is still granted- no wonder you want to do something that your leaders aren't able or willing to do. No wonder, as a Nazi, that he sees Trump as cucked by the Jewish globalists.
posted by BungaDunga at 10:29 AM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
Until recently, it looked as if the midterm elections might be defined largely by an argument about health care. Over the past few days, however, the headlines have been dominated instead by hatred — hysteria over a caravan of migrants a thousand miles from the U.S. border, and now the attempted assassination of multiple prominent Democrats.From Health Care, Hatred and Lies by Krugman, NYTimes Opinion
But whoever sent the bombs and why, the caravan hysteria is no accident: creating a climate of hatred is how Republicans avoid talking about health care. What we’re seeing in this election is a kind of culmination of the strategy the right has been using for decades: distract working-class voters from policies that hurt them by promoting culture war and, above all, racial antagonism.
posted by mumimor at 10:32 AM on October 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
Also: User error in some cases is affecting vote machines, according to Texas Secretary of State’s Office as reported by Texas Tribune.
posted by Bella Donna at 10:32 AM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 10:32 AM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
Pittsburgher here, checking in. Thanks for asking.
.
posted by M-x shell at 10:42 AM on October 27, 2018 [42 favorites]
.
posted by M-x shell at 10:42 AM on October 27, 2018 [42 favorites]
CNN has heard a recording of Trump warning of* violence if the GOP loses their majority in the midterms.
CNN's hyping this, but Trump's been "warning" about violence post-midterms for a while at campaign rallies. To be clear—or at least as clear as Trump's word-salad can be—he's warning about violence from Democrats and the left, not from his supporters or the extreme right. This is what he told evangelical leaders at a White House dinner:
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:42 AM on October 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
CNN's hyping this, but Trump's been "warning" about violence post-midterms for a while at campaign rallies. To be clear—or at least as clear as Trump's word-salad can be—he's warning about violence from Democrats and the left, not from his supporters or the extreme right. This is what he told evangelical leaders at a White House dinner:
"I think we're popular, but there's a real question as to whether people are going to vote if I'm not on the ballot. And I'm not on the ballot. A lot of people think I don't like Congress. People say, “I'm not voting because the President doesn't like Congress.” It's not a question of like or dislike, it's a question of that they will overturn everything that we've done and they will do it quickly and violently. And violently. There is violence. When you look at Antifa—these are violent people." {emphasis added}By constantly invoking an atmosphere of violence, Trump's toxic strategy is to pre-blame the opposition for any action taken by the likes of the Magabomber or the Squirrel Hill shooter, as though they're acting in pre-emptive self-defense rather than committing acts of political terror or hate crimes.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:42 AM on October 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
Trump's toxic strategy is to pre-blame the opposition for any action taken by the likes of the Magabomber or the Squirrel Hill shooter, as though they're acting in pre-emptive self-defense rather than committing acts of political terror or hate crimes.
Expect to hear more "Soros is sending the caravan" from him now, not less.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:44 AM on October 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
Expect to hear more "Soros is sending the caravan" from him now, not less.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:44 AM on October 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
Still comforting to know that there’s no place for this kind of hate spewing over at NBC.
posted by Melismata at 10:45 AM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Melismata at 10:45 AM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
“1488” at top of his social media page apparently anti semitic symbol
It's a combination of 14 for the "fourteen words" and 88 for "Heil Hitler".
While I find it unbearable to strain the bounds of civility, with those symbols, in addition to murdering Jews at worship in the House of God, I suspect that this fellow may be sympathetic to National Socialism.
posted by thelonius at 10:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
It's a combination of 14 for the "fourteen words" and 88 for "Heil Hitler".
While I find it unbearable to strain the bounds of civility, with those symbols, in addition to murdering Jews at worship in the House of God, I suspect that this fellow may be sympathetic to National Socialism.
posted by thelonius at 10:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
I early voted in St. Augustine this morning. No line, but a few other people voting.
I am cautiously optimistic on Gillum's chances at winning. At the same time, I think Nelson is toast. Rick Scott's most recent tv ad describes how his mother had a preexisting condition so of course he would protect access to insurance for people with preexisting conditions. So, the governor who refused to expand medicaid suddenly cares about people's access to insurance. The ad made me so angry. If Gillum's only success in this state is expanding medicaid, I would still count that as being a successful governor. Still no ads for Nelson on my tv.
I hope the democrats have a slew of lawyers ready to fight for recounts in close elections. I think there are going to be a lot, and we have to be willing to fight for every candidate. With Trump as model, I don't see a lot of Republicans conceding.
posted by wittgenstein at 10:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
I am cautiously optimistic on Gillum's chances at winning. At the same time, I think Nelson is toast. Rick Scott's most recent tv ad describes how his mother had a preexisting condition so of course he would protect access to insurance for people with preexisting conditions. So, the governor who refused to expand medicaid suddenly cares about people's access to insurance. The ad made me so angry. If Gillum's only success in this state is expanding medicaid, I would still count that as being a successful governor. Still no ads for Nelson on my tv.
I hope the democrats have a slew of lawyers ready to fight for recounts in close elections. I think there are going to be a lot, and we have to be willing to fight for every candidate. With Trump as model, I don't see a lot of Republicans conceding.
posted by wittgenstein at 10:47 AM on October 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
Kevin Roose at the NYTimes goes through the MAGAbomber’s social media and finds a very clear inflection point when his feed turns from food photos to all out crazy.
Guess. Guess when it is.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:02 AM on October 27, 2018 [68 favorites]
Guess. Guess when it is.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:02 AM on October 27, 2018 [68 favorites]
Dipping back to Wednesday, the shooting at the Louisville Kroger is being investigated as a hate crime. Yes, there is domestic violence in the suspect's past.
posted by Miss Cellania at 11:02 AM on October 27, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by Miss Cellania at 11:02 AM on October 27, 2018 [28 favorites]
If anyone has a little time and wants to volunteer to help get out the vote but isn't sure where to start, MobilizeAmerica helps you find opportunities via location, type of event, campaign, or date.
posted by Bella Donna at 11:12 AM on October 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 11:12 AM on October 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
A tough day to be a Pittsburgher. Thinking of you all.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:12 AM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 11:12 AM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
Jeet Heer:
1. The alleged shooter believed in the anti-Semitic conspiracy theory that "the Jews" are working to destroy white America by bringing in immigrants. It's a cousin of the idea that George Soros is paying for "the Caravan." Let's talk about anti-Semitic ideology. 2. Good summary of alleged shooter's worldview. He belonged to the far right faction that sees Trump as "controlled opposition" (or a false flag president, if you will) -- i.e. Trump claims to stand for white America but actually works for "the Jews". https://twitter.com/ddale8/status/1056231535685394435 3. The idea that George Soros (symbol for many on right of Jewish conspiracy) is behind Caravan isn't confined to Nazis. Here's Congressman Matt Gaetz 4. Here is popular Trumpist cartoonist Ben Garrison -- again, someone with an audience outside the Nazi right but circulating idea that Soros is working to destroy America. https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DqiIobxX0AAWbWm.jpg 5. House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DqiJ2vuXcAA3YME.jpg:large 6. @attackerman and @chick_in_kiev have both written about how all these Soros theories replicate classic anti-Semitic tropes. There’s Been a George Soros for Every Era of Anti-Semitic Panicposted by T.D. Strange at 11:13 AM on October 27, 2018 [44 favorites]
Soros propaganda is also playing a key part in the toxic Brexit 'debate' here in the UK, with the revolting Arron Banks (friend of Donald, Bannon, et al, natch) increasingly using this dog whistle to deflect from his corrupt agenda:
posted by Myeral at 11:21 AM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Myeral at 11:21 AM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
I find it increasingly hard not just to think of the far right as actively engaging in a low level civil conflict. Sad as it is, JCC/synagogue policing and security should reflect that.
posted by jaduncan at 11:36 AM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 11:36 AM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
alleged suspect had post 2hrs ago blaming jewish immigration resettlement org for caravan, “likes to bring invaders in that kill our people”
• Pittsburgh suspect Robert Bowers posted this AM “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people..I’m going in”
For any who would like to do something to push back and have some cash: Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society is a charity supporting refugees and has a four-star rating from CharityNavigator.org. Their donation page link is at the top right of the linked page.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:37 AM on October 27, 2018 [29 favorites]
• Pittsburgh suspect Robert Bowers posted this AM “HIAS likes to bring invaders in that kill our people..I’m going in”
For any who would like to do something to push back and have some cash: Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society is a charity supporting refugees and has a four-star rating from CharityNavigator.org. Their donation page link is at the top right of the linked page.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:37 AM on October 27, 2018 [29 favorites]
Remember when the Obama DHS leaked the report "Right-wing Extremism: Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment," and then following the fury of GOP congressmen, right wing columnists and veterans groups didn't just retract it but also gutted its own domestic terrorism unit?
Anyway there's currently a march in DC of over 500 "ex-democrats" whose speakers are claiming the mail bombing was fake, that their testosterone is being suppressed, and singing “Arm yourselves to the teeth / prepare your eyes for blood,” so there's no way that these are truly the Last Days.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:49 AM on October 27, 2018 [38 favorites]
Anyway there's currently a march in DC of over 500 "ex-democrats" whose speakers are claiming the mail bombing was fake, that their testosterone is being suppressed, and singing “Arm yourselves to the teeth / prepare your eyes for blood,” so there's no way that these are truly the Last Days.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:49 AM on October 27, 2018 [38 favorites]
Developing countries around the world weep for this fragile desperate frightened country overloaded with deadly weapons aimed at the entire planet and its climate.
posted by infini at 11:54 AM on October 27, 2018 [30 favorites]
posted by infini at 11:54 AM on October 27, 2018 [30 favorites]
Trump, after dodging a reporter's question about revisiting gun laws, went on to reinforce his message of an atmosphere of violence (via White House Pool):
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:58 AM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
Q Mr. President, do you think there's anything you can do -- you said it happens again and again -- to end this kind of violence?Earlier this morning on Twitter, Trump called Nancy Pelosi a "wacko" since it's one of his preferred terms of insult, and in general, he likes to brand his opponents as mentally ill (Washington Post). He's weaponizing tabloid language straight out of the New York Post.
TRUMP: Well, it's a violence that's -- you look at the violence all over the world. I mean, the world has violence. The world is a violent world. And you think when you're over it, it just sort of goes away, but then it comes back in the form of a mad man, a whacko. I think one thing we should is we should stiffen up our laws in terms of the death penalty. When people do this, they should get the death penalty, and they shouldn't have to wait years and years.
posted by Doktor Zed at 11:58 AM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
Trump says Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh has “little to do with” gun laws, says the synagogue should have “had some kind of a protection” inside the temple, and later blames synagogue for not having armed guards.
@JohnJHarwood: the killer shot armed, trained police officers
posted by zachlipton at 11:58 AM on October 27, 2018 [65 favorites]
@JohnJHarwood: the killer shot armed, trained police officers
posted by zachlipton at 11:58 AM on October 27, 2018 [65 favorites]
I find it increasingly hard not just to think of the far right as actively engaging in a low level civil conflict. Sad as it is, JCC/synagogue policing and security should reflect that.It feels different now, but this isn't really new. I'm 45, and I don't think I've ever attended a High Holy Days service at which there weren't armed guards. Synagogues and JCCs have been hyper-aware that they were potential targets since at least the Buenos Aires Jewish community center bombing in 1994, which killed 85 people. I think that most of them have some sort of security in place, although probably not guards all the time, because that's just not feasible for most synagogues. And there are costs to having a huge security presence, and I don't just mean financial costs. They make the spaces much less welcoming for everyone, and they especially make the spaces less welcoming for Jews of color who might feel threatened, not comforted, by people in uniforms with guns. And I'm not sure that armed guards actually make you that much safer. There's a lot of potential for collateral damage when you have a shoot-out in a synagogue sanctuary.
I dunno. I'm horrified, and I also have a sick sense that we all knew this was going to happen, and it was just a question of where and when. Being Jewish means not ever really being safe. I hate that, and it makes me furious, and I also don't know any way to avoid it.
I'm thinking of everyone in Pittsburgh.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 12:08 PM on October 27, 2018 [41 favorites]
CNN has heard a recording of Trump warning of* violence if the GOP loses their majority in the midterms.
*i originally wrote “threatening”; the headline is “warns”
The intent never changes though; he's always "inciting" violence.
posted by ZeusHumms at 12:10 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
*i originally wrote “threatening”; the headline is “warns”
The intent never changes though; he's always "inciting" violence.
posted by ZeusHumms at 12:10 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Trump says Tree of Life synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh has “little to do with” gun laws, says the synagogue should have “had some kind of a protection” inside the temple, and later blames synagogue for not having armed guards.
Not sure what the situation is like in the US but many countries where Jews might be at risk have community run security organisations that use volunteers from each synagogue with a more committed core of regular volunteers and paid staff. Most are not armed, I would not be surprised if some are.
posted by PenDevil at 12:12 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Not sure what the situation is like in the US but many countries where Jews might be at risk have community run security organisations that use volunteers from each synagogue with a more committed core of regular volunteers and paid staff. Most are not armed, I would not be surprised if some are.
posted by PenDevil at 12:12 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Suppose a large synagogue in any given city hires an armed guard. Aside from the risk that guns usually bring into the equation by themselves (it's stolen, it goes off by mistake, etc), they have to consider the particular risk posed by the guard himself in today's environment. Assuming they weren't able to confirm his credentials to a tee and only have the resources for a rent-a-cop, well, now you're rolling the dice that he won't be a Proud Boy or similar, waiting for his own moment to repeat this horror. So I respect whatever choice they might make on the subject (apart from a larger belief that guns should be way more restricted than they are), but that's got to be kept in mind as a factor here.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 12:28 PM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by InTheYear2017 at 12:28 PM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Every time I've seen an armed guard at a synagogue entrance, it's been someone who has a friendly presence and maintains good terms with the synagogue-goers, since they see one another weekly. That kind of thing doesn't seem too hard to screen for when hiring.
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 12:31 PM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 12:31 PM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Not sure what the situation is like in the US but many countries where Jews might be at risk have community run security organisations that use volunteers from each synagogue with a more committed core of regular volunteers and paid staff. Most are not armed, I would not be surprised if some are.
how has no one here ever heard of the shomrim
posted by poffin boffin at 12:32 PM on October 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
how has no one here ever heard of the shomrim
posted by poffin boffin at 12:32 PM on October 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
how has no one here ever heard of the shomrim
they don't have the greatest rep in nyc
in general extra-judicial vigilante or enforcement groups go bad in all the usual, completely predictable ways
posted by schadenfrau at 12:46 PM on October 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
they don't have the greatest rep in nyc
in general extra-judicial vigilante or enforcement groups go bad in all the usual, completely predictable ways
posted by schadenfrau at 12:46 PM on October 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
Erstwhile 5 year Pittsburgher. I knew a lot of Jewish people at my work and community choir. Walked down that street dozens of times. I feel oddly heartsick that I'm not there right now, even though there's nothing I could be doing to help on the ground.
posted by nakedmolerats at 12:51 PM on October 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by nakedmolerats at 12:51 PM on October 27, 2018 [11 favorites]
More hate crimes are reported against Jews than any other religious group, FBI statistics show.
posted by gwint at 12:54 PM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by gwint at 12:54 PM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
how has no one here ever heard of the shomrim
In my neighborhood they're basically a street gang, out to harass black people.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:56 PM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
In my neighborhood they're basically a street gang, out to harass black people.
posted by Faint of Butt at 12:56 PM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
No idea who the shomrim are but I am describing organisations more along the lines of the CST in the UK.
posted by PenDevil at 1:00 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by PenDevil at 1:00 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Trump, meanwhile, is addressing the Future Farmers of America. It's really weird. After an earlier riff about how palm trees hold up in hurricanes, he's talking about the estate tax and farmers leaving their farms to their children tax-free, but advises farmers not to leave their farmers to their kids if they don't like their children: "are there any parents in the room that do not like their children? Sell them." One man raised his hand to the question, and Trump considered that it would be interesting to bring him on stage for an interview.
I wonder if Eric is watching.
posted by zachlipton at 1:09 PM on October 27, 2018 [30 favorites]
I wonder if Eric is watching.
posted by zachlipton at 1:09 PM on October 27, 2018 [30 favorites]
Having missed out on last night's bananas rally, Daniel Dale has been live-tweeting/fact-checking Trump's address to the Future Farmers of America. As zachlipton's post suggests, it's been a weird one.
Here are highlights, as Trump veers further and further from his prepared remarks:
Tonight's rally promises to be off the charts lunacy.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:26 PM on October 27, 2018 [29 favorites]
Here are highlights, as Trump veers further and further from his prepared remarks:
—Trump on the Pittsburgh victims: "We pledge in their name to fight for a future of justice, safety, tolerance, morality, dignity and love. We must all rise above the hate..." He ad-libs: "And it doesn't mean we can't fight hard and be strong and say what's on our mind."Dale sums up this bizarro event (and I haven't even quoted what Trump said about his hair): "This is no Address to the Boy Scout Jamboree, but it's definitely the second-strangest speech Trump has given to people under the age of 18."
—Trump tells the future farmers that he was on Air Force One, then adds, "Did anyone ever heard of Air Force one? Beautiful...anything can happen. If I can fly on Air Force one, then you can be a really, really successful farmer."
—Trump calls the future farmers "beautiful" and "handsome." He adds, "You know you're not allowed to say that anymore. I'm saying it anyway." This is his new thing.
—Trump says he thought at first he should cancel his rally today, but: "We can't let evil change our life and change our schedule. We can't do that. We have to go and do whatever we were going to do. Otherwise we give them too much credit...you go with a heavy heart, but you go."
—Trump, justifying his decision to hold rally tonight, claims that the NYSE opened the day after 9/11 and "people were shocked." It was closed until six days after the attack.
—Sir Alert: Trump says that Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue knows more about farming than anybody in the whole world. He said his aides wanted him to appoint people who knew nothing about farming and told him, in the interviews, "Sir, I know nothing, but I can learn."
—In a multi-sir story, Trump says that a Georgia cotton farmer cried when the farmer told him the hurricane wiped out his crop.
—Trump, at this "official" event, invites up Republican candidates, then says, "Please get out and vote for them. And I'm going to be very nice: I'm not even going to mention their opponents. I won't tell you that they're aligned with Nancy Pelosi." {The Trump Administrations's violations of the Hatch Act have become habitual, but let's never normalize them.}
—Trump touts Canada's concessions on dairy and also Canada's change to wheat-grading practices. "I don't know what the hell it means, but I heard it was a big concession...I have no idea. I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THAT MEANS but everybody's saying sir can you get the wheat graded..."
—Trump says one of the worst regulations is the "insane" Waters of the United States rule, "except it's got the most beautiful name." He tells the future farmers that they know what that is. A very small number of young people applaud. He says maybe they don't know what it is.
—"You're a hard crowd to figure," Trump says after the young people give him applause for one line but not another line. He adds, "See, I just don't know the farm business, I guess."
Tonight's rally promises to be off the charts lunacy.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:26 PM on October 27, 2018 [29 favorites]
@JohnJHarwood: the killer shot armed, trained police officersExactly. Newspapers of the nation, feel free to use some variant of this sub-head:
President claims killer who shot two police officers could best have been stopped by arming religious congregation.posted by Nerd of the North at 1:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [39 favorites]
USA Today just connected two very heartbreaking dots:
Squirrel Hill, the neighborhood where the Tree of Life synagogue is located, was once where Fred Rogers lived.
So that means that the shooting literally happened in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:30 PM on October 27, 2018 [56 favorites]
Squirrel Hill, the neighborhood where the Tree of Life synagogue is located, was once where Fred Rogers lived.
So that means that the shooting literally happened in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:30 PM on October 27, 2018 [56 favorites]
Meanwhile in Pittsburgh the death toll has risen to eleven.
posted by reductiondesign at 1:32 PM on October 27, 2018
posted by reductiondesign at 1:32 PM on October 27, 2018
NBC News, Ben Collins, Pittsburgh synagogue shooting suspect threatened Jewish groups, pushed migrant caravan conspiracies
posted by zachlipton at 1:42 PM on October 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
Bowers frequently wrote on the social network Gab, where he made a specific threat against Jews hours before allegedly conducting Saturday’s attack.@Elise_Jordan: This week in focus groups and now home in Mississippi for the weekend, I’ve heard several conspiracy theories about the caravan as a leftist financed plot.
In the post, Bowers said that the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society, a humanitarian aid nonprofit group that provides assistance to refugees, brought immigrants to the United States to do violence against others.
“Screw your optics, I'm going in," he wrote.
...
Bowers’ anti-Semitic posts and his apparent disdain for the caravan are tied to a viral image that appears to show refugees hopping onto the bed of a truck that had a Star of David visible on the side. The image has been widely shared on far-right forums like 4chan and the Russian propaganda operation USA Really. He reposted a screenshot of a video of the caravan that that aired on Fox News, as well as other networks, that does not mention the symbol.
...
Bowers appeared disillusioned with Trump for not sharing Bowers' anti-Semitic and extremist views. Days after Trump declared himself a nationalist at a campaign event, Bowers claimed that Trump was a “globalist” and not a nationalist.
posted by zachlipton at 1:42 PM on October 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
For those of you who don't know, Squirrel Hill is a very special neighborhood. It's home to half of the Jewish population of the Pittsburgh area and filled with almost 2 dozen synagogues. My daughter went to preschool in one just a few blocks from the shooting; it hosts the only Spanish language immersion curriculum in town. The first place I lived when I moved to Pittsburgh was a former hotel that was founded specifically to serve Jewish visitors who were not allowed to stay in other hotels in town.
Due to its location near the Universities it's also home to a great number of students and immigrants. It's a vibrant neighborhood, full of great food and a lovely place for a walk.
No one was naive about the possibility of violence. Congregations have been beefing up security and working together to prepare for active shooters. I'm so angry at the president for his lack of response and finger-pointing. I'm angry that this will have long term effects on trust in the neighborhood and I'm angry that someone could take advantage of sacred sanctuary to terrorize people.
I was at a birthday party a few hours ago and stood outside the kids' show with another parent so that we could refresh our news feeds and see if anyone we know is gone. I hate this.
posted by Alison at 1:50 PM on October 27, 2018 [85 favorites]
Due to its location near the Universities it's also home to a great number of students and immigrants. It's a vibrant neighborhood, full of great food and a lovely place for a walk.
No one was naive about the possibility of violence. Congregations have been beefing up security and working together to prepare for active shooters. I'm so angry at the president for his lack of response and finger-pointing. I'm angry that this will have long term effects on trust in the neighborhood and I'm angry that someone could take advantage of sacred sanctuary to terrorize people.
I was at a birthday party a few hours ago and stood outside the kids' show with another parent so that we could refresh our news feeds and see if anyone we know is gone. I hate this.
posted by Alison at 1:50 PM on October 27, 2018 [85 favorites]
It's all part of his bizarre media campaign to, well, I honestly don't know what he thinks he can possibly accomplish from this. If Manafort and Cohen couldn't wrangle pardon hints from Trump with their discrete leaks to the media, it's hard to imagine Flood and Cipollone being swayed, no matter what kind of spectacle Papadopoulos makes of himself on Fox & Friends for Trump's viewing pleasure.
These are not bright people and Papadopoulos might just be the least bright.
posted by srboisvert at 1:54 PM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
These are not bright people and Papadopoulos might just be the least bright.
posted by srboisvert at 1:54 PM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
they don't have the greatest rep in nyc
in general extra-judicial vigilante or enforcement groups go bad in all the usual, completely predictable ways
yes this is literally my precise point
posted by poffin boffin at 1:59 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
in general extra-judicial vigilante or enforcement groups go bad in all the usual, completely predictable ways
yes this is literally my precise point
posted by poffin boffin at 1:59 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
In today's "weep for the future" news, my husband reports one of his college-aged (and I believe community college attending) servers posted on his FB: "I don't follow politics. Who should I vote for for Senate?" In Texas, so a race one might expect to have heard something about. The really sad part is that this person is gay, and you'd really think he'd have some idea of whether Ted fucking Cruz or Beto better served his own interests. Or just maybe a general idea that Republicans would rather you, personally, didn't exist. IDEK.
posted by threeturtles at 2:03 PM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by threeturtles at 2:03 PM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
threeturtles: "I don't follow politics. Who should I vote for for Senate?" In Texas, so a race one might expect to have heard something about.
Is it outright impossible he was talking about the Texas Senate? That's the kind of race that even politically-informed people often neglect to pay attention to -- I was just reminding my generally-on-top-of-things father about which people represent us in Pennsylvania at which levels. (And to add to the confusion, it's different people for us even though we live 20 minutes apart.)
I assume the answer there is still "straight-ticket Democratic" (and that this person isn't up on the degree to which party overrides everything else at this point), but there are known oddball exceptions like what was happening with the Independent Democratic Conference when that existed in New York.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 2:11 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Is it outright impossible he was talking about the Texas Senate? That's the kind of race that even politically-informed people often neglect to pay attention to -- I was just reminding my generally-on-top-of-things father about which people represent us in Pennsylvania at which levels. (And to add to the confusion, it's different people for us even though we live 20 minutes apart.)
I assume the answer there is still "straight-ticket Democratic" (and that this person isn't up on the degree to which party overrides everything else at this point), but there are known oddball exceptions like what was happening with the Independent Democratic Conference when that existed in New York.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 2:11 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Sam Stein, I Grew Up in a Place Where I Felt Safe from Anti-Semitism—It was the United States
posted by zachlipton at 2:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 2:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
This interview with Debra Gureghian, the manager of the shop that Cesar Sayok delivered pizza for is insane. Debra is an out lesbian. Cesar was an absolute nutcase who freely expressed racist, homophobic, and violent ideas. Yet, she didn't fire him because he did his job.
posted by rdr at 2:34 PM on October 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by rdr at 2:34 PM on October 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
Ralston has posted an age breakdown of the early voting electorate in Nevada so far. It shows one way that GOP maintains a grip on power despite being a minority party:
posted by Justinian at 2:38 PM on October 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
18-29: 5%So way more 85 year olds are voting than 25 year olds. There's no excuse for that. Hell, more 85 year olds are voting than 35 year olds.
30-39: 7%
40-49: 11%
50-59: 17%
60-69: 26%
70-79: 24%
80-89: 8%
90-99: 1%
100+: <1%
posted by Justinian at 2:38 PM on October 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
And unlike all their cheating and voter suppression, this method (voting!) has the advantage of being both legal and moral. Which is unusual for the GOP but I guess they figure if it works they might as well do it.
posted by Justinian at 2:39 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:39 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
The Gab.com people are bagging that they’ve bee. Getting a million hits an hour from this.
Three Months Inside The New York Alt-Right (Commune Magazine, CW: nazism, antisemetism, violence, language, etc)
It’s not new if you’ve kept up with the right wing movements in this country, but it is interesting from how they’re all open Nazis, they’re trying to merge with the “intellectual” wing of the nationalists, and the whole middle aged barfly cast of the old guard vs. the socially awkward edgelord knewcomers.
It’s all very wacky until it’s niot.
posted by The Whelk at 2:40 PM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
Three Months Inside The New York Alt-Right (Commune Magazine, CW: nazism, antisemetism, violence, language, etc)
It’s not new if you’ve kept up with the right wing movements in this country, but it is interesting from how they’re all open Nazis, they’re trying to merge with the “intellectual” wing of the nationalists, and the whole middle aged barfly cast of the old guard vs. the socially awkward edgelord knewcomers.
It’s all very wacky until it’s niot.
posted by The Whelk at 2:40 PM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
This interview with Debra Gureghian, the manager of the shop that Cesar Sayok delivered pizza for is insane. Debra is an out lesbian. Cesar was an absolute nutcase who freely expressed racist, homophobic, and violent ideas. Yet, she didn't fire him because he did his job.
You can’t get fired for saying you want to kill all blacks and gays but you can legally get fired for being gay or wearing dreads in most states.
posted by The Whelk at 2:45 PM on October 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
You can’t get fired for saying you want to kill all blacks and gays but you can legally get fired for being gay or wearing dreads in most states.
posted by The Whelk at 2:45 PM on October 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
Not to interfere with snark but you can, in fact, get fired for saying you want to kill all blacks and gays. She simply chose not to do it.
posted by Justinian at 2:47 PM on October 27, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 2:47 PM on October 27, 2018 [34 favorites]
"He really loves the president" becomes the local norm, so no one has to talk about being worried, or about (shamed whisper) possible mental health issues, or about the logistical and financial stresses of getting help for Uncle Pete.
Sayoc's constant self-aggrandizing lying (which could be grandiosity related to mental illness or just...Trumpian bullshit...) reminds me most strongly of one of my own cousins. When I was a teen, he told me all kinds of things that I had no choice but to believe, even when they sounded kinda strange. Like he was secretly married, but don't tell grandma. And the main reason I believed him is he would say these things in front of his mother and she didn't contradict him. Then years later, I'd hear him saying similar things to my younger cousins and I would raise my eyebrows but say nothing. Even when he made completely preposterous claims like having attended prestigious universities when he never went to college in front of like 20 family members, everyone would just exchange "wow, he's crazy" looks and not say anything.
Because you don't challenge the person who sounds insane. Because you don't know what will happen. You're pretty sure it will be an ugly scene, though. Maybe a dangerous one, but definitely an unpleasant one. Especially if they're a stranger, but even when they're not.
These kinds of people run around keeping everyone around them Too Afraid to do anything. These vehicles are a subtle kind of terrorism, really, insisting everyone sees your beliefs, daring people to say something, anything. Daring anyone to infringe on your "free speech."
We have to start acknowledging these things as risk factors for violence. I don't know what we would do about it, though. Most people I've known with these kinds of ranting (non-political) conspiracy theories, even the ones who write letters to local officials and post weird homemade signs on their property...they're sweet and harmless, just mentally ill. One of them used to bring me veggies from his garden. One of them was building a homeless shelter in the woods (which never actually got built) to help other down and out folks.
Once it gets political, though, once people start identifying Enemies...that's when I get worried.
posted by threeturtles at 2:51 PM on October 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
Sayoc's constant self-aggrandizing lying (which could be grandiosity related to mental illness or just...Trumpian bullshit...) reminds me most strongly of one of my own cousins. When I was a teen, he told me all kinds of things that I had no choice but to believe, even when they sounded kinda strange. Like he was secretly married, but don't tell grandma. And the main reason I believed him is he would say these things in front of his mother and she didn't contradict him. Then years later, I'd hear him saying similar things to my younger cousins and I would raise my eyebrows but say nothing. Even when he made completely preposterous claims like having attended prestigious universities when he never went to college in front of like 20 family members, everyone would just exchange "wow, he's crazy" looks and not say anything.
Because you don't challenge the person who sounds insane. Because you don't know what will happen. You're pretty sure it will be an ugly scene, though. Maybe a dangerous one, but definitely an unpleasant one. Especially if they're a stranger, but even when they're not.
These kinds of people run around keeping everyone around them Too Afraid to do anything. These vehicles are a subtle kind of terrorism, really, insisting everyone sees your beliefs, daring people to say something, anything. Daring anyone to infringe on your "free speech."
We have to start acknowledging these things as risk factors for violence. I don't know what we would do about it, though. Most people I've known with these kinds of ranting (non-political) conspiracy theories, even the ones who write letters to local officials and post weird homemade signs on their property...they're sweet and harmless, just mentally ill. One of them used to bring me veggies from his garden. One of them was building a homeless shelter in the woods (which never actually got built) to help other down and out folks.
Once it gets political, though, once people start identifying Enemies...that's when I get worried.
posted by threeturtles at 2:51 PM on October 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
threeturtles: "I don't follow politics. Who should I vote for for Senate?"
How about "Vote for someone who's a helper in hard times, and not for anybody who says, 'Let the hate flow through you.'"
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:52 PM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
How about "Vote for someone who's a helper in hard times, and not for anybody who says, 'Let the hate flow through you.'"
posted by MonkeyToes at 2:52 PM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
So that means that the shooting literally happened in Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
The house where he lived in the 60s through the 80s is literally around the corner from the synagogue. He must have known members of the congregation.
posted by octothorpe at 2:55 PM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
The house where he lived in the 60s through the 80s is literally around the corner from the synagogue. He must have known members of the congregation.
posted by octothorpe at 2:55 PM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
Does someone with a platform want to start a “don’t fuck people who don’t vote” campaign
Something
Anything to get my dumb generation to the polls
posted by schadenfrau at 3:08 PM on October 27, 2018 [28 favorites]
Something
Anything to get my dumb generation to the polls
posted by schadenfrau at 3:08 PM on October 27, 2018 [28 favorites]
Not to interfere with snark but you can, in fact, get fired for saying you want to kill all blacks and gays. She simply chose not to do it.
Perhaps because, as an out lesbian, she realised he might kill her.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 3:14 PM on October 27, 2018 [42 favorites]
Perhaps because, as an out lesbian, she realised he might kill her.
posted by urbanwhaleshark at 3:14 PM on October 27, 2018 [42 favorites]
How about "Vote for someone who's a helper in hard times, and not for anybody who says, 'Let the hate flow through you.'"
I half agree with you.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:15 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
I half agree with you.
posted by Rust Moranis at 3:15 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Thank you sweet baby Jesus look at who’s knocking doors for Stacey Abrams and all the Democrats in Georgia!!! And this elf knows SANTA!!!!! #MoreCowBell
posted by growabrain at 3:22 PM on October 27, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 3:22 PM on October 27, 2018 [25 favorites]
Is it outright impossible he was talking about the Texas Senate?
Honestly, knowing where he lives, I'd be surprised if there were even challengers against Republicans for the Texas Senate and House. That county is 90% Republican to the extent that I knew public officials who flat out told me they only ran as Republican because only an idiot would waste time and money running as a Dem in that county. In my own county, everything below state-wide or Congressional race is unopposed. Which makes me sad, but my local Dem party have been focused on Beto and getting out the vote of the minority of Dems here.
I didn't see the post, but I think the comments made it clear he was talking about Cruz and Beto.
posted by threeturtles at 3:28 PM on October 27, 2018
Honestly, knowing where he lives, I'd be surprised if there were even challengers against Republicans for the Texas Senate and House. That county is 90% Republican to the extent that I knew public officials who flat out told me they only ran as Republican because only an idiot would waste time and money running as a Dem in that county. In my own county, everything below state-wide or Congressional race is unopposed. Which makes me sad, but my local Dem party have been focused on Beto and getting out the vote of the minority of Dems here.
I didn't see the post, but I think the comments made it clear he was talking about Cruz and Beto.
posted by threeturtles at 3:28 PM on October 27, 2018
Not to interfere with snark but you can, in fact, get fired for saying you want to kill all blacks and gays. She simply chose not to do it.
...quite possibly because she was worried that if she did, she might become his target.
posted by mightygodking at 3:33 PM on October 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
...quite possibly because she was worried that if she did, she might become his target.
posted by mightygodking at 3:33 PM on October 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
Daniel Dale: Trump is doing a campaign rally in Murphysboro, Illinois. Tweets in this thread. Mute if this is too much Trump for one afternoon. Hard as this afternoon's performance* will be to top, Trump opens, "This was a rough, rough day for all of us. You know that." and then repeats his blatant, despicable fabrication about the NYSE opening on 9/12.
* Sorry for quoting it at length, but it's necessary to have a partial transcript on hand when the media's filtered version comes out. Goodness knows what will have come out of his mouth by the time this rally is over.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:39 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
* Sorry for quoting it at length, but it's necessary to have a partial transcript on hand when the media's filtered version comes out. Goodness knows what will have come out of his mouth by the time this rally is over.
posted by Doktor Zed at 3:39 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
"Daniel Dale: Trump is doing a campaign rally in Murphysboro, Illinois."
Illinois's embattled governor was not going to appear, then decided this morning to go ... and is apparently sticking with that decision despite the synagogue shooting today, although Rauner's primary home is on the North Shore (a very Jewish part of the Chicago area) and a shit-ton of Illinois voters are Jewish. So, um, interesting decisions there, governor.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 3:42 PM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
Illinois's embattled governor was not going to appear, then decided this morning to go ... and is apparently sticking with that decision despite the synagogue shooting today, although Rauner's primary home is on the North Shore (a very Jewish part of the Chicago area) and a shit-ton of Illinois voters are Jewish. So, um, interesting decisions there, governor.
posted by Eyebrows McGee at 3:42 PM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
Does someone with a platform want to start a “don’t fuck people who don’t vote” campaign
"don't fuck people who don't vote - they're busy fucking themselves"
posted by pyramid termite at 3:44 PM on October 27, 2018 [26 favorites]
"don't fuck people who don't vote - they're busy fucking themselves"
posted by pyramid termite at 3:44 PM on October 27, 2018 [26 favorites]
So, um, interesting decisions there, governor.
Trumpism requires doing things that are obviously against your own self-interest, because the only fundamental tenet of Trumpism is allegiance to Trump.
posted by Etrigan at 4:04 PM on October 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
Trumpism requires doing things that are obviously against your own self-interest, because the only fundamental tenet of Trumpism is allegiance to Trump.
posted by Etrigan at 4:04 PM on October 27, 2018 [6 favorites]
Not that I necessarily fucking care about being biased, but is it unusual for a sitting president to continue campaign stumping the day of/after incidents like these? I side-eyed a little for stumping during the bombs that got sent to pretty much every A-list Democrat, but stumping the day of a horrible shooting is an extra fucking step. Have past presidents usually canceled events during stuff like this?
posted by nakedmolerats at 4:04 PM on October 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by nakedmolerats at 4:04 PM on October 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
Can we go back to blaming Trump and Fox News rather than debating kinda blaming lesbian pizza joint managers?
posted by TwoStride at 4:08 PM on October 27, 2018 [34 favorites]
posted by TwoStride at 4:08 PM on October 27, 2018 [34 favorites]
stumping the day of a horrible shooting is an extra fucking step. Have past presidents usually canceled events during stuff like this?
They definitely haven't stumped about how they're not supposed to call her Pocahontas but you know what, they'll do it anyway. Which is what he's doing right this second.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:16 PM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
They definitely haven't stumped about how they're not supposed to call her Pocahontas but you know what, they'll do it anyway. Which is what he's doing right this second.
posted by Rust Moranis at 4:16 PM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Donald Trump didn’t start the fire: Here are things the midterms can’t fix - Andrew O'Hehir, Salon
This version of making America great again [the Democratic Party returning the country to the political climate and culture that dominated just before Trump] is every bit as vague and ahistorical as Donald Trump’s, albeit with better optics and improved literacy. The proposition that stuff in America was way super-normal, swimming along at high levels of rational efficiency, until the day that Donald Trump descended that golden escalator and started talking about Mexican rapists, is just so dumb. Please don’t try to look me in the eye, or anybody else either, and claim to believe that.posted by ZeusHumms at 4:17 PM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
Trump was uniquely positioned to capitalize on perceptions that were at least partly true, but that he did not create. Those included the perception that the nation’s bipartisan leadership caste had condescended to the American people for years, lied about their true objectives and collaborated in a regime of endless war and economic inequality. He translated those perceptions into an especially ugly and dangerous form of cultural warfare, some of whose consequences we have observed this week. That does not mean the underlying feelings of cynicism, apathy, abandonment and disenfranchisement — which are felt across the political spectrum, not just among the Trump demographic — are entirely illegitimate.
Is it critical to America’s future that Democrats win the midterms? Without parsing the terms too closely, I would say maybe so. But only as the first step on a long road toward building a nation where Megyn Kelly, Cesar Sayoc and Donald Trump are not necessary and do not happen. If a slender and defensive congressional majority is seen as an end in itself — or if this election becomes a referendum on the ancien régime, circa 2014 — then I'm sure of the outcome: Everybody loses.
Trump says he thought at first he should cancel his rally today, but: "We can't let evil change our life and change our schedule. We can't do that. We have to go and do whatever we were going to do. Otherwise we give them too much credit...you go with a heavy heart, but you go."
George W. Bush:
George W. Bush:
From the very outset, the president described the "war on terror" as a vast undertaking of paramount importance. But he simultaneously urged Americans to carry on as if there were no war. "Get down to Disney World in Florida," he urged just over two weeks after 9/11. "Take your families and enjoy life, the way we want it to be enjoyed."posted by kirkaracha at 4:21 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
@ddale8, 3:38 PM - 27 Oct 2018
posted by kirkaracha at 4:24 PM on October 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
Trump's speech said steel jobs had "vanished," but he said "vanquished" by accident. As usual, he refuses to admit he misspoke, saying, "You can say 'vanquished' and 'vanished.' It's a combination of both."Gotta admit, I'm a little surprised he knows the word "vanquished."
posted by kirkaracha at 4:24 PM on October 27, 2018 [9 favorites]
Maybe he learned it on tv. I'm pretty sure that's where I first learned it as a tiny kid!
posted by litlnemo at 4:27 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by litlnemo at 4:27 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Sayoc was kept on because he did his work reliably and good drivers are hard to find, she said. But he disturbed his co-workers with racist comments and texts, she said.
We've heard a lot about people turning to racism because of economic anxiety. You know what economic anxiety does? It forces you to work with, and stay silent about, someone who wants you dead.
Gureghian could have had as many good drivers as she wanted if the business paid its employees more. It must have been utterly terrifying to work with someone living out of a van with “puppets with their heads cut off, mannequins with their heads cut off, Ku Klux Klan, a black person being hung, anti-gay symbols, torchings, bombings, you name it”. The restaurant's response to that was to make Sayoc park it around the side so that customers wouldn't get scared. I don't know if Gureghian made employment decisions (she's just described as “the general manager”) but someone chose to put the business's financial interests above the other employees' health and safety.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [65 favorites]
We've heard a lot about people turning to racism because of economic anxiety. You know what economic anxiety does? It forces you to work with, and stay silent about, someone who wants you dead.
Gureghian could have had as many good drivers as she wanted if the business paid its employees more. It must have been utterly terrifying to work with someone living out of a van with “puppets with their heads cut off, mannequins with their heads cut off, Ku Klux Klan, a black person being hung, anti-gay symbols, torchings, bombings, you name it”. The restaurant's response to that was to make Sayoc park it around the side so that customers wouldn't get scared. I don't know if Gureghian made employment decisions (she's just described as “the general manager”) but someone chose to put the business's financial interests above the other employees' health and safety.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [65 favorites]
We've heard a lot about people turning to racism because of economic anxiety. You know what economic anxiety does? It forces you to work with, and stay silent about, someone who wants you dead.
Yeah maybe if we didn’t live in this constant war of all against all dog eat dog one packechck away from poverty no savings no hope no future crapsack system maybe just maybe shit like this would happen slightlynless often.
posted by The Whelk at 4:37 PM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
Yeah maybe if we didn’t live in this constant war of all against all dog eat dog one packechck away from poverty no savings no hope no future crapsack system maybe just maybe shit like this would happen slightlynless often.
posted by The Whelk at 4:37 PM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
@joshtpm: Straight out of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Just moments ago, Lou Dobbs guest Chris Farrell (head of Judicial Watch) says Caravan is being funded/directed by the "Soros-occupied State Department".
@DavidNir: We don’t even get a break from antisemitic incitement for a single day
posted by zachlipton at 4:37 PM on October 27, 2018 [68 favorites]
@DavidNir: We don’t even get a break from antisemitic incitement for a single day
posted by zachlipton at 4:37 PM on October 27, 2018 [68 favorites]
Just a few highlights from Dale's reporting on Trump's rally, now that it's done:
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:48 PM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
—Sir Alert and Tears Alert: "Steelworkers...Big, strong guys they came up to me. One of them said 'thank you sir for saving our country.' And he was crying. And I'm tellin' you, he was crying. I don't think this guy cried when he was a baby. This guy never cried."There are, of course, many more such examples of mendacity and aberrance during his speech—why did he say "You're going to be so happy next week." about the border?—but as usual, the mainstream media will try to filter it all into a coherent account of the event, indirectly reinforcing Trump's stature as something other than utterly unfit for office.
—Trump re-promises his imaginary 10% tax cut.
—Trump says his 42-point victory in West Virginia is especially impressive because he beat a Democrat and not an independent. He names the Democrat, Hillary Clinton, and there was a Lock Her Up chant.
—Trump is touting his steel and aluminum tariffs. He told the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday that they do not exist.
—Trump making no sense at all about the Democratic Party: "As we speak, the Democrat - not the Democratic - the Democrat...their name is the Democrat Party. It sounds so much more beautiful, 'the Democratic Party'...they should probably change their name."
—Trump: "Think of where you are now compared to where you were three or four or five years ago. It's like a different planet." {Well, he's right about that.}
posted by Doktor Zed at 4:48 PM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
JMM:
Straight out of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Just moments ago, Lou Dobbs guest Chris Farrell (head of Judicial Watch) says Caravan is being funded/directed by the "Soros-occupied State Department".posted by schadenfrau at 4:53 PM on October 27, 2018 [62 favorites]
2/ For those who don't know this world, "ZOG" is a staple of white supremacist/neo-Nazi websites/literature etc. Stands for "Zionist occupied government", i.e., US govt being controlled by Jews. This guy knows exactly what lever he's pulling when he uses this phrase
4/ Final point. Shooter was clearly a virulent anti-semite of long standing. But what appears to have triggered his rampage is exactly THIS conspiracy theory, that Soros and Jews are funding/directing the caravan. This is little the guy's beef. Pushed on FoxBiz not 12 hrs later.
Their only response is to escalate.
I have no idea what’s going to happen.
posted by schadenfrau at 4:56 PM on October 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
I have no idea what’s going to happen.
posted by schadenfrau at 4:56 PM on October 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
@joshtpm: Straight out of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Just moments ago, Lou Dobbs guest Chris Farrell (head of Judicial Watch) says Caravan is being funded/directed by the "Soros-occupied State Department".
In reality it's organized by Pueblo Sin Fronteras (Twitter) (Facebook). They've been organizing these caravans for several years now. This fact has gotten nowhere near the publicity it deserves, which frustrates me no end.
posted by scalefree at 5:04 PM on October 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
In reality it's organized by Pueblo Sin Fronteras (Twitter) (Facebook). They've been organizing these caravans for several years now. This fact has gotten nowhere near the publicity it deserves, which frustrates me no end.
posted by scalefree at 5:04 PM on October 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
Reminder for the free speech enthusiasts in your life: deplatforming works and is entirely legal, with 0 constitutional concerns whatsoever: Gab says they've been banned from Paypal in aftermath of synagogue shooting
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:07 PM on October 27, 2018 [52 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:07 PM on October 27, 2018 [52 favorites]
why did he say "You're going to be so happy next week." about the border?
Because he's sending the Army?
posted by kirkaracha at 5:08 PM on October 27, 2018
Because he's sending the Army?
posted by kirkaracha at 5:08 PM on October 27, 2018
Countdown begins to the Gab ICO.
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:17 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:17 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Wednesday: Conservative white male Trump supporter shoots and kills two African-Americans in Jeffersontown, Kentucky
Friday: Conservative white male Trump supporter is arrested by the FBI for sending at least 13 mail bombs to people Trump demonizes
Saturday: Conservative white male shoots and kills at least 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh
Is it OK if we call them "deplorable" now?
posted by kirkaracha at 5:21 PM on October 27, 2018 [73 favorites]
Friday: Conservative white male Trump supporter is arrested by the FBI for sending at least 13 mail bombs to people Trump demonizes
Saturday: Conservative white male shoots and kills at least 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh
Is it OK if we call them "deplorable" now?
posted by kirkaracha at 5:21 PM on October 27, 2018 [73 favorites]
why did he say "You're going to be so happy next week." about the border?
He’s going to give a big speech and sign an order to try to block asylum seekers so fear of hungry refugees can be his closing argument for the midterms.
posted by zachlipton at 5:24 PM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
He’s going to give a big speech and sign an order to try to block asylum seekers so fear of hungry refugees can be his closing argument for the midterms.
posted by zachlipton at 5:24 PM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
Wednesday: Conservative white male Trump supporter shoots and kills two African-Americans in Jeffersontown, Kentucky
This looks like it was a locked door away from being a massacre at a predominately black church.
posted by zachlipton at 5:27 PM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
This looks like it was a locked door away from being a massacre at a predominately black church.
posted by zachlipton at 5:27 PM on October 27, 2018 [17 favorites]
> why did he say "You're going to be so happy next week." about the border?
Because he's sending the Army?
Well, yes, he told them that—"You're going to be so happy next week. You're going to see something happen next week, you're going to be very happy. You're going to be very happy. And you know the military is going to the border."—but seems to imply there's something in addition, like the asylum seekers ban, or maybe even something that hasn't been leaked to the press. It's hard to tell with Trump's word-salad at the best of times and near-impossible when he's trying to be cagey or just making shit up.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:28 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Because he's sending the Army?
Well, yes, he told them that—"You're going to be so happy next week. You're going to see something happen next week, you're going to be very happy. You're going to be very happy. And you know the military is going to the border."—but seems to imply there's something in addition, like the asylum seekers ban, or maybe even something that hasn't been leaked to the press. It's hard to tell with Trump's word-salad at the best of times and near-impossible when he's trying to be cagey or just making shit up.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:28 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Maybe he's going to announce that he's giving the border a 10% tax cut. It would be about right for him.
posted by delfin at 5:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by delfin at 5:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Is it OK if we call them "deplorable" now?
I encountered this term today, and I'm going to keep using it:
RADICAL REPUBLICAN TERRORISM
(And it's about time we hear so-called "moderate" Republicans denouncing it.)
posted by monospace at 5:32 PM on October 27, 2018 [53 favorites]
I encountered this term today, and I'm going to keep using it:
RADICAL REPUBLICAN TERRORISM
(And it's about time we hear so-called "moderate" Republicans denouncing it.)
posted by monospace at 5:32 PM on October 27, 2018 [53 favorites]
(contextual reminder via BI re: the manufactured dustup over Obama declining to say "radical Islamic terrorism")
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:38 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by snuffleupagus at 5:38 PM on October 27, 2018 [1 favorite]
Sayoc was kept on because he did his work reliably and good drivers are hard to find, she said. But he disturbed his co-workers with racist comments and texts, she said.
The oddest part of the entire story of where he worked is that they have an item on the menu, "Bubbe’s Chicken Noodle Soup"
posted by mikelieman at 5:39 PM on October 27, 2018
The oddest part of the entire story of where he worked is that they have an item on the menu, "Bubbe’s Chicken Noodle Soup"
posted by mikelieman at 5:39 PM on October 27, 2018
Going with FBI precedent, the term would be Trump Identity Extremists, if we were to live in a timeline where white people are treated as bad as other minorities.
posted by benzenedream at 5:41 PM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 5:41 PM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
Well, yes, he told them that—"You're going to be so happy next week. You're going to see something happen next week, you're going to be very happy. You're going to be very happy. And you know the military is going to the border."
How is this not setting off everyone’s “oh shit” alarm? He’s not actually imaginative enough to make things up. He lives his life in fear, his closest joy the brief relief from temporarily dominating some enemy. Someone that concerned with survival does not entertain an imagination. And he has zero impulse control. He knows something we don’t and we wants us to know that, the way a child would, because he has the emotional maturity of a child. So he hints. He alludes. He smirks.
He did the exact same shit with Russia hacking the DNC on live television.
I just...how are people not alarmed by this? The first time, ok, but we’ve seen this show before, now. How dumb are we as an audience?
posted by schadenfrau at 5:53 PM on October 27, 2018 [42 favorites]
How is this not setting off everyone’s “oh shit” alarm? He’s not actually imaginative enough to make things up. He lives his life in fear, his closest joy the brief relief from temporarily dominating some enemy. Someone that concerned with survival does not entertain an imagination. And he has zero impulse control. He knows something we don’t and we wants us to know that, the way a child would, because he has the emotional maturity of a child. So he hints. He alludes. He smirks.
He did the exact same shit with Russia hacking the DNC on live television.
I just...how are people not alarmed by this? The first time, ok, but we’ve seen this show before, now. How dumb are we as an audience?
posted by schadenfrau at 5:53 PM on October 27, 2018 [42 favorites]
I hear exactly what you do, schafenfrau. Remember all the speculation about what the nuke operators should do it given a clearly illegal or immoral order from Dump? I'm afraid we're about to see that idea in action for troops at the border.
At least it's not ICE.
posted by Dashy at 6:07 PM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
At least it's not ICE.
posted by Dashy at 6:07 PM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Seriously. We know he just makes shit up on the fly.
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 6:10 PM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Johnny Wallflower at 6:10 PM on October 27, 2018 [3 favorites]
Seriously. We know he just makes shit up on the fly.
Not...really. He parrots insane things he’s heard elsewhere, and sometimes he misremembers them and connects them in weird ways. But people can usually time the batshit insane things to something that was on tv, or a known meeting, or whatever.
To the extent that could be called “making things up,” ok. But it’s more like a markov chain generator fed clips from Fox News. And sometimes stuff super cool super sekrit meetings with his important Russian friends or whatever.
Oh man fuck this nightmare timeline so much
posted by schadenfrau at 6:22 PM on October 27, 2018 [22 favorites]
Not...really. He parrots insane things he’s heard elsewhere, and sometimes he misremembers them and connects them in weird ways. But people can usually time the batshit insane things to something that was on tv, or a known meeting, or whatever.
To the extent that could be called “making things up,” ok. But it’s more like a markov chain generator fed clips from Fox News. And sometimes stuff super cool super sekrit meetings with his important Russian friends or whatever.
Oh man fuck this nightmare timeline so much
posted by schadenfrau at 6:22 PM on October 27, 2018 [22 favorites]
Straight out of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Just moments ago, Lou Dobbs guest Chris Farrell (head of Judicial Watch) says Caravan is being funded/directed by the "Soros-occupied State Department"... For those who don't know this world, "ZOG" is a staple of white supremacist/neo-Nazi websites/literature etc.
I don't have the links handy at the moment but a few years ago when I was trying to figure out why my racist relatives were talking about immigrants supposedly spreading diseases I found an interview with Himmler (by Norbert Masur, a Swedish representative of the World Jewish Congress, only weeks before the German surrender and Himmler's suicide) talking about the “diseased masses of Eastern Jewry” and claiming that the crematoria were necessary in the camps because the bodies of Jews who died of natural causes were so epidemiologically dangerous.
For its recurrence in the mainstream right of the 21st century US all of the breadcrumbs I found appeared to trace back to Lou Dobbs's show on CNN in the early 00s, initially cited to an article in the fake medical journal of the AAPS authored by someone with a doctorate in English Literature with a bunch of “erroneous” statistics. Even once the article and its statistics had been thoroughly debunked, Dobbs kept repeating it all of course and other right-wing outlets cited CNN as the source. (And even at that point a decade-plus afterwards, the AAPS web site handed out uncorrected copies of the article written by the literature PhD.)
posted by XMLicious at 6:22 PM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
My husband's grand-uncles were killed in the concentration camps. His grandfather came here and helped others escape an come here.
We are here as allys for other people. America is a huge place. And we are here to support all allys.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:03 PM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
We are here as allys for other people. America is a huge place. And we are here to support all allys.
posted by Marie Mon Dieu at 7:03 PM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
Reminder for the free speech enthusiasts in your life: deplatforming works and is entirely legal, with 0 constitutional concerns whatsoever: Gab says they've been banned from Paypal in aftermath of synagogue shooting
Deplatform Hate has been going toe-to-toe with Stripe, the go-to payment platform for US hate groups today. If any MeFites are doing business with them, take note.
posted by ryanshepard at 7:50 PM on October 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
Deplatform Hate has been going toe-to-toe with Stripe, the go-to payment platform for US hate groups today. If any MeFites are doing business with them, take note.
posted by ryanshepard at 7:50 PM on October 27, 2018 [20 favorites]
So, the next time my Jewish Republican father-in-law brings up that shooting by a purported Bernie supporter ("see? both sides!"), I'll point out that one of the people wounded in that attack, Rep. Steve Scalise, blames it on the Jews.
Dailywire, October 19: Rep. Scalise: Soros-Funded Radicals Have Overtaken The Democratic Party
posted by monospace at 7:53 PM on October 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
Dailywire, October 19: Rep. Scalise: Soros-Funded Radicals Have Overtaken The Democratic Party
posted by monospace at 7:53 PM on October 27, 2018 [18 favorites]
The front page of tomorrow's Boston Herald says liberals share the blame for Pittsburgh. Since Digital First Media bought the Herald out of a bankruptcy auction earlier this year, the paper has decimated its staff, but has kept columnist Howie Carr, the guy who, among other things, came up with "Pocohontas."
posted by adamg at 8:02 PM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by adamg at 8:02 PM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Deplatform Hate has been going toe-to-toe with Stripe, the go-to payment platform for US hate groups today. If any MeFites are doing business with them, take note.
A good friend has a senior role there. Just dropped him a note.
posted by scalefree at 8:04 PM on October 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
A good friend has a senior role there. Just dropped him a note.
posted by scalefree at 8:04 PM on October 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
The pizza shop manager wasn't allowed to fire Sayoc; she doesn't own the shop.
posted by suelac at 8:05 PM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by suelac at 8:05 PM on October 27, 2018 [12 favorites]
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy deletes tweet saying George Soros, Tom Steyer and Michael Bloomberg are buying this year’s elections
posted by neroli at 8:15 PM on October 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by neroli at 8:15 PM on October 27, 2018 [15 favorites]
Actually it looks like WE are using Stripe for MeFi donations.
I have a recurring donation and want to keep that going - can we find a way to do this that doesn't prop up the Proud Boys, League of the South, and other monsters? Mods?
posted by ryanshepard at 8:16 PM on October 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
I have a recurring donation and want to keep that going - can we find a way to do this that doesn't prop up the Proud Boys, League of the South, and other monsters? Mods?
posted by ryanshepard at 8:16 PM on October 27, 2018 [19 favorites]
Well that was fast.
@getongab BREAKING: @stripe is likely going to ban us. We gave them plenty of documented and detailed evidence. The no-platforming continues.
[image: email from Stripe]
posted by scalefree at 8:18 PM on October 27, 2018 [37 favorites]
@getongab BREAKING: @stripe is likely going to ban us. We gave them plenty of documented and detailed evidence. The no-platforming continues.
[image: email from Stripe]
posted by scalefree at 8:18 PM on October 27, 2018 [37 favorites]
Joynet has pulled Gab’s hosting and the site is down.
Imagine if we did this before people got murdered.
posted by zachlipton at 8:24 PM on October 27, 2018 [67 favorites]
Imagine if we did this before people got murdered.
posted by zachlipton at 8:24 PM on October 27, 2018 [67 favorites]
Imagine if we did this before people got murdered.
It's worth keeping an eye on Deplatform Hate and Sleeping Giants and hammering on the advertisers and platform providers they spotlight on a daily basis. The big spikes after catastrophes like today tend to push them to action, but there's no reason that we need to wait to hold them to account.
Given how influential and well-connected some MeFites are, I wonder if we can't do better at working on and coordinating these kind of efforts around here.
posted by ryanshepard at 8:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [32 favorites]
It's worth keeping an eye on Deplatform Hate and Sleeping Giants and hammering on the advertisers and platform providers they spotlight on a daily basis. The big spikes after catastrophes like today tend to push them to action, but there's no reason that we need to wait to hold them to account.
Given how influential and well-connected some MeFites are, I wonder if we can't do better at working on and coordinating these kind of efforts around here.
posted by ryanshepard at 8:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [32 favorites]
Not...really. He parrots insane things he’s heard elsewhere, and sometimes he misremembers them and connects them in weird ways. But people can usually time the batshit insane things to something that was on tv, or a known meeting, or whatever.
He also does just make stuff up. Some times he workshops it right in the middle of a speech. You can listen to it evolve in real time.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 8:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
He also does just make stuff up. Some times he workshops it right in the middle of a speech. You can listen to it evolve in real time.
posted by Ray Walston, Luck Dragon at 8:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [10 favorites]
The proposition that stuff in America was way super-normal, swimming along at high levels of rational efficiency, until the day that Donald Trump descended that golden escalator and started talking about Mexican rapists, is just so dumb. Please don’t try to look me in the eye, or anybody else either, and claim to believe that.
I don't think that anyone is thinking that we were in a cotton-candy-hued utopia before Trump's campaign, or is fighting because they think we'll end up in candyland. Rather, I think most people opposed to Trump are doing so to prevent us from entering a distopia.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
I don't think that anyone is thinking that we were in a cotton-candy-hued utopia before Trump's campaign, or is fighting because they think we'll end up in candyland. Rather, I think most people opposed to Trump are doing so to prevent us from entering a distopia.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [14 favorites]
In 2017 the Department of zhomeland Security narrowed its search to only investigating “Islamic terrorism” and not right wing extremism.
So not stopping right wing terror attacks is government policy. It has been for a few decades but now it’s just official. No fig leaf needed.
posted by The Whelk at 8:38 PM on October 27, 2018 [71 favorites]
So not stopping right wing terror attacks is government policy. It has been for a few decades but now it’s just official. No fig leaf needed.
posted by The Whelk at 8:38 PM on October 27, 2018 [71 favorites]
grew up in pittsburgh. love pittsburgh. condolences & solidarity, younz.
suspect "happy next week" just indicates he doesn't know the date of the election or which one today is (or the interval b/w).
of course, top demagogue in the age of stochastic terrorism doesn't have to mean anything in particular by an ominous gesture toward an indeterminate future moment. seriously, in the week of kroger, bombjerk and today's murderous bigot, is it conceivable that there aren't entire counties full of individuals (and groups) just as armed, hateful and hopeless who are sure they know the sort of event that would make their radical militant republicanist cohort, & especially dear leader, happy?
otoh, i'm not sure any particular event occurred that was collectively (or plurally?) understood to be the thing to which "the gathering storm" or whatever had likely referred.
i learned the word "vanquished" in church, probably in a hymn or reading, and "shit" in sunday school. this would've been in the 1970's in pittsburgh, a period during which that industry in that city neither vanquished nor vanished (the mostly-silent industrial infrastructure loomed, mostly rusting). "vanquished" from church was probably reinforced in short order by arthurian & other knight-related literature & film.
oh. also, i voted today. i early voted today kinda late-ish, 'round noon. in maryland. there was not so much a line, anywhere, as there were a few places where one had to pause a moment or two to be directed to the next step. filled out bubbles on a 5-page paper ballot & fed the pages into a machine (didn't note specs ) that confirmed it had received each page but did not display votes cast. thanked everyone for being there. there was a bit of a line for the ballot-eating machine when i got there, but i did not have to wait when it was my turn to feed the machine. activity seemed to be picking up a bit in the parking lot as i left (which is to say, there was no activity but two pedestrians, leaving, when i arrived, while i had to dodge cars, leaving).
posted by 20 year lurk at 8:42 PM on October 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
suspect "happy next week" just indicates he doesn't know the date of the election or which one today is (or the interval b/w).
of course, top demagogue in the age of stochastic terrorism doesn't have to mean anything in particular by an ominous gesture toward an indeterminate future moment. seriously, in the week of kroger, bombjerk and today's murderous bigot, is it conceivable that there aren't entire counties full of individuals (and groups) just as armed, hateful and hopeless who are sure they know the sort of event that would make their radical militant republicanist cohort, & especially dear leader, happy?
otoh, i'm not sure any particular event occurred that was collectively (or plurally?) understood to be the thing to which "the gathering storm" or whatever had likely referred.
i learned the word "vanquished" in church, probably in a hymn or reading, and "shit" in sunday school. this would've been in the 1970's in pittsburgh, a period during which that industry in that city neither vanquished nor vanished (the mostly-silent industrial infrastructure loomed, mostly rusting). "vanquished" from church was probably reinforced in short order by arthurian & other knight-related literature & film.
oh. also, i voted today. i early voted today kinda late-ish, 'round noon. in maryland. there was not so much a line, anywhere, as there were a few places where one had to pause a moment or two to be directed to the next step. filled out bubbles on a 5-page paper ballot & fed the pages into a machine (didn't note specs ) that confirmed it had received each page but did not display votes cast. thanked everyone for being there. there was a bit of a line for the ballot-eating machine when i got there, but i did not have to wait when it was my turn to feed the machine. activity seemed to be picking up a bit in the parking lot as i left (which is to say, there was no activity but two pedestrians, leaving, when i arrived, while i had to dodge cars, leaving).
posted by 20 year lurk at 8:42 PM on October 27, 2018 [5 favorites]
Mod note: We are happy to have a conversation about Stripe & MeFi, but it's becoming a derail in here, and that's definitely a MetaTalk discussion -- and probably a Monday discussion when staff is around.
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 8:52 PM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Eyebrows McGee (staff) at 8:52 PM on October 27, 2018 [16 favorites]
Eyebrows McGee: "Illinois's embattled governor was not going to appear, then decided this morning to go ... and is apparently sticking with that decision despite the synagogue shooting today, although Rauner's primary home is on the North Shore (a very Jewish part of the Chicago area) and a shit-ton of Illinois voters are Jewish. So, um, interesting decisions there, governor."
Rauner's down about 13% in the polls. His only winning move is to throw the Hail Mary pass.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:11 PM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
Rauner's down about 13% in the polls. His only winning move is to throw the Hail Mary pass.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:11 PM on October 27, 2018 [4 favorites]
I have it on fairly good authority (a supervisor at the Illinois Department of Human Services, who was clearly angry but couldn't say so on government time) that if a certain Republican governor of Illinois wins reelection, SNAP (food stamps) and Medicaid eligibility will be subject to some ridiculous work requirements.
Pritzker is, ugh, exactly the Democrat that we don't need. But still he's better than a Republican continuing to run/ruin the only solidly Democratic state between New York and California.
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:34 PM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
Pritzker is, ugh, exactly the Democrat that we don't need. But still he's better than a Republican continuing to run/ruin the only solidly Democratic state between New York and California.
posted by tivalasvegas at 9:34 PM on October 27, 2018 [7 favorites]
When on a run today, I passed by Temple Beth Israel (in Eugene, OR) at the same time as a police cruiser. Rounding the corner, I saw another police car slowly drive around the synagogue, watching for signs of trouble as people left after services. And then my heart just broke. Trump and his supporters praise Nazis, incite violence against Jews, Muslims, people of color, LGBTQ communities, and then act cavalier when this happens, pretending it's just the way things go in this crazy world, as if it isn't, in no small part, their fault. I ran as fast and hard as I could, trying to work off a little of the fury and despair over the ugly state of things.
It didn't work.
posted by but no cigar at 9:48 PM on October 27, 2018 [33 favorites]
It didn't work.
posted by but no cigar at 9:48 PM on October 27, 2018 [33 favorites]
Beto O'Rourke Grabbed a Political Third Rail—And Electrified His Campaign - Jemele Hill, The Atlantic
The energy of his campaign is not so much about O’Rourke himself, ... as about what he has tapped into—a deep desire among many voters for a politician willing to stand up for their beliefs, instead of apologizing for them.The example cited in the article is "Beto O'Rourke on NFL Players Kneeling During the National Anthem (video)"
Texas representative Beto O'Rourke brilliantly explained why NFL players kneeling during the anthem is not disrespectful. When asked if he agreed with athletes taking a knee, he stated, “Non-violently, peacefully, while the eyes of this country are watching these games, they take a knee to bring our attention and our focus to this problem to ensure that we fix it.”posted by ZeusHumms at 11:14 PM on October 27, 2018 [26 favorites]
Reports of Voter Intimidation at Polling Places in Texas - Blake Paterson, Pro Publica
Tempers are flaring during early voting in Dallas County, Texas, and reports of voter intimidation are on the rise. The county’s nonpartisan election administrator said that the harassment — including name-calling and interrogating voters waiting in line — is the worst she’s seen in decades.posted by ZeusHumms at 11:22 PM on October 27, 2018 [13 favorites]
Vox: Liberals vs Conservatives have different brains
posted by growabrain at 11:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 11:29 PM on October 27, 2018 [2 favorites]
Vox: Liberals vs Conservatives have different brains
posted by growabrain at 11:29 PM on 10/27
Eponysterical?
posted by St. Oops at 12:16 AM on October 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 11:29 PM on 10/27
Eponysterical?
posted by St. Oops at 12:16 AM on October 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
So I'd heard of Gab, in passing, on previous MeFi threads, and I'm glad to see them going down, but I realized I didn't really know much about them aside from "they're a conservative twitter for folks booted from regular twitter".
The wiki article on them is... basically a laundry list of tech companies that have dropped them, dating to before they even opened a public beta, for pornography and hate speech.
Because obviously there weren't enough places on the internet open to those things yet, right?
posted by Archelaus at 12:27 AM on October 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
The wiki article on them is... basically a laundry list of tech companies that have dropped them, dating to before they even opened a public beta, for pornography and hate speech.
Because obviously there weren't enough places on the internet open to those things yet, right?
posted by Archelaus at 12:27 AM on October 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
Reporter-producer Jina Moore: “I met the Holocaust survivor who became my 'aunt' at the Tree of Life synagogue 25 years ago. Today I called to make sure she was still alive. "All day have been thinking about when they killed my family in the synagogue in Vilna," she said. That was before the Holocaust started.”
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:29 AM on October 28, 2018 [80 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 12:29 AM on October 28, 2018 [80 favorites]
@emilynussbaum [photo]: Made the scariest costume I could think of. (Clive hooked it up to an Arduino device so the needle actually moved randomly.)
posted by zachlipton at 12:52 AM on October 28, 2018 [32 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 12:52 AM on October 28, 2018 [32 favorites]
the needle actually moved randomly
Ack... the nightmares.
posted by bcd at 12:57 AM on October 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
Ack... the nightmares.
posted by bcd at 12:57 AM on October 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
Because obviously there weren't enough places on the internet open to those things yet, right?
Places the alt-right has full control over. Sympathetic/friendly doesn't cut it, they can still kick you off when you get too extreme.
But Gab would still have to deal with external parties for hosting and connectivity, so that full control is, luckily, an illusion anyway.
posted by Stoneshop at 2:51 AM on October 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
Places the alt-right has full control over. Sympathetic/friendly doesn't cut it, they can still kick you off when you get too extreme.
But Gab would still have to deal with external parties for hosting and connectivity, so that full control is, luckily, an illusion anyway.
posted by Stoneshop at 2:51 AM on October 28, 2018 [1 favorite]
If anyone needs a tiny bit of cheering up, the incumbent President of Ireland was reelected yesterday with 55.8% of the vote to the Trumpesque candidate's 23%. It's an almost entirely ceremonial role in a tiny insignificant country but reelecting a socialist poet after all that's happened over the last few years has to count for something, I feel.
Here's a clip of the end of his acceptance speech (Twitter link with video)
@malonebarry: Meanwhile, Ireland has just re-elected a president who speaks like this.
posted by o seasons o castles at 3:18 AM on October 28, 2018 [56 favorites]
Here's a clip of the end of his acceptance speech (Twitter link with video)
@malonebarry: Meanwhile, Ireland has just re-elected a president who speaks like this.
posted by o seasons o castles at 3:18 AM on October 28, 2018 [56 favorites]
when he boarded the plane at Joint Base Andrews yesterday he just... left the umbrella...
@abearella: That umbrella is the U.S. and the guy that walks past it is the complicit congress.
posted by numaner at 4:09 AM on October 28, 2018 [28 favorites]
@abearella: That umbrella is the U.S. and the guy that walks past it is the complicit congress.
posted by numaner at 4:09 AM on October 28, 2018 [28 favorites]
Hi - if you have the time to write and send 4 postcards, Postcards To Voters is still taking new volunteers. If you're interested and haven't signed up yet, I wrote up a comment on MetaTalk recently with details that might help you decide, specifically about the process, what you'll be asked to do, and a few tips. I always like to know as many details before getting involved with something, so I tried to cover as many things that I would have found helpful to know as an interested but undecided person.
Some of the major points:
- You do not have to talk to anyone verbally; all of it's done over email or text. A human will need to approve your first postcard but after that, you can just communicate with Abby the Address Bot.
- You can choose to write as few as 4 postcards at a time (each round must be sent within 3 days). You can get pre-stamped postcards from the post office retail counter.
- You don't have to be fancy with the postcards - they can be just text, and it can be short (as long as it contains the required 3-4 sentences). All of the information to put on the postcard is provided, so you can literally just copy text from the instructions.
- You can request new addresses 24/7; Abby the bot sends the voter addresses pretty much instantly over email / text (the text message contains a link to a file with addresses).
- Check the PTV blog to see the campaigns they're supporting now / have in the past. Some of these might already be closed and some might be so new that they don't appear here yet.
- If you're not sure what to pick, I suggest going with a smaller campaign that you don't recognize.
Here are the latest open postcard campaigns as of right now:
- CA: Josh Harder
- FL: Second Chances (Amendment 4 - restore voting eligibility)
- FL: A Gillum and O Babis
- GA: Abrams and Amico
- NE: Machaela Cavanaugh
- NY: Jim Gaughran
- TN: Phil Bredesen
- TX: Beto and Eric
And when the midterms are over, they will need volunteers to stay on for the elections beyond that.
A quick shout out to kristi, duffell, melissasaurus, and everyone in past threads from earlier this year about Postcards To Voters. My schedule shifted drastically over the past year and I'm glad about being able to write a few postcards in the middle of the night, when I have the most time to devote to it. I've done 5 cards at a time for 5 different campaigns so far; currently at 25 for Abrams and Amico.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 4:10 AM on October 28, 2018 [44 favorites]
Some of the major points:
- You do not have to talk to anyone verbally; all of it's done over email or text. A human will need to approve your first postcard but after that, you can just communicate with Abby the Address Bot.
- You can choose to write as few as 4 postcards at a time (each round must be sent within 3 days). You can get pre-stamped postcards from the post office retail counter.
- You don't have to be fancy with the postcards - they can be just text, and it can be short (as long as it contains the required 3-4 sentences). All of the information to put on the postcard is provided, so you can literally just copy text from the instructions.
- You can request new addresses 24/7; Abby the bot sends the voter addresses pretty much instantly over email / text (the text message contains a link to a file with addresses).
- Check the PTV blog to see the campaigns they're supporting now / have in the past. Some of these might already be closed and some might be so new that they don't appear here yet.
- If you're not sure what to pick, I suggest going with a smaller campaign that you don't recognize.
Here are the latest open postcard campaigns as of right now:
- CA: Josh Harder
- FL: Second Chances (Amendment 4 - restore voting eligibility)
- FL: A Gillum and O Babis
- GA: Abrams and Amico
- NE: Machaela Cavanaugh
- NY: Jim Gaughran
- TN: Phil Bredesen
- TX: Beto and Eric
And when the midterms are over, they will need volunteers to stay on for the elections beyond that.
A quick shout out to kristi, duffell, melissasaurus, and everyone in past threads from earlier this year about Postcards To Voters. My schedule shifted drastically over the past year and I'm glad about being able to write a few postcards in the middle of the night, when I have the most time to devote to it. I've done 5 cards at a time for 5 different campaigns so far; currently at 25 for Abrams and Amico.
posted by rangefinder 1.4 at 4:10 AM on October 28, 2018 [44 favorites]
numaner: when he boarded the plane at Joint Base Andrews yesterday he just... left the umbrella...
Twisting in the wind, as it were. And out in the cold. How symbolic.
posted by Too-Ticky at 4:25 AM on October 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
Twisting in the wind, as it were. And out in the cold. How symbolic.
posted by Too-Ticky at 4:25 AM on October 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
How to Turn a Person Into a Voter
A NYTimes opinion piece by LaTosha Brown and Cliff Albright
A NYTimes opinion piece by LaTosha Brown and Cliff Albright
We’ve learned how to turn citizens into committed voters. Despite declining black turnout nationwide, including in 2016, the lowest presidential turnout rate for blacks since 2000, we’ve seen enormous success in local and statewide races.posted by mumimor at 4:41 AM on October 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
And although our approach is tailored to black people in the South, our model is one that any party or politician or group looking to increase turnout — or to mobilize the six in 10 eligible voters who stay at home for the midterms — should use.
> Twitter says sorry for not shutting down the MAGA bomber.
A Black Woman Reported the MAGABomber to Twitter. Twitter Did Nothing ... Again
posted by homunculus at 6:30 AM on October 28, 2018 [45 favorites]
A Black Woman Reported the MAGABomber to Twitter. Twitter Did Nothing ... Again
posted by homunculus at 6:30 AM on October 28, 2018 [45 favorites]
Salon interviews Greg Palast about Brian Kemp’s voter suppression in Georgia. It’s...not good. Hundreds of thousands of (mostly black) Georgians were illegally from the rolls, and there’s apparently nothing to be done about it now.
And if it works in Georgia, I expect every state with a Republican Governor or Secretary of State will do it for 2020.
Brian Kemp is...I mean. An almost complete avatar for the ascendant flavor of evil. Just a real piece of shit.
posted by schadenfrau at 6:54 AM on October 28, 2018 [47 favorites]
And if it works in Georgia, I expect every state with a Republican Governor or Secretary of State will do it for 2020.
Brian Kemp is...I mean. An almost complete avatar for the ascendant flavor of evil. Just a real piece of shit.
posted by schadenfrau at 6:54 AM on October 28, 2018 [47 favorites]
We were driving though South Carolina this morning as the press conference from Pittsburgh came on. As the coroner read off the names of the victims, we passed a big pickup truck whose entire back window was covered in a decal featuring a Confederate-hatted skull on a Confederate flag backed by a field of flames.
And then I found it for sale: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rebel-cowboy-skull-flame-fire-Hood-Wrap-Wraps-Sticker-Vinyl-Decal-Graphic-/272153064559
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 8:07 AM on October 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
And then I found it for sale: https://www.ebay.com/itm/Rebel-cowboy-skull-flame-fire-Hood-Wrap-Wraps-Sticker-Vinyl-Decal-Graphic-/272153064559
posted by ImproviseOrDie at 8:07 AM on October 28, 2018 [3 favorites]
Just an old tweet by the totally not antisemitic Donald J Trump.
@realDonaldTrump I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated.
10:09 AM - 24 Apr 2013
posted by scalefree at 8:12 AM on October 28, 2018 [21 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated.
10:09 AM - 24 Apr 2013
posted by scalefree at 8:12 AM on October 28, 2018 [21 favorites]
Half of my Facebook friends have changed their logo to this mash up of the Steelers logo and the Star of David. I'm not sure how I feel about the football local being the instant go-to emblem of our city but I can't deny the sentiment. I like this design better but it doesn't seem to have gotten as much traction. No idea who designed either of them.
posted by octothorpe at 8:31 AM on October 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 8:31 AM on October 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
Chuck Todd has on Erick Erickson this morning as the "reasonable conservative". Erickson promoted this exact same conspiracy about the caravan as the synagogue shooter 6 days ago.
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:36 AM on October 28, 2018 [47 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 8:36 AM on October 28, 2018 [47 favorites]
According to James Lambert, a guy on Twitter who follows such things, yesterday Michael Bloomberg's Independence USA PAC dropped $10m in support of House Dems, including:
▪️#CA49: $500K
▪️#GA07: $900K
▪️#KS03: $600K
▪️#MI08: $1.7 million
▪️#NV04: $2.7 mllion
▪️#NJ11: $1.9 million
▪️#TX07: $1.25 million
▪️#VA02: $200K
Here's a link to a related FEC Schedule E Report.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:38 AM on October 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
▪️#CA49: $500K
▪️#GA07: $900K
▪️#KS03: $600K
▪️#MI08: $1.7 million
▪️#NV04: $2.7 mllion
▪️#NJ11: $1.9 million
▪️#TX07: $1.25 million
▪️#VA02: $200K
Here's a link to a related FEC Schedule E Report.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:38 AM on October 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
Take note, headline writers, this is how you cover Trump:
Trump Lies About Sept. 11 to Justify Holding Campaign Rally After Synagogue Shooting (Slate)*
For comparison, here's the NYT's passing mention of Trump's bullshit lie in their general coverage: "To bolster his argument for sticking with the rally, Trump argued that the New York Stock Exchange was opened the day after 9/11, though in fact it was re-opened on September 17."
The Grey Lady gets Trump coverage exactly backwards. In order to counter his falsehoods, journalists have to lead with the truth and establish that in the minds of their readers. Only then can they bring up Trump's lying. If you reverse that order, an uninformed reader will come away with the impression that there are two sides to the story.
* Bonus bullshit: "It isn’t just dates that Trump got wrong in his little tale, but also names. While the president referenced “Dick Russell, a friend of mine,” the head of the NYSE at the time was actually named Dick Grasso. Dick Russell was a senator from Georgia who defended segregation."
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:53 AM on October 28, 2018 [42 favorites]
Trump Lies About Sept. 11 to Justify Holding Campaign Rally After Synagogue Shooting (Slate)*
For comparison, here's the NYT's passing mention of Trump's bullshit lie in their general coverage: "To bolster his argument for sticking with the rally, Trump argued that the New York Stock Exchange was opened the day after 9/11, though in fact it was re-opened on September 17."
The Grey Lady gets Trump coverage exactly backwards. In order to counter his falsehoods, journalists have to lead with the truth and establish that in the minds of their readers. Only then can they bring up Trump's lying. If you reverse that order, an uninformed reader will come away with the impression that there are two sides to the story.
* Bonus bullshit: "It isn’t just dates that Trump got wrong in his little tale, but also names. While the president referenced “Dick Russell, a friend of mine,” the head of the NYSE at the time was actually named Dick Grasso. Dick Russell was a senator from Georgia who defended segregation."
posted by Doktor Zed at 8:53 AM on October 28, 2018 [42 favorites]
Chuck Todd has on Erick Erickson this morning as the "reasonable conservative". Erickson promoted this exact same conspiracy about the caravan as the synagogue shooter 6 days ago.
There was something so surreal about watching Meet The Press this morning, where they were having that conversation about how dark and hateful the policital ads are and how the tone needs to change. And then right in the middle of a commercial break was truly one of the nastiest anti-ALL-Democrat commercials I've ever seen. It was horrific (and paid for by Future45).
I'm guessing most people who see that commercial would agree with my opinion of them, even the average Republican citizen, but I can only imagine how many unhinged people take those ads to heart and see them as a literal call to arms against the monsters portrayed in them.
posted by wondermouse at 8:54 AM on October 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
There was something so surreal about watching Meet The Press this morning, where they were having that conversation about how dark and hateful the policital ads are and how the tone needs to change. And then right in the middle of a commercial break was truly one of the nastiest anti-ALL-Democrat commercials I've ever seen. It was horrific (and paid for by Future45).
I'm guessing most people who see that commercial would agree with my opinion of them, even the average Republican citizen, but I can only imagine how many unhinged people take those ads to heart and see them as a literal call to arms against the monsters portrayed in them.
posted by wondermouse at 8:54 AM on October 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
we passed a big pickup truck whose entire back window was covered in a decal featuring a Confederate-hatted skull on a Confederate flag backed by a field of flames.
Wouldn’t that suggest that the Confederate soldier is dead and he and his treasonous flag are burning in Hell?
What a blighted internal landscape these people inhabit.
posted by darkstar at 8:55 AM on October 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
Wouldn’t that suggest that the Confederate soldier is dead and he and his treasonous flag are burning in Hell?
What a blighted internal landscape these people inhabit.
posted by darkstar at 8:55 AM on October 28, 2018 [14 favorites]
This is simultaneously uplifting and completely depressing, to me at least: A crowdfunding campaign started by two Muslim groups has raised more than $40,000 for the victims of the shooting at a Pittsburgh synagogue on Saturday. The campaign on LaunchGood, a Muslim-focused crowdfunding site, reached its $25,000 goal in less than six hours, and is now working to raise $50,000.
posted by Bella Donna at 8:58 AM on October 28, 2018 [43 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 8:58 AM on October 28, 2018 [43 favorites]
Annnnd on CNN its....Paul Ryan decrying "tribal identity politics".
Jon Favreau: 4 out of 5 of these are from Paul Ryan’s SuperPAC:
Five of the most bigoted and divisive political ads from the 2018 midterms
The line between journalistic malpractice and outright collaboration is asymptotic.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:00 AM on October 28, 2018 [45 favorites]
Jon Favreau: 4 out of 5 of these are from Paul Ryan’s SuperPAC:
Five of the most bigoted and divisive political ads from the 2018 midterms
The line between journalistic malpractice and outright collaboration is asymptotic.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:00 AM on October 28, 2018 [45 favorites]
So you look at this weirdly sociopathic and narcissistic riff about his hair
The weird part is if you go to the actual under the wing of the aircraft interview only the top part of his hair moves in the wind and rain
so the part he allowed Jimmy Fallon to ruffle his hair those side parts still don’t get triggered
If there is anything we learned about racists/fascists it is that humour is a seriously useful way to burst their hubris balloon.
We need to media to obsessively focus on Trump’s hair everytime they want to focus on the faux News outrage #caravan story.
USE WHAT WE KNOW WORKS people, we KNOW facts don’t work!
this is what's called taking the fight to them, or as Eric Holder said "Kick 'em"
posted by Wilder at 9:12 AM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
The weird part is if you go to the actual under the wing of the aircraft interview only the top part of his hair moves in the wind and rain
so the part he allowed Jimmy Fallon to ruffle his hair those side parts still don’t get triggered
If there is anything we learned about racists/fascists it is that humour is a seriously useful way to burst their hubris balloon.
We need to media to obsessively focus on Trump’s hair everytime they want to focus on the faux News outrage #caravan story.
USE WHAT WE KNOW WORKS people, we KNOW facts don’t work!
this is what's called taking the fight to them, or as Eric Holder said "Kick 'em"
posted by Wilder at 9:12 AM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Chuck Todd has on Erick Erickson this morning as the "reasonable conservative".
Which should put a long moratorium on anyone considering Chuck Todd to be a "reasonable host."
posted by delfin at 9:25 AM on October 28, 2018 [20 favorites]
Which should put a long moratorium on anyone considering Chuck Todd to be a "reasonable host."
posted by delfin at 9:25 AM on October 28, 2018 [20 favorites]
We need to media to obsessively focus on Trump’s hair...
Trump has bad hair, which is a little bit funny (and tired), but not important. Trump has avowed himself as a nationalist, whips stupid people up into committing terrorist acts, is putting children in concentration camps, and many other terrible things that are very important and not funny at all.
posted by double block and bleed at 9:33 AM on October 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
Trump has bad hair, which is a little bit funny (and tired), but not important. Trump has avowed himself as a nationalist, whips stupid people up into committing terrorist acts, is putting children in concentration camps, and many other terrible things that are very important and not funny at all.
posted by double block and bleed at 9:33 AM on October 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
We need to media to obsessively focus on Trump’s hair everytime they want to focus on the faux News outrage #caravan story.
When you make fun of someone’s physical characteristics, you’re not just making fun of that person, but everyone who shares those characteristics. Stick to what he does, not how he looks. I won’t let him goad me into making other people feel bad.
posted by greermahoney at 9:45 AM on October 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
When you make fun of someone’s physical characteristics, you’re not just making fun of that person, but everyone who shares those characteristics. Stick to what he does, not how he looks. I won’t let him goad me into making other people feel bad.
posted by greermahoney at 9:45 AM on October 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
And yet my mefite colleagues, his approval ratings have gone UP since all of those horrific, factually based issues.
I HATE physical appearance based humour, but we simply have to use every tool we can muster including poking a hole in his gigantic ego, I'm not saying you do this and not cover children in cages, I don't unlike Trump engage in zero sum games, all of the above, GOTV, facts, humour.
posted by Wilder at 9:47 AM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
I HATE physical appearance based humour, but we simply have to use every tool we can muster including poking a hole in his gigantic ego, I'm not saying you do this and not cover children in cages, I don't unlike Trump engage in zero sum games, all of the above, GOTV, facts, humour.
posted by Wilder at 9:47 AM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Field report from canvassing in the rain for NY-01 Congressional Democratic candidate Perry Gershon (538 gives him a 1-in-7 chance). We were canvassing Democrats and undecideds, and people only wanted to know whether our candidate was a Democrat or a Republican. A few were not undecided at all, but solid Republicans, although they were very polite. One woman told us she was voting straight Democrat in revenge for Kavanaugh. I'm told the incumbent, Lee Zeldin, a Republican, is very popular, but I didn't get a sense that people were any more aware of their representatives than people generally are (which is to say not very).
One thing that kind of gave me pause - a woman began by shooing us away, and ended up pouring her heart out about how scared she is for the future if the Democrats don't win, and thanking us for listening to her. I know people don't liked to be canvassed, but as my partner pointed out, how else are we going to get out the vote? It's amazing to me that there are still people out there who want to get rid of Republicans but don't think they can, or don't know how.
posted by maggiemaggie at 9:58 AM on October 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
One thing that kind of gave me pause - a woman began by shooing us away, and ended up pouring her heart out about how scared she is for the future if the Democrats don't win, and thanking us for listening to her. I know people don't liked to be canvassed, but as my partner pointed out, how else are we going to get out the vote? It's amazing to me that there are still people out there who want to get rid of Republicans but don't think they can, or don't know how.
posted by maggiemaggie at 9:58 AM on October 28, 2018 [29 favorites]
If anyone needs a tiny bit of cheering up, the incumbent President of Ireland was reelected yesterday with 55.8% of the vote to the Trumpesque candidate's 23%. It's an almost entirely ceremonial role in a tiny insignificant country but reelecting a socialist poet after all that's happened over the last few years has to count for something, I feel.
The person who got 23% went from 2% to 23% in 2 weeks by making some completely racist statements about Irish Travellers, including making a trip to a disputed halting site and claiming that they were total spongers and not an ethnic minority. (They are recognized as such for several years, after an apology by Enda Kenny, our taoiseach (PM) at the time) He also called our current taoiseach an Indian, which is otherwise something only racist Unionists or English politicians do. So I wouldn't too excited. We're no more immune to this stuff than anywhere else, and this guy is now trying to enter a major political party so he can lead our country eventually.
(We are rather significant at the moment because of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and how our refusal to accept whatever the UK offers is jamming up their glorious plans for post-Brexit Great Britain, and the fact that Teresa May needs DUP votes to stay in government.)
posted by lesbiassparrow at 10:02 AM on October 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
The person who got 23% went from 2% to 23% in 2 weeks by making some completely racist statements about Irish Travellers, including making a trip to a disputed halting site and claiming that they were total spongers and not an ethnic minority. (They are recognized as such for several years, after an apology by Enda Kenny, our taoiseach (PM) at the time) He also called our current taoiseach an Indian, which is otherwise something only racist Unionists or English politicians do. So I wouldn't too excited. We're no more immune to this stuff than anywhere else, and this guy is now trying to enter a major political party so he can lead our country eventually.
(We are rather significant at the moment because of the border between Northern Ireland and Ireland, and how our refusal to accept whatever the UK offers is jamming up their glorious plans for post-Brexit Great Britain, and the fact that Teresa May needs DUP votes to stay in government.)
posted by lesbiassparrow at 10:02 AM on October 28, 2018 [18 favorites]
NBC's Vaughn Hillyard interviews Mike Pence and gets some fresh "both sidism" and free speechifying for his trouble:
So that's the official Trump White House line in the wake of a week of hate crimes in this country.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:03 AM on October 28, 2018 [19 favorites]
NBC: "Have you ever asked [Trump] to please not use that type of language when referring to other people for the case of civil discourse in this country?"Pence continues, "I just don't think you can connect it to threats and acts of violence, Vaughn. I don't think the American people connect it."
PENCE: "Look, everyone has their own style, and frankly, people on both sides of the aisle use strong language..."
So that's the official Trump White House line in the wake of a week of hate crimes in this country.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:03 AM on October 28, 2018 [19 favorites]
Tonight, Jewish families perform a ceremony ushering out the Sabbath called Havdalah. Havdalah literally means “separation” or “division”—not between people but between the sacred and the profane, between darkness and light, between holy and every day.
Our job this weekend will have two components—we will not only have to do this within our lives, but for the country. We will try to show our children that there are stark differences between love and hate, between hopelessness and hope, and between truth and fabrications. We will also have to show our children what kind of people we want them to be, because as it turns out, when you show people who you want them to be, they believe you.
posted by growabrain at 10:04 AM on October 28, 2018 [23 favorites]
Our job this weekend will have two components—we will not only have to do this within our lives, but for the country. We will try to show our children that there are stark differences between love and hate, between hopelessness and hope, and between truth and fabrications. We will also have to show our children what kind of people we want them to be, because as it turns out, when you show people who you want them to be, they believe you.
posted by growabrain at 10:04 AM on October 28, 2018 [23 favorites]
Joyce Feinberg- 75, Richard Gotfried- 65, Jerry Rabinowitz- 66, Cesil Rosenthal- 59, David Rosenthal- 54, Bernice Simon- 84, Sylvan Simon- 86, Daniel Stein- 71, Melvin Wax- 88, Irving Youngner- 69, Rose Malinger- 97
There are reports that Rose was a Holocaust survivor. Even if not, she was an adult during the Holocaust. Close to a century later she was murdered at temple by a Nazi shouting about how all Jews must die.
Don't tell me that the arc of history bends toward justice. There's no arc here: history's just a room with you, people who want to kill you, and people who want to look the other way while you're killed.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:09 AM on October 28, 2018 [104 favorites]
There are reports that Rose was a Holocaust survivor. Even if not, she was an adult during the Holocaust. Close to a century later she was murdered at temple by a Nazi shouting about how all Jews must die.
Don't tell me that the arc of history bends toward justice. There's no arc here: history's just a room with you, people who want to kill you, and people who want to look the other way while you're killed.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:09 AM on October 28, 2018 [104 favorites]
I’m not surprised, but simultaneously surprised (is there a word for this feeling?) that the media never asks these people who say “both sides use strong language” to name any examples of Democrats calling the media the enemy of the people, praising violent assaulters, and generally using abusive rhetoric about anybody. They’d point to the entire “civility” argument, and then it would be dropped, because they’re not able to ask tough questions anymore (“gotcha questions”).
posted by gucci mane at 10:12 AM on October 28, 2018 [40 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 10:12 AM on October 28, 2018 [40 favorites]
Also 'both sides' aren't president. Only someone on one side is. So there's that.
posted by Too-Ticky at 10:15 AM on October 28, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by Too-Ticky at 10:15 AM on October 28, 2018 [26 favorites]
Pence continues, "I just don't think you can connect it to threats and acts of violence, Vaughn. I don't think the American people connect it."
Two people literally connected words with violence this week alone, you ghoul.
posted by schoolgirl report at 10:23 AM on October 28, 2018 [36 favorites]
Two people literally connected words with violence this week alone, you ghoul.
posted by schoolgirl report at 10:23 AM on October 28, 2018 [36 favorites]
Nine days before Election Day, Pod Save America co-host Jon Lovett delivers an impassioned pep talk to volunteer canvassers in Pennsylvania. It's easy to see how he wound up as an Obama speechwriter.
posted by Rhaomi at 10:36 AM on October 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Rhaomi at 10:36 AM on October 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
I'm slightly surprised that Gab aren't being enthusiastically DDoSed.
The failure of a hactivist left to emerge and do battle with sites like Gab, Daily Stormer, etc. has convinced me that there isn't one, and is just one more nail in the coffin of the "promise of the internet" for me. Not that it wasn't already well and truly dead.
The only effective tools right now seem to be the Twitter-enabled version of good old-fashioned consumer boycotts. Something that we used to conduct with a mimeograph machine and stamps.
posted by ryanshepard at 10:48 AM on October 28, 2018 [31 favorites]
The failure of a hactivist left to emerge and do battle with sites like Gab, Daily Stormer, etc. has convinced me that there isn't one, and is just one more nail in the coffin of the "promise of the internet" for me. Not that it wasn't already well and truly dead.
The only effective tools right now seem to be the Twitter-enabled version of good old-fashioned consumer boycotts. Something that we used to conduct with a mimeograph machine and stamps.
posted by ryanshepard at 10:48 AM on October 28, 2018 [31 favorites]
The failure of a hactivist left to emerge and do battle with sites like Gab, Daily Stormer, etc. has convinced me that there isn't one, and is just one more nail in the coffin of the "promise of the internet" for me. Not that it wasn't already well and truly dead.
You're not here to die for your country. You're here to make the other sonofabitch die for his.
--Patton, paraphrased.
You can wind up cooling your heels for 10 years over a DDOS if it comes back to you. DDOSing would be worse than a crime. It would be a blunder.
posted by ocschwar at 10:58 AM on October 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
You're not here to die for your country. You're here to make the other sonofabitch die for his.
--Patton, paraphrased.
You can wind up cooling your heels for 10 years over a DDOS if it comes back to you. DDOSing would be worse than a crime. It would be a blunder.
posted by ocschwar at 10:58 AM on October 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
Pence continues, "I just don't think you can connect it to threats and acts of violence, Vaughn. I don't think the American people connect it."
Ah, yes, the famed “Advertising doesn’t really work” line perfected by the tobacco industry.
posted by Etrigan at 11:09 AM on October 28, 2018 [25 favorites]
Ah, yes, the famed “Advertising doesn’t really work” line perfected by the tobacco industry.
posted by Etrigan at 11:09 AM on October 28, 2018 [25 favorites]
I’m not surprised, but simultaneously surprised (is there a word for this feeling?) that the media never asks these people who say “both sides use strong language” to name any examples of Democrats calling the media the enemy of the people, praising violent assaulters, and generally using abusive rhetoric about anybody.
I've been a critic of "people live in different realities" hyperbole but I read the comments to a link someone posted here and.......maybe I was wrong. The commentators all assure each other that"the Left" understands nothing but violence and wants their extermination. And remember they have Overton-windowed status quo milquestoast mildly progressive taxation and weak social safety net programs into a concept of "radical Socialism".
posted by thelonius at 11:09 AM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
I've been a critic of "people live in different realities" hyperbole but I read the comments to a link someone posted here and.......maybe I was wrong. The commentators all assure each other that"the Left" understands nothing but violence and wants their extermination. And remember they have Overton-windowed status quo milquestoast mildly progressive taxation and weak social safety net programs into a concept of "radical Socialism".
posted by thelonius at 11:09 AM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Has anyone noticed that Gab is now running off a nameserver at Pittsburgh-based Pair.com?
I worked there in the late nineties; it was my first and only tech job. The amount of anime porn I had to look away from, on a daily basis, on the more-senior-than-me sysadmins' screens was boggling. One of the higher-ups (it was a small company, so this doesn't mean all that much) used to write multi-page Libertarian screeds and leave them in stacks at the Beehive and other coffee shops around town.
posted by tapir-whorf at 11:12 AM on October 28, 2018 [21 favorites]
I worked there in the late nineties; it was my first and only tech job. The amount of anime porn I had to look away from, on a daily basis, on the more-senior-than-me sysadmins' screens was boggling. One of the higher-ups (it was a small company, so this doesn't mean all that much) used to write multi-page Libertarian screeds and leave them in stacks at the Beehive and other coffee shops around town.
posted by tapir-whorf at 11:12 AM on October 28, 2018 [21 favorites]
I am absolutely in favour of a well times use of the word 'fuck' but I suggest leaning into the world play a bit harder. Try: "Don't get fucked around; love a voter! Everyone else is too busy playing with themselves."Does someone with a platform want to start a “don’t fuck people who don’t vote” campaign"don't fuck people who don't vote - they're busy fucking themselves"
posted by mce at 11:23 AM on October 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
The failure of a hactivist left to emerge and do battle with sites like Gab, Daily Stormer, etc. has convinced me that there isn't one
Well, grabby, terrible white men managed to hound most of the people who would be on our side out of their hobbies, including this one, and they did it with the silence and complicity of the dudes who weren’t quite as terrible.
I think it’s on those complicit shoulders to try to make up for that, now. Go ahead and over training. Classes. Whatever you can. We sure as shit need it.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:25 AM on October 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
Well, grabby, terrible white men managed to hound most of the people who would be on our side out of their hobbies, including this one, and they did it with the silence and complicity of the dudes who weren’t quite as terrible.
I think it’s on those complicit shoulders to try to make up for that, now. Go ahead and over training. Classes. Whatever you can. We sure as shit need it.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:25 AM on October 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
> For any who would like to do something to push back and have some cash: Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society is a charity supporting refugees and has a four-star rating from CharityNavigator.org. Their donation page link is at the top right of the linked page.
Why HIAS Became a Target of Hate: The aid agency has transformed itself over the past decade from a group that aids refugees because they are Jewish, to a group of Jews that aids refugees.
‘Hateful Speech Almost Always Leads to Hateful Action’: The head of the refugee resettlement group that transfixed the Pittsburgh shooter says xenophobia is rising globally.
America — and Judaism — at Its Best: The man accused of the synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh seemed fixated on HIAS, the refugee organization that helped save my family.
posted by homunculus at 11:26 AM on October 28, 2018 [22 favorites]
Why HIAS Became a Target of Hate: The aid agency has transformed itself over the past decade from a group that aids refugees because they are Jewish, to a group of Jews that aids refugees.
‘Hateful Speech Almost Always Leads to Hateful Action’: The head of the refugee resettlement group that transfixed the Pittsburgh shooter says xenophobia is rising globally.
America — and Judaism — at Its Best: The man accused of the synagogue massacre in Pittsburgh seemed fixated on HIAS, the refugee organization that helped save my family.
posted by homunculus at 11:26 AM on October 28, 2018 [22 favorites]
Nihilist Nation: The Empty Core of the Trump Mystique, Garret Keizer in The New Republic.
posted by mazola at 11:28 AM on October 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by mazola at 11:28 AM on October 28, 2018 [11 favorites]
An American President Bends to the Demands of Terror: After the attack in Pittsburgh, Trump again expressed his inclination to meet violence with the machinery of a police state.
In facing what appears to be a rising tide of violence—a tide that Trump himself elevates and encourages—the prescription of arms merely capitulates to the demands of that bloodshed. The purpose of political violence and terrorism is not necessarily to eliminate or even always to create body counts, but to disempower people, to spread the contagion of fear, to splinter communities into self-preserving bunkers, and to invalidate the very idea that a common destiny is even possible. Mandates to arm people accelerate this process. They inherently promote the idea that society cannot reduce the global level of harm, and promote the authoritarian impulses of people seeking order. Historically, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and racism have been the three prongs of political violence that have destroyed democracies and brought along authoritarianism the quickest. Historically, police societies have been their companions, as opposed to their antagonists.posted by homunculus at 11:45 AM on October 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
And yet my mefite colleagues, his approval ratings have gone UP since all of those horrific, factually based issues.
"Approval ratings" are fake metrics designed to give media outlets something to talk about, and to make the companies who create them some profit. For most of my adult life--certainly for all of this century so far--so much time and mental/emotional space in the public discourse has been consumed by made-up, official-sounding metrics and speculation that are literally inconsequential. We all speak Advertese now, I guess.
The only 'approval ratings' that matter are elections, because that's where we the people (supposedly) get to own this damn mess, by hiring and firing the proxies who (ostensibly) work on our behalf. At this point, I've come to view any mental or emotional energy spent on frivolous, made-up, inconsequential media-inventions like opinion polls as bad money thrown after good, as if we're all in the grip of a massive, public-discourse-based sunk-cost fallacy, and we really need to stop feeding it.
Imagine if all of the time, money and ingenuity spent on election forecasting were instead spent on voter education and GOTV and all the practical, proven things that help actual people do their citizen's job and participate in our democracy? We really do collectively have a problem with 'talking about' instead of 'doing something about.' "The President's approval rating" is a terrific example of this, an apotheosis of bullshit.
posted by LooseFilter at 12:10 PM on October 28, 2018 [37 favorites]
"Approval ratings" are fake metrics designed to give media outlets something to talk about, and to make the companies who create them some profit. For most of my adult life--certainly for all of this century so far--so much time and mental/emotional space in the public discourse has been consumed by made-up, official-sounding metrics and speculation that are literally inconsequential. We all speak Advertese now, I guess.
The only 'approval ratings' that matter are elections, because that's where we the people (supposedly) get to own this damn mess, by hiring and firing the proxies who (ostensibly) work on our behalf. At this point, I've come to view any mental or emotional energy spent on frivolous, made-up, inconsequential media-inventions like opinion polls as bad money thrown after good, as if we're all in the grip of a massive, public-discourse-based sunk-cost fallacy, and we really need to stop feeding it.
Imagine if all of the time, money and ingenuity spent on election forecasting were instead spent on voter education and GOTV and all the practical, proven things that help actual people do their citizen's job and participate in our democracy? We really do collectively have a problem with 'talking about' instead of 'doing something about.' "The President's approval rating" is a terrific example of this, an apotheosis of bullshit.
posted by LooseFilter at 12:10 PM on October 28, 2018 [37 favorites]
Dahlia Lithwick:
We have been told over and over that we are not to take this president literally or seriously or jokingly or truthfully, even though every day he shows his supporters who he is, and they not only believe in him, they quite literally believe him. For too long we have been trapped in a cycle of figuring out how to talk about a president who is neither truthful nor presidential, who cheerfully labels Democrats as “evil” and gleefully leads chants about locking up the very people who were the recipients of bombs at their homes. How does one even begin to explain to one’s children what it means that the president denounces violence and division as he foments both, on an hourly basis? Perhaps we can look to Florida for a tip. Last week the state’s gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum said that because Neo-Nazis and white supremacists were supporting and campaigning for and contributing to his opponent Ron DeSantis, perhaps it was time to stop talking about causation entirely. “I’m not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist,” he said. “I’m simply saying the racists believe he’s a racist.”
The formulation is useful because it reframes a pointless debate about what leaders’ dog whistles really mean into a debate about what their followers end up believing. If what is said no longer matters, we can perhaps still evaluate what is heard. In the current ontological meltdown, there is no point in debating what leaders actually mean—they are affirmatively telling us that they lie constantly—but what we can and should focus on is what kind of people they ask their followers to be. Do they ask their adherents and admirers to see the best in others? Do they ask them to find common ground?
posted by neroli at 12:13 PM on October 28, 2018 [68 favorites]
We have been told over and over that we are not to take this president literally or seriously or jokingly or truthfully, even though every day he shows his supporters who he is, and they not only believe in him, they quite literally believe him. For too long we have been trapped in a cycle of figuring out how to talk about a president who is neither truthful nor presidential, who cheerfully labels Democrats as “evil” and gleefully leads chants about locking up the very people who were the recipients of bombs at their homes. How does one even begin to explain to one’s children what it means that the president denounces violence and division as he foments both, on an hourly basis? Perhaps we can look to Florida for a tip. Last week the state’s gubernatorial candidate Andrew Gillum said that because Neo-Nazis and white supremacists were supporting and campaigning for and contributing to his opponent Ron DeSantis, perhaps it was time to stop talking about causation entirely. “I’m not calling Mr. DeSantis a racist,” he said. “I’m simply saying the racists believe he’s a racist.”
The formulation is useful because it reframes a pointless debate about what leaders’ dog whistles really mean into a debate about what their followers end up believing. If what is said no longer matters, we can perhaps still evaluate what is heard. In the current ontological meltdown, there is no point in debating what leaders actually mean—they are affirmatively telling us that they lie constantly—but what we can and should focus on is what kind of people they ask their followers to be. Do they ask their adherents and admirers to see the best in others? Do they ask them to find common ground?
posted by neroli at 12:13 PM on October 28, 2018 [68 favorites]
Historically, anti-Semitism, xenophobia, and racism have been the three prongs of political violence that have destroyed democracies and brought along authoritarianism the quickest. Historically, police societies have been their companions, as opposed to their antagonists.
I recall a dear, departed friend of mine, a "Survivor of the 60's" in every sense of the word, would tell of a protest in battery park where "the hard-hats were on one side, the mounted police on the other, and New York harbor to their backs..."
posted by mikelieman at 12:15 PM on October 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
I recall a dear, departed friend of mine, a "Survivor of the 60's" in every sense of the word, would tell of a protest in battery park where "the hard-hats were on one side, the mounted police on the other, and New York harbor to their backs..."
posted by mikelieman at 12:15 PM on October 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
Very oblique references. What is "technology" in the context of SWAT officers dealing with an active shooter?
In this case the technology referred to definitely wasn't a bomb-carrying death robot, since the shooter was white.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:23 PM on October 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
In this case the technology referred to definitely wasn't a bomb-carrying death robot, since the shooter was white.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:23 PM on October 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
Heat signature IR cameras are pretty standard equipment as a result of the drug war. About the only thing that a major metro police department can't deploy these days that the US military can are missiles.
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:36 PM on October 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by T.D. Strange at 12:36 PM on October 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
Michel Moore about encountering Cesar Sayoc 20 months ago at a Maga rally
posted by growabrain at 12:49 PM on October 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 12:49 PM on October 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
The Health Department’s Christian Crusade: The religious right has infiltrated the office of Health and Human Services, and reproductive rights are the first target
posted by homunculus at 12:56 PM on October 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 12:56 PM on October 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
Michel Moore about encountering Cesar Sayoc 20 months ago at a Maga rally
As you can see in the video, Cesar Sayoc isn't a lone wolf. There are hundreds of them -- just in this one place.
posted by JackFlash at 1:03 PM on October 28, 2018 [25 favorites]
As you can see in the video, Cesar Sayoc isn't a lone wolf. There are hundreds of them -- just in this one place.
posted by JackFlash at 1:03 PM on October 28, 2018 [25 favorites]
More on the voting surge in El Paso.
Michael Li (Brennan Center)
As of Saturday, more people had voted in El Paso, Texas than voted in the *entire* 2014 election (early/mail/election day).
posted by chris24 at 1:36 PM on October 28, 2018 [41 favorites]
Michael Li (Brennan Center)
As of Saturday, more people had voted in El Paso, Texas than voted in the *entire* 2014 election (early/mail/election day).
posted by chris24 at 1:36 PM on October 28, 2018 [41 favorites]
Adam Serwer, Trump’s Caravan Hysteria Led to This. This is not novel, but it makes a persuasive case for how we got here:
Ordinarily, a politician cannot be held responsible for the actions of a deranged follower. But ordinarily, politicians don’t praise supporters who have mercilessly beaten a Latino man, as “very passionate.” Ordinarily, they don’t offer to pay supporters’ legal bills if they assault protesters on the other side. They don’t praise acts of violence against the media. They don’t defend Nazi rioters as “fine people.” They don’t justify sending bombs to their critics by blaming the media for airing criticism. Ordinarily, there is no historic surge in anti-Semitism, much of it targeted at Jewish critics, coinciding with a politician’s rise. And ordinarily, presidents do not blatantly exploit their authority in an effort to terrify white Americans into voting for their party. For the past few decades, most American politicians, Republican and Democrat alike, have taken care not to urge their supporters to take matters into their own hands. Trump did everything he could to fan the flames, and nothing to restrain those who might take him at his word.posted by zachlipton at 1:41 PM on October 28, 2018 [91 favorites]
Many of Trump’s defenders argue that his rhetoric is mere shtick. That his attacks, however cruel, aren’t taken 100 percent seriously by his supporters. But to make this argument is to concede that following Trump’s statements to their logical conclusion could lead to violence against his targets, and it is only because most do not take it that way, that the political violence committed on Trump’s behalf is as limited as it currently is.
The Tree of Life shooter criticized Trump for not being racist or anti-Semitic enough. But with respect to the caravan, the shooter merely followed the logic of the president and his allies: He was willing to do whatever was necessary to prevent an “invasion” of Latinos planned by perfidious Jews, a treasonous attempt to seek “the destruction of American society and culture.”
The apparent spark for the worst anti-Semitic massacre in American history was a racist hoax inflamed by a U.S. president seeking to help his party win a midterm election. There is no political gesture, no public statement, and no alteration in rhetoric or behavior that will change this fact. The shooter might have found a different reason to act on a different day. But he chose to act on Saturday, and he apparently chose to act in response to a political fiction that the president himself chose to spread, and that his followers chose to amplify.
As for those who aided the president in his propaganda campaign, who enabled him to prey on racist fears to fabricate a national emergency, those who said to themselves, “This is the play”? Every single one of them bears some responsibility for what followed. Their condemnations of antisemitism are meaningless. Their thoughts and prayers are worthless. Their condolences are irrelevant. They can never undo what they have done, and what they have done will never be forgotten.
And Now - Pittsburgh (Ed Simon)
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:53 PM on October 28, 2018 [69 favorites]
An eruv is normally a thin line of metal wire that stretches across the tops of telephone poles, barely visible to an observer who doesn’t expect it, looking scarcely different from the normal infrastructure that you would see in any large city – perhaps a line to bring cable television into homes. But the purpose of an eruv is different; rather it serves to encompass a Jewish community entirely within a symbolic border, whereby private and public domains are blurred and it becomes possible for Orthodox Jews to carry whatever needs to be carried outside of their literal homes on both the Sabbath and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement.This is a beautiful piece and basically sums up the relationship with Squirrel Hill and the Jewish community that so many of us have. Anything else is have to add probably is better put in Fucking Fuck.
In Pittsburgh the eruv encircles almost the entire historically Jewish neighborhood of Squirrel Hill, as well as Greenfield, parts of Regent Square, and Point Breeze, where I grew up. It runs down Forbes Ave, past verdant Frick Park and the Victorian mausoleums of Homewood Cemetery; through porched homes on South Braddock Avenue, and along the edge of the Parkway East; it briefly runs parallel to the meandering, brown Monongahela River, and snakes up Browns Hill Road; to the west it briefly dips into Schenley Park past college students playing frisbee or sunbathing (depending on the season); and it traces back around Wilkins Avenue. This thin wisp of ephemeral wire turns what is public into a common treasury – it converts an entire community into a home. More than that it functions as a membrane, as a skin; binding neighbors together as one body. A few hours ago, somebody whose name doesn’t deserve to be mentioned pierced that skin, walking into the Tree of Life Synagogue on Wilkins Avenue with an assault rifle, and killing at least eleven congregants there to celebrate a bris. I still don’t know who among the dead that I might know.
posted by soren_lorensen at 1:53 PM on October 28, 2018 [69 favorites]
@joshtpm: Straight out of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Just moments ago, Lou Dobbs guest Chris Farrell (head of Judicial Watch) says Caravan is being funded/directed by the "Soros-occupied State Department".
Update from Josh Marshall: "Fox biz news has now apologized and taken down that interview in which Dobbs guest says “Soros-occupied State Department” is finding and directing the migrant caravan. That’s great. But this stuff is PERVASIVE on Fox and Fox Biz. We see it all the time." (CNN's Brian Stelter quotes Fox Business: "We condemn the rhetoric by the guest on Lou Dobbs Tonight. This episode was a repeat which has now been pulled from all future airings.") Marshall saw this clip only by accident because he was channel-surfing to see who had live coverage of Trump's rally. He describes seeing this kind of paranoid, repugnant material as "commonplace" on the network.
Also earlier today, @realDonaldTrump attacked major Democratic donor Tom Steyer after he was interviewed on CNN by Jake Tapper as a "Whacky [...] crazed & stumbling lunatic", barely three days after he'd received an IED from the MAGAbomber, in similar language he'd used to describe the Squirrel Hill mass murderer.
MEGATHREAD NOTE: A new draft of the next USPolitics FPP is currently available on the MeFi wiki for contribution and collaboration.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:57 PM on October 28, 2018 [19 favorites]
Update from Josh Marshall: "Fox biz news has now apologized and taken down that interview in which Dobbs guest says “Soros-occupied State Department” is finding and directing the migrant caravan. That’s great. But this stuff is PERVASIVE on Fox and Fox Biz. We see it all the time." (CNN's Brian Stelter quotes Fox Business: "We condemn the rhetoric by the guest on Lou Dobbs Tonight. This episode was a repeat which has now been pulled from all future airings.") Marshall saw this clip only by accident because he was channel-surfing to see who had live coverage of Trump's rally. He describes seeing this kind of paranoid, repugnant material as "commonplace" on the network.
Also earlier today, @realDonaldTrump attacked major Democratic donor Tom Steyer after he was interviewed on CNN by Jake Tapper as a "Whacky [...] crazed & stumbling lunatic", barely three days after he'd received an IED from the MAGAbomber, in similar language he'd used to describe the Squirrel Hill mass murderer.
MEGATHREAD NOTE: A new draft of the next USPolitics FPP is currently available on the MeFi wiki for contribution and collaboration.
posted by Doktor Zed at 1:57 PM on October 28, 2018 [19 favorites]
We condemn the rhetoric by the guest on Lou Dobbs Tonight. This episode was a repeat which has now been pulled from all future airings
This is Fox Business telling on themselves. The episode here is a rerun from just Thursday; the segment in question was about the caravan. This isn't like they aired an episode of classic TV that aged really badly; it was 48 hours. This was Chris Farrell, the head of Judicial Watch, telling Lou Dobbs how the caravan is being backed by the "Soros-occupied State Department." It's literally the same conspiracy theory that the shooter cited as justification.
Fox Business aired an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory on Thursday. A gunman committed murder citing that same theory on Saturday. Fox Business reran it Saturday night. Now they condemn it on Sunday.
posted by zachlipton at 2:12 PM on October 28, 2018 [90 favorites]
This is Fox Business telling on themselves. The episode here is a rerun from just Thursday; the segment in question was about the caravan. This isn't like they aired an episode of classic TV that aged really badly; it was 48 hours. This was Chris Farrell, the head of Judicial Watch, telling Lou Dobbs how the caravan is being backed by the "Soros-occupied State Department." It's literally the same conspiracy theory that the shooter cited as justification.
Fox Business aired an anti-Semitic conspiracy theory on Thursday. A gunman committed murder citing that same theory on Saturday. Fox Business reran it Saturday night. Now they condemn it on Sunday.
posted by zachlipton at 2:12 PM on October 28, 2018 [90 favorites]
Also earlier today, @realDonaldTrump attacked major Democratic donor Tom Steyer after he was interviewed on CNN by Jake Tapper as a "Whacky [...] crazed & stumbling lunatic", barely three days after he'd received an IED from the MAGAbomber, in similar language he'd used to describe the Squirrel Hill mass murderer.
Saw the interview. Not crazed, not stumbling, definitely not lunatic. Advocated impeachment, did not mention the numbers aren't there even if we take both Houses, but that's a quibble. Repeatedly returned to his talking points that Trump isn't directly responsible for any of the violence but he is responsible for creating the atmosphere that led to it ("words have consequences"), & that although there has been strong language by the Left it's been a response to injustice by the Right & although there has been violence & action against the Right none of the Dem leadership has encouraged or admired it. All in all coherent & useful interview, very calm & rational for someone who was just a target of a pipe bomb.
posted by scalefree at 2:23 PM on October 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
Saw the interview. Not crazed, not stumbling, definitely not lunatic. Advocated impeachment, did not mention the numbers aren't there even if we take both Houses, but that's a quibble. Repeatedly returned to his talking points that Trump isn't directly responsible for any of the violence but he is responsible for creating the atmosphere that led to it ("words have consequences"), & that although there has been strong language by the Left it's been a response to injustice by the Right & although there has been violence & action against the Right none of the Dem leadership has encouraged or admired it. All in all coherent & useful interview, very calm & rational for someone who was just a target of a pipe bomb.
posted by scalefree at 2:23 PM on October 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
Gab claims to have secured new hosting. Be interesting to see who signed on to support the nazis.
posted by tavella at 2:27 PM on October 28, 2018
posted by tavella at 2:27 PM on October 28, 2018
calm and reasoned thinking, combined with logical abstract notions like "words have consequences" probably sounds like "Whacky, crazed and stumbling" to someone without the ability to follow along due to dementia, ignorance, and lack of reading/speaking skills. Says more about Old 45 than it does about Tom Steyer imo.
posted by some loser at 2:38 PM on October 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by some loser at 2:38 PM on October 28, 2018 [2 favorites]
Slate: Why Did Synagogue Suspect Believe Migrant Caravan Is Jewish Conspiracy? Maybe He Watched Fox News
posted by chris24 at 2:38 PM on October 28, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by chris24 at 2:38 PM on October 28, 2018 [26 favorites]
The worldwide trend continues... NYT: Jair Bolsonaro, Far-Right Populist, Elected President of Brazil
posted by reductiondesign at 3:29 PM on October 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
posted by reductiondesign at 3:29 PM on October 28, 2018 [13 favorites]
Have to ask: Have there been any credible reports of Russian interference in the Brazil elections?
posted by 1970s Antihero at 3:48 PM on October 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by 1970s Antihero at 3:48 PM on October 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
The "just words" and "not serious" arguments are such bullshit. Trump pardoned Joe Arpaio. That was not a joke and not just words. The doubling and tripling down on a muslim ban were not words. The "wall" was just words but the reality was worse than the words anyways, rounding up families, separating them, detaining them indefinitely like a guantanamo for jaywalkers instead of terrorists.
Trumps actions are stoking the flames of violence as much as his words if not more so.
posted by p3t3 at 3:51 PM on October 28, 2018 [33 favorites]
Trumps actions are stoking the flames of violence as much as his words if not more so.
posted by p3t3 at 3:51 PM on October 28, 2018 [33 favorites]
The "just words" and "not serious" arguments are such bullshit.
I've decided that on the off-chance Trump is ever convicted of a crime, I'll explain my glee as "just laughing at his jokes."
posted by Rykey at 4:01 PM on October 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
I've decided that on the off-chance Trump is ever convicted of a crime, I'll explain my glee as "just laughing at his jokes."
posted by Rykey at 4:01 PM on October 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
The worldwide trend continues... NYT: Jair Bolsonaro, Far-Right Populist, Elected President of Brazil
Jasmin Mujanović:
Jasmin Mujanović:
There are no exceptional people nor exceptional states. There are only exceptional circumstances. And in these, all things become possible. Tonight, another far-right candidate has triumphed in another democratic polity. This is no longer exceptional, these are our times.posted by non canadian guy at 4:24 PM on October 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
McCaskill doorknocking update: Was in NorthHampton and the choad between NorthHampton and Lindenwood Park. People are voting democratic but are getting salty af about being knocked. Also saw a lot more Blue Lives Matter flags and We Support the Police signs, which I think are a dogwhistle, and it really creeps me out. Also major uptick in people who tell me they are voting but decline to say in which direction. Also asked twice whether what I'm doing is legal.
Someone mentioned food for campaign staff. I'm not staff, but I'm going to have my local office catered for dinner this weekend. They're tireless.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 4:31 PM on October 28, 2018 [27 favorites]
Someone mentioned food for campaign staff. I'm not staff, but I'm going to have my local office catered for dinner this weekend. They're tireless.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 4:31 PM on October 28, 2018 [27 favorites]
The Special Kind Of Hate That Drove Pittsburgh Shooter — And Trump
Bowers tried to harm Jews, at least in part, for the same reason the men of that ancient city tried to harm Lot: Because Jews were welcoming strangers. Instead of assimilating into a culture suffused with anti-immigrant hatred, HIAS — which was founded to help Jewish immigrants to the United States —now assists immigrants and refugees from across the world.posted by homunculus at 4:31 PM on October 28, 2018 [25 favorites]
Since Bolsonaro said he wanted to sell off as much rainforest as possible my predictions for anything resembling climate stability have been rocketing downward all month
posted by The Whelk at 4:31 PM on October 28, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 4:31 PM on October 28, 2018 [28 favorites]
Jewish leaders tell Trump he's not welcome in Pittsburgh until he denounces white nationalism
Our Jewish community is not the only group you have targeted,” the group wrote. “You have also deliberately undermined the safety of people of color, Muslims, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities. Yesterday’s massacre is not the first act of terror you incited against a minority group in our country.”
posted by bluesky43 at 4:35 PM on October 28, 2018 [110 favorites]
Our Jewish community is not the only group you have targeted,” the group wrote. “You have also deliberately undermined the safety of people of color, Muslims, LGBTQ people, and people with disabilities. Yesterday’s massacre is not the first act of terror you incited against a minority group in our country.”
posted by bluesky43 at 4:35 PM on October 28, 2018 [110 favorites]
which I think are a dogwhistle
Less a dogwhistle than a dogbullhorn.
posted by Justinian at 4:36 PM on October 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
Less a dogwhistle than a dogbullhorn.
posted by Justinian at 4:36 PM on October 28, 2018 [10 favorites]
NYT: Jair Bolsonaro, Far-Right Populist, Elected President of Brazil
Eduardo Bolsonaro @BolsonaroSP, Aug 2018:
"It was a pleasure to meet STEVE BANNON,strategist in Donald Trump's presidential campaign.We had a great conversation and we share the same worldview.He said be an enthusiast of Bolsonaro's campaign and we are certainly in touch to join forces,especially against cultural marxism."
posted by bluecore at 4:40 PM on October 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
Eduardo Bolsonaro @BolsonaroSP, Aug 2018:
"It was a pleasure to meet STEVE BANNON,strategist in Donald Trump's presidential campaign.We had a great conversation and we share the same worldview.He said be an enthusiast of Bolsonaro's campaign and we are certainly in touch to join forces,especially against cultural marxism."
posted by bluecore at 4:40 PM on October 28, 2018 [7 favorites]
People are voting democratic but are getting salty af about being knocked.Yeah, I think we've hit that stage in the election cycle. Lots more grumpy people this weekend. That's ok: the end is in sight, and I don't care if they're snippy as long as they vote.
posted by ArbitraryAndCapricious at 4:46 PM on October 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
What is "technology" in the context of SWAT officers dealing with an active shooter?
RANGE-R, probably. The unit cost is about $6k, so it is not at all hard to believe that an urban police department's SWAT team would have one. They are also frequently used for SAR activities, because they can detect breathing (i.e. viable rescue vs. body recovery).
The manufacturer has apparently pulled down the "Theory of Operation" page (it returns a 503) but you can find it on Google Cache if you are interested. It's basically marketing material, though. If you want to know how they work, the key search terms are "Bio-radiolocation" and "handheld SFCW radar".
tl;dr: Expensive studfinder with some DSP tuned to detect humans.
posted by Kadin2048 at 4:50 PM on October 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
RANGE-R, probably. The unit cost is about $6k, so it is not at all hard to believe that an urban police department's SWAT team would have one. They are also frequently used for SAR activities, because they can detect breathing (i.e. viable rescue vs. body recovery).
The manufacturer has apparently pulled down the "Theory of Operation" page (it returns a 503) but you can find it on Google Cache if you are interested. It's basically marketing material, though. If you want to know how they work, the key search terms are "Bio-radiolocation" and "handheld SFCW radar".
tl;dr: Expensive studfinder with some DSP tuned to detect humans.
posted by Kadin2048 at 4:50 PM on October 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
Two years after Trump’s big wins, Midwest states go sour on Republicans by Daniel Dale
posted by jgirl at 4:53 PM on October 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by jgirl at 4:53 PM on October 28, 2018 [12 favorites]
1970s Antihero: "Have to ask: Have there been any credible reports of Russian interference in the Brazil elections?"
The closing weeks of the election were marred by viciously slanderous fake news against Haddad and the PT that spread widely through WhatsApp, the popular Facebook-owned messaging platform. The legal complaint from Haddad cited domestic business interests as the primary funders of the attacks, calling it an illegal campaign contribution, but at this point absolutely nothing would surprise me.
posted by Rhaomi at 5:38 PM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
The closing weeks of the election were marred by viciously slanderous fake news against Haddad and the PT that spread widely through WhatsApp, the popular Facebook-owned messaging platform. The legal complaint from Haddad cited domestic business interests as the primary funders of the attacks, calling it an illegal campaign contribution, but at this point absolutely nothing would surprise me.
posted by Rhaomi at 5:38 PM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Since Bolsonaro said he wanted to sell off as much rainforest as possible my predictions for anything resembling climate stability have been rocketing downward all month
posted by The Whelk at 4:31 PM on October 28 [10 favorites −] Favorite added! [!]
Yikes. It's like these fascist types literally want to break the entire world out of spite.
posted by mumimor at 5:47 PM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by The Whelk at 4:31 PM on October 28 [10 favorites −] Favorite added! [!]
Yikes. It's like these fascist types literally want to break the entire world out of spite.
posted by mumimor at 5:47 PM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Mod note: A few removed, let’s skip Greenwald Y/N Round Fifty here.
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:48 PM on October 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by cortex (staff) at 5:48 PM on October 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
Dahlia Lithwick, Stop Trying to Understand What Trump Says and Look at What His Followers Do
Perhaps we can add this: Some of us have children, Jewish children, who have been dragged to synagogue on Shabbat mornings, grumbling and bored, just as we were dragged there as children and just as children of every faith are dragged to their houses of worship; to sing and to read holy texts and to pray for peace, as we do each week. We have let our children hide in the stairwells and read books in the balconies and play unsupervised in the courtyards because these spaces were “home” as much as home was. And tonight we will have to tell our children that we cannot keep them safe in their holy places; the places in which they believe that God lives. We have to tell them that the same kind of people who wanted to burn down a synagogue in Charlottesville last year may enter any sacred building at any time with weapons of war, and mow down people as they are praying, for coming together to pray. We have to tell them that in these past two years as we have pledged and promised to keep them safe in their schools and their streets and their houses of worship, that we were lying; we cannot keep them safe, we can only pray that they are lucky. I suppose it is ironic that in this country we can offer nothing beyond hopes and prayers to those who were already praying in the first place.posted by zachlipton at 5:48 PM on October 28, 2018 [89 favorites]
...
We have been told over and over that we are not to take this president literally or seriously or jokingly or truthfully, even though every day he shows his supporters who he is, and they not only believe in him, they quite literally believe him.
...
In the last week we have encountered two actual killers and one aspiring killer who believed their president when he said that caravans of murderous foreigners are approaching, and who believed that what their president wants is to have those caravans halted by force. They believed their president when he said that the media is hurting America and they believe their president wants to stop the media from doing that journalism by physical force. In the last week, we have seen that when the president makes or amplifies false claims about George Soros and globalists and refugees, people want to act on those claims. It doesn’t matter whether the president is being truthful or arch or ironic or funny or even if he admits moments later that he was just lying for sport. It does matter that millions of Americans believe this president wants them to rise up if the election is stolen by way of “vote fraud,” and that this president wants them to physically assault journalists who report bad things about him. That is what they hear every day, and that is what we need to worry about.
Perhaps instead of wasting another day on the pointless cycle of whether people who tweet racist, anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, and anti minority statements actually cause anti-Semitic, anti-immigrant, and anti-minority attacks or just stoke what was there to begin with, we should content ourselves with accepting that this is actually beside the point. The point is that people who hate Jews and immigrants and minorities believe that when they commit violence against these people, they are behaving as the followers their president wants them to be. Do all or most of the president’s fans believe this? Certainly not. But we have we seen far too many of them performing on the words the president puts out there. And it doesn’t matter who is “responsible” because he accepts no responsibility no matter what. It does matter what we do next.
Thread: @castriotar: More than 20 Brazilian universities were invaded by the military police in the past 2 days. They confiscated material on the history of fascism, interrupted classes due to 'ideological content', removed anti-fascist banners and posters claiming that it was electoral propaganda. (10/26/18)
posted by monospace at 6:19 PM on October 28, 2018 [63 favorites]
posted by monospace at 6:19 PM on October 28, 2018 [63 favorites]
Relevant to the earlier discussion on accuracy of Cook ratings, here's Cook's Dave Wasserman on accuracy in 2006 and 2010 (the last two wave midyears):
I went back thru @CookPolitical 's final ratings for 2006 & 2010 last night. Found the "wave" party averaged 100% of their own Lean/Likely/Solids, 57% of Toss Ups, 19% of opposite Leans, 9% of Likelys & 0% of Solids.posted by Chrysostom at 6:22 PM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
In 2018, that same pattern would net Dems +39.8 seats. But...
There are a few reasons to doubt they'll break in the same pattern as '06/'10:
1) R voters are far more engaged in '18 than they were in '06 or Dems were in '10.
2) Far more polling this year, giving us more opportunities to "diagnose" R problems. Still, a few surprises likely.
Gene Patterson, 1963:
This is no time to load our anguish onto the murderous scapegoat who set the cap in dynamite of our own manufacture.
He didn't know any better.
Somewhere in the dim and fevered recess of an evil mind he feels right now that he has been a hero. He is only guilty of murder. He thinks he has pleased us.
Useful to read in conjunction with the Dahlia Lithwick piece.
posted by neroli at 6:33 PM on October 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
This is no time to load our anguish onto the murderous scapegoat who set the cap in dynamite of our own manufacture.
He didn't know any better.
Somewhere in the dim and fevered recess of an evil mind he feels right now that he has been a hero. He is only guilty of murder. He thinks he has pleased us.
Useful to read in conjunction with the Dahlia Lithwick piece.
posted by neroli at 6:33 PM on October 28, 2018 [9 favorites]
Thread: @castriotar: More than 20 Brazilian universities were invaded by the military police in the past 2 days.
Oh Jesus. I’m so scared for Brazilian queers and leftists. I’m scared for everyone but in the next few days, especially...Jesus. be safe.
posted by schadenfrau at 6:45 PM on October 28, 2018 [26 favorites]
Oh Jesus. I’m so scared for Brazilian queers and leftists. I’m scared for everyone but in the next few days, especially...Jesus. be safe.
posted by schadenfrau at 6:45 PM on October 28, 2018 [26 favorites]
Thread: @castriotar: More than 20 Brazilian universities were invaded by the military police in the past 2 days.
I'm being told this was written to be misleading: that "military police" refers to how they're trained and they aren't connected to the army, and that the invasion was denounced and overturned by the Supreme Court.
posted by lazugod at 6:55 PM on October 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
I'm being told this was written to be misleading: that "military police" refers to how they're trained and they aren't connected to the army, and that the invasion was denounced and overturned by the Supreme Court.
posted by lazugod at 6:55 PM on October 28, 2018 [5 favorites]
The fact that the police are clearly spoiling for a return to a police state is still a very ill omen, though.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:01 PM on October 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 7:01 PM on October 28, 2018 [8 favorites]
There's an open thread about Brazil, btw: Read this and weep for Brazil.
posted by homunculus at 7:01 PM on October 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 7:01 PM on October 28, 2018 [17 favorites]
@joshtpm: Straight out of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion. Just moments ago, Lou Dobbs guest Chris Farrell (head of Judicial Watch) says Caravan is being funded/directed by the "Soros-occupied State Department".
Jonathan Albright, director of the Digital Forensics Initiative at Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism tracks down the origins of the Soros-funded caravan conspiracy in a medium post. He gives credit for mainstreaming the concept to Lou Dobbs. Via the WaPo, A conspiracy theory about George Soros and a migrant caravan inspired horror.
posted by peeedro at 7:09 PM on October 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
Jonathan Albright, director of the Digital Forensics Initiative at Columbia University’s Tow Center for Digital Journalism tracks down the origins of the Soros-funded caravan conspiracy in a medium post. He gives credit for mainstreaming the concept to Lou Dobbs. Via the WaPo, A conspiracy theory about George Soros and a migrant caravan inspired horror.
posted by peeedro at 7:09 PM on October 28, 2018 [15 favorites]
So apparently Obama had punished JP Morgan secretly for years (like his tax cut, he preferred to make sure anything that would've been popular was done on the down low, I guess) and now we're finding out about it because Trump is taking the clamps off.
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:12 PM on October 28, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by a snickering nuthatch at 8:12 PM on October 28, 2018 [22 favorites]
While I'm glad Obama's administration was taking action, a secret punishment does nothing to address the moral hazard of not addressing the banks and hedge funds publicly. A president must not just do right but must also be seen to do right.
posted by Justinian at 8:45 PM on October 28, 2018 [42 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 8:45 PM on October 28, 2018 [42 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 9 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
// 9 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
-- FL: Siena poll has Dem incumbent Nelson up 48-44 on GOPer Scott [MOE: +/- 4.0%]. | YouGov poll has race tied 46-46 [MOE: +/- 4.0%].** 2018 House:
-- AZ: YouGov poll has Dem Sinema up 47-44 on GOPer McSally [MOE: +/- 4.1%].
-- MO: Remington Research poll has GOPer Hawley up 49-45 on Dem incumbent McCaskill [MOE: +/- 2.6%].
-- MI: MSU poll has Dem incumbent Stabenow up 49-42 on GOPer James [no MOE listed].
-- IN: YouGov poll has GOPer Braun up 46-43 on Dem incumbent Donnelly [MOE: +/- 3.7%].
-- NY-11: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Donovan up 44-40 on Dem Rose [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Trump 54-44 | Cook: Lean R]** Odds & ends:
-- IA-03: Siena poll has Dem Axne up 43-11 on GOP incumbent Young [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Trump 49-45 | Cook: Tossup]
-- CA-25: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Knight up 48-44 on Dem Hill [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Clinton 50-44 | Cook: Tossup]
-- NY-24: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Katko up 53-39 on Dem Balter [MOE: +/- 4.6%]. [Clinton 49-45 | Cook: Lean R]
-- NYT: Big Dem fundraising putting a lot of Lean/Likely R races in play. Most won't pay off, but some GOP incumbents likely to be caught napping.
-- FL gov: Siena poll has Dem Gillum up 48-43 on GOPer DeSantis [MOE: +/- 4.0%]. [Cook: Tossup] | Downballot: Amendment 4 (felon re-enfranchisement): YES 60-31. | Same YouGov poll has Gillum up 47-46.** Averages & forecasts:
-- MO downballot: Same Remington Research poll has: Auditor: Dem incumbent Galloway up 48-38 on GOPer McDowell. Amendment 1 (non-partisan leg districting) YES 64-23. Prop B (min wage to $12/hr): YES 58-32.
-- MI gov: Same MSU poll has Dem Whitmer up 47-39 on GOPer Schuette. [Cook: Lean D] Downballot: AG: GOPer Leonard up 40-37 on Dem Nessel. Prop 1 (rec pot): YES 58-37. Prop 2 (non-partisan redistricting): YES 42-32. Prop 3 (voting reforms): 68-19.
-- NM gov: GQRR poll has Dem Lujan Girsham up 53-44 on GOPer Pearce [MOE: +/- 4.0%]. Poll was commissioned by the Lujan Grisham campaign. [Cook: Lean D]
-- AZ gov: Same YouGov poll has GOP incumbent Ducey up 52-41 on Dem Garcia. [Cook: Likely R]
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.1 (50.2/42.1)posted by Chrysostom at 9:35 PM on October 28, 2018 [26 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 84.8% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 17.3% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 23.9 states.
Judicial Watch, a "think tank" for conservative lunacy, which spread the Soros caravan conspiracy, is largely funded by the Sarah Scaife Foundation, which is based in Pittsburgh.
Sarah Mellon Scaife was "just a gutter drunk," in the words of her daughter, Cordelia.
posted by PHINC at 9:50 PM on October 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
Sarah Mellon Scaife was "just a gutter drunk," in the words of her daughter, Cordelia.
posted by PHINC at 9:50 PM on October 28, 2018 [6 favorites]
Here's the Rob Rogers cartoon in The Pittsburgh Current, the new alt-weekly we should be supporting instead of the City Paper:
https://pittsburghcurrent.com/rob-rogers-broken-glass-october-28-2018/
posted by M-x shell at 10:25 PM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
https://pittsburghcurrent.com/rob-rogers-broken-glass-october-28-2018/
posted by M-x shell at 10:25 PM on October 28, 2018 [4 favorites]
Mod note: A few deleted. Before commenting, it's always a good idea to ask yourself, "will this discussion really be improved by introducing Trump's penis to it?" and if the answer is "yes," you know it's time to take a break from the thread.
posted by taz (staff) at 11:37 PM on October 28, 2018 [85 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 11:37 PM on October 28, 2018 [85 favorites]
Call targets of assassination plot from the opposing party? Nah
Call newly-elected far-right populist to congratulate him? But of course
posted by Rykey at 1:07 AM on October 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
Call newly-elected far-right populist to congratulate him? But of course
posted by Rykey at 1:07 AM on October 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
** Averages & forecasts:
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.1 (50.2/42.1)
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 84.8% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 17.3% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 23.9 states.
Ugh. Did these people learn nothing from 2016? This isn’t a horse race. The odds are meaningless and misleading. They should give us the actual poll numbers or fuck right off.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:57 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.1 (50.2/42.1)
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 84.8% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 17.3% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 23.9 states.
Ugh. Did these people learn nothing from 2016? This isn’t a horse race. The odds are meaningless and misleading. They should give us the actual poll numbers or fuck right off.
posted by Sys Rq at 1:57 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
That's... not even wrong? The polls are all there for your enjoyment.
We did learn something from 2016, that being that 538 knows what the hell they are talking about. They pretty much nailed it, up to and including Trump's exact path to victory.
posted by Justinian at 2:07 AM on October 29, 2018 [31 favorites]
We did learn something from 2016, that being that 538 knows what the hell they are talking about. They pretty much nailed it, up to and including Trump's exact path to victory.
posted by Justinian at 2:07 AM on October 29, 2018 [31 favorites]
That's what 538 does, it's their whole reason for existence.
posted by octothorpe at 4:33 AM on October 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by octothorpe at 4:33 AM on October 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
From Haaretz: Echoing Trump, Israeli Ambassador Dermer Blames 'Both Sides' for anti-Semitism
I don't... I used up all my evens so long ago, but this is so wrong I don't know how to handle it with my brain.
posted by mumimor at 5:01 AM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
I don't... I used up all my evens so long ago, but this is so wrong I don't know how to handle it with my brain.
posted by mumimor at 5:01 AM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
Seriously. Here is the House model, here is the Senate model. If you look at the page for each race, it has all the polls and all of the logic behind the calculations from there (including all of the non-polling data, like district PVI).
posted by Chrysostom at 5:17 AM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 5:17 AM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
And some tone-deaf trolling from Israel as well.
posted by Harry Caul at 5:18 AM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Harry Caul at 5:18 AM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump has started off the day by continuing his attacks on the media from over the weekend: "There is great anger in our Country caused in part by inaccurate, and even fraudulent, reporting of the news. The Fake News Media, the true Enemy of the People, must stop the open & obvious hostility & report the news accurately & fairly. That will do much to put out the flame..." "....of Anger and Outrage and we will then be able to bring all sides together in Peace and Harmony. Fake News Must End!"
To which the NYT's Maggie Haberman retorted with uncharacteristic asperity: "On Saturday night, you falsely said the NY stock exchange reopened the day after 9/11. Those of us who covered it, as well as your lawyer and your ambassador to Rome, remember it well." She's been hammering at this falsehood in previous tweets, too—Trump's obvious indifference to the immediate aftermath of 9/11 downtown is bringing back a lot of unpleasant memories for New Yorkers.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:24 AM on October 29, 2018 [36 favorites]
To which the NYT's Maggie Haberman retorted with uncharacteristic asperity: "On Saturday night, you falsely said the NY stock exchange reopened the day after 9/11. Those of us who covered it, as well as your lawyer and your ambassador to Rome, remember it well." She's been hammering at this falsehood in previous tweets, too—Trump's obvious indifference to the immediate aftermath of 9/11 downtown is bringing back a lot of unpleasant memories for New Yorkers.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:24 AM on October 29, 2018 [36 favorites]
Politico reviews Trump's schedule lately: 9 Hours of ‘Executive Time’: Trump’s Unstructured Days Define His Presidency
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:34 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
A review of a week’s worth of the president’s private detailed schedules, from Monday Oct. 22 through Friday Oct. 26, showed that the president enjoyed more free time on Tuesday than on any other day that week, but Tuesday’s agenda was hardly atypical. And while the notion of Executive Time, and the president’s increasingly late start to the day, has come under scrutiny over the last year, this new batch of schedules obtained by POLITICO offers fresh insight into the extent to which that unscheduled time dominates Trump’s week and is shaping his presidency, allowing his whims and momentary interests to drive White House business.[...]But that doesn't slow down his midterm campaigning, reports Axios: "President Trump is adding an 11th rally to his final six-day blitz leading into the Nov. 6 midterm elections. Trump will be ending his campaign swing, on election eve, in the pivotal Senate state of Missouri, according to a source with direct knowledge of Trump's plans."
“He might read something in the paper and immediately you’d get an impromptu meeting on trade,” said a person familiar with the president’s scheduling. “It’s just more impromptu than like a month in advance you have a policy time set that you’re going to work up to.”
Some White House aides insist that president is productive during these open stretches, calling lawmakers, Cabinet members and world leaders, and scheduling meetings rather than simply watching television in the private dining room off the Oval Office. One aide even described Trump as a “workaholic.”
But the president’s official commitments last week began no earlier than 11 a.m. according to the schedules obtained by POLITICO, and on Tuesday — in the midst of a potential serial bomber and two weeks ahead of the midterm elections — they didn't start until 1 p.m.
Trump’s work activity also reflects much more time spent on the performative aspects of the job, like signing ceremonies and media interviews, than on the grunt work of policymaking.
posted by Doktor Zed at 5:34 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 23.9 states.
Yes, we know Rhode Island is small, but it STILL COUNTS.
posted by delfin at 5:34 AM on October 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
Yes, we know Rhode Island is small, but it STILL COUNTS.
posted by delfin at 5:34 AM on October 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
Well, they do population counts, too: Dems 195M, GOP 134M.
posted by Chrysostom at 5:37 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 5:37 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
I’ve been reading profiles of the victims at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh. As a rule I try to read about the victims, not the murderers. It’s impossible, as always, to make any kind of sense, emotional or otherwise, why these people died. I mean, racist hate is racist hate, it rarely cares about individual human beings.
I’ve also been reading interviews with survivors, which is heartbreaking, as well as articles by people who live or have lived in Squirrel Hill. There’s so much shock, raw and unprocessed.
The place I lived was once the target of an anti-semitic terrorist act. I was roommates with an Israeli man who worked for the Brown University Hillel. One day he was followed home by two people who threw Molotov cocktails into the apartment. One hit the outside and caught fire, the other went in but the wick fell out mid-flight.
I was, randomly enough, at a MetaFilter meetup in Australia, on holiday with my family.
When I got back home it was impossible for me to sleep in the apartment, so I moved out. I had just one nightmare, which was about various people near and dear to me dying in violent ways, but the images stayed with me for months afterwards.
It took me a long time to reach equilibrium again, but reading about this attack I realize that there are still sore spots.
The shooting in Pittsburgh will leave long-term scars for people, and some will never fully recover. Terror is a weapon that wounds the soul.
posted by Kattullus at 5:44 AM on October 29, 2018 [60 favorites]
I’ve also been reading interviews with survivors, which is heartbreaking, as well as articles by people who live or have lived in Squirrel Hill. There’s so much shock, raw and unprocessed.
The place I lived was once the target of an anti-semitic terrorist act. I was roommates with an Israeli man who worked for the Brown University Hillel. One day he was followed home by two people who threw Molotov cocktails into the apartment. One hit the outside and caught fire, the other went in but the wick fell out mid-flight.
I was, randomly enough, at a MetaFilter meetup in Australia, on holiday with my family.
When I got back home it was impossible for me to sleep in the apartment, so I moved out. I had just one nightmare, which was about various people near and dear to me dying in violent ways, but the images stayed with me for months afterwards.
It took me a long time to reach equilibrium again, but reading about this attack I realize that there are still sore spots.
The shooting in Pittsburgh will leave long-term scars for people, and some will never fully recover. Terror is a weapon that wounds the soul.
posted by Kattullus at 5:44 AM on October 29, 2018 [60 favorites]
I work in the School of Medicine at UPenn and just got an email sent by the Dean to everyone here that memorializes Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, an alum of the school, who was murdered in the attack in Pittsburgh. I also try to read about the victims and not the murderers. Here's a short piece that tells you what kind of person Dr. Rabinowitz was.
posted by lazaruslong at 6:29 AM on October 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by lazaruslong at 6:29 AM on October 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
'Up to the families' whether Trump attends memorial for shooting victims, Pittsburgh mayor says - Eleanor Mueller, Politico
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:30 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:30 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
AP: Merkel To Step Down As Party Leader: ‘Time To Start A New Chapter’
posted by lazaruslong at 6:32 AM on October 29, 2018 [23 favorites]
German Chancellor Angela Merkel says that she sees “many more opportunities than risks” in her plan to hand over the leadership of her party at a December congress.emphasis mine, in case you too had a moment of panic thinking she was resigning from the Chancellor position.
Merkel said she ultimately bears the responsibility for her fourth-term government’s poor start and there need to be changes. She said Monday that it’s “time to start a new chapter.”
Merkel plans to remain chancellor for the rest of this parliamentary term, which ends in 2021, but said she won’t then run again and won’t seek any other political office.
She aims to give her conservative Christian Democratic Union party the opportunity for renewal while keeping the reins of government.
posted by lazaruslong at 6:32 AM on October 29, 2018 [23 favorites]
I just drove within a block of the site on my way to the office, I had to turn one block earlier than usual because the police still have things cordoned off. This is so close. We're having a little vigil in the lunchroom at 10; I'm sure that some of my co-workers know some of the families of the victims, Pittsburgh is very interconnected and there's obviously a tight connection between the medical community and the Jewish community.
The head of the other hospital system in the city, AGH, is a member of the Tree of Life congregation and actually went to the shooter's room in his hospital to look in his eyes to see if he could make any sense of things.
posted by octothorpe at 6:42 AM on October 29, 2018 [17 favorites]
The head of the other hospital system in the city, AGH, is a member of the Tree of Life congregation and actually went to the shooter's room in his hospital to look in his eyes to see if he could make any sense of things.
posted by octothorpe at 6:42 AM on October 29, 2018 [17 favorites]
Carter Implores Kemp To Resign As Sec. Of State, Maintain Integrity Of Election - Bill Barrow, AP (via TPM)
Former President Jimmy Carter is wading into the contentious Georgia governor’s race with a personal appeal to Republican candidate Brian Kemp: Resign as secretary of state to avoid damaging public confidence in the outcome of his hotly contested matchup with Democrat Stacey Abrams.posted by ZeusHumms at 6:44 AM on October 29, 2018 [44 favorites]
The 94-year-old Carter’s request, made in an Oct. 22 letter obtained by The Associated Press , is the latest turn in a campaign whose closing month is being defined by charges of attempted voter suppression and countercharges of attempted voter fraud.
Kemp has thus far dismissed Democratic demands that he step aside as Georgia’s chief elections officer. But Carter attempted to approach the matter less as a partisan who has endorsed Abrams and more as the former president who’s spent the decades since he left the Oval Office monitoring elections around the world.
“One of the key requirements for a fair and trusted process is that there be a nonbiased supervision of the electoral process,” Carter wrote, adding that stepping aside “would be a sign that you recognize the importance of this key democratic principle and want to ensure the confidence of our citizens in the outcome.”
It was not immediately clear whether Kemp has read the letter or responded. A spokeswoman in Kemp’s office, where the letter was addressed, referred questions to Kemp’s campaign, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Merkel To Step Down As Party Leader
The context here is that there were elections in the state of Hessen yesterday, and the two major parties -- which have been in a federal "grand coalition" for ~9 of the last ~13 years -- have each continued their slow decline. Or maybe not-so-slow in the case of the SPD.
Also, I believe the AfD now has a presence in each of the individual state parliaments for the first time.
posted by Slothrup at 6:47 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
The context here is that there were elections in the state of Hessen yesterday, and the two major parties -- which have been in a federal "grand coalition" for ~9 of the last ~13 years -- have each continued their slow decline. Or maybe not-so-slow in the case of the SPD.
Also, I believe the AfD now has a presence in each of the individual state parliaments for the first time.
posted by Slothrup at 6:47 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
U.S. Supreme Court turns away Pennsylvania electoral map dispute [Reuters]
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rebuffed a bid by Republican legislators in Pennsylvania to reinstate a congressional district map struck down by that state’s top court as unlawfully biased in favor of Republicans.posted by melissasaurus at 6:50 AM on October 29, 2018 [45 favorites]
The justices rejected the appeal of a January Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling invalidating the Republican-drawn map because it violated the state constitution’s requirement that elections be “free and equal” by marginalizing Democratic voters.
Axios's article Inside Trump's Last-Minute Road Trip gives some indications of the Trump White House's midterm election expectations:
The other factor at work is, of course, Trump's narcissism. The psychological charge he receives from the adulation of his hardcore fans salves the narcissistic injuries he receives at the Oval Office.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:55 AM on October 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
Trump is going to Trump country within Trump states. Only two competitive House seats lie within these locations.Axios's analysis of Trump's travel plans in only friendly regions overlooks how favorable the optics at his rallies there will be—and how coverage in the mainstream media and on the Internet will reflect that. Even though Trump isn't holding events in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin or Michigan as he did in the 2016 campaign, his election strategy for the midterms has adapted his rallies general effectiveness.
The locations and dates we cite here, the big picture details of which were first reported by Bloomberg, are based on internal White House planning and could change.
Oct. 31: Fort Myers, Florida
Nov. 1: Columbia, Missouri
Nov. 2: Huntington, West Virginia and an undisclosed location in Indiana
Nov. 3: Bozeman, Montana and an undisclosed location in Florida
Nov. 4: Macon, Georgia and Chattanooga, Tennessee
Nov. 5: Fort Wayne, Indiana and Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Another rally, on a date we haven't established: an undisclosed location in Ohio
The Cook Political Report's elections analyst Amy Walter told Axios the schedule, developed by White House Political Director Bill Stepien, is a "very strategically smart tour" and also appears to her to basically "concede the House. It's all about the Senate... really expanding the Senate." […]
Trump is "going to the places where he remains popular, more rural or exurban, and he's staying away from big cities that have suburbs where he's toxic," Walter said.
The other factor at work is, of course, Trump's narcissism. The psychological charge he receives from the adulation of his hardcore fans salves the narcissistic injuries he receives at the Oval Office.
posted by Doktor Zed at 6:55 AM on October 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
Beto O’Rourke’s Huge Facebook Bet - Alexis C. Madrigal, The Atlantic
Beto O’Rourke is placing a very big bet on Facebook—so big that he’s spent nearly as much as money on that type of digital ad as the next five biggest candidate spenders combined.posted by ZeusHumms at 7:01 AM on October 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
Through October 20, O’Rourke alone had spent $5.4 million advertising on the platform, according to Facebook’s Ad Archive Report. J.B. Pritzker, Kamala Harris, Andrew Cuomo, Claire McCaskill, and Heidi Heitkamp had spent $5.5 million total. O’Rourke’s opponent, Senator Ted Cruz, had spent only $427,000 on Facebook, about a thirteenth as much as O’Rourke.
Much of O’Rourke’s Facebook-ad buy seems to be going toward short videos of the candidate talking to crowds or direct to the camera.
“My personal point of view is that this is really smart—especially in a state like Texas where TV is very expensive and there are many markets that may be out of reach for [O’Rourke],” said Dan Wagner, the chief analytics officer for the Obama 2012 campaign.
From Haaretz: Echoing Trump, Israeli Ambassador Dermer Blames 'Both Sides' for anti-Semitism
I don't... I used up all my evens so long ago, but this is so wrong I don't know how to handle it with my brain.
Dermer is a hard-line conservative nationalist who helped Netanyahu recruit a man he knew to be a sexual predator (who counted Julia Salazer and WSJ writer Shayndi Raice among his targets) to his advisory team. And when, predictably, that man continued to sexually assault women after behing hired, instead of being punished, was being pushed by Dermer to become Israeli Ambassador to the UN. More worryingly, it seems that supposedly non-partisan Jewish organizations are parroting this bullshit both-sidesism. For instance, the leader of the Anti-Defamation League wrote an opinion piece for the NYT (rightfully) going through a litany of anti-Semitism from the President, his administration, the House Majority Leader, several current GOP members of Congress who haven't faced so much as harsh words from the party or its leadership, many right-wing candidates, and ads from SuperPACs run by the Speaker of the House. He even links to an ADL report showing the vast majority of anti-Semitism--and essentially all violent acts--are perpetrated by conservatives. The one progressive he could name is a city council member of in the 22nd most-populous city in the country. And yet, the lesson to be learned is apparently this:
And some tone-deaf trolling from Israel as well.
Jewish Americans on the left such as myself have already come to the conclusion that the Israeli government and a disturbingly large number of Jewish Israelis just don't care about us anymore, and would be happy to never hear from us again. They increasingly and ever more enthusiastically stand by fascists and anti-Semites, and as I mentioned above, have no compunctions about using anti-Semitic language themselves. Their rhetoric about immigrants and leftists keeps on getting more and more vitriolic, matching or even occasionally surpassing that of Trump and their fascist buddies. And nor are the sentiments like that of Israel's Chief Rabbi--that secular and Reform and even more moderate Conservative Jews are not actually Jewish--all that unusual amongst right-wing Jews both in the US and Israel. It's a line of attack that I have personally been a target of, and it's only getting worse.
posted by zombieflanders at 7:14 AM on October 29, 2018 [68 favorites]
I don't... I used up all my evens so long ago, but this is so wrong I don't know how to handle it with my brain.
Dermer is a hard-line conservative nationalist who helped Netanyahu recruit a man he knew to be a sexual predator (who counted Julia Salazer and WSJ writer Shayndi Raice among his targets) to his advisory team. And when, predictably, that man continued to sexually assault women after behing hired, instead of being punished, was being pushed by Dermer to become Israeli Ambassador to the UN. More worryingly, it seems that supposedly non-partisan Jewish organizations are parroting this bullshit both-sidesism. For instance, the leader of the Anti-Defamation League wrote an opinion piece for the NYT (rightfully) going through a litany of anti-Semitism from the President, his administration, the House Majority Leader, several current GOP members of Congress who haven't faced so much as harsh words from the party or its leadership, many right-wing candidates, and ads from SuperPACs run by the Speaker of the House. He even links to an ADL report showing the vast majority of anti-Semitism--and essentially all violent acts--are perpetrated by conservatives. The one progressive he could name is a city council member of in the 22nd most-populous city in the country. And yet, the lesson to be learned is apparently this:
If your candidate is attacking George Soros or the “globalists,” or a member of Congress from your party is embracing Holocaust deniers, you must stand up and tell them to stop.Never once did he mention that Jews on the right, including many prominent journalists, have been standing behind these attacks or even actively engaging in them. Never once does he mention that among those on the Jewish right repeatedly invoking Soros and other anti-Semitic tropes to attack the left are the Prime Minister to Israel and most of his party's leadership. Never once does he mention that Jewish Americans are being detained in Israel for not hewing to a new theological, nationalist form of Judiasm. Never once does he mention that criminalizing the BDS movement (which regardless of how one thinks about, is supported by many Jews) is a bipartisan effort from the US Congress all the way down to individual cities. Nor does he mention the fact that, at many of the vigils held this weekend that the ADL attended (like this one in DC) that our Muslim brothers and sisters, including Palestinians, stood by our side and mourned with us. Instead, it's boiled down into some "well, both sides are baddies" handwaving that, somewhat ironically, seems designed for being shared on Twitter.
If your allies in a range of social justice causes either explain away the anti-Semitism of the Nation of Islam by citing the good work they may do or justify demonizing the Jewish state of Israel and its existence, then they need to know that they can no longer be your ally.
And some tone-deaf trolling from Israel as well.
Jewish Americans on the left such as myself have already come to the conclusion that the Israeli government and a disturbingly large number of Jewish Israelis just don't care about us anymore, and would be happy to never hear from us again. They increasingly and ever more enthusiastically stand by fascists and anti-Semites, and as I mentioned above, have no compunctions about using anti-Semitic language themselves. Their rhetoric about immigrants and leftists keeps on getting more and more vitriolic, matching or even occasionally surpassing that of Trump and their fascist buddies. And nor are the sentiments like that of Israel's Chief Rabbi--that secular and Reform and even more moderate Conservative Jews are not actually Jewish--all that unusual amongst right-wing Jews both in the US and Israel. It's a line of attack that I have personally been a target of, and it's only getting worse.
posted by zombieflanders at 7:14 AM on October 29, 2018 [68 favorites]
From The New Republic article linked above:
Another pertinent factor is envy, a basic human emotion that rising social inequality can only exacerbate. To put it in cruder terms: “The world sucks for me, so I am going to make it suck for you too. I have lost my job, my status as a white male, and may even lose my gun. So you, my smug, privileged friend, are going to lose your civil liberties, your faith in social progress, your endangered species, your affirmative action, your reproductive freedom, your international alliances, your ‘wonderful’ exchange student from Syria.” The rationale is probably not too distant from that of the jealous husband who shoots his wife, her lover, and himself.
Yep. That's why no appeal to reason, ethics, or emotion will ever work on his base. And there are a surprising number of ordinary, middle-class Americans who are psychically broken in this way. Most of them don't even have to lose anything but perceived status to get to this state, either.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 7:20 AM on October 29, 2018 [60 favorites]
Another pertinent factor is envy, a basic human emotion that rising social inequality can only exacerbate. To put it in cruder terms: “The world sucks for me, so I am going to make it suck for you too. I have lost my job, my status as a white male, and may even lose my gun. So you, my smug, privileged friend, are going to lose your civil liberties, your faith in social progress, your endangered species, your affirmative action, your reproductive freedom, your international alliances, your ‘wonderful’ exchange student from Syria.” The rationale is probably not too distant from that of the jealous husband who shoots his wife, her lover, and himself.
Yep. That's why no appeal to reason, ethics, or emotion will ever work on his base. And there are a surprising number of ordinary, middle-class Americans who are psychically broken in this way. Most of them don't even have to lose anything but perceived status to get to this state, either.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 7:20 AM on October 29, 2018 [60 favorites]
john cornyn making a hard bid to steal the title of Most Loathsome Texas Senator from cockroach arcology Ted Cruz:
Cornyn Tweets Pelosi Comment Without Context After Shooting, Prompting Anger
Cornyn Tweets Pelosi Comment Without Context After Shooting, Prompting Anger
Political reporters and observers are up in arms after Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX) tweeted portions of a quote from House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) that lacked context and misleadingly seemed to be an inflammatory comment on the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting.posted by murphy slaw at 7:42 AM on October 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
@JohnCornyn
Pelosi: If There Is ‘Collateral Damage’ for Those Who Don’t Share Our View, ‘So Be It’ via @freebeacon
Pelosi made the comments last week about progressive economic policies.
“We owe the American people to be there for them, for their financial security, respecting the dignity and worth of every person in our country, and if there is some collateral damage for some others who do not share our view, well, so be it, but it shouldn’t be our original purpose,” she said in full, according to the Free Beacon.
Have to ask: Have there been any credible reports of Russian interference in the Brazil elections?
I haven't heard any, and I honestly believe they wouldn't have had to do anything. It's hard to overestimate the sheer amount of anger at the previous government's corruption. Like, imagine that everything that the Republicans said about Hillary Clinton and the democrats was true, Bill Clinton was running from jail and winning until they changed the law saying he couldn't run anymore, and Chicago was as dangerous as Trump makes it out to be.
Watching Brazil's election has been a slow-moving car crash, but I still can't help being anxious and heartbroken watching the results.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:52 AM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
I haven't heard any, and I honestly believe they wouldn't have had to do anything. It's hard to overestimate the sheer amount of anger at the previous government's corruption. Like, imagine that everything that the Republicans said about Hillary Clinton and the democrats was true, Bill Clinton was running from jail and winning until they changed the law saying he couldn't run anymore, and Chicago was as dangerous as Trump makes it out to be.
Watching Brazil's election has been a slow-moving car crash, but I still can't help being anxious and heartbroken watching the results.
posted by dinty_moore at 7:52 AM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Leader of Islamic Center of Pittsburgh announces Muslim community has raised more than $70,000 for synagogue attack victims and their families.
"We just want to know what you need ... If it's people outside your next service protecting you, let us know. We'll be there."
posted by bluesky43 at 7:54 AM on October 29, 2018 [65 favorites]
"We just want to know what you need ... If it's people outside your next service protecting you, let us know. We'll be there."
posted by bluesky43 at 7:54 AM on October 29, 2018 [65 favorites]
The justices rejected the appeal of a January Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruling invalidating the Republican-drawn map because it violated the state constitution’s requirement that elections be “free and equal” by marginalizing Democratic voters.
Note that this gerrymandering case was unusual because the Supreme Court upheld the state court ruling only because the requirement for "free and equal" elections was specifically written into the state constitution. The right-wing majority of the Supreme Court has said that there is nothing in the U.S. Constitution requiring "free and equal" elections pertaining to other states without those provisions, including Texas and Wisconsin. The right-wing majority fully approves of partisan gerrymandering, there is nothing in the Constitution preventing it -- at least as long as it favors Republicans. This is what comes from Trump's appointment of Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.
posted by JackFlash at 7:56 AM on October 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
Note that this gerrymandering case was unusual because the Supreme Court upheld the state court ruling only because the requirement for "free and equal" elections was specifically written into the state constitution. The right-wing majority of the Supreme Court has said that there is nothing in the U.S. Constitution requiring "free and equal" elections pertaining to other states without those provisions, including Texas and Wisconsin. The right-wing majority fully approves of partisan gerrymandering, there is nothing in the Constitution preventing it -- at least as long as it favors Republicans. This is what comes from Trump's appointment of Gorsuch and Kavanaugh.
posted by JackFlash at 7:56 AM on October 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
Trump, a couple minutes ago:
posted by zombieflanders at 7:58 AM on October 29, 2018 [48 favorites]
Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border. Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process. This is an invasion of our Country and our Military is waiting for you!Daniel Dale: This “invasion” language was also used by the white supremacist charged in the Pittsburgh massacre.
posted by zombieflanders at 7:58 AM on October 29, 2018 [48 favorites]
kirkaracha: Wednesday: Conservative white male Trump supporter shoots and kills two African-Americans in Jeffersontown, Kentucky
Friday: Conservative white male Trump supporter is arrested by the FBI for sending at least 13 mail bombs to people Trump demonizes
Saturday: Conservative white male shoots and kills at least 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh
Is it OK if we call them "deplorable" now?
Trumpeteers gleefully claimed the title early on, and at pretty high levels: The DeploraBall was an unofficial inaugural ball event organized by GOTV group MAGA3X and held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on the evening of January 19, 2017, to celebrate the victory and inauguration of Donald Trump. (Wikipedia) And this wasn't the only DeploraBall held after Trump's inauguration.
ZeusHumms: Beto O'Rourke Grabbed a Political Third Rail—And Electrified His Campaign - Jemele Hill, The Atlantic
The energy of his campaign is not so much about O’Rourke himself, ... as about what he has tapped into—a deep desire among many voters for a politician willing to stand up for their beliefs, instead of apologizing for them.
Isn't that what Trump does, except for terrible beliefs instead of positive, life-affirming beliefs? I really, really hope that it plays out well, not just for Beto and for Texas, but as an example for other Democrats.
Meanwhile, GM wants alternative to fuel economy standards from Obama, rollback from Trump -- Initially, 7 percent of vehicle sales would have to qualify as "zero emissions." (Megan Geuss for Ars Technica, Oct. 28, 2018)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:58 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Friday: Conservative white male Trump supporter is arrested by the FBI for sending at least 13 mail bombs to people Trump demonizes
Saturday: Conservative white male shoots and kills at least 11 people at a synagogue in Pittsburgh
Is it OK if we call them "deplorable" now?
Trumpeteers gleefully claimed the title early on, and at pretty high levels: The DeploraBall was an unofficial inaugural ball event organized by GOTV group MAGA3X and held at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. on the evening of January 19, 2017, to celebrate the victory and inauguration of Donald Trump. (Wikipedia) And this wasn't the only DeploraBall held after Trump's inauguration.
ZeusHumms: Beto O'Rourke Grabbed a Political Third Rail—And Electrified His Campaign - Jemele Hill, The Atlantic
The energy of his campaign is not so much about O’Rourke himself, ... as about what he has tapped into—a deep desire among many voters for a politician willing to stand up for their beliefs, instead of apologizing for them.
Isn't that what Trump does, except for terrible beliefs instead of positive, life-affirming beliefs? I really, really hope that it plays out well, not just for Beto and for Texas, but as an example for other Democrats.
Meanwhile, GM wants alternative to fuel economy standards from Obama, rollback from Trump -- Initially, 7 percent of vehicle sales would have to qualify as "zero emissions." (Megan Geuss for Ars Technica, Oct. 28, 2018)
On Friday, General Motors wrote to the Trump administration in support of a national zero-emissions vehicle (ZEV) program, which would require seven percent of automakers' sales to be zero-emissions by 2021. That percentage would increase by two percent per year until reaching 25 percent in 2030.Definitely less ambitious than EPA's requirements under Obama for the "Historic 54.5 MPG Fuel Efficiency Standards" (from the Obama White House archives, which notes this standard would have "Consumer Savings Comparable to Lowering Price of Gasoline by $1 Per Gallon by 2025"), but a step in the right direction.
The proposal came in the form of a comment to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has put forth its own set of rules to rollback auto efficiency standards signed into law by the Obama administration.
GM is a member of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, which has been a proponent of Trump's changes to the fuel efficiency standards designed by Obama's EPA.
GM's ZEV proposal suggests a credits-based system, where automakers would receive credits for every zero-emissions vehicle they sell (with partial credit for plug-in hybrid electric cars that can run with zero emissions part of the time, according to CNN). Automakers who fail to sell enough ZEVs could buy credits from other automakers (presumably, like GM) who were able to exceed their ZEV requirements.
There would be flexibility in the system for automakers to abandon the plan, as well. If electric vehicle (EV) battery costs are determined to not be on a path to $70 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), or if there's not "adequate EV infrastructure development," the percent of EV sales that an automaker would have to meet would be relaxed. (Bloomberg New Energy Finance reported that some of the lowest-cost battery packs sold in 2017 went for about $120/kWh, and Tesla has said it's within striking distance of $100/kWh, though that has not been confirmed.)
posted by filthy light thief at 7:58 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Many Gang Members and some very bad people are mixed into the Caravan heading to our Southern Border. Please go back, you will not be admitted into the United States unless you go through the legal process.
This is youroccasional regular reminder that applying for asylum is a legal process and does not require legal entry into the US (while, make no mistake, the Trump Administration would do everything possible to deny).
posted by Gelatin at 8:03 AM on October 29, 2018 [54 favorites]
This is your
posted by Gelatin at 8:03 AM on October 29, 2018 [54 favorites]
Trump campaign manager explains new unprecedented ad, defends President's rhetoric (Dana Bash for CNN, October 29, 2018)
* Earlier this month, I saw some frothing GOP add attacking the "tax and spend Democrats" and I wanted to shout, but I did not. Now I just daydream of political ads being required to cite their claims.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:09 AM on October 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
Donald Trump busts through so many norms of politics that it shouldn't be surprising he is at it again this final full week of campaigning before the midterms -- launching a 2018 ad for Republicans, paid for and produced by his own 2020 campaign.No, we haven't forgotten. We came from two terms under Obama. U.S. Budget Deficit Swells to $898 Billion, Topping Forecast (Federal spending rose by 7%, outpacing revenue gains of 1%* ... exceeding the Congressional Budget Office’s forecast for the first full fiscal year under the Trump presidency -- Andrew Mayeda for Bloomberg, September 13, 2018). But let's read on!
Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale tells CNN it is a $6 million ad buy on television and digital. The 60-second spot is focused on the booming economy, with flashbacks to the economic crisis that started 10 years ago, warning that it "could all go away if we don't remember where we came from."
Trump 2020 has already raised over $100 million, which is causing some sore feelings among Republicans who are on the ballot now, and accuse team Trump of gobbling up campaigning money they could be raising for 2018.Huh, backing the Grifter hasn't netted all the benefits you wanted? He's taking money that could go to your campaigns? What a surprise!
* Earlier this month, I saw some frothing GOP add attacking the "tax and spend Democrats" and I wanted to shout, but I did not. Now I just daydream of political ads being required to cite their claims.
posted by filthy light thief at 8:09 AM on October 29, 2018 [20 favorites]
To which the NYT's Maggie Haberman retorted with uncharacteristic asperity: "On Saturday night, you falsely said the NY stock exchange reopened the day after 9/11." She's been hammering at this falsehood in previous tweets, too.
Out of all the lies Trump spouts every single day, Maggie and her colleagues obsess about an event that happened 17 years ago.
What about focusing on the lies that affect peoples lives today and that affect their vote today? For example:
Trump is lying when he says that Republicans are protecting heathcare pre-existing conditions.
Trump is lying when he says Californians are rioting over sanctuary cities.
Trump is lying when he says that crime is increasing. It's been decreasing steadily for more than 20 years.
Trump is lying when he says Republicans are lowering taxes for the middle class by 10% before the election.
Trump is lying when he says he had a $110 billion deal with Saudi Arabia, or any deal at all, period.
Trump is lying when he says this will create 20,000 or 40,000 or 500,000 or 1 million new jobs.
Trump is lying when he says there is evidence of Middle East terrorists in the Mexico caravan.
Trump is lying when he says he says that US Steel opened eight new plants providing jobs. Not a single one.
Trump is lying when he says that China is paying the U.S. billions in tariffs. Not one dime. Americans pay tariffs.
These are real things that affect real people today. Instead Maggie and her colleagues obsess on trivialities about a date 17 years ago.
posted by JackFlash at 8:26 AM on October 29, 2018 [92 favorites]
Out of all the lies Trump spouts every single day, Maggie and her colleagues obsess about an event that happened 17 years ago.
What about focusing on the lies that affect peoples lives today and that affect their vote today? For example:
Trump is lying when he says that Republicans are protecting heathcare pre-existing conditions.
Trump is lying when he says Californians are rioting over sanctuary cities.
Trump is lying when he says that crime is increasing. It's been decreasing steadily for more than 20 years.
Trump is lying when he says Republicans are lowering taxes for the middle class by 10% before the election.
Trump is lying when he says he had a $110 billion deal with Saudi Arabia, or any deal at all, period.
Trump is lying when he says this will create 20,000 or 40,000 or 500,000 or 1 million new jobs.
Trump is lying when he says there is evidence of Middle East terrorists in the Mexico caravan.
Trump is lying when he says he says that US Steel opened eight new plants providing jobs. Not a single one.
Trump is lying when he says that China is paying the U.S. billions in tariffs. Not one dime. Americans pay tariffs.
These are real things that affect real people today. Instead Maggie and her colleagues obsess on trivialities about a date 17 years ago.
posted by JackFlash at 8:26 AM on October 29, 2018 [92 favorites]
JackFlash: "Note that this gerrymandering case was unusual because the Supreme Court upheld the state court ruling only because the requirement for "free and equal" elections was specifically written into the state constitution. The right-wing majority of the Supreme Court has said that there is nothing in the U.S. Constitution requiring "free and equal" elections pertaining to other states without those provisions, including Texas and Wisconsin. The right-wing majority fully approves of partisan gerrymandering, there is nothing in the Constitution preventing it -- at least as long as it favors Republicans. This is what comes from Trump's appointment of Gorsuch and Kavanaugh."
However, I believe every state constitution except Arizona has similar language. We could absolutely see similar suits brought in other states on similar state constitutional grounds.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:32 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
However, I believe every state constitution except Arizona has similar language. We could absolutely see similar suits brought in other states on similar state constitutional grounds.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:32 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
AP leak: Mattis Expected to Send Hundreds of Troops to Border
WSJ has updated Pentagon leaks: Military to Deploy 5,000 Troops to Southern Border (@WSJ link)
WSJ has updated Pentagon leaks: Military to Deploy 5,000 Troops to Southern Border (@WSJ link)
The U.S. military plans to deploy 5,000 troops to the southwest U.S. border in anticipation of a caravan of would-be asylum seekers and migrants currently moving northward in Mexico, U.S. officials said Monday.posted by Doktor Zed at 8:32 AM on October 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
The new figure is a major increase from initial estimates of 800 troops and would represent a military force equal to about one-third the number of customs officials currently working at the border. The military sent about 2,000 National Guard troops to the area earlier this year.[...]
Under the latest plans, about 1,800 troops will go to Texas, 1,700 to Arizona and 1,500 to California. The troops will be drawn from about 10 U.S. Army installations and consist largely of military police and engineers, one of the U.S. officials said. U.S. Marines also will be deployed, the U.S. official said.[...]
A Pentagon spokesman called any figures about troop deployments “premature.”
As was pointed out after Charlottesville, if Trump had issued a full condemnation of racist murder and shut up for one single solitary day -- just one stupid Saturday that he put down Twitter -- then huge swaths of the media would have fallen all over themselves all weekend hailing how he's grown and showing true leadership. That would be the narrative right now. But he can't even do that. And it's not because he knows his truest audience -- which he does -- but because he simply cannot bring himself to condemn racist murder, no matter what the reward might be.
posted by Etrigan at 8:35 AM on October 29, 2018 [35 favorites]
posted by Etrigan at 8:35 AM on October 29, 2018 [35 favorites]
Henry Farrel (@henry farrel), twitter
Centrists Are the Most Hostile to Democracy, Not Extremists. Centrists need to take responsibility for the monsters they helped create. Case in point: The Guardian on Hungary.
The Three Kinds Of Assholes You Meet In Centrist Hell. The Case for Centrist ‘Triangulation’ in the Trump Era Is Hilariously Weak.
"It's like I'm seeing double!"
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:36 AM on October 29, 2018 [57 favorites]
1. 1. Attention conservation notice: a thread, composed of halfbaked mixture of blindingly obvious and frankly speculative. Starting from the proposal that Trump's failure to even try to "unite" the country after the bombs doesn't only stem from his character but his business model.Paul Campos, The Center Cannot Hold, Lawyers, Guns and Money
...
14. It also reflects the real state of a country that is so profoundly divided that Humpty Dumpty ain't never going to be reassembled properly. While deploring the ways in which Trump uses this state of affairs, Democrats should be under no illusions it can be fixed. Finis.
I’m going to turn this Henry Farrell tweet storm into regular old paragraphs, because I think he makes some very important points:That's ... that's it. I just quoted the whole thing.
...
The dynamic Farrell identifies is related to reactionary centrism [ed. see more]. What the reactionary centrist refuses to recognize is that centrism as a political position can only flourish by marginalizing the political fringes. In America today, the ideological fringe is represented by, on the one hand, leftist critics of the Democratic party, and on the other, supporters of authoritarian ethno-nationalism.
The former group has no political power. The latter group now controls the Republican party, which controls the national government. The GOP has been slouching toward authoritarian ethno-nationalism for more than a half century, and now it is finally all the way there.
People who long for the return of some sort of consensus centrist politics should be working toward the destruction of the Republican party. The idea of political compromise with authoritarian ethno-nationalism is not only immoral: from a pragmatic perspective it is deeply absurd.
Centrists Are the Most Hostile to Democracy, Not Extremists. Centrists need to take responsibility for the monsters they helped create. Case in point: The Guardian on Hungary.
The Three Kinds Of Assholes You Meet In Centrist Hell. The Case for Centrist ‘Triangulation’ in the Trump Era Is Hilariously Weak.
"It's like I'm seeing double!"
posted by the man of twists and turns at 8:36 AM on October 29, 2018 [57 favorites]
This is your occasional regular reminder that applying for asylum is a legal process and does not require legal entry into the US (while, make no mistake, the Trump Administration would do everything possible to deny).
Additionally, 8 U.S. Code § 1158
posted by mikelieman at 8:39 AM on October 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
Additionally, 8 U.S. Code § 1158
(1) In general(emphasis mine. )
Any alien who is physically present in the United States or who arrives in the United States (whether or not at a designated port of arrival and including an alien who is brought to the United States after having been interdicted in international or United States waters), irrespective of such alien’s status, may apply for asylum in accordance with this section or, where applicable, section 1225(b) of this title.
posted by mikelieman at 8:39 AM on October 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
Will Ferrell Seen Knocking On Doors In Georgia While Campaigning For Stacey Abrams - Hayley Miller, HuffPo
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:40 AM on October 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 8:40 AM on October 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
However, I believe every state constitution except Arizona has similar language. We could absolutely see similar suits brought in other states on similar state constitutional grounds.
Just a few months ago in June, a right-wing Supreme Court majority ruled in favor of Republican gerrymandering in Texas, North Carolina and Wisconsin. And since then Republicans have added right-wing Kavanaugh to replace Kennedy. I don't see any relief from the Supreme Court in the future regarding gerrymandering.
The only relief will come if Democrats can retake state legislatures in 2020 for the next redistricting cycle.
posted by JackFlash at 8:41 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Just a few months ago in June, a right-wing Supreme Court majority ruled in favor of Republican gerrymandering in Texas, North Carolina and Wisconsin. And since then Republicans have added right-wing Kavanaugh to replace Kennedy. I don't see any relief from the Supreme Court in the future regarding gerrymandering.
The only relief will come if Democrats can retake state legislatures in 2020 for the next redistricting cycle.
posted by JackFlash at 8:41 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
The Guardian: Czechoslovakia ramped up spying on Trump in late 1980s, seeking US intel
Something of a “Dog Bites Man” story here - rich and powerful American with connections to communist state is spied on via those connections - but there are some intriguing suggestions about KGB spying too, some mentions of Trump’s presidential ambitions in the 80s, and this unforgettable detail:
Something of a “Dog Bites Man” story here - rich and powerful American with connections to communist state is spied on via those connections - but there are some intriguing suggestions about KGB spying too, some mentions of Trump’s presidential ambitions in the 80s, and this unforgettable detail:
However, secret memos written by the KGB chief, Vladimir Kryuchkov, in the mid-1980s reveal that he berated his officers for their failure to cultivate top-level Americans. Kryuchkov circulated a confidential personality questionnaire to KGB heads of station abroad, setting out the qualities wanted from a potential asset.posted by chappell, ambrose at 8:46 AM on October 29, 2018 [30 favorites]
According to instructions leaked to British intelligence by the KGB defector Oleg Gordievsky, they included corruption, vanity, narcissism, marital infidelity and poor analytical skills. The KGB should focus on personalities who were upwardly mobile in business and politics, especially Americans, the document said.
No, you're misunderstanding. The Pennsylvania case was based on the *state* constitution, not the federal Constitution. The SC several times told the PA GOP that it had no role in this case, because it was based on a state protection. This could absolutely be replicated in other states.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:46 AM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 8:46 AM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
While deploring the ways in which Trump uses this state of affairs, Democrats should be under no illusions it can be fixed. Finis.
Oh, I don't know about that. I'm old enough to remember when Barack Obama was president.
posted by bluesky43 at 8:47 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Oh, I don't know about that. I'm old enough to remember when Barack Obama was president.
posted by bluesky43 at 8:47 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Gosh, I wonder why this supposed move of troops to the border is being leaked to the WSJ before the midterms. It is a mystery.
he simply cannot bring himself to condemn racist murder, no matter what the reward might be
I think he thinks condemning racist murder might suppress turnout in his base, and any deviation from CNN Soros Caravan will throw the Republican midterm campaigns off-message. Witness his tweet about how the mail bombs were distracting from his message.
posted by BungaDunga at 8:49 AM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
he simply cannot bring himself to condemn racist murder, no matter what the reward might be
I think he thinks condemning racist murder might suppress turnout in his base, and any deviation from CNN Soros Caravan will throw the Republican midterm campaigns off-message. Witness his tweet about how the mail bombs were distracting from his message.
posted by BungaDunga at 8:49 AM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
he simply cannot bring himself to condemn racist murder, no matter what the reward might be
I think he thinks condemning racist murder might suppress turnout in his base,
They're used to hearing the dogwhistles, and he could wipe away any doubt in their minds by tweeting out "THE SOROS CARAVAN IS COMING!!!" three days later. His inability to do anything more than read half of a message of fundamental human decency before ad-libbing about how "they" made him play nice isn't because of political considerations; it's because that is who he is. He was penalized for racist business practices in the 1970s. You had to work at it to be too racist in the 1970s.
posted by Etrigan at 8:55 AM on October 29, 2018 [43 favorites]
I think he thinks condemning racist murder might suppress turnout in his base,
They're used to hearing the dogwhistles, and he could wipe away any doubt in their minds by tweeting out "THE SOROS CARAVAN IS COMING!!!" three days later. His inability to do anything more than read half of a message of fundamental human decency before ad-libbing about how "they" made him play nice isn't because of political considerations; it's because that is who he is. He was penalized for racist business practices in the 1970s. You had to work at it to be too racist in the 1970s.
posted by Etrigan at 8:55 AM on October 29, 2018 [43 favorites]
Out of all the lies Trump spouts every single day, Maggie and her colleagues obsess about an event that happened 17 years ago.
9/11 may seem like a dated, parochial concern to some, but Trump's reopening wounds by lying about the immediate aftermath downtown. Those events traumatized the city, and Haberman herself covered the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack for two years for the New York Post. Haberman's also been affected by the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre and the Sayoc bombs. We'll see what her breaking point is.
In the meantime, she's not going to give up her insider access to Trumpland yet. Her article NYT yesterday, For Trump, Dutiful Words of Grief, Then Off to the Next Fight, clearly relied heavily on Javanka background sourcing, given how flatteringly it paints them: "It took the importuning of his Jewish daughter and son-in-law to craft a powerful statement of outrage at anti-Semitism after Saturday’s slaughter at a Pittsburgh synagogue. [...] Urged on by his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, the president made plans to travel to Pittsburgh this week."
Her seven-figure book deal with Random House about Trump doesn't even have a title or publication date, so we'll see how long she feels she has to remain on his good side.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:01 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
9/11 may seem like a dated, parochial concern to some, but Trump's reopening wounds by lying about the immediate aftermath downtown. Those events traumatized the city, and Haberman herself covered the aftermath of the World Trade Center attack for two years for the New York Post. Haberman's also been affected by the Pittsburgh synagogue massacre and the Sayoc bombs. We'll see what her breaking point is.
In the meantime, she's not going to give up her insider access to Trumpland yet. Her article NYT yesterday, For Trump, Dutiful Words of Grief, Then Off to the Next Fight, clearly relied heavily on Javanka background sourcing, given how flatteringly it paints them: "It took the importuning of his Jewish daughter and son-in-law to craft a powerful statement of outrage at anti-Semitism after Saturday’s slaughter at a Pittsburgh synagogue. [...] Urged on by his daughter Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner, the president made plans to travel to Pittsburgh this week."
Her seven-figure book deal with Random House about Trump doesn't even have a title or publication date, so we'll see how long she feels she has to remain on his good side.
posted by Doktor Zed at 9:01 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Fox News Now Just Airing Continuous Blood-Red Screen With Disembodied Voice Chanting ‘They’re Coming To Kill You’ (The Onion)
posted by neroli at 9:13 AM on October 29, 2018 [43 favorites]
posted by neroli at 9:13 AM on October 29, 2018 [43 favorites]
He was penalized for racist business practices in the 1970s. You had to work at it to be too racist in the 1970s.
By the Nixon DOJ. Nixon, of the racist Southern Strategy.
posted by chris24 at 9:19 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
By the Nixon DOJ. Nixon, of the racist Southern Strategy.
posted by chris24 at 9:19 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Leader of Islamic Center of Pittsburgh announces Muslim community has raised more than $70,000 for synagogue attack victims and their families.
"We just want to know what you need ... If it's people outside your next service protecting you, let us know. We'll be there."
A bit on the nose, given Fred Rogers used to live right around the corner, but his mother's reminder is timely, "Always look for the helpers. There’s always someone who is trying to help."
Would that it could be timely a bit less often.
posted by bcd at 9:20 AM on October 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
"We just want to know what you need ... If it's people outside your next service protecting you, let us know. We'll be there."
A bit on the nose, given Fred Rogers used to live right around the corner, but his mother's reminder is timely, "Always look for the helpers. There’s always someone who is trying to help."
Would that it could be timely a bit less often.
posted by bcd at 9:20 AM on October 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
9/11 may seem like a dated, parochial concern to some, but Trump's reopening wounds by lying about the immediate aftermath downtown.
There are also a great many of us who were eyewitnesses to these events who can disprove his claims. I personally just responded to Trump on Twitter to say that I worked in the financial industry in 2001, and definitely remember not returning to work until the following Monday after the attack. I'm far from the only person who can say "yeah, I remember that too."
Politicians like to exploit 9/11 to serve their own ends, but this time Trump is doing so in direct opposition to the thousands of us who were directly affected; maybe we couldn't speak back loud enough about things like "actually plenty of us are okay with a Muslim-community center near Ground Zero" or "actually the first responders would like more support with their health care, thanks", but it's much easier to dispute "actually I definitely remember the NYSE not opening up for 5 days because that was 5 days unpaid leave for me and I had to also keep hiding in the bathroom so my kids wouldn't see my panic attacks because I had been in the Towers you utter dickbat". I just hope more of us from NYC do precisely that.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:20 AM on October 29, 2018 [38 favorites]
There are also a great many of us who were eyewitnesses to these events who can disprove his claims. I personally just responded to Trump on Twitter to say that I worked in the financial industry in 2001, and definitely remember not returning to work until the following Monday after the attack. I'm far from the only person who can say "yeah, I remember that too."
Politicians like to exploit 9/11 to serve their own ends, but this time Trump is doing so in direct opposition to the thousands of us who were directly affected; maybe we couldn't speak back loud enough about things like "actually plenty of us are okay with a Muslim-community center near Ground Zero" or "actually the first responders would like more support with their health care, thanks", but it's much easier to dispute "actually I definitely remember the NYSE not opening up for 5 days because that was 5 days unpaid leave for me and I had to also keep hiding in the bathroom so my kids wouldn't see my panic attacks because I had been in the Towers you utter dickbat". I just hope more of us from NYC do precisely that.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 9:20 AM on October 29, 2018 [38 favorites]
Kellyanne Conway on Fox and Friends says that "late night comedians" and "unfunny people on TV shows" that make jokes about religion are responsible for the synagogue shooting.
posted by JackFlash at 9:21 AM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by JackFlash at 9:21 AM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
BREAKING: A civil RICO suit has been brought against The Trump Organization, Donald Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump in United States District Court for their participation in a pyramid scheme. From Jedd Legum on Twitter.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:22 AM on October 29, 2018 [57 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 9:22 AM on October 29, 2018 [57 favorites]
Apparently the case is Doe et al v. The Trump Corporation et al, 1:18-cv-09936, filed this morning.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:23 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 9:23 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
To quote Ken White, it's never RICO.
... but we'll see.
posted by suelac at 9:25 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
... but we'll see.
posted by suelac at 9:25 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
Kellyanne Conway on Fox and Friends says that "late night comedians" and "unfunny people on TV shows" that make jokes about religion are responsible for the synagogue shooting.
@realDonaldTrump I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated.
10:09 AM - 24 Apr 2013
posted by scalefree at 9:27 AM on October 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
@realDonaldTrump I promise you that I'm much smarter than Jonathan Leibowitz - I mean Jon Stewart @TheDailyShow. Who, by the way, is totally overrated.
10:09 AM - 24 Apr 2013
posted by scalefree at 9:27 AM on October 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
Here is the Thread Reader app version about the RICO suit against the family Trump. It does not require Twitter. Happy reading. I may need to go get some cake.
posted by Bella Donna at 9:29 AM on October 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 9:29 AM on October 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Apparently the case is Doe et al v. The Trump Corporation et al, 1:18-cv-09936, filed this morning.
SDNY, and I'm not finding anything on the Google. Anyone with PACER help out a poor boy?
posted by mikelieman at 9:29 AM on October 29, 2018
SDNY, and I'm not finding anything on the Google. Anyone with PACER help out a poor boy?
posted by mikelieman at 9:29 AM on October 29, 2018
Here is the Thread Reader app version about the RICO suit against the family Trump. It does not require Twitter. Happy reading. I may need to go get some cake.
Apparently this involves the ACN Videophone which was featured in the S08E04 of The Apprentice. Oh, boy... There's gonna be cake ALL this week...
posted by mikelieman at 9:32 AM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Apparently this involves the ACN Videophone which was featured in the S08E04 of The Apprentice. Oh, boy... There's gonna be cake ALL this week...
posted by mikelieman at 9:32 AM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
The Fetishization of Mr. Rogers’s ‘Look for the Helpers’ - Ian Bogost, The Atlantic
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:36 AM on October 29, 2018 [25 favorites]
posted by the man of twists and turns at 9:36 AM on October 29, 2018 [25 favorites]
But it is a civil suit, alas. Sorry!
posted by Bella Donna at 9:46 AM on October 29, 2018
posted by Bella Donna at 9:46 AM on October 29, 2018
But it is a civil suit, alas. Sorry!
Discovery is discovery, and in something like this all discovery is good discovery!
posted by mikelieman at 9:48 AM on October 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
Discovery is discovery, and in something like this all discovery is good discovery!
posted by mikelieman at 9:48 AM on October 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
ACN had a history with Donaldo already, something he tried to shake off like toilet paper from his shoe during the election. WSJ and National Review
posted by Harry Caul at 9:50 AM on October 29, 2018
posted by Harry Caul at 9:50 AM on October 29, 2018
To quote Ken White, it's never RICO.
He would like you to know that yes, he has seen the RICO thing
posted by BungaDunga at 9:54 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
He would like you to know that yes, he has seen the RICO thing
posted by BungaDunga at 9:54 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
And a direct link to the ACN complaint for anyone interested. This will eventually settle I’d imagine. It’s basically Trump University, except as far as I can tell, Trump didn’t own ACN, he just accepted payments from them that he could plausibly deny as being specifically for his endorsement, and then lied to the marks about it.
posted by Room 101 at 9:54 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Room 101 at 9:54 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
all discovery is good discovery
The media needs to stop making the mistake of letting individuals and organizations that work as hard as Trump and his criminal organization -- including, of course, the Republican Party -- to conceal their activities get away with claiming to the press that they have nothing to hide.
Of course they have something to hide. Josh Marshall pointed out that the scale of the efforts by Trump's people to hide something indicated that the something was big, possibly ruinous. They concede they have something to hide by trying so hard to hide it.
The question is not if they are hiding something, but what?
posted by Gelatin at 9:56 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
The media needs to stop making the mistake of letting individuals and organizations that work as hard as Trump and his criminal organization -- including, of course, the Republican Party -- to conceal their activities get away with claiming to the press that they have nothing to hide.
Of course they have something to hide. Josh Marshall pointed out that the scale of the efforts by Trump's people to hide something indicated that the something was big, possibly ruinous. They concede they have something to hide by trying so hard to hide it.
The question is not if they are hiding something, but what?
posted by Gelatin at 9:56 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
ACN had a history with Donaldo already, something he tried to shake off like toilet paper from his shoe during the election.
Or drop like a useless, unclosable umbrella.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:57 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
Or drop like a useless, unclosable umbrella.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:57 AM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
The Trump Org has issued a statement complaining the RICO lawsuit is not only meritless and past the statue of limitations, but also cooked up by "political activist attorneys" with "longstanding and deep ties to the Democrat party" who timed their filing a week before the midterms. (Screenshot from Maggie Haberman's Twitter, natch)
And in what couldn't possibly be an attempt to distract the media from this—or the latest bomb from Sayoc intercepted en route to CNN today—the White House has added a rare Sarah Sanders briefing, at 2 PM. (SHS's most recent one was Sept. 10, to address the anonymous NYT Op-Ed.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:24 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
And in what couldn't possibly be an attempt to distract the media from this—or the latest bomb from Sayoc intercepted en route to CNN today—the White House has added a rare Sarah Sanders briefing, at 2 PM. (SHS's most recent one was Sept. 10, to address the anonymous NYT Op-Ed.)
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:24 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Update from Ken “It's Never RICO” Popehat White: It might be RICO.
And even if the judge ultimately decides it isn't, the complaint is still a very strong opening salvo in what's going to be complex and potentially painful litigation for Team Trump.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:28 AM on October 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
And even if the judge ultimately decides it isn't, the complaint is still a very strong opening salvo in what's going to be complex and potentially painful litigation for Team Trump.
posted by Holy Zarquon's Singing Fish at 10:28 AM on October 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
And in what couldn't possibly be an attempt to distract the media from this—or the latest bomb from Sayoc intercepted en route to CNN today—the White House has added a rare Sarah Sanders briefing, at 2 PM. (SHS's most recent one was Sept. 10, to address the anonymous NYT Op-Ed.)
So a SHS briefing should now be taken as an admission that the White House feels it needs to perform major damage control.
That's what they get for making press briefings a rarity in their contempt.
posted by Gelatin at 10:31 AM on October 29, 2018 [29 favorites]
So a SHS briefing should now be taken as an admission that the White House feels it needs to perform major damage control.
That's what they get for making press briefings a rarity in their contempt.
posted by Gelatin at 10:31 AM on October 29, 2018 [29 favorites]
Had to look up what RICO means for myself. This seems like a good starting point: Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (wiki).
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:49 AM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by ZeusHumms at 10:49 AM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Bloomberg, Trump May Answer Mueller Questions Post-Election, Giuliani Says
Update from Ken “It's Never RICO” Popehat White: It might be RICO.
This feels like the time it turned out to be Lupus on House.
posted by zachlipton at 10:53 AM on October 29, 2018 [37 favorites]
President Donald Trump’s legal team has prepared written responses to several dozen questions from Special Counsel Robert Mueller but say they won’t submit them until after next week’s elections and only if they reach a broader agreement with Mueller on terms for the questioning.What kind of nonsense is this? They've written answers but won't send them?
Rudy Giuliani, Trump’s personal attorney, said in an interview Monday that the answers relate only to whether Trump colluded with Russia during his presidential campaign. He said the legal team is still unwilling to answer any questions concerning obstruction of justice by the president.
Giuliani also said that a face-to-face interview with Mueller is “off the table” for now but isn’t being ruled out completely.
Update from Ken “It's Never RICO” Popehat White: It might be RICO.
This feels like the time it turned out to be Lupus on House.
posted by zachlipton at 10:53 AM on October 29, 2018 [37 favorites]
Here's the PBS Newshour link to the press briefing. It's supposed to start at 1 CDT but who knows
posted by fluttering hellfire at 10:58 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 10:58 AM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
So a SHS briefing should now be taken as an admission that the White House feels it needs to perform major damage control.
That's what they get for making press briefings a rarity in their contempt.
Agreed, but remember SHS's primary approach is also one of blatant contempt for the press. She's not out there to lie convincingly. She's only out there to tell the followers to hold the line. If it's damage control, I suspect they only want to do it to reinvigorate their base. Presumably we're gonna hear plenty more scaremongering about the caravan.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:03 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
That's what they get for making press briefings a rarity in their contempt.
Agreed, but remember SHS's primary approach is also one of blatant contempt for the press. She's not out there to lie convincingly. She's only out there to tell the followers to hold the line. If it's damage control, I suspect they only want to do it to reinvigorate their base. Presumably we're gonna hear plenty more scaremongering about the caravan.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:03 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Video: 'I call upon you to repent': Sessions heckled by priest. This was at a Federalist Society speech. The priest (I don't have a name) cites "I was hungry, and you did not feed me. I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, [etc...]" and calls upon Sessions to repent and care for others. Sessions response "thank you for those remarks and attack" and says he does his best to enforce the law. Someone else starts shouting "go home" as the video ends and the priest is led out by police.
posted by zachlipton at 11:03 AM on October 29, 2018 [50 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 11:03 AM on October 29, 2018 [50 favorites]
Someone else starts shouting "go home" as the video ends and the priest is led out by police.
They know their god, and no good priest of Moloch would behave that way.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:07 AM on October 29, 2018 [32 favorites]
They know their god, and no good priest of Moloch would behave that way.
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:07 AM on October 29, 2018 [32 favorites]
America is plagued by right-wing violence. Pundits need to stop calling it a "both sides" issue. - Timothy Johnson, Media Matters
The fact is violence is a feature, not a bug, of the conservative movement in the United States today. In terms of frequency and deadliness, terrorism inspired by right-wing political beliefs far outpaces left-wing violence. So, when conservatives argue that both sides should be blamed for a bombing spree targeting liberals, responsible journalists shouldn’t act as stenographers for those false or deceptive claims. (And the same goes for the widespread conservative messaging effort to baselessly claim that mobs of Democrats stand ready to kill conservatives before the midterm elections.) Instead, when reporting on political violence, journalists should present the full context: Right-wing violence is a documentable pattern incomparable to violence from the left.posted by ZeusHumms at 11:12 AM on October 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
Will the Red Sox go to the White House? Manager Alex Cora last month blasted Trump for his made up claims about Hurricane Maria. Cora is proud to be from Puerto Rico and led a relief trip to his hometown of Caguas (in fact, one of the conditions of his then new contract as manager was that the Sox fill a plane with relief items). Cora wants to bring the team on a celebratory tour of the island. At least one Sox player (although not one of the better known ones), though, loves him some Trump.
posted by adamg at 11:12 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by adamg at 11:12 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Orlando Sentinel, Shots fired into Volusia County Republican Party satellite office, police say
posted by zachlipton at 11:16 AM on October 29, 2018 [35 favorites]
At least four shots were fired into the Volusia County Republican Party’s office in South Daytona, police said Monday.We are about to hear the words "both sides" many, many times.
No one was injured, according to South Daytona police Capt. Mark Cheatham, but the shooting broke the offices’ front window and caused some damage to the drywall inside.
Cheatham said a volunteer reported the incident on Monday, which could’ve happened between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning at the office located at 2841 South Nova Road.
posted by zachlipton at 11:16 AM on October 29, 2018 [35 favorites]
If it's damage control, I suspect they only want to do it to reinvigorate their base.
As I said the other day, the fact that they feel they have to keep throwing red meat to their base indicates that they know their position in the election is precarious.
Depending on the rabid base alone is a risky strategy, especially if there aren't that many unreconstructed racists out there. There are -- or should be -- costs to branding the Republican Party as overtly racist, which is why Lee Atwater worked so hard on crafting dog whistles.
Anyway, bringing SHS out is not a sign of confidence by the Trump Administration.
posted by Gelatin at 11:18 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
As I said the other day, the fact that they feel they have to keep throwing red meat to their base indicates that they know their position in the election is precarious.
Depending on the rabid base alone is a risky strategy, especially if there aren't that many unreconstructed racists out there. There are -- or should be -- costs to branding the Republican Party as overtly racist, which is why Lee Atwater worked so hard on crafting dog whistles.
Anyway, bringing SHS out is not a sign of confidence by the Trump Administration.
posted by Gelatin at 11:18 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
We are about to hear the words "both sides" many, many times.
And I will say "false flag" right back if I do.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:18 AM on October 29, 2018 [31 favorites]
And I will say "false flag" right back if I do.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:18 AM on October 29, 2018 [31 favorites]
Two of the guests on Democracy Now today were Ari Lev Fornari, a rabbi at Kol Tzedek Synagogue in West Philadelphia who has worked with HIAS, and Dr. David Glosser, a retired neuropsychologist who has volunteered with HIAS in Philadelphia helping refugees. He is also the uncle of Trump advisor Stephen Miller:
Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Is What Happens When Hate Is Legitimized
Trump & GOP Have Blood on Their Hands for Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting & Hateful Violence
posted by homunculus at 11:30 AM on October 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting Is What Happens When Hate Is Legitimized
Trump & GOP Have Blood on Their Hands for Pittsburgh Synagogue Shooting & Hateful Violence
posted by homunculus at 11:30 AM on October 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
Cheatham said a volunteer reported the incident on Monday, which could’ve happened between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning at the office located at 2841 South Nova Road.
So this incident happened when no one was likely to be present. As opposed to, say, Shabbat services.
posted by Gelatin at 11:32 AM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
So this incident happened when no one was likely to be present. As opposed to, say, Shabbat services.
posted by Gelatin at 11:32 AM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
@swin24 [posted two hours before the briefing]: She is going to blame “the media” for being mean to Donald Trump and trying to “blame” him. She is doing this briefing today in large part just to get that comms out. There, I saved you time.
She started off talking about Pittsburgh, with the standard condemnations "antisemitism is a plague to humanity...we all have a duty to confront antisemitism...the American people reject bigotry, hatred,"speaks of the victims, etc... Trump "adores Jewish Americans as part of his own family" Sanders says, as she gets emotional talking about the Jewish members of Trump's family. She was pretty much doing the speech a President would be expected to give under normal circumstances.
She says Trump will visit Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
And just two minutes later, she's yelling about how awful the media is for saying the President could have any responsibility here, pulling out the now stock talking point that nobody blamed Sanders when Scalise was shot.
Asked what they'll do to stop these killings from happening over and over again, she has nothing: "I think if we had a good answer to that, I think everybody in the country would support it."
posted by zachlipton at 11:35 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
She started off talking about Pittsburgh, with the standard condemnations "antisemitism is a plague to humanity...we all have a duty to confront antisemitism...the American people reject bigotry, hatred,"speaks of the victims, etc... Trump "adores Jewish Americans as part of his own family" Sanders says, as she gets emotional talking about the Jewish members of Trump's family. She was pretty much doing the speech a President would be expected to give under normal circumstances.
She says Trump will visit Pittsburgh on Tuesday.
And just two minutes later, she's yelling about how awful the media is for saying the President could have any responsibility here, pulling out the now stock talking point that nobody blamed Sanders when Scalise was shot.
Asked what they'll do to stop these killings from happening over and over again, she has nothing: "I think if we had a good answer to that, I think everybody in the country would support it."
posted by zachlipton at 11:35 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Cheatham said a volunteer reported the incident on Monday, which could’ve happened between Sunday afternoon and Monday morning at the office located at 2841 South Nova Road.
I mean, it's Florida. Bullets just fall like rain here, and it's all met with a shrug, since absolutely nothing can ever be done to upset petulant-child-with-psionic-powers NRA.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 11:37 AM on October 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
I mean, it's Florida. Bullets just fall like rain here, and it's all met with a shrug, since absolutely nothing can ever be done to upset petulant-child-with-psionic-powers NRA.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 11:37 AM on October 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
pulling out the now stock talking point that nobody blamed Sanders when Scalise was shot.
My Representative held exactly one town hall in his two terms in office; was one of the first to announce his retirement when it became apparent that the Blue Wave was a'coming; and was only barely pretending to be a functioning member of Congress before that, much less since. One of the few things I remember him saying out loud in public was that "left-wing Democrat rhetoric" was to blame for the Scalise shooting. He might not have said the words "Bernie Sanders", but that was only because he wanted to blame all Democrats for it rather than one dude from four states away.
posted by Etrigan at 11:44 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
My Representative held exactly one town hall in his two terms in office; was one of the first to announce his retirement when it became apparent that the Blue Wave was a'coming; and was only barely pretending to be a functioning member of Congress before that, much less since. One of the few things I remember him saying out loud in public was that "left-wing Democrat rhetoric" was to blame for the Scalise shooting. He might not have said the words "Bernie Sanders", but that was only because he wanted to blame all Democrats for it rather than one dude from four states away.
posted by Etrigan at 11:44 AM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Voter suppression is a crucial story in America, but broadcast news mostly shrugs
posted by homunculus at 11:46 AM on October 29, 2018 [32 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 11:46 AM on October 29, 2018 [32 favorites]
SHS just said that Trump was elected by an "overwhelming majority" of 63 million Americans? Did I mishear that? 'Cause he didn't even get a majority of 1 vote? He got a majority of -3million votes?
posted by Justinian at 11:50 AM on October 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 11:50 AM on October 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
SHS just said that Trump was elected by an "overwhelming majority" of 63 million Americans?
Unless otherwise specified, when they say "Americans" they mean "white people."
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:53 AM on October 29, 2018 [49 favorites]
Unless otherwise specified, when they say "Americans" they mean "white people."
posted by Rust Moranis at 11:53 AM on October 29, 2018 [49 favorites]
USC/LA Times just released a generic ballot poll which was in the field from Oct 21-27. The result? D+17.
lol.
As much as I'd like to believe that, well, yeah. Still, better D+17 than R+17.
posted by Justinian at 11:56 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
lol.
As much as I'd like to believe that, well, yeah. Still, better D+17 than R+17.
posted by Justinian at 11:56 AM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Even amidst all the horror of last week it's incredible how few MSM outlets seemed to even mention the imploding stock market.
posted by aspersioncast at 11:57 AM on October 29, 2018 [24 favorites]
posted by aspersioncast at 11:57 AM on October 29, 2018 [24 favorites]
sanders channeling the pure suppurating pustule sean spicer there at the end with her indignant serial spoonerism on "despact the fite."
posted by 20 year lurk at 12:02 PM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by 20 year lurk at 12:02 PM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
The stock market is tanking while most of us Gen-Xers are just past mid-career and our retirement has taken a hit. We're the sleeper cell of elder poverty in 30 years.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 12:13 PM on October 29, 2018 [50 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 12:13 PM on October 29, 2018 [50 favorites]
My Representative held exactly one town hall in his two terms in office; was one of the first to announce his retirement when it became apparent that the Blue Wave was a'coming; and was only barely pretending to be a functioning member of Congress before that, much less since. One of the few things I remember him saying out loud in public was that "left-wing Democrat rhetoric" was to blame for the Scalise shooting.
My rep makes that look like baby talk. He's been hiding from the spectre of leftist mobs since 2008, completely refusing to do public appearances for anyone other than his base. And this is in C. FL, a/k/a Raytheon Acres by The Sea.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:15 PM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
My rep makes that look like baby talk. He's been hiding from the spectre of leftist mobs since 2008, completely refusing to do public appearances for anyone other than his base. And this is in C. FL, a/k/a Raytheon Acres by The Sea.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 12:15 PM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
Also, yet another high school student was shot and killed in their own school today, because we barely even report teenagers dying at school anymore unless 5+ of them died.
.
posted by nakedmolerats at 12:21 PM on October 29, 2018 [35 favorites]
.
posted by nakedmolerats at 12:21 PM on October 29, 2018 [35 favorites]
USC/LA Times just released a generic ballot poll which was in the field from Oct 21-27. The result? D+17.
lol.
As much as I'd like to believe that, well, yeah. Still, better D+17 than R+17.
If it's the same one as The USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times "Daybreak" poll, it's a different thing from most. From the LA Times:
posted by filthy light thief at 12:27 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
lol.
As much as I'd like to believe that, well, yeah. Still, better D+17 than R+17.
If it's the same one as The USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times "Daybreak" poll, it's a different thing from most. From the LA Times:
[This poll] tracks about 3,000 eligible voters until election day, asking on a regular basis about their support for Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump or other candidates as well as their likelihood of actually casting a ballot.From the way-back of Aug. 23, 2016: Election Update: Leave The LA Times Poll Alone! -- Instead of arguing about it or ignoring it, adjust for it. (Nate Silver for 538)
We update the data each day based on the weighted average of poll responses over the previous week. That means results have less volatility than some other polls, but also means the poll lags somewhat in responding to major events in the campaign. More about the poll and why it differs from others.
I’m tired of hearing about the poll from Donald Trump fans such as Reince Priebus, Matt Drudge and Donald Trump himself. They frequently cherry-pick that poll because it consistently shows much better results for Trump than the other surveys. As of Tuesday morning, for example, the poll showed the race as virtually tied — Hillary Clinton 44.2 percent, Trump 44.0 percent — even when the national poll average has Clinton up by about 6 percentage points instead.That was then, I wonder how others suggest treating it now.
This has been a fairly consistent difference between this poll and most others. Take the LA Times poll, add 6 points to Clinton, and you usually wind up with something close to the FiveThirtyEight or RealClearPolitics national polling average.
posted by filthy light thief at 12:27 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Also, yet another high school student was shot and killed in their own school today, because we barely even report teenagers dying at school anymore unless 5+ of them died.
@nycsouthpaw: At Butler High School in Charlotte, a student was shot in a hallway following a fight and later died at the hospital. Worried parents reportedly broke through police barriers en masse to get to their kids. Meanwhile, the school administrators kept classes in session. (emphasis mine)
That is the deal with Moloch we have made: shootings are so commonplace that schoolchildren are kept in classes while the blood of their murdered schoolmates is still being mopped off the floor.
posted by zombieflanders at 12:49 PM on October 29, 2018 [69 favorites]
@nycsouthpaw: At Butler High School in Charlotte, a student was shot in a hallway following a fight and later died at the hospital. Worried parents reportedly broke through police barriers en masse to get to their kids. Meanwhile, the school administrators kept classes in session. (emphasis mine)
That is the deal with Moloch we have made: shootings are so commonplace that schoolchildren are kept in classes while the blood of their murdered schoolmates is still being mopped off the floor.
posted by zombieflanders at 12:49 PM on October 29, 2018 [69 favorites]
That was then, I wonder how others suggest treating it now.
538's current adjustment brings it to D+15. Overall, they give the poll a C rating.
This would be very nice, but I will believe it when the Dems pick up 60 seats.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:01 PM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
538's current adjustment brings it to D+15. Overall, they give the poll a C rating.
This would be very nice, but I will believe it when the Dems pick up 60 seats.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:01 PM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Defense Secretary Approves President Trump's Request for Additional Troops at the Mexico Border
So Gen. Mattis is going along with Trump's transparent political stunt to help him in the mid-term elections.
Remember when people said that Mad Dog was a warrior monk who would save the country from Trump's worst impulses?
Mattis is a political enabler. He is complicit.
posted by JackFlash at 1:07 PM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
So Gen. Mattis is going along with Trump's transparent political stunt to help him in the mid-term elections.
Remember when people said that Mad Dog was a warrior monk who would save the country from Trump's worst impulses?
Mattis is a political enabler. He is complicit.
posted by JackFlash at 1:07 PM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
Mattis is a political enabler. He is complicit.
He's a concentration camp commandant, among other things. "Complicit enabler" doesn't cover it: he's a happy thug.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:12 PM on October 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
He's a concentration camp commandant, among other things. "Complicit enabler" doesn't cover it: he's a happy thug.
posted by Rust Moranis at 1:12 PM on October 29, 2018 [13 favorites]
Defense Secretary Approves President Trump's Request for Additional Troops at the Mexico Border
Don't the right winger types usually throw a fit when the army is deployed domestically?
posted by PenDevil at 1:12 PM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Don't the right winger types usually throw a fit when the army is deployed domestically?
posted by PenDevil at 1:12 PM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Interesting Nate Silver on districts in play:
Not sure people realize how broad the House playing field is. In our final forecast in 2014, the Deluxe version of our House model would have considered 44 seats to be competitive. In 2016, it would have had 39 competitive seats. This year, it shows *99* competitive races.posted by Chrysostom at 1:13 PM on October 29, 2018 [25 favorites]
Why so many?
—Many R retirements
—Lots of D cash even in red districts
—Ds nominated candidates for almost every race (and "good" candidates in most)
—National environment good enough for Ds that they're lapping against the edges of districts that were meant to be R gerrymanders
Also:
—The incumbency advantage is much smaller than it used to be, which hurts Ds in the Senate but expands the playing field in the House (this is a super overlooked factor)
—PA redistricting + GOP incumbent scandals add another few seats to the list
This would be very nice, but I will believe it when the Dems pick up 60 seats
If Democrats really won the popular vote by 15 in a week it'd be more like 80+ House and 4 Senate seats, wouldn't it? Not that you were putting forward 60 as the actual result, I'm just putting +15 in perspective for people who don't obsessively hit refresh on half the political sites on the internet.
posted by Justinian at 1:13 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
If Democrats really won the popular vote by 15 in a week it'd be more like 80+ House and 4 Senate seats, wouldn't it? Not that you were putting forward 60 as the actual result, I'm just putting +15 in perspective for people who don't obsessively hit refresh on half the political sites on the internet.
posted by Justinian at 1:13 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
I don't think I've seen anything projected for that big of a generic lead, tbh.
posted by Chrysostom at 1:25 PM on October 29, 2018
posted by Chrysostom at 1:25 PM on October 29, 2018
'cause it's crazy
posted by Justinian at 1:27 PM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 1:27 PM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Jim Acosta stands up for himself and for his news organization. "Shouldn't you have the guts, Sarah, to state which outlets, which journalists are the enemy of the people?"
posted by sardonyx at 1:31 PM on October 29, 2018 [73 favorites]
posted by sardonyx at 1:31 PM on October 29, 2018 [73 favorites]
Yeah, that should help, name names. Then the next pipe-bomber will know exactly where to send the next shipment.
posted by Autumnheart at 1:33 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 1:33 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
A note on politics from the geek sphere:
RPG.net: New Ban: Do Not Post In Support of Trump or his Administration
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:35 PM on October 29, 2018 [137 favorites]
RPG.net: New Ban: Do Not Post In Support of Trump or his Administration
We are banning support of Donald Trump or his administration on the RPGnet forums. This is because his public comments, policies, and the makeup of his administration are so wholly incompatible with our values that formal political neutrality is not tenable. We can be welcoming to (for example) persons of every ethnicity who want to talk about games, or we can allow support for open white supremacy. Not both.I don't know how broad their user base is. It ain't Reddit, but afaik in the online gaming environment they aren't small potatoes, either. More importantly, as a forum navigating all this awful shit, this is an excellent thing to see. I'm sorely tempted to copy the whole post here. It's good stuff. They end with a list of citations of Trump administration policies showing the pattern of support for white supremacy.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 1:35 PM on October 29, 2018 [137 favorites]
Jim Acosta stands up for himself and for his news organization. "Shouldn't you have the guts, Sarah, to state which outlets, which journalists are the enemy of the people?"
Jim Acosta should receive the Medal of Freedom. He is a remarkably courageous and principled person.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:37 PM on October 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
Jim Acosta should receive the Medal of Freedom. He is a remarkably courageous and principled person.
posted by bluesky43 at 1:37 PM on October 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
Under Trump’s watch:
-Deadliest massacre of Jews in US history (today)
-Deadliest mass shooting in US history (las Vegas)
-Deadliest high school shooting in US history (Parkland)
-Biggest political assassination attempt in US history. (This week)
posted by growabrain at 1:40 PM on October 29, 2018 [111 favorites]
-Deadliest massacre of Jews in US history (today)
-Deadliest mass shooting in US history (las Vegas)
-Deadliest high school shooting in US history (Parkland)
-Biggest political assassination attempt in US history. (This week)
posted by growabrain at 1:40 PM on October 29, 2018 [111 favorites]
zombieflanders: "That is the deal with Moloch we have made: shootings are so commonplace that schoolchildren are kept in classes while the blood of their murdered schoolmates is still being mopped off the floor."
So it looks like this is maybe not in fact true:
So it looks like this is maybe not in fact true:
Hey guys! I'm a teacher here in this district, and while I do NOT disagree with your tweet even a little, I wanted to clarify! Butler is providing time for students to stay at the school to process instead of going home to an empty house, which MANY would be doingposted by Chrysostom at 1:41 PM on October 29, 2018 [66 favorites]
And grief counseling is being provided! Many students are being picked up, but not all have transportation, and for some, being with teachers and classmates is more comforting. It is not "classes as normal" as this poorly worded announcement made it seem. But YES, GO VOTE!
President Trump, first lady to visit Pennsylvania on Tuesday to commemorate synagogue mass shooting victims
In remarks to reporters Monday afternoon, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto asked the White House to consider “two important factors” before scheduling a visit: the will of the victims’ families and the fact that the city’s attention — including the efforts of law enforcement officers — will be focused Tuesday on the victims’ funerals, which are likely to begin that day.posted by zachlipton at 1:54 PM on October 29, 2018 [39 favorites]
“If the president is looking to come to Pittsburgh, I would ask that he not do so while we are burying the dead. Our attention and our focus is going to be on them, and we don’t have public safety that we can take away from what is needed in order to do both,” Peduto said, according to a transcript of his remarks provided to The Washington Post.
The enigmatic Mr Mifsud.
Malta academic in Trump probe has history of vanishing acts.
A discussion about EXIF data of a photo taken in Zurich last May.
posted by adamvasco at 1:56 PM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Malta academic in Trump probe has history of vanishing acts.
A discussion about EXIF data of a photo taken in Zurich last May.
posted by adamvasco at 1:56 PM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Mod note: Look, folks, there is nothing we need to discuss about Hillary Clinton not running for president. Just let it go. Please. For the love of little apples.
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 1:57 PM on October 29, 2018 [38 favorites]
posted by restless_nomad (staff) at 1:57 PM on October 29, 2018 [38 favorites]
FWIW, I touched base with Elliott Morris of The Crosstab. His take was that a real generic ballot lead of D+15-ish would be in the range of Dems with a gain of about 75 seats.
posted by Chrysostom at 2:23 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 2:23 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
@HowardMortman: Rabbi Loren Jacobs of Messianic synagogue Shema Yisrael offers prayer before VP Pence speaks at Michigan campaign event: "God of Abraham ... God and Father of my Lord and Savior Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah...hate inspired shooting in synagogue in Pittsburgh"
C-SPAN video
ARE YOU EVEN FUCKING KIDDING ME?
posted by zachlipton at 2:23 PM on October 29, 2018 [44 favorites]
C-SPAN video
ARE YOU EVEN FUCKING KIDDING ME?
posted by zachlipton at 2:23 PM on October 29, 2018 [44 favorites]
Messianic synagogue Shema Yisrael
Im all about letting anyone identify any fucking way they see fit, but i feel compelled to point out that their own website says:
Theologically, Messianic Jews are Christians and many of us do identify as Christians and call ourselves Christians.
That piece of shit sure as hell doesnt speak for me or my people.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:29 PM on October 29, 2018 [50 favorites]
Im all about letting anyone identify any fucking way they see fit, but i feel compelled to point out that their own website says:
Theologically, Messianic Jews are Christians and many of us do identify as Christians and call ourselves Christians.
That piece of shit sure as hell doesnt speak for me or my people.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 2:29 PM on October 29, 2018 [50 favorites]
that is incredibly insulting
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 2:30 PM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by So You're Saying These Are Pants? at 2:30 PM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Even now they can't even stand next to actual Jews to mouth their hollow thoughts and prayers.
posted by M-x shell at 2:34 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by M-x shell at 2:34 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
It’s division, fear, and hate all the way down.
posted by notyou at 2:34 PM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by notyou at 2:34 PM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
The LCMS runs one of those programs called Burning Bush. They even have a fake synagogue in Dogtown.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 2:47 PM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 2:47 PM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
Video: Shep Smith on the migrant caravan: "There is no invasion. No one is coming to get you. There is nothing at all to worry about."
@ddale8: Imagine if every corporation employed a prominent person to tell you that the other prominent people at the corporation were incessantly lying to everyone. "Nobody conducted a survey of dentists. This toothpaste is the same as the other toothpastes."
posted by zachlipton at 2:50 PM on October 29, 2018 [61 favorites]
@ddale8: Imagine if every corporation employed a prominent person to tell you that the other prominent people at the corporation were incessantly lying to everyone. "Nobody conducted a survey of dentists. This toothpaste is the same as the other toothpastes."
posted by zachlipton at 2:50 PM on October 29, 2018 [61 favorites]
Today in irresponsible news commentary.
@ndrew_lawrence Just now a Fox News guest says the migrants may have "leprosy" and warns that "they're gonna infect our people in the United States"
[video]
posted by scalefree at 2:57 PM on October 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
@ndrew_lawrence Just now a Fox News guest says the migrants may have "leprosy" and warns that "they're gonna infect our people in the United States"
[video]
posted by scalefree at 2:57 PM on October 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
okay, so now we add "lepers" to the list of people that Jesus Christ gave love and help to that Republicans want to keep out of the country via military force
posted by murphy slaw at 3:09 PM on October 29, 2018 [95 favorites]
posted by murphy slaw at 3:09 PM on October 29, 2018 [95 favorites]
> Fox News guest says the migrants may have "leprosy" and warns that "they're gonna infect our people in the United States"
It's almost like Fox News guests do not even have a passing familiarity with their Holy Book or something.
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:09 PM on October 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
It's almost like Fox News guests do not even have a passing familiarity with their Holy Book or something.
posted by RedOrGreen at 3:09 PM on October 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
Buried lede there. The Fox News guest warns that the migrants have smallpox, which, if you have any reason to believe that, you should actually notify the world's public health officials immediately, since smallpox was declared eradicated in 1980.
posted by zachlipton at 3:16 PM on October 29, 2018 [90 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 3:16 PM on October 29, 2018 [90 favorites]
Also leprosy has been cured for at least several decades. You don't particularly want it and if you don't treat it early enough you could take nerve damage, but you aren't gonna walk around with your bits falling off.
I want to make a Covenant joke but I don't know how many people would get it and would just think I was being an ass, so I won't.
posted by Justinian at 3:22 PM on October 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
I want to make a Covenant joke but I don't know how many people would get it and would just think I was being an ass, so I won't.
posted by Justinian at 3:22 PM on October 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
Leprosy, small pox, Arab terrorists, funded by Globalist Jews. All of these are actual descriptors of the caravan as presented in Fox.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 3:27 PM on October 29, 2018 [54 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 3:27 PM on October 29, 2018 [54 favorites]
I am headed to the Fucking Fuck thread soon because I am waaaaay over the recommended daily allotment of outrage and would like to break things.
It is one thing for the Trumpoids to think they can say and do anything they like. It is quite another thing for them to respond to deadly force -- on MULTIPLE fronts -- with mockery and doubling down on all of it.
Take notes and take names, folks. There are many who must never be forgiven or forgotten once relative peace returns.
posted by delfin at 3:37 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
It is one thing for the Trumpoids to think they can say and do anything they like. It is quite another thing for them to respond to deadly force -- on MULTIPLE fronts -- with mockery and doubling down on all of it.
Take notes and take names, folks. There are many who must never be forgiven or forgotten once relative peace returns.
posted by delfin at 3:37 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
Feeling stupidly optimistic for saying this, but several recent poll results suggest that all of Trump's manipulations are failing and that the tide is shifting back to Blue Wave.
posted by msalt at 3:54 PM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by msalt at 3:54 PM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
via James LaPorta, Newsweek: apparently the Pentagon planning numbers are now up to 14,000 troops at the border with another 7000 reservists on standby. All this for the caravan. (I mean, all this for a fearmongering show of hate, obviously.)
I've said this before here, but: literally my first day at my first duty station in the Coast Guard involved picking up refugees. I reported onto my ship in the morning and before sunset I was pulling Cuban refugees off of rafts. To help them.
And yeah, we were a little concerned about disease and contraband. We wore rubber gloves and patted everyone down as we took them aboard and then kept fucking working because there were people in the water who needed help. End of story.
A couple weeks into this influx of rafters, there were worries that Castro had opened the prisons and there'd be legit criminals among them. So we got a note about looking out for prison tattoos, and our smaller ships got a manpower boost of some Marines on board for temporary duty -- and they put on their rubber gloves and got to fucking work handing out blankets and food. Like, that was it. Not one argument, not even any bitching and moaning about it.
I am so angry. I'm always so fucking angry anymore.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:55 PM on October 29, 2018 [154 favorites]
I've said this before here, but: literally my first day at my first duty station in the Coast Guard involved picking up refugees. I reported onto my ship in the morning and before sunset I was pulling Cuban refugees off of rafts. To help them.
And yeah, we were a little concerned about disease and contraband. We wore rubber gloves and patted everyone down as we took them aboard and then kept fucking working because there were people in the water who needed help. End of story.
A couple weeks into this influx of rafters, there were worries that Castro had opened the prisons and there'd be legit criminals among them. So we got a note about looking out for prison tattoos, and our smaller ships got a manpower boost of some Marines on board for temporary duty -- and they put on their rubber gloves and got to fucking work handing out blankets and food. Like, that was it. Not one argument, not even any bitching and moaning about it.
I am so angry. I'm always so fucking angry anymore.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 3:55 PM on October 29, 2018 [154 favorites]
Tiny bright spot here in San Diego - today's mailer from Assemblyman Brian Maienschein, "An independent legislator who stands up for common-sense gun laws" with "A RECORD OF INDEPENDENT LEADERSHIP" (front and back, all in caps).
That he's a Republican is missing from this flyer and from his website. (The "About Brian" section has him as "a proven leader who works across party lines.").
Democrats Are Quietly Gunning for Brian Maienschein (SLVoiceofSanDiego)
Earlier this month, the speaker of the California Assembly dispatched one of his lieutenants, Bill Wong, to the 77th District on San Diego’s northern end. It’s a traditionally Republican part of the state — tucked between Carmel Valley and Poway — represented since 2012 by Brian Maienschein, a former San Diego city councilman... Among some political operatives, there’s a sense that the district might have gone for a Democrat years ago if it weren’t for Maienschein. He’s still remembered for the fire recovery centers he organized following two major wildfires, and he has a reputation for being easy to work with.
Upshot: Maienschein is a "good, moderate" Republican, with a decent-enough track record, and that isn't enough to justify his party affiliation now.
FWIW, two years ago Maienschein had a 93%, "A" rating, from the NRA; that has since fallen to 53%. Meanwhile, his rating from Planned Parenthood Affliates of CA has flipped in an almost perfect inverse, with 57% rising to 100% (especially startling, when you consider that it kicked off in 2013 at a measly 4%).
Still, I've only seen yard signs (beginning months ago) for the Dem candidate, Sunday Gover.
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:52 PM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
That he's a Republican is missing from this flyer and from his website. (The "About Brian" section has him as "a proven leader who works across party lines.").
Democrats Are Quietly Gunning for Brian Maienschein (SLVoiceofSanDiego)
Earlier this month, the speaker of the California Assembly dispatched one of his lieutenants, Bill Wong, to the 77th District on San Diego’s northern end. It’s a traditionally Republican part of the state — tucked between Carmel Valley and Poway — represented since 2012 by Brian Maienschein, a former San Diego city councilman... Among some political operatives, there’s a sense that the district might have gone for a Democrat years ago if it weren’t for Maienschein. He’s still remembered for the fire recovery centers he organized following two major wildfires, and he has a reputation for being easy to work with.
Upshot: Maienschein is a "good, moderate" Republican, with a decent-enough track record, and that isn't enough to justify his party affiliation now.
FWIW, two years ago Maienschein had a 93%, "A" rating, from the NRA; that has since fallen to 53%. Meanwhile, his rating from Planned Parenthood Affliates of CA has flipped in an almost perfect inverse, with 57% rising to 100% (especially startling, when you consider that it kicked off in 2013 at a measly 4%).
Still, I've only seen yard signs (beginning months ago) for the Dem candidate, Sunday Gover.
posted by Iris Gambol at 4:52 PM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
I'm beginning to think that this caravan was supposed to be the October surprise.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:55 PM on October 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 4:55 PM on October 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
The stirred-up fear of this caravan, to be clear.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:02 PM on October 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 5:02 PM on October 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
The timing of the caravan did make me wonder where Stephen Miller has been the last few months.
posted by benzenedream at 5:07 PM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by benzenedream at 5:07 PM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
To paraphrase Gillum: I don't know if he's an asshole, but the assholes love him
posted by growabrain at 5:08 PM on October 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by growabrain at 5:08 PM on October 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
Internal GOP Poll: 'We've Lost the Messaging Battle' on Tax Cuts
A survey commissioned by the Republican National Committee has led the party to a glum conclusion regarding President Donald Trump’s signature legislative achievement: Voters overwhelmingly believe his tax overhaul helps the wealthy instead of average Americans.
By a 2-to-1 margin -- 61 percent to 30 percent -- respondents said the law benefits “large corporations and rich Americans” over “middle class families,” according to the survey, which was completed on Sept. 2 by the GOP firm Public Opinion Strategies and obtained by Bloomberg News.
posted by bluesky43 at 5:30 PM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
A survey commissioned by the Republican National Committee has led the party to a glum conclusion regarding President Donald Trump’s signature legislative achievement: Voters overwhelmingly believe his tax overhaul helps the wealthy instead of average Americans.
By a 2-to-1 margin -- 61 percent to 30 percent -- respondents said the law benefits “large corporations and rich Americans” over “middle class families,” according to the survey, which was completed on Sept. 2 by the GOP firm Public Opinion Strategies and obtained by Bloomberg News.
posted by bluesky43 at 5:30 PM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
14,000 troops? Where the hell are they going to put them? That’s a fuckton of people to support.
posted by azpenguin at 5:33 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 5:33 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
It's almost like Fox News guests do not even have a passing familiarity with their Holy Book or something.
I'm willing to concede that there is indeed a group of significant people in the New Testament whom Jesus often addresses directly and who have much in common with modern day Republicans.
That group is the Pharisees.
(Am aware that the historical Pharisees are quite different from those depicted in the Christian Bible.)
A friend in Austin today reported that an a-hole on a motorcycle went out of his way to swerve and drive up to her and harass her for wearing her Beto t-shirt...to the grocery store.
As someone who is also a member of a group that Trump supporters will target for violence --- no matter which way the midterms go -- I'm starting to feel that even if this is the last gasp of fragile white hatred, lashing out as its power slips away as some have said, there is going to be even more damage done to various groups before all is said and done.
posted by lord_wolf at 5:33 PM on October 29, 2018 [32 favorites]
I'm willing to concede that there is indeed a group of significant people in the New Testament whom Jesus often addresses directly and who have much in common with modern day Republicans.
That group is the Pharisees.
(Am aware that the historical Pharisees are quite different from those depicted in the Christian Bible.)
A friend in Austin today reported that an a-hole on a motorcycle went out of his way to swerve and drive up to her and harass her for wearing her Beto t-shirt...to the grocery store.
As someone who is also a member of a group that Trump supporters will target for violence --- no matter which way the midterms go -- I'm starting to feel that even if this is the last gasp of fragile white hatred, lashing out as its power slips away as some have said, there is going to be even more damage done to various groups before all is said and done.
posted by lord_wolf at 5:33 PM on October 29, 2018 [32 favorites]
Video: Shep Smith on the migrant caravan: "There is no invasion. No one is coming to get you. There is nothing at all to worry about."
I genuinely wonder what Shep Smith's show is like to someone who watches Fox all day. Is it like some weird unsettling dream that they have once a day, but then it passes and everything makes sense again?
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:34 PM on October 29, 2018 [45 favorites]
I genuinely wonder what Shep Smith's show is like to someone who watches Fox all day. Is it like some weird unsettling dream that they have once a day, but then it passes and everything makes sense again?
posted by T.D. Strange at 5:34 PM on October 29, 2018 [45 favorites]
I've falsely hoped so many times that we hit the extinction burst, but this feels different and the escalation is severe.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:52 PM on October 29, 2018 [15 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 5:52 PM on October 29, 2018 [15 favorites]
I'm beginning to think that this caravan was supposed to be the October surprise.
Trump's Mirror alone makes this a strong argument, since Democrats were being accused of organizing the Dread Caravan from the get-go.
posted by SpaceBass at 6:04 PM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Trump's Mirror alone makes this a strong argument, since Democrats were being accused of organizing the Dread Caravan from the get-go.
posted by SpaceBass at 6:04 PM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
And there are a surprising number of ordinary, middle-class Americans who are psychically broken in this way. Most of them don't even have to lose anything but perceived status to get to this state, either.
A comment seanmpuckett made, "Capitalism is a giant combine harvester chewing up society more or less in order from poorest to richest. I guess they're about halfway across the field by now. " has really stuck with me. Because it somewhat explains to me why the most fanatical Trump supporters apart from the rich are the white middle class; they see the harvester coming, but instead of allying with those already under it, they've decided if they kowtow to the rich fascists at the other end of the field they'll be fine.
posted by tavella at 6:14 PM on October 29, 2018 [44 favorites]
A comment seanmpuckett made, "Capitalism is a giant combine harvester chewing up society more or less in order from poorest to richest. I guess they're about halfway across the field by now. " has really stuck with me. Because it somewhat explains to me why the most fanatical Trump supporters apart from the rich are the white middle class; they see the harvester coming, but instead of allying with those already under it, they've decided if they kowtow to the rich fascists at the other end of the field they'll be fine.
posted by tavella at 6:14 PM on October 29, 2018 [44 favorites]
Steve Schmidt was one of the GOP consultants that got McCain to pick Sarah Palin, so he was definitely on the wrong side.
Today, as one of the loudest conservative anti-Trumpers, he does not mince words - he cuts to the heart of the matter with deadly precision & clarity.
posted by growabrain at 6:29 PM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Today, as one of the loudest conservative anti-Trumpers, he does not mince words - he cuts to the heart of the matter with deadly precision & clarity.
posted by growabrain at 6:29 PM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
I keep thinking that this administration can't do anything more to trigger my disgust reflex, after everything that's already been done, and somehow they keep managing to find a way.
[NBC] Pentagon sending 5,200 troops to the border in 'Operation Faithful Patriot' amid Trump condemnation of migrant caravan
Faithful. Patriot.
I hope everyone's gotten their lawful order briefing this year, but.. with a name like that, they're already priming people to go along with whatever.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 6:30 PM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
[NBC] Pentagon sending 5,200 troops to the border in 'Operation Faithful Patriot' amid Trump condemnation of migrant caravan
Faithful. Patriot.
I hope everyone's gotten their lawful order briefing this year, but.. with a name like that, they're already priming people to go along with whatever.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 6:30 PM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
How is this even legal?
posted by fluttering hellfire at 6:32 PM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 6:32 PM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
@HowardMortman: Rabbi Loren Jacobs of Messianic synagogue Shema Yisrael offers prayer before VP Pence speaks at Michigan campaign event: "God of Abraham ... God and Father of my Lord and Savior Yeshua, Jesus the Messiah...hate inspired shooting in synagogue in Pittsburgh"
Update: @JakeSherman: Team Pence says: "He was invited by Lena Epstein to offer a prayer at the event, which he did early in the program. The VP invited him back on stage to deliver a message of unity. He was not invited by the VP’s office to speak on behalf of the Jewish community.”
So this is even worse. They had the opportunity to throw the Epstein campaign under the bus on this one (and Epstein herself is Jewish), but just straight-up say Pence invited him back on stage. They're not even trying to play this off as a mistake; they're perfectly pleased with themselves.
@DLind: Hot tip: 3 days after a bunch of Jews were gunned down for being Jews, a dude with a Jewish Studies degree from Bible college who calls himself a rabbi is not the unity messenger you want to call back onstage.
By the way, once this guy opened with his prayer to Jesus, he proceeded to pray, by name, for various Republican candidates off a list [video].
@rafaelshimunov: Now, even in inviting this speaker - they literally use it to coopt our holiest traditions - things Jews have been murdered for practicing - and using it to step on the dead. This is no mistake, it's a message to their base. Their intention is a Christian nation by any means.
posted by zachlipton at 6:33 PM on October 29, 2018 [68 favorites]
Update: @JakeSherman: Team Pence says: "He was invited by Lena Epstein to offer a prayer at the event, which he did early in the program. The VP invited him back on stage to deliver a message of unity. He was not invited by the VP’s office to speak on behalf of the Jewish community.”
So this is even worse. They had the opportunity to throw the Epstein campaign under the bus on this one (and Epstein herself is Jewish), but just straight-up say Pence invited him back on stage. They're not even trying to play this off as a mistake; they're perfectly pleased with themselves.
@DLind: Hot tip: 3 days after a bunch of Jews were gunned down for being Jews, a dude with a Jewish Studies degree from Bible college who calls himself a rabbi is not the unity messenger you want to call back onstage.
By the way, once this guy opened with his prayer to Jesus, he proceeded to pray, by name, for various Republican candidates off a list [video].
@rafaelshimunov: Now, even in inviting this speaker - they literally use it to coopt our holiest traditions - things Jews have been murdered for practicing - and using it to step on the dead. This is no mistake, it's a message to their base. Their intention is a Christian nation by any means.
posted by zachlipton at 6:33 PM on October 29, 2018 [68 favorites]
Today, as one of the loudest conservative anti-Trumpers, he does not mince words - he cuts to the heart of the matter with deadly precision & clarity.
…and is impatient for the Republican party to return to the good old days of screwing over the marginalized via policy, but not bragging about it.
posted by murphy slaw at 6:35 PM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
…and is impatient for the Republican party to return to the good old days of screwing over the marginalized via policy, but not bragging about it.
posted by murphy slaw at 6:35 PM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
How is this even legal?
My understanding is Trump proposes something, a bunch of people spew whatever they're drinking, tell him it's not legal, and then he says "Who's going to stop me?" or "Says who?" I'm not kidding, this is really what I've read.
posted by xammerboy at 6:41 PM on October 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
My understanding is Trump proposes something, a bunch of people spew whatever they're drinking, tell him it's not legal, and then he says "Who's going to stop me?" or "Says who?" I'm not kidding, this is really what I've read.
posted by xammerboy at 6:41 PM on October 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Trump Shut Programs to Counter Violent Extremism: The administration has hobbled the infrastructure designed to prevent atrocities like Pittsburgh. "Set aside the question of whether President Donald Trump’s rhetorical flirtations with white nationalism enabled Saturday’s mass shooting in Pittsburgh. What’s undeniable is that his administration has hobbled the infrastructure designed to prevent such murders."
posted by homunculus at 6:51 PM on October 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 6:51 PM on October 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
They are planning to do something terrible at the border, and they’ve been planning it as their October surprise. At this point I am hoping, praying, that at the final measure they are even more incompetent than they are evil.
I’m also hoping there’s a small army of legit journalists headed to the border, too.
posted by schadenfrau at 6:59 PM on October 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
I’m also hoping there’s a small army of legit journalists headed to the border, too.
posted by schadenfrau at 6:59 PM on October 29, 2018 [18 favorites]
Trump's Mirror alone makes this a strong argument, since Democrats were being accused of organizing the Dread Caravan from the get-go.
I've said this multiple times now. I've provided links to them. I don't know what else I can do. The caravan is the work of Pueblo Sin Fronteras (also on FaceBook & Twitter), a very legitimate humanitarian aid group that's been running these for 15 years now, among other campaigns. It's unfortunate that this fact hasn't gotten anywhere near the publicity it deserves.
posted by scalefree at 7:02 PM on October 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
I've said this multiple times now. I've provided links to them. I don't know what else I can do. The caravan is the work of Pueblo Sin Fronteras (also on FaceBook & Twitter), a very legitimate humanitarian aid group that's been running these for 15 years now, among other campaigns. It's unfortunate that this fact hasn't gotten anywhere near the publicity it deserves.
posted by scalefree at 7:02 PM on October 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
When is the caravan estimated to arrive at the border?
posted by Dashy at 7:03 PM on October 29, 2018
posted by Dashy at 7:03 PM on October 29, 2018
14,000 troops? Where the hell are they going to put them? That’s a fuckton of people to support.
What are they even going to DO? Isn’t the caravan still like a thousand miles away and walking here?
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:05 PM on October 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
What are they even going to DO? Isn’t the caravan still like a thousand miles away and walking here?
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:05 PM on October 29, 2018 [9 favorites]
Video: Shep Smith on the migrant caravan: "There is no invasion. No one is coming to get you. There is nothing at all to worry about."
I genuinely wonder what Shep Smith's show is like to someone who watches Fox all day. Is it like some weird unsettling dream that they have once a day, but then it passes and everything makes sense again?
Shep Smith is the vaccine they use against liberalism. Just a tiny little dose in an amount that doesn't overwhelm their ideological defence system but does rile them up a bit to fight liberalism. This is second year social psychology of attitudes/persuasion stuff.
posted by srboisvert at 7:06 PM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
I genuinely wonder what Shep Smith's show is like to someone who watches Fox all day. Is it like some weird unsettling dream that they have once a day, but then it passes and everything makes sense again?
Shep Smith is the vaccine they use against liberalism. Just a tiny little dose in an amount that doesn't overwhelm their ideological defence system but does rile them up a bit to fight liberalism. This is second year social psychology of attitudes/persuasion stuff.
posted by srboisvert at 7:06 PM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
When is the caravan estimated to arrive at the border?
Well, well after the midterms. Thing is thousands of miles away. Not that you'd know that from Fox News. It's still a bunch south of Mexico City.
My understanding is Trump proposes something, a bunch of people spew whatever they're drinking, tell him it's not legal, and then he says "Who's going to stop me?" or "Says who?" I'm not kidding, this is really what I've read.
Probably generally true but in this case the relevant law is probably Posse Comitatus. But Posse Comitatus only applies, afaik, to enforcement of domestic laws. Guarding your border is like the opposite of that. Stationing the army on your border is basically what it's for. (Pleaseeee dont think I'm defending Trump's racist bullshit, just saying there isn't anything inherently illegal in moving troops to your borders.)
Having the Army turn away legal asylum seekers would be illegal.
posted by Justinian at 7:08 PM on October 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Well, well after the midterms. Thing is thousands of miles away. Not that you'd know that from Fox News. It's still a bunch south of Mexico City.
My understanding is Trump proposes something, a bunch of people spew whatever they're drinking, tell him it's not legal, and then he says "Who's going to stop me?" or "Says who?" I'm not kidding, this is really what I've read.
Probably generally true but in this case the relevant law is probably Posse Comitatus. But Posse Comitatus only applies, afaik, to enforcement of domestic laws. Guarding your border is like the opposite of that. Stationing the army on your border is basically what it's for. (Pleaseeee dont think I'm defending Trump's racist bullshit, just saying there isn't anything inherently illegal in moving troops to your borders.)
Having the Army turn away legal asylum seekers would be illegal.
posted by Justinian at 7:08 PM on October 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
Shep Smith is the Washington Generals if they didn't know they were the Washington Generals.
posted by Justinian at 7:09 PM on October 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 7:09 PM on October 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
When is the caravan estimated to arrive at the border?
Isn’t the caravan still like a thousand miles away and walking here?
It doesn't matter. "The Caravan" is synecdoche for "brown people." Any demonstrative brutal show of force will serve, though it will never satisfy.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:09 PM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Isn’t the caravan still like a thousand miles away and walking here?
It doesn't matter. "The Caravan" is synecdoche for "brown people." Any demonstrative brutal show of force will serve, though it will never satisfy.
posted by Rust Moranis at 7:09 PM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
It doesn't matter. "The Caravan" is synecdoche for "brown people."
Just like the Syrian refugees in 2016 and Ebola in 2014.
posted by peeedro at 7:10 PM on October 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Just like the Syrian refugees in 2016 and Ebola in 2014.
posted by peeedro at 7:10 PM on October 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Having the Army turn away legal asylum seekers would be illegal.
When your police forces have turned into paramilitary squads, deploying the miltary-sans-para is probably a good thing.
posted by ocschwar at 7:12 PM on October 29, 2018
When your police forces have turned into paramilitary squads, deploying the miltary-sans-para is probably a good thing.
posted by ocschwar at 7:12 PM on October 29, 2018
That group is the Pharisees.
GOP: Grand Old Pharisees
posted by kirkaracha at 7:13 PM on October 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
GOP: Grand Old Pharisees
posted by kirkaracha at 7:13 PM on October 29, 2018 [11 favorites]
I have it on good authority that members of the caravan are using a unprotected email server.
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:13 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by dances_with_sneetches at 7:13 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
But, literally, what are we paying these 14,000 people to do? Sit on their asses in a long line like Red Rover?
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:13 PM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:13 PM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
For weeks?
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:13 PM on October 29, 2018
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:13 PM on October 29, 2018
But, literally, what are we paying these 14,000 people to do? Sit on their asses in a long line like Red Rover?
Maybe they will build some wall while they wait.
posted by Marticus at 7:15 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Maybe they will build some wall while they wait.
posted by Marticus at 7:15 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
But, literally, what are we paying these 14,000 people to do? Sit on their asses in a long line like Red Rover?
Exercises in hurr-up-and-wait. Just another day in the Army.
posted by ocschwar at 7:15 PM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Exercises in hurr-up-and-wait. Just another day in the Army.
posted by ocschwar at 7:15 PM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
But, literally, what are we paying these 14,000 people to do? Sit on their asses in a long line like Red Rover?
My understanding is that a lot of them are literally shovelling poop.
Remember, though, that this is active duty military. If they aren't paid to sit around at the border they are paid to sit around back at base. (yes I know "sit around" is unfair but you know what I mean.)
posted by Justinian at 7:17 PM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
My understanding is that a lot of them are literally shovelling poop.
Remember, though, that this is active duty military. If they aren't paid to sit around at the border they are paid to sit around back at base. (yes I know "sit around" is unfair but you know what I mean.)
posted by Justinian at 7:17 PM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
(yes I know "sit around" is unfair but you know what I mean.)
Nah, we'll allow it.
posted by Etrigan at 7:18 PM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
Nah, we'll allow it.
posted by Etrigan at 7:18 PM on October 29, 2018 [5 favorites]
cite for the shovelling poop at the border.
posted by Justinian at 7:19 PM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 7:19 PM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Maybe they will build some wall while they wait.
You joke, but the initial units being deployed are:
89th Military Police Brigade
19th Engineer Battalion
15th Engineer Co.
541st Engineer Co.
887th Engineer Co.
97th MP Batttalion
977th MP Co.
287th Military Police Co.
41st Engineer Co.
Just another day in the Army.
Nah, they get a ribbon for the deployment.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 7:20 PM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
You joke, but the initial units being deployed are:
89th Military Police Brigade
19th Engineer Battalion
15th Engineer Co.
541st Engineer Co.
887th Engineer Co.
97th MP Batttalion
977th MP Co.
287th Military Police Co.
41st Engineer Co.
Just another day in the Army.
Nah, they get a ribbon for the deployment.
posted by Xyanthilous P. Harrierstick at 7:20 PM on October 29, 2018 [4 favorites]
Maybe they will build some wall while they wait.
I laughed and then I went cold. Can they do that? Can he just wave his national security wand and have the military build his damn wall?
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:20 PM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
I laughed and then I went cold. Can they do that? Can he just wave his national security wand and have the military build his damn wall?
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:20 PM on October 29, 2018 [2 favorites]
He would need Congressional approval so... no.
posted by Justinian at 7:22 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 7:22 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
The caravan will likely disperse somewhat in Mexico, with some heading west for Brownsville, Raynosa, Larado, etc. Some will stay on the main highway north, and shoot for the California border instead of Texas.
But they are a long way away, and it is a ragged chain of so many women and babies. If we were really the shining city on a hill the republican mythos claims we are, we would have sent aid and transportation. We could absorb that entire migrant train into North Texas and not even notice.
This is pure racism and fear of the other, and I am ashamed of my country.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:23 PM on October 29, 2018 [85 favorites]
But they are a long way away, and it is a ragged chain of so many women and babies. If we were really the shining city on a hill the republican mythos claims we are, we would have sent aid and transportation. We could absorb that entire migrant train into North Texas and not even notice.
This is pure racism and fear of the other, and I am ashamed of my country.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:23 PM on October 29, 2018 [85 favorites]
The congress that just appointed a rapist to the Supreme Court? You’re not really helping right now...
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:23 PM on October 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:23 PM on October 29, 2018 [6 favorites]
Also, since when did “he needs x to do y” matter? Wasn’t he just bragging about something “great”* happening “next week”? Last weekish?
*for certain values of “great”
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:27 PM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
*for certain values of “great”
posted by Weeping_angel at 7:27 PM on October 29, 2018 [1 favorite]
My understanding is Trump proposes something, a bunch of people spew whatever they're drinking, tell him it's not legal, and then he says "Who's going to stop me?" or "Says who?" I'm not kidding, this is really what I've read.
I think this is really the Trump Rosetta Stone; once you understand it, everything else makes sense. His little bug brain works from its cartoon sketch of the world and whatever has happened in the last 20 minutes and he comes up with some course of action, and he orders some lackey to figure out the details and do it without regard for ethics or legality. If the lackey pushes back really hard, he modifies the request or finds a different lackey. If the lackey complies, great, on to the next thing. If the lackey expresses reluctance, he browbeats them into compliance, so now he gets his way and has developed a more compromised and agreeable lackey. In this way he is able to blindly feel his way right up to the edge of what he can get away with, despite not knowing a damn thing about what's legal or what other people consider monstrous. He's not an intuitive savant of criminality, he just surrounds himself with more knowledgeable crooks and bullies them to just beyond their comfort zone.
posted by contraption at 7:41 PM on October 29, 2018 [37 favorites]
I think this is really the Trump Rosetta Stone; once you understand it, everything else makes sense. His little bug brain works from its cartoon sketch of the world and whatever has happened in the last 20 minutes and he comes up with some course of action, and he orders some lackey to figure out the details and do it without regard for ethics or legality. If the lackey pushes back really hard, he modifies the request or finds a different lackey. If the lackey complies, great, on to the next thing. If the lackey expresses reluctance, he browbeats them into compliance, so now he gets his way and has developed a more compromised and agreeable lackey. In this way he is able to blindly feel his way right up to the edge of what he can get away with, despite not knowing a damn thing about what's legal or what other people consider monstrous. He's not an intuitive savant of criminality, he just surrounds himself with more knowledgeable crooks and bullies them to just beyond their comfort zone.
posted by contraption at 7:41 PM on October 29, 2018 [37 favorites]
OK, here's the thing that I can barely bring myself to type, about why the troops are being sent to the border. The camp with, what, 13K migrant kids is in Texas.
posted by Sublimity at 7:45 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by Sublimity at 7:45 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Texas Tribune reports: As of day seven of early voting, 2,669,506 Texans have cast in-person ballots and 311,409 have cast mail-in ballots in the 30 counties where most registered voters in the state — 78 percent — live. That preliminary turnout has surpassed the total votes cast in those counties during the entire two-week early voting period in the last midterm election in 2014. So far this year, 24.3 percent of the 12.3 million registered voters in those 30 counties have voted.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:50 PM on October 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:50 PM on October 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
azpenguin: 14,000 troops? Where the hell are they going to put them? That’s a fuckton of people to support.
I assume they can just quarter them in people's homes? I mean, I can see literally any member of this administration explaining how that's what the founders would want to happen.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 8:00 PM on October 29, 2018 [39 favorites]
I assume they can just quarter them in people's homes? I mean, I can see literally any member of this administration explaining how that's what the founders would want to happen.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 8:00 PM on October 29, 2018 [39 favorites]
Anti-Semitism’s evil goes without saying, but here’s a teleprompter statement (Alexandra Petri, WaPo)
Anyone wondering how strongly the president feels about putting an end to anti-Semitism need only look at his statement to the Future Farmers of America after gun violence claimed 11 lives at the Tree of Life synagogue. He called it “frankly, something that is unimaginable.”posted by Johnny Wallflower at 8:39 PM on October 29, 2018 [14 favorites]
What could be a more ringing denunciation than that? This strident condemnation is even clearer than the administration’s Holocaust Remembrance Day statement last year, which was already a shining masterpiece of perfection and whose only possible tweak would have been to mention the Jewish people.
Why, the president said “anti-Semitism” four times, including in one whole sentence where he did not quickly mention that other forms of evil are just as bad!
While Trump can't use the military to outright "build the wall" I wouldn't put it past Miller and company to try to use this an opportunity to make a show of militarizing sections of the border, partially under the guise of the troops building their own encampments. At least some units they sent spent their time in Afghanistan building and maintaining FOBs.
Whether that would be intended to have an actual effect in end-running wall funding or just be pre-election theatrics to mobilize the deplorables, I'm not sure.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:41 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
Whether that would be intended to have an actual effect in end-running wall funding or just be pre-election theatrics to mobilize the deplorables, I'm not sure.
posted by snuffleupagus at 8:41 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
The war to deny our existence continues.
All References to Transgender Americans Scrubbed From Government Websites (Medium)
posted by michswiss at 8:55 PM on October 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
All References to Transgender Americans Scrubbed From Government Websites (Medium)
posted by michswiss at 8:55 PM on October 29, 2018 [28 favorites]
So I guess this happened in July. FDA approved a drug to treat smallpox.
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:56 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by fluttering hellfire at 8:56 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
@HeerJeet:
This is just so awful and weird. Like, there are huge divisions within Judaism. It's not easy to get some of the leaders of the American Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Reform movements to sign their names to one piece of paper on religious matters, yet they're all really super united that "Hebrew Christianity" is just straight-up Christianity. You want to talk about an effort of unity? Besides opposition to anti-Semitic mass murder, this is really one of the few things Jewish institutions readily agree on, and that includes those leaders who have either supported Trump or remained conspicuously silent. I know the administration simply does not care, even views what they did as a good thing, but even just at a political level, I sincerely have to hope this will backfire in terms of their remaining Jewish support.
posted by zachlipton at 9:04 PM on October 29, 2018 [62 favorites]
Let's talk about how the Trump administration is trying to erase the Jewish dimensions of a Jewish tragedy. The technical term is "de-Judaization" -- fake universalism in the service of suppressing a particular identity. First we had the ineffable Kellyanne Conway saying that the synagogue massacre was an example of "anti-religiosity" spurred by late-night comedians. Then Mike Pence invited a Christian "rabbi" to deliver a prayer -- one that didn't name the dead in the Tree of Life synagogue but rather Republican candidates. Jeff Sessions made a comment similar to Kellyanne Conway, that this was an assault on all religions. Again with the effect of removing the synagogue massacre from the category of an anti-Semitic crime to a more generic offense.Speaking of "facile ecumenicalism," Lena Epstein, the Republican candidate who invited this guy to speak in the first place, put out a Statement on Jewish Faith and Religious Tolerance. She cites her Jewish credentials and then says: "I invited the prayer because we must unite as a nation - while embracing our religious differences - in the aftermath of Pennsylvania. Any media or political competitor who is attacking me or the Vice President is guilty of nothing more than religious intolerance and should be ashamed. This was an effort of unity, yet some are trying to create needless division to suit their political goals"
All of this adds up to a pattern, one seen earlier when Trump White House released statement on Holocaust Remembrance Day that didn't mention Jews. So: let's be clear: the Saturday massacre was the most lethal anti-Semitic massacre ever on American soil. The alleged gunman from all evidence had deeply imbibed anti-Jewish hatred. His goal was a specific one of killing Jews, not generic anti-religiosity.
...
So what's going on here? Why this pattern of de-emphasizing the Jewish particulars? The worst case answer is anti-Semitism, either deliberate or unconscious. But there are other possible answers.
The most benign possible answer is that this is the common way that Gentiles of all stripes handle anti-Semitic crimes: try to make them more "relatable" and "universal" -- i.e. early version of Diary of Anne Frank which erased some Jewish references. A more specific answer is timing and politics. We're a week out from the mid-terms. Talking about anti-Semitism doesn't help the GOP and could (given stoking of Soros conspiracy theories) hurt them. There voters are evangelicals. Make it about anti-religiosity.
I think it's really important for reasons to go beyond partisan politics to resist the erasure the Trump administration is engaged in. That resistance has to also oppose the tendency towards a facile ecumenicalism from some non-Trump people. The proper understanding of the Tree of Life massacre is that it a Jewish event: fuelled by the particular anti-Semitism that scapegoats Jews for social unrest. We should oppose all forms of bigotry but can't fight anti-Semitism unless we name it as such.
This is just so awful and weird. Like, there are huge divisions within Judaism. It's not easy to get some of the leaders of the American Orthodox, Conservative, Reconstructionist, and Reform movements to sign their names to one piece of paper on religious matters, yet they're all really super united that "Hebrew Christianity" is just straight-up Christianity. You want to talk about an effort of unity? Besides opposition to anti-Semitic mass murder, this is really one of the few things Jewish institutions readily agree on, and that includes those leaders who have either supported Trump or remained conspicuously silent. I know the administration simply does not care, even views what they did as a good thing, but even just at a political level, I sincerely have to hope this will backfire in terms of their remaining Jewish support.
posted by zachlipton at 9:04 PM on October 29, 2018 [62 favorites]
following up on 23skiddo's comment, is this from The El Paso Times:
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:09 PM on October 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in riot gear on Monday morning blocked the Paso Del Norte international bridge in Downtown El Paso training for the possible arrival of the Central American migrant caravan.emphasis mine.
The show of force was part of "operational readiness for the potential impact of the caravan," said Roger Maier, a spokesman for CBP.
The caravan of Central Americans is in southern Mexico more than 1,000 miles from McAllen, Texas, the closest U.S. border crossing.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 9:09 PM on October 29, 2018 [22 favorites]
I think it's even simpler, Trump is a white supremacist, and antisemite. He always was and always has been. The only problem is Ivanka, his only true offspring and lust object, married Jared and converted. So he can't let his true antisemitism show lest he short circuit and implode. This works well with the "haha we're just joking" strain of contemporary white supremacy, both in the alt-right proper and white washed through Republican establishment channels, although at this point who can tell the fucking difference. He can always adopt antisemitic language and arguments while not actually stating the implied.
The only thing stopping him from fully embracing explicitly Nazi rhetoric and naming the Jews as the real other is Ivanka. And for their part Ivanka and Jared (and Stephen Miller) are fine with this arrangement, they're the good ones. I'll leave it to more knowledgeable people to give us the word for them.
Trump’s Ideology Is Anti-Semitism Without Jews
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:19 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
The only thing stopping him from fully embracing explicitly Nazi rhetoric and naming the Jews as the real other is Ivanka. And for their part Ivanka and Jared (and Stephen Miller) are fine with this arrangement, they're the good ones. I'll leave it to more knowledgeable people to give us the word for them.
Trump’s Ideology Is Anti-Semitism Without Jews
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:19 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
ELECTIONS NEWS
// 8 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
// 8 days until Election Day //
** 2018 Senate:
-- MI: Mitchell Communications poll has Dem incumbent Stabenow up 52-46 on GOPer James [MOE: +/- 5.0%]. | Emerson poll has Stabenow up 52-43 [MOE: +/- 3.6%].** 2018 House:
-- TX: Quinnipiac poll has GOP incumbent Cruz up 51-46 on Dem O'Rourke [MOE: +/- 3.5%].
-- AZ: Highground poll has GOPer McSally up 47-45 on Dem Sinema [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. => Highground is a GOP shop, but I don't *think* this was actually commissioned by McSally.
-- NJ: Emerson poll has Dem incumbent Menendez up 47-42 on GOPer Hugin [MOE: +/- 4.0%]. | NJ Star Ledger endorsement: "Choke it down and vote for Menendez."
-- MN-02: Global Strategy Group poll has Dem Craig up 52-43 on GOP incumbent Lewis [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. Poll was commissioned by Gabby Giffords's PAC. [Trump 47-45 | Cook: Lean D]** Odds & ends:
-- NE-02: DFM Research poll has GOP incumbent Bacon up 52-45 on Dem Eastman [MOE: +/- 5.2%]. Poll was commissioned by the transportation workers' union. [Trump 48-46 | Cook: Lean R]
-- PA-01: Siena poll has GOP incumbent Fitzpatrick up 47-46 on Dem Wallace [MOE: +/- 4.7%]. [Clinton 49-47 | Cook: Tossup] => ICYMI, Wallace is Henry Wallace's grandson!
-- VA-07: CNU poll has Dem Spanberger up 46-45 on GOP incumbent Brat in their standard turnout model. A model of only highly enthused voters has Spanberger up 48-45 [MOE: +/- 4.2%]. [Trump 51-44 | Cook: Tossup]
-- NY-27: Tulchin Research poll has Dem McMurray up 47-43 on GOP incumbent Collins [MOE: +/- 4.9%]. Poll was commissioned by the McMurray campaign. | Siena poll has Collins up 44-40 [MOE: +/- 4.8%]. [Trump 60-35 | Cook: Lean R] => Opinion on this race has fluctuated, but it looks like Collins's indictment may be taking a toll.
-- NM-02: Emerson poll has Dem Torres Small tied 47-47 with GOPer Herrell [MOE: +/- 6.1%]. [Trump 50-40 | Cook: Tossup]
-- UT-04: Dixie Strategies poll has Dem McAdams up 50-43 on GOP incumbent Love [MOE: +/- 3.2%]. [Trump 39-32 | Cook: Tossup] => This one looks like an outlier, and the Romney number looks weirdly low. Clearly a tossup race, though.
-- PA-10: Susquehanna Polling has GOP incumbent Perry up 49-46 on Dem Scott [MOE: +/- 5.0%]. [Trump 52-43 | Cook: Lean R]
-- KS-02: GOP candidate Steve Watkins facing some nasty sexual harassment claims. [Trump 56-37 | Tossup]
-- ME gov: Indy candidate Alan Caron is dropping out of the race. Caron, who was polling low single digits, endorsed Dem Janet Mills. Other indy Terry Hayes is staying in the race, raising the worrying possibility of the GOP getting yet another Maine governor elected by a minority of voters (ranked choice voting does not apply for ME governor). [Cook: Tossup]** Averages & forecasts:
-- MI gov: [Cook: Lean D]-- Same Mitchell poll has Dem Whitmer up 48-43 on GOPer Schuette.-- TX gov: Same Quinnipiac poll has GOP incumbent Abbott up 54-40 on Dem Valdez. [Cook: Solid R]
-- Same Emerson poll has Whitmer up 52-41.
-- Glengariff Group poll has Whitmer up 50-38 [MOE: +/- 4.0%].
-- RI gov: RWU poll has Dem incumbent Raimondo at 45, GOPer Fung at 34, indy Trillo at 9 [MOE: +/- 4.8%]. [Cook: Lean D]
-- AZ gov: Same Highground poll has GOP incumbent Ducey up 55-35 on Dem Garcia. [Cook: Likely R]
-- 538 generic ballot average: D+8.5 (50.3/41.8)posted by Chrysostom at 9:24 PM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
-- 538 House forecast (classic): 86.4% chance of Dem control
-- 538 Senate forecast (classic): 17.5% chance of Dem control
-- 538 governor forecast (classic): Dems favored to control 24.0 states.
I sincerely have to hope this will backfire in terms of their remaining Jewish support.
A member of my extended Jewish family is a committed Trumpist. She was all in for Trump before this massacre, remained all in afterward, and if any response he offered was enough to budge her opinion I'd be flabbergasted. Jewish Trump supporters are as far beyond rational thought as the rest; until he's personally escorting them to the ovens, they'll be looking for reasons to keep backing him.
posted by contraption at 9:29 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
A member of my extended Jewish family is a committed Trumpist. She was all in for Trump before this massacre, remained all in afterward, and if any response he offered was enough to budge her opinion I'd be flabbergasted. Jewish Trump supporters are as far beyond rational thought as the rest; until he's personally escorting them to the ovens, they'll be looking for reasons to keep backing him.
posted by contraption at 9:29 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
NJ Star Ledger endorsement: "Choke it down and vote for Menendez."
Truly a great day for America.
posted by Justinian at 9:30 PM on October 29, 2018 [23 favorites]
Truly a great day for America.
posted by Justinian at 9:30 PM on October 29, 2018 [23 favorites]
"Vote for the crook, it's important."
(except Hugin is also super shady)
posted by Chrysostom at 9:31 PM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
(except Hugin is also super shady)
posted by Chrysostom at 9:31 PM on October 29, 2018 [7 favorites]
Also Change Research just dropped a dozen polls that will need to wait for tomorrow, but I will give you one teaser that may excite a lot of people:
IA-04:posted by Chrysostom at 9:34 PM on October 29, 2018 [36 favorites]
Steve King 45
J.D. Scholten 44
WHite House not ruling out suspension of habeas corpus.
General strike, people. Get ready for it.
posted by ocschwar at 9:36 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
General strike, people. Get ready for it.
posted by ocschwar at 9:36 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
crazy evangelical baseheads
...sir, you repeat yourself.
posted by aramaic at 9:39 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
...sir, you repeat yourself.
posted by aramaic at 9:39 PM on October 29, 2018 [3 favorites]
WHite House not ruling out suspension of habeas corpus.
In context, this was a reporter giving them bad ideas and Sanders refusing to rule anything out of any kind. I'm pretty sure this headline could have been "White House not ruling out blasting migrants off to the moon" if that question had been asked instead.
posted by zachlipton at 9:41 PM on October 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
In context, this was a reporter giving them bad ideas and Sanders refusing to rule anything out of any kind. I'm pretty sure this headline could have been "White House not ruling out blasting migrants off to the moon" if that question had been asked instead.
posted by zachlipton at 9:41 PM on October 29, 2018 [19 favorites]
Trump hasn’t gone full on anti-Semitic mainly because he doesn’t want to upset crazy evangelical baseheads who want to keep Zionism well funded in order to immanentize the eschaton.
given the lengths that evangelicals are willing to go to in order to fulfill their twisted misreading of Revelation, how many of them do you think are supporting trump because they think he's the anti-christ
posted by murphy slaw at 9:43 PM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
given the lengths that evangelicals are willing to go to in order to fulfill their twisted misreading of Revelation, how many of them do you think are supporting trump because they think he's the anti-christ
posted by murphy slaw at 9:43 PM on October 29, 2018 [21 favorites]
"Habeas corpus" is in the headline but nowhere in the article.
posted by reductiondesign at 9:44 PM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by reductiondesign at 9:44 PM on October 29, 2018 [8 favorites]
Trump orders some lackey to figure out the details and do it without regard for ethics or legality. If the lackey pushes back really hard, he modifies the request or finds a different lackey. If the lackey complies, great, on to the next thing.
Yes, and this operating procedure is reliant on every person at every link in the chain of command acquiescing, as they did with Stephen Miller on down to ICE soldiers with the immigration deportations. But you also see that any time anyone says no or takes the decision to the courts, as with the transgender ban, those orders are either lawfully countermanded or at least seriously stalled. Everyone that follows Trump's crazy orders without pushing back are complicit, because they really could likely stop or stall him.
posted by xammerboy at 10:36 PM on October 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
Yes, and this operating procedure is reliant on every person at every link in the chain of command acquiescing, as they did with Stephen Miller on down to ICE soldiers with the immigration deportations. But you also see that any time anyone says no or takes the decision to the courts, as with the transgender ban, those orders are either lawfully countermanded or at least seriously stalled. Everyone that follows Trump's crazy orders without pushing back are complicit, because they really could likely stop or stall him.
posted by xammerboy at 10:36 PM on October 29, 2018 [12 favorites]
In connection to the Fox News “Soros-occupied State Department” incident I don't think I've seen this mentioned yet, which it reminded me of—in 1950 on the floor of the U.S. Senate, McCarthyist senator Styles Bridges of New Hampshire said,
Yesterday evening's Fresh Air (.mp3 link) includes a recent interview with journalist Eli Saslow and an excerpt of an interview from last month with Saslow and Derek Black, son of Don Black, the former Grand Wizard of the KKK and founder and current webmaster of Stormfront. (.mp3 of full September interview)
Derek Black has evidently disavowed the family business of white nationalism. I found particularly interesting Black's description of political campaigning in Florida as a covert white nationalist and carefully not saying the quiet parts out loud. I'm wishfully hoping I can tell some of my relatives to seek that out—a reformed white nationalist describing what they did to campaign in Republican clothing—and they might follow the trail out of the rightwingosphere and hear details that will sound familiar, and make the connection.
posted by XMLicious at 11:01 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
This comment was regarding employees of the State Department who had obstructed the U.S. taking in and hiring Nazi scientists... my understanding is that many of the people objecting were Jewish, and this of course was a scant few years after the Holocaust.The State Department needs a real house cleaning. This is not a job of sweeping the dust under the rug with a whisk broom, or airing out the house by opening the front door and sweeping the front steps. This job calls for yellow soap, a scrubbing brush, and plenty of elbow grease, from the basement to the attic. It should be finished off with a first-class cyanide fumigating job.
Yesterday evening's Fresh Air (.mp3 link) includes a recent interview with journalist Eli Saslow and an excerpt of an interview from last month with Saslow and Derek Black, son of Don Black, the former Grand Wizard of the KKK and founder and current webmaster of Stormfront. (.mp3 of full September interview)
Derek Black has evidently disavowed the family business of white nationalism. I found particularly interesting Black's description of political campaigning in Florida as a covert white nationalist and carefully not saying the quiet parts out loud. I'm wishfully hoping I can tell some of my relatives to seek that out—a reformed white nationalist describing what they did to campaign in Republican clothing—and they might follow the trail out of the rightwingosphere and hear details that will sound familiar, and make the connection.
posted by XMLicious at 11:01 PM on October 29, 2018 [16 favorites]
I think it's even simpler, Trump is a white supremacist, and antisemite. He always was and always has been. The only problem is Ivanka, his only true offspring and lust object, married Jared and converted.
In Trump's mind she's not.... you know.... really Jewish.
posted by PenDevil at 11:55 PM on October 29, 2018 [24 favorites]
In Trump's mind she's not.... you know.... really Jewish.
posted by PenDevil at 11:55 PM on October 29, 2018 [24 favorites]
If free floating antiSemitism is the cause of recent events, how is it that Stephen Miller, Jared Kushner. Mnuchin, and Netanyahu, each of whom exert much more influence on Trump than any shaowy cabal, are miraculously exmpt from the anti-Semitic propaganda being spread on campuses and talk radio? (Spoiler alert: Republicans are spreading it.)
posted by benzenedream at 12:52 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by benzenedream at 12:52 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
In Trump's mind [his daughter Ivanka] is not.... you know.... really Jewish.
If you're a racist, converting to Judaism means nothing.
posted by msalt at 1:39 AM on October 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
If you're a racist, converting to Judaism means nothing.
posted by msalt at 1:39 AM on October 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
Axios, Exclusive: Trump to terminate birthright citizenship
posted by zachlipton at 2:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [55 favorites]
President Trump plans to sign an executive order that would remove the right to citizenship for babies of non-citizens and unauthorized immigrants born on U.S. soil, he said yesterday in an exclusive interview for "Axios on HBO," a new four-part documentary news series debuting on HBO this Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET/PT.Most people don't really think he can do this, and no timeframe is given for when this purported order may happen, but man are they just lining up all of their most absolutely horrible ideas as their closing argument for the midterms.
Why it matters: This would be the most dramatic move yet in Trump's hardline immigration campaign, this time targeting "anchor babies" and "chain migration." And it will set off another stand-off with the courts, as Trump’s power to do this through executive action is debatable to say the least.
posted by zachlipton at 2:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [55 favorites]
how many of them do you think are supporting trump because they think he's the anti-christ
Oh, definitely not zero.
The only problem is Ivanka, his only true offspring and lust object, married Jared and converted.
Given his creepy, narcissistic, reverse-Oedipal sexual fixation on Ivanka, this could end up only adding fuel to his anti-Semitism - Jared as a hated rival.
posted by Miko at 4:15 AM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
Oh, definitely not zero.
The only problem is Ivanka, his only true offspring and lust object, married Jared and converted.
Given his creepy, narcissistic, reverse-Oedipal sexual fixation on Ivanka, this could end up only adding fuel to his anti-Semitism - Jared as a hated rival.
posted by Miko at 4:15 AM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside.
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:19 AM on October 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:19 AM on October 30, 2018 [30 favorites]
am I right in saying the born on U.S. soil you're a citizen thing is part of the 14th amendment?
posted by angrycat at 4:25 AM on October 30, 2018
posted by angrycat at 4:25 AM on October 30, 2018
I get that he's trying to be a dick to immigrants, but for the federal government to formally imply that aliens in the US are not subject to US law would at least lead to Really Interesting outcomes
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 4:28 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 4:28 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Yes, if you're on US soil and not a diplomat (who would enjoy diplomatic immunity), you are under the jurisdiction of the United States, and therefore any children you have while on US soil would be "born... in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof". To argue that the children of undocumented immigrants don't qualify would have to exclude one of those two conditions, and as we've already established that they were born here, you would have to argue that the US does not have jurisdiction over the children of undocumented immigrants and therefore the government cannot arrest, deport, or imprison them.
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:29 AM on October 30, 2018 [26 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:29 AM on October 30, 2018 [26 favorites]
Yeah, as usual he's full of shit, which has never stopped him from trying before, admittedly, but this is actually in the constitution.
posted by skybluepink at 4:31 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by skybluepink at 4:31 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
reprise "the Constitution is not a suicide pact!" coming from Fox in 3...2...1
posted by thelonius at 4:39 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by thelonius at 4:39 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
reprise "the Constitution is not a suicide pact!" coming from Fox in 3...2...1
... except the parts we like!
posted by Archelaus at 4:40 AM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
... except the parts we like!
posted by Archelaus at 4:40 AM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
I would note that while yes, he can't actually eliminate an Amendment by executive order, he is in control of the executive branch, and he can absolutely illegally order the implementation of processes to formally and informally deny services to the citizen children of undocumented immigrants while the lawsuits wind through the courts.
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:42 AM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by Pope Guilty at 4:42 AM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
I hope people can tell us if extinguishing birthright citizenship is a thing that has genuinely been discussed in right-wing legal circles or if this is just racist bloviating.
I have to say that the "subject to the jurisdiction" clause looks like an obvious loophole that could be exploited to deport the children of irregular migrants. Is there's some clause that would prevent the US waiving its jurisdiction over them, just as it waives its jurisdiction over the children of diplomats?
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:45 AM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
I have to say that the "subject to the jurisdiction" clause looks like an obvious loophole that could be exploited to deport the children of irregular migrants. Is there's some clause that would prevent the US waiving its jurisdiction over them, just as it waives its jurisdiction over the children of diplomats?
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:45 AM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
Yes, it will just be more chaos as some governors (and/or mayors? county officials?) will give orders to not issue birth certificates while everything is being fought in the courts.
posted by mikepop at 4:46 AM on October 30, 2018
posted by mikepop at 4:46 AM on October 30, 2018
I hope people can tell us if extinguishing birthright citizenship is a thing that has genuinely been discussed in right-wing legal circles or if this is just racist bloviating.
Both!
See, e.g., Michael Anton, who spews this nonsense mostly by making misleading edits to original discussions about the amendment.
posted by damayanti at 4:51 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Both!
See, e.g., Michael Anton, who spews this nonsense mostly by making misleading edits to original discussions about the amendment.
posted by damayanti at 4:51 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Is there's some clause that would prevent the US waiving its jurisdiction over them, just as it waives its jurisdiction over the children of diplomats?
It wouldn't formally prevent it, but doing so would make these folks completely immune from US law.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 4:52 AM on October 30, 2018
It wouldn't formally prevent it, but doing so would make these folks completely immune from US law.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 4:52 AM on October 30, 2018
benzenedream: If free floating antiSemitism is the cause of recent events, how is it that Stephen Miller, Jared Kushner. Mnuchin, and Netanyahu, each of whom exert much more influence on Trump than any shaowy cabal, are miraculously exmpt from the anti-Semitic propaganda being spread on campuses and talk radio? (Spoiler alert: Republicans are spreading it.)
I am extremely unfond of all four of those people, but they're not really exempt from the forces involved, here. I mean, this specific killer Robert Bowers thinks that Trump himself is too Jewish-friendly, probably in part because those people are in his orbit (and his background wasn't so much campuses and talk radio as it was alt-right websites like Gab). If he could target any of those people, he would. As for them, I figure they're all assuming they come out ahead on this with faces spared. But in the long term the alt-right is a death cult just like Naziism.
It is stunning that Republicans, particularly Pence, didn't lean more into "We are the true defenders of Jewish people and Democrats hate Israel" by, at the very least, having an actual rabbi for that speech and not the Christian doofus. It's almost as if the intention was to provide a reassurance to anyone on Gab who read one the murderer's last statements, "Screw your optics" -- see, it's okay, deplorables, we are in fact screwing the optics.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:54 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
I am extremely unfond of all four of those people, but they're not really exempt from the forces involved, here. I mean, this specific killer Robert Bowers thinks that Trump himself is too Jewish-friendly, probably in part because those people are in his orbit (and his background wasn't so much campuses and talk radio as it was alt-right websites like Gab). If he could target any of those people, he would. As for them, I figure they're all assuming they come out ahead on this with faces spared. But in the long term the alt-right is a death cult just like Naziism.
It is stunning that Republicans, particularly Pence, didn't lean more into "We are the true defenders of Jewish people and Democrats hate Israel" by, at the very least, having an actual rabbi for that speech and not the Christian doofus. It's almost as if the intention was to provide a reassurance to anyone on Gab who read one the murderer's last statements, "Screw your optics" -- see, it's okay, deplorables, we are in fact screwing the optics.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 4:54 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
I suspect many Trump supporters would be willing to waive the right to punish the children of irregular migrants as long as they could expel them. But who knows. In any event, we're not talking about proper diplomatic immunity under the Vienna Convention and all the rights that go with it. This would be a much more limited argument along the lines of: the US cannot be forced to accept jurisdiction over someone it doesn't know about. If it subsequently accepts jurisdiction, that act isn't retrospective and so it doesn't confer birthright citizenship.
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:05 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Joe in Australia at 5:05 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Yes, it will just be more chaos as some governors (and/or mayors? county officials?) will give orders to not issue birth certificates while everything is being fought in the courts.
And this has already been happening. From 2016: Texas Agrees to Resolve Birth Certificate Case With Undocumented Familes
posted by melissasaurus at 5:07 AM on October 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
And this has already been happening. From 2016: Texas Agrees to Resolve Birth Certificate Case With Undocumented Familes
After undergoing mediation, the state of Texas has reached an agreement with undocumented families in a lawsuit over its denial to issue birth certificates to children born in the U.S. to undocumented immigrants.They don't need to say these kids aren't citizens. They'll acknowledge the kids were born here, but prevent them or their guardians from ever obtaining proof of it sufficient to exercise their citizenship. Take the voter ID model and apply it to vital records. They can impact proof of citizenship, and thus exercising of citizenship, without amending the 14th. This is another reason state and local elections are SO IMPORTANT.
posted by melissasaurus at 5:07 AM on October 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
I'm a bit haunted by "Screw your optics, I'm going in." The sheer naked patheticness of the compensation fantasy of being a macho hero who doesn't do things by the book, when what you're going in to do is shoot up some defenceless senior citizens.
People telling themselves, en masse, the cheesiest, most manipulative, transparently not-coming-from-a-good-place stories about themselves, and being encouraged to do that by the right-wing media machine for transparently cynical ends - it's terrifying.
posted by Mocata at 5:08 AM on October 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
People telling themselves, en masse, the cheesiest, most manipulative, transparently not-coming-from-a-good-place stories about themselves, and being encouraged to do that by the right-wing media machine for transparently cynical ends - it's terrifying.
posted by Mocata at 5:08 AM on October 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
President Trump plans to sign an executive agreement that would remove the right to citizenship for babies of non-citizens...born on US soil.
Seems like that would deprive himself of an income stream per this Daily Beast article from Sept 2017: Russians Flock to Trump Properties to Give Birth to US Citizens
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:16 AM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
Seems like that would deprive himself of an income stream per this Daily Beast article from Sept 2017: Russians Flock to Trump Properties to Give Birth to US Citizens
posted by TWinbrook8 at 5:16 AM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
I know there are legal arguments that try to fudge around the plain language of the constitution but it's right there in the 14th amendment:
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
So if Trump tries this, I'll add his attempt to subvert the constitution to the long list of things Trump should be impeached for. Sadly, nothing will come of my list.
posted by rdr at 5:33 AM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
All persons born or naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No State shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any State deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.
So if Trump tries this, I'll add his attempt to subvert the constitution to the long list of things Trump should be impeached for. Sadly, nothing will come of my list.
posted by rdr at 5:33 AM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
Seems like that would deprive himself of an income stream per this Daily Beast article from Sept 2017: Russians Flock to Trump Properties to Give Birth to US Citizens
I expect he's not thinking about removing it from white children.
posted by dng at 5:39 AM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
I expect he's not thinking about removing it from white children.
posted by dng at 5:39 AM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
I'm paraphrasing a bit since I heard this on the drive this AM but, while NPR may not be the best at calling bullshit when they see it, well, this was pretty damn great as they took apart each and every piece of his interview and how it was lies, pandering, and shitty and I got the coffee from the spit take cleaned up from my steering wheel without too much trouble.
They were discussing Trump's quote on the birthright citizenship issue which goes like this in the Axios piece:
It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don't," Trump said, declaring he can do it by executive order. When told that's very much in dispute, Trump replied: "You can definitely do it with an Act of Congress. But now they're saying I can do it just with an executive order.
The host (sorry I can't keep up with NPR host names 99% of the time) replied with,
"But wait, that's like saying 'People say you need a plane to cross the Pacific Ocean, some say you can do it in a rowboat, I'm gonna try it in a scooter."
From now on, every time Trump tries something I'm gonna reference him as a fucker that's stupid enough to try to use a scooter to cross the Pacific.
posted by RolandOfEld at 5:54 AM on October 30, 2018 [39 favorites]
They were discussing Trump's quote on the birthright citizenship issue which goes like this in the Axios piece:
It was always told to me that you needed a constitutional amendment. Guess what? You don't," Trump said, declaring he can do it by executive order. When told that's very much in dispute, Trump replied: "You can definitely do it with an Act of Congress. But now they're saying I can do it just with an executive order.
The host (sorry I can't keep up with NPR host names 99% of the time) replied with,
"But wait, that's like saying 'People say you need a plane to cross the Pacific Ocean, some say you can do it in a rowboat, I'm gonna try it in a scooter."
From now on, every time Trump tries something I'm gonna reference him as a fucker that's stupid enough to try to use a scooter to cross the Pacific.
posted by RolandOfEld at 5:54 AM on October 30, 2018 [39 favorites]
Erg. So, the promise of an executive order ending birthright citizenship is the something coming next week that’s going to make [his base] very very happy that he promoted last week?
Or will it be an actual executive order ending birthright citizenship, with all the legal chaos that ensues?
Either way, [?$!!!?&!!#*??!].
posted by notyou at 6:06 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Or will it be an actual executive order ending birthright citizenship, with all the legal chaos that ensues?
Either way, [?$!!!?&!!#*??!].
posted by notyou at 6:06 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Burhanistan Trump hasn’t gone full on anti-Semitic mainly because he doesn’t want to upset crazy evangelical baseheads who want to keep Zionism well funded in order to immanentize the eschaton.
To the crazy evangelical portion of America there's really no conflict between antisemitism and Zionism. Note, for example, that the woman in this video shouting "Heil Hitler" at an Israeli Jew because he was praising Israel's socialized medicine, is wearing a pro-Israel shirt.
That's an extreme example, but it's illustrative. The American evangelicals who are "pro-Israel" do not care about Jews in the slightest, in fact they are often actively and aggressively antisemitic. Their eschatology requires that Israel exist at roughly it's Biblical borders, the Temple be rebuilt, and Jerusalem be the capital, so that Jesus can come back and then use heavenly nukes to destroy Israel and condemn all the Jews to eternal torture in hell. That's what they mean by "pro-Israel".
I don't think Trump would lose any of his evangelical support if he were more openly antisemitic himself, because they are too.
Likewise I don't think we even need to get into hypotheticals about Trump lusting after his daughter to understand his antisemitism in the context of having a Jewish son in law. All racists, of whatever sort, have always maintained that there's "good ones" and they don't hate all of [insert oppressed group here]. Trump can simply put Jared and Ivanka into the "good ones" category in his mind and hate all the other Jews.
posted by sotonohito at 6:12 AM on October 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
To the crazy evangelical portion of America there's really no conflict between antisemitism and Zionism. Note, for example, that the woman in this video shouting "Heil Hitler" at an Israeli Jew because he was praising Israel's socialized medicine, is wearing a pro-Israel shirt.
That's an extreme example, but it's illustrative. The American evangelicals who are "pro-Israel" do not care about Jews in the slightest, in fact they are often actively and aggressively antisemitic. Their eschatology requires that Israel exist at roughly it's Biblical borders, the Temple be rebuilt, and Jerusalem be the capital, so that Jesus can come back and then use heavenly nukes to destroy Israel and condemn all the Jews to eternal torture in hell. That's what they mean by "pro-Israel".
I don't think Trump would lose any of his evangelical support if he were more openly antisemitic himself, because they are too.
Likewise I don't think we even need to get into hypotheticals about Trump lusting after his daughter to understand his antisemitism in the context of having a Jewish son in law. All racists, of whatever sort, have always maintained that there's "good ones" and they don't hate all of [insert oppressed group here]. Trump can simply put Jared and Ivanka into the "good ones" category in his mind and hate all the other Jews.
posted by sotonohito at 6:12 AM on October 30, 2018 [27 favorites]
Part of the point is that even if it is done on a shaky legal argument, it is not above Trump to TRY this. The eventual reversal in SCOTUS is based upon the idea that either Roberts or Gorsuch will say "this is ridiculous" even though it accomplishes one of their desired ends, and you know what? I'm not putting money down on that.
But even if they do, it allows shady shit to go down up until the point that SCOTUS smacks it down, and a lot of people's lives to be disrupted and made more difficult over that period. Which is, of course, the point of the exercise.
I've posted that Catch-22 excerpt enough times that you can all sing along by now. But its basic principle remains true: conservatives do not view the law as something stopping them from doing what they want. They view it as something that can be ignored until they are MADE to stop.
posted by delfin at 6:13 AM on October 30, 2018 [19 favorites]
But even if they do, it allows shady shit to go down up until the point that SCOTUS smacks it down, and a lot of people's lives to be disrupted and made more difficult over that period. Which is, of course, the point of the exercise.
I've posted that Catch-22 excerpt enough times that you can all sing along by now. But its basic principle remains true: conservatives do not view the law as something stopping them from doing what they want. They view it as something that can be ignored until they are MADE to stop.
posted by delfin at 6:13 AM on October 30, 2018 [19 favorites]
Erg. So, the promise of an executive order ending birthright citizenship is the something coming next week that’s going to make [his base] very very happy that he promoted last week?
Or will it be an actual executive order ending birthright citizenship, with all the legal chaos that ensues?
Or something that he floated to distract from everything else?
When playing whac-a-mole, you're never going to hit anything if you keep getting distracted by the next thing popping up.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 6:15 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Or will it be an actual executive order ending birthright citizenship, with all the legal chaos that ensues?
Or something that he floated to distract from everything else?
When playing whac-a-mole, you're never going to hit anything if you keep getting distracted by the next thing popping up.
posted by Mr.Know-it-some at 6:15 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
So, the promise of an executive order ending birthright citizenship is the something coming next week that’s going to make [his base] very very happy that he promoted last week?
It's an obvious attempt by Trump to take control of the news cycle. It doesn't matter to him if the media duly reports that what he suggests is flagrantly unconstitutional; his base will see it as coddling brown-skinned people and an attack on "real" Americans.
as odious as Trump's announcement is, it's also an obvious desperation ploy that suggests he feels the news cycle and probably the election headwinds are against him.
Of course, the fact that Trump suggests an unconstitutional step toward ethnic cleansing because he perceives it as benefiting his political fortunes makes it even more vile. Every Republican candidate in the next week should be asked if they support Trump's unconstitutional order. I like to think their answers will set them back with voters.
posted by Gelatin at 6:19 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
It's an obvious attempt by Trump to take control of the news cycle. It doesn't matter to him if the media duly reports that what he suggests is flagrantly unconstitutional; his base will see it as coddling brown-skinned people and an attack on "real" Americans.
as odious as Trump's announcement is, it's also an obvious desperation ploy that suggests he feels the news cycle and probably the election headwinds are against him.
Of course, the fact that Trump suggests an unconstitutional step toward ethnic cleansing because he perceives it as benefiting his political fortunes makes it even more vile. Every Republican candidate in the next week should be asked if they support Trump's unconstitutional order. I like to think their answers will set them back with voters.
posted by Gelatin at 6:19 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
But even if they do, it allows shady shit to go down up until the point that SCOTUS smacks it down
We should definitely be worried but I expect the order would be enjoined by a court within minutes. It would not be allowed to go into effect until the SC had ruled (at which point one hopes it would not be allowed to go into effect at all.)
posted by Justinian at 6:23 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
We should definitely be worried but I expect the order would be enjoined by a court within minutes. It would not be allowed to go into effect until the SC had ruled (at which point one hopes it would not be allowed to go into effect at all.)
posted by Justinian at 6:23 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
I'm perversely curious if there's a way for this hypothetical executive order to not affect those Russians. My guess is this: instead of simply eliminating all instances whereby being born on US soil confers citizenship, it would declare a new condition, namely that the parents' entrance and/or residency must be legal. My understanding is that, sketchy as it may seem, that is the case for wealthy "birth tourists" (but not for anyone who secretly crossed the border).
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:23 AM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by InTheYear2017 at 6:23 AM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
Professor Martha Jones, JD/PhD, and author of Birthright Citizens on Twitter, including her observations that this is meant to sow chaos and that
8/ My view is that this sort of wholesale or categorical exclusion is contrary to the spirit of the 14th Amendment which aimed to expand and open a way for citizenship, especially for those who might otherwise be denied because of racism. The case being former slaves.
9/ We are facing a contest over what categories of persons are excluded from Birthright citizenship. Congress intended that children born in the US to parents who were foreign diplomats or parents who were members of an occupying army would not be Birthright Citizens.
posted by TwoStride at 6:31 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
8/ My view is that this sort of wholesale or categorical exclusion is contrary to the spirit of the 14th Amendment which aimed to expand and open a way for citizenship, especially for those who might otherwise be denied because of racism. The case being former slaves.
9/ We are facing a contest over what categories of persons are excluded from Birthright citizenship. Congress intended that children born in the US to parents who were foreign diplomats or parents who were members of an occupying army would not be Birthright Citizens.
posted by TwoStride at 6:31 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Mod note: One deleted. Sorry, but asking folks to get into the nitty-gritty of one weird SF school board race with guesses, opinions, etc., is going to be a bit of a derail here. If the story seems important enough, it could be a post, or if you're mainly looking for answers, Ask Metafilter could be an option.
posted by taz (staff) at 6:57 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by taz (staff) at 6:57 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
So, the promise of an executive order ending birthright citizenship is the something coming next week that’s going to make [his base] very very happy that he promoted last week?
Or will it be an actual executive order ending birthright citizenship
If his base doesn't mind being lied to about the non-existent 10% tax cut, they sure as hell won't mind being lied to about this. Their position is exactly "All politicians lie, and Trump tells the lies I most want to hear."
posted by Rykey at 7:07 AM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
Or will it be an actual executive order ending birthright citizenship
If his base doesn't mind being lied to about the non-existent 10% tax cut, they sure as hell won't mind being lied to about this. Their position is exactly "All politicians lie, and Trump tells the lies I most want to hear."
posted by Rykey at 7:07 AM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
If free floating antiSemitism is the cause of recent events
I'd say it's free floating self-hatred, combined with scapegoating.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:08 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
I'd say it's free floating self-hatred, combined with scapegoating.
posted by ZeusHumms at 7:08 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
It's entirely possible this is a ploy/distraction, but this is also something the American Right, including the think tank types, has been thinking about/wanting for a long time. Trump announcing he's going to try and do the thing that his voting base and the people responsible for crafting his ideology want him to do, it's not crazy to think he might actually do it.
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:13 AM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by Bulgaroktonos at 7:13 AM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
This may belong in the shouting thread about I got into a near screaming match with a relative who tried some “both sides do it” rhetoric about the bombings who had also like, no idea about the other shootings or street brawls or even what the charolettesville rally was last year. They insisted I must be making stuff uo cause it’s impossible that kind of stuff is actually going on, even when I provided like, direct references. It just could not be true.
How do you argue with the country that exists in someone’s head?
posted by The Whelk at 7:15 AM on October 30, 2018 [66 favorites]
How do you argue with the country that exists in someone’s head?
posted by The Whelk at 7:15 AM on October 30, 2018 [66 favorites]
I tend to go with open disgust tbh.
posted by asteria at 7:19 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by asteria at 7:19 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
Normally I skip over the "celebrity" op-eds on the issues, but this one in the WaPo, from "Sully" Sullenberger -- the captain of the plane that pulled the successful emergency landing on the Hudson -- is really good. In a relatively short piece, he touches on leadership, crisis management and the need to turn your back on the Republicans and vote for Democrats. Worth sharing, I think.
In every situation, but especially challenging ones, a leader sets the tone and must create an environment in which all can do their best. You get what you project. Whether it is calm and confidence — or fear, anger and hatred — people will respond in kind. Courage can be contagious.posted by martin q blank at 7:19 AM on October 30, 2018 [71 favorites]
Today, tragically, too many people in power are projecting the worst. Many are cowardly, complicit enablers, acting against the interests of the United States, our allies and democracy; encouraging extremists at home and emboldening our adversaries abroad; and threatening the livability of our planet. Many do not respect the offices they hold; they lack — or disregard — a basic knowledge of history, science and leadership; and they act impulsively, worsening a toxic political environment.
but this is also something the American Right, including the think tank types, has been thinking about/wanting for a long time
It's been brewing for a while. Trump has been on record as wanting to end it, for years.
it allows shady shit to go down up until the point that SCOTUS smacks it down
With any luck at all there would be a nearly immediate TRO from a lower court to keep the status quo until it is resolved by SCOTUS.
posted by BungaDunga at 7:26 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
It's been brewing for a while. Trump has been on record as wanting to end it, for years.
it allows shady shit to go down up until the point that SCOTUS smacks it down
With any luck at all there would be a nearly immediate TRO from a lower court to keep the status quo until it is resolved by SCOTUS.
posted by BungaDunga at 7:26 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
From the Department Of It's Coming From Inside The House: U.S. agency vows to investigate broadcast report that called George Soros a ‘multimillionaire Jew’ (Felicia Sonmez, WaPo)
A U.S. government agency has launched an internal investigation after airing a Spanish-language program earlier this year describing George Soros as a “multimillionaire Jew” and espousing conspiracy theories about the billionaire philanthropist.posted by Johnny Wallflower at 7:30 AM on October 30, 2018 [26 favorites]
The 15-minute segment was aired in May by Radio and Television Martí, which broadcasts news and other programs promoting U.S. interests to audiences in Cuba.
The program calls Soros a “nonpracticing Jew of flexible morals,” claims that he was involved in “clandestine operations that led to the dismantling of the Soviet Union” and describes him as “the architect of the financial collapse of 2008.”
It also makes repeated references to Judicial Watch, a conservative watchdog group that has launched an “Expose Soros” fundraising campaign and whose director of investigations and research recently claimed without evidence that the “Soros-occupied State Department” is funding the migrant caravan making its way to the United States.
With any luck. You have more faith in circuit courts than I do, although I probably should have more than I have right now.
posted by delfin at 7:31 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
posted by delfin at 7:31 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Kellyanne Conway saying that the synagogue massacre was an example of "anti-religiosity" spurred by late-night comedians. ... Jeff Sessions made a comment similar to Kellyanne Conway, that this was an assault on all religions.
In addition to minimizing the anti-Semitic nature of the massacre, this leads naturally to Republicans twisting the story into a political weapon. Republicans have long connected Democrats/liberals/the left with godlessness and being opposed to religion. By making the attack generically anti-religious, then it becomes easier to get people to believe (or to assume) that the attack was actually leftist.
posted by jedicus at 7:32 AM on October 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
In addition to minimizing the anti-Semitic nature of the massacre, this leads naturally to Republicans twisting the story into a political weapon. Republicans have long connected Democrats/liberals/the left with godlessness and being opposed to religion. By making the attack generically anti-religious, then it becomes easier to get people to believe (or to assume) that the attack was actually leftist.
posted by jedicus at 7:32 AM on October 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
23skidoo: Here's a fb video showing the riot gear cops on the Santa Fe Street Bridge (also known as the Paso Del Norte Bridge).
Fun fact: there are a lot of businesses, particularly businesses focused on people traveling in from Mexico, in this general area of El Paso. But I'm guessing impacts to those businesses are just "acceptable collateral damage" to the pseudo-military cops.
And just in time formidterms El Paso's early November Christmas celebrations.
I wonder how much of the need to Look Really Strong Against Others is an effort to distract from the series of right-wing hate crimes in the past few weeks, and how much is to take focus off of the fact that Trump's tariffs have already hurt American companies? As Elections Loom, Workers In Trump Country Reckon With Tariffs Fallout (NPR, October 30, 2018)
Johnny Wallflower: U.S. agency vows to investigate broadcast report that called George Soros a ‘multimillionaire Jew’
On top of the anti-Semitic rhetoric, they're downplaying his wealth. Per Wikipedia, he's worth US$8.0 billion as of Feb. 2018
posted by filthy light thief at 7:34 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Fun fact: there are a lot of businesses, particularly businesses focused on people traveling in from Mexico, in this general area of El Paso. But I'm guessing impacts to those businesses are just "acceptable collateral damage" to the pseudo-military cops.
And just in time for
I wonder how much of the need to Look Really Strong Against Others is an effort to distract from the series of right-wing hate crimes in the past few weeks, and how much is to take focus off of the fact that Trump's tariffs have already hurt American companies? As Elections Loom, Workers In Trump Country Reckon With Tariffs Fallout (NPR, October 30, 2018)
Many of of the factory machines at Mid Continent Nail have fallen silent, and more than a quarter of its workforce has been laid off. The company fears it may soon be a casualty of President Trump's trade wars.
The Missouri-based company used to get most of its steel from Mexico, so Trump's 25 percent tariff hit it hard. To stay afloat, Mid Continent Nail raised prices and consequently lost a lot of customers.
Despite facing an uncertain future brought on by Trump's tariffs, many of the remaining workers at Mid Continent Nail who voted for him in 2016 still support him. NPR sat down with several of the plant workers to talk about their faith in the president.
Johnny Wallflower: U.S. agency vows to investigate broadcast report that called George Soros a ‘multimillionaire Jew’
On top of the anti-Semitic rhetoric, they're downplaying his wealth. Per Wikipedia, he's worth US$8.0 billion as of Feb. 2018
posted by filthy light thief at 7:34 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
AP:
We have deleted a tweet about President Trump's claim that the U.S. is the only country that grants birthright citizenship because it failed to note that his statement was incorrect.posted by octothorpe at 7:37 AM on October 30, 2018 [52 favorites]
@skantrow, 4:14 AM - 30 Oct 2018
posted by kirkaracha at 7:42 AM on October 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
1/ On birthright citizenship, read the debate in the U.S. Senate, Jan. 30, 1866. The framers of the Civil Rights Act--the immediate precursor to the 14th Amendment, and the first place national citizenship was codified--knew exactly what they were doing.[more in thread]
2/ They were clarifying the well-understood principle that children born in the U.S. were citizens regardless of the immigration status of their parents.
posted by kirkaracha at 7:42 AM on October 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
Good for AP, but this was after they were thoroughly dragged on Twitter, including this blunt criticism from Daniel Dale: "It is a true embarrassment that this is still happening three years into Trump's incessant lying. The single easiest fix for news outlets/wire services to make is to stop uncritically reprinting his false claims in their headlines and tweets."
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:43 AM on October 30, 2018 [75 favorites]
posted by Doktor Zed at 7:43 AM on October 30, 2018 [75 favorites]
The single easiest fix for news outlets/wire services to make is to stop uncritically reprinting his false claims in their headlines and tweets.
There's a concept. Current Boston Globe headline: "Trump says he will end birthright citizenship via executive order". Way to stir up both sides, everyone.
posted by Melismata at 7:45 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
There's a concept. Current Boston Globe headline: "Trump says he will end birthright citizenship via executive order". Way to stir up both sides, everyone.
posted by Melismata at 7:45 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
It's been brewing for a while. Trump has been on record as wanting to end it, for years.
This is what I came to say as well. This is not new. The Immigration Reform page on Trump's campaign website now 404's, but Politifact makes it explicitly clear that "End birthright citizenship" was absolutely part of his campaign platform, and the NYT quotes him as discussing about it at least as early as 2015. The National Foundation for American Policy published a paper in 2012 recommending it be abolished, and Texas Republicans were talking about it in 2010.
DO NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP OF THINKING THIS IS A STUNT OR DISTRACTION. It is something that at least part of the mainstream Republican party has been discussing for at least a decade. Can they do it? Well, they've got the courts now. What happens next is not as clear cut as you may think.
posted by anastasiav at 7:46 AM on October 30, 2018 [49 favorites]
This is what I came to say as well. This is not new. The Immigration Reform page on Trump's campaign website now 404's, but Politifact makes it explicitly clear that "End birthright citizenship" was absolutely part of his campaign platform, and the NYT quotes him as discussing about it at least as early as 2015. The National Foundation for American Policy published a paper in 2012 recommending it be abolished, and Texas Republicans were talking about it in 2010.
DO NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP OF THINKING THIS IS A STUNT OR DISTRACTION. It is something that at least part of the mainstream Republican party has been discussing for at least a decade. Can they do it? Well, they've got the courts now. What happens next is not as clear cut as you may think.
posted by anastasiav at 7:46 AM on October 30, 2018 [49 favorites]
When playing whac-a-mole, you're never going to hit anything if you keep getting distracted by the next thing popping up.
Ummm... smacking down each thing that pops up is actually exactly how you beat whac-a-mole.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 7:51 AM on October 30, 2018 [55 favorites]
Ummm... smacking down each thing that pops up is actually exactly how you beat whac-a-mole.
posted by a box and a stick and a string and a bear at 7:51 AM on October 30, 2018 [55 favorites]
So, where do these evil bastards plan on stopping birthright? I mean, how many generations of being born here qualifies for citizenship? Cause, if I remember correctly, 45's mother was an immigrant.
I mean, the only people who are native to this land are Natives. Some of my family has been here since the 1600s or thereabouts, but before that we were in Holland. (We left after one of my ancestors was boiled by his village. Apparently, the village disagreed with his politics. I'm not saying boiling terrible politicians is a good idea, but I'm not not saying it either.)
All of us, except the Native Americans and the Mexicans, are descended from immigrants. All of us.
And that obvious fact aside, the whole reason we decided on constitutional democracy was because we didn't like kings. Presidents don't get to overrule the constitutional by executive fiat. That's not how any of this works.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:57 AM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
I mean, the only people who are native to this land are Natives. Some of my family has been here since the 1600s or thereabouts, but before that we were in Holland. (We left after one of my ancestors was boiled by his village. Apparently, the village disagreed with his politics. I'm not saying boiling terrible politicians is a good idea, but I'm not not saying it either.)
All of us, except the Native Americans and the Mexicans, are descended from immigrants. All of us.
And that obvious fact aside, the whole reason we decided on constitutional democracy was because we didn't like kings. Presidents don't get to overrule the constitutional by executive fiat. That's not how any of this works.
posted by SecretAgentSockpuppet at 7:57 AM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
But even if they do, it allows shady shit to go down up until the point that SCOTUS smacks it down
We should definitely be worried but I expect the order would be enjoined by a court within minutes. It would not be allowed to go into effect until the SC had ruled (at which point one hopes it would not be allowed to go into effect at all.)
The immediate enjoining is a feature, not a bug. Being halted by the courts is something to campaign on.
posted by phearlez at 7:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
We should definitely be worried but I expect the order would be enjoined by a court within minutes. It would not be allowed to go into effect until the SC had ruled (at which point one hopes it would not be allowed to go into effect at all.)
The immediate enjoining is a feature, not a bug. Being halted by the courts is something to campaign on.
posted by phearlez at 7:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
if you keep getting distracted by the next thing popping up.
The next thing popping up is specifically designed to distract you so you miss smacking down the one you are aiming for -- so you never beat anything, you just get frustrated and either get exhausted, give up, or both.
posted by W Grant at 7:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
The next thing popping up is specifically designed to distract you so you miss smacking down the one you are aiming for -- so you never beat anything, you just get frustrated and either get exhausted, give up, or both.
posted by W Grant at 7:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
This is the president saying explicitly that he will not follow the constitution. Something something oath of office.
posted by azpenguin at 8:11 AM on October 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by azpenguin at 8:11 AM on October 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
Brain Buetler:
As long as our political system responds to the bloody and divisive nature of right-wing politics by decrying “fear,” or incivility on both sides, or by ignoring the moral dimensions of the Republican scam, treating it only as a political tactic that might or might not “work,” the ruling illiberal alliance will soldier on as they have been. It will only come apart if their interests outside of politics are imperiled by their involvement in politics—if decent people engage in the kinds of boycotts and acts of targeted social censure that can change people’s incentives.posted by T.D. Strange at 8:19 AM on October 30, 2018 [34 favorites]
Progressive boycott campaigns helped drive Bill O’Reilly out of Fox, and almost ended Laura Ingraham’s career there, and should be expanded to encompass the entire network. Companies that market products to the masses should fear advertising them on Fox and other, smaller right-wing propaganda outlets, too. Working for those outlets should be career suicide, rather than a springboard to respectable mainstream media jobs, and the people who have thrived within the right-wing propaganda ecosystem should be shunned outside of it. Democrats could similarly name and shame the right-wing plutocrats like Trump, Sheldon Adelson, the Koch brothers, and others who support and benefit from the arrangement, and progressives could organize protests and boycotts of their properties and other interests. Social media companies that allow propaganda and racist incitement to thrive on their platforms for profit would also need to feel the sting.
Elections are important. But absent a concerted effort to marginalize the people and institutions that engage in and facilitate this kind of politics, the politics itself won’t change, and the march toward right-wing insurrection will continue.
So, where do these evil bastards plan on stopping birthright?
They don't.
The lack of law will be the point. Anyone who might theoretically be affected will be targeted. Just like "Jewish" didn't mean "you go to synagogue no less than 50% of weeks in a given three-year period", it meant "you have one ancestor we can 'prove' was Jewish, and also we don't like you".
posted by Etrigan at 8:21 AM on October 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
They don't.
The lack of law will be the point. Anyone who might theoretically be affected will be targeted. Just like "Jewish" didn't mean "you go to synagogue no less than 50% of weeks in a given three-year period", it meant "you have one ancestor we can 'prove' was Jewish, and also we don't like you".
posted by Etrigan at 8:21 AM on October 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
From the "i was led to believe i was the leopard in this situation" dept.:
Pennsylvania GOP congressman Ryan Costello:
Pennsylvania GOP congressman Ryan Costello:
We all know challenges of suburban R’s. The bloc of competitive R held districts less impacted by POTUS thus far are those w high # of immigrants. So now POTUS, out of nowhere, brings birthright citizenship up. Besides being basic tenet of America, it’s political malpractice.posted by murphy slaw at 8:22 AM on October 30, 2018 [26 favorites]
He is, yet again, campaigning on pure fascism. It's just more and more open.
posted by jaduncan at 8:24 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by jaduncan at 8:24 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
There's no way the Supreme Court would allow the president to amend the Constitution by executive order. Beyond putting us in a position where the Constitutional basis of our entire system of laws would be subject to upheaval every time the party in control of the presidency changed, this would leave the Supreme Court itself vulnerable to political whims. Remember the reason we've been talking about court packing in response to the confirmation of Kavanaugh is that the makeup of the Supreme Court is defined by the Constitution and things like term limits can't be imposed without a Constitutional amendment.
posted by SpaceBass at 8:24 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by SpaceBass at 8:24 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
Besides being basic tenet of America, it’s political malpractice.
Horse-race wonks have been unanimous for a few weeks now that Trump (or, more likely, his political advisor) doesn't give a shit about the House, as long as he can hold (an impeachment-proof number in) the Senate, because they've moved on to installing the hackiest assholes they can find on the bench.
posted by Etrigan at 8:24 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Horse-race wonks have been unanimous for a few weeks now that Trump (or, more likely, his political advisor) doesn't give a shit about the House, as long as he can hold (an impeachment-proof number in) the Senate, because they've moved on to installing the hackiest assholes they can find on the bench.
posted by Etrigan at 8:24 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Costello is willing to say something because he's retiring.
posted by Chrysostom at 8:29 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 8:29 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
DO NOT FALL INTO THE TRAP OF THINKING THIS IS A STUNT OR DISTRACTION. Indeed, malignant narcissists just pinball-ricochet over and over again against the same obsessions. interests, desires.
He'll be back to this and other dangerous ideas again and again and again and again. And his crew is self-culling to the most essential monsters with varying compatible interests there to assist and guide his ricochets.
There is no compromise to be had with someone who doesn't recognize your existence when you are not in the room.
posted by Harry Caul at 8:31 AM on October 30, 2018 [25 favorites]
He'll be back to this and other dangerous ideas again and again and again and again. And his crew is self-culling to the most essential monsters with varying compatible interests there to assist and guide his ricochets.
There is no compromise to be had with someone who doesn't recognize your existence when you are not in the room.
posted by Harry Caul at 8:31 AM on October 30, 2018 [25 favorites]
Good time for a flashback to 1915, when the Supreme Court upheld a 1907 law providing that US-born US-citizen women are deemed to relinquish their citizenship when they marry a foreign national. Twitter thread. Case: Mackenzie v. Hare, 239 U.S. 299 (1915):
posted by melissasaurus at 8:49 AM on October 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
We concur with counsel that citizenship is of tangible worth, and we sympathize with plaintiff in her desire to retain it and in her earnest assertion of it. But there is involved more than personal considerations. As we have seen, the legislation was urged by conditions of national moment. And this is an answer to the apprehension of counsel that our construction of the legislation will make every act, though lawful, as marriage, of course, is, a renunciation of citizenship. The marriage of an American woman with a foreigner has consequences of like kind, may involve national complications of like kind, as her physical expatriation may involve. Therefore, as long as the relation lasts, it is made tantamount to expatriation.They'll strip the citizenship from anyone not born here. Use it to strip the citizenship of anyone born here who marries a noncitizen or newly deemed noncitizen. And then declare their US-born children noncitizens because they have two noncitizen parents.
posted by melissasaurus at 8:49 AM on October 30, 2018 [29 favorites]
Cook ratings changes. Two right, four left.
AR-02 (Hill) | Lean R => Likely Rposted by Chrysostom at 8:50 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
OH-01 (Chabot) | Tossup => Lean R
CA-01 (LaMalfa) | Solid R => Likely R
CA-22 (Nunes) | Solid R => Likely R
FL-18 (Mast) | Likely R => Lean R
IA-04 (King) | Likely R => Lean R
octothorpe: We have deleted a tweet about President Trump's claim that the U.S. is the only country that grants birthright citizenship because it failed to note that his statement was incorrect.
That's a wordy way of saying President Trump Lied About U.S. Being The Only Country that Grants Birthright Citizenship.
The list includes U.S.A., Canada, Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala,Guyana,Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
The U.S. wouldn't be the first country to change its status in the recent past. That linked page includes the note that the following are among the nations repealing Birthright Citizenship in recent years:
Australia (2007)
New Zealand (2005)
Ireland (2005)
France (1993)
India (1987)
Malta (1989)
UK (1983)
Portugal (1981)
posted by filthy light thief at 8:52 AM on October 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
That's a wordy way of saying President Trump Lied About U.S. Being The Only Country that Grants Birthright Citizenship.
The list includes U.S.A., Canada, Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Columbia, Dominica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Fiji, Grenada, Guatemala,Guyana,Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, and Venezuela.
The U.S. wouldn't be the first country to change its status in the recent past. That linked page includes the note that the following are among the nations repealing Birthright Citizenship in recent years:
Australia (2007)
New Zealand (2005)
Ireland (2005)
France (1993)
India (1987)
Malta (1989)
UK (1983)
Portugal (1981)
posted by filthy light thief at 8:52 AM on October 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
There's no way the Supreme Court would allow the president to amend the Constitution by executive order.
Don't be so sure. I agree that the Court will want to defend its power, but the actual day-to-day implementation of the amendment rests not on the constitution itself, but in the case US v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), which was decided 6-2, and in which the two dissenting opinions held that if someone was also "subject to the jurisdiction" of another country (ie: a citizen of another country) then their child would be excluded from citizenship because the parent was somehow not "subject to the jurisdiction" of the US.
This is a precedent that could certainly be overturned by the current Supreme Court.
The Executive Order is only the opening salvo for a SCOTUS decision. They understand they need that decision - this is just the easiest way for them to trigger it.
posted by anastasiav at 8:56 AM on October 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
Don't be so sure. I agree that the Court will want to defend its power, but the actual day-to-day implementation of the amendment rests not on the constitution itself, but in the case US v. Wong Kim Ark (1898), which was decided 6-2, and in which the two dissenting opinions held that if someone was also "subject to the jurisdiction" of another country (ie: a citizen of another country) then their child would be excluded from citizenship because the parent was somehow not "subject to the jurisdiction" of the US.
This is a precedent that could certainly be overturned by the current Supreme Court.
The Executive Order is only the opening salvo for a SCOTUS decision. They understand they need that decision - this is just the easiest way for them to trigger it.
posted by anastasiav at 8:56 AM on October 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
UHHHH WHAT THE EVER LOVING FUCK:
Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC)
In addition, I plan to introduce legislation along the same lines as the proposed executive order from President @realDonaldTrump.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:04 AM on October 30, 2018 [26 favorites]
Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC)
In addition, I plan to introduce legislation along the same lines as the proposed executive order from President @realDonaldTrump.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 9:04 AM on October 30, 2018 [26 favorites]
Let’s stop pretending Trump is just pretending (Why Donald Trump never apologizes) - Laura McGann, Vox
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:05 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
He’s been a dangerous demagogue since before he was a politician.And what about the press? It feels like all they're there for is to fill in the blanks on long-established narratives.
...
After a week of political and religious violence, there’s a near desperation among the political press to hear President Trump apologize for whipping up crowds and feeding online hate.
Reporters were exasperated during an exchange with the president Friday after federal agents arrested a Florida man suspected of sending bombs to notable liberals. TV news aired footage of the FBI towing away his now-infamous van plastered in ugly internet memes. The deep dive into his social media accounts revealed he attended Trump rallies and tweeted about the targets of Trump’s tirades, several of whom he attempted to bomb.REPORTER: Are you to blame at all for what happened, Mr. President? Does it bother you at all?It’s certainly understandable why someone would want to believe the president can’t be as clueless or indifferent as he claims. It’s especially understandable for the political press, which, up until very recently, could beat a steady drum and get a politician to back down and apologize for an awful comment. The act of contrition made us feel that the natural order had been restored.
TRUMP: No, not at all. No, I mean — not at all, no. There’s no blame … There’s no anything … If you look at what happened on — numerous of these incidents, they were supporters of others. No.
But not Trump. Trump, as the dominant school of thought goes, does not apologize, because he is a cynical, clear-eyed political animal who plays to his base’s darkest instincts to stay in power. It’s not that he doesn’t want to apologize; he can’t apologize. He’d be ruined.
posted by ZeusHumms at 9:05 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Trump can simply put Jared and Ivanka into the "good ones" category in his mind and hate all the other Jews.
Anti-THEMitism.
posted by GrammarMoses at 9:06 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Anti-THEMitism.
posted by GrammarMoses at 9:06 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
In addition, I plan to introduce legislation along the same lines as the proposed executive order from President @realDonaldTrump.
Man, every goddamn time I tweet about how I'm a veteran who doesn't want the hardware I rode with in Iraq on the streets of America, I get called an "oathbreaker" because of the sacred Second, and this fucker -- mind you, he's Colonel This Fucker -- is all up in "Fuck it, the Constitution doesn't matter".
posted by Etrigan at 9:07 AM on October 30, 2018 [41 favorites]
Man, every goddamn time I tweet about how I'm a veteran who doesn't want the hardware I rode with in Iraq on the streets of America, I get called an "oathbreaker" because of the sacred Second, and this fucker -- mind you, he's Colonel This Fucker -- is all up in "Fuck it, the Constitution doesn't matter".
posted by Etrigan at 9:07 AM on October 30, 2018 [41 favorites]
I know there are legal arguments that try to fudge around the plain language of the constitution but it's right there in the 14th amendment:
The Constitution means whatever five men on the Supreme Court says it means. That is why Republicans fought so hard for Kavanaugh. Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh. Would you be willing to bet your life on any one of them? This is the court Republicans have been dreaming of for half a century.
posted by JackFlash at 9:13 AM on October 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
The Constitution means whatever five men on the Supreme Court says it means. That is why Republicans fought so hard for Kavanaugh. Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh. Would you be willing to bet your life on any one of them? This is the court Republicans have been dreaming of for half a century.
posted by JackFlash at 9:13 AM on October 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
We were in the car today, taking our kid to his first day of (pre)school. It was a little chaotic, and the air was a little nippy, and when my husband sat down in the driver's seat and turned on NPR, Steve Inskeep's voice filled the car. My husband laughed and said, while backing out, "I feel very close to my ancestors now." I laughed too, and it was a nice family moment.*
And then we listened to a clip of Sarah Huckabee Sanders tearfully saying that Trump couldn't be anti-Semitic because his daughter is Jewish-American, because his son-in-law is a Holocaust survivor, because he has three Jewish grandchildren.
And then we listened to Trump talking about how he was issuing an executive order ending birthright citizenship. If this had been effective in the eighties, I wouldn't be a citizen. My sister wouldn't be. None of our cousins would be. If this is somehow effective, or if this gambit doesn't fail but a similar subsequent one does -- how far back are they going to reach? Will one citizen parent be enough? If you are an un-citizen, what is your legal status? What protections will you have? Will you be stateless?
Three successive generations of women in my family have been refugees. My husband's grandfather fled anti-Jewish persecution in Europe. These are our actual ancestors. My husband and I are upper middle-class professionals whose kid is going to a fancy pre-school with wooden toys from Melissa and Doug, but I was sitting in a car this morning, listening to my kid sing soft songs to himself about trucks, and thinking about pogroms and how my father was carried into Hong Kong as a refugee in his older sister's arms.
Fuck Trump, fuck Lindsay Graham, and fuck the entire fucking Republican Party.
* By ancestors he meant, y'know, the experience of growing up in the back seat of the family car while being driven to school by white Jewish/liberal upper middle class parents who protested the Vietnam war, and now listen to NPR while driving their kids to an expensive fancy private school, because as expensive and fancy as the school is, it doesn't provide school buses since everybody's parents has a car and a work schedule that allows for drop off, right?
posted by joyceanmachine at 9:14 AM on October 30, 2018 [71 favorites]
And then we listened to a clip of Sarah Huckabee Sanders tearfully saying that Trump couldn't be anti-Semitic because his daughter is Jewish-American, because his son-in-law is a Holocaust survivor, because he has three Jewish grandchildren.
And then we listened to Trump talking about how he was issuing an executive order ending birthright citizenship. If this had been effective in the eighties, I wouldn't be a citizen. My sister wouldn't be. None of our cousins would be. If this is somehow effective, or if this gambit doesn't fail but a similar subsequent one does -- how far back are they going to reach? Will one citizen parent be enough? If you are an un-citizen, what is your legal status? What protections will you have? Will you be stateless?
Three successive generations of women in my family have been refugees. My husband's grandfather fled anti-Jewish persecution in Europe. These are our actual ancestors. My husband and I are upper middle-class professionals whose kid is going to a fancy pre-school with wooden toys from Melissa and Doug, but I was sitting in a car this morning, listening to my kid sing soft songs to himself about trucks, and thinking about pogroms and how my father was carried into Hong Kong as a refugee in his older sister's arms.
Fuck Trump, fuck Lindsay Graham, and fuck the entire fucking Republican Party.
* By ancestors he meant, y'know, the experience of growing up in the back seat of the family car while being driven to school by white Jewish/liberal upper middle class parents who protested the Vietnam war, and now listen to NPR while driving their kids to an expensive fancy private school, because as expensive and fancy as the school is, it doesn't provide school buses since everybody's parents has a car and a work schedule that allows for drop off, right?
posted by joyceanmachine at 9:14 AM on October 30, 2018 [71 favorites]
For anyone needing a refresher, the 14th amendment was a Reconstruction amendment explicitly to affirm that the generations of people born into slavery in the US were citizens. The former Confederate states, for obvious reasons, were not happy about it.
It couldn't be more historically clear whose side they would have taken in 1868.
posted by nakedmolerats at 9:18 AM on October 30, 2018 [58 favorites]
It couldn't be more historically clear whose side they would have taken in 1868.
posted by nakedmolerats at 9:18 AM on October 30, 2018 [58 favorites]
If a president can eliminate or modify an amendment wouldn’t the NRA be shitting themselves right now? If they can go after the 14th why not the 2nd?
posted by misterpatrick at 9:22 AM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by misterpatrick at 9:22 AM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
If they can go after the 14th why not the 2nd?
because the social norms of the 2nd amendment default to whiteness.
posted by nikaspark at 9:25 AM on October 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
because the social norms of the 2nd amendment default to whiteness.
posted by nikaspark at 9:25 AM on October 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
If a president can eliminate or modify an amendment wouldn’t the NRA be shitting themselves right now? If they can go after the 14th why not the 2nd?
Because the majority of the House and Senate and Executive Branch and Supreme Court support expansion of the 2nd amendment (for white people), but range from spineless to white nationalist when it comes to the 14th.
To paraphrase Game of Thrones, knowledge isn't power, power is power. Those who oppose the 14th amendment control nearly every lever of power.
posted by melissasaurus at 9:27 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
Because the majority of the House and Senate and Executive Branch and Supreme Court support expansion of the 2nd amendment (for white people), but range from spineless to white nationalist when it comes to the 14th.
To paraphrase Game of Thrones, knowledge isn't power, power is power. Those who oppose the 14th amendment control nearly every lever of power.
posted by melissasaurus at 9:27 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
The trump regime had no need for legal or rhetorical consistency. their brand is the opposite: corrupt, criminal, compulsive lying.
Two years in,with a muslim ban, charlottesville, illegal detention of latin american children in camps, and we still are debating the legal consequences of an illegitamte order as if they will be beholden to consistency.
The trumpists have given their
answer time and again:
"Screw the optics, I'm going in"
vote, organize and fight back
posted by Anchorite_of_Palgrave at 9:29 AM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
Two years in,with a muslim ban, charlottesville, illegal detention of latin american children in camps, and we still are debating the legal consequences of an illegitamte order as if they will be beholden to consistency.
The trumpists have given their
answer time and again:
"Screw the optics, I'm going in"
vote, organize and fight back
posted by Anchorite_of_Palgrave at 9:29 AM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
Tayari Jones: There’s Nothing Virtuous About Finding Common Ground
"People ask how might we “meet in the middle,” as though this represents a safe, neutral and civilized space. This American fetishization of the moral middle is a misguided and dangerous cultural impulse. ... When we revisit our shameful past, ask yourself, Where was the middle? Rather than chattel slavery, perhaps we could agree on a nice program of indentured servitude? Instead of subjecting Japanese-American citizens to indefinite detention during WW II, what if we had agreed to give them actual sentences and perhaps provided a receipt for them to reclaim their things when they were released? What is halfway between moral and immoral?"posted by Eyebrows McGee at 9:34 AM on October 30, 2018 [61 favorites]
Here we go everybody! Looks like someone may be trying to ratfuck Mueller, with a fallback position of ratfucking journalists who report on the attempted ratfucking.
Jacob Wohl @JacobAWohl
Several media sources tell me that a scandalous story about Mueller is breaking tomorrow. Should be interesting. Stay tuned!
Scott Stedman @ScottMStedman
I wasn't going to report on this, but I think my fears are coming true. Based on information that I am privy to, I believe false accusations will be spread about Mueller in order to discredit him and possibly the journalists who are preparing this story.
Two weeks ago, I was contacted by a woman who claimed to be a former associate of Mueller who said that she got a phone call from a man working on behalf of a GOP operative who was paying women to come forward to make up sexual assault allegations.
I worked on this story and chased down leads, but found the woman to be very unreliable. She wouldn't get on the phone, she lied about journalists she was working with, etc. Furthermore, I got in contact with the man who allegedly was offering the money....
He was extremely willing to confirm that he was indeed paying women to tell stories about Mueller. I concluded that this was an effort to discredit journalists working on the Trump-Russia story by planting a false story and see who would print it.
I still don't know what to make of the entire situation, but I fear that this is a scheme to discredit those who are reporting on the Russia investigation. If the story coming out tomorrow matches the story I heard, I will post more details.
I know that some journalists who were contacted by the woman* are becoming increasingly worried that something sketchy is afoot here. *we have no idea who this person is
IMPORTANT: If you see a story tomorrow or anytime in the future of former colleagues of Mueller coming forward with sexual assault claims then please check in with my feed. I have receipts.
I was super hesitant to post this thread because I didn't want to give these people any attention or put this out to the public. However based on Wohl's tweet and some rumblings behind the scenes, I think it's necessary to give a heads up.
Wohl just told me his info is coming from a GOP lobbyist, which makes me increasingly worried. I fear that someone covering Mueller has fallen for a fake story.
The creeps behind whatever scheme this is don’t deserve name recognition UNLESS the story about Mueller gets printed. I won’t be saying anything else on this topic if/when something develops further.
emptywheel @emptywheel
Folks: I got the same hoax as Stedman did. Given that it was fed to prolly 30 journalists with no takers, what seems to have happened instead is it failed.
The hoax was that a woman who had worked with Mueller decades ago had been offered 5 figure payments to falsely claim she had been sexually harassed by him. "She" said the offer came from a GOP lobbyist who has paid to sustain other hoaxes before.
And no: the purported source of this hoax was not O'Keefe. It was a source of another sustained GOP hoax.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 9:40 AM on October 30, 2018 [42 favorites]
Jacob Wohl @JacobAWohl
Several media sources tell me that a scandalous story about Mueller is breaking tomorrow. Should be interesting. Stay tuned!
Scott Stedman @ScottMStedman
I wasn't going to report on this, but I think my fears are coming true. Based on information that I am privy to, I believe false accusations will be spread about Mueller in order to discredit him and possibly the journalists who are preparing this story.
Two weeks ago, I was contacted by a woman who claimed to be a former associate of Mueller who said that she got a phone call from a man working on behalf of a GOP operative who was paying women to come forward to make up sexual assault allegations.
I worked on this story and chased down leads, but found the woman to be very unreliable. She wouldn't get on the phone, she lied about journalists she was working with, etc. Furthermore, I got in contact with the man who allegedly was offering the money....
He was extremely willing to confirm that he was indeed paying women to tell stories about Mueller. I concluded that this was an effort to discredit journalists working on the Trump-Russia story by planting a false story and see who would print it.
I still don't know what to make of the entire situation, but I fear that this is a scheme to discredit those who are reporting on the Russia investigation. If the story coming out tomorrow matches the story I heard, I will post more details.
I know that some journalists who were contacted by the woman* are becoming increasingly worried that something sketchy is afoot here. *we have no idea who this person is
IMPORTANT: If you see a story tomorrow or anytime in the future of former colleagues of Mueller coming forward with sexual assault claims then please check in with my feed. I have receipts.
I was super hesitant to post this thread because I didn't want to give these people any attention or put this out to the public. However based on Wohl's tweet and some rumblings behind the scenes, I think it's necessary to give a heads up.
Wohl just told me his info is coming from a GOP lobbyist, which makes me increasingly worried. I fear that someone covering Mueller has fallen for a fake story.
The creeps behind whatever scheme this is don’t deserve name recognition UNLESS the story about Mueller gets printed. I won’t be saying anything else on this topic if/when something develops further.
emptywheel @emptywheel
Folks: I got the same hoax as Stedman did. Given that it was fed to prolly 30 journalists with no takers, what seems to have happened instead is it failed.
The hoax was that a woman who had worked with Mueller decades ago had been offered 5 figure payments to falsely claim she had been sexually harassed by him. "She" said the offer came from a GOP lobbyist who has paid to sustain other hoaxes before.
And no: the purported source of this hoax was not O'Keefe. It was a source of another sustained GOP hoax.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 9:40 AM on October 30, 2018 [42 favorites]
Via Atlantic/MSNBC Natasha Bertrand, sounds like there may be an effort afoot to spread false rumors about Bob Mueller and/or possible entrapping journalists by making up THAT story.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:41 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 9:41 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Exclusive: Republicans are outspending Democrats 5 to 1 in key statehouse races - Ella Nilsen, Vox
Democrats doubled their spending for statehouse races this year. They’re still far behind Republicans.posted by ZeusHumms at 9:46 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Two weeks ago, I was contacted by a woman who claimed to be a former associate of Mueller who said that she got a phone call from a man working on behalf of a GOP operative who was paying women to come forward to make up sexual assault allegations.
At this point, no one knows what the truth is, and that's a feature, not a bug. Despots like to sow confusion and lies, so that it is difficult to know the truth. After a while, the average citizen gives up on trying to discover it. This is the sweet spot for the despot, because now they can say anything without fear of challenge and are free to use lies to manipulate public opinion to support their increased grip on power. The fear that goes with the uncertainty amplifies the strength of the grip, since now it is impossible to tell what the consequences of resistance might be.
Cultivating a careful, healthy respect for the facts and eschewing glomming on to the latest rumor is the only way to resist, but when the news media has morphed into a rumor mill, the average citizen, who only pays attention with one eye and ear, is defenseless.
We need this election and the 2020 election to go our way, or we are surely lost for at least a generation.
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:48 AM on October 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
At this point, no one knows what the truth is, and that's a feature, not a bug. Despots like to sow confusion and lies, so that it is difficult to know the truth. After a while, the average citizen gives up on trying to discover it. This is the sweet spot for the despot, because now they can say anything without fear of challenge and are free to use lies to manipulate public opinion to support their increased grip on power. The fear that goes with the uncertainty amplifies the strength of the grip, since now it is impossible to tell what the consequences of resistance might be.
Cultivating a careful, healthy respect for the facts and eschewing glomming on to the latest rumor is the only way to resist, but when the news media has morphed into a rumor mill, the average citizen, who only pays attention with one eye and ear, is defenseless.
We need this election and the 2020 election to go our way, or we are surely lost for at least a generation.
posted by Mental Wimp at 9:48 AM on October 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
@qjurecic: PSA: there is a difference between "the Supreme Court has not ruled on this specific issue" and "this issue is up for debate" My point being that while, no, the Court didn't decide all aspects of this issue in Wong Kim Ark, for media to portray that as "see, it's undecided!" is a bit misleading—it's a tiny handful of fringe scholars versus the entire rest of the legal academy
I've been seeing a lot of this. Virtually everyone says Trump can't sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship, but lawyers, being lawyers and being uncertain about the state of the Supreme Court, hedge a bit, reporters want to avoid saying anything definitive and bothsides it, and we end up with all these stories that paint this as a open legal issue instead of a widespread consensus.
Anyway, if you'd like a Voxsplainer: Birthright citizenship, explained
posted by zachlipton at 9:48 AM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
I've been seeing a lot of this. Virtually everyone says Trump can't sign an executive order ending birthright citizenship, but lawyers, being lawyers and being uncertain about the state of the Supreme Court, hedge a bit, reporters want to avoid saying anything definitive and bothsides it, and we end up with all these stories that paint this as a open legal issue instead of a widespread consensus.
Anyway, if you'd like a Voxsplainer: Birthright citizenship, explained
posted by zachlipton at 9:48 AM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
Here are some things that the US Ambassador to Germany and the League of Nations commissioner for refugees said in 1935 in the run-up and immediately following the passage of the Nuremburg Laws that stripped German Jews of citizenship (immigrants had already been denaturalized back in 1933.
"To sum up the Jewish situation at the moment, it may be said that the whole movement of the Party is one of preparing itself and the people for general drastic and so-called legal action to be announced in the near future."posted by ChuraChura at 9:49 AM on October 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
"New legislation is imminent, but it is difficult to tell exactly what the provisions will be. Certainly, they will tend further to differentiate the Jews from the mass of Germans and to disadvantage them in new ways."
"Race propaganda and psychology ran through practically all the speeches like a scarlet thread, obviously in preparation for the laws that were to be adopted by the Reichstag ... The new laws against the Jews deceive very few people that the last word has been said on that question or that new discriminatory measures will not eventually follow within the limit of what is possible without bringing about too great a disturbance in business."
"The anti-Jewish legislation should be sufficiently severe to please Party extremists for some time."
My point being that while, no, the Court didn't decide all aspects of this issue in Wong Kim Ark, for media to portray that as "see, it's undecided!" is a bit misleading—it's a tiny handful of fringe scholars versus the entire rest of the legal academy
That was where the individual reading of the Second Amendment was at one time, too.
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:51 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
That was where the individual reading of the Second Amendment was at one time, too.
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:51 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
That "tiny handful of fringe scholars" has a lot of support on the current Supreme Court, though.
posted by Emera Gratia at 9:54 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
posted by Emera Gratia at 9:54 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Looks like someone may be trying to ratfuck Mueller, with a fallback position of ratfucking journalists who report on the attempted ratfucking.
For those who don't immediately shudder at the name Jacob Wohl, he is the platonic ideal of little Trumpist bastards, a failed hedge fund manager who's found a home being the most obsequious weasel imaginable to Donald Trump. The fact that he's the one who got chosen to "leak" this means that not even Charlie Kirk -- the "wear a diaper to own the libs" guy -- wanted anywhere near this steaming pile of ratfuck.
posted by Etrigan at 9:55 AM on October 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
For those who don't immediately shudder at the name Jacob Wohl, he is the platonic ideal of little Trumpist bastards, a failed hedge fund manager who's found a home being the most obsequious weasel imaginable to Donald Trump. The fact that he's the one who got chosen to "leak" this means that not even Charlie Kirk -- the "wear a diaper to own the libs" guy -- wanted anywhere near this steaming pile of ratfuck.
posted by Etrigan at 9:55 AM on October 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
SecretAgentSockpuppet: So, where do these evil bastards plan on stopping birthright? I mean, how many generations of being born here qualifies for citizenship?
Horace Grey, who wrote the majority opinion in USA v Wong Kim Ark, would agree with you on the legal issues: To hold that the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution excludes from citizenship the children, born in the United States, of citizens or subjects of other countries would be to deny citizenship to thousands of persons of English, Scotch, Irish, German, or other European parentage who have always been considered and treated as citizens of the United States.
I found that by way of a pretty solid WaPo article from August that just modified its title, I guess because of the new interest.
Of course, it is true that most countries don't operate by jus soli. That fact used to puzzle me when I was a kid because I always thought of myself as a citizen by virtue of the place I was born, not the people I was born to. I guess it comes down to an arbitrary line being drawn (which is obviously perfect for capricious law enforcement).
posted by InTheYear2017 at 9:56 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Horace Grey, who wrote the majority opinion in USA v Wong Kim Ark, would agree with you on the legal issues: To hold that the Fourteenth Amendment of the Constitution excludes from citizenship the children, born in the United States, of citizens or subjects of other countries would be to deny citizenship to thousands of persons of English, Scotch, Irish, German, or other European parentage who have always been considered and treated as citizens of the United States.
I found that by way of a pretty solid WaPo article from August that just modified its title, I guess because of the new interest.
Of course, it is true that most countries don't operate by jus soli. That fact used to puzzle me when I was a kid because I always thought of myself as a citizen by virtue of the place I was born, not the people I was born to. I guess it comes down to an arbitrary line being drawn (which is obviously perfect for capricious law enforcement).
posted by InTheYear2017 at 9:56 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
My point being that while, no, the Court didn't decide all aspects of this issue in Wong Kim Ark, for media to portray that as "see, it's undecided!" is a bit misleading—it's a tiny handful of fringe scholars versus the entire rest of the legal academy
That was where the individual reading of the Second Amendment was at one time, too.
And the doctrine of the coercive commerce clause used to strike down the Medicaid expansion.
The Goruch-Kavanaugh Court hasn't issued one single opinion yet. Anyone who tells you they know what 5 hard right Republican ideologues raised from birth by the Federalist Society to rule from the bench will and won't uphold is lying.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
That was where the individual reading of the Second Amendment was at one time, too.
And the doctrine of the coercive commerce clause used to strike down the Medicaid expansion.
The Goruch-Kavanaugh Court hasn't issued one single opinion yet. Anyone who tells you they know what 5 hard right Republican ideologues raised from birth by the Federalist Society to rule from the bench will and won't uphold is lying.
posted by T.D. Strange at 9:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
@ScottMStedman: Peter Carr, Mueller's spokesman: "When we learned last week of allegations that women were offered money to make false claims about the Special Counsel, we immediately referred the matter to the FBI for investigation." At least 2 major news orgs are preparing stories, I will wait until those are published to comment further
Wow. I'm not the hugest Stedman fan, but if this reached the level where the Special Counsel referred it to the FBI, that's pretty significant. I hope we find out who tried to plot this particular October Surprise.
posted by zachlipton at 10:11 AM on October 30, 2018 [23 favorites]
Wow. I'm not the hugest Stedman fan, but if this reached the level where the Special Counsel referred it to the FBI, that's pretty significant. I hope we find out who tried to plot this particular October Surprise.
posted by zachlipton at 10:11 AM on October 30, 2018 [23 favorites]
Giuliani's grimy fingerprints are all over this.
posted by banshee at 10:13 AM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
posted by banshee at 10:13 AM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
"The combination of this sort of institutional racism and the willed ignorance of the public was clearly in evidence during the passage through Parliament of the Nationality Act of 1981. This already notorious piece of legislation, expressly designed to deprive black and Asian Britons of their citizenship rights, went through in spite of some, mainly non- white, protests. And because it didn't really affect the position of the whites, you probably didn't even realize that one of your most ancient rights, a right you had possessed for nine hundred years, was being stolen from you. This was the right to citizenship by virtue of birth, the ius soli, or right of the soil. For nine centuries any child born on British soil was British. Automatically. By right. Not by permission of the State. The Nationality Act abolished the ius soli. From now on citizenship is the gift of government. You were blind, because you believed the Act was aimed at the blacks; and so you sat back and did nothing as Mrs. Thatcher stole the birthright of every one of us, black and white, and of our children and grandchildren for ever".
Salman Rushdie, "The New Empire within Britain" (1982)
posted by Omon Ra at 10:14 AM on October 30, 2018 [34 favorites]
Salman Rushdie, "The New Empire within Britain" (1982)
posted by Omon Ra at 10:14 AM on October 30, 2018 [34 favorites]
You should watch the actual 1-minute clip of Jonathan Swan's Axios "interview" of Trump regarding the citizenship question. This isn't an interview -- it's a press release with Swan playing the role of Trump's press agent. Swan -- with a big shit-eating grin on his face -- actually feeds the executive order declaration to Trump so that Trump doesn't even have to string the complicated words together himself. It's clear that Swan was fed the question he was supposed to ask Trump before the interview.
Axios is garbage.
posted by JackFlash at 10:16 AM on October 30, 2018 [41 favorites]
Axios is garbage.
posted by JackFlash at 10:16 AM on October 30, 2018 [41 favorites]
Yes, if you're on US soil and not a diplomat (who would enjoy diplomatic immunity), you are under the jurisdiction of the United States, and therefore any children you have while on US soil would be "born... in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof". To argue that the children of undocumented immigrants don't qualify would have to exclude one of those two conditions, and as we've already established that they were born here, you would have to argue that the US does not have jurisdiction over the children of undocumented immigrants and therefore the government cannot arrest, deport, or imprison them.Okay, but just so we're clear, the government would still arrest, deport, and imprison them. Laws can only ever be used against you.
posted by one for the books at 10:17 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
Along Comes Axios With More Spoiled Red Meat for Trump's Base: It's about the midterms, but it's also about planting this perilous nonsense more firmly into the public mind and the public debate.
Before we dignify this crapola by pretending it is a serious argument, let's remember that Axios is the latest brainchild of the two Presiding Geniuses that gave us Politico back in the fullness of the Tiger Beat On The Potomac days. (At the moment, while there are still existential problems with much of its approach to politics, Politico, especially in its magazine manifestation, is a much better product.) Hence, we have two reporters, including one of the PG's, sitting there like well-nurtured geraniums while the president* announces that he can strike out the 14th Amendment with the stroke of his crayon. In many ways, it's a desperate election-year stunt, yet more spoiled red meat for the scaredy-cat base, the same way sending a brigade of armed soldiers to the Texas wasteland to look at sand is a stunt. But it's stunting on the square. He means it, and so do the members of the dangerous claque he's embedded in the Executive branch. It's about the midterms, but it's also about planting this perilous nonsense more firmly into the public mind and the public debate. And along comes Axios to help him with the planting because, hey, they have a new TV show.posted by homunculus at 10:27 AM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
...
As to the actual issue, such as it is, the Supreme Court appeared to settle this question in 1898, in a decision called U.S. v. Wong Kim Ark. It doesn't matter a damn what "They" may have told him, he can't end the birthright citizenship bestowed by the 14th Amendment without a constitutional amendment. If he wants to try that way, he's welcome to try, but he doesn't know enough about anything to make the effort, and he's too lazy to try it anyway.
If he signs that executive order, that's an unconstitutional act. It's arguably an impeachable offense. It's certainly a violation of his oath of office. And, now that I think about it, I'm not entirely sure the current SCOTUS would stand up to him, either. After all, one of the primary legal arguments against the nomination of Brett Kavanaugh was his belief in virtually unlimited executive power. No Morning is not worth winning at this cost.
Natasha Bertrand has more: Special Counsel Refers Scheme Targeting Mueller to FBI
posted by zachlipton at 10:30 AM on October 30, 2018 [19 favorites]
The special counsel’s office confirmed that the scheme was brought to its attention by several journalists who were told about it by a woman alleging that she herself had been offered roughly $20,000 by a GOP activist named Jack Burkman “to make accusations of sexual misconduct and workplace harassment against Robert Mueller.” The woman told journalists that she had worked for Mueller as a paralegal at the Pillsbury, Madison, and Sutro law firm in 1974. The firm has not returned a request for comment about whether the woman actually worked there.Previously on "it's always the same assholes," Burkman failed spectacularly at a Seth Rich conspiracy theory event.
He “offered to pay off all of my credit card debt, plus bring me a check for $20,000 if I would do one thing,” the woman wrote to the journalists in an email, a copy of which I obtained. “In more of an effort to get him to go away than anything else, I asked him what in the hell he wanted me to do. He said that we could not talk about it on the phone, and he asked me to download an app on my phone called Signal, which he said was more secure. Reluctantly, I downloaded the app and he called me on that app a few minutes later. He said (and I will never forget exactly what it was) ‘I want you to make accusations of sexual misconduct and workplace harassment against Robert Mueller, and I want you to sign a sworn affidavit to that effect.’”
posted by zachlipton at 10:30 AM on October 30, 2018 [19 favorites]
The Troops Don't Deserve This. You support the troops? Don't let the president* use them as political props.
posted by homunculus at 10:30 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by homunculus at 10:30 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
‘Assault On Our Country’: Trump Goes All In On Nativism To Salvage The Midterms - Caitlin MacNeal, TPM
The revelation Tuesday morning that President Trump has plans to end birthright citizenship by executive order is the culmination of the President’s weeks-long effort to inject nativism into the midterm elections as his party desperately tries to hold on to its congressional majorities.posted by ZeusHumms at 10:34 AM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
Axios is garbage.
And Jon Swan in particular is a callow catspaw for the administration. As a constant reminder, he is a member of the "Trump Whisperer" troika along with the NYT's Maggie Haberman and the WaPo's Philip Rucker as a favored access journalist who directly receives anonymous leaks from Trump himself—there's an implicit caveat lector tainting all their reporting, however newsworthy it appears. At least this time he's carrying the Trump administration's water in public.
He's also a crap reporter—and defensive about it. After being dragged on Twitter, he's shamefacedly had to update his genuflecting story to reflect the fact that Trump's blatantly lying when he says that the US is the only country with birthright citizenship. Which he does only in a parenthetical remark.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:34 AM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
And Jon Swan in particular is a callow catspaw for the administration. As a constant reminder, he is a member of the "Trump Whisperer" troika along with the NYT's Maggie Haberman and the WaPo's Philip Rucker as a favored access journalist who directly receives anonymous leaks from Trump himself—there's an implicit caveat lector tainting all their reporting, however newsworthy it appears. At least this time he's carrying the Trump administration's water in public.
He's also a crap reporter—and defensive about it. After being dragged on Twitter, he's shamefacedly had to update his genuflecting story to reflect the fact that Trump's blatantly lying when he says that the US is the only country with birthright citizenship. Which he does only in a parenthetical remark.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:34 AM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
Jack Burkman is the GOP lobbyist who allegedly offered women money to tell stories about Mueller. I fear this is all coming true.
Remember when Grassley accused women of being paid by Soros in the Kavanaugh case.
Trump's Mirror, folks. Whatever crime Republicans accuse opponents of, you can be assured that Republicans are doing. It's like a roadmap for criminal investigation.
posted by JackFlash at 10:35 AM on October 30, 2018 [53 favorites]
Remember when Grassley accused women of being paid by Soros in the Kavanaugh case.
Trump's Mirror, folks. Whatever crime Republicans accuse opponents of, you can be assured that Republicans are doing. It's like a roadmap for criminal investigation.
posted by JackFlash at 10:35 AM on October 30, 2018 [53 favorites]
He said (and I will never forget exactly what it was) ‘I want you to make accusations of sexual misconduct and workplace harassment against Robert Mueller, and I want you to sign a sworn affidavit to that effect.’”
Welp. Lindsey Graham told us during the Kavanaugh hearings Republicans would start using fake allegations as their playbook. Turns out he meant it.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:37 AM on October 30, 2018 [50 favorites]
Welp. Lindsey Graham told us during the Kavanaugh hearings Republicans would start using fake allegations as their playbook. Turns out he meant it.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:37 AM on October 30, 2018 [50 favorites]
So we have a bunch of people coming out and saying these guys are trying to bribe people into saying fake stuff about Mueller and we’re afraid of what exactly? That Haberman et. al. will fall for it and print it without considering any of this? It looks like people got in front of this pretty quickly, including the FBI.
posted by gucci mane at 10:44 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 10:44 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
In addition to minimizing the anti-Semitic nature of the massacre, [Kellyanne Conway and Jeff Sessions saying the synagogue mass murder was an assault on all religions] leads naturally to Republicans twisting the story into a political weapon. Republicans have long connected Democrats/liberals/the left with godlessness and being opposed to religion. By making the attack generically anti-religious, then it becomes easier to get people to believe (or to assume) that the attack was actually leftist.
Not only that, Republicans like to frame "not being able to implement a christian theocracy" as "an attack on religion." Look at how they frame the school prayer issue -- anyone can pray in school, but they can't force everyone to join in a christian prayer. And they hate that. Similar with the fact that public businesses have to accommodate LGBTQ folks.
posted by Gelatin at 10:49 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
Not only that, Republicans like to frame "not being able to implement a christian theocracy" as "an attack on religion." Look at how they frame the school prayer issue -- anyone can pray in school, but they can't force everyone to join in a christian prayer. And they hate that. Similar with the fact that public businesses have to accommodate LGBTQ folks.
posted by Gelatin at 10:49 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
Jess Dweck: "So far Trump’s most substantive response to a terror attack by a white nationalist who thought Trump wasn’t tough enough on immigration was to get tougher on immigration"
posted by bluecore at 10:49 AM on October 30, 2018 [48 favorites]
posted by bluecore at 10:49 AM on October 30, 2018 [48 favorites]
The real takeaway here is a huge part of the GOP believes that sexual assault allegations are both fake and irrelevant and yet they're cynically willing to employ actual fake allegations because they know Democrats believe sexual assault and harassment matter.
General Zod: This "super-man" is nothing of the kind; I've discovered his weakness.
Ursa: Yes?
General Zod: He cares. He actually cares for these Earth people.
Ursa: Like pets?
General Zod: I suppose.
Quote to illustrate generic GOP attitudes aside, I reiterate: supervillain comparisons for Trump never work, because supervillains are usually at least good at something.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:50 AM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
General Zod: This "super-man" is nothing of the kind; I've discovered his weakness.
Ursa: Yes?
General Zod: He cares. He actually cares for these Earth people.
Ursa: Like pets?
General Zod: I suppose.
Quote to illustrate generic GOP attitudes aside, I reiterate: supervillain comparisons for Trump never work, because supervillains are usually at least good at something.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:50 AM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
> "So we have a bunch of people coming out and saying these guys are trying to bribe people into saying fake stuff about Mueller and we’re afraid of what exactly? That Haberman et. al. will fall for it and print it without considering any of this? It looks like people got in front of this pretty quickly, including the FBI."
This time.
posted by kyrademon at 10:52 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
This time.
posted by kyrademon at 10:52 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
So we have a bunch of people coming out and saying these guys are trying to bribe people into saying fake stuff about Mueller and we’re afraid of what exactly? That Haberman et. al. will fall for it and print it without considering any of this
Habermann et al will fall for it. CNN will still cover it, mishandling as spectacularly as usual. The entire right-wing media sphere will go wild with it, with the FBI's opposition only fueling their rage against that cracked and creaking institution. NPR will present both sides of the argument over whether Mueller is a sex-pest. All establishment media will eat it up in their own particular ways.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:52 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
Habermann et al will fall for it. CNN will still cover it, mishandling as spectacularly as usual. The entire right-wing media sphere will go wild with it, with the FBI's opposition only fueling their rage against that cracked and creaking institution. NPR will present both sides of the argument over whether Mueller is a sex-pest. All establishment media will eat it up in their own particular ways.
posted by Rust Moranis at 10:52 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
Give me a break with this sexist "Haberman will fall for it" shit. She has nothing to do with this story.
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:53 AM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:53 AM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
General strike, people. Get ready for it.
HOW?
Not a rhetorical question. Things are different. We don’t have strong networks. Even as we’re building them, we have a supply problem. We can’t sustain each other in little local groups for however long it takes for a strike to be effective because nothing is local anymore.
So...how? Because a general strike might not be all we’re looking at. How do we organize collective action when our food comes just in time from 500 miles away and there are no more local producers?
If anyone has any resources about how to build resilient networks that are not comically vulnerable to fascist state action, please share them. Seriously, please share.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:55 AM on October 30, 2018 [34 favorites]
HOW?
Not a rhetorical question. Things are different. We don’t have strong networks. Even as we’re building them, we have a supply problem. We can’t sustain each other in little local groups for however long it takes for a strike to be effective because nothing is local anymore.
So...how? Because a general strike might not be all we’re looking at. How do we organize collective action when our food comes just in time from 500 miles away and there are no more local producers?
If anyone has any resources about how to build resilient networks that are not comically vulnerable to fascist state action, please share them. Seriously, please share.
posted by schadenfrau at 10:55 AM on October 30, 2018 [34 favorites]
Exchange Haberman with Swan then.
posted by gucci mane at 10:55 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by gucci mane at 10:55 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
I mean Jesus Christ, Swan tweets out how thrilled he is to be carrying Trump's water and he can't even get to be bête noire for a day
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:55 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by prize bull octorok at 10:55 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
So we have a bunch of people coming out and saying these guys are trying to bribe people into saying fake stuff about Mueller and we’re afraid of what exactly? That Haberman et. al. will fall for it and print it without considering any of this?
Haberman and Rucker are far too valuable as prominent members of establishment newspapers to enlist as primary disseminators of a rat-fuck like this (I wouldn't put it past Swan—see his mishandling of the Rosenstein resignation rat-fuck). This kind of campaign starts by inserting the story into middling media outlets through pliable sources. Only after it has circulated a while in the mediasphere will friendly respectable journalists pick up on it by reporting "on the controversy". Ideally, a second rat-fucking story will be ready to go by then or new allegations will emerge organically from other corners.
And this stunt has Roger Stone's dirty fingerprints all over it. He's panicking.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:55 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Haberman and Rucker are far too valuable as prominent members of establishment newspapers to enlist as primary disseminators of a rat-fuck like this (I wouldn't put it past Swan—see his mishandling of the Rosenstein resignation rat-fuck). This kind of campaign starts by inserting the story into middling media outlets through pliable sources. Only after it has circulated a while in the mediasphere will friendly respectable journalists pick up on it by reporting "on the controversy". Ideally, a second rat-fucking story will be ready to go by then or new allegations will emerge organically from other corners.
And this stunt has Roger Stone's dirty fingerprints all over it. He's panicking.
posted by Doktor Zed at 10:55 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Worth noting for future reference.
The Biggest Story of the Midterms Is One the Democrats Aren’t Telling (Democrats Poised for Midterm Gubernatorial Victories) - Rahm Emanuel (yes that one), The Atlantic
The Biggest Story of the Midterms Is One the Democrats Aren’t Telling (Democrats Poised for Midterm Gubernatorial Victories) - Rahm Emanuel (yes that one), The Atlantic
Things are looking up for progressives at the state level—but until recently, the national party wasn’t spreading the word.posted by ZeusHumms at 10:56 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
So we have a bunch of people coming out and saying these guys are trying to bribe people into saying fake stuff about Mueller and we’re afraid of what exactly?
Yet another fucking thing to bookmark on Snopes before heading out to Thanksgiving dinner.
posted by Etrigan at 10:58 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
Yet another fucking thing to bookmark on Snopes before heading out to Thanksgiving dinner.
posted by Etrigan at 10:58 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
Mod note: Folks let's reel it in a little here, let's not have the general fight about who's-bad-in-lamestream-media and the general 'how can we build networks' conversations again; for the latter, it's better to make a separate post or even an AskMe.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 10:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
So regarding this Mueller thing, it looks like Wohl jumped the gun and landed in manure, because I see nothing to suggest that he or his "informants" actually confirmed that this woman (who worked for Mueller in the 70s) would accept the deal to make the accusation. It sounds like she simply went right to the authorities, and thus that's the beginning and end of the whole story, from the perspective of any casual newsreader. It would not surprise me if that possibility truly did not occur to the ratfuckers in question ("But it's money! Why would anyone turn that down? The left's fake accusers never do, it's not fair!").
Of course, maybe there are more women involved and one of them did accept. But it was still stupidly risky to continue the operation after any individual has failed to , because at that point the cover has been blown in at least one corner. What a bunch of maroons.
Counter-possibility of n-dimensional tic-tac-toe: After this person declined the offer, they knew the story would be out no matter what. So, just like many mainstream reporters are getting ahead of the story by telling it now, they hoped to get ahead of that by baldly declaring that hedunit, so as to prime their audience to call the impending revelation of a payoff "fake news".)
posted by InTheYear2017 at 11:01 AM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
Of course, maybe there are more women involved and one of them did accept. But it was still stupidly risky to continue the operation after any individual has failed to , because at that point the cover has been blown in at least one corner. What a bunch of maroons.
Counter-possibility of n-dimensional tic-tac-toe: After this person declined the offer, they knew the story would be out no matter what. So, just like many mainstream reporters are getting ahead of the story by telling it now, they hoped to get ahead of that by baldly declaring that hedunit, so as to prime their audience to call the impending revelation of a payoff "fake news".)
posted by InTheYear2017 at 11:01 AM on October 30, 2018 [6 favorites]
...supervillain comparisons for Trump never work, because supervillains are usually at least good at something.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:50 AM on October 30 [3 favorites +] [!]
Au contraire, Pierre. He's good at flim-flam. It's the only thing, but he's very good at it.
posted by Mental Wimp at 11:02 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 10:50 AM on October 30 [3 favorites +] [!]
Au contraire, Pierre. He's good at flim-flam. It's the only thing, but he's very good at it.
posted by Mental Wimp at 11:02 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
Cook ratings changes. Two right, four left.
Good to see Nunes and King on the latter list. I hope they spend the week sweating.
And then get voted out in the Blue Wave.
posted by Gelatin at 11:03 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
Good to see Nunes and King on the latter list. I hope they spend the week sweating.
And then get voted out in the Blue Wave.
posted by Gelatin at 11:03 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
It also means that even though the hoax failed, its existence, which is now Officially News because the Special Counsel's office commented on it and they don't comment on anything, means phrases like "false sexual harassment claims" are appearing in headlines all over the place, which is a win for Republicans who want to insist that false claims and people paid to make accusations happen all the time. Even the dehoaxing ends up being harmful.
At the end of the day, it's just a hoax, and people try to hoax journalists fairly often. They don't usually succeed, and this one seems to have failed really badly. I'm not worried anyone is going to seriously print it now, not with an announced FBI investigation (and the singling out of Haberman, who has had absolutely zero to do with this story, is super gross).
posted by zachlipton at 11:05 AM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
At the end of the day, it's just a hoax, and people try to hoax journalists fairly often. They don't usually succeed, and this one seems to have failed really badly. I'm not worried anyone is going to seriously print it now, not with an announced FBI investigation (and the singling out of Haberman, who has had absolutely zero to do with this story, is super gross).
posted by zachlipton at 11:05 AM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
I guess I’m just a bit skeptical about this gaining any traction, even in the current media environment (which is why in my initial comment I was speaking incredulousness that “Haberman et. al.” would run with it). There’s literally a weird threat in the interactions with the people who are supposedly running this op (From that Hill article: “After calling the number, we promptly received what we viewed as a threatening text message back, which read, “You’re in over your head…. Drop this”. The message included the home addresses of two of our editors, including myself.”) As much as the media does stupid things, I also think whoever is behind this (Stone? Giuliani?) is scared shitless and isn’t covering their tracks well.
So sorry if I came off as sexist by mentioning Haberman. The initial comment was meant to convey skepticism that she or anybody would fall for this.
posted by gucci mane at 11:08 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
So sorry if I came off as sexist by mentioning Haberman. The initial comment was meant to convey skepticism that she or anybody would fall for this.
posted by gucci mane at 11:08 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
At the end of the day, it's just a hoax, and people try to hoax journalists fairly often.
It's also offering bribes to commit perjury, but I guess that's not a big deal these days...
posted by Mental Wimp at 11:10 AM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
It's also offering bribes to commit perjury, but I guess that's not a big deal these days...
posted by Mental Wimp at 11:10 AM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
Guys. Two stories right now:
1. the President has stated his intention to unilaterally override the Constitution in order to go after American citizens
2. a fake story might run, maybe, in the future
One of these is more important than the other.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:11 AM on October 30, 2018 [52 favorites]
1. the President has stated his intention to unilaterally override the Constitution in order to go after American citizens
2. a fake story might run, maybe, in the future
One of these is more important than the other.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:11 AM on October 30, 2018 [52 favorites]
The upside of the Mueller thing is that it reminded me that he and his investigation exist.
posted by paper chromatographologist at 11:13 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
posted by paper chromatographologist at 11:13 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
Looks like the GOP may be smelling defeat for Steve King. NRCC Chair Steve Stivers:
None of this is to say King is done - it's a very red district. But it's starting to look distinctly possible.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:15 AM on October 30, 2018 [42 favorites]
Congressman Steve King’s recent comments, actions, and retweets are completely inappropriate. We must stand up against white supremacy and hate in all forms, and I strongly condemn this behavior.King has also had funding pulled in the last week from corporate backers, including Land O'Lakes (which is a big deal in the area). He hardly has any money, what money he does have has been going to pay salaries to his family members, and has aired zero ads. Meanwhile, Scholten has been up on the air for a while, and Evan McMullin's PAC has been airing anti-King ads, too.
None of this is to say King is done - it's a very red district. But it's starting to look distinctly possible.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:15 AM on October 30, 2018 [42 favorites]
Also I hate that there are two separate GOP House assholes named King, and I always have to think for a moment about which is which.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:16 AM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 11:16 AM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
1. the President has stated his intention to unilaterally override the Constitution in order to go after American citizens
2. a fake story might run, maybe, in the future
The first of which, at least, is pushing "wave of right wing terrorism including an anti-Semitic massacre" out of the headlines. I'm surely not saying we should ignore Trump (because he often really does try to do the evil shit that he says), just lamenting that our 2018 world only has a few days to spend on an actual fascist mass murder before moving on to the next awful thing.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:16 AM on October 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
2. a fake story might run, maybe, in the future
The first of which, at least, is pushing "wave of right wing terrorism including an anti-Semitic massacre" out of the headlines. I'm surely not saying we should ignore Trump (because he often really does try to do the evil shit that he says), just lamenting that our 2018 world only has a few days to spend on an actual fascist mass murder before moving on to the next awful thing.
posted by Joey Michaels at 11:16 AM on October 30, 2018 [13 favorites]
Paul Ryan, of all people, is calling BS on Trump's plans (for now, 5th paragraph in constantly updated story). “Well you obviously cannot do that,” Ryan said on WVLK in Kentucky. “You cannot end birthright citizenship with an executive order.”
Of course, whether Spineless Paul will do something about it when Trump signs the order is another thing entirely.
posted by martin q blank at 11:23 AM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
Of course, whether Spineless Paul will do something about it when Trump signs the order is another thing entirely.
posted by martin q blank at 11:23 AM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
We note that Paul Ryan is also retiring. Very brave statements from people who are leaving.
posted by Chrysostom at 11:25 AM on October 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 11:25 AM on October 30, 2018 [20 favorites]
American citizenship has been a bit of an issue with 'Accidental Americans', particularly those Accidental Americans living in Canada. There is a lingering problem as they have an obligation to file their taxes in the US but haven't done so, not having any US income to report. To correct that problem, they have been forced to spend a great deal of money either to file back tax returns that report that zero income, or for fees to renounce their US citizenship.
By changing the laws around birth as granting citizenship, I wonder if some of those Accidental Americans would be cleared off the rolls and have those problems vanish ha ha ha I don't wonder at all
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:25 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
By changing the laws around birth as granting citizenship, I wonder if some of those Accidental Americans would be cleared off the rolls and have those problems vanish ha ha ha I don't wonder at all
posted by Capt. Renault at 11:25 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Also I hate that there are two separate GOP House assholes named King, and I always have to think for a moment about which is which.
Also there are two separate GOP House assholes named "Steve [Medieval Title]." I like to think of Steve Knight (CA-25, hopefully just for a couple more months) as a vassal and footsoldier of Steve King.
posted by contraption at 11:26 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
Also there are two separate GOP House assholes named "Steve [Medieval Title]." I like to think of Steve Knight (CA-25, hopefully just for a couple more months) as a vassal and footsoldier of Steve King.
posted by contraption at 11:26 AM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
I always think of Steve King (R) as the antithesis of Stephen King (author and flaming liberal with a great Twitter feed).
posted by Autumnheart at 11:27 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 11:27 AM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
One King is a spectacular asshole with horrible, right wing policy stands. The other makes that asshole from New York look almost reasonable.
posted by mcstayinskool at 11:28 AM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
posted by mcstayinskool at 11:28 AM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
King has also had funding pulled in the last week from corporate backers, including Land O'Lakes (which is a big deal in the area). He hardly has any money, what money he does have has been going to pay salaries to his family members, and has aired zero ads.
Shout-out to mefi's own @Pinboard here, who - in addition to running the Great Slate, previously discussed here (although hey he recently wrote a thing about what it is and why he's doing it) - has also been pushing at the tech community to stop contributing to their R-donating corporate PACs.
Intel stopped donating to (odious, obvious Nazi) Steve King the other day and that probably helped to pile pressure on to Land O'Lakes.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 11:32 AM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
Shout-out to mefi's own @Pinboard here, who - in addition to running the Great Slate, previously discussed here (although hey he recently wrote a thing about what it is and why he's doing it) - has also been pushing at the tech community to stop contributing to their R-donating corporate PACs.
Intel stopped donating to (odious, obvious Nazi) Steve King the other day and that probably helped to pile pressure on to Land O'Lakes.
posted by chappell, ambrose at 11:32 AM on October 30, 2018 [16 favorites]
Yeah, let's be really clear. Trump says crazy things, but they have actually tried to do the things they say they're going to do. And they have largely succeeded.
And because their base -- their movement, really -- is based on revanchist rage, they always need something or someone to demonize. They can't stop. Which means they have to keep escalating.
So. To recap, briefly. They have gutted the ACA. They cut corporate taxes, and now want to use that to cut Social Security and medicare. They stole a Supreme Court seat and gave it to a fucking fascist rapist, and neither of those descriptors are hyperbole. They instituted a Muslim ban, and they have kidnapped migrant children and put them in fucking camps. They are sending thousands of active duty troops who may or may not specialize in building stupid war stuff to the border. They are actively trying to erase trans people from existence.
And now they want to gut the 14th amendment.
Make no mistake: if they get to decide who is a US citizen, it will follow exactly the pattern Etrigan mentioned above: if they don't like you, for whatever reason, your citizenship will be suspect, and they will throw you in a fucking camp. And because you actually are citizen, there is nowhere else to send you. Just the camps. That is how this ends.
Not immediately. Not in the first wave, or the second, or maybe even the third. But they always have to escalate, or their raging American Nazi movement might turn on itself. They will always, always need a new enemy. And if they have a weapon they can apply to anybody, they will use it.
How many of you can prove both of your parents were citizens? Right now, this moment?
This is like...all hands on deck time.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:37 AM on October 30, 2018 [81 favorites]
And because their base -- their movement, really -- is based on revanchist rage, they always need something or someone to demonize. They can't stop. Which means they have to keep escalating.
So. To recap, briefly. They have gutted the ACA. They cut corporate taxes, and now want to use that to cut Social Security and medicare. They stole a Supreme Court seat and gave it to a fucking fascist rapist, and neither of those descriptors are hyperbole. They instituted a Muslim ban, and they have kidnapped migrant children and put them in fucking camps. They are sending thousands of active duty troops who may or may not specialize in building stupid war stuff to the border. They are actively trying to erase trans people from existence.
And now they want to gut the 14th amendment.
Make no mistake: if they get to decide who is a US citizen, it will follow exactly the pattern Etrigan mentioned above: if they don't like you, for whatever reason, your citizenship will be suspect, and they will throw you in a fucking camp. And because you actually are citizen, there is nowhere else to send you. Just the camps. That is how this ends.
Not immediately. Not in the first wave, or the second, or maybe even the third. But they always have to escalate, or their raging American Nazi movement might turn on itself. They will always, always need a new enemy. And if they have a weapon they can apply to anybody, they will use it.
How many of you can prove both of your parents were citizens? Right now, this moment?
This is like...all hands on deck time.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:37 AM on October 30, 2018 [81 favorites]
@AP_Politics
We have deleted a tweet about President Trump's claim that the U.S. is the only country that grants birthright citizenship because it failed to note that his statement was incorrect.
11:28 AM - 30 Oct 2018
Well this is some kinda progress for the media I guess.
posted by bluesky43 at 11:37 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
We have deleted a tweet about President Trump's claim that the U.S. is the only country that grants birthright citizenship because it failed to note that his statement was incorrect.
11:28 AM - 30 Oct 2018
Well this is some kinda progress for the media I guess.
posted by bluesky43 at 11:37 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
The geography of voting — and not voting
Turnout in 2016 was especially low in almost a thousand U.S. counties. Most of them form a geographic belt that curves from upstate New York, down along the Appalachians, across Tennessee and into the Southwest. But 2018 has brought statewide races predicted to be competitive to the heart of the low-voting belt, in West Virginia, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico. The November results will be studied for signs of closer races and greater voter involvement to come in 2020.posted by kirkaracha at 11:41 AM on October 30, 2018 [2 favorites]
These maps show a turnout percentage based on two numbers for each county: ballots cast in the 2016 presidential race and the estimated population of voting-age citizens. Among the low-voting counties, those with turnout of 55 percent or less, there are some striking differences.
Of course, maybe there are more women involved and one of them did accept. But it was still stupidly risky to continue the operation after any individual has failed to , because at that point the cover has been blown in at least one corner. What a bunch of maroons.
In these dark times, it's easy to feel despair. So it's a comfort when Trump and the Republicans keep communicating, clumsily, how very desperate they all are.
posted by Gelatin at 11:44 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
In these dark times, it's easy to feel despair. So it's a comfort when Trump and the Republicans keep communicating, clumsily, how very desperate they all are.
posted by Gelatin at 11:44 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
One of the speakers at a Seattle rally against family separations (in the ancient history of four months ago) pointed out that Trump campaigned on stopping illegal immigration--and then immediately went after people with legal green cards and people legally seeking asylum. Whatever their policy, they will always try to push it farther. The primary guiding principles at work are racism and cruelty.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:45 AM on October 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
posted by scaryblackdeath at 11:45 AM on October 30, 2018 [36 favorites]
if they don't like you, for whatever reason, your citizenship will be suspect, and they will throw you in a fucking camp.
Exactly. Let's not forget the whole point of Guantanamo Bay prison: the ability to hold non-citizens in a place where American jurisdiction and constitutional provisions against cruel and unusual punishment, for example) aren't triggered by being on U.S. soil. Many rights apply to non-citizens as well.
IANAL but if you disconnect jurisdiction from being present in the U.S., which I think this move would do, you could have Guantanamo-type black sites with torture cells in the U.S.. And anyone you deem not a citizen could be sent there without any rights or judicial recourse. I'd love to be wrong about this though.
posted by msalt at 11:46 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
Exactly. Let's not forget the whole point of Guantanamo Bay prison: the ability to hold non-citizens in a place where American jurisdiction and constitutional provisions against cruel and unusual punishment, for example) aren't triggered by being on U.S. soil. Many rights apply to non-citizens as well.
IANAL but if you disconnect jurisdiction from being present in the U.S., which I think this move would do, you could have Guantanamo-type black sites with torture cells in the U.S.. And anyone you deem not a citizen could be sent there without any rights or judicial recourse. I'd love to be wrong about this though.
posted by msalt at 11:46 AM on October 30, 2018 [4 favorites]
They're not going to have time to throw us all in a camp before November 6th.
posted by Autumnheart at 11:47 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
posted by Autumnheart at 11:47 AM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Mod note: Friendly reminder that emotions/fear/anger can go over in the venting thread, and we'll try to keep this thread for updates on actual events happening.
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:49 AM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
posted by LobsterMitten (staff) at 11:49 AM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
I would like to offer Democratic communication staffers a free bit of framing to use when discussing President Trump's announced intention to bypass the 14th amendment and reverse US policy on birthright citizenship by executive order. We have a word in English for those who attempt to govern by executive dictate. Maybe this is a good time to roll it out and take it for a test drive.
Bonus points for using it to echo other recent successful messaging, e.g. "We're not saying that President Trump is a dictator, just that he believes he can rule by dictate."
posted by Nerd of the North at 11:52 AM on October 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
Bonus points for using it to echo other recent successful messaging, e.g. "We're not saying that President Trump is a dictator, just that he believes he can rule by dictate."
posted by Nerd of the North at 11:52 AM on October 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
They're not going to have time to throw us all in a camp before November 6th.
Nope, but what do you think a Dem House is going to do about it? Seriously asking. They keep the Senate, he keeps getting his judges, he does whatever the fuck he wants.
Taking back the House will not stop them from doing this. We need to figure out what will.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:52 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
Nope, but what do you think a Dem House is going to do about it? Seriously asking. They keep the Senate, he keeps getting his judges, he does whatever the fuck he wants.
Taking back the House will not stop them from doing this. We need to figure out what will.
posted by schadenfrau at 11:52 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
Amanda Terkel @aterkel
posted by Joe in Australia at 11:53 AM on October 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
New GOP mailer in a Connecticut state Senate race shows a Jewish candidate clutching a fistful of money. (link: http://cour.at/2qjhPxu)IMO the Photoshopped image is meant to evoke the heavily-reproduced antisemitic image showing a Jew smirking and rubbing his hands.
posted by Joe in Australia at 11:53 AM on October 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
Well, a Dem house could pull a McConnell and just stonewall everything and bring up impeachment about 92 times until Trump finishes his term (however that transpires). Isn't that the point of the blue wave? Trump can executive order whatever he likes, but the actual execution of that order depends on a coordinated effort on the part of government that Democrats can absolutely sandbag to great effect.
posted by Autumnheart at 11:56 AM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by Autumnheart at 11:56 AM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
One of the speakers at a Seattle rally against family separations (in the ancient history of four months ago) pointed out that Trump campaigned on stopping illegal immigration--and then immediately went after people with legal green cards and people legally seeking asylum. Whatever their policy, they will always try to push it farther.
Whatever they say their policy is. It's long been obvious that nativist Republicans are opposed to any immigration at all, illegal or otherwise, by brown-skinned, Spanish-speaking people (and a bunch of others besides. They're fine with immigration from Europe -- at least so far -- but they just don't want the others.
Of course, to say so would rightly be noted as racist and extremist, so they pretend to oppose illegal immigration. But their supporters know that dog whistle, even if the media doesn't -- or pretends not to.
posted by Gelatin at 11:57 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
Whatever they say their policy is. It's long been obvious that nativist Republicans are opposed to any immigration at all, illegal or otherwise, by brown-skinned, Spanish-speaking people (and a bunch of others besides. They're fine with immigration from Europe -- at least so far -- but they just don't want the others.
Of course, to say so would rightly be noted as racist and extremist, so they pretend to oppose illegal immigration. But their supporters know that dog whistle, even if the media doesn't -- or pretends not to.
posted by Gelatin at 11:57 AM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
If anyone is looking for a map to the arguments the five current Federalist Society members of SCOTUS might use to overturn US v. Ark and thus end birthright citizenship, you should check out this "perspective" published by the Federalist Society in 2016.
Particularly interesting that they consider this a "controversial" issue and not settled law.
posted by anastasiav at 11:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
Particularly interesting that they consider this a "controversial" issue and not settled law.
posted by anastasiav at 11:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
WaPo, Zinke’s own agency watchdog just referred him to the Justice Department
posted by zachlipton at 11:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [42 favorites]
The Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General has referred one of its ongoing probes into the conduct of Secretary Ryan Zinke to the Justice Department for further investigation, according to two individuals familiar with the matter.There are so many 5-alarm scandals that aren't even a one-day story anymore.
Interior Deputy Inspector General Mary L. Kendall, who is currently serving as acting inspector general, is conducting at least three probes that involve Zinke. These include his involvement in a Montana land deal and the decision not to grant two tribes approval to operate a casino in Connecticut. The individuals, who spoke of the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly, did not specify which inquiry had been referred to the Justice Department.
posted by zachlipton at 11:59 AM on October 30, 2018 [42 favorites]
IMO the Photoshopped image is meant to evoke the heavily-reproduced antisemitic image showing a Jew smirking and rubbing his hands.
They might as well have photoshopped him pouring the blood of gentile babies on his matzo. I unironically expect explicit Blood Libel rhetoric to enter the discourse within a year.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:03 PM on October 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
They might as well have photoshopped him pouring the blood of gentile babies on his matzo. I unironically expect explicit Blood Libel rhetoric to enter the discourse within a year.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:03 PM on October 30, 2018 [10 favorites]
They're fine with immigration from Europe -- at least so far -- but they just don't want the others.
well, north-western europe, at least
posted by murphy slaw at 12:22 PM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
well, north-western europe, at least
posted by murphy slaw at 12:22 PM on October 30, 2018 [5 favorites]
The Interior Department’s Office of Inspector General has referred one of its ongoing probes into the conduct of Secretary Ryan Zinke to the Justice Department for further investigation, according to two individuals familiar with the matter.
If you somehow forgot in all of the hullaballoo (as i did), the Inspector General of the Interior department was the position that Ben Carson claimed was going to be replaced by Suzanne Israel Tufts (a former trump campaign operative). Which appointment collapsed in a pile of shrugged shoulders and mumbled accusations until it fell off the news radar completely.
This latest news makes that story even more intriguing.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:27 PM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
If you somehow forgot in all of the hullaballoo (as i did), the Inspector General of the Interior department was the position that Ben Carson claimed was going to be replaced by Suzanne Israel Tufts (a former trump campaign operative). Which appointment collapsed in a pile of shrugged shoulders and mumbled accusations until it fell off the news radar completely.
This latest news makes that story even more intriguing.
posted by murphy slaw at 12:27 PM on October 30, 2018 [3 favorites]
Um. Wow.
Ben Collins for NBC News: A company called “Surefire Intelligence” has ties to this Mueller smear.
Jacob Wohl denied having ties to Surefire.
Surefire’s official phone number redirects to a voicemail box registered to Jacob's mom.
Article from NBC News.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:27 PM on October 30, 2018 [65 favorites]
Ben Collins for NBC News: A company called “Surefire Intelligence” has ties to this Mueller smear.
Jacob Wohl denied having ties to Surefire.
Surefire’s official phone number redirects to a voicemail box registered to Jacob's mom.
Article from NBC News.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 12:27 PM on October 30, 2018 [65 favorites]
I know David Brooks is an easy and worn dunk by now but...
@nytdavidbrooks
If everybody in red states voted for their Democratic candidates and everybody in a blue state voted for their Republican candidates we’d have a much better Congress.
...is what enlightened centrists say while the entire world is on fire.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:28 PM on October 30, 2018 [28 favorites]
@nytdavidbrooks
If everybody in red states voted for their Democratic candidates and everybody in a blue state voted for their Republican candidates we’d have a much better Congress.
...is what enlightened centrists say while the entire world is on fire.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:28 PM on October 30, 2018 [28 favorites]
Land O’Lakes’ Support Of Steve King Melts After White Nationalist Comments - Matt Shuham, TPM
posted by ZeusHumms at 12:30 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
Faced with a potential boycott of its products, Land O’Lakes, Inc., the agriculture cooperative, announced Tuesday that its political action committee “will no longer support Rep. Steve King moving forward.”House GOP Campaign Chair Disavows Steve King: ‘We Must Stand Up Against White Supremacy’ - Cameron Joseph, TPM
The company announced the decision in a press release on its website, saying it wanted its political giving “to be a positive force for good” and that it sought to ensure “that recipients of our contributions uphold our company’s values.”
That marked a harsher slap on King’s wrist than has been administered by House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) or National Republican Congressional Committee Chair Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH), who have remained mum on King’s endorsements of white nationalism. Ryan, through a spokesperson, released a vague statement in June condemning Naziism that did not mention King by name two weeks after King retweeted a British neo-Nazi.
According to campaign finance filings recorded by the Federal Election Commission, Land O’Lakes, Inc. PAC’s last donation to King’s campaign — for $2,500 — occurred on June 21.
posted by ZeusHumms at 12:30 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
@nytdavidbrooks
If everybody in red states voted for their Democratic candidates and everybody in a blue state voted for their Republican candidates we’d have a much better Congress.
Why would the majority of the population vote for a party that is so contemptuous of what the majority of Americans want, let alone need? That's weak sauce even for Brooks.
posted by Gelatin at 12:31 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
If everybody in red states voted for their Democratic candidates and everybody in a blue state voted for their Republican candidates we’d have a much better Congress.
Why would the majority of the population vote for a party that is so contemptuous of what the majority of Americans want, let alone need? That's weak sauce even for Brooks.
posted by Gelatin at 12:31 PM on October 30, 2018 [11 favorites]
Rust Moranis: They might as well have photoshopped him pouring the blood of gentile babies on his matzo. I unironically expect explicit Blood Libel rhetoric to enter the discourse within a year.
That sounded far-fetched to me but then I remembered that I've heard tell on the interwebs of places in these benighted states (apologies to Alexandra Erin) where some Christian folks genuinely believe in the "horns" thing. Like, meeting Jewish people for the first time in college and asking with real curiosity if they could see their horns. In the 21st century. At this time of day. Localized entirely within your kitchen. It's more incredible to me (and obviously more awful) than the "men have one fewer rib" notion people get from Genesis, which is sort of biologically plausible if you don't have a deep knowledge of that stuff.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 12:32 PM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
That sounded far-fetched to me but then I remembered that I've heard tell on the interwebs of places in these benighted states (apologies to Alexandra Erin) where some Christian folks genuinely believe in the "horns" thing. Like, meeting Jewish people for the first time in college and asking with real curiosity if they could see their horns. In the 21st century. At this time of day. Localized entirely within your kitchen. It's more incredible to me (and obviously more awful) than the "men have one fewer rib" notion people get from Genesis, which is sort of biologically plausible if you don't have a deep knowledge of that stuff.
posted by InTheYear2017 at 12:32 PM on October 30, 2018 [9 favorites]
...is what enlightened centrists say while the entire world is on fire.
always remember, folks - the middle of the road is where you stand if you want to get run over
posted by murphy slaw at 12:34 PM on October 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
always remember, folks - the middle of the road is where you stand if you want to get run over
posted by murphy slaw at 12:34 PM on October 30, 2018 [24 favorites]
That sounded far-fetched to me but then I remembered that I've heard tell on the interwebs of places in these benighted states (apologies to Alexandra Erin) where some Christian folks genuinely believe in the "horns" thing. Like, meeting Jewish people for the first time in college and asking with real curiosity if they could see their horns.
My sister attended kindergarten in a well-to-do part of LA in the early 80s and one of her classmates felt her head for horns. It's never really gone away.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:35 PM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
My sister attended kindergarten in a well-to-do part of LA in the early 80s and one of her classmates felt her head for horns. It's never really gone away.
posted by Rust Moranis at 12:35 PM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
PopeHat believes Jacob is in some legal jeopardy over this bullshit. I hope he is correct.
posted by Justinian at 12:36 PM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
posted by Justinian at 12:36 PM on October 30, 2018 [18 favorites]
PopeHat believes Jacob is in some legal jeopardy over this bullshit. I hope he is correct.
ISITRICO?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:39 PM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
ISITRICO?
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 12:39 PM on October 30, 2018 [17 favorites]
Republican governor of Idaho endorses Proposition 2, which would expand Medicaid there.
There are three red states (ID, UT, NE) with Medicaid expansion on the ballot, this could help an enormous number of people.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:42 PM on October 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
There are three red states (ID, UT, NE) with Medicaid expansion on the ballot, this could help an enormous number of people.
posted by Chrysostom at 12:42 PM on October 30, 2018 [15 favorites]
Ben Collins for NBC News: A company called “Surefire Intelligence” has ties to this Mueller smear.
What's not quite adequately explained is exactly how "Surefire Intelligence" is involved in Burkman's scheme (of all the people I'm willing to trust on blind faith, none have the last name Krassenstein). But this is extremely hilarious:
My point is that it looks more and more like the actual hoax wasn't about smearing Mueller with harassment allegations, but rather it was a nonsensical story to try to bait reporters into looking like idiots. And it's so comically inept that I can't imagine who would be dumb enough to do this, and then I look at Jacob Whol.
I'm told the Daily Beast will have more on Whol and Surefire Intelligence in a moment.
@AdamSerwer: Seems unfair that Jacob’s mom built the Wohl and also has to pay for it
posted by zachlipton at 12:45 PM on October 30, 2018 [47 favorites]
What's not quite adequately explained is exactly how "Surefire Intelligence" is involved in Burkman's scheme (of all the people I'm willing to trust on blind faith, none have the last name Krassenstein). But this is extremely hilarious:
Wohl stopped responding to NBC News after being told Surefire’s official phone number redirects to his mother’s voicemailThe entire story doesn't make any sense, even as the usual sort of hoax. O'Keefe's Roy Moore hoax wasn't well done, but at least was reasonably coherent. In contrast, here's the original tip email that started this. It's a really weird format: BCC'd to a whole ton of reporters, and the reporters range from the New Yorker to people like Yashar to independents like emptywheel and Stedman. I don't really know who would have a story like this and BCC such a wide continuum of reporters, including some pretty obscure people, in one go. Having been so eager to hand the story to a dozen+ reporters, the source then disconnected her phone and has refused to talk to any of them. The basic details don't check out, and these are things any remotely competent reporter would run down. The source says she deleted Signal and all the messages/metadata that would document the conversations she alleges. And then reporters got weird threats when they looked into the story.
My point is that it looks more and more like the actual hoax wasn't about smearing Mueller with harassment allegations, but rather it was a nonsensical story to try to bait reporters into looking like idiots. And it's so comically inept that I can't imagine who would be dumb enough to do this, and then I look at Jacob Whol.
I'm told the Daily Beast will have more on Whol and Surefire Intelligence in a moment.
@AdamSerwer: Seems unfair that Jacob’s mom built the Wohl and also has to pay for it
posted by zachlipton at 12:45 PM on October 30, 2018 [47 favorites]
Heh. Jacob Wohl is the pathetic "hipster coffee shop" twitter dork.
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:45 PM on October 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
posted by Atom Eyes at 12:45 PM on October 30, 2018 [21 favorites]
I'm told the Daily Beast will have more on Whol and Surefire Intelligence in a moment.
It was a brief moment. Inside the Crazy Cabal Trying to Smear Robert Mueller. These are all very much the worst people, and I hate everybody.
The first of which, at least, is pushing "wave of right wing terrorism including an anti-Semitic massacre" out of the headlines. I'm surely not saying we should ignore Trump (because he often really does try to do the evil shit that he says), just lamenting that our 2018 world only has a few days to spend on an actual fascist mass murder before moving on to the next awful thing.
I hear you, but Trump is in the air to Pittsburgh right now. He's going to land, and he will be unable to help himself because that's who he is, and the headlines will be back.
posted by zachlipton at 12:53 PM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
It was a brief moment. Inside the Crazy Cabal Trying to Smear Robert Mueller. These are all very much the worst people, and I hate everybody.
The first of which, at least, is pushing "wave of right wing terrorism including an anti-Semitic massacre" out of the headlines. I'm surely not saying we should ignore Trump (because he often really does try to do the evil shit that he says), just lamenting that our 2018 world only has a few days to spend on an actual fascist mass murder before moving on to the next awful thing.
I hear you, but Trump is in the air to Pittsburgh right now. He's going to land, and he will be unable to help himself because that's who he is, and the headlines will be back.
posted by zachlipton at 12:53 PM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Also weird is that the Twitter botnet is already out in full force responding to any links or stories about the scheme with comments to the effect of "I thought you believed women, huh? Shouldn't her allegations against Mueller get a fair hearing? #Hypocrites" ... as if the story had at any point contained an actual allegation of sexual assault. When so far the only woman with allegations is "Lorraine," alleging that someone tried to bribe her to make a false accusation.
posted by the turtle's teeth at 12:53 PM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
posted by the turtle's teeth at 12:53 PM on October 30, 2018 [8 favorites]
looks like trump heard the pleas of every local pittsburgh offical… and then told them to go fuck themselves:
Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Pittsburgh today. He is expected to land at Pittsburgh International Airport at 3:45pm and depart at 6:30pm.posted by murphy slaw at 12:54 PM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
Expect rolling stoppages and delays as the motorcade travels to it's locations.
Over 2000 comments, so here's a New Thread.
posted by box at 12:55 PM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by box at 12:55 PM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
One of the worrisome elements of this kind of attack on Mueller is its fundamental asymmetry.
This is a necessary consequence of taking sexual harassment complaints seriously, even when levied against the powerful, but amoral opportunists are going to see this asymmetry as an invitation unless we find a way to dissuade them. I am therefore hoping that Wohl does face pretty severe consequences for this, as a failure to face consequences would imperil the targets of deliberate false accusations or consensus support for holding the powerful accountable or BOTH.
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:56 PM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
This is a necessary consequence of taking sexual harassment complaints seriously, even when levied against the powerful, but amoral opportunists are going to see this asymmetry as an invitation unless we find a way to dissuade them. I am therefore hoping that Wohl does face pretty severe consequences for this, as a failure to face consequences would imperil the targets of deliberate false accusations or consensus support for holding the powerful accountable or BOTH.
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:56 PM on October 30, 2018 [7 favorites]
They might as well have photoshopped him pouring the blood of gentile babies on his matzo. I unironically expect explicit Blood Libel rhetoric to enter the discourse within a year.
Wait, hasn't it already? I thought that's what QAnon was all about.
posted by contraption at 12:57 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Wait, hasn't it already? I thought that's what QAnon was all about.
posted by contraption at 12:57 PM on October 30, 2018 [1 favorite]
Before leaving for the new thread...
Also weird is that the Twitter botnet is already out in full force responding to any links or stories about the scheme with comments to the effect of "I thought you believed women, huh? Shouldn't her allegations against Mueller get a fair hearing? #Hypocrites" ... as if the story had at any point contained an actual allegation of sexual assault. When so far the only woman with allegations is "Lorraine," alleging that someone tried to bribe her to make a false accusation.
It turns out we do believe the woman when she says a Republican operative offered her a bribe in an attempt to suborn perjury.
posted by Gelatin at 1:03 PM on October 30, 2018 [22 favorites]
Also weird is that the Twitter botnet is already out in full force responding to any links or stories about the scheme with comments to the effect of "I thought you believed women, huh? Shouldn't her allegations against Mueller get a fair hearing? #Hypocrites" ... as if the story had at any point contained an actual allegation of sexual assault. When so far the only woman with allegations is "Lorraine," alleging that someone tried to bribe her to make a false accusation.
It turns out we do believe the woman when she says a Republican operative offered her a bribe in an attempt to suborn perjury.
posted by Gelatin at 1:03 PM on October 30, 2018 [22 favorites]
At this point, I don't believe "Lorraine" exists at all, or at least there's no evidence to suggest that she does. I don't think a Republican operative found someone who worked with Mueller decades ago and offered her a bribe to lie; I think someone made her up. Nobody cold emails a huge story to a dozen reporters ranging from Jane Mayer to Scott Stedman and then refuses to so much as talk on the phone to any of them.
posted by zachlipton at 1:12 PM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
posted by zachlipton at 1:12 PM on October 30, 2018 [14 favorites]
🍪🍪🥛
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 1:44 PM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
posted by Two unicycles and some duct tape at 1:44 PM on October 30, 2018 [12 favorites]
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Lolz, I bet I can guess which exemption it's gonna be.
(clicks link)
He said he’d propose a $700 billion budget for military spending in fiscal 2020, which would be about a $15 billion increase over total appropriations for the Defense Department this year. It’s “a very substantial number,” Trump said, “but it’s defense, it’s important.”
Yeah. Kind hard to imagine him asking Defense to cut anything from its budget, let alone 5%.
posted by scaryblackdeath at 5:45 PM on October 18, 2018 [5 favorites]