Hey y’all! It’s Tim in for JVL today but do not fret, our Sad King will return tomorrow. Thanks again for all your support for World Central Kitchen. We are closing in on $100k contributed from Bulwark readers. Amazing! Here’s the link if you want to be the one to put us over the top.
Hi Tim...a thought...since Dems are so bad at getting out the vote in midterms (I'm a centrist Dem but have voted R in the past), maybe all of the non-MAGA Rs can come out to vote for centrist D candidates in November?
Thanks for the happy Harry Styles recommendation. Definitely had me dancing while doing the dishes. And thanks for the reminder to support World Central Kitchen to be grateful I have a kitchen to dance and do the dishes. You are priceless.
So Saint Murkowski had her own way of overturning the election: cut the Senate Democrats off at the knees. I'm tired of hearing any praise at all for Murkowski, Romney and Collins, who have ridden the fascist express past many stations.
If only most Republicans were Yosemite Sam of Elmer Fud. Sadly too many are the Tazmanian Devil.
More seriously, if Republican politicians believe Trump crushed Buckleyite Conservatism under the weight of its perceived insufficiencies and the only path to keeping power is populism in pursuit of reactionary goals, is there any way to escape Trump if he's the Tremendous Dear Orange Leader Republicans voters demand?
So it sounds to me that Joe Manchin is more personally repelled by Mitch McConnell than I imagined. I have always thought he would have so much to gain and so little to lose by going independent and caucusing with the Republicans. Although he would cease to have the same leverage he enjoys now. Which may be the point.
The student debt relief stuff got me thinking again.....
I have also listening to Hacks on Tap and how Gibbs, Axe and Murphy have all commented on the need for Biden/Dems to a) "pick a fight" (e.g. high polling items like drug prices, common sense immigration with a focus on border security, billionaire's tax, etc) AND b) have their counter narrative to Rep's current control of the public narrative via culture wars. Yes, it's important to focus on policy and the Ukraine war, BUT why can't they seem to do that AND a) and b)?
And do they really believe BBB or relieving student debt is going to help the 2022 prospects when the $1.9T legislation isn't yielding results? Who is advising Biden? Where is the "politics" (vs policy) side of their game plan/narrative? Where is the messaging about being against citizen vigilantes, about being in favor of parent's rights AND the importance of an educated population, about border security AND a legal immigration program that allows us to have a heathy economy, about a government that wants to promote economic growth AND not punish corporations for their freedom of speech or political stunts that increase the cost of goods crossing our border with Mexico, about a government that understands the importance of a parent's rights to do what's best for their trans kids AND the need for a level playing field in competitive activities, etc..
Biden's team sure seems to be missing some key voices that can do this OR maybe (worse) he himself doesn't believe in it? Sometimes it feels like they need a Rahm Emmanuel chief of staff that can balance policy and politics and who isn't afraid to fight, including if necessary within his own party.
It's difficult enough when you have a messenger problem. Real or perceived. Why compound it with a message problem too?
WNBA players have been going to Russia for 20+ years because you can’t make bank in the US. Sue Bird, Diana Tarausi and many more talented women did it for years to supplement their income….. cause, ya know, we care about women’s athletics in the country. (GMAFB)
It is a crime what is happening to Brittney Griner, but I won’t hold my breath.
If the last decade (or 5) has proven anything, we talk a good game in this country, we do not mean most of what we say….
Tim, thank you for sitting in today for JVL. I really like JVL but your comments here are terrific.
I do like the idea of moderate Senators coming together to form a coalition to get things done - and preserve our democracy. Schumer is “ok” but he really blew with the BBB Act reconciliation legislation. He should have gone right into a re-draft with Manchin and Sinema to get the bill to what they would vote for. It would have been way less than theHouse version BUT they would have passed SOMETHING, which is way better, politically than where the Dems are now. Quite frankly they would probably brought over some moderate Republicans.
Oh well, now we will see gridlock in Washington after next fall’s election and are truly looking at a terrible 2024.
Fantastic Triad. Thanks Tim
Hi Tim...a thought...since Dems are so bad at getting out the vote in midterms (I'm a centrist Dem but have voted R in the past), maybe all of the non-MAGA Rs can come out to vote for centrist D candidates in November?
Free Britany!
Wow. That Murkowski story does it, they're all rotten! Liz and Kinzinger are the only Republicans worth anything and they're gone.
Thanks for the happy Harry Styles recommendation. Definitely had me dancing while doing the dishes. And thanks for the reminder to support World Central Kitchen to be grateful I have a kitchen to dance and do the dishes. You are priceless.
So Saint Murkowski had her own way of overturning the election: cut the Senate Democrats off at the knees. I'm tired of hearing any praise at all for Murkowski, Romney and Collins, who have ridden the fascist express past many stations.
| You maroons.
If only most Republicans were Yosemite Sam of Elmer Fud. Sadly too many are the Tazmanian Devil.
More seriously, if Republican politicians believe Trump crushed Buckleyite Conservatism under the weight of its perceived insufficiencies and the only path to keeping power is populism in pursuit of reactionary goals, is there any way to escape Trump if he's the Tremendous Dear Orange Leader Republicans voters demand?
So far for Trump, "this too will pass" has been his experience. It is up to all of us to make sure that this time THIS WILL NOT PASS.
So it sounds to me that Joe Manchin is more personally repelled by Mitch McConnell than I imagined. I have always thought he would have so much to gain and so little to lose by going independent and caucusing with the Republicans. Although he would cease to have the same leverage he enjoys now. Which may be the point.
The student debt relief stuff got me thinking again.....
I have also listening to Hacks on Tap and how Gibbs, Axe and Murphy have all commented on the need for Biden/Dems to a) "pick a fight" (e.g. high polling items like drug prices, common sense immigration with a focus on border security, billionaire's tax, etc) AND b) have their counter narrative to Rep's current control of the public narrative via culture wars. Yes, it's important to focus on policy and the Ukraine war, BUT why can't they seem to do that AND a) and b)?
And do they really believe BBB or relieving student debt is going to help the 2022 prospects when the $1.9T legislation isn't yielding results? Who is advising Biden? Where is the "politics" (vs policy) side of their game plan/narrative? Where is the messaging about being against citizen vigilantes, about being in favor of parent's rights AND the importance of an educated population, about border security AND a legal immigration program that allows us to have a heathy economy, about a government that wants to promote economic growth AND not punish corporations for their freedom of speech or political stunts that increase the cost of goods crossing our border with Mexico, about a government that understands the importance of a parent's rights to do what's best for their trans kids AND the need for a level playing field in competitive activities, etc..
Biden's team sure seems to be missing some key voices that can do this OR maybe (worse) he himself doesn't believe in it? Sometimes it feels like they need a Rahm Emmanuel chief of staff that can balance policy and politics and who isn't afraid to fight, including if necessary within his own party.
It's difficult enough when you have a messenger problem. Real or perceived. Why compound it with a message problem too?
WNBA players have been going to Russia for 20+ years because you can’t make bank in the US. Sue Bird, Diana Tarausi and many more talented women did it for years to supplement their income….. cause, ya know, we care about women’s athletics in the country. (GMAFB)
It is a crime what is happening to Brittney Griner, but I won’t hold my breath.
If the last decade (or 5) has proven anything, we talk a good game in this country, we do not mean most of what we say….
JVL's out? So we can shitpost at each other today?
Manchin's only underrated if you think protecting Black and Native Americans' right to vote doesn't matter
GoP: Somebody will save us, but in the meantime I am going to grab everything I can!
Is Oz related to Mr. Spock?
Help me, Trump!
Tim, thank you for sitting in today for JVL. I really like JVL but your comments here are terrific.
I do like the idea of moderate Senators coming together to form a coalition to get things done - and preserve our democracy. Schumer is “ok” but he really blew with the BBB Act reconciliation legislation. He should have gone right into a re-draft with Manchin and Sinema to get the bill to what they would vote for. It would have been way less than theHouse version BUT they would have passed SOMETHING, which is way better, politically than where the Dems are now. Quite frankly they would probably brought over some moderate Republicans.
Oh well, now we will see gridlock in Washington after next fall’s election and are truly looking at a terrible 2024.