The Neverending Thread for Political Shit

[beantownbubba]

The Senate has dismissed the impeachment charges against Alejandro Mayorkas referred by the House. It is hard to describe just how absurd this is. Part of the absurdity is that it's not a surprise: By the time they made the referral to the Senate, House leaders knew the case had no chance of a hearing much less a judgment in the Senate but they did it anyway. It's also absurd to think about all the things they can't get done compared to this moronic, pointless thing they did do. Even on the scale of "performative" this is pathetic.

[beantownbubba]

WARNING: I'm gonna say something nice about Marjorie Taylor Greene.

As Mike Johnson finally, finally!, moves Ukraine aid to a vote in the House, the violently opposed MTG keeps adding amendments to the funding bill. In one she wants to require that any House member who votes for the aid bill to be conscripted into the Ukrainian military. In context it is of course absurd to involve the military of an independent country in this way, but I have to say, making politicians participate in the price paid by others for their decisions is a great idea. Imagine if Congress had the same healthcare as real people. Imagine if those who voted for the Iraq war or the Vietnam war had to serve in the military. Truly not a bad idea despite the absurd context.

Even better, MTG proposed another amendment that would require the "funds made available by this act" be used to develop "space laser technology on the southwest border." Now THAT is seriously funny. If she required that the funds be spent on R&D in Israel I might have never been able to catch my breath.

[beantownbubba]

So what's it all mean?

Mike Johnson is deservedly receiving praise for doing the right thing and not just doing the right thing, but actually seeing it through and getting the job done to the extent it was in his power (i.e. the Senate still has to act but that is assumed to be a formality at this point). But the real question is has he dealt a significant long term blow to Marjorie, Matt, Donald and the rest of the MAGAverse? Will their threats and histrionics become ever more empty and impotent as the rest of the power structure realizes that they can be beaten? And if that happens will Johnson will the beneficiary of their power (calculating it as a zero sum game, which is pretty close to the truth)? And if that happens, will it turn out to be a short-lived celebration for the Dems since at bottom, Johnson and the Dems have very little in common and an empowered Johnson might well be a perfect example of being careful of what you wish for? Should be an interesting few months, but you knew that already.

[pearlbeer]

So what's it all mean?

Mike Johnson is deservedly receiving praise for doing the right thing and not just doing the right thing, but actually seeing it through and getting the job done to the extent it was in his power (i.e. the Senate still has to act but that is assumed to be a formality at this point). But the real question is has he dealt a significant long term blow to Marjorie, Matt, Donald and the rest of the MAGAverse? Will their threats and histrionics become ever more empty and impotent as the rest of the power structure realizes that they can be beaten? And if that happens will Johnson will the beneficiary of their power (calculating it as a zero sum game, which is pretty close to the truth)? And if that happens, will it turn out to be a short-lived celebration for the Dems since at bottom, Johnson and the Dems have very little in common and an empowered Johnson might well be a perfect example of being careful of what you wish for? Should be an interesting few months, but you knew that already.

Amazing how broadly all of the measures passes. Further proof that the Republican party (and Congress) is held hostage by just a few, very loud, very unreasonable voices. The loudest part of their argument against isn't really Foreign Policy, it is "we can never work with Dems." See how hard they push it. I'd bet we see the Dems rescue Mike if needed. That could leave the MAGA nuts alone on crazy island.

One would hope that the Dems have the balls to save him...provided he brings the Border bill to the floor for an up or down vote.

[pearlbeer]

I just want to take a moment to recognize myself for my evolved level of maturity. Today I was giggling to myself as I watched Rachel Maddow say "Pecker" over and over. I've really come a long way since Jr. High. Go me!

[beantownbubba]

I just want to take a moment to recognize myself for my evolved level of maturity. Today I was giggling to myself as I watched Rachel Maddow say "Pecker" over and over. I've really come a long way since Jr. High. Go me!

Hehehe She said pecker. Hehehe

[beantownbubba]

Inquiring minds want to know: What will the Supreme Court decide re presidential immunity and, equally important, when will they do it?

[cortez the killer]

Inquiring minds want to know: What will the Supreme Court decide re presidential immunity and, equally important, when will they do it?

[pearlbeer]

Presidential Immunity, Idaho Abortion, My local TX Gov just sent in mounted police to aggressively break up a peaceful protest at the Univ of Texas.

Here is a very sad haiku

fascists are winning
storm clouds darken and approach
nothing left to lose

[brettac1]

Presidential Immunity, Idaho Abortion, My local TX Gov just sent in mounted police to aggressively break up a peaceful protest at the Univ of Texas.

Here is a very sad haiku

fascists are winning
storm clouds darken and approach
nothing left to lose

Barreling toward another Kent State and probably more than one with the amount of psycho cops “protecting” during these protests. It is acceptable in the United States of America for police to throw an elderly woman on the ground for protesting against the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians. This is with the “good guys” in charge. History will not look kindly upon the action/inaction of the US during this period, to the extent that independent scholarly history will even exist. What is playing out in Gaza is what anyone with critical thinking skills knew would happen all along. In the future people who were silent (or worse, supportive) will say they were always against it so they can sleep at night. Just like the Iraq War and numerous other atrocities in US foreign policy. About all that can be done is pray that the movement for peace will reach critical mass but it will be far too late for thousands of innocent people who have had their lives destroyed or ended. This will be the greatest tragedy of any of our lifetimes. An extremely despairing time to be alive.

[beantownbubba]

An extremely despairing time to be alive.

True.

This will be the greatest tragedy of any of our lifetimes.

I don't know how one would measure this and the disaster in Gaza is plenty terrible but I'd say this is unlikely. How does it compare to the 500-800,000 deaths in the Rwandan civil war? Over 200,000 dead in Darfur a couple of decades ago and renewed fighting and starvation now? Upcoming climate change-related disasters? The possible collapse of the United States as a liberal democracy? There's way too much bad shit that has gone on, is going on and to come. I'm not sure how to rank 'em or why.

[pearlbeer]

"I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday," Trump told reporters in the downtown Manhattan courthouse hallway. "It'd be nice to be with her, but I'm at a courthouse for a rigged trial."

What a lovely birthday present to be reminded publicly that your husband cheated on with porn stars and playboy bunnies. I got my wife one of those bird feeders with a camera and now feel totally inadequate.

[beantownbubba]

"I want to start by wishing my wife Melania a very happy birthday," Trump told reporters in the downtown Manhattan courthouse hallway. "It'd be nice to be with her, but I'm at a courthouse for a rigged trial."

What a lovely birthday present to be reminded publicly that your husband cheated on with porn stars and playboy bunnies. I got my wife one of those bird feeders with a camera and now feel totally inadequate.

If you're married to scotto or lurleen mcqueen that would be a great gift!

As for it being nice to be with her, i immediately flashed on Melania kicking Trump out of the family car at her father's funeral.

[beantownbubba]

I don't see many articles asserting that Gazans blame Hamas to any extent for the disaster and horrors they face daily. I post it as a point of interest, not as proof of anything.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/20 ... 4d203ed647

[cortez the killer]

I don't see many articles asserting that Gazans blame Hamas to any extent for the disaster and horrors they face daily.

Should they?

[beantownbubba]

I don't see many articles asserting that Gazans blame Hamas to any extent for the disaster and horrors they face daily.

Should they?

If it's true. Apparently at least some people do think so. I have no idea how many. If we assume the article is accurate as far as it goes, then at least a few people can be said to blame Hamas which is more than I have seen reported before. Like I said, I posted the article as a point of interest, or if you prefer as something different; I'm not trying to make greater claims for the proposition than can be fairly understood from the article itself. But to the extent this accurately reflects a POV shared by at least some Gazans that to me is information worth knowing.

Oh. The above reflects my understanding of your question being directed at the WaPo/reporters. I'm leaving it there in case I was right the first time. But if you may mean should Gazans believe that Hamas is at least somewhat to blame for the current disaster in a word my answer is yes. I don't mean to be reductive about a very complex situation with many relevant factors but to the limited extent covered by my framing of the question the answer is clear: Hamas is at least somewhat to blame. How much is a much harder question and one that understandably provokes the emotions we associate with this situation. I'm not trying to reach that far or to claim that the article goes that far.