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July 19, 2017 12:22 AM UTC

Wednesday Open Thread

  • 56 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

“You cannot climb the ladder of success dressed in the costume of failure.”

–Zig Ziglar

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56 thoughts on “Wednesday Open Thread”

          1. I cares  what Pp thinks.  Moddy is an idiot and Carnholio a paid shill.  PP is the only real independent voice from the right who regularly posts here.  I often disagree with him but but he is an honest and independent person.  I just need to get him and mj at the same table. I think they'd hit it off.

            1. You have my sympathy. If PP was truly honest, as you say, he'd be slamming the far right wing thugs as much as he slams the left wing "KOOKS." I've read the bulk of his stuff. PP is as much a paid shill for Trumpism as is Andrew. 

                1. Churlish? Why would I want to meet PP in person? I have ample friends of all political persuasions. I draw the line with alt-right sympathizers which PP seems to be. 

            2. He's a walking regurgitation of those honest and independent voices on FOXnews and Rush-the-millionaire-junkie. 

              . . . not sure how any of that relates to the hinterland odors of Dick Cheney, btw?

  2. At dinner in Hamburg, as Trump finished his taco salad, he saw that Putin was absorbed by Melania and decided the time was right to go after a billion $ from the richest man in the world. No national security guy necessary, this is all about the Benjamins. Or, the Vladimirs.

  3. At dinner in Hamburg, as Trump finished his taco salad, he saw that Putin was absorbed by Melania and decided the time was right to go after a billion $ from the richest man in the world. No national security guy necessary, this is all about the Benjamins. Or, the Vladimirs.

    Probably tried to sell him a suit

  4. Two years ago today, Donald Trump shagged 'Loser' John McCain for getting captured in Vietnam. 

    One year ago today, we were laughing at the grotesque hilarity of the opening night of the Republican National Convention, starring Scott Baio, only to watch Chaci get upstaged by Flynn's 'Lock Her Up!' Speech.

    This. Is. Simply. Delicious. 

    Hey Mitch, was as it worth it? 

     

    1. There were many in the GOP caucus who helped kill this POS legislation, but the Times mentioned Rand Paul, John Kasich and Susan Collins.

      https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/18/us/politics/trump-health-care-senate-bill.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=a-lede-package-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news&_r=0

      Who can forget how Two Scoops mocked Rand Paul during one of the earlier debates (i.e., "What the hell is he doing up here on stage? He's polling at 1%!") and John Kasich (What did he call Kasich? One-out-of-41 Kasich?), and Collins who refused to vote for him after the Access Hollywood interview came out.

      After going out of his way to torment and humiliate these people, he never realized that someday he might need their help.

       

      1. Frank, Moderatus won't agree with you as he appears to believe that President Trump is always right. Andrew will consider any senator who didn't support the bill as being a traitor to the party. Who cares what PP thinks?

        1. I cares  what Pp thinks.  Moddy is an idiot and Carnholio a paid shill.  PP is the only real independent voice from the right who regularly posts here.  I often disagree with him but but he is an honest and independent person.  I just need to get him and mj at the same table. I think they'd hit it off.

          2. I would be civil. That's all I can promise. I'm leery of right wing guys with a yen to prove themselves morally superior and resentment of women in general. My caution comes from experience.

            Also, he sent a really creepy email to the anonymous address I had posted on here at one point.

            FWIW, I don’t particularly like the troll-bashing that goes on here, even though I’ve done it myself. I’d rather tackle the arguments and logic than the person. In practice, this means I link them to death.

            1. You'd be charming, you can't restrain yourselfsmiley.  As to trolls, our only current one is moldy and he's sort of the house pet.  Shills are different.  Carnholio is a vicious racist, who regurgitates neonazi talking points.  He has no honor, no integrity and dreams only of someday having enough power to hurt people.  

              I can't speak to the pear's e-mails but his posts, while usually conservative, don't follow a Republican line and he is skeptical of all politicians.  I think he gives us some diversity but I notice he is posting less and less.  

              As to chb, I think he just pulled that conservative cloak over his liberal views one time to many for PP's likingsmiley

              1. VG:  I'm a free thinker. I'll vote for a liberal reluctantly, if the conservative candidate sucks, in my estimation. As to what PP's likings are or aren't, if he thinks I'm a liberal, that's his problem. There are many shades of conservatism. MJ raises a good point about troll-bashing. I generally attempt to be civil and courteous around here, but it becomes difficult at times. 

                1. The exception on bashing is Carnholio.  He is a vicious racist and treating him as having anything worthwhile to contribute is a mistake.  Let him suck on his long list of people the Clinton's have murdered.  Pure Goebbels boy vileness.

                  1. I'll call him out on what he does (distract, divide, divert, demonize) not on what he (presumably) is.

                    Occasionally, I want to know what someone like him thinks. I'll ask, and he will usually answer.  (especially if it's about Ken Buck or anyone associated with Ken Buck). Occasionally, it even makes sense.

                    I live in the middle of a community of people who often think as AC does. It helps me to understand how to approach disagreement.

      2. Kasich had the integrity to tell HalfScoop 'No' when Jr. told him he'd be the most powerful VP in history if he'd join the ticket (knowing that Daddy had zero interest in the hard work of the day-to-day POTUS obligations), unlike our sitting VP who would have attached himself to any lifeline that would get him the hell out of Indiana and dodge the freight train of political defeat that was bearing down on him. 

        1. You're right, Michael.It wasn't about integrity for Pence, It was about avoiding the humiliation of having his ass handed to him for signing the turn-away the-gays law and wrecking Indiana's economy.The problem this makes for The Yam is that Pence is, and always was, in business for himself. He may be in on Russiagate and go down with Trump, but if he's not, he won't hesitate to push his boss out into traffic.Especially if it means he inherits the funny-shaped room.

           

  6. Our years-old and often contentious dust-up over oil and gas development regulation in Broomfield resulted in a recall election last night. 4th Ward council member/mayor pro tem Greg Stokes, the target of the recall effort, easily won. Pro-Stokes forces actually had money to spend, as evidenced by the multiple yard signs we saw in throughout the ward and the fancy four-color mailers we received.

    Stokes is clearly pro-O&G industry, but that's not much of an impediment since there's a lot more "Drill baby drill" types here than in other Front Range cities. Couple that with his reputation (well and truly earned) for getting things done for the ward and the fact that  he's term limited and will be gone come Fall in any event, and the recall effort never really stood a chance.

    2. Um, Zap. Bennet co-sponsored Sanders' public option bill. Just FYI.  Bennet has also co-sponsored plenty of Medicare and Medicaid-friendly legislation, improving access to drugs, wheelchairs, medical devices, etc. Bennet did not sign on to Sanders' amendment to "

      To prevent the Senate from breaking Donald Trump's promise that "there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid".

      Bernie was in his "I don't give a f*ck" mode on that one, so perhaps we can forgive Thurston for not signing on. Like you, I'd like to see the senior Senator from CO be more of a fighter, but I am seeing some signs of life there.

      In the House, Conyers' "Medicare for All" bill garnered 115 co-sponsors, including all of Colorado's Democratic representatives.

  8. From Politico — a list of Urgent legislation that the GOP can't get a grip on:

    THE NEW NARRATIVE — PIVOTING TO TAX REFORM AND INFRASTRUCTURE — The White House wants to move on to its other priorities since their party has been completely unable to repeal and replace Obamacare. LETTER TO 1600: Here’s what you need to be aware of:

    — THE 2018 BUDGET COULD EASILY GO DOWN. THAT MEANS NO TAX REFORM. You need a budget to do tax reform. The spending blueprint you need is in big trouble in the House. House conservatives are on the brink of taking it down. Here’s what a Hill conservative told us when we asked if the budget could get through the House: “This Congress is redefining what we consider success. Case in point, House Republicans will proudly tout the passage of a budget that barely squeaks through committee and is [dead on arrival] on the [House] floor.”

     

    — INFRASTRUCTURE IS NOWHERE, AT THE MOMENT. In an attempt to keep it brief, you have a lot of work to do. No one is focused on infrastructure spending. The only thing on their radar in this realm is FAA reform, which is going to die in the Senate — if it ever gets out of the House, which isn’t looking good at the moment.

    1. Don't they also have a debt ceiling to raise? And we know how the tea baggers start to experience the vapors whenever that one comes up. And an FBI director to confirm? And half of the sub-cabinet positions to confirm?

      1. Oh, yes.  Politico's article barely covers the tip of the iceberg.  The Republican-controlled Congress has gone from a Do Nothing Congress under Obama, to a Can't Do Anything Congress under Trump.  As long as their agenda is purely ideologically driven instead of, you know actually trying to govern, they will continue to avoid any contact with Democrats.

    3. That is insane. Do the sponsors think that a law that criminalized participating in–or even just supporting–the Montgomery bus boycott would have been constitutional? Or the boycott by evangelicals of Disneyland because it held Pride days?

  10. No Get More Smarter thread, so I'll leave this here:

    Trump's Justice Department just made it easier for cops to take stuff.

    I became interested and researched this yesterday, got a few opinions on how Sessions' policy may / may not impact Colorado's new law limiting civil asset forfeiture.

    There is no consensus.  V says states rights dominate, Elliot F and Andrew C say the Fed Supremacy clause rules. Colorado's new law, signed by Hick a month ago, says that confiscated amounts under $50,000 are not eligible for this "Equitable Sharing" racket where the state keeps 80%, the Feds get 20%, and the citizen gets robbed.

    But it sounds as if Sessions is targeting those low-dollar low-value amounts. So if, for example, you're a person living on cash because you have no bank account (a cannabis entrepeneur?) and you get pulled over for a traffic violation, under CO law they have to give you back your $$ if you're not being charged with a crime.

    Under Sessions, not so much. Especially if it's somehow drug or "terrorism" related. They can take your shit and you have no recourse.

    1. The drug related aspect for sure, mama. I have friends in an eastern state who have worked hard for years in business and accumulated some significant wealth. If the local cops figure a way to get them on a pot bust, they will take everything. My friends will have a very hard time getting it back.

      Local cops love these laws …they profit mightily.

    3.  

       

      To clarify, mj, my comments on state rights/ninth and tenth amendment issues relate solely to marijuana.  I think the feds obviously have final say on immigration stuff. As to seizure issues, I don't like them but state rights are not the issues, more fourth, fifth and sixth amendment.  

      1. Republicans are spending a lot of energy on the premise that local governments only exist at the direction of the States. Under that theory, a state statute limiting asset forfeiture should bar local law enforcement from seeking recovery under the Federal guidelines.

        1. It is black-letter law that local governments are "creatures of the state." That is overridden to the extent that a local government has home-rule powers that stand outside of the state's power to revoke or otherwise abrogate them.

          In Colorado, state law cannot generally override home-rule city ordinances, unless the legislature makes a finding that the issue is one of statewide concern. Here's an example of such a finding:

          The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that the imposition of restrictions by a local government upon when or how often individuals may meet upon private residential property to pray, worship, or otherwise study or discuss issues relating to religious beliefs infringes upon the fundamental right to the free exercise of religion. The general assembly further finds and declares that such restrictions are of significant interest to people living outside the jurisdiction of the local government. In addition, the ability of individuals to freely determine when and how often they wish to meet for such purposes should be uniform throughout the state. Accordingly, the general assembly finds that restrictions that specifically limit when or how often individuals may meet upon private residential property to pray, worship, or otherwise study or discuss issues relating to religious beliefs are a matter of statewide concern and the provisions of this section shall preempt any provisions of any local government ordinance, resolution, regulation, or other restriction to the contrary.

          So, if the legislature decided that uniform civil forfeiture guidelines were a matter of statewide concern, it could impose statewide standards on home-rule cities.

        1. Sadly, I suspect the supremacy clause does apply.  But politically the actions of so many states have to be a restraining force on congress.

    1. Nah, he just needed a diaper change and a little baby powder to take care of the rash he was getting.  The usual stuff with a 2 year old who refuses to be potty trained.

    1. Lousy news for the Senator and his family. Same type of cancer that got Ted Kennedy and Bo Biden. I may not have often agreed with the Senator, but he's liable to be far better than any replacement Arizona's governor will come up with should McCain resign.

  15. While our useless little elf masquerading as an Attorney General spends his energy on clawing his way back a decade or so in our failed War on Drugs, this happened. 

    Well played, Colorado. Well played (and up yours, Moldy).

    Major Milestone: Colorado hits one-half billion dollars in cannabis tax revenue 

    Marijuana advocates are trumpeting a Colorado milestone: More than $500 million in revenue for the state since recreational cannabis sales started in 2014.

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