8 thoughts on “Wednesday Open Thread”

1. Surfing that Blue wave, Wisconsin elected an underdog Dem to their state house.

   Before that bipartisan coalition of Zappatero and CHB warns me not to "get cocky," I'll 1) say that is physically impossible, and 2),pre-emptively ask: What are you doing to  advance better candidates?

   Are you a precinct captain? Do you contribute to preferred candidates, Do you go to your local caucus? Do you show up at marches or town halls? etc. This has been a moment of optimistic estrogen from mamajama.

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   1. Jerry Hagstrom penned a good piece today:

      Democrats Need a Rural Reset

      But not all is perfect in the Trump-rural relationship. Last week, when Trump traveled to the American Farm Bureau Federation convention in Nashville, Farm Bureau members applauded when he said, “Build the wall.” But reporters also heard some boos from the audience, probably from farmers who are dependent on immigrant workers.

      Farm leaders are terrified that Trump will withdraw from the
      North American Free Trade Agreement. They are urging their mem-
      bers to tell Congress and the White House that withdrawal would lead
      Mexico to import corn, soybeans, and meat from countries other than the United States and disturb the way that animals and food move back and forth to Canada. Trump has said he will not make a decision on NAFTA withdrawal until after the July 1 Mexican presidential election. A withdrawal announcement in late summer could come just in time to disrupt grain and markets, and reduce enthusiasm for Republicans in rural districts for the November elections.

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2. 19 Senate Democrats voted to invoke cloture last night on an extension of section 702 of the FISA act, which allows the government to collect and view the communications of Americans without a warrant.  They joined 55 House Democrats who voted last week to pass the bill.

   They've put effectively unlimited power to surveil Americans into the hands of a man they variously call insane, incompetent, and traitorous, and who all agree is vindictive, while denying amendments to demand warrants for Americans' data as required by the Constitution.

   #Resistance.

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3. It bears repeating (and wanted to make sure DavidThi sees this).  Michael Bowman posted this yesterday: BlackRock’s Message: Contribute to Society, or Risk Losing Our Support

   In a candid assessment of what’s happening in the business world — and perhaps taking a veiled shot at Washington at the same time — Mr. Fink wrote that he is seeing “many governments failing to prepare for the future, on issues ranging from retirement and infrastructure to automation and worker retraining.” He added, “As a result, society increasingly is turning to the private sector and asking that companies respond to broader societal challenges.”

   It is a refrain that we’re hearing more and more from various pockets of the business community, and in fact last year company leaders found themselves taking stands on issues like immigration policy, race relations, gay rights and more.

   But for the world’s largest investor to say it aloud — and declare that he plans to hold companies accountable — is a bracing example of the evolution of corporate America. Mr. Fink says he is adding staff to help monitor how companies respond; only time will tell whether BlackRock truly uses his firm’s heft to influence new social initiatives.

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4. Will the Religious Right even care?

   Porn Actress Says Trump Told Her She Reminded Him of His Daughter

    

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   1. The short answer is, "No, they won't."  As for the comparisons between his daughter and porn star, in the party that gave us Roy "Trolling the Mall" Moore, I don't think anyone will bat an eyebrow over it.

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5. These comments make it likely that our “the grownup in the room” probably won’t be toasting St. Patrick’s Day from the West Wing . . . 

    

   White House Chief of Staff Calls Trump’s Campaign Wall Promises ‘Not Fully Informed’

   http://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/17/us/politics/chief-of-staff-kelly-trump-not-fully-informed.html

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   1. Chris Christie is probably watching his phone intently, waiting for the call to come in asking him to be White House Chief of Staff.

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