13 thoughts on “Friday Open Thread”

1. National Macadamia Nut Day

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   1. Jacobs' favorite nut.

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2. WOTD from Josh Marshal at TPM: "The Endorsement Extortion Stays Under Wraps"

   Sorry to quote most of the story, but it is tied up in a box with a bow on top:

   Michael Cohen reaffirmed to CNN that “There is absolutely no connection between the photos and my personal request to the Falwells to assist the Trump campaign.”

   This is an absurd statement. 

   Cohen is saying that the fact that he had in his possession (and had kept out of the press on the Falwell’s behalf) sexual photos of Falwell’s wife had “no connection” with “my personal request to the Falwells to assist the Trump campaign.” In fact, the statement is not only absurd it is so facially absurd, so totalizing in its claims and so precise as to be clear a statement of legal defense. The statute of limitations on blackmail hasn’t tolled yet. 

   Now, people don’t generally admit publicly to crimes. But Cohen has a supposedly ‘tell-all’ book coming out within days. It seems pretty clear that this is not a tell-all but a tell-all that Cohen no longer faces criminal jeopardy over. The news here isn’t the endorsement and the extortion. We know that. The news is that Cohen is still keeping Donald Trump’s secrets – at least those for which he still could himself stil face criminal prosecution or other extra legal threats. 

   I remind you that extortion and blackmail are the through line not only through all of Trumpism but also through its connections with the global authoritarian movement itself.

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3. I'm betting Mary may still have a tape or two she hasn't released.  Drip. Drip. Drip. 

   For the first time in your life be brave: Resign and face the consequences.

   — Mary L Trump (@MaryLTrump) September 4, 2020

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   1. It's a happy day.  #CadetBoneSpurs finally managed to lose the support of my veteran-parental unit. 

      I spoke with a friend of mine who is a veteran, living in Louis Ghomert's Texas congressional district.  He said they're still about 50/50 on Ttump in the veteran space as the pro-Ttump folks believe these reports are fake news. 

      Back to 1999….

      Trump has questioned the heroism of combat POWs since at least 1999. RT:https://t.co/mvEpzpvcJ1 pic.twitter.com/0eusz8QD1C

      — Mike H (@mombojom) September 4, 2020

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4. I hope all you active duty military and veterans enjoy confirmation that the orange rind thinks you are stupid (he does know stupid) and suckers.  Little hands and low energy fool.  We offered everything, including our lives to protect America from all enemies, foreign and domestic.  Vote like your lives depend on it.

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   1. They’re mad, alright. The comment section on this story is blistering https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/515150-furor-grows-over-trumps-reported-remarks-on-war-dead?userid=289091.

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5. Labor Day weekend kicking off… and Trump has helped set an environment that has 65% in one poll saying they back organized labor.  Gallup

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   1. the math is pretty direct
      before
      – US labor movement
      – social security
      – medicare.medicaid

      No American middle class.

      after
      – US labor movement
      – social security
      – medicare.medicaid

      American middle class.
       

       

       

      Gut SS, and labor unions: loss and declining American middle class.

      I wonder how do we re establish the American middle class

      a. Cut taxes
      b. start a war/invasion
      c. watch more reality tv
      d. fix SS, Medicare, Medicaid, and restore labor protections

       

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6. Tune of Kathy’s Clown

   Vote out Putin’s clown in 60 days or be ForEverly sorry

   -0-

   Don’t want Trump’s crap any more

   Don’t want his bullshit, that’s for sure.

   I die each time, I hear Angela Merkle’s sound

   Here he comes, that’s Putin’s clown.

    

   We gotta stand tall

   As Trump each new day does appall.

   He’s told 20,000 lies and he can’t hear a nation’s sighs

   Cuz he’s not a man at all.

    

   Don’t want Trump’s crap any more

   Don’t want Pence either, that’s for sure

   I die each time, I hear Boris Johnson’s sound

   Here he comes, that’s Putin’s clown.

    

   He has betrayed this whole land

   He told NATO to disband

   He sold out the gallant Kurds

   Who had rallied to our words and joined our final stand.

    

   Don’t want Trump’s crap any more

   Don’t want Barr either that’s for sure.

    I die each time, I hear Justin Trudeau’s sound

   Here he comes, that’s Putin’s clown.

    

   He even held a Bible upside down

   What do you expect from Putin’s clown?

    

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7. The Bulwark has quite a lot to say about Con Man Cory and what he represents about today's Republican Party

   And then there is a legion of Republicans who find Trump dangerous and despicable, but support him anyway because he's a Republican and they believe that all Republicans must be supported, always.

   This last group—of which Gardner is a member—see the Republican party as a higher priority than the country itself. When it came time to join the side they were on, the side they were on turned out not to be America's side, but the GOP's side.

   When a political party sees itself not as a vehicle for reaching certain ends, but as an end in itself, it ceases to be useful a useful tool for society. It becomes more like a toxin.

   The reason the current version of the Republican party is so dangerous isn't just because it was hijacked by a demagogic, aspiring authoritarian. It's because the party was lead by people such as Cory Gardner.

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   1. Gardner should just go Indie – rogue.

      – vote to get the C19 bailout passed

      – Save social security

      – rename a post office government building after a dead WW1 hero.

       

      He could move to Aurora or Colorado Springs and run for Mayor… but that’s been so done.

       

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      1. The author of the article suggests this likely alternative future:

         Today it's clear that Gardner's political career is over. He's going to get routed and cast out by Colorado voters. Democrats loathe him; independents are repelled by him; and Republicans see him as a cuck for not supporting Trump from the start.

         Instead, Cory Gardner is going to have to make due with raking in the Benjamins in the private sector sinecures reserved for washed-up politicos.

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