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December 24, 2020 07:01 AM UTC

Christmas Open Thread

  • 82 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

Wishing you and yours a couple days of relative peace.

Sorry, that’s the best 2020 can manage.

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82 thoughts on “Christmas Open Thread”

  1. The Monkey Wrench Gang.

    Trump could veto the Government funding bill, and then Congress could meet next week to override the veto.

    Trump could fail to act, which becomes a pocket veto, and the bill would have to be negotiated by the new Congress which doesn't meet until next year. What is interesting, is that the Georgia Senate races won't be settled until Jan 5, while the new Congress meets two days earlier missing two Republican Senators:

    The Constitution mandates that Congress convene at noon on January 3, unless the preceding Congress by law designated a different day.

    1. Actually only one of the two – Perdue – missing. Loeffler was appointed to replace Issackson who was in the middle of his term. She holds the seat until a successor is elected and certified in special election. Perdue's term ends when the current Congressional term ends.

      Here is another interesting twist, ParkHill. If Warnock and Ossoff win and create a 50/50 tie, until noon on 1/20/21, Mike Pence – who will be out of the country – would cast tie-breaking votes. One of the first items on which they vote is the organizing resolution setting up committee assignments and chairs. 

      I would imagine that until 1/20/21, McConnell would set up Republican-majority committees, and immediately after the inauguration, Schumer would jump up and move to amend the organization resolution to set up Dem-majority committees.

      This is going to be a bumpy ride.

      1. As we were listening to the news this morning, we were talking about the predicament (of their own making, BTW) the Republican congress now faces.

        As I sat by the Jotul, my Cat looked through the doorway from the kitchen and said…." It sounds like the dog has finally caught the car"…😀

      2. Probably silly to even think of it but wondering how it would work out if the committees were evenly split.

        Would they get nothing done (no different from R majority) or would they get lots done in the middle?

        1. Committee chairs and sharp up and comers would get rich, same as it ever was.

          When say get lots done- lots and lots, but nothing would get fixed.

          – healthcare

          – immigration

          – income disparity

          – social security (2036 is gonna suck)

          – and on and on

        2. In January 2001, Tom Daschle and Trent Lott had a 50/50 split. They worked out an agreement with equal numbers of members of each committee, they had Dem chairs until Cheney became VP, then Republican chairs until Jim Jeffords switched parties.

          CNN.com – Democrats take control of Senate – June 5, 2001

          It is amusing to see what the GOP complained about after Jeffords switched parties and what they were demanding from the Dems.

  2. Leslie West is gone after 75 trips around the sun.

    Thanks for the great tunes (even though I grew to really cringe when MS Queen came up).

    Thanks for the memories of a show 50 years ago that I still have on my mental DVR.

    RIP

  4. Lauren Boebert’s first appointments, as found Dec. 24 on Colorado Peak Politics:

    Chief of Staff, Jeff Small, senior advisor to DOI Secretary David Bernhardt

    Communication Director, Ben Goldey, DOI press secretary

    Legislative Director, Paige Agostin, associate director of domestic policy for V-P Pence.

    District Director, Clarice Navarro

    S. Colorado Regional Director, Cathy Garcia, served in same role for Cory Gardner.

    2. Congratulations to Moddy: the entirety of his household income will continue as taxpayer largesse.  These gummit is bad crowd never extract themselves from the teat once they’ve suckled mother’s milk.  

      The good news is this list of appointments appears to be a white flag from the current sadministration that their appointees need to move on.  Somehow we always knew the Jan 6 ProudBoyz event was all for show?  

    3. from working to Pence to working for Boebert? That's one helluva career trajectory for Agostin. Also, a sign that the Repubs are willing to invest in the Boebert brand. Thanks for the updates, CHB.

    6. Reminds me of the scene in Waterloo station when Paddy Considine as the Guardian writer is evading a CIA black team and David Straithairn figures it out "this guy's got help"

  5. Pelosi called Trump’s bluff, and Kevin CCarthy gave him ( and Loeffler) cover. 
     

    You see, our *resident is such a deeply compassionate man that he tried to get $2000 checks out to struggling Americans. Day trader/ part time legislator Loeffler, likely to lose her GA Senate seat, wanted to help get those checks out, too. Because she cares. 
     

    But mean Ol’ Leader McCarthy just blocked all those good intentions. Boo hoo, but don’t blame either the *resident or Loeffler. Blame McCarthy who was safely re-elected to his CA HD23 seat Nov 3. 

    We are so screwed. It’s going to be the Nightmare Christmas for way too many people.

  6. Christmas Eve is here and the Trumpstink, while still raging virulently, is entering its last weeks.

    To the extent possible, share this special time with your friends and family.  Covid has made me cherish my many friends on Pols even more.

    Naming some is a probably a mistake as by omission it slights others.   But Mike Bowman and Notaskinnycook are our kind and healing leaders, while Gertie and Duke broaden our perspectives both geographically and politically.  

    Genghis and R&R keep us on our toes.

    And Powerful Pear keeps us from being an echo chamber.

    ParkHill, Conservative Head Banger and kickshot give us opposing views within reasoned limits.  And kwtree is … Well … Stimulating despite her obvious shyness.

    And all the rest of you, enjoy the holiday and rejoice that in just a few more weeks the worst president in American history will be powerless ranting on the trash heap of history!

    1. All the best to you and your family, V, to everyone here.  May this Holiday, however you choose to celebrate, be one of as much joy and love as you can muster. Hold those loved ones close; rest up for the work that lies ahead of us. 

    2. @V: “the worst president in American history……” It took one heck of a world class effort. But Trump has managed to make former presidents Franklin Pierce (sometimes called the “drunkard) and James Buchanan (sometimes called the “weakling”) look like shining stars of statesmanship and leadership.

      Have a Merry Happy!

      1. Happy Christmas, everyone! Because I like ham and Karen likes turkey, and cooking for two for holidays is hard, we ordered in for dinner. We got enough to last the weekend. 

          CHB, did you know that another of  Buchanan’s nicknames was “Fancypants”? Apparently, he was a dandy, who often changed clothes multiple times a day.                                            On Saturday I start my inauguration advent calendar. Twenty-four days from Boing Day until Inauguration Day. Things that make you go, “Hmmm…”

  7. Enjoy the day and the next few, too.  Weather looks as if it will be temperate, which I like.  Doesn't look like a White Christmas down here … have to go up in elevation to visit white christmas, if that is your thing.

    Looking forward to finding out how the Republicans choose sides between Team Trump and Team McConnell. 

    And should you need a toast for this festive time of year, here's some: 

    To [whoever you are toasting], a person so generous that it makes me want to say, "Yes, my friends, there is a Santa Claus."

    Here's wishing you more happiness
    Than all my words can tell,
    Not just alone for Christmas
    But for all the year as well.

    In the immortal words of Tiny Tim in Charles Dickens's A Christmas Carol,  "Here's to us all! God bless us every one!"

  8. A joyous holiday to all!

    Let us appreciate the quiet and the love of our friends and whatever family we have.

    And to our dogs, who remind us that angels exist.

  10. "Congresswoman-elect Lauren [Qbert] to object to certifying Biden’s Electoral College victory"

    https://www.denverpost.com/2020/12/24/lauren-boebert-electoral-college-challenge/

    “Several states removed voter safeguards during the 2020 elections that violated provisions in their respective state constitutions and the United States Constitution,” Boebert said. “As a representative sworn to defend the U.S. Constitution, it is my responsibility to object to the Electoral College results that were recorded under these circumstances. The American people deserve secure and fair elections. Unfortunately, the 2020 election was neither of those things.”

    2. Oh, I do hope someone get an opportunity to ask Ms. Boebert for specifics between now and January 6.  What voter safeguards were removed? How did such removals violate state and federal constitutions? And why are the attorneys attempting to make those arguments so inept as to lose the vast majority of the cases, failing to persuade at least 86 judges?

  13. Mar-a-Lago Christmas Playlist 

    It's beginning to look a lot like Bye-Don

    The Little Drumpfer Boy

    God Rest Ye Merry QAnon

    Silver Balls

    Trumpie got run over by a reindeer

    White Christmas (of course)

    O come all ye Fakeful

    1. Away in Mar-a-Lago

      He’s the Most Wonderful Ttump Every Year

      Tweeters We Have Heard Don’s Cry

      It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Coup Time

      Martial Law is Coming to Town

      Ttump to the World

      and, an all-time Ttump favorite, White Christmas

       

  15. Every Who down in Whoville, the tall and the small,

    Was singing! Without any presents at all!

    He HADN’T stopped Christmas from coming! IT CAME!

    Somehow or other, it came just the same!

     

    Merry Christmas all!

    ya – who – door – ray . . .

     

  16. For this one special day my family has agreed to never utter the President’s name.  We will use “MotherF**r”,  instead.  

    For example, “MotherF**r is playing golf rather than signing the Covid relief bill.  MotherF**r.”

    Merry Christmas!

  20. As strange as it is that an RV/bomb exploded in Nashville xmas morning it's stranger that that's about all that's been said about the incident.

    No license plate traced to possible owners.

    No video from elsewhere city tracing the RV's route & times.

    No video from AT&T building.

    No video of RV and any activity inside it.

    No info from cell tower about calls made in the area.

     

    1. It’s not that strange- the terrorist who blew up the RV and much of Nashville downtown also destroyed cell networks in the nearby AT&T building. So no video, no cell records. 
      The clunky old Snowbird-style RV doesn’t scream “Antifa”, but if it had, Fox News would be all over it by now. 
      Since Homeland Security is still under Trump’s orders to downplay white extremist violence and to exaggerate negative impacts of leftist-anti racist protests, we may never hear any details if it was a right wing action. 

      Still waiting for $rump’s tweet on this actual “War on Christmas”. The silence makes me think it was a rightie extremist like the Boogaloos or the 3% ers.

    2. Gee, maybe some of the things you are mentioning are not yet released by the investigators from FBI, ATF, state, county & local police.

      Timeline on releases of information on the Las Vegas shooter was not instanteous — and he was found in the room.

      1. I believe that you're at least partially correct. But an image of the RV was released w/a plea for help identifying it but no license info or mention of a driver which might have been decipherable from the analysis of the video source of the image.

        CBS has announced that one person of interest has been identified. No name or description yet.

        I'm just a little keen on this for now. I just finished reading Kathleen Belew's 'Bring the War Home' that devoted the whole last chapter to the 1995 OKC bombing. Maybe it's PTSD. That's my hometown and a childhood friend was killed that day.

        There is ample video evidence of before and after. The destruction was not that widespread nor that complete. A pretty grainy video of he blast itself was posted soon after that shows the blast, the time leading up to it w/the computer-voice warning messages and then the aftermath.

          1. A law enforcement source told CBS News at least one person of interest has been identified in connection to the recreational vehicle that exploded on Christmas morning, rocking downtown Nashville. Multiple sources confirm that Anthony Quinn Warner, a Nashville area resident, had a similar make and model RV as the one in photos released to the public.

            Warner was described as a 63-year-old White man. Federal agents are at the address listed to Warner. 

      2. Ok, but after reading the several comments on this here, you’ve gotta’ agree that, . . .

        . . . if Jumping to Conclusions is ever made an Olympic sport, we could field one hell of a team?

  21. It was a Christmas Miracle that Trump avoided the water trap on the 9th hole, and his supporters prayed that he made a birdie on the 14th hole on his way to recording an all-time club record score of 17 on the 18 hole Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach.  

    Oh, incidentally in other news

    1. As of yesterday’s round, according to  https://trumpgolfcount.com/displayoutings

      Played Golf?…. Time at Club …. Visits …. Golf Count …Cumulative Hours

      Maybe……….9:57 am-2:05 pm …….295 ……… 148 ……..2647:07

      Cost to Taxpayer: About $143,000,000

      And every one of those rounds in the golf count was played on a Trump course. With Secret Service renting multiple golf carts to provide protection. 

    1. Forget the fruitcake jokes. One hasn’t lived until one has sampled the fruitcake from the Trappist monastery in Gethsemani, Kentucky. Soft, mellow, and flavored with Kentucky bourbon.

      Haven’t ordered in a few years. But if it’s still the same, you’ll think you’ve entered the next plane of existence, after the first bite. Do a browser inquiry for Gethsemani Farms. 

      Thanks for the reminder. Now I need to do an order after first of the year and after all the holiday packages have been delivered.

  25. Ken Buck … supporting more generous checks for Americans.

    Republican Colorado Congressman Ken Buck claimed House Speaker Nancy Pelosi packed the COVID-19 relief bill with "pork," hampering GOP backing for $2,000 stimulus payments rather than $600.

    "Nancy Pelosi gave the members of the House just a few hours to read six thousand pages of legislation, she did that because she had stuffed this bill full of pork," Buck said on Fox & Friends on Saturday…..

    “What the president is saying is, make America first,” Buck said. “Bring America — make America the priority, so stop funding foreign projects in a Covid relief bill, knock that out, and take that money and use it to … give the American people a $2,000 check. If Nancy Pelosi does that, I think she’ll get overwhelming Republican support. She’ll certainly have my support,

    Except …. that's not exactly what is happening.  WUSA's "Verify" feature explains:

    The president [and Ken Buck] has the financial numbers right when it comes to spending for foreign governments and domestic budgets unrelated to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    However, he has conflated the COVID-19 economic relief package with the government’s omnibus spending bill.

    That bill known as the Consolidated Appropriations act of 2021, is what congress passed this week. It costs roughly $2.3 trillion.

    Here’s how it breaks down: $1.4 trillion will fund the government for the next year. That includes budgets for domestic and foreign spending. Then Congress added $900 billion for COVID-19 economic relief.

    In other words, Congress used one Legislative Act to pass two pieces of funding legislation.

      1. The lying is intentional, but remember Fox and Buck are not talking to you or me.  They are talking to the bubble of low-info voters.

        We think it is so strange when Trump, Buck, Fox or OAN are lying, when it is so easy to verify. However, when you realize that their audience will NEVER see a contrary view… This is the natural devolvement of the Republican “we create our own reality”.

    2. Gawd I just had this very conversation yesterday with a member of my previously-Fox-News-watching-turned-NewsMax-groupie family unit.  "What are we doing funding foreign governments – just give that money to Merikans!!!!"

      1. Ask your neighbors what they think of all the foreign aid that goes to Egypt and Israel.

        You can also point out that more foreign aid to Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador NGOs may help keep the caravans at home (try not to give money to the governments as they're all corrupt).

        1. The Trump administration has been openly “ aiding” Central American countries for a long time. Not the NGOs, as you would like, CHB, but right wing repressive regimes and multinational companies that want to “invest in” exploit resources and labor in these countries. 
           

          My good friend recently returned to her family home in Guatemala to help her aging parents. She told me that the US is actively spreading coronavirus in remote villages that had been virus -free. Infected detainees in border detention centers, where COVID is rampant, are being deported en masse on airplanes and basically dumped, with no healthcare, into Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and other countries.

          Real US  aid to Central American  countries should include taking responsibility for and caring for victims of US negligence. 

    3. As Ben Kuck undoubtedly knows, but like his idol Trump, hates to waste any chance to fabricate an alternative “fact”:

      Moreover, much of the spending allocations Trump criticized were the exact amounts he requested for those programs in his fiscal 2021 budget:

      ●$1.3 billion for Egypt and the Egyptian military? Trump’s budget asked for $1.3 billion.

      ●$134 million for Myanmar? Trump’s budget had sought $131,450,000.

      ●$40 million for the Kennedy Center? Trump’s budget asked for $40,400,000.

      Someday, hopefully, the GOP will aspire to rise at least to the level of worthless sewer scum, but they have a long way to go before they get even there. Trump proved there is no bottom to their hypocrisy.

  26. Well, the loser idiot caved . . .

    . . . proving yet again, lest there be any doubters I spose’, that he’s definitely the Ttumpest Ttump, evah!???

    (In case maybe there’s anyone who needed to know that? .. . .)

    Your $2,000 checks are as good as in the mail . . .

    1. So he signed it. Is he a loser for finally doing what any normal president would have done weeks ago? Did he delay just because he’s an attention and drama whore? Did it heighten the sadistic pleasure he got from making Americans despair? 

      I don’t care. Millions will rest easier tonight knowing that they won’t be penniless and homeless quite yet. 

      1. He probably needed the distraction from reporters following up on Rudy’s claim from yesterday that the bigliest, yugest pile of evidence we’ve ever seen on voter fraud was going to drop today?? Maybe it was tomorrow?? The Parlerphiles are getting restless. 

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