Thursday Open Thread

16 thoughts on “Thursday Open Thread”

1. Today is my brother’s birthday and National Pfeffernuse Day

   Log in to Reply

   1. Today is Festivus.

      Log in to Reply

      1. Christmas Happy Holidays for some, Festivus for the restevus.

         Log in to Reply

   2. Today is a birthday of one of our "keeper" dogs, Meryl the Great Dane, now departed to wherever good dogs go when released from an ailing body.

      Log in to Reply

2. WOTD from (paywall) Washington Post: “Center-Right is Collapsing Globally“

   The same fissures in the old conservative coalition that plague the GOP appear in virtually every other modern democracy. Nationalist and populist parties have grown dramatically in the past decade, often gaining near parity with incumbent center-right parties. Urban and suburban moderate voters, meanwhile, have often swung to classically liberal or green parties that are comfortable aligning with left-wing governments.

   We can see this clearly in European polls and recent election results.

   …

   The global evidence makes it clear that 1980s-era Reagan-Thatcher conservative politics is a dead letter. Coalitions built on that formula — free markets, globally minded, strong on defense — no longer win majorities. The new conservative winning formula is extremely hard to pull off, as one must simultaneously satisfy the still significant Reaganite element while winning over nationalist populists and moderate suburbanites. Having incompetent opponents who veer too far to the left, such as Britain’s Jeremy Corbyn, help bring these disparate groups together out of fear. But no center-right figure has yet built such a coalition on positive grounds that has survived the stress of actually governing.

   Log in to Reply

   1. I read the Henry Olsen column with interest — and he may be correct that the center-right has a fundamental choice of allying with center-left or with nationalist right.  He may even be correct in saying the alliances cannot reach a majority.

      Two things not taken into account: 

       * a “leader” content to be in position without any real grasp of policy or ideology, relating to both without ACTUALLY being a part of either one (Trump). and

       * an electoral system where someone can win at several levels without EVER having a majority of a popular vote (the primary into delegates into a convention’s nominee, then the Electoral College)..

       

      Log in to Reply

3. Well, that didn't take very long……..

   After Just 8 Months of Marriage, Congressman Madison Cawthorn Announces Divorce (msn.com)

   She must have finally realized what asshole he was.

   Log in to Reply

   1. I reckon we’ll find out someday she was just his beard, the Betty White to his Liberace.  

      Log in to Reply

      1. Ah, yes, the fine tradition of the beard.

         Doris Day, for Rock Hudson.

         Bess Meyerson, for Ed Koch.

         Suzanne Craig, for the wide stance conservative former senator from Idaho, Larry Craig.

         Gayle Alcorn, for the Reverend Ted Haggard.

         In front of every miserable, closeted gay man is ….. a beard.

         Log in to Reply

         1. You just KNOW he has his eye on Kyle Rittenhouse. 

            Log in to Reply

4. Not explicitly politics … but Pope Francis had quite a Christmas message this year (again).

   AP: Pope demands humility in new zinger-filled Christmas speech

   As he has in the past, Francis used his annual Christmas address to take Vatican administrators to task for their perceived moral and personal failings, denouncing in particular those pride-filled clerics who “rigidly” hide behind Catholic Church traditions rather than seek out the neediest with humility.

   As they have in the past, cardinals and bishops sat stone-faced as they listened to Francis lecture them in the Hall of Blessings, which was otherwise decked out in jolly twinkling Christmas trees and poinsettias.

   Log in to Reply

5. Gotta love those independent redistricting commissions that give us fair districts…..

   Arizona redistricting panel approves map that appears to favor Republicans | TheHill

    

   Log in to Reply

6. Merry Xmas pfruit!

   

   Log in to Reply

7. Today The Colorado Sun took a plunge into Republican dark money orgs  https://coloradosun.com/2021/12/22/unite-for-colorado-conservative-dark-money/

   Log in to Reply

8. Old news to all of you who read the NY Post.

   https://nypost.com/2021/12/23/donald-trump-defends-covid-19-vaccines-during-candace-owens-interview/

   “Oh no, the vaccines work,” Trump jumped in. “But some people are the ones — the ones who get very sick and go to the hospital are the ones that don’t take the vaccine. But it’s still their choice. And if you take the vaccine, you’re protected.” 

   Log in to Reply

   1. "I don't have to get no dang vaccine and you can't make me!" Well, we'll see about that: https://www.denverpost.com/2021/12/22/high-court-to-hold-special-session-on-vaccine-requirements/ 

      Log in to Reply