Friday Open Thread

11 thoughts on “Friday Open Thread”

1. Abortion and right wing extremism were going to be major election themes… Tennessee volunteered to add a side of racism. 

   https://joycevance.substack.com/p/tennessee?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email

    

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   1. At least now when Colorado Republicans flail and wail about horrible our Democratic supermajority is to them for not letting them waste time on bills, we can point to Tennessee and say "THAT is how a supermajority abuses their power. Quit your whining."

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      1. God, I hope they say that EVERY TIME Colorado Republicans read from the Bible from Our Lady of Perpetual Victimhood.

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2. I hope you’ll look beyond the front range and take a look at the results of the Grand Junction city council race.  Although nominally non-partisan, the GOP actively backed a slate that was either MAGA or MAGA-adjacent.  They went down to flaming defeat in a sweep by progressives, joining a remarkably progressive council.  There are nuances, of course (Kennedy is a retired police detective and more of a moderate, but he pretty much wowed everyone). 

   But the former power brokers lost, and they lost big despite spending a lot more money and hiring expensive political consultants.  Particularly delicious was the victory of the former chair of the local Democrats over the long time head of the Chamber of Commerce.  A locally formed broad coalition of moderates from both parties called “Restore the Balance” created a meticulous candidate questionnaire, and published the results.  Every candidate they scored highly won election.

   I hope it’s a sign of the times.

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   1. That could be the post of the day

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      1. Thanks. I'm surprised the results haven't gotten more notice. 

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         1. We don't always get the news from the Western Slope.

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            1. You haven't been paying attention. I posted the GJ results in the Wednesday open thread, and kwtree along with Duke and the realist commented.

               While scarter's account might be more emotionally satisfying, the winning candidates should not be confused with progressives as you understand the term on the Front Range.

               Scott is certainly more liberal than the former chamber chief, he's not to be confused with the AOCs of the world. His 232-vote margin was hard-earned.

               After all, in Mesa County, anybody to the left of Attila the Hun is considered far, far left.

               More satisfying, to most of us who've been fighting the good fight over here for years, was passage of a small sales tax increase for a community recreation center. It had failed at least four times in recent decades but finally there were enough voters who could see past the no new taxes'' crowd, unless for cops or streets, to pass something that will be good for the entire community.

                

                

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3. As expected, the federal judge in Amarillo has ruled to suspend mifepristone. Conversely, a federal judge in Eastern Washington has enjoined the FDA from taking any action to remove it. Get the popcorn!

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4. Get the popcorn but when all is said and done, we know how the movie ends.

   The Washington case will go to the Ninth Circuit which will affirm. The Texas case will go to the Fifth Circuit which will also affirm.

   When it gets to SCOTUS, where Kasmaryk's decision will be affirmed on a 5 plus 1 to 3 vote split. (Okay, if we are being optimistic, it might end up being 5 to 4 with Roberts joining the three liberals.)

   Once again, thank you Ralph Nader (for giving us Alito), Jill Stein (for giving us Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett), and Ruth Bader Ginsburg (for giving us Barrett).

   Before La Pomposa weighs in, let me explain why I point the finger at these three and not Mitch McConnell for blocking Garland and packing the court with the three Trump appointees.

   McConnell was simply doing what he could do. It was in his nature – much as a cat will lick its own ass. (Perhaps it wasn't ethical, but no one has ever confused McConnell with ethics. And it was legal.) 

   But some on the left were uncomfortable voting for Al Gore for a myriad of reasons so we ended up with 9/11, the Iraq War, and Samuel Alito. Ditto 2016 when many complained about Hillary "the Whore of Wall Street," yadda, yadda, yadda, so we ended up with Trump.

   And Ginsburg, of course, apparently believed that she was immortal. I'm reminded of Charles DeGaulle's famous remark, "The graveyards are full of indispensable men (and women)." 

   Well, at least those on the left were able to maintain their pristineness and feel good about themselves by voting for vanity candidates.

   NOTE TO PRINICPLED-LIBERALS: our electoral system does not afford people the luxury of voting and feeling good about it. It is generally a choice between a lesser of two evils. I don't know about you but I'd prefer the lesser of the two.

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5. Why worry, Susan? 

   Susan Collins' Dire Warning About Matthew Kacsmaryk Proven True (msn.com)

   When you have Justice Kavanaugh – who will respect precedent like Roe v. Wade – on the Supreme Court reviewing Kacsmaryk's ruling.

    

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