Thursday Open Thread

23 thoughts on “Thursday Open Thread”

1. Morning Digest at Daily Kos has

   ● CO-04: GOP state Rep. Richard Holtorf tells Colorado Politics' Ernest Lee Luning he has an announcement set for Thursday. Holtorf set up an exploratory committee in September for a potential primary bid against Rep. Ken Buck, who ultimately decided not to seek reelection.

   The link is to Holtorf's X-stream post

   NEW: Colorado state Rep. Richard Holtorf plans "big #CO04 announcement" at high noon Thursday at the Livestock Exchange in Brush, CO. The Akron Republican was weighing a primary challenge against @RepKenBuck before Buck announced his retirement

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2. Good morning Polsters. I watched Vivek Ramaswamy for literally about five seconds last night and even that was too much. What an insufferable asshole.

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   1. Totally agree.

      He appears to be what my father referred to as a "revolving" asshole.

      That is…an asshole anyway you look at him. It seemed to me Chris Christie was the only one who didn't come on as a caricature. 

      None, with the exception of Gov Christie, seem to be able to step far enough away from their campaign stump speeches to honestly communicate about anything. 

       

       

       

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      1. Vivek Ramaswamy and Ken Buck appear to have a couple of things in common according to the Washington Post analysis of last night's debate:

         But nothing reeked of desperation quite as much as when [Ramaswamy] fumbled for a viral moment. He attacked Haley for her hawkish foreign policy and asked the audience whether it wanted “Dick Cheney in three-inch heels.”

         His comments were obviously intended to troll — to tempt his critics to accuse him of sexism (perhaps that’s why he emphasized he was talking about DeSantis, too) and of going too far on a candidate’s family. But regardless, it was awkward and desperate. And it was more befitting a guy looking for a Fox News hosting gig than anything else.

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         1. I did enjoy her retort; that they were 5″ heels.

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            1. 

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      2. I think Sam Seder said it best (paraphrasing): It is amazing to watch a group of people debate the future of a party that they have no future in.

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3. I'm sure there will be a diary, but the Guv'nor is likely to call a special legislative session on property taxes post-HH.

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   1. you win!

      https://coloradosun.com/2023/11/09/colorado-legislature-special-session-property-taxes/

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4. Trump's a Mob Boss. Marcy at EmptyWheel

   Powerful & Clear. Jack is gunning for Trump.

   As I noted the other day, Jack Smith has promised to prove Trump’s role in mobilizing the mob — both those who attacked cops and those who threatened to attack Mike Pence — at trial.

   At trial, the Government will prove these allegations with evidence that the defendant’s supporters took obstructive actions at the Capitol at the defendant’s direction and on his behalf. This evidence will include video evidence demonstrating that on the morning of January 6, the defendant encouraged the crowd to go to the Capitol throughout his speech, giving the earliest such instruction roughly 15 minutes into his remarks; testimony, video, photographic, and geolocation evidence establishing that many of the defendant’s supporters responded to his direction and moved from his speech at the Ellipse to the Capitol; and testimony, video, and photographic evidence that specific individuals who were at the Ellipse when the defendant exhorted them to “fight” at the Capitol then violently attacked law enforcement and breached the Capitol.

   The indictment also alleges, and the Government will prove at trial, that the defendant used the angry crowd at the Capitol as a tool in his pressure campaign on the Vice President and to obstruct the congressional certification. Through testimony and video evidence, the Government will establish that rioters were singularly focused on entering the Capitol building, and once inside sought out where lawmakers were conducting the certification proceeding and where the electoral votes were being counted. And in particular, the Government will establish through testimony and video evidence that after the defendant repeatedly and publicly pressured and attacked the Vice President, the rioting crowd at the Capitol turned their anger toward the Vice President when they learned he would not halt the certification, asking where the Vice President was and chanting that they would hang him. [my emphasis]

   And Here's the mob ginned up by the mobster:

   Nichols is a former Marine who drove from Texas to DC, with four guns in his truck, with a buddy. He carried a crowbar to the Capitol. As he was marching to the Capitol from the Ellipse, he heard about Trump’s tweet targeting Mike Pence. In response, he gave a long, recorded speech responding to Trump’s news that Pence was not going to overturn the election by promising to drag politicians in the streets.

   I’m hearing that Pence just caved. I’m hearing reports that Pence caved. I’m telling you if Pence caved, we’re gonna drag motherfuckers through the streets. You fucking politicians are going to get fucking drug through the streets. Because we’re not going to have our fucking shit stolen. We’re not going to have our election or our country stolen. If we find out you politicians voted for it, we’re going to drag your fucking ass through the streets. Because it’s the second fucking revolution and we’re fucking done. I’m telling you right now, Ryan Nichols said it. If you voted for fucking treason, we’re going to drag your fucking ass through the streets. So let us find out, let the patriots find out that you fucking treasoned this country. We’re gonna drag your fucking ass through the street. You think we’re here for no reason? You think we patriots are here for no reason? You think we came just to fucking watch you run over us? No. You want to take it from us, motherfucker we’ll take it back from you.

   Later, at the Capitol, he pepper sprayed cops guarding the Tunnel, then called others to take up weapons. “If you have a weapon, you need to get your weapon,” chanting, “Pedo Pence.”

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5. It’s Over Mitch, Go Rogue

   Just as both Sen. Mitt Romney and former Vice President Mike Pence have, McConnell can choose to liberate himself from the corruption MAGA has in store for Republicans next year. There is no reason not to—like Pence and Romney, McConnell will find no future work in GOP circles once he leaves the Senate.

   Twilight can elicit courage. Cocaine Mitch should go out in a blaze of UniParty glory.

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6. Neofascism. From Brad DeLong

   Neofascism: Actually, this is one of the first principles of fascism, and neofascism: words are not communication except—possibly—within some in-group. Aimed at any out-group they are weapons. So, for Trump, if there is no penalty clause attached to its nonfulfillment and no funds placed in advance in escrow for that eventuality, it might as well have never been said:

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7. Be careful what you wish for, as you might one day get it:

   Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) announced Thursday he would not seek reelection in 2024, leaving the door open for Republicans to flip a seat in a solidly red state.

   “After months of deliberation and long conversations with my family, I believe in my heart of hearts that I have accomplished what I set out to do for West Virginia,” Manchin said in a video posted to X. “I have made one of the toughest decisions of my life and decided that I will not be running for reelection to the United States Senate.”

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   1. For what it's worth Doby, I've been saying something like this for a long time. I'm not really writing literally about Sanders right now, but sometimes a Bernie or Bust attitude gets you the Bust.

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   2. With little or nothing to lose, I wonder if West Virginia Democrats will be able to recruit and support a candidate who will actively campaign as a Democratic populist.  Finding a Sherrod Brown who can win elections in a "conservative" state might — just might — pay off.

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      1. I waan’t in the Bernie camp but IIRC he was polling competitive as a POTUS candidate in WV in the 2016 cycle?  An authentic populist campaign just might work this cycle. 

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         1. Bernie won the WV Dem primary, but Tr*mp got 69% in the general.

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            1. Thats less thsn Trump got in KY, and we have Beshear.  Not sure if there are any such Andy-architypes in WV? 

               Manchin’s record is about the same as McConnell’s time in KY:

               

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               1. And you know what? I don't know WTF I'm talking about with West Virginia. This guy Zachary Shrewsbury who's running in the D primary actually seems interesting – a big old ex-Marine who at least talks about issues with progressive values:

                  https://www.shrewsburyforsenate.com/

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                  1. Indeed!

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   3. My prediction:  his sidekick, Sinema, follows in his footsteps and calls it quits. I doubt her super inflated ego could deal with a loss to either Gallego or Lake. And the polling numbers indicate she will lose, probably to Gallego, maybe to Lake.

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8. comment deleted

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9. Confirmed:  State Rep. Richard Holtorf officially joins race for 4th congressional district

   I liked the understatement:

   Republicans are anticipating a large primary field. Just a day after Buck’s announcement, conservative radio talk show host Deborah Flora launched her bid with a produced video touting her business background and describing herself as a mom fighting for families and freedoms.

   Republican Justin Schreiber, a veteran and political newcomer who has described the IRS, ATF and FBI as domestic terrorists, has also filed paperwork to run, as has Weld County council member Trent Leisy of Windsor.

   Additional candidates are still expected to get into the race.

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