Monday Open Thread

10 thoughts on “Monday Open Thread”

1. Wonder where the $$ came from to go after her lover??? 

   https://radaronline.com/p/lauren-boebert-accused-of-seducing-married-man-money-gifts/

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   1. The story about Martinez is old news. Unless, of course, after Bettlejuice and breaking up with Neil Gallagher, she went back to Martinez which would make new news.

      "So many men, so little time."

      I must wonder if she’s getting any action from any of her congressional colleagues. She’s much too old for Matt Gaetz. I imagine she was only acting as George Santos’ “fag hag” when she would be cavorting with him. Ted Cruz, perhaps?

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2. Whaat? There were women important in Colorado history, too? Here are some others.  Thanks for featuring Margaret “Molly” Brown., along with the various Dead Guvs. 
    

   One Margaret we won’t miss: Marjorie Taylor Greene is rumored to be pondering leaving Congress.

   This is old news; last February, she was complaining about her low salary, and how miserable she was. Now, with a looming one seat GOP majority in the House, and her mentor McCarthy resigning, plus being booted out of the Freedom Caucus, we can dare hope that  Marge will find greener pastures elsewhere. 

   Empty G, don’t let the door hit you on the way out. 

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   1. How do you do the math to get a "one seat majority"???

      At the start of the session, it was  213 Democrats and 222 Republicans.  The completed special elections have all "held serve." 

      Santos is out [213-221] and the vacancy will be filled in a special election in  New York's 3rd Congressional District on February 13, 2024. If a Democrat wins, that would make it 214-220. 

      Two other Republicans s have announced upcoming resignations — McCarthy "by the end of the year" and Rep. Bill Johnson (R-Ohio) sometime before March 15. Those will make it 214-218.  If there are special elections, both districts are "safe" Republican territory, so I don't know of anyone expecting Democrats to pick up those seats.  There is also a Democrat resignation announced — Rep. Brian Higgins in February, 

      What will make a "one vote" majority? 

       

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      1. It's really more like a three vote margin for a House R majority in 2024. 221 now, of which 28 likely will not return, = 193. 213 Dems now, of whom 23 likely will not return, = 190.  So Marge's math is off by two, unless she knows something we don't. She's probably counting Colorado CD3 as a probable loss, and what else?

          Miranda Nazzaro of The Hill estimates that there are 38 total Congresspeople who will not run in 2024. 11 Democrats retiring, plus 12 seeking other offices = 23 of those 38. The remainder are 10 Republican retirees plus 3 seeking other offices = 13.

         Then there is the expelled George Santos, so 14 non-returners on the R side, 23 on the D.

         Then there are 18 Republicans running from districts which Biden won in 2020. Nothing's certain, but if even 10 of those are defeated by Democrats, that gives you 14 + 14 = 28 non-returning Republicans. That's not even counting Lauren Boebert and Colorado's CD3,, which may well flip if Frisch is successful. 28 – 23 = 5.  Currentl y the balance of power is 221 R to 213 D – eight seats. But because there is a vacant seat, and some delegates do not vote, a party is considered a majority at 218 votes. 218 minus 213 is a five vote margin. 213-23 = 190. 221 – 28 = 193.

         If 28 incumbent Republicans do not return for whatever reason, the House could flip.  If CD3 goes to Frisch, the House could flip. It really can turn on one vote. So MTG, much as I hate to write these words, could be right and Rs could hang on to the House by only one vote.  Or, knock on wood, Hakeem Jeffries (D) could be the next Speaker.

          

          

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3. It looks to me as though the Republican Party has reached total disintegration. The Trumplicans are in full control now and his opposition has its shit so scattered they provide Trump no opposition. So long as Prosperity Jesus is with him…he wins.

   The Great Moderate Republican Army, for all its corporate money, is losing to the MAGAForce. 

    

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4. Because one out of three aint bad ….. (with apologies to Meatloaf)

   Biden’s approval rating at record low in new poll | The Hill

   Biden's new approval number is 34%. 

   Even my cynical mind has trouble accepting these numbers. If you look at the approval numbers for his handling of jobs and unemployment, it has 42% approve and 53% disapprove. Yet the unemployment number is at an historical low. Do those polled think it is too low? Did they poll only members of MAGA world who are programmed to hear the three words "Biden," "approve," "disapprove," and automatically say "disapprove"? These are some fucked up numbers.

   The only good news is that Congress has an approval number of 17% and a disapproval of 77%. 

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   1. China and Iran spent good money in 2024 tryiing to convince us that democrcy doesn't work, to sow division, and to spread disillutionment. Maybe what we are reaping is declining trust and approval across the board.

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5. The Colorado Supreme Court didn't rule on the Trump ballot access case today. Oral arguments have taken place so the case is ripe for a ruling on the merits. It generally rules only on either Mondays or the first day after a Monday legal holiday. It must rule by January 6, to allow for timely action by the Colorado Secretary of State based upon its ruling. So, this leaves two likely ruling dates in the Trump ballot access case in Colorado: December 26, 2023, or January 2, 2024.

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   1. I think this case is one that they could do a special release on and not wait for the Monday announcements (or Tuesday the next two weeks).  I do think they'll rule before the end of the year. 

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