Politico floats Rahm Emanuel as a presidential candidate. I don't know how he'd fare nationally, but he carpetbagged his way into the Chicago mayoralty and was pretty effective. Laquan McDonald doomed him, but I think he was on his way out anyway. He's certainly got the political chops and he ain't afraid to play hardball.
Agreed. We're less than 2 months into DJT's presidency and the administration is keeping all its campaign promises, love them or hate them. No one ought to be surprised, especially given the trifecta, and yet people are.
Personally, I'll never understand the mindset of someone who thinks Donald John Trump is presidential timber, but there are enough of them to have won him the presidency. For now, 4 corners is good enough for me. We just have to see if the Dems can even execute that.
I think Koz' response is the most important here. He's all in on DJT, even to the point where he wrote an endorsement here on this site. His litany of grievances is nothing the extant Democratic party can do anything about, nor should it. I mean where do you even start with this? They're pissed off about something in Washington that seems to be only the fault of the Democratic Party.
Truth be told, if any of the economic grievances listed were sincere, the pitchforks would already be out for Trump. Perhaps unfairly, since saddling any man, Dem or Republican, with the blame for the state of the American economy is just absurd, but that's the game the American electorate plays.
Perhaps the best the Dems can do right now is play defense while the current hysteria plays itself out. Too bad there's no Joseph Welch to ask, "Have you no sense of decency?"
The Palestine/Israel debate is a special case, I'd posit. For whatever reason (usually cynicism), we're not allowed to differentiate between criticism of Israel and anti-semitism. Until that happens, we're just talking in circles.
Douthat's reference to Catholicism being a unifying factor is a little bizarre given the fact that hardly anyone goes to Mass anymore in France.
His handwaving away the Holocaust in his phrase "crippling sense of historical guilt that still pervades Germany" is a little befuddling. There are still people alive who went through it. We're currently seeing in America what happens when self-reflection becomes taboo. The American right's embrace of AfD is more than a little concerning.
The strategy of trying to bolster our European allies into becoming true allies instead of vassals is a good one, but doing so by pushing them out of the nest immediately after hatching is a method doomed to failure.
Mr. Donaldson is entirely correct. Expecting yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's grandstanding occupants of the White House to give up their recitation of programs that will be proposed and never enacted, the parade of lame, halt, and wronged, and other tomfoolery is a fool's errand.
OK, let's come at it this way: is my trying to make Tate irrelevant worth the opportunity cost. Anyone that thinks that idiot is worth a 2nd thought is going to take a lot of convincing.
A long time ago I read a novel, which title I can't recall, where through some plausible circumstance Germany seizes U.S. military installations, including the nukes stored there. Probably not something we want to see happen in real life.
People thrive on certainty, which the current administration is not providing to our ostensible allies. If Europe doesn't see the U.S. as a bulwark against Russia, I have to believe they'll make the coherent choice to become their own bloc, acting in their own interest.
On “Open Mic for the week of 3/10/25”
We're going to need a cite for this: "multiple states funding what are basically IslamicNazi arguments".
"
Politico floats Rahm Emanuel as a presidential candidate. I don't know how he'd fare nationally, but he carpetbagged his way into the Chicago mayoralty and was pretty effective. Laquan McDonald doomed him, but I think he was on his way out anyway. He's certainly got the political chops and he ain't afraid to play hardball.
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/03/12/rahm-emmanuel-president-2028-column-00224241
On “So Let’s Put Together a Democratic Party Ad Campaign”
Probably. Anyone that matters to the fate of the Dems.
I must say the airing of personal grievances in the Federal Register is something I didn’t have on my history of the United States bingo card.
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Take us through this, please.
On “Open Mic for the week of 3/10/25”
Heh. No way those won’t be vandalized soon.
On “So Let’s Put Together a Democratic Party Ad Campaign”
Which group voted for this?
https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/03/11/2025-03989/addressing-risks-from-perkins-coie-llp
On “Open Mic for the week of 3/10/25”
By my reading of this, only the most pure of heart may render criticism of Israel.
"
According to the linked article, there's only 1 firm Dem yes vote.
On “So Let’s Put Together a Democratic Party Ad Campaign”
Agreed. We're less than 2 months into DJT's presidency and the administration is keeping all its campaign promises, love them or hate them. No one ought to be surprised, especially given the trifecta, and yet people are.
Personally, I'll never understand the mindset of someone who thinks Donald John Trump is presidential timber, but there are enough of them to have won him the presidency. For now, 4 corners is good enough for me. We just have to see if the Dems can even execute that.
"
I think Koz' response is the most important here. He's all in on DJT, even to the point where he wrote an endorsement here on this site. His litany of grievances is nothing the extant Democratic party can do anything about, nor should it. I mean where do you even start with this? They're pissed off about something in Washington that seems to be only the fault of the Democratic Party.
Truth be told, if any of the economic grievances listed were sincere, the pitchforks would already be out for Trump. Perhaps unfairly, since saddling any man, Dem or Republican, with the blame for the state of the American economy is just absurd, but that's the game the American electorate plays.
Perhaps the best the Dems can do right now is play defense while the current hysteria plays itself out. Too bad there's no Joseph Welch to ask, "Have you no sense of decency?"
On “Open Mic for the week of 3/10/25”
Southwest Airlines is giving up its only competitive advantage. It used to be such a great airline and now it's just another face in the crowd.
https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/southwest-airlines-will-charge-check-bags-first-time-launch-basic-econ-rcna195776
"
The Palestine/Israel debate is a special case, I'd posit. For whatever reason (usually cynicism), we're not allowed to differentiate between criticism of Israel and anti-semitism. Until that happens, we're just talking in circles.
On “Open Mic for the week of 3/3/2025”
Let's just go with a bunch of adults being upset over the casting in a kids movie reveals a lot about the complainer.
"
Douthat's reference to Catholicism being a unifying factor is a little bizarre given the fact that hardly anyone goes to Mass anymore in France.
His handwaving away the Holocaust in his phrase "crippling sense of historical guilt that still pervades Germany" is a little befuddling. There are still people alive who went through it. We're currently seeing in America what happens when self-reflection becomes taboo. The American right's embrace of AfD is more than a little concerning.
The strategy of trying to bolster our European allies into becoming true allies instead of vassals is a good one, but doing so by pushing them out of the nest immediately after hatching is a method doomed to failure.
"
For those without a subscription to the failing New York Times.
https://archive.is/mCumB
On “The Real First 100 Days”
I daresay you do. Otherwise, this site would be one post poorer.
On “Open Mic for the week of 3/3/2025”
Oh, I'm sure he has his fans. I also, despite the volume of my comments here, have a job. Something's gotta give.
On “The Real First 100 Days”
Mr. Donaldson is entirely correct. Expecting yesterday's, today's, and tomorrow's grandstanding occupants of the White House to give up their recitation of programs that will be proposed and never enacted, the parade of lame, halt, and wronged, and other tomfoolery is a fool's errand.
On “Open Mic for the week of 3/3/2025”
OK, let's come at it this way: is my trying to make Tate irrelevant worth the opportunity cost. Anyone that thinks that idiot is worth a 2nd thought is going to take a lot of convincing.
"
(Non) election interference.
https://www.politico.eu/article/donald-trump-allies-secret-talks-volodymyr-zelenskyy-opposition-ukraine-elections-yulia-tymoshenko-petro-poroshenko/
On “Comment Rescue: DavidTC on the Supreme Court’s ruling on the Unfreezing of Funds”
We have plenty on the record of DJT stiffing contractors. The more amazing part is he got 4 Supreme Court justices to say that kind of behavior is OK.
On “Open Mic for the week of 3/3/2025”
A long time ago I read a novel, which title I can't recall, where through some plausible circumstance Germany seizes U.S. military installations, including the nukes stored there. Probably not something we want to see happen in real life.
"
Does this look like a guy who's mind is open to change? Why even bother?
Edited to add: I'm referring to Tate.
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People thrive on certainty, which the current administration is not providing to our ostensible allies. If Europe doesn't see the U.S. as a bulwark against Russia, I have to believe they'll make the coherent choice to become their own bloc, acting in their own interest.
On “Lent!”
I'm going to have to dig into those MD posts.
*Comment archive for non-registered commenters assembled by email address as provided.