2024

[japhy]

Is it cuz IRS agents showed up to harass his favorite writer at his house on the day he testified before Congress?

Seeing the standard bearer for your grand old party being relentlessly and unfairly persecuted seems to be taking a toll on you. I hope you got some sleep last night.

In FL they would consider that pornographic.

[japhy]

In a shift from some previous republicans who lost a race, the loser in WI did not call for a mob to "be wild" at the Capital or other some such bullshit. But he did stop short of a graceful exit.

Laura Schulte, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
Wed, April 5, 2023, 1:04 AM CDT
GREEN LAKE - Former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly lost his race against Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz by at least 10 percentage points Tuesday but refused to call his opponent to concede, instead choosing to lash out against her in a concession speech to supporters.

"I wish that in a circumstance like this, I would be able to concede to a worthy opponent," he said at an event held at the Heidel House Hotel in Green Lake. "But I do not have a worthy opponent to which I can concede."

Kelly called Protasiewicz's campaign "deeply deceitful, dishonorable and despicable."

"I say this not because we did not prevail. I do not say this because of the rancid slanders that were launched against me, although that was bad enough. But that is not my concern. My concern is the damage done to the institution of the courts," Kelly said.

"My opponent is a serial liar. She's disregarded judicial ethics; she's demeaned the judiciary with her behavior. This is the future that we have to look forward to in Wisconsin."

Adding: "I wish Wisconsin the best of luck, because I think it’s going to need it."

Kelly highlighted his commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law, saying Protasiewicz would be only committed to the "rule of Janet."

"The people of Wisconsin have chosen the rule of Janet. I respect that decision because it is theirs to make," he said. "I respect the decision that the people of Wisconsin have made, but I think it does not end well."

Protasiewicz and others at her campaign event in Milwaukee did not comment on Kelly's comments.


He does wish Wisconsin "best of luck" so there is that.

[KUTradition]

i’ve found that many “politicians” that openly tout their commitment to the constitution seem to rarely do so

[jfish26]

Here’s what’s wild. Non-rube Republicans know the party is drawing dead electorally with Trump. And yet, the hold Trumpism has on the R base is so strong that it would literally take incarceration or death to prevent them from nominating Trump for 2024.

[Mjl]

That's overly optimistic.
Voters are going to associate Biden with inflation, fair or not.
To pose 2020 as a blowout is also not right. It doesn't take that many votes to flip Arizona, Georgia, and Wisconsin.

Furthermore, to paint 2022 (where, don't forget, Dems did lose the house) as a proxy to Trump vs Biden is also not really accurate.

[jfish26]

That's overly optimistic.
Voters are going to associate Biden with inflation, fair or not.
To pose 2020 as a blowout is also not right. It doesn't take that many votes to flip Arizona, Georgia, and Wisconsin.

Furthermore, to paint 2022 (where, don't forget, Dems did lose the house) as a proxy to Trump vs Biden is also not really accurate.

All I’m saying is that, on a macro level, Republicans poll more favorably on a generic basis than a Trump vs. [Democrat] basis. And yet, the Republicans are almost certain to nominate Trump. Even though that’s against their best interests.

That’s sort of the it’s a cult thing, neatly-packaged. If you’re doing something you KNOW is not optimized for success…you’re doing it for psychological, not pragmatic, reasons.

[DCHawk1]

Here’s what’s wild. Non-rube Republicans know the party is drawing dead electorally with Trump. And yet, the hold Trumpism has on the R base is so strong that it would literally take incarceration or death to prevent them from nominating Trump for 2024.

CAVEAT: Trump lost. His protest was worse than ridiculous. He betrayed his supporters more than anyone by constantly giving them false hope backed by exactly ZERO evidence. Republicans should hate him for that, if nothing else (and there's a great deal "else.")


That said, didn't someone recently ask that randy learn the difference between federal and state/local legal jurisdictions? Could that same someone ask Eirck Erickson to do so as well? I mean...that's one power EXPLICITLY and (thus far) irrevocably granted to the states.

[jfish26]

Here’s what’s wild. Non-rube Republicans know the party is drawing dead electorally with Trump. And yet, the hold Trumpism has on the R base is so strong that it would literally take incarceration or death to prevent them from nominating Trump for 2024.

CAVEAT: Trump lost. His protest was worse than ridiculous. He betrayed his supporters more than anyone by constantly giving them false hope backed by exactly ZERO evidence. Republicans should hate him for that, if nothing else (and there's a great deal "else.")


That said, didn't someone recently ask that randy learn the difference between federal and state/local legal jurisdictions? Could that same someone ask Eirck Erickson to do so as well? I mean...that's one power EXPLICITLY and (thus far) irrevocably granted to the states.

The independent state legislature theory, taken to its furthest extremes, is not a dog that hunts (for me, or, I’d think, the drafters/adopters of the Constitution).

[jfish26]

I would note also that the Wisconsin results from last night do not bode well for the Republicans. For general and specific reasons.

[Shirley]

[Shirley]

That's overly optimistic.
Voters are going to associate Biden with inflation, fair or not.
To pose 2020 as a blowout is also not right. It doesn't take that many votes to flip Arizona, Georgia, and Wisconsin.

Furthermore, to paint 2022 (where, don't forget, Dems did lose the house) as a proxy to Trump vs Biden is also not really accurate.

All I’m saying is that, on a macro level, Republicans poll more favorably on a generic basis than a Trump vs. [Democrat] basis. And yet, the Republicans are almost certain to nominate Trump. Even though that’s against their best interests.

That’s sort of the it’s a cult thing, neatly-packaged. If you’re doing something you KNOW is not optimized for success…you’re doing it for psychological, not pragmatic, reasons.

Did someone say, "cult"?

Defendant Trump Has the G.O.P. Just Where He Wants It

It was perhaps inevitable that, with Donald Trump’s historic arraignment taking place in the run-up to Easter Sunday, one of his most zealous disciples, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, would aim to drag Jesus into this mess.

The former president “is joining some of the most incredible people in history being arrested,” the MAGA chaos agent blathered to a conservative news outlet just hours before Mr. Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts related to a hush-money deal with a porn star. “Jesus! Jesus was arrested and murdered by the Roman government!” proclaimed Ms. Greene.

As a lapsed Southern Baptist, I’ll leave it to the more devout to debate whether this comparison qualifies as outright blasphemy or is merely idiotic. Regardless, it was a perfect distillation of Mr. Trump’s longstanding political refrain and current legal defense: He is the faultless victim of political persecution — a righteous martyr beset on all sides by America-hating, baby-eating Democrats and Deep Staters. In the Gospel According to the Donald, any bad thing he is ever accused of is just more proof that the forces of evil are out to get the MAGA messiah.

It’s a great story if you can sustain it. Unless you’re a Republican presidential hopeful not named Donald Trump, in which case being required to shovel this grade of malarkey to please the base is increasingly awkward — at least for anyone hoping to retain a shred of credibility beyond the hard-core MAGAverse.

This uncomfortable reality is actually something for every member of the G.O.P. to think about. Again. Because, if Mr. Trump’s prime-time, post-arraignment remarks on Tuesday were any indication, this is going to be a central theme of his third presidential run — one that promises to relegate everyone else in the party, including those considering a 2024 run themselves, to being minor players in this latest, tawdriest season of “The Trump Show.”

[...]

[jfish26]

That's overly optimistic.
Voters are going to associate Biden with inflation, fair or not.
To pose 2020 as a blowout is also not right. It doesn't take that many votes to flip Arizona, Georgia, and Wisconsin.

Furthermore, to paint 2022 (where, don't forget, Dems did lose the house) as a proxy to Trump vs Biden is also not really accurate.

All I’m saying is that, on a macro level, Republicans poll more favorably on a generic basis than a Trump vs. [Democrat] basis. And yet, the Republicans are almost certain to nominate Trump. Even though that’s against their best interests.

That’s sort of the it’s a cult thing, neatly-packaged. If you’re doing something you KNOW is not optimized for success…you’re doing it for psychological, not pragmatic, reasons.

Did someone say, "cult"?

Defendant Trump Has the G.O.P. Just Where He Wants It

It was perhaps inevitable that, with Donald Trump’s historic arraignment taking place in the run-up to Easter Sunday, one of his most zealous disciples, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, would aim to drag Jesus into this mess.

The former president “is joining some of the most incredible people in history being arrested,” the MAGA chaos agent blathered to a conservative news outlet just hours before Mr. Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts related to a hush-money deal with a porn star. “Jesus! Jesus was arrested and murdered by the Roman government!” proclaimed Ms. Greene.

As a lapsed Southern Baptist, I’ll leave it to the more devout to debate whether this comparison qualifies as outright blasphemy or is merely idiotic. Regardless, it was a perfect distillation of Mr. Trump’s longstanding political refrain and current legal defense: He is the faultless victim of political persecution — a righteous martyr beset on all sides by America-hating, baby-eating Democrats and Deep Staters. In the Gospel According to the Donald, any bad thing he is ever accused of is just more proof that the forces of evil are out to get the MAGA messiah.

It’s a great story if you can sustain it. Unless you’re a Republican presidential hopeful not named Donald Trump, in which case being required to shovel this grade of malarkey to please the base is increasingly awkward — at least for anyone hoping to retain a shred of credibility beyond the hard-core MAGAverse.

This uncomfortable reality is actually something for every member of the G.O.P. to think about. Again. Because, if Mr. Trump’s prime-time, post-arraignment remarks on Tuesday were any indication, this is going to be a central theme of his third presidential run — one that promises to relegate everyone else in the party, including those considering a 2024 run themselves, to being minor players in this latest, tawdriest season of “The Trump Show.”

[...]

And they know it and can’t stop.

Tells you all you need to know about the party’s animating motivations. The party is quite knowingly accepting a material diminishment of - if not a death blow to - its hopes of reclaiming the Executive Branch in 2024…out of fealty to King Griftalot.

That is cult behavior. It just is!

[ousdahl]

Not gonna lie, I kinda wonder if Dems want Trump around to be on the 24 ticket, in that “Dems contribute cash to far right campaigns” kinda way

[jfish26]

Not gonna lie, I kinda wonder if Dems want Trump around to be on the 24 ticket, in that “Dems contribute cash to far right campaigns” kinda way

As a political/electoral matter, absolutely that's what the Dems want. But the R schism is even better.

It's very concerning to me - I absolutely don't want a long-term scenario where the far left wing of the Democratic party can run wild.

[Shirley]

Not gonna lie, I kinda wonder if Dems want Trump around to be on the 24 ticket, in that “Dems contribute cash to far right campaigns” kinda way

As a political/electoral matter, absolutely that's what the Dems want. But the R schism is even better.

It's very concerning to me - I absolutely don't want a long-term scenario where the far left wing of the Democratic party can run wild.

Neither do I, not least because we'd rarely win state-wide and national elections for decades.

It's been amazing to watch how Biden and Pelosi were able to corral the progressives and hold the caucus together in the house with only a 4-vote majority, while "moderates" like Manchin and Sinema were focused on making the most out of their positions in the senate.

[Shirley]

[jfish26]

I do not have the, ah, fondest view of Arizonans. I’m painting with far too broad of a brush here, but the nihilistic, “let’s just do a bunch of golf courses and sprawl and maybe the Colorado River will restore itself” thing is just a lot.

To be clear - this isn’t just lib enviro-moralizing. It’s also pragmatic. That enormous economy, and so many jobs etc., will dry up, too. And then where will we be: we’ll have a border state with a desiccated husk for infrastructure/economy/etc. And a Wild West, individualist, pro-gun ethos.

What could go wrong?

[KUTradition]

might as well through utah and nevada in that boat too, Fish

[japhy]

Kyrsten is shopping the Graham Parsons Collection at Forever 21 I see. That's a good look on her.

[Shirley]

Lol Japhy, good catch.