Thursday’s Forum
Steven L. Taylor
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Thursday, July 14, 2022
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48 comments
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor of Political Science and a College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog).
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Pete Wehner has an article in the Atlantic (No subscription needed) about a particular type of trumper:
@MarkedMan:
When the trumpkins turn on TFG, it won’t be a slow erosion, but a stampede. Think a herd of sheep, standing placidly in a field, suddenly being spooked and charging off enmass. They won’t admit that they are turning on TFG, but they will have.
@Sleeping Dog:
At this point, what would make them do that? Seriously.
@Sleeping Dog: I hope you are right. But FWIW I picture them just becoming tired of talking about him, no mental effort put into analysis, coupled with a seething inchoate resentment of everyone who called it right.
Hello from Memphis. Anyone have any restaurant or live music recommendations (away from Beale Street) for me? Been to Beale Street too many times in the past. Here for only three nights.
@MarkedMan:
Worse than that, it’s making them look into the mirror with a critical eye.
Suppose the GQP takes the Senate in November, and sometime in 2023 there’s a vacancy in the Supreme Court (which would require the death or incapacitation of a sitting Justice, as none seem likely to want to retire soon).
We can assume in such a case Mitch would not allow a vote or even hearings on whomever Biden nominated. He loses nothing. A 5-3 court in his favor is not much different from a 6-3 court. Whereas one at 5-4 might tempt Roberts to stray now and then.
Regardless of what twisted rationalization Mitch employs, is there anything Biden can do about it? Can, for example, Mitch be sued to perform his job? I don’t suppose that would work or even be heard by a court, and the appeals and special pleadings to the Republican Pet Court would either end the matter soon, ro drag it on past Biden’s term(s).
I also assume Biden would not do anything outside the law or even outside most norms. But what about everyone else? I can see ordinary people so mad they take measures to compel Mitch, or to remove him from this world.
And it would be hard to blame them if they did.
Bappy hirthday to Cracker! Bappy hirthday to you!
Spending the morning gleefully reading media corrections, having to say “Yesterday we accused a doctor of lying about rape in order to murder babies. We regret to inform you a credible rape accusation and rapist arrest has been made, and new evidence indicates a doctor can be both a woman and also honest. We will continue to update you on breaking developments in the field of psychology.”
Shot:
Chaser:
In case it isn’t obvious, accusing Caitlin of lying about the rape status is accusing the 10 year old of lying about rape. Again, accusing a 10 year old of lying about rape.
They slut shamed a 10 year old.
@Flat Earth Luddite: The best people are born in July.
@Neil Hudelson: Of course they did. The 10 yo has 2 X chromosomes and everybody knows bitches always lie.
@Neil Hudelson: A pregnant 10-year old was, by definition, raped. There is no consent at that age.
Also I saw somebody on the twitters remark that it is more than a little rich to see the same folks who claim groomers are everywhere suddenly start saying “a child got raped? that seems unlikely.”
@EddieInCA:
Charlie Vergos’ Rendezvous- Best ribs in Memphis. Old, 70s era jukebox with soul and blues music on it. Pitchers of Michelob.
@EddieInCA< Make sure you go to the Rendezvous on Union. It's the iconic place for Memphis Ribs and cold beer.
@MarkedMan: Never Trumpers like Peter Wehner strike me as just as deluded as the Trumpers he writes about. The Republican Party has relied on race, and gays, and own the libs culture wars for decades. And now Wehner is shocked to discover he’s surrounded by bigots who only want to own the libs. Peter, it ain’t just Trump.
@CSK:
@MarkedMan:
They’ll leave TFG for DeSantis or similar, they won’t stay home or vote for a Dem.
@Kathy:
Not a damn thing beyond using the bully pulpit and Moscow is beyond shaming.
@CSK: A stronger white supremist voice. A political actor who can show them that he will “carry through” with what FG only talked about. In other words, UberTrump. DeSantis is auditioning for the role in Florida right now.
@OzarkHillbilly: On the other hand, I was, too. So there’s that problem.
@Sleeping Dog: @Just nutha ignint cracker:
Certainly, although a lot of the nitwits at Lucianne.com are saying that DeSantis is very young and would make a great v.p. for Trump.
It was the phrase “turn on Trump,” Sleeping Dog, to which I objected, because it suggests that the MAGAs will repudiate him. I don’t see that ever happening, unless Trump should suddenly declare that he’s a far-left Democrat and he’s been fooling them all along. And that’s not going to happen.
@EddieInCA: I know it’s right on Beale Street, but above B.B. King’s bar, there is a super nice restaurant (also owned by Mr. King). It’s an entirely different vibe, even though it looks out over the strip. I also recommend the Civil Right Museum that is built in the footprint of the Lorraine Motel and there is a great BBQ place just behind the Museum.
And while I’m here, a special song for all the other July birthday people.
@Just nutha ignint cracker:
Well, that was ear-shattering.
@EddieInCA: I second the Civil Rights Museum suggestion.
We enjoyed Central BBQ which is nearby.
If you are in Germantown, the BBQ sandwich at the Germantown Commissary is awesome.
@Neil Hudelson: “They slut shamed a 10 year old.”
To be fair to people who really don’t deserve fairness, I think their claim was that the 10 year old didn’t exist, not that she was tramping around…
But I’m sure that guy who always screams about that lacrosse team will be here shortly to tell us that the bitch is lying and the guy is being railroaded by the media and the woke police.
Does anyone else ever get nightmares centered on frustration?
Last night I had one. I was at the airport with my family for a trip, and realized I’d forgotten my passport at home. My mom then told me “Go get it and you’ll catch the next flight.”
At home I realize I hadn’t packed a bag, either. So I started packing one, but couldn’t get the suitcase open, then couldn’t find my clothes anywhere, then I thought I might not even be able to pay for the plane ticket for “the next flight.” So, I tried calling my mom to ask when their flight was leaving, but first I couldn’t run the phone app, then the call wouldn’t go through.
Read like this, it doesn’t sound that bad. But at the time I felt this rising anxiety and frustration, and it so overwhelmed me I woke up (it was 3:22 am, I looked). It left me so shook up I couldn’t get back to sleep right away.
A bit on the twitter-Musk contrempts.
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2022/07/musk-twitter-deal-break-lawsuit-claims/670515/
Dreams
Frustration
When I was in grade school one dream that recurred would begin with 10 year old me standing in the middle of the street in the middle of the day in summertime stark naked just down the block from my house. I was always in front of the house where a girl lived who I thought was cute. I guess you could say that I had a crush on her. As soon as the dream began I started running towards my house hoping that no one would see me. Either the dream would end or I would wake up before I got home.
@Sleeping Dog:
I don’t think so. This is religious faith, not reason. People don’t just lose faith overnight. They need Trump and will do whatever mental gymnastics they have to go through to hold on to their cult leader. But they will erode, just as regular religion has eroded.
@Kathy:
When I was a kid I had a recurring dream. I was a robot with a sort of searchlight for a head, endlessly scanning. But I had no arms.
Honestly a pretty fair assessment of most of my relationship with reality: see a lot, do very little. One of the reasons I never pursued writing early-on was a sense that it would consign me to permanent observer status and I wanted to be a participant. Of course as it happens what impact I’ll have had on the world will be via writing. It might have been more useful if armless robot me at least had two typing fingers – that might have shown a clearer way forward.
@Mister Bluster:
@Michael Reynolds:
I think such dreams are common, but I don’t recall ever having them. No naked dreams (not even seeing other people naked*), nor dreaming I’m someone or something else.
*Well, when my late dogs appear in my dreams, they are naked. But they appeared that way in every day life, too.
So, we go another positive at work.
This doesn’t bring up the total, because I’m 97% sure it’s this guy’s second bout. I think he would be the first reinfection.
An interesting is happening in the Congressional race in SW Washington–at least to the extent that the political ads show the climate of the community. First point, the Democrats running don’t seem to have funding to run ads. (Not surprising given that both of them are small business owners/self-employed people from Stevenson, Washington, population 1460. [insert “Saahhhh-lute” from Hee Haw]) On the GQP side, 3 candidates are running ads: the incumbent, and 2 challengers. One challenger is running against the incumbent specifically, as too liberal to be a Republican, the other is running against one specific Democratic contender, as a radical supporter of Joe Biden’s extreme socialist agenda. The one who is advertising the incumbent as too liberal is also running to protect America’s guns, marriages (from the gay marriage threat), and children (from the Trans threat). I’ve never been a fan of the incumbent, but her ads–highlighting the stuff she gets for the district–make her a far more attractive candidate.
Clark County is where the votes are in the district. Also where the money is (a 1400 sq. ft. 50s 2
bedroom bungalow out in the boonies is listed for $1.1 million currently), so I expect the voters to vote their wallets rather than their ideologies, but the GQP is very strong out here.
Well, I guess Trump’s going to run. Maybe not.
http://www.nymag.com/intelligencer/article/donald-trump-2024-decision.html
@Kathy: I don’t call them nightmares, but I have recurring dreams where I’m attempting to locate someone/thing or accomplish a small task only to be continually distracted by people/situations requiring my immediate attention. (Reminds me of my job on swing shift at the warehouse I worked at during and after I went to college, but the dreams never happen there.)
@CSK: Glad you liked it! Hope you have a happy birthday, whenever it happens! 🙂
@Just nutha ignint cracker:
It happened in April. 😀
@Just nutha ignint cracker:
That sounds like my real waking life when there’s a lot of work.
Ivana, the first Mrs. Donald Trump, has died.
@CSK:
A lot of laws on fund-raising kick in when he announces, so it’s understandable. The Grift is strong in this one.
@Just nutha ignint cracker: I didn’t say “only the best people”.
Yes.
@CSK:
F**g death can’t reap the right Trump.
@Kathy:
Constantly. I hate it.
@Kathy:
The MAGAs are blaming her death (cardiac arrest) on the Covid vaccine.
Hi! Can someone with divine Power please intercede to free my innocent little comment from purgatory?
@Kathy:
Do the whimsical ways of the edit function count?
@CSK: Interesting. I just read that she was found unresponsive at the bottom of the stairs in her apartment (which could of course been precipitated by cardiac arrest).
@Jen:
ABC7 in NY said cardiac arrest. Probably more will be forthcoming.
@JohnSF:
Sleep posting would explain comments being sent to moderation 😉