“Business guy” is such a stupid phrase that only seems to be reserved for rich white guys. Would Rick Scott say that about a Latino guy who runs a taco shop?
And then that reminds me of how you always hear the most uninformed Republican voters say, “The government should be run like a business.” It’s a cutesy phrase. (These people also love term limits.) But then, Republicans do the exact opposite. Yet they also are more likely to elect “business people” to office. The whole thing can be dumbed down to rich people helping rich people.
If it was a Democrat they would be dismissed as part of the "managerial class" somehow that label does not apply to rich assholes who surround themselves with toadies and yes men and have never done a day of labor ever.
That's the first time I've seen a number attached to the disputed ballots. If it's only 2,300, then it won't be determinative unless the recount shows major glitches.
"For Casey, who has been in the Senate for 18 years, his long tenure here may likely end with a slow march toward defeat as the recount unfolds."
The media needs to stop prematurely declaring the victor and let the ballot counting and adjudication process play out. They were crowing about Ranked Choice's seeming defeat in Alaska until it narrowly came up short with the remainder of the outstanding ballots. Pundits and journalists need to shut the hell up and wait until the process is fully complete.
While Trump is fuming and demanding Republicans block the Senate from confirming any more of President Biden’s judicial nominees, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has finally picked up the pace. In just three days so far this week, the Senate has confirmed five judges, one of them for the 11th Circuit Court. A sixth judge (Shared Desai) is expected to be confirmed today.
But that’s not the most impressive. The Majority Leader finally did what he could and should have done far earlier: He filed cloture motions on a long list of judges – not just two or three at a time. And yesterday, working till well past midnight, the Senate majority passed cloture motions on six district judge nominees. That may well be something of a record, at least for Schumer. Today there will be two more cloture votes.
As of dawn today, eight judges are awaiting final floor votes. Except for Desai, confirmation votes for these judges won’t happen until 2 December or later. Four circuit court nominees are also awaiting cloture and confirmation votes.
Meanwhile, today the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to have an executive meeting that may well approve another five district judges for debate and votes on the Senate Floor. EDIT: This morning, the committee approved all five by party-line votes.
For the Senate, it’s going to be a busy December, and who knows what will happen to Trump’s blood pressure or the blister on his Tweeting thumb!
Several of Biden's judges have been confirmed solely because some Republicans have been absent, and in at least one instance, in spite of John Fetterman being absent.
Joe Manchin has also voted against at least two appointments. He voted against judge Embry Kidd and Sarah Russell. Kirsten Synema has voted against at least one nominee thus far too.
In one instance, judge Sarah Russel was confirmed with only 50 votes because of Manchins defection and several Republicans being absent.
Kamala Harris is also on vacation in Hawaii and unable to break ties if necessary.
I will say Schumer and Durbin are pushing hard but these nominations are only going through mainly due to Republican absences.
Last night, I was watching the live video from the Senate floor. Interestingly, on one cloture vote Senator Manchin voted No – moments later, after realizing that his vote would be decisive, he changed it to Yes. At least on this occasion, Manchin showed comity to his party.
What you say initially is not entirely true. This week, one district judge was confirmed with 51 votes, while three others received 50 votes. (Granted, the circuit judge was confirmed with only 49 votes.)
Yesterday the Senate held six cloture votes, most on ten-minute votes very late in the evening when everybody was exhausted. Two passed with 51 votes, and four passed with 50 votes.
Had all Republicans showed up, VP Harris would have been required to cast some tie-breaking votes. She is currently vacationing in Hawaii.
Torres can hopefully run for governor and lose in the primary and then get on a horse go into the mountains and stop bothering people. A more useless tool has rarely served in the Congress - and that’s really saying something.
Do you want the whole list? How about kissing musk’s ass in the most pathetic way possible. Obeying in advance is definitely not what we need from electeds supposedly on our side.
The only thing I can find is a statement that is basically saying Musk is a great innovator and that antagonizing him will only drive him toward Trump more. Hardly kissing his ass in a pathetic way.
Senator Chris Coons has said Musk's agency may be a good idea. I wouldn't say that's kissing his ass either.
Surely we aren't policing bland statements and using them as litmus tests for purity reasons... right?
It would be a good agency if it wasn’t run by Republicans. I always found it interesting how the GOP talks so much about cutting costs in government and efficiency but are against Medicare negotiating drug prices.
The irony is that if they had been part of those conversation, they could’ve influenced those savings to going towards the deficit. Instead, Dems did it ourselves after years of trying and we spent it.
But, it makes sense. They will save money by hurting people. It’s what they usually try to do.
He's a zealot on a certain issue which makes even people sympathetic to said issue cringe in second hand embarrassment. On most other things he's a standard democrat
"Zealot" on "a certain issue"? Correct me if I am wrong, but that sounds like an unsuccessfully-camouflaged attempt to say that Torres, like e.g. john Fetterman and a host of other Congressional representatives, is pro-Israel.
Hochul is exceptionally weak, he has a real opening given seems to be much more in touch to where the country and the state is right now. Maybe not on this board though. Lawler is almost certain to run and will be a strong candidate, Torres might be Dems best bet
Alito and Thomas, if their ego is smaller than their dedication to conservatism, should be expected to retire. Putting her on SCOTUS would be a believable reward for her putting her finger (and more) on the scales for him.
Brazil’s federal police said Thursday they indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people on charges of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his electoral defeat in the 2022 elections.
The findings were to be delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court to be referred to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will either agree with the charges and put the former president on trial or toss the investigation.
The Advocate has an excellent write-up about the controversial decision by Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE) to abide by a new House rule regarding bathroom usage that is blatantly discriminatory against her. McBride has faced a ton of opposition within the transgender community over her decision, although some within the transgender community are defending McBride, and both sides of the argument were presented very well in the article.
Wait, why doesn’t she use the men’s room? That’s what I’d do if I were her. Make them see how stupid their rules are when a bunch of men are now complaining about her in their bathroom.
And just to further expand on that - the House has so many members that you know a bunch of men will be utterly confused why there is a woman in their bathroom. They won’t know she’s “the trans one” probably until they complain about her, which then is ironic that they’re treating her like she wants to be treated, as a woman.
They'll know unfortunately because of the Streisand effect playing itself out here(folks should have just listened to McBride from the start imo)technically I guess this isn't the actual Streisand effect but the similar nature and the unnecessary publicity still stand
This was bait by Mace to put herself back into the spotlight. McBride will never need to use a women's restroom on the Hill and did the right thing by ignoring it.
In my mind’s eye, I can see Sarah McBride striding into the Men’s Room, encountering a very red-faced and sputtering Mike Johnson frantically pulling up a zipper that catches on insignificant unmentionables, somebody Tweeting out the news – and Mrs Johnson becoming very, very upset.
considering that she's the first representative ever from their community; I'd prefer they just stfu(but that's easy for me to say)and trust that McBride knows the deal better
"The trade was four circuit nominees — all lacking the votes to get confirmed — for more than triple the number of additional judges moving forward," a spokesperson for Schumer said in a statement.
District court judges are generally insignificant compared to Circuit court judges. But I don’t trust Fox to report things accurately.
Apparently Republican members of congress aren’t the only ones who make things up to draw attention.
I can’t find any evidence that Gluesenkamp Perez is right that in Washington state, “regulations make it easier for childcare providers to open a pre-packaged, often ultra-processed snack than to peel a banana or cut up an apple.” Her Banana Act appears to be based on a situation that does not happen, and she seems to have unfairly maligned her own state government.
She really wants that daycare lady’s vote something fierce! Bc of course Gluesenkamp Perez could’ve just called her back and say, “I looked into and that regulation doesn’t exist, you’re fine to serve fruit.” Question is, would the daycare lady believe her? Probably not. She probably read about this supposed regulation on social media.
You thought it would specifically mention an exact act like it was written by Vogons? That counts as food prep or processing. If they bought bananas pre-peeled, there wouldn't be an issue as it was pre-processed off-site.
Serious question: Is there anything preventing President Biden from ordering thorough FBI background checks on Trump’s nominees to Cabinet positions as well as other key posts?
(Obviously this is something Trump should have done but has failed to do.)
NBC's website is now subtracting votes from both Casey and McCormick's columns in the Pennsylvania Senate race. Presumably these are the challenged ballots being tossed out. They've also radically adjusted their "estimating remaining votes" map, with small numbers of remaining votes in most counties but 32,000 remaining votes in Philadelphia! Not sure what to make of that but I'm pretty confident that there aren't 32,000 uncounted ballots waiting in Philly.
The math has seemingly changed dramatically on NBC's election tracker page today. Though the tracker says there are only 17k outstanding votes left, the map of outstanding ballots shows a far different map with more than twice as many votes. What caused this who knows, but Philadelphia county according to this map alone is the lion's share with 32k votes, with the next biggest Berks county at a mere 6.5k. If Casey wins just 55% of that Philadelphia county vote share, that alone puts him over the top, and that's a very conservative estimate of what he will win. It seems that despite the current numbers, the race is far from over.
Ahh well. At least there was an effort to recount the ballots. At the end of the day, I'm not a big fan of Casey anyways. He's become too much of a career politician and become a milquetoast moderate that hasn't really mobilized his base in ages. I do think the likes of Shapiro and Fetterman are the future of PA politics and perhaps beyond that - more outspoken leaders that don't hesitate to speak up and stand by their positions. Democrats in general need fresh blood and new better and popular ideas, not the status quo.
PA Senate: A recount is underway even though not all the provisional ballots have been tallied, apparently. Recount to be completed by Wednesday.
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/bob-casey-pennsylvania-ballot-recount-washington-voting-20241120.html
“I’m a business guy so I think the more business people we get up here, the better off we are. I’m excited to serve with [Dave McCormick].”
– Rick "Medicare Fraudster" Scott, R-FL
“Business guy” is such a stupid phrase that only seems to be reserved for rich white guys. Would Rick Scott say that about a Latino guy who runs a taco shop?
And then that reminds me of how you always hear the most uninformed Republican voters say, “The government should be run like a business.” It’s a cutesy phrase. (These people also love term limits.) But then, Republicans do the exact opposite. Yet they also are more likely to elect “business people” to office. The whole thing can be dumbed down to rich people helping rich people.
If it was a Democrat they would be dismissed as part of the "managerial class" somehow that label does not apply to rich assholes who surround themselves with toadies and yes men and have never done a day of labor ever.
That's the first time I've seen a number attached to the disputed ballots. If it's only 2,300, then it won't be determinative unless the recount shows major glitches.
"For Casey, who has been in the Senate for 18 years, his long tenure here may likely end with a slow march toward defeat as the recount unfolds."
The media needs to stop prematurely declaring the victor and let the ballot counting and adjudication process play out. They were crowing about Ranked Choice's seeming defeat in Alaska until it narrowly came up short with the remainder of the outstanding ballots. Pundits and journalists need to shut the hell up and wait until the process is fully complete.
Pundits and journalists never do that
CONFIRMING BIDEN’s JUDGES
While Trump is fuming and demanding Republicans block the Senate from confirming any more of President Biden’s judicial nominees, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has finally picked up the pace. In just three days so far this week, the Senate has confirmed five judges, one of them for the 11th Circuit Court. A sixth judge (Shared Desai) is expected to be confirmed today.
But that’s not the most impressive. The Majority Leader finally did what he could and should have done far earlier: He filed cloture motions on a long list of judges – not just two or three at a time. And yesterday, working till well past midnight, the Senate majority passed cloture motions on six district judge nominees. That may well be something of a record, at least for Schumer. Today there will be two more cloture votes.
As of dawn today, eight judges are awaiting final floor votes. Except for Desai, confirmation votes for these judges won’t happen until 2 December or later. Four circuit court nominees are also awaiting cloture and confirmation votes.
Meanwhile, today the Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to have an executive meeting that may well approve another five district judges for debate and votes on the Senate Floor. EDIT: This morning, the committee approved all five by party-line votes.
For the Senate, it’s going to be a busy December, and who knows what will happen to Trump’s blood pressure or the blister on his Tweeting thumb!
You love to see it. Ram those judges through. As Cocaine Mitch likes to say, elections have consequences.
Overheard elsewhere:
"You’re right officer, I probably can’t walk that white line – but I bet I can sniff it."
Several of Biden's judges have been confirmed solely because some Republicans have been absent, and in at least one instance, in spite of John Fetterman being absent.
Joe Manchin has also voted against at least two appointments. He voted against judge Embry Kidd and Sarah Russell. Kirsten Synema has voted against at least one nominee thus far too.
In one instance, judge Sarah Russel was confirmed with only 50 votes because of Manchins defection and several Republicans being absent.
Kamala Harris is also on vacation in Hawaii and unable to break ties if necessary.
I will say Schumer and Durbin are pushing hard but these nominations are only going through mainly due to Republican absences.
https://www.cnn.com/2024/11/20/politics/judges-trump-biden-missing-senators/index.html
Last night, I was watching the live video from the Senate floor. Interestingly, on one cloture vote Senator Manchin voted No – moments later, after realizing that his vote would be decisive, he changed it to Yes. At least on this occasion, Manchin showed comity to his party.
What you say initially is not entirely true. This week, one district judge was confirmed with 51 votes, while three others received 50 votes. (Granted, the circuit judge was confirmed with only 49 votes.)
Yesterday the Senate held six cloture votes, most on ten-minute votes very late in the evening when everybody was exhausted. Two passed with 51 votes, and four passed with 50 votes.
Had all Republicans showed up, VP Harris would have been required to cast some tie-breaking votes. She is currently vacationing in Hawaii.
Yup, Manchin and Sinema want the judges to be confirmed - just without their votes.
Torres can hopefully run for governor and lose in the primary and then get on a horse go into the mountains and stop bothering people. A more useless tool has rarely served in the Congress - and that’s really saying something.
What's wrong with Ritchie Torres?
Do you want the whole list? How about kissing musk’s ass in the most pathetic way possible. Obeying in advance is definitely not what we need from electeds supposedly on our side.
The only thing I can find is a statement that is basically saying Musk is a great innovator and that antagonizing him will only drive him toward Trump more. Hardly kissing his ass in a pathetic way.
Senator Chris Coons has said Musk's agency may be a good idea. I wouldn't say that's kissing his ass either.
Surely we aren't policing bland statements and using them as litmus tests for purity reasons... right?
https://x.com/RitchieTorres/status/1857893576601944139
It would be a good agency if it wasn’t run by Republicans. I always found it interesting how the GOP talks so much about cutting costs in government and efficiency but are against Medicare negotiating drug prices.
The irony is that if they had been part of those conversation, they could’ve influenced those savings to going towards the deficit. Instead, Dems did it ourselves after years of trying and we spent it.
But, it makes sense. They will save money by hurting people. It’s what they usually try to do.
It's the issue in the Middle East that we aren't supposed to talk about.
He's a zealot on a certain issue which makes even people sympathetic to said issue cringe in second hand embarrassment. On most other things he's a standard democrat
"Zealot" on "a certain issue"? Correct me if I am wrong, but that sounds like an unsuccessfully-camouflaged attempt to say that Torres, like e.g. john Fetterman and a host of other Congressional representatives, is pro-Israel.
That's an understatement for Torres
Lots of hyperbole here. There are actual villains in Congress. Maybe cite a source or an example?
Hochul is exceptionally weak, he has a real opening given seems to be much more in touch to where the country and the state is right now. Maybe not on this board though. Lawler is almost certain to run and will be a strong candidate, Torres might be Dems best bet
disagree; in no way do I think he even tries the race(for governor)
Gaetz has withdrawn his name from consideration for AG per multiple sources on Threads.
Guessing this means he’s got inside track for Rubio’s seat or to run for Gov like he’s always wanted in two years
His statement
https://x.com/mattgaetz/status/1859649045553402285?t=Agtf0RKnrRn875ic6Z0b_w&s=19
As far as Rubios seat is concerned I think Bryon Donalds also wants it.
Gaetz clearly doesn't want whatever is in his file to come out. And he knows it inevitably would come out if he had confirmation hearings.
So what's next for him - does he try to rescind his pre-emptive resignation from next Congress?
If he tries, then I hope the House Ethics Committee post-emptively (new word!) releases his file from their investigation.
I think the whole ploy was to give him an out to resign before it came out. No chance he was ever getting confirmed, even without the new revelations.
I've also heard that Ron DeSantis wants it and may appoint a placeholder such as his chief of staff.
If anyone can confirm this. Did he only resign the remainder of his current term? Would he be back in Congress in January?
I was wondering the same
He could only "resign" from the current House. If he chooses not to take his seat in the next House, I guess he'd have to resign a second time.
Effing awesome! That’s a shot across the bow of Trump’s shipload of deplorables! A double win: gone from Congress, barred from the DOJ.
Any prediction as to who will be Gaetz’s replacement?
Aileen Cannon.
I assumed Trump was saving her to put on the court after Thomas or Alito retire, but he could always put her in the AG position first.
Counting down till the moment Aileen Cannon is named as the replacement nominee.
I think we'll get worse out of her than that.
Alito and Thomas, if their ego is smaller than their dedication to conservatism, should be expected to retire. Putting her on SCOTUS would be a believable reward for her putting her finger (and more) on the scales for him.
No, he’s saving her for the Supreme Court.
He didn't have the votes and wasn't going to get the votes I'm assuming team Trump was told. Now do crazy Kennedy and tulsa.
Yes! Totally bonkers to nominate RFK Jr to head what all-too-soon would become the "Disease Efficiency Advancement Department" (DEAD).
Oh please have Gaetz run for the Senate. He would be a lean, mean, fundraising machine for Democrats.
Time for catfloof. Anti-Maga running for GA Gov on R side in 2026https://x.com/bluestein/status/1859650510619541869
Brazil’s federal police said Thursday they indicted former President Jair Bolsonaro and 36 other people on charges of attempting a coup to keep him in office after his electoral defeat in the 2022 elections.
The findings were to be delivered Thursday to Brazil’s Supreme Court to be referred to Prosecutor-General Paulo Gonet, who will either agree with the charges and put the former president on trial or toss the investigation.
https://apnews.com/article/brazil-jair-bolsonaro-indictment-0d62fe0a7399483aee48cf3c845560ea?user_email=833907525a7ed9da50588421f9a328c4ffe67eebcd2f30e04f9a17ca5f772e12&utm_medium=APNews_Alerts&utm_source=Sailthru_AP&utm_campaign=NewsAlert_Nov21_2024_01:42PM&utm_term=AP%20News%20Alerts
Hopefully Brazil succeeds where we failed.
The Advocate has an excellent write-up about the controversial decision by Rep.-elect Sarah McBride (D-DE) to abide by a new House rule regarding bathroom usage that is blatantly discriminatory against her. McBride has faced a ton of opposition within the transgender community over her decision, although some within the transgender community are defending McBride, and both sides of the argument were presented very well in the article.
Link: https://www.advocate.com/politics/trans-community-outraged-sarah-mcbride
She played it smartly
Yeah. She’s there to represent Delaware first and foremost.
Wait, why doesn’t she use the men’s room? That’s what I’d do if I were her. Make them see how stupid their rules are when a bunch of men are now complaining about her in their bathroom.
And just to further expand on that - the House has so many members that you know a bunch of men will be utterly confused why there is a woman in their bathroom. They won’t know she’s “the trans one” probably until they complain about her, which then is ironic that they’re treating her like she wants to be treated, as a woman.
They'll know unfortunately because of the Streisand effect playing itself out here(folks should have just listened to McBride from the start imo)technically I guess this isn't the actual Streisand effect but the similar nature and the unnecessary publicity still stand
This was bait by Mace to put herself back into the spotlight. McBride will never need to use a women's restroom on the Hill and did the right thing by ignoring it.
In my mind’s eye, I can see Sarah McBride striding into the Men’s Room, encountering a very red-faced and sputtering Mike Johnson frantically pulling up a zipper that catches on insignificant unmentionables, somebody Tweeting out the news – and Mrs Johnson becoming very, very upset.
Imagine if Mike Pence was still in Congress, and was in the bathroom in your scenario. LOL
Well, it quickly became clear that Mike Pence is suffering from Electile Dysfunction.
considering that she's the first representative ever from their community; I'd prefer they just stfu(but that's easy for me to say)and trust that McBride knows the deal better
It sucks, but pick your battles. Deny your enemy the satisfaction of a reaction.
What the hell is Schumer doing? Giving up 4 circuit judges. https://x.com/anthonyadragna/status/1859647871534104786?s=61&t=5copDbz1aPl7ASsRCUclLg
I’d need to know a little more beyond this:
"The trade was four circuit nominees — all lacking the votes to get confirmed — for more than triple the number of additional judges moving forward," a spokesperson for Schumer said in a statement.
District court judges are generally insignificant compared to Circuit court judges. But I don’t trust Fox to report things accurately.
I knew that Mangi-3rd Circuit-wouldn't get through but the others-1st, 4th and 6th were seemingly unexceptional.
Apparently Republican members of congress aren’t the only ones who make things up to draw attention.
I can’t find any evidence that Gluesenkamp Perez is right that in Washington state, “regulations make it easier for childcare providers to open a pre-packaged, often ultra-processed snack than to peel a banana or cut up an apple.” Her Banana Act appears to be based on a situation that does not happen, and she seems to have unfairly maligned her own state government.
https://www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-is-this-member-of-congress-claiming-its-illegal-to-peel-bananas-in-a-daycare
She really wants that daycare lady’s vote something fierce! Bc of course Gluesenkamp Perez could’ve just called her back and say, “I looked into and that regulation doesn’t exist, you’re fine to serve fruit.” Question is, would the daycare lady believe her? Probably not. She probably read about this supposed regulation on social media.
No, it's real: https://nitter.poast.org/pic/orig/media%2FGcilQP2WwAEtLPZ.jpg
It's based on a Washington State regulation seen here: https://nitter.poast.org/pic/orig/media%2FGcilQP2WwAEtLPZ.jpg
And her mentioning bananas was coincidental as I doubt she knows leftists online call it depraved indulgence to enjoy non-local produce.
Nothing about peeling bananas. But I guess that must be a “leftist” plot.
You thought it would specifically mention an exact act like it was written by Vogons? That counts as food prep or processing. If they bought bananas pre-peeled, there wouldn't be an issue as it was pre-processed off-site.
There is nothing in the regulation that would bar peeling a banana for a kid.
It would if you lacked a designated food prep sink and enforcement wasn't lenient.
Serious question: Is there anything preventing President Biden from ordering thorough FBI background checks on Trump’s nominees to Cabinet positions as well as other key posts?
(Obviously this is something Trump should have done but has failed to do.)
NBC's website is now subtracting votes from both Casey and McCormick's columns in the Pennsylvania Senate race. Presumably these are the challenged ballots being tossed out. They've also radically adjusted their "estimating remaining votes" map, with small numbers of remaining votes in most counties but 32,000 remaining votes in Philadelphia! Not sure what to make of that but I'm pretty confident that there aren't 32,000 uncounted ballots waiting in Philly.
I don’t know what’s going on. I’m just surprised that they and the Times haven’t called it. Then again, the Times hasn’t called IA 1.
Maybe they haven't called that race because no one actually knows how many uncounted ballots are left.
The math has seemingly changed dramatically on NBC's election tracker page today. Though the tracker says there are only 17k outstanding votes left, the map of outstanding ballots shows a far different map with more than twice as many votes. What caused this who knows, but Philadelphia county according to this map alone is the lion's share with 32k votes, with the next biggest Berks county at a mere 6.5k. If Casey wins just 55% of that Philadelphia county vote share, that alone puts him over the top, and that's a very conservative estimate of what he will win. It seems that despite the current numbers, the race is far from over.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-elections/pennsylvania-senate-results
Casey conceded
Ahh well. At least there was an effort to recount the ballots. At the end of the day, I'm not a big fan of Casey anyways. He's become too much of a career politician and become a milquetoast moderate that hasn't really mobilized his base in ages. I do think the likes of Shapiro and Fetterman are the future of PA politics and perhaps beyond that - more outspoken leaders that don't hesitate to speak up and stand by their positions. Democrats in general need fresh blood and new better and popular ideas, not the status quo.
Actually, I think he ran a great race this cycle and clearly was our best shot in this particular race
Casey concedes.
https://x.com/Bob_Casey/status/1859733833232662650
I didn't realize Richie Torres was so controversial; did I miss something? Or is it a NYC thing?
I might add that Mondaire Jones is gone(and hopefully never funded again)