Political Randomness

[Defiant]

Elizabeth Warren says Barack Obama does not understand 'lived experience of most Americans'

Because being a professor and Senator and having a $700K book deal give you the typical American experience.

[El Guapo]

Elizabeth Warren says Barack Obama does not understand 'lived experience of most Americans'

Because being a professor and Senator and having a $700K book deal give you the typical American experience.

ehhh, the headline and article are being at least a little misleading / clickbait-y. From what quotes they do provide it's clear that she's talking about mainstream politicians generally, including Obama and many others. Since none of the quotes have Barack Obama in them, it's not clear to the extent that they are drawing that part out, but there's not much indication that she's really singling Obama out the way that the article makes it sound.

[Defiant]

Elizabeth Warren says Barack Obama does not understand 'lived experience of most Americans'

Because being a professor and Senator and having a $700K book deal give you the typical American experience.

ehhh, the headline and article are being at least a little misleading / clickbait-y. From what quotes they do provide it's clear that she's talking about mainstream politicians generally, including Obama and many others. Since none of the quotes have Barack Obama in them, it's not clear to the extent that they are drawing that part out, but there's not much indication that she's really singling Obama out the way that the article makes it sound.

It's the implication that she does that I had issue with.

[El Guapo]

It's just that the framing of the article and the quotes from parts of sentences makes me very suspicious that the article isn't trying to accurately convey her message here.

[Max Peck]

https://twitter.com/AuSenate/status/859920061816897536

[Isgrimnur]

USA Today

Iowa Rep. Rod Blum's Monday sit-down interview with a local television station was going well, until he got a question he didn’t like.

The Republican was in his hometown of Dubuque chatting with TV9 investigative reporter Josh Scheinblum ahead of a town hall at a local high school gymnasium.

There was about a minute of cordial conversation about the congressman’s town hall tour, until Scheinblum asked why Blum required attendees to show their IDs.

Blum explained he wanted to ensure only people from his district attended. He doesn’t represent all Iowans, he said, just those in his northeast district.

“That’d be like saying, ‘Shouldn’t I be able to, even though I live in Dubuque, go vote in Iowa City during the election?’” the congressman argued.

Scheinblum then asked: “Would you still take donations from a Republican in Iowa City?”

Blum, surrounded by school children, stood up, took off his microphone, and said, "This is ridiculous. This is ridiculous. He's going to sit here and just badger me."

He walked out, setting the tone for a feisty town hall. Later, the Washington Post reported, Blum said Scheinblum ambushed him.

“It was very apparent that he had an agenda,” he said. “It’s my right to say that this interview is over.”

[LordMortis]

Wow. I think both positions are valid things to talk about and would have made for interesting topic.

Getting huffy is not a valid response though. It's the response of someone small minded in emotional childhood who feels like he is being picked on when he isn't and deserves attention.

[Isgrimnur]

Imagine if this had been in the US.

NPR

Years from now, a girl named Alia Joy will have a claim to fame to tell at summer camp: She was the first baby to be breast-fed on the floor of Australia's Parliament.

Her mother is Greens party co-deputy leader Larissa Waters, who was returning to Parliament after giving birth to her second child a few weeks ago, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
...
In 2009, another Greens senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, brought her 2-year-old daughter into Parliament — and the child was ejected from the room, according to the Herald.

Last year in Spain, an MP named Carolina Bescansa breast-fed her baby in Parliament. The acting interior minister called it "lamentable," and a socialist MP called it "frankly unnecessary," according to the BBC.

In Argentina, by contrast, a congresswoman breast-fed her child in Parliament in 2015, and a photo of the moment went viral.

Perhaps the most famous parliamentary baby belongs to Italian politician Licia Ronzulli, who first brought her 7-week-old daughter to European Parliament in September 2010. In the years since, little Vittoria has been an enthusiastic presence, even raising her little toddler arms during voting.

[Daehawk]

These days I feel Washington has no connection to the average or less than average American citizen and their lives. They have great healthcare and everything while the rest of us struggle to live day to day. Id like to see every Senate and House member live on what I have to live on a month...$900. From that gas, food, taxes, insurance, fun...everything of everything has to come. Make them live like that for 1 year. How can you claim to represent someone and know whats best for them when you dont know them at all.

[noxiousdog]

Imagine if this had been in the US.

NPR

Years from now, a girl named Alia Joy will have a claim to fame to tell at summer camp: She was the first baby to be breast-fed on the floor of Australia's Parliament.

Her mother is Greens party co-deputy leader Larissa Waters, who was returning to Parliament after giving birth to her second child a few weeks ago, according to The Sydney Morning Herald.
...
In 2009, another Greens senator, Sarah Hanson-Young, brought her 2-year-old daughter into Parliament — and the child was ejected from the room, according to the Herald.

Last year in Spain, an MP named Carolina Bescansa breast-fed her baby in Parliament. The acting interior minister called it "lamentable," and a socialist MP called it "frankly unnecessary," according to the BBC.

In Argentina, by contrast, a congresswoman breast-fed her child in Parliament in 2015, and a photo of the moment went viral.

Perhaps the most famous parliamentary baby belongs to Italian politician Licia Ronzulli, who first brought her 7-week-old daughter to European Parliament in September 2010. In the years since, little Vittoria has been an enthusiastic presence, even raising her little toddler arms during voting.

I don't think it would be any more (or less) noteworthy.

[Isgrimnur]

Given that women didn't have Congressional restrooms until after I graduated high school, I think the reactions would probably be a bit less friendly than those of the Spaniards.

[El Guapo]

Given that women didn't have Congressional restrooms until after I graduated high school, I think the reactions would probably be a bit less friendly than those of the Spaniards.

Well per the article the Spaniards (or at least some of the officials) reacted negatively to the breastfeeding. The positive reaction was in Australia (and apparently Argentina in 2015).

Here I expect the reaction would be similar to Spain. First time some officials would lose their shit. Second time and beyond it would become unremarkable.

[noxiousdog]

Given that women didn't have Congressional restrooms until after I graduated high school, I think the reactions would probably be a bit less friendly than those of the Spaniards.

Well per the article the Spaniards (or at least some of the officials) reacted negatively to the breastfeeding. The positive reaction was in Australia (and apparently Argentina in 2015).

Here I expect the reaction would be similar to Spain. First time some officials would lose their shit. Second time and beyond it would become unremarkable.

And not one of them would dare let the press get a hold of it.

[Daehawk]

How could anyone other than a jealous woman have any negative reaction to a woman breastfeeding her infant?

[El Guapo]

How could anyone other than a jealous woman have any negative reaction to a woman breastfeeding her infant?

An exposed breast is the Devil's handiwork.

[Daehawk]

I think people's noses are growing to long for their own good these days. Live and let live should be a motto.

[Isgrimnur]

Just ask John Ashcroft.

[stessier]

Colbert had a bit of fun again last night at Trump's expense after Trump called him a "No talent guy."

[noxiousdog]

Colbert had a bit of fun again last night at Trump's expense after Trump called him a "No talent guy."

That's brilliant.

[Daehawk]

Wow that was spot on.

[Skinypupy]

Michelle Obama: "What is wrong with you?"

Michelle Obama has made her strongest political intervention since leaving the White House, stating bluntly at a health conference: “Think about why someone is OK with your kids eating crap.”

One of the former first lady’s signature legacies was an effort to reduce childhood obesity. Earlier this month, Donald Trump’s administration froze regulations that would cut sodium and increase whole grains served in school meals.

“We have a lot more work to do, for sure, but we’ve got to make sure we don’t let anybody take us back because the question is, where are we going back to?” Obama told a Partnership for a Healthier America summit in Washington.

“This is where you really have to look at motives, you know. You have to stop and think: why don’t you want our kids to have good food at school? What is wrong with you?”

You tell 'em.

[$iljanus]

Watching the SNL Spicer skit and compared to actual events it's a little underwhelming.

Ugh, should have just waited for clips to go online tomorrow. Weekend Update kind of sucks too.

[Max Peck]

Republicans in N.C. Senate cut education funding — but only in Democratic districts. Really.

This bit of North Carolina news won’t get as much attention as the infamous “bathroom bill,” which insisted that people at public schools and other government-run facilities use bathrooms that correspond to the gender listed on their birth certificate, sparking a boycott of the state. But it is worth noting as a new lesson in how not to drag schools and kids into your legislative skirmishes — and as the latest attack on public education by North Carolina Republicans.

During a budget debate in the state Senate that started Thursday and went into the early hours of Friday, Republicans became annoyed at Democrats who, the Republicans thought, were unnecessarily offering amendments and prolonging the session. According to the News & Observer, Democrats offered five amendments pushing funding priorities, each of which was voted down.

At about 1 a.m. Friday, the Republicans halted the proceedings and went into private talks. At about 3 a.m., they returned, and a Republican senator introduced an amendment of his own.

This amendment proposed $1 million in new funding to fight North Carolina’s opioid epidemic, which has been called the most severe public health issue in the state. That’s an issue that would seem to be bipartisan — but there was a twist.

The money to fund new pilot programs for this cause had to come from somewhere, and the Republicans decided to take it out of education programs in Democratic districts, along with other things the Democrats had wanted.

The News & Observer said a rural district in northeastern North Carolina “took the biggest hit” from the amendment, with $316,646 cut from two early college high schools and the state banned from financially supporting a science, math and technology program that has helped many African American and low-income families.

Here’s another nugget: The amendment stripped seven counties, represented by Democrats, from a program that financially supports teacher assistants working on a college degree.

The amendment was passed shortly after 3 a.m. Surprisingly, two Democratic senators, who apparently hadn’t read the details, voted for it.

[YellowKing]

Typical crooked, corrupt NC GOP. I'll never vote for another one, I can tell you that.

[RunningMn9]

I feel like even people from NJ can start looking down on your State politics.

[Isgrimnur]

I feel like even people from NJ can start looking down on your State politics.

Not so fast:

The most powerful congressman in New Jersey, Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, wrote a fundraising letter in March to a board member of a local bank, warning him that a member of an activist group opposing the Republican worked at his bank.

The employee was questioned and criticized for her involvement in NJ 11th for Change, a group that formed after the election of Donald Trump and has been pressuring Frelinghuysen to meet with constituents in his district and oppose the Trump agenda.

“Needless to say, that did cause some issues at work that were difficult to overcome,” said Saily Avelenda of West Caldwell, New Jersey, who was a senior vice president and assistant general counsel at the bank before she resigned. She says the pressure she received over her political involvement was one of several reasons she decided to leave.
...
Above the word local, there’s a hand-written asterisk in the same blue ink as Frelinghuysen’s signature. At the bottom of the letter, scrawled with a pen, is the corresponding footnote: “P.S. One of the ringleaders works in your bank!”

Attached to the letter was a news article that quoted Avelenda. She says her boss presented her with both the letter and the news article. She was not fired, but she says she had a lot of explaining to do.

“I had to write a statement to my CEO, and at my level as an assistant general counsel and a senior vice president, at this employer it was not something that I expected,” Avelenda said. “I thought my Congressman put them in a situation, and put me in a really bad situation as the constituent, and used his name, used his position and used his stationery to try to punish me.”
...
The letter from Frelinghuysen may be more of a political problem than a legal one, according to a lawyer and former staffer for the Office of Congressional Ethics who spoke on condition of anonymity. He said the letter may look heavy-handed, but to be illegal it would need to threaten action or be written on Congressional stationery, not campaign letterhead, or the bank would have to have business pending before a Frelinghuysen committee.

[YellowKing]

We did get some good news today. The Supreme Court let stand a lower court ruling that struck down the GOP-led Voter ID law that would suppress African-American voters. Good to know Pat McCrory is still getting kicked in the nuts even after he left office.

[Isgrimnur]

[malchior]

Hey hey let's not get crazy. Both states are vile in their own ways. Let's give credit where credit is due. NC politics can push on identity politics and NJ politics can be the leader in politician's lining own pockets and rewarding interest groups. Though to be fair Illinois is doing a bang up job on corruption as well. NJ and IL are locked in a frantic race to be the first (actual) state to bust a state-wide pension. Good luck to both participants!

[El Guapo]

We did get some good news today. The Supreme Court let stand a lower court ruling that struck down the GOP-led Voter ID law that would suppress African-American voters. Good to know Pat McCrory is still getting kicked in the nuts even after he left office.

Yeah, although the long-term fate of voter ID laws probably still rests with Gorsuch. The four other conservative justices all previously voted in favor of reinstating at least parts of the NC Voter ID law at least temporarily. The Supreme Court not taking this case (from Roberts's statement) appears to be based mainly on it being unclear who speaks for North Carolina here (since Cooper and the state AG opposed the SCOTUS hearing the case, while the legislature was for it).

I'm still assuming that we are in for a terrible voter ID SCOTUS decision before 2018, though I really hope that Gorsuch surprises me on this.

[El Guapo]

Semi-side note: I would give almost anything to have Popovich run against Cruz for Senate in 2018:

[Isgrimnur]

Texas

[T]he Texas legislature upped the ante when it comes to destroying the government in the name of right-wing ideological purity.

In sum, the self-described “Freedom Caucus” in the Austin legislature, claiming that the Republican-controlled body is somehow not conservative enough, decided to go on a bill-blocking spree at the end of last week, using procedural machinations to run out the clock for more than 100 bills, effectively killing off those bills.

The event was dubbed the “Mother’s Day Massacre” by observers. It’s a nickname that had an uncomfortably literal side to it, as two of the bills that were killed off with delaying tactics were meant to address Texas’ alarming maternal mortality rate, which doubled from 2011 to 2014, making the state’s maternity mortality rate the highest in the developed world.

It wasn’t just mothers who were victims of the Freedom Caucus stunt. Multiple bills meant to help children were decimated as well, including one aimed at protecting children from sexual predators, legislation intended to stop schools from shaming children who don’t have lunch money and a bill to encourage early literacy.

The caucus members were angry because the House’s leadership, which is also dominated by conservative Republicans, caused the demise of a handful of Freedom Caucus-friendly bills covering a range of far-right hobbyhorses, including attacks on abortion rights and public schools. In response the caucus killed dozens more bills.

It’s not easy to write a bill that’s so radical in its right-wing politics that it ends up being rejected by the Texas branch of Republican Party, a point that GOP state Rep. Dennis Bonnen emphasized to the Austin American-Statesman.
...
To be clear, the Texas legislature’s Freedom Caucus didn’t succeed, in the short term anyway, with its temper tantrum. Its too-far-right-for-Texas bills didn’t end up being reinstated on the legislative calendar and the caucus’ members aren’t going to get a debate on them, much less a vote.

[El Guapo]

[Enough]

Yikes,

https://twitter.com/BenjySarlin/status/ ... 7380763648

Erdogan's bodyguards beating up Kurdish protesters in Washington

[Holman]

That's absolutely chilling. Do those bastards have diplomatic immunity, or can they be charged with assault?

I wonder how many Trumpers look at that video, though, and kind of like seeing protesters "get what they deserve."

[malchior]

What is especially chilling is that no domestic media outfit mentioned that the group attacking is linked to the Turkish security staff. 3 British outfits weren't scared to in comparison.

[LordMortis]

When growing up, I remember learning to fear the "Tyranny of the majority." I wonder what those people say now that they are in power with a seeming "tyranny of a minority" drunk on power.

[El Guapo]

Polls bring grim tidings for the GOP and Trump. Including showing that Americans favor Trump's impeachment by a 48-41 margin:

But over the past few days, some cracks have begun to appear in Trumpism’s foundation. Last week, Quinnipiac found Trump’s support among white men falling significantly: In April, the demographic approved of the president 53 to 41 percent; one month later, that margin was down to 48 to 46.

And a PPP poll released Tuesday portrays an even more severe erosion in Trump’s base of support. The survey shows that Americans wish Hillary Clinton had won in November by a margin of 49 to 41 percent — and that 10 percent of Trump voters now wish they’d elected Crooked Hillary.

What’s more, the poll finds 12 percent of Trump voters saying that they would support the president’s impeachment. In total, 48 percent of Americans told PPP that Trump should be removed from office, while only 41 percent rejected that idea. This is the first time that the pollster has found plurality support for Trump’s impeachment.

The survey also shows that Americans support an independent investigation into Russia generally — and the appointment of a special prosecutor specifically — by a 62 to 28 percent margin. If that investigation reveals collusion between Trump’s campaign and the Russians, 54 percent say that the president must resign, while only 34 percent say he should remain in office.

The numbers aren’t any sunnier for Trump’s allies in Congress. Last week, Quinnipiac showed Democrats leading the generic congressional ballot by 16 points — well over the margin necessary to overcome the GOP’s structural advantages, and a higher margin than any major pollster assigned to either party at any point during the 2014 or 2016 election cycles.

PPP’s poll suggests Quinnipiac may be less of an outlier than many assumed. One month ago, the pollster had Democrats up by just 6 points in the generic ballot — now, they’re up by 11. And among voters who say that they’re “excited” to turn out in 2018, the Democratic advantage swells to 27 points.

[Pyperkub]

Polls bring grim tidings for the GOP and Trump. Including showing that Americans favor Trump's impeachment by a 48-41 margin:

But over the past few days, some cracks have begun to appear in Trumpism’s foundation. Last week, Quinnipiac found Trump’s support among white men falling significantly: In April, the demographic approved of the president 53 to 41 percent; one month later, that margin was down to 48 to 46.

And a PPP poll released Tuesday portrays an even more severe erosion in Trump’s base of support. The survey shows that Americans wish Hillary Clinton had won in November by a margin of 49 to 41 percent — and that 10 percent of Trump voters now wish they’d elected Crooked Hillary.

What’s more, the poll finds 12 percent of Trump voters saying that they would support the president’s impeachment. In total, 48 percent of Americans told PPP that Trump should be removed from office, while only 41 percent rejected that idea. This is the first time that the pollster has found plurality support for Trump’s impeachment.

The survey also shows that Americans support an independent investigation into Russia generally — and the appointment of a special prosecutor specifically — by a 62 to 28 percent margin. If that investigation reveals collusion between Trump’s campaign and the Russians, 54 percent say that the president must resign, while only 34 percent say he should remain in office.

The numbers aren’t any sunnier for Trump’s allies in Congress. Last week, Quinnipiac showed Democrats leading the generic congressional ballot by 16 points — well over the margin necessary to overcome the GOP’s structural advantages, and a higher margin than any major pollster assigned to either party at any point during the 2014 or 2016 election cycles.

PPP’s poll suggests Quinnipiac may be less of an outlier than many assumed. One month ago, the pollster had Democrats up by just 6 points in the generic ballot — now, they’re up by 11. And among voters who say that they’re “excited” to turn out in 2018, the Democratic advantage swells to 27 points.

Which wouldn't be enough to impeach him if it were even of the people who actually can vote to do so.

[El Guapo]

Polls bring grim tidings for the GOP and Trump. Including showing that Americans favor Trump's impeachment by a 48-41 margin:

But over the past few days, some cracks have begun to appear in Trumpism’s foundation. Last week, Quinnipiac found Trump’s support among white men falling significantly: In April, the demographic approved of the president 53 to 41 percent; one month later, that margin was down to 48 to 46.

And a PPP poll released Tuesday portrays an even more severe erosion in Trump’s base of support. The survey shows that Americans wish Hillary Clinton had won in November by a margin of 49 to 41 percent — and that 10 percent of Trump voters now wish they’d elected Crooked Hillary.

What’s more, the poll finds 12 percent of Trump voters saying that they would support the president’s impeachment. In total, 48 percent of Americans told PPP that Trump should be removed from office, while only 41 percent rejected that idea. This is the first time that the pollster has found plurality support for Trump’s impeachment.

The survey also shows that Americans support an independent investigation into Russia generally — and the appointment of a special prosecutor specifically — by a 62 to 28 percent margin. If that investigation reveals collusion between Trump’s campaign and the Russians, 54 percent say that the president must resign, while only 34 percent say he should remain in office.

The numbers aren’t any sunnier for Trump’s allies in Congress. Last week, Quinnipiac showed Democrats leading the generic congressional ballot by 16 points — well over the margin necessary to overcome the GOP’s structural advantages, and a higher margin than any major pollster assigned to either party at any point during the 2014 or 2016 election cycles.

PPP’s poll suggests Quinnipiac may be less of an outlier than many assumed. One month ago, the pollster had Democrats up by just 6 points in the generic ballot — now, they’re up by 11. And among voters who say that they’re “excited” to turn out in 2018, the Democratic advantage swells to 27 points.

Which wouldn't be enough to impeach him if it were even of the people who actually can vote to do so.

I get that, but it's pretty remarkable that (going by this poll, anyway), that impeaching the President has already hit +7 favorability four months into his term.

By contrast, after Bill Clinton was impeached in 1998, 66% of people opposed impeachment and Clinton's approval rating was a pretty astonishing 73% (!).

You're right that it's not enough, at least not yet. But my god what a shitstorm he's created for himself.