15 thoughts on “Thursday Open Thread”

1. ConservaDem/Blue Dog Evan Bayh wants back in the senate….to keep any progressive influence out at the White House? 

   Colorado’s two freshman senators, Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, are part of a self-described centrist group of 15 Democrats meeting regularly “seeking to restrain the influence of party liberals in the White House and on Capitol Hill,” according to an account in Roll Call (subscription required).

   The group has a “shared commitment to pursue moderate, mainstream and fiscally sustainable policies across a range of issues, such as health care reform, the housing crisis, educational reform, and energy policy,” according to a statement issued Wednesday by the group.

   Sen. Evan Bayh, an Indiana Democrat, announced the group’s formation on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” program Wednesday morning but declined to name all its members, saying “there are three or four who we are putting in the witness protection program, who attend our meetings but don’t want to be publicly identified yet.”

   Udall should be able to explain the political results of "moderating" all his progressive instincts down the toilet. And if being a Blue Dog is so awesome, why did Bayh suggest a witness protection program for his fellow dogs? 

   This shows how concerned Bayh is with the people of Indiana: 

   In addition to his work as a lobbyist after leaving the Senate in 2010, Politico points out that Bayh owns two homes in DC and one in Florida, each worth over $2 million. He does have a small condo in Indianapolis—valued at $59,000. …

   and this:

   Bayh's first interview of the race, conducted by the Indianapolis Star, is worrisome. Just about every part of it feels discouraging. When asked about his housing situation, his answer was particularly painful: Bayh said he and his wife "spent the last couple of nights at our Indianapolis home, and we like it."

   Just as Udall's fear of being called "liberal" likely made his uncle spin in his grave, Evan Bayh must surely shame his father's political legacy. 

   But no worries. Our very own Michael Bennet has condemned Washington's lobbyist/politician revolving door and I’m sure he won't let his former Blue Dog Buddy forget that moral question exists side by side with his sudden desire to get back in to politics.

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   1. Holy hell, the Democrats now have a real shot at taking back that seat, and you're complaining about it!?

      You can't govern if you don't win, man. 

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      1. Zappy doesn't understand the concept of winning. He just wants to be ideologically pure. And if the Zappster was from Indiana, like I am, he might have a better understanding of Hoosier politics (and, no, I don’t like Mike Pence). 

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      2. Oh, OrangeFree, there you go again.   You know Zappy lives in a fact-free world.

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   2. That article was printed in 2009. Because, hate to break it to ya, but Mark Udall hasn't been our freshman Senator since he finished his term in 2015 after being replaced by Cory Gardner. So the article's info is  kind of suspect.

      http://www.coloradoindependent.com/24480/udall-bennet-join-blue-dog-group-of-moderate-democratic-senators

      Quoting you below:

      Colorado’s two freshman senators, Mark Udall and Michael Bennet, are part of a self-described centrist group of 15 Democrats meeting regularly “seeking to restrain the influence of party liberals in the White House and on Capitol Hill,” according to an account in Roll Call (subscription required).

      Evan Bayh may be a Blue Dog who still hopes to restrain progressive influence, but Mark Udall is not his partner in crime.

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2. Oh, why not?

   . . . Tim Tebow, best known as the yuuugest football kneeler of all time, announced speaker at the GOP convention??? . . . 

   . . . presumably voicing his support for the "predominantly orange" Drumpenführer?

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   1.  

      presumably voicing his support for the "predominantly orange" Drumpenführer? 

       

      yup…and… looking for a job with the Patriots…..

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      1. Breaking news!! Tim Tebow will not be speaking at the RNC…he says it is a rumor and he won't be there.

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         1. Good for Tim.  I respect the sincerity of his faith and winced at him endorsing the whoremonger in chief.

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         2. Hmmm . . . 

            . . . anyone know Manziel's phone number???

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3. Boring.

   Pence.

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   1. But Pence and Trump can color-coordinate their spray tans and outfits. That's important in reality TV land. 

      

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4. http://elections.huffingtonpost.com/pollster/polls/fox-24882

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5. A massacre in France….again. 73 dead. Truck shot, mowed down crowds of people on Bastille day.

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   1. Now saying anywhere from 90 to 100 dead. Whatever western world leaders have been doing… it's not working.

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