Wednesday Open Thread

18 thoughts on “Wednesday Open Thread”

1. The stink.

   It is particularly bad today.

   Even Omarosa, who had years to adapt to it on that stupid TV show, is reeling from the stench.

   Irish Spring.

   Use Irish Spring and bathe twice a day, Idiot Orange!

   But that would make Putin's smell disappear.

   The stink.  He loves the stink.

   Stay upwind, America.

   And vote.  

   Trump stinks, therefore we vote.

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2. Democrats More Positive About Socialism Than Capitalism

   • 47% of Democrats view capitalism positively, down from 56% in 2016
   • 57% of Democrats now view socialism positively, little changed from 2010
   • Republicans very positive about capitalism; 16% positive on socialism

   WASHINGTON, D.C. — For the first time in Gallup's measurement over the past decade, Democrats have a more positive image of socialism than they do of capitalism. Attitudes toward socialism among Democrats have not changed materially since 2010, with 57% today having a positive view. The major change among Democrats has been a less upbeat attitude toward capitalism, dropping to 47% positive this year — lower than in any of the three previous measures. Republicans remain much more positive about capitalism than about socialism, with little sustained change in their views of either since 2010.

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   1. Would be useful to see how Gallup worded the polling questions. I can easily imagine why these responses have shifted some for Dems: Democrats that I know are keenly aware of the "external" costs of many major industries and corporations, such as water and air pollution, which harm our fragile environment. Dems are also starkly aware of the downside of Citizens United v. FEC which has allowed unlimited corporate dollars to skew election results. So they may see the downside of out-of-control corporatism. 

      And the use of the word socialism to scare people always makes me laugh. We choose to do a lot of public enterprises in a socialist way, i.e. pay for things collectively and provide the public services collectively for the community as a whole. Some of us just don't have the time or wisdom to build our own roads. And our military has more socialist programs than most organizations in the US.

       

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      1. The questions are usually available at the bottom of results discussions.  In this case, the question is "Just off the top of your head, would you say you have a positive or negative image of each of the following. How about – [RANDOM ORDER]?"

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3. GOP Mecca, aka Kansas, embraces venal, corrupt incompetence.  Kris Kobach, the guy that has made a career out of failing upward, will likely be the next Governor of Kansas.

   He clearly lacks the competence and character to be elected to higher office.

   Kobach’s opportunity to showcase his 2010 campaign claims that “the illegal registration of alien voters has become pervasive.” Instead, courtroom proceedings stripped bare Kobach’s public bloviating on illegal voting and revealed his lack of preparation, inadequacies in assembling evidence, ignorance of judicial procedure, and willful violation of elementary courtroom rules. 

   In an extraordinary action the Judge also ordered Kobach to undergo remedial education as a result of his courtroom ineptitude.

   Kobach Profited From Anti-Immigrant Litigation But Left Small Towns In Debt

   The towns — some with budgets in the single-digit-millions — ran up hefty legal costs after hiring him to defend similar ordinances. Farmers Branch, Texas, wound up owing $7 million in legal bills. Hazleton, Penn., took on debt to pay $1.4 million and eventually had to file for a state bailout. In Fremont, Neb., the city raised property taxes to pay for Kobach’s services. None of the towns are currently enforcing the laws he helped craft.

   A massive voter-tracking program run by Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach — which purports to help states keep voter rolls accurate — has halted operations over concerns about its own accuracy and security.

   The Interstate Crosscheck system, which Kobach’s office promised would be working ahead of the 2018 elections, has been sidelined while the U.S. Department of Homeland Security conducts a security assessment following the unintended release of hundreds of voters’ private information

   Way to go Kansas!  Just be sure to stay on your side of the border, and no whining

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   1. If they elect Kobach, they deserve the resulting shitstorm.  I read that the prognosticators moved KS-Gov to tossup because Kobach won the nomination.

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      1. You'd think they'd learned their lesson with Sam Brownback — the state heaved a huge sigh of relief when he took the "Ambassadorship" to promote White Prosperity Jesus on the taxpayer's dime.

         Kobach's Democratic opponent, Laura Kelly will probably invoke Brownback's name, although just citing his incompetence and the damage Kobach has wrought so far is probably just as powerful a cudgel.  

         The problem, however, is that a wealthy vanity candidate is also running that could syphon votes from Democrats.  It will be interesting to see how much more pain Kansas voters are willing to endure.

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         1. My biggest worry in this race is Greg Orman siphoning votes off of Laura Kelly.  She could theoretically win, especially against Kobach, and Kobach might also make two US house races in KS that are competitive even more so for us.  I'm sure Kelly will hit Kobach over his own incompetence.

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         2. hard to say who the Independent Orman siphons more from —

            Clearly, he will get sane Republicans who have a clear sense of avoiding fiscal undermining and want to escape political embarrassment inherent in Kobach's approach to governing. He will get Independents who are part of an "Ick-a-Democrat" faction. He may get some skeptics who say "rich guy / businessman who isn't tied to either party."

            But it is tough for an independent to develop an extensive ground game campaign. And he couldn't win a 2014 state-wide Senate race with $3 million and a Democrat who dropped out.

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   2. Hick should build a big wall. And make Kansas pay for it.

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      1. ^^^this^^^

         We’re going to need it if the Land of Oz gets yet another four years of Brownback Brokeback economics (not to be confused with those rugged, independent, self-made inhabitants of the mythical unit of government, Backbone) 

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4. K

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5. No Nutlid today?

   I'm guessing he is hunkered down, curled up a fecal fetal position, riding out the Omarosa storm praying for daylight.

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   1. Either that, or trying to come up with the best witty comeback line since Jerk Store

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      1. Has he been watered lately?

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         1. Cookie is quite sedulous about watering Fluffy.   But he still goes dormant from time to time.

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            1. Sedulous…ooh, good one V. I would probably have chosen punctilious, but I like yours better.😉                                    

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6. Someone needs to let Monica Duran know she's in violation of the CAN-SPAM act. Click unsubscribe on her email and it takes you to a subscribe page.

   Also email to monicaHD24@gmail.com bounces.

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