Are punished by being governed by those who are dumber. — Plato
By Blue Bronc, a Trail Mix Contributor
What a feeling I awakened with this morn. Friday evening was the Anne Arundel County Central Committee annual dinner. A meeting of the most political of political people in politics. People who are the unseen forces behind the every Democratic Party Member running for any office. The people who watch CSPAN and listen to NPR, or are on NPR or CSPAN. The people who watch Prime Minister’s Questions.
Oh, and there were the elected too. Anne Arundel County provides the high power to the Maryland Assembly. The fight to keep Governor Hogan from going all Republican on Maryland rests with the Speaker of House, Rep. Busch. A few miles away is the now blinding white dome over the Congress. Several Maryland members of the Congress came to the dinner too. Rep. Steny Hoyer was great as usual. Our candidates to replace retiring Sen. Barbara Mikulski spoke well and gave good reasons to vote for either of them. Sen. Mikulski was not at the dinner to my disappointment.
He reminded us of what we are – Democrats. We can see what Mr. Weird Hair is doing, and why those voting for him do so. We are Democrats and we must never forget why so many are falling for the bluster and wild talk. It is up to us to make life better for all Americans.
For all the political power in the room, and there was a lot, we enjoyed a nice night together. In politics one often gives everything to achieve the win, or preventing someone else from winning. Long hard hours, constantly promoting your candidates, often calling people asking for money. You make this relaxation time your fun time.
Okay, politics is still in the air. Rather, politics is the air.
You have slogged through so far and want the candy. Today, there is no candy. Today is the “ask”. The point of all this is to lure you into getting involved in politics. Politics is the putting a stamp on an envelope. It is getting a nice walk on a weekend to meet fifty or one hundred people at their homes to hand them literature about a candidate. It is driving a candidate from one house party to another house party (you get to eat campaign food doing this). It is doing whatever you feel comfortable doing to help elect a woman or man you want to represent you.
A dinner, you pay a lot for, is a reward. No awards are given out. Maybe a shout out, but most likely not. The dinner is how political people take a break from politics. More politics.
A side effect is you might want to run for office too. That is a blast, at least for some of us. For others, not so much a blast as a drudge through the mud.
“The Democrats are the party of government activism, the party that says government can make you richer, smarter, taller, and get the chickweed out of your lawn. Republicans are the party that says government doesn’t work, and then get elected and prove it.”
—P.J. O’Rourke, Parliament of Whores
This gave me an unintentional laugh. I had moved north for a job and on an election day many decades ago I was standing in line to vote when thoughts of my normal activities on an election day caught up with me. I turned to a friend and blurted out:
So I will echo Bronc’s recommendation. For all the angst and frustration, politics really can be fun.
OSH “Jamie- you work with Peter Daou? ” No sorry didn’t mean to imply that. Just spent a whole lot of time spreading the info and fussing with others.
Craig, Remember how bitter things got in 2008? It will all come together eventually. Not only do I expect a lot of the Sanders folk to come over to Hillary, but a lot of Republican women sneaking over the line thanks to the GOP candidates being idiots.
Wisconsin should be interesting tomorrow as the race is really tightening. It is an open primary so a lot will depend on what the Independents do. Will they jump on the #NOTrump activities or move to Bernie or will the more conservative settle in the middle with Hillary. I’ll love watching the precinct reports.
Things that could be a whole lot of fun if it isn’t drowned out by politics: The Panama Papers
https://youtu.be/g5PNQg9Bl1k
Yep, and all the media is talking about is Trump?? Man, the media, when will they cover the news?
from msn and ibt
A massive leak of documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca, dubbed the Panama Papers, is blowing the lid off of widespread international corruption connected to offshore tax shelters. A dozen world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, are among those linked to the offshore accounts exposed in the leak.
More than 11 million documents detailing day-to-day operations of the secretive Mossack Fonseca firm were obtained from an anonymous source by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and shared by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists on Sunday, the BBC reported. The documents reveal how the firm set up offshore, paper companies and secret accounts to help clients launder money, dodge sanctions and evade taxes.
“Unfortunately, these findings are not surprising,” Mark Hays, senior adviser of Global Witness, a nonprofit organization that acts as a watchdog against international corruption, told International Business Times. “What is surprising is that this is just one law firm involved in this practice, but there are thousands of companies involved in orchestrating these schemes … [This leak] shows the number of players in the game and how far it goes.”
and see original story in bbc’s Panama Papers: Mossack Fonseca leak reveals elite’s tax havens
BB, Plato and P.J? What a great set of bookends. I never could understand why PJ O’Rourke ever became a conservative, but he’s smarter than the average pugn and can see how ineffective pugns are at governing.
Love the John Oliver bit – I watched his show last night – not the rollicking tone he usually sets, but a good one nonetheless.
Why Hasn’t Bernie Sanders released his tax returns – David Cay Johnston
hillary accepts debate on gma
and wrap quotes her: “I want a debate, and I’m confident that we can work out a time to do that,” Democratic challenger tells ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos — no word from Bernie Sanders’ camp yet
Hillary Clinton agreed on Sunday to participate in an upcoming debate hosted by ABC News’ “Good Morning America” program.
“I want a debate, and I’m confident that we can work out a time to do that,” she told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos, in an exclusive interview to be aired on Monday.
“‘GMA’ offered a debate during ‘GMA’ on Friday the 15th. I’ll be there,” she added. “I think it’s a great opportunity to reach an audience that may not always be able because of other obligations to tune in to debates.”
blueid, you’ll enjoy this
morning joe gang gung ho on Bernie and the big crowd at rally in ny Thursday.
Here’s a different take on the constitutional issues related to appointment or non-appointment of Scalia’s replacement. Warning, the punchline speaks to the need to elect the right people to make laws rather than fret about filling the vacant spot on the Court.
And the Wisconsin Dem primary remains close according to the polls, and 538 rates it at a 4 point margin in favor of Clinton winning it (that’s chances of winning, not poll differentials). Question – If the polls are right and Bernie wins narrowly, or 538 is right and Clinton wins narrowly, is that a setback to his campaign?
Patd, you don’t think Bernie would avoid a debate that was directed to a demographic that already favors Hillary do you? Just sayin’
pogo, exactly. he pooh-poohed a debate during men’s basketball with younger/mostly male audience and a debate during mornings when maybe more moms/retirees are watching.
Pogo, I still don’t see the delegate path for Bernie, even if he wins WI. And then there’s NY in two weeks, huge opportunity for HRC to widen her delegate lead.
48yrs ago Martin Luther King, Jr. was killed. NAACP has endeavored to keep his dream alive. http://
Me, too, Poobah, me too. Hillary’s poll results in CA, NJ, PA and MD have remained about the same since the initial Bernie wave, ranging from a 10-35% margin (I do not believe the one that showed a 48% margin in NY by Emerson is anywhere near right.)
OK, here’s one for ya that could make your blood boil. Cops allegedly did a roadside cavity search of the guy (read rectum here) and had the woman expose her breasts in front of male cops, god and anyone driving down the road during a traffic stop based on LEGAL temporary plates on the woman’s car. Flatus, Sturg, business as usual in rural SC?
In the most recent Wisconsin polls, most have Bernie with a narrow win of +3.1 average and one with a +6 Hillary win. Of course if you are watching MSNBC you won’t hear about the one that has her winning.
I predict Mrs. Clinton wins Wisconsin
Tad Devine oozes arrogance and contempt. And while I think most Hillary voters would still support Bernie, the current rhetoric of the Sanders campaign isn’t designed to make new friends.
For Conspiracy lovers: Roger Ailes and Dick Nixon led to creation of Fox News. Fair & Balanced my posterior protrusion!!
are polls indicating how the unaffiliated are voting? will the indies in Wisconsin affect the races? if they’re the anti-establishment kind they’ll go bernie or drumpf just to poke the “elites”
Really windy with lots of tree movement at the nest, but the kids are up and active http://dceaglecam.eagles.org/
Patd
There doesn’t seem to be any way to know until there is some reports on turnout and which party they decide to visit most. There could be all sorts of fun and shenanigans. Of course Bernie wants them to turn out for him. Hillary would love for them to play with the Republicans. So shrug your shoulders and wait for the returns.
“…Flatus, Sturg, business as usual in rural SC?” Well, Pogo, Aiken really isn’t rural. It’s a hodgepodge of stuff welcoming people to SC as they travel I-20 east from Georgia.
The criminal allegations, as reported, are absolutely beyond the pale. They do not represent policing in urban or rural SC. That is not to say that the state does not have an abysmal record of officers misusing their authority and their weapons.
When external authority is made aware of allegations by any means (governmental reports, media, citizen videos, statements, medical facilities), the South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division will be called in to make an independent investigation. Often these investigations will result in indictments followed by convictions.
Re: the Mossack Fonseca story – This will only help Bernie, as he points to the corrupt 1%-ers.
Will we know if the Repug convention will be a free-for-all after tomorrow’s primary? Too soon to tell? Invest in popcorn futures?
WI has a long history of voting for Socialists, environmental fanatics, and levelers. In between, it also has a long history of voting for klansmen, red baiters, and scott walker. The Wisconsin reich doesn’t seem to have achieved much progress in climbing out of the recession, unlike neighboring MN, so I presume that there is considerable frustration built up. The Dem will win big in November. In the meantime, I think Bernie will squeeze through by as much as one percent.
In the ripper war, trump really sings to the racists. A law still on the books in Kenosha forbids black folks presence after sundown. this ordinance is not enforced, but it is a reminder of how far some parts of the state have traveled since Father James Groppi died. WI is as German as Pennsylvania, and the name Drumpf sounds normal in both places. I’ll pick trump by an orange hair.
Yeah, I did spend some time near Green Bay long ago. Some of the people my age just had the nasal “Wiscaaansin” accent, but a few of the older folks sounded like Lawrence Welk and used the definition article at odd times. In particular, one guy referered to a wrestling show as, “the wrAstles.”
I’m waiting for journalists to dump the folks named in the Mossack Fonseca list into an Excel spreadsheet, then do a v-look-up against a sheet listing donors to lobbying groups…and to The Clinton Foundation, of course. (I’m a troll, what did you expect?)
Blue
Considering that by income, the Sanders family is in the 1% and they have many mutual funds, you just might find some other interesting names, particularly since the Karl Rove PAC is heavily backing Bernie.
blueid, hope this is helpful in your research.
Clinton Foundation Contributor and Grantor Information which says:
As part of the Foundation’s commitment to transparency, we publicly disclose those who support our efforts on a quarterly basis. This list is comprised of those who have made contributions or grants to advance the work of any part of the Clinton Foundation, as well as membership, sponsorship, and conference fees for the Clinton Global Initiative. This list indicates cumulative lifetime giving through December 2015.
the lists of donors are categorized by amounts (starting with $25 million or over) given. 1st on list: bill & melinda gates…. two of those 1%-ers bernie seems not to like
The Sanders campaign tries to beat up Clinton on the super delegates saying that is how Obama won and then saying she learned her lesson and worked hard to get them. Now there is a big whiny story in the Times about how they could have done better if he wasn’t working so hard in the senate in 2015
They then went on to say she should have worked to change the system instead.
Truly interesting article on the recent unanimous SCOTUS decision. All eight justices upheld the whole principle of one man one vote.
Justice Ginsburg Just Shut Down One of America’s Most Notorious White Rights Activists
Robert Gebelhoff discusses Bernie’s free college education proposal. Brings up some interesting points. One point suggested is the federalism slant – if this was anything beyond a grant program to fill in the gap between state funding and total cost of tuition, would it run afoul of the 10th amendment? Seems to me it would be in roughly the same nether world as state insurance exchanges under the ACA.
from npr
Supreme Court Upholds ‘One Person, One Vote’ Standard
The challenge to the longstanding definition argued that only people who are eligible to vote should count in drawing voting district lines and other government purposes. The court was unanimous.
longer article also at new york times
Jamie, the Shelby County v. Holder decision throws the districting decisions back down to the states and sets them up for disparate impact challenges. It may signal the re-emergence of the voting rights act.
Apparently the NC anti LGBT law is starting to have its effect – and not what the guv and his fearful legislature had hoped for.
BTW, I’ve never had to show a birth certificate to use the restroom before. Will that be the requirement in NC government buildings?
“I’ve never had to show a birth certificate to use the restroom before. Will that be the requirement in NC government buildings?”
pogo, what about said facilities in federal, cherokee nation, airport hubs, churches and other non-nc state regulated buildings? are babies and toddlers exempt? will the androgenous dressed person, short haired girls and long haired ear pierced boys have to flash ids as well as flashing other relevant proof? inquiring minds need to know 🙂
Congrats to the Supremes. They got a no brainer right, as in not another “don’t bother counting votes, we anoint the Republican”. We will need to meet at the local physic to know how the recently departed voted. Our country is a representative government – not a democracy. A republic. A representative is elected to represent all in her district, not just the white male propertied types. This is one decision which does a lot but does not go all the way. Typical.
Does the head cheese state count this year? Maybe, maybe not. What is important is the media perception. Even if the evil haired one loses, he wins because the media once again gives him the air time.
Gotta give ole Trump some credit for fighting like hell in Wisconsin today despite the polling odds against him. Hillary shoved off to New York, her surrogates all but conceding a Sanders victory in Wisconsin, probably wise politically, but still …
Half of the people showing up in Wisconsin will not be able to vote. The law has changed and the id requirement is very restrictive.
I worked on a failed campaign for state rep long ago. I found it to be quite unpleasant and boring. Kudos to those who like to meet and greet, etc.
Wisconsin, number one in cheese and voter suppression. 🙂
Yep, I was wondering if Jane’s name would show up somewhere. That’s going to be one interesting trail!
Gov Walker says he just keeping things secure although the incidence of voter fraud doesn’t seem to merit the draconian measures put in place
b-in-d I’ve supported and worked hard for a lot of losers. But, I believed in them enough to do door to door, dialing for dollars and stuffing envelopes. Even knowing my candidate was not going to win was not enough for me to stop. Maybe the next time they run. They key is if you think they should win.
I can only believe my volunteers thought the same of me.
Craig
Since the “surrogates” were her husband and daughter, it was hardly a shabby brush off of the state.
Jamie, I can’t tell if Clinton camp downplaying WI because they’re giving up or downplaying expectations for a surprise victory. My guess is the former. Either way they are clearly focusing her time on NY.
If Clinton camp really is wimping out on WI that gives Sanders two weeks of bragging rights heading to NY. Polls seemed close enough in WI to get the candidate there and make a vigorous final effort, but for whatever reason they didn’t do it.
Nice pic!
The pink Clinton stickers from Enchanted Chocolates are great ! Thanks, Ms Hag !
A lovely pic of the Clintons; a moment of domestic bliss.
A nice clean house.
She bakes cookies, too.
Is there anything she can’t do ???
x- glad you like them! im so sorry, i meant to reply – was confused about the ex x stuff. are you still the same x i’ve known since like 2007? anyways, my apologies. enjoy!
the picture is great- only missing xmas decorations- but easily envision them anyways.
“… Winning South Carolina is like “winning Guam””
I call South Carolina home. But I’ve served on Guam during the Vietnam War. And I’ve ferreted through the dense jungles of that Island and have come across the burned out Japanese tanks that our brave soldiers, trained in South Carolina, some of whom escaped the Japanese sacking and brutal occupation of that Proud Island Territory of Our Country, destroyed when retaking the Island.
“Winning Guam” my ass. That individual should apologize until both her knees bleed.
‘
“Faith of America is in you to take us forward on Tuesday; to remain strong and independent of the status quo political establishment so your vote will truly represent your optimistic spirit and desire to WORK!” Palin wrote.
However, undeterred by this exhortation, the dead pig remained dead.
Just as there are delegates and super delegates, there are surrogates and super surrogates.
In the end HRC has to win this on her own, but deploying a certain ‘super surrogate’ to Wisconsin is hardly a case of throwing in the towel. She simply has the luxury of being able to make her case in two places at once.
Winning Guam is more like winning Alaska . . . . And, who won Alaska ?
Note to Flatus : This is not meant to be a comparison to the 2 battles for Guam in WWII. Fortunately, we haven’t come to that.
If people think Az voting was screwed up wait until the out of state students can’t use their student ID as id for voting
Craig,
Per Nate Silver, to remain on target, Hillary’s goal for Wisconsin is 38 out of the 86 available delegates. So we can keep an eye on the returns tomorrow to see if she exceeds those goals.
Of course if Bernie does take the majority of the delegates as expected there will be the ever increasing sarcasm from that realm and even more slobbering adoration on the part of MSNBC while minimizing every decent thing Hillary has ever done in her lifetime.
They are already decorating Brooklyn for Bernie.
BlueB – It wasn’t the loss. I just hated it from the get-go and wished I hadn’t committed to the campaign.
I just had a flash-back to working a phone bank in college, too. (I guess I completely blocked that out; no idea who it was even for at this point.) I did it for one night…and I was miserable.
I had a hard time selling Campfire Girls candy as a kid, too. Just not in my make-up to those things, I guess.
Craig – And then she has to face the good people of NY and their opposition to fracking.
She can keep scooching to the left, but we know she doesn’t mean what she says now and won’t stay where she says she is on issues.
Ms Seahag,
The laptop and operator here at Xrepublican changed in ’08. Stuart is the ex-Exrepublican. You can call me X, Xr, xr, or Rex. We were neighbors, best friends, co-conspiritors, drinking buddies, fellow younkers. He’s better looking and small, has a better memory, is even grumpier, and coulda been somebody. Not me. I’m friendlier, 20 lbs heavier (was 40 lbs), smarter, happier, more charming, and could never have amounted to anything.
Oh, yeah, and we get together in coffee shops, open our laptops, and type away. So, he often knows everything that folks are posting here. But he has writing to do, and doesn’t have too much time to kibbitz.
Congrats to Villanova on a great win. Terrific game. It was YUGE!
SSDD.
My guess is Clinton internal polls tanked among Wisconsin’s sizeable college vote after she slammed Bernie supporters with the “don’t do their own research” remark that went viral. I noticed they pulled the plug soon after that. She’s got to be more careful.
Sanders will romp on WI: 49.3 – 49.0, with 0.5% for Obama.
duh cruzher will wallop drumpf and kasich 44 – 40 – 9, with 4% for walker, 1% for tommy thompson, 1% for joseph r. mccarthy.
I predict that the meejuh will miss the ‘Big Message’ of the WI Primary, which is :
We are now one step closer to the New York Primary, and the front runners are still the front runners.