One of the best articles of the week came from Tyler Pager of the Washington Post who wrote about how President Joe Biden relies heavily for advice on other politicians and is suspicious of staffers who never have to face the voters.
Also at the Washington Post, Anthony Faiola and Catarina Fernandes Martins take a look at how Europe’s youth are embracing fascism, with a special focus on Portugal. Portugal’s election is taking place Sunday.
Over at the New York Times, Kellen Browning has an excellent article on Kari Lake’s uneven attempts to mend fences with other Arizona Republicans as she seeks the nomination to replace departing Kyrsten Sinema in the Senate. It will make you want to visit Ruben Gallego’s campaign website.
Pakistan has a new prime minister, although he’s been prime minister before.
I definitely feel old realizing it’s the 16th anniversary of us all finding out that New York Attorney General Eliot Spitzer was a connoisseur of high-end prostitutes.
It’s the 79th anniversary of the fire-bombing of Tokyo which killed about 100,000. That probably makes my parents feel old.
If we behave ourselves, we’ve got a billion more years, tops. I’m thinking more like 30-35 years.
Right, left and indifferent responses to Sen. Katie Britt’s bizarre State of the Union response speech. Also, SNL.
Obviously we do not want to feed Gaza forever, but a famine has arrived. Who wants to take responsibility?
What’s up with white, rural rage?
I had the thought that Sotomayor should consider retiring from the Supreme Court while a Democrat is still in a position to replace her, but it was just a thought. I’m still scarred from the RBG fiasco.
What’s on your mind?
I’m seeing this a bit late. I showed up at my county’s local Democratic party meeting for the first time in ages. Yes I attended the Zoom meetings during COVID, but basically had to put in person meetings on hold for all of last year while dealing with tons of personal crises. It was good to be back. One hopeful sign was that attendance had doubled since the last time I had been in person. I also found out that there was some tentative polling data in what constitute “swing districts” in Arkansas suggesting that after respondents hear what our party’s top issues are, they tend to prefer Democrats over Republicans. My state may be more “purple” than folks realize. Of course, rebuilding (or actually just building) a Democratic Party in my state that is well-financed and able to provide tangible support to candidates is still a ways off. But I will take some hopeful signs where I can find them.
Sotomayor should definitely retire. This is probably the last year in which Biden will be able to seat a Justice regardless of the 2024 election results. She’s almost 70, get someone under 50 in there and stop seating Justices under 50 for the love of fuck. Either we’re in this to win it or we’re just shitting around until we allow the fascists to take over.