Cory Booker's release of "confidential" information on Kavanaugh was political theater

It was carefully staged, as was his challenge to throw him out of the Senate.

However, having said that, I want more of this please! Well done political theater still demonstrates where we stand, indicates to our voters that you have the ability to at least fake courage (and possibly exhibit genuine courage when it matters), creates a media narrative that independents and conservatives understand also, generates headlines and is a strong signal that Democrats can and will stand up to Republicans, especially where Republicans are so obviously in the wrong.

Even an empty gesture (and Booker's action was not empty) is at least a gesture, and our side can use as much of that as possible.

Give us someone to root for, not just a cast of villains to root against.

More morale-boosting political theater please.

(For the record, I know that Booker has physical courage also, having jumped into a burning building recently. I'd love for him to take less corporate money, but that courage may come in time as well)

Rational National: Alex Jones Heckles Marco Rubio, Doesn't Go As Planned

Why do "Centrists" always seem to favor conservatives, rather than progressives?

I found this interesting little essay about, among other things, why Steve Bannon of all people had been invited to The New Yorker's festival.

http://www.ianwelsh.net/why-did-the-new-yorker-want-steve-bannon-to-headline-their-festival/

Uh oh, Duncan Hunter used campaign $ in (at least) five different affairs

that's not going to sit well with his base - one would think

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/watchdog/sd-me-hunter-liaisons-20180830-story.html

Kavanaugh is literally a pig in a poke

I wonder just how bad it is that they have to hide it like this. Terrible, I'm guessing

Gretchen, quit trying to make "monkey it up" happen. It's not going to happen.

What interests are Trump voters voting for?

It's been said often (I've said it quite often) that Republican voters are voting against their own economic self-interest. One hypothesis is if you could explain this to them in a way they understood, they would start to vote for more money for themselves.

However, a compelling argument I've been reading about lately says that Trump/GOP voters aren't voting against their economic interests so much as they are voting FOR (what they perceive are) their "racial" interest.

In other words, voting for an explicit racist wins them points somehow in their brains. this phenomenon has been seen before, as in the union movements of the early 20th century when racial solidarity in the face of capital broke down because white workers couldn't get over race.

So, in my world, I would vote for better economics for myself and my fellow workers, and more racial harmony.

My conservative relatives vote against their economic health and mine, plus they create a world filled with racial injustice, tension, and strife.

What a great world they are creating - poor and bigoted, versus more shared wealth and racial harmony.

Just discovered "the Last Ship" on Hulu, and apparently this has been going on for 5+ years now

Apart from the terrible writing, laughable, cliche-ridden acting, rah rah USA fight scenes where the Americans kill all of their enemies and never get killed, impossible virus containment where people in hazmat suits jump into helicopters with their suits still covered in contagion, AND the Michael Scarn-level conversations with the new president - there is also the religion. Where they are praying and calling on god and just openly violating everyone's religious freedom constantly.


Ugh. Does this series get better?

TYT: LEAKED: Trump's Intervention (plus, Trump's very tender emotional state)

I have a huge sense of dread today

I think it is going to be clear that when Mueller ends his investigation and the prosecutions of lesser figures are done, that Trump will be found to be guilty of many, many crimes.

And I don't think anything is going to happen about it. The GOP congress will say "so what"?

And even if we win back the house this year, and Democrats investigate and impeach (which seems unlikely), the GOP Senate will say "so what"?

Paul Krugman's recent column detailing just a few of the ways that the GOP is seizing power, with no regard to law, precedent, or tradition, means that the only thing stopping us from a full slide into fascism is the GOP's sense of shame. Which is to say, nothing.

Democrats are still trying to play by the rules, and I love them for it, but it isn't going to stop this evil minority from taking over our country and turning into a white christian nation, and all of the foul, vicious tragedy that implies.

What if Trump refuses to leave office? Or gets hackers to muddy up the election results just enough so that all anyone can say is "we'll never know how this really turned out". There is no recourse. We can get mad, and that's about it.

sigh

just feeling bad. Like the moment when they pull back the curtain to reveal the brick wall is getting very close.