Had an hour to kill before a Jays game, and didn't have a book with me, so I bought a copy of New York for this cover story--thought it was quite good.
http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/06/where-is-barack-obama.html
(May have been posted elsewhere--I see there's a newer issue out now.)
― clemenza, Tuesday, 24 July 2018 04:15 (five years ago) link
missed opportunity for a Thanos meme header image
― wayne trotsky (Simon H.), Tuesday, 24 July 2018 04:17 (five years ago) link
every generation but them picks reagan as their favorite president
Then I fucking well transcend my generation and I'm proud of it. Reagan flooded more raw sewage into government than any president before Trump.
― A is for (Aimless), Tuesday, 24 July 2018 04:21 (five years ago) link
icymi
https://www.newsweek.com/obama-administration-used-tear-gas-pepper-spray-border-dozens-times-cbp-data-1233255
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Thursday, 29 November 2018 21:07 (five years ago) link
https://www.currentaffairs.org/2019/03/the-obama-boys
not necessarily new territory, but a pretty thorough rundown of the shortcomings of obama's presidency
― you know who deserves sitewide mod privileges? (m bison), Monday, 11 March 2019 21:49 (five years ago) link
don't tell me that Rep. Omar has opened the door to heresy!
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 11 March 2019 21:59 (five years ago) link
Glad to see the link to that pernicious Sorkin TV show is acknowledged.
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 11 March 2019 22:04 (five years ago) link
Thinking lately a lot about the contrast between Obama and McConnell as political figures -- Obama played a strong hand badly and McConnell has played a weak hand amazingly well. Obama took an overly conciliatory approach when he had a popular mandate, achieving much less than he could have, whereas McConnell is absolutely maximizing the use of any advantage he has, making impressive strategic moves that will impact our political system for decades.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Monday, 1 April 2019 17:25 (five years ago) link
Obama is loved, McConnell is hated even in his own party. But McConnell is the one whose legacy will be more greatly felt.
it's a lot easier to plat defense in the senate
― k3vin k., Monday, 1 April 2019 17:44 (five years ago) link
mutombo for senate 2020
― you know who deserves sitewide mod privileges? (m bison), Monday, 1 April 2019 17:50 (five years ago) link
He should run for the house imo. That way he can use his signature “not in my house” finger wag when voting against key legislation
― Karl Malone, Monday, 1 April 2019 17:52 (five years ago) link
yes, i'd say offering to privatize Soc Sec was "overly conciliatory"
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 1 April 2019 17:56 (five years ago) link
Yeah, the only thing McConnell managed when he had the votes was a tax cut and Supreme Court justices. Everyone could have done that.
― Frederik B, Monday, 1 April 2019 18:09 (five years ago) link
you are out of your mind. First of all, he got them an extra Supreme Court seat by refusing to hear Garland. Second, the tax plan is a masterstroke -- it crushes the donor base in high tax blue states.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Monday, 1 April 2019 18:22 (five years ago) link
and does so in a way that also punishes democratic voters and lines up with republican ideological priorities
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Monday, 1 April 2019 18:23 (five years ago) link
If you think McConnell crafted that legislation, as opposed to just sponsoring it, you do not understand how bills are written these days.
― A is for (Aimless), Monday, 1 April 2019 18:35 (five years ago) link
And also, it's not a masterstroke, lol, where on earth is that coming from?
― Frederik B, Monday, 1 April 2019 18:44 (five years ago) link
tax cuts for the rich are actually ok- fred
― k3vin k., Monday, 1 April 2019 19:27 (five years ago) link
y'all are obsessed
― jolene club remix (BradNelson), Monday, 1 April 2019 19:34 (five years ago) link
hi fred, longtime reader, first time responder. What are you talking about? The GOP tax plan was specifically designed to stick it to blue states, and let me assure you, it is doing just that.
― pippin drives a lambo through the gates of isengard (Sparkle Motion), Monday, 1 April 2019 19:38 (five years ago) link
Maybe it's hard to get a good sense of that from Denmark, but it's very clear in Westchester County, NY where I work every day -- exactly the kind of high tax, good public schools, democratic leaning area that that aspect of the bill was targeted at. And btw, of course McConnell did not draft the bill, but the limit on deduction of state taxes was a key plank and he definitely made sure it stayed in.
It's also going to fuck the federal budget pretty bad when next recession comes, which is exactly what they want.
BTW, the Supreme Court isn't the only federal court, and McConnell has helped to both minimize Obama's impact and maximize Trump's as far as appointments. Those are lifetime appointments, just like the Supreme Court.
He also fucked Obamacare pretty good. I'm not saying all of this was him alone, but in general the GOP has done very well strategically considering their platform is not popular with Americans -- they have maximized what they could achieve with their backing. They've given themselves a lot of long-term advantages and backstops, whereas Obama's achievements were somewhat minimal given the mandate he came in with, and are more easily erased.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Tuesday, 2 April 2019 03:38 (five years ago) link
I don't doubt that it's brought hurt to blue states, nor that it was designed that way, but I'll still dispute that it's a masterstroke that, as you wrote, crushes the donor base in high tax blue states. I don't think either of us are in a place where we can really know that, since, well, there's been no national election since it passed, but so far it doesn't seem to have 'crushed' the donor base as much as it has pissed them off. Those areas are where GOP were wiped out in the house, and it seems to me that apart from Warren, it's going quite well with the fundraising for Dem candidates? Plus, rich people donate more to GOP politicians anyway, so it could just as well hurt
I also think that unless either Obama or McConnell convinced Patrick Leahy to adhere to the blue slip standard even though it was obvious that Republicans wouldn't do so in return, that you're giving them more credit than they deserve on this issue.
― Frederik B, Tuesday, 2 April 2019 14:38 (five years ago) link
Former President Obama expressed concern about the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, saying he feared it could end up undercutting allies.
Speaking at a town hall event on Saturday for the Obama Foundation in Berlin, the former president spoke about the need for compromise in politics, citing the Affordable Care Act as something that he said signified progress even though it did not achieve all of his aspirations for U.S. health care.
"One of the things I do worry about sometimes among progressives in the United States —maybe it’s true here as well — is a certain kind of rigidity where we say, 'Uh, I’m sorry, this is how it’s going to be,' and then we start sometimes creating what’s called a 'circular firing squad,' where you start shooting at your allies because one of them has strayed from purity on the issues. And when that happens, typically the overall effort and movement weakens," he said.
― buzza, Saturday, 6 April 2019 17:43 (five years ago) link
a certain kind of rigidity
as opposed to a certain kind of mushiness or floppiness? I think the metaphor he is overlooking here is the essential combination of rigidity with flexibility that is provided by having a backbone.
― A is for (Aimless), Saturday, 6 April 2019 17:54 (five years ago) link
I am confused by Obama's understanding of the word "compromise." Who was Obamacare a compromise between? The GOP vowed to destroy whatever he did.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Sunday, 7 April 2019 01:56 (five years ago) link
A compromise among Democrats?
― Mario Meatwagon (Moodles), Sunday, 7 April 2019 02:13 (five years ago) link
bingo. they compromised before they even voted.
― k3vin k., Sunday, 7 April 2019 04:25 (five years ago) link
joe mother fucking lieberman
It was a compromise between the heritage foundation in the early 90s and Romney’s Massachusetts plan
― Karl Malone, Sunday, 7 April 2019 04:47 (five years ago) link
In other words, a socialist takeover
im beginning to think obama didnt learn much from his presidency?
― you know who deserves sitewide mod privileges? (m bison), Sunday, 7 April 2019 14:44 (five years ago) link
otm
― Emperor Tonetta Ketchup (sleeve), Sunday, 7 April 2019 15:02 (five years ago) link
ironically, Obama comes off as quite rigid in his clinging to "compromise"
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Sunday, 7 April 2019 18:33 (five years ago) link
centrists are zealots and there's no data in the world capable of disturbing the truth they apprehended staring at a bell curve on acid
― difficult listening hour, Sunday, 7 April 2019 18:59 (five years ago) link
Thinking of “achievement” or “legacy” in terms of legislation passed & judicial appointments confirmed is significantly limiting. It’s basically the same kind of thinking that allows Trump to believe in his own claim his administration has done the most stuff ever. But yes, if you use Mitch McConnell’s scorecard to rate how Mitch McConnell has been doing at America: The Game, he sure is a genius.
― El Tomboto, Monday, 8 April 2019 12:45 (five years ago) link
purity purity purity, only used in one context ever these days
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 8 April 2019 13:55 (five years ago) link
i dont think that's what quagmire is saying
― fremme nette his simplicitte (darraghmac), Monday, 8 April 2019 14:26 (five years ago) link
Not to rub it in, but I told you about Obama, right before his election. Circular fire squad *this*. pic.twitter.com/zxH5BFcLyu— Dennis Perrin (@DennisThePerrin) April 7, 2019
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 8 April 2019 18:10 (five years ago) link
Imagine our shock and nausea when we discovered that the first black man elected president of the USA had a calm, reassuring demeanor and moderate political views.
― A is for (Aimless), Monday, 8 April 2019 18:21 (five years ago) link
The best thing about the field shaping up right now is that the first woman won’t
― El Tomboto, Monday, 8 April 2019 18:27 (five years ago) link
Amy seems pretty mellow.
― A is for (Aimless), Monday, 8 April 2019 18:28 (five years ago) link
The tactical acumen of playing the I-told-you-so at parties.
― recriminations from the nitpicking woke (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 8 April 2019 18:31 (five years ago) link
as you know, Gore Vidal said they were the four sweetest words in English
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 8 April 2019 18:33 (five years ago) link
there's certainly nothing reasuring *or* moderate about Truant Officer Harris
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Monday, 8 April 2019 18:34 (five years ago) link
OK!
https://hmmdaily.com/2019/05/21/rahm-emanuel-blames-obama-for-trump/
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 21 May 2019 16:30 (four years ago) link
It’s nice Barack Obama helped finance a film that shows the depravity of union-busting. But you know what would’ve been even nicer? If he had spent political capital on passing card check when he was president!— Cole Stangler (@ColeStangler) August 26, 2019
― a Mets fan who gave up on everything in the mid '80s (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 27 August 2019 18:34 (four years ago) link
Watch President @BarackObama make an excellent point about call-out culture. pic.twitter.com/P6mw9aLWTQ— ATTN: (@attn) October 30, 2019
obama is canceled
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 30 October 2019 14:13 (four years ago) link
uh oh i agree with secret-muslim Indonesian sex worker and communist barry soetoro
― ت (jim in vancouver), Wednesday, 30 October 2019 15:58 (four years ago) link
Ok boomer.
― pomenitul, Wednesday, 30 October 2019 16:02 (four years ago) link