Let’s see. We’re approaching Super Tuesday. Vermont can weigh in on the primaries in March.
A Supreme Court Justice has died, leaving a puzzle of sorts. Republicans appear willing to gamble that they’d get a better appointement under President Sanders, it seems.
Trump continues to do a Don Rickles impersonation, trying to become more popular with each insult. Rubio is sweaty! The amazing thing isn’t so much his insults, as the inability for those insulted to respond.
Former presidents campaign, telling us that their family members would, of course, be the best to become our next president. (Well, if realtyives think they’d be good…)
And locally, you have a small choice in the composition of the next Selectboard.
What else is going on?
What's not?
It’s probably what’s not going on that can be the question to add here.
the reliable three
Okay, Chris, Vidda and I are on this thread now, surprise, surprise. And thank you for connecting the obvious dots between Rickles and Trump for me — both looks and content!! I never did like Rickles’ “humor”.
I am truly curious to know what people who may not frequently post on politics think about all that’s going on, and if there is anything they’d like to know, do, etc. I want to help make things better (if you can’t tell that from all my previous posts) but I feel like I need more information from those who may feel hopeless at this point, and don’t bother to speak up anymore.
I have been and will remain consumed by all this at least through next January’s inauguration.
Regarding the supreme court vacancy, the best thing I’ve seen is the suggestion that Anita Hill be the next new justice! I actually don’t know her positions on some things I care about, but just the thought that this woman who chose to speak out long ago, who is now a revered professor at Brandeis, a legal scholar in her own right, might sit on the bench with Clarence brings such a sense of street justice to my mind that I cannot resist the thought. As someone else posted in another venue, “KARMA”.
Wonderin'
Could a sitting president with a few months to go appoint him or herself to the Supreme Court, and let the VP take over? I don’t see any restrictions anywhere in the Constitution.
Anita Hill would make for interesting confirmation hearings. A bit different this time around, I’d imagine.
from what I've heard
and understand, the answer is yes, and some have suggested it. Whether the republican-ruled senate would confirm is another matter altogether. I rather doubt they would. I wonder what the senate would do with a Michelle Obama appointment…
My guess
I’m going to guess he appoints a basically conservative person, and they’ll block it.
Basically conservative
And look, Obama’s floating the idea of Brian Sandoval, the Republican governor of Nevada.
I can hardly wait!
Getting way beyond bored with the 24 hour a day Trump show (which, I think, is 100% the media’s responsibility — Trump just offers it up, they are the ones buying it). will welcome some new drama. Mid season replacement as it were…
And, may I borrow your “see the future” glasses?
Well, in the meantime, maybe I should do a little research on Sandoval to see how much I really want to support this nomination if it comes to pass.
That was quick.
Possible Justice Sandoval says no thanks.
…
Unrelated. I heard Katich was staying in, in part, to prevent Trump from winning Ohio.
And...
… another basically conservative choice, US court of appeals judge Merrick Garland.
Orrin Hatch should be pleased.
Three Amigos
I can’t speak for us three amigos, but I’m not a big fan of SCOTUS, POTUS or legislatures, big or small. I think they have done and do as much harm as good. No suggestions to come up with something better, though.
I did, however, really like Rickle’s humor. If Trump had only half his humor (or a Carlin, Williams or any humor) I’d vote for him. Some damn fool said humor is the best medicine. But in this polarized country I’d never know it.
Churchill paraphrase
Democracy is the worst form of government…
Except for all others.
So sayeth Sir Winston.
Yup, I agree, Vidda, SCOTUS, POTUS and legislatures, (and their state and local counterparts) do leave a lot to be desired. I haven’t found anything else that for long term suits me better, though, so I try to make it the best I can. Of course, if -I- could be the “benevolent” dictator… in perpetuity… Naw, I would not enjoy that in a very short time, I’m sure.
As for the humor stuff, I just have a hard time with comments that can be experienced as mean spirited. Pretty sure Rickles (saw him recently on a late night show) doesn’t intend to hurt people, though he does; with Trump, I am not sure at all WHAT his intent is. But if you enjoy the humor, yes, I agree it is the best medicine!! I’ve even gone to professional trainings on that topic and studied it a little bit.
Churchill Quote
My favorite, Andy, is:
“You can always depend on the Americans to do the right thing – after they’ve tried everything else.”
indeed!
put the two together and what a sad lot we are! (Though perhaps the best of all the sad lots?)
Exit Stage Right
Cape Breton Island in Canadia is looking to attract peep who are fleeing the states. If you’re starting a biz, have a skill they need and/or will be going to school there, you have a good chance of getting in with permanent residency.
Oh, Canada
Hmm. iBreton has a nice ring to it.
This election certainly has some extreme outcomes as possibilities. On one hand, we could swing towards fascism with Trump, and on the other end we could be turning toward social democracy with Sanders. This country could become worse or better than ever, depending on your pov.
And there’s still a good chance that we’ll be stuck with another Bush or Clinton, and more of what we have now.
2 Family Elder Republicans
both over 65 now, who’ve criticized Democratic anything all our lives, are voting for Bernie. Up is down. Perhaps this is the reality of dystopian US, 2016.
And maybe it’ll end up good.
Beautiful place
http://grist.org/cities/if-trump-wins-this-canadian-island-will-have-you/
Avery!!
Avery! Avery Schwenk is running for Selectboard! A fresh face hopefully meaning fresh ideas, a familiar demographic to me (sorry can’t help how that makes me feel) I am all over this!!
By a hair
This election has some extreme hair outcomes possible.
On one hand, there is the shiny DeGray and at the other end of the spectrum we have the very-bearded Mr. Schwenk.
Gartenstein appears to represent the status quo hair contingent. : )
What Else is going on, or not?
Hillary is obviously in deep trouble with her private email server. I think a good discussion here would be her worthiness to be POTUS given ALL we know about her. For her not to be indicted based on what’s surfaced so far, would be just one more example of the Democrats not upholding the rule of law.
bad judgment
As someone who does tech-y things for living, a high-ranking government official that decides to use a private email server in the home is someone who exercises bad judgement, in a few ways.
There are security issues, vanity issues, above-the-law issues. There are issues of clearance and classification. There are issues of who else had access, and appearances.
Plus, it’s another indication of their wealth. Building a secure server system, connecting it, and maintaining it costs a fair amount. (Sure, it can be cheaper, but in that case, we should again question the security side.)
So, my take is she should have been smart enough to know what she was doing, she should have gotten better advice, she made a poor choice, and then doubled-down to insist it was no big deal once people discovered it.
AlanF – can you fill us in on the GOP side of things? I want to know which republican candidates are looking good/bad to you. Who do you think will be the last one standing?
Wheee!
Caucus day for Dems in Nevada, and GOP primaries in SC.
4 party system
A rather amazing tweet storm today with the hashtag #WhichHillary – where people are asking which Hillary is it, then listing her supposed contradictions. (The one who broke ground on Goldman Sachs new building, or the one who says she’ll fight Wall Street? The one who hired David Brock for dirty tricks? The one who wanted to deport children, or the one who smiles at them in ads? And so on… that sort of thing.) Ouch. It’s the top trending topic as I type.
The center Democrats and Republicans are in a tough place. They can’t win without the support of the non-center, and those voters aren’t that impressed by what is being offered.
On the right, the Tea Party has grown into something new – a far right, almost but not quite Libertarian block of voters that is too big for the center GOP to control. On the Democrats’s side, the roots of Nader and Dean have similarly grown into a large enough block to make a difference.
It seems like four parties being squished into two, causing headaches for everyone. : )
More GOP
Cruz and Rubio teamed up to try to take Trump down at the GOP debates last night. I don’t have CNN, but do have Telemundo, and tried to watch it that way. Hearing it in English would probably be difficult enough, but with the Spanish translation on top of what was going on, I had to resort to body language to guess how it was going.
Body language-wise, Trump looked a bit drunk, Rubio like Batman’s Robin, and Cruz like the evil child catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.
Reading more today, it appears the GOP remembered their old gameplay – attack the opponents perceived strengths, but try to avoid issues. Make it personal.
They hit Trump on running a scam university, on hiring undocumented immigrants, and on being a lousy businessperson who wouldn’t have succeeded without Daddy’s money. Probably won’t impact Trump’s die-hard support, but might influence those on the fence.
Christie 4 Veep?
Has Christie made a deal to endorse Trumplestiltskin in exchange for the Veep slot?
candy
Looks like it. Or Attorney General. Something. Anything.
TrumpChristy sounds like a candy bar from Willy Wonka.
All the kings horses...
Trumpty-Dumpty