2018 Election Day open thread

9:00 AM I’m home with a sick kid, so thing may not go as planned, but I’m hoping to vote soon, and then head back home to do some remote phone banking through Swing Left for Amy McGrath, the Democratic candidate for Kentucky’s 6th district, which covers Frankfort, where I lived as a baby, Georgetown, where my great grandparents were tobacco farmers, and Lexington, where I was born, and most of my family still lives. As of right now, it’s an incredibly tight race, and, if I can convince just one person to head to the polls, I’ll feel as though I at least helped in some small way. [I’d thought of taking a few days off and knocking doors in Kentucky, but chose to stay here and work in Michigan instead. The decision has been weighing on me, though.] Here, according to the FiveThrityEight forecast, is how things look right not for that race.

9:30 AM If you have any Election Day observations to share, good or bad, please leave a comment on this thread. I’ll be checking throughout the day… I’m encouraged to see that there’s not really much chance of rain in the forecast here in Southeast Michigan, but high winds could pose a problem for some voters, especially if we experience power failures.

9:45 AM In Georgia, where I’ve also lived a good part of my life, it’s looking like, in spite of the aggressive voter suppression efforts against black voters, the unfounded last-minute accusations of hacking, and racist robocalls, Secretary of State Brian Kemp must still think that he’s going to lose the gubernatorial race to Democratic candidate Stacey Abrams. Why else would he be resorting to posting bullshit nonsense like this to social media?

10:00 Speaking of offensive racists, here’s what Donald Trump had to say this morning when asked about the fact that networks were refusing to air his appallingly xenophobic and factually incorrect ad about how Democrats want to let homicidal killers into America to kill police officers. It should be noted, speaking of Trump’s grotesque racism, that he declared Brian Kemp’s black opponent, Stacey Abrams, to be “not qualified” for the office of Governor. Abrams, in addition to being a dynamic black woman, is a graduate of Yale Law School with 17 years of political experience, serving the last ten years in the Georgia General Assembly, where she served as House Minority Leader.

10:10 Speaking of Trump’s attitude toward the press, and his attempts to cast journalists as the ones who are responsible for the political violence that we’re seeing in the country today, I don’t think I’ve mentioned it here yet, but, a few days ago, he said the following on the White House lawn. “You’re creating violence by your question,” he said to a reporter. “The fake news is creating violence.” [As if you needed one more reason to vote today, right?]

10:15 Remember, this is about health care, not caravans.

10:25 For what it’s worth, I’m not just interested in hearing about your voting experiences in Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. I’m curious to know what you’re observing, no matter where you might be. With that said, though, I’m particularly interested in few races around the state of Michigan where the Democrats might be able to win seats back from Republicans, like the the Michigan 7th (where Republican incumbent Tim Walberg is facing Democrat Gretchen Driskell), the Michigan 8th (where incumbent Mike Bishop is facing Democratic challenger Elissa Slotkin), and the Michigan 11th (where Democrat Haley Stevens is running agains Republican Lena Epstein for the seat being vacated by the reprehensible Dave Trott). Any insight you might be able to offer as to what’s happening on the ground in those areas would be greatly appreciated.

10:40 I just got a call from my daughter, asking to be picked up from school here in Ypsi. Apparently the power is out, I suspect due the high winds. Hopefully the polling places aren’t impacted.

11:40 My polling place was hopping. I was voted number 363 at 11:20. There was a decent little line, but it didn’t take more than about 15 minutes, from the time that I walked in with the kids, to the time when I got to start working on my ballot. Also, if you, like me, happen to be voting at Ypsilanti International Elementary School, be sure to take a few extra dollars for the PTO bake sale. There’s still lots of good stuff to be had… Oh, and the guy behind me in line to vote was one of the guys the Landline team bowled agains last night. We each won one game, and then tied the third. It was an incredible athletic competition. [Their team as the best beards in the league.]

11:50 Again, if you fell for this contemptible and racist Republican ploy to influence the election in their favor, you are a moron. This was $220 million that could have been spent out caring for our veterans, educating our kids, and protecting those of us with pre-existing conditions. It’s absolutely shameful that this happened in America, and one hope the Democrats retake the House so that we can hold investigations.

1:00 I just heard from Jeff Irwin, who is soon to be our next State Senator, that his polling place in the Township was packed. “Turnout was high at the Polo Fields on Packard in Ypsilanti Township,” he reports. “Despite the rain, we had a long line for much of the time before 9:00, a good sign.” Speaking of which, the volunteers on my polling place said that it was just as busy this morning as it was for the last presidential election, which is a great sign.

2:00 Completely unrelated, on the way up the street to vote, I noticed that the play structure is being installed at Riverside Park.

2:10 Back to the crime taking place right now in George, check this out.

Terri Durham followed up at 11:30 to say that the lines, four hours after the polls opened, have finally started moving. “I just hope the people who left come back,” she said.

One hopes that enough Democrats win that there can be a through investigation into what happened in Georgia. It’s absolutely disgraceful.

2:20 Linette just got home from a meeting with Global Detroit, and she tells me that one of the people she was meeting with was voter number 900 this morning. I don’t know which Detroit precinct it was, but that has to be a good sign, right?

2:25 Best early headline of the day comes from Politico — “Retiring Rep. Issa calls it early: There will be a Dem representing my district

2:30 Bloomberg is reporting that Twitter removed a fake flag-burning video that was shared 55,000 times. The video claimed that Democrats were burning flags. A few days ago, it was reported that Twitter had taken down thousands of accounts urging people (I’m assuming young people and people of color) not to vote.

2:45 OK, people are finally starting to answer their phones. After leave a lot of voicemails, I’ve finally his a streak where I’m talking to real Kentuckians about Amy McGrath. The good news is, everyone I’ve talked with thus far has already voted for her. Now I just need to get better about convincing them to call their friends. [So far, I’ve not seen the numbers of any my relatives in Lexington pop up.]

3:30 More from the banana republic of Georgia.

By the way, I just checked the census data, and it looks like Snellville is about 36% black. I wonder if this is also happening in the areas of Georgia that are more white, and more Republican?

3:35 A new article has been posted to Time. The headline reads, “Michigan Voted for Trump. Now It’s Poised to Elect Democratic Women.” Here’s an excerpt.

…Now, in a year when an unprecedented number of women are running for office all over the country, the state that helped make Trump president is also the state with the most notable surge in enthusiasm for female candidates. Democratic women are running strong races up and down the ticket. Senator Debbie Stabenow and gubernatorial candidate Gretchen Whitmer both have solid leads over their male Republican opponents, according to a new poll released Monday, mostly thanks to a massive edge among women voters: Stabenow is up 23 points with women, while Whitmer is up 28. Democratic Attorney General candidate Dana Nessel and Secretary of State candidate Jocelyn Benson also have leads heading into Election Night.

Stevens is favored to win the open seat vacated by GOP Rep. Dave Trott. (She’s running against Lena Epstein, former Michigan chair for the Trump campaign, so Michigan’s 11th will be represented by a woman no matter the outcome on Tuesday.) If she does, she’ll be joined in the Michigan House delegation by other Democratic women. Rashida Tlaib is running unopposed in Michigan’s 13th district, making her all but certain to become one of the first Muslim-American women in Congress. Former CIA official Elissa Slotkin is mounting a tough challenge to Rep. Mike Bishop in Michigan’s 8th district. Former state representative Gretchen Driskell has outraised GOP Rep. Tim Wahlberg in Michigan’s 7th district. Former teacher Cathy Albro is challenging Rep. Justin Amash in a heavily Republican district. And the two Michigan incumbents, Debbie Dingell and Brenda Lawrence, don’t seem to be going anywhere…

3:48 Among all of the other things I’d like for the Democrats to investigate, should they take back a chamber or two of Congress, I’d like a hearing on whether or not Trump violated federal law yesterday when he warned people to stay away from the polls. His supporters, I’m sure, will say that he just did this to discourage voter fraud. You cannot tell me, however, that messages like this don’t put a chilling effect on participation from marginalized groups, who might be fearful, for instance, of being arrested if their addresses don’t match perfectly, etc.

4:00 Average wait time at the polls in Atlanta, according to reports, is currently three hours.

4:00 Fuck. I could watch videos like this all damn day… What’s more beautiful than this?

6:20 OK, let’s start the predictions. Here’s the first one, from Ann Arbor County Commissioner Andy LaBarre. “My guess is we’ll win about 30 US House seats and the four statewides. Hope I’m wrong, and we do more.“ And, with that, I’m headed to Pita Pita for dinner.

7:30 If I should disappear for a while to go get a beer with Dr. Pete Larson, just watch the Pod Save America livestream until I get back. And check the comments section, where iRobert is keeping up informed on returns.

9:00 Drinking beer with Dr. Peter Larson at Sidetrack, and watching the results as they come in.

10:20 The Michigan gubernatorial race has been called for Gretchen Whitmer, effectively ending the political career of Bill Schuette. Or at least that’s my hope.

11:00 It’s still not done yet, but NBC, FOX and NPR are projecting that the the Democrats will retake the House. As bad as it hurts that great candidates like Abrams, Gillum, and O’Rourke lost, I’m taking a lot of comfort in the idea that, in a few short months, Adam Schiff will be running the House Intelligence Committee instead of Devin Nunes. This is huge… I cannot wait for the hearings to begin. [Jerrold Nadler, The Democrat slated to chair the House Judiciary Committee, tells CNN: “This election was about accountability. Donald Trump may not like hearing it but for the first time, his administration is going to be held accountable.”]

11:15 Speaking of investigations, it’s already being reported that the Democrats intend to request Trump’s tax returns.

Final thoughts for the night… While disappointed that we didn’t get everything that we wanted tonight, we got back the House, and that’s huge. One party rule is over. Furthermore, midwestern states like Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, swung back in a big way, after giving Trump the presidency. [It felt really good to see Scott Walker lose his reelection bid in Wisconsin, and for Kris Kobach to get his ass kicked in Kansas.] And, of course, it was terrific to see so many talented Democratic women winning their House races. Was it perfect? No. As I said above, I would have loved to have seen Cruz and Kemp swept out of office, and it would have been incredible if we’d taken the Senate, but, all in all, it was huge night for America. Finally, after two long years, we’ll see the Trump agenda slowed, and the members of the Trump crime family held accountable for their numerous misdeeds.

And, here in Michigan, we did alright. While Democrats failed to flip either the State House or Senate, we did make headway, winning back the Governor’s office, holding onto Stabenow’s Senate seat, winning back the Secretary of State’s office after 30 years, and flipping a few House seats… While Democrat Gretchen Driskell failed to defeat Republican incumbent Tim Walberg in Michigan’s 7th, we flipped Michigan’s 8th, where Republican incumbent Mike Bishop lost to Democratic challenger Elissa Slotkin, and Michigan’s 11th, where Democrat Haley Stevens beat Republican Lena Epstein for the seat vacated by Dave Trott.

8:00 This morning, Donald Trump gives us a little insight as to what’s to come. After taking credit for the great Republican “success” of last night, he said the following… Buckle up, folks. If you thought things were crazy before, just wait.

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216 Comments

  1. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 9:52 am | Permalink

    I was voter #190 at 9am in my precinct, and there were ten more people who came in right behind me. The poll workers said they weren’t to that number until noon in 2016 presidential. They said the difference seems to be the newly registered young voters.

  2. John Brown
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 9:54 am | Permalink

    Liberal Panthers support Black Panthers, hell yeah! Exercise your rights to vote, and your right to defend your community from fascist! Fascist who clearly will do literally anything to keep their shitty racist, classist system from being disrupted.

  3. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:05 am | Permalink

    As I walked in to my polling location, there were six people standing out front passing out campaign material. Four of them were passing out voter cards for Democrats. One was representing a school board candidate who has been endorsed by the Democratic Party. The only person representing a Republican candidate was a guy passing stuff out for the county commissioner.

    The Republicans will probably not want to send to many Trumpsters out to hand out material or make phone calls. They’re notoriously bad with their social skills.

  4. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:13 am | Permalink

    It’s funny watching Trump try to talk about these political races. He’s so stupid. He still clearly doesn’t understand any of it. Even after ‘being president’ for 20 months, he hasn’t picked up any new knowledge on anything. It’s incredible. It’s incredible that he’s not embarrassed to talk about most things.

  5. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:21 am | Permalink

    My bets are still on Brian Kemp, as the Secretary of State, to rig his own election to Governor. But I would loved to be proved wrong. The only hope is that Stacey Abrams gets so much more support that it is overwhelming to the rigging by the Secretary of State’s office.

  6. wobblie
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 11:38 am | Permalink

    The Senior Center had about 50 people waiting in line for the doors to open. I was voter 33, about 30 folks in line when I left. Eliminating straight ticket voting is seeming to make for longer time voting. It is a long ballot. Drove by about 11, there was activity with folks walking in and out. Friend called me from University Townhouses. He told me that the poll workers had not seen this large of turnout in 2016.

  7. Bike666
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 11:48 am | Permalink

    I was #190 at 7:50 am @ Evangelical Friends Church. Huge turnout and overheard staff talking about the large amount of absentee ballots turned in. Lines moved fast but the the only slow down was the lack of felt tip markers. First time I’ve voted with a black ink pen. It took a long time to fill the boxes competently with pen ink. Anyone else vote with ink pen?

  8. Mike Robinson by proxi
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 1:13 pm | Permalink

    The poll workers in my area were talking about the high turnout. According to them, the total number of voters last mid-term was about 800 voters for the day. This time, it’s different. I was #581, and I voted a half-hour ago.

    The day hasn’t even really started…

    I wouldn’t be surprised if the total for the day in my area winds up to be double what it was last mid-term election.

  9. Glen S.
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 1:22 pm | Permalink

    I was ~350 at about 8:10 a.m. at Adams School. Things were well-organized, and went smoothly for the most part, but I agree with Bike666 above – trying to fill in all those squares with a regular ink pen definitely slowed the process of filling out an already lengthy ballot.

  10. Maclean
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 1:37 pm | Permalink

    I voted at the Senior Center at about 11:30. There weren’t many people outside handing out information (it was misting slightly at the time). I was a little disappointed not to have to wait outside due to a long line, but I think the only time I had to do that was in 2008. The approximately 16 voting booths were full, with 10 – 12 people in line. A couple of voters in front of me was a young man voting for the first time, and, very unusually, there was a poll worker who was about 20. I love election day, and I was tearing up seeing young people getting involved.

    The ballpoint pen definitely made it time consuming to vote, and my hand was cramping a bit; I ended up not voting in the categories where there were two choices and I had to choose two.

  11. Kit
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 2:28 pm | Permalink

    I hope to God that the young people of the United States turn out to vote today. They have it in their power to change the world.

  12. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 2:58 pm | Permalink

    Hamburg Township in Livingston County is reporting turnout as double what it was in 2016, so far. Absentee ballots turned in were more in number than the total votes cast in 2016. This is part of Mike Bishop’s district. If this is only happening in the rural parts of the district, it’s good news for Bishop. If this is happening all across the district, it’s bad news for Bishop.

  13. John Brown
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 3:04 pm | Permalink

    iRobert,

    My Union had folks canvassing Pinckney this weekend, including folks that came from across the country. Slotkin is a dream candidate to flip that blue. They were getting great response in the village.

  14. Oliva
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 3:05 pm | Permalink

    So much optimism on this blustery Election Day, but one young first-time voter warmed my heart especially. Asked where he goes, said it was his first time. That was it. Thrilling! (Okay, pretty thrilling that early in the day just about every person who passed by on the way to vote thanked us for offering the WCDP sheet of Dem candidates to vote for and other Dem candidate literature.)

    Good luck reaching Kentucky voters, Mark. Thanks for doing that.

  15. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 3:26 pm | Permalink

    John Brown,

    That’s very good news for Democrats.

  16. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 3:50 pm | Permalink

    36 Million votes were cast in early voting.

  17. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 4:11 pm | Permalink

    The Republicans are counting on voter suppression and negative TV ads almost entirely it appears.

    The internal exit polls are being kept very quiet. But bits evidence suggest Republicans may take a real beating in Michigan today. Other states vary on how strong the backlash has been.

  18. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 4:23 pm | Permalink

    The reason Georgia is being rigged so hard by Republicans in this race is because the demographics have changed dramatically in the state over recent years and if a Democrat gets into the governors office, it will set off a chain reaction all across the state, and the GOP will be marginalized indefinitely.

  19. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 4:30 pm | Permalink

    Michigan may be on course to be one of the top ten states in turnout percentage of total registered voters. Looks likely to be well over 50%, which is excellent for a midterm. It must be due to all the contested and competitive races all across the state.

  20. Posted November 6, 2018 at 4:35 pm | Permalink

    CBS News livestream is now LIVE

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EacQLVirbg

  21. Eel
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 4:35 pm | Permalink

    More news from Snellville.

    https://twitter.com/kira_lerner/status/1059855601478590464

  22. Eel
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 4:45 pm | Permalink

    There’s another lie going around about Beto bussing Mexicans into Texas and paying them $100 each to vote.

    https://twitter.com/AlexWhitcomb/status/1059923878959472640

  23. Posted November 6, 2018 at 5:01 pm | Permalink

    Polls close at 6pm in most of Indiana and in the eastern half of Kentucky. that is just about one hour from now.

    In Indiana, Democrat Joe Donnelly is trying to hold on to his US Senate seat. The media probably won’t call this race until all remaining polls close in the state at 7pm. But the campaigns will know who has likely won, shortly after 6pm. If the Donnelly people are celebrating the internal exit poll results, we likely have a blue wave, and Democrats may even have a long shot at taking the senate.

    In Kentucky’s Sixth Congressional District, Democrat Amy McGrath is challenging incumbent Republican Andy Barr. If this race is called shortly after 6pm for McGrath, we likely have that blue wave.

  24. Posted November 6, 2018 at 5:05 pm | Permalink

    So we need to stake out the bars where the Donnelly team might be drinking.

  25. Posted November 6, 2018 at 5:23 pm | Permalink

    CBS East & Central Time Zone Exit poll said 80% of voters said it is important that more women are elected to office. I wonder if this might help explain why Michigan turnout is so unusually high.

  26. Posted November 6, 2018 at 5:32 pm | Permalink

    East & Central Time Zone Exit poll results:

    65% Voters saying Trump was a factor in their vote
    56% Country is on the wrong track
    41% Country is on the right track
    39% Voting in opposition to Trump
    33% Voting without regard to Trump
    26% Voting in support of Trump

  27. Posted November 6, 2018 at 5:40 pm | Permalink

    Bloomington, Indiana area (Monroe County) has had ballot shortages (supposedly due to large turnout). Monroe County has requested a court order to allow polls to remain open until 7pm. This is the home of the University of Indiana, which is one of the most Democratic areas in the state.

  28. Posted November 6, 2018 at 6:00 pm | Permalink

    Most polls in Indiana have now closed, as well as those in Eastern Kentucky. Now we hope positive signs emerge for Senator Donnelly in Indiana and Amy McGrath in Kentucky.

    PBS election coverage live stream is now LIVE:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzbOeDhI8B0

    CBS News live stream is too:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EacQLVirbg

  29. Posted November 6, 2018 at 6:03 pm | Permalink

    The PBS live stream of election coverage is now LIVE:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HzbOeDhI8B0

  30. Sad
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 6:05 pm | Permalink

    Do you think HW actually votes?

    This day is a little like Christmas.

  31. ElsieGal
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 6:11 pm | Permalink

    Drove to Northern MI today. Every single little township hall all along the way was full of cars. I’m talking Stockbridge, Clare, Brethren, and all along the way. Did my heart good…

  32. Posted November 6, 2018 at 6:12 pm | Permalink

    Another big university town in Indiana with surprise problems for voters.

    From WLFI:

    TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) — The Tippecanoe County Election Board met Tuesday morning and decided they will not extend hours on Election Day after issues at the polls. Tippecanoe County Clerk Christa Coffey said five polling locations were having some problems with electronic poll books on election morning. That’s the tool used to process voter check-in and check-out.

    According to Coffey, it is not an issue with the polling machines.

    It did cause some back up at certain voting locations Tuesday morning. The five locations impacted included The Outpost, Federated Church, Fire Station #5, Evangelical Covenant and the Morton Center.

    News 18 received dozens of tips about slow lines and machines not working within minutes of the polls opening.

    Coffey said she has been traveling to polling locations to fix the problem and polls should be running smoothly as of 7:30 a.m.

  33. Posted November 6, 2018 at 6:27 pm | Permalink

    Senator Donnelly just spoke on TV in Indiana. He didn’t look terribly happy or relieved.

    Fox 59 Indianapolis Livestream:
    https://livestream.com/WXIN/live

  34. Posted November 6, 2018 at 6:34 pm | Permalink

    You can watch the local coverage of the Kentucky races here:
    https://www.wkyt.com/livestream3

  35. Posted November 6, 2018 at 6:55 pm | Permalink

    Polls are now closing in Georgia, New Hampshire, South Carolina, Vermont and Virginia.

    Remaining polls in Indiana and Kentucky are now also closing.

    Most polls are closing in Florida. Only those in the western panhandle remain open until 8pm.

    NBC News election coverage is beginning now also.
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=czFMNst2svg

  36. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 7:58 pm | Permalink

    Democrats have won Virginia’s 10th district. That’s a big win.

    Dem Bill Nelson won in Florida Senate race.

    Dems look to be doing well in Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Virginia. If that pattern holds, they should also do well in Wisconsin and Michigan.

  37. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 8:01 pm | Permalink

    All polls in the eastern time zone has closed. We should be getting a good sense of how things are going overall. Tune in to the TV networks for coverage.

  38. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 8:29 pm | Permalink

    Women and new young voters drove the increase in turnout in Michigan. Democrats have likely kicked GOP ass here.

  39. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 8:46 pm | Permalink

    Dem Senator Joe Donnelly was defeated in Indiana.

  40. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 9:02 pm | Permalink

    Dem Amy McGrath lost in Kentucky.

  41. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 9:19 pm | Permalink

    Republicans have defended their vaulnerable seats all across the south, from Virginia down to Florida and up over to Tennessee and Kentucky. Democrats have done well through the Great Lakes states and rust belt, except for Indiana.

  42. Posted November 6, 2018 at 9:40 pm | Permalink

    My calls on behalf of Amy McGrath apparently did not help. It was a great showing for a Dem in Kentucky, though. She showed that there’s potential.

  43. Posted November 6, 2018 at 9:41 pm | Permalink

    Donnelly’s loss in Indiana, as you point out, does not bode well for us.

  44. NPR
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 9:54 pm | Permalink

    BREAKING: Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is projected to win election to U.S. House in New York’s 14th Congressional District. https://n.pr/2yUMVjX

  45. Posted November 6, 2018 at 9:58 pm | Permalink

    It’s looking like Haley Stevens is going to take the 11th here in Michigan.

  46. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 9:59 pm | Permalink

    Looks like Whitmer is our new governor.

  47. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:04 pm | Permalink

    AP has projected Whitmer has won.

    Democrats are going to finish the evening well in Michigan. They might even pick up a few seats some didn’t expect.

  48. Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:08 pm | Permalink

    Looks like Michigan when to Whitmer.

  49. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:11 pm | Permalink

    Ted Cruz won, sadly.

  50. Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:11 pm | Permalink

    I missed that you already called it, iRobert.

    Heitkamp has lost.

  51. Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:16 pm | Permalink

    Fuck. They’re calling Texas for Cruz.

  52. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:22 pm | Permalink

    Democrats in Michigan did not do a good job of voting down the ballot.

  53. Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:23 pm | Permalink

    Some more good news. Kris Kobach, “the nation’s leading voter suppression architect,” lost his bid for governor of Kansas. Apparently Donald Trump’s active support didn’t help.

  54. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:24 pm | Permalink

    It’s not all bad news from Texas. Dems have picked up one US House seat there, so far.

  55. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:25 pm | Permalink

    Bill Schuette is making his concession speech now.

  56. Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:27 pm | Permalink

    “NBC News projects that Democrats will regain control of the House of Representatives.”

  57. Jean Henry
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:27 pm | Permalink

    Prop A passed in Ann Arbor by a smidge, proving A2 to be the city everyone in Ypsi thought it was. Goodbye $5 million for affordable housing hello lawn chairs and potted plants on a parking lot.

    I’ve never been more glad I left.

  58. Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:34 pm | Permalink

    Are you surprised, Jean?

  59. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:35 pm | Permalink

    Breaking!

    Fred Upton my go down to defeat. Michigan may have its second Dem congressional gain, after 11th district win.

  60. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:38 pm | Permalink

    Stabenow has easily won re-election in Michigan.

  61. Jean Henry
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:52 pm | Permalink

    No I’m not surprised. there are a lot of new voters and a lot of A2 voters who aren’t paying attention to local issues. The proposal was worded to intentionally obscure the real costs/issues at play. And all the other proposals were yeses for most people. I predicted it would be close but a loss. I think that’s where we are. The only positive is that those who were paying attention now understand more about the need for more density and growth in A2 to combat housing cost escalation and to fund affordable housing.

  62. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:52 pm | Permalink

    Mike DeWine won governors seat in Ohio. That’s a blow to Dems for the 2020 presidential hopes there.

  63. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:55 pm | Permalink

    Dems picked up NY-22. Big win for them there.

    Dems also won FL-26.

  64. Jean Henry
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 10:55 pm | Permalink

    By loss, I meant the proposal would pass, which is a tremendous loss for the city. I don’t know that we’ll ever have another chance to build a public housing project downtown of the scale afforded by that $5 million again.

    Plus there will likely be a lawsuit by the developer and there will be a huge revenue drain for whatever plan gets implemented in that space if any.

  65. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 11:02 pm | Permalink

    Jocelyn Benson won Michigan Secretary of State race.

  66. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 11:09 pm | Permalink

    Dana Nessel is Michigan’s next Attroney General.

  67. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 11:12 pm | Permalink

    Sadly, Danny O’Connor lost in the Ohio 12th district. That’s a tough loss for the Democrats, but the district is just so heavily Republican.

  68. iRobert
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 11:22 pm | Permalink

    Now that polls have closed on the west coast, there will be a number of congressional races called as gains for the Democrats.

  69. Posted November 6, 2018 at 11:25 pm | Permalink

    Trump just tweeted out, “Tremendous success tonight. Thank you to all!” I wonder if he knows they lost the House, and the investigations are going to begin soon.

  70. Anonymous
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 11:33 pm | Permalink

    Best headline of the night: “Kim Davis (Yes, That Kim Davis) Just Lost Her Re-election Bid To A Democrat: The Kentucky clerk made headlines after she refused to issue a marriage license to a gay couple in 2015.”

    https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/kim-davis-loses-kentucky-midterms_us_5be23410e4b0dbe871a42930

  71. Anonymous
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 11:34 pm | Permalink

    This was a big night for women of all races. I am particularly happy, however, that Debra Haaland and Sharice Davids won. For the first time in history, Native American women will be represented in Congress.

  72. Anonymous
    Posted November 6, 2018 at 11:38 pm | Permalink

    We also got our first Muslim woman in Congress, from right here in Michigan.

    “History was made Tuesday night with the election of Michigan Democrat Rashida Tlaib, the first Muslim woman to ever be elected to Congress. Tlaib ran unopposed by a Republican in Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, which includes part of Detroit and its suburbs.”

  73. iRobert
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 12:22 am | Permalink

    Democratic US Senator Claire McCaskill from Missouri was defeated.

  74. iRobert
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 12:31 am | Permalink

    Democrat Elissa Slotkin looks to be the winner in Michigan 8th district, defeating Mike Bishop.

  75. Gongwer
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 7:29 am | Permalink

    With an 86,000-vote lead over Tom Leonard and 93% of precincts reporting, Gongwer projects Democrat Dana Nessel has won the attorney general race.

  76. John Brown
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 10:13 am | Permalink

    Dana Nessel, yes!!! That would have been a disaster having a monkey wrenching Republican AG during the implementation of the ballot proposals. Phew…

    Unfortunately the A2 parking lot park is going to continue to be a epic waste of energy and money dividing the community.

  77. John Harwood by proxy
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 10:21 am | Permalink

    Ds flipped at least 15 House districts Trump won in 2016; Rs flipped none that Hillary won

    Ds flipped 4 governorships (KS, MI, PA, WI) in states Trump won; Rs flipped none in states Hillary won

    https://twitter.com/JohnJHarwood/status/1060189865105596417

  78. anonymous
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 10:26 am | Permalink

    Another headline to uplift your spirits.

    “Pro-Russia Dana Rohrabacher set to lose to Harley Rouda in California congressional race”

    https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/07/election-results-2018-dana-rohrabacher-harvey-rouda/1917374002/

  79. Mr. X
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 10:27 am | Permalink

    Thanks again to white women for supporting the patriarchy, voting for Brian Kemp (76%), Ted Cruz (59%), and Ron DeSantis (51%).

    https://twitter.com/monaeltahawy/status/1060144528366166016

  80. Kim
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 11:02 am | Permalink

    The Atlantic: “If the (GA) governor’s race had taken place in another country, the State Department would have questioned its legitimacy”

  81. Paul Egan by proxy
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 11:02 am | Permalink

    NEW: Gov.-elect Gretchen #Whitmer says she will use her clemency power to free at least some of those serving time for #marijuana-related crimes. http://bit.ly/2AQGJuH #migov #cannabis

  82. Lynne
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 11:28 am | Permalink

    I am pretty happy with the Michigan election results! Less so with the City of Ypsi results but not really too unhappy even though some of the people I voted for lost. I like that about Ypsi elections. I dont usually ever feel I am voting for the lesser of two evils but rather the greater of two good! My neighbor Theresa Maddix won a spot on the library board and that was the one that mattered most to me!

    I am glad that I volunteered to GOTV.

  83. iRobert
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 12:06 pm | Permalink

    Trump is now holding a press conference to explain to his stupid supporters how nothing is his fault and everything is rigged against him. I’m glad someone is here to explain things to them.

  84. iRobert
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 12:54 pm | Permalink

    Did HW ever answer my question asking what danger I was in for believing and supporting Dr. Ford in her right to testify before the Senate Judiciary committee?

    Maybe EOS or Frosted Flakes can explain to me what danger he was talking about. I don’t always understand the thinking of Trump enthusiasts. Am I in some sort of danger? Should I be prepared for something?

  85. Jean Henry
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 1:18 pm | Permalink

    Trump just called a Black female reporter racist for asking him a question about white nationalism… That rhetoric sounds familiar.

  86. Jean Henry
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 1:24 pm | Permalink

    Before he called her racist he called another reporter racist for asking him about his alleged raciat remarks. Even HW has more skill at flipping the script. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tD_3Sf1FRE

  87. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 1:27 pm | Permalink

    “Did HW ever answer my question asking what danger I was in for believing and supporting Dr. Ford in her right to testify before the Senate Judiciary committee?”

    Dangerous to the USA, not to you. I’m sure!

  88. iRobert
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 1:45 pm | Permalink

    Thank you for clarifying that, HW. I wasn’t sure I was understanding you right, so I was making sure I had my papers in order.

    Is Kavanaugh’s family still destroyed. Or have they been undestroyed now?

  89. Frosted Flakes
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 1:51 pm | Permalink

    I don’t understand your question, iRobert. Can you rephrase the question? I don’t understand the connection you are making between danger and Ford….

  90. wobblie
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 1:52 pm | Permalink

    All in all a good election in Michigan, not so much of a Blue Wave in the rest of the country. More of a blue swell. Only a small majority in the House. Enough to make Trump Deal (I guess) with the Democrats. It will be interesting to see how much they give him.

  91. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 2:00 pm | Permalink

    What will you say if Blasey turns out to be a phony? We know from a sworn statement she helped someone prepare to beat a polygraph. If that is true then she lied about it to the Senate. If it’s all a hoax and not just Jane Doe, but if all the accusers are found to be lying then I’d say it is extremely dangerous to our sovereignty as a nation to be trying to disqualify him with those lies.

  92. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 2:05 pm | Permalink

    You got the House for now but remember what I told you Q said: FISA brings down the HOUSE. Declas incoming…

    ‘Nother lil tidbit for you, wobblie since you were asking so nicely about those (61,000 now!) sealed indictments: two of those are for the Podesta brothers.

  93. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 2:18 pm | Permalink

    Question for everyone: If any Democrat committed a crime would you support their prosecution? Needless to say most of you would support a Republican being prosecuted. If a Democrat did a crime that you would want a Republican prosecuted for then would you support prosecuting the Democrat?

  94. Jean Henry
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 2:23 pm | Permalink

    It was a black male reporter. https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/black-reporter-asks-trump-about-calling-himself-a-nationalist-trump-calls-question-racist

  95. Jean Henry
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 2:24 pm | Permalink

    “If any Democrat committed a crime would you support their prosecution?” I feel confident that we all have done this already.

    I know I have several times.

  96. Jean Henry
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 2:28 pm | Permalink

    FISA Memo’s will save the day!! Some day!! Be patient all will be revealed in time. Where we go one, we go all!

  97. Jean Henry
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 2:32 pm | Permalink

    “If any Democrat committed a crime would you support their prosecution?” Kwame Kilpatrick, Rostenkowski, Sandy Berger etc etc.

  98. Jean Henry
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 2:46 pm | Permalink

    Jeff Sessions resigned.

  99. John Brown
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 3:12 pm | Permalink

    Back to our regularly scheduled chaos.

  100. April Ryan by proxy
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 3:15 pm | Permalink

    Breaking: Georgia and Florida’s governors races are still in play as margins narrow and votes are still coming in. Also major allegations of voter suppression in Georgia particularly in urban districts. Stay tuned!

  101. Lynne
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 3:56 pm | Permalink

    “If any Democrat committed a crime would you support their prosecution?”

    I know that I would because like Jean, I have!

    Monica Conyers, Rod Blagojevich, Anthony Weiner (among others.)

  102. iRobert
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 4:56 pm | Permalink

    To Frosted Flakes;
    Sorry about the poor wording in my question earlier. I was mostly just teasing you, as if you were responsible for explaining things HW says.

    To April Ryan by proxy;
    I am confident Democrats will not be on the winning side when all the votes are counted in Georgia and Florida. We’ve seen this too many times in those states to pretend not to know better.

    To HW;
    I don’t care what any criminal’s party identification is. Of course I want criminals prosecuted. Any person who believes the law should not be applied without regard for party affiliation, is a sick asshole, and the worst sort of thing that could ever happen to America.

  103. iRobert
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 5:08 pm | Permalink

    If the Democrats can hold on to their narrow leads, they should be putting two trustees onto the MSU board. Brianna Scott (D) and Kelly Charron Tebay (D) lead the pack with only a few ballots remaining to be counted.

    It also appears as though Jordan Acker (D) was elected to the University of Michigan Board of Regents, along with Andrea Fischer Newman (R).

    Bryan Barnhill (D) should be getting the win along with Diane Dunaskiss (R) as the two winners in the Wayne State Governors race.

    Looks like Judith Pritchett (D) has been elected to the State Board of Education. But the Republicans can also be glad they got Tami Carlone (R) on the board too.

    All of these counts have yet to be concluded, however.

  104. iRobert
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 5:27 pm | Permalink

    GOP endorsed Michigan Supreme Court Judge Elizabeth Clement appears to be on her way to reelection. The other GOP endorsed Supreme Court Judge Kurtis Wilder, on the other hand, may have been unseated. Megan Cavanagh, one of the two challengers the Democratic Party endorsed, is currently ahead of Wilder in the vote count.

  105. EOS
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 6:19 pm | Permalink

    How much do you think the marijuana ballot issue increased the number of Democratic voters yesterday? Was it enough to impact any office? How did the turnout in Michigan compare to other states that didn’t have this on their ballot?

  106. wobblie
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 7:08 pm | Permalink

    All good questions. One thing seems certain. All three ballot proposals passed by large majorities and they will change Michigan’s politics for the good for many years to come.

  107. John Brown
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 7:46 pm | Permalink

    Eos, in my door knocking it wasn’t on most folks radars. They’re mostly motivated against craziness.

    Speaking of which, the new acting AG Whittaker worked for Sam Clovis, the Iowan (possible Nazi) campaign chair of trump 2016. He’s already a subject of Mueller Inc.

    Agent Orange is sad.

  108. Jean Henry
    Posted November 7, 2018 at 10:22 pm | Permalink

    EOS doesn’t think Republicans smoke pot. that might be her best delusion yet. Republicans are all over legal pot now that they see how much money is in it. A majority of Republicans support legalization.

    Looks like EOS is going to have a lot of differences with the incoming congress; it’s full of liberals, non-Christians, people of color, women, and… (eek!) scientists.

    https://www.businessinsider.com/2018-midterms-8-new-scientists-elected-to-house-senate-2018-11

  109. EOS
    Posted November 8, 2018 at 5:30 am | Permalink

    The Senate and President will prevent the House from enacting any harmful legislation. Nothing will be able to get done on the state or national level for the next two years. Lots of persons smoke pot, but there was overwhelming support among the younger voters who still live in their parents homes, you know, Dems under 40. That’s pretty unscientific of you – to assume that I am not an African-American female scientist. But not a surprise since you write daily on topics that you know nothing about.

  110. Jean Henry
    Posted November 8, 2018 at 6:48 am | Permalink

    I didn’t assume anything about who you are EOS except someone who regularly spouts anti-science, sexist and racist sentiment and beliefs.

  111. Jean Henry
    Posted November 8, 2018 at 6:50 am | Permalink

    If you need evidence of GOP pot smoking and legalization support, EOS, may I present you with Hyborian Warlord?

  112. EOS
    Posted November 8, 2018 at 7:13 am | Permalink

    Your lack of comprehension continually astounds me. I have never spouted any anti-science, sexist, or racist beliefs. Repetition does not equate with truth. By the way, did you vote for John James?

  113. EOS
    Posted November 8, 2018 at 7:17 am | Permalink

    72% of Democrats favor marijuana legalization. Can you find a similar level of support among Republicans?

    https://www.forbes.com/sites/tomangell/2018/02/15/democrats-forming-consensus-on-marijuana-legalization/#373fa327e969

    Dems will loss again in 2 years unless they come up with another lure to the polls.

  114. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 8, 2018 at 7:26 am | Permalink

    I told you I am not a republican, Jean. I don’t think our President is one either. Not in the loaded sense of the term (Bush, etc.) He had to be one to accomplish the plan. Notice the never Trumpers are gone. You can add those seats to the Senate gains. Times are changing. It’s going to go fast from now on.

  115. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 8, 2018 at 7:29 am | Permalink

    Ever watch Hemp For Victory, EOS? WWII US government film

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIxFhYVv_Gk

  116. iRobert
    Posted November 8, 2018 at 3:25 pm | Permalink

    Don’t worry too much about prop #1, EOS. In Colorado, most municipalities have opted out of their pot legalization law. It is going to happen in Michigan too.

  117. this is why we voted
    Posted November 8, 2018 at 3:32 pm | Permalink

    Washington Post: “House Dems plan quick vote to protect preexisting conditions once in majority”

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/plum-line/wp/2018/10/04/trump-may-be-guilty-of-massive-tax-fraud-dont-let-it-fall-down-the-memory-hole/

  118. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 9, 2018 at 10:53 pm | Permalink

    Florida election fraud: “Wulp, somehow we just keep finding thousands and thousands of votes days after the election!”

  119. iRobert
    Posted November 10, 2018 at 4:49 am | Permalink

    HW, Florida and Georgia elections and vote tabulation is run by the Republicans. You don’t have to concern yourself. I promise the outcome will always go in favor of the Republicans there. Rest assured. And don’t worry about the Democrats figuring out how it’s being done or what to do about it. They’re morons.

  120. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 10, 2018 at 7:35 am | Permalink

    What are you trying to say? Pretty sure Broward is a D area…Sheriff Scott Israel, Debbie Wasserman Schultz…

  121. Jean Henry
    Posted November 10, 2018 at 7:50 am | Permalink

    My favorite election story: https://bangordailynews.com/2018/11/07/national-politics/brothel-owner-found-dead-by-porn-star-wins-nevada-state-assembly-race/

  122. iRobert
    Posted November 10, 2018 at 8:18 am | Permalink

    I’m telling you to relax, HW. You have nothing to worry about. There is no chance whatsoever that the Florida state officials will let any results put the Democrats over the top in the final state-wide tabulation. What we are seeing has been the pattern in Florida for 20 to 30 years.

    As demographics have been shifting in the state, as a result of rapid population growth, the GOP has devised many ways to make sure they don’t lose dominance over state government.

    Similar demographic shifts have been occurring in Georgia, Arizona, and in Texas to some degree. The GOP is dug-in in those states and will do anything and everything to ensure that they don’t go the way of Colorado.

  123. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 10, 2018 at 8:42 am | Permalink

    I’ll worry about what I damn well please. You don’t even follow the news do you? Governor Scott had to sue Broward County to make them comply with the law. The legitimacy of Broward’s results is the issue. You can’t just sweep away what they are doing and say Republicans are doing something wrong. How do you think that could possibly work?

  124. iRobert
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 7:27 am | Permalink

    This same pattern has been repeating over in over in Florida for the past 20+ years. It may help all you to look at the history of recounts in Florida.

    The last thing I want to do here is offend you. I’m very appreciative of how you drive Jean nuts, as I’m thinking many readers here are. She seems to feel it’s important to fight with you. It really saves the rest of us a lot of annoyance and disgust.

  125. iRobert
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 7:35 am | Permalink

    I assume you remember the big 2000 presidential recount in Florida. Even with the state Supreme Court giving the go-ahead on the recount, the US Supreme Court overruled them. This current US Suoreme Court can be counted on to do that again if necessary. It almost certainly will not have to go that far.

    The GOP has control over Florida in a similar way to that which the Dems have in California. Once all the votes are tabulated out there, they will have gained as many as 40 US House seats.

  126. iRobert
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 9:17 am | Permalink

    NBC’s Chuck Todd agrees that the Florida recount will not likely make any difference in the outcome. He made the point that in all the recounts he’s witnessed, nobody has ever overcome a deficit of several thousand votes.

  127. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 11:27 am | Permalink

    But it is Dem controlled Broward County that is adding extra votes. How does that square with your theory? Why don’t you think these things through? You care enough to comment verbosely. I think it is annoying that you are filibustering and not even acknowledging the reality today.

  128. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 11:38 am | Permalink

    Scott’s lead is already down to some 13,000. Telling someone not to worry about what looks to a lot of people to be election fraud is ridiculous. Implying it’s a republican problem in 2018 is bizarre.

  129. iRobert
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 11:49 am | Permalink

    13,000 votes is insurmountable in a recount, historically. I’ll give you 100 to 1 odds on it if you want to wager a few pennies. For every penny you wager, I’ll put up a dollar. Who ever loses, can donate the total bet to some local charity. How about it?

    The story is different out west. The Democrats probably did win the Arizona US Senate seat. But Florida is safe for Republicans. Georgia too. They’re owned by Republicans, much in the way the Democrats own California and New York.

  130. iRobert
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 12:36 pm | Permalink

    I know which counties in Florida are run by Democrats and which are run by Republicans. I’ve thought I’ve been clear enough about what I think Republicans have done. They have already determined the totals statewide, and have ensured that they’ll have just enough regardless of what the Democrats can turn up in a few counties. EOS doesn’t like to acknowledge the GOP is rigging Florida, but you say you’re not a Republican, HW. That’s why I thought you might not be so unwilling to recognize that the Republicans have a stranglehold on Florida and all its institutions, including the vote tabulation system and law enforcement. They simply will not allow Dems to uncover, or discover, or submit the necessary votes to make up that 13,000. As a safeguard, they will declare it a criminal investigation and confiscate everything. The next safeguard is court order to end it. The GOP holds all the cards in Florida. The most Democrats can get out of this is to rile up their base with this.

    You can worry all you want. I’m just suggesting all that worry will be wasted energy.

  131. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 1:57 pm | Permalink

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/florida-senate-race-heads-to-recount-1541873798

    “Mr. Scott’s lead has steadily dropped to 12,562 votes, or 0.15 percentage point, down from roughly 56,000 votes on election night”

    It’s already gone down over 44,000. That is the problem. How did it happen? Do I need to use more words to make it clear what you are missing?

  132. iRobert
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 2:16 pm | Permalink

    Let’s wager, HW. I’m willing to make any sort of wager you’d like. Let’s come up with some terms.

    You’re always predicting stuff, right? I’m predicting Scott is sworn in to office. We will see who is right in a few weeks. There’s no need to talk endlessly about it. Let’s just make some sort of wager over it. It could all be for charity.

  133. Posted November 11, 2018 at 2:20 pm | Permalink

    This guy does a beautiful job.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IABRgZH12YA

  134. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 2:57 pm | Permalink

    That’s not my point. I think the justice system is on it. I don’t think it will be successful so it’s a bit of a straw man for you to say that, isn’t it?

  135. iRobert
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 3:11 pm | Permalink

    Well, at least we are in agreement that it will not be successful for the Democrats.

    I guess your opinion would be that over the past 20 years the Democrats have just been losing by razor thin margins by chance, and that there is no fixing by the Republicans?

  136. iRobert
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 3:13 pm | Permalink

    I thought you were genuinely worried about the Republicans not prevailing in Florida.

  137. iRobert
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 3:15 pm | Permalink

    Well, we can wager on something else. I’m willing to bet that those indictments you have been talking about are never unsealed in any significant numbers. You are saying they will be in January, right? How about loser has to take Jean Henry to an expensive dinner?

  138. Posted November 11, 2018 at 3:20 pm | Permalink

    Just kidding about the dinner with Jean Henry, HW. I couldn’t do anything that inhumane to you.

  139. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 3:40 pm | Permalink

    Is election fraud itself not something to be concerned about? Don’t tell me about the Bush clan. I never supported them. There are red and blue traitors and sometimes they work toward the same ends. Bush has more in common with Clinton than Trump. Bill is the son he never had, remember? Whatever that is supposed to mean…he wanted to have a liberal son???

  140. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 3:45 pm | Permalink

    practically family

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSsEJQslx7E

  141. Jean Henry
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 9:28 pm | Permalink

    IRobert — the assumption I would ever have dinner with either of you is dead wrong.

  142. iRobert
    Posted November 11, 2018 at 10:15 pm | Permalink

    I know that, Jean. I was just saying it as a joke.

  143. Anonymous
    Posted November 12, 2018 at 9:35 am | Permalink

    Here’s another uplifting headline from the day after the election.

    “Half the House Members Who Wrote Trump’s Tax Law Are Out of Their Jobs After Tuesday’s Vote”

    https://finance.yahoo.com/news/half-house-members-wrote-trump-223224107.html

  144. Posted November 12, 2018 at 8:46 pm | Permalink

    And the good news just keeps on coming….

    The New York Times is reporting, “Breaking News: Kyrsten Sinema won her Arizona Senate race. It marks the first Democratic victory since 1976 in a battle for an open Senate seat in the state.”

  145. Benjamin Wittes by proxy
    Posted November 12, 2018 at 10:25 pm | Permalink

    So at the end of the day, the great GOP victory in the Senate was a gain of one seat–or maybe two–in a year with a dramatically favorable Senate map.

  146. iRobert
    Posted November 13, 2018 at 6:49 am | Permalink

    Yes, the GOP has an extremely favorable senate map this year, and probably only managed a net gain of one seat (legitimately). Florida was rigged, again.

    With such a close balance in the senate, it is definitely a possibility that one or two GOP moderate Senators will switch parties, or declare their independence from the Republicans.

  147. iRobert
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 11:00 am | Permalink

    Ohio Democratic Senator Sharrod Brown is sounding like he may run for President.

  148. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 2:34 pm | Permalink

    Florida was rigged by dems but they failed. 100% of the problems were in dem areas. Why lie to yourself and everyone else?

  149. iRobert
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 5:04 pm | Permalink

    You have never worked on a campaign, in government, or on an election process, HW. You have no idea what you’re talking about. Is that the definition of “derp?”

  150. iRobert
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 5:07 pm | Permalink

    I can see why you are such a fan of Trump. It must seem empowering to see a guy in a powerful position who has so little knowledge of anything. That must fill you with hope. You are certainly full of something.

  151. iRobert
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 5:12 pm | Permalink

    If I were to take a day off to walk you through the whole process of how elections work, and you realize then you had no idea what you were talking about, would you promise never to utter another word in a subject you know nothing about? Because I’d be willing to throw away a day of my life just to save everyone else you speak to the incredible annoyance they will otherwise be experiencing.

  152. iRobert
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 5:16 pm | Permalink

    When it was said that “Clinton was the son Bush never had” it was said as a joke. It was an insult of the sons he did have. That was the point of it, HW.

    See, I can explain things to you. Would you like me to explain how Democrats didn’t commit voter fraud in Florida? Can I get some sort of fee for doing your thinking for you?

  153. iRobert
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 5:20 pm | Permalink

    My comment about setting you two (HW and JH) up on a dinner date was also a joke. The point of the joke was that it would be such unbearable torture, for the both of you, and so deserved. I’m sure everyone else here can imagine and appreciate that very comical scenario.

  154. iRobert
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 5:55 pm | Permalink

    To put it as simply as I can, the ballots which Democrats were trying to get counted were those which were discarded and those which the Republicans consider spoiled.

    Lots of people can’t seem to follow simple instructions about how they are to cast their votes. They fill out their details wrong, or indicate their selections in ways which machines can’t recognize. The Democrats were trying to get all those spoiled and discarded ballots examined and counted. The GOP wants them all to remain discarded. That’s all that’s been happening since the polls closed on Election Day.

    What was going on before the polls closed on Election Day is a whole other story. It’s too much to sufficiently summarize with my thumbs working overtime typing away in this micro screen which I can hardly see. But I’ve been talking about the details of how elections are rigged for decades. As I have said many times here before, I have a lot of first-hand experience and knowledge with regard to election rigging at various levels of government. I even resigned my board of canvassers position in a local school district because of a milliage vote being rigged. There’s a lot of dirty dealing in America which the average shmo has no awareness of. It’s scary really.

  155. Jean Henry
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 8:07 pm | Permalink

    iRobert– I’m not sure why you so enjoy the thought of me having dinner at your behest with an obviously abusive crackpot, and I dont care to speculate about it, but I suggest you keep your romantic torture fantasies about women to yourself going forward– for the sake of everyone..

    I think its a tight contest here for the most insufferable award. As much as you hate my invocation of social justice concerns and perspectives, and the way I do go on… I still don’t think I rank at the top of the list. You seem to imagine you are nowhere near the top. Maybe we should lock you in a small room with HW or EOS or FF, and see who comes out alive. IS that a funny thought to you as well– one you think others would enjoy?

  156. Sad
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 8:33 pm | Permalink

    My dinner with HW.

    I might watch that movie. However it is eating with him. I wonder what his table manner are like?

  157. iRobert
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 9:02 pm | Permalink

    Jean, I assured HW that I was just kidding. As much as I disagree with him about a lot of things, I couldn’t subject him to such torture. He is a living being, after all.

    I think HW, EOS, FF and I would get along just fine if we were locked in a room together. I think we would cooperate to find a way out. We all have different political ideas, but they all strike me a relatively decent and civil people. I mean, I haven’t seen any of them threaten to cut anybody.

    I’m trying hard to be the most insufferable commenter on this blog. I would say I’m somewhere near the top of the list. I appreciate that you back that up.

    Lastly, Jean, I have no evidence that you are a woman. I don’t know why you would think I do. EOS pretends to be an aspiring Christian here. Why wouldn’t I just assume you are a dude who wants people to think he’s a woman. That’s the impression I get. I only see your comments here. You talk and think like a guy.

  158. Jean Henry
    Posted November 19, 2018 at 6:25 am | Permalink

    I talk and think like a human being, iRobert. That you have categories of manner of thought and speech for the genders is fascinating. I’m ok with disrupting those. Like, really really ok with it. I’m especially ok when it upsets men that I approach them as equals. I use my full name here, so my gender is pretty easy to verify if it matters to you. It doesn’t matter too much to me. Your own gender bias is on grand display whenever you talk about me, even behind the mask of that fake name.

    PS you just referred to HW as decent and civil, FYI.

  159. iRobert
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 1:36 pm | Permalink

    Yes, Jean, I do believe HW is at least as decent and civil as you are. You really like to provoke people. Much of his expressed hostility has come in response to your misrepresentations of things he’s said.

    Again, I disagree with a lot of things HW says, but I don’t think it makes any sense to misrepresent his views or comments. That is a destructive and stupid strategy in almost every circumstance.

    When I said you talk like a man, I really meant you talked like the stereotype of a man. I probably should have made that clear. The only reason I didn’t is because I don’t mind insulting men in general. Of course there are many men who do not fit the stereotype, but far too few.

  160. Anonymous
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 2:05 pm | Permalink

    HW just called mark a dumb fuck. Is that decent? Civil?

  161. iRobert
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 2:19 pm | Permalink

    When a man stands up against other men, he is breaking from the stereotype (for example).

    The stereotype of what it is to be a man, these days especially, can be very ugly. No decent man allows this culture to dictate who he is. This culture is a disaster, and is quite destructive to any poor soul who absorbs it. It is best to defy in almost every way now.

    Buying into the prevailing bullshit is spiritual and psychological suicide.

  162. iRobert
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 2:30 pm | Permalink

    Calling Mark a dumb fuck is not civil. But HW has been pushed continuously here. You would call it triggering or something. HW is agitated as hell. He’s lashing out. I still think he wouldn’t say such a thing in person to Mark. I think he might even like Mark if he actually met him. This is what the bizarre internet culture is doing to people. I can tell HW is a pretty decent guy beyond this internet persona though. He doesn’t want to see people as enemies.

    By the way, I’m not advocating civility here. I’m just saying HW is no less civil than you are. Misrepresenting what people say is very offensive behavior. It is at least as offensive as calling a person a dumb fuck. In a very important way, it is far worse.

  163. iRobert
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 4:56 pm | Permalink

    It would be interesting if Mark were to impose some standards of conduct here. I think it could dranatically improve the level of discussion. I, of course, would lose all interest.

  164. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 5:22 pm | Permalink

    Pffft. You should have seen it at the start when I had my kid gloves policy. I recognized I was treading somewhere with very different viewpoints and took pains to not respond to personal attacks or be personal in any way. That went on for some months after I first posted. They basically declared war on me because I voted for Trump even though I was intentionally defenseless. After a while I said fuck it and I’ve been shredding them with that colorful commentary ever since.

  165. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 5:27 pm | Permalink

    Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 2:34 pm | Permalink
    Florida was rigged by dems but they failed. 100% of the problems were in dem areas. Why lie to yourself and everyone else?
    iRobert
    Posted November 18, 2018 at 5:04 pm | Permalink
    You have never worked on a campaign, in government, or on an election process, HW. You have no idea what you’re talking about. Is that the definition of “derp?”

    Do not see what that has to do with it.

    …Snipes suddenly needs to spend more time with her family…You better hope there was no election fraud or you are going to be wrong as shit!

  166. iRobert
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 6:31 pm | Permalink

    You seem entirely directed by the BS Fox and the GOP push. They will focus entirely on one or a few incompetent Democratic officials in order to push their bullshit vote fraud narrative. It’s disappointing that you are so suckered by it, HW. At times you seem prone to more critical thought. You should be skeptical across the board. Fox is at least as full of it as CNN and MSNBC. Ultimately, they offer little more than small pieces of much larger puzzles which are never reported.

    I can write an extensive essay for you on how international observers detect election rigging, and on the many methods that are used to rig elections. I wouldn’t do such an essay justice typing it on my iPhone in micro text while distracted by other things. I’ll have to sit down for some time at a desk too. But if you are interested in a genuine and thoughtful discussion on the topic in real detail, I can dedicate some time to it.

  167. Jean Henry
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 6:50 pm | Permalink

    iRobert– a lot of what you saw as misrepresentation of HW’s positions was in fact culled from reading about the Q positions he parrots. Q also counsels his loyal minions to go into ‘enemy territory’ and proselytize, but to play nice withhold the more intensely weird pieces of his elaborate C theories at first. So when we spoke of lizard people and adrenaline being harvested from children, IL and I were drawing out the crazy in HW on purpose. HW went all in on the baby harvest thing but held back on acknowledging the lizard people. although the other day he loved a song that talked about the lizard people… so…

    At the time, many people like you and SAD were defending his positions. And he hadnt acknowledged the Q origins of his rantings. It seemed like a worthwhile effort to get him to expose more of what he believed. It wasn’t a misrepresentation of his beliefs so much as an eliciting of them. Same with the white supremacist ideology etc. (White people are threatened by the racism against them…) You can choose to disagree. But this is the kind of thing he buys (See PIzzagate): https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/hillary-clinton-snuff-film/

  168. Jean Henry
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 6:54 pm | Permalink

    Re civility: “If civility is the virtue that makes it possible to tolerate disagreement so we can actually engage with our opponents, then talking about civility seems to be mainly a strategy of disengagement. It’s a little bit like threatening to take your ball and go home when the game isn’t going your way.”

    https://www.ted.com/talks/teresa_bejan_is_civility_a_sham?fbclid=IwAR0eWFXx-SPqzo_hKyp4aNGQhoZBZFbkqZkLdozObVv0OfhWzmXCoe1FATk#t-881536

  169. Jean Henry
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 7:00 pm | Permalink

    Of course, i Robert, your objection could be that have asserted that HW is abusive, and you think THAT is more abusive than his use of abusive language. Well then, where does that take us as a society really?

    PS It does not bother me at all that you think I’m a bully. Bring it on Mr nice guy.

  170. iRobert
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 7:37 pm | Permalink

    No, Jean, I do not think that you asserting that HW is abusive is more abusive than HW being abusive. I haven’t said that. This again is you misrepresenting what another person says. Misrepresenting what other people say is offensive. I take greater offense to that than I do to HW calling me rediculious names.

    I’m well aware that you don’t care what I think about you. It’s one of the few things I respect about you, as a matter of fact. I don’t think you’re a bully. I think you’re offensive. There’s a difference.

    HW, you have to admit the lizard people thing is way out there. You are always rightfully demanding that people present some supporting information or evidence. What do you have to support the claim that there are lizard people? I haven’t seen even the slightest clue of such a thing. Many, many indications that sociopaths are rampant in government and other positions of power, yes. Lizard people, no.

  171. Frosted Flakes
    Posted November 20, 2018 at 10:24 pm | Permalink

    We have already addressed these misrepresentations. HW does not believe in lizard people. EOS is not a holocaust denier. EOS does not believe in curfews for black people.

  172. iRobert
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 3:13 am | Permalink

    Jean, do you think you misrepresent other people’s positions on issues? Also, is it deliberate, unintentional, or simply a result of miscommunication on our part?

  173. Jean Henry
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 5:00 am | Permalink

    HW subscribes to a conspiracy theory that includes the lizard people thing. It took a while before he denied it. I don’t actually believe he doesn’t subscribe to it, given how much he held back and for how long. I can choose not to believe someone. He can choose to deny it by calling me a liar. What he has admitted to believing is enough. I have said here many times that I have an intentional double standard when it comes to dealing with trolls like HW. I’m ok with that. They have no integrity, and so they get none in return from me. I pretty much expect them to be lying all the time. That you all would defend him speaks to a lack of integrity on your part as far as I’m concerned. And a lack of humor. That you don’t think he lies, tells me you are both easy marks for him.

    I never called EOS a holocaust denier nor did I say anything about curfews for Black people and her point of view, ever. I said she held racist beliefs, making arguments based on ideas of white supremacy, including biological determinism.

    I’m certain I misrepresent people’s opinions. I don’t do so intentionally. (Even in the case of HW I don’t know what he believes and neither do you; I was right about a bunch of it before he admitted it though…and you all were clueless) Misunderstanding is an inevitable and essential part of discourse. Happens all the time. With everyone. Two people cant always resolve their disagreements into a common understanding of the truth. That doesn’t make either one a liar. Lies are intentional. I’m also certain many people are in denial of the racist and sexist origins of their own belief system and so don’t know that a lot of what they say is racist and sexist. We don’t actually get to say what we believe and think. Other people are often a better gauge of it, because denial and delusion are a large part of human self-concept.

    I really pretty much reject the strict rationality argument that underlies what you both find offensive. I think you are both full of shit, honestly. That’s my opinion, not a lie.

    iRobert– was all that stuff you said about Mark when you troll him a lie, or hyperbole, or just a misrepresentation?

    PS I still think I represented accurately the implication of your statement re HW’s abusive nature. That you don’t see it is not my problem. Your defensiveness about it gives me no indication I was wrong. Quite the opposite. There are conscious belief and unconscious belief systems, guys. We don’t always know what beliefs are reflected in our perspectives. That’s one of the functions of discourse. It’s a mirror. You call me a liar and I say you are in denial. Those two roads aren’t going to meet in agreement any time soon.

    I’m really ok with you all being uncomfortable with what I say. I don’t really care what either of you think about much. Certainly not me. I was only interested in the idea that you think abusive speech is less bad than lying. or even just as bad. It tells me a lot about our culture. It tells me a lot about how we excuse abusers and why so many women die at the hands of men they know and nothing gets done about it. It’s interesting because it’s about the culture we live in; not because you are interesting.

    How many women do you think are called liars by their spouses before they get shot or beaten to a pulp?

    The thing about abusers is they are sure they are right. That requires them to believe in clear delineation of right and wrong, truth and falsehood. Believing strongly in black/white idea of right and wrong is the basis of delusion. See; why Jean distrusts logic.

    If you can demonstrate that anything HW or EOS posits is fact; then if I misrepresent that thing; I will be a liar. But analysis isn’t lying, guys.

  174. Jean Henry
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 5:14 am | Permalink

    Here is an easy litmus test: If HW or EOS say anything here that could be included in a news story and meet journalistic standards, and I say they didn’t say it or it’s untrue, that’s lying and/or misrepresentation.

    If they say something here that would end up in the editorial/opinion section of a paper and I dispute that, it’ not lying; it’s a difference of opinion.

    There are legal standards for slander. Look them up. You can’t slander someone with a fake name.

  175. Frosted Flakes
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 5:21 am | Permalink

    I did not mean to imply that Jean is guilty of all three of this misrepresentations. All 3 were misrepresentations made by her buddy. Jean misrepresented HW as believing in lizard people, insofar as HW is offering a true representation of his beliefs.

    I am not sure but I think she is now making a case that several of us are low integrity abusive types. I am not sure. I am not sure I care enough to try to figure out what Jean is talking about above.

  176. Jean Henry
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 7:33 am | Permalink

    I have been very clear FF that I believe HW demonstrates many characteristics of an abuser. I would ever make that accusation easily. I have said you demonstrate bias and gross double standards between your scrutiny of left and right. I point those out. iRobert engages in casual trolling of Mark and thinks it’s funny, but not so when directed at HW which I will never understand. iRobert also is extremely defensive around issues of equity that are not economic. He regularly displays a kind of denseness around issues of gender bias. He sometimes shows a casual double standard and then steps back when called on it. I appreciate other perspectives you bring to the table. I’m quite used to people expressing bias. It doesn’t alarm me, but it’s worth pointing up in public discourse.

    I see nothing redeeming about HW. Really nothing. And I like many Trump supporters, so that’s not the cause. I know and like lots of conspiracy theorists, so that’s not it either. He’s a dangerous human being, with a hair-trigger temper (that was evident to me even when he thought he was being nice). That’s my strong impression based on personal experience with such men. (common characteristics: delusions, megalomania, black/white thinking, easy to anger, persistence, obsessive nature, a strong sense of persecution, abusive language) I’d be happy to be wrong. If there were more women here, I’d have more back up. IL understood men like that too, having grown up with one, by his account here.

    If HW were isolated in his perspective, I might have ignored him. But it was worth digging up and drawing out the sources of his theories. Now I mostly ignore him. This is an anonymous forum. Even though my name is here, my impression is that he’s not dangerous to people he doesn’t know personally but may very well be to those he does. The closer they are the more likely they are to be subject to daily harassment. That’s just how abuse works, not about HW as an individual. But I feel sorry for any woman who has to deal with him daily and for any human who has to work with him.

  177. Jean Henry
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 8:04 am | Permalink

    There have been multiple instances of domestic terrorism (shootings, arson) already by Q followers and threats of much more. HW has some strange company. And the lizard shape shifter people thing is a big part of it. It was reasonable to associate his fealty to the other elements of Qanon theories with belief in that as well. Just the presence of a lizard people and child murder ring to extract drugs would put most people off a multi-layered conspiracy theory. HW remains true.

    https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/reddit-bans-qanon-subreddits-after-months-violent-threats-n909061

  178. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 8:41 am | Permalink

    Jean, you know nothing about Q. The only things you have read by Q are the few quotes I have posted. Q has nothing to do with reptilians. If you believe Q has talked about it then find a post by Q and let’s see what it is you think refers to reptilians. If you can’t do it you are full of shit. Agreed?

  179. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 8:43 am | Permalink

    All Q posts can be found at qanon.pub

  180. Jean Henry
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 8:51 am | Permalink

    HW– You yourself said that Q provides clues that are open to interpretation. Q weaves associations. Many Q followers like you believe the shapeshifter narrative. Am I full of shit about that? I believe you don’t buy that piece. It took a while for you to say so though.

    The whole child blood harvesting for an easily synthesized drug thing was enough for me to dismiss anything you say. It also makes you open to ridicule. I make no apologies about that.

  181. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 8:58 am | Permalink

    I haven’t come across anything Q related about shapeshifting or reptilians at all. There was that one video that youtube had in the number one spot for a long time. That was just one person’s musings though, not Q quotes. So there you go lying your ass off like you do every day.

  182. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 9:00 am | Permalink

    You are abusive, Jean. You think it is right and good to choose someone to hate, then harass them till they defend their self, then accuse them of being abusive when they do engage in self-defense.

  183. iRobert
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 9:13 am | Permalink

    It’s good to see your perspective summarized, Jean. I feel like I’m all caught up on where we all stand here now. My impression is that you do a lot of projecting.

    I don’t get the sense that HW is an abuser, but I haven’t interacted with him as much as you have. Don’t you worry that by constantly provoking him you’d be getting him to kick his dog or something?

    Have you ever asked Mark about how insulting I am toward him? I thought you’d be able to tell that it is always lame humor. It’s very apparent that Mark is a thoughtful and pleasant person. The joke is that anyone would imagine him to be worthy of absolute hatred, distrust, etc. I think all this internet discourse is a rediculous joke. These absurd interactions are an almost totally new thing which the internet has gifted us. It’s been terrible for our culture and society.

  184. iRobert
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 9:25 am | Permalink

    Jean, of all the people in real life which you could confront about their known physically abusive conduct, I’m surprised you would focus so much on some dude commenting on a blog.

    HW, do you physically abuse anybody, or any pet in your real world life? Jean seems concerned. Of course she also seems to suspect the same about me, and I know I am not even remotely as hostile toward women as she is. I do remember her calling EOS (a fellow women according to Jean) a bitch and threatening to cut her. I would never even have the thought to say such a thing.

  185. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 9:32 am | Permalink

    Jean Henry is a tasteless joke. I’ve hardly every come across someone so backwards in person or on the web. It’s classic projection. She does it with me and with everyone in this whole world. She feels guilty deep inside for being so abusive so she blames the other for what she is.

  186. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 9:52 am | Permalink

    She likes to lie, then evaporate when called out on it. Look at this reptilian shit. She can’t answer so she will slink away and act like nothing happened. No integrity.

    Personally I think there must be endless types of lifeforms in this universe. We are out in the sticks of the Milky Way and may not even be native to it (see the Sagittarius Elliptical Dwarf Galaxy, which intersects the Milky Way right about where our solar system is.) Didn’t know about the SagDeg? Don’t know about much, do we? We don’t even know what all is in our own oceans. I strive to be both open-minded and skeptical; believe nothing and consider everything possible.

  187. Jean Henry
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 10:26 am | Permalink

    iRobert– I have explained this to you 100x but “I’ll cut you bitch” is a phrase in common rhetorical use in teen popular culture. I had a teen at home at the time, and would literally say that to her as a joke when she needed to clean up her room. (She understood the intent and context– waiting for this to be misinterpreted as well in 1,2,3… FWIW she would do the same in return. Context matters.) I was not threatening EOS ith physical harm but with rhetorical retribution. I don’t know who EOS or what gender she is. I like to fuck with her by referring to her as a woman. It was mean. I feel totally ok being mean to someone whose religious, political and personal obsession with fetuses threatens my bodily autonomy and that of my daughter and all women.I knew it would make her and a bunch of men uncomfortable to hear a woman express rage. It’s pretty easy facing zero risk from the inequity and only benefit to deride the legitimate anger and fears and historical and contemporary perspective of those who advocate for social justice. It’s also pretty easy to fuck with people invested in belief systems I think are bullshit.

  188. Jean Henry
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 10:31 am | Permalink

    https://bizstandardnews.com/2018/08/05/jones-qanon-is-a-rogue-shape-shifting-reptilian-alien/

  189. Jean Henry
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 11:35 am | Permalink

    i Robert– I think your old man concern about the current state of discourse in the US is both in denial of what American political discourse has always looked like and very much misplaces where the threat to our democracy exists. It’s not in bitchy feminists, angry-anti-racists or the antifa– all of whom have non-hierarchical structures and grass roots leadership reflecting multiple political perspectives– and always have. It’s in people who peddle misinformation that protects existing power structures with a nice persecution complex thrown in. It’s religious and political zealots who take a true by any means necessary mindset (meaning autocratic) to secure their existing outsized power and influence. All you need to do is look at who holds power in this culture to see where the real threat lies. And those people are regularly espousing government over-reach as iron fist as a way to quell dissent. I’m surprised you can’t see this even when you disagree with my methods. You think HW and EOS pose no threat to democracy, society and culture and I do? That’s fucked up.

    I linked to a Ted talk by a woman who studied call to civility above. (I know you say you aren’t doing that and yet you do, you do… You just don’t want to enforce it (unlike HW and EOS)…. I suggest you watch it.

  190. Jean Henry
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 11:39 am | Permalink

    You might want to look at the voting records of Black people, Latinx, feminist women and queer people before suggesting that they divide the left. Then look at white males. You cna just look at leftist white makes actually. “Identity politics” may make white male straight leftists uncomfortable, but that’s just them asking for a place at the table. Sometimes you have to throw an able after asking politely for 225 years.

  191. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 12:02 pm | Permalink

    Ahahaha! Did AJ really say that?! That’s funny. AJ has lost mega influence since Q said AJ=Mossad, which is along the lines of what was always in the back of my mind about him. I thought quite possible CIA.

  192. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 12:08 pm | Permalink

    bizstandardnews seems to be the only one with that quote. Don’t disappoint me and let it be satire.

  193. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 21, 2018 at 12:18 pm | Permalink

    AJ has been saying Q is a larp for many months now so you are aligned with AJ.

  194. Hyborian Warlord
    Posted November 22, 2018 at 9:12 am | Permalink

    “She likes to lie, then evaporate when called out on it.”

    Glad that didn’t happen…again…

  195. iRobert
    Posted January 13, 2019 at 12:05 pm | Permalink

    Jean, if EOS had used language that suggested he was threatening you with physical violence, but later defended the comment as being something he learned from his teenage child, and which they use in a humorous way, nobody would consider any of that a legitimate excuse. EOS and I disagree on a lot of things, but I do admire his civility.

    To be fair and forthcoming, I’m just busting your balls though really. It’s what thugs like you and I do, isn’t it?

  196. Posted February 15, 2019 at 5:15 pm | Permalink

    Ex-Massachusetts Governor to Challenge Trump for GOP Nod

    BEDFORD, N.H. (AP) — William Weld, a former Massachusetts governor who ran for vice president on the Libertarian Party ticket in 2016, became the first Republican to take a serious step toward challenging President Donald Trump in 2020.

    Speaking Friday at a breakfast in New Hampshire, Weld said he has created a presidential exploratory committee. He blasted Trump for leaving the nation in “grave peril.”

    “We have a president whose priorities are skewed towards promotion of himself rather than for the good of the country,” he said. “He may have great energy and considerable raw talent but he does not use that in ways that promote democracy, truth, justice and equal opportunity for all. To compound matters, our president is simply too unstable to carry out the duties of the highest executive office in the land.”

  197. iRobert
    Posted July 24, 2019 at 11:41 am | Permalink

    US Representative Paul Mitchell (R) from Michigan’s 10th district has announced he will not seek re-election.

  198. iRobert
    Posted November 5, 2019 at 6:59 am | Permalink

    It’s Election Day 2019.

    I wonder how people are feeling about this billion dollar bond issue in Ann Arbor.

  199. dogmatic dolt
    Posted November 5, 2019 at 7:38 am | Permalink

    Aloha, and will Kentucky reject MAGA and go blue today? Republican Matt Bevin upset all the polling (nearly a 20 pt. swing between late polling and election results) data 4 years ago and won by a landslide. The Clintonian Democratic Party in its hubris ignored those results. Trump was in Kentucky last night begging folks not to let him down–ie. the Republicans are making this election about Trump. Will it be a bell weather of things to come?

  200. dogmatic dolt
    Posted November 5, 2019 at 9:22 am | Permalink

    Aloha, we know impeachment will go no where thanks to the Republican controlled Senate. The real question of the day is, will the teachers get the vote out for them and the Democrats.

    Of the 3.4 million Kentuckians registered to vote, about 31% are estimated to turn out to cast a ballot on Tuesday.

    That fits in line with the state’s most recent gubernatorial contests, which have seen low turnout for years. When Bevin was elected four years ago, for instance, roughly 30% showed up.

  201. Posted November 5, 2019 at 12:56 pm | Permalink

    From NBC News:

    Here’s how to watch tonight’s elections in Kentucky, Mississippi and Virginia

    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/meet-the-press/here-s-how-watch-tonight-s-elections-kentucky-mississippi-virginia-n1076416

  202. dogmatic dolt
    Posted November 5, 2019 at 2:44 pm | Permalink

    Aloha JH, Was just re-reading your comment from 11:35 Nov. 21 2018, above. I would say you call that about right. What has turned you into such a supporter of the establishment media narrative in the last year?

    “It’s in people who peddle misinformation that protects existing power structures with a nice persecution complex thrown in.” almost sounds like you are talking about Hillary (or Trump), two side of the same beast?

  203. EOS
    Posted November 5, 2019 at 2:59 pm | Permalink

    There’s a lot of interest in the Governors race in Virginia. If the Dem wins, there will likely be laws changed so that mothers can kill their newborns, that is, if the mother and her doctor feel it would be an inconvenience otherwise.

  204. Flower Grandpa
    Posted November 5, 2019 at 4:30 pm | Permalink

    Vote No for the AAPS billion dollar boondoggle!

  205. Lynne
    Posted November 5, 2019 at 5:01 pm | Permalink

    EOS, no one is advocating for laws that would allow newborns to be killed.

  206. dogmatic dolt
    Posted November 5, 2019 at 5:04 pm | Permalink

    Aloha EOS, there is no Governors race in Virginia this year. I don’t think any Democrat’s have advocated changing laws on infanticide. Once you throw out your core believes and become a lesser evil voter, it is easy to become confused. If you shifted your thoughts and began looking for the good candidate, you wouldn’t have the confusion about which evil to vote for. Just saying EOS, try to get a grip.

  207. Posted November 5, 2019 at 5:53 pm | Permalink

    If you’re interested in watching the Virginia election results as they come in, here’s a link to the livestream page at WTVR in Richmond:

    https://wtvr.com/on-air/live-streaming/

    Polls in Virginia close at 7pm

  208. Posted November 5, 2019 at 6:50 pm | Permalink

    Virginia and Kentucky election results live streams:

    WKYT Lexington, KY
    https://www.wkyt.com/livestream

    WTVR Richmond, VA
    https://wtvr.com/on-air/live-streaming/

  209. Posted November 5, 2019 at 8:12 pm | Permalink

    This is a better livestream for the Kentucky results:

    https://livestream.com/wave/live

  210. Jean Henry
    Posted November 5, 2019 at 8:15 pm | Permalink

    DD– Equating HRC to Trump is an absurdity. It’s the kind of thinking that got us Trump actually.

    I never denied HRC was an establishment candidate, but Bernie was full of shit with no plans. So she was my choice, We have more and better choices now and even Bernie has better plans. Funny how that works out.

  211. Posted November 5, 2019 at 8:38 pm | Permalink

    Election coverage in Virginia is terrible, but this might be the best live video stream for results:

    https://www.nbc12.com/news/livestream/decision-virginia-election-2019-results/2019/11/05/7af551c3-23f2-4677-95f9-eda089aea338_live.html

  212. iRobert
    Posted November 5, 2019 at 8:59 pm | Permalink

    Democrats took control of both houses the Virginia state legislature.

  213. Jean Henry
    Posted November 6, 2019 at 11:47 am | Permalink

    Flower Gramps (aka Pat Lesko) loses again. And now the whole center of the city thing is falling apart. I can’t wait for tonights citizen input session at the library. This is going to be fun.

  214. Posted May 12, 2020 at 5:42 am | Permalink

    Two Special Elections On Tuesday Could Hint At Another Blue Wave In 2020

    https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/two-special-elections-on-tuesday-could-hint-at-another-blue-wave-in-2020/amp/?cid=referral_taboola_feed

    (From FiveThirtyEight)

  215. Posted May 12, 2020 at 3:18 pm | Permalink

    California and Wisconsin Special Elections: What to Watch For

    https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/12/us/politics/special-election-in-california-wisconsin.html

    (From The New York Times)

  216. Posted October 14, 2020 at 5:45 am | Permalink

    Keep the blue wave rolling! Thank you, Trump and his cultists.

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