does anyone remember that O didn't come out for marriage til when, '13?
― the increasing costive borborygmi (Dr Morbius), Saturday, 27 June 2015 22:14 (nine years ago) link
iirc it was 2012, election yeara few days earlier biden publicly stated he was comfortable with gay marriagewhich made things kinda awkward for obamaalso some wealthy gay donors threatened to withhold supportnevertheless imo better to judge politicians on their actions rather than purity of their motivesthe latter is utterly futile standard in politics
― drash, Saturday, 27 June 2015 23:01 (nine years ago) link
if you judge them only on the purity of the motives on this subject, you have to rate Gavin Newsom really high, but I wouldn't rank him high on anything else.
― akm, Sunday, 28 June 2015 02:52 (nine years ago) link
his hair
― a silly gif of awkward larping (Sparkle Motion), Sunday, 28 June 2015 07:31 (nine years ago) link
― the increasing costive borborygmi (Dr Morbius),
he fully supported it as a state senator
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 28 June 2015 11:09 (nine years ago) link
Barack Obama misled Americans for his own political benefit when he claimed in the 2008 election to oppose same sex marriage for religious reasons, his former political strategist David Axelrod writes in a new book, Believer: My Forty Years in Politics.
“I’m just not very good at bullshitting,” Obama told Axelrod, after an event where he stated his opposition to same-sex marriage, according to the book.
― curmudgeon, Sunday, 28 June 2015 15:17 (nine years ago) link
not bad at it now
― the increasing costive borborygmi (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 28 June 2015 15:26 (nine years ago) link
“I’m just not very good at bullshitting,”
i disagree
anyway, i’m critical of obama re many things but give him some credit for (belatedly) stating pro-ssm position as potus; even though actually the credit may be due to biden
― drash, Sunday, 28 June 2015 15:31 (nine years ago) link
it must be remembered that our elected leaders almost never lead us, but follow public opinion and keep their private opinions out of sight. it is up to activists to change public opinions and this is a full time job that is difficult to do in elective office. there are exceptions, of course, but this is the rule.
― Aimless, Sunday, 28 June 2015 16:30 (nine years ago) link
I think it's more of a push-pull relationship. If a political leader wants to work toward some potentially controversial goal, they need sufficient political push from below -- which means that they'll never be far enough in front from the activist POV -- but then once pushed they can amplify the grassroots effort significantly, helping to sway people on the fence (or people who just aren't paying attention). And in the amplification, the core message often gets diluted a bit, the goals compromised to some degree, which frustrates activists even more. And the political leaders, who are in a tougher position than the activists appreciate, get frustrated by the activists in turn. But they both need each other.
― something totally new, it’s the AOR of the twenty first century (tipsy mothra), Sunday, 28 June 2015 16:51 (nine years ago) link
^ I think you've described the relationship to a tee, especially given the opening "if a political leader wants to work toward some potentially controversial goal". Pols who aren't time servers usually do want to accomplish some potentially controversial goal, but it isn't universal.
― Aimless, Sunday, 28 June 2015 17:03 (nine years ago) link
pretty sweet to see NYC's towers lit up neon rainbow the same week the SCOTUS slapped down the health care typo challenge and the confederate flag came down in some places. there was a line around the stonewall blocks long. barry's "amazing grace" was a little tremulous and pitchy though
― reggie (qualmsley), Sunday, 28 June 2015 17:24 (nine years ago) link
and although I kind of dismissed newsom above, this is a pretty good interview of his motivations on this in 2004 and the fall out: http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/06/san-francisco-mayor-gavin-newsom-supreme-court-ruling-same-sex-marriage
― akm, Sunday, 28 June 2015 17:32 (nine years ago) link
Newsom helped hand the election to bush for his own political gain so fuck him
― Οὖτις, Sunday, 28 June 2015 17:42 (nine years ago) link
"I agree with you, I want to do it, now make me do it."
- FDR
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 28 June 2015 18:38 (nine years ago) link
^a snopesy never-said-it, right?
― the increasing costive borborygmi (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 28 June 2015 18:40 (nine years ago) link
pols are the enemy, especially the ones you vote for.
― the increasing costive borborygmi (Dr Morbius), Sunday, 28 June 2015 18:41 (nine years ago) link
It's apocryphal because it's true -- that was his attitude. He would maneuver people into forcing him into doing what he always wanted, lament to the press what Congress was forcing him to, and eagerly signing the legislation.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 28 June 2015 18:45 (nine years ago) link
*sign
"it's apocryphal because its true" is pretty good
― BIG HOOS aka the steendriver, Monday, 29 June 2015 14:50 (nine years ago) link
CNN and other tv news seem more interested in the capture of those 2 escaped prisoners in NY than in Supreme Court rulings,killings in Tunisia, Kuwait, Somalia and France; or funerals and pole climbing in Charleston. Nothing new about this approach but still annoying
― curmudgeon, Monday, 29 June 2015 15:07 (nine years ago) link
geez, how about TPP while we're at it? Or the Greek financial crisis?
― Iago Galdston, Monday, 29 June 2015 16:00 (nine years ago) link
what the hammer? what the chain?
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 29 June 2015 16:04 (nine years ago) link
news is no news
― the increasing costive borborygmi (Dr Morbius), Monday, 29 June 2015 16:05 (nine years ago) link
Maybe the two escaped prisoners are also carrying the 1.6 billion euros that Greece owes
― 1992 ball boy (Karl Malone), Monday, 29 June 2015 16:05 (nine years ago) link
To paraphrase an old, true saying: if you owe your banker a million euros you can't repay, you have a problem; if you owe your banker a billion euros you can't repay, your banker has a problem.
― Aimless, Monday, 29 June 2015 16:24 (nine years ago) link
goddamnit I just got this email from the clinton campaign: "More like Chillary Clinton, amirite?" it is emlazoned on a beer cozy. I don't know if I can vote for her if she keeps sending out this shit.
― akm, Monday, 29 June 2015 19:06 (nine years ago) link
when i think of chill people, which is something i do all the time, i always think of hillary clinton. man she is so chill
― 1992 ball boy (Karl Malone), Monday, 29 June 2015 19:22 (nine years ago) link
http://thehill.com/business-a-lobbying/246676-fannie-freddie-execs-get-34m-pay-raises?wpisrc=nl_daily202&wpmm=1
The leaders of the government-controlled housing agencies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac got hefty pay raises on Wednesday, according to new disclosure reports. Fannie Mae CEO Timothy Mayopoulos and Freddie Mac CEO Donald Layton will each earn target compensation of $4 million, according to disclosures filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Lawmakers had previously capped the controversial government sponsored entities’ executive pay at $600,000.”
One would hope members of both parties in Congress would see the bad optics on this. The link says someone is proposing a bill to limit their salaries. But I guess many dream of the gravy train themselves so they may not eager to limit this (plus that nonsense about attracting talented people is only possible if exorbitatn salaries are offered).
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 2 July 2015 13:58 (nine years ago) link
curmudgeon! You used "optics" in a sentence!
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Thursday, 2 July 2015 14:08 (nine years ago) link
The market dictates their wage they could work somewhere else blah blah
I like that people want to get paid the same rate as another job they don't have
― panettone for the painfully alone (mayor jingleberries), Thursday, 2 July 2015 14:27 (nine years ago) link
x-post--Sorry man, I've been corrupted or that use of the term is just everywhere now
― curmudgeon, Thursday, 2 July 2015 16:05 (nine years ago) link
throwing you under the bus now fyi
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 2 July 2015 16:08 (nine years ago) link
IA over 'optics' and 'lens' on this board
― Zing Zinglar (Sufjan Grafton), Thursday, 2 July 2015 22:19 (nine years ago) link
if you view my argument through the prism of my optics metaphor
― Zing Zinglar (Sufjan Grafton), Thursday, 2 July 2015 22:22 (nine years ago) link
you will never prise 'prism' from me
― drash, Thursday, 2 July 2015 22:25 (nine years ago) link
how can we incentivize that
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 2 July 2015 22:41 (nine years ago) link
you know who has a tremendous instagram is chuck grassley
https://instagram.com/p/4zQnLXF-Ej/
― goole, Monday, 6 July 2015 16:13 (nine years ago) link
the excitement, how does he contain it
― Οὖτις, Monday, 6 July 2015 16:14 (nine years ago) link
grassley goes so hard u wear hairnet + hardhat in the training room
― wishy washy hippy variety hour (Hunt3r), Monday, 6 July 2015 18:08 (nine years ago) link
The GOP-controlled Senate is on track this year to confirm the fewest judges since 1969, a dramatic escalation of the long-running partisan feud over the ideological makeup of federal courts.
The standoff, if it continues through the 2016 elections as expected, could diminish the stamp that President Barack Obama leaves on the judiciary — a less conspicuous but critical part of his legacy. Practically, the makeup of lower-level courts could directly affect a number of Obama’s policies expected to face legal challenges from conservatives.
http://www.politico.com/story/2015/07/payback-gop-blocks-obama-judge-picks-judiciary-119743.html#ixzz3f8eSpyA3
― curmudgeon, Monday, 6 July 2015 18:47 (nine years ago) link
Meanwhile here's the truly frightening candidate: http://www.jsonline.com/news/scott-walker-calls-for-open-records-overhaul-to-be-completely-removed-or-changed-b99532073z1-311638151.html
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 7 July 2015 20:25 (nine years ago) link
Important piece of this story: http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/walker-office-operating-as-if-proposed-open-records-exemptions-are-law-b99532581z1-311737471.html
― Guayaquil (eephus!), Tuesday, 7 July 2015 20:39 (nine years ago) link
its like attorney client privilege minus the attorneys and the clients
― panettone for the painfully alone (mayor jingleberries), Tuesday, 7 July 2015 22:10 (nine years ago) link
http://www.kirkbangstad.com/
This dude is trying to take out Sean Duffy. He also sang in the Glee Club the year after I graduated. I hope he wins.
― I Am Curious (Dolezal) (DJP), Wednesday, 8 July 2015 16:10 (nine years ago) link
heh, Nancy needlin Boehner:
Democrats responded by reintroducing a resolution that would have mandated the removal of Mississippi’s state flag from display on U.S. Capitol grounds, because it displays the Confederate “Battle Flag.” That resolution, offered by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), was tabled on a mostly partisan vote that referred it to a committee.
Those Democratic moves left Boehner angry over what he saw as the rejection of his attempt to defuse the issue. “The Speaker offered a thoughtful and responsible way to address this issue and Pelosi responded with a cheap political stunt,” Kevin Smith, Boehner’s spokesman, said.
― Οὖτις, Thursday, 9 July 2015 23:14 (nine years ago) link
Surprising story on McConnell's liberal civil rights record:
But Mr. McConnell’s interest in race issues was inspired by his upbringing in Kentucky by parents who opposed segregation. It was fermented on the campus of the University of Louisville, where he encouraged students to march with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It was reinforced by his internship in the office of Senator John Sherman Cooper, a Kentucky Republican who helped break the Southern-led filibuster of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
It also surfaced during his first term in the Senate, when Mr. McConnell’s vote helped Congress override President Ronald Reagan’s veto of a measure imposing sanctions on South Africa during apartheid, and has persisted through his years in the United States Capitol, most recently last month, when Mr. McConnell stood before reporters and said that a statue of Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederacy, should be removed from Kentucky’s Capitol.
“This whole business of America moving past its original sin,” Mr. McConnell said in an interview, “has been over a big period during which I have lived.”
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 July 2015 15:04 (nine years ago) link
huh I had no idea
― Οὖτις, Friday, 10 July 2015 15:41 (nine years ago) link
A huge story and win for Democrats: Florida Supreme Court orders redrawing of congressional districts.
Destroyed records. Shadowy projects with names like “Sputnik” and “Frankenstein.” And a college student whose identity was stolen to provide cover for political operatives.
Welcome to Florida, where the tentacles of gerrymandering are as tightly coiled around the statehouse as an invasive Burmese python.
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Friday, 10 July 2015 15:42 (nine years ago) link
http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/political-animal-a/2015_07/culture_war_video056589.php
The rightwing just never stop with their attempts at entrapment videos
― curmudgeon, Wednesday, 15 July 2015 15:49 (nine years ago) link