I’ve always thought that the only people who should not be in politics are people who WANT to be in politics. Not people who want to serve their community; those folk are good. But people who want to be in POLITICS, to be SEEN and VENERATED and LOVED BY THE MASSES. Those folk are fucking right out. Politics should only be for people who only want to do what’s right for their city/state/country/etc.
With that in mind, I decree that all political races from now on shall be anonymous. Candidates names shall never be known, nor shall their faces be shown. They shall be only known as Candidate E, Candidate R, etc. They shall make speeches through vocal software that disguises their sex and/or origin. No rallies, no appearances on Faux or MSNBC. Voters shall decide based strictly on positions and ideas, not on how pretty or fast-talking the candidate is. And we’ll all live happily ever after.
She's got her work cut out for her. Oakland has always had social tensions, a relatively high crime rate, various levels of poverty, and periodic corruption of government and law enforcement officials.
I made lemon squares and a pound cake, today. We are have strawberries and pound cake with fresh whipped cream, tomorrow. That's Easter-y, right? Tomorrow, I'll make the rolls, devil the eggs, and cook the ham. He's got a brisket smoking, but that's a fifty-fifty chance of being a piece of expensive rubber.
Just my son, the BIL and his wife, tomorrow. Or so I am told.
I voted for her because Loren Taylor, while pleasant and passionate and motivated, may have been hoping to get a Mayor Notch on his proverbial belt before moving on to something bigger. Barbara Lee is 82 years old. This is her final gig; her Fuck Bag is going to be very depleted and she will have none to give. She also had the full endorsement of local organized labor.
But I had a yard sign and donated to the campaign and everything. Let's go.
"I really don’t think she ran for mayor for the purpose of bolstering her own legacy." I don't either. I think you nailed it (and her.) But OMG, what a legacy it will be! One for Oakland to be proud of for the ages! And they needed that.
If this is true, and I'm not doubting Ms Pennacchia's veracity, that would make Ms Lee a rarity in politics -- and growing rarer it seems to me -- someone who actually cares about their constituents over party or power. This applies to both sides of the aisle. From the Dem side I present Chuck Schumer. He was a true believer, but recently seems more concerned about how history will view him. In the recent CR fight, he put his party [already fractured and quivering in a dark corner] over his constituents by agreeing to Cloture for a deeply... *deeply*... DEEPLY CR after a vague promise that the Dems will be able to amend it -- like the RINOs would have actually kept their word. In all, there were nine Dems who voted to allow the bill to proceed to the Floor for a vote -- including John Fetterman [DINO-PA] who is, IMO, the biggest disappointment from the Class of 2022.
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"she thinks clearly, has profoundly good judgment and an instinct for justice, and she sticks by it regardless of what kind of pressure there is to drop it — and, ultimately, she very often ends up having been right all along.
This kind of moral and, frequently, logistical clarity is what we need in government and elsewhere."
Ms Lee has entered this fray with courage and a strong morality, just like when she was in Congress.
> "Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest." Maya Angelou
OT- finished a 10 page paper for law class on an area the prof didn't know much of, firearm regs and sales contracts. Deep dive there on cases and such. First federal regulation was 1934's National Firearms Act meant to tamp down on Prohibition era gang violence
I’ve always thought that the only people who should not be in politics are people who WANT to be in politics. Not people who want to serve their community; those folk are good. But people who want to be in POLITICS, to be SEEN and VENERATED and LOVED BY THE MASSES. Those folk are fucking right out. Politics should only be for people who only want to do what’s right for their city/state/country/etc.
With that in mind, I decree that all political races from now on shall be anonymous. Candidates names shall never be known, nor shall their faces be shown. They shall be only known as Candidate E, Candidate R, etc. They shall make speeches through vocal software that disguises their sex and/or origin. No rallies, no appearances on Faux or MSNBC. Voters shall decide based strictly on positions and ideas, not on how pretty or fast-talking the candidate is. And we’ll all live happily ever after.
Wait…am I hallucinating again…?
She's got her work cut out for her. Oakland has always had social tensions, a relatively high crime rate, various levels of poverty, and periodic corruption of government and law enforcement officials.
more barbara lee-s, please
I made lemon squares and a pound cake, today. We are have strawberries and pound cake with fresh whipped cream, tomorrow. That's Easter-y, right? Tomorrow, I'll make the rolls, devil the eggs, and cook the ham. He's got a brisket smoking, but that's a fifty-fifty chance of being a piece of expensive rubber.
Just my son, the BIL and his wife, tomorrow. Or so I am told.
This was a very nice post. Ms. Lee deserves nice things.
I voted for her because Loren Taylor, while pleasant and passionate and motivated, may have been hoping to get a Mayor Notch on his proverbial belt before moving on to something bigger. Barbara Lee is 82 years old. This is her final gig; her Fuck Bag is going to be very depleted and she will have none to give. She also had the full endorsement of local organized labor.
But I had a yard sign and donated to the campaign and everything. Let's go.
Ta, Marcie. I'm also a fan of Barbara Lee, and hope the Oakland legislators follow her lead.
"I really don’t think she ran for mayor for the purpose of bolstering her own legacy." I don't either. I think you nailed it (and her.) But OMG, what a legacy it will be! One for Oakland to be proud of for the ages! And they needed that.
"As of Friday night, in the second round of ranked choice voting, Lee had garnered 53 percent of the vote to moderate Loren Taylor’s 47 percent."
* It is Oakland so I would have expected nothing less than a Progressive at the top of the polling with a moderate in number two slot.
* All this is moot since Mr Taylor has conceded the race:
> "Former city councilmember Loren Taylor conceded to retired Congresswoman Barbara Lee in the race to become Oakland’s next mayor on Saturday.
"This morning I called Congresswoman Barbara Lee to congratulate her on becoming the next Mayor of Oakland,” Taylor wrote in an email to supporters." https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/oakland-special-election-loren-taylor-concedes-to-barbara-lee/3848667/
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"She’s a true believer and always has been."
If this is true, and I'm not doubting Ms Pennacchia's veracity, that would make Ms Lee a rarity in politics -- and growing rarer it seems to me -- someone who actually cares about their constituents over party or power. This applies to both sides of the aisle. From the Dem side I present Chuck Schumer. He was a true believer, but recently seems more concerned about how history will view him. In the recent CR fight, he put his party [already fractured and quivering in a dark corner] over his constituents by agreeing to Cloture for a deeply... *deeply*... DEEPLY CR after a vague promise that the Dems will be able to amend it -- like the RINOs would have actually kept their word. In all, there were nine Dems who voted to allow the bill to proceed to the Floor for a vote -- including John Fetterman [DINO-PA] who is, IMO, the biggest disappointment from the Class of 2022.
-----
"she thinks clearly, has profoundly good judgment and an instinct for justice, and she sticks by it regardless of what kind of pressure there is to drop it — and, ultimately, she very often ends up having been right all along.
This kind of moral and, frequently, logistical clarity is what we need in government and elsewhere."
Ms Lee has entered this fray with courage and a strong morality, just like when she was in Congress.
> "Without courage we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest." Maya Angelou
fnord
Barbara Lee: justice politician, not a power politician?
If CA had any sense, she'd be their Senator right now.
On history and substance, I agree, but 82 is too old to assume national office.
Fair
SO glad Barbara Lee won. Wish she were our senator, but Oakland gets some well-deserved good luck.
Nice!
Daniel Johnston West Virginia Music Hall of Fame Highlights
(2 1/2 min) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFbV4JQYhLE&ab_channel=DanielJohnstonOfficial
Aw shit I'm half drunk and need to go to a protest.
Fucking PAB
OK, laters y'all.
Only half? Underachiever.
Don't get caught by falangists.
As someone who has read a fair amount about the Spanish Civil War, damn.
Good thing you're not doing any laps at the track.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/17/2316932/-Going-Viral-An-actual-plan-for-the-Democratic-Party-and-everyone-else-who-s-ready-to-take-action
To my slight surprise, I really love this content, but it bothers me that no "Dr. Pru Lee" has yet been identified.
It doesn’t bother me a bit, the info is Spot On!
It matters, if no one is actually doing anything. A great plan. Will anyone pursue it?
Caturday: https://imgur.com/wonder-what-this-thing-does-lyvnRgp
That cat lasted a long time before he abandoned ship.
My last cat barely tolerated water to drink.
OT- finished a 10 page paper for law class on an area the prof didn't know much of, firearm regs and sales contracts. Deep dive there on cases and such. First federal regulation was 1934's National Firearms Act meant to tamp down on Prohibition era gang violence