love your work, Marcie, but your facts on Boniface VIII are off. Philip IV's agent (William de Nogaret) attacked the pope at his palace of Anagni in Sept. 1303; the pontiff was beaten before French forces withdrew. Boniface died in Rome in October 1303. The Avignon papacy didn't begin until 1309. None of this factual correction, of course, exculpates That Guy's men from thuggishly using Avignon as a threat against the current pope.
VD Vance: “ My Administration stands ready to use the full Economic Might of the United States to strengthen Hungary's Economy, as we have done for our Great Allies…..”
Translation: The U.S. will fuck up your economy with our tariffs, oil supply disruption, bribes & extortion, and our spreading inflation.
One cannot talk about VD Vance’s extremist Catholic influences without mentioning Patrick Deneen, Political Science Prof at Norte Dame.
Deneen has written books entitled :
‘Why Liberalism Failed’
‘Regime Change, Beyond a post liberal America’
That second book sounds a bit familiar? Like maybe Project 2025, The Post Constitutional America?
Deneen is a full on, balls to the ball quasi intellectual proponent of the Christo Fascist overthrow of the Constitution.
An earlier comment has me wondering now, amongst Obama, Hilary Clinton, Biden and Harris, who's the centrist that should be disdained? And if a so-called centrist turns out to be the Dem's candidate in 2028 versus, say, JD Vance as a hypothetical opponent, what's an alternate option? The Green Party?
It is our responsibility to ensure that a Dem move forward centrist, who doesn’t have the batezem to prosecute all the criminality of the Trump regime, to NOT get nominated. I put Josh Shapiro in that category.
A U.S. Court of Appeals on Saturday ruled that construction on a new White House ballroom sought by President Donald Trump can proceed until at least April 17.
A lower court had issued a March 31 injunction to halt ballroom construction, but it also paused that injunction to allow for an appeal. In its ruling on Saturday, the appeals panel extended that pause to April 17 and asked the district court to clarify the order that granted the injunction.
As a progressive, I have voted Democratic party line since 92. I've done so with the understanding that voting for centrists would help guarantee wins and bring real, if somewhat incremental, progressive policies forward.
As far as I can see, the party has failed on both counts. We don't have wins and we don't have anything resembling progressivism. In fact, the brand of neo liberalism enforced by the party has allowed fascism to take root and grow in the cracks it fails to cover. Trump is not a success ot the Republican party, he is a failure of liberalism to deliver economic change.
Therefore I will no longer vote for any centrist, no matter who they are running against. I will vote for a progressive, no matter what party.
The Democratic Leadership Council is dead. Bury it before its legacy buries the party.
🙄 I've been a normal Democratic party member. I've donated to candidates, voted in every primary, boosted candidates online, even canvassed for John Kerry. I'm not. Bernie Bro, but I voted for him in the primary in MA. I'm just a progressive who's sick of getting the shaft.
I didn't read it like that at all, but maybe because I echo similar feelings. Dems certainly wouldn't have been worse, but they were "status quo" for the last 20-30 years.
I DO think the excitement for Bernie AND Trump was based on people NOT supporting "status quo" and the DNC should have paid attention. I'm not a Bernie Bro and grew mad at Mr when he was, yet as a Dem I agreed with all his frustrations and points he made. I've kept hope DNC would embrace progressives as the way of the future... but watching the current crop of Democrats and its "leadership" act like the have in the face of Stupid Hitler and more being exposed on "our side" as dirtbags.. AND they're combativeness with PROGRESSIVES, yet some embrace fucking right wing grifters.
A two party system fueled by corporate money does not a democracy make and beyond clear now.
If you read what I wrote you'll notice I said nothing about who would have been better or worse. I'm talking about the party, not elections. Clinton would not have been "worse" because the damage is already done at the party level. Trump is a product of three decades of Democratic party failure.
Firstly, the bar for "most progressive" is damn low, so it's not like anyone noticed. He was never known as a progressive before he became president.
Secondly, the definition of "progressive" seems to be mostly contracts for infrastructure products and tax incentives for businesses to provide housing and needed services. Student loan forgiveness was pretty good, but we saw how that played out. It was hardly free college and healthcare.
Thirdly, he ignored Gaza. That's the biggest issue for young voters. And that was what lost Harris the election.
I'm just confused, because I was agreeing with you. I just pointed out Bernie & Trump because there was a following, Clinton lost to Trump, and the DNC should have paid attention.
Futher pointing out how DNC seems to keep shitting on progressives. But maybe I read yours completely wrong
Not sure how else to interpret "Therefore I will no longer vote for any centrist, no matter who they are running against. I will vote for a progressive, no matter what party."
“ Therefore I will no longer vote for any centrist, no matter who they are running against.”
So “Michael Bloomberg would have been worse?” What does that mean in terms of the universe of viable Democratic candidates v. viable Republican candidates?
You know who else said with their mouth that Zelenskyy should pipe down about Orban? And said it harsher terms than Vance?
The E.U.
Hungary is of course the E.U.'s special little problem. Ukraine will not be, within the forseeable future.
The E.U. would be beyond delighted to be rid of Orban. But that part of the world is very complicated. It's hard to say whom the Poles hate more; Putin and Russia, Orban and Hungary, Zelenskyy and Ukraine, or Lukashenko and Belarus.
Nothing in that part of the world is rendered comprehensible by American media's juvenile pro-wrestling level heel/face dichotomy.
And "the Poles" are hardly a single entity. Lots of divisions and different opinions. They contain nostalgic Communists, nostalgic Solidarity sympathisers, Catholics both nostalgic and newly militant, standard modern urban European sophisticates, standard European sicial-democratic middle of the roaders, authoritarian enthusiasts, people just trying to get by, and so on, the usual. It's a wonder any democratic country can function when you think about it.
"We have been dealing with it, and don't need to worry about it," the secretary of defense said in reference to the Strait of Hormuz.
A month ago.
love your work, Marcie, but your facts on Boniface VIII are off. Philip IV's agent (William de Nogaret) attacked the pope at his palace of Anagni in Sept. 1303; the pontiff was beaten before French forces withdrew. Boniface died in Rome in October 1303. The Avignon papacy didn't begin until 1309. None of this factual correction, of course, exculpates That Guy's men from thuggishly using Avignon as a threat against the current pope.
If I ever get married, I'm walking down the aisle to that Mel Blanc song.
"Important nodes in the constellation of MAGA thought."
That's it. That's the joke.
I'm getting bad Shrub and Carl Rove vibes about this.
VD Vance: “ My Administration stands ready to use the full Economic Might of the United States to strengthen Hungary's Economy, as we have done for our Great Allies…..”
Translation: The U.S. will fuck up your economy with our tariffs, oil supply disruption, bribes & extortion, and our spreading inflation.
One cannot talk about VD Vance’s extremist Catholic influences without mentioning Patrick Deneen, Political Science Prof at Norte Dame.
Deneen has written books entitled :
‘Why Liberalism Failed’
‘Regime Change, Beyond a post liberal America’
That second book sounds a bit familiar? Like maybe Project 2025, The Post Constitutional America?
Deneen is a full on, balls to the ball quasi intellectual proponent of the Christo Fascist overthrow of the Constitution.
side note - AMY CONEY BARRETT taught at Notre Dame as well. ugh.
🎶He oiled his way across the floor
Oozing charm from every pore
Seldom seen a ruder pest ...🎶
That's of course Vance in Budapest...
An earlier comment has me wondering now, amongst Obama, Hilary Clinton, Biden and Harris, who's the centrist that should be disdained? And if a so-called centrist turns out to be the Dem's candidate in 2028 versus, say, JD Vance as a hypothetical opponent, what's an alternate option? The Green Party?
In MA? I have a clear conscience to vote for whoever I want. I'm not worried about any Republican winning.
It is our responsibility to ensure that a Dem move forward centrist, who doesn’t have the batezem to prosecute all the criminality of the Trump regime, to NOT get nominated. I put Josh Shapiro in that category.
The Green party that nominated Jill Stein, twice?
Yeah, I'm not seeing it. What are they gonna do then, stay home because "centrist"?
that's what they usually do
“No nation should ever threaten an ally nation”, like they did to Denmark and Greenland! What a bunch of hypocrites!
Hey, JD, catch this hot potato!
I am being lazy today. I am happy about being lazy.
Like a million others, I learned "Sur la Pont D'Avignon" in high school French class. I've always wondered if it had more than two lines.
Thanks for showing that it doesn't.
Ballroom BS
A U.S. Court of Appeals on Saturday ruled that construction on a new White House ballroom sought by President Donald Trump can proceed until at least April 17.
A lower court had issued a March 31 injunction to halt ballroom construction, but it also paused that injunction to allow for an appeal. In its ruling on Saturday, the appeals panel extended that pause to April 17 and asked the district court to clarify the order that granted the injunction.
Sounds weird.
https://www.reuters.com/business/retail-consumer/court-allows-white-house-ballroom-construction-continue-now-2026-04-11/
They need to finish the bunker. Our leaders need a place to go if our country is attacked.
Unfortunatly the f-ing ballroom (east wing) is on top of the bunker, always has been.
Strange how the wee mushroom weener wants such a big ballroom for such tiny testiculars.
That is the way
Shouldn't all construction be halted until the matter is resolved? It's just that much more that will have to be demolished.
As a progressive, I have voted Democratic party line since 92. I've done so with the understanding that voting for centrists would help guarantee wins and bring real, if somewhat incremental, progressive policies forward.
As far as I can see, the party has failed on both counts. We don't have wins and we don't have anything resembling progressivism. In fact, the brand of neo liberalism enforced by the party has allowed fascism to take root and grow in the cracks it fails to cover. Trump is not a success ot the Republican party, he is a failure of liberalism to deliver economic change.
Therefore I will no longer vote for any centrist, no matter who they are running against. I will vote for a progressive, no matter what party.
The Democratic Leadership Council is dead. Bury it before its legacy buries the party.
I'm sure if you keep digging in that pile of manure you will find the pony you were promised.
Again. I've been a loyal Democrat for over 30 years. I've been digging in that manure for the whole time. Don't fucking condescend to me.
"If you don't like the news, go out and make some of your own." --Scoop Nisker
How many times have you run for office in those 30 years?
🙄 I've been a normal Democratic party member. I've donated to candidates, voted in every primary, boosted candidates online, even canvassed for John Kerry. I'm not. Bernie Bro, but I voted for him in the primary in MA. I'm just a progressive who's sick of getting the shaft.
I mean picking now as the time to go “Hillary would have been worse” is bold.
I didn't read it like that at all, but maybe because I echo similar feelings. Dems certainly wouldn't have been worse, but they were "status quo" for the last 20-30 years.
I DO think the excitement for Bernie AND Trump was based on people NOT supporting "status quo" and the DNC should have paid attention. I'm not a Bernie Bro and grew mad at Mr when he was, yet as a Dem I agreed with all his frustrations and points he made. I've kept hope DNC would embrace progressives as the way of the future... but watching the current crop of Democrats and its "leadership" act like the have in the face of Stupid Hitler and more being exposed on "our side" as dirtbags.. AND they're combativeness with PROGRESSIVES, yet some embrace fucking right wing grifters.
A two party system fueled by corporate money does not a democracy make and beyond clear now.
If you read what I wrote you'll notice I said nothing about who would have been better or worse. I'm talking about the party, not elections. Clinton would not have been "worse" because the damage is already done at the party level. Trump is a product of three decades of Democratic party failure.
‘… three decades of Democratic party failure.”
Capitulation, Appeasement, Insipidness”, devoid of any strategy, messaging skills, and guts.
Trump won the popular vote for the first time after the most progressive president since 1969.
Firstly, the bar for "most progressive" is damn low, so it's not like anyone noticed. He was never known as a progressive before he became president.
Secondly, the definition of "progressive" seems to be mostly contracts for infrastructure products and tax incentives for businesses to provide housing and needed services. Student loan forgiveness was pretty good, but we saw how that played out. It was hardly free college and healthcare.
Thirdly, he ignored Gaza. That's the biggest issue for young voters. And that was what lost Harris the election.
I'm just confused, because I was agreeing with you. I just pointed out Bernie & Trump because there was a following, Clinton lost to Trump, and the DNC should have paid attention.
Futher pointing out how DNC seems to keep shitting on progressives. But maybe I read yours completely wrong
Yep. Perhaps I'm misreading their sentiment, but staking out the always relevant purity pony vote, that's fresh.
Fuck you with your purity pony bullshit. I've been a loyal Democrat for over 30 years.
Not sure how else to interpret "Therefore I will no longer vote for any centrist, no matter who they are running against. I will vote for a progressive, no matter what party."
Yes. I have political principles that i am no longer going to cast aside. Your dismissive horseshit is exactly why you have lost and will continue to.
That's not at all what I said.
“ Therefore I will no longer vote for any centrist, no matter who they are running against.”
So “Michael Bloomberg would have been worse?” What does that mean in terms of the universe of viable Democratic candidates v. viable Republican candidates?
I will not vote for Michael Bloomberg. That's what it means.
cool
You know who else said with their mouth that Zelenskyy should pipe down about Orban? And said it harsher terms than Vance?
The E.U.
Hungary is of course the E.U.'s special little problem. Ukraine will not be, within the forseeable future.
The E.U. would be beyond delighted to be rid of Orban. But that part of the world is very complicated. It's hard to say whom the Poles hate more; Putin and Russia, Orban and Hungary, Zelenskyy and Ukraine, or Lukashenko and Belarus.
Nothing in that part of the world is rendered comprehensible by American media's juvenile pro-wrestling level heel/face dichotomy.
And "the Poles" are hardly a single entity. Lots of divisions and different opinions. They contain nostalgic Communists, nostalgic Solidarity sympathisers, Catholics both nostalgic and newly militant, standard modern urban European sophisticates, standard European sicial-democratic middle of the roaders, authoritarian enthusiasts, people just trying to get by, and so on, the usual. It's a wonder any democratic country can function when you think about it.
How you say “kayfabe” in Polish?
Fill-in The Mel Blanc Time:
“Wonkette won’t give you bedbugs but they might give you _______ .”
Bugs Bunny?
dick joke overdose?
snarkbugs?
I may not understand the assignment...