Thursday, October 03, 2019

Intensity

One bit of conventional wisdom (perhaps true!) is that while certain issues have roughly majority support favoring the "Dem position," Republicans tend to have more intensity. The big one is guns. Sure people want gun control but if you suggest that's a good idea then all the ammosexuals will emerge from their bunkers and vote without a similar turnout boost for the Dem side.

I'm not arguing against that, really, and the gun issue varies geographically quite a bit, but it's also the case that if you want intensity you need leaders who are, well, intense.

If the Dem candidate says:
I'm for commonsense solutions to keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them.
And the Republicans respond with:
UN SUPERSOLDIERS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF GENERAL SOROS ARE COMING TO STEAL ALL OF YOUR GUNS AND INSTITUTE SHARIA LAW
then it isn't too surprising that one side has intensity.

I don't mean this as campaign advice on this particular issue, just that in general Dems tend to gravitate towards wishy-washy don't piss anybody off language. "Safe, legal, and rare" not "free doughnuts with every abortion." Maybe smart! But it's hardly rally the troops stuff.
by Atrios at 13:16


Sure My Client Is Guilty Of Some Things

But other people are guilty of other things, so, covfefe?

by Atrios at 11:41

Leadership



As some point the "Green Lantern theory of politics" in popular online discussion went from "you can't clap louder to win a war" to "President Obummer can't will Joe Lieberman to vote for a public option" to "the world is as it is, public opinion is what it is, leadership means nothing, whatchagonnado."



It's quite possible that if, for example, Obummer did the same sex marriage issue precisely correctly, and given the ultimate outcome that is a reasonable view, but it's also the case that if he'd loudly switched his view on it in early 2009 (majority opposed then) that a bunch of Democrats who were muddled on the issue would have jumped with him. People do take their cues from their leaders on some issues at least. Especially in a year in which a dominant message has been "trust Pelosi, she is very smart and knows what she's doing," of course impeachment support would follow her lead.
by Atrios at 08:43

Morning Thread

Echidne's Take on Trump's Narcissism

Good take, as per usual.
by ql at 05:50

Wednesday, October 02, 2019

Evening Thread


Sauli Niinistö, the president of Finland, had this to say at today's at the press conference with Donald Trump, the president of the United States:

Throughout the news conference, Niinisto made a number of references to U.S. democracy.
“You have a great democracy,” Niinisto said in his opening statement. “Keep it going on.”

So.
by echidne at 22:45

You Mean The Guys On The Internet Liked It

A very good day for our wet big boy.


by Atrios at 17:11

Afternoon Thread

Nothing but respect for My President.
by Atrios at 14:55

Oh Dear

The president made a swear. The poor delicate ears of the Villagers.
by Atrios at 12:26

Tech

One of my pet peeves - and perhaps the bubble on this is bursting - is that companies regularly describe themselves/are described as "tech" companies when that basically means they have a website and an app. They might have a new product idea, but it isn't so different (mostly) than having a new restaurant idea. There isn't really anything resembling invention happening. And maybe something like Uber was arguably "tech" once upon a time in that it did make use of new widely available smartphones technologies to do something new, but now it's just a taxi company with an app. The local actual taxi companies have apps now, also, too.

WeWork is an absurd example of this. It isn't really "tech" to scam rich people into giving you billions of dollars for a real estate scheme. That's an old technology.
by Atrios at 10:18

Why



I can't imagine what makes it worth waking up and thinking "I have to perform well for Trump on the TV box."
by Atrios at 09:21

I'm In Charge

It's one thing for there to be a dance between individuals and their subpoenas, and there is that executive privilege thing even if until recently it didn't mean "it can be invoked if Trump says so" but Pompeo saying "my people won't testify" is just absurd.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Tuesday pushed back against a request by a key House committee to interview five current or former State Department officials as part of an impeachment inquiry centering on the Ukraine scandal, accusing House Democrats of attempting to “intimidate" and "bully" them.
It really isn't any of his business. They can hire lawyers and deal with it, but he can't just "oh no NAH GA DO IT." They are not extensions of him.

Lock'em up!
by Atrios at 08:14

Morning Thread

by ql at 06:16

Tuesday, October 01, 2019

Tuesday Night

It's alright.
by Atrios at 22:47

Sure, Elon

Six months, a year, tops, subject to regulatory approval.

Tesla is acquiring DeepScale, a computer vision start-up that could help it develop fully driverless vehicles, CNBC has learned.

The deal could help Tesla’s goal to deliver cars with advanced driver-assistance systems that are good enough for owners to rent them out as “robotaxis” on an Uber-like platform without drivers. However, like all automakers, Tesla is limited by the computational resources it can build into its vehicles.
by Atrios at 16:04

They Write Letters

Better than sternly worded tweets.
“Secretary Pompeo was reportedly on the call when the President pressed Ukraine to smear his political opponent. If true, Secretary Pompeo is now a fact witness in the House impeachment inquiry. He should immediately cease intimidating Department witnesses in order to protect himself and the President.

“Any effort to intimidate witnesses or prevent them from talking with Congress—including State Department employees—is illegal and will constitute evidence of obstruction of the impeachment inquiry. In response, Congress may infer from this obstruction that any withheld documents and testimony would reveal information that corroborates the whistleblower complaint.

“The Committees are operating pursuant to our long-established authorities as well as the impeachment inquiry. We’re committed to protecting witnesses from harassment and intimidation, and we expect their full compliance and that of the Department of State.”
by Atrios at 14:58

Afternoon Thread

Get your afternoon on.
by Atrios at 14:12

LOL Fuck You No

Dems need to start jailing people.

In the fierce letter addressed to the House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., Pompeo blasted the depositions in the impeachment probe as rushed and potentially in violation of executive privilege, accused committee staff of not following protocol, and appeared to say the officials will not show up.
by Atrios at 11:17

WeWork

One of those things I didn't pay much attention to, but when I did I think I got it right.

Anyway, this interview about it is pretty funny.
by Atrios at 09:45

These Are My Obsessions

Most of the current frontburner crimeing activities actually make no sense. I mean this stuff is only happening because Trump has brain worms. Sending your AG around the world to pressure foreign leaders to justify conspiracy theories about the 2016 election and to discredit the Mueller investigation which for some reason everyone agreed to Move Past (something about not pulling A Few Good Man courtroom scene).

As bad as the emoluments stuff is, in its own way the "you gotta stay in my yuge hotels" stuff really is brain worms territory, too. You're president of the United States and you're obsessing about people giving you a few bucks for hotel rooms?
by Atrios at 09:12

Morning Thread

by ql at 06:03

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