Just following up ....

Tonight, just some follow-ups on some of the stuff I talked about earlier this week: 

More on conspiracy theories and rage farming:

Unbelievable. Do conspiracy theories cluster? Um, yep.

- GMO fearmo

Don't forget the wind turbines that kill everything that flies and the poor kids mining cobalt for solar panel production in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

— Dr Richard Gawel (@oliveoilguy) September 2, 2022

ngering?✅
- Chemtrials? ✅
- Anti-fluoride? ✅
- 5G nonsense? ✅
- Antivaxx? ✅ (I mean, obviously).
- Nanobots in vaccines? ✅
- Ranting about all this in a car? ✅
- ENDORSED BY THEO FLUERY? ✅ https://t.co/pppMUKq8I4

— Timothy Caulfield (@CaulfieldTim) September 2, 2022

I don’t think we should underestimate just how many seemingly smart and decent people have gone down this rabbit hole. I’m legit concerned. The issue is you can’t dispute their views. There’s no reasoning. They’re lost. /2

— David Brown (@OrbitStudios) September 2, 2022

Again, “Everyone is entitled to their opinion” means you can’t tell someone they’re wrong for liking rocky road over Neapolitan. It doesn’t mean you can wrap bigotry, ignorance or misinformation in the veneer of an “opinion” and expect others to give it respect or consideration.

— Aaron Hoyland (@aaronhoyland) September 1, 2022

For a guy who says he’s all about freedom you sure do plan to ban, cancel and “not allow” people to do a lot of stuff.

— Barney Panofsky's Best Intentions (@mynamesnotgordy) September 1, 2022

Remember how Harper hired a bunch of Hitler Youth to shut up scientists? Sounds like Poilievre plans the same thing, except for all departments & all civil servants, in the name of "plain speaking".

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) September 2, 2022

Pierre Poilievre the Language GATEKEEPER! pic.twitter.com/BJNqEIX03g

— Nickie with an 'e' 😷 💉 🚲 (@winter_canada) September 2, 2022

Liberals: “we’re still working on everything Harper broke”

Conservatives: “OMG Harper was 7 years ago, talk about what’s happening now!”

Also conservatives: “Hey did you hear about Chrystia Freeland’s grandparents during WW II??!?”

— Dean from Winnipeg (@Dean_Winnipeg) September 2, 2022

Today's News: Dark Brandon rises

At first I wasn't sure whether Biden's speech tonight was a good idea. But seeing the speech and now the reaction to it, I am feeling a very positive vibe. 

Since the chaos of Jan 6, 2021, I think Americans have worried about what is happening to America. With Biden's recent successes and rising popularity, he finally had the platform and credibility to identify the MAGA Republicans, to shame them as fascists, and to challenge Democrats to rise up in defense of their country.

DARK BRANDON KILLED THIS SPEECH, DAMMIT

—
BrooklynDad_Defiant!☮️ (@mmpadellan) September 2, 2022

"Democracy must be defended, and it is up to us." President Biden

— The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) September 2, 2022

I don't think the MAGA Republicans really knew much about Dark Brandon until tonight's speech.

I’d like to think White House comms said, “Tonight, Dark Brandon rises.” https://t.co/YKOZVQQsXa

— Schooley (@Rschooley) September 2, 2022

The White House is really taking this Dark Brandon alter ego shit seriously pic.twitter.com/f3iAkh1ETZ

— I Smoked The Top Secret: SCI Documents (@BlackKnight10k) September 2, 2022

Biden: "There is no question that the Republican Party today is dominated, driven by, and intimidated by Donald Trump and the MAGA Republicans, and that is a threat to this country ... MAGA Republicans do not respect the constitution. They do not believe in the rule of law." pic.twitter.com/Ox8PReq2zd

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) September 2, 2022

President Biden, closing out his speech in Philadelphia: "If we do our duty, in 2022 and beyond, then ages still to come will say, we — all of us here — we kept the faith, we preserved democracy." pic.twitter.com/9kxYLbGwDQ

— The Recount (@therecount) September 2, 2022

There's a part of me debating whether Biden's speech wasn't tough *enough*. But it was necessary and right to give it.

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) September 2, 2022

President Biden is completely and absolutely fed up with the MAGA Republicans. As are we all. He’s tired of the Conspiracies. He’s disgusted by the calls for violence. And he’s not letting them get away with it anymore. This is the most patriotic, American speech of the decade.

— Dash Dobrofsky (@DashDobrofsky) September 2, 2022

A historic moment. A sitting US President accepting the burden of admonishing his predecessor's powerful cultural movement, doing so honestly and resolutely, and framing it as a threat to the country.

— David Jolly (@DavidJollyFL) September 2, 2022

I am not sure whether America, and particularly the US media, are up to the challenge:

Biden calls on the nation to unify to protect our democracy... and MAGA world responds by calling him #PedoHitler. And somehow CNN will report this out as Biden being divisive.

Lookin' at you @brikeilarcnn @jeffzeleny

— Lauren Windsor (@lawindsor) September 2, 2022

I think certain types of Republicans got real comfortable with the idea of flaunting and openly ignoring voters while trying to subvert elections with no pushback, so Biden directly calling it out feels shocking to them.

— Conner Hafen (@Conblob) September 2, 2022

the house is on fire and you’re complaining that the firefighters are stomping on the flower beds. PUT THE FUCKING FIRE OUT

— David Mack (@davidmackau) September 2, 2022

Here's the problem for the elite political media: To cover the threat to the republic truthfully, they're going to have to write/broadcast things that have collateral benefits to the Democratic Party. No way around it. The point is not to worry about that.

— Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) September 2, 2022

Let's be completely honest here: the entire White House press corps knew who he was - all four years, hell from the escalator on down - and pretended he was a legitimate political figure. The failure is astounding. Not of skill - but of character and ethics.

— Tom Watson (@tomwatson) August 31, 2022

Biden's speech is also timely because in general I think people have now had enough of the fascists and MAGA Republicans, and want to push back on the crazy:

Agree. Gloves off. Same here in TX. People who used to be afraid of putting up Beto or any Dem signs etc are now finally saying eff it we're fighting back!

— Jan Burnett (@JanBurn94198569) August 28, 2022

There are the same worries here in Saskatchewan:

I know family’s that live in fear as neighbours are so radicalized. My mechanic bro said otherwise nice folks he used to share a few beer with, he has to be careful what he says, worried about his pets getting hurt as they’re casual about their hatred & brag about shit they do.

— CFLNumber1Fan-Sharon (@CFLNumber1Fan) August 28, 2022

It shouldn’t be this way. It’s hard but we need to be braver. When people became aware of my “leftist” views others reached out.

— FlawedFilter (@elegant_funk) August 27, 2022

Today's News: "We have a lot to do"

This pretty well summarizes everything, doesn't it:

That being said, we have to work on equality, health care, education, housing, public services, pharma and dental, small businesses, foreign investment, elections, and the Russia Ukraine war. We have a lot to do.

— Rod Farva's litre of cola (@RodKahx) August 29, 2022

Across the country, Canadians are worried about the breakdown in hospital services -- because too many health care workers keep on getting sick with Covid, at the same time as the system grapples with the cumulative effect of two years of delayed surgeries and neglected health conditions. 

Premiers seem to think that "privatization" will magically make more services available, and indeed it may prove to be sensible to create stand-alone clinics for some routine surgeries like joint replacements, if it actually frees up hospital beds for more complex cases - rather than just allowing hospitals to cut their staff budgets accordingly.  No provincial politician should ever think that "privatizing" will save money while making people happier with their health care.

I know all about provincial and federal jurisdiction. But if there is one battle the federal government should fight right now, it’s protecting universal public health care. Explore every option available. Don’t let it pass. Be a pest to the Premiers. People are worried. #cdnpoli

— Dr. Matthew S. Johnston (@mattjohnstonca) August 24, 2022

I want Trudeau to come out and tell Canadians what is happening.

"Conservative premiers are coordinating to collapse our Healthcare system on purpose. So they can privatize. You will pay more for Healthcare now. Many will go bankrupt. Many will die."

Say it.#cdnpoli

— Andrew (@AndrewCote91) August 30, 2022

This is how Ontario thinks it will solve hospital crowding:

As if the elderly were not already treated as excess baggage to be shuffled off into storage, this would legalize disposing of them.

— V. Sears (@Sueshuz) August 30, 2022

Here in Saskatchewan, ERs are in crisis, ambulances are delayed, and rural health care facilities are struggling:

My whole family is terrified of having to try to access an ER these days. Luckily we have all been healthy enough to avoid them since 2020, but that can change in an instant. https://t.co/uuTTdZ0KNt

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) August 27, 2022

Saskatchewan plans to pledge cash hiring incentives for health care workers in remote and rural parts of the province as they struggle to recruit and retain staff, resulting in shuttered and curtailed services in dozens of communities https://t.co/9sM9Niaz9F

— Zak Vescera (@zakvescera) August 24, 2022

Here's a great idea:

It was great to hear @SLangeneggerCBC's interview with @joelghill this morning. Such an important initiative.

He's right - the province should provide a lot more information about health service disruptions in communities. It's dangerous not to.#skpolihttps://t.co/oe4mFk1D4E

— Carla Beck (@CarlaBeckSK) August 29, 2022

The website he created is here: Sk Service Disruptions Why Sask Health hasn't done this already, I don't know. 

And PS - Covid is not over!

You're the third person *today* I've seen on Twitter say someone they knew died in their sleep from Covid.

Sweet Jeebus.

— ☕ - It's what's for dinner (@DellaLuna) August 30, 2022

Today's News: This you?

Its sorta hysterical, really. 

So yesterday Biden announced $10,000 student-loan forgiveness policies, which are a great thing that will help millions of people. 

And predictably, some Republicans went nuts about how irresponsible Biden was to just wipe out indebtedness with the stroke of a pen. 

And, also predictably, Twitter then started checking on whether any of those Republicans had also borrowed money and been forgiven for the loans. 

And, shore nuff, many had. They had  taken hundreds of thousands in Covid salary protection loans which were then also forgiven totally, including the interest. 

So "Republican" can now also be spelled h-y-p-o-c-r-i-t-e.

The last 24 hours of this app has just been people posting stuff like, "Let me get this straight: the urinal cleaners of my community owe hipsters $10,000 now?" and then a reply that says, "This you?" and it's a PPP loan receipt for their podcast Reassessing Franco.

— Michael Arria (@michaelarria) August 25, 2022

The 10k is nice. But the repayment caps are huge game changers. 5% of income, 20 years of payments max.

Way to go Joe.

— Trevor Burns (@BurnsieMN) August 24, 2022

The internet's dunking on student loan debt complainers with PPP loan receipts
Beware of the 'this you?' https://t.co/DxhiSFHNvy

— Biff Rendar (@biffrendar) August 25, 2022

If you need a laugh, check out a bunch of conservative a-holes getting "this you?"'d in the 🧵below: https://t.co/38C33x4dZW

— Wesker’s Wifey (Shanny) (@weskers_wifey) August 25, 2022

Even the White House got into the act:

They do and it's glorious:https://t.co/LHuJ8pH1dB

— John Amussen 💛🐝 (@JRA81) August 25, 2022

Dark Brandon has the password to the White House Twitter account https://t.co/oscEuZwJZi

— Dan Pfeiffer (@danpfeiffer) August 25, 2022

The White House fully embracing Dark Brandon and letting their social media go wild is exactly what I am here for

— Santiago Mayer (@santiagomayer_) August 25, 2022

The White House Twitter account has gone goblin mode pic.twitter.com/Th3YI5Zs3m

— Ahmed Baba (@AhmedBaba_) August 25, 2022

The White House is throwing lightning bolts all over Twitter like it’s freakin’ ZEUS, I love it

— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) August 25, 2022

Wow. The White House just called out Marjorie Taylor Greene for having $183,504 in PPP loans forgiven. Biden tolerated MAGA for as long as any man could — but now he’s fed up with their lies and blatant hypocrisy. Thank you, White House, for putting Marjorie Greene in her place.

— Dash Dobrofsky (@DashDobrofsky) August 25, 2022

iconic @megancoyne23 purr 💅🏾(h/t @mattbc) https://t.co/RJZX0SKhGf

— maybe: diane (@dianelyssa) August 26, 2022

Actually its "freezing rain", but "this you?" must be a close second by now!

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) August 25, 2022

if you have a problem with the student loan cancellation because you already paid off your loans, just pretend its a tax cut for the rich that you also never got but mysteriously didn't complain about.

— Katelyn Burns (@transscribe) August 24, 2022

Preemptively posting this. pic.twitter.com/3xSCANnBGg

— Anthony Michael Kreis (@AnthonyMKreis) August 24, 2022

Today's News: Just a little light treason

Just a short one tonight:

 

Ron Johnson believes that there's a five second rule for both food dropped on the floor and treason.

— Steve Metz (@steven_metz) August 22, 2022

Senator Johnson knows a little light treason when he sees it -- he was one of the senators who celebrated July 4 2018 in Moscow:

You remember that trip, right @RonJohnsonWI? The one where you and seven other Republican traitors debased yourselves and flamboyantly displayed your treason for the entire world to see and Putin didn’t even meet with you. We do.#PartyOfTreason pic.twitter.com/gzdzhzXVkm

— Andrew Wortman 🏳️‍🌈🇺🇸 (@AmoneyResists) August 22, 2022

Moving on, this is terrific:

Almost 700k views on this of Biden reimposed onto Christopher Walken’s body in the Fatboy Slim video

pic.twitter.com/PRNcoZzNiw

— Alex Thompson (@AlexThomp) August 19, 2022

The Republicans are going to regret their attempt to characterize Biden as a doddering old man but also some kind of dictator:

I feel like the Sleepy Joe thing was a misstep from conservatives in retrospect because it makes it harder to sell the urgency of fighting him now that they want to paint him as a tyrant.

“BIDEN WILL SEND US ALL TO CAMPS... once he wakes up and remembers where and who he is.”

— Starfish In Charge Of WB Tax Evasion Dept. (@IRHotTakes) August 21, 2022

Actually, if there is anybody who is both a wanna-be dictator AND a doddering old man, it is Trump, isn't it. 

Turns out there really is "Music of the Spheres":

The misconception that there is no sound in space originates because most space is a ~vacuum, providing no way for sound waves to travel. A galaxy cluster has so much gas that we've picked up actual sound. Here it's amplified, and mixed with other data, to hear a black hole! pic.twitter.com/RobcZs7F9e

— NASA Exoplanets (@NASAExoplanets) August 21, 2022

Finally, here's another amazing story:

Tube on strike, I dawdled to Paddington on Friday. Passing the old wrought iron sign for Pizza Express, I was reminded of an event 30+ years ago, when I got caught up in a drama that resulted in a divorce, two marriages and many changed lives.

It began with a heart attack 🧵

— Electra Rhodes (@electra_rhodes) August 21, 2022

Today's News: Night and day

I don't have a lot to talk about tonight, but I read a couple of articles today and I was struck by the contrast in these descriptions - the leadership Biden shows in dealing with Russia's war against Ukraine, compared to the ridiculous, childish ineptitude of Trump.

Here is Biden developing the complicated strategy of defending Ukraine without starting World War 3, as described by the Washington Post:

Using mounted maps on easels in front of the Resolute Desk, Milley showed Russian troop positions and the Ukrainian terrain they intended to conquer. It was a plan of staggering audacity, one that could pose a direct threat to NATO’s eastern flank, or even destroy the post-World War II security architecture of Europe.

...As he absorbed the briefing, Biden, who had taken office promising to keep the country out of new wars, was determined that Putin must either be deterred or confronted, and that the United States must not act alone. Yet NATO was far from unified on how to deal with Moscow, and U.S. credibility was weak. 

....Months later, Milley still carried in his briefcase note cards encapsulating the U.S. interests and strategic objectives discussed at the October briefing. He could recite them off the top of his head.

Problem: “How do you underwrite and enforce the rules-based international order” against a country with extraordinary nuclear capability, “without going to World War III?” 

No. 1: “Don’t have a kinetic conflict between the U.S. military and NATO with Russia.” 

No. 2: “Contain war inside the geographical boundaries of Ukraine.” 

No. 3: “Strengthen and maintain NATO unity.” 

No. 4: “Empower Ukraine and give them the means to fight.” 

Biden’s advisers were confident Ukraine would put up a fight. 

Compare Biden's articulate, thoughtful and courageous approach with how Trump acts, as described by David Roth:

By this point in our national relationship with Donald Trump, everyone who is not paid to pretend otherwise pretty much knows what he does and why. 

...[Trump] does everything he does for one reason, which is that he wants to do it at the moment it occurs to him to want it; that simple flash of want, which chirps out at periodic intervals like the sounds a smoke detector makes when its battery is dying, justifies anything that he takes or tries simply by virtue of its existence. ...raw spite and aimless resentment and relentless self-centered entitlement... 

Without Biden, Ukraine would have had no chance. It is terrible to contemplate.

From stealing classified documents to wanting his top brass to behave more like Hitler's generals, this week has reminded us that Trump is and has been for years one of the top national security threats the US faces. https://t.co/MVgHcZZkR9

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) August 9, 2022

Here's a ridiculous "take" on Biden's success:

I'm so sorry Biden doing good things for America is happening to you, Benjy. Our thoughts are with you in this difficult time.

— Molotovsky 🥀 (@GriffTheImpaler) August 16, 2022

What have you done for me next week, is a hell of a bad take. https://t.co/GJh845BfqG

— William K. Wolfrum (@Wolfrum) August 16, 2022

Here's a little more fun:

Look, were the Peterborough protestors fuckwads? Yes. But was it right for the mayor of Peterborough to come out and call them fuckwads, thereby normalizing politicians dismissing the concerns of people that are detached from reality and think rules don’t apply to them? Also yes.

— Aaron Hoyland (@aaronhoyland) August 17, 2022

And in response to CBC pearl-clutching:

I remember when the entire Ottawa press gallery had to fetch themselves fainting couches when Scott Brison uttered the words “golden showers” in QP.
The scrums afterward were embarrassing.
“Did you know what you were saying?!” they all shrieked. https://t.co/dXF4yyv01B

— Dale Smith (@journo_dale) August 18, 2022

They're back, baby!

Sometimes you get a second chance at love #Zellers pic.twitter.com/vPUP09ETTy

— Brittlestar (@brittlestar) August 17, 2022

Today's News: Updates from all over

Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act today -- and Biden is no dummy, unexpectedly handing Manchin the pen even though Schumer and Pelosi are right there too. In spite of how the Dems are hopeful that the 2022 elections will give Dems a larger Senate majority, there's always a chance that Manchin will again hold the balance of power so this could be a gesture that he will remember.

President Biden hands Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) the sole pen he used to sign the Inflation Reduction Act. pic.twitter.com/X2t8EelgHP

— The Recount (@therecount) August 16, 2022

I love the relationship between Biden and Obama:

This is a BFD. https://t.co/L0sh8ULo4T

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) August 16, 2022

Thanks, Obama https://t.co/5KZfiXIGgd

— President Biden (@POTUS) August 16, 2022

(I assume everyone is up on the memes for "Big Fucking Deal" and "Thanks Obama".)

Now Republicans grumble
From the envy they’re hidin’
Towards a man bold and humble
The awesome Joe Biden! pic.twitter.com/pJ2wyHbQ6U

— Embrace Your Music (@mainesongwriter) August 16, 2022

As with Trudeau, the American media also search for something, ANYTHING, to rag on Biden about. The New York Times is now entranced by Biden's sunglasses - maybe because they help him emit too much Dark Brandon energy? Who knows, but let's try to make it into a scandal somehow:

"But his sunglasses!"

— Cathie from Canada 🇨🇦 😷🏳️‍🌈 (@CathieCanada) August 16, 2022

And speaking of politicians, here's a statement from the mayor of Petterborough about the yahoos this weekend who wanted to arrest the police force:

The City of Peterborough had anti-vaxxers in town this weekend, doing stupid anti-vaxxer stuff. The Mayor of Peterborough has responded and, well, I give you the *actual* Queen of Canada. https://t.co/hJM4wzZXtL

— Tabatha Southey 🇺🇦 (@TabathaSouthey) August 17, 2022

Today's News: Girl!

Wouldn't you just love to be a fly on Hillary Clinton's wall tonight?

pic.twitter.com/Vcq1VffIGn

— mamabear (@lmoon79) August 9, 2022

Dark Brandon works pretty fast, doesn't he?

trump couldn't lock up hillary in 4 years, brandon raided his home in 2. pic.twitter.com/kbEA4ll3fR

— hasanabi (@hasanthehun) August 8, 2022

Karma just grabbed Trump by the p*ssy.

— Mayo 🌻 (@MayoIsSpicyy) August 8, 2022

An FBI raid on a former president sets a dangerous precedent by implying the rule of law applies equally to everyone.

— Seva (@SevaUT) August 9, 2022

FBI: Raids Trump's for-profit house.

World: Wow, I wonder which of Trump's crimes this is about.

— Hunter (@HunterDK) August 8, 2022

Ok this is funny as hell🤣#VoteDemocratStraightDownTheBallot https://t.co/Q6hVmoeBWk

— Cat Joe💙 🌊 (@Mr_gsPenguin) August 9, 2022

Raw Story reports: 

Former FBI official Frank Figliuzzi walked MSNBC viewers through what the Miami Field Office had to do to execute today's search warrant on Mar-a-Lago... .

...the New York Times and CNN have sources confirming that the raid focused on the National Archives documents. Figiluzzi also confirmed it with as much certainty as he could....

"I have a medium to high degree of certainty that this at least is focused in part on national archives case...

The time to negotiate and turn everything over is long gone, and now we've reached the point where agents are convincing a judge that they have evidence of a crime." 

Scrimshaw writes: 

It’s really hard not to just enjoy the hubris of Mr. “Lock Her Up” being raided by the FBI, but let’s actually just focus on what it all means that Donald Trump has had Mar-A-Lago raided today.  

The specific search seems to be about some Presidential records and classified documents that Trump took to Mar-A-Lago, but it’s also fair to say that we don’t know what those records supposedly show, and therefore whether or not this is connected to one or both of the Grand Juries investigating the attempt to overturn the 2020 election with fake electors and January 6th, respectively. That said, on some level, the details don’t matter for the politics of all of this, and that’s where the GOP are in deep, deep trouble. 

...[the GOP] are not going to make strategically optimal decisions to appeal to the centre ground, because their heads are so far up their own asses that they think loyalty to Trump matters more than electability. 

... the GOP are shooting themselves in the feet and letting Democrats reframe this election away from Biden and to a choice between them and a cast of fucking crazy people. 

Democrats can now tie together the defence of criminality here with the incredibly restrictive abortion policies of state GOPs and create a coherent narrative about their sensible, pragmatic approach to helping everyday Americans and the GOP’s weird obsession with criminalizing women and defending Trump. If that’s not a winning message, I don’t know what is. 

Today's News: Cheering

Big Democratic win today in the US Senate. This "Dark Brandon" meme seems to have legs:

Thanks, @POTUS. pic.twitter.com/2PxrbDOtJB

— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) August 8, 2022

#DarkBrandonRises pic.twitter.com/skjETVXU5Y

— Molly Cochran ☮️🇺🇦🌻 (@MollyC82) August 8, 2022

pic.twitter.com/v1dOoaxKPb

— ShV77💙 (@Sharon9177) August 8, 2022

I love DARK BRANDON!! pic.twitter.com/2PX6b4kopa

— Kathy McCarty (@KMTBERRY) August 8, 2022

Rob Reiner knew:

Said it before. I’ll say it again. Joe Biden has accomplished more in his first two years than any President in the last 60. We all need to shout this from the rooftops!

— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) August 3, 2022

Not one Republican in the Senate voted for the most consequential bill to address Climate Change and the lowering of Prescription Drug prices in US history. We have President Biden, Leader Schumer, Speaker Pelosi and the Democrats to thank. Never forget that.

— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) August 7, 2022

Somewhere, Harry Reid is looking down and nodding "Well played, grasshopper. Well played!"

Give props to @SenSchumer He kept at it even after BBB collapsed. He kept his negotiations w Joe Manchin completely secret until the CHIP bill passed, brilliantly outmaneuvering McConnell. He threaded the needle on climate to get Manchin, on taxes to get Sinema. Well done, Chuck!

— Norman Ornstein (@NormOrnstein) August 7, 2022

Credit to them all. https://t.co/yxOQ4suzUu

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) August 8, 2022

I dumped all over Schumer three months ago. I would like some A1 sauce with my crow https://t.co/iXGYJBOkJ6

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 7, 2022

Let's not get carried away here https://t.co/GQCzLqqxGJ

— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) August 8, 2022

If voters this November cast their ballots exclusively for the candidates and party that are most likely to help improve their lives there will not be a single Republican elected to the House or Senate.

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) August 8, 2022

what a difference a real POTUS makes. and a party that’s not a cult. kudos to Biden and Dems. https://t.co/OSsStwvf0H

— Raffi Cavoukian (@Raffi_RC) August 8, 2022

Today's News: Cue the Rocky Music!

 

 Not to jinx things, but I think maybe Biden is winning!

...are finding a way to make it work. They have done it alone with the American Rescue Plan. They have done it all but alone or alone on key judgeships and senior level appointments. They have had a handful of Republicans join on the infrastructure bill.

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) August 5, 2022

Credit to @SenSchumer and @SpeakerPelosi for their leadership. Credit to @Sen_JoeManchin and @SenatorSinema despite all the problems they have caused in the past for coming through when the country needed it. And above all, credit to @POTUS.

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) August 5, 2022

Restoring leadership abroad w/a remarkable global set of initiatives that have truly reset US foreign policy for a new era. It's not hyperbole. It wasn't flashy. It was certainly unlikely. But day-in and day-out the president and his team have focused on one thing: governing.

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) August 5, 2022

It's old school. Sometimes it's ugly. Certainly, we all have areas where we wish more was getting done. But what they're doing is a lot. It will make a big difference in millions, even billions, of lives around he planet. And we should be happy about that. Who'd a thunk it?

— David Rothkopf (@djrothkopf) August 5, 2022

Republicans thought they won something big when SCOTUS dismantled abortion rights in June. 

But this terrible decision has actually become a turning point for Democrats -- it unified congressional Dems and Democrats across the country like never before, and also made them realize that they are never going to get anything done if they waited for Republicans to come to their senses. 

Biden has stepped up with a series of executive orders and initiatives over the last six weeks, to deal with problems ranging from increasing supplied of baby formula to lowering gas prices to protecting gay marriage and setting federal standards for women's health. At the same time he has been continuing international leadership on Ukraine and dealing with al-Qaeda's Ayman al-Zawahiri. 

Democrats have been heartened by the outpouring of disgust at Republicans playing politics with the healthcare of veterans - notice how quickly they got a new vote underway - and now the vote in Kansas has made Democrats realize how powerful an issue abortion rights will be in the November mid-terms.

It has been a remarkable summer:

Screw politics. Screw poll numbers. Joe Biden has a record of accomplishments in the first two years of his Presidency that has gone unmatched for almost 60 years.

— Rob Reiner (@robreiner) July 29, 2022

Biden inherited a torn nation. It’s fabric is ripped along Red & Blue fault lines. He is the only Democrat who could have won in 2020. He continues to give his all to the country he loves. President Biden is a good man doing his best for an often ungrateful nation.#FreshResists pic.twitter.com/l9DyYwEMra

— Southern Sister Resister - Wordsmith #IAmTheStorm (@ResisterSis20) August 4, 2022

I love this "Dark Brandon" reference:

Dark Brandon is settling his debts.

— AmiableQuinn (@AmiableQuinn) August 2, 2022

And here's an unexpected twist:

“In our nation’s 246 year history there has never been an individual who is a greater threat to our Republic than Donald Trump.” Dick Cheney pic.twitter.com/erBPBNy8ah

— Liz Cheney (@Liz_Cheney) August 4, 2022

Watching people find ways to agree with Dick Cheney has been my favorite part of Twitter for the last day or so

— Matt Gurney (@mattgurney) August 5, 2022

Turning to Canadian politics, just this tonight:

The major divide in politics today isn't between left and right. It's between people who believe politicians exist to validate their feelings about the world, and those who believe politicians are there to at least try to run the friggin country responsibly. #cdnpoli

— Jeff Rybak🍁 (@JeffRybak) July 31, 2022

pic.twitter.com/UIDRHD0dPH

— Hans Collin (@HansCollin2) August 4, 2022

Today's news: Nelson moments

 

Today seemed to be a day of "Nelson" moments. 

There was that day-long Rogers outage:

Having Rogers internet down all day meant spending the day talking with family. They seem like nice people. 🤣

— KNugent4118🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 (@knugent4118) July 8, 2022

I can't grasp the scale of how bad this is at Rogers. This is an unprecedented disaster. Been down now for over 12 hours and they still don't know why.

And they have really smart engineers working there. I know, I've worked with them.

— Catelli 2.0 🚣🚴🏕 (@Catelli2Oh) July 8, 2022

You start a simple kitchen reno. And then next thing you know you're jacking up the house and rebuilding the foundation from the footings up.

There is no "just put the wall back up and hide the mess we found"

— Catelli 2.0 🚣🚴🏕 (@Catelli2Oh) July 8, 2022

They appear to have turned their router off and back on again.

— David Cochrane (@DavidWCochrane) July 9, 2022

And that story about SCOTUS justice Brett Kavanaugh being chased out of Morton's by protestors:

The Morton's restaurant chain opened in 1978 and is therefore not "deeply rooted in the nation's history and traditions."

— Lawrence Glickman (@LarryGlickman) July 8, 2022

Yup, you have to articulate the right at the most specific level you can so that you can find that the right doesn’t exist. There is no fundamental “right to eat at Morton’s in DC on a Thursday night without leaving through the back due to protestors”

— Defend the Truth and Defeat the Lies (@fitzador) July 8, 2022

On the other hand, they could argue that the right of powerful white men to ruin other people’s lives and expect to not face even the mildest of consequences is very much “deeply rooted in the nation’s history in tradition”

— Jacob Harris (@harrisj) July 8, 2022

What did Brett Kavanaugh and his right wing Supreme Court pals think their lives would be like after they criminally assaulted 200,000,000 American women? Did they think people would just smile at them in restaurants? Also goodbye Mortons for aggressively taking Kavanaugh’s side.

— Palmer Report (@PalmerReport) July 8, 2022

It doesn't matter if protesters interrupt his meal because Brett Kavanaugh believes dinner begins at reservation

— Frank Lesser (@sadmonsters) July 8, 2022

All six of the SCOTUS majority are too arrogant and stupid to understand that they will never eat an unspat-in restaurant meal for the rest of their lives.

— Randy Cauthen (@Joe_Bourgeois) July 8, 2022

And Tamara Lich is back in jail:

I'm reading angry tweets that Lich is a martyr -- but honestly, what did she think would happen after she breached her bail conditions? Her lawyers did her no favours.

I find it hilarious that Tamara Lich's lawyers awarded her some bs "freedom award" that ended up causing her to lose her freedoms. Good job JCCF! #cdnpoli #FreeDumbConvoy

— Rob Gill (@vote4robgill) July 8, 2022

We have now entered the glorious “Find Out” phase.

I bet she’s pissed her little attempted martyrdom didn’t get the goobers worked up enough to overthrow the Commie Nazi tyrant Trudeau. 😂🤣😂https://t.co/irmv1TDheI

— Jay Gamble (@DrJayDrNo) July 8, 2022

And Elon Musk wants to pull out of the Twitter deal.

You know, I always believed  that the only reason Musk wanted Twitter was because he had promised to reinstate Trump, but then it got too complicated and Musk never actually wanted to work that hard.

Elon Musk has announced he is not going to buy Twitter as he needs more time to stay at home with his families.

— Gene Spafford (@TheRealSpaf) July 8, 2022

BREAKING: Elon Musk has terminated his deal to buy Twitter, which is shocking because I didn’t think he knew how to pull out of anything.

— Jo 🌻 (@JoJoFromJerz) July 8, 2022