9/21 Open Discussion (updated)
The fight for CD 19 in New York is heating up. I saw my first republican attack ad against Zephyr Teachout on broadcast television yesterday. They called her “Professor Teachout” and said she promotes “Islamic Terrorists”. That made me donate $50 to her campaign.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FF3GImC8Ky0[/embedyt]
What’s on your mind this morning?
Here is that attack ad I saw yesterday that made me donate to teachout.
[embedyt] http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HRI_eixwUt0[/embedyt]
Good morning peeps. I thought it would be good to post an open discussion as I am up early.
They took the tube out of our horse Winnie’s eye yesterday and we hope to bring her home on Sat. after spending three weeks at the veterinary clinic.
I’m certain you’ll be glad to have Winnie home!
That’s really great news jbob!!
Someone mentioned seeing a picture of Winnie, but I missed that. After she comes home , would it be possible to see a picture of her? I can only imagine how happy she will be to be back with you!
Happy homecoming for Winnie!
Thanks for moderating for LD, jbob. Great news about Winnie. 🙂 She’s a pretty horse, too. I rode in my much younger and non-hobbled days. Still love horses and consider them among the most beautiful critters in nature. T and R!!
Horses and cats. Much better than most people, and definitely better looking!
Definitely easier to get along with!
Hugs to Winnie and thanks for the open thread. :O)
I didn’t know about Winnie, jbob. I’m glad she’s improving and we’ll be coming home! I’d love to see a photo of her if you want to post another, too. And thank you for putting up the open thread!
The real protest vote and why millennials are gravitating to 3rd party candidates:
The rest is here. Food for thought..
https://shadowproof.com/2016/09/19/protest-vote-liberal-establishment-frenzy/
I was able to embed a you tube video in the post using the tool provided.
I will try to embed one in this comment.
https://youtu.be/vGryxtise5Q
I like Professor Teachout!
I like what she professes !
Getting constantly called professor didn’t hurt Elizabeth Warren when she defeated Scott Brown.
For me it seems to work if I just copy/paste the direct link from up top into a comment. Then when I refresh the page here the link turns into an image…if that makes sense. 😉
Edit: Oh, it worked! Guess I just needed to refresh my screen? Such a pretty image. I’d love to do a boat trip up the Hudson some day.
I’m really rooting for Zephyr. She’s making the PTB nervous I think!
Thanks @magsview, I was editing the comment to find out how it works as you were looking / posting.
Now if only I can remember for next time…..
Same here hopes she can pull it off, I think the PTB’s are very nervous as look at the strings they had to pull with the DNC to get Hillary this far,
Haven’t seen this one–great ad! That’s two good ones from her
I’ve been spending a lot of time in Poughkeepsie recently–my partner and I bought a house there this year and I will be moving up there from New Jersey next year to join him. It has the spectacular Walkway Over the Hudson–an old railroad bridge that has been turned into a pedestrian/bicycle way. Unfortunately, Poughkeespie is just outside of the 19th district in the 18th district, which is currently represented by a Wall Street Dem, Sean Maloney. However, I will be able to use our place in the Catskills (in the 19th) as my voting address–hopefully to vote for Teachout in 2018!
Good ad.
It says something about New York State politics that it is an ad-worthy political attack to point out that your opponent was in the state legislature.
I gave her a hug at NetRoots nation in July. And with tears in my eyes said that I was encouraged to see her in politics.
What is the establishment democratic party doing for her run for office? Probably not much.
Like the unions, they want to hang on what they used to be as long as possible….
Actually, Steny Hoyer, of all people, was the special guest at a fundraiser for her in Manhattan last month, so I think there is some support from the establishment Dems.
I had thought the DCCC was supporting Zephyr, but I may be mistaken.
They are
https://dccc.org/dccc-names-zephyr-teachout-ny-19-top-tier-red-blue-program/
DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján today announced that reformer Zephyr Teachout has earned a spot in the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee’s (DCCC) highly-competitive Red to Blue program.
Since announcing her run for Congress earlier this year, Teachout has surpassed aggressive fundraising, organization and infrastructure goals, and demonstrated the ability and commitment to serving the needs of the Hudson Valley and put people before politics.
“Zephyr Teachout is a reform-minded leader who has spent her career fighting special interests to make sure families and communities have a say. Zephyr Teachout has built a smart and well-funded campaign, with a strong grassroots backing, which is why she has earned a spot on our Red to Blue program,” said DCCC Chairman Ben Ray Luján. “Meanwhile, Republican candidate and Albany Insider John Faso enters the general badly bruised after a debilitating primary that pulled him farther out-of-step in a district that President Obama won twice – 53% in 2012.”
“This November, the contrast could not be clearer between reformer Zephyr Teachout and her opponent, Albany Insider John Faso, who puts his interests over the Hudson Valley.”
I’m glad they are. Makes me wonder if that was also part of the negotiations Bernie may have done, but who knows. She’s a good candidate, and Clinton’s coattails probably will help her a little.
However, the DNC in every shape and form is not getting a dime from me. They can borrow money from the Hillary Victory Fund. That being said, I will send donations to candidates directly if I think they are solid progressives.
A combination of ignoring progressives and paying attention to her donors
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/sep/20/hillary-clinton-dropped-climate-change-from-speeches-after-bernie-sanders-endorsement
“Hillary Clinton has dropped the words “climate change” from most of her public addresses since winning the endorsement of her party rival Bernie Sanders, according to Climate Home analysis.
While the presidential candidate talks regularly about her plan for the US to become a “clean energy superpower”, in recent months she has rarely made reference to the planetary crisis that necessitates it.
On Monday, when she launched her pitch to millennials online, she could find no room for an issue that will affect that voting cohort more than any other.
The rhetorical shift undermines hopes that climate change might emerge as a key campaign issue in 2016. Boosted by the disparity between Clinton and her Republican opponent Donald Trump, a self-professed non-believer in climate change
In the next 30 days, her campaign has scheduled 16 fundraisers. She is too obsessed with money!
They need lots of money to prop up such a flawed candidate.
It doesn’t seem to be helping all that much.
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/296932-clinton-air-war-fails-to-sink-trump
Exactly. And now she sells her plans in book format on Amazon for 5 bucks a piece. With all of that money, she should be giving it away to any interested voter!
What??? I couldn’t find anything like you said, but I found this – pretty funny! https://www.amazon.com/dp/1477606823/ref=rdr_ext_tmb
LOL! That should been Trump’s book too.
The book I am referring to is this one:
Guess she has to make money for Jeff Bezos who has been kissing up to her (via WaPo). Turns out print copy is $11 and probably some change for shipping costs.
There is no “pulling away” in presidential politics anymore, like there was up until the 1990s. The shape of the partisan alignment and polarization means there can’t be a big blowout anymore. Perhaps if one candidate was dramatically more skilled and personally appealing than the other, we could see some room open up, but these two are almost equally unpopular. If either party had the sense to nominate an actually-popular figure like Sanders, or at least someone mediocre like Kasich, that candidate would be able to pull away a little. So it goes back to the partisan and environmental fundamentals, and they both imply a close race.
But she is talking about the issue, just using a term that polls better.
I don’t care what term she uses. As long as she’s prioritizing the issue as a campaign ( and governing) plank, she can call it My Uncle Fred for all I care. Climate change policy is all all (well, almost all) about the switch to clean power. If she was actually dropping the issue, that would bother me, but using a different term to talk about it? Who cares?
I dis- agree on this point. She can talk about a “renewable energy superpower”, without ever mentioning the need to keep fossil fuels in the ground. She has not, and will not, address this. Saying “A” does not mean you are saying “B”.
I suppose it’s possible to talk about switching to clean energy without discussing transitioning away from fossil fuels, but I’m having trouble imagining how.
If, somehow, she isn’t, that would be a problem, too.
It’s hard to believe, but natural gas is constantly referred to as “clean energy.”
Don’t forget “clean coal”.
Even if they can burn cleaner, there is the environmental impact of getting them out of the ground and converted to a usable product.
Then, there’s nuclear power… I suppose that is still on the table as “clean”, too.
I think you’re right about nuclear still being touted as “clean”…because it doesn’t produce carbon.
“you’re right about nuclear still being touted as “clean”.….
unless you live in Fukushima Japan or Chernobyl of course.
Exactly!
Clean(er) energy is part of it, but there is much more. We need to radically reinvent agriculture and fishing, etc. We are screwing up the ocean ecosystems by overfishing, not to mention pollution, and that is having an effect on the climate, too. As is deforestation to raise row crops and/or cattle.
Talking about being a “clean energy superpower” is BS. Just more USA! rah rah. We have to call a spade a spade, and look at ALL the ways we have to change things to try to slow climate change.
We certainly need to call a spade a spade when writing policy and engaging in issues advocacy. When actually campaigning for the presidency in a close race against a climate change denier, the candidate needs to call a spade “The Exciting Green Revolution That Will Give You A Job And Help You Lose Ten Pounds.”
Fast food workers to protest for $15 an hour federal minimum wage outside first presidential debate
Good. I don’t care if you’re a college professor or a burger flipper – anyone with a full-time job should earn a living wage. This should be a no brainer. I personally think they should fight for $20. I don’t know how people around here survive on the $10 min wage we have in CA.
Good morning, everyone!
A beautiful day in the neighborhood! That Zepher Teachout is someone to watch. She’s a great leader. I hope to see her continue to rise up. As long as she rejects the corruption other politicians cannot seem to resist, she will be a boost to the progressive movement.
My work computer crashed this week. I had to order a new one and am working on an old one. At least I have something to work from! I’ve also been busier than usual at work this fall.
I have to say that I’m rather pleased that Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) is chasing down the email server issue in the continuing saga of Servergate. Here is an instance where am cheering on the rethugs: http://thehill.com/policy/cybersecurity/296920-gop-chairman-subpoenas-fbi-for-clinton-it-aide-interviews. Read it, but don’t weep!
Well, have a beautiful day, my friends!
I don’t think there is any need to worry about Teachout being corrupted by the system. As she literally wrote the book on corruption
We’ll see what her “introduction” consists of. She definitely needs something else other than “Bad Trump.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/for-clinton-attacking-trump-may-not-be-enough/2016/09/21/c90c8018-7f75-11e6-8d0c-fb6c00c90481_story.html
“After a year and a half of running for president, the Democratic nominee has concluded that many Americans still do not have a clear understanding of what motivates her or what she would do as president. So in the campaign’s home stretch, Clinton is trying to reintroduce herself and her ideas to the country.
Clinton has been unable to break through the cacophony of attacks and counter attacks she and Republican nominee Donald Trump have been yelling at each other. But she will try to do just that here Wednesday by delivering what aides billed as a sweeping address that presents her vision for an inclusive economy in which everyone has a responsibility to contribute and an opportunity to get ahead.
Clinton’s objective is twofold: To lift her sagging approval ratings as well as build trust in her agenda and earn a mandate that could help her, should she be elected, govern in a divided Washington.
Whether the new approach will translate into fewer attacks on Trump remains to be seen. Clinton is drawn to Trump-bashing like a moth to a flame. She talks about Trump and tweets about Trump and runs advertisements about Trump. Defining him as unfit for office is at the core of her strategy to win. Late Tuesday, her campaign blasted this out from her main Twitter account: “Four months from today, our next president will walk into the Oval Office. Help make sure it’s not Donald Trump.”
Yet Clinton’s strategists believe such messages may not be enough. As David Axelrod, the architect of President Obama’s campaigns, put it: “The danger of that is if Trump finds a way to normalize himself it can be a trap door.”
https://www.facebook.com/RBReich/?hc_ref=NEWSFEED&fref=nf
Memo to Hillary Clinton:
From: Robert Reich
Re: Rebooting your campaign
Glad you’ve decided to shift away from merely dumping on Trump toward creating a mandate for your presidency. But avoid a long list of policy proposals. Instead, return to the start of your campaign when you said “the deck is stacked in favor of those at the top” and that you want to be the champion of ordinary Americans. Now, explain what it means to be a champion who un-stacks that deck.
….err, a little late for that Mr. Reich…the elections only a month away. The possibility of turning Hillary Clinton in too a Champion of the hardworking, down trodden masses just wouldn’t fly…dear Mr. Reich, the American people aren’t that dumb…did you forget her trustworthy ratings in all the National Polls?
Especially if you have to sandwich that transformation into half hour appearances in between Fund Raisers with her good and longtime friends..the billionaires.$$$$$
…oh my, how will she ever have time to change from her $10,000 Armani Tunics in too yard sale apparel!! 😉
/s
She does need to push an affirmative case more. It was probably wise to lay a firm anti-Trump groundwork all summer, but now it’s game time.
Edit – But I would say that, wouldn’t I, since the affirmative case she can make to the electorate is basically Bernie’s, as filtered through the party’s platform.
Thought about like that, calling on Clinton to make an affirmative case is the same thing as holding her feet to the fire on her policy shifts to Bernie.
Adjunct professors as wage slaves. Now up to 70% of faculty.
And MBA applications are down
Academia is another institution ruined by money – following the path of government
Academic Penury: Adjunct Faculty as the New Precariat
Interesting term, “Precariet,” and way too well-named. This is a great article about the effects of capitalism on education — and I recommend reading the comments, too. Thank you for sharing, Don midwest.
I could see this happening already in the early 80s, when I was working on my B.A. One of my professors died, and was replaced by five part-timers. Another of my teachers, whose very popular classes were always filled to the brim, finally left to teach high school, where she could get health benefits. A third taught at five different colleges around the SF Bay Area in order to make her living. All three taught in different departments. As much as I figured I’d love teaching at college level, it didn’t look like a good option. (I wound up teaching high school eventually.)
Thanks for that link Don, as an adjunct research professor I know this story well.
The earlier social contract of paying teachers low wages, but giving them a decent pension with benefits? Yeah, for adjunct professors I know, they have the former only. Meanwhile, a few other friends have “served” their 25 years at the high school level and are getting the fuck out… 25 years of grading papers until bed time? They are too burnt out to continue. Adjuncts at the university level don’t have this option.
Edit: “there” for ‘their”
Oh my! David Brock is sure a busy little beaver.
http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2016-09-20/money-laundering-scheme-exposed-14-pro-clinton-super-pacs-non-profits-implicated
Oh wait there is more!
http://www.thecitizensaudit.com/2016/09/12/pro-clinton-organizations-share-office-space/
Not done yet!
http://www.thecitizensaudit.com/2016/09/17/correct-the-record-unregistered-solicitation/
It would be sad to see anything happen to Mr. Brock ! It’s so deep and so corrupt, and the FBI is so strung out, that an honest agent could get put on a case that breaks through. What ! you’re telling me we’re down to only Honest agents now ! Time to shut it down .
David Brock is the same scumbag he was when he was going after the Clintons.’He just switched sides, like a reverse David Horowitz.
Thank you for your description of David Brock. I found it somewhat cathartic. I have a very visceral and negative reaction to his visage..not that I’m proud of that…
Algorithm strikes! Facebook saga by deleting the photo of the Vietnam girl running from Napalm
The man who posted it as one of the 7 photos that changed the history of war — he wanted to debate the issue
He was banned from Facebook.
Then the leading Norwegian daily newspaper printed the photo and the original post. They were banned from Facebook.
Then the Norwegian Prime Minister posted it and she was banned
Then letter went out ….
Took 24 hours
Playing Algorithm ’n Blues
Also found from Naked Capitalism which has become a go to site
Ha ha ha ha ha, that’s crazy!
…looks like the Prime Minister of Norway wasn’t amused….lol
Zuckerberge’s enormous ego must have suffered a bruise 😉
p.s. I really enjoyed reading Naked Capitalism’s site…love the way they intermix sarcastic humor in with seldom reported news. Thanks for pointing me in that direction @DonMidwest
Hillary has no scheduled appearances till the debate.
http://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/296952-clinton-preps-for-multiple-trumps
She’s scheduled for a rally today, but beyond that, most of the scheduled events include 19 fundraisers in the next 30 days. Disgusting about the money. It’s no wonder that she’s considered inauthentic–you have to pay or be “selected” to hear any speeches.
Did you see who wrote a piece calling on Hillary to spend less time with big-dollar fundraisers on the grounds that Bernie proved you can raise enough money from regular people making small-dollar donations?
Some blogger named Markos something. Even he’s figured it out.
BBWWAHAAAHAAA!
That’s absolutely HILARIOUS!!!
I don’t hang out much at TOP, but he does seem to be on the same page as many of us have been saying for awhile. The post Joe is referring to is from Monday.
Clinton is all too happy to do those fundraisers as she cannot relate to the middle class any longer. Kaine is the same. I’m guessing a lot of those fundraisers are with lawyers who have some extra cash to part with. The number on Clinton Super PACs is ridiculous too. I saw that some billionaire from SF is chipping in $15m to GOTV for HC. Wonder what he does to help those struggling for housing in his backyard.
Pffff
double Pffff too them all
Good news from Wisconsin. Feingold is leading by 6 points (47-41) in the latest Marquette poll, up from a 3 point lead last month. He is outperforming Clinton who is leading by 3 with all candidates and by 2 head to head–essentially unchanged from last month.
http://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/politics/elections/2016/09/21/clinton-maintains-tight-lead-over-trump-marquette-poll/90779374/?hootPostID=7d93753f6a0ce0d2463da244b499e176
He’s someone it will be genuinely GOOD to have back in the Senate!
Prez race has tightened as well –But great news for Russ
I just donated (again) to ZTs campaign… Does anyone know the demographic make up of CD 19. ?
Great!
I posted this yesterday:
“Politically, the district offers a slight edge to Republican candidates. There are 144,898 registered Republicans in the 19th compared with 147,253 Democrats. But when you add in 11,625 members of the right-leaning Conservative party to the GOP numbers and 2,557 members of the left-leaning Working Families Party to the Democratic column, Republicans emerge with an enrollment advantage of 6,175. The district also contains 28,942 members of the largely non-ideological Independence Party and 1,980 Green Party members. But it is voters who are not enrolled in any political party that make up the third largest voting bloc in the district at 126,928, who hold the ability to turn the district blue or red.”
Obama won by 6.2% in the district in 2012
The DCCC poll with Teachout leading by 5 showed her to be doing really well with independents, so that’s good
That’s interesting that she’s doing well with independents. Her opponent seems to be trying to paint her as some kind of NYC elitist carpetbagger, but maybe that’s not sticking. Her ad up top that jbob posted called ‘Hudson River’ was very effective, imo, in portraying her as someone who neither part of the Albany establishment nor a Wall St insider.
Check this out, not that I trust Nate anymore:
Is that what happens when you spend almost all of your time at fundraisers at rich people’s houses and have the occasional 200 person, invite-only, event for the common folk who, if invited by name, are probably already planning on voting for Hillary?
Is that why I’m seeing a flurry of advice coming at her from all corners? Just two examples:
Clinton needs to stop taking a knife to a gun fight
Liberals Have Failed to Teach Millennials About the Horror of George W. Bush
(A comment under the tweet of this story says, “if you want to teach millenials about horrors of Bush years maybe don’t pursue endorsements from his cabinet”, and Bush’s father, etc.)
Will this op-ed find its way to its intended audience if published at the New York Times?
Hillary Clinton: My Plan for Helping America’s Poor
Does Hillary’s campaign have a clue?? Her campaign mgr sure doesn’t seem to!
https://twitter.com/ByYourLogic/status/778636672644898816
From what I can tell, that interview was an epic FAIL. Mook did not wish to discuss policy or anything “the Secretary” may say on the issues. Scarborough wondered why Mook was even scheduled for the show.
I read the transcript of the interview .Other than referring back to Hillary’ Mook just should have said “i know nothing” Epic fail indeed.
“Why are you here?”
Mook looked unbelievably uninformed! And he’s supposed to be representing the candidate of substance, who touts her foreign policy experience????
I notice that H and her surrogates all laugh when asked embarrassing questions that they don’t want to answer. It’s an interesting choice. Do they think it’s charming? disarming? distracting? They need to try something else,
I just love this pic……
https://twitter.com/tinselkorey/status/778659789777743872