DRW50

The idea has long been that Iowa and New Hampshire are crucial to help decide the nominee. This has increasingly been called into question, as the Democratic Party has moved away from "the heartland" and such a white identity, but as it's still the first state, countless time and money is spent there for the purposes of momentum. Now that was removed from the equation and it's all just become a broken mess of conspiracy theories and infighting, and has already given Trump a big win going into November.

That's Jeff Zucker (Trump friend) for you.

Biden's team are unhappy with the whole thing - you'd think they might be relieved with the news being overshadowed. Apparently Pete is about to make a speech. Same old candidate speak I guess. Bernie's cultists are saying it's all rigged of course, like it always is.

The Iowa caucuses are a complete shitshow - apparently the apps aren't safe and the phone lines aren't working, delaying results by hours. Amy Klobcuhar has come out to say she did well and is going on to NH. That's about all anyone knows for sure - there are anecdotal statements going around but nothing confirmed. And if this is accurate, turnout is at 2016 levels, which suggests many are burned out on this campaign already (there was tons of hype that Bernie bros would help cause a big turnout surge).

That was a hard article to read...my heart broke for her. I'm glad she was able to find the seclusion and hopefully happiness she deserved. I'm glad at least one clip of her on OLTL is around. You can see her talent even here.

I learned a little while ago that a close relative of mine passed away, so I'm not in a mood to say what I might have said. I will just say I hope he won't suffer and he uses this time as a period of reflection.

Bernie's cult has made it very clear they will not vote for anyone but Bernie - if he doesn't get the nomination then they're done (I imagine many will vote for Trump). So I think that means anyone who isn't in a competitive state should be free to not vote for Bernie and just focus on downballot races. He hasn't earned votes beyond that, in my opinion, and I don't think he ever will. Biden may benefit from the same South Carolina boon that helped Hillary, and then Super Tuesday. It would depend on Nevada I suppose. The other question mark is how long Bernie's cultists can actually focus on him winning. They spent the days running up to the caucus leading hate mobs about Hillary (some of his highest-profile surrogates spent their time doing this) and talking about how much they hate John Kerry. Neither of these people are even running. If you told them Hillary was having a book signing nearby and they could go protest her and shout at her if they give up the right to vote for Bernie, they'd do it in a heartbeat.

I think she might cost him a win, but he's probably not winning Iowa anyway, Bernie's cult is too fervent. I could see her possibly surpassing Buttigieg, but they are both on a road to nowhere. The main difference is the media seems crazy about her now compared to them - I guess she is their last best hope at this point.

I think that's just speculation.

Two years?

I was just watching this number from Henry, Sweet Henry, and someone pointed out that Ilene Kristen is in the burgundy coat. Neat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lyv67Peo4w

Watching that 1981 episode again I notice how much the plot is driven by various baddies - even when we aren't seeing them they're talking about them (like Andy). It makes for some good drama, thanks to how much fun Maeve Kinkead and Lisa Brown are, but it leaves the "good" characters, especially of the female variety, feeling extremely wan. Only Hillary manages to seem tougher, but her cultish speech about Kelly toward the end is a little disturbing (if well-acted - great cliffhanger though). On the male side it's mostly the older actors who enliven their roles. I wonder if this was Stephen Jackson's last appearance. Nola is a lot of fun in this I have to admit. Sometimes I wonder if they should've left her as a bad girl a little longer.

Why do Bernie's grifters get so much support.Toxic Michael Moore is spewing bile all over TV too.

Hillary continues to live rent-free in the heads of the cultists. Just imagine the reaction if Bernie was booed at somebody's rally. In more serious news, while no one is watching, Trump is expanding the travel ban. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/01/31/trump-administration-expands-travel-ban-110005

So glad to get to see that episode. Never thought I would. Great to see some of the larger family dynamics for Ava and also for the Aldens - that nice little "Clay" and Ann scene, for instance. That's the sister Ava tried to use when she was faking a pregnancy a few years before this, right? Quite a bachelor pad for Harry. I wonder if anybody got that set when he was written out.

A good article about how Trump makes everything seem meaningless. https://prospect.org/impeachment/in-the-trump-era-the-rules-are-all-made-up/

I think because not having witnesses means the soap they wanted to see isn't going to happen, and it also invalidates the fantasy they have of the Senate having righteous, respectful Republicans who are there to stand up to Trump For the Good of the Country. Instead the Senate Republicans are just perpetuating a sham and showing they are well and truly beholden to Trump. This cuts to the heart of the daddy issues and GOP bear-hugging that make up our media. And of course some of the same people on the left who pushed for an impeachment are now saying it was pointless, when this was the obvious outcome all along.

Most will just enlist because they need the money, which big business and the GOP know, which is why they keep making the economy worse and worse. The main question becomes what happens if Trump is reelected and Putin and others ask him to destabilize the military even further. Anyway, this type of response doesn't surprise me, but it makes me understand why some on Twitter go on and on about "eat the rich" and tweeting photos of guillotines. (no I'm not suggesting anyone should actually do that) It makes me feel sick to my stomach...

Oh they just have headaches, don't worry. This is the type of stupidity that reminds me how close we are to full despair.

Thanks. I always forget about Staab. I guess this was just after she'd left GL (or did GL fire her).

That's why his cultists are amping up the shaming sessions - the main one I keep seeing is you care more about supporting war criminals than about what's right if you criticize the touting of this endorsement. It's all about shaming and subjugation. Never mind that St. Bernie supported wars too, and is happy to enable dictators. This is a pretty decent article from a trans perspective. https://www.advocate.com/commentary/2020/1/29/take-it-trans-woman-sanderss-embrace-rogan-terrible Meanwhile, some of his brain dead brigades are trying to primary Nancy Pelosi. Good luck with that.

I think this is why Sanders' campaign is now directly pivoting toward Joe Rogan and his voters - dumb, bigoted white men. The idea seems to be they are some kind of silent majority and that any Democrat who is hesitant about being in a bloc with them needs to just shut up or they will be seen as a hypocrite and not wanting to actually win. It's a twofer - either Bernie and his cult win and then do whatever they want without any repercussions from the party, or they lose and say the system was against them and everyone gets what they deserves with Trump. I think they really do want to lose and know they would be much better off financially and in popularity if he does. It's probably only his huge ego that is keeping him in. He truly is Trump.

Thanks. I've never seen him. What did you think of her?

I've always wondered about this as well. I get the feeling that fans liked Lesley but that her stories weren't up to much until they brought Laura into the narrative.