Vee

Lizza is apparently on leave from Politico per this case. He is more entrenched in the Beltway than Nuzzi so I don't see this ending well for her.

This debate has officially become comfy, civil and boring. Which is good AFAIC. Walz has been strong enough and Vance has agreed with him too much, and while he's a skilled debater Vance has had his share of bad moments (as has Walz). The second half of the debate was much quieter and more comfy. So the needle is unlikely to seriously move - this will never be the JD Vance ticket. The Beltway is gonna be disappointed. Lord, Vance is trying to put over RFK and Tulsi. You can tell Vance actually likes Walz. MAGA and Trump will not be happy. Hand it to Tim Walz to actually make JD Vance look vaguely human. Walz may have actually just made the strongest case to America for going back to being decent that I've seen in a long time. He even charmed JD Vance! The Times allows for the truth: It is a draw, but the coziness is what people will remember. Walz nails Vance on refusing to answer if Trump lost in 2020 as a closer. This ending is very, very strong from Walz and Vance falters and babbles about Facebook.

I generally agree with this. Oh, Vance just agreed with Tim again. This VP debate is getting strangely mellow and comfy between these two lol. Which I don't hate. It reminds me of pre-Tea Party politics. The key thing developing here is that Vance is not the attack dog tonight that both the campaign and the Beltway hoped for to shock the race back on track for them. The longer this goes on the more he agrees with Walz, gets cozier and more polite with him and likelier to go out for a beer with him after the debate lol. He is nodding along and agreeing with Walz on 60-70% of what he's said over the last hour at least. The crucial thing IMO is that people aren't going move from Walz to Vance, or Harris to Trump over this debate. Jonathan Swan attempts to spin it lol:

Vance is deep in the weeds over the abortion section, which I knew would happen. Not going well for him. They've both had some rough moments, but while Vance is very slick (and much more skilled in this format than Walz) he isn't moving new voters to him and Trump, and no one's gonna forget the abortion section or him losing it with Margaret Brennan. Walz's answers are also largely heartfelt, human and ground level, unlike Vance - most are quite good. So as much as a VP debate ever matters or doesn't (usually the latter) I am not expecting a massive change. Which is fine by me. Vance has agreed with Walz/Harris a few too many times tonight - and then answers the gun control question by saying we need to strengthen doors and windows. "I don't love my answer," he admits. Walz is very good on guns. Vance doesn't seem to notice he can be seen nodding along to many of Walz's answers.

So far Vance hasn't landed a real blow. I thought he'd be nastier. Without the MAGA backdrop of the rallies he's bloodless and seems without fire. He's very smooth as a wonk which would play well 15 years ago but (like Paul Ryan) he's disconnected from any real life people or issues, and while Walz clearly has nerves every answer he's given has been strong and talking about people and IMO lands much better for voters. His answers have feeling behind them. Nothing here so far is going to move people away from Harris/Walz or to Vance/Trump. The CBS moderators should be credited - they have pressed Vance on key issues repeatedly, possibly due to online pressure over the last couple days re: their lack of fact-checking, and supported Walz's points. This is likely as good as it's gonna get for Vance in this, and he's been mediocre at best. Wait for abortion. Vance is now throwing a tantrum about the CBS anchors fact-checking him and defending Haitian slander. Holy shít. The moderators just muted Vance as he rambled on and on. "Thank you for explaining the legal process," Brennan snarks at Vance. He just lost.

I think Levi will be in C or D stuff for years to come - he's become radioactive and he doesn't have the superstar cachet Mel did that has just barely gotten him out of the gutter, and even then Mel is not headlining any really huge films. Anyway, onto the debate!

The gift that keeps on giving for me and @DRW50:

I know he's got great abs but let's all make an exciting resolution to refrain from stalking the nice if overly hunky kid's entire family's social media on this one.

Viki.*

Not Kevin bringing 14-yo Joey softcore mags in the hospital! A Different Time.

OTOH, Josh Kraushaar is a right wing mouthpiece.

I blame the hellspawn! He did fine earlier this year (and when Drew was attacked in prison).

It wouldn't surprise me given his exit, but I still don't care! He's the only one of those I'm invested in, he carried half the show on his back for a lotta lousy years when he was what, 9? 10?

Unless it's HW I don't want it. This dude can stay since Jake and Aiden really aren't that far apart in age but he def is notably and awkwardly older, and strangely so for Jackson and Herbst. DRW's comparison to Depression-era teenagers and their parents is accurate lol. Though if it were up to me Rocco, Aiden, Georgie and maybe Danny would go back to being 9-12 tomorrow. I just don't care.

This dude is not untalented but too old lol. And if you have me choose between keeping him or Hudson West it's no contest. Very strange how much they've over-aged so many kids that should've stayed younger - Rocco looks ready for college, etc.

You know why.

I guess I'll try to pick up watching regularly again now that Lucky is back in town. Hopefully they let Laura out of the broom closet soon.

I just figured it had to do with Lucas mentoring his coming-out. I will be mortified if they tried to pair them. Lucas has been treated for decades like part of the Spencer family proper. And that's not even getting to the age gap. (I don't mind age gap romances unlike some of the puritanical stuff out there, but this is too much on top of everything else)

Y'all are wild for this. To think my terrible friend @Darn was castigating me over text the other day for suggesting Lucas return and get in hot water for inadvertently hooking up with Brenda's scheming gay son who he doesn't realize is a) Brenda's boy and b) 17. Lucas is like Aiden's cousin! Uncle! Something like that! He's also got nearly 30 years on him. A hook-up or scandal with some twinky ne'er-do-well is one thing on a soap, but pairing these two up for real? I can't see that at all.

Wait. What are we talking about here lol? The only thing I was thinking was Lucas mentoring Aiden or something, they're basically related. I do agree no way they put Lucas back on contract for more nonsense with Brad.

Neither of the last two kids were exactly Haley Joel Osment, let's face it. He's an attractive fellow but does read a bit old for the part, though I am sure they will dress and style him young.

Tim Walz and We Rate Dogs, the palate cleanser we all needed:

Oh boy. I just googled this kid and we're about to get spammed by his pix in the traditionally uncomfortable way we've all become accustomed to.