JaneAusten

Despite that, the LA Times has been far more responsible than the other 2 papers. Our local papers here in Chicago both have their right and left leaning agendas but generally are reasonable and accurate. Well except that the Tribune endorsed Gary Johnson.

Beto has had some good moments. His passion he spoke with about the football players kneeling was also heartfelt. I'm frankly glad is got angry at the press and used that language. it's deserved. And they come after him right after he participated in that vigil in El Paso. They have been enablers and moronic.

Another one bites the dust. Will we ever hear how republicans are in disarray. This is the 5th or 6th that has announced on the GOP side.

Where are people like Josh Barro to tell everyone how popular Susan Collins is and that she will never be defeated. She actually has a genuinely good opponent if Gideon wins the primary and Collins runs. Gideon has a solid record and is well liked in Maine, a solid recruit by the democrats. The joke here is how Collins was continually labeled as a moderate in the mold of Margaret Chase Smith and Olympia Snowe. I agree that Smith and Snowe were good senators. Collins showed her true colors when she was courted by the Obama admin on the ACA and chose to vote against it anyway. She was never close to either of those ladies

This is depressing. I think I have finally come to the conclusion how badly the media is failing this country. The horserace coverage of our politics is going to kill this country. On a good note, my sister in law who is a Trumper - a diehard - but also a Reagan lover - felt sorry for Mueller today and said she never realized what the Russians did. We'll see how many people might be troubled by this who weren't before.

Blowback but it doesn't mean it will stop By the way, Peter Alexander is hosting Meet the Press today.(Yes I tuned in today since I am home today and off for the summer). Far better than Chuck Todd, He was interviewing Trumps campaign comm director and didn't let him slither away nor allowed any both sider nonsense. As for Trump's rally, I am sure we all know the chants were intentionally driven up. Lara Trump led the prep for the rally Lara Trump did a warm up act to cue the crowd for this chant. It was planned. “Lara Trump, addressed the crowd before Trump spoke, saying: “If you don’t love our country — the president said it...” “Leave!” the crowd replied.

There is no illusion with Fox. In some ways they are more honest. CNN is worse. AS for your mom I am sorry. I am guessing she is older. So deprogramming is unlikely unless you cut the cable to the TV.

This is why I have tuned out of all of cable news. Well at least the top 3 minus when I am interested in an interview they are conducting. It's all the same stuff. And I think someone posted that article her on CNN losing audience share(to MSNBC) yet somehow their anchors and hosts are untouchable. Nice for all the people behind the scenes and Zucker who is a cretin.

Well thank the media and press for a lot of it with their fixation on Hillary's emails over any other story. He was not vetted by the press period.

Rebecca Traister controversial yet one of my favorites nails the male punditry class. An over the hill wasteland of Chuck Todds and Joe Scarboroughs. These people have been wasteland for years. https://www.thecut.com/2019/07/politics-is-changing-why-arent-the-pundits-who-cover-it.html

I have to say the feeling of helplessness at this point is depressing. I know there is no savior out there for us but we elect a democratic majority in the House and what are they doing? What can they do I guess. There are protests tomorrow if anyone is interested. I am off work this week. I'm going to one at noon https://act.moveon.org/event/close-camps-now_attend/search/

I don't believe anyone thinks Biden is like Trump. 2 old men is where it ends.One has gaffes, the other one lies endlessly. My lack of enthusiasm for Biden goes back many years, but lord it's not like I wouldn't vote for him in a GE. Americans have a short memory. What happens if Biden wins and 4 years after, people are again frustrated as heck with Washington and the GOP puts up Trump on steroids(IMO that is a Cheney like figure) - someone who is evil and smart and has smart people working for him. Perhaps I am not factoring in the racial resentment that was THE factor due to Obama being president that elected Trump. But for all Biden's return to norms idea(I am not entirely opposed) there are still foundational issues that are far more serious than some of the resentments the purists scream. Buttigieg is right about one thing. The most critical issue is to fix our democracy and that won't happen if the GOP stays on the crazy train and Biden thinks we can just turn the clock back to 2016. We need institutional reform - we have needed it for years long before Trump - would Biden help lead an effort like that? If not what would come after him? I actually think him coming out in support of HR1 or some of the policies surrounding it would potentially calm down some of the AOC's of the world a bit. And on a side note, if the consensus is we need a white guy, follow Steve Bullock. Obviously he's not been visible due to his lateness in entering the race, but he's someone I have followed for a long time. He's a pragmatist but he does have some progressive stances. He's affable and smart. He's kind of a less clumsy version of Michael Bennett.

I think Biden's age was a small factor last night but IMO the biggest issue was he didn't prepare. He IMO is doing the same thing people accused Hillary of doing, running a general election campaign and taking the primary for granted.(although Hillary was never unprepared) I hope he learned his lesson. I do believe he'll actually be prepared next time around. And he handled Palin well in the 2008 debate and partially salvaged the 2012 debates after Obama's disastrous 1st performance against Romney and cleaned Paul Ryan's clock, so he can debate.hb The message to me is that people like Harris, Warren, Buttigieg, heck even Michael Bennett who got some hits in on Biden aren't there for cabinet positions or to be VP.

It's so early in the primary process but I am glad a lot of this is shaking out while most people are not really paying attention. And polling? The polling also says 75% of the democratic voters have not made a decision yet. I like that Buttigieg is I the race but I'm not interested in him as president. I'm still with Harris. I think she is deliberately staying back a bit, but that short speech she made yesterday in South Carolina reminds me of why I support her. And on a side note, when the heck is white male mediocrity going to stop rising to the top. Chuck Todd is a national disgrace and were it not for NBC would be somewhere screwing used car purchasers. And Happy Birthday @Khan and many more.

Oh I know. I'd rank it up there with The Sun, but I don't think Trump is beloved there despite his fanboy Nigel Farage.

So for @marceline and @khan who both said the US was already a laughing stock, here is how Sky News is advertising Trump's visit to the UK.

Amidst all of the horrific news on the national stage, here in Illinois things are moving forward with a democratic governor and a supermajority in our legislature with our own record number of women elected in the house and senate here. I was not a supporter of Pritzker, but he has kept his campaign promises to date and we are on the long path to fiscal solvency. The general assembly passed the following items with the spring session ending this weekend. - A fair tax referendum which will put a question on the ballot in 2020 to change our constitution to remove our state flat income tax for a progressive income tax(tiered like 30 plus other states) - Recreational marijuana legalization - The Reproductive Heath Act which is the most progressive abortion rights bill in the nation(this was pushed aside until all of the draconian bills started getting passed across the country. That action caused lawmakers to bring it forward again) - A BUDGET. Illinois went 2 years without a budget with our last governor further damaging the credit rating for the state with his unwillingness to compromise. It's good to see movement on this. - The Medicaid omnibus bill which will streamline the process for Medicaid coverage, to ensure no lapses in coverage, and to make sure Medicaid patients are granted equal access to services - The Keeping families together act which prevents local law enforcement from becoming deputized agents of ICE. - The minimum wage increase was already passed and signed earlier in the year. The General Assembly has voted to remain in session until June 2nd to finalize the budget and to address additional legislation on gun reform, including fixing the firearm owner id process to ensure that those whose gun licenses are revoked, have local law enforcement ensure they turn over weapons they own(this is the law but to date no proactive action is taken and gun owners are relied upon to turn in their weapons upon revocation). The shooter in Aurora Illinois that shot and killed several people some months back still had guns after having his license in Illinois revoked. Also sports gambling, the approval of 6 more casinos, and a gas tax increase to address bridge and further road repairs across the state, are on the table

I watched a clip of Elizabeth Warren on The View yesterday and she could not have made it more clear as to why she wasn't going on. And this idea that "you won't go on because you hate us" applied to anyone is nonsense. Warren has done more townhalls ALL OVER THE COUNTRY(she just did one in West Virginia) than any other candidate. Maybe it is due to polling for those trying to jumpstart their campaigns again. Warren rejuvenated hers by branding herself as the "I have a plan for that" candidate. Castro is disappointing. He could be the immigration candidate. He's the only one right now that has a comprehensive immigration plan that by the way, is fair and reasonable.

I'm not advocating one way or the other. I trust Pelosi and I do think the media has been goading the Democrats to move forward and Pelosi is holding. Also while hearings give the democrats in theory more leverage, I'm not confident the White House will follow any subpoena's coming out from that either. And yeah Nixon might never have been forced from office if Fox News was around. And no way am I conceding 2020 yet. Sorry @khan. If we can't get women energized enough to vote with all the attacks on reproductive rights than maybe we deserve to get that moron another 4 years.

People were not on the side of the Nixon impeachment when inquiries started. Public hearings covered on television have power. Enough at this point who knows. At this point I agree with Sewer. And American Exceptionalism is a joke. We are a nation of C students who want the cliff notes version or someone to spoon feed us the answers.

@DramatistDreamer That story about the Israeli elections is really something. I'm in shock to be honest. I've been trying to sort out what happened in Europe yesterday. It seems the left populist movement gained ground in both France and Germany. 3 Brexit party MP's elected in the UK(and UKIP failing thank goodness). Greece throwing out their populist leader, Macron cozying up to the left wing socialists in Spain. It's topsy turvy. Italy is really no surprise to me. They always go the crazy route.

I was wondering if someone is going to post this. I don't really understand why it's taken so many to catch onto Maggie Haberman. While the paper still does great local coverage, their political beat is garbage and has been for years. It's hard to match the garbage the Times put out during the Iraq war and how they lead the propaganda arm of the White House, but this is worse IMO. To use your stature in the country to spread this BS is a disgrace.

I think the term snap by the "youngin's" on the internet, as I was told by one of my millennial colleagues, means something a lot different than what most of us believe. I was looking up the urban definition for the term, and it defines it as being slick or astute. Can he come over the US next? I am still waiting for anyone in the media to start treating a lot of these people like the mobsters they are.

I'm following black women. I know Maxine Waters is for impeachment but she's been that was for 2 years and I don't hear her screaming like some of the others. I trust Pelosi. Part of it is the media egging democrats on. THEY want this and they are pushing democrats in that direction. Pelosi is going to hold her coalition.