JaneAusten

^^Social media is so toxic but it’s also given people a voice and courage. I know Bill Cosby for example has not been found guilty of any charges but I can imagine a situation where it could have been quietly pushed aside. Without social media helping to drive the story and help keep it in focus, would all those women have has the courage to come forward and stand by each other? Elizabeth Warren popular Democratic US senator also came forward with her own story. I do think it matters when anyone comes forward but when you see women you perceive in positions of power coming forward like your Sec of State it makes one really pause and wonder how this has happened for so long.

Despite our partisan trolls there are a lot of creepy MSM personalities on both the left and right that I loathe and it would not shock me to see any of them surface at some point of having some sort of abusive past. @cnn is full of them on both the right and left. But I’ll keep who I think those people might be to myself. It’s just a feeling. I will I’ll say Halperin always struck me as a creep. I think much of it started with his attacks and the rest of the MSM just joined in on Elizabeth Edwards. She would have likely been the next Hillary Clinton in terms of MSM hatred had Edwards political career survived and advanced and had she survived, I was reading an article in I think Vanity Fair about Halperin and his viscous attacks on Edwards in his second book, only to highlight the fact that apparently the day Elizabeth Edwards died, he was appearing with Chris Matthews and rather than reschedule him they went on to being him on and he spent 10 minutes talking about how wonderful she was. Seriously made me vomit after his own writing helped shape her image and led to attacks on her repeatedly from the MSM. She was blamed in the midst of fighting cancer of standing by Edwards after the allegations of his fathering that other child surfaced. Sure he was held somewhat accountable, but I won’t forget how they framed her as some ambitious vicious shrew.

That tale from Sciorra is horrifying. I have to admit I adored her and always wondered why she wasn’t more successful because she seemed to have star potential. Now we know. On another note there have been 2 more women that have come forward regarding Mark Halperin. It’s interesting to me to se how Mika Brzezinski who blasted Hillary Clinton regarding Weinstein, someone. Clinton didn’t even interact with regularly , compared to her own reaction and response on Halperin. I don’t like to blame women for this stuff, but it seems that Halperin’s behavior was pretty much a known entity throughout the media circuit to a point where women would tell other woman to watch out. So I am convinced there are more than 7, yet Brezinskii’s heart breaks for him? http://people.com/politics/mika-brzezinski-mark-halperin-sexual-harassment-allegations/ And just to show you how hypocritical our MSM particularly the white men are, - Joe Scarborough has said nanda although his own history of affairs likely means he should keep his mouth shut - Timothy Noah at Politico who I am guessing is a fan of Halperin came out with this gem following the allaegations against Halperin. https://lawnewz.com/high-profile/to-avoid-sexual-harassment-make-all-closed-door-meetings-a-fireable-offense-politico-reporter-say/

^^ And I’m still convinced it was done on behalf of Jeb Bush’s campaign primarily because he had the money. At some point that will come out also.

Please don’t waste timr because at the end of the day they don’t care. McCain and Graham have made an issue out of the White House not enforcing the Russian Sanctions bills passed overwhelmingly and veto proof by both houses of congress and boom the foreign sanctions office in the State Department gets eliminated. If these folks want to play dumb and act like folks don’t know what they are about let them. They are all the enablers and unAmericans who don’t seem to care a lick that a foreign entity influencesd our election. Oh that is until they thought Hillary contracted some dossier then the Russian involvement became a huge issue.. and Manafort has been dirty for years. I doubt despite the alleged outrage that anyone is DC is surprised. He caught up in corruption. He’s been corrupt for years. He’s also the one responsible for getting the RNC platform changed to be more Russian Ukraine and Russian Crimea friendly. Yet all of these things are just supposed to be a happy coincidence. OT: On a side note yes Shareblue is a highly partisan site, but it’s nice to see Fox News revenue plummet. Apparently due to advertisers dropping starting in mass with the O”Reilly scandal. You know the one caused by GOD according to O”Reilly. Remember the GOP the party of personal responsibility that is unless you are an angry white male, then it’s everyone else’s fault. https://shareblue.com/fox-news-revenues-plummet-as-trumps-pathetic-attempts-to-prop-it-up-fail-miserably/

I'd like to credit those to a coverup but those files were already due to be released. I would love to know though the parts they decided to retain and not release and why. It may be nothing but it certainly leads people to continue to believe there was some sort of conspiracy.

It's all so predictable at this point. In fact the deflection to Hillary Clinton who is not even a danger, she's a private citizen, out of politics is laughable but the GOP has nothing else, They bring back a debunked Uranium story. Then the Fusion GPS stuff which is a non story because I believe back in January it was reported the Democrats took it over from whoever started it. Now it was reported tonight it was the Washington Examiner, a Conservative publication, that funded it. On behalf of who knows - maybe Jeb Bush. Add that to the conflict in the Congressional committees - the GOP had to know what was coming. On a side note I'd love for the indictments to be for Kushner or even Trump Jr. but my guess is it's Manafort and possibly Page or Flynn. Manafort has been dirty for years and my guess is that he'll flip because my assumption is Schneiderman in NY has a RICO case against him which is off limits of presidential pardon capability. The other consideration is remember the FBI was already investigating at the time Mueller came on.

The Alzheimer's does not mean he's not awful. He is and always has been. Look at his history. But once upon a time he did have filters, could sound reasonable, and could string together a coherent sentence. Even in his sycophant interviews with Fox interviewers these days he rambles. One of my friends has brought up Reagan and how different he was in his second term. Difference is Reagan had a competent, I might even say excellent staff(despite political differences) who likely respected him and wanted to protect him and a wife who was devoted to him. I even question John Kelly's competence now.

Well I watched this evening after not watching for over a week. She's actually worse. She doesn't fit or work in any way shape or form. she still seems uncomfortable and has a very condescending attitude. It's a shame they let Bila walk for the statue that replaced her.

I'm actually curious as you are a millennial, your opinion/feedback on this piece in the NY Times. Does your generation really understand the importance of civic engagement and the importance of voting? And news. Are millennials in some way as guilty as the Fox news bots who only read/view news stories that match their views? https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/14/opinion/sunday/millennials-freedom-fear.html According to the woman, Barbara Bush was there and just rolled her eyes at him when he did it.

So after blaming GOD for all of his sexual predatory behavior problems and the NYT reveal of a 32million dollar settlement this past January that Fox paid on O”Reilly’s behalf before resigning him, O’Reillys agency UTA drops him. http://deadline.com/2017/10/bill-oreilly-dropped-uta-32-million-settlement-reveal-1202193924/

And have learned nothing IMO. The party cannot govern and their decisions wildly unpopular with the American Public and is based on overturning anything that helps the average American. He’ll likely vote for the tax cuts for the 1% which is a tax bill only supported by 25% of the American Public per Reuters and just last night in the darkness and under wraps, voted to take away the rights of consumers to sue banks in mass. Every protection consumers have from predatory practices of big business are being taken away.

So in new released FBI docs, apparently a resident warned Police that Adam Lanza threatened to kill his mother and students before the Sandyhooke massacre. The local police claimed they could not do anything and told her to contact the state police. Seriously they couldn't organize it? Doesn't sound like the local police took it seriously https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sandy-hook-shooting-investigation-fbi-documents/

Jeff Flake not seeking re-election in Arizona. That is the second GOPer after Corker in the senate combined with 8 GOP house members not running. I do wonder if Dean Heller from Nevada might be next? http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/2017/10/24/republican-senator-jeff-flake-announces-not-running-senate-reelection-gop-primary-ward-trump/793952001/

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/22/opinion/americas-forever-wars.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=region&region=region&WT.nav=region A piece by the NYT editorial board pretending that they really question any of the wars this country has participated in in the last 30 years. I can appreciate it if it was independent, but by a paper that has helped propagandize these wars for the US government, I cannot take seriously Her poise and composure are amazing. And you could see her sparkle when she spoke of her husband. It's disturbing that the military would not allow her to view his body and have only provided scattered details on the incident and still no explanation as to why he was left behind for 2 days. I read a rumor(so take with a grain of salt) that he was left behind because those dispatched to pick up the berets were given faulty information. There is also a rumor that he was captured by militants and beheaded and his body left behind which is why they would not allow her to view his body. Again this is all rumor. But after so many made up stories by the military where families were lied to about what happened(Pat Tillman is the one that comes closest to mind) there is definitely something off here. Couple this with the fact that not one person on the Senate Armed Services committee even knew we had a presence in Niger? I vaguely recall reading something about a year ago on this, but our troops that were there were supposed to be conducting training at least that's what I recall. Someone again tell me how comfortable we should be when the sane people in this administration are 2 generals and an admiral, and I am no longer confident Kelly is close to sane.

Apparently Ben Affleck has been doing major damage control on the promotion for Justice League related to his time 8n rehab and now women including of course Hilarie Burton https://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/harvey-weinstein-scandal/ben-affleck-accused-once-groping-hilarie-burton-criticism-against-weinstein-n809651 Affleck rescues stray puppy Affleck and Jennifer Garner attended church together you know these PR firms are not even trying to be subtle anymore and people will still eat up these obvious ploys

This is one reason I sometimes roll my eyes when people say putting women in positions of power might change things. I do believe women and PoC have a much larger hurdle to overcome to get there. You can't be mediocre and get rewarded for the most part or fail as white men do time and time again and move up the ladder. Women are also far better at delegation, listening, and workload balance. But I also believe we can be worse to work for than men. I have had 2 female bosses over my career. 1 probably the best person I have ever worked for, 1 the worst. And the 1 who was worse was clearly biased in how she judged women and PoC versus white men and was a horrid delegator And there is a lot of jealousy among white women, particularly when it comes to how men perceive us. Much more than I believe you will ever see within any other demographic group.

I want someone to explain to me when this man supposedly ran for Working Class, not cutting Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security(which is not going broke), giving the middle class tax cuts, everything HE is supporting is the same failed economic policy the GOP has been peddling = failed Reaganonmics. Even Reagan was not dumb enough to cut social security, but Trump doesn't even know or care that he's endorsing the opposite of what he campaigned on. And please let's stop talking about this last election being driven on economic anxiety when these people don't care these things are happening which will just increase income inequality. This new budget is horrific and cuts 1 trillion dollars from Medicaid and Medicare. I have also come to the conclusion Paul Ryan is a sociopath and is lying outright after his appearance on one of the news shows this morning about the tax plan and NO ONE CHALLENGED HIM. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2017/10/20/senate-passes-budget-plan-what-that-means-for-tax-cuts/780610001/

I am a 40ish white woman and I don't think it really hit me as blatantly as it did today, how embolden our culture is to white men. After watching the press salivate all over Kelly today, who sold his soul IMO to a cancer to the fabric of this country and our souls, especially listening to Nicolle Wallace drool all over him, I now get how white women will never align on a gender basis. I see why the majority of white women voted for that fool in the White House. Alignment to white patriarchy. We can never be considered full allies for any kind of movement aligning all women. Listening to the MSM fawn all over Kelly and his criticism of the African American congresswoman, why Women of Color will always align together over anyone else, well everything shown today explains why.

Well I was watching The View on occasion during it's re-broadcast at night after not having watched for years. I'm done. Meghan McCain sad to say is a disaster. She's stiff and comes across as being very uncomfortable and forced. She doesn't even come across at believing half the stuff that comes out of her mouth. Maybe she needs the Fox bubble where everyone nods along with her to be effective like a Megyn Kelly obviously needed, but she doesn't even feel like she wants to be there. And worst of all there is zero chemistry with any of the ladies. I felt after watching yesterday Sunny of all people was really trying to bring her into the conversation deliberately. Sarah has been trying constantly by pivoting to things she knows might help McCain to engage like her father. None of it has worked. And this constant blatant reminder that "we may disagree on many things but we come together on" just seems like an attempt to remind the audience that McCain is some uppity conservative.

I'm with Carl. Nothing will change. Weinstein is easy pickings at this point. But there have been stories about people like Spielberg, (Corey Feldman hinted at him being one of the "Hollywood predators"). I won't discount anyone who has come forward regarding Weinstein, they should all be commended. When I hear people coming forward on someone currently in the business who wields the power Weinstein did 10-15 years ago, that will push change. And you know what, it's never happening.

Lysette Anthony also. Wow. And I am not judging any of these women but Sarah Polley - well that story was pretty amazing and gutsy but then she said acting was not really her passion. I liked the side story about Julie Christie and her film and how it made her return to acting, even if for a brief period. Kate Winslet. Meh - I am sorry that story really is just another story about a strong armed producer. And she's so outraged about all this, she just finished a film with Woody Allen, who's career allegedly was saved by Weinstein.

House v Price was filed if u recall by the GOP to challenge the CSRs. The judge ruled in their favor but also but a hold on the decision ordering the gvmt to continue paying the subsidies to allow the DOJ to prepare appeals. of course orange glows DOJ is dropping the challenge to the ruling so the states are now taking it up. They had already won their first court battle in May when they filed believe to be granted the right to be able to take over the appeal from the DOJ. there is talk that insurance companies may also join up and file their own lawsuit against the fed gvmt as well as other groups representing consumers.

All of these people knew. They all make me ill. Ben Affleck, Matt Damon, they all knew especially considering the stuff with his brother. But all these actors like those 2, Colin Firth who's a personal fave of mine, Clooney, all had no issue cozying up to him knowing what he did. And most of them maybe barring Firth have all had their own reputed issues with women. The best interview I have seen has been with Emma Thompson. It's about 10 minutes if you have time to watch it. She doesn't make excuses, doesn't justify anything. She said she wasn't aware of the harassment aspect but that it doesn't surprise her because he was always a bully and someone she never really wanted to work with and didn't much.

I'm glad you posted this. I want to remind folks about Corey Feldman who was abused as a child, named people to the police, but the police instead decided not to go after the powerful producers. Corey mentioned one of whose initials are SS. Read about an on the record discussion Lucas and Spielberg had about their iconic character Indiana Jones love interest in the first film being 22 and someone who was in love and had an affair with Indy at the age of 13. And no this was not a conversation in jest. Lucas called it edgy. There is a ton of harassment and pedophilia going on all over. We know it happens in DC(see Dennis Haystert) and we know it goes on in Hollywood. There is no "better angel" here. One is not better than the other. And lets not forget what went on in the Catholic Church and what the church has and in some cases is still complicit in. There is no place for moral highground for anyone other than for those who believe that harassment, rape, child abuse, pedophilia, and rape are wrong regardless of the circumstances. There is not one instance that excuses any of this. Corey Feldman was smeared because he refused to smear Michael Jackson. Now I do believe Jackson a troubled individual but I never bought the claims of child abuse. Those in power want to keep those in power who are the abusers themselves. And now George Clooney is being outed by a former ER costar for getting her blacklisted for daring to tell him and speak up on sexual harassment going on on the set of ER I guess. I want to give Van Der Beek credit. It had to be hard for a man to speak up especially on this. I don't doubt he's been pressured even moreso to stay silent.