Think. It. Through.

What the Epstein files show is the *solidarity* of many men-across class, race, religion, profession & party affiliation-in the global political project of keeping the boot on women's necks.

People have no problem understanding class solidarity among the rich. Why can't they see gender solidarity?

Yep. I guarantee Jamie Dimon can’t make his own cup of coffee.

it's not that i ever doubted that being a barista was a skilled position, but my year-long effort to try to produce a half-decent latte at home has convinced me that a good barista is easily more skilled than virtually every c-suite executive on the planet

The 25th Amendment is useless.

Do…they…really think they’ve “ended Trump’s cruelty?”

This is battered spouse logic.

“…putting an end to Trump’s cruelty…” lol exactly wtf do you think you’ve accomplished here?

DC Brain is really something. (No it’s not just Senators.)

Casino Royale was implicitly a reboot of a new 007 as a completely different guy. It was a great Bond film. Those two things are not unconnected, IMO. Just start with the new guy and create a new 007 as part of it. It’s fine.

It’s insane to treat the filibuster as the most sacrosanct.

Article 1 power of the purse, oversight, and war? Nah.

Emoluments clauses? Bribery prohibition? Meh.

Criminal law? 14A? Doesn’t count.

But maybe the Senate changes a rule it has multiple times before? Gasp! Not that. Anything but that.

True story-

When MST3K did their college tour back in the 90s, I went to it alone because I loved it that much. The auditorium was PACKED, I barely got in the last row.

The show started, we all sang the entire intro song perfectly, myself included, and that’s when I realized I was in a cult. 🤷‍♂️

I LEARNED THE ANSWER TO THIS

Chris's Steakhouse was a New Orleans landmark

Chris Matulich periodically got bored, sold it, waited for the new owner to fail, and bought it back cheap

The sale conditions: Can't move it, can't change the name

He did this six times

Then he sold it to Ruth Fertel

So does that make him more or less likely to appear on College Gameday?

I don’t necessarily believe that. I just want the Congress to become more representative, and diluting each Senator’s power is one way to do that. I was just throwing out examples. (Personally I prefer to abolish the Senate altogether, but.)

Surely you heard of Enron? With enough pressure, auditors and accountants will acquiesce to the client’s demand to sign off on [fraud or whatever].

The last chapter of the book on it* was titled “Isn’t Anyone Sorry?” The answer was no, sadly.

*The Smartest Guys In The Room

If you actually want a more united front, the most obvious choice is replace Schumer as leader because he has zero credibility and people rightly loathe him. But at a bare minimum if you want to at least make some gesture, replace Durbin as whip. He's retiring anyway. There would be no downside.

Unless and until you call for replacing Schumer and Durbin, you can just STFU.

Fun fact: Gordon Lightfoot wrote the song first, and then sank the Edmund Fitzgerald himself in what has come to be recognized as one of the first viral marketing stunts

I am more crude- I believe every single one of them has traded on inside info, or taken a bribe, or visited Epstein island (or Thailand or whatever), or laundered cartel money, or etc.

Yes, lazy aristocrats all. So which one would be a good choice to replace Schumer? Again, genuine question.

Ohhh ok, you’re talking about specific battles to wage *right effing now*. Gotcha, then yeah any new Dem leader has to insist on The Rule of Law and obeying Congressional orders. Yep.

Another genuine but awkward question- how many Dem Senators truly believe in the Rule of Law?

Hmm. I agree, but the answer (from Republicans) would be a hard “no and whaddaya gonna do about it?”

I misunderstand your question, perhaps? On specifics of “fight vs cave,” I want Dems to fight *for* [X]. IMO it’s permanent reform of the government so that it’s sustainably representative, but uh…

Genuine question- would it be reasonable to ask new Senate leaders to get the federal government back to “normal” funding and appropriations? Or should the demands be more specific/incremental, eg statehood for DC and Puerto Rico, and/or abolishing the Electoral College?

For the record I am not excited. That’s why I keep reaching for any possible path that avoids/minimizes the violence. The Union won’t survive past 2030, IMO, and I would like the maximum number of people to live through its dissolution.

I was thinking of the Balkans in the 90s as an example to fear & avoid, but yeah, we’re on the same page. Sadly.

I’m still hoping, and I’m still rooting for increasing the probability of a non-violent breakup. But yeah you’re probably right.

Right, so you’re underestimating the natural dysfunction of the US federal government funding process, and you’re still underestimating the natural chaos of fascist personalities.

We’re shutting down again. Why is it so important that you argue that point?

“Functioning perfectly”

Question: when was the last time the US federal government was funded on time and according to normal procedures?

You underestimate the natural dysfunction of a) fascists, and b) the federal government’s funding process.

We’re shutting down again.

Anything short of calling for Schumer to be replaced is performative outrage designed to mollify you

Call for replacement of Schumer or STFU.

Lol lmao.