Re: I'm still disgusted, this isn't amusing
 

There are way more R congress people than 1/2?

Re: I'm still disgusted, this isn't amusing
 

A lot more women than in a "Obama on the golf course" photo?

Everyone is smiling, unlike any photos of Hillary's supporters?

Everyone is fairly attractive, unlike any photos of Bernie's supporters?

Bill Clinton gave his cell number to all of the 6 women in the front row?

BTW - are we sure someone didn't just photoshop Ryan into a picture at Facebook? Or Google? Or Yahoo?

SlaveNo(whereas, I'm sure the Keith Ellison photo of interns looks like a Jackson Pollack)More

Re: I used to be revolted, and now I try to be established.
 

Why the Recording Secretary, of course.

Re: I used to be revolted, and now I try to be established.
 

I got to do that. Kind of like the Bulls back when Michael and Scotty ruled the roost. That's why it's called "wonking." Off my corner, ho.

Re: I'm still disgusted, this isn't amusing
 

[mic drop]Vote for Trump or all these public employees will lose their jobs.

Just kidding. We'll only take their collective bargaining, health care, and pensions,

[/mic drop]

Re: I'm still disgusted, this isn't amusing
 

Ryan (or one of his staffers) posted this on his instagram feed.

So someone also seems oblivious to how this looks.

But aren't you glad the bitter jokes about Bill are back in now? I mean, it's not like they got old two decades ago, is it?

Re: And...
 

Helpfully the nutjob who sparked an HIV outbreak in his state by cutting health care funding and his orange boss are equally unqualified and unworthy of trust to deal with the mess over there too.

Re: And...
 

For some lighter (sorta) reading that touches on some of this, Eric Bogosian's Operation Nemesis is interesting.

More scholarly is The Fall of the Ottomans.

Re: And...
 

I enjoyed the Fall of the Ottomans. It's pretty readable.

Anyone else looking forward to seeing what our Funk selections will be for the TrumPence Convention?

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

http://www.bloomberg.com/politics/ar...ty-realignment


I thought this piece from Bloomberg did a decent job of breaking down the shift in the Republican party. It was always a loose coalition based on an agreement with respect to smaller government and lower taxes, but that has been a commitment of words only for a while now. I no longer know what it is to be a Republican, but I am pretty sure it's not a fit for me any more.

Tonight's theme, Make America Safe Again, sounds like a great slogan for a police state, and the filling of convention speaking spots with Trump family has a bit too much of a North Korea vibe for my tastes. I may continue to vote in the R primary, as in many cases here in TX, it is effectively the election for statewide races, but Mr. Chick and I are being pretty careful with our campaign donation dollars in down ballot races. He wanted to give to the CO Senate candidate, Darryl Glenn, but he agreed not to after he learned Glenn is on the Trump train. It's become a bit of a litmus test.

I almost feel bad for Pence. It seems he was asked today if he agreed with Trump on liking soldiers who weren't captured and stuttered until Trump told him how to respond. Look forward to the next 4 months of that buddy.

I miss the TP logo, because it made me want to put my shirt over my head and do a Cornholio impersonation.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

Live streaming video.

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

While we're on graphics (where's NCS?), cafe press took down a trump shirt because they thought it violated the "Cheetos" trademark. Question for the resident IP experts: doesn't this mean there's a substantial likelihood that Trump could indeed be confused with a mass-produced puffed cheese snack?

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

I mean, let's be honest, that's been a joke for quite a while.

Probably the last time anyone thought there was any real chance of a Republican-backed bill actually shrinking government was the first year of the contract on america congress, and the most successful president at shrinking the bureaucracy in our lifetime was Carter (though the award for most successful politicians at shrinking government would have to be a bipartisan award to Gramm, Rudman and Hollings).

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

2.

No, 3. Three peat! Wonked!

Re: I used to be disgusted, and now I try to be amused.
 

So Dump Trump has signatures from enough state delegations to force a floor vote on the rules package. The Secretary of the Convention is reportedly hiding, literally, behind a curtain and armed guards, to escape delivery of the petition.

Trump's people are on the floor allegedly threatening and intimidating those who signed the petition. The challenge will of course fail, but the delegates want the votes on the record.

As a small government conservative, I have obviously been pretty disappointed with the GOP for many years. It is now beyond shameful. In any case, Trump's new coalition is destined to fail spectacularly, and I will feel nothing but sweet, sweet Schadenfreude. He said he didn't need us and did not even want our support, while at the same time threatening those who opposed him.

ETA: They did the floor vote, forced it through and determined the Ayes had it even though it was pretty balanced. Refused a roll call vote. Chairman walked off the floor. State delegations are walking out. This is an entertaining dumpster fire. Frankly, it looks like they could use a registered parliamentarian.