ROLEY

Tag: Senate

  • Wednesday, November 16th, 2022

    • Let’s start today with a Mea Culpa: Yesterday I released a Patreon Podcast. I had previously said that all the Patreon stuff would be public until January 1st, but some dumbass named Roley forgot to make the podcast public. It’s fixed now, I’ll try to remember that in future, and let us never speak of it again.

    • So, we’re not starting WW3. That’s a relief. I think this may be the first time I was happy to hear “It’s not so much a rule, it’s more like a guideline.” Granted, you and I both know there’s a long path from what happened yesterday and Mutually Assured Destruction, but for us 80s kids who lived with that shit, it was Tuesday.

    • The Senate is voting to invoke cloture on protecting same sex and interracial marriage right now. They have 62 votes right now to limit debate. It’s a procedural thing, but the fact that in this age you can find 60 votes on anything, and of all the things you can get Republicans to vote for? Mind. Blown. That means they can now proceed to HR 8404, the Respect for Marriage Act. This has already passed the House. Keep your eye on this.

    I don’t have a lot today; I have a Pod to get out for Patreon. See y’all tomorrow

  • Sunday, November 13th, 2022

    Hey, there’s a new Podcast in the feed today. Also, if you’re so inclined, there are four new bonus podcasts over at Patreon. Until the end of the year, those Patreon podcasts (and anything else I put up there) are available to everyone. Enjoy.

    I’ve been playing around with Mastodon a little, and it just reminds me of the path we took to get to this point on the internet timeline. Most of us regular (old) folk started in a walled garden like CompuServe or AOL. Then we branched out with things like Netscape, ICQ, Usenet, and IRC. Things became more open. Social Networks swung the penduluum back in the other direction and made the data we gave them a commodity to be traded, and then someone figured out how to weaponize it. That’s why I find the Fediverse so intriguing. There are open alternatives to the social networks we use today. Is it ready for prime time? Not quite yet. The Mastodon server I selected was on the verge of a nervous breakdown for the surge of signups. I’d say take a look and play around with these alternatives. It can’t hurt. Not sure if this is the future, but it’s an option if you’re sick of the status quo.

    Following the Senate races, I’m glad to see the side interested in preserving democracy held on. That said, I don’t trust Joe Manchin or Kyrsten Sinema any father than I could comfortably spit a rhinoceros. Here’s a scenario to consider: Let’s say that Georgia proves that it’s brain dead and elects Walker. That means the Senate remains 50/50 as it is today. If I’m Mitch McConnell, I’m offering the moon on a goddamn string for one or both of them to pull a James Jeffords, switch parties, and hand control of the Senate to the GOP. Manchin is the likely candidate to flip, but don’t take Sinema for granted. Those two will go to the place they can have the most power, and exert the most influence.

    Let’s say that the Dems hold both houses and the Senate at 51/49 with Warnock winning the runoff. Then Biden realistically 12 months to put the fucking hammer down and pass his agenda, maybe 18 if you want to push it. You put so much pressure on Manchin/Sinema you make diamonds out of them., eject the filabuster, hit the warp speed button, and pass all the things. Codify Roe and Obergfell. Pass the College Loan Forgiveness Plan. Pass 35 dollar insulin for everyone. Expand healthcare to be on par with the rest of the world. Pass gun control laws, paid family leave, fund the bullet train we should have had years ago…every ding dang thing. I promise you once those things kick in and start to help us regular folks, that’s the thing that scares the GOP the most. They know they’ll be back in the minority for a generation at least.

    Here’s something else that scares the GOP: the calendar. By 2028, Millenials and Gen Z will be the largest voting block out there. By 2035 or 2040, white folks will be in the minority. They know this, and every trick they play to supress the vote, gerrymander districts and the like are designed to keep Evangelical White Republicans at the top of the food chain. It’s literally an economic and political apartheid if they get their way. We can’t let that happen, and I think the young people are going to ensure that it doesn’t happen.

    Remember to hug a pollster today, they’re very fragile right now. Thoughts and Prayers.

    Assholes.