649 Comments
⭠ Return to thread

It is amazing. How many people get paid for ordering a clerk to read 600 pages to the senate and there is no one in the Senate? The senate needs to change. I can’t imagine any other organization, business or school being allowed to operate like this. Start acting like responsible adults. Show up and do the work you were elected to do. Playing these games in a middle of a crisis is obscene.

Expand full comment

These people from Ted Cruz to Johnson to Ms. Green are obscene to the core.—bs is their currency.

Expand full comment
Comment deleted
Mar 5, 2021
Comment deleted
Expand full comment

What name calling are you referring to? There was none. Liz provided a pretty straightforward description of behavior by an array of obscenely anti-American lawmakers.

Expand full comment

Yes she did! Excuse me, I am the hall monitor. May I see your pass?!

Liz, you are 100% right!

Expand full comment

Omg Cynthia thank you!

Expand full comment

Yes, Daria!

Expand full comment

Daria thank you

Expand full comment

Profanity and sarcasm are my primary "go to" commentary languages. I have noted an objection to direct profanity (the full words themselves) but less to those that abbreviate or utilize symbols in lieu of all the letters. I am mostly able to abide by those requests to "keep it clean" although I will sometimes mention that my choice of words is intentional to avoid profanity, blasphemy, and vulgarity in my word choice. I do not feel that referring to those three (and others) as both "obscene" and indicating the nature of their currency with initials is in any way out of line.

Expand full comment

Hear! Hear!

Expand full comment

Hi Ally I appreciate your distinction between aspects of language that are ruled often by passion and frustration— while I love finding the exact civil word , I also allow myself to curse like a longshoreman when so moved— btw I had an actual sweet Italian longshoreman who was an uncle. It’s my long considered opinion that men have reserved the fun release of these words for themselves in the company of men. So we were left out of the fun. Our caste.

Expand full comment

Well said, David. When writing, some favorites are schist, apse-whole, and flook. When speaking, i.e. not documenting myself, word choice is more ... pungent, more ... bracing.

Expand full comment

I love bracing — like fresh cool air we’re allowed to run around in without restrictions

Expand full comment

Good— I try for accuracy even when bleary eyed

Expand full comment

Why are we self policing?

Expand full comment

Because we can and should.

Expand full comment

Restraint is well and good, but I feel like we're walking a fine line recently. I've been getting a snowflakey vibe lately.

Expand full comment

Self-policing helps to forestall outside policing.

Expand full comment

Self policing is discretion or the better portion of valor

Expand full comment

Really?????????????? I agree with Cynthia - is there an actual hall monitor required in each comment?

Expand full comment

In a Democracy, free people self monitor. That keeps it private.

Expand full comment

But here, in this forum, our hard felt comments need not be so private. We come here so that we learn, discuss, and be just downright fucking honest with one another.

Expand full comment

We do and I’m finding it a welcome release.

Expand full comment

Only reason I like this place.

Expand full comment

Only the hall monitor in your head

Expand full comment

I want to know if Senator Ron Johnson was required to stay for the reading he requested.

Expand full comment

Of course he wasn’t. Is there no venue for public excoriation of this unethical power hungry obstructionist?

Expand full comment

Used to be the stocks where the public could throw rotten vegetable etc!

Expand full comment

I find this forum much more satisfying

Expand full comment

My favorite philosophy professor said that the thing we needed was public flogging... he believed that it was the most effective method of controlling the social mores and norms. Just let your imagination play with that for a while...

Expand full comment

I’d hate to be the flogee

Expand full comment

Ewww! Yes! Or the flogger!

Expand full comment

Going back 500 years already!

Expand full comment

No need. I believe it's still done in places like Saudi Arabia and Singapore(?). Book your trips now!

Expand full comment

Oh, good names, David! I retract my petty concern and apologize for my misplaced guard rail.

Dementors vote Republican! The only good Republican is a retired Republican! That is cathartic. Republicans hate earth science. Ship the Republicans back to Saudi Arabia where their loyalties lay!

Expand full comment

Ship recalcitrant repugs to a planet of Saturn.

Expand full comment

Nice explanation for how to publicly hold their feet to the fire for lying if anyone is interested. I wish this would be common practice: https://mobile.twitter.com/ruthbenghiat/status/1366799156136857613

Expand full comment

SOOOO where are the news people who have guts enough to do that? Or have the media heads made the decision that that wouldn't be profitable? It shouldn't be left up to Twitter (of all places) to be truthful. (which of course a good deal of the time they are NOT).

Expand full comment

Hmmm. Some news people do much better than others and it seems their ratings don’t suffer. Wonder if it would matter if viewers were vocal and made specific requests, like we do with our MOC? Seems like nowadays “news” personalities need training in psych in order to get to the truth?

Expand full comment

Yeah, Christy, I shouldnt have lumped all together - yes, there are those who really say it like it is. I hope enough people LISTEN to them & comprehend! There are far too many """personalities""" whose words are taken as news. THOSE are the ones who need to have their feet burned!!

Expand full comment

Great framework by Ruth Ben-Ghiat: Republicans are disciplined in their playbook for power, and Trump et al. are operatives using the psychological warfare tactic of repeating lies.

Expand full comment

Would seem the Democrats collectively could learn something about being disciplined themselves, right? Seems to be lacking.

Expand full comment

They really need some major changes in the Senate... term limits, more accountability, I mean that with very few exceptions it’s a old rich guy frat party.

Expand full comment

I’m unsure about term limits because I would love to see a council of crones, surely a pipe dream currently though. But accountability would surely be a great start. Let’s put Senator Warren in charge please 🙏 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/584853.Grandmothers_Counsel_the_World

Expand full comment

So true

Expand full comment

It's right here, and in the editorial and 'Letters to the Editor' pages but there is every indication that Mr. Johnson doesn't care at all what people say about him.

Expand full comment

Where did he get this born-again hubris? He was always such an empty suit, a real wimp! I have to believe that there are 99 pairs of eyes rolling every time he speaks!

Expand full comment

He's gone off on a tangent all his own and I'm not confident that even the voices in his head know what he's going to say or do next.

Expand full comment

He should be.

Expand full comment

No. And he did not. Would you like his private email address?

Expand full comment

Our tax dollars at work

Expand full comment

NOT at work.

Expand full comment

No they’re floating

Expand full comment

I say that so many times a day.z ugh

Expand full comment