I live and work in the Rio Grande Valley. One of their migrant shelters can be between my home and my workplace, depending on how I go home. They’ve been under attack by DJT II, aka Greg Abbott, aka Ironsides. I can’t begin to explain how important the Catholic charities are to these people- from the Pope to the people served, they are an absolute necessity in this poor part of both America and Texas. My wife was the Exec Director of the Habitat for Humanity here for a number of years. She worked with the sisters on many occasions. Let me tell you I’ll take the un-sworn-in casual conversation of any of the Sisters over sworn-in, gun-to-the-head, waterboarded politician’s words- state or federal- making these scurrilous accusations.
If you want to see where we are, put McAllen Texas in your favorite map app. It’s 231 miles south of San Antonio and 467 miles south of Dallas. 8 miles from my workplace to the border.
There is nothing in this world (well, except maybe one thing! ) that will give me greater pleasure than to see this awful Speaker faceplanting over and over again! And in hope every time he does that, he lands in horseshit!!
In the email newsletter you wrote "I hope our Jewish readers are having a great Hanukkah so far". The events of the past few days - especially Bondi Beach - have cast shadows over this year's Hanukkah. Many of us are having more of a defiant Hanukkah - we will not be intimidated into hiding - and one clouded by deep sadness.
Actually, it appears that the gun ban has been working. We'll have more mass shootings in the U.S. this week than Australia has had in the past 30 years.
"Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), alias Based Mike Lee, has done his best to avoid learning any lessons this year."
Someone check the burn unit for Mike Lee.
More seriously though, Mike Lee is a case study in how getting into a toxic social media bubble can rot your brain. Compare him today vs 10 years ago. Same thing with billionaires like Musk and Andreessen. They weren't great people to begin with, but I think social media feedback loops literally warped their brains over the years because they have gotten so much worse over time.
All I can think is most people in Utah never see the crap he posts, I just can't believe there are that many people in Utah who would vote for such a sick jerk.
I live in Utah and have proudly voted for Mike Lee's opponent all three times that Lee's name has been on the ballot.
The guy first ran for office in 2010 and campaigned on eliminating Medicare and Social Security. I have no idea why anyone has ever voted for him, but it's Utah. An "R" next to your name is usually sufficient to win.
Mike Lee has also been a leader trying to sell off big pieces of our public land here in the West. One effort he claimed would be for "affordable housing."
I haven't read the comments yet, so it may have been addressed, but Fields' signing of the petition may have been a case of supporting a bill he knows won't pass to provide him future cover for any accusations of improper inside trading.
I can't really understand how someone like Fitzpatrick remains in the Republican party. Could we see defections to D or I as well as further retirements?
I think it’s a little insensitive to hope that Jewish people are having a great Hanukkah two days after the mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration in Australia.
But Republicans are still beholden to their “Hastert Rule,” which provides that only bills with support from the “majority of the majority” ever see the floor. This bullshit rule is one of the main reasons nothing gets done. I understand the concept of partisan agendas, and the need to "fulfill" the mandate of the election, but if a bill only can come to the floor with a majority of the majority party, it leaves out so much of the good Congress could do. If a poll shows that a majority of the Congress members, regardless of party affiliation, would pass a piece of legislation, then it should get an up or down vote period. This might not always pass bills that I am for, but these people were, at least initially, sent to Congress to get something done, not tow the party line, irregardless of what the MAJORITY of the people want.
I live in Utah and follow Mike Lee on X. He is getting more and more anti-Mike posts on X - mostly supporters who think he isn't doing anything at all. But Utah is a red state and they will elect an R regardless
"The increasing frequency of these end-runs around leadership is a forceful demonstration of just how sick and tired rank-and-file Democrats and Republicans are of trying to work in a chamber run by an obsequious speaker who sees his role as doing the bidding of a power-hungry White House."
Mike Johnson is an even weaker speaker than McCarthy.
I live and work in the Rio Grande Valley. One of their migrant shelters can be between my home and my workplace, depending on how I go home. They’ve been under attack by DJT II, aka Greg Abbott, aka Ironsides. I can’t begin to explain how important the Catholic charities are to these people- from the Pope to the people served, they are an absolute necessity in this poor part of both America and Texas. My wife was the Exec Director of the Habitat for Humanity here for a number of years. She worked with the sisters on many occasions. Let me tell you I’ll take the un-sworn-in casual conversation of any of the Sisters over sworn-in, gun-to-the-head, waterboarded politician’s words- state or federal- making these scurrilous accusations.
If you want to see where we are, put McAllen Texas in your favorite map app. It’s 231 miles south of San Antonio and 467 miles south of Dallas. 8 miles from my workplace to the border.
My Grandfather used to manage the Woolworths in McAllen. I have many fond memories of visiting.
There is nothing in this world (well, except maybe one thing! ) that will give me greater pleasure than to see this awful Speaker faceplanting over and over again! And in hope every time he does that, he lands in horseshit!!
Wonder how JD squares his harassment of Catholic Charities with his miraculous conversion to Catholicism on the road to Vicepresidentus.
In the email newsletter you wrote "I hope our Jewish readers are having a great Hanukkah so far". The events of the past few days - especially Bondi Beach - have cast shadows over this year's Hanukkah. Many of us are having more of a defiant Hanukkah - we will not be intimidated into hiding - and one clouded by deep sadness.
Thank you
"They already banned guns in Australia. So what else do they try to ban now"?
Twitter?
Actually, it appears that the gun ban has been working. We'll have more mass shootings in the U.S. this week than Australia has had in the past 30 years.
Uh huh. I was quoting a Mike Lee twit from the article. And then giving a possible answer to Mike Lee.
These discharge petitions feel like petit mal impeachments
Petit mal seizures are now called absence seizures (pronounced absaunce to sound French). So, they'd be absence impeachments.
"Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah), alias Based Mike Lee, has done his best to avoid learning any lessons this year."
Someone check the burn unit for Mike Lee.
More seriously though, Mike Lee is a case study in how getting into a toxic social media bubble can rot your brain. Compare him today vs 10 years ago. Same thing with billionaires like Musk and Andreessen. They weren't great people to begin with, but I think social media feedback loops literally warped their brains over the years because they have gotten so much worse over time.
All I can think is most people in Utah never see the crap he posts, I just can't believe there are that many people in Utah who would vote for such a sick jerk.
I live in Utah and have proudly voted for Mike Lee's opponent all three times that Lee's name has been on the ballot.
The guy first ran for office in 2010 and campaigned on eliminating Medicare and Social Security. I have no idea why anyone has ever voted for him, but it's Utah. An "R" next to your name is usually sufficient to win.
Mike Lee has also been a leader trying to sell off big pieces of our public land here in the West. One effort he claimed would be for "affordable housing."
he's a real piece of shit! how does he keep getting reelected?
He's got an R after his name on the ballots.
I haven't read the comments yet, so it may have been addressed, but Fields' signing of the petition may have been a case of supporting a bill he knows won't pass to provide him future cover for any accusations of improper inside trading.
Is it possible that Mike just shuts the house down (again) to put a stop to the discharge petitions? At what point might he be de-speaker-ized?
If 9 Representatives vote, it could be this month, or early January. That will start off the new year on a correct path.
I can't really understand how someone like Fitzpatrick remains in the Republican party. Could we see defections to D or I as well as further retirements?
I think it’s a little insensitive to hope that Jewish people are having a great Hanukkah two days after the mass shooting during a Hanukkah celebration in Australia.
Thank you for once again providing us w/ a bright spot, Joe. Always first-class and informative writing.
But Republicans are still beholden to their “Hastert Rule,” which provides that only bills with support from the “majority of the majority” ever see the floor. This bullshit rule is one of the main reasons nothing gets done. I understand the concept of partisan agendas, and the need to "fulfill" the mandate of the election, but if a bill only can come to the floor with a majority of the majority party, it leaves out so much of the good Congress could do. If a poll shows that a majority of the Congress members, regardless of party affiliation, would pass a piece of legislation, then it should get an up or down vote period. This might not always pass bills that I am for, but these people were, at least initially, sent to Congress to get something done, not tow the party line, irregardless of what the MAJORITY of the people want.
Are there actual signs Utahns are getting sick of Mike Lee? That with be a good development.
I live in Utah and follow Mike Lee on X. He is getting more and more anti-Mike posts on X - mostly supporters who think he isn't doing anything at all. But Utah is a red state and they will elect an R regardless
"The increasing frequency of these end-runs around leadership is a forceful demonstration of just how sick and tired rank-and-file Democrats and Republicans are of trying to work in a chamber run by an obsequious speaker who sees his role as doing the bidding of a power-hungry White House."
Mike Johnson is an even weaker speaker than McCarthy.