96 Comments
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Dr. Judith Schlesinger's avatar

Keep up the pressure, Jen. It's one good way to spread reality to the red hats and those who have been Repugnican without really noticing what they do. Everyone's efforts to resist, however small and local, do add up!

LiverpoolFCfan's avatar

"No wonder Republicans would rather talk about veganism and transgender kids; perhaps supporting pedophiles’ victims is a better way to measure masculine virtue."

Exactly. No one shreds the hypocrites better than Jennifer Rubin.

She needs to be in charge of the Communications team for the Democrats.

Daniel Solomon's avatar

Will Katie Pfang subpoena all the principals in Nipplegate in her EPSTEIN records case?

Nevin Oliphant's avatar

It is truly amazing how Trump and his inhumane toadies keep stacking bricks in the wall blocking them from success in the midterms.

JB's avatar

If voters haven’t thrown the GOP out after Iran, inflation, corruption, pedophilia, and the free-wheeling wreckage of our rights-protecting government, then they’re satisfied customers.

Kim E Jones's avatar

Except that inflation is riling them up now. It’s always the pocketbook issues that matter the most to them. That’s why the ‘price of eggs” was a campaign issue in 2024.

Judy Robinson's avatar

Dr. Judith Schlesinger, I would like to think that all voters are smarter than being “satisfied customers”. Why are many of them not?

Dancset's avatar

They are Faux news watchers & only know what that outlet tells them.

Judy Robinson's avatar

Dancet, thank you for that reminder! I am very aware of some of them who see only carefully chosen clips to mislead them. While I do understand that they have been misled and have seen a couple of examples in years past, I shall never understand why they refuse to believe me when I tell them the truth of particular situations. Truth is explained they deny it and become angry. That denying of the truth and refusal to watch the real clips is so irresponsible.

One particular public place fed its customers those lies by continually playing one particular channel. In the occasions I was there with them, I explained the difference some years ago. It is insulting that anyone chooses to believe lies over a trusted friend of many years.

Further, they do not read the sources which tell the truth, and some of them do not read any source. Even in watching debates, if they bother to understand the necessity, they believe lies and cannot analyze as needed and seems to be the obvious and only way to study a debate. Why, when clarity exists in those situations, some people do not recognize truth, goodness, honesty, wisdom, genuine knowledge, and dedication to our Constitution, our country, and humanity, when it exists, is inexplicable.

Stephen Brady's avatar

Seems like the Democrats would do well to model their campaigns on Talerico's and let him write some of their ad copy. We need more Righteous Indignation against the rethuglican brand!

Steve 218's avatar

New York's Mamdani could add some influence there as well.

Merrill's avatar

Blind loyalty to Party or loyalty to 250 years of American democracy? My bet? Americans will choose the later in overwhelming numbers.

Carol Gamm's avatar

They’ll vote for Blanche. They are more afraid of Trump than concerned about what’s right and wrong in our country. That’s how we got here. John McCain has left the building.

Kim E Jones's avatar

This “afraid of Trump” thing is getting old………

Steve 218's avatar

Unfortunately, as far as congress goes, the 'afraid of trump' doesn't seem to be getting old fast enough. There has been some tepid rejection to his Iran engagement, but that's about it. No spines appear to be forming.

Kim Slocum's avatar

To be specific, what they’re afraid of is a primary opponent. Losing a general election if you’re a Republican isn’t the end of the world. There will be available slots in one of the right wing think tanks, or on TV news somewhere. Losing a primary on the other hand is the end of all things, you’re sort of cast out into the outer darkness for all eternity.

Carol Gamm's avatar

Thank you. You’re right, they are afraid of being primaried. It’s sad that this comes first, as they don’t help much if they stay in power and are scared.

David Krupp's avatar

Republican senators who vote to confirm Blanche will be easier to defeat.

Vote for these Democrats for the Senate:

TX: James Talarico, IA: Josh Turek, NH: Chris Pappas, GA: John Ossof, AK: Mary Peltola,

OH- Sherrod Brown, ME: Graham Platner, NC: Roy Cooper.

Contribute as much money as you can to: www.senatemajority.com and https://www.dscc.org

EcstaticRationalist's avatar

Don't forget FLA. Ashley Moody should be very vulnerable if the FLA Democrats don't tear themselves apart with another ill-considered primary.

Signe K.'s avatar

Yes! Vote for Vindman!

EcstaticRationalist's avatar

I'm not picking winners in the primary. And I'm hoping that the primary isn't divisive (which it is turning out to be). I'd like to see everyone involved commit to supporting WHOEVER wins the primary against Moody.

Signe K.'s avatar

Agreed. Defeat the Rs. Any D is better than Moody, who 100% bends the knee to DJT.

Michelle Jordan's avatar

We can only hope that is the case that if republicans vote for confirmation of Blanche will be their death penalty in the senate. It’s totally disgusting to watch a pedophile get away scott free. Ken Paxton is no different.

Alan Greenstein's avatar

Regarding Ms. Rubin's question about why Republicans keep making deals with pedophiles? I am not surprised. It goes along with the question of why Republicans are so fixated with what goes on in peoples' bedrooms. Note the common thread. Anything having to do with s*x.

Nay's avatar

Everyone’s bedrooms but their own.

Sonja G's avatar

Except if what goes on in the bedroom involves children....

Steve 218's avatar

This is one place where the Republican Party has truly gone wacko. In the 1950s, they barely acknowledged bedrooms, bathrooms and sex. Now they are consumed by them.

donna woodward's avatar

The president's nomination of Blanche for AG is first of all, most of all a slap in the face, a middle-finger salute to the Epstein survivors. He's simply confirming his contempt for anyone who discloses his disgrace nd tries to hold him accountable.

Stacy1946's avatar

Brilliant analysis, Jen. Blanche cannot possibly believe Trump's lies, yet he bet his considerable ranch--a partnership at NYC's oldest law firm--on Trump's prospects of getting elected and establishing a dictatorship. No other calculation makes any sense. If Trump is replaced by a Dem, his law licence won't be worth a plug nickel. The only way this pays for him is if the Trumpies never leave office. That is some cold-blooded risk taking right there.

Andrew Goldstein's avatar

May this be how bad it has to get, and no worse. There are amazing people, smart and courageous and ready to do the people’s business and start the long process of restoring our country.

James McConnel's avatar

Blanche certainly fits Herr Trump’s DEI (Dastardly, Egregious, Ignorant) Program requirements. It will also be the response of Republicult senators when they confirm Blanche and get the voter response, “they visibly blanched at the voter response to their confirmation vote for Blanche.” Blanch: flinch or grow pale from shock, fear, or similar emotion. No doubt most Republicult senators will still vote for anything man baby Trump poops their way as they work for him and not for the American people.

Signe K.'s avatar

Thanks for the new definition of DEI! That works.

Susan Leshner's avatar

Excellent summary Jennifer. The vote to confirm Blanche as the permanent AG will be another nail in the Senate Republicans coffins who are running for reelection. And I agree that the Democrats should model their attacks with the likes of James Talarico and Sherrod Brown and Roy Cooper. But the Democrats must also show the voters what they will actually do for them when the do take over control of the the House and hopefully the Senate. "Retribution" against these Republicans who have protected the wannabe dictator isn't enough to get the voters to trust and approve and vote forthe Democrats. Democrats need to differentiate themselves from the policies of the Republicans and show Americans the Democratic approach and policies that will work to better the 99% of us who are not part of the millionaire, billionaire and now trillionaire class. Without that to galvanize them, it may still be an uphill battle.

Chris Dortch's avatar

This is karma come home to roost. In his years in “office” Trump has consistently painted GOP members of Congress into a corner where they are damned if they do and damned if they don’t. Lindsey Graham is a weasel, but before he became a Trump bootlicker, he predicted Trump would be the downfall of the Republican Party. Blanche’s confirmation vote is going to be another brick in that wall, but this brick won’t be cemented in place. It’s going to fall to the ground.

Steve 218's avatar

Remember that JD Vance also voiced words against Trump before embracing him. He, Graham and others show a marked lack of integrity.

Steven Branch's avatar

I sincerely hope that this not just another case of wishful thinking that those senators who have nothing to lose but their self respect since they did not win their primaries or are not running for reelection (Cassidy, Cornyn, McConnell, Armstrong, Daines, Ernst, Lummis, Tuberville) will do the right thing and vote "no" on Blanche's AG nomination. Several of the deplorables listed will do whatever the doddering lunatic wants them to do because they suffer from Spineless MAGAt Syndrome so they're no help. The others? I'm not going to hold my breath for fear of turning blue in the face.

Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

Susan Collins (R-Maine) didn't have a primary opponent and *is* running for re-election. Her Democratic challenger, Graham Platner, has zero political experience, but from neighboring Massachusetts I think there's a good chance that he might unseat her.

Steven Branch's avatar

Susanna, thanks for the correction about the pearl-clutching Susan "I Have Concerns" Collins. Graham Platner is not perfect but he has a D after his name and at least owns up to his past transgressions unlike others (I'm looking at you, Drumpf). I hope that Mainers oust Suzie and send GP to DC.

Jim Carmichael's avatar

It is a pretty impasse, and maybe this is one stumbling block too many for these enablers. It certainly looks like Todd Blanche is the lethal ingredient. Great report, Jen.

Steve 218's avatar

Are there ever enough stumbling blocks? They seem to keep coming, and the regime keeps rattling on.

Jim Carmichael's avatar

True, but the momentum is building!

Steve 218's avatar

It's a hope. It also needs to happen faster!

Carolyn Ryan's avatar

I don't recall whether Dante reserved a special spot in Hell for Fixers. If not, he should have. They are among the lowest of the low….Without them, there would be no Trump. He would have been in the dustbin back in his teens or twenties were it not for the likes of Roy Cohn, Michael Cohen, x,y,x….., and now Todd Blanche (as AG??!!??). Pam Bondi failed at the job….not slithery enough.