Here’s a bit of good news for Republicans, courtesy of Elizabeth Warren. If Biden drops out, Harris is likely the worst candidate Democrats could reasonably field.
Big Swift Kick in the Pants
My mom frequently stated so-and-so “needs a big swift kick in the pants”. She added the words “big swift”.
I looked up the phrase “kick in the pants” but cannot find the origin. I found discussion of kick in the pants and swift kick in the pants but not big swift kick in the pants.
A Really Big Decision Says Elizabeth Warren
The Wall Street Journal reports Warren Signals Support for Harris if Biden Drops Out
Harris is ready to “step up” and “unite the party to take on Donald Trump,” Elizabeth Warren, the senator from Massachusetts, said Saturday on MSNBC. Warren vouched for Harris as a crusader against big banks and heralded her efforts to protect abortion rights.
“Look if you’re running against a convicted felon, then a prosecutor like Kamala is really a good person to make that case,” Warren said, referring to Harris’s previous roles as California’s attorney general and San Francisco’s district attorney.
Warren’s remarks—along with the other comments from Democrats backing Harris—offer a public glimpse into the extent to which party leaders are already positioning for the possibility of Biden stepping aside. It remains an open question whether Biden would push for Harris to replace him or favor a more open contest that some Democrats worry could become a nasty free-for-all.
In her Saturday remarks, Warren said for the first time that Biden “has a really big decision to make” about his candidacy, a phrase that has become something of a calling card for Democrats looking to gently nudge Biden out of the race.
Big Donors Appalled
It appears Warren prefers the “gentle nudge” tactic over the “big swift kick” theory.
Mom would not approve. Nor do big Democrat donors who are appalled by any loyalist enthusiasm for either Biden or Harris.
I commented on donors earlier in Kamala Hangs Up on Donors, 12 More Democrats Ask Biden Drop Out
A growing tide of Democrats including Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio ask Biden to step aside. Kamala Harris huddles with donors on a phone call then hangs up on them.
Also Friday, Vice President Kamala Harris defended Biden during a contentious call with Democratic donors at a time when wealthy financiers feel misled by the president and are vowing to not give money to his campaign. The call abruptly ended before Harris would field any donor questions.
On the Friday donor call, Harris and others tried to tamp down a growing revolt. Harris didn’t take questions. When donors tried to speak, the organizer quickly ended the call.
Here are some additional amusing details on that donor call from the New York Times.
Call With Harris Fails to Reassure Donors
Please consider Call With Harris Struggles to Reassure Major Democratic Donors
Vice President Kamala Harris tried to buck up the Democratic Party’s biggest donors on Friday, telling about 300 of them that there was little to worry about in President Biden’s campaign.
“I will start by sharing something with all of you,” Ms. Harris told the donors, according to a listener on the call who described her remarks on the condition of anonymity, “something I believe in my heart of hearts. It is something I feel strongly you should all hear and should take with you when you leave. And tell your friends, too. We are going to win this election.”
“Not surprisingly, there was no news generated on this call, and instead, it was a pitch for donors to continue to invest in groups on the ground who are working to defeat Donald Trump,” read an email from Corridor Partners, which advises donors focused on climate issues.
The email, which was viewed by The New York Times, added, “The call was not productive, and we wanted to apologize to each of you who joined for sharing that invitation.”
After Ms. Harris stopped speaking, according to three listeners, one participant who was unmuted could be overheard calling the entire call “ludicrous.”
Epic Infighting
Infighting among democrats has reached epic levels to the point backers are labeling a pep talk by Harris as ludicrous. What a hoot.
The democrats cannot unite against Trump as long as they are hopelessly split into two major factions.
Two Factions
- Progressive Loyalists: This faction includes President Biden, Elizabeth Warren, AOC, and the Congressional Black Caucus. The loyalists are further split into two camps. Those who are openly loyal to Biden and those who support a gentle nudge but only to Harris.
- Open Conventionists: This faction is led by donors plus a growing number of Congressional Democrats who prefer an open convention and a better shot at winning than going down with the loyalist ship.
Democrat Clown Show
Many Congressional cowards are standing in the middle of this sinking ship unwilling to take a stand until they see which way the ship rolls over.
The liberal media also wants to push out Biden. That is something the Democrats have never before witnessed.
Adding to the comedy, Republicans are hoping the Biden loyalists win because either Biden or Harris would be easier to defeat than some potential candidates if there were to be an open convention.
Nate Silver Blasts the 538 Election Forecast, His Previous Site
I discussed other candidates including Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer in Nate Silver Blasts the 538 Election Forecast, His Previous Site
I caution, this election is not over.
75 percent ≠ 100 percent. Few seem to understand the importance of that mathematical fact.
The best chances for Republicans are if Biden can hang on until until the bitter end, and second, if Biden is replaced by Harris. Regarding the latter, the later the better.
An open convention would give Democrats the best shot. Ironically, the DNC seems hell bent on preventing that outcome.
Meanwhile, the comedy show proceeds.
Warren has to support Kamala since they’re both women of color.
It’s telling that the focus is on pleasing big donors. The position is for sale.
Brezhnev was a vegetable (probably a potato since vodka was made from potatoes), for years but was still leader of the Soviet Union. In the background a triumvirate was secretly running the show but in reality was run by Yuri Andropov, Head of KGB. When Brezhnev died in ’82, Andropov officially took the reigns. He lasted a little over a year. Probably something to do with potatoes. Next up, propagandist Constantin Chernenko, who also lasted a little over a year. Definitely potatoes. We currently have a spud in the WH. Kammy, while younger, is a fingerling potato. Why not bring in Nancy Pelosi or Hillary?
Looking at the cult of personalities which Dem party has become, which they constantly accuse the GOP of being, all GOP has to do is keep banging away the idea that USA is a Nation of Laws. Not a Nation based upon a person.
Vance in his interviews has stuck with that position, and so do the rest of GOP.
Although Trump has a powerful projection, even he does not get in the way of discourse amongst all those whom comprise his caucus.
I can not but marvel that the old guard GOP such as McConnell or Ryan were intimidated by the Dem party.
With them Gone the tone of GOP will be at a better level.
Let the snakes continue to eat each other. What a Freak show.
Mish’s last paragraph rewritten by Perplexity using the poem “Beowulf” as model:
Lo! Hark ye all, for this contest of kings
Is far from done, the victor’s crown unwon.
Three quarters doth not a whole make, I warn,
A truth in numbers that many have scorned.
For the sons of Lincoln, hope still burns bright,
If the elder Biden clings to his might,
Or if Harris, his shield-maiden, takes the throne,
The later her rise, the better they’d hone.
Yet the wisest path, the Dems might not see,
An open field where champions run free.
The party elders, in their stubborn ways,
Resist the chance that could brighten their days.
And so the pageant of power unfolds,
A mummer’s farce that the nation beholds.
With swords of words and shields of promises,
The mighty clash while Fate her judgment misses.
There were 2 secret service snipers on the roof. One covered the right and the other
one covered the left. Yet, at the shooting, both were next to each other, on the left.
Four min before the shooting they asked for permission to eliminate the threat. It didn’t come.
Did Thomas Crooks have 3 foreign bank accounts ???
There was no ladder. This building airshaft is in the front.
There was a second ladder and it can be seen in this pic: https://files.catbox.moe/cg2spz.jpeg
(ignore the Saddam joke, I haven’t found the original although it’s used in the recent 3D-rendered recreation vid floating around)
thanks
Growing up in southwest Ohio a “kick in the pants” meant to get up off your ass and get working but that could just be a regional meaning. “Kick his ass out” would be what we would say to mean you want someone to leave.
In northeastern Ohio (Ashtabula), and CT too, a kick in the pants is a wake-up call. In other words, to stop goofing off and get serious.
I’m not American, so makes no direct difference to me, but if not Harris, then who? How does the process work exactly? Who are the competent unknowns who would make a better job of the presidency?
Once you acknowledge the fact that any president who doesn’t kowtow to the Israel lobby and accept the military industrial complex’s goals will be neutralized – whether through ginned up scandal or assassination – it becomes hard to even care.
Andy Beshear is probably to closest to normal and competent.
I would vote for Whitmer. Sh’e cuter than Trump. Biden reminds me of my recentpy deceased grandpa so I can never vote for him, while Trump is like the funny guy at the bar, he’s the life of the party and I like the guy but honestly my attention would switch right away to the hot broad coming in thriugh the door.
Lori Lightfoot will be in town, too.
Ehh. GRETCHen typified the fanatical power-mad sociopath female tyrant of the Covid Terror. She, Criminal Hochul in NY, and especially the vile of Jacinta Ardern of New Zealand set the standard for all women who insist on showing the men how its done. Its best to keep her far from the Executive Branch.
The donor organizer had a fatal misunderstanding. The caller said, “This is LUDACRIS!” ;o) Now the Democrats have really chased away the Black vote.
So who are the blacks going to vote for? Trump?
It’s time for the Dems to get their votes from the 87% of the country that is not black!
Dems’ share of the heterosexual white male vote is about 29% – and most of those are closet cases.
It beyond preposterous that Biden’s White House staff and “Dr.” Jill Biden haven’t known about his spiraling mental state for years. Historians will remember this as the greatest cover-up in American political history, orchestrated by the Democrats and the state-run media to maintain power at all costs.
I had no idea President Reagan had early stage dementia until YEARS after his 2nd term ended. With Joe, something was noticeably off while campaigning in 2020. “…CornPop…” and “…then you ain’t Black enough.”
Imagine the Harris Pocahontas ticket. Unstoppable 😉
Fake Indian and Fake black person…..Sums up our economy. Fake.
If he is unfit to be the candidate he’s unfit to be the President. We all know that’s already true. If he steps aside he has to resign and let KH be president, as she should have been for a very long time already. I don’t have to like it but that’s the process if everyone is doing their job here. Imagine holding the simultaneous position he’s impaired but can still be POTUS?!! Imagine doing an end around the diversity-hire VP.
If she’s the nominee then she loses on her failure as the border “czar”.
What a s show we’ve inherited. It can get a lot crazier.
If Harris becomes President, then do we have republican Speaker Mike Johnson as Vice President per the succession order? Republicans would lose seats with another fiasco selecting a replacement speaker.
Can Johnson refuse to become temporary VP and leave the position vacant? Couldn’t somebody else fill that role like Gerald Ford did?
He does not and such talk is really dumb.
He could just say he recognizes he is aging faster than he had hoped and anticipates future increasing health problems that would make it impossible for him to complete the full 4 years of a 2nd term.
OK, maybe I’m not remembering something that I read correctly, though maybe I am. Aren’t there a couple of hundred million reasons why Harris should be the Dem nominee? As in campaign funds that can only be used by Biden or Harris, and no other? If that’s the case, then perhaps Harris would be the nominee if Biden drops out (or is ousted), unless they think they can replace that money from other donors.
If Biden Drops out he can give the money to Harris
In the case of an open convention he can give the money to a Super-PAC structured to their liking.
So there are ways around the money issue.
Will Biden give up the money? there is a huge difference between “could” and “will” … The Bidens probably love power above money, but money is immediately below power on their list of priorities…
The money in question is not Biden’s to do with as he wishes as your comment suggests. It is a legally bound fund which ultimately comes under the jurisdiction of the Federal Election Commission rules. The money has been donated to a fund designated for the election of the Biden/Harris ticket. Harris can legally use it without issue. It can *not* simply be redirected to anyone or anything else.
If the Democratic party tried to some smooth moves to do so, it would open up a legal can of worms so noteworthy and counter productive for the campaign it would simply be better to return the funds with heavy duty appeals to re-donate the money to the selected target.
Of course, the existence of that pool of money already there and freely available to some sections of the party but not others is something that will weigh heavily on the minds of many schemers etc.
I am aware that there is nothing stopping Democratic party fund raisers going around to previous donors and saying…………You know how you gave twenty million a few months back? Well, we kind of screwed up and it can’t be used, so can you just give us another twenty five million? Trust us, we have things really, really well organized now and this time we do have a clue. You can tell that is true because of the masterful way we organized the public display of Biden’s succession process………..
Could it be used as collateral for a loan to another’s campaign fund?
And could it be used to payoff JB to scram???
It is a non-issue. Numerous Dem billionaires could easily write a check for $250 million to get the new candidate off and running, if necessary.
Its not that easy. A lot of these guys still carry tiny plastic bags of garbage from their homes to work so as to save on garbage pickup service. They aren’t wastrels as a whole. If they’re gonna blow a quarter billion, it had better pay out big rewards!
Jews have long been a big Dem constituency. That may be ending. I am sure that this factor is of significant concern to big donors.
I agree with you and so does Nick –
https://cozy.tv/nick/replays/2024-07-20
Yeah Jojo, you’re probably right and it’s actually a bit of DUHHH…
Trump shows he is very pro-Israel, pro-Netanyahu so obviously they are ok with him.
I can imagine Trump calling Putin and say “you throw Israel’s enemies under the bus, I’ll throw Ukraine under the bus, deal?”
Concise and analytic. Segmentation of the Dems into 3 groups is convincing, and DJT’s highest odds of winning are with the first two. A surprise from group 3 could surprisingly destabilize particularly if the money switches on a ‘dime’. The money as always buys the press who will welcome a ‘fresh’ narrative.
Between the rock and a very hard place!
Fake Indian touts fake conviction.
Fake “Indian” touts real Indian. Hopefully, in the next election, America becomes unburdened by what has been a horrible presidency.
And Obama was a real white person.
touts fake black person……….Kamala Harris is not African American. I believe we white Americans think of African Americans as black people whose parents were born in this country and they were all raised in this country from birth. I do not think that is the case with Kamala. And Obama, while born in the USA( apologies to Springsteen and Birthers), Obama has very little of the African American experience of being so called “black in America” growing up.
I grew up in an integrated school district. To this day 50 years later I have several African American friends. They didnt grow up in Hawaii and go to a private high school nor get a full board foreign scholarship to college. I married an African American woman. My sons great great great grand mother was proably a slave in South Carolina. My son is “blacker” than Kamala and Obama.
The next time we get a black person for president, male or female, can they please at least be African American.
Her dad is black, her mom is Indian. If we are gping to refer to Harris as an Indian, as Phil has done, then by the same token, Obama is white. This society seems to practice the one drop rule, possibly for historical reasons, dunno.
But I suppose one can take your position and say I have friends who attended Yale and live in the Hamptons, and Obama is not white. Oh wait, he does have a house in Martha’s Vineyard….
Her dad is Jamaican born. That may be African American to you but it is Jamaican American to me. That was my point.
There is a difference. It is cultural. And Jamaicans that I know feel the same way. Don’t call me African American was said directly to me by longtime Jamaican friends; just like her dad, they were born in Jamaica
She has African ancestry and is American. Ergo, African-American. And Indian-American.
Kamala Harris has a double-jointed Neck from giving Mayor Willie her full and undivided “attention” – – whilst hiding in his Desk’s Foot Cavity. That was a high point in her career, from a low vantage point.
It was further reported that she ordered Lip Balm by the case, with a weekly delivery to the DA’s office. In the meantime, she jailed more Blacks than Alabama.
The term “side chick” sums it up best. Like black NBA players who marry a black woman but keep a white side chick. Aka home-wrecker. The whole time Willie Brown was cavorting with Kamala he was married to his black (African-American) wife and mother of his children. Kamala was Willie’s light-skin, straight-haired side chick. Not exactly someone black women like. Plus she’s married to a white Jew and is stepmother to his white privileged children.
Willie Brown’s side chick.
As the saying goes ‘it ain’t over till it’s over’. I will admit to liking Trump’s bombast and exaggerated sense of self even if it can wear thin at times. That said it would behoove him to let Vance be the bulldog and do most of the talking from now until November.
!00%
According to the Ngram Viewer, the expression “kick in the pants” has tiny moments going back to around 1849 but comes into its own in the early 1920s, reaching a peak around 1943 before declining but surging once again to its highest-ever usage by 2014.
Twelve more weeks … anything can happen … not even counting October surprises.
First quarter is over – score is 14-0 (R over D). Agree, 75% chance of win.
Second Q after DNC convention. Third Q Mid-Oct. Plenty of time.
Is this Warren Peace?
You’d have to be an idiot democrat donor would fork over big $$$ to an outfit that hangs up on them. But that’s who they are…
““Look if you’re running against a convicted felon…” Warren said”
Shameless.
It was the while impetus for the case after all…to be able to call him ‘the convicted felon running for office’ because they know many people will not even bother to understand the details of the case.
Let’s go, stay with Uncle Joe! But if Biden/Harris is not meant to be I think Harris/Pocahontas err…I mean Warren would be a winning ticket. Rah Rah sis-boom bah!
I guess. The Whitehouse conducted a poll that shows six out of 10 Democrats support Kamala Harris. What does that say about the other four? Racist, sexist? The only thing Democrats care about is identity politics, maintaining power, and making sure nobody else red pills before the election.
What’s the choice when you have to be racist to keep power?
Racism wins … hence Joe B. Wait for Mark Kelly and to-be-named (AOC?) VP.
Well, since KH called the democratic voters sexist and racist when she was polling at 0.0% in the primaries … so it’s a foregone conclusion that anyone who questions voting for her (republican or democrat) will receive the same moniker. It can’t be policies or personal issues … the only reason anyone, anywhere would not vote for KH is because of racism or sexism. Even Biden was at least a sexist (and maybe a racist too) during the primaries.
“the only reason anyone, anywhere would not vote for KH is because of racism or sexism”
That’ll be her claim and logic. Hold on, can I use the word “logic” when describing KH?