Saturday, September 19, 2020

Tidbits And Cat Treats: RBG Fallout Edition


By Baxter

When his rival Irving G. Thalberg died suddenly in 1936, MGM studio chief Louis B. Mayer is said to have smirked, "Isn't God good to me?"

Benedict Donald might be feeling the same way, if he weren't such an atheist. (He worships only himself.) But despite that, and despite any other Trumpsters feeling lucky with the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Mitch McConnell's path ahead seems as fraught with peril as with opportunity. Here's a very long explanation if you have the time (and the stomach) for it. In the meantime, a few observations:

Thinking Republicans (if there are any) must realize that losing RBG is an earthquake that they'll not easily survive. Act Blue is reporting more than $45 million* in donations from last night alone. Peak hour: between 9 and 10, as the Ginsburg news was starting to hit and sink in. This $45 million includes about $10 million to "Get Mitch or Die Trying," which funnels money to Democrats in 13 key Senate races, like Colorado, Maine and North Carolina.

AOC has just posted a video aimed at progressives, urging them to vote for Joe Biden at all costs. "It's not about whether you agree with him," she says. "It's a vote to let our democracy live another day." AOC continues to impress.

Just for the record, here's what Lady Lindsey said back in 2016: "I want you to use my words against me. If there's a Republican President and a [Supreme Court] vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say, 'Lindsey Graham said let's let the next President, whoever it might be, make that nomination.'"

There's an angry crowd gathering outside Mitch McConnell's home. Stay peaceful and noisy, folks.

Finally, the US has officially passed 200,000 coronavirus deaths. Which means, at this rate, there could be 250,000 dead and 10 million infected by Election Day. The Supreme Court fight is the perfect way to distract Americans from that, isn't it? On the other hand, with those casualties and the economy in the tank, how could the White House and Senate Republicans spend even one second worrying about a judicial appointment? As noted, there is peril as well as opportunity. We cats HISS and PURR at the same time.

*UPDATE: Bloomberg News reports that Act Blue donations are $56 million and counting now.

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