Categories Politics

7 days 30 days All time Recent Popular
L. Nelson Sanchez-Pinto, MD, MBI
L. Nelson Sanchez-Pint...
@nelsonSpinto
“[Trump] Went Down to #Georgia”

🎵A #GARunoff Musical Thread 🧵

(with music inspired by Charlie Daniels’ classic #GA fiddle song https://t.co/VxBwqkLq4E)

(1/11) 👇

[Trump] went down to Georgia
He was lookin' for a [vote] to steal
He was in a bind 'cause he was way behind
And he was willin' to make a deal
When he came across this [woman]
[Makin' democracy] hot
And [Trump] jumped upon a hickory stump
And said,"[Girl], let me tell you what"(2)


"I guess you didn't know it, but I'm a [politician], too
And if you'd care to take a dare, I'll make a bet with you
Now you [make democracy good], [girl], but give the Devil his due
I'll bet [an election] of gold against your soul
'Cause I think I'm better than you"

(3/11)


The [girl] said, "My name's [Stacey], and it might be a sin
But I'll take your bet, you're gonna regret
'Cause I am the best that's ever has been

(4/11)


[Stacey], rosin up your [voters] and play your [democracy] hard
'Cause Hell's broke loose in Georgia and the Devil deals the cards
And if you win, you get this shiny [election] made of gold
But if you lose, the devil gets your soul

(5/11)
POLITICS
Jeremy Cliffe
Jeremy Cliffe
@JeremyCliffe
Thanks Stewart! Election day at CDU's conference is just beginning. Speeches by candidates Laschet, Merz, Röttgen start at 9:45 (Berlin time, so in 10 mins), then the 1,001 delegates begin voting at 11:10.


First up is Armin Laschet, the continuity candidate. Key messages: US example of dangers of polarisation; CDU can't take "Merkel voters" for granted; change requires experience, trust and teamwork rather than just big ideas; namecheck for his more-popular running mate Jens Spahn.


Verdict: not a bad speech tbh, nicely organised around theme of trust and teamwork that marked his father's work as a miner; the warning about the dangers of polarisation captured Laschet's own strengths and the risk of electing Merz

Next up is Friedrich Merz, the right-wing veteran. Climate change, digitisation, ideas blah-blah [aka I'm not a blast from the past]; don't fear the future; "consensus and compromise" require more contest; CDU must return to the "real centre"; no left-wing majority in Germany.


Verdict: weak, weak, weak. No organising theme, no coherence, just buzzwords over substance. And coming from Merz, the (genuinely valid) case for more robust political debate in Germany just comes across as cynical and reactionary.
POLITICS
NBC News
NBC News
@NBCNews
BREAKING: Trump supporters clash with police, attempting to gain access to the U.S. Capitol building, as the Congress debate an objection to Arizona's Electoral College votes.


Rep. Haley Stevens: "I’m sheltering in place in my office. The building next door has been evacuated. I can’t believe I have to write this."

BREAKING: Trump supporters descend on U.S. Capitol, clash with police who are protecting entrances to the building during congressional debate on certified Electoral College votes.

LIVE: Trump supporters storm the front of the U.S. Capitol amid violent clashes with police.

https://t.co/GZhEcq2R3k
POLITICS
Matt Taibbi
Matt Taibbi
@mtaibbi
Thread. 1) Thirty or forty years ago, supporting free speech was understood to be a non-negotiable core value of the liberal left.

2) Pop culture endlessly celebrated liberalism’s uncompromising support of speech rights — from The People Vs. Larry Flynt to Field of Dreams to The American President.

3) Think of “President Shepard’s” speech in “The American President” about how “America isn’t easy” and citizenship requires we “acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil.”

4) That started to change long before Trump. As “The American President” came out, Bill Clinton was pushing the first Internet censorship laws.

When the PATRIOT Act passed, every Democrat but one in both houses voted yes. Russ Feingold, Independent Bernie Sanders, and three Republicans voted no.
POLITICS