Tuesday Open Thread ~ Super Tuesday Edition


~
You need chaos in your soul to give birth to a dancing star ~ Friedrich Nietzsche
~
~

Good Morning!

Welcome to Super Tuesday’s Open Thread. Been super busy here in delegate-rich California as a group of friends and neighbors, along with myself, have been canvassing and making those very important GOTV phone calls ahead of the Big Day. And here it is! While there's been lot's of news in the past two days with both Buttigieg and Klobuchar dropping out, I'd like to take a moment and reflect instead on what Bernie's campaign has achieved, particularly the differences between his campaign in 2016 and the campaign he is running now. It took a lot of determination, not to mention a lot of people engaged in something bigger then themselves, to build the kind of movement Bernie and his surrogates have created. As many of us remember, not only did the Establishment and their arrogant supporters tell us we were delusional "purists" for supporting someone like Bernie in 2016, they laughed at us for wanting better things for ourselves, our neighbors, and our families. Well, it's 2020 and they sure aren't laughing now. And you know what? I think that's something to dance about!

~
OT bernie kid hug.jpg
~


Tweets of the Week

~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
~
It is said that power corrupts, but actually it's more true that power attracts the corruptible. The sane are usually attracted by other things than power. ~ David Brin
~
~


The Corruptible Club

It takes a certain kind of person who knows that they want to become President before they’ve even finished college. In a six degrees of separation story I heard recently from a friend of mine, the topic of one such person came up when he told me that a friend of a friend of a friend remembers going to a bar with this guy who declared that he was going to be the first black president of the United States. That person was of course, Barack Obama.

Although I wasn’t surprised to hear that Obama knew early on what his ambitions were, the size of his ego still had the capacity to amaze me. It shouldn’t really. After all, even in his book, “Dreams of my Father", the signs were there in ways I’m not sure were intended. As a young child, after finding out his paternal grandfather was from the Masai Tribe, young Barry goes to the library to look into his African heritage. When he finds a photo of a Masai warrior wearing clothing indigenous to that tribe, he is so upset he leaves the library immediately. Ok, he's only 11 years old, so maybe the "shame" of seeing where his family came from was understandable. But Barry's focus on his African family's social standing, seemed, er, very keenly felt.

Also upsetting to young Barry, were the material conditions of his very ambitious Father who had two wives and several failed business adventures. Again, what Obama lamented most about were the failed "Dreams" of his Father to become a successful man, rather than the decisions his Father made to abandon his Mother and young son to pursue glory. That Obama never holds his grandiose and ego-centric Father accountable for the horrible decisions he's made throughout his life in regards to his relationship with his son, and focuses instead on his Father's station in life is presciently telling of what Obama holds truly important. And I think we can safely say that Barry didn't want to become the first Black President of the United States so he could help his Brothers and Sisters, he wanted instead to right the wrongs of his Father’s life by becoming someone powerful and important in a way his father always dreamed for himself. Not for his son. For himself.

So there you have it. Instead of benefiting from the cautionary lessons his Father's life afforded him, Obama picks up the ego banner his Father left behind, eschews any self awareness about the price one pays for prostituting oneself out to political power players, and decides to sell his soul for glory.

Job well done, Barry.

~

Cheesy Popcorn

ot cheesy popcorn.jpg

Recipe courtesy of Chowhound.com

~

To get cheese to stick to popcorn, you need melted butter. The problem is, the melted butter makes the popcorn soggy. To solve this, we drizzle popcorn with some spicy butter, coat it with lots of finely grated Pecorino Romano cheese, then bake it in the oven for half an hour. The cheese melts and the popcorn gets crispy again.

Ingredients

15 cups plain popped popcorn (from about 1/2 cup kernels), unpopped kernels removed
4 tablespoons unsalted butter (1/2 stick)
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
3 ounces Pecorino Romano cheese, grated on the spiky or smallest holes of a box grater (about 1 cup)

Instructions

  • Heat the oven to 250°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Place the popcorn in a large roasting pan.
  • Place the butter, red pepper flakes, and salt in a small saucepan over low heat and cook, stirring occasionally, until the salt has dissolved and the butter has melted.
  • Drizzle the butter mixture over the popcorn, making sure to scrape it all out of the pan with a rubber spatula. Using a flat spatula, toss the popcorn to coat it in the butter mixture. Sprinkle with the cheese and toss again.
  • Bake, stirring every 10 minutes with the flat spatula and scraping up any cheese from the bottom of the pan, until the popcorn is crispy and well coated with the cheese, about 30 minutes total.
~
Well, that about wraps things up for this week's edition.
~
~
What’s on your mind today?
Arrow.png
Share
up
32 users have voted.

Comments

The people in districts with minority voters are going to have lines at the polls.
link to article in the gaurdian about texas polling places and racial profille of districs

Thanks for all the great work in CA.
Looking forward to big numbers for Bernie.

up
20 users have voted.
Anja Geitz's picture

@jbob

There are a lot of people out there who've worked very hard to make that happen. If there is a political karma, let it happen now!

up
5 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Cassiodorus's picture

Buttigieg and Klobuchar are positioning themselves for 2024. Or so they think. 2020 is a wash for them. As I pointed out, though, their cultural stock is in decline, and moreover in 2024 people are going to be more concerned with the ongoing disaster that has been neoliberal rule.

up
19 users have voted.

"The war on Gaza, backed by the West, is a demonstration that the West is willing to cross all lines. That it will discard any nuance of humanity. That it is willing to commit genocide" -- Moon of Alabama

Anja Geitz's picture

@Cassiodorus

Have either canvassed for Bernie, or are closely following this election. You can't put that genie back in the bottle. At some point, there is a tipping point, and if we aren't already there, we're flirting at the edge of it.

up
6 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Raggedy Ann's picture

Unfortunately for the dimwit party, their little trick of stacking the deck with Biden might not work out so well for them. Should they be able to steal the nomination from the people (Bernie), we will have four more years of Herr Drumpf. It's now or never for the American people.

CHOICE MATTERS

Have a stomach turning day, folks! (imagine the evening! Shok ) Pleasantry

Edited to add this article by Greenwald in the Intercept

up
21 users have voted.

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

@Raggedy Ann

that they wouldn't have results till late tonight from CA, and might not have final results from there for as much as a week. Early votes are likely to trend Bernie, seeing as they pre-date Biden's SC bump and the exit of Klobby and Butty. So chill out as much as possible, y'all. As they say in sports, don't get too high or too low.

up
19 users have voted.

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Raggedy Ann's picture

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal
are aware of how long California will take. Thanks for the reminder, though.

up
10 users have voted.

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

enhydra lutris's picture

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal
Californians were outraged that they called it so early in 2016.

up
16 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Anja Geitz's picture

@Raggedy Ann

I have to wonder how long it will take for a massive realization that the Establishment actively chose to bide their time with another four years of Trump, rather than deal with the consequences of a Sanders Presidency.

up
4 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

@Anja Geitz

if the voters do not get it by now
they may never
some of us see the establishment games
more clearly than others
depending upon our chosen programming
perhaps.
Most of the good folk, activists and politically aware
recognize the stakes in this contest.

Like you said, karma is on the side of good.

up
1 user has voted.
Lookout's picture

I get to bubble in two choices on the dim ballot...prez and an amendment to allow the governor to appoint the state school board. No local, state, nor federal Dim candidates. Alabama is very red (neck).

We're splitting our votes...one for Bernie and one for Tulsi. Sure is amazing how effectively they disappeared Tulsi. And no I don't want the governor to appoint the school board (even though voters usually elect crummy candidates I trust them more than the governor).

So that is what I have to vote for today. Sure seems like a charade. I hope we have good news tomorrow AM.

Why hasn't Biden's role in the devastating Crime Bill not been more widely covered?
(Rhetorical question)
https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2019/03/joe-bidens-1993-crime-bil...

Trump will chew him up and spit him out as ByeDone struggles to complete a sentence.

Hope everyone has a good day. Another wet one here.

up
22 users have voted.

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

I'm a little freaked out b/c Kate got the call last night. She went out in the middle of the night to get blood tested b/c some organs came in.

So great, right? Well, yes, but I was really hoping to keep Kate away from hospitals while coronavirus was pandemic--not have her go in for really serious surgery that requires her to take immunosuppressant drugs. So we're waiting to see if the organs match, & I don't even know what I should be hoping for!

They're out voting for Bernie--Kate never got around to leaving the Democratic primary, so why not? She said "You know I'm an optimist--I always think `Well, maybe they might count it this time!'" I said "Make 'em sweat." Smile

EDIT: Shit! When did we stop being a Super Tuesday state! OK, well, I guess they won't be voting this morning.

up
22 users have voted.

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal

Good luck with finding a match today.

I'm still a Dem too. Otherwise, I would never get to vote in local races around here.

up
8 users have voted.
Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

@crbngville

Good to "see" you, crbingville.

up
7 users have voted.

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal my father had a kidney transplant at a time when there wasn’t the threat of a pandemic looming. It was one of the most stressful things I can remember. The up side is, things went well. But it was scary, I won’t lie.

My thoughts are with you.

up
9 users have voted.

Idolizing a politician is like believing the stripper really likes you.

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

@Dr. John Carpenter

up
7 users have voted.

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Anja Geitz's picture

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal

Nerve wracking, too, I'm sure. Will chant for the best possible outcome for the both of you.

up
2 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

RantingRooster's picture

@Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal good, positive thoughts and prayers I send out to you and yours!

up
1 user has voted.

C99, my refuge from an insane world. #ForceTheVote

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

up
8 users have voted.

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

a big turnout here, other than those who might be interested in our local sheriff's contest.
As of yesterday, the area with the highest concentration of meth labs is also the area with the most "re-elect the Sheriff" signs.
One of my best friends, an establishment D with whom I can converse about anything but politics, lost her shit, discussing the Bernie purists".
I just listened politely.
One of us will be pretty happy tonight, the other will not, so we shall see.
Anja, a great h/t to you for not losing your fiery enthusiasm.

up
17 users have voted.

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

Anja Geitz's picture

@on the cusp

As I'm sure you can relate being an active person yourself. I believe what Bernie and his supporters have done has been to fundamentally change the way we engage in politics. And that matters to me. Can't control the outcome or what TPTB will do, but I'll be damned if I roll over dead for them. Fight on!

up
5 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

RantingRooster's picture

I can't believe anyone would vote for "You know, You know the thing..." guy...

I'm quite pleasantly surprised by the number of people favorable to Socialism in Texas. Maybe my idea of the Soviet Socialist Republic of Texas isn't such a pipe dream after all...

Chris Matthews is out at MSNBC! YEAH!
[video:https://youtu.be/LGMxtDo94XQ]

EDIT: I just caught the "supersized" instead of "surprised", jeezsus! Crazy

up
19 users have voted.

C99, my refuge from an insane world. #ForceTheVote

Anja Geitz's picture

@RantingRooster

But people never fail to surprise me. On the flip side of that, I've had the privilege of organizing with some amazing people. There's a lot of heart and fight in the generation that is going to inherit this mess, and they sure do give a damn.

Thanks for the vid. Will circle back when I'm done with reading this thread and watch it. Was REALLY surprised to hear Matthews "retired". Weird, weird stuff happening these days, eh?

up
3 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Wally's picture

Vote like our lives and our planet depends on it . . . . pretty please. Pleading for folks I don't know and some I do.

up
23 users have voted.
Anja Geitz's picture

@Wally

Solidarity, dude. You kept at and never gave up on Bernie.

up
2 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

for all your work.
Stomach turning day it will be, as R.A. said above.
I might have to make that popcorn recipe and watch a bit of MNSNDNC tonight in the hopes that another talking head entertains us by going batshit crazy.

up
13 users have voted.
Anja Geitz's picture

@randtntx

That's for sure. Funny thing I noticed as people with their "I Voted" stickers came through my line yesterday. The ones that voted for Bernie had a lot o say when I nonchalantly remarked what an "interesting" day Tuesday will be. As opposed to the ones who I suspect voted for Biden, or Warren. They just stood there stone faced as I mused how curious it was that Pete and Amy dropped out before Super Tuesday. Lol.

up
4 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Wally's picture

Please, please, please . . . .

Send and tweet it to all your friends and acquaintances today.

#withthesehands

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IckwaUkr2Dc]

up
20 users have voted.
RantingRooster's picture

is not my style of music, I thought y'all might like this...

up
10 users have voted.

C99, my refuge from an insane world. #ForceTheVote

Raggedy Ann's picture

@RantingRooster
Thanks for posting it! New russian

up
6 users have voted.

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

polkageist's picture

@RantingRooster
I don't listen to rap because I can't keep up with the speedy lyrics; plus they are not really written for old white men like me. But this one I managed to stick with and finally could understand what he had to say. I hope lots of others took the civics lesson to heart. If we save ourselves it will be the young who make it happen. Thanks.

up
5 users have voted.

-Greed is not a virtue.
-Socialism: the radical idea of sharing.
-Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy, In a speech at the White House, 1962

RantingRooster's picture

@polkageist for not listening to Rap. Same as you, I generally have to listen to a song 2-3 times, to get the first, I guess verse or quatrain? And I'm Texan, which means the same thing, slow to hear the fast talking lyrics. Well, three excuses, the last being, very little rap has any guitar in it.

But once in a while, one breaks through and stirs me, like this one did!

up
3 users have voted.

C99, my refuge from an insane world. #ForceTheVote

Cant Stop the Macedonian Signal's picture

up
8 users have voted.

"More for Gore or the son of a drug lord--None of the above, fuck it, cut the cord."
--Zack de la Rocha

"I tell you I'll have nothing to do with the place...The roof of that hall is made of bones."
-- Fiver

Raggedy Ann's picture

Bah-da bah-da-da-da
Bah-da bah-da-da-da
Bah-da bah-da-da-da

Tuesday, Tuesday, so good to me
Tuesday mornin', it was all I hoped it would be
Oh Tuesday mornin', Tuesday mornin' couldn't guarantee
That Tuesday evenin' you would still be here with me

Tuesday, Tuesday, can't trust that day
Tuesday, Tuesday, sometimes it just turns out that way
Oh Tuesday mornin' you gave me no warnin' of what was to be
Oh Tuesday, Tuesday, how could you leave and not take me

Every other day, every other day
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever Tuesday comes, but whenever Tuesday comes
A-you can find me cryin' all of the time

Tuesday, Tuesday, so good to me
Tuesday mornin', it was all I hoped it would be
But Tuesday mornin', Tuesday mornin' couldn't guarantee
That Tuesday evenin' the people won't let our Bernie down.

up
10 users have voted.

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Anja Geitz's picture

@Raggedy Ann

And YOU make me smile. Pity we couldnt sit together in my garden tonight and kill a nice bottle of Pinot Noir, eh? I'd bet we'd have a good ole time!

up
4 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Raggedy Ann's picture

@Anja Geitz
Drinks

up
2 users have voted.

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Raggedy Ann's picture

All the leaves are brown
And the sky is grey
I've been out to vote
On a winter's day
I'd be safe and warm
If I was in L.A.
California dreaming
On such a winter's day

Stopped into a church
I passed along the way
Well, I got down on my knees
And I began to pray
You know we need Bernie to win
He knows I'm voting for him
California dreaming
Long lines persist for the Bern

All the leaves are brown
And the sky is grey
I've been out to vote
On a winter's day
If I didn't vote for him
I could’nt live today
California dreaming
Deliver the delegates to Bernie!

up
12 users have voted.

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

enhydra lutris's picture

their special envelope yesterday (and signed and dated the envelopes). Later this afternoon we'll walk them up to the local drop off area and then come home and have a glass of wine and some cheese, cookies, or both. Tonight's dinner will be pork hash, because nothing better symbolizes US politics.

Thanks for the OT and for all you're doing for Bernie.

have a good one.

up
13 users have voted.

That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

Go Bernie. Go Tulsi. Bernie's campaign should have insisted on international election monitors. Or got his people in areas where democrats traditionally cheat insurgents.

[Video::https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UGsfzsWkybc]

up
7 users have voted.
smiley7's picture

vicariously in the hills today.

So anxious, can't sleep; but i've good vibes, will be very happy with a 150 delegate lead, will of course be okay with a win.

WE need a new arena where the lions can't eat us, one by one.

Long live the revolution.

up
12 users have voted.
Anja Geitz's picture

@smiley7

Into my garden where I could serve you wine and cheese while we listen to wind chimes and enjoy the tea lights sparkle in the night.

up
3 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

moneysmith's picture

I read this. Four hundred fifteen delegates at stake plus hinky software. We all know where this is going, right?

Edited to add: THANK YOU for all your work on Bernie's behalf!

up
9 users have voted.

Hell is empty and all the devils are here. William Shakespeare

All the work you have done in California as well as tales from the aisles of Teader Joe's!

Did not get my absentee ballot in time this go round so voted in person with many of my Republican neighbors. Very red community this is. Man wearing a maga hat made to remove it. Made a big fuss because man in front of him still wearing a hat. Sheesh, what stupidity.

Back home doing chores and maybe some of that cheesy popcorn for later!

up
12 users have voted.

Life is what you make it, so make it something worthwhile.

This ain't no dress rehearsal!

mhagle's picture

First time to vote for 18 yr old son. At the voting center they announced "a first-time voter here!" and all applauded. Sort of cool.

Our extra child had to drive her mom to Sherman today, so she might not have the chance to vote. The case for early voting!

All the best to everyone!

up
10 users have voted.

Marilyn

"Make dirt, not war." eyo

Raggedy Ann's picture

I just want to say that when I picture you, I picture you like that woman dancing with Fred. Can't tell if it's Ginger or not. Anyway - to me, that's YOU dancing with Fred! Dance 4

up
5 users have voted.

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Anja Geitz's picture

@Raggedy Ann

more than I can say. And btw, I picture your spirit in much the same way...

up
1 user has voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier

Raggedy Ann's picture

@Anja Geitz
Dance 4

up
1 user has voted.

"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11

Shahryar's picture

I think Biden will get a boost from SC and these endorsements but Bernie will win a lot more delegates.

I've become convinced, however, that real change for the better will only happen after the US collapses and the resulting wars/skirmishes between the former states settle down, somewhere around 2250 AD.

up
8 users have voted.
RantingRooster's picture

(hopefully this line of text will fix twitter embed)

up
1 user has voted.

C99, my refuge from an insane world. #ForceTheVote

TheOtherMaven's picture

"Broadway Melody of 1940", Fred Astaire and Eleanor Powell.

I was pretty sure it wasn't Ginger, she was very very blonde.

up
2 users have voted.

There is no justice. There can be no peace.

Anja Geitz's picture

@TheOtherMaven

I was wondering who that was dancing with Fred. Knew it wasn't Ginger.

up
0 users have voted.

There is always Music amongst the trees in the Garden, but our hearts must be very quiet to hear it. ~ Minnie Aumonier