1 Nooded.

2 And SPONGE!!

3 Virginia's and Georgia's are in the conversation.

4 The GOP is feckless... everywhere.

5 Hola!

6 My shocked face.

7 "I am a registered Republican who has voted in every single general election of my adult life, and I was never contacted by anyone in the party apparatus. That is simply pathetic. And the same thing was true in 2022, and 2024, and 2026!"

I was just thinking this morning nothing could be worse than Pennsylvania. However, since the experience you wrote above is identical for me, I suspect we simply take our political stances from both NJ and VA.

8 Isn't there a prefix that must be added before using the Booker name?

9 Slept in this morning. J.J. and I share a birthday today. Happy Birthday to us! Today I turn 70. And today I feel 70.🥳

10 3 Virginia's and Georgia's are in the conversation.
Posted by: Black JEM
======
Both state parties are dominated by country club Republicans who see illegals as cheap labor and economic growth and whose cultural affinities are with their leftist classmates in selective colleges. They are Republicans to get rich, not to fight political battles. And their hideous political consultant apparatus respond to the donors that pay them and the state parties that force candidates to use them if they want to win a primary. Big donors are well to the left of the GOP party mostly on social issues but hate taxes and regulation that prevents them from getting richer.

11 I am a registered Republican who has voted in every single general election of my adult life, and I was never contacted by anyone in the party apparatus. That is simply pathetic. And the same thing was true in 2022, and 2024, and 2026!

=======

So...everyone knows that you are a regular voter and just assumed that they didn't need to spend money to convince you to vote?

12 Hi.

13 Los Angeles Mayor Promises to Use LAPD to Protect Illegal Voters From ICE

-
Sure,it's why not?

14 I'm getting, on average, at least three texts a day from the GOP.

15 Wasn't the Jersey GOP responsible for bending over for the voting consent decree that the GOPe used as an excuse for years?

And yes, VA and Georgia GOP organizations suck. VA is still tied to seniority...

16 13 Los Angeles Mayor Promises to Use LAPD to Protect Illegal Voters From ICE

-
Sure,it's why not?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Up, Up, and Away! at October 20, 2026 11:08 AM (ndZc7)

=======

But Bass wouldn't use resources to protect the Palisades from fire.

17 Part of the reason blue states are blue is because the GOP in that state doesn't function as an opposition political party. It functions as a grifting machine and full-employment act for lazy, feckless, otherwise unemployable retards.

Ciattarelli would have beaten the loathsome Sherill in 2024 had there been a functioning GOP in NJ. Hell, he might have beaten Potatohead Murphy in 2021 if there was.

Likewise, Hochul would be toast in November if NY had a functioning GOP party.

We endlessly make fun of how the Dems keeping hoping and trying to turn the reddest red states blue. But they keep at it, every time. I wish we had a GOP that did the same in blue states.

18 Republicans -- the good ones anyway -- in Texas win in spite of the state party apparatus, not because of it.

19 I have Trader Joe Chocolate Chip Cookie Dunkers. So good.

20 I'm getting, on average, at least three texts a day from the GOP"

Wait until they find out about the fax machine!

21 I am a registered Republican who has voted in every single general election of my adult life, and I was never contacted by anyone in the party apparatus. That is simply pathetic. And the same thing was true in 2022, and 2024, and 2026!

The Republican Party of Maryland is better at outreach than that, and they're widely considered to be useless.

22 My views on the nature of the GOPe on all levels are well known. I'll spare y'all.

23 The Oklahoma GOP has some GOPe tendencies. Trump carried each and every one of Oklahoma's 77 counties but not because of any heroics from the locals.

24 I'm getting, on average, at least three texts a day from the GOP

I had to block a number over the weekend because I was getting a text every 15 minutes about a 5x match if I donated now.

25 17 We endlessly make fun of how the Dems keeping hoping and trying to turn the reddest red states blue. But they keep at it, every time. I wish we had a GOP that did the same in blue states.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at October 20, 2026 11:09 AM (iFTx/)

=======

Yes.

Democrats will look at Trump+14 Texas and say, "Maybe we can win it!"

Sure, the insiders are using it for graft, but the donors giving Talarico tens of millions of dollars think it's possible.

And then we look at Kamala+3 MN having a Senate race with a bunch of local controversies affecting the Democrat party and just stand off saying, "Nah, it's a deep blue state. Don't even bother thinking about it."

We take our cues from leftist news sources. It's an underlying reality of the entire right-wing ecosystem in America that hinders and shapes so much in terms of tactics and strategy.

26 Slept in this morning. J.J. and I share a birthday today. Happy Birthday to us! Today I turn 70. And today I feel 70.🥳
Posted by: Case at October 20, 2026 11:07 AM (Dd7BU)

Many happy returns!

27 Republicans -- the good ones anyway -- in Texas win in spite of the state party apparatus, "

Hey, we're still important. Or something.

/ the Bush family machine

28 "I was never contacted by anyone in the party apparatus"

... simple solution .. donate money to the Party

They will never leave you alone for the next 10 years.

29 Tip O'Neill famously, and accurately said, "All politics is local." Well...mostly accurate

I think this is a lot less true than it once was. Texas Democrats were once a unique species. How do they differ from the national brand these days? If Robert Francis O'Rourke or James Talarico differ from the average Democrat, I haven't noticed it.

I don't know that you can even blame the local GOP (entirely) for the NJ situation. It's not like the RNC couldn't intervene and help out if it wanted to win. There's just not a lot of evidence that it does; it acts more like a union for GOPe incumbents.

30 Los Angeles Mayor Promises to Use LAPD to Protect Illegal Voters From ICE
-----

Just exactly what does he expect LAPD officers to do?

31 I have Trader Joe Chocolate Chip Cookie Dunkers. So good.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory
_________

All chocolate chip cookies are dunkers.

32 > Los Angeles Mayor Promises to Use LAPD to Protect Illegal Voters From ICE

-
Sure,it's why not?
--------------
The left has a variety of tools like the local LE. They've got a raft of judges on their side, the media, illegals and a fair number of idiots.

33 Hey, lay off us. We're doing our best to BECOME New Jersey.

34 30 Los Angeles Mayor Promises to Use LAPD to Protect Illegal Voters From ICE
-----

Just exactly what does he expect LAPD officers to do?

Posted by: Crusader at October 20, 2026 11:12 AM (TN0g+)

=======

Commit obstruction of justice and, hopefully, get into a firefight with ICE in an effort to spark some kind of civil war?

35 The Oklahoma GOP has some GOPe tendencies. Trump carried each and every one of Oklahoma's 77 counties but not because of any heroics from the locals.
Posted by: Crusader

Same with WV. Even Monongalia Co. (WVU).

36 I was just thinking this morning nothing could be worse than Pennsylvania. However, since the experience you wrote above is identical for me, I suspect we simply take our political stances from both NJ and VA.

Posted by: L - No nic...

State party organizations exist to implement party big donors' wishes and keep some of that sweet cash flow in someway for themselves. So if you are a candidate in a winnable district, the party demands that you use their own consultants from a list--finance, fund raising, legal, etc. If you try to roll your own, you get challenged in the primary by a candidate who towed the line on accepting party help. And repeatedly, just like party officials, these political consultants hate base GOP voters and are in fact well to the left of the GOP ideologically. And they want to get rich.

So, instead of GOTV which involves doing what the base voters want, you get mailers, robocalls, crappy ads, crappy media relations, etc. All of these make a pretty penny for the GOP consultants and they don't have to hang out with the smelly people but can smooze with what they consider their equals--reporters, ad placement for media, special interest policy wonks e

37 Tillis to Cooper won't be much of a change.

38 We take our cues from leftist news sources. It's an underlying reality of the entire right-wing ecosystem in America that hinders and shapes so much in terms of tactics and strategy.

I've said before that too many right-wingers only believe things the TV says. They should read Ace's content, even though it would make Andrew Breitbart unhappy.

39 I can speak from the farthest regions of NY state. Useless would be an improvement over here. Usually we just get less competent, less connected crooks than the Ds.

We have a natural wonder of the world and a crazy amount of hydro power and natural gas available. We have one of the biggest ports in the country and access to the great lakes' 35 million people. Throw in the media center of nyc and Wall Street and the whole state should be wearing Tiffany cufflinks in our morning jackets at brunch.

Instead, we get rust belt decay and corpse camped by regulation. The primary obstacle to general prosperity is the state government.

40 We take our cues from leftist news sources. It's an underlying reality of the entire right-wing ecosystem in America that hinders and shapes so much in terms of tactics and strategy.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 11:11 AM (wn0/z)
_____

The Right: "The leftwing media is nothing but lies and propaganda trying to keep us down!"

Also The Right: "The NYT has a poll saying we're gonna lose TX and have no chance whatsoever in MN. [Puts hair on fire] I guess we might as well just pack it all in then. Too bad, maybe next time!"

41 I'm getting, on average, at least three texts a day from the GOP

I had to block a number over the weekend because I was getting a text every 15 minutes about a 5x match if I donated now.
Posted by: Ian S. at October 20, 2026 11:11 AM (2ocoG)

I get nuthin'. And I'm a registered Repuke. Been voting for *mumble*mumble* years.

42 From what I did for years, I knew a bunch of political consultants, taught some of them as undergrads, and had a colleague that got out of the business because it was so rotten.

It is driven by money, not ideology nor even party loyalty and has been for decades in the GOP--same handler types going way back and those handlers will turn and stab the candidate in the back in a trice if they view them as unacceptable. See Trump, See Reagan, Goldwater, Taft, even Landon.

Trump learned this in Trump II--staffing itself is politics.

43 There's just not a lot of evidence that it does; it acts more like a union for GOPe incumbents."

Thus seniority. It's the traditional path in American politics. Democrats as well, but the fracturing between traditional dems and radicals in the latter part of the 20th century "refreshed" and energized several state parties...

44 37 Tillis to Cooper won't be much of a change.
Posted by: nckate

Reports are dribbling out now that Cooper has Parkinson's.

45 Republicans -- the good ones anyway -- in Texas win in spite of the state party apparatus, not because of it.

Posted by: Oddbob at October 20, 2026 11:09 AM


Purely anecdotal but the lines for early voting here in NE Texas are very long. They have never been this long for an off year election for the decade we have lived here. There are about the same number of people waiting in line as there were for the 2024 presidential election.

46 @26. Thanks AOP.

It's been a long and winding road. Such is life.

47 44 37 Tillis to Cooper won't be much of a change.
Posted by: nckate

Reports are dribbling out now that Cooper has Parkinson's.

Posted by: whig at October 20, 2026 11:18 AM (E4rtv)

=======

Early Democrat advantages in early voting in NC are eroding...fast.

Over the weekend, and including Monday, they lost 10% of the share.

https://x.com/aggou/status/
2112493249931689987

48 I've said before that too many right-wingers only believe things the TV says. They should read Ace's content, even though it would make Andrew Breitbart unhappy.
Posted by: Ian S. at October 20, 2026 11:16 AM (2ocoG)

Been emailing links to AOS to many fellow conservatives for years. Get very few replies. Too busy doing stupid and pointless shit to bother reading anything. A few get their "news" from Newsmax. The others? They live in a cone of silence. Incredible.

49 It seems we have besmirched the French.

Mexican Rioters Tear Down Beautiful Oak Doors, Set Them On Fire

50 So, instead of GOTV which involves doing what the base voters want, you get mailers, robocalls, crappy ads, crappy media relations, etc….
Posted by: whig

So last night my daughter found political fliers on her car after work - cut as something you’d hang from your rear view mirror.

For Gov Abbott. 41 of them. We live 1000 miles from Texas.

51 45 Purely anecdotal but the lines for early voting here in NE Texas are very long. They have never been this long for an off year election for the decade we have lived here. There are about the same number of people waiting in line as there were for the 2024 presidential election.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at October 20, 2026 11:19 AM (I43vL)

=======

And black turnout in South Dallas is comparatively...very low.

Talarico is going to lose by a lot, and we're going to be told that we need to ignore the fact that polling said he was going to win easily for like 4 months.

52 Tip O'Neil is proof the folks in massassholechusettes have been assholes for a very, very, very long time.

53 41 I'm getting, on average, at least three texts a day from the GOP

I had to block a number over the weekend because I was getting a text every 15 minutes about a 5x match if I donated now.
Posted by: Ian S. at October 20, 2026 11:11 AM (2ocoG)

I get nuthin'. And I'm a registered Repuke. Been voting for *mumble*mumble* years.
Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy

Ian S. have you donated in the past? You will get those texts and calls because those consultants bought your name from whoever you donated to.

thatjerseyguy, you might vote but consultants running campaigns want to get rich. If a candidate does not pay them to text and call you, the consultants won't do it. GOP consultants HATE GOTV activities because the commission rates are a lot lower and it often deals with volunteer management. Left uses NGOs to do it sometimes paid, sometimes ideological, the right uses paid mercenaries who have the loyalty of a paid mercenary.

54 UK Sends Typhoon Jets To Support Saudis Amid Houthi Attacks

Claims this cutting-edge warplane will be merely 'defensive'...

... this smells of the Gulf War trick of sending a French aircraft carrier, then having the planes fly back to France after the carrier is over the horizon

55 So last night my daughter found political fliers on her car after work - cut as something you’d hang from your rear view mirror.
-----

I bet they are door knob hangers.

56 I am a registered Republican who has voted in every single general election of my adult life, and I was never contacted by anyone in the party apparatus.

But look how well we have convinced you that we are real! Vote as you wish for D or R, your votes all go to The Party.

57 Condolences AOP on the result up there. Sad. Was hoping for a spark that might indicate Canada was going to change course.

58 So last night my daughter found political fliers on her car after work - cut as something you’d hang from your rear view mirror.

For Gov Abbott. 41 of them. We live 1000 miles from Texas.
Posted by: Kratwurst
========
The connected Printer got paid, the person placing them may or may not have gotten paid, donors were shown pretty pictures of the flier as evidence the consultants are doing the job, etc.

59 Oklahoma's GOP at least fills my mailbox with mailers, accusing each other of being weak and evil, and mans the polling stations.

They often leave Dems unopposed, and they spam me with texts, and there's all these polls I refuse to answer...

60 I was thinking of putting a whiteboard out in front of my house. Can anyone - particularly from NJ- think of anything to say to encourage voting for Murphy and against Booker? . Please note: it has to fit on one large white board and I would prefer that y house not be firebombed. Thanks.

61 Bangladesh is seeking answers on why Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals in the city of Mecca - which is considered holy in Islam - without telling Dhaka.

Last week, Saudi Arabia executed a male and a female Bangladeshi national after they were convicted of committing "indecent acts" inside a mosque (in Mecca).

Riyadh did not provide further details on the acts the two Bangladeshi nationals allegedly committed or whether they had legal representation in the Gulf kingdom, according to local media reports.

62 52 Tip O'Neil is proof the folks in massassholechusettes have been assholes for a very, very, very long time.
Posted by: Stop The Madness at October 20, 2026 11:21 AM (8EQTH)

Since about 1640.

63 The connected Printer got paid, the person placing them may or may not have gotten paid, donors were shown pretty pictures of the flier as evidence the consultants are doing the job, etc."

This. It's how it works

64 48 I've said before that too many right-wingers only believe things the TV says. They should read Ace's content, even though it would make Andrew Breitbart unhappy.
Posted by: Ian S. at October 20, 2026 11:16 AM

I sometimes wonder that as time passes traditional (or any version, for that matter) television is less and less important.

Do very many people still watch "television?" There are so many other options for entertainment now, and depending on how much you're willing to pay, avoid advertising.

65 but the Republican Party of New Jersey might be the worst of a sordid and lazy list of pathetic state political organizations.

Hey, we have to be on the list somewhere!

66 Bikers for Trump Alaska joins list of those endorsing Bernadette Wilson for governor

67 Hey, we have to be on the list somewhere!
Posted by: Repubs of Kalifornia"

You don't exist...

68 Bangladesh is seeking answers on why Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals in the city of Mecca - which is considered holy in Islam - without telling Dhaka.

Last week, Saudi Arabia executed a male and a female Bangladeshi national after they were convicted of committing "indecent acts" inside a mosque (in Mecca).

Riyadh did not provide further details on the acts the two Bangladeshi nationals allegedly committed or whether they had legal representation in the Gulf kingdom, according to local media reports.
Posted by: SMOD

There will be an Inshallah investigation and it will disappear in a month or two.

69 I was thinking of putting a whiteboard out in front of my house. Can anyone - particularly from NJ- think of anything to say to encourage voting for Murphy and against Booker? . Please note: it has to fit on one large white board and I would prefer that y house not be firebombed. Thanks.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 20, 2026 11:24 AM (IDUoO)

So I guess "Corey Booker Sucks" is out of the question?

70 As an aside, the deluge of actblue fundraising ads in my media feeds shut off like a faucet a day or two ago. I had 90% from Beato Talarico, several from Bear Claw Vindman's twin running in FL. I've never set foot in FL. Even SCOAMF ximself made a few appearances. The only person running against Trump is Kathy Holchul. Everybody else is using "Big money Billionaires" for the boogieman.

71 Early Democrat advantages in early voting in NC are eroding...fast.

Over the weekend, and including Monday, they lost 10% of the share.

https://x.com/aggou/status/
2112493249931689987
Posted by: TheJamesMadison

So far, in almost every state, we see the TDS brigade, probably old lefty boomers that seriously go to No Kings rallies go to the polls or submit their mail in requests/ballots on the first day. Then the tide recedes day by day. Leaners claiming they are independent but are in fact less likely to vote in every election are going to be the 'swing' version this election that either show up or don't vote depending on party success in mobilization.

Base voters are going to vote and the endless stupid demoralization polling/prediction markets don't seem to be affecting GOP base voting turnout at all. Media has become largely ignored by such voters now.

72 I know New Jersey is bad but I have to say that the Republican Party here in the Soviet of Washington has been compliant and utterly corrupted by stupidity and surviving on the scant bones allowed. The I-5 corridor, as in Oregon and California wags the dog. All three states are schizophrenic in make up and attitude. The Cascades and Sierra's represent two different places. It may in fact be too late to save all three. Gerrymandered districts, media influence and, as is showing up in Montana as well, the people who voted for decline and destruction are fleeing to areas where they continue to vote for decline.

To quote our philosopher of firearms, Weasel; Buy Ammo.

73 Abdul El-Sayed to black voters: I am not like your "gas station Abdul" who hates blacks, catcalls women

OMG Undercover: Abdul El-Sayed Campaign Official Reveals El-Sayed Knowingly Receives Illegal Donations from Overseas

74 I saw a whiteboard the other day outside a local pub.

FREE (in large letters)

tv and a/c (in tiny letters)

HEAD (in large letters)

inside for fun and food (in tiny letters)

75 70 As an aside, the deluge of actblue fundraising ads in my media feeds shut off like a faucet a day or two ago. I had 90% from Beato Talarico, several from Bear Claw Vindman's twin running in FL. I've never set foot in FL. Even SCOAMF ximself made a few appearances. The only person running against Trump is Kathy Holchul. Everybody else is using "Big money Billionaires" for the boogieman.
Posted by: Bilwis

I used to get a lot of that crap but refuse to donate money--I will donate time to candidates I like going door to door or nowadays, driving someone who does. Don't get those calls and solicitations anymore.

76 I bet they are door knob hangers.
Posted by: Crusader at October 20, 2026 11:23 AM (TN0g+)

Inorite?

77 I also learned this morning that Pennsylvania has employed a "Decoupling" Strategy (Act 45) which means -

PA's primary method of protecting its budget is tax code decoupling. Act 45 has explicitly rejected several-business friendly federal tax write-offs established under the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). By forcing corporation to add back these federal deductions on their state forms, PA artificially widens the taxable base to extract more revenue, even as the baseline tax rate drops.

For decades, PA had one of the highest corporate tax rates in the nation at 9.99%, which severely crippled its economic competitiveness. The tax rate has dropped to 7.49% for 2026 & will continue its downward glide path until it hits 4.99% in 2031. Because it cuts deeply into the state's recurring revenue, the Decoupling Strategy will compensate for the reduction over the next 5 years.

PA also has an aggressive sales tax & the "Digital Commons" Tax Catch-All; has explicitly refused to conform to No Tax on Tips as per the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and has a pathetic energy policy.

No wonder many PA residents never feel the Federal tax relief programs!

78 HOME!

79 Speaking of local elections I am amused in one near me. The current state Rep is a republican. He has a job in addition to being state rep.

So the challenger is a young Dem is running on a platform of "well the Republican guy isn't 100% committed, why he doesn't go to every single meeting on the committees he is on, so let's fire him for being lazy!"

But here is the funny thing, the challenger is in some local office currently and admitted in one interview he didn't go to most of their committee meetings because, well, they don't really matter. This has become the item that every Republican social media post/ad I see focuses on.

Now the Dem alternates ads and social media with pleas to stop mud slinging and...calling for the incumbent to be defeated because he didn't show up to all his committee meetings.

80 Well the CA GOP will not just sit there while youz try to claim your own states' GOP is the most useless. Its performance speaks for itself.

But while all accurate, this trashing of state GOPs is sort of in the same category as blaming shadowy unknown forces - or foreign influence "ops"!! - for various idiotic and destructive trends or events.

It's the voters that are the problem. As Trump's existence redundantly demonstrates, if the voters insist on something, they'll get it (ludicrous theft like 2020 being an exception of course, but the foundations of that also are laid by voters who mostly didn't revolt in the slightest, even after that, to clean things up).

81 Early Democrat advantages in early voting in NC are eroding...fast.

Over the weekend, and including Monday, they lost 10% of the share.

https://x.com/aggou/status/
2112493249931689987
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 11:20 AM (wn0/z)
________

I suspect there's a small but vociferous group of Trump-hating boomers and incels who can't wait to vote early. That juices the early early voting. But once these losers blow their load, there isn't anyone coming behind them to keep the momentum going.

82 >>> 34 30 Los Angeles Mayor Promises to Use LAPD to Protect Illegal Voters From ICE
-----

Just exactly what does he expect LAPD officers to do?

Posted by: Crusader at October 20, 2026 11:12 AM (TN0g+)

=======

Commit obstruction of justice and, hopefully, get into a firefight with ICE in an effort to spark some kind of civil war?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 11:13 AM (wn0/z)

Retard commie bassmouth wants: to spark to Glorious Peoples Revolution Against The Bad Orange Man To Protect They/Them's Precious Democracy
Would settle for: big boost in name recognition in the Presidential Election Grift
Will probably get: many of the retards in the LAPD who gleefully enforced woofloo mandates arrested by ICE, some of whom will be identified as illegals...

83 Amazingly, as much as the left hates Trump himself, I sense little enthusiasm for the election among the Democrats. Maybe it's their incredibly bad slate of candidates, maybe it's the USAID funding cutoff, I do not know, but even in Ohio (where Brown is supposedly running ahead of Husted) I see very few signs and hear zero conversation.

84 The Oklahoma GOP has some GOPe tendencies. Trump carried each and every one of Oklahoma's 77 counties but not because of any heroics from the locals.
Posted by: Crusader at October 20, 2026 11:11 AM (TN0g+)

Have you ever thought that the "no heroics" might be the reason repubs win in OK? Most people here appreciate the fact that our state government and repub party isn't up in our grill 24/7 like other states.

85 I am getting constant political texts.

Interestingly the one I get the most is Michele Tafoya and no I don't live in her state.

86 Bangladesh is seeking answers on why Saudi Arabia executed two Bangladeshi nationals in the city of Mecca...
----

I can help explain that--Saudi Arabia is chock full of Muslims and Muslims do things like that.

87 72 I know New Jersey is bad but I have to say that the Republican Party here in the Soviet of Washington has been compliant and utterly corrupted by stupidity and surviving on the scant bones allowed. The I-5 corridor, as in Oregon and California wags the dog. All three states are schizophrenic in make up and attitude. The Cascades and Sierra's represent two different places. It may in fact be too late to save all three. Gerrymandered districts, media influence and, as is showing up in Montana as well, the people who voted for decline and destruction are fleeing to areas where they continue to vote for decline.

To quote our philosopher of firearms, Weasel; Buy Ammo.
Posted by: Winston AKA Pops
=======
The South had its GOP patronage parties during the era of Democrat rule where the party organization just existed to make money from candidates, share in federal patronage, and otherwise spend its time in a circular firing squad over who got to be head cheese the organization for fun and profit.

Pattern is probably reasserting itself in WA.

88 I am unclear what the GOP is doing anywhere. It’s pathetic. Imagine what would happen with a Scott Pressler or Spencer Pratt at the helm.

89 81 I suspect there's a small but vociferous group of Trump-hating boomers and incels who can't wait to vote early. That juices the early early voting. But once these losers blow their load, there isn't anyone coming behind them to keep the momentum going.

Posted by: Elric The Blade at October 20, 2026 11:31 AM (iFTx/)

========

It's the pattern seen in every state so far from OH to VA and appearing in NC.

Only one day in TX and FL to see, but I suspect they'll follow through as well.

90 I was thinking of putting a whiteboard out in front of my house. Can anyone - particularly from NJ- think of anything to say to encourage voting for Murphy and against Booker? . Please note: it has to fit on one large white board and I would prefer that y house not be firebombed. Thanks.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 20, 2026 11:24 AM (IDUoO)

"Support Lindsay Clancy: Vote Cory Booker"

91 HOME!
Posted by: Weasel at October 20, 2026 11:30 AM (leKdc)
======================
Always a happy moment. Congratulations sir.

92 78 HOME!
Posted by: Weasel

Welcome back. Go ahead and take a three minute break before starting the write up for the gun thread.

93 >>> 78 HOME!
Posted by: Weasel at October 20, 2026 11:30 AM (leKdc)

Are Fun Size Joe and Gertie still doing the happy dance?

94 The only republican we had running for city council had a drive by at his house so he decided to drop out and move out of Charlotte.

95 I can help explain that--Saudi Arabia is chock full of Muslims and Muslims do things like that.
Posted by: Crusader

Bangladeshis are lower on the Muslim totem pole than Arabs. Saudis view themselves as the pinnacle of Islam with other nations as lessers and non-Arabs as lesser still.

96 "Support Lindsay Clancy: Vote Cory Booker"
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at October 20, 2026 11:32 AM (wSl27)
=====================
Sadly, my NJ neighbors would miss the irony and approve of that message.

97 Glad you made it safely, Weasel.
Thanks for all you did to help create a very enjoyable TX MoMe!

98 Riyadh did not provide further details on the acts the two Bangladeshi nationals allegedly committed or whether they had legal representation in the Gulf kingdom, according to local media reports.
Posted by: SMOD

There will be an Inshallah investigation and it will disappear in a month or two.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at October 20, 2026 11:27 AM (8B4gm)

islam is evil. Full stop.

99 94 The only republican we had running for city council had a drive by at his house so he decided to drop out and move out of Charlotte.
Posted by: nckate

I noticed that. And ironically, it was partly a factor of the business community who were soft GOP types bringing in out of state banks and other economic development to Charlotte. Bring in out of staters, might improve economics briefly but inherently the newcomers too often revert to bad voting habits and virtue signalling they learned from their home blue state and education at college.

100 Are Fun Size Joe and Gertie still doing the happy dance?
Posted by: Helena Handbasket at October 20, 2026 11:33 AM (jb8Ss)
------
They are pretty happy! I woke up early and hit the road about 3:30am from near Knoxville. Soooo good to be home but I'm a teeeeensy bit sad it's all over.

101
It's the voters that are the problem. As Trump's existence redundantly demonstrates, if the voters insist on something, they'll get it (ludicrous theft like 2020 being an exception of course, but the foundations of that also are laid by voters who mostly didn't revolt in the slightest, even after that, to clean things up).

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2026 11:31 AM (U/Byj)

When the dems win, they play dirty and change the rules. When the repubs win (which has been a long time in Kalifornia), very little changes. The ratchet is only allowed to move one way...
Even if prop 39 here passes (voter ID measure) expect it to be held up in court while Ju(D)ges here declare it disenfranchises voters (how? They'll pull up SOMETHING) and is watered down or killed, like Prop 8 against Gay Marriage was almost 20 years ago.

102 Don't be so harsh on the Saudis, you guys, those Bangladeshi might have been journalists.

103 PA has layers of issues. Including perhaps the most corrupt and machine-ish structure of local government (LA and Cook County are impressed). Of course the enormous fraud machine of Philadelphia is key for state-wide stuff.

Years back I was adjacent to but not involved in a state-wide campaign. A prominent Dem political consultant was the campaign adviser - the candidate was one of a tiny handful of GOP candidates that this guy would work for.

After a big strategy meeting, I'm told by a participant that one of the basic planning factors was estimating the fake vote total out of Philly. Just a routine consideration. Actual voter participation rates and expectations were no part of it.

Pathetic, Haiti- or Belarus-level election conditions.

104 So I guess "Corey Booker Sucks" is out of the question?

😉 He does, but that might be a little too confrontational.

105 I am unclear what the GOP is doing anywhere. It’s pathetic. Imagine what would happen with a Scott Pressler or Spencer Pratt at the helm.
Posted by: Piper at October 20, 2026 11:32 AM (ZdaMQ)
=====================
Just like in the Senate.

I wish Spencer Pratt lived in Florida or Texas. He'd be a national GOP leader from those states.

106 Yes, please help my cause and donate to the RNC!

Or at least buy a MAGA hat.

107 There will be an Inshallah investigation and it will disappear in a month or two.
Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory
======
Eh, a few Bangladeshi officials mouthing off will suddenly get a few bucks in their accounts and be silenced. Same way the Saudis tamped down 9/11 discussions of their complicity here.

108 😉 He does, but that might be a little too confrontational.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke at October 20, 2026 11:37 AM (IDUoO)
===================
But specific and true!

109 It's the voters that are the problem. As Trump's existence redundantly demonstrates, if the voters insist on something, they'll get it...
----

You're reversing cause-and-effect. Its not the audience's problem if nobody buys tickets to a movie or a sporting event. The audience reacts, positively or negatively, to what its being offered. Trump inspired people to come see the movie. The rest of the GOP still hasn't learned how to run for office in a way that gets people excited.

110 Posted by: Quarter Twenty at October 20, 2026 11:35 AM (dF6f/)
-----
Thanks! It was good to see you.

111 I am a registered Republican who has voted in every single general election of my adult life

Exactly the sort of person we *will* be keeping an eye on, and more, IYKWWMAWTYD.

112 Pathetic, Haiti- or Belarus-level election conditions.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2026 11:37 AM (U/Byj)

Philly is a hive of demonratic villainy.

113 HOME!
Posted by: Weasel
-----

There's always a moment went I turn that last corner, and see that the house is still standing.

114 A few get their "news" from Newsmax. The others? They live in a cone of silence. Incredible.

Newsmax is significantly better than Fox in terms of showing actual news. Trump's been touting them, and for good reason.

115
112 Pathetic, Haiti- or Belarus-level election conditions.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2026 11:37 AM (U/Byj)

Philly is a hive of demonratic villainy.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 20, 2026 11:39 AM (l3cgK)

=======

Whose DA looks to be under federal indictment for obstruction of justice reasons in the near future.

116 Counter Rant:

If, if, if, the NJ GOP became a viable political force, I absolutely guarantee that the conn self-servo hive podcast universe would start chumming for clicks by singing their RINO RINO RINO song. Not to mention, the inevitable "weak one the 2nd Amendment" chant.

Thank God that the aforesaid cadre of idiots has never heard of the Carolinas.

117 New Jersey, Colorado... haa

118 He does, but that might be a little too confrontational.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke

You’re just celebrating his choices

119 There's always a moment went I turn that last corner, and see that the house is still standing.

And you scream "noooo, my insurance fraud!"

120 A robust GOTV program would narrow the traditional Democrat advantage in NJ to a manageable gap. But it hasn't happened, and it never will.

= =

What are you looking at us for?

121 But Bass wouldn't use resources to protect the Palisades from fire.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 11:09 AM

To borrow a quote from a non-Promethean movie (horrors!, I know), "A Mayor's got to know her priorities."

122 I am a registered Republican who has voted in every single general election of my adult life

I am too, except for the one time, because I worked in one county but had my permanent residence in another (that was Demonratic), I said jury duty that year would be a burden and without warning I was disenfranchised, only to magically be put back on the rolls before I could file a complaint with the state for disenfranchisement. Wasn't able to vote that cycle.

123 Interestingly the one I get the most is Michele Tafoya and no I don't live in her state.
Posted by: 18-1 at October 20, 2026 11:32 AM (sKqQm)
==============
I bet I see three or four Trump texts per day, and Michelle Tafoya about once a week. Turning Point Action too.

How they found me I have no idea.

124 It must be disheartening to travel from your shithole of origin to another shithole to parade around an important rock but do it wrong and end up getting murdered by zealots for your trouble. "I could have stayed home and suffered this shit," had to be rolling around in the ol' golova sometime before execution.

125 36. So, instead of GOTV which involves doing what the base voters want, you get mailers, robocalls, crappy ads, crappy media relations, etc.

Oh, I hear you, Whig.

However, aside from lots of TV ads covering central and SE Pennsylvania and supporting Bernie's people, there's nothing. Not a mailer, a robocall, nothing!

In fact, the large majority of "Rs" in my county had no idea signatures were being collected for the following:

Bethel Democrats of Garnet Valley
August 6
Delco GOP's Minority Representation Referendum Falls Short
DELCO COUNCIL NEWS: "An effort [by Delco GOP] to put a referendum on the November ballot asking voters if they’d like to increase Delaware County Council by two members to allow for minority representation fell short.
The collectors had until Tuesday to garner the thousands of signatures needed. Officials did not say how far short the effort fell.
Delaware County Democratic Committee Chair Cheryl Grosso offered her response to the referendum defeat.

I respect everyone who was willing to engage in the process,” she said. “I believe Delaware County voters recognize that adding two more council seats isn’t the solution to the challenges we face...."

126 After the 2010 Tea Party crushed Obama and the donks I contacted the Kalifornia and my county republican party. They never returned any of my many messages.

127 It's the voters that are the problem. As Trump's existence redundantly demonstrates, if the voters insist on something, they'll get it...

----

Well, they got Trump. They didn't get Trumpism.

The problem is that only Democrats get what they vote for. They put Obama in, they got Pelosi forcing a midnight, party-line vote for Obamacare.

We put Trump in during '16 and '24, and got the GOP stonewalling his signature legislation along with the rest of his agenda, both times.

It's not the voters.

It's the GOP.

128 124 It must be disheartening to travel from your shithole of origin to another shithole to parade around an important rock but do it wrong and end up getting murdered by zealots for your trouble.
+++

Don't be showing so much ankle, whore!

129 Don't know that NJ has ever been considered a Republican state, at least in my lifetime. Virginia, however, is/was supposed to be a red state- southern, conservative, etc. Given those advantages, the GOP in Virginia should have been able to hold it. Alas, they are as worthless as tits on a tomcat, as my late mother would say.

130 127 We put Trump in during '16 and '24, and got the GOP stonewalling his signature legislation along with the rest of his agenda, both times.

It's not the voters.

It's the GOP.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2026 11:43 AM (BI5O2)

========

Trump's signature issue for 2025 was immigration enforcement, and the DC GOP delivered the OBBB which tripled the budget for ICE and secured funding and appropriations for the agency through the end of 2028.

131 But Bass wouldn't use resources to protect the Palisades from fire.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 11:09 AM
=========================
Maybe in advance of the fire itself that is true, but I think she couldn't be bothered to help any community (not just the Palisades). She let Altadena and South Pasadena go too without much action. Mostly I had the impression she was aggravated she had to come back from Africa early. There were still martinis left undrunk there.

132 It's not the voters.

It's the GOP.
Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2026 11:43 AM

You say that like it's a Bad Thing.

133 126 After the 2010 Tea Party crushed Obama and the donks I contacted the Kalifornia and my county republican party. They never returned any of my many messages.

Posted by: Jukin the Deplorable and Totally Unserious at October 20, 2026 11:43 AM (xvV+O)

My Dad had that problem, so he went to the address that was supposed to be the GOP HQ there, and found...nobody home...
GOP was AWOL.

134 and against Booker? . Please note: it has to fit on one large white board and I would prefer that y house not be firebombed. Thanks.
Posted by: FenelonSpoke

Vote Out The Fag?

135 Posted by: Piper
=======
Most of GOTV is like an iceberg, you don't see it if you are a regular voter but to ideally it should be targeted at the voter that appears for the party in presidential elections but not in midterms. Or identifying new voters and making sure they get to the polls.

Your voting history as to what elections and even primaries and special elections are public record and a wise GOTV guru is going to ignore those that vote every election because those types know what they are voting for and it is a waste of resources to mobilize them etc. You might get a late call if you are such a supervoter and have not voted yet. But otherwise, you should get nothing.

Wasteful GOPe types spray fliers, etc. around to these super voters because they get commissions for it. Best to target those that might not vote but have voted GOP in the past like primaries, etc.

Suspect this is still true but all advertisements have diminishing marginal utility as a barrage of them tends to get tuned out and wasted to get a few votes. What is a killer is turning out your voters that vote less frequently. And you should be watching turnout figures in competitive races for that.

136 Been emailing links to AOS to many fellow conservatives for years. Get very few replies. Too busy doing stupid and pointless shit to bother reading anything.

I think we have to admit that AoS is a narrow subset of conservatism with its own unique "flavor" that just doesn't appeal to everyone.

137 Sure the collapse of the rule of law into comical arbitrary rule by unaccountable "courts" has played a role in CA's decline, but there really wasn't much push-back to it.

Collapse of morale over time has led to a situation where a good friend who was briefly involved in the state party said at the convention he attended the party gave an estimate of 30% voting participation by registered party members, in many counties.

And while desperation and common sense keep many voting, you also get things like this. The pretty solid guy running for governor against the loathsome, and stupid even by current Dem standards Becerra, in their one debate, said that we "needed to lower the temperature" on immigration.

That's it. Lower the temperature. Because, you know, both sides have become too emotional. It's not a situation where massive individual and social costs are being inflicted via lawlessness. Just a heated little spat or something.

The more attentive and informed a likely GOP voter is, the less likely they are to vote (select local issues excepted).

138 Sad comments about the NJ GOP. My son and daughter-in-law live there. They can't wait to retire and get the hell out of Dodge, where they won't pay tens of thousands of dollars a year in real estate tax on a pretty normal middle class house. I think they are thinking Tennessee or South Carolina, but they are open to other low-tax alternatives.

139 Vote Out The Fag?
Posted by: Short, Sweet! at October 20, 2026 11:45 AM

Homophobia is a tool of the white capitalist cispatriarchy!

140 "Immigration is the number 1 issue in America. If we don't fix it, we lose America. I am a single issue vote on immigration."
-like, 75% of the American right for decades

*Trump triples immigration enforcement and deports so many people in one year that our population as a whole actually declines.*

"Who gives a shit about immigration?"
-like, 75% of the American right for the last 1.5 years

141 Suspect this is still true but all advertisements have diminishing marginal utility as a barrage of them tends to get tuned out and wasted to get a few votes. What is a killer is turning out your voters that vote less frequently. And you should be watching turnout figures in competitive races for that.

Posted by: whig at October 20, 2026 11:46 AM (E4rtv)

I did canvassing one year (2016) in my neighborhood. It was enlightening. I found out my small neighborhood had about 10 folks listed as over 115 years old! Amazing! One person was registered under one name...no surname. Another, the registered person's "son" said they didn't live there any longer (in rest home). So many folks on that voter roll with info that was suspicious. BTW, almost all those over 115 were registered (D)...and my county has greater than a 100% registration rate too! Amazing! Math Defying!
But the State insists the rolls are fine!

142 Guys, the NY Times is owned and operated by the Mexican cartels. The first rule of being in NJ is get out of NJ. NJ is green meat sandwiched between Philiy and NY City.

143 I'm down in South Jersey, red-ish, rural Gloucester County. I see regular ads and texts from the incumbent Van Drew campaign, but nothing for any other GOP candidates at all.

144 I think we have to admit that AoS is a narrow subset of conservatism with its own unique "flavor" that just doesn't appeal to everyone.
Posted by: Oddbob at October 20, 2026 11:46 AM (vTZFs)

I've got a bunch of friends who lurk. Especially the Morning Report. It's their drudgereport now since that douche sold out.

145 The WaPo is out running interference for Democrats after DR started dropping her intel. Gonna get spicy.

>>@DataRepublican
This is how you know my recordings are real and they're scared. Washington Post already doing counter-messaging.

>>"A small group of U.S. national security officials has been discreetly advising state governments and congressional lawmakers on how to prepare for the possibility that the Trump administration will attempt to interfere in November’s midterm elections, according to people involved in the effort.

>>The group includes about 10 current and former officials with experience in the Defense Department, some of whom have previously focused on countering authoritarianism abroad."

146 136 Been emailing links to AOS to many fellow conservatives for years. Get very few replies. Too busy doing stupid and pointless shit to bother reading anything.

I think we have to admit that AoS is a narrow subset of conservatism with its own unique "flavor" that just doesn't appeal to everyone.

Posted by: Oddbob at October 20, 2026 11:46 AM (vTZFs)

Well, Hobo Pelt hunting can be considered niche...

147 Virginia, however, is/was supposed to be a red state- southern, conservative, etc. Given those advantages, the GOP in Virginia should have been able to hold it. Alas, they are as worthless as tits on a tomcat, as my late mother would say.
Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder
____________

I would guess that the population of NOVA donks has exploded during our lifetimes.

148 139 Vote Out The Fag?
Posted by: Short, Sweet! at October 20, 2026 11:45 AM

Homophobia is a tool of the white capitalist cispatriarchy!

Posted by: Kareny McKarenface at October 20, 2026 11:48 AM (0sNs1)

They've basically banned fags in the UK. I can hardly get a drag now.

149 Trump's signature issue for 2025 was immigration enforcement, and the DC GOP delivered the OBBB which tripled the budget for ICE and secured funding and appropriations for the agency through the end of 2028.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 11:45 AM (wn0/z)

Yes. A term's worth of funding. Yay. They blocked his wall when it counted, and was his signature legislation.

This time, the signature legislation, the one he and his administration went to the mattresses for, was SAVE. An even more important law, blocked by the GOP.

Virtually everything he did in both terms was phone-and-pen work - because he and his voters do not have the support of their other elected leaders.

If anyone wants to find someone to blame for flaccid Republican turnout in these midterms, they should look somewhere else besides the millions of people who crawled over broken glass to vote for him.

They are motivated. Just by far different things than the GOP is.

150
Let's see how the O-like Pennsylvania Governor does in the 2028 Presidential campaign.

You have worries and complaints now? Pftt.

151 142 Guys, the NY Times is owned and operated by the Mexican cartels. The first rule of being in NJ is get out of NJ. NJ is green meat sandwiched between Philiy and NY City.

Posted by: Pudinhead at October 20, 2026 11:49 AM (Wp1X1)

But...I was told it's the Garden State...

152 I am a registered Republican who has voted in every single general election of my adult life

Exactly the sort of person we *will* be keeping an eye on, and more, IYKWWMAWTYD.
Posted by: Susan Rice & Elissa Slotkin at October 20, 2026 11:38 AM (0sNs1)

Keep an eye on THIS. *grabs crotch*

153 Whose DA looks to be under federal indictment for obstruction of justice reasons in the near future.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 11:40 AM (wn0/z)
===========================
We had a poster here when Krasner was first elected who was a cop at the time, and very quickly educated us as to the PD view of the guy. Wyatt?

Anyway, he will be delighted if and when the obstruction indictment actually happens.

154 Don't know that NJ has ever been considered a Republican state, at least in my lifetime.
Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder

Remember when Christine Todd Whitman was the big thing?

And then the other big thing, Chris Chrstie?

Squishes, both of 'em.

155 129 Don't know that NJ has ever been considered a Republican state, at least in my lifetime. Virginia, however, is/was supposed to be a red state- southern, conservative, etc. Given those advantages, the GOP in Virginia should have been able to hold it. Alas, they are as worthless as tits on a tomcat, as my late mother would say.
Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder

Government workers are almost 80-90 percent Democrat because the Democrats want more spending, higher salaries, etc. for their constituents. Somewhat true of government contractors depending on their specialty. NoVA grew into a behemoth and became fabulously rich because of government spending and white out migration from DC and Maryland as they got blacker with higher crime.

It is not surprising with the surge in government spending from 2000-2016 that NoVA became bluer and bluer as well, a greater and greater share of the population of VA, and some of the wealthiest per capita counties in the US. And this is in direct contrast with the rest of the state but NoVA wags the Virginia dog so to speak.

And that VA GOP party was dominated by those profiting from the growth in NoVa, not the areas of the party base.

156 >>The group includes about 10 current and former officials with experience in the Defense Department, some of whom have previously focused on countering authoritarianism abroad."

Posted by: JackStraw at October 20, 2026 11:49 AM (viF8m)

Tell me there are Deep State actors without telling me there are Deep State actors...

157 Yes, there will be some debate, but the Republican Party of New Jersey might be the worst of a sordid and lazy list of pathetic state political organizations.

*waves from MA*

158 No it's obviously the voters. The voters can punish the GOP any time/way they choose. They put Trump in over the inertia and opposition of the GOPe and a large minority of other voters.

Yet Trump +Big districts today have some competitive House races. Why? "Oh people don't show up for mid-terms". The voters don't show up. They'll do the gauche and deplorable thing of putting the coarse Queens real estate guy in the WH, but not show up to try and make sure his policies they like are implemented.

The voters. Overall. The ossified unresponsive inertia of the 2-party "system" indeed is a huge obstacle. But the only corpse twitches we've seen as the nation slides down the hill were 2010 and the Trump elections.

2010 was an earthquake the GOP successfully, in effect, erased. Well if voters were serious, they'd keep at it until something changed.

159 Wyatt?

Anyway, he will be delighted if and when the obstruction indictment actually happens.
Posted by: Huck Follywood

Yep, Wyatt, I suspect he has retired now as he was close to doing that several years ago when he posted here.

160 152 I am a registered Republican who has voted in every single general election of my adult life

Exactly the sort of person we *will* be keeping an eye on, and more, IYKWWMAWTYD.
Posted by: Susan Rice & Elissa Slotkin at October 20, 2026 11:38 AM (0sNs1)

Keep an eye on THIS. *grabs crotch*

Posted by: Speedy Gonzales at October 20, 2026 11:52 AM (hmYU4)

Slow Poke Rodriguez might be better help for you.

161 Josh Shapiro is a little prick.

162 I think we have to admit that AoS is a narrow subset of conservatism with its own unique "flavor" that just doesn't appeal to everyone.
Posted by: Oddbob at October 20, 2026 11:46 AM

We do tend to be purer on the things that matter (Mary Ann, .45 ACP, trebuchets, no carrots in chili) than other conservatives.

163 149 Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2026 11:51 AM (BI5O2)

======

There are two elements to this:

First, immigration enforcement is still the major issue. And securing funding only for ICE through 2028 and leaving the rest of the federal government up for budget games is not small. You dismiss it as "only for one term" but the proper measure is "until the next budget crisis" which is always another few weeks away. That Thune got that done is...simply amazing. And everyone forgot it. In fact, as we can see now, people dismiss it as nothing.

Second, I can see how Thune got the horsetrading done to get the OBBB passed with that spending because it was a big spending bill.

But the SAVE Act isn't that. It's a targeted piece of legislation around policy. And then his majority of 53 includes Murkowski, Tillis, Cornyn, Cassidy, Mitch, and Ernst.

If those six refuse to vote for it no matter what (5/6 are retiring this year), what could Thune do to get them to vote for it?

164
Posted by: whig at October 20, 2026 11:53 AM (E4rtv)

Why unions of Gov't workers should be illegal...

165 After the 2010 Tea Party "...

True tale of woe - GOP song and dance at George Mason about then. Gonna show us local types the big guns the State GOP will roll out.
We're thinking this newish "social media" and ways to connect with local groups and voters.

We got... "check out the new targeted TV spots, print media, and...

(Google this. It was real)

Support for the Shad Planking! Yayyyy! Whoo hoo!

Buddy of mine who worked for Verizon said "there won't be a republican party here in 10 years".
He was right.

166 It's the voters that are the problem. As Trump's existence redundantly demonstrates, if the voters insist on something, they'll get it
-----

Tail wagging the dog--there is virtually ZERO GOP leadership other than Trump, and Trump can't even get the GOP house and senate to go along with his agenda. Stop blaming the voters--the voters are the ones that noticed that Trump was different than the squishes that nominally pass for Republicans.

167 I would guess that the population of NOVA donks has exploded during our lifetimes.
Posted by: Biff Pocoroba at October 20, 2026 11:50 AM (JzUSu)

Certainly that, but the population boom has been everywhere, following the freeways out from the belly of the beast. The Hampton Roads area, even with the immense DOD presence, now trends blue. They'll probably put that dour little phony Luria back in Congress. Anywhere the Democrats can drum up the Trump-hate, it seems to work for them.

168 The voters. Overall. The ossified unresponsive inertia of the 2-party "system" indeed is a huge obstacle. But the only corpse twitches we've seen as the nation slides down the hill were 2010 and the Trump elections.

2010 was an earthquake the GOP successfully, in effect, erased. Well if voters were serious, they'd keep at it until something changed.
Posted by: rhomboid
---------
Multiparty democracies are worse and I can prove that mathematically. PR is not a pathway to good policy and government accountability. You can take a look at what its done abroad and a classic example is the situation Belgium is in. Did not have an actual governing majority for decades because the Walloons and Flemish hate each other and the main parties are ethnically based.

Israeli coalition politics come to mind and the implosion of Germany is another example.

169 162 I think we have to admit that AoS is a narrow subset of conservatism with its own unique "flavor" that just doesn't appeal to everyone.
Posted by: Oddbob at October 20, 2026 11:46 AM

We do tend to be purer on the things that matter (Mary Ann, .45 ACP, trebuchets, no carrots in chili) than other conservatives.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at October 20, 2026 11:54 AM (0sNs1)

But how do you feel about long bows vs cross bows?

170 Don't even talk to me about New Jersey. I live in Broward County, Florida a solid Blue county in solid red Florida. I was a member of the Broward County Republican Executive Committee...until I wasn't. I quit in total disgust. Oh they talked a great game but when they had a chance to oust Moskowitz from the 23rd District when he was actually vulnerable, the really solid Republican candidate could have won with just a couple of thousand dollars infusion into the campaign. Nope, since it was perceived as too Blue to win the race, they refused to spend a dime. Moskowitz won of course. The money could have put our guy over the top. Hopefully with the DeSantis redistricting, we now are in the 22nd district and have a good shot of beating a pathetic Democrat and where there is no incumbent. The district spreads from Ft, Lauderdale all the way over to Naples so it looks like a solid red district that should overcome the Blues in Broward but never underestimate the GOPe's ability to screw it up.

171 154 Don't know that NJ has ever been considered a Republican state, at least in my lifetime.
Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder

Remember when Christine Todd Whitman was the big thing?

And then the other big thing, Chris Chrstie?

Squishes, both of 'em.
Posted by: Bulg at October 20, 2026 11:52 AM (77rzZ)
------------------------------------------------
Sure, they were squishes, but far better than any damn Democrat!

172 166 Tail wagging the dog--there is virtually ZERO GOP leadership other than Trump, and Trump can't even get the GOP house and senate to go along with his agenda. Stop blaming the voters--the voters are the ones that noticed that Trump was different than the squishes that nominally pass for Republicans.

Posted by: Crusader at October 20, 2026 11:56 AM (TN0g+)

=======

House passes a lot, actually. The House isn't the problem.

The problem is the Senate majority which includes Murkowski, Tillis, Cassidy, Cornyn, Mitch, and Ernst. 53 GOPers where 6 are outright against Trump in terms of policy for whatever reason, and 5 of those 6 are retiring this year and don't have to face the voters again.

173 Don't know that NJ has ever been considered a Republican state, at least in my lifetime.
Posted by: Ex Rex Reeder

Remember when Christine Todd Whitman was the big thing?

And then the other big thing, Chris Chrstie?

Squishes, both of 'em.
Posted by: Bulg at October 20, 2026 11:52 AM (77rzZ)
___

True, but both were way better than the Democrap hacks that followed. Ditto Pataki in NY being much better than Cuomo and now Hochul.

Neither NY or NJ will ever get a red-blooded MAGA assassin as gov. But

174 The problem is the Senate majority which includes Murkowski, Tillis, Cassidy, Cornyn, Mitch, and Ernst. 53 GOPers where 6 are outright against Trump in terms of policy for whatever reason, and 5 of those 6 are retiring this year and don't have to face the voters again.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 11:57 AM (wn0/z)

Money talks. No other reason is needed.

175 Tail wagging the dog--there is virtually ZERO GOP leadership other than Trump, and Trump can't even get the GOP house and senate to go along with his agenda. Stop blaming the voters--the voters are the ones that noticed that Trump was different than the squishes that nominally pass for Republicans.
Posted by: Crusader

Not really true. Johnson managed multiple bills through the House that went to die in the Senate. It is the Senate that is the remaining bastion of GOPeism and that will change quite a bit with the departure of those Mitch groomed and pampered.

But the filibuster has to go if there is to be any policy movement and that is the hardest thing for ANY president to get rid of. Even Biden and Obama could not do it.

176 Who's this Philip Buster you keep talking about?

177
174 The problem is the Senate majority which includes Murkowski, Tillis, Cassidy, Cornyn, Mitch, and Ernst. 53 GOPers where 6 are outright against Trump in terms of policy for whatever reason, and 5 of those 6 are retiring this year and don't have to face the voters again.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 11:57 AM (wn0/z)

Money talks. No other reason is needed.

Posted by: jim (in Kalifornia) at October 20, 2026 11:59 AM (l3cgK)

=

What could Thune do to them to convince them to vote?

He can't hold RSCC funds because they're not running.

There's a huge economic zone to hire anti-Trump Republicans of prominence in cushy, do nothing jobs that Thune nor Trump have any say in that will hire all of them once out of office.

178 And then the other big thing, Chris Chrstie?

He was big, alright.
Has he Ozempiced himself into a vaguely non-spherical human shape yet?

179 You got to look at it this way, Gov Corp is largely run by the Democrats, Republicans who want a job in Gov Corp need to generally adhere to what's going to get them a job in Gov Corp, and doing what your voters want is not going to get them in the good graces of the people that run Gov Corp.

180 Thx CBD.
NJ had Whitman and Christie as governor and Tom Jean as senator. RINOs to the core , but a Republican of that sort could win. But you're correct, NJ R's suck

181 178 And then the other big thing, Chris Chrstie?

He was big, alright.
Has he Ozempiced himself into a vaguely non-spherical human shape yet?

Posted by: it puts the lotion in the basket at October 20, 2026 12:01 PM (xEhzD)

Imagine a spherical politician...

182 Former DOD who have expertise in "countering authoritarianism abroad". What a farce. It is rarely the job of DOD to be involved in election integrity mechanics, if ever.

And of course there's not a single example where federal behavior could be more lawless or inappropriate than the farcical insecure elections in so many Dem states.

And everything would be done via the courts, where DOD dorks would have zero experience or expertise.

Just another head-shaking example of how dumbed-down beyond recognition the whole country is. Like "Russian collusion" or "hallmarks of Russian disinformation", this crap could only have purchase with an incredibly unworldly and ignorant public.

183 Why? "Oh people don't show up for mid-terms". The voters don't show up. They'll do the gauche and deplorable thing of putting the coarse Queens real estate guy in the WH, but not show up to try and make sure his policies they like are implemented.
-----

They put in Republican majorities for '17 and '25.

Those majorities adamantly and vociferously *refused* to implement those policies.

Your argument is predicated on something that doesn't exist - a MAGA Republican party that motivates Trump voters. The Republican Party is metaphysically useless, and so it doesn't.

184 Tillis has a job lined up at a university

185 Virginia, however, is/was supposed to be a red state-"

You mean the Virginia that voted in Doug Wilder?

186 There's a huge economic zone to hire anti-Trump Republicans of prominence in cushy, do nothing jobs that Thune nor Trump have any say in that will hire all of them once out of office.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 12:00 PM

Is it this extreme level of cynicism, particularly unusual in one so young, that's keeping you from the retrospective and definitive ranking of the films of the last American auteur?

187 WA state GOP is also useless.
Fucking cowardly surrender monkeys that give the French a run for their bitch-ass title.

188 184 Tillis has a job lined up at a university

Posted by: nckate at October 20, 2026 12:02 PM (enNUy)

=======

And he was a Democrat before he was elected to the House. He's always been a Chamber of Commerce stooge, at best.

189 To CBD's point, my NJ district is about to send an actual al Qaeda member to Congress, with little notice from the "news media". Adam Hamawy, a US Army veteran who served as a "combat doctor" in Gaza and testified as a character witness for the Blind Sheik during his trial for trying to blow the World Trade Center is going to replace the current machine representative in Washington, Bonnie Watson Coleman.

The GOP barely mounted even a token effort to run against this evil dude.

190 186 There's a huge economic zone to hire anti-Trump Republicans of prominence in cushy, do nothing jobs that Thune nor Trump have any say in that will hire all of them once out of office.
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 12:00 PM

Is it this extreme level of cynicism, particularly unusual in one so young, that's keeping you from the retrospective and definitive ranking of the films of the last American auteur?
Posted by: Duncanthrax at October 20, 2026 12:03 PM (0sNs1)

What do you mean? He just DID Bob Fosse!

191 182 Former DOD who have expertise in "countering authoritarianism abroad". What a farce. It is rarely the job of DOD to be involved in election integrity mechanics, if ever.
...
Just another head-shaking example of how dumbed-down beyond recognition the whole country is. Like "Russian collusion" or "hallmarks of Russian disinformation", this crap could only have purchase with an incredibly unworldly and ignorant public.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2026 12:01 PM (U/Byj)

Your definition of "countering authoritarianism" and their definition of it do not coincide...

192 Correction, Kean was also governor

193 US Army veteran"

Yeah, the "military" is right leaning?

That's funny.

194 186 Is it this extreme level of cynicism, particularly unusual in one so young, that's keeping you from the retrospective and definitive ranking of the films of the last American auteur?

Posted by: Duncanthrax at October 20, 2026 12:03 PM (0sNs1)

=======

The fortunate thing is that their replacements seem far less inclined to make shows of themselves or put themselves on the line.

Curtis in UT will say some mild stuff on CNN but has never once voted against a Trump priority. He's far down the totem pole in terms of seniority in the Senate, and he's part of a dying breed of Republicans who make their time between elections about how much they hate the base.

https://x.com/derzum_/status/
2058609208287789558

195 187 WA state GOP is also useless.
Fucking cowardly surrender monkeys that give the French a run for their bitch-ass title.

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at October 20, 2026 12:03 PM (s1VwS)

I'd say a pox on them, but the gays have that taken care of.

196 If those six refuse to vote for it no matter what (5/6 are retiring this year), what could Thune do to get them to vote for it?
Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 11:55 AM (wn0/z)

Beg. Borrow. Steal. Cajole. Threaten. Make good on threats. Call midnight votes, and vote it through on the Party line.

Put forth the effort Democrats would, or at least put forth half the effort they would to stop a populist from picking up a GOP Senate nomination, ferpetessakes.

197 162 I think we have to admit that AoS is a narrow subset of conservatism with its own unique "flavor" that just doesn't appeal to everyone.
Posted by: Oddbob

Many of the people that post politically including me are ideological--we have a mental framework of how the world works, have specific policy preferences, and have a cause and effect mechanism as to what causal factors are involved in something like Iran policy and what it should be.

Most voters have outcome preferences but vague ideas about policy needed to get to their outcome preferences. Eg. Education--should the GOP encourage vouchers? home schooling? charter schools? religious education? public schools?. Ideologues will have strong beliefs about how a policy will reach 'good' outcomes.

An average GOP voter has the outcome preference of wanting the best education of their kids that they can afford. Or if no kids, then the cheapest method in public property taxes that does not affect home values in suburbia, etc.

See this on gun policy. An ideologue wants no restrictions (or conversely total banning) while an average voter wants peace and security without running gun battles in the streets. Etc Etc

198 Voting is so easy for me. I am Conservative, I vote Conservative, which means not Democrat.

199 Is it this extreme level of cynicism, particularly unusual in one so young, that's keeping you from the retrospective and definitive ranking of the films of the last American auteur?"

Nah. He's watching Prometheus. Again.

200 196 Beg. Borrow. Steal. Cajole. Threaten. Make good on threats. Call midnight votes, and vote it through on the Party line.

Put forth the effort Democrats would, or at least put forth half the effort they would to stop a populist from picking up a GOP Senate nomination, ferpetessakes.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2026 12:06 PM (BI5O2)

=======

So, you demand failure theater.

And, no, that's not what Democrats do. How many show votes leadership knew it was going to lose did Schumer have over ending the filibuster in 2021?

201 off spherical political sock...

202 199 Is it this extreme level of cynicism, particularly unusual in one so young, that's keeping you from the retrospective and definitive ranking of the films of the last American auteur?"

Nah. He's watching Prometheus. Again.

Posted by: man at October 20, 2026 12:06 PM (pfXMo)

=======

You wouldn't even know what I'm watching now.

203 >>@MarioNawfal
·
3h
>>🚨🇺🇸 Trump and JD Vance will make an "ANNOUNCEMENT" from the Oval Office at 1:30 PM.

>>Any ideas what this will be about? 👀

204 198 Voting is so easy for me. I am Conservative, I vote Conservative, which means not Democrat.

Posted by: Case at October 20, 2026 12:06 PM (Dd7BU)

Welcome to the Jungle (Primary)...
Gets worse every day...
You want to vote Republican,
But only Dems, I'm sad to say...

205 203 >>@MarioNawfal
·
3h
>>🚨🇺🇸 Trump and JD Vance will make an "ANNOUNCEMENT" from the Oval Office at 1:30 PM.

>>Any ideas what this will be about? 👀

Posted by: JackStraw at October 20, 2026 12:09 PM (viF8m)

=======

They've both resigning and Hillary becomes president.

206 199 Is it this extreme level of cynicism, particularly unusual in one so young, that's keeping you from the retrospective and definitive ranking of the films of the last American auteur?"

Nah. He's watching Prometheus. Again.

Posted by: man at October 20, 2026 12:06 PM (pfXMo)

That's fire!

207 3h
>>🚨🇺🇸 Trump and JD Vance will make an "ANNOUNCEMENT" from the Oval Office at 1:30 PM.

>>Any ideas what this will be about? 👀
----

France?

208 Massachusetts GOP is apparently a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Democrat Party. Think Washington Generals.

209 3h
>>🚨🇺🇸 Trump and JD Vance will make an "ANNOUNCEMENT" from the Oval Office at 1:30 PM.

>>Any ideas what this will be about? 👀

Posted by: JackStraw at October 20, 2026 12:09 PM (viF8m)

=======

They've both resigning and Hillary becomes president.
-----

They should send Hillary an invitation.

And then completely, totally ignore her.

210 207 3h
>>🚨🇺🇸 Trump and JD Vance will make an "ANNOUNCEMENT" from the Oval Office at 1:30 PM.

>>Any ideas what this will be about? 👀
----

France?

Posted by: Crusader at October 20, 2026 12:10 PM (TN0g+)

Ilhan Omar's love child with her gay brother?

211 You wouldn't even know what I'm watching now"

"Chimes at Midnight"?

(Hey, it's a guess)

212 The war in Iran is over and Ukraine has surrendered. And all Indians are getting deported.

213 My error, in re. to NJ, I guess, but the fact that it doesn't occur to me that Whitman or Christie or the rest are Republicans maybe shows where we're at, as far as the GOP is concerned. What's the saying? Two wings of the same bird?

214 Massachusetts GOP is apparently a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Democrat Party. Think Washington Generals.
-----

The Washington Generals are a storied fantasy football franchise.

215 211 You wouldn't even know what I'm watching now"

"Chimes at Midnight"?

(Hey, it's a guess)

Posted by: man at October 20, 2026 12:12 PM (pfXMo)

I'm guessing not something with busty lesbians...that's more ACE's thing.

216 The GOP barely mounted even a token effort to run against this evil dude.
Posted by: Huck Follywood
=======
One is getting a candidate willing to run in a probably losing race. Democrats do that, GOP are strategic. Used to be hopeless races had a GOP lawyer, real estate, or some other type that could use a party nomination for advertising their services. That has become a lot trickier now as you have at least 30 percent, and more in blue districts, that if you do that now, you are viewed as the devil incarnate and would actually lose business. The left loves to cancel people via Yelp fake reviews, etc.

And you might even end up like the Charlotte GOP council candidate whose house got shot up and he had to move due to threats.

The Democrats have returned to their KKK roots in political violence for the cause which causes all but the most assured of running as a GOP candidate. And in a blue district, running as a milksop is about the only chance for an upset but then the base refuses to vote for you in such places. See Collins for example.

217 Any ideas what this will be about? 👀


15, 20 minutes?

218 211 You wouldn't even know what I'm watching now"

"Chimes at Midnight"?

(Hey, it's a guess)

Posted by: man at October 20, 2026 12:12 PM (pfXMo)

========

So mainstream.

219 You wouldn't even know what I'm watching now
-----

Its Point Break, isn't it?

220 Yes, there will be some debate, but the Republican Party of New Jersey might be the worst of a sordid and lazy list of pathetic state political organizations.

hahaha.

221 And you might even end up like the Charlotte GOP council candidate whose house got shot up and he had to move due to threats.

The Democrats have returned to their KKK roots in political violence for the cause which causes all but the most assured of running as a GOP candidate. And in a blue district, running as a milksop is about the only chance for an upset but then the base refuses to vote for you in such places. See Collins for example.

Posted by: whig at October 20, 2026 12:13 PM (E4rtv)

THIS. This is what I'm talking about!

222 214 Massachusetts GOP is apparently a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Democrat Party. Think Washington Generals.
-----

The Washington Generals are a storied fantasy football franchise.
___

The basketball team. As in Harlem Globetrotters.

223 219 You wouldn't even know what I'm watching now
-----

Its Point Break, isn't it?

Posted by: Crusader at October 20, 2026 12:14 PM (TN0g+)

"The Day the Earth Stood Still"?

224 I have observations, not arguments. If voters really want something, they'll vote for it more than once in a while. Against a clear lack of response from the incumbents, they'll replace them, etc.

Discouraged voters are understandable. GOP inertial uselessness is obviously a huge problem. But, apart from locations where the election system is farcically insecure, it's up to voters to keep bashing til they get what they want.

225 🚨🇺🇸 Trump and JD Vance will make an "ANNOUNCEMENT" from the Oval Office at 1:30 PM.

>>Any ideas what this will be about? 👀
----

France?
Posted by: Crusader


Underpants?

226 Nood.

227 224 I have observations, not arguments. If voters really want something, they'll vote for it more than once in a while. Against a clear lack of response from the incumbents, they'll replace them, etc.

Discouraged voters are understandable. GOP inertial uselessness is obviously a huge problem. But, apart from locations where the election system is farcically insecure, it's up to voters to keep bashing til they get what they want.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2026 12:16 PM (U/Byj)

=======

I think there's a misunderstanding of how long change takes to actually happen in America through the legislative process. We're kind of used to SCOTUS-level proclamations that shift major policy on a dime, but even those took years, often decades to reach that point.

The comparison I keep coming back to is the 1924 Immigration Act.

It didn't just come together as a thought in 1922 and then become law a couple of years later.

It was the product of lobbying and legislative efforts for 40 years, at least. The seeds of the immigration problems that necessitated it stemming back to the 1840s, nearly 80 years earlier.

228 Rapey Fwance is up. Nood.

229 My SCAWFUL sister (single childless AWFUL) , that canceled me years ago but still insists on sending hostile messages to my wife managed to fine away around the block I have set for her on email my attaching a hate message to some suggested anti-Trump newsletter. It is a direct window into the current left/woke/prog mind.

Hate does not really capture it. It is delusional insanity from stewing in all the anti-Trump derangement 24/7 and swallowing it whole, without question. It is a first hand reminder just how deranged the Dems have become. They must be defeated.

230 224 I have observations, not arguments. If voters really want something, they'll vote for it more than once in a while. Against a clear lack of response from the incumbents, they'll replace them, etc.

Discouraged voters are understandable. GOP inertial uselessness is obviously a huge problem. But, apart from locations where the election system is farcically insecure, it's up to voters to keep bashing til they get what they want.

Posted by: rhomboid at October 20, 2026 12:16 PM (U/Byj)

Sounds violent; If you're in a libbie state, expect a knock on your door, sir.

231 So, you demand failure theater.

-----

No. The feeble, desultory pretense of "trying" to pass the bill (while badmouthing it the whole time, of course) was the failure theater.

I wanted to see signature legislation passed by hook or crook - the Jarrett and Pelosi and Schumer way. Not 2021 Schumer. The Obama-era Schumer, when Democrats fundamentally transformed all this shit in the first place.

232 212 The war in Iran is over and Ukraine has surrendered. And all Indians are getting deported.
Posted by: nckate
======
Purity spirals tend to exist along with Motte and Bailey arguments online. Words are cheap as is posing and that goes as much on the right as left online.

I was a mod and prominent commenter on a 2A website when I was involved in 2A activism at the state and local level. Got burned out by the true believers that would wave the 2A wording around and claim anyone that did not agree to felons being able to buy machine guns after they left prison was a sell out. Similar true believers on local zoning and development issues I worked with. Some, my property is whatever I want to do with it types, some that wanted no development at all because they wanted the landowner to essentially provide the land for free for others to use.

233 >>Any ideas what this will be about? 👀
----

A. Renaming the Panama canal.
B. US back on the gold standard.
C. A new season of The Apprentice.

234 231 No. The feeble, desultory pretense of "trying" to pass the bill (while badmouthing it the whole time, of course) was the failure theater.

I wanted to see signature legislation passed by hook or crook - the Jarrett and Pelosi and Schumer way. Not 2021 Schumer. The Obama-era Schumer, when Democrats fundamentally transformed all this shit in the first place.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at October 20, 2026 12:19 PM (BI5O2)

========

"We will not vote for it no matter what. You have nothing you can do to us to convince us otherwise."
-Cornyn, Cassidy, Tillis, Mitch, Ernst, and Murkowski

235 NJ was a hopeless case when I left in 98. I see FB posts from people I know back there complaining about their government and I recall their political affiliation. Stupid is impossible to fix, and that goes double for the ones who can't be bothered to vote at all..

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Posted by: TheJamesMadison, precisely framed and deadpan with Wes Anderson at October 20, 2026 10:53 AM (wn0/z)

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Posted by: man at October 20, 2026 10:54 AM (pfXMo)

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Posted by: Rodrigo Borgia at October 20, 2026 10:56 AM (qlLNh)

Posted by: Quarter Twenty at October 20, 2026 10:56 AM (dF6f/)

Posted by: Sandy Cocazio Ortez at October 20, 2026 10:56 AM (ek+0M)

Posted by: whig at October 20, 2026 10:56 AM (E4rtv)

Posted by: Ian S. at October 20, 2026 10:57 AM (2ocoG)

Posted by: man at October 20, 2026 10:58 AM (pfXMo)

Posted by: Ian S. at October 20, 2026 10:58 AM (2ocoG)

Posted by: L - No nic... at October 20, 2026 10:58 AM (NFX2v)

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Posted by: The Ghost of Charlie the Hammer at October 20, 2026 10:59 AM (qlLNh)

Posted by: JackStraw at October 20, 2026 10:59 AM (viF8m)

Posted by: Auspex at October 20, 2026 11:00 AM (Y8DZL)

Posted by: Ian S. at October 20, 2026 11:00 AM (2ocoG)

Posted by: Martini Farmer at October 20, 2026 11:02 AM (RORbl)

Posted by: Nazdar at October 20, 2026 11:02 AM (NcvvS)

Posted by: whig at October 20, 2026 11:02 AM (E4rtv)

Posted by: man at October 20, 2026 11:02 AM (pfXMo)

Posted by: cmeat at October 20, 2026 11:03 AM (Bep7s)

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Up, Up, and Away! at October 20, 2026 11:03 AM (ndZc7)

Posted by: it puts the lotion in the basket at October 20, 2026 11:04 AM (xEhzD)

Posted by: Ian S. at October 20, 2026 11:07 AM (2ocoG)

The Morning Report — 10/20 /26

Good morning kids. Apologies in advance for continuing on from yesterday with thoughts about what's going on in France and by extension Europe and whatever remains of the West and civilization as it had been (or as we had intended it to be) since 1945. Nearly 600 years ago as the black plague ravaged most of Europe the great fire of London, which some historians suspect might have been set by foreign enemies of England has also been cited as a factor in stopping the plague.

In any case whatever parallels or similes to the current situation in Europe the fact remains that they and indeed WE TOO are on a knife edge of succumbing to a new dark age, one that is by our, that is by our fellow citizens in name only, making.

There are two ways of looking at the midterms, now less than three weeks away.

One is as a simple referendum on the issues and politicians of the day. The other involves a far deeper conflict of visions (as Thomas Sowell puts it): socialism versus capitalism, intrusive versus limited government, and the destruction of time-honored institutions and traditions versus their preservation and renewal.

Rarely in American history have the two parties been so far apart or the choice between them so stark. In brief, Islamist-sympathizing socialism is on the ballot against free-market capitalism and American exceptionalism.

The new Islamist-allied socialist Democrat Party is confident, largely because the party holding the White House has increased its share of House seats in a midterm election only three times since 1900. Each of those exceptions arose under unusual circumstances. . .

. . .Are they demonizing the majority of the American people in the manner of Zohran Mamdani’s housing czar, Cea Weaver, who declared that homeownership is “a weapon of white supremacy”? Or like Melat Kiros, who argues that “We were never really going to be able to tackle white supremacy in the way that we need to without reparations”? Could anyone imagine Republican or conservative candidates apologizing for terrorism in the manner of marquee Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who responded to a cowardly Islamist attack on a synagogue with “Hurt people do hurt people”? In short, treat this midterm election as the deep choice that it is.

That is just a taste, and a very bitter one (like bitter almonds IYKWIMAITYD) from our esteemed friend Prof. Victor Davis Hanson who goes into much more disturbing detail of just what's at stake two weeks from now.

And the equally eloquent and cromulent Glenn H Reynolds goes off on this harridan Elissa Slotkin.

Democrats speak with forked tongue.

On Sunday, former President Barack Obama denounced the Trump administration’s investigation of Rep. Ilhan Omar for immigration fraud as un-American. 

In America, we don’t go after our political opponents, he said.

This from the man who sent his Internal Revenue Service after Tea Party protesters, and whose running mate, after he became president, treated traditional Catholics, COVID-vaccine skeptics and parents who spoke out at school board meetings as potential terrorists.

Not to mention raiding Donald Trump’s home and sending FBI agents to rifle through Melania’s underwear. . .

. . . Biden’s team went after COVID-vaccine skeptics and critics of trans policy. 

Slotkin just wants to scare young people away from being conservatives.

The goal seems to be something like Britain — a society where disagreeing with the government on social media gets you a visit from police, and possibly a jail term, just for stating a contrary opinion.

As The Post’s Karol Markowitz put it, “They told me the US was heading toward fascism and they were right.”

Ironically, Slotkin is an alumna of the Central Intelligence Agency, where the motto “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth will make you free” is carved into the wall. 

It is a core American belief that you don’t learn the truth through censorship and intimidation. 

You learn the truth through free and open debate and competition in the marketplace of ideas.

One would think a CIA alumna would understand, and support, these American principles. Instead she’s talking like a thug.

Well this is the same CIA that somehow hired John Brennan, a Gus Hall-Angela Davis voting communist who not surprisingly became Obama's CIA chief and who no or shockingly few Republicans opposed (or am I misremembering?).

Reynolds continues...

But Slotkin represents the kind of thinking that is bringing America closer to civil disorder, if not outright civil war.

For over two centuries, America managed to engage in a peaceful transfer of power without the outgoing parties having to protect themselves against political prosecutions by the incoming party.

The other way is dangerous. . . the increasing politicization of the justice system and the creation of what were fundamentally political crimes and prosecutions. We warned this practice would destroy faith in both the political and the justice system.  Things have only gotten worse since. Sen. Slotkin’s speech amplifies the problem. Treating political opposition as a crime is wrong. It’s unAmerican. And it’s dangerous.  

Well, that's strong language, especially from someone I respect, but that brings me to someone that I'm not so confident in nor respectful of to say the least who had this to say...

Marsha Blackburn: The Radical Left Wants Tennessee. They’ll Have To Go Through Me.. .Socialism stops at the Tennessee line.

While Blackburn yammers on about voting, the question was and is at what point will voting simply not matter? whether the Democrats do as they've always done by stealing elections or as we see in France and as we saw here in 2020 as well as several other times in our recent past riot and burn cities to the ground, on top of outright assassinating their political enemies?

When what Slotkin and her ilk are hot and horny for fails, then violence is their only option?

And so, Marsha Blackburn and all of us the question is "How many divisions do they and more crucially WE have?!

I'd like to end on a more humorous note as commenter Spamf Roming noted my reference to the classic movie "Casablanca" was totally wrong:

Bogey didn't kiss Elsa at the station. She sent a note and stood him up. He didn't kiss her at the airport, but sent her off with her husband.

Considering I must've seen the flick at least a couple dozen or more times and studied it as a screenwriter, that is an embarrassing error. My only defense is I must've been channeling something else that riffed off of that scene.

On that note I bid you all to, despite the above and all the rest of the news,have a good day.

And please vote early and often!!!

ABOVE THE FOLD, BREAKING, NOTEWORTHY
• Victor Davis Hanson: The midterms are a fundamental choice over America’s economic future, national identity, immigration, energy, and Western civilization.
  The Deep Midterms
  
• If Alberta votes Oct. 19 to leave Canada, Washington should be waiting with open arms for the resource-rich province and its conservatives.
  Instead of Making Canada The 51st State, Just Take Alberta

CIVIL WAR 2.0, LEFTIST PERSECUTIONS, DEMOCRAT PUTSCH, AMERICAN DISSOLUTION
• This is about people who want to destroy the West. 
  America Is Watching Its Own Future Unfold

• Glenn Reynolds:In a book I coauthored with Peter W. Morgan in 1997, we wrote about the increasing politicization of the justice system and the creation of what were fundamentally political crimes and prosecutions.  We warned this practice would destroy faith in both the political and the justice system.  Things have only gotten worse since. Sen. Slotkin’s speech amplifies the problem. Treating political opposition as a crime is wrong. It’s unAmerican. And it’s dangerous. 
  Elissa Slotkin’s threats to prosecute conservatives moves America closer to civil war (which side has the most guns and probably the entire military on its side? -jjs)
  
• As Slotkin herself said, her plans for ‘victory’ are focused on dealing out ‘retribution’ to Republicans. Americans should take her warning very seriously.
  The Democrat Party Platform Is Throwing Conservatives In Prison And Slotkin Just Said It Out Loud
  
• If Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune doesn’t at least censure Sen. Elissa Slotkin, he supports unconstitutional abuses of power. It’s that simple.
  If Thune Doesn’t Censure Slotkin, He Supports Nuking All GOP Staffers
  
• The Article III Project is releasing daily digital ads warning American voters of the ‘Red-Green Alliance’ of Marxists and Islamists.
  The Unholy Marriage Between Marxists And Islamists Is ‘The Most Dangerous Partnership’ In U.S. Politics
  
• A deranged leftist on TikTok advises people on how to "unalive" Tesla and SpaceX Founder Elon Musk but walks it back, saying it's all a "joke." You're not fooling anyone, dude!
  Deranged Leftist Wants Elon Musk Dead, Calls It A 'Joke'
  
• From Lenin and Stalin to today’s radical left, the history of communism reveals a recurring pattern of false promises, political repression, and revolutionary violence.
  Marxists, Deception, And Violence

  "DEMOCRAT/LEFTIST/GLOBALIST BORDER BLOODBATH," AMNESTY, IMMIGRATION, BORDER SECURITY

• “Make it known to ICE that it is not authorized to use your garages and lots,” the radical mayor says in his letter.
  NY Mayor Mamdani Demands Parking Lot Owners Ban ICE Agents
  
• The prospects of Democrat ruination are readily apparent. The early ballots, blue and red, are already being cast. The question is whether enough GOP voters treat the stakes as real.<
  Democrats Want To Wreck America With Third-World Immigration/a>
  
• Homeland Security chief Markwayne Mullin will soon review a plan to expand worksite inspections, White House border czar Tom Homan said Sunday. (Proseuctions/Fines with extreme prejudice!!! - jjs)
  Tom Homan Pushes DHS to Pressure Employers Who Hire Illegals

  THE IRAN CONFLICT, MOU/"PEACE DEAL" (aftermath??)

• Iranian leaders have long danced around their true intentions with their nuclear program after former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa against developing atomic weapons in 2005. Since then, officials have maintained that any atomic enrichment happening inside Iran was for domestic nuclear energy development and not for bombs, despite doubt from nuclear watchdog groups — as well as American and Israeli leaders.
  Iran pols finally admit they want nuclear weapons: ‘It’s a necessity more important than bread’

  ISRAEL vs IRAN & GAZA/HAMAS, HEZBOLLAH . . . AND LEFTISTS. . . The U.N... AND HISTORY

• Her allegations revive questions about extremism in "Palestinian" classrooms and the UNRWA agency's responsibility to protect children from indoctrination.
  Gaza teacher says she was threatened for opposing hatred of Jews in classroom
  * * * * *

• ICE arrested Khalil, who is a green card holder from Syria of "Palestinian" descent, in March 2025.
  Mahmoud Khalil Asks The Supreme Court For A Lifeline

  WE-ALL-SLAM-FOR-I-SLAM

• First Mayor Mamdani, next Senator El-Sayed?
  The Muslim March to Power
  
• Some parents first raised concerns about the camp’s display of Israeli flags last spring. CAIR-CT now wants the district to stop using the site altogether.
  CAIR-CT Demands Greenwich Schools Bar Jewish Camp Visit Over Israeli Flags; Trip to Go Ahead

  DOMESTIC AFFAIRS, THE COURTS, WASTE/FRAUD/ABUSE

• The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index (HMI), released October 19, showed builder confidence in the market for newly built single-family homes declined three points to 29 in October, down from 32 in September.
  Exclusive — HUD Secretary Scott Turner Defends Trump’s Housing Reforms: ‘America Cannot Regulate Its Way to Affordability’
  
• The U.S. Supreme Court added to its 2026 docket on Monday two high-profile cases. . .
  SCOTUS Takes Up Cases On Race and School Admissions, Federal At-Home Distilling Ban

  FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUES, CENSORSHIP, FAKE NEWS, MEDIA, BIG BROTHER TECH

• Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has offered a detailed explanation and a fresh apology after the Instagram account of the No Kings movement was suspended for several hours during nationwide rallies for suspicious behavior driven by AI usage.
  Instagram Suspends ‘No Kings’ Account for Suspicious Activity, Leftists Led by Bernie Sanders Suddenly Care About Censorship
  
• Fifth Circuit rules the FCC illegally created a private company to administer its $9 billion telecom subsidy fund without congressional approval.
  Fifth Circuit Strikes Down FCC’s $9 Billion Telecom Fund
  
• In an apparent attempt at a CNN impression. . .
  BBC Claims French Riots Were ‘Mostly Peaceful’ While Showing Country on Fire
  
• There’s little doubt that this globalist serial liar decided to leave CNN knowing that she now works for David Ellison, the Skydance CEO who successfully merged his company with Warner Bros., which owns the basement-rated CNN. Ellison put Bari Weiss in charge of CBS News, and one area where Weiss is actually good is how Israel is covered. Weiss is Jewish and a defender of the Jewish state. Amanpour’s seething hatred for Israel isn’t something she bothers to disguise.
  Disgraced, Far-Left Christiane Amanpour Leaving CNN in June
  
• Don’t expect the CNN stars to ask any awkward questions. Qatar is subsidizing CNN’s new Doha bureau and is a major sponsor of the moneymaking conference.
  CNN Is Caught Quietly Deleting Sycophantic Language About Hamas-Loving Qatar Ahead of Network’s For-Profit ‘Global Forum’ With Wolf Blitzer, Christiane Amanpour

• Tarlov clearly sees herself as the open-minded voice at the table. The reality is far less flattering. She has become a useful prop for an antisemite whose election she is helping to secure, and she's perfectly happy to set aside his hostility toward Jews to help the Democrat Party. That's where Gad Saad comes in.
  Ouch! Gad Saad Destroys Jessica Tarlov, and It's Brutal

  THE ECONOMY, STUPID

• Donald Trump ran on a promise to end job-killing regulation, and now is the moment when we’re within sight of the fulfilment of that promise.<
  The New Bill That Might Be Trump 2.0’s Biggest Accomplishment/a>
  
• By 2023, government transfer payments to the lowest income quintile totaled roughly 70 percent of their average cash income.
  It’s Not Billionaires Robbing The Middle Class, It’s Welfare Recipients
  
• Does public money create private value? The best evidence says yes.
  Put the Taxpayer on the Cap Table

  SHAMPEACHMENTS, 2016 CLINTON/OBAMA COUP, CONGRESSIONAL PERSECUTION, SPYGATE, DEEP STATE, MUELLER DECEPTION

• It is time to prosecute. (meh execute- jjs)
  With MAGA Enemies List, Jack Smith Trashes The Constitution Once Again

  CRIME & PUNISHMENT, NON-DOSTOYEVSKY

• Giving murderers a pass isn’t compassion, it’s cruelty.
  The Death Penalty Upholds the Value of Human Life
  
• Faisal is also charged in the fatal crash that killed the mother of a former Trump Middle East adviser
  Man Charged With Killing Former Trump Adviser’s Mother Arraigned On Hate-Crime Charges

  EDUCATION, AND WHAT PASSES FOR IT

• The federal government has intensified efforts to curb rampant sexual abuse of students in the nation’s schools and to end the despicable practice of “passing the trash.”
  Pedophilia Proliferates in U.S. Schools
  
• “despite trying to follow the university’s procedures, members of YAF say administrators restricted the event without providing a clear explanation”
  Embry-Riddle Aeronautical U. Trying to Block Col. Allen West From Speaking on Campus

  THE 2020 AND OTHER ELECTION HEISTS & AFTERMATH

• The effort, “Operation Protect the Vote,” focused on foreign nationals accused of fraudulently registering to vote in U.S. elections. Some of those arrested are also accused of already casting ballots in an election.
  Federal Officials Arrest Over Two Dozen Connected with Illegal Voting in California
  
• “This is not political or controversial. 18 U.S.C. § 611 [voting by aliens] makes it a federal offense for noncitizens to vote in a federal election. We will not allow California to dilute the votes of American citizens,” posted First Assistant United States Attorney for the Central District of California Bill Essayli.
  Trump is Trying to Stop States from Counting Suspected Noncitizen Ballots. Can He Do It?

  DEMOCRAT/LEFTIST SCANDALS, MESHUGAS, CHUTZPOCRISY, INSANITY

• As if we needed more evidence that this man is a plant.
  Report: Left-Wing Donors Bankroll ‘Decoy Dan’ Sullivan in Alaska Senate Race
  
• The Indiana Democrat candidate admitted on Monday that she downed “three beers” before slurring through a viral, trainwreck interview — in which she pledged to fire all…
  'I was nervous!' Indiana Dem reveals how many beers she downed before trainwreck interview
  * * * * *

• The sprawling criminal probe is seeking in part to prove Omar allegedly married her brother in 2009 to try to help him get a green card.
  Family matters Feds have DNA evidence that could prove Ilhan Omar wed her brother, committed immigration fraud: sources

  POLITICS

• Several pivotal races remain close enough that turnout, late shifts among undecided voters, or a modest polling miss could determine which party holds the majority.
  The Battle for the Senate Comes Down to These Eight Races
  
• President Donald Trump’s Monday evening rally outside of Wichita, Kansas, saw thousands of attendees lined outside the arena and “every seat filled” as he continues to barnstorm the country ahead of the November midterm elections.
  Trump’s Kansas Crowd ‘Blew the Roof Off the Arena’
  
• El-Sayed couldn’t hide his own skepticism as he was trying to explain to the Bostonians why Flint residents care about their city
  'They’re Like, "Why?"' El-Sayed Asked Why Anyone Would Want To Live in Flint, Michigan, in Appearance Before White Boston University Audience
  
• Democrats, such as Michigan's Sen. Elise Slotkin and Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed keep reminding us who they are. And voters are believing them.
  IBD/TIPP poll shows a narrowing midterm race: The trend is our friend
  
• There is not one position in the DSA platform that has not been embraced by local Democrat candidates for federal, state, and local office.
  PETROGRAD 2026
  
• Despite Dem poll lead, Republicans hope to boost GOP turnout to pull an election upset. (unless the polls are total shit and the GOP is really leading? -jjs)
  Dems Hold Slim Lead Over GOP In Midterm Vote, But Can They Keep It? I&I/TIPP Poll
  
• Democrats pour $4.3 million into Kathy Hochul’s reelection campaign as Republican Bruce Blakeman challenges her on taxes, energy costs, and crime.
  Democrats Pour $4.3M Into Kathy Hochul Reelection Fight
  
• 'Nonpartisan law enforcement professional' takes on political hack Letitia James
  Saritha Surge Could Be Surprise in New York
  
• Socialism stops at the Tennessee line.
  arsha Blackburn: The Radical Left Wants Tennessee. They’ll Have To Go Through Me.

  FOREIGN AFFAIRS, INTERNATIONAL

• Communist and socialist groups are organizing a coordinated strike across Europe on November 20.
  REVEALED: 54 communist, socialist and Muslim organizations are backing French riots
  
• They're telling us that the riots are "mostly peaceful."
  The Riots In France Aren’t What You Think
  * * * * *

• Putin knows that the original Yalta was a triumph for Joseph Stalin, who persuaded an ailing President Franklin Roosevelt to open the door to postwar Soviet domination of Eastern Europe. Look: Yalta One was a meeting of allies — this new one would be Trump volunteering to be outnumbered by our determined foes.
  Trump going for ‘Yalta 2’ with Putin and Xi would blow up the Republican Party
  
• The dispute exposes a growing contradiction at the heart of the European project, with many asking how the free movement of people within the bloc can survive if single states can grant access to hundreds of thousands of foreigners all on their own.
  Europe Is Splitting in Two Over Mass Migration.
  
• The images, published by North Korean state media on Monday, show a seemingly animated Kim examining children’s footwear.
  Shop till you drop Kim Jong Un ‘proof of life’ photos released by North Korea after wild rumors dictator died from brain hemorrhage

  HEALTH AND HEALTH CARE

• The obstacle is often the enormous cost of the final clinical trials needed to win approval. Researchers call this funding gap the biotech “valley of death.” Yet, President Donald Trump could make a difference by providing federal funding to help promising treatments through the valley and across the finish line.
  The missing piece of the puzzle holding up a key Alzheimer’s drug

  ACTUAL SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY

• “Two new reports from WWF-Mexico and its partners found that colonies covered 7.24 acres of forest in the 2025-2026 season. That’s an increase of 4.42 acres compared to last season.”
  Monarch Butterfly Populations Rebound as U.S. Honeybee Colony Counts Rise
  
• If all goes as planned, it will orbit Mars from 2027 to 2030, studying the Martian moon Phobos in detail. It will then grab about ten grams of material from Phobos, shift its focus to the second moon Deimos for about a year. It will then return the Phobos samples to Earth in 2031.
  Japan launches MMX sample return mission to the Martian moon Phobos
  
• No details, but the promise is astounding.
  Musk: “Next year, I will give one of my SpaceX shares to every kid in America”

  FEMINAZISM, TRANSGENDER PSYCHOSIS, HOMOSEXUALIZATION, WAR ON MASCULINITY/NORMALCY

• Our culture has spent decades denigrating basic truths about sexual morality. Is it any wonder we don’t produce many gentlemen or ladies? 
  Feminists Ask Men To Sleep With Them, Leave Them Alone, And Save Them From Themselves

  CULTURE WARS, NATIONAL SUICIDE

• The actress and wannabe expat then fantasized about leftists having to “welcome” fleeing Trump supporters back to “the reality of the United States.”
  Rosie O’Donnell Spews Another Conspiracy-Soaked Screed About Midterm Elections Being Rigged (Sensing Dems will get their ass kicked hard? - jjs)
  
• Christian Toto: Former big-screen comedy king stood silent during woke madness
  Judd Apatow (Almost) Struck a Blow Against Cancel Culture
  
• Under Secretary Lonnie Bunch, the museums have drastically fewer visitors, especially the National Museum of American History.
  The Smithsonian’s Dwindling Attendance

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