Stacey Plaskett has come under scrutiny for text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a February 27, 2019 congressional hearing that led to a recent failed effort to censure her, the connection between the representative from the Virgin Islands and the disgraced financier and child trafficker dates back to 2012 when she first ran for office.
As always, your post is rooted in common sense and decency.
I don’t know how Jeffries’ constituents feel about him, and I obviously can’t know what’s in his heart, but it’s the SECRECY that seems like political stupidity. It doesn’t rank up there with running for POTUS telling everybody how bitchin’ the economy is in 2024, but it seems stupid enough. I’m concentrating on letting my reps know that I won’t support pols who want to go back to the “normal” decades when things got shittier for working people more slowly under dems, but got shittier anyway.
One would like to think that to possibly save his own ass that Jared is going State's witness to give up Rump and all the other sycophants who are shit heels in the regime but there is no way he has a benevolent bone in his body. It was stupid for Jeffries to do the meeting.
“You wouldn’t be saying this about a white man” just sounds to me a lot like “we had better only elect white men because otherwise don’t you dare criticize our special leader”.
This is worse because Jeffries had the meeting before the midterms—it sent the message that “we can work with Trump” which means “Trump wants to do good things for the country just like we do” which is delusional and counteracts the message of “Trump is a fascist criminal who will kill us all if we don’t stop him.” Based on this, Jeffries is just completely incapable of leading in this era.
Ideally, Democrats would find a plausible alternative for Speaker, but my guess is they won’t. So the next best thing to do is burn this guy so badly that he will avoid doing anything like this going forward (though honestly if in 2026 he still thinks there’s any value in meeting with this administration then he may not be capable of learning).
Jeffries is up for election this fall as are all House Representatives. Democratic *voters* do have the power to get rid of him. He can—indeed—be punished for meeting with Kushner. Remember that Democrats are accountable for the things they do and say, and we are not helpless in this. Are people not going to promote a challenger or at least whomever is the opponent?
This is pretty short notice to try and primary him, as much as I'd like to see his ass gone.
I'm also skeptical about the chances. Dude has all the money and power of the party at his disposal to crush any challengers. Add to that the inevitable Dems in disarray bulshit that'll get pushed and I don't see it happening unfortunately.
I mean, it could if people try. After all, movements like “Abandon Harris” had enough effect. It is always possible to turf a Dem out, especially if there’s sustained, unending condemnation from the rank and file. That was how we were able to shove Joe Biden on the ice floe easily. People can also do things like a write-in campaign.
I'm not going to lie, I'm rapidly losing faith in the idea that voting is going to fix things. We're rapidly approaching the point where Republicans can just ignore votes altogether and remain in power anyway. If we haven't already crossed that line.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to vote, but when the leaders of the party that's supposedly fighting against the Nazis takeover of the country are more interested in finding common ground in shady back room deals, its hard to believe that anything is going to get any better without a full on civil war.
In very related news, if Canada decides that it wants to take Minnesota off of Trump's hands I'd gladly start learning French.
“Maybe they met at the same ‘empty suit academy”. See that’s the crux, and a beautiful turn of phrase too. If Jeffries stood for anything - anything at all - this would be less concerning. If we could say ‘yeah but at least he’d never backtrack on Medicaid for all’ we’d feel better about meeting the weasel. But Jeffries - he stands for the donor class, the status quo, the normie approach that fails time and time again.
There might not be the votes, for AOC but surely there has to be someone better than this for speaker. Someone who doesn’t walk into every trap set before him? Hell even if we DEI’d it and limited it to minority ethnic men I can think of at least five suits containing warm bodies. What about Ted Lieu? He seems to be on what Evan Hurst calls ‘team fight’. What about Ro Khana who managed to be both bi-partisan and to score the biggest hit inflicted on Trump at the same time. What about the Gen Z genius Maxwell Frost? What about Bennie Thompson who shepherded a wimpy AG into indicting Trump. What about André Carson who rocks a toothbrush moustache?
Jared had that meeting for one reason and one reason only - to leak it to the press afterwards and damage Jeffries. The fact he walked into it again makes me think he just loves gifs with Mariachi music.
I generally do not like and certainly do not trust never Trumpers, but sometimes something about them gives them a moral clarity that lifelong democrats lack. Maybe it’s the guilt. Maybe it’s because democrats are always being accused of being preachy so we modulate. Anyway this is Rick “from our sponsors” Wilson doing a rare ad free 30 min where he lays it out as only a never Trumper could.
Thanks for this. I keep thinking back to Chuck Schumer fawning over Jeffries breaking the filibuster record (which, as I recall, was not going to make a tickey's worth of difference over the actual issue). These two. ALL about putting a spotlight on political theater that makes no difference, but then running off to secret meetings where things that will be bad for the country actually happen. Kushner probably offering some kind of incentive to ensure the Democrats pull a repeat Pelosi circa the GWB admin and put it all "in the rearview mirror."
My (not) favorite Jeffries defense was someone patronizingly sneering at me that there always has to be compromise in politics and that Jeffries has to meet with the opposition because it's his job. Then they capped it off by telling me to suck it up. 🙄
Mamdani had already won his election when he met with trump in a publicized meeting, no secrecy about it. There are pictures and videos of the event. Jeffries met Kushner in a secret meeting, that was leaked to the press, and no doubt you are right that Kushner is the one who leaked it, and it accomplished just what he intended - it makes Jeffries look weak.
Over at Wonkette, some of the commenters speculate that the "mutual friend" is AIPAC.
As much as I'd love for AOC to become Speaker, you are right that she doesn't have the votes. However, I'm sick of Dems in leadership positions being weak, or looking weak even if they are not, and failing to read the room. Jeffries is a disappointment.
This whole thing made my blood boil. Jared hasn't been elected to shit, yet Jeffries thinks it's a good idea to meet with him? The same asshole who couldn't be bothered to endorse the Democratic nominee for NYC Mayor? It's a big club, but we ain't in it. And maybe it's just nerves, but the closer we get to the midterms, the less sure I am about some big blue wave. I hope it will come but with the apathy and the cheating, not to mention the apathy about the cheating, I just don't know what's going to happen. After 2016, nothing is really predictable. But neither Jeffries nor Schumer should be in leadership positions in 2027, no matter what happens.
I'm in the same boat. I'm expecting a blue ripple and maybe a few surprises here and there, but I think the house and Senate are going to stay firmly Republican.
Then we'll hear "this was progressive's fault" until the end of fucking time.
Yup. Them and all the consultants, who will be able to make millions off of “I told you so”-ing about progressives while dragging the party even further to the right.
Once again, Stephen has perfectly stated my feelings about both Kushner, who is a rapacious scumbag without an ounce of conscience, and about Jeffries, who doesn't seem to understand that he should be leading the fight against this administration and not cutting deals. Jeffries should know by now that his position as speaker will not be helped by ignoring the Dems who have been the leading edge of the Democratic party, and their supporters.
I mean…he's got pretty good reason to believe that he can hang onto power. He's got the money and the influence and already acts like controlled opposition. Why change what works?
Oh really?
Ya that meeting with Hakeem and Kushner was likely much different than reported.
EFTA00796209, ETFA02468187, EFTA01612382 Epstein files.
Stacey Plaskett has come under scrutiny for text message exchanges with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a February 27, 2019 congressional hearing that led to a recent failed effort to censure her, the connection between the representative from the Virgin Islands and the disgraced financier and child trafficker dates back to 2012 when she first ran for office.
As always, your post is rooted in common sense and decency.
I don’t know how Jeffries’ constituents feel about him, and I obviously can’t know what’s in his heart, but it’s the SECRECY that seems like political stupidity. It doesn’t rank up there with running for POTUS telling everybody how bitchin’ the economy is in 2024, but it seems stupid enough. I’m concentrating on letting my reps know that I won’t support pols who want to go back to the “normal” decades when things got shittier for working people more slowly under dems, but got shittier anyway.
One would like to think that to possibly save his own ass that Jared is going State's witness to give up Rump and all the other sycophants who are shit heels in the regime but there is no way he has a benevolent bone in his body. It was stupid for Jeffries to do the meeting.
Kushner is dead inside. Jeffries aspires to be.
The 2027 Dem House agenda should be investigations of corrupt fascists like Kushner, not “working with him.”
“You wouldn’t be saying this about a white man” just sounds to me a lot like “we had better only elect white men because otherwise don’t you dare criticize our special leader”.
This is worse because Jeffries had the meeting before the midterms—it sent the message that “we can work with Trump” which means “Trump wants to do good things for the country just like we do” which is delusional and counteracts the message of “Trump is a fascist criminal who will kill us all if we don’t stop him.” Based on this, Jeffries is just completely incapable of leading in this era.
Ideally, Democrats would find a plausible alternative for Speaker, but my guess is they won’t. So the next best thing to do is burn this guy so badly that he will avoid doing anything like this going forward (though honestly if in 2026 he still thinks there’s any value in meeting with this administration then he may not be capable of learning).
Jeffries is up for election this fall as are all House Representatives. Democratic *voters* do have the power to get rid of him. He can—indeed—be punished for meeting with Kushner. Remember that Democrats are accountable for the things they do and say, and we are not helpless in this. Are people not going to promote a challenger or at least whomever is the opponent?
No
This is pretty short notice to try and primary him, as much as I'd like to see his ass gone.
I'm also skeptical about the chances. Dude has all the money and power of the party at his disposal to crush any challengers. Add to that the inevitable Dems in disarray bulshit that'll get pushed and I don't see it happening unfortunately.
I mean, it could if people try. After all, movements like “Abandon Harris” had enough effect. It is always possible to turf a Dem out, especially if there’s sustained, unending condemnation from the rank and file. That was how we were able to shove Joe Biden on the ice floe easily. People can also do things like a write-in campaign.
I'm not going to lie, I'm rapidly losing faith in the idea that voting is going to fix things. We're rapidly approaching the point where Republicans can just ignore votes altogether and remain in power anyway. If we haven't already crossed that line.
Well we have to at least try, because they know it's powerful...that's why they work so hard to prevent doing it.
If there is no other remedy then we'll all have to do what needs must.
Don't get me wrong, I'm still going to vote, but when the leaders of the party that's supposedly fighting against the Nazis takeover of the country are more interested in finding common ground in shady back room deals, its hard to believe that anything is going to get any better without a full on civil war.
In very related news, if Canada decides that it wants to take Minnesota off of Trump's hands I'd gladly start learning French.
“Maybe they met at the same ‘empty suit academy”. See that’s the crux, and a beautiful turn of phrase too. If Jeffries stood for anything - anything at all - this would be less concerning. If we could say ‘yeah but at least he’d never backtrack on Medicaid for all’ we’d feel better about meeting the weasel. But Jeffries - he stands for the donor class, the status quo, the normie approach that fails time and time again.
There might not be the votes, for AOC but surely there has to be someone better than this for speaker. Someone who doesn’t walk into every trap set before him? Hell even if we DEI’d it and limited it to minority ethnic men I can think of at least five suits containing warm bodies. What about Ted Lieu? He seems to be on what Evan Hurst calls ‘team fight’. What about Ro Khana who managed to be both bi-partisan and to score the biggest hit inflicted on Trump at the same time. What about the Gen Z genius Maxwell Frost? What about Bennie Thompson who shepherded a wimpy AG into indicting Trump. What about André Carson who rocks a toothbrush moustache?
Jared had that meeting for one reason and one reason only - to leak it to the press afterwards and damage Jeffries. The fact he walked into it again makes me think he just loves gifs with Mariachi music.
I generally do not like and certainly do not trust never Trumpers, but sometimes something about them gives them a moral clarity that lifelong democrats lack. Maybe it’s the guilt. Maybe it’s because democrats are always being accused of being preachy so we modulate. Anyway this is Rick “from our sponsors” Wilson doing a rare ad free 30 min where he lays it out as only a never Trumper could.
https://therickwilson.substack.com/p/dont-negotiate-with-evil-hakeem-jeffries
Thanks for this. I keep thinking back to Chuck Schumer fawning over Jeffries breaking the filibuster record (which, as I recall, was not going to make a tickey's worth of difference over the actual issue). These two. ALL about putting a spotlight on political theater that makes no difference, but then running off to secret meetings where things that will be bad for the country actually happen. Kushner probably offering some kind of incentive to ensure the Democrats pull a repeat Pelosi circa the GWB admin and put it all "in the rearview mirror."
My (not) favorite Jeffries defense was someone patronizingly sneering at me that there always has to be compromise in politics and that Jeffries has to meet with the opposition because it's his job. Then they capped it off by telling me to suck it up. 🙄
Neville Chamberlain 2.0
or
The Vichy Dems Prepare to Surrender
Mamdani had already won his election when he met with trump in a publicized meeting, no secrecy about it. There are pictures and videos of the event. Jeffries met Kushner in a secret meeting, that was leaked to the press, and no doubt you are right that Kushner is the one who leaked it, and it accomplished just what he intended - it makes Jeffries look weak.
Over at Wonkette, some of the commenters speculate that the "mutual friend" is AIPAC.
As much as I'd love for AOC to become Speaker, you are right that she doesn't have the votes. However, I'm sick of Dems in leadership positions being weak, or looking weak even if they are not, and failing to read the room. Jeffries is a disappointment.
I like the idea of Jamie Raskin becoming speaker. AOC clearly has her eyes on higher office.
Raskin as a speaker is a great idea.
If you aren't betraying the Democrats, Hakeem, why meet in secret with the fascists?
This whole thing made my blood boil. Jared hasn't been elected to shit, yet Jeffries thinks it's a good idea to meet with him? The same asshole who couldn't be bothered to endorse the Democratic nominee for NYC Mayor? It's a big club, but we ain't in it. And maybe it's just nerves, but the closer we get to the midterms, the less sure I am about some big blue wave. I hope it will come but with the apathy and the cheating, not to mention the apathy about the cheating, I just don't know what's going to happen. After 2016, nothing is really predictable. But neither Jeffries nor Schumer should be in leadership positions in 2027, no matter what happens.
I'm in the same boat. I'm expecting a blue ripple and maybe a few surprises here and there, but I think the house and Senate are going to stay firmly Republican.
Then we'll hear "this was progressive's fault" until the end of fucking time.
That's what the centers are hoping for
Yup. Them and all the consultants, who will be able to make millions off of “I told you so”-ing about progressives while dragging the party even further to the right.
Perfect fucking headline.
Once again, Stephen has perfectly stated my feelings about both Kushner, who is a rapacious scumbag without an ounce of conscience, and about Jeffries, who doesn't seem to understand that he should be leading the fight against this administration and not cutting deals. Jeffries should know by now that his position as speaker will not be helped by ignoring the Dems who have been the leading edge of the Democratic party, and their supporters.
I mean…he's got pretty good reason to believe that he can hang onto power. He's got the money and the influence and already acts like controlled opposition. Why change what works?