Last Day of September Forum
Steven L. Taylor
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Tuesday, September 30, 2025
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34 comments
About Steven L. Taylor
Steven L. Taylor is a Professor Emeritus of Political Science and former College of Arts and Sciences Dean. His main areas of expertise include parties, elections, and the institutional design of democracies. His most recent book is the co-authored
A Different Democracy: American Government in a 31-Country Perspective. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Texas and his BA from the University of California, Irvine. He has been blogging since 2003 (originally at the now defunct Poliblog).
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That’s it!
Which one of you bastards has a voodoo doll of me?
Please stop sticking pins into it, causing annoying shit to happen in my life.
For one thing, whoever you are, get more sleep. These occurrences take place at all hours.
No calamities . . . Yet. But I fear one on the horizon if whichever of you doesn’t stop.
😉
Utterly trivial post.
My wife and I have watched Project Runway for the last 20 years. We just finished Season 21 and decided to go back in time to watch Season 1. Some observations.
The first season was a little rough and it was apparent that the hosts, crew, and producers were working things out to produce the show. A little too much emphasis on conflict and not enough on the production of fashion. That got much better as the years went on. And there was competition among the models also. They got rid of that in later years.
The hosts the first season were Michael Kors, Nina Garcia, and Heidi Klum. They were there today in Season 21. I swear they must have portraits in the attic. Not much change there.
Tim Gunn had all the preliminary attributes of the lovable Tim Gunn he grew into.
Heidi the first season was much more German. She warmed up over time.
The models in Year 1 were all extraordinarily thin. By Season 21, they had all kinds of models with different builds and shapes and sizes. And both sexes.
Somewhat shocking to us were the first season models that were under 18 years. Almost sexualization of children. Rather uncomfortable. A lot has changed in 20 years. And OBTW, the runway show had Harvey Weinstein in the front row. I’ll leave it at that.
On the Where are they Now front, some of the first year contestants had careers in fashion or costume design, etc. Others went on to other things with varying degrees of success.
That’s my morning input that doesn’t involve politics or Trump.
The 800 or so Generals and Flag Officers meet today at Marine Base Quantico in Virginia. Trump decided to attend. Not that they read this blog but if they did I want to remind them that they recited this Oath of Office:
Mitt Romney called the Biden White House, and urged them to issue a pre-emptive pardon to Trump.
I posted something here about whether Biden should do that. I do not remember much about it, like, what exactly I had in mind. I suspect I threw it out there as a matter of politics, optics, and playing the long game. Emphasis on the phrase “threw it out there” as in as a thought process.
I seem to recall that it may have received the correct pushback. But regardless, it was little more than a fleeting entertainment. I also don’t think I thought it was a good idea even as I typed it.
The follow-up question should have had nothing to do with how the Biden administration responded. Rather it should have been a question about whether that hypothetical pardon would mark a severe erosion of the rule of law.
As codified in the Constitution, the pardon power, in practice, if not intrinsically, is in tension with the RoL.
Off the top of my head, I can think of two scenarios in which the issuance of pardons would not represent a violation, or would represent a minor one, of the RoL:
1.) unjust law/prosecutions that violate the spirit of a just law or the philosophical foundations of the Constitution;
2.) wrongful convictions that the judicial system cannot rectify because the appeal process has concluded or that the courts refuse to rectify out of deference to the sanctity of the jury.
The problem I have is less about Romney floating the idea to the White House, or even that he thinks it was the best course of action.
Really, it is that he does not appear to even mention that pardoning an occupant of high office for significant crimes is the worst kind of violation of RoL. Especially if the crimes intend to subvert democracy itself.
Maddening from an alleged small government type. As government actions should be held to the absolute highest standard of accountability.
Got the Halloween decorations out this past weekend. Nick Drake on the record player, Elliot Smith and early Tom Waits on deck. Pumpkin bread in the oven.
Let’s do this, Autumn.
My wife likes to say ‘The leaves start to drop and my husband turns into the most basic of bitches.”
In my PR work, occasionally there will be a client who will suggest something without thinking through how it might look. Usually, all it takes is repeating back the idea/thought/proposal once for them to realize, “oh, that wouldn’t look good.”
I am wondering just how tone deaf Senate Republicans have to be to move forward with this:
Republicans to Play Pickleball While Nation Grinds to a Halt
I know someone is going to say that they just DNGAF, but this is more than that…this is actively CHOOSING to go to a five-star resort while people are furloughed.
@Scott: The problem being that as they see it, they ARE upholding their oath. They truly see anyone non-MAGA as the enemy.
@Jen: The failure (refusal?) to think it through is the coin of the realm in Trump World. Breaching hundreds of contracts, adding thousands of people to the rolls of the unemployed, and basically withdrawing from the world economically -via tariffs and dropping foreign aid – all have far reaching consequences. Trump thinks he is putting the screws to “shit hole countries” when he killed USAID, but he forgets (or more likely didn’t know) that he was also putting the screws to the American farmers who grow the wheat and other grains that are part of foreign aid. He thinks he is putting the screws to other countries with his (illegal) tariffs, but he is putting the screws to the American importers who, contrary to his endless, ignorant BS about *who* pays tariffs, have been writing checks to the Treasury that have put many small businesses on the brink of bankruptcy. Trump lives in the moment and doesn’t give a flying fig about anything other than money, and anyone other than himself.
@Kurtz: Romney worrying about the bad ju-ju of prosecuting a gop president reminds me of Reagan and the Iran-Contra conspiracy he participated in.
I got a copy of the Congressional report and summary when it was released in November of 1987. I remember it was unbound and flimsy.
In the end, Nancy Pelosi said that Reagan was not put through an impeachment trial “ for the good of the country”.
So Nixon and Reagan both tried to illegally influence elections and got away with it and Clinton got impeached for being a lech.
Makes perfect sense if you don’t think about it.
When good has letting criminals go scoot free ever done any good for this country? Seems to me like it actually does harm, presidents aren’t scared enough of being held accountable.
Other countries sems to be OK with prosecuting criminal leaders.
This Hegseth/Trump sideshow is somehow very, very sinister and very cringe at the same time.
First article I read on DoD Generals Meeting. Presented without comment.
At gathering of top generals, Hegseth outlines anti-‘woke’ vision for the ‘Department of War’
@Scott: I checked NYT, their latest has the meeting still going on with Trump speaking. They describe it as his standard rant with the odd defense reference. They quote,
No indication when the meeting will end. Apparently so far a pointless meeting, which is the best we could hope for.
@Scott: Basically he’s outlining his vision for a military that is exclusively white, male, and Christian. That’s where all this is headed.
If that is what Hegseth is actually saying, then his words are totally vapid without any meaning to his audience. He may as well be just another vaguely informed pundit on TikTok. Which, of course, he was. Other than his minor exposure in the military, he really doesn’t know what DoD does in total. It is run on 95% brains, 5% brawn.
BTW, it was 95% brains, 5 % brawn 45 years ago when I joined the AF. They didn’t care then if I looked studly and I’m pretty sure they don’t care now.
@Scott:
Yikes. Said to an audience of generals and admirals.
@gVOR10: OMG, the man is truly ignorant and clueless. Reagan brought 4 Iowa class battleships out of storage in the 80s, spent a ton refurbishing them. They were decommissioned in 1992. They were obsolete, ineffective, and expensive.
A 12 ounce can of ground Chockful O’Nuts coffee is 18.00 on Amazon.
My store brand coffee is up 50%.
Starbucks had a good run, I guess.
@Rick DeMent:
Right. This part of the quote stands out in that regard:
This was the first reason. Prosecuting political enemies as a dangerous path was the second reason he gave. Though I suspect that Romney didn’t intend for his list to be hierarchical.
He seems to think giving into tantrums is good for the country. As if giving into a tantrum will mean there won’t be any anger—even though a good portion of his own co-partisans intentionally provoke that anger.
He also seems to think that that would have stopped Trump from doing what he is doing now. Trump gonna Trump.
Just to be clear: I don’t think Biden should have pardoned Trump.
But the point of my post is ultimately about the poor quality of discourse and debate. The problem is that he isn’t doing analysis. He’s just giving an opinion as if an opinion is an opinion and cannot be subject to facts.
To your point: @becca points out Pelosi’s stance on Iran-Contra. We can also go back to Ford and Nixon. And, well, Proclamation 179 . . . Pardon and amnesty for — checks notes — treason. And not treason as Ann Coulter political smear, but, ya know, actual, naked treason.
But I digress. Apparently, and six out of nine Justices agree, “when you’re President, they let you do it.”
We will be seeing more and more of this in MAGA America…
https://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/listeria-outbreak-from-recalled-frozen-meals-sold-trader-joes-walmart-leaves-4-dead-19-hospital
C.D.C. is no longer monitoring some pathogens in the food supply thanks to MrT.
The billionaires can afford food tasters, so it’s all good.
@Jen:
I saw that. I am sure that I am not the only whose first thought was:
What about fat Commanders-in-Chief?
It is one thing for Normal Rockwell to paint a self-portrait of a self-portrait of a self-portrait. It’s another for Trump to actually see only the fantasy when he gazes in a mirror. And yet another for hardcore MAGA to see it irl.
@gVOR10:
@Scott:
Remember the Iowa.
I think the last use of battleships was somewhere in the Middle East to shell positions on land (maybe in Lebanon, maybe in the Gulf).
How about Model T command cars? maybe Sherman tanks, or better yet, Grant & Lee tanks, And M1 carbines, naturally. And the air force can recommission the Flying Fortress.
Hand over fist, pulling in “stacks”…
Tiny hands get a big boost from the Power Of The Office, compliments of taxpayers.
Texas Senatorial candidate James Talarico spells out our situation in no uncertain terms:
@Scott:
On that note, Tangerine Chicken:
1 cup tangerine juice
tangerine zest
soy sauce (didn’t measure it)
grated ginger
garlic powder
1 bell pepper cut in wide strips
soybean sprouts
A bunch of green onions thus: separate the white part and keep them whole, slice the light green part of the stalk, discard the rest or reserve for garnish.
I boneless, skinless chicken breast cut into bite size pieces.
Peanut butter.
Mix 3/4 cup of juice with soy sauce, grated ginger, garlic powder, and tangerine zest. Marinade the chicken in that for at least 30 minutes.
Stir fry the vegetables. While this goes on, transfer the the chicken pieces to an air fryer and reserve the marinade. Cook the chicken. When the vegetables are soft enough (to your taste), add the marinade, the rest of the tangerine juice, black pepper, and peanut butter. Mix well, bring to a boil, then lower the heat to minimum and simmer to reduce to your liking (the common measure is: once it coats the back of a spoon). Taste and add more garlic powder or soy sauce if it needs it. At some point during the reduction, add the cooked chicken pieces.
I suppose the chicken can be cooked along with the stir fry. The air fryer browns it a little. I recommend removing the crisper plate and lining the bottom with parchment paper (what I did) or aluminum foil. It makes cleaning up a snap.
I also made coconut rice by cooking one cup of rice in coconut milk. This serves as a bed to serve the chicken on.
Disney reportedly lost 1.7 million paid subscribers in the week after suspending Kimmel (Endgaget)
If accurate, would definitely explain things.
@DK: And it appears to have been a mostly grassroots thing, with little if any formal organizing.
Honestly, makes me a teeny, tiny bit hopeful. There are lines that, when crossed, a significant number of Americans will learn about it, and act on it.
Not very hopeful, but a teeny, tiny bit.
Also, when Americans as a whole do finally turn on Trump and MAGA, it’s likely to be triggered by the stupidest thing imaginable. I’m hoping it’s this year’s White House Christmas decorations.
I don’t think an AI construct is an actor, nor should be called that.
Nothing to see here folks
I sent this to a friend, and he responded:
@Beth:
I suppose El Taco has a full load to launder.
@becca: A lot of the food safety in the US is reactive — identify outbreaks, track the offending products, issue recalls. I’m glad to see this recall because it means that portion of the system is still working.
I’ve been a little nervous because I haven’t seen a lettuce recall lately. There have been periods recently (under Biden, I would point out) where they were a very regular occurrence — I don’t know, maybe lettuce is just grown in shit and sprayed with listeria as a pesticide* — and no lettuce recall just made wonder if they weren’t monitoring anything. I kind of just figured people were getting ill and no one cared.
And the Boar’s Head fiasco. Ugh. That did not make me feel good about any part of the system.
——
*: maybe if enough rabbits die of food poisoning, they will evolve to stop eating crops?
@Gustopher: We have a hard time getting any kind of “variety” of lettuce here, all that’s at our local store is iceberg heads and bagged lettuce mixes. I prefer butter lettuce, so I tried growing some. The amount of bugs that shit attracts is substantial. AND….every time it rains, if it rains hard, the raindrops throw dirt splashes onto it. Nothing turns you off a salad more than dirt grains and bugs. 😉
@Gustopher:
@Jax:
I’ve never much cared for lettuce, or for salads in general. There was an Italian restaurant we went to often in the 70s and 80s, and I’d always order a Caesar salad there (I wouldn’t now, they use raw egg in the dressing).
Curious note, all my dogs liked it. If you offered them a piece of raw, bare lettuce, they’d inhale it like they would most other food.
Oh, BTW, it’s a shutdown. Tomorrow we should get a sense of whom the people blame for it. Regardless, I expect a massacre of federal jobs soon.
@Jax: “Nothing turns you off a salad more than dirt grains and bugs. ”
Except for kale.