Wednesday’s Forum
Steven L. Taylor
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Wednesday, September 10, 2025
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43 comments
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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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BlueSky.
Yesterday there was a special election in Virginia to fill the seat held by Democrat Gerry Connolly until his death earlier this year. Democrat James Walkinshaw, a county supervisor and Connolly protégé, was favored, but nobody predicted the total blowout that happened. Walkinshaw defeated Republican Stewart Whitson 75%-25%, a major overperformance even in a heavily Democratic district.
I know, don’t read too much into a special election, but wow, that’s a pretty big margin of victory.
Even though these goobers* voted for this, it’s still heartbreaking for these guys and scary economic indications for the rest of us.
https://www.ualrpublicradio.org/local-regional-news/2025-09-09/arkansas-farmers-worry-as-agriculture-crisis-looms
We have friends there. Tensions are high.
* condescending, I know. Sue me.
@becca: This makes me so, so angry. The nice Black lady, who campaigned on improving crop insurance was called a socialist, and so they VOTED FOR THE GUY WHO IS DOING THIS TO THEM, and now they want a bailout (which, you know, is government money, so…socialism).
I vacillate between being extremely concerned that our agricultural foundation is about to collapse, leaving these farmers with nothing and losing their farms–all of which is heartbreaking–and shrugging, thinking “well, FAFO.” There’s a country song by Jo Dee Messina titled “My give a damn’s busted” that runs through my brain on repeat lately.
@becca: I’m not opposed to helping them. We are a wealthy people, a wealthy nation. We can help people.
I do wish I felt like they would do the same for me.
Well, this was unexpected. It’s a long rant on an Israel-friendly channel, of a man identified as Saudi, basically crapping all over Palestinians, denying that they are even Arab, saying he’d house and feed a Jew before a Palestinian.
I had not realized there was something very like racism in at least some Saudi views of Palestinians. (The Jewish host of the channel broke in to defend Palestinians’ right to call themselves Arabs). I suspect @JohnSF or @Andy might have been aware of this phenomenon. I knew that the Arab world as refusing to allow Palestinians to emigrate (or flee), I had observed the indifference of the Arab street and Arab governments. But saying Palestinians are not an Arab people, or a people at all, but basically mongrels – Turks, Armenians, Gypsies, even Mongols. (Mongols?)
@Jay L. Gischer:
I’m for helping them if each morsel of aid is clearly, loudly, repeatedly identified as coming from Democrats. But if Trump gets the credit for saving these idiots, then no.
These are people who voted for a rapist, voted for a fraud, voted for a vile pig of a man, because they wanted him to hurt people. They wanted to see liberals hurt. They wanted to see immigrants hurt. They wanted to see trans people hurt. And now they’re whining because they’re also getting hurt? Shitty people with shitty values, (if I may plagiarize one of our own).
Let them lose their farms. For the damage these people have done to this country they deserve it.
Any guesses or speculation about the Russian incursion in Poland?
For now, what makes a bit of sense to me, is Mad Vlad is testing how involved and/or interested El Taco will be about the matter.
@Kathy:
Yep, that’s exactly it. It’s a show of utter contempt for a US president they think they can control. And apparently they can.
These bikers are getting a grand a day courtesy the US Treasury…
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm2zy4l8jgeo
A racist anti-Islam biker gang on the trump payroll, working security at aid distribution in Gaza.
Only the worst, only the dregs, answer his call.
@Michael Reynolds: I understand your feelings. I share quite a few of them.
AND, if they lose their farms, what is likely to happen is that some billionaire scoops them up. I don’t really think that’s better.
@becca: You could ask the Rolling Stones how things work out when biker gangs are charged with maintaining security…
@Kathy: I think they are both testing NATO’s responses and sending a threatening message. Putin’s self curate image subsists on threats. NATO might be able to allow a few more of these incursions with just warnings, but too many, they will have to make a direct response. Russia is in no position to take on NATO at this time —- by itself.
Ok, I have a basic factual question. Did the BBB “legitimize” Trump’s impoundments and dissolution of USAID and VoA? Did they eliminate funding for these entities in the BBB? or is that work yet to be done?
Yeah, but can he blow rockets up?
Poor chief nazi is now only second best.
BTW: “Ellison, 81, also has other sources of wealth, including … an island in Hawaii, according to Bloomberg.”
Seriously, it’s well past time for a massive wealth tax.
@Michael Reynolds:
1) Israeli biased channel
2) Commenter “identified” as Saudi
3) Expressing extremely dehumanizing , delegitimizing statements about Palestinians and their identity as Arabs.
Why should this be worthy of anyone’s consideration at this horrific moment in time? How does this one-up (or twenty-up) add anything to our understanding?
Jordan has provided sanctuary to Palestinians for 70 years. Palestinians diaspora populate much of the Middle East.
Complements of Google:
@Kathy: Possibly incidental. They’ve been sending clouds of the things and with the probably shoddy, rushed construction and a slew of jamming there will probably be some off course. Belarus says the plinked a few over them too.
Since there have been no reports of any of the things hitting within Belarus and Poland (except for the ones they shot down), There is a greater chance Russia intentionally routed them over Poland and Belarus to dodge Ukrainian detection and AA.
@Michael Reynolds:
@Rob1:
The problem is testing reactions is a prelude to some kind of action. IMO, mad Vlad wants to have control over all former Soviet republics. He invaded Georgia to bring it back in line with his desires. He did the same in Ukraine once the Ukrainian electorate made it clear they did not want little Vlads running their government.
So what is he preparing to do?
One thing might be to intercept arms shipments in NATO countries. Another might be outright attacks on the Baltics to pressure them for something.
I can fully see El Taco not honoring Article V if either happens, because he’d believe Vlad when he says “they started it!” But I can’t see all NATO countries staying out.
@becca:
The Gaza Humanitarian Foundation is tainted. The ex-Marine who first put it together resigned in just a few months, citing it was impossible to conduct the op -as desired by the funders- within the context of humanitarian care. They handed it to an Evangelical wackadoodle.
Charlie Kirk has been shot in Utah. Tots and prayers.
@becca:
Exactly right.
They voted for this, they didn’t think ‘owning the Libs’ would have collateral damage.
All schadenfreude aside, before we authorize a single dollar of subsidization assistance, I’d require them to show up for a dinner at Susan Collin’s place where she could tell them that she’s ‘very concerned’ and hopes that assistance can be restored.
@Kathy: Unlikely Putin wants a direct confrontation with NATO, as Rob pointed out Russia is in no condition to handle that, so there’s no apparent reason for Putin to “test” it. More likely it’s merely a tactic to get drones on target in Ukraine.
Perhaps a hoped-for side effect: Everything Poland retains to shoot down drones to prevent incursions of their airspace might be something that otherwise would’ve been given to Ukraine.
@Jax: The assassination attempts of the 1960s were a lot more effective than they are now. Is that just because of better trauma care?
Anyway, if you stir up hate don’t be surprised when it comes back at you. And we have a lot of guns. Shrug.
(Also, “so much for the tolerant left” or something)
@becca: Well, how do the goobers want to pay for this bailout? If it’s by taking funding from ICE and repealing some of the tax cuts to the wealthy in the Big Beautiful Boondoggle, I could go for that.
@Kathy: given the number of drones, it’s either very deliberate or very stupid (messed up GPS).
I expect very deliberate, and NATO should respond with beefed up air defenses, and dangle the face saving “very stupid” possibilities to make sure Russia has an exit path (they can blame Iran who designed the drones or something)
@Jax:
Kirk has died.
@CSK:
I’m heartbroken about this.
Really.
Mike Johnson:
I’d like to review with Mike Johnson these “core principles” of which he speaks, and discuss his thinking around “who we are not.”
Because his team has poured so much “heat” into our national relationship, and made guns such a fetishized cultural totem, and are a poster child for placing retribution above conciliatory dialogue.
I’d say this is precisely who we are, who we have become. Thanks for nothing Mike Johnson.
@dazedandconfused:
@Gustopher:
I know, “never ascribe to malice that which can easily be explained by stupidity,” or words to that effect. I may have this wrong, but I understand there were several incursion over many hours. That seems deliberate.
Now that passes the Spock test: it makes logical sense. Drones are cheap, after all.
Also from The Guardian:
Cue up flags at half mast and a posthumous Medal of Freedom.
Charlie Kirk, after Uvalde:
https://x.com/charliekirk11/status/1531077928007610368
I’m really devastated by this and having a hard time coping. Might have to have a drink to calm my nerves.
@EddieInCA: Fact Check: Charlie Kirk once said some gun deaths ‘worth it’ in order to have Second Amendment (Snopes)
Charlie Kirk shooting witnesses describe lax security measures at event (NBC News)
Kirk said this in response to Tennessee’s 2023 Convenant School Shooting, where three kids + three educators were murdered.
Assuming Kirk’s own shooting death is yet another politically motivated attack, we’re gonna lose track of these shootings soon. Everyone in or ajacent to politics should request or hire beefed up security, if they hadn’t already after the Minnesota assassinations. (Even if said request upsets the L.A. police union.)
Will Trump be deploying the Department of War to Utah, or is that still only for blue state cities with black mayors?
@Rob1:
That was an odd response.
You quote my own caveats back at me as accusations, then ask –
– when I said clearly I found it interesting that this particular animus was a thing. I find lots of things interesting, Rob, it’s my nature. I’m terribly sorry if that is not interesting to you, but I took it for what it was, a detail of dubious weight but which, by virtue of the specifics of the guy’s framing, suggested this was not an entirely isolated POV.
And this horrific moment? If you mean the Gaza war that’s been on for a year, now. Or is it the Trump regime, which sadly is not a moment, but a marathon?
I mean, I imagine you’re upset because you think this little squib doesn’t quite fit the black-and-white, anti-Israeli line you prefer, but I don’t believe you actually get to decide for everyone here wether a story is interesting or not.
@DK: That was easy for Kirk to say because he did not think he would be one of those sacrificed on the altar of the Second Amendment. He believed his privilege would protect him. Unfortunately for him, he found out he was wrong in the worst way possible.
3 in critical condition after shooting at Denver-area high school (The Hill)
Another banner day for the USA and its 2nd Amendment. And for those who voted to empower a rightwing Supreme Court to rewrite the same — inventing a near-unrestricted individual right for almost anyone to access about any firearm they want, whenever and wherever. Which is not what the words say, neither the intent, but what the Federalist Society’s corporate gun lobby donors want.
@DK:
School shootings have been normalized to the point where algorithms often don’t even populate feeds with them. Sad fact. The Catholic school shooting a few weeks ago didn’t populate my newsfeed until the next day. Having your kids shot at at school is just the price one pays these days for being an American.
@EddieInCA: Much like you, I shall seek out coping mechanisms in a nice, stiff cocktail, and possibly a chocolate cake. I happen to have a nice Devil’s Food Cake mix in my pantry that I save for just such occasions.
@Jax:
May I suggest mimosas?
@becca: Mega farms gonna vacuum up even more mom and pop farms cause of Trump.
Trump will end up giving them a massive hand out later in the year…
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk Encourages Audience to Post Bail for Paul Pelosi’s Attacker: ‘Why Is He Still in Jail?’ (Video, The Wrap)
In contrast to Mr. Kirk’s gross insensitivity towards political violence victim Paul Pelosi, I hope Kirk’s killer is swiftly apprehended and receives no leniency for his horrid act.
@Michael Reynolds:
A one-up extremely dehumanizing assault on the very personhood of Palestinian people by a random, unverified source on an Israeli biased channel, isn’t so much interesting as it is disturbing for the lack of context —- other than that you post fairly vociferous genocide denial and appear to dismiss any Arab sense of brotherhood for the Palestinians and their plight.
@Rob1:
So, let’s recap. I posted the caveats. Right? The very ones you cite? At no time did I claim anything more for this than it was mildly interesting. I am actually interested in why things happen. For example, I have been surprised by the lack of reaction from what used to be called the Arab Street. I’ve also been surprised by the studied indifference of Muslim majority governments.
Have you not been surprised? Did you assume going in that the Arab world would twiddle its thumbs? Did you know in advance that Egypt would lock Palestinians out? That literally no Arab country is willing to accept even one Gaza refugee? Because if you saw all that, congratulations, that would be some first class prophecy, you should claim credit. But as cynical as I am, I was surprised by the depth of their cynicism, and wondered how governments in Riyadh and Aman and Cairo could get away with it.
You don’t think maybe some basically racist views of Palestinians exist among Arabs? You were not taken aback by the notion that Palestinians are Mongols? You don’t wonder if those theories are being deliberately promoted by Arab governments to justify their inactivity?
I made an open request for those who know the ground there better than I do – @JohnSF and @Andy – to offer their perspectives. See, I’m actually interested in why things are as they are.
@Rob1:
Here, for further reading on the subject, is a long interview with Ambassador Ryan Crocker, who served basically everywhere in the ME, for Obama, Trump and Biden.
Crocker is responding to various questions, including the question of why no Arab government will accept Gaza refugees.
@Michael Reynolds:
Following the down rabbit holes of Crocker’s references (War of Camps, Black September, etc.) one finds that the tenor of his characterization of Arab sentiment is not so black and white as he presents, but rather grey, further muddled by Israeli machinations as well as those of various Arab leaders having person aspirations that do/did not necessarily match those of their countrymen.
But in contrast, there are many millions of Palestinians peacefully coexisting in Arab communties throughout the Arab world. And that comports with my youthful experience living, traveling, studying (and briefly working) throughout a number of those countries, including caught in one of the harrowing violent erruptions that have defined the area and era. The rank and file Arab is often more likely to empathize with Palestinians than not. Their loathing of Israelis is more likely than not. (Look at our own society’s internal regional intolerances)
Crocker’s CV is certainly impressive. But his own curation of details is colored with bias. He states that the outcome of the 1967 War ended Arab hopes for a military victory over Israel. But six years later came the Yom Kippur war, which was less decisive than the prior Six Day War. Crocker’s legacy hangs on his role as our “pointman” in the that region while representing America’s longtime pro-Israel bias. How else could he comport his recollection except through those filters.
I think the Arab world is understandably exhausted with the conflict, the spasmodic violent eruptions, the resulting regional instabilities, impacts, disruptions, and a sense of helplessness for any resolve. As we all likely should be.