Tuesday Night Snarky Puppy Alumni Jam: Bill Laurance, “Ready Wednesday”

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“Ready Wednesday” from Bill Laurance’s latest CD/DVD “Union Chapel”.

Get “Union Chapel” on iTunes : smarturl.it

Get “Union Chapel” on Amazon (Physically available in Europe on 25/11): smarturl.it

Bill Laurance: Piano, Roli Seaboard and Fender Rhodes
Michael League: Moog Little Phatty and Electric Bass
Robert “Sput” Searight: Drums
Felix Higginbottom: Percussion
Vera Van Der Bie: Violin
Isabella Petersen: Viola
Annie Tangberg: Cello
Katie Christie: French Horn
Arranged by Bill Laurance
Produced by Bill Laurance
Engineered by Simon Hendry
Mixed by Nic Hard at Lime Beat Studio, NY

billlaurance.com
groundupmusic.net

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361 comments
1
Anymouse  Feb 28, 2017 • 9:49:33pm

It’s already 1 March if you are in Eastern Time Zone.

Happy 150th Nebraska Birthday.

Just a bit west of my home.
2
Anymouse  Feb 28, 2017 • 9:54:26pm

You can’t see my house beyond the sign because of the incredibly thick forest (Home of Arbor Day, they just haven’t gotten here with the trees yet).

3
Blind Frog Belly White  Feb 28, 2017 • 9:54:47pm

Jesus Christ. His speech is being described as ‘surprisingly Presidential’. Talk about a low fucking bar.

4
freetoken  Feb 28, 2017 • 9:56:11pm

re: #3 Blind Frog Belly White

We’re a nation of low bars…

5
Anymouse  Feb 28, 2017 • 9:59:19pm
6
freetoken  Feb 28, 2017 • 10:01:26pm

re: #5 Anymouse

I agree that there’s a point in there… humans seek normalcy, stability, even where it doesn’t necessarily exist.

Part of the resistance to see Trump for what he is… stems from, I think, practice in doing that avoidance in other areas of our lives.

7
Anymouse  Feb 28, 2017 • 10:01:27pm

That set of tweets refers to this one:

8
JordanRules  Feb 28, 2017 • 10:03:27pm

re: #6 freetoken

Yup I have friends and family like that. When pressed, they will admit it tho kinda like Katy Tur’s pathetic attempt at a tweet save 4 minutes later.

9
Anymouse  Feb 28, 2017 • 10:04:44pm

German carnival floats:

I think Germany can see what’s going on better than our press (looking at you Katy Tur, normalising that Dumpster fire of outreach to Gold Star Families)

10
Anymouse  Feb 28, 2017 • 10:07:02pm
11
Single-handed sailor  Feb 28, 2017 • 10:09:55pm

I swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.

Start practicing.
//

12
Anymouse  Feb 28, 2017 • 10:10:04pm
13
freetoken  Feb 28, 2017 • 10:18:43pm

My great grandparents were born from before the US Civil War, to shortly afterwards. All of them saw great change in their lives. All of them would have known people who were either slaves, or escaped tyranny somewhere in the world.

Yet all of them benefitted from all that the US had become just a century into its existence.

Life is always a mixture of good and bad, and of reality and fantasy.

I see Trump as a kind of climax of the revanchism that kicked into high gear with George Wallace, a reaction to the 20th century’s attempt to correct the ills of the 19th century.

So here we are now, in the 21st century, and the ghosts of 20th century atavists linger in the orange bauble of a President we now have on display.

Our primary means of escape - i.e., entertainment - the small screen, is filled with talking heads trying to make us feel better about falling flat on our collective political faces.

As pointed out in the new series on African civilizations by Dr. Gates (see PBS links earlier), human societies come and go. Time and death can do amazing things to our species. And that will happen in the US. Though the atavists lament that the US isn’t what it once was, the rest of us rejoice over this truth. And furthermore, the US of tomorrow will be different yet.

We are a political experiment. There is no prediction of when it will be over. The deeply religious atavists perhaps are an indication of an even deeper rift than that during the Civil War. The current run towards theocratic overload (see the spate of recent abortion related legislation, for example) in some parts of the country is just not compatible with other parts of this society.

Something will break.

Mostly I expect it to be an economic disaster, though a military one can’t be ruled out. The latter often arise out of unforeseen flare-ups, so who knows from what corner of this world we may see the next great war.

Economically I suspect the great problem we have is Social Security and Medicare. The obvious fix is raising taxes on the rich, but the religion of Mammonism that pervades our society (even among those who profess to be Christians) has so far prevented this obvious fix from being put in place.

One aspect of the anti-immigration fervor of the Trumpers that is overlooked is that immigrants tend to be younger and have children, which supports then the general economy and provides the wealth to support the elderly and indigent. Get rid of the immigrants and our country becomes older, poorer. But the ignorant Trumpers don’t care about that.

So within the lifetime of the current voting bloc we will see the need for the US government to make some serious changes to taxation, or to definitely limit support for the elderly and the poor.

This, I propose, will be the nexus of politics in America for the rest of my life.

14
JordanRules  Feb 28, 2017 • 10:20:21pm

I’m glad we can see that we’d still react the same to this travesty if it was presented in a more Ted Cruzian way.

We’ve got the ideas, the Constitution and courage on our side. Im proud of that at least.

15
JordanRules  Feb 28, 2017 • 10:23:03pm

re: #7 Anymouse

We should probably repost Masha’s list once a week.

16
BeachDem  Feb 28, 2017 • 10:26:08pm

I believe this should be the news media’s theme song, played before every report about the yam:

“Reason to Believe” Tim Hardin

17
Anymouse  Feb 28, 2017 • 10:29:48pm

re: #16 BeachDem

I believe this should be the news media’s theme song, played before every report about the yam:

[Embedded content]

Either that or a Rickroll.

Rick Astley - Never Gonna Give You Up

18
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2017 • 11:09:41pm

New trailer for Alien: Covenant dropped.

Alien: Covenant | Official Trailer [HD] | 20th Century FOX

19
William Lewis  Feb 28, 2017 • 11:12:36pm

re: #18 Dr Lizardo

Pity they only made two movies. Could have told some good stories if they had made more sequels than aliens.

20
Dr Lizardo  Feb 28, 2017 • 11:27:55pm

re: #19 William Lewis

Pity they only made two movies. Could have told some good stories if they had made more sequels than aliens.

This one doesn’t look too bad, actually.

If you freeze the video at the scene with the dogtag hanging down, you’ll see that it reads “Dr. E. Shaw” with the Weyland-Yutani logo; that seem to indicate that ship shown a few seconds earlier is likely the Engineer’s starship from Prometheus. At the end of Prometheus, Dr. Shaw said in the voiceover she was taking one of their ships and going to the Engineer’s homeworld to find out what’s going on. Seems like she made it. And it didn’t end well.

21
Jack Burton  Feb 28, 2017 • 11:39:11pm

re: #3 Blind Frog Belly White

Jesus Christ. His speech is being described as ‘surprisingly Presidential’. Talk about a low fucking bar.

I will quote the Plinkett: “I think it’s hard to be disappointed any more when your expectations are so low, they’re right next to fucking dinosaur bones.”

22
freetoken  Feb 28, 2017 • 11:40:58pm
23
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 12:13:55am

Tibetan women’s soccer team has been denied visas to play at a tourney in Dallas.

voanews.com

Cassie Childers, a coach and executive director for Tibet Women’s Soccer, said that 16 members of the team were told at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, India, that they “have no good reason to visit the U.S.,” during their visit on Feb. 24. They were seeking travel visas to participate in the Dallas Cup soccer tournament scheduled to take place April 9-16

Childers, who is from New Jersey, said in an email from India that embassy officials did not glance at the documents nor provide any other reasons or explanations.

Buh-bye foreign travelers!

24
goddamnedfrank  Mar 1, 2017 • 12:27:59am

I skipped Trump speech entirely. Got home, made dinner and spent the last five hours playing Horizon Zero Dawn. It’s easily the best game yet at showcasing the visual capabilities of the PS4 Pro, the 4K HDR output is just gorgeous. Overall I’d say the graphics are on par with Uncharted 4, but with a much more expansive world.

So far the story is engaging and the voice acting is pretty damned good, though my most recent comparison is Fallout 4 which was pretty lackluster on both scores. I was pretty skeptical of the whole hunting robotic animals with a bow concept but the gameplay is very well executed and fun, with just the right amount of stealth and crafting to customize style without overwhelming. Also, bonus points for the uniqueness of the setting, this particular vision of a far post apocalyptic future is definitely unique and interesting. I mean, I still have no goddamned idea how all this shit is supposed to work or have come to pass but it’s all so earnestly presented that I’m happy to just go along with it.

25
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 12:39:25am

re: #23 wheat-dogg

Tibetan women’s soccer team has been denied visas to play at a tourney in Dallas.

voanews.com

Buh-bye foreign travelers!

This is going to put a major dent in the foreign tourist industry. People all over are hearing about how difficult it is for people to get in and will book destinations that are more welcoming.

26
freetoken  Mar 1, 2017 • 12:54:56am

re: #25 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

I suspect this case is more that of not wanting to rock the boat with China, then it is to do with Trump’s anti-immigrant nativist politics.

27
Patricia Kayden  Mar 1, 2017 • 1:07:10am

re: #18 Dr Lizardo

Will watch! Love the Alien films.

28
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 1:09:11am

_re: #26 freetoken

I suspect this case is more that of not wanting to rock the boat with China, then it is to do with Trump’s anti-immigrant nativist politics.

This particular incident, yes.

But overall, recall that the USA is bidding to host the 2024 World Soccer Cup. Imagine the effect that a ruling like this will have on that decision.

And the more people hear about “foreigners” being harassed and assaulted in the USA, the more likely they are going to plan their holidays elsewhere.

Unless the Dollar really tanks…

29
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 1:28:50am

re: #26 freetoken

I suspect this case is more that of not wanting to rock the boat with China, then it is to do with Trump’s anti-immigrant nativist politics.

I’m not sure if it’s a question of offending China, which has never stopped the US from admitting the Dalai Lama, or a bureaucrat sniffing at their Indian Identity Certificates, which do not establish Indian citizenship. The four with Nepali passports are still under review. The report does not make clear what the visa officer’s decision was on the two holding Indian passports. If they are all denied, then it’s likely it’s the US not wanting to offend China. If the six with regular passports are allowed visas, then it’s a bureaucratic issue.

OTOH if they were all Chinese citizens, then there would probably be no issue at all. But they are refugees from Tibet, so they’re in a touchy situation.

I’m sure Trump can fix.
//

30
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 1:36:58am

re: #28 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

_

This particular incident, yes.

But overall, recall that the USA is bidding to host the 2024 World Soccer Cup. Imagine the effect that a ruling like this will have on that decision.

And the more people hear about “foreigners” being harassed and assaulted in the USA, the more likely they are going to plan their holidays elsewhere.

Unless the Dollar really tanks…

I was watching CNBC briefly today, and the European expert they were interviewing said investors are giving Trump the benefit of the doubt, and are encouraged by his pro-business promises. So, the markets are up. But he also said Trump has to face reality, that some of his ambitious trade and tariff policies are not going to happen. In that case, he said, investors may become more bearish on investing in the USA.

As for the dollar, it seems forex investors are more interested in what the Fed is going to say than what Trump said. This article also says investors have adopted a “wait-and-see” mode regarding Trump.

poundsterlinglive.com

31
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 2:22:15am

Tornado warning here has expired, so I’m just checking in before heading back to sleep.

I see that a spammer has made an appearance in the pages.

32
freetoken  Mar 1, 2017 • 2:22:32am

Checking Facebook… the Trumpers are all in love with the speech, citing the usual sources (Fox, Breitbart).

It’s the same old crowd, of course. Reading the comments on those posts is just sad. Magic words - hate words - simply being repeated over and over. All the self-awareness of a postage stamp.

33
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 2:37:36am

re: #32 freetoken

Checking Facebook… the Trumpers are all in love with the speech, citing the usual sources (Fox, Breitbart).

It’s the same old crowd, of course. Reading the comments on those posts is just sad. Magic words - hate words - simply being repeated over and over. All the self-awareness of a postage stamp.

The first thing I do on FB is to delete all the political postings, be they pro or anti-Trump.

People who support Trump are not going to be swayed by any sort of arguments, people who oppose him knew what he was like before he got elected.

34
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 2:52:52am

Meanwhile, in the UK, the House of Lords gets impatient with the government and tells Theresa May that preserving the residency and citizenship rights of EU nationals now might just be a very good idea, rather than waiting until after Brexit to fix things.

theguardian.com

Former PM John Major also gave a speech portending the sky would fall in once Brexit goes into effect, but Foreign Secretary (and twit) Boris Johnson says that’s all pish-posh.

Oh, and it seems there’s no trade agreement yet between the EU and the UK, so Brexit would also disrupt trade between the UK and its largest trading partner.

Fun times!

35
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 2:54:57am

re: #33 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

The first thing I do on FB is to delete all the political postings, be they pro or anti-Trump.

People who support Trump are not going to be swayed by any sort of arguments, people who oppose him knew what he was like before he got elected.

We in the second group tried to convince those in the first group they were making a big mistake, but to no avail.

36
freetoken  Mar 1, 2017 • 2:57:02am

re: #33 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

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

37
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 2:57:15am

re: #34 wheat-dogg

Meanwhile, in the UK, the House of Lords gets impatient with the government and tells Theresa May that preserving the residency and citizenship rights of EU nationals now might just be a very good idea, rather than waiting until after Brexit to fix things.

theguardian.com

Former PM John Major also gave a speech portending the sky would fall in once Brexit goes into effect, but Foreign Secretary (and twit) Boris Johnson says that’s all pish-posh.

Oh, and it seems there’s no trade agreement yet between the EU and the UK, so Brexit would also disrupt trade between the UK and its largest trading partner.

Fun times!

I know a number of UK citizens here in Germany who are applying for EU citizenship just because they do not want to get caught up in a bureaucratic hassle down the road.

Not that it is likely that they will probably not get kicked out of Germany, but if they ever want to relocate to another country within the EU, for example, the process would no longer be automatic.

38
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:03:59am

re: #37 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

I know a number of UK citizens here in Germany who are applying for EU citizenship just because they do not want to get caught up in a bureaucratic hassle down the road.

Not that it is likely that they will probably not get kicked out of Germany, but if they ever want to relocate to another country within the EU, for example, the process would no longer be automatic.

I swear, Brexit may just be the world’s dumbest move ever, worse than electing Trump. OK, maybe the Secession by the CSA was a dumber move, but Brexit is surely a close second. No matter what the Leavers argued, from my viewpoint as an amateur UK-watcher, there were no compelling reasons to Leave, and many to Remain. Even more puzzling is the government’s insistence on treating a non-binding referendum as The Will of the People, and going forward as if there were no other options.

Sure, the people voting to Leave, and Farage, and Boris Johnson, would go apeshit. There would be a governmental crisis. The PM would need to step down (which he did anyway, coward that he is). But all that turmoil would be piddling compared to the long-term effects of leaving the EU.

39
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:06:35am

re: #38 wheat-dogg

Sure, the people voting to Leave, and Farage, and Boris Johnson, would go apeshit. There would be a governmental crisis. The PM would need to step down (which he did anyway, coward that he is). But all that turmoil would be piddling compared to the long-term effects of leaving the EU.

They managed to set something in motion that cannot be reversed until great damage has been done.

Just like America did in November.

40
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:09:26am

I gather from the media response if you put an ape in a suit and had him fling shit from the podium of the House Chamber, the media would declare it much presidential.

41
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:10:36am

re: #39 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

They managed to set something in motion that cannot be reversed until great damage has been done.

Just like America did in November.

All too true. I feel like the USA and UK are each in a bus being driven by a lunatic, blind driver toward the edge of a cliff.

42
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:13:14am

re: #40 Timothy Watson

I gather from the media response if you put an ape in a suit and had him fling shit from the podium of the House Chamber, the media would declare it much presidential.

This is a calculated move. After being outrageous and getting people worked up in his first five weeks, he dials it back a few notches and this is held up as proof that everything is back to norbal.

43
Targetpractice  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:14:24am

re: #40 Timothy Watson

I gather from the media response if you put an ape in a suit and had him fling shit from the podium of the House Chamber, the media would declare it much presidential.

The media are like battered wives: No matter how much he smacks them around, they keep coming back to him. He could announce today that he intends to attend the WHCA dinner after all and they’d welcome him with open arms.

44
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:14:49am

re: #40 Timothy Watson

I gather from the media response if you put an ape in a suit and had him fling shit from the podium of the House Chamber, the media would declare it much presidential.

Trump did not go off on one of his tangents, and spoke the words that were written for him in a more or less understandable fashion. He still lied. And sniffed a lot. He once again failed to take responsibility for the death of that Navy SEAL, and then used the widow as a prop.

So, yeah, the MSM are spinning their usual “He’s acting presidential. Could this be the beginning a new phase?” shit, and the RW press are gushing praise.

45
Targetpractice  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:16:40am

re: #42 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

This is a calculated move. After being outrageous and getting people worked up in his first five weeks, he dials it back a few notches and this is held up as proof that everything is back to norbal.

The bigger calculation is that it’s a day or two of good press about the “presidential” speech that gets the Russia news off the front page.

46
Weaselone  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:20:58am

re: #40 Timothy Watson

It’s surreal. He’s President. You would think that at least now he would be judged based on that standard, but the press is still using some sort of special Donald Trump measuring tool and so apparently is the Republic.

47
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:22:31am

re: #46 Weaselone

It’s surreal. He’s President. You would think that at least now he would be judged based on that standard, but the press is still using some sort of special Donald Trump measuring tool and so apparently is the Republic.

Affirmative action for incompetent white people.

48
Targetpractice  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:24:39am

re: #46 Weaselone

It’s surreal. He’s President. You would think that at least now he would be judged based on that standard, but the press is still using some sort of special Donald Trump measuring tool and so apparently is the Republic.

It’s the same standard they used for Dubya. They dusted it out after they retired the tool they used during the Clinton campaign and Obama years.

49
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:24:59am

re: #46 Weaselone

It’s surreal. He’s President. You would think that at least now he would be judged based on that standard, but the press is still using some sort of special Donald Trump measuring tool and so apparently is the Republic.

Their memories are extremely short, just like the voters. Left to his own devices, as we saw in that impromptu presser, Trump is a hot mess. Always. He’s only talking sensibly when the words are written by someone else. There is no reason to expect he will change, therefore there is no reason to praise him for not sounding like a raving lunatic.

50
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:25:09am

re: #46 Weaselone

It’s surreal. He’s President. You would think that at least now he would be judged based on that standard, but the press is still using some sort of special Donald Trump measuring tool and so apparently is the Republic.

He sold himself as the “anti-politician” to people who are fed up with politicians and politics as usual. That allowed him to ignore or violate every rule and convention of campaigning and politics and still prevail.

51
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:26:38am

Some Indians (of the Asian kind) are very unhappy with Trump, because they blame him for the death of one of their own.

Trump’s silence on the Olathe shooting has just made those feelings worse.

52
Dr Lizardo  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:30:43am

re: #38 wheat-dogg

Former PM Cameron was trying to checkmate UKIP and it blew up in his face. That being said, it’s beyond me why the current government of PM May is pursuing it so single-mindedly. As you pointed out, it was a strictly non-binding referendum, a glorified opinion poll.

53
Targetpractice  Mar 1, 2017 • 3:31:35am

re: #51 wheat-dogg

Some Indians (of the Asian kind) are very unhappy with Trump, because they blame him for the death of one of their own.

[Embedded content]

Trump’s silence on the Olathe shooting has just made those feelings worse.

For 8 years, if Obama kept quiet after a shooting involving one or more white victims, the media would bring on “experts” who’d surmise that the reason was racially-motivated and he didn’t care about white victims.

Now we’ve had weeks of reports about violence and deaths of minority Americans, and the media is just sweeping it all under the rug rather than suggesting that Trump is racist.

54
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 4:01:47am

re: #53 Targetpractice

For 8 years, if Obama kept quiet after a shooting involving one or more white victims, the media would bring on “experts” who’d surmise that the reason was racially-motivated and he didn’t care about white victims.

Now we’ve had weeks of reports about violence and deaths of minority Americans, and the media is just sweeping it all under the rug rather than suggesting that Trump is racist.

And Trump made a point of creating a new office within DHS for crimes committed BY foreigners, while most of the crimes recently have been crimes AGAINST foreigners (or people who like they’re foreigners). It’s a bone to throw to the nativists and white supremacists, and a slap in the face to everyone else.

55
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 4:05:04am

re: #52 Dr Lizardo

Former PM Cameron was trying to checkmate UKIP and it blew up in his face. That being said, it’s beyond me why the current government of PM May is pursuing it so single-mindedly. As you pointed out, it was a strictly non-binding referendum, a glorified opinion poll.

I also don’t get why May and the Tories are so fanatical about Brexit. Surely, they must realize at some level it’s a colossal cock-up, one that will be associated with the Conservative Party for years to come.

56
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 4:15:10am

re: #55 wheat-dogg

I also don’t get why May and the Tories are so fanatical about Brexit. Surely, they must realize at some level it’s a colossal cock-up, one that will be associated with the Conservative Party for years to come.

Because the people at the head of the Tory Party have seen how to profit from it personally, and have nothing but contempt for the rest of the nation.

That was something I got out of watching The Iron Lady, one almost comes away feeling sorry for Margret Thatcher, when you see how the upper echelons of the Tory Party only look down their noses at the middle-class shopkeepers, insurance agents and bank clerks they are supposed to represent.

57
Romantic Heretic  Mar 1, 2017 • 4:15:13am

re: #24 goddamnedfrank

I’ve been watching a gameplay video of that on YouTube.

Personally I’m enjoying the hell out of it. Not only is it a rather original concept but I’ve become quite involved in the story. I really like that the central protagonist is a woman. A very nice change.

It must be causing a lot of MPAs (Men’s Power Advocates) to have aneurisms though. Which is another reason to like it.

58
William Lewis  Mar 1, 2017 • 4:16:23am

re: #55 wheat-dogg

Fantasy Sovereignty is the problem. They want the fantasy that they can stand alone in the world, by themselves with their monarch leading the way.

The Trumpenfuhrer’s support comes from the same stupidity.

Never mind that no country is completely independent- not even the hermit nutcases in North Korea. We know this here but stupid remains stupid and they are lead by the idiotic.

60
Targetpractice  Mar 1, 2017 • 4:19:47am

re: #55 wheat-dogg

I also don’t get why May and the Tories are so fanatical about Brexit. Surely, they must realize at some level it’s a colossal cock-up, one that will be associated with the Conservative Party for years to come.

Proverbial rock and a hard place. May got the job she wanted but the clause that came attached was that she had to keep the ignorant masses happy. And what they want is much the same as our native wingnuts want: All the “foreigners” out because they think that will solve all of the country’s problems. She’s imagining herself as the heir to Maggie’s legacy, which explains why everybody up north and in Scotland thinks she’s out of her bloody mind and want nothing to do with Brexit. So she must plow forward at full speed, even threatening to run down the House of Lords, just to ensure that she doesn’t get tossed out on her ass because Brexit failed.

One can only assume at this point that the Tories expect that, when Brexit comes crashing down around everybody’s ears, they can keep power by maintaining that they “did the best they could” and Labour is to blame because they didn’t do enough to stop the collapse.

61
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 4:25:28am

re: #60 Targetpractice

One can only assume at this point that the Tories expect that, when Brexit comes crashing down around everybody’s ears, they can keep power by maintaining that they “did the best they could” and Labour is to blame because they didn’t do enough to stop the collapse.

…nothing but contempt for anyone who did not attend Eton.

62
goddamnedfrank  Mar 1, 2017 • 4:45:48am

re: #57 Romantic Heretic

I’ve been watching a gameplay video of that on YouTube.

Personally I’m enjoying the hell out of it. Not only is it a rather original concept but I’ve become quite involved in the story. I really like that the central protagonist is a woman. A very nice change.

It must be causing a lot of MPAs (Men’s Power Advocates) to have aneurisms though. Which is another reason to like it.

Not just a woman, but a fairly realistic looking non-sexualized young woman. This isn’t Tomb Raider and Aloy isn’t Lara Croft. The Nora Tribe is entirely matriarchal and this influences both the costume design and early plot.

Before quitting a couple hours ago I picked up the Nora Silent Hunter Medium outfit, it’s the one that starts at 1min 45sec. Can’t tell from the video but it actually looks pretty stealthy when you’re stalking prey the tall grass.) Notice that there are no metal bikinis or tactical skin suits, the most revealing are a couple outfits that expose the midriff.

Horizon Zero Dawn - All Outfits

63
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 4:53:25am

*VOMITS*
Van Jones on Trump honoring a Navy SEAL’s widow: “He became President of the United States in that moment, period”…

64
DuckDharma  Mar 1, 2017 • 4:54:33am
Barbara Puckett, a 55-year-old mom who lives in Beattyville, a small town in Kentucky, noticed a change in Trump’s tone.

“He wasn’t as aggressive as he usually is. He was calmed down,” she tells CNNMoney. She’s one of many who say Trump makes her hopeful again — hopeful that jobs will return to her struggling town and that the nation will be safer. She also thinks Trump is right to crack down on illegal immigration.

“Lots of people don’t like the idea of building a wall, but I agree we have to stop illegal immigrants from coming in and getting welfare and food stamps,” she says.

Ivan Torres immigrated legally to the United States from Ecuador decades ago. He earned a master’s degree and settled in Reading, Pennsylvania. He is concerned at how U.S. immigration and customs officials are treating Latinos, but he voted for Trump because he thinks his blue collar town needs more (and better) jobs.

“Everybody was deeply moved by the moment by Carryn Owens,” says Denise Edwards, an African American Trump supporter in Detroit. “People will talk about that for days and months to come.”

“When he mentioned all the new jobs, they just sat there pouty-faced. They were going to hate Trump no matter what,” Edwards says. She doesn’t understand why they can’t even celebrate jobs in their towns.

money.cnn.com

65
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 4:58:21am
“Lots of people don’t like the idea of building a wall, but I agree we have to stop illegal immigrants from coming in and getting welfare and food stamps,” she says.

So much stupids to unpack here.

66
Smith25's Liberal Thighs  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:01:41am

So I’m glad I didn’t watch the speech. Watched an exciting Basketball game. Then read here and on Twitter to the reaction. Read the text of the speech. Then watched some of the speech. Seems like the watch and the read are two different speeches.

67
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:02:05am

re: #65 The Vicious Babushka

“When he mentioned all the new jobs, they just sat there pouty-faced. They were going to hate Trump no matter what,” Edwards says. She doesn’t understand why they can’t even celebrate jobs in their towns.

what fucking jobs?

68
DuckDharma  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:04:21am

The jobs he said created, didn’t you listen?

69
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:04:40am

re: #67 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

what fucking jobs?

The jobs Obama created when he bailed out the auto industry.

70
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:05:36am

re: #69 The Vicious Babushka

The jobs Obama created when he bailed out the auto industry.

Oh, and the ones that Intel created (and were announced in 2011 and based on growth through 2015).

71
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:06:12am

He mentioned the auto companies and claimed credit for projects that they announced long before the election. I heard that during the 30 seconds that I could stomach listening to Mango Nasal Whine Sniff.

72
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:08:22am

re: #71 The Vicious Babushka

He mentioned the auto companies and claimed credit for projects that they announced long before the election. I heard that during the 30 seconds that I could stomach listening to Mango Nasal Whine Sniff.

Either that sniffing is a nervous tic, or a side effect of whatever meds he took to calm himself down. When he’s adlibbing, he doesn’t sniff, at least audibly. But his prepared talks are just SNIFF —- blah blah blah — SNIFF!

Weird.

73
wheat-dogg  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:09:24am

re: #65 The Vicious Babushka

So much stupids to unpack here.

She clearly has no idea what is required to get welfare or food stamps. A SSN is a good start.

74
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:10:38am

re: #73 wheat-dogg

She clearly has no idea what is required to get welfare or food stamps. A SSN is a good start.

they only come here for that, not to work for a pittance from sunup to sundown doing jobs no American would do for any amount of money…

75
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:10:39am

re: #73 wheat-dogg

She clearly has no idea what is required to get welfare or food stamps. A SSN is a good start.

HURR HURR THEIR IS AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY IN MEXICO PRINTING OUT FAKE SOCIAL SECURITY CARDZ!!!!!!

76
Barefoot Grin  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:13:19am

re: #4 freetoken

We’re a nation of low bars…

Basically Trump to his base: “yes, you’ll get to tend to the rabbits.”

77
lockjawcanbefun  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:14:29am

I’ll assume this is ‘just the reverse’.

78
Targetpractice  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:15:46am
“When he mentioned all the new jobs, they just sat there pouty-faced. They were going to hate Trump no matter what,” Edwards says. She doesn’t understand why they can’t even celebrate jobs in their towns.

And there, ladies and gentlemen, you have the reason he’ll be reelected in four years. The same morons who elected him on empty promises that he’d “bring the jobs back” will be convinced in four years that he would have brought the jobs “back” if only Democrats hadn’t stood in his way.

79
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:18:21am

re: #78 Targetpractice

And there, ladies and gentlemen, you have the reason he’ll be reelected in four years. The same morons who elected him on empty promises that he’d “bring the jobs back” will be convinced in four years that he would have brought the jobs “back” if only Democrats hadn’t stood in his way.

Trump is a master at creating the illusion of wealth and prosperity where none exist, or claiming credit for what is not his due.

This is why I am unfortunately all but sure he will be able to pull off enough economic sleight-of-hand to convince voters that he is rebuilding the economy and secure his re-election.

80
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:18:29am

re: #78 Targetpractice

And there, ladies and gentlemen, you have the reason he’ll be reelected in four years. The same morons who elected him on empty promises that he’d “bring the jobs back” will be convinced in four years that he would have brought the jobs “back” if only Democrats hadn’t stood in his way.

I didn’t believe Obama created all the new jobs until I got one.

81
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:19:45am

I also heard the Mango Nasal Whine announce a hiring freeze and killing a bunch of federal jobs. So he is creating a bunch of UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE.

82
Targetpractice  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:24:06am

re: #79 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

Trump is a master at creating the illusion of wealth and prosperity where none exist, or claiming credit for what is not his due.

This is why I am unfortunately all but sure he will be able to pull off enough economic sleigh-of-hand to convince voters that he is rebuilding the economy and secure his re-election.

Much like Dubya convinced the masses that the economy was “booming” in 2004, 4 years before it utterly crashed in a way that wingnuts to this day insist was totally not his fault…until he went ahead and signed that bank bailout, when they were convinced that letting multi-billion dollar banks collapse would actually help the economy.

83
Barefoot Grin  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:26:32am

re: #81 The Vicious Babushka

I also heard the Mango Nasal Whine announce a hiring freeze and killing a bunch of federal jobs. So he is creating a bunch of UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE.

Those are just sinecure jobs! //

84
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:30:53am

re: #82 Targetpractice

Much like Dubya convinced the masses that the economy was “booming” in 2004, 4 years before it utterly crashed in a way that wingnuts to this day insist was totally not his fault…until he went ahead and signed that bank bailout, when they were convinced that letting multi-billion dollar banks collapse would actually help the economy.

People have no trouble attaching conditions to government handouts (mandatory welfare recipient drug testing, restricting SNAP purchases, etc.) but when the government wanted to attach certain conditions to bank bailouts, those were seen as a “creeping government takeover”

85
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:39:43am
86
Targetpractice  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:40:10am

re: #84 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

People have no trouble attaching conditions to government handouts (mandatory welfare recipient drug testing, restricting SNAP purchases, etc.) but when the government wanted to attach certain conditions to bank bailouts, those were seen as a “creeping government takeover”

Thing is, when the economy inevitably takes a nosedive this time, you can be sure he’ll be able to convince them that bailing out his buds on Wall St. is a good idea as he’s fleecing them blind.

87
Targetpractice  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:40:36am

re: #85 Belafon

[Embedded content]

In other words, they’re just the same before it as after it.

88
jeffreyw  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:43:06am

Imgur
Good morning!

89
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:52:30am
90
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 5:52:41am
91
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:04:10am

re: #64 DuckDharma

money.cnn.com

I don’t get these people I really don’t.

92
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:05:13am

re: #86 Targetpractice

Thing is, when the economy inevitably takes a nosedive this time, you can be sure he’ll be able to convince them that bailing out his buds on Wall St. is a good idea as he’s fleecing them blind.

He could literally shit on them and tell them it was good and they’d accept it. It’s a fucking cult of personality.

93
Franklin  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:14:59am

re: #59 Bubblehead II

Morning Lizards.

Goodbye: Bob talks candidly about Chez’s passing and his legacy. The show WILL go on. New episodes will resume on Tuesday 3/7.

About half way through now. Good therapy for a fan of the show.

94
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:18:55am

What this means: if you reply to a blue-checked account that isn’t following you, using words like “dumbass” “dipshit” “fuck you” “asshole” you will be put in “Twitter jail” for 12 hours.

95
Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:26:46am

re: #18 Dr Lizardo

oh man, that looks good. also waiting for the other alien film coming this summer.

96
Bubblehead II  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:27:31am

re: #93 Franklin

Yep. It was pretty good. I’m hoping Charles will feature it later today. Went ahead and paged it.

97
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:30:43am
98
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:32:03am

re: #94 The Vicious Babushka

What this means: if you reply to a blue-checked account that isn’t following you, using words like “dumbass” “dipshit” “fuck you” “asshole” you will be put in “Twitter jail” for 12 hours.

[Embedded content]

So it’s just to protect Trump?

99
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:38:25am

This is how military coups start…

100
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:42:15am

re: #99 darthstar

This is how military coups start…

“See, now you can’t blame me.”

If I were a Democratic congressman, I would be standing up right now and arguing that if the president can’t do his duty as CiC just because he’s scared of being blamed for failure, then he needs to resign.

Edit, and if I were any of you with Democratic congresspeople, I would call them right now and tell them to say that.

101
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:43:55am

re: #100 Belafon

“See, now you can’t blame me.”

If I were a Democratic congressman, I would be standing up right now and arguing that if the president can’t do his duty as CiC just because he’s scared of being blamed for failure, then he needs to resign.

He can be “out of the loop” but he is still responsible.

That is part of the job description.

102
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:44:00am

While pundits like Chris Cilizza are fawning over the “new Trump” this morning - because he read a speech and didn’t sound like the crazed asshole he really is - I can’t help but wonder how his red-meat starved base took it. I suspect a lot of Trumpers were watching their TVs and saying, “Who the hell is this guy?”

103
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:44:08am

Bumpy weather is still pounding in the Backwoods.
After the tornado warning expired at around 5 a.m., a series of severe thunderstorm warnings were issued.
Water is everywhere, trees broken, mudslides, rockslides…just a complete mess.
We’ve gotten 2.67 inches of rain in the last five hours (3.8” total since yesterday morning) and it’s still pouring down.
MrBWS just called. There are more than 40,000 Duke Energy customers without power in Greater Cincinnati and 29,000 in Indiana.

I should probably just go back to bed.

104
Myron Falwell  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:44:29am
105
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:50:07am

re: #98 darthstar

So it’s just to protect Trump?

I got a 12-hour timeout for calling Julian Assange a “dumbass”

106
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:53:31am
107
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:53:39am

That immigrant crimes office is terrifying. It’s going to cause more things like what we saw in Kansas.

108
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:55:05am

re: #107 HappyWarrior

That immigrant crimes office is terrifying. It’s going to cause more things like what we saw in Kansas.

And Sessions is not going to do anything to stop it.

109
darthstar  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:55:27am

re: #105 The Vicious Babushka

I got a 12-hour timeout for calling Julian Assange a “dumbass”

Serves you right, you scofflaw. /

Seriously, it just means we’ll have to resort to sarcasm and ridicule…and subtweets. Times change.

110
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:56:26am

re: #108 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

And Sessions is not going to do anything to stop it.

Fuck, it wouldn’t shock me if Sessions had a role in the idea. A lot was correctly made about Sessions views on disabled people and African-Americans during his confirmation but he’s got a terrible record on immigration as well.

111
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:56:32am

re: #109 darthstar

Serves you right, you scofflaw. /

Seriously, it just means we’ll have to resort to sarcasm and ridicule…and subtweets. Times change.

I see heavy use of urban dictionary in defining new swear words.

112
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:57:24am

re: #110 HappyWarrior

Fuck, it wouldn’t shock me if Sessions had a role in the idea. A lot was correctly made about Sessions views on disabled people and African-Americans during his confirmation but he’s got a terrible record on immigration as well.

“Jeff Sessions” and “Civil Rights” are conflicting concepts

113
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:58:12am
114
mmmirele  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:58:55am

I had to go to the phlebotomist today for a fasting blood test and urine sample. I dislike doing this. I can’t stand to see the needle go in for the blood test. But the worst part is the sample. I may drink three liters of water (like this morning) and not be able to get much of anything out in return. But now, now it’s all coming out. *rolls eyes*

115
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:58:58am

Morning. Can’t use the word good this morning to to the state of the union.

Rough night of weather here in Ohio. I understand there was some tornado activity, and now that it is morning reports of the damage will be coming in. Circleville, a small town south of Columbus may have had one…I haven’t heard confirmation. One was reported farther southwest though.

The lightening and booming around Columbus was intense as was some heavy rain. I guess there was some flash flooding in the area. Might part of town seems to have been spared the heavy stuff.

Also, I heard a report on The Today Show where supposedly 7 out of 10 Americans heard Trump being positive last night. Ugh.

Freakin’ Matt Lauer got a little short with Chuck Shumer asking if Chuck could find at least something positive with the Trump speech.

I get the impression NBC asked all of their staff to mention at least one good thing from last night.

They also had Nicole Wallace doing another one of her “find some ‘former’ Democrats that voted for Trump” segments. She found some in Bay City Michigan. Once again it was “he spoke to me, he talks just like me…he mentioned jobs and Hillary didn’t. And then Savannah Guthrie came back with “it was all about jobs, jobs, jobs wasn’t it?

Yeah, thanks for mentioning Hillary on actual forward thinking of jobs for the future instead if emails, emails, emails NBC. Now go fuck yourselves.

And Bay City Michigan, get back to us in a few years and tell us about all those new jobs in your town. Deal?

Now I am depressed again. No way to start a day, month, the rest of this year, the next four years…the future. Arrrgh. Sorry.

116
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 6:59:03am

re: #75 The Vicious Babushka

HURR HURR THEIR IS AN ENTIRE INDUSTRY IN MEXICO PRINTING OUT FAKE SOCIAL SECURITY CARDZ!!!!!!

Do any of these wingnuts actually work and been through an E-Verify verification?

117
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:00:22am

re: #112 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

“Jeff Sessions” and “Civil Rights” are conflicting concepts

No kidding.

118
Franklin  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:01:08am

Best take so far…

119
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:01:08am

re: #116 Timothy Watson

Do any of these wingnuts actually work and been through an E-Verify verification?

Shit, I’ve only been working on immigration cases at the firm I’m at for four months and I know it’s complicated.

120
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:01:25am

re: #114 mmmirele

I had to go to the phlebotomist today for a fasting blood test

I can manage a quick jab for an injection or sample, but I had to give up donating blood, could not handle the needle being in for such a long period.

121
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:01:51am

re: #118 Franklin

Best take so far…

[Embedded content]

Yep giving him low expectations and then when he doesn’t completely spew shit everywhere treating it as YAY TRUMP, HE DID GOOD. Stop giving him low expectations, he’s President.

122
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:08:28am

re: #112 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

“Jeff Sessions” and “Civil Rights” are conflicting concepts

I have seen wingnuts make the claim that “Jeff Sessions renounced his early racism and worked for civil rights!” and I’m like NO YOU SHITMUFFINS YOU’RE THINKING OF ROBERT BYRD

123
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:08:30am
124
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:11:06am

re: #121 HappyWarrior

Yep giving him low expectations and then when he doesn’t completely spew shit everywhere treating it as YAY TRUMP, HE DID GOOD. Stop giving him low expectations, he’s President.

Why wouldn’t the media give him low expectations. We all have low expectations for our media. They are all meeting the goal.

125
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:11:08am
126
Dr Lizardo  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:11:29am

Ooo…..Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 trailer. Holy shit at the end!

NEW Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 Trailer - WORLD PREMIERE

127
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:11:46am
128
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:12:08am

re: #122 The Vicious Babushka

I have seen wingnuts make the claim that “Jeff Sessions renounced his early racism and worked for civil rights!” and I’m like NO YOU SHITMUFFINS YOU’RE THINKING OF ROBERT BYRD

All those white haired Southern Gentlemen Politicians look the same.

129
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:12:38am

re: #114 mmmirele

I had to go to the phlebotomist today for a fasting blood test and urine sample. I dislike doing this. I can’t stand to see the needle go in for the blood test. But the worst part is the sample. I may drink three liters of water (like this morning) and not be able to get much of anything out in return. But now, now it’s all coming out. *rolls eyes*

When I was in the Navy, they did one of those surprise drug tests. They had us file in a line over and over past a water fountain until we could give a sample. It took me a while to get up to it, but then after that, every 15 minutes for the next hour and a half I had to go to the restroom.

130
CleverToad  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:14:33am

re: #111 Belafon

I see heavy use of urban dictionary in defining new swear words.

Brush up your Shakespeare, start quoting him now…
(though he didn’t have to worry about a character limit)

131
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:18:33am
132
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:20:00am

re: #131 JordanRules

[Embedded content]

His tone sucked too. The whole office of immigrant crimes thing? Yeesh.

133
Targetpractice  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:20:00am

The low bar on display is exactly the same as we saw during the debates. Remember those, where the first debate came, Comrade Combover managed to get to the end without whipping his dick out and pissing on the audience, and they talked about how “presidential” he looked? Welcome to the next four years: “Yeah, he’s a complete and utter joke in office, but he can tie his shoes unaided so he’s every bit as presidential as Obama was!”

134
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:20:33am
135
Eventual Carrion  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:21:51am

re: #133 Targetpractice

The low bar on display is exactly the same as we saw during the debates. Remember those, where the first debate came, Comrade Combover managed to get to the end without whipping his dick out and pissing on the audience, and they talked about how “presidential” he looked? Welcome to the next four years: “Yeah, he’s a complete and utter joke in office, but he can tie his shoes unaided so he’s every bit as presidential as Obama was!”

He wears slip-ons that have fake laces.

136
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:22:06am
137
Dr. Matt  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:23:04am
138
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:24:04am
139
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:24:59am

re: #125 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

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Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:25:30am
141
Weaselone  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:26:11am

re: #79 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

Trump is a master at creating the illusion of wealth and prosperity where none exist, or claiming credit for what is not his due.

This is why I am unfortunately all but sure he will be able to pull off enough economic sleight-of-hand to convince voters that he is rebuilding the economy and secure his re-election.

I thought this might be the case once he was elected, but now I’m not so certain. I figured that he would just claim credit for the Obama economy, goose it with a few tax cuts, some additional military spending and maybe a gift to rich people disguised as an infrastructure program. That would be enough when combined with the boost in consumer confidence caused by Republicans actually realizing the economy was good to keep the economy humming along through 2018 and probably 2020. The problem is that Trump has or is in the process of inflicting some deeper wounds on the US economy and I don’t think his and the Republicans ill targeted stimulus measures will offset them.
1. Trump reversed Obama’s Mortgage fee cut his first day in office. Whether Trump knows it or not, this cut was actually a gift to him from Obama. The goal was to support home sales and by extension related industries in anticipation of a softening in the market. The market has been falling short of projections since then.
2. It’s fairly obvious that Trump’s going to cut into subsidies and programs that encourage the investment in alternate energy sources and energy efficiency. More people are already employed in these areas than fossil fuels, and there’s room for further growth. Trump’s failure here will probably slow growth in the industry and quite possibly cause us to lose out big league to Europe and China in the research and manufacturing jobs generated.
3. The analysis of the tax plan proposals on the table point to an extreme bias in refunding taxes to the upper quintile with little in cuts for the bottom 4/5. This will minimize impact of the fiscal stimulus.
4. Obamacare replace and repeal. I know a lot of people are optimistic, but my assumption is that either a) it’s get repealed and replaced by a law similar to the one recently leaked which provides worse coverage to fewer people at a higher cost or b) Trump and the Republicans will throw wrenches into it until it collapses. Either way, in addition to millions losing insurance and 10,000s of thousands of additional deaths each year, it’s going to translate into hospitals and health centers closing and job loses in the health care field.
5. No TPP. Despite all the gnashing of teeth, the failure of this is likely to hurt us. Instead of a US centered East Asian trade block, we’re likely to see a China centered one.
6. State Department cuts and general disarray. One of the key roles of the State Department is to promote US business abroad. Cuts make it less effective at doing its job, which will likely translate into less business for US companies
7. Government hiring freeze/unstaffed positions - this should be obvious, but the US government not hiring to fill positions is going to contribute directly to unemployment with accompanying trickle down impacts. Many of these positions also need to be staffed in order for the government to function effectively. If it doesn’t, that tends to have broader economic repercussions.
8. The Trump factor. Trump involves himself in discussions, tweets attacks, insults trading partners, etc. that will result in uncertainty and potential blowback. Outside of some seemingly temporary market fluctuations, the market and economy have largely been shrugging this uncertainty and his actions off. If the economy weakens, Trump’s unpredictability and meddling could trigger something more serious.
9. The worst thing Trump has done for the economy is his travel ban and the anti-immigrant policies being enacted by ICE. The repercussions of these will be felt throughout the economy. For starters we’re already seeing declines in flights booked and hotel room occupancy. ICE’s ham handed tactics and high profile examples in the media will likely reinforce the view of the US as hostile to visitors from abroad. This will cut deeply into tourism (including medical) and reduce interest in students from abroad studying in our schools. Longer term, it reduces the brain drain which the US benefits from and will likely prevent certain firms from creating jobs here, as the can more easily get the labor they need elsewhere.
10. Blue to red money syphon. Urban areas are the current engines of the economy, reflected by Hillary winning counties that account for 2/3 of US GDP. These areas already experience a significant transfer of economic production to suburban, exurban and rural counties via taxation at the state level and national level. Trump, like his supporters don’t seem to realize this is the case and indeed many of Trump’s policies (like travel/immigration) land pretty heavily on urban areas. Increasing transfers due to block granting various programs combined with bad policy is going to eventually have to start having a significant negative impact and once that happens, it’s more be a self reinforcing negative feedback loop, than something that would be self correcting.

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HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:26:20am

re: #138 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

What a shock.

143
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:26:40am

re: #139 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

I have to admit, I was wrong about Terry Mac.

144
William Lewis  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:27:26am

re: #126 Dr Lizardo

Ooo…..Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2 trailer. Holy shit at the end!

[Embedded content]

Video

Now THAT is a sequel.

145
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:28:49am

re: #141 Weaselone

Good points, but it looks like you pasted twice.

146
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:29:07am
147
A wild WITHAK appeared!  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:31:07am

re: #126 Dr Lizardo

Sorta spoilery, so in tags.

EJ4K82pWTCA27QQ/zYH3CSgxRACfJzPU+LSXXUcBxzSi8pdBXWARFPsjMuYWDpxOk3FavP6AXOsQSO3lOzRChR2OB4q+aIbj0M1iq5HLAVcRTV76BKtZ4kmyNE9nQx7ROmo+IZZl5iydXFgIhNZOto5vugcBy0uQ09VN7dMP/K6JjL6HKi1ZGFDFfQotUYU/HMSfshS7MdQckmUxaepJTuUmRF3l68HYHY7pDJ0eLXoBno+vgPSBeg==

148
Dr Lizardo  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:33:30am

re: #147 A wild WITHAK appeared!

hTMyfirFhCQmdKpjz7G899IbgO4rlvTjm5rfJ4cuSj0=

149
stpaulbear  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:33:45am

re: #23 wheat-dogg

Tibetan women’s soccer team has been denied visas to play at a tourney in Dallas.

voanews.com

Buh-bye foreign travelers!

Buh-bye chance for LA to land 2024 Summer Olympics.

150
Franklin  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:34:22am

re: #146 Backwoods_Sleuth

Taking that poll now, here’s a question:

Q: (Optional) Was there another issue that you wanted the President to address?
A: Ties to Russia. Tax returns. Failure to properly address threats of violence to Jews. How many characters do I have left?

151
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:35:29am

Well damn, I had orgotten about this…

152
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:36:32am
153
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:36:53am

re: #141 Weaselone

You assume that these problems will be addressed and discussed by the press in a manner that the American electorate understands and will vote to correct in subsequent elections.

That cannot be assumed in the current situation.

154
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:37:06am

Press still getting flak from Gold Star Families, but the MAGAloons are starting to wade into those hashtags.

And I am disapponted in Sons and Daughters In Touch (SDIT), the Vietnam War children’s Gold Star Family group (of which I am not a member) for their slobbering over Trump’s trotting out Mrs. Owens. No you dingbats, I don’t take solace in a bunch of applause from hypocritical politicians.

155
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:39:32am
156
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:40:47am

re: #155 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

What the fuck.

157
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:40:53am

re: #152 Backwoods_Sleuth

Maybe he’ll let Kellyanne borrow them for her next Oval Office play date.

158
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:41:46am

re: #155 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Ah, Sebastian Gorka, another one of Donald Trump’s anti-Islam and anti-Semitic wingnuts.

He is a real piece of work.

159
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:43:21am

re: #154 Anymouse

Press still getting flak from Gold Star Families, but the MAGAloons are starting to wade into those hashtags.

And I am disapponted in Sons and Daughters In Touch (SDIT), the Vietnam War children’s Gold Star Family group (of which I am not a member) for their slobbering over Trump’s trotting out Mrs. Owens. No you dingbats, I don’t take solace in a bunch of applause from hypocritical politicians.

[Embedded content]

I guess they forgot when Trump actually attacked a Gold Star family. The guy’s own father is pissed how Trump is using his son but yeah those awful Democrats.

160
Interesting Times  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:44:42am

Now that Pumpkin Pinochet sees how pundits slobber over his exploitation of war widows, he’ll set out to create a whole lot more of them.

161
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:44:59am

re: #155 Backwoods_Sleuth

The next question should have been “Do you believe Christianity is a religion?”

162
Interesting Times  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:49:07am
163
John Carter  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:49:28am

re: #39 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

They managed to set something in motion that cannot be reversed until great damage has been done.

Just like America did in November.

Yea, its like the USA asked the UK to hold its beer.

164
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:49:30am
165
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:50:07am

re: #164 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Oh, that is going to tick Mr. I’m all about ratings off.

166
makeitstop  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:50:52am

re: #164 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

He’ll just have every spokesperson repeat that he got the highest ratings ever. Problem solved.
/////

167
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:52:12am

re: #164 Backwoods_Sleuth

“You know, if you would let more immigrants in, you would create an entire generation that would watch you on TV.”

168
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:53:37am
169
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:54:03am

re: #168 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Heh.

170
Interesting Times  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:55:37am

re: #168 Backwoods_Sleuth

Saw this pop up in my FB feed - thoughts?

Facebook Post

171
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:56:06am
172
Myron Falwell  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:58:04am

re: #170 Interesting Times

There are not enough facepalms in the world.

173
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:59:08am

re: #170 Interesting Times

Saw this pop up in my FB feed - thoughts?

[Embedded content]

We’ll pick anyone but that guy who wants nothing to do with our party? Goddamn, it’s not the fucking Bernie Sanders Party. A fucking Berner on my TL is still complaining about Perez even though Perez made Ellison his right hand man. I don’t know enough about Kentucky though to dispute that claims.

174
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:59:35am

re: #170 Interesting Times

Thoughts on the first paragraph: GTFOH
Thoughts on the second: I would definitely look more deeply into his tenure, I don’t think he’s running for anything now tho; that first paragraph makes this one seem suspect

175
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:59:39am

Sanders cult can be just as obnoxious as Trump’s cult.

176
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 7:59:55am

re: #170 Interesting Times

Saw this pop up in my FB feed - thoughts?

yes, I immediately delete anything political on FB…if I want to discuss politics, I go to a political blog site.

177
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:00:26am

re: #170 Interesting Times

Saw this pop up in my FB feed - thoughts?

[Embedded content]

Far as I can tell, the reason Beshear was chosen was because of ACA’s huge success in Kentucky.

The “anyone but Bernie” is just sour grapes.

178
Myron Falwell  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:01:05am

re: #164 Backwoods_Sleuth

Expect Trump and Spicer to get hung up on ratings just like they did with the inauguration “crowds.” They can’t help themselves.

179
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:01:47am

re: #177 Backwoods_Sleuth

Far as I can tell, the reason Beshear was chosen was because of ACA’s huge success in Kentucky.

The “anyone but Bernie” is just sour grapes.

And there remains the simple fact- Bernie Sanders Is Not a Democrat. Bernie’s entitled to his opinions obviously but if he’s not going to join the Democratic Party, why should they give him a platform when they have other people who actually are members of their party like Beshear and Silva.

180
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:01:50am

Beshear was indeed a big supporter of mountaintop removal, which really ticked off a lot of people here.

181
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:01:54am

re: #178 Myron Falwell

Expect Trump and Spicer to get hung up on ratings just like they did with the inauguration “crowds.” They can’t help themselves.

Soros paid people not to watch!

182
A wild WITHAK appeared!  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:02:11am

Way, way too many brain cells and electrons are being wasted on the response speech.

It’s just not that important.

183
Franklin  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:02:16am

He was a Democratic Governor of a Republican strong-hold. He’s not a progressive but we can’t win without a coalition.

184
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:02:58am

re: #183 Franklin

He was a Democratic Governor of a Republican strong-hold. He’s not a progressive but we can’t win without a coalition.

We can only win with the 75 year old white guy from the lily white state that still argues issues as if it’s 1955. //

185
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:03:47am

re: #182 A wild WITHAK appeared!

Way, way too many brain cells and electrons are being wasted on the response speech.

It’s just not that important.

Exactly, Trump is talking about establishing an office of “immigrant crime” which is literally something the Nazis did and the fucking Berners are crying that their guy wasn’t chosen to give the response? Fuck them.

186
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:03:54am

STFU Mitch

187
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:04:18am

re: #186 Backwoods_Sleuth

STFU Mitch

[Embedded content]

What a hack.

188
Franklin  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:05:45am

But, can you mute eggs based on color, asking for a Charles.

189
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:06:00am

re: #186 Backwoods_Sleuth

STFU Mitch

I oppose any policy that does not decrease the surplus population.

190
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:06:43am
191
EmmaAnne  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:08:13am

I am bummed out and kind of embarrassed this morning. Somehow I let myself believe that the political pundits really were waking up and seeing how awful this president and his policies are, but it was just a fit a pique because he was personally giving them swirlies. A moment of relative calm and they are all back to their sycophant ways.

We are going this one alone I fear.

192
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:08:29am

Wingnut siteOne News Now is praising the administration proposal to raise defence spending 10%.

I went to ONN so you didn’t have to, to find out who this “defence expert” is.

It’s the Family Research Council. (really)

193
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:09:08am

re: #192 Anymouse

Wingnut siteOne News Now is praising the administration proposal to raise defence spending 10%.

I went to ONN so you didn’t have to, to find out who this “defence expert” is.

It’s the Family Research Council. (really)

[Embedded content]

The FRC knows as much about the military as it does about families.

194
Citizen K  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:09:50am

re: #170 Interesting Times

Saw this pop up in my FB feed - thoughts?

[Embedded content]

The amount of projection these shithats are managing rivals Dolt 45 and crew, considering how much their standard has devolved to ‘Hell with anyone who is even polite to a Clinton, ever’

Like, holy sweet hell, there’s a fucking reason Beshear was chosen: before Bevin was elected precisely to shit the bed, Kynect was a model for ACA implementation on the state level.

195
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:10:05am
196
EmmaAnne  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:11:21am

re: #141 Weaselone

9. The worst thing Trump has done for the economy is his travel ban and the anti-immigrant policies being enacted by ICE. The repercussions of these will be felt throughout the economy. For starters we’re already seeing declines in flights booked and hotel room occupancy. ICE’s ham handed tactics and high profile examples in the media will likely reinforce the view of the US as hostile to visitors from abroad. This will cut deeply into tourism (including medical) and reduce interest in students from abroad studying in our schools. Longer term, it reduces the brain drain which the US benefits from and will likely prevent certain firms from creating jobs here, as the can more easily get the labor they need elsewhere.

This element is way underestimated. Tourism alone is a big driver of many states’ economies. We will feel the loss keenly. The coming brain drain isn’t as immediate or obvious but it’s heartbreaking for the future of the country.

197
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:11:55am
198
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:13:42am

re: #10 Anymouse

199
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:15:08am

re: #198 MsJ

[Embedded content]

It’s almost like we’re guilty of having standards for the President.

200
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:16:25am

re: #199 HappyWarrior

It’s almost like we’re guilty of having standards for the President.

We had different standards for the candidates, do not expect that to change.

201
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:17:45am

re: #200 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

We had different standards for the candidates, do not expect that to change.

The media did. I actually expected anyone who sought this office to act like a President.

202
makeitstop  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:21:24am

So, is Trump starting to get rid of the orange makeup? I’m seeing some photos where he looks like the pale old man I expect him to look like, like this one.

img.washingtonpost.com

203
KerFuFFler  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:21:43am

I just read this comment at Balloon-Juice and decided to post it here so more people see it:

We’re not supposed to wish ill on others, but if Sessions could just walk a bit in my shoes, or, more accurately, bend over the toilet awhile in my bathroom, maybe he would reconsider the whole, “Good people don’t smoke marijuana,” idea. Marijuana does give me real relief from cancer-related nausea with fewer side effects than some of the other anti-nausea drugs. And he would deny me and others that relief because of the suspicion that somewhere, someone is having fun? There’s someone here who’s not a good person, but it’s not the one smoking marijuana.

204
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:22:14am

re: #94 The Vicious Babushka

What this means: if you reply to a blue-checked account that isn’t following you, using words like “dumbass” “dipshit” “fuck you” “asshole” you will be put in “Twitter jail” for 12 hours.

[Embedded content]

But calling someone a ni**er, sp*c, k*ke, jew motherfucker, sandni**er, Muslim scum, etc., is still perfectly okie dokie, right? God forbid…do not swear, though!

205
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:23:40am

re: #203 KerFuFFler

I just read this comment at Balloon-Juice and decided to post it here so more people see it:

As I’ve said before, it’s empathy or there lack of that allows conservative policies to succeed. Sessions doesn’t consider persons like that writer because it’s not within him to do so. The lack of empathy is something that even the more ‘sane” conservatives haev oto.

206
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:24:07am

re: #102 darthstar

While pundits like Chris CiliIzza are fawning over the “new Trump” this morning - because he read a speech and didn’t sound like the crazed asshole he really is - I can’t help but wonder how his red-meat starved base took it. I suspect a lot of Trumpers were watching their TVs and saying, “Who the hell is this guy?”

I am sure the hard core trumpers were perfectly fine with it. Anything trump says or does is a wink wink nudge nudge because they know what he really means.

207
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:24:42am

re: #204 MsJ

But calling someone a ni**er, sp*c, k*ke, jew motherfucker, sandni**er, Muslim scum, etc., is still perfectly okie dokie, right? God forbid…do not swear, though!

As I expected, Mr. Dorsey’s latest “hate speech” ban is only against those he doesn’t like (those who don’t make him lots of money).

208
Big Beautiful Door  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:25:41am

re: #170 Interesting Times

Saw this pop up in my FB feed - thoughts?

[Embedded content]

Coal has been a third rail of Kentucky politics. And Beshear did establish Kynect and expand Medicaid, giving Kentucky the biggest percentage drop in uninsured in the nation.

209
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:26:07am
210
Big Beautiful Door  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:27:24am

re: #186 Backwoods_Sleuth

STFU Mitch

[Embedded content]

Lyin’ Mitch

211
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:28:52am

Good luck with that. The GOP doesn’t care about veterans, and Mr. Trump only cares to the extent they create photo ops and ratings for him.

212
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:29:48am
213
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:31:25am

Someone mentioned this last night.

214
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:38:09am

Just getting tired of the anti-democratic attitude that the Democratic Party owes Sanders and his supporters. They had a vote. Perez beat Ellison. Perez chose Ellison as his first act as party chair to be vice chair. If Sanders’ supporters actually want to change the Democratic Party, then actually change it from the ground up rather than bitching that the Democratic Party’s voters chose different than you. I’ve had candidates I’ve supported lose in primaries before too. That didn’t mean that they were “attacking” me but I’m not an antidemocratic Berner who thinks the party needs to revolve around my candidates eitehr.

215
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:39:00am
216
BeachDem  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:40:12am

re: #198 MsJ

[Embedded content]

217
FormerDirtDart  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:41:24am
218
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:42:43am

re: #154 Anymouse

Press still getting flak from Gold Star Families, but the MAGAloons are starting to wade into those hashtags.

And I am disapponted in Sons and Daughters In Touch (SDIT), the Vietnam War children’s Gold Star Family group (of which I am not a member) for their slobbering over Trump’s trotting out Mrs. Owens. No you dingbats, I don’t take solace in a bunch of applause from hypocritical politicians.

[Embedded content]

I didn’t watch he speech, but I saw some video of the people standing and clapping for Mrs. Owen this morning.

She did not look at all comfortable with it all, and to me looked like she was about ready to scream out to tell the people to sit down, shut up and just leave me alone.

What a cheap stunt that all was, and that the media is fawning over it is just sick. It again points out they are all about entertainment and ratings and don’t actually care about people and their feelings.

219
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:43:22am

That’s obviously not meant for every person who supported Sanders but Ellision lost legitimately as did Sanders. I mean for fuck sake, it was a close race and Ellision far from being shut off is Perez’s vice chair. But yeah the Democrats sure are “ignoring” the Sanders supporters even though the last platform was the most progressive ever. For a movement who insists it’s not about the candidate, it’s definitely about the candidate. Sorry the Democratic Party isn’t going to revolve around a 75 year old who has no desire to actually join it. And it shouldn’t revolve around any individual. Our responses last night were from a former governor of Kentucky and an immigrant. Their voices mean just as much as Bernie’s if not more so to the party since they’re gasp actually members. If Sanders wants to actually join the Democrats, maybe I’d be more sympathetic to the idea that he’s being “censored” by the Dems but he wants it both ways. He wants to champion Dem accomplishments i.e. debate with Cruz on the merits of ACA but then shit on the Dems when the media needs someone to attack the Dems.

220
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:44:13am

re: #217 FormerDirtDart

[Embedded content]

Exactly, I don’t care if it was the most compelling speech ever, he still fucking lied throughout.

221
Big Beautiful Door  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:44:20am

Dow broke through 21k this morning.

222
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:46:59am

re: #175 HappyWarrior

Sanders cult can be just as obnoxious as Trump’s cult.

Same bucket of worms.

223
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:48:19am

re: #222 ObserverArt

Same bucket of worms.

Different flavor tho. It’s the same unquestioning attitude and the same my guy can do no wrong mindset.

224
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:50:48am

re: #221 Big Beautiful Door

Dow broke through 21k this morning.

…thanks to Donald Trump and his business-friendly policies!

225
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:52:08am
226
Eclectic Cyborg  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:53:08am

re: #225 The Vicious Babushka

And of course these are the same people who viciously mocked Obama for even using a teleprompter.

227
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:53:59am

re: #226 Eclectic Cyborg

And of course these are the same people who viciously mocked Obama for even using a teleprompter.

You couldn’t go a day without hearing a Republican without making a teleprompter crack.

228
Bubblehead II  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:54:48am
229
BeachDem  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:55:03am

re: #225 The Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

HuffPo, as usual, calls in with their main:

BULLY’S BLUFF

Trump Demands Civility From The Same People He Spent An Entire Campaign Smearing… SAME OLD, SAME OLD: Outlines Classic GOP Agenda… But Offers Few Details… Boxes GOP In With Impossible Promises… Literally Says That He Can Fix ‘EVERY PROBLEM’ America Faces…

Oh, and fuck Chris Cillizza—wish the WaPo would dump his sycophant ass.

230
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:55:10am

re: #226 Eclectic Cyborg

And of course these are the same people who viciously mocked Obama for even using a teleprompter.

Mango Shitgoblin was one of them.

231
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:57:05am
232
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:57:30am

re: #218 ObserverArt

I didn’t watch he speech, but I saw some video of the people standing and clapping for Mrs. Owen this morning.

She did not look at all comfortable with it all, and to me looked like she was about ready to scream out to tell the people to sit down, shut up and just leave me alone.

What a cheap stunt that all was, and that the media is fawning over it is just sick. It again points out they are all about entertainment and ratings and don’t actually care about people and their feelings.

Yup. I’m not happy with all the fawining GOP hacks applauding her. Where were they when Donald Trump was bashing Khzir and Ghazala Khan? Oh right, they weren’t the “right” Gold Star Family.

Where were they when the very first casualty in the Iraq War came home? Oh, yeah, he was not the “right” casualty and his family not the “right” Gold Star Family (he was an undocumented immigrant).

They are hypocrites. That whole spectacle sickened me.

233
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:58:10am

re: #217 FormerDirtDart

234
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:59:01am

Expecting the President to not lie is unfair. //

235
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 8:59:46am

re: #213 The Vicious Babushka

Someone mentioned this last night.

[Embedded content]

Was this covered here…maybe the Tweet? This one confused me when I saw it. The hate is strong with this one.

Latina.com - Teacher Tweets Violent Hate

ARIZONA TEACHER BONNIE VERNE SAYS IMMIGRANTS SHOULD BE VIOLENTLY KILLED

Arizona teacher Bonnie Verne resigned from Pardes Jewish Day School in the state’s town of Scottsdale after news erupted that she had written violent and xenophobic tweets calling for the death of immigrants.

MORE: Teacher Tells Latinx Students Their Parents Will be Deported: They “Gotta Go and They Gonna Leave You”

“Why deport? Just kill them,” Verne responded to a tweet by Ann Coulter. “Or we can just put a bullet in their head immediately,” she added later.

Tweets and photo at link.

236
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:02:42am

re: #216 BeachDem

[Embedded content]

I wish someone would ‘fix’ Chris Cillizza. His mind his horribly broken.

But hey…her emails, right Chris?

237
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:05:39am

re: #219 HappyWarrior

That’s obviously not meant for every person who supported Sanders but Ellision lost legitimately as did Sanders. I mean for fuck sake, it was a close race and Ellision far from being shut off is Perez’s vice chair. But yeah the Democrats sure are “ignoring” the Sanders supporters even though the last platform was the most progressive ever. For a movement who insists it’s not about the candidate, it’s definitely about the candidate. Sorry the Democratic Party isn’t going to revolve around a 75 year old who has no desire to actually join it. And it shouldn’t revolve around any individual. Our responses last night were from a former governor of Kentucky and an immigrant. Their voices mean just as much as Bernie’s if not more so to the party since they’re gasp actually members. If Sanders wants to actually join the Democrats, maybe I’d be more sympathetic to the idea that he’s being “censored” by the Dems but he wants it both ways. He wants to champion Dem accomplishments i.e. debate with Cruz on the merits of ACA but then shit on the Dems when the media needs someone to attack the Dems.

You keep forgetting they all think Ellison and Sanders never got a fair shot and it was Clinton and Obama back room deals and heavy control over the machine. So they have their built in excuse and no matter how correct you are, they will go to their graves thinking that way. There will be no changing their thoughts. Locked in.

238
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:07:24am

re: #237 ObserverArt

You keep forgetting they all think Ellison and Sanders never got a fair shot and it was Clinton and Obama back room deals and heavy control over the machine. So they have their built in excuse and no matter how correct you are, they will go to their graves thinking that way. There will be no changing their thoughts. Locked in.

They’re shooting themselves in the foot.

239
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:08:08am

re: #237 ObserverArt

You keep forgetting they all think Ellison and Sanders never got a fair shot and it was Clinton and Obama back room deals and heavy control over the machine. So they have their built in excuse and no matter how correct you are, they will go to their graves thinking that way. There will be no changing their thoughts. Locked in.

That is something they share with Trump supporters. Facts will not penetrate their Wall of Convictions

240
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:08:15am

re: #228 Bubblehead II

[Embedded content]

He’ll come up with the pictures to prove it.

241
Lidane  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:13:12am

Didn’t watch the speech last night since I’m reflexively allergic to Trump, but the transcript reads like a fascist’s wet dream.

Of course now we have the media fawning over this bullshit because Trump read words for an hour without devolving to type. We are so, so screwed in this country.

242
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:14:24am

Maybe Kim Kardashian can be her running mate

243
Clearly a Country For Sick Old Haters  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:16:30am

re: #93 Franklin

About half way through now. Good therapy for a fan of the show.

I’ve been trying to get myself to listen to it, but so far I can’t. Listening to last Friday’s show, knowing Chez had no future as he was recording it was hard enough.

244
FormerDirtDart  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:18:11am

re: #228 Bubblehead II

It’s all great fun to poke the Great Cheeto about his fixation with ratings. But, until someone starts compiling streaming data you really can’t say viewership is down.
Sure, his base likely watched the address on TV, but I would venture that online streaming has probably increased at a higher rate than TV viewership has declined.

245
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:18:49am

re: #242 The Vicious Babushka

They are both famous but one is a very successful media mogul, producer, philanthropist and Medal of Freedom recipient.

246
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:18:50am

re: #244 FormerDirtDart

It’s all great fun to poke the Great Cheeto about his fixation with ratings. But, until someone starts compiling streaming data you really can’t say viewership is down.
Sure, his base likely watched the address on TV, but I would venture that online streaming has probably increased at a higher rate than TV viewership has declined.

247
Franklin  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:21:10am

re: #243 Clearly a Country For Sick Old Haters

I’ve been trying to get myself to listen to it, but so far I can’t. Listening to last Friday’s show, knowing Chez had no future as he was recording it was hard enough.

It’s half sad reminiscing, and half Irish wake. Some good stories were retold by Bob and Ben Cohen.

248
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:22:30am

re: #247 Franklin

It’s half sad reminiscing, and half Irish wake. Some good stories were retold by Bob and Ben Cohen.

That’s why it should be. I think you mentioned that’s how you celebrated your wife’s grandmother. It’s how we celebrated my Nana too. We mourned our loss but we remembered the life lived as they would have wanted it.

249
BeachDem  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:25:04am

re: #238 HappyWarrior

They’re shooting themselves in the foot.

Unfortunately, the ricochet is catching the rest of us.

250
gocart mozart  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:25:07am
251
Lidane  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:25:31am
252
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:25:37am

re: #249 BeachDem

Unfortunately, the ricochet is catching the rest of us.

Yep.

253
Franklin  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:26:10am

re: #250 gocart mozart

Second best take of the day re the joint sessions speech.

Edited to remove the tweet gocart mozart already posted.

254
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:26:12am

re: #250 gocart mozart

[Embedded content]

Yes, Adam he hit a grand slam by literally calling for something that existed in Nazi Germany.

255
jeffreyw  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:26:38am

Imgur


Not up to VB’s awesome challah bread but I’m happy with them.

256
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:27:05am

re: #251 Lidane

[Embedded content]

And don’t forget literally that very day he had blamed the military for Mrs. Owens’ husband losing his life. He’s a pathetic punk.

257
Franklin  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:27:35am

[deleted]

258
electrotek  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:28:22am

Hey guys, I’ve been slammed with work from 2pm onward yesterday and I didn’t watch the State of the Union last night. What did I miss?

259
lockjawcanbefun  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:29:54am
260
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:30:57am

re: #258 electrotek

Hey guys, I’ve been slammed with work from 2pm onward yesterday and I didn’t watch the State of the Union last night. What did I miss?

Trump exploited the SEAL widow, called for an office of immigration crime, and the media loves it because he actually sounded “presidential.”

261
electrotek  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:31:39am

re: #260 HappyWarrior

Trump exploited the SEAL widow, called for an office of immigration crime, and the media loves it because he actually sounded “presidential.”

Jesus Christ, are you fucking kidding me? Now the media loves his ass? Talk about Stockholm Syndrome here.

262
electrotek  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:32:09am

re: #259 lockjawcanbefun

The letter is from a group calling itself the Council of Conservative Citizens of Canada.

But you can’t judge all conservatives based on a few bad nuts is the usual refrain.

263
Bubblehead II  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:32:11am

re: #244 FormerDirtDart

It’s all great fun to poke the Great Cheeto about his fixation with ratings. But, until someone starts compiling streaming data you really can’t say viewership is down.
Sure, his base likely watched the address on TV, but I would venture that online streaming has probably increased at a higher rate than TV viewership has declined.

I’m sure it has. I watched PBO exclusively on streaming video as we ditched Dish a couple of years ago. It was more of a statement that his ego needs to be continuously stroked and anything that slaps it up along side the head is going to upset him and probably set off a tweet storm.

264
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:33:38am

re: #255 jeffreyw

[Embedded content]

Not up to VB’s awesome challah bread but I’m happy with them.

They look great!

265
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:34:12am

re: #238 HappyWarrior

They’re shooting themselves in the foot.

They are shooting all of us in the foot. And they are continuing to do so.

266
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:34:20am

re: #258 electrotek

Hey guys, I’ve been slammed with work from 2pm onward yesterday and I didn’t watch the State of the Union last night. What did I miss?

A shit show.

267
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:34:45am

re: #265 MsJ

They are shooting all of us in the foot. And they are continuing to do so.

They’re focused on trivalities while Trump literally is going to fuck our entire system.

268
Dr Lizardo  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:35:19am

re: #258 electrotek

Hey guys, I’ve been slammed with work from 2pm onward yesterday and I didn’t watch the State of the Union last night. What did I miss?

This.

i.imgur.com

269
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:35:28am

re: #266 The Vicious Babushka

A shit show.

Slight addition.

A shit show from hell.

270
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:36:23am

re: #242 The Vicious Babushka

Maybe Kim Kardashian can be her running mate

[Embedded content]

At least Oprah does have a record of accomplishment. And she is a democrat.

I would put 1000x more faith in her than trump, who is a moron in everything he does.

I don’t know if we will ever get back to having competent people in the top spot. Competence is boring. The “news” people don’t like boring…they don’t even seem to want competent.

No matter how we view this…it is bad for any future US.

271
Timothy Watson  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:37:16am

re: #258 electrotek

Hey guys, I’ve been slammed with work from 2pm onward yesterday and I didn’t watch the State of the Union last night. What did I miss?

I went to sleep.

A decision that I do not regret at all.

272
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:37:40am

I still find myself quoting Yeats Easter 1916. All’s changed, all’s changed utterly.

273
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:37:43am

re: #270 MsJ

At least Oprah does have a record of accomplishment. And she is a democrat.

I would put 1000x more faith in her than trump, who is a moron in everything he does.

I don’t know if we will ever get back to having competent people in the top spot. Competence is boring. The “news” people don’t like boring…they don’t even seem to want competent.

No matter how we view this…it is bad for any future US.

Remember Stephen Harper?

274
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:38:35am

re: #245 JordanRules

They are both famous but one is a very successful media mogul, producer, philanthropist and Medal of Freedom recipient.

And the other is a better marketing media manipulator than trump. I mean, really, Kardashian has a multi-million dollar empire from what? Their marketing skills alone. Not that I want that in government but (and I say this with as much begrudging kudos as possible) one has to admit that what the Kardashian klan has done is quite an accomplishment.

275
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:39:22am

re: #246 Stanley Sea

NBC’s Jacob Rascon just spent morning in TX interviewing dozens of people to gauge reaction to President Trump’s speech. 90% hadn’t seen it

Help me out here…is that good or bad. I can’t make up my mind.

276
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:39:57am

re: #258 electrotek

Hey guys, I’ve been slammed with work from 2pm onward yesterday and I didn’t watch the State of the Union last night. What did I miss?

I did post a bunch of pictures of cute kittens and puppies.

277
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:40:11am

I look at TV ratings as being somewhat the same as on-line ratings. TV ratings are still legit because they are a sample of a segment of America. If they were down, they were down and you probably carry that over to online streaming too.

Add in age, and I am thinking Trump probably did slightly worse on internet media.

Add in re: #246 Stanley Sea and they may not be at all favorable to Trump. When Texas tunes out Trump has problems. Hopefully people are growing tired of him.

Media is going to push him, they give him a lot of coverage and they want the return.

278
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:41:45am

re: #275 MsJ

Help me out here…is that good or bad. I can’t make up my mind.

Tough question, good because he doesn’t get to brag about ratings, bad because they may fall victim to the media convincing them that he was presidential.

279
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:41:48am

re: #261 electrotek

Jesus Christ, are you fucking kidding me? Now the media loves his ass? Talk about Stockholm Syndrome here.

Not Stockholm Syndrome, it’s financially motivated and nothing more.

280
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:42:16am

re: #274 MsJ

Yup, Kris, not Kim is great at modern brand building much like Trump was at the 80’s version. Scratch below the surface and there isn’t much there, there tho. Building and doing actual stuff is harder.

281
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:42:30am

re: #276 The Vicious Babushka

I did post a bunch of pictures of cute kittens and puppies.

I posted guinea pig pictures.

282
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:42:45am

re: #276 The Vicious Babushka

Best part of the night too!!

283
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:43:08am

re: #273 Belafon

Remember Stephen Harper?

Of course. I don’t get the correlation, though. Please explain.

284
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:43:12am

re: #279 MsJ

Not Stockholm Syndrome, it’s financially motivated and nothing more.

So, Stockholm Syndrome, but instead of promises of good treatment, it’s promises of money.

285
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:43:53am

re: #276 The Vicious Babushka

I did post a bunch of pictures of cute kittens and puppies.

Which I, for one, appreciated greatly!

286
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:44:33am

re: #278 HappyWarrior

Tough question, good because he doesn’t get to brag about ratings, bad because they may fall victim to the media convincing them that he was presidential.

Worse, they still don’t care enough to engage.

287
Big Beautiful Door  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:45:27am

re: #262 electrotek

But you can’t judge all conservatives based on a few bad nuts is the usual refrain.

But you can judge all Muslims based on a few bad terrorists.//

288
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:46:22am

re: #283 MsJ

Of course. I don’t get the correlation, though. Please explain.

The point being that I don’t buy the “We’re never going to get competent leadership again.” Canada elected someone that did pretty much what Trump is trying to do. And then he got replaced.

289
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:47:29am

re: #288 Belafon

The point being that I don’t buy the “We’re never going to get competent leadership again.” Canada elected someone that did pretty much what Trump is trying to do. And then he got replaced.

Canada doesn’t have our Electoral College, and has voters that engage in strategic voting.

We have purity ponies.

290
nines09  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:47:32am

re: #258 electrotek

Hey guys, I’ve been slammed with work from 2pm onward yesterday and I didn’t watch the State of the Union last night. What did I miss?

The Emperor’s new clothes.

291
Belafon  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:49:23am

Celestine Omin is a software engineer for Andela. Andela is a startup that seeks to connect tech talent in Africa with U.S. employers like Facebook—which is one of the startup’s backers. Upon arriving at New York City’s JFK airport after a 24-hour flight from Qatar, Mr. Omin was detained for hours by U.S. Customs.

According to Omin, he hadn’t slept in about 24 hours and the questions he was being asked were vague and seemed like someone had Googled “questions to ask a software engineer.”

When he wrote down the answers, the Customs guy said he got them all wrong.

He was eventually let in.

I have never had to balance a binary search tree.

292
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:49:59am
293
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:50:04am

re: #280 JordanRules

Yup, Kris, not Kim is great at modern brand building much like Trump was at the 80’s version. Scratch below the surface and there isn’t much there, there tho. Building and doing actual stuff is harder.

Kris most definitely. Hell, I might vote for HER (I have seen interviews and she seems to be a really nice person) because she is competent as hell. But don’t discount Kim. Her brand is more than the others which is mostly on her. She has the amazing ability to market herself and do it well. I doubt Kris has her fingers in Kim’s entire empire….and that empire is vast.

Honestly, as much as I dislike them, there really has to be a begrudging respect for what they have done. At this point I want to hire Kim or her mother to get people to understand what is happening…to get some truth out there to younger people (many of which are already engaged but nowhere near enough of them, IMHO). I am starting to think we need a Personality vs Personality just to get the democratic message out.

294
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:52:47am

re: #272 HappyWarrior

I still find myself quoting Yeats Easter 1916. All’s changed, all’s changed utterly.

or, fittingly, T.S. Eliot’s Ash Wednesday: Because I do not hope to turn again…

295
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:53:05am

re: #288 Belafon

The point being that I don’t buy the “We’re never going to get competent leadership again.” Canada elected someone that did pretty much what Trump is trying to do. And then he got replaced.

That is wafer thin, nano thin. Harper came out of government out west. He was moderately crooked and did some bad stuff (that trump is mirroring especially in only getting out friendly data) but there is no comparison between trump and Harper or Canada and the US. Canada wasn’t on a precipice of becoming a fascist dictatorship. Not even under Harper. I hated the guy but these two things are not even in the same galaxy let alone ballpark.

296
sagehen  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:53:45am

re: #258 electrotek

Hey guys, I’ve been slammed with work from 2pm onward yesterday and I didn’t watch the State of the Union last night. What did I miss?

He spoke in complete sentences, pronounced most words correctly, didn’t spit or drool, and some of his lies were things we wish were true.

So… improvement?

297
Interesting Times  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:54:14am

re: #293 MsJ

I am starting to think we need a Personality vs Personality just to get the democratic message out.

Absolutely. Swing voters are willfully ignorant and gullible as fuck. What we see as a negative - vague, sweeping, promise-the-moon-and-the-sky rhetoric with no specifics - is the only thing that penetrates their skulls.

298
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:54:17am

re: #291 Belafon

When he wrote down the answers, the Customs guy said he got them all wrong.

He was eventually let in.

I have never had to balance a binary search tree.

My wife tells me she had to do that maybe thirty years ago. There is not a chance she could do it now.

299
makeitstop  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:54:28am

Lusztig nails it again.

300
sagehen  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:55:27am

re: #270 MsJ

At least Oprah does have a record of accomplishment. And she is a democrat.

I would put 1000x more faith in her than trump, who is a moron in everything he does.

I don’t know if we will ever get back to having competent people in the top spot. Competence is boring. The “news” people don’t like boring…they don’t even seem to want competent.

No matter how we view this…it is bad for any future US.

Oprah is big on research; the people she’d appoint would probably be actually qualified for the jobs she’d appoint them to. So there’s that.

301
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:57:22am

re: #293 MsJ

I think we have better personality options as I’m sure you do too. I’ve read pieces on how Kris built and controls the empire. Reading what she did for a broke Bruce Jenner was fascinating. She then took that model and ran with it for Kim then strategically expanded it for the rest of the family. We’ll have to agree to disagree on Kim’s role, I’ve never seen or read anything to suggest she’s had that much of a hand in the strategy and Kris has deftly moved over to Kylie who is becoming the new cash cow.

I like Clooney as a personality option. But I hope we get back to seeing great politicians who understand the system best even as they push to help us change it.

302
Citizen K  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:58:23am

The only nation these assholes will allow us to be a part of is AlienNation. And that makes me want to fucking sob.

303
wrenchwench  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:59:41am

re: #300 sagehen

Oprah is big on research; the people she’d appoint would probably be actually qualified for the jobs she’d appoint them to. So there’s that.

If, as it seems, America is reduced to having a TV personality as president, Oprah is certainly my preference over the half-baked yam.

304
KingKenrod  Mar 1, 2017 • 9:59:49am
305
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:00:11am

re: #301 JordanRules

I think we have better personality options as I’m sure you do too. I’ve read pieces on how Kris built and controls the empire. Reading what she did for a broke Bruce Jenner was fascinating. She then took that model and ran with it for Kim then strategically expanded it for the rest of the family. We’ll have to agree to disagree on Kim’s role, I’ve never seen or read anything to suggest she’s had that much of a hand in the strategy and Kris has deftly moved over to Kylie who is becoming the new cash cow.

I like Clooney as a personality option. But I hope we get back to seeing great politicians who understand the system best even as they push to help us change it.

I love Clooney but he is damaged goods to many because of Darfur and other “liberal” causes. Plus, he is too old for that generation. We need our “Personality” to be of that generation.

306
DuckDharma  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:00:27am

News orgs having no problem with exploiting a grieving widow on TV is less due to guilty conscience and more because that’s also what they do. It’s all perfectly normal.

307
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:01:40am

Unless they are Democrats, liberals, atheists, Muslims, Latinos, Jewish, undocumented immigrants, African-Americans …

308
FormerDirtDart  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:02:51am

“Stay away from the brown acid”

309
wrenchwench  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:03:19am

re: #301 JordanRules

I think we have better personality options as I’m sure you do too. I’ve read pieces on how Kris built and controls the empire. Reading what she did for a broke Bruce Jenner was fascinating. She then took that model and ran with it for Kim then strategically expanded it for the rest of the family. We’ll have to agree to disagree on Kim’s role, I’ve never seen or read anything to suggest she’s had that much of a hand in the strategy and Kris has deftly moved over to Kylie who is becoming the new cash cow.

I like Clooney as a personality option. But I hope we get back to seeing great politicians who understand the system best even as they push to help us change it.

Me right now:

Cardassian
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Kardashian.

310
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:03:29am

re: #305 MsJ

Yikes. That’s gonna be a hard needle to thread. I think his age is fine and I don’t think we need to run away from liberal causes. We just need the right famous person if that is how the game is gonna go. I don’t want it to go that way tho, just to reiterate. :)

311
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:03:41am
312
HappyWarrior  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:05:12am

re: #292 Anymouse

[Embedded content]

Exactly.

313
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:06:01am
314
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:07:15am

Well, here is a book “ripped from today’s headlines”

315
Big Beautiful Door  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:07:25am

re: #295 MsJ

That is wafer thin, nano thin. Harper came out of government out west. He was moderately crooked and did some bad stuff (that trump is mirroring especially in only getting out friendly data) but there is no comparison between trump and Harper or Canada and the US. Canada wasn’t on a precipice of becoming a fascist dictatorship. Not even under Harper. I hated the guy but these two things are not even in the same galaxy let alone ballpark.

I have to say, while Bannon might want to be a dictator, I think this crew is too incompetent to pull it off. Trump himself is like a toddler who occasionally throws tantrums. He doesn’t have the attention span or intellect to form long term goals like the overthrow of democracy. Which isn’t to say they can’t do a lot of damage over the next four years; but I think the amount of damage they can cause will be mitigated by their incompetence. They may not even be able to repeal Obamacare, which has only been the GOP’s #1 priority for the last seven years.

316
ObserverArt  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:07:30am

re: #305 MsJ

I love Clooney but he is damaged goods to many because of Darfur and other “liberal” causes. Plus, he is too old for that generation. We need our “Personality” to be of that generation.

How do you explain the young love for Bernie then?

317
Clearly a Country For Sick Old Haters  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:09:50am

re: #309 wrenchwench

Me right now:

I just started re-watching DS9.

318
wrenchwench  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:09:55am

re: #315 Big Beautiful Door

I have to say, while Bannon might want to be a dictator, I think this crew is too incompetent to pull it off. Trump himself is like a toddler who occasionally throws tantrums. He doesn’t have the attention span or intellect to form long term goals like the overthrow of democracy. Which isn’t to say they can’t do a lot of damage over the next four years; but I think the amount of damage they can cause will be mitigated by their incompetence. They may not even be able to repeal Obamacare, which has only been the GOP’s #1 priority for the last seven years.

Praying for incompetence to ‘succeed’. I’m already an atheist. Where am I?

319
JordanRules  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:10:18am

Wow. Do they have any women on their staff to point out that they didn’t include a representative of over half the population? I mean really.

320
retired cynic  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:10:45am

That Chuck Wendig tweet storm: I love Evil Circus Peanut. That just hits all the right buttons!

321
Colère Tueur de Lapin  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:11:40am

re: #308 FormerDirtDart

The Feline Overlords see things that our puny brains cannot comprehend.

322
wrenchwench  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:11:40am

re: #317 Clearly a Country For Sick Old Haters

I just started re-watching DS9.

Is it available for free on the internet? [more atheist prayer…]

323
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:12:44am

re: #314 The Vicious Babushka

Well, here is a book “ripped from today’s headlines”

[Embedded content]

So, was this the GOP’s playbook for the election?

324
Big Beautiful Door  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:14:23am

re: #317 Clearly a Country For Sick Old Haters

I just started re-watching DS9.

I’m rewatching BSG; just started Season 2.

325
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:15:39am

re: #315 Big Beautiful Door

I have to say, while Bannon might want to be a dictator, I think this crew is too incompetent to pull it off. Trump himself is like a toddler who occasionally throws tantrums. He doesn’t have the attention span or intellect to form long term goals like the overthrow of democracy. Which isn’t to say they can’t do a lot of damage over the next four years; but I think the amount of damage they can cause will be mitigated by their incompetence. They may not even be able to repeal Obamacare, which has only been the GOP’s #1 priority for the last seven years.

However, Bannon is not incompetent. He’ll use whatever sycophant he needs (competent or no) then get rid of them when he is through with them.

He doesn’t need competence. He needs people willing to carry out orders. Between him and the fascist Steve Miller in the administration (along with Sebastian Gorka and propaganda ministers Sean Spicer and Kellyanne Conway) I don’t think competence is the issue here.

326
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:18:13am

re: #315 Big Beautiful Door

I have to say, while Bannon might want to be a dictator, I think this crew is too incompetent to pull it off. Trump himself is like a toddler who occasionally throws tantrums. He doesn’t have the attention span or intellect to form long term goals like the overthrow of democracy. Which isn’t to say they can’t do a lot of damage over the next four years; but I think the amount of damage they can cause will be mitigated by their incompetence. They may not even be able to repeal Obamacare, which has only been the GOP’s #1 priority for the last seven years.

I would agree with you but for the complete cover they are getting from almost all Republicans and apparently the media. When the voice of reason is drowned out anything could happen.

I don’t really think it will happen but I will nonetheless remain vigilant, something every American should be. As someone wrote the other day, this isn’t going to change lives overnight…people will still go to the store, the mall, sporting events, etc., but changes taking place will continue until the shit is done.

Ok, Muslims are not allowed into the US. SUPER! But then it is a software engineer from Africa and a children’s author from Australia and a sports team from Tibet. And oh, looky here, we’re not America any longer.

And this was just one week’s worth of stuff. Stuff that happened while the majority of American’s went on with their daily lives.

327
Oblongatis  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:18:33am

re: #317 Clearly a Country For Sick Old Haters

The best re-watch potential of all the Star Treks. Started re-watching Voyager but discovered so many episodes I didn’t want to see again. With DS9 I think I only skipped one, some Quak goes back to Ferendinade (sp?).

I picked up the full B5 series on DVD its almost as good as when I first watched it.

328
MsJ  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:19:44am

re: #316 ObserverArt

How do you explain the young love for Bernie then?

Bernie is a politician who could (theoretically) make things happen. And he promised every young person their own pony with its own personal rainbow.

Additionally, Bernie turned on those who are engaged. I am talking about getting to people who are not engaged. Tell me some kid who watches E! 24/7 is going to give the first shit about Bernie.

329
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:20:01am

No they don’t. We want the GOP to stop creating more of us. That would be the best respect Republicans could give to Gold Star Families, not an empty gesture of applauding the death of a service member and his grieving widow.

What’s wrong with these folks?

330
Big Beautiful Door  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:20:28am

re: #322 wrenchwench

Is it available for free on the internet? [more atheist prayer…]

Its on Hulu, I think.

331
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:21:24am
332
sagehen  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:21:44am

re: #314 The Vicious Babushka

Well, here is a book “ripped from today’s headlines”

[Embedded content]

Is Ted Allbuery a real person, or is that Malcolm Nance’s pen name?

333
Big Beautiful Door  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:22:23am

re: #326 MsJ

I would agree with you but for the complete cover they are getting from almost all Republicans and apparently the media. When the voice of reason is drowned out anything could happen.

I don’t really think it will happen but I will nonetheless remain vigilant, something every American should be. As someone wrote the other day, this isn’t going to change lives overnight…people will still go to the store, the mall, sporting events, etc., but changes taking place will continue until the shit is done.

Ok, Muslims are not allowed into the US. SUPER! But then it is a software engineer from Africa and a children’s author from Australia and a sports team from Tibet. And oh, looky here, we’re not America any longer.

And this was just one week’s worth of stuff. Stuff that happened while the majority of American’s went on with their daily lives.

I agree that vigilance is required. It makes it a lot harder to end freedom if the people are awake.

334
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:24:27am
335
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:25:02am

This li’l fella looks like a Disney cartoon.

336
Citizen K  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:30:42am

re: #333 Big Beautiful Door

I agree that vigilance is required. It makes it a lot harder to end freedom if the people are awake.

The problem I feel like is being awake doesn’t amount to much when there’s no power left to be leveraged. All the noise and bluster we can make doesn’t amount to much when they can ignore it anyways, sweep away our rights and dignities with a sweep of their hand, and there’s jack all left we can do because the only other option would probably have us shot dead in the streets as an ‘example’.

There’s just so much institutionally enabling this shitshow right now and I feel like we’re helpless to do anything now, no matter how ‘awake’ we are.

337
Shiplord Kirel  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:32:54am

Buzz Aldrin is live now.
6 mins ·
Facebook Mentions
·
I’m ready to go live at #WEDay Illinois speaking to thousands of kids about the value of service and teamwork. Never give up because No Dream Is Too High!

338
Hecuba's daughter  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:34:00am

re: #133 Targetpractice

The low bar on display is exactly the same as we saw during the debates. Remember those, where the first debate came, Comrade Combover managed to get to the end without whipping his dick out and pissing on the audience, and they talked about how “presidential” he looked? Welcome to the next four years: “Yeah, he’s a complete and utter joke in office, but he can tie his shoes unaided so he’s every bit as presidential as Obama was!”

How could Hillary look Presidential in comparison? // After all she was a woman — and how many of those have led this country

339
The Ghost of Senator Incitatus  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:34:52am

re: #329 Anymouse

No they don’t. We want the GOP to stop creating more of us. That would be the best respect Republicans could give to Gold Star Families, not an empty gesture of applauding the death of a service member and his grieving widow.

What’s wrong with these folks?

Basically, they’re aesthetes in denial.

Abstractions and symbols matter more than concrete things. This is present in their “patriotism,” in their religion, in their understanding of things like citizenship and civil liberty.

A big part of this is their understanding of the “soul”—which matters more the meat puppet it occupies. This informs a lot of their get-people-killed policies.

And they have similarly abstract notions like “the troops,” “the family,” “the economy,” in ways that discount the actual experiences of people that fall within those sets. Their belief cannot fail to describe reality, it can only be failed by reality.

I find it particularly grotesque in and around the subjects of war and soldiering, since it involves denying that fighting and killing hurts the people that do it, even before you get to chance of physical injury and death. They also deny that war is messy, confusing, and being in-theater is to be immersed in fear and uncertainty. And all of that is because of the “story” in their head of what war is, et cetera. It’s not even philosophical or studied, it’s sentimental and banal. So when a soldier “fails”—by not being their poetic, sentimental hero—they ignore or cast out that individual. When a conflict “fails” by not making them feel triumphant, they blame all the troops, and any other available scapegoat.

Anything to avoid confronting how their stupid expectations—look no further than the Rumsfeld doctrine, or the larger nation-building construct behind Iraq 2—makes shit worse for the guys enacting the shoddy plan.

340
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:35:34am

re: #336 Citizen K

The problem I feel like is being awake doesn’t amount to much when there’s no power left to be leveraged. All the noise and bluster we can make doesn’t amount to much when they can ignore it anyways, sweep away our rights and dignities with a sweep of their hand, and there’s jack all left we can do because the only other option would probably have us shot dead in the streets as an ‘example’.

There’s just so much institutionally enabling this shitshow right now and I feel like we’re helpless to do anything now, no matter how ‘awake’ we are.

I have not spouted this line for weeks, so here goes: I am afraid that things will have to get a lot worse: catastrophically so, before they can start to get even a little bit better.

I just hope that happens before the damage becomes irreparable.

As it is people are going to die: indirectly through suspension of ACA provisions and directly through vigilante justice and police brutality that goes ignored & unpunished by the authorities.

It all sucks, and it is going to continue to suck for some time now…

341
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:35:40am

Sarah Palin will be upset, as she lost her plum job of Ambassador to Canada to a billionaire’s wife:

342
gocart mozart  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:37:30am
343
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:37:32am

re: #336 Citizen K

The problem I feel like is being awake doesn’t amount to much when there’s no power left to be leveraged. All the noise and bluster we can make doesn’t amount to much when they can ignore it anyways, sweep away our rights and dignities with a sweep of their hand, and there’s jack all left we can do because the only other option would probably have us shot dead in the streets as an ‘example’.

There’s just so much institutionally enabling this shitshow right now and I feel like we’re helpless to do anything now, no matter how ‘awake’ we are.

We cannot stop protesting or working with our community to fight back.

We just cant.

344
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:39:31am

re: #340 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

I have not spouted this line for weeks, so here goes: I am afraid that things will have to get a lot worse: catastrophically so, before they can start to get even a little bit better.

I just hope that happens before the damage becomes irreparable.

As it is people are going to die: indirectly through suspension of ACA provisions and directly through vigilante justice and police brutality that goes ignored unpunished by the authorities.

It all sucks, and it is going to continue to suck for some time now…

When we were in Poland a couple years ago, a person there asked us why we would want to go back to the USA; she seemed to think a civil war was likely sooner than later.

Seems prescient now.

345
Backwoods_Sleuth  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:40:44am
346
Interesting Times  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:41:40am
347
wrenchwench  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:41:48am

re: #340 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

I have not spouted this line for weeks, so here goes: I am afraid that things will have to get a lot worse: catastrophically so, before they can start to get even a little bit better.

I just hope that happens before the damage becomes irreparable.

As it is people are going to die: indirectly through suspension of ACA provisions and directly through vigilante justice and police brutality that goes ignored unpunished by the authorities.

It all sucks, and it is going to continue to suck for some time now…

And here goes back: People are already dying. Look, for instance, at the maternal death rate in Texas. Look at the suicide rate everywhere. I think what might be needed is for those who are not personally in the midst of disaster to recognize and care about those who are. If, for that to happen, it has to be worse than it already is, then catastrophe, here we come.

348
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:43:37am

Did Katy Tur decide to sell out? First last night’s brainless tweet about how presidential Trump sounded when he exploited Mrs. Owens (and failed to respond to the avalanche of veterans and Gold Star Families that called out that exploitation), now this:

349
Franklin  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:45:51am

Great obituary of sorts from Ben Cohen on Chez Pazienza:

In Memory of Chez Pazienza, The Writer I Always Wished I Could Be

…He is survived by countless friends, both his parents, his fiancee, and two daughters — one of whom, Inara, is only 8 years old. He has left the Banter at a time when America needed his voice the most, and has left the internet a less intelligent, less interesting place.

350
The Vicious Babushka  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:47:18am

re: #348 Anymouse

Did Katy Tur decide to sell out? First last night’s brainless tweet about how presidential Trump sounded when he exploited Mrs. Owens (and failed to respond to the avalanche of veterans and Gold Star Families that called out that exploitation), now this:

[Embedded content]

I think Trump’s people might have threatened NBC unless she gets in line.

351
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:50:05am

re: #350 The Vicious Babushka

I think Trump’s people might have threatened NBC unless she gets in line.

And what’s with the red lights on that tweet? Does she think she’s working for Matt Drudge or FOX News?

352
jeffreyw  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:52:56am

Imgur

Imgur

Imgur


A friend of Mrs J’s lost her house to the tornado last night, no one hurt. The house was blown onto the road, in the pic the house debris has been pushed back to clear the road. They were in the basement, there. Not a scratch on them, dog is OK, cat is missing.

353
Big Beautiful Door  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:58:38am

re: #336 Citizen K

The problem I feel like is being awake doesn’t amount to much when there’s no power left to be leveraged. All the noise and bluster we can make doesn’t amount to much when they can ignore it anyways, sweep away our rights and dignities with a sweep of their hand, and there’s jack all left we can do because the only other option would probably have us shot dead in the streets as an ‘example’.

There’s just so much institutionally enabling this shitshow right now and I feel like we’re helpless to do anything now, no matter how ‘awake’ we are.

But the institutions are resisting. Look at how quickly the courts ended Trump’s muslim ban. I wouldn’t be surprised if his next ban gets stopped just as quickly, whenever Trump gets around to issuing it.

354
The Ghost of Senator Incitatus  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:59:20am

re: #347 wrenchwench

Consider: the religious section of the GOP is interested in the spiritual safety of believers rather than the physical safety and wellbeing of human beings. This is present in the dismissal of civil liberty issues regarding freedom of religion—saving people is more important than rule of law—but it’s also present in all the laws “defending” religious beliefs, and anti-LBGT laws, and abortion laws.

All the things they view as wrong with America are moral contagions; corrupting, and thus not “safe” to be matters of personal choice. Among the apocalypse-minded, individual deaths are less important that the spiritual culmination that is the Rapture and the End Times. As propserity gospel and Word of Faith notions expand, spiritual purity is associated more with material success, so those that are struggling are spiritually unworthy.

Souls matter more than people.

Further consider: the economic wing of the GOP and its financial backers operates with the assumption that human capital is of little value. Workers don’t contribute to the success of a business, only great men at the top do. Hence it is a threat to the order of the nation and the world when laborers attempt to negotiate the terms of their labor. Safety in the workplace is luxury; safety from the consequences of hazards (pollution, contamination, exposure on the job) is acceptable loss and/or “part of the job” (even if it’s not part of the job).

This devaluation of people further extends to the exploitation of both illegal labor inside the US, and exploitative labor outside the US.

People at the bottom of the economy don’t matter, because if they did, it would cost.

Final consideration: from a variety of cultural sources, the GOP implicitly accepts a hierarchy of human importance. Race, gender, sexuality, class are all variables.

Some people matter more than others.

As such: do they care people are dying? Fuck no.

355
John Carter  Mar 1, 2017 • 10:59:46am

re: #305 MsJ

I love Clooney but he is damaged goods to many because of Darfur and other “liberal” causes. Plus, he is too old for that generation. We need our “Personality” to be of that generation.

America Ferrera

356
Citizen K  Mar 1, 2017 • 11:00:50am

re: #353 Big Beautiful Door

But the institutions are resisting. Look at how quickly the courts ended Trump’s muslim ban. I wouldn’t be surprised if his next ban gets stopped just as quickly, whenever Trump gets around to issuing it.

That’s the one institution left, it feels, and I don’t know if it’s going to be that anymore once Gorsuch is confirmed, like he doubtlessly will be.

357
John Carter  Mar 1, 2017 • 11:01:18am

re: #315 Big Beautiful Door

I have to say, while Bannon might want to be a dictator, I think this crew is too incompetent to pull it off. Trump himself is like a toddler who occasionally throws tantrums. He doesn’t have the attention span or intellect to form long term goals like the overthrow of democracy. Which isn’t to say they can’t do a lot of damage over the next four years; but I think the amount of damage they can cause will be mitigated by their incompetence. They may not even be able to repeal Obamacare, which has only been the GOP’s #1 priority for the last seven years.

I would add “and too old”.

358
Anymouse  Mar 1, 2017 • 11:01:28am
359
Big Beautiful Door  Mar 1, 2017 • 11:04:11am

re: #356 Citizen K

That’s the one institution left, it feels, and I don’t know if it’s going to be that anymore once Gorsuch is confirmed, like he doubtlessly will be.

He just replaces Scalia; Kennedy is still the swing vote.

360
wrenchwench  Mar 1, 2017 • 11:12:42am

re: #354 The Ghost of Senator Incitatus

…People at the bottom of the economy don’t matter, because if they did, it would cost.

Final consideration: from a variety of cultural sources, the GOP implicitly accepts a hierarchy of human importance. Race, gender, sexuality, class are all variables.

Some people matter more than others.

As such: do they care people are dying? Fuck no.

I know they don’t care. But in the line ‘gonna have to get worse before it gets better’, are there people who don’t care enough now who will care when things get worse? Do they need to before things can get any better?

361
Stanley Sea  Mar 1, 2017 • 11:25:54am

re: #352 jeffreyw

[Embedded content]

A friend of Mrs J’s lost her house to the tornado last night, no one hurt. The house was blown onto the road, in the pic the house debris has been pushed back to clear the road. They were in the basement, there. Not a scratch on them, dog is OK, cat is missing.

Wow. They are very lucky. Hope kitty is found.


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