Scaramucci Cites “Anonymous” Source to Dismiss Russian Hacking, Then Admits the Source Was… Donald Trump

Way beyond bizarre at this point
Politics • Views: 38,217

YouTube

I didn’t think it was possible, but the new White House communications director, Anthony Scaramucci, is even more of a dishonest clown than Sean Spicer. Where does Trump find these guys?

Here’s “the Mooch,” as he’s not-so-affectionately being called, telling Jake Tapper that “somebody said to me yesterday, I won’t tell you who, that if the Russians actually hacked this situation and spilled out those emails, you would have never seen it.”

Less than a minute later, Scaramucci admits his “anonymous” source for that claim was actually Donald Trump.

And then the Mooch goes on to describe Trump’s position on the Russian election hacking: “He basically said to me, ‘Hey you know, this is, maybe they did it, maybe they didn’t do it.’”

So despite the fact that even Trump’s own appointed intelligence chiefs are unanimous that Russia was behind the hacking, he still refuses to accept it.

Scaramucci then explained why Trump is still hanging on to this bizarre and disturbing refusal to accept reality: because it would “delegitimize” his election victory.

Scaramucci suggested Trump does not yet accept the conclusion of the intelligence community and questioned the media’s pursuit of the story, saying it tarnished Trump’s victory in November.

“The mainstream media position on this, that they interfered in the election,” Scaramucci said. “It actually in his mind, what are you guys suggesting? You’re going to delegitimize his victory?”

Just one more piece of evidence that the White House is in the tiny hands of an unrestrained narcissistic egomaniac, unconcerned about what’s good for the nation. And he’s hiring shameless groveling sycophants like Scaramucci to spread his self-interested propaganda.

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265 comments
1
jaunte  Jul 23, 2017 • 11:12:23am
2
jaunte  Jul 23, 2017 • 11:14:19am

It’s dangerous when the White House is claiming that it’s impossible for our intelligence services to detect what the Russians might be doing.

3
makeitstop  Jul 23, 2017 • 11:14:37am

Two days in and I’m tired of this hack already.

The car dealerships in Queens are crawling with guys just like him. And I wouldn’t buy a car from them, either.

4
Eclectic Cyborg  Jul 23, 2017 • 11:17:54am

re: #3 makeitstop

Two days in and I’m tired of this hack already.

The car dealerships in Queens are crawling with guys just like him. And I wouldn’t buy a car from them, either.

He may end up being worse than Spicer.

5
Charles Johnson  Jul 23, 2017 • 11:18:47am
6
jaunte  Jul 23, 2017 • 11:20:24am

He’s so effective, Trump doesn’t even use a communications shop.

7
Citizen K  Jul 23, 2017 • 11:22:24am

re: #4 Eclectic Cyborg

He may end up being worse than Spicer.

Doubly so by how much the media swooned over just how well he lied, knowing full well it was full of shit but caring more about how expertly it was delivered.

9
Unshaken Defiance  Jul 23, 2017 • 11:26:11am

Iirc there is a name for the logic/ critical thinking fail of presuming omniscient skills or abilities to the opponent. I forget the term right now.

Edit Found it, Divine Fallacy

10
Eclectic Cyborg  Jul 23, 2017 • 11:26:24am

re: #7 Citizen K

Doubly so by how much the media swooned over just how well he lied, knowing full well it was full of shit but caring more about how expertly it was delivered.

Right. Scaramucci is slicker and more polished than Spicer. Same lies, more elegant package.

11
Semper Fi  Jul 23, 2017 • 11:49:16am

re: #10 Eclectic Cyborg

Right. Scaramucci is slicker and more polished than Spicer. Same lies, more elegant package.

After Trumps injection of politics at the commissioning ceremony of USS Ford (CVN-78) I would almost expect Trump to begin appearing before the Military in uniform but, thank goodness, his hero Putin does not wear one. He might then look more elegant provided his tailors could find a Moo-Moo large enough to work with.

12
wheat-dogg  Jul 23, 2017 • 11:56:17am

re: #11 Semper Fi

After Trumps injection of politics at the commissioning ceremony of USS Ford (CVN-78) I would almost expect Trump to begin appearing before the Military in uniform but, thank goodness, his hero Putin does not wear one. He might then look more elegant provided his tailors could find a Moo-Moo large enough to work with.

If Trump starts to adopt quasi-military garb, then we’re definitely heading toward the African dictator style of leader.

But don’t take my word for it.

Youtube Video

13
Dave In Austin  Jul 23, 2017 • 11:59:48am

Again, Just because…

14
dangerman  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:00:43pm

re: #5 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

I don’t think those words mean what you think they mean

15
Semper Fi  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:05:09pm

re: #11 Semper Fi

After Trumps injection of politics at the commissioning ceremony of USS Ford (CVN-78) I would almost expect Trump to begin appearing before the Military in uniform but, thank goodness, his hero Putin does not wear one. He might then look more elegant provided his tailors could find a Moo-Moo large enough to work with.

Each week with the Trump administration the so called “Can-You-Top-This” is exceeded. The forthcoming lies are so predictable their potential are sometimes mentioned by lizards on LGF.
I think this is an amazing time in our history. I hope we can hand future generations a country that was at least as good, if not better, than we had.

16
dangerman  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:06:24pm
Scaramucci suggested Trump does not yet accept the conclusion of the intelligence community and questioned the media’s pursuit of the story, saying it tarnished Trump’s victory in November.

“The mainstream media position on this, that they interfered in the election,” Scaramucci said. “It actually in his mind, what are you guys suggesting? You’re going to delegitimize his victory?”

this whole thinking is nuts -

they arent bystanders waiting on a conclusion

they *participated*

17
makeitstop  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:10:12pm

Wait, wait. They’re not even going to swear these assholes in? WTAF?

18
Semper Fi  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:11:58pm

re: #15 Semper Fi

Each week with the Trump administration the so called “Can-You-Top-This” is exceeded. The forthcoming lies are so predictable their potential are sometimes mentioned by lizards on LGF.
I think this is an amazing time in our history. I hope we can hand future generations a country that was at least as good, if not better, than we had.

And I would even like to amend this: A country as good as we had is not good enough…we’re better than that.

19
PhillyPretzel  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:12:32pm

re: #17 makeitstop

Not surprised. In his mind he will not be officially lying because he was not sworn in. But any lie is a lie by definition.

20
Semper Fi  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:14:45pm

re: #12 wheat-dogg

If Trump starts to adopt quasi-military garb, then we’re definitely heading toward the African dictator style of leader.

But don’t take my word for it.

[Embedded content]

Video

Thanks. That was enjoyable…and in uniform ha, ha.

21
Eclectic Cyborg  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:24:16pm

re: #17 makeitstop

Wait, wait. They’re not even going to swear these assholes in? WTAF?

[Embedded content]

Wait, aren’t these assholes all about swearing oaths on flags and Constitutions and Bibles and stuff?

22
dangerman  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:25:32pm

here’s a quick thought experiment:

having heard what comes out of trump’s mouth, seen the NYT & Holt interviews, the tweets, imagine trump discussing a policy position. in depth. foreign, domestic, i don’t care. a singular one, his choice. at length. with on topic, detailed follow ups.

coherently, with clarity and understanding.
multiple hours? an hour? 30 minutes? 15?

even just five minutes demonstrating nuanced knowledge about some issue

you can’t, can you?

23
PhillyPretzel  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:25:35pm

re: #21 Eclectic Cyborg

Especially bibles.

24
FormerDirtDart  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:27:00pm

I suspect we should expect a Terrorism tweet from Donny soon…

“… A Jordanian was killed on Sunday and an Israeli seriously wounded at Israel’s embassy in Amman, a security source said.

Local media the Jordanian died after a fight with an Israeli inside the Israeli embassy in Amman.

The quarrel broke out between the two for unknown reasons, leaving the Jordanian with two gunshots in the shoulder and the Israeli stabbed in the chest.

“A Jordanian man was killed and an Israeli man wounded and is in a serious condition following an incident inside the (Israeli) embassy” in the residential Rabiyeh neighbourhood of Amman, a security source, who declined to be named or give further details. …”

25
sizzzzlerz  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:31:06pm

re: #3 makeitstop

Two days in and I’m tired of this hack already.

The car dealerships in Queens are crawling with guys just like him. And I wouldn’t buy a car from them, either.

Great analogy. The only difference between Moochi and car dealers is he wears $5000 Armani suits and $1000 loafers while they buy suits off the rack at Sears. Otherwise, they could swap jobs and you couldn’t tell the difference.

26
wrenchwench  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:51:12pm
27
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:56:08pm

re: #26 wrenchwench

Enjoying Zebra Falls in beautiful Oak Creek

I used to live on the banks of Oak Creek in Sedona, AZ

28
FormerDirtDart  Jul 23, 2017 • 12:57:45pm

The Times probably shouldn’t hold their breath…

29
PhillyPretzel  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:00:40pm

re: #28 FormerDirtDart

At least Ms Gold put fox and friends in their place with lower case.

30
KingKenrod  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:05:41pm
31
Hecuba's daughter  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:07:54pm

re: #28 FormerDirtDart

The Times probably shouldn’t hold their breath…

[Embedded content]

Trump, his administration, and his supporters are incapable of true apologies. They will never admit to any error or failing. Of course, given that almost everything they do is either an error or failing, they would have to spend full time on apologies.

32
wrenchwench  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:15:17pm

re: #30 KingKenrod

[“People call me mooch” - anthony scaramucci before anyone ever called him mooch.]

We adopted a feral cat we called Mooch. The name stuck to the cat, but it didn’t start as a compliment.

33
FormerDirtDart  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:19:12pm
34
Charles Johnson  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:21:17pm

There he goes again.

35
PhillyPretzel  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:25:44pm

Someone should remind him of the following quote: “Do unto others as you want done unto you.”

36
KGxvi  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:25:46pm

re: #34 Charles Johnson

He’s aware that the Republicans lost seats in both the House and the Senate to go with his stumbling past the finish line? Right?

37
KGxvi  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:26:12pm

re: #35 PhillyPretzel

Someone should remind him of the following quote: “Do unto others as you want done unto you.”

Insert pee tape joke here

38
ObserverArt  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:26:41pm

re: #34 Charles Johnson

There he goes again.

[Embedded content]

Golf round must be over, burnt steaks consumed. Time to mope around the White House to catch up on the news and complain about it.

39
PhillyPretzel  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:27:43pm

re: #37 KGxvi

lol. The golden shower. ::: snicker :::

40
Charles Johnson  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:28:27pm
41
Belafon  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:29:49pm

Harry Potter would be 35 today.

42
Eclectic Cyborg  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:30:18pm

re: #34 Charles Johnson

Wow. We now have a President insulting politicians from his own party.

43
PhillyPretzel  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:30:59pm

re: #42 Eclectic Cyborg

Yes. It has already started.

44
Belafon  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:33:36pm

re: #11 Semper Fi

After Trumps injection of politics at the commissioning ceremony of USS Ford (CVN-78) I would almost expect Trump to begin appearing before the Military in uniform but, thank goodness, his hero Putin does not wear one. He might then look more elegant provided his tailors could find a Moo-Moo large enough to work with.

If he does, we mock him all over the place. An entire SNL episode making fun of him would ne a start. And veterans need to make a big stink.

45
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:34:00pm

re: #40 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

I actually know right where that intersection is. It’s up by the train tracks I ride whenever I have to transit from Minneapolis to St. Paul and back.

46
wheat-dogg  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:35:48pm

re: #43 PhillyPretzel

Yes. It has already started.

He’s being defensive, and as usual vigorously denying something, which means it’s probably true.

47
wrenchwench  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:40:41pm
48
PhillyPretzel  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:42:10pm

re: #47 wrenchwench

Caption: It tastes better from my paw. That is why I do it.

49
makeitstop  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:44:32pm

re: #34 Charles Johnson

It’s very sad that Republicans, even some that were carried over the line on my back, do very little to protect their President.

I’m starting to think that he won’t feel ‘protected’ until a Congressman steps up and ‘confesses’ to the whole collusion thing and absolves Trump of his obvious guilt.

50
Renaissance_Man  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:47:02pm

re: #34 Charles Johnson

There he goes again.

[Embedded content]

Fox and Friends must have said something this morning about certain Republicans.

51
FormerDirtDart  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:52:28pm
52
ObserverArt  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:52:53pm

re: #49 makeitstop

I’m starting to think that he won’t feel ‘protected’ until a Congressman steps up and ‘confesses’ to the whole collusion thing and absolves Trump of his obvious guilt.

Devin Nunes?

53
lawhawk  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:56:09pm

re: #3 makeitstop

Two days in and I’m tired of this hack already.

The car dealerships in Queens are crawling with guys just like him. And I wouldn’t buy a car from them, either.

Car dealers in Queens are more trustworthy than any of the people working for Trump admin in any capacity.

54
451_Montag  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:56:18pm

55
Belafon  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:57:14pm

re: #54 451_Montag

“Aren’t buck-stops those things people go to on vacation?” - Trump

56
jhncsy  Jul 23, 2017 • 1:57:30pm

re: #34 Charles Johnson

Worthless little shit won’t do a damn thing. The Republicans won’t turn on Trump because they know he’s not a threat, but I’d love it if Trump actually tried to punish the rest of the GOP.

57
thecommodore  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:01:45pm
58
stpaulbear  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:02:00pm

re: #40 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

That’s on the corner of University Avenue and Snelling Avenue in the Midway district of St. Paul (midway between StP and Mpls). That’s the busiest intersection in St. Paul.

I hope that more of them pop up all over.

59
Patricia Kayden  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:03:44pm

re: #2 jaunte

It’s dangerous when the White House is claiming that it’s impossible for our intelligence services to detect what the Russians might be doing.

I’ve never before heard of an administration going against the findings of the Intelligence Community. Why should we believe Trump over several Intelligence agencies? Trump has proven himself to be a liar.

60
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:05:55pm

Re eclipse

Rh9zUQQ4bpuIV7nRxQ6joQBEm0H03LrlRdcyzqeFPXDpF22lpDtpYmf1GgRBMaht9AVsZwf1t90WXmG9zdb7qAqdIwvhzEEhnc54p8QrXaQaMMFWWIukA3ur9FLrtQDzNJphmxgxB13fo2Pdn/lfcVUMYYZrjbvIM/DqDh5AtjlyzeFhmNF8x0gpz2rgHVUCZFPtZ48ZxaU3x8/JfZYnlLIchs0r4fD81BeBIBb2f75+Tiza6RIsovhhHxHSlGlmHIfnSXBLZozQchRgdjm6eDoSqQjKLTVuP8XTuuEVYpQ=

61
sagehen  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:06:52pm

re: #59 Patricia Kayden

I’ve never before heard of an administration going against the findings of the Intelligence Community. Why should we believe Trump over several Intelligence agencies? Trump has proven himself to be a liar.

Sure you have.

Like when the IC said Saddam wasn’t, in fact, pursuing weapons of mass destruction. But Bush and Cheney didn’t accept that.

62
thecommodore  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:11:20pm
63
Patricia Kayden  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:25:32pm

re: #61 sagehen

True. Forgot that one. Republicans have a hard time accepting intelligence which doesn’t serve their purposes, I guess.

64
wrenchwench  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:28:59pm

re: #62 thecommodore

[It’s very sad that Republicans, even some that were carried over the line on my back, do very little to protect their President.]

He really should have that line on his back checked out.

65
stpaulbear  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:36:19pm

Gah. Milo’s new book is #1 at Barnes & Noble. Has to be bulk orders.

66
retired cynic  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:36:45pm

re: #65 stpaulbear

Gah. Milo’s new book is #1 at Barnes & Noble. Has to be bulk orders.

That’s SICK!

67
Hecuba's daughter  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:49:54pm

re: #60 Decatur Deb

Re eclipse

[Embedded content]

I will be in Marion Illinois or some place nearby to watch.

68
retired cynic  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:51:20pm

re: #67 Hecuba’s daughter

I will be in Marion Illinois or some place nearby to watch.

Mt. Vernon, Illinois is where I was born, so I figured I would drive back down into that area to watch.

69
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:56:36pm

re: #67 Hecuba’s daughter

I will be in Marion Illinois or some place nearby to watch.

re: #68 retired cynic

Mt. Vernon, Illinois is where I was born, so I figured I would drive back down into that area to watch.

The event offers a logical chance for nation-wide meetups for Lizards so inclined. Be sure to keep the time a secret.

70
Hecuba's daughter  Jul 23, 2017 • 2:58:28pm

re: #68 retired cynic

Mt. Vernon, Illinois is where I was born, so I figured I would drive back down into that area to watch.

I’m actually staying in Mt. Vernon but we have to travel several miles to see the full eclipse. Hotel prices are astronomical in Marion.

71
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:01:15pm

Top Ten Spots, per Sky & Telescope

skyandtelescope.com

72
PhillyPretzel  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:01:17pm

In Philly we will only see a partial eclipse. And I have used up my annual leave days and my vacation days are tied up for September.

73
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:01:55pm

re: #70 Hecuba’s daughter

Hotel prices are astronomical in Marion.

Well, that’s only fitting.

74
Jay C  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:10:42pm

re: #70 Hecuba’s daughter

Hotel prices are astronomical in Marion.

ISWYDT…. ;)

75
mmmirele  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:18:26pm

re: #48 PhillyPretzel

Caption: It tastes better from my paw. That is why I do it.

I have one of those cats. She’s a left paw drinker. I have one of those “fountain” watering bowls, looks like a planter pot but has water in it and the water is circulating via a pump. She will get her face in the water to make sure it’s water, and then she switches to drinking with her paw. Edit: She’s still a cat about it. She doesn’t like me watching her do it.

76
BeachDem  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:20:36pm

re: #71 Decatur Deb

Top Ten Spots, per Sky & Telescope

skyandtelescope.com

Hmmm-Charleston made the top 10 and NMB is on the map path. I’m right in the middle of them, so I guess I’ll go the five blocks and see what I can see.

Damn—now I have to find out about the special glasses and stuff.

77
CleverToad  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:24:50pm

re: #71 Decatur Deb

Top Ten Spots, per Sky & Telescope

skyandtelescope.com

Dang, should’ve booked for Alliance and Carhenge!
We have motel reservations in Hastings NE and hope to be able to catch a shuttle out to view the eclipse from the Crane Trust Nature Center.
speaking of which I need to mail a check tomorrow to the folks running said shuttle… low tech operation, they don’t take online reservations or credit cards.

78
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:27:46pm

re: #77 CleverToad

Dang, should’ve booked for Alliance and Carhenge!
We have motel reservations in Hastings NE and hope to be able to catch a shuttle out to view the eclipse from the Crane Trust Nature Center.
speaking of which I need to mail a check tomorrow to the folks running said shuttle… low tech operation, they don’t take online reservations or credit cards.

This guy has done a great in-depth nationwide look at traffic expectations—like cloud cover and terrain one of the make or break planning elements.

greatamericaneclipse.com

79
wrenchwench  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:29:46pm

re: #75 mmmirele

I have one of those cats. She’s a left paw drinker. I have one of those “fountain” watering bowls, looks like a planter pot but has water in it and the water is circulating via a pump. She will get her face in the water to make sure it’s water, and then she switches to drinking with her paw. Edit: She’s still a cat about it. She doesn’t like me watching her do it.

One of my cats is territorial about the fountain. He chases his brother away from it, especially if I just cleaned it. No paw-dipping, though.

80
FormerDirtDart  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:33:35pm

Hmmm…
Poles not pleased with legislative changes to the courts

81
nines09  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:35:09pm

re: #76 BeachDem

#14 welder’s glass lens…..

#14 shade welders glass lens

You can frame them however you wish. Duct tape. Can’t beat the price. That is the recommended darkness.

The Sun can be viewed directly only when using filters specifically designed for this purpose. Such filters usually have a thin layer of aluminum, chromium or silver deposited on their surfaces that attenuates ultraviolet, visible, and infrared energy. One of the most widely available filters for safe solar viewing is a number 14 welder’s glass, available through welding supply outlets. More recently, aluminized mylar has become a popular, inexpensive alternative. Mylar can easily be cut with scissors and adapted to any kind of box or viewing device. A number of sources for solar filters are listed below. No filter is safe to use with any optical device (i.e. - telescope, binoculars, etc.) unless it has been specifically designed for that purpose. Experienced amateur and professional astronomers may also use one or two layers of completely exposed and fully developed black-and-white film, provided the film contains a silver emulsion. Since all developed color films lack silver, they are always unsafe for use in solar viewing

82
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:36:04pm

re: #80 FormerDirtDart

Hmmm…
Poles not pleased with legislative changes to the courts

[Embedded content]

It’s almost like they cared…

83
Eclectic Cyborg  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:38:13pm

re: #65 stpaulbear

Gah. Milo’s new book is #1 at Barnes & Noble. Has to be bulk orders.

Not just Barnes and Noble. Also, check out the sponsored ad along with it:

84
mmmirele  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:39:51pm

For those of you who can’t just pick up and run off to the umbra of the eclipse, you’ll still have a show at home. Again, DON’T LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN. But what you will notice, and which is really, really cool, is that as the partial eclipse occurs (if you’re in the partial eclipse zone), you’ll notice that shadows will turn into crescents. The temperature can actually cool down, even in a partial eclipse zone. But again, DON’T LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN. Enjoy all the wildlife getting confused and the shadows becoming crescents.

85
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:41:10pm

re: #81 nines09

#14 welder’s glass lens…..

#14 shade welders glass lens

You can frame them however you wish. Duct tape. Can’t beat the price. That is the recommended darkness.

The Sun can be viewed directly only when using filters specifically designed for this purpose. Such filters usually have a thin layer of aluminum, chromium or silver deposited on their surfaces that attenuates ultraviolet, visible, and infrared energy. One of the most widely available filters for safe solar viewing is a number 14 welder’s glass, available through welding supply outlets. More recently, aluminized mylar has become a popular, inexpensive alternative. Mylar can easily be cut with scissors and adapted to any kind of box or viewing device. A number of sources for solar filters are listed below. No filter is safe to use with any optical device (i.e. - telescope, binoculars, etc.) unless it has been specifically designed for that purpose. Experienced amateur and professional astronomers may also use one or two layers of completely exposed and fully developed black-and-white film, provided the film contains a silver emulsion. Since all developed color films lack silver, they are always unsafe for use in solar viewing

We bought some welding goggles from Harbor Freight, but found that they are only an optical density of 10. Had to rush and order a bunch of the cheapo cardboard glasses from Amazon. I’m trying out a 3” Meade scope in the eyepiece projection mode. Testing here to see if it’s useful enough to take along. (Borrowed Daughter1’s turkey blind for a dark target chamber.)

86
nines09  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:45:59pm

re: #85 Decatur Deb

Dirt cheap safe alternative. Just find a local welding supply place. Some lens’ are bigger. Simple, safe and cheap. Get two if you are dropsy…..

87
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:47:43pm

re: #86 nines09

Dirt cheap safe alternative. Just find a local welding supply place. Some lens’ are bigger. Simple, safe and cheap. Get two if you are dropsy…..

There is an ISO standard that the Amazon vendor meets. They were only about $15 for 5 pairs.

88
nines09  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:49:20pm

re: #87 Decatur Deb

There is an ISO standard that the Amazon vendor meets. They were only about $15 for 5 pairs.

Can’t beat that.

89
wrenchwench  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:49:36pm
90
BigPapa  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:49:58pm

Photoshopped kid’s book titles.

Taco Bell Destroyed My Anus

91
PhillyPretzel  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:51:40pm

And of course amazon has eclipse glasses too.
amazon.com

92
nines09  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:54:34pm

re: #87 Decatur Deb

There is an ISO standard that the Amazon vendor meets. They were only about $15 for 5 pairs.

Just remember to be the first in your viewing group to start screaming “MY EYES MY EYES MY AAAIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE..” and then run away…..
Circle back and have your wife pick you up…Film at 11…

93
Shiplord Kirel, live from behind wingnut lines  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:56:04pm

Anyone else remember how crazy the yokels and inbreds cultural conservative population went over the AIDS epidemic in the 80s? It really was serious stuff to be sure, but many members of the RWNJ community firmly believed, for example, that you could get it from swimming in the same chlorinated pool as a known patient. This was in fact how I finally put a stop to my superstitious idiot co-workers pestering me for invitations to swim at my apartment complex. I told them one of the residents was HIV positive and I heard no more about the pool. In fact, some of the nitwits were afraid to set foot in the complex at all, lest they pick up gay cooties from the sidewalk.

94
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:56:47pm

re: #92 nines09

Just remember to be the first in your viewing group to start screaming “MY EYES MY EYES MY AAAIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE..” and then run away…..
Circle back and have your wife pick you up…Film at 11…

I’m going to be too busy counting the people photographing it with their cameras in “flash” mode.

95
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:58:41pm

re: #94 Decatur Deb

I’m going to be too busy counting the people photographing it with their cameras in “flash” mode.

I remember standing at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon…you could see across to the South Rim and make out the flashes of them tourists photographing it with their cameras…

96
Barefoot Grin  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:58:54pm

Today my wife and I decided to go for a hike on a trail system with four different trail heads. I put the info into my google maps for the one I wanted, but when we turned down the road we saw a sign that read “Your GPS is wrong. This is not a through road. Turn around.” Wife said, “there’s a guy standing in his yard; ask him.”

Guy standing in yard looked very much like the kind of guy who would post a sign saying “Your GPS is wrong. This is not a through road. Turn around.”

And so instead of the nice loop I had planned we found a good in and out trail a few miles away.

“Live Free or Die Trying!”

97
PhillyPretzel  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:59:41pm

re: #94 Decatur Deb

I will be the one who will view it on a black piece of paper while the eclipse will be happening over my shoulder. I will have those glasses on too.

98
nines09  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:59:49pm

re: #94 Decatur Deb

I’m going to be too busy counting the people photographing it with their cameras in “flash” mode.

An event such as this in this day and age……I hope some people somewhere dress up as Aztecs with bloody hearts in one hand and a dagger in the other screaming at the sun….This is a golden opportunity for…

99
Ace-o-aces  Jul 23, 2017 • 3:59:56pm

re: #65 stpaulbear

Gah. Milo’s new book is #1 at Barnes & Noble. Has to be bulk orders.

It is. Question is who is doing the bulk ordering? NAMBLA?

100
Jay C  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:01:49pm

re: #90 BigPapa

Photoshopped kid’s book titles.

Taco Bell Destroyed My Anus

And interestingly, one of the latest ones is still credited to “Franklin W. Dixon”. One of the most durable phony house names of cheap commercial fiction of the 20th Century!

Literary traditionalism!!.

101
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:08:54pm

re: #98 nines09

An event such as this in this day and age……I hope some people somewhere dress up as Aztecs with bloody hearts in one hand and a dagger in the other screaming at the sun….This is a golden opportunity for…

An idea for the grandson’s show-and-tell. (Damn school won’t let him out of 1st grade to go with us.)

102
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:11:37pm

re: #97 PhillyPretzel

I will be the one who will view it on a black piece of paper while the eclipse will be happening over my shoulder. I will have those glasses on too.

Used to do sunspot counts with the kids using a surplus 8X elbow scope. Just let it project a nice 18 inch circle on a (white) poster board through an open window.

103
dangerman  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:12:19pm

re: #16 dangerman

I reiterate

This whole line of thinking is nuts -

they arent innocent bystanders waiting on an investigatory conclusion

they *participated*

104
dangerman  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:19:43pm

re: #34 Charles Johnson

There he goes again.

[Embedded content]It’s very sad that Republicans, even some that were carried over the line on my back, do very little to protect their President

You lost by 3m votes. Congress makeup would be the same whether you won the ec or not

To overstate the effin obvious

105
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:21:00pm

re: #104 dangerman

You lost by 3m votes. Congress makeup would be the same whether you won the ec or not

To overstate the effin obvious

Yeah. pretty sure Trump had a negative impact on Congressional Republicans. Certainly is the case now.

106
wheat-dogg  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:25:46pm

re: #84 mmmirele

For those of you who can’t just pick up and run off to the umbra of the eclipse, you’ll still have a show at home. Again, DON’T LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN. But what you will notice, and which is really, really cool, is that as the partial eclipse occurs (if you’re in the partial eclipse zone), you’ll notice that shadows will turn into crescents. The temperature can actually cool down, even in a partial eclipse zone. But again, DON’T LOOK DIRECTLY AT THE SUN. Enjoy all the wildlife getting confused and the shadows becoming crescents.

It is safe to look during the 2 minutes of totality, however. If you are with a group of people who know what they’re doing, follow their lead or check the timing with your cellphone FOR THAT LOCALITY. During totality, the Moon completely covers the Sun, and you will then be able to see the corona, but only if you look without safety glasses. Shutterbugs can also take photos without filters of the corona. But you’ve only got 2:00-2:30 minutes of totality, so watch the clock!

107
Cheechako  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:25:52pm

From the Onion - Bluetooth Hose:

I want one!!

(Note the hose bib with an antenna on the house.)

108
Joe Bacon 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:27:18pm

re: #65 stpaulbear

Gah. Milo’s new book is #1 at Barnes & Noble. Has to be bulk orders.

I’m not surprised at all and I bet 99 44/100% are bulk orders that can be traced right back to Milo’s patron RebeKKKah Mercer!

109
dangerman  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:27:53pm

Have we done this one yet?

“As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart’s desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron.” — H. L. Mencken

Just came in from four hours working in the yard. Lotsa time to think and muse and get dizzy from 95+ degrees here in sofla.

Just some random raging ideas

110
dangerman  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:30:25pm

re: #22 dangerman

here’s a quick thought experiment:

Anyone actually able to do this?
No?

Thought not

111
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:32:06pm

re: #110 dangerman

Anyone actually able to do this?
No?

Thought not

It will be fun to watch him try.

112
petesh  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:36:14pm

re: #111 Decatur Deb

Don’t you know that we are in a post-literate age? Coherence and clarity are such literate tools; DJT has vaulted past cubism into a novel species of four-dimensional mind-meld with his chosen marks, utterly impenetrable to mere logicians.

113
dangerman  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:38:34pm

re: #57 thecommodore

[Embedded content]Obama’s complaints about Republicans stopping his agenda are BS since he had full control for two years. He can never take responsibility.

i know we all know this - where “two years” actually was four months

first, it was 56 Democrats and 2 Democratically-minded Independents. Not 58 Democrats.
Senator Kirk was appointed to Kennedy’s seat in August 2009. then they had sort of had the 60 votes - 58 + 2

60 votes lasted exactly 4 months - from August 2009 to February 2010
then Scott Brown was sworn in.

114
dangerman  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:40:15pm

re: #111 Decatur Deb

It will be fun to watch him try.

yeah but seriously - that bar is incredibly low
any one policy topic of his choosing
5 minutes

and we already know the answer

the effing (p)resident
chilling

115
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:41:13pm

re: #77 CleverToad

Dang, should’ve booked for Alliance and Carhenge!
We have motel reservations in Hastings NE and hope to be able to catch a shuttle out to view the eclipse from the Crane Trust Nature Center.
speaking of which I need to mail a check tomorrow to the folks running said shuttle… low tech operation, they don’t take online reservations or credit cards.

Just up the road from me.

That said, we are in the path of totality here, so we can just go out in the yard. (We have a bed-and-breakfast here in town though I don’t know if it is full for the day. We also have a couple motels around here.)

116
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:44:28pm

re: #113 dangerman

i know we all know this - where “two years” actually was four months

first, it was 56 Democrats and 2 Democratically-minded Independents. Not 58 Democrats.
Senator Kirk was appointed to Kennedy’s seat in August 2009. then they had sort of had the 60 votes - 58 + 2

60 votes lasted exactly 4 months - from August 2009 to February 2010
then Scott Brown was sworn in.

Wasn’t even four months, due to the flappadoodle about seating Sen. Al Franken.

On January 6, 2009, Coleman’s campaign filed an election contest, which led to a trial before a three-judge panel. The trial ended on April 7, when the panel ruled that 351 of 387 disputed absentee ballots were incorrectly rejected and ordered them counted. Counting those ballots raised Franken’s lead to 312 votes. Coleman appealed to the Minnesota Supreme Court on April 20. On April 24, the Minnesota Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. Oral arguments were conducted on June 1.

On June 30, 2009, the Minnesota Supreme Court unanimously rejected Coleman’s appeal and said that Franken was entitled to be certified as the winner. Shortly after the court’s decision, Coleman conceded. Governor Tim Pawlenty signed Franken’s election certificate that same evening.

en.wikipedia.org

The actual number of working days the Democrats had a Senate majority was twenty-four.

117
dangerman  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:44:49pm

re: #112 petesh

Don’t you know that we are in a post-literate age? Coherence and clarity are such literate tools; DJT has vaulted past cubism into a novel species of four-dimensional mind-meld with his chosen marks, utterly impenetrable to mere logicians.

you’re right

it’s not that the bar is ridiculously, comically low

its that there’s no effing bar any more

118
Stanley Sea  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:48:06pm
119
wheat-dogg  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:48:23pm

This are some of my shots from the 2009 solar eclipse, which passed over China.

The first is one of several through #14 welder’s glass. The others were taken without benefit of a filter — the clouds had moved in just at the beginning of totality, so my dreams of an awesome corona photo was shattered. To line up the camera before totality, I used my 200mm manual focus lens focused to infinity while holding the welder’s glass over the objective.

2009 solar eclipse, Wuhan, China
Diamond ring effect through the clouds
A better shot
Corona through the clouds

I was using a Nikon D60 and a 200mm Nikkor AI lens.

120
wheat-dogg  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:52:06pm

Incidentally, it is still dangerous to look at the diamond ring without protection. I did not sight through the camera eyepiece to line up the shot. I used the welder’s glass, then took my shots without looking through the eyepiece. I bracketed the exposures just like in the old days of film.

121
fern01  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:52:09pm

re: #21 Eclectic Cyborg

Wait, aren’t these assholes all about swearing oaths on flags and Constitutions and Bibles and stuff?

Only if the oath is to dear leader - not to the country.

122
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:53:44pm

re: #119 wheat-dogg

Most kewl. The welder glasses gave that partial picture a sort of eerie vibe.

I’m going to attempt photos from home, though all we have is a small digital camera. I am not sure how that will come out.

123
Patricia Kayden  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:55:20pm

re: #118 Stanley Sea

Not really. The whole point of the pro-police brigade is that they are anti-Black and don’t care about Black people being shot by the police or by civilians (George Zimmerman). Since it was a Black cop, they’ll have no problem seeing him punished for shooting a White woman. The fact that the police union is silent in this matter says it all since they weren’t silent when Philando Castile was murdered.

124
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:57:03pm

re: #120 wheat-dogg

Incidentally, it is still dangerous to look at the diamond ring without protection. I did not sight through the camera eyepiece to line up the shot. I used the welder’s glass, then took my shots without looking through the eyepiece. I bracketed the exposures just like in the old days of film.

Scared myself decades ago photographing a welder at night with an early SLR. I was aware of UV risks, but thought (wrongly) that the 2 inches or so of glass in the lens and prism would attenuate it. About 5 minutes after shooting I got the classic sign of dangerous exposure— the distinct sensation of a handful of sand thrown in the face.

125
darthstar  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:57:27pm
126
dangerman  Jul 23, 2017 • 4:57:40pm

re: #116 Anymouse 🌹

Wasn’t even four months, due to the flappadoodle about seating Sen. Al Franken.

en.wikipedia.org

The actual number of working days the Democrats had a Senate majority was twenty-four.

i defer..my brains heat addled
working days! even better

127
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:00:01pm

re: #126 dangerman

i defer..my brains heat addled
working days! even better

Yes, that “two years” is part of the Wingnut Canon now (sometimes the four month claim is if they acknowledge the court case).

The two years claim comes from “well, the Dems won a majority in 2008” and only lost it in 2010, leaving out the convenient bits about Senators Kennedy and Frankin.

128
stpaulbear  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:00:14pm

re: #113 dangerman

i know we all know this - where “two years” actually was four months

first, it was 56 Democrats and 2 Democratically-minded Independents. Not 58 Democrats.
Senator Kirk was appointed to Kennedy’s seat in August 2009. then they had sort of had the 60 votes - 58 + 2

60 votes lasted exactly 4 months - from August 2009 to February 2010
then Scott Brown was sworn in.

Al Franken wasn’t even seated until July of 2009 because Norm Coleman & co. kept dragging out a recount.

129
wheat-dogg  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:02:06pm

re: #124 Decatur Deb

Scared myself decades ago photographing a welder at night with an early SLR. I was aware of UV risks, but thought (wrongly) that the 2 inches or so of glass in the lens and prism would attenuate it. About 5 minutes after shooting I got the classic sign of dangerous exposure— the distinct sensation of a handful of sand thrown in the face.

Yup, welding glare is nearly as dangerous as staring at the Sun. It alarms me when I walk around Chinese cities to see workers welding without any goggles or visor. Aside from the risk of blind spots on their retinas, they risk early onset of cataracts.

130
goddamnedfrank  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:02:45pm
131
Barefoot Grin  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:03:43pm

re: #129 wheat-dogg

Yup, welding glare is nearly as dangerous as staring at the Sun. It alarms me when I walk around Chinese cities to see workers welding without any goggles or visor. Aside from the risk of blind spots on their retinas, they risk early onset of cataracts.

Bamboo scaffolding?

132
Unshaken Defiance  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:03:51pm

re: #129 wheat-dogg

Yup, welding glare is nearly as dangerous as staring at the Sun. It alarms me when I walk around Chinese cities to see workers welding without any goggles or visor. Aside from the risk of blind spots on their retinas, they risk early onset of cataracts.

We use a #10 for soldering platinum and the #14 for melting it. I bought one of the face masks that has a lens that darkens as the light increases. Before that I would use the platinum as a sort of flashlight to see where to pour.

133
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:04:47pm

re: #131 Barefoot Grin

Bamboo scaffolding?

Meets the Panda Standard.

134
Unshaken Defiance  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:06:38pm

So just back from seeing Dunkirk. Amazing, But very war time violent. Not quite Saving Private Ryan but intense like Fury.

135
wheat-dogg  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:06:50pm

re: #122 Anymouse 🌹

Most kewl. The welder glasses gave that partial picture a sort of eerie vibe.

I’m going to attempt photos from home, though all we have is a small digital camera. I am not sure how that will come out.

If you don’t have a tripod handy, get a bean bag or sand bag and rest the camera on it. Set the camera zoom to the largest optical zoom (probably no more than 5x), not the maximum zoom (which is done digitally). The field of view will be large enough that you don’t need to worry about aiming precisely on the Sun. A welder’s glass will protect the photo sensor from overexposure until totality. Then you can pick up the camera and sight through the viewfinder.

136
Barefoot Grin  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:06:52pm

re: #133 Decatur Deb

Meets the Panda Standard.

You laugh, but I’ve seen construction workers plummet to their deaths when a jolly panda gnawed away their support base.

137
wheat-dogg  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:07:40pm

re: #131 Barefoot Grin

Bamboo scaffolding?

Ha. No, the metal security grilles placed over the windows.

138
petesh  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:07:56pm

re: #125 darthstar

Sean Spicer is kind of a doofus but also kind of relatable in his bumbling incompetence. Mooch, by contrast, is the absolute epitome of the slick Wall Street type that a large chunk of Trump’s base actively hates. (Logic is not entirely the reason, but it’s also not irrelevant.) So I’m thinking that this move may go well for us. Anything that chips off a couple of points off Trump’s support is not to be sneezed at. Admittedly, watching this guy is a heavy price to pay.

Off to the woods (it’s still light here), back later.

139
wheat-dogg  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:08:23pm

re: #136 Barefoot Grin

You laugh, but I’ve seen construction workers plummet to their deaths when a jolly panda gnawed away their support base.

nomnomnom

140
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:10:16pm

re: #136 Barefoot Grin

You laugh, but I’ve seen construction workers plummet to their deaths when a jolly panda gnawed away their support base.

Seoul was undergoing a terrific building boom in the 80s. Bamboo scaffolding 8-9 stories high was held together with bent welding rods. They were also digging the subway—a bus drove straight into the 20’ deep ditch one night. Somebody had to resign.

141
goddamnedfrank  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:11:52pm
142
darthstar  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:13:46pm

He’s having his after-dinner meltdown now.

143
darthstar  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:15:46pm
144
Barefoot Grin  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:15:56pm

re: #140 Decatur Deb

Seoul was undergoing a terrific building boom in the 80s. Bamboo scaffolding 8-9 stories high was held together with bent welding rods. They were also digging the subway—a bus drove straight into the 20’ deep ditch one night. Somebody had to resign.

I have seen it in both Japan and Taiwan. Hey, it’s bam-fucking-boo.

145
goddamnedfrank  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:17:20pm

It’s not the bamboo it’s the humidity.

146
Barefoot Grin  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:18:43pm

re: #143 darthstar

[Embedded content]

I’m sure Bannon wrote this headline for them. Apparently State is out; Bannon and Gorka are running the imminent collapse of Obama’s signature deal with Iran.

147
darthstar  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:21:36pm

re: #146 Barefoot Grin

I’m sure Bannon wrote this headline for them. Apparently State is out; Bannon and Gorka are running the imminent collapse of Obama’s signature deal with Iran.

Fuck

148
goddamnedfrank  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:24:49pm

re: #146 Barefoot Grin

I’m sure Bannon wrote this headline for them. Apparently State is out; Bannon and Gorka are running the imminent collapse of Obama’s signature deal with Iran.

Because Tillerson was part of the team that had to talk Trump down last week.

At an hourlong meeting last Wednesday, all of the president’s major security advisers recommended he preserve the Iran deal for now. Among those who spoke out were Secretary of State Rex W. Tillerson; Defense Secretary Jim Mattis; Lt. Gen. H. R. McMaster, the national security adviser; and Gen. Joseph F. Dunford Jr., the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, according to an official who described internal discussions on the condition of anonymity. The official said Mr. Trump had spent 55 minutes of the meeting telling them he did not want to.

Mr. Trump did not want to certify Iran’s compliance the first time around either, but was talked into it on the condition that his team come back with a new strategy to confront Tehran, the official said. Last week, advisers told the president they needed more time to work with allies and Congress. Mr. Trump responded that before he would go along, they had to meet certain conditions, said the official, who would not outline what the conditions were.

149
jhncsy  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:34:07pm

re: #118 Stanley Sea

I’m surprised. I figured the police department would throw the shooter under the bus, and that the “Blue Lives Matter” pricks keep silent since “those people” shouldn’t be cops anyway.

150
Unshaken Defiance  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:35:08pm

I’d not say Trump actually wants a war. But I am convinced he would throw one in a fit of not getting his way. Like over this Iran deal Obama signed. I figure Trump is feeling boxed in. There will be a point where he is visibly desperate for a win, a face saver. Maybe already seen this right?

Thinking how this will impact his decisions, probably in a predictable fashion.

151
darthstar  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:40:40pm
152
teleskiguy  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:45:14pm
153
Charles Johnson  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:49:11pm

Sorry, but if we get to 2020 and Donald Trump is running for president again against Bernie Sanders, Trump will get another four years. People who think Sanders stands a chance are living in a fantasy world.

154
darthstar  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:53:37pm

re: #153 Charles Johnson

Sorry, but if we get to 2020 and Donald Trump is running for president again against Bernie Sanders, Trump will get another four years. People who think Sanders stands a chance are living in a fantasy world.

By 2020, if Trump hasn’t been run out of office or fled the country to avoid prosecution since he can’t pardon himself, he will be so out of favor that he will have a dozen primary challengers (which is to his benefit, actually). If the GOP is smart, they’ll field 4-5 challengers and limit it to that.

Sanders won’t run in 2020. But right now he’s the lightning rod that everyone is focusing their energy on, which is fine. He’s happy in the role and when the time comes, we’ll get someone else who isn’t Bernie (or Hillary for that matter).

155
Joe Bacon 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:56:18pm
156
mmmirele  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:57:32pm

re: #153 Charles Johnson

Sorry, but if we get to 2020 and Donald Trump is running for president again against Bernie Sanders, Trump will get another four years. People who think Sanders stands a chance are living in a fantasy world.

THANK YOU. I frankly hate, loathe and despise BernieBros. At the very minimum, Bernie (and Trump and HRC, for that matter) are all too old to be running for president in 2020. And Bernie thinks he’s entitled to the votes of women and people of color when he really doesn’t do anything for them. Gah. I hate even thinking about this guy.

157
Hecuba's daughter  Jul 23, 2017 • 5:59:53pm

re: #116 Anymouse 🌹

Wasn’t even four months, due to the flappadoodle about seating Sen. Al Franken.

en.wikipedia.org

The actual number of working days the Democrats had a Senate majority was twenty-four.

In a sense, as long as McConnell doesn’t eliminate the filibuster, the Republicans are now in a situation similar to the Democrats during Obama’s first two years: they do not have a large enough majority to overrule a filibuster; even worse for them they cannot tolerate more than 2 defections in the face of a united opposition. The logical approach would be to work with Democrats to try to reach objectives that would benefit the country as a whole but that requires compromise, and the Republican base is unwilling to accept anything but total victory.

Someone posted a tweet here the other day that made a suggestion that seems the only way out of this: if the Democrats could persuade 3 Republican Senators to become independents and caucus with them, we could prevent the worst from being enacted and not have to fight to prevent a retreat on every inch of progress made over the past 70 years.

158
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:00:12pm

re: #153 Charles Johnson

If the Democrat field is so weak and disorganized that Bernie inexplicably manages to have any sort of a “viable” campaign (and yes, I put it in quotation marks), then that’s all she wrote.

159
Decatur Deb  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:00:23pm

Every time “Scaramucci” shows up in a tweet, I wonder “How is this not a character in Commedia dell’ Arte?

160
teleskiguy  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:00:55pm
161
teleskiguy  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:03:39pm
162
PhillyPretzel  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:04:09pm

re: #160 teleskiguy

I like the hunter pic. That is one bumper crop of zucchini.

163
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:06:44pm

re: #160 teleskiguy

So another person on Team Trump is misatributing quotes.

en.wikiquote.org

The earliest published attribution of this quote to Einstein found on Google Books is the 1991 book The Art of Computer Systems Performance Analysis by Raj Jain (p. 507), but no source to Einstein’s original writings is given and the quote itself is older; for example New Guard: Volume 5, Issue 3 from 1961 says on p. 312 “Someone once said that if the facts do not fit the theory, then the facts must be changed”, while Product engineering: Volume 29, Issues 9-12 from 1958 gives the slight variant on p. 9 “There is an age-old adage, ‘If the facts don’t fit the theory, change the theory.’ But too often it’s easier to keep the theory and change the facts.” These quotes are themselves probably variants of an even earlier saying which used the phrasing “so much the worse for the facts”, many examples of which can be seen in this search; for example, the 1851 American Whig Review, Volumes 13-14 says on p. 488 “However, Mr. Newhall may possibly have been of that causist’s opinion, who, when told that the facts of the matter did not bear out his hypothesis, said ‘So much the worse for the facts.’” The German idealist philosopher Johann Gottlieb Fichte circa 1800 did say “If theory conflicts with the facts, so much the worse for the facts.” The Hungarian Marxist Georg Lukacs in his “Tactics and Ethics” (1923) echoed the same quotation.

164
No Depression  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:06:58pm

re: #153 Charles Johnson

Sorry, but if we get to 2020 and Donald Trump is running for president again against Bernie Sanders, Trump will get another four years. People who think Sanders stands a chance are living in a fantasy world.

#BernieWillNotWin

165
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:11:04pm

re: #150 Unshaken Defiance

I’d not say Trump actually wants a war. But I am convinced he would throw one in a fit of not getting his way. Like over this Iran deal Obama signed. I figure Trump is feeling boxed in. There will be a point where he is visibly desperate for a win, a face saver. Maybe already seen this right?

Thinking how this will impact his decisions, probably in a predictable fashion.

If Trump is stupid enough to think a war will be his “get out of jail card,” don’t underestimate his ability to screw that up so badly it becomes another fiasco around his neck.

166
GlutenFreeJesus  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:13:20pm

re: #153 Charles Johnson

Sorry, but if we get to 2020 and Donald Trump is running for president again against Bernie Sanders, Trump will get another four years. People who think Sanders stands a chance are living in a fantasy world.

If he does run. the DNC better tell him to piss off. He can run on his own.

167
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:14:33pm

I’m guessing Ivanka Trump’s cell phone doesn’t have one of those free Google hook ups that allows you to check things before you tweet something stupid.

Takes an uneducated guy with a C-64 and a Teletype in the middle of nowhere to correct her. Sad.

168
scottslemmons  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:16:28pm

Off-topic, but while I’ve been mostly ignoring the Comic-Con in San Diego, there have been some good movie/TV trailers out (Hello, Thor and Stranger Things) and some very not-so-great movie trailers (Hello, Justice League and Ready Player One). But I had not a single clue that someone was making a movie of Derf Backderf’s brilliant “My Friend Dahmer” graphic novel…

MY FRIEND DAHMER Trailer #1 NEW (2017) Serial Killer Movie HD

169
teleskiguy  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:22:56pm

Brother can you spare $75 million?

170
makeitstop  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:26:01pm

Not for nothing, but this is perfect.

Buzzfeed goes into greater detail.

171
goddamnedfrank  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:29:25pm

re: #134 Unshaken Defiance

So just back from seeing Dunkirk. Amazing, But very war time violent. Not quite Saving Private Ryan but intense like Fury.

Saw Dunkirk yesterday. It’s hands down one of the the best edited and most cohesive films I’ve ever seen. I really like how it doesn’t waste any real time trying to explain the history, character back stories or motivations, it just puts you in it and takes off, getting by with as little dialog as necessary. Also enjoyed the way it starts off with all these disconnected individual storylines that seamlessly interweave by the end in ways that aren’t the least bit contrived. I feel like the project as a whole succeeded in becoming what Thin Red Line unsuccessfully strived towards.

172
goddamnedfrank  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:33:05pm

Double post.

173
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:43:08pm

Sundays with the Christianist: Comics to Scare Your Teen Away from Porn (goes to Wonkette)

The comments are way NSFW as always (in this case with images of porn in comics).

Wonkette takes on a re-print of a Christian tract from many years ago about the “dangers of Internet porn” for teenagers. (They also have comparisons to the original tract).

It turns out they found that when this tract came out, even wingnut hub Free Republic (linked at Wonkette) had commentary on it, and how stupid it was. However, their comment thread, after discussing the stupidity of the tract devolved into how evolution is the threat to program your children to be atheists or something after someone brought Chick tracts into the comment thread there.

174
Charles Johnson  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:45:25pm
175
Charles Johnson  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:52:05pm
176
Shiplord Kirel, live from behind wingnut lines  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:52:50pm

The jokes write themselves: Alex is deeply concerned about pig/gorilla/human hybrids who can talk.

Facebook Post

177
MsJ  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:53:17pm

re: #161 teleskiguy

178
teleskiguy  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:54:57pm

re: #177 MsJ

179
petesh  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:55:42pm

How long can Tillerson make himself stay? Paging Mrs T, time to pull the plug.

180
No Depression  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:56:09pm

re: #176 Shiplord Kirel, live from behind wingnut lines

The jokes write themselves: Alex is deeply concerned about pig/gorilla/human hybrids who can talk.

[Embedded content]

He’s super cereal, you guys!

181
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:57:28pm

re: #175 Charles Johnson

One political party has not only willfully denied reality, they are tacticly endorsing a total disregard of the rule of law — to the extent of losing our sovereignty — so they can execute a permanent power grab.

182
Teukka  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:58:13pm

re: #181 Myron Falwell

One political party has not only willfully denied reality, they are tacticly endorsing a total disregard of the rule of law — to the extent of losing our sovereignty — so they can execute a permanent power grab.

I have a hunch that something unexpected for the perpetrators will happen.

183
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 6:59:03pm

re: #179 petesh

How long can Tillerson make himself stay? Paging Mrs T, time to pull the plug.

Secretary of Exxon Tillerson will show himself to be a gutless coward just like Sessions.

184
FormerDirtDart  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:04:49pm

Jeez, is Mooch gonna last the week?

185
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:08:51pm

re: #184 FormerDirtDart

Jeez, is Mooch gonna last the week?

[Embedded content]

We’re cranking up the diarrhea dial on this shitshow…

186
goddamnedfrank  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:16:39pm
187
jhncsy  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:18:14pm

re: #183 Myron Falwell

Sometimes I wonder about Tillerson. I know Pruitt and De Vos are here to destroy the EPA and America’s education system, but sometimes I think Tillerson was actually expecting to use the State Department. He’d use it to help out Exxon and the rest of the parasite class, boost trade while screwing over foreign and domesticate workers, sabotage international environmental efforts, etc. But part of that is making nice with others, and making sure the wheels run smoothly. For example, most big oil companies wanted the US to stay in the Paris agreement so we could influence it.

Sessions will stay unless Trump kicks him out. He’s got big plans for our justice system and everyone who doesn’t fit into the white Christian male category, and Trump’s just a means to that end. Whatever Tillerson was planning, Trump clearly has no interest in cooperating.

188
jaunte  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:24:01pm
189
petesh  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:24:48pm

re: #187 jhncsy

I agree, and my apparently flippant reference to “Mrs T” was based on reports that her opinion was that he had plenty and shouldn’t take the job, while his was that he had some kind of duty. I don’t totally discount the idea of his looking for a Big Score, but I suspect that he did have some kind of sense of national obligation — and if so, I doubt he’ll stay much longer.

Conversely, if he does stay, he’s messing up his reputation permanently. If you were a multimillionaire of old and rich enough to retire, and healthy enough to anticipate a lovely time for a couple of decades, which would you choose?

190
jaunte  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:27:27pm
I don’t totally discount the idea of his looking for a Big Score

The forces that raise up Tillersons select for some severe antisocial tendencies.

191
Shiplord Kirel, live from behind wingnut lines  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:29:11pm

Been looking at prepping a fallout shelter here at the compound. Trump and Putin may be bosom buddies but so were Hitler and Stalin at one point, and both are surrounded by sycophants whose actual competence was not a factor in their selection. Putin’s are probably more competent on the average but that isn’t saying much and the crazy ones are engorged with a level of hubris to which they are not accustomed. The chances of a miscalculation have never been higher, imho, because we have never had this level of stupid and crazy to influence the calculations.

192
jaunte  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:29:31pm

For instance, Ivanka Trump made $12 million or so in the past year. Wanting more than that is a kind of insanity.

193
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:32:58pm

re: #189 petesh

I agree, and my apparently flippant reference to “Mrs T” was based on reports that her opinion was that he had plenty and shouldn’t take the job, while his was that he had some kind of duty. I don’t totally discount the idea of his looking for a Big Score, but I suspect that he did have some kind of sense of national obligation — and if so, I doubt he’ll stay much longer.

Conversely, if he does stay, he’s messing up his reputation permanently. If you were a multimillionaire of old and rich enough to retire, and healthy enough to anticipate a lovely time for a couple of decades, which would you choose?

independent.co.uk

Actually no. At the time it was reported Rexxon Tillerson took the job, he’d never met Trump and only took it because his wife said God called him to do the job.

194
jhncsy  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:34:08pm

re: #189 petesh

I think Tillerson was expecting a rerun of the Bush administration: Criminally incompetent, but no picking fights with the media or each other. Trump keeps thinking the Republicans work for him, not the other way around.

195
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:34:18pm

re: #188 jaunte

What a fucking disgrace.

Doesn’t matter how the vote turns out… or even if there is a vote and just doesn’t crumble in Turtle Fucker McConnell’s worthless face yet again. It will be an inane disgrace to us all.

196
Cheechako  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:34:20pm

re: #192 jaunte

That’s not how the billionaire score card works. Whoever has the most when they die wins!

197
Shiplord Kirel, live from behind wingnut lines  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:34:34pm

JFK and Kruschev were incomparably more intelligent and better advised than Trump and Putin, yet they went right to the brink in 1962.

198
Interesting Times  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:36:20pm

re: #191 Shiplord Kirel, live from behind wingnut lines

Been looking at prepping a fallout shelter here at the compound….The chances of a miscalculation have never been higher, imho, because we have never had this level of stupid and crazy to influence the calculations.

Funny you should say this, because it’s very similar to the logic used by the alt-left to demand an end to “Russiagate” - they claim that any sort of tension between the US and Russia could lead to an incident like this which in turn could trigger WWIII. Therefore, the US should do absolutely nothing to risk worse relations with Russia and anyone who pursues “Russiagate” (which they liken to yet another Iraq/WMD false flag) is a warmonger who’ll get everyone killed.

199
jaunte  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:36:51pm

re: #196 Cheechako

That’s the insane part. Rex Tillerson is worth at least $180 million, far more than he can spend pleasurably before he dies. Other than accumulation, he apparently has no other way to enjoy life.

200
jhncsy  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:38:12pm

re: #198 Interesting Times

Ah, the alt-left. Apparently anti-environment, anti-equality white supremacist oligarchs are okay, as long as they’re against the US.

201
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:38:24pm

re: #196 Cheechako

That’s not how the billionaire score card works. Whoever has the most when they die wins!

And as Lewis Black would say, “well… you’re DEAD, fucknut! So YOU DIDN’T WIN!

202
teleskiguy  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:38:28pm

re: #199 jaunte

He should invest that money in fur-bearing trout farms and jackalope ranches.

203
goddamnedfrank  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:39:31pm
204
Shiplord Kirel, live from behind wingnut lines  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:44:44pm

re: #198 Interesting Times

Funny you should say this, because it’s very similar to the logic used by the alt-left to demand an end to “Russiagate” - they claim that any sort of tension between the US and Russia could lead to an incident like this which in turn could trigger WWIII. Therefore, the US should do absolutely nothing to risk worse relations with Russia and anyone who pursues “Russiagate” (which they liken to yet another Iraq/WMD false flag) is a warmonger who’ll get everyone killed.

Their “reasoning” is obviously driven by their Russian-shared interest in weakening the United States. Not pursuing Russia-gate would increase the level of hubris and further reduce the level of competence on both sides. This would dramatically increase the chances of not just a miscalculation but of wilful aggression.

205
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:46:13pm

re: #191 Shiplord Kirel, live from behind wingnut lines

Been looking at prepping a fallout shelter here at the compound. Trump and Putin may be bosom buddies but so were Hitler and Stalin at one point, and both are surrounded by sycophants whose actual competence was not a factor in their selection. Putin’s are probably more competent on the average but that isn’t saying much and the crazy ones are engorged with a level of hubris to which they are not accustomed. The chances of a miscalculation have never been higher, imho, because we have never had this level of stupid and crazy to influence the calculations.

Not much of a point in building a fallout shelter here, since I’m surrounded by ICBM silos.

Moreover, the thing that drove Ronald Reagan to negotiations with Mikhail Gorbachev over nukes was the ABC television show The Day After. That show noted that survival ain’t all it is stacked up to be in that case.

206
Barefoot Grin  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:47:06pm

re: #194 jhncsy

I think Tillerson was expecting a rerun of the Bush administration: Criminally incompetent, but no picking fights with the media or each other. Trump keeps thinking the Republicans work for him, not the other way around.

The West Wing must be full of people muttering, “for fuck’s sake, I could even be President….”

207
petesh  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:48:08pm

re: #193 Anymouse 🌹

independent.co.uk

Actually no. At the time it was reported Rexxon Tillerson took the job, he’d never met Trump and only took it because his wife said God called him to do the job.

I misremembered! Thanks. So change the scenario: What if Wife now thinks she misheard the word of the Lord; while Rex learns what a shit-show he joined. Different path to the same (speculative) conclusion.

208
goddamnedfrank  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:49:19pm

re: #191 Shiplord Kirel, live from behind wingnut lines

Been looking at prepping a fallout shelter here at the compound. Trump and Putin may be bosom buddies but so were Hitler and Stalin at one point, and both are surrounded by sycophants whose actual competence was not a factor in their selection. Putin’s are probably more competent on the average but that isn’t saying much and the crazy ones are engorged with a level of hubris to which they are not accustomed. The chances of a miscalculation have never been higher, imho, because we have never had this level of stupid and crazy to influence the calculations.

I’m of the opinion that a full on fallout shelter just isn’t worth it, I mean who really wants to live through such a scenario anyway? You can set things up to survive the far more likely socially disruptive scenarios at a fraction of the cost. Solar and battery off grid power, well water / purification and dehydrated food combined all cost far less than just trying to construct a shelter that will guarantee you survive the psi overpressure and radiation from a strategic nuclear hit 100 miles away. The other massively optimistic and probably not at all realistic assumption baked into the fallout shelter concept is that you make it to them before the bombs fall.

209
petesh  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:50:58pm

re: #197 Shiplord Kirel, live from behind wingnut lines

JFK and Kruschev were incomparably more intelligent and better advised than Trump and Putin, yet they went right to the brink in 1962.

My favorite JFK quote (and please disabuse me if once again my memory fails me) came when, with Congressional leaders of both parties (!!) in the Situation Room, at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK turned to Barry Goldwater and said: “So you want this fucking job?”

210
jaunte  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:54:48pm

Read this thread:

211
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:55:04pm

re: #205 Anymouse 🌹

Not much of a point in building a fallout shelter here, since I’m surrounded by ICBM silos.

Moreover, the thing that drove Ronald Reagan to negotiations with Mikhail Gorbachev over nukes was the ABC television show The Day After. That show noted that survival ain’t all it is stacked up to be in that case.

With The Day After, no one wanted to advertise after the missile strikes commenced, thus rendering it commerical free for about 90 minutes straight. And that wound up driving home the point even more.

Reagan, from what I remember, was bigly depressed after seeing the movie. He should have been.

212
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:56:03pm

re: #207 petesh

I misremembered! Thanks. So change the scenario: What if Wife now thinks she misheard the word of the Lord; while Rex learns what a shit-show he joined. Different path to the same (speculative) conclusion.

And we’re left with the age-old dilemma of religion in that case, which many will simply brush over.

If Mrs. Tillerson misinterpreted her message from God (allegedly omniscient, so he would know she could misinterpret it), was he just foolin’ her? “Ha, tricked you.” Any God worthy of the name wouldn’t let such a misinterpretation happen.

Evangelical Christians (and a lot of mainline Christians) will ignore it.

Moreover, considering the Dumpster fire going on right now, that little theological tidbit is nothing.

213
petesh  Jul 23, 2017 • 7:57:42pm

re: #212 Anymouse 🌹

Yeah, the pragmatic “this will mess up the rest of my cushy life” remains the most salient point.

214
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:01:59pm

re: #211 Myron Falwell

With The Day After, no one wanted to advertise after the missile strikes commenced, thus rendering it commerical free for about 90 minutes straight. And that wound up driving home the point even more.

Reagan, from what I remember, was bigly depressed after seeing the movie. He should have been.

The nuking of Lawrence, Kansas: Proudly brought to you by GM and Coca-Cola probably wouldn’t have played very well… .

215
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:03:13pm

re: #210 jaunte

Read this thread:

[Embedded content]

Two things:

1) McConnell is doing a last-ditch move of total disinformation and confusion so as to fool those opposed to whatever bill comes forth.

2) I will assume that the bill is a fait accompli until it fails, yet again.

216
Patricia Kayden  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:07:06pm

re: #153 Charles Johnson

Sorry, but if we get to 2020 and Donald Trump is running for president again against Bernie Sanders, Trump will get another four years. People who think Sanders stands a chance are living in a fantasy world.

So tired of Bernie. It’s a shame how his ego has blown up and damaged his rep.

217
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:09:05pm

And I won’t be surprised to see McConnell yank whatever comes forth right before a vote again because he doesn’t have the votes on whatever.

He’ll continue this game until next November if he must… just that the vote doesn’t go south in front of him.

218
jaunte  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:09:17pm
219
Belafon  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:14:42pm

re: #215 Myron Falwell

I will assume that the bill is a fait accompli until it fails, yet again.

Why? His record is still 0-fer.

Edit: It would be far better to assume that we’ll keep him from succeeding if we keep after Congress, and then do it.

220
calochortus  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:15:57pm

Greetings from beautiful Port Angeles, WA. We’re having a great time by day, and shaking our heads at the Trump administration’s antics by evening when we catch up on the news. The weirdness of it all is amazing. Not to mention disturbing.

But you deserve some pictures.

Little trees on a log

I don’t seem to be able to embed more than one picture at a time, so I’ll do consecutive posts. Or not.

221
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:19:52pm

re: #219 Belafon

Why? His record is still 0-fer.

Oddly enough, it’s been my strategy all along. It’s almost superstitious at this point.

222
calochortus  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:19:52pm

That’s weird-I can’t get other photos to show up here.
Maybe later.

Anyway, we’re having a good time at Olympic Nat’l Park, seeing plants, frogs, banana slugs, moss, a bald eagle, baby coho salmon and so forth.

223
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:25:13pm

re: #214 Anymouse 🌹

The nuking of Lawrence, Kansas: Proudly brought to you by GM and Coca-Cola probably wouldn’t have played very well… .

There were no sponsor billboards for the broadcast, obviously for the same reason. Instead they ran a pre-movie message by one of the actors in the movie, John Cullum. (at 4:45 in this video; which also has the few advertisements that were sold).

ABC Commercials (11/20/1983) (PREMIERE of The Day After)

224
weave  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:25:48pm

re: #80 FormerDirtDart

Hmmm…
Poles not pleased with legislative changes to the courts

[Embedded content]

And the count starts now….

…. to how many days it takes before this video shows up on my Facebook feed with a caption claiming it is Polish people protesting immigrants or Muslims.

225
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:25:51pm

re: #217 Myron Falwell

And I won’t be surprised to see McConnell yank whatever comes forth right before a vote again because he doesn’t have the votes on whatever.

He’ll continue this game until next November if he must… just that the vote doesn’t go south in front of him.

The House August recess begins on August 1. If McConnell pulls the bill (or votes against a motion to proceed), he can bring it up again later. If the vote is held and a Motion to Proceed fails, the bill is dead.

McConnell is still planning to bring in an amendment that only he knows about that will essentially switch out the contents of the bill (and any amendments) and replace it with his amendment.

The Democrats still have one tool in the toolbox to try to run out the clock: As many amendments as they can write.

226
retired cynic  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:28:25pm

re: #225 Anymouse 🌹

Now they can only lose two senators, correct?

227
Interesting Times  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:30:52pm

re: #226 retired cynic

Now they can only lose two senators, correct?

I’m confused about this as well - at first, it took at least 3 GOPers to sink the bill, but what about McCain? If he’s not there, that leaves 51, so if they lose 2, Mother-May-I Pence can’t break the tie…

228
calochortus  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:31:54pm

OK, more photos. So after all those little trees grow on the log as in post #220, some grow up to be big and strong. Growing in a line with the log they grew on gone.

Trees after “nurse log” has rotted away

Then there was this crowd of Indian Pipes coming up.

Indian pipes. Lots of Indian Pipes
229
retired cynic  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:32:46pm

re: #228 calochortus

Thank you for these!

230
jaunte  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:34:13pm

I hope these people can some day do better.

231
calochortus  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:34:18pm

re: #225 Anymouse 🌹

Are they going to recess on 8/1? Obviously I haven’t been keeping up, but there was talk of making everyone stay longer to work things out. Of course, with McCain gone and 2 senators against the bill, I’m not sure what the point would be.

232
jaunte  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:37:53pm

This country has a severe empathy shortage.

233
calochortus  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:37:54pm

re: #230 jaunte

I’ve seen a number of Trump/Pence signs here on the Olympic Peninsula. Apparently admitting they voted for them isn’t sufficiently embarrassing yet.

234
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:40:29pm

re: #227 Interesting Times

I’m confused about this as well - at first, it took at least 3 GOPers to sink the bill, but what about McCain? If he’s not there, that leaves 51, so if they lose 2, Mother-May-I Pence can’t break the tie…

Yes. A bill must pass with a majority. A tie defeats the bill.

Assuming Angus King and Bernie Sanders vote nay (I can’t imagine either of them voting for this crap-fest), and all the Democrats vote nay, then unless John McCain shows up in the Senate to cast a vote, that takes them down to 51 votes. If Murkowski and Capito bail as well, that takes them down to 49 (if they abstain, still a majority) or sinks the bill (if they vote nay).

235
Eclectic Cyborg  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:42:50pm

re: #230 jaunte

“In former coal country, the working poor show open contempt for neighbors who seek handouts.”

Because as Jesus famously said: “Fuck the least of these!”

Oh wait.

236
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:43:20pm

Hilary expected to be a major hurricane on Tuesday. Don petered out after a few hours.

nhc.noaa.gov

237
Interesting Times  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:44:00pm

re: #234 Anymouse 🌹

Yes. A bill must pass with a majority. A tie defeats the bill.

If Murkowski and Capito bail as well, that takes them down to 49 (if they abstain, still a majority) or sinks the bill (if they vote nay).

I don’t understand that part - if they abstain, it counts, for all intents and purposes, as a “yes”?

238
Dr Lizardo  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:45:09pm

re: #191 Shiplord Kirel, live from behind wingnut lines

Trump and Putin may be bosom buddies but so were Hitler and Stalin at one point

Yep……..and we all know how that bromance came to an end.

239
goddamnedfrank  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:45:36pm

This tweet basically describes my entire weekend.

240
Eclectic Cyborg  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:45:47pm

re: #236 Anymouse 🌹

Hilary expected to be a major hurricane on Tuesday. Don petered out after a few hours.

nhc.noaa.gov

Clinton jokes in 3…2…1…

241
vgranucci  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:45:51pm

re: #209 petesh

My favorite JFK quote (and please disabuse me if once again my memory fails me) came when, with Congressional leaders of both parties (!!) in the Situation Room, at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis, JFK turned to Barry Goldwater and said: “So you want this fucking job?”

Supposedly, JFK and Goldwater were good friends, even though they didn’t agree on much.

242
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:46:59pm

re: #237 Interesting Times

I don’t understand that part - if they abstain, it counts, for all intents and purposes, as a “yes”?

No. An abstention (voting “present”) is a blank vote. It does not count either way.

Abstentions are normally used to bow out of a bill involving personal interest (I frequently vote “abstain” on my village board on bill payments because of payments made to me for mileage for water samples).

A simpler example would be my board, which only has five people. If two people vote “aye” and two people vote “nay,” and one abstains, the vote is 2-2-1. The bill fails.

243
calochortus  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:48:59pm

By the way, if you ever want to spend a few days in Port Angeles, we’re staying at really nice vacation rental. (the listing says it sleeps 4, and it’s roomy enough, but there’s a queen bed which is comfy, and a sleeper sofa, that would be pretty uncomfy IMHO)
Quiet, convenient location, full kitchen, fresh eggs (she has chickens) and all the raspberries we want.

244
No Depression  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:52:28pm

re: #232 jaunte

This country has a severe empathy shortage.

And it’s mostly evangelical Christians that are to blame for that. I’m glad they’re continually losing numbers. They deserve it.

245
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:52:42pm

Thus, if Murkowski and Capito abstain (vote present) and all the GOP votes “aye” and all the Dems and independents vote “nay” the vote turns out:

49-48-2 plus one absence (McCain). Bill passes on a majority vote without Pence.

If Murkowski and Capito vote “nay” with the Dems, then the vote is:

49-50 plus one absence (McCain), the vote fails. Pence may not vote unless there is a tie under the Constitution.

If McCain drags himself to Washington for this specific vote, Murkowski and Capito still vote with the Dems, the vote becomes:

50-50 (Pence breaks the tie). If they abstain, it becomes 49-49-2 (and Pence breaks the tie).

246
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:55:21pm

re: #242 Anymouse 🌹

I have a hard time wrapping my head around the likelihood that someone opposed to this turd sandwich would abstain from voting, knowing that it will pass.

But they are Republicans we’re dealing with…

247
calochortus  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:55:35pm

Anyhoo, I’m going to log off and do some planning for tomorrow’s trip to Hurricane Ridge. We’re hoping for good wildflowers.

Hasta whenever.

248
Dr Lizardo  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:56:17pm

Off to work…..later, Lizards.

249
FormerDirtDart  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:56:24pm

re: #225 Anymouse 🌹

The House August recess begins on August 1. If McConnell pulls the bill (or votes against a motion to proceed), he can bring it up again later. If the vote is held and a Motion to Proceed fails, the bill is dead.

McConnell is still planning to bring in an amendment that only he knows about that will essentially switch out the contents of the bill (and any amendments) and replace it with his amendment.

The Democrats still have one tool in the toolbox to try to run out the clock: As many amendments as they can write.

It’s possible that McConnell will have whomever is sitting as the acting president pro tempore proceed through all DEM amendments without debate, then move to a voice vote, determine they have failed to pass, and rapidly move on to the next. While it will still take time, it will be significantly shorter than we might hope for.

250
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:56:25pm

re: #246 Myron Falwell

I have a hard time wrapping my head around the likelihood that someone opposed to this turd sandwich would abstain from voting, knowing that it will pass.

But they are Republicans we’re dealing with…

In this case, an abstention would allow Murkowski and Capito to claim that they are “concerned” about their constituents while still allowing the bill to pass.

251
Eclectic Cyborg  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:57:18pm

re: #250 Anymouse 🌹

In this case, an abstention would allow Murkowski and Capito to claim that they are “concerned” about their constituents while still allowing the bill to pass.

Bingo. They’ll sink the rest of the country to save their own fucking asses.

252
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:58:11pm

re: #249 FormerDirtDart

It’s possible that McConnell will have whomever is sitting as the acting president pro tempore proceed through all DEM amendments without debate, then move to a voice vote, determine they have failed to pass, and rapidly move on to the next. While it will still take time, it will be significantly shorter than we might hope for.

Regular order requires debate of at least one minute from each party. McConnell would have to suspend regular order in another move of conservative transparency.

A voice vote would shorten the time for the votes but not the debate. If the Dems offer a thousand amendments, that’s two thousand minutes of debate plus the time to introduce the amendments and shuffle between speakers.

253
Interesting Times  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:59:33pm

re: #242 Anymouse 🌹

No. An abstention (voting “present”) is a blank vote. It does not count either way.

Thanks. So…here’s where things stand (assuming McCain stays away)

- 51 GOPers
- 48 Dems (incl. King and Sanders)

If two GOPers locate their soul and spine:

- 49 votes for trumpdon’tcare
- 50 votes against

If two GOPers merely abstain:

- 49 votes for trumpdon’tcare
- 48 votes against

*Now* it makes sense - assuming no GOP’er nays, you’d need at least 4 abstentions to kill the bill.

As far as I can tell, these are the likely “nay” votes at this stage (in rough order of “most” to “least”):

- Lisa Murkowski
- Susan Collins
- Capito
- Heller

254
Myron Falwell  Jul 23, 2017 • 8:59:44pm

re: #251 Eclectic Cyborg

Bingo. They’ll sink the rest of the country to save their own fucking asses.

That’s why for me, it’s a fait accompli until it isn’t.

255
FormerDirtDart  Jul 23, 2017 • 9:00:35pm

re: #239 goddamnedfrank

This tweet basically describes my entire weekend.

Trump supporters still out here selling “but Hillary” like it’s not nine months past its use by date.

They’re gonna carry that fetus to term, no matter how long it takes.

256
Belafon  Jul 23, 2017 • 9:01:37pm

re: #250 Anymouse 🌹

In this case, an abstention would allow Murkowski and Capito to claim that they are “concerned” about their constituents while still allowing the bill to pass.

Which won’t fly with voters in West Virginia.

257
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 9:02:43pm

re: #245 Anymouse 🌹

I messed up the count on the last line above:

If they abstain, it becomes 49-49-2 (and Pence breaks the tie).

If everyone is there and they abstain, the vote is 50-48-2 (the bill passes).

258
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 9:04:26pm

I also forgot about Senator Heller in this situation, who has come out against this crap-fest.

Presuming he votes with the Dems, that gives them 49 votes. If Murkowski and Capito vote with the Dems, the bill goes down 51-49 (assuming McCain votes).

259
Anymouse 🌹  Jul 23, 2017 • 9:05:07pm

re: #256 Belafon

Which won’t fly with voters in West Virginia.

Well, Trump flew with them, so why not?

260
goddamnedfrank  Jul 23, 2017 • 9:06:15pm

re: #253 Interesting Times

Thanks. So…here’s where things stand (assuming McCain stays away)

- 51 GOPers
- 48 Dems (incl. King and Sanders)

If two GOPers locate their soul and spine:

- 49 votes for trumpdon’tcare
- 50 votes against

If two GOPers merely abstain:

- 49 votes for trumpdon’tcare
- 48 votes against

*Now* it makes sense - assuming no GOP’er nays, you’d need at least 4 abstentions to kill the bill.

As far as I can tell, these are the likely “nay” votes at this stage (in rough order of “most” to “least”):

- Lisa Murkowski
- Susan Collins
- Capito
- Heller

Add Rob Portman to the list. He’s a moderate as far as Republicans go and his next re-election fight won’t be till 2022, so he has nothing to fear from Trump. Kasich, his State governor has come out against the bill and someone taking a long view might reasonably assume that having stood up to Trump and preserving the ACA will play well down the line. It’s going to take some serious palm greasing to turn him into a solid yes.

261
jaunte  Jul 23, 2017 • 9:09:21pm
262
Kragar  Jul 23, 2017 • 9:27:23pm
263
Targetpractice  Jul 23, 2017 • 9:31:04pm

re: #230 jaunte

[Embedded content]

I hope these people can some day do better.

This is the “Prosperity Gospel” cult at work, presenting infirmity and poverty as a sign of moral failings. The story is pretty much the same as so many other places: Decades of hard work undone by an injury which doctors on the company dime just “treated” by getting the workers addicted on opiates, then as soon as the work dried up the loyal workers were discarded to the side. And instead of taking pity on those whom the world has turned is back, fuckheads like Hess would rather portray them as lazy moochers who are “too good” to work.

264
Belafon  Jul 23, 2017 • 9:40:11pm

re: #259 Anymouse 🌹

Well, Trump flew with them, so why not?

They will also elect Democrats.

265
Cheechako  Jul 23, 2017 • 10:06:34pm

re: #220 calochortus

Greetings from beautiful Port Angeles, WA. We’re having a great time by day, and shaking our heads at the Trump administration’s antics by evening when we catch up on the news. The weirdness of it all is amazing. Not to mention disturbing.

But you deserve some pictures.

[Embedded content]

I don’t seem to be able to embed more than one picture at a time, so I’ll do consecutive posts.

Those dead logs are called “Nurse Logs”. (From a Professional Forester)


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