I didn’t write anything above because there are plenty of gushing obituaries already written. And to be honest, I had some serious problems with some of the things Bush did. He was reportedly a very decent man in person and that counts for something, but his blatantly racist Willie Horton ad during his campaign against Dukakis was one of the stepping stones that eventually led the GOP to its current totally debased state.

And I’ll leave it at that.

😢😢

Bush was fading for days, not getting out of bed and not eating. When his friend Jim Baker showed up yesterday morning, he perked up.

“Where are we going, Bake?” he asked.

“We’re going to heaven,” Baker answered.

“That’s where I want to go,” Bush said.https://t.co/yHjM57qv3P

— Peter Baker (@peterbakernyt) December 1, 2018

Repost from downstairs:

REPORTER: Mr President, do you regret any of your comments about George H.W. Bush’s family?

TRUMP: “… Thank you very much, everybody.” pic.twitter.com/9EYVGXMSsb

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 1, 2018

Coward. Can’t even answer a simple question.

….However, out of respect for the Bush Family and former President George H.W. Bush we will wait until after the funeral to have a press conference.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2018

If anyone thinks this is the real reason why he canceled the press conference, you must be new to Trump. https://t.co/kXw18Q3lEP

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 1, 2018

re: #4 Charles Johnson

He doesn’t want to take questions from reporters who have no need to worry about their access.

ETA: My opinion about George HW Bush is he saddled us with Clarence Thomas and that’s been a bad thing for the country. *sigh* such a mixed bag.

We may be seeing the demise of a multi-level marketing firm right in front of our eyes. LuLaRoe, a company that initially made its name on MLM sales of so-called “buttery-soft leggings” is being sued by its major supplier MyDyer for $49 million.

LLR was flying high back around 2016, but a combination of shitty leggings (basically they ripped when being put on), horrible patterns (and the “consultants” weren’t allowed to pick their patterns) and awful quality caused consultants to bag the company. There was a period in 2017 where LLR was doing a 100 percent refund (minus shipping) of unsold product due to complaints about the horrible quality. The MyDyer suit alleges $120 million worth of product was returned. Based on the information I’ve gleaned over the past year or so from various places, there are people who have shipped back product for refunds and have been waiting 7-8 months for checks to get cut and it’s not happening.

In the meantime, LLR continues to sell product to its consultants, but the latest deal is that while the consultants might order (for example) 100 pairs of leggings, they might get 60 pairs and the other 40 pairs they don’t get, and LLR doesn’t refund their money but holds it as a credit. In light of this lawsuit, it makes sense why LLR is playing games with people’s money like this—they need it to prop up their sinking ship.

One of the principals of LLR, Mark Stidham, is quoted in the lawsuit as telling representatives of MyDyer back in September:

“Look guys, I am not going to pay you guys a f****ing dime unless a judge orders me to pay it, and DeAnne and I will take our two to three hundred million dollars to the Bahamas, and f*** everything.”

Here’s the story:
businessinsider.com

Here’s a link to the lawsuit for all the lawyery goodness:

The firm handling the lawsuit, Reed Smith LLP, is a huge international outfit with 85 lawyers in its Los Angeles office alone. I would say that LLR is toast.

re: #5 jaunte

He doesn’t want to take questions from reporters who have no need to worry about their access.

He’s afraid of facing foreign journalists that actually do their job!

From a friend who works as a chaplain: “One of my old ladies was riding her bicycle when she took a tumble. She was lying unconscious on the pavement when the paramedics arrived and asked her who the Pres was. She sat up and yelled “OH YOU HAD TO REMIND ME.”

— Steve Silberman (@stevesilberman) December 1, 2018

re: #6 mmmirele

I’ve litigated against Reed Smith when doing Truth In Lending Act and mortgage fraud cases - they, like most of the big firms, represented the big banks/servicers. They’re typically very good

re: #9 KGxvi

I’ve litigated against Reed Smith when doing Truth In Lending Act and mortgage fraud cases - they, like most of the big firms, represented the big banks/servicers. They’re typically very good

Yeah, it’s not a tiny hungry law firm looking to make a name for itself. This is an established white shoe outfit. The plaintiffs are serious about this.

re: #3 makeitstop

Repost from downstairs:

[Embedded content]

Coward. Can’t even answer a simple question.

Cowardly chicken shit.

“I think that Facebook, Twitter, YouTube all play with the algorithm to make it more biased against conservatives,” Brad Parscale, President Trump’s 2020 campaign manager, told FRONTLINE. Read & watch his extended interview: https://t.co/EZ47tgCUiV pic.twitter.com/T0IAgtfBxp

— FRONTLINE (@frontlinepbs) December 1, 2018

This @parscale dipshit literally had operatives embedded in @Facebook for the Trump campaign and he’s still having hysterics over imaginary censorship. https://t.co/pmQQyNtQBx https://t.co/xNGTRZADSh

— Brooke Binkowski (@brooklynmarie) December 1, 2018

Fake hysterics over fake censorship. He’s working the rubes, like all of Trump’s cronies. https://t.co/JHL76Mp9Fp

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 1, 2018

Melania & Trump Will attend George H.W. Bush Funeral
Melania will be wearing a wide belt defining her kidneys and trump will be sporting a Sour Look revealing that he’s pissed he’s getting less attention than a Dead Man

— Mayday Mindy 🌊 (@maydaymindy9) December 1, 2018

re: #12 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Waaaah. Grow up you fucking ass.

#BREAKING: Trump only world leader at G-20 to not sign statement supporting commitment to fighting climate change https://t.co/XzIAssrnsr pic.twitter.com/4LHXqNiwq5

— The Hill (@thehill) December 1, 2018

What a disgrace. https://t.co/eLC5PLYgS1

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 1, 2018

re: #6 mmmirele

ETA: My opinion about George HW Bush is he saddled us with Clarence Thomas and that’s been a bad thing for the country. *sigh* such a mixed bag.

We may be seeing the demise of a multi-level marketing firm right in front of our eyes. LuLaRoe, a company that initially made its name on MLM sales of so-called “buttery-soft leggings” is being sued by its major supplier MyDyer for $49 million.

LLR was flying high back around 2016, but a combination of shitty leggings (basically they ripped when being put on), horrible patterns (and the “consultants” weren’t allowed to pick their patterns) and awful quality caused consultants to bag the company. There was a period in 2017 where LLR was doing a 100 percent refund (minus shipping) of unsold product due to complaints about the horrible quality. The MyDyer suit alleges $120 million worth of product was returned. Based on the information I’ve gleaned over the past year or so from various places, there are people who have shipped back product for refunds and have been waiting 7-8 months for checks to get cut and it’s not happening.

In the meantime, LLR continues to sell product to its consultants, but the latest deal is that while the consultants might order (for example) 100 pairs of leggings, they might get 60 pairs and the other 40 pairs they don’t get, and LLR doesn’t refund their money but holds it as a credit. In light of this lawsuit, it makes sense why LLR is playing games with people’s money like this—they need it to prop up their sinking ship.

One of the principals of LLR, Mark Stidham, is quoted in the lawsuit as telling representatives of MyDyer back in September:

Here’s the story:
businessinsider.com

Here’s a link to the lawsuit for all the lawyery goodness: [Embedded content]

The firm handling the lawsuit, Reed Smith LLP, is a huge international outfit with 85 lawyers in its Los Angeles office alone. I would say that LLR is toast.

Running from debts, classic sign that something is funny in a business.

re: #11 HappyWarrior

Cowardly chicken shit.

It is still amazing to me how bad he and his staff are on this. It’s not hard to have an answer like:

George H.W. Bush was a decent and honest man. He was a patriot who dedicated his life to the service of our nation. He was a calming presence at the end of the Cold War. I wish to share my condolences with the Bush family and to remind them that the nation mourns with them

re: #15 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

I remember when we were leaders on this sort of thing. Disgraceful.

re: #16 Teukka

Running from debts, classic sign that something is funny in a business.

Telling people you won’t pay a fucking cent without a court order, and that you and your wife will take you’re three hundred million dollars to the Bahamas and fuck everything is generally not a good look either

This is some holy shit stuff that I do not understand. At all. What’s 1MDb?

Read the whole thread.

downloadhttps://t.co/nMtMfCyikJ

h/t @WendySiegelman
Patriots, you have got to read the thread from Wendy !!
This was filed TODAY, she surmises that this draws in Broidy & wife directly into 1MDB scandal.

— Ellyn Peters Gesell (@ellyn_gesell) December 1, 2018

OK, this DOJ filing is a MONSTER. All the fun stuff. Money Laundering. Lawyers about to go to prison. Jho Low. Hollywood. And cash seized of $75,000,000. https://t.co/bDPT5NT5Jk

— Dirk Schwenk (@DirkSchwenk) December 1, 2018

re: #17 KGxvi

It is still amazing to me how bad he and his staff are on this. It’s not hard to have an answer like:

George H.W. Bush was a decent and honest man. He was a patriot who dedicated his life to the service of our nation. He was a calming presence at the end of the Cold War. I wish to share my condolences with the Bush family and to remind them that the nation mourns with them

I think he himself made it harder than it should have been by constantly trashing his predecessors during his campaign. If he had been less of a blowhard with his criticisms of past presidents, he could definitely say that and it would come off sincere but because he did shit like belittle Bush’s thousand points of light, he’s incapable of shit shit.

So in a OT note, I’ve decided to engage in units for my reading. I kind of been on a first quarter of WWI kick since I started reading USA, after this I intend on reading some more about the war and its aftermath in both lit, memoirs, and secondary non-fiction.

me from downstairs

i would summarize GWB’s legacy by the two recurring themes repeated through this thread, also seen posted elsewhere, and from my own memory:

- country first, before party and his own career. he dedicated his life of service to it with an objective sense of right and wrong
- he made some questionable decisions, some objectively bad, and some i just would never agree with

re: #20 MsJ

This is some holy shit stuff that I do not understand. At all. What’s 1MDb?

1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal - en.wikipedia.org

The 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal or 1MDB scandal is an ongoing political scandal occurring in Malaysia. In 2015, Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak was accused of channelling over RM 2.67 billion (nearly USD 700 million) from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a government-run strategic development company, to his personal bank accounts.[1] The event triggered widespread criticism among Malaysians, with many calling for Najib Razak’s resignation – including Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, one of Najib’s predecessors as Prime Minister, who eventually defeated Najib to return to power after the 2018 general election.

Mueller filed an indictment just as the President left for https://t.co/8ZNrQ6X29a July he indicted the Russians who will never come here just before he left for Helsinki.Either could have been done earlier or later. Out of control!Supervision please?

— Rudy Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) November 30, 2018

Rudy didn’t separate g-20 from .in so ya boy bought the domain. 😎 https://t.co/mlEw39ue20

— jason dot gov (@jasondotgov) November 30, 2018

re: #24 Danack

en.wikipedia.org

Holy shit, indeed! Them’s big bucks!

re: #25 Danack

[Embedded content]

I’m sure John Gotti felt inconvenienced too, Rudy.

re: #25 Danack

Rudy’s right… I don’t like giving Trump the chance to seek asylum like that.

re: #24 Danack

1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal - en.wikipedia.org

The 1Malaysia Development Berhad scandal or 1MDB scandal is an ongoing political scandal occurring in Malaysia. In 2015, Malaysia’s former Prime Minister Najib Razak was accused of channelling over RM 2.67 billion (nearly USD 700 million) from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a government-run strategic development company, to his personal bank accounts.[1] The event triggered widespread criticism among Malaysians, with many calling for Najib Razak’s resignation – including Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, one of Najib’s predecessors as Prime Minister, who eventually defeated Najib to return to power after the 2018 general election.

Thanks!

I’ve been reading about this now as neither spouse nor I have heard of this before… So we’re studying up. Pretty big scandal.

Broidy, RNC finance chair after Michael Cohen left. A pretty big deal if he’s actually in this legal document which is XXXXXXXXX redacted throughout.

Fucking Republicans manage to do crooked shit in every country in the world. Just imagine how much they get away with that never comes to the surface.

As Trump’s cronies try to write lofty words for him to say about George H.W. Bush, let’s not forget that he viciously attacked Bush just a few months ago. https://t.co/3bDLJfon9P pic.twitter.com/csZEyRdHPH

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 1, 2018

re: #30 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Yep he literally belittled a Thousand Points of Light not even five months ago.

This thread is about another of the really ugly episodes of the Bush presidency. This kind of stuff is why I didn’t join in on the hagiography session.

President George Bush wanted to show America what crack cocaine looked like at his first Oval Office address on Sept 5, 1989. He wanted to show you could even buy crack in front of the White House. That’s how bad the crisis had gotten. That’s how Bush announced his War on Drugs. pic.twitter.com/exGGPxJ6f2

— Joshua Clark Davis (@JoshClarkDavis) December 1, 2018

Read that thread; if you didn’t know this story before, you’ll be appalled.

This 1MDB is fascinating.

If Larry Kramer says Goldman Sachs is just fine Anna everyone should buy… Is be looking to sell.

This is the most simplistic article I’ve read. Complex finance and shit isn’t my forte.
freemalaysiatoday.com

re: #32 Charles Johnson

This thread is about another of the really ugly episodes of the Bush presidency. This kind of stuff is why I didn’t join in on the hagiography session.

[Embedded content]

Didn’t know about that. Definitely an ugly chapter.

re: #33 Charles Johnson

Read that thread; if you didn’t know this story before, you’ll be appalled.

I didn’t and I did read it an I am appalled.

re: #32 Charles Johnson

This thread is about another of the really ugly episodes of the Bush presidency. This kind of stuff is why I didn’t join in on the hagiography session.

[Embedded content]

I’m not surprised since I know how Freeway Ricky Ross was set up by Blandon to take the fall for crack cocaine in South Central LA.

Honestly, this 1MDB is the biggest rabbit hole I’ve ever jumped into.

Also, Broidy developed a plan to try to persuade the Trump government to extradite a Chinese dissident back to his home country, a move sought by Chinese President Xi Jinping. https://t.co/24jX1PnwFf

— Crow (@sistercrow) December 1, 2018

#More on #Broidy planned to seek to #extradite #Chinese dissident back to home country for #Xi #Jinping !!!…@DrDenaGrayson @DirkSchwenk @911CORLEBRA777 https://t.co/6QD2UWyoiB

— Suzan (@itssuzann) December 1, 2018

And of course no Trumpistan scandal can be complete without an effort to illegally extradite a dissident so he can be murdered by a foreign enemy. https://t.co/EdexOOpHCo

— Dirk Schwenk (@DirkSchwenk) December 1, 2018

There is a Snowden connection…

5. https://t.co/vfLmrQvf5b

— Lincoln’s Bible (@LincolnsBible) March 3, 2018

OK @LincolnsBible pinged me with the 1MDb, Wolf of Wall Street, f’n piece of sh*t Snowden connection. When this smoking shit pile stops burning we are just going to be asking who wasn’t involved. https://t.co/qjQI2PIsPT

— Dirk Schwenk (@DirkSchwenk) December 1, 2018

I think I could be reading about this for a month.

How was I unaware of this whole thing? I’m a fucking news junkie!

re: #38 MsJ

Honestly, this 1MDB is the biggest rabbit hole I’ve ever jumped into.

[Embedded content]

I think I could be reading about this for a month.

How was I unaware of this whole thing? I’m a fucking news junkie!

Sweet Jesus

So I posted this retweet…

#BREAKING: Trump only world leader at G-20 to not sign statement supporting commitment to fighting climate change https://t.co/XzIAssrnsr pic.twitter.com/4LHXqNiwq5

— The Hill (@thehill) December 1, 2018

What a disgrace. https://t.co/eLC5PLYgS1

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 1, 2018

And I’ve now gotten several replies telling me it’s not a current picture, it’s from 2017. Which is right there in the photo.

As if THAT is the important point to take away.

re: #40 Charles Johnson

So I posted this retweet…

[Embedded content]

And I’ve now gotten several replies telling me it’s not a current picture, it’s from 2017. Which is right there in the photo.

As if THAT is the important point to take away.

Yeah it hasn’t changed.

re: #1 Charles Johnson

I didn’t write anything above because there are plenty of gushing obituaries already written. And to be honest, I had some serious problems with some of the things Bush did. He was reportedly a very decent man in person and that counts for something, but his blatantly racist Willie Horton ad during his campaign against Dukakis was one of the stepping stones that eventually led the GOP to its current totally debased state.

And I’ll leave it at that.

the republican party has always been an incestuous stew of john birch society members combined with national chamber of commerce new-money grifters. let’s just stop with the “republicans began their slide on such and such a day” meme. they’ve always been scumbags.

I am now convinced we are totally fucked on Climate Change.

The war is lost.

re: #43 Eclectic Cyborg

I am now convinced we are totally fucked on Climate Change.

The war is lost.

You should only say that when you’re ready to quit fighting. I’m not.

re: #43 Eclectic Cyborg

I am now convinced we are totally fucked on Climate Change.

The war is lost.

No. Can’t give up.

re: #45 HappyWarrior

No. Can’t give up.

Never going to happen. Not while I am still alive. I’ll give up when I’m dead, because then I won’t have a choice.

I’m sorry what?

What did we ever do to deserve so many men writing so phenomenally horribly about sex https://t.co/zOURCAhEJO pic.twitter.com/X3Rdcjldcp

— your friend Helen (@hels) December 1, 2018

re: #42 steve_davis

the republican party has always been an incestuous stew of john birch society members combined with national chamber of commerce new-money grifters. let’s just stop with the “republicans began their slide on such and such a day” meme. they’ve always been scumbags.

Consider the 1860’s.

So, I go to Facebook… and what greets me but a pop-up from Facebook asking me if Facebook is “good for the world”.

It’s not that they really care, they just want to know more about me.

Anyway, I clicked on “disagree”.

re: #47 goddamnedfrank

I’m sorry what?

[Embedded content]

Good god, those are awful.

Uh, @jack? It’s kind of pointless to ban Alex Jones if you’re just going to let Paul Joseph Watson continue spreading Infowars lies and conspiracy theories on Twitter.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 1, 2018

re: #7 Joe Bacon 🌹

He’s afraid of facing foreign journalists that actually do their job!

anything he cant control and isnt prepared for - ie… most everything

re: #47 goddamnedfrank

I’m sorry what?

[Embedded content]

re: #1 Charles Johnson

While GHWB is probably the best Republican President in my lifetime, that’s not saying a lot. One thing that has always stuck with me was his instructing his SOS to tell Saddam (regarding a dispute between Kuwait and Iraq) that the U.S. doesn’t get involved in border disputes. I think it was five days later that Saddam invaded Kuwait, leading GHWB to change his mind on getting involved between Iraq/Kuwait and thus was born the first Iraq War. Like all Presidents that we have had, he was a mixed bag but far from the worst.

May he rest in peace.

Top US naval commander in Middle East found dead

“No evidence of foul play” but that does not keep conspira-liars and terrorist shills alike from claiming an assassination, since no over-stressed 57 year old man has ever died of natural causes.

re: #15 Charles Johnson

Remember when everyone fought to stand next to President Obama - this picture says it all.

re: #38 MsJ

Honestly, this 1MDB is the biggest rabbit hole I’ve ever jumped into.

When this smoking shit pile stops burning we are just going to be asking who wasn’t involved.

I think I could be reading about this for a month.

How was I unaware of this whole thing? I’m a fucking news junkie!

same answer i gave regarding who’s not currently running for president in 2020:

- LGFers
- my mom

(mrs dm pointed out im making a big assumption about all lgfers)

Though he was certainly not without fault to say the least, Bush Sr. was better than the other Republicans presidents of the past few decades.

And certainly many leagues better than the current Republican abomination.

Nothing.
Nada.
Zip.
Ziltch.
Nichts.
Nič.
Hiç.
Aon rud.
L’ rien.
אפס.
沒有.
لا شيئ.
ничто.

NOT A DAMN THING.

— Arch1 (@Arch_LGF) December 1, 2018

This is what happens when an incel’s only exposure to anatomy & sex ed comes from Jordan Peterson.

— Very Legal & Very Cool Frank (@goddamnedfrank) December 1, 2018

re: #58 dangerman

(mrs dm pointed out im making a big assumption about all lgfers)

* Silently hides the “Arch 2020” candidacy banners while whistling nonchalantly*

In six words or fewer, write a story about this photo… #amwriting #amreading #sixwordstory pic.twitter.com/GGikOoJLwR

— Lacey London (@thelaceylondon) November 30, 2018

Mew-Tang Clan ain’t nothingta fuck with https://t.co/QbxwBNPkeb

— Daniel José Older (@djolder) December 1, 2018

re: #47 goddamnedfrank

I’m sorry what?

[Embedded content]

“…ground down by the enamelled pepper mill within her….”

EEEK! Sounds like one of those hellish nightmares you have after way too much spicy food.

re: #62 goddamnedfrank

[Embedded content]

We advanced toward the trembling humans.

enamelled pepper mill sounds hella seksi. She put the O in my Adobo.

re: #62 goddamnedfrank

Where’s the fish you caught?

The marks are still at it:

Elections are not run by the US government, but by local governments.

And this lottery analogy was silly when it popped up on Limbaugh’s show, as many have pointed out, yet here you are still repeating it.

— freetoken fights fecking fascists (@freetoken) December 1, 2018

It’s pretty obvious that Twitter doesn’t ban people based on any kind of ethical standard. They ban people like Alex Jones when they get bad press, or because they did something to piss off a Twitter executive.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 1, 2018

re: #42 steve_davis

the republican party has always been an incestuous stew of john birch society members combined with national chamber of commerce new-money grifters. let’s just stop with the “republicans began their slide on such and such a day” meme. they’ve always been scumbags.

Since Teddy R. broke away, at any rate.

re: #62 goddamnedfrank

Not today, puppy. Not today.

re: #67 freetoken

The marks are still at it:

[Embedded content]

If anything that’s a criticism of state governments like you know Brian Kemp’s Georgia state department but somehow I think that’s over this dimwit’s head.

re: #62 goddamnedfrank

[Embedded content]

When you’re a cat, you’re a cat all the way….

re: #62 goddamnedfrank

Is that a tuna sandwich?

You have no evidence of your claim for fraud in the Orange County elections.

Your claim about “odds” is silly, a desperate attempt to avoid reality.

— freetoken fights fecking fascists (@freetoken) December 1, 2018

re: #33 Charles Johnson

Read that thread; if you didn’t know this story before, you’ll be appalled.

My god, I had never heard of this at all.

re: #74 freetoken

[Embedded content]

Do something? Well being something other than Trump toadies would be one. Someone just can’t accept that the R’s lost California because they belittle Californians non stop and suggest their votes don’t matter.

re: #75 Unshaken Defiance

My god, I had never heard of this at all.

I hadn’t either.

I read an article about the Malaysian guy and immediately thought: the world is full of horrible people and I want to go to one of his parties.

re: #62 goddamnedfrank

In six words or fewer, write a story about this photo.

If you’re wrong and I’m right?

“Guy with issues” flips out during Trump visit:
A North Dakota Man Pleaded Guilty To Planning To Flip Trump’s Limo With A Forklift

The incident occurred in September, when Trump visited the state to give a speech at an oil refinery in Mandan, just outside Bismarck.

Gregory Lee Leingang, 42, stole a forklift and drove it onto the presidential motorcade route.

Court documents seen by BuzzFeed News said Leingang attempted to use the forklift as a “deadly and dangerous weapon.”

“The intent was to basically try to get to the limo, flip the limo, and get to the president, and he wanted to kill the president,” US Assistant State’s Attorney Brandi Sasse Russell told the Grand Forks Herald.
…….
Michelle Monteiro, Leingang’s public defender, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

However, the Herald reported she said in court that “he was suffering a serious psychiatric crisis during this incident.”

He had earlier pleaded guilty to setting fires at a park maintenance facility and local police station on the same day.

re: #77 HappyWarrior

I hadn’t either.

re: #74 freetoken

[Embedded content]

Orange County Republicans have always been wealthy people. High tax bracket people. Their income tax, and their property tax, are significant. And as of this year, no longer deductible on their federal returns.

They’ve long tolerated the anti-gay forced birthers because TAXES! was so important to them. They just got a big tax hike, courtesy the Republican party.

re: #82 sagehen

Orange County was home of Schuller and the Crystal Cathedral and drive-in church.

That pretty much tells one all about Orange County, California.

But Schuller is gone now, the Crystal Cathedral was bought by the RCs a few years ago, after Crystal Cathedral Ministries went bankrupt. (That too tells us quite a bit.)

The old California Republican party is dying off, and the youngsters around here are not so much into the fascism-supporting pulpits of the “Bible belt”.

Schuller’s drive-in church was, in my opinion, one of the great windows into the American psyche.

Looking at American history, his drive-in church was the end result of two centuries of continual westward expansion, constant movement, and the importance Americans came to put on mobility as the defining quality of being an American.

We love our cars more than we love our guns, and that is saying something.

How the Vladimir Putin-Mohammed bin Salman slap-pat compares to some other infamous greetings. pic.twitter.com/OPMnyM7iTv

— NYT Opinion (@nytopinion) December 1, 2018

re: #84 freetoken

Schuller’s drive-in church was, in my opinion, one of the great windows into the American psyche.

Looking at American history, his drive-in church was the end result of two centuries of continual westward expansion, constant movement, and the importance Americans came to put on mobility as the defining quality of being an American.

We love our cars more than we love our guns, and that is saying something.

The Simpsons - Natural Born Kissers Clip

re: #85 Barefoot Grin

“Mohammed, welcome to the journalist-killers club. Too bad Trump can’t join, isn’t it.”

re: #84 freetoken

Schuller’s drive-in church was, in my opinion, one of the great windows into the American psyche.

Looking at American history, his drive-in church was the end result of two centuries of continual westward expansion, constant movement, and the importance Americans came to put on mobility as the defining quality of being an American.

We love our cars more than we love our guns, and that is saying something.

Foreigners who come to visit (or when we go over there) are astonished to find that we drive almost everywhere, because as crazy as traffic is in most European or Asian cities, not that many people actually drive much. The craziness is mostly due to all the restrictions in the Old World cities’ road networks. Of course, to be fair, the distances between points of interest in America tend to be quite a bit larger, too.

re: #85 Barefoot Grin

[Embedded content]

LOL. Funnier than I would expect from the NYT…….

re: #88 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

Foreigners who come to visit (or when we go over there) are astonished to find that we drive almost everywhere, because as crazy as traffic is in most European or Asian cities, not that many people actually drive much. The craziness is mostly due to all the restrictions in the Old World cities’ road networks. Of course, to be fair, the distances between points of interest in America tend to be quite a bit larger, too.

As I’ve been told here before: To Europe, 100 miles is a long way away; to America, 100 years is a long time ago.

re: #90 Belafon

As I’ve been told here before: To Europe, 100 miles is a long way away; to America, 100 years is a long time ago.

*SNORT*

On that topic, a story from my vacation to Rome: We visited the Colosseum, obviously. We took a tour group and got to come out on the partially reconstructed floor. As we were exiting into the interior area, we passed by a bronze cross. The tour guide stopped us, and she said, “See this cross? It was placed here in 1715 by the pope. It’s new, it’s modern, don’t pay any more attention to it, that’s not what you’re here for.” Mrs. Fish and I looked at each other, like… That cross has been here for longer than the United States has been an independent country, but these people just blow that off like it’s nothing.

re: #92 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

*SNORT*

On that topic, a story from my vacation to Rome: We visited the Colosseum, obviously. We took a tour group and got to come out on the partially reconstructed floor. As we were exiting into the interior area, we passed by a bronze cross. The tour guide stopped us, and she said, “See this cross? It was placed here in 1715 by the pope. It’s new, it’s modern, don’t pay any more attention to it, that’s not what you’re here for.” Mrs. Fish and I looked at each other, like… That cross has been here for longer than the United States has been an independent country, but these people just blow that off like it’s nothing.

I was on a guided tour of the the Tower of London and at the Crown Jewels exhibit this American guy next to me asked, “so what are they worth?” To which the docent replied, “they are priceless.” AG: “No, really, ballpark figure—whaddya think these would bring at auction?” And so it went.

Iran’s reckless regime spends millions on its missiles instead of focusing on the people of Iran & improving their lives. https://t.co/yNoMnDMnsw

— NSC (@WHNSC) December 1, 2018

Indeed

A parade of @USAirForce #F35As fill the flight line at @HAFB, Utah, as they prepare for a combat power exercise. #KnowYourMil pic.twitter.com/nEafHEd4gb

— U.S. Dept of Defense (@DeptofDefense) December 1, 2018

re: #94 Single-handed sailor

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America’s Crown Jewels.

You can now host your own Facebook Watch Party, which is what Facebook, with its obsession with “community building,” would like you to do https://t.co/S1Gc6NZ7IV

— Intelligencer (@intelligencer) December 1, 2018

No fucking way I’d ever do this. https://t.co/BZmEBe89Cu

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 1, 2018

re: #93 Barefoot Grin

I was on a guided tour of the the Tower of London and at the Crown Jewels exhibit this American guy next to me asked, “so what are they worth?” To which the docent replied, “they are priceless.” AG: “No, really, ballpark figure—whaddya think these would bring at auction?” And so it went.

I have to admit, when I was in Rome, I was a little embarrassed to introduce myself as being from the United States. Thank God no one asked me anything about Hair Furor.

44 + 41 + 43 = a respectful club pic.twitter.com/NoOUTzAX6E

— Pete Souza (@PeteSouza) December 1, 2018

re: #88 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

Foreigners who come to visit (or when we go over there) are astonished to find that we drive almost everywhere, because as crazy as traffic is in most European or Asian cities, not that many people actually drive much. The craziness is mostly due to all the restrictions in the Old World cities’ road networks. Of course, to be fair, the distances between points of interest in America tend to be quite a bit larger, too.

If you were to weigh and record the ages of the people in our village in Italy, you could compute the point in time when they population could afford automobiles. The bicycle culture was dying, but with amazing images of finely dressed girls riding to an evening out by standing on their beau’s bicycle luggage carrier.

#NC09 GOP candidate @MarkHarrisNC9’s campaign appears to have sent people door to door in rural Robeson & Bladen Counties to steal absentee ballots from elderly black voters and complete them for Harris. There were 1300+ such ballots in those counties in a race Harris won by 905. pic.twitter.com/ufJ5vP3TZ2

— Jeff Yang (@originalspin) December 1, 2018

Finally we have found a blatant case of voter fraud … by a Republican. https://t.co/4s4x5A6JC8

— Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) December 1, 2018

Um. What? pic.twitter.com/LyEK04tHmH

— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) December 1, 2018

re: #98 Backwoods_Sleuth

Sorry to be a party pooper but the Bushes weren’t my cup of tea. The son sent thousands of Americans to their deaths in a completely fabricated, unnecessary war in Iraq. He practically destroyed Iraq. Plus, his failure to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina still stings.

Can’t help but notice the Intercept’s oh-so-progressive hitpiece on GHWBush manages to compliment both Roger Stone and Rand Paul …

This crazy @ellievhall story about how neo-Nazis tricked celebrities into recording coded anti-Semitic messages is great as reporting, but also b/c it takes the time to explain the anti-Semitic slurs and theories to readers, so they’ll know for the future: https://t.co/FUrvjQ6HHq

— (((Yair Rosenberg))) (@Yair_Rosenberg) December 1, 2018

I have to quit smoking for three weeks.

How much benedryl can a person take daily? I’d like to sleep away the next three weeks so I don’t alienate or kill every person in my social circle.

re: #105 MsJ

I have to quit smoking for three weeks.

How much benedryl can a person take daily? I’d like to sleep away the next three weeks so I don’t alienate or kill every person in my social circle.

Not that much, unfortunately.

The fly closing in is a nice touch.

BREAKING—as in breaking democracy: a truly shocking & naked power grab underway in Wisconsin. Dems won every statewide race this Nov. Now, the GOP unveiled sweeping bills to straightjacket the Gov & AG, stomp on early voting, & lock in power on state Sup Court. Votes THIS TUE. 1/

— Ben Wikler (@benwikler) December 1, 2018

Scott Walker turns out to be the biggest affront to democracy, believing only in his power.

His decision to burn the city if he can’t rule it should disqualify him from public life.

Read below👇 https://t.co/uq1VyMiY4A

— Andy Slavitt (@ASlavitt) December 1, 2018

re: #102 Patricia Kayden

Understand your reticence about putting praises on the Bushes.

Yet I am reminded that GHWB went off to serve, even though he was from a well connected family, on the front line.

Like with JFK, even though these folk were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, they still could see the importance of serving society.

Contrast this with today’s Trump-circle of rich folk.

re: #108 Patricia Kayden

Scott Walker is an asshole? Who knew? Oh wait, EVERYBODY.

Rescued Leopard Loves Head Scritches pic.twitter.com/7cVcIMUNLM

— Nature is Amazing ☘️ (@AMAZlNGNATURE) December 1, 2018

re: #111 Charles Johnson

I showed that to my wife for training purposes.

Bravo👏👏👏👏

James Shaw Jr., the 29-year-old who stopped a deadly shooting at a Waffle House in May. will replace Kid Rock as grand marshal of the Nashville Christmas Parade after he referred to Joy Behar with an expletive. https://t.co/qEio3LNuGs

— 🌸🌺Ellie🌺🌸 (@ellievan65) December 1, 2018

re: #113 MsJ

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Well done Nashville.

I’m shocked. You?

Statement from President Donald J. Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on the Passing of Former President George H.W. Bush pic.twitter.com/qxPsp4Ggs7

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2018

Trump WH statement inaccurately says George H.W. Bush went to Yale and then the Navy. In truth, Bush enlisted in the Navy at 18. He only went to Yale after Japan surrendered. https://t.co/KZ1L65cxvM https://t.co/6UwXePl2mL

— Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) December 1, 2018

re: #113 MsJ

Beautiful.

Be (Pete) Best pic.twitter.com/MgqgiR366J

— Ed Solomon (@ed_solomon) November 30, 2018

re: #115 MsJ

I’m shocked. You?

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Yeah he played for the Yale baseball team after the war I believe. There’s an awesome photo of him and Babe Ruth together. Babe was on his last legs. President Bush’s coach Joe Wood was a neat bridge between him and Babe since he had played professionally with Ruth for the Red Sox. This whole thing really rings shallow since Trump just five months ago asked what the hell did a thousand points of light even mean.

re: #119 Patricia Kayden

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Incredibly insensitive statement I have to admit and I do like to think he regretted it later. He was far from a perfect man I concede though.

mlb.com
I hope he told his children and grandchildren that story.

re: #120 HappyWarrior

Incredibly insensitive statement I have to admit and I do like to think he regretted it later. He was far from a perfect man I concede though.

Papa Bush had his faults, but he had integrity. He was a good human being.

re: #122 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

Papa Bush had his faults, but he had integrity. He was a good human being.

I think so too. I think he was flawed in many ways but I really think looking back at 1980 if he had beaten Reagan for the nomination, their party would be in a better place. He always was more intelligent than Reagan and forward looking. And some of the op-eds made a great point about how the R base forgave Reagan for a bigger tax increase than the one that he violated the no need taxes on. He never seemed to resent Reagan for the idolization that he got though.

There are times when I’m tempted to go trophy huntering
This is one of them
The counter has reset, yet again, to : “0” days since I stopped hating people.

Famous Yellowstone park wolf, Spitfire, killed by trophy hunter https://t.co/ouw9IFJqIN pic.twitter.com/lIq2z7LYzs

— The Hill (@thehill) December 2, 2018

In my on-boarding to Congress, I get to pick my insurance plan.

As a waitress, I had to pay more than TWICE what I’d pay as a member of Congress.

It’s frustrating that Congressmembers would deny other people affordability that they themselves enjoy. Time for #MedicareForAll.

— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@Ocasio2018) December 1, 2018

re: #125 MsJ

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She gets it guys and I think this is why she’s going to be effective.

How George H.W. Bush lives on: The Willie Horton ad that helped get him elected was made by Floyd Brown. After ‘88, Brown formed an organization to get Bush nominees onto the courts. One of those nominees was Clarence Thomas. The name of that organization was Citizens United.

— corey robin (@CoreyRobin) December 1, 2018

Yes, Bush Sr. was a far better human being than Trump, but that’s a low bar indeed. For me, he’ll always be linked with his ugly racist exploitation of the Willie Horton case, and that’s why I can’t join in the unreserved praise.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 2, 2018

re: #126 HappyWarrior

She gets it guys and I think this is why she’s going to be effective.

Yup. She’s going to tweet the inner workings that we used to see. I hope she embarrasses the fuck out of Republicans.

re: #128 Charles Johnson

I never understood the need to venerate the dead. They’re dead - they don’t need their egos to be stroked. Tell the damn truth. I don’t want people calling me a saint when I die, because I am NOT. I have a nasty temper and a variety of mental defects. I want to be human when I’m gone, not a god on a pedestal.

re: #102 Patricia Kayden

Sorry to be a party pooper but the Bushes weren’t my cup of tea. The son sent thousands of Americans to their deaths in a completely fabricated, unnecessary war in Iraq. He practically destroyed Iraq. Plus, his failure to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina still stings.

Agree 100 percent. The father was a racist. (IMHO anyone who had anything to do with the Willie Horton ad is — by definition — racist. And there was much more than just that.)

Racism is my hot button. I will never forgive it. And so I will never forgive George H.W. Bush.

re: #43 Eclectic Cyborg

I am now convinced we are totally fucked on Climate Change.

The war is lost.

No it is not. I want future generations to discover the joy of skiing. I’m fighting.

.@SecPompeo: Iranian regime just test-fired a medium range ballistic missile capable of striking Europe & the Middle East. This violates #UNSC Res. 2231. #Iran’s missile testing & proliferation is growing. We are accumulating risk of escalation if we fail to restore deterrence. pic.twitter.com/ZEKPpHI6Ij

— Department of State (@StateDept) December 1, 2018

“Accumulating risk of escalation if we fail to restore deterrence” is clear prelude-to-war talk. Bolton and Pompeo, who led the charge for the US to flout 2231, seem hell-bent on war with a country that has more than twice the population of Iraq and is nearly four times its size. https://t.co/AiXcza9n9Z

— Dylan Williams (@dylanotes) December 1, 2018

Special Rep. Hook: The Iranian regime’s pace of missile launches did not diminish after implementation of the Iran deal. #Iran has conducted ballistic missile launches and space launches since this time as it continues to prioritize missile development as a tool of revolution. pic.twitter.com/7iScOEhVrS

— Department of State (@StateDept) November 29, 2018

Just a couple of days ago, the U.S. unveiled evidence of the Iranian regime’s ongoing missile development and proliferation. Today, the regime test-fired another ballistic missile capable of reaching parts of Europe and anywhere in the Mideast. The risk of escalation is growing. https://t.co/DNvVqc6OWL

— Department of State (@StateDept) December 1, 2018

I don’t want to be alarmist, but the State Department and the NSC seem to be steadily building a case for war with Iran. The fact that so few are paying attention to this campaign does not meant that it is not serious. https://t.co/Tq4Eoo38al

— Joe Cirincione (@Cirincione) December 1, 2018

Not to excuse Iran’s missile test, but it is not a “violation” of UNSCR 2231, which only “calls upon” Iran not conduct such tests. It also calls all member states to refrain from actions that undermine implementation of JCPOA commitments. So if Iran is in violation so is the US.

— Mark Fitzpatrick (@FitzpatrickIISS) December 1, 2018

re: #130 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

I never understood the need to venerate the dead. They’re dead - they don’t need their egos to be stroked. Tell the damn truth. I don’t want people calling me a saint when I die, because I am NOT. I have a nasty temper and a variety of mental defects. I want to be human when I’m gone, not a god on a pedestal.

I said it when Thatcher died and it’s ironic since I discussed her with an Irish acquaintance who told me that Thatcher had an Irish born great grandmother and i observed that I think her handling of the Troubles might have been a bit more fair handed had she known that but you have to look at the good and bad of a legacy. There’s a lot of stuff I appreciate about President Bush but what Charles is talking about cannot be ignored either. We create our own legacies. I don’t need to say GHWB is burning in hell or anything like that but it’s perfectly reasonable I think to discuss negative aspects of a legacy especially of a President.

Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. Were Close to Being Charged With Felony Fraud

New York prosecutors were preparing a case. Then the D.A. overruled his staff after a visit from a top donor: Trump attorney Marc Kasowitz. https://t.co/8bPB79WTKm

— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) December 1, 2018

Everyone in this family should go to prison except Barron and maybe Tiffany. https://t.co/eIufwn2GJV

— aceoaces (@aceoaces) December 2, 2018

re: #133 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

This is a surprise? You don’t hire John Bolton is you’re trying to avoid a war.

— aceoaces (@aceoaces) December 2, 2018

re: #95 Barefoot Grin

America’s Crown Jewels.

re: #130 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

I never understood the need to venerate the dead. They’re dead - they don’t need their egos to be stroked. Tell the damn truth. I don’t want people calling me a saint when I die, because I am NOT. I have a nasty temper and a variety of mental defects. I want to be human when I’m gone, not a god on a pedestal.

Martin Longman’s Casual Observation of today:

Let’s dispense with the good/shitty by comparison way of judging or memorializing former presidents. Shitty presidents are shitty presidents, and we usually have shitty presidents. When they die, we shouldn’t say that they really weren’t all that shitty compared to Nixon or Dubya or Trump. We should say they were basically shitty.

Still haunted by Brutus…. Whenever we lose a friend.

Might have to put my old man down tomorrow so I’m going through it atm. pic.twitter.com/CyyNaXCm47

— Sharky guns ❄️🖕🏻 (@jram305) December 1, 2018

They don’t want war, they want to drop nuclear weapons.

— MsJoanne (@MsJoanne) December 2, 2018

re: #140 MsJ

Which one was it that wanted to “make the desert glow”?

re: #139 Dave In Austin

Still haunted by Brutus…. Whenever we lose a friend.

So true. I have two where there were three. Habits like getting food for three, or reflexively looking in a favorite sleeping spot only of course to find it empty… Yeah it takes a long while.

Went skiing this morning at the ski area, first day skiing there this winter.

Giphy

The truth: Skiing today at @skisunlight was better than any day last winter. Powder!

— Charlie Vogel, aka His Teleness the Charlie Lama (@teleskiguy) December 2, 2018

I crossed over someone else’s tracks maybe a half dozen times. My last run was untracked powder for 2,000 vertical feet.

re: #130 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

I never understood the need to venerate the dead. They’re dead - they don’t need their egos to be stroked. Tell the damn truth. I don’t want people calling me a saint when I die, because I am NOT. I have a nasty temper and a variety of mental defects. I want to be human when I’m gone, not a god on a pedestal.

Speaking from the direct experience of having to have a memorial for a terrible, cruel parent who did a lot of stuff wrong…we venerate the dead to comfort the living.

The dead person is not just a hole in the social fabric, but also a question the living have to ponder: who were they, and, on balance, what does their presence, then their absence, mean to others? There’s not really an answer…people are too complicated to summarize, and quite often you know how little you know someone…which leads to a lot of guessing and a lot of best-possible-readings of a life.

I’m aware of the ambivalence because of the gulf between my father’s public persona and his private conduct. What others were telling me about my dad was a depiction of how limited what they knew was, but how important it was that they convey to me, the putative bereaved, that he was good and they remembered him well.

Public figures have more pieces of themselves on display, but it’s still not a complete picture. Political figures are both a private person and a leader wielding real power that affected others, so their commemoration is even more complicated.

George H W Bush is dead and I’m not inclined to especially condemn or praise him today for his own sake, but I find myself thinking about the space between the private individual and the family/friends mourning that private individual…for whom I feel sympathy and expect a degree of decorum about their loss, even though I don’t even like many of those mourners because of their own conduct…and on the other hand the public figure who affected many, many lives and whose acts should be recorded factually and critically. I don’t think there’s any solution for that duality. It’s going to feel weird to praise the man, even though I’m moved by things like his WW2 service or his bond with his wife, but it’s also going to feel weird to accurately observe that he did a lot of political stuff I abhorred.

Back when they decided to execute King Charles of England, there was this entire conceptual crisis of what it meant to kill a king that was resolved by distinguishing the gross body from the body politic, and each time we acknowledge the loss of an individual but reject what they stood for, we replicate that confusion.

What a wonderful and needed column:

The Rude Pundit: There Are Always Migrants…

re: #67 freetoken

The marks are still at it:

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My question concerning voting: other first world democracies do not have the problems we experience in tabulating votes. As has been pointed out, elections here are managed on a local basis, and not federally. In November, in Cook County Illinois, I was confronted by 15 separate races (excepting judges), 70 judicial races, and 5 referendum. This number varied by county in Illinois. What do our friends in Canada, Great Britain, France, or Germany see when they vote?

So, I finally got a chance to look at the Lularoe complaint. A few thoughts:

It’s a verified complaint (California rarely requires a verified complaint), meaning the Plaintiff had to swear under penalty of perjury that its allegations are true and correct. From a lawyer’s perspective, you don’t usually go with a verified complaint unless it’s required or if you’re going to immediately seek to put a corporate defendant in receivership. My guess is that is why they went with a verified complaint, and I suspect the documents for that motion will be filed and served by this time next week, along with the complaint.

The allegations are not particularly surprising if you’re aware of the problems that Lularoe has had over the last few years. The complaint also points out that Lularoe has been sued over a dozen times in the last two years. (And from my research, because I have nothing better to do on a Saturday, it looks like this Plaintiff has already sued Lularoe in federal court over intellectual property matters.)

There’s also a lot of allegations of “suspicious transfers of assets”, including the owner of Lularoe purchasing supercars to break the land speed record for production cars. (That’s a special level of asshole, also Clarkson/May/Hammond need to do something about that.)

Then there’s an allegation the owners set up a series of holding companies (all under Wyoming law) to hide assets - including 13 formed in December 2017 after a series of class action lawsuits were filed against them.

This is not going to end well for Lularoe or the Stidhams.

Oh, the case is it’s in Riverside County, but I haven’t been before the judge it was assigned to. So can’t give much insight on that aspect.

re: #139 Dave In Austin

Still haunted by Brutus…. Whenever we lose a friend.

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ugh, condolences all around. People live too long and dogs don’t live nearly long enough

When you wrote your thesis on Quantum chemistry and you’re stuck listening to a reality television host who paints himself the color of 1970s appliances. pic.twitter.com/Ya1hj1mlai

— Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) December 2, 2018

re: #141 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

Which one was it that wanted to “make the desert glow”?

These days, all of em, Katie.

re: #133 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

……
Department of State
✔
@StateDept
.@SecPompeo: Iranian regime just test-fired a medium range ballistic missile capable of striking Europe & the Middle East. This violates #UNSC Res. 2231. #Iran’s missile testing & proliferation is growing. We are accumulating risk of escalation if we fail to restore deterrence.

2,376
11:01 AM - Dec 1, 2018….

It is very unlikely that this government will have the American public behind them if they decide to start a war. After the lesson of the Iraq disaster, I doubt that even the most devout Trump cult members (except for Netanyahu fanatics) would favor such a course.

re: #151 Hecuba’s daughter

It is very unlikely that this government will have the American public behind them if they decide to start a war. After the lesson of the Iraq disaster, I doubt that even the most devout Trump cult members (except for Netanyahu fanatics) would favor such a course.

I don’t think they’d care. Do you?

A lot will be written today about President George Bush. Whether you agreed or disagreed with him, most would think that he always served with honor and decency. This resignation letter that he wrote resigning his NRA membership is only one example.https://t.co/liV3qKn6n9

— Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) December 1, 2018

Following is the letter of resignation sent last week by former President George Bush to the National Rifle Association: May 3, 1995

Dear Mr. Washington,

I was outraged when, even in the wake of the Oklahoma City tragedy, Mr. Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of N.R.A., defended his attack on federal agents as “jack-booted thugs.” To attack Secret Service agents or A.T.F. people or any government law enforcement people as “wearing Nazi bucket helmets and black storm trooper uniforms” wanting to “attack law abiding citizens” is a vicious slander on good people.

Al Whicher, who served on my [ United States Secret Service ] detail when I was Vice President and President, was killed in Oklahoma City. He was no Nazi. He was a kind man, a loving parent, a man dedicated to serving his country — and serve it well he did.

In 1993, I attended the wake for A.T.F. agent Steve Willis, another dedicated officer who did his duty. I can assure you that this honorable man, killed by weird cultists, was no Nazi.

John Magaw, who used to head the U.S.S.S. and now heads A.T.F., is one of the most principled, decent men I have ever known. He would be the last to condone the kind of illegal behavior your ugly letter charges. The same is true for the F.B.I.’s able Director Louis Freeh. I appointed Mr. Freeh to the Federal Bench. His integrity and honor are beyond question.

Both John Magaw and Judge Freeh were in office when I was President. They both now serve in the current administration. They both have badges. Neither of them would ever give the government’s “go ahead to harass, intimidate, even murder law abiding citizens.” (Your words)

I am a gun owner and an avid hunter. Over the years I have agreed with most of N.R.A.’s objectives, particularly your educational and training efforts, and your fundamental stance in favor of owning guns.

However, your broadside against Federal agents deeply offends my own sense of decency and honor; and it offends my concept of service to country. It indirectly slanders a wide array of government law enforcement officials, who are out there, day and night, laying their lives on the line for all of us.

You have not repudiated Mr. LaPierre’s unwarranted attack. Therefore, I resign as a Life Member of N.R.A., said resignation to be effective upon your receipt of this letter. Please remove my name from your membership list. Sincerely, [ signed ] George Bush

I admit I wasn’t really sold on Ocasio-Cortez at first, because of her connections to Bernie Sanders, who I’ll never forgive for not getting out of the 2016 campaign earlier. But she’s winning me over.

re: #154 Charles Johnson

Someone was saying downstairs (forget who, sorry!) that it’s entirely possible she could be a federal lawmaker for four, maybe five decades. She’s only 29.

re: #153 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

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Sad, though: 23 years later, Bush is gone, and Wayne LaPierre is still around: polluting public discourse with the same BS: if not worse.

re: #152 MsJ

I don’t think they’d care. Do you?

They might not care — but if anything would bring down this administration immediately, it would be such an unprovoked attack. It would tear this country apart — more than the Vietnam and much faster.

pic.twitter.com/1VAKWl2uGy

— WB Young 🍕🐀 (@FormerDirtDart) December 2, 2018

I’m seeing a lot of journalists on Twitter tweet admiringly about Ariana Grande, so I went and listened to her latest shit on YouTube.

And it WAS shit. Absolute garbage. No offense to anyone who likes her, but this is several steps below pabulum on the music scale. Glossy, insanely over-produced shit.

re: #158 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

Times like these, I wish I had a Bazooka in the trunk of Mrs. Fish’s Mafiamobile.

re: #158 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

I might have had a road rage incident.

I won’t post that on Twitter, because for some ungodly reason she seems to have a lot of fans who will bury me in outraged insults.

re: #154 Charles Johnson

I admit I wasn’t really sold on Ocasio-Cortez at first, because of her connections to Bernie Sanders, who I’ll never forgive for not getting out of the 2016 campaign earlier. But she’s winning me over.

And just think, all she is really doing is telling the truth. Some concept, huh?
I know that’s all I really ever ask for.

re: #157 Hecuba’s daughter

They might not care — but if anything would bring down this administration immediately, it would be such an unprovoked attack. It would tear this country apart — more than the Vietnam and much faster.

Brought down by who, exactly?

Republicans got routed in the midterms. They still support trump.

The Senate is held by Republicans.

I’m not seeing a path to anyone bringing him down.

And you’re 100% right that it will tear US apart. Just like Putin wants.

re: #154 Charles Johnson

I admit I wasn’t really sold on Ocasio-Cortez at first, because of her connections to Bernie Sanders, who I’ll never forgive for not getting out of the 2016 campaign earlier. But she’s winning me over.

This is exactly the sort of thing that could permanently get the infamous 18-29 year old demographic off its proverbial butt and into the voting booth (and even running for office themselves):

okay Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is literally eating instant mac and cheese with a coffee stirrer while breaking down congressional committees and answering our political questions!!! @Ocasio2018 your authenticity is truly ICONIC pic.twitter.com/Xi2dcd809G

— Devi Ruia (@DeviRuia) December 1, 2018

Note the keyword “authenticity” - soooo many people interpreted trump’s con-artist demagoguery and unfiltered offensiveness as such, but AOC is demonstrating the genuine, positive version. Or as this person puts it:

You need to be following @Ocasio2018. Insightful, digitally savvy, and open. She is what happens when our generation focuses on meaningful causes & public service. She’s what happens when you use social media to teach & inspire instead of incite & complain. So beyond impressed

— Jay Acunzo (@jayacunzo) December 1, 2018

re: #159 Charles Johnson

I’m seeing a lot of journalists on Twitter tweet admiringly about Ariana Grande, so I went and listened to her latest shit on YouTube.

And it WAS shit. Absolute garbage. No offense to anyone who likes her, but this is several steps below pabulum on the music scale. Glossy, insanely over-produced shit.

It’s a little of the furby in all of us……

re: #165 Interesting Times

This is exactly the sort of thing that could permanently get the infamous 18-29 year old demographic off its proverbial butt and into the voting booth (and even running for office themselves):

Okay, see, THAT is about 57 different kinds of awesome. We NEED more people who are in touch with the way today’s society operates.

re: #157 Hecuba’s daughter

They might not care — but if anything would bring down this administration immediately, it would be such an unprovoked attack. It would tear this country apart — more than the Vietnam and much faster.

I don’t think they could without the, at least, implicit consent of Congressional Democrats. Because there would absolutely be an appropriations fight like we’ve probably never seen; and it’d be pretty much impossible to not proceed with impeachment (regardless of what the Senate Republicans say), if the president launches a war without authorization.

President George H.W. Bush Address on National Drug Policy

During the speech, President Bush held up a bag of crack cocaine purchased by drug agents across the street from the White House.

Watch full video here: https://t.co/ejJxKDIE6X pic.twitter.com/VYHwNGWKwL

— CSPAN (@cspan) December 2, 2018

I believe you mean the bag of crack cocaine his DEA agents deliberately staged and set up so he could make that speech, when nobody was really selling crack on Pennsylvania Av. See: https://t.co/okfQEOgjtx https://t.co/RmZ5OtsB45

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 2, 2018

re: #161 jaunte

I might have had a road rage incident.

This town’s Lighted Christmas Parade is always on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. This year, there was a ‘controversy’ about somebody crashing the parade (or was he a legitimate, invited participant? Nobody claims him) flying a confederate flag. Glad I stayed home.

Maybe, but he’s definitely gotten more famous with the bizarre hate speech, though. Calypso singing has a rather limited appeal. Hate speech, not so much.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 2, 2018

re: #159 Charles Johnson

I’m seeing a lot of journalists on Twitter tweet admiringly about Ariana Grande, so I went and listened to her latest shit on YouTube.

And it WAS shit. Absolute garbage. No offense to anyone who likes her, but this is several steps below pabulum on the music scale. Glossy, insanely over-produced shit.

Speaking for Ms. Grande; Thank you. Next

re: #159 Charles Johnson

That’s how I feel about Taylor Swift’s music. It’s just not for me although she’s probably a very good artist.

re: #170 wrenchwench

Even here in my town, I see the stray Confederate flag on the back of a truck or in one glaring instance on someone’s front porch across the street from city hall, next to the Gadsden flag and the American flag.

re: #171 Charles Johnson

…and that’s how the hate speech calypso concept album came into being….

re: #173 Patricia Kayden

That’s how I feel about Taylor Swift’s music. It’s just not for me although she’s probably a very good artist.

You could randomly swap Ariana Grande songs for Taylor Swift songs and most people wouldn’t be able to tell the difference.

I have a soft spot for Lady Gaga.

Lady Gaga - You’ve got a friend(Carole King Tribute) -HQ

re: #177 teleskiguy

I have a soft spot for Lady Gaga.

[Embedded content]

She’s fine though I prefer Pink.

re: #175 Very Cool Very Legal Ghost Flea

…and that’s how the hate speech calypso concept album came into being….

I stole that!

Maybe that could be the next trend, though - calypso hate singing.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 2, 2018

re: #173 Patricia Kayden

That’s how I feel about Taylor Swift’s music. It’s just not for me although she’s probably a very good artist.

I love Ariana Grande’s voice. I get goose bumps sometimes.

Taylor Swift not so much.

re: #175 Very Cool Very Legal Ghost Flea

…and that’s how the hate speech calypso concept album came into being….

Ariana Grande will get right on it.

Lady Gaga’s OK. Not a huge fan of her music, but I wouldn’t put her in the same basket.

Over here laughing MAO about right wing attempts to picture criticism of Trump as “Trump Derangement Syndrome.” They don’t even realize they’re describing themselves.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 2, 2018

re: #133 FormerDirtDart 🍕🐀

There’s no appetite for another Middle Eastern war given the outcome of the one in Iraq. We’re still in Afghanistan for goodness sake.

re: #183 Charles Johnson

Ever since the right wing coined BDS way back in the day to paint any criticism of Dubya as anti-patriotic and un-American, it’s been an ongoing theme with Republicans: They are the Party of God and the Party of America. Insult them at your mortal peril.

re: #178 William Lewis

She’s fine though I prefer Pink.

I love both Lady Gaga and Pink. I’m a bit of an hypocrite since I also love Katy Perry even though I’ve heard multiple rumors that she can’t sing a lick. Her songs are kind of catchy.

Some right wing star must have used this term recently because I’ve gotten a sudden flood of wingnut comments using it today, like parrots excited about a noise they heard.

— Charles Johnson (@Green_Footballs) December 2, 2018

re: #186 Patricia Kayden

I love both Lady Gaga and Pink. I’m a bit of an hypocrite since I also love Katy Perry even though I’ve heard multiple rumors that she can’t sing a lick. Her songs are kind of catchy.

I liked her album with Tony Bennet, where she proved herself to be a pretty decent jazz singer (at least for my ear). Admire anyone who stretches out in their career like that.

re: #176 Charles Johnson

I can honestly say that although I listen to several
pop radio stations, I don’t know even one Ariana Grande songs. I heard her sing (very weakly) at Arethra Franklin’s funeral and that’s about it,

re: #186 Patricia Kayden

I love both Lady Gaga and Pink. I’m a bit of an hypocrite since I also love Katy Perry even though I’ve heard multiple rumors that she can’t sing a lick. Her songs are kind of catchy.

I saw Katy Perry early on live on some show…and she sounds awful live. She can’t sing worth a shit. Truly.

She has catchy songs but someone else should be singing them.

re: #182 Charles Johnson

Lady Gaga’s OK. Not a huge fan of her music, but I wouldn’t put her in the same basket.

I try not to hold the pop music against her. Love her duets with Tony Bennett, and her advocacy has been welcomed. Skilled voice.

Wow. The skiing today. That was medicine. Best turns I’ve ever had at Sunlight Mountain.

re: #33 Charles Johnson

Read that thread; if you didn’t know this story before, you’ll be appalled.

Jesus Christ.

The beginning of the war on drugs war on your black neighbors….

re: #192 teleskiguy

Wow. The skiing today. That was medicine. Best turns I’ve ever had at Sunlight Mountain.

Quite a feeling huh? expect to be a bit sore tomorrow maybe.

re: #190 MsJ

So the rumors were right.

re: #185 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

Ever since the right wing coined BDS way back in the day to paint any criticism of Dubya as anti-patriotic and un-American, it’s been an ongoing theme with Republicans: They are the Party of God and the Party of America. Insult them at your mortal peril.

That’s been an angle they’ve been running for a long time. The Party of God stuff started when they brought in the evangelicals in the 1980s. The Party of America stuff goes back to at least ‘68 and the Democratic convention protests.

re: #194 Unshaken Defiance

Quite a feeling huh? expect to be a bit sore tomorrow maybe.

Nah. I stretched when I got home, took some vitamin I (ibuprofen) and am lounging next to the pellet stove. I’m doin’ it again tomorrow! Tomorrow won’t be near as epic, it stopped snowing - it’s getting tracked out because of this, grr - and the sun came out midday, first time the sun’s made an appearance since Thursday. Nice thing is it’s staying cold at night, single digits at the summit. That didn’t happen last winter, it was warm until the middle of January. This season and last season is - so far - one of massive contrasts.

I stopped, turned around, and looked at perfect ‘s’s I put into two feet of fresh snow with my skis. I had my phone. I didn’t take any pictures. I just looked at it, and decided to keep that image for myself. I did this four times this morning.

re: #177 teleskiguy

Same here. And she can actually sing AND act.

re: #125 MsJ

What actually entitles a CRO to earn $25M for leaving a company that is in worse shape than when he started?
Everything above the minimum necessary to live reasonably comfortably is a privilege. They can pay more for that privilege.

— (((IntheNumbers))) (@ItsNumbersMan) December 2, 2018

re: #159 Charles Johnson

Happy Hippie Presents: Don’t Dream It’s Over (Performed by Miley Cyrus & Ariana Grande)

re: #141 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

Which one was it that wanted to “make the desert glow”?

Ted Cruz.