Doghouse Riley, on his way to an epic fisking of the latest conventional-wisdom Media Villager attempts to spin Rubio’s post-SotU rebutal:
Maybe it’s just the ever-sunny optimist in me, but I have a vague and happy thoughtbubble, the size of a child’s balloon, that the Middle Way “movement” in this country, the whole anti-partisanship, undecided voter mindset, is turning away, not from the Republican party, which even it has had to recognize for some time now as the source of the problems it was complaining about, but from the Beltway insider view of the problem. Which, if I may summarize, is that there aren’t enough John McCains in the Congress….
Look, don’t get me wrong; I’ve lived through the political popularity of Ronald Reagan and Mitch Daniels, and at least three resurrections of Richard Nixon. I know anything’s possible. I also know that Marco Rubio can take all the soundings he wants, train his crew 18 hours a day, and buy the best admiral’s hat he can find, and his boat will still be on the rocks, and the scuppers overflow’d, and the only functioning lifeboat will already contain the Koch brothers, Rush Limbaugh, and two or three anti-abortion activists waving Bushmasters. I look forward to his finessing that for the next three years….
Debbie(aussie)
I have a terrible decision to make. my almost 16 yr old puppy is not at all well and I think it is time to say goodbye:(
Corner Stone
That’s actually the first time I have ever read an entire Doghouse Riley piece. And the last.
It sounds like a me on speedballs but determined to fit 5000 words onto a page.
I like me and all but shit, that kind of fucked me up a little.
Corner Stone
Did anyone else waste an hour trying to watch “Zero Hour” on ABC tonight?
Completely fucking lost me. No idea what’s going on here. And almost Zero reason to care to give it another Hour.
Yeah. I just did that.
SiubhanDuinne
@Debbie(aussie):
I am so sorry. You will do the right thing for your pup, but it’s hard, it’s hard.
{{{hugs}}} to you.
Debbie(aussie)
@SiubhanDuinne:
Thank you. I keep vacillating between ‘do it’ , ‘don’t do it’. Had him since he was eight weeks old.
burnspbesq
@Corner Stone:
That’s ol’ Doghouse for ya. Consistently awful.
Between Doghouse and Pierce, AL’s taste in pundits leaves a bit to be desired.
Corner Stone
I don’t want to put on my Big Boy pants and go wading into the thread below so I will just say here, the absolutely best night’s sleep I have had in almost 5 years now came when I was on a cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. No phone reception, no internet unless you wanted to trade your first born for minutes, and we had an internal cabin at the end of an inside hallway. AKA, no neighbors on one side and no foot traffic past our cabin. Nights as dark and black as my soul, with the AC cranked down to like 60F. No kids stomping past and no old timers stumbling by wondering where they were. IOW, heaven.
Johannes
@Debbie(aussie): So very sorry, Debbie. You’re in our thoughts here.
Robin G.
@Debbie(aussie): *hug*
Mark S.
A lot of people are talking a NYT Mag article about young republicans trying to save their idiotic party. I was going to read it but then saw it was 10 pages long and realized I didn’t care that much. According to Ed Kilgore:
I’m pretty sure if anyone’s going to be shown the door, it will be the Fonzi of Freedom and not the millions of fundies who provide the actual votes for the goopers.
Corner Stone
I’ve seen the series “Science of Sex Appeal” before but it is just…umm..fucking fascinating, if you ask me.
smufobot
@Corner Stone: It’s pure bliss anymore when it all comes together like that!
Corner Stone
@Mark S.:
“provide the actual dumb money for the goopers”
The Koch cash and Club for Growth goes around but robbing Peter is always an easy favorite amongst the GOP faithful.
smufobot
The Eurozone is not even close to being in anything like a recovery. And the continued “look the other way” mentality is not going to work.
Or oratory of a new trade agreement.
Just more words.
trollhattan
@Debbie(aussie):
So, so sorry to hear this. We went to our vet to find out how to know when it’s time and sure enough, when the day came I knew based on what she told us. He was 16 and had lung cancer; the vet told how to tell when he wasn’t getting enough oxygen–the likeliest scenario.
I won’t lie, it’s the hardest thing there is and yet, it’s ultimately an act of kindness and love. My thoughts are with you and your buddy.
ranchandsyrup
@Debbie(aussie): Such a tough spot, Debbie. Hugs.
Kristine
@Debbie(aussie): I am so sorry. You tell yourself that 16 is a hella good age, but it isn’t long enough.
MomSense
@Debbie(aussie):
Oh no. I am so sorry. Sending you a big hug.
Higgs Boson's Mate
@Debbie(aussie):
Hugs and good thoughts for you.
Ed or Edna Dane Defender of Donuts
I wonder what Cole is up to. He keeps having bad luck, computer issues, locking his safe with all the keys inside, buying lots of things that the cat never uses when a cap off a bottle of Coke could probably be more entertaining. I hope he isn’t ill or something.
Steeplejack
@Debbie(aussie):
So sorry to hear that. Good thoughts to you and your dog.
Steeplejack
@Corner Stone:
I put it on the DVR but haven’t watched it yet.
On a similar note, I am thinking about bailing on The Following. It’s a hot mess, and it doesn’t look like it’s getting better. Too bad, because the cast is pretty good.
Mr Stagger Lee
@Steeplejack: Boy I am glad I am not only one to think that. Just like Alcatraz last year.
Yutsano
@Debbie(aussie): A big virtual hug from across the water. I hope his trip to the Rainbow Bridge is a peaceful one.
JustRuss
Apropos of nothing, I just met a woman who worked with Sarah Palin in her mayoral campaign. Felt she was a good mayor, but then got in way over her head. That’s all I got.
FlipYrWhig
@Debbie(aussie): hang in, Debbie. We went through it twice in five months with our cats. It’s awful. Now we’re cat-less. Grief blows. Time does its work, and we never forget, and that’s the way it needs to be, I think.
FlipYrWhig
@burnspbesq: you don’t like Pierce? I think Pierce has much better comic timing. Not quite Wolcott or Bérubé, but few are. Doghouse Riley is to me more like HTML Mencken from Sadly, No. Needs an editor and some self-deprecation that isn’t just a pose.
Frankensteinbeck
@Mark S.:
The fundies ARE the party. You do not have a party without them. The 1% only have a Republican Party because they sucked the religious right into voting for them.
James E. Powell
Quote from the linked blogpost:
This is true. But it’s never mentioned on any talk shows. No Republican guest, whether a “deficit hawk” or “cut taxes on the rich” Republican. They always get to pretend that we haven’t been using Republican policies for over thirty years without ever seeing the promised results.
Why do you suppose that is so?
James E. Powell
@JustRuss:
Palin was mayor of a town of less than 10,000 people, in a state that is awash in money from oil and the federal government. How hard could it be to do a good job?
FlipYrWhig
@Frankensteinbeck: nah. The one-percenters and the Bible-bangers found themselves making common cause over the idea that Those People were bent on taking their hard-earned stuff. That whole party is just different flavors of white resentment against moochers and darkies. Rich, poor, Christian, super-mega-fundie Christian, libertarian, paranoid gun nut, that’s what keeps ‘me all on the same side.
Frankensteinbeck
@FlipYrWhig:
I believe they are united because asshole policies appeal emotionally to all assholes. Regardless, if they lose the Holy Joe Six Packs they have nothing.
Redshirt
Our very existence is a light twinkling in the murk, literally. Atoms joining with atoms, photons piercing the fog, compounds and reactions leading to any and everything, all at once, bam!
? Martin
The beeb is saying that there’s been multiple meteorite impacts in central Russia. That NEO that is supposed to whiz by in a few hours looks to have had some friends. If so, this may not be the only one.
? Martin
The Verge has some video of the meteorite. Very interesting – never seen anything like it.
Spaghetti Lee
I’ll dissent and say DH is a good writer, if a bit longwinded. I suspect I don’t read him regularly because his stuff is too depressing.
Jewish Steel
@? Martin: Here’s some more.
http://media.smh.com.au/news/environment-news/meteor-shower-hits-russia-4035973.html
PeakVT
Thank goodness for Russian dash cams.
Mnemosyne
@Debbie(aussie):
The metric our vet gave us when our kitty Natasha had cancer was that as long as she was still able to do her major bodily functions (eat, drink, pee and poop) and was not hiding, she still had enough quality of life that we did not have to rush into anything.
It is NOT a fun thing to do, but there is some comfort in knowing that you’re preventing your furry friend from suffering. It’s hard, but try to stay focused on what’s best for your dog and if s/he seems ready to go. They really do let you know.
Good luck and condolences.
The prophet Nostradumbass
“Russia Today”, one of the most ridiculous non-Onion “news” sources on the planet, are saying that, according to a “source”, Russian air defense detected the meteorite and shot it down.
? Martin
@The prophet Nostradumbass:
Nonsense. Sarah Palin would have seen that from her house.
sharl
Compilation of videos of Russian meteorite(s) – in a hockey blog, of all places!
And a backgrounder, on why dash cameras are so common among Russian drivers (think accidents – real and staged – plus a broken legal system).
NotMax
@The prophet Nostradumbass
Meteoroid while still in space.
Meteor once it enters the atmosphere and then anytime prior to impact.
Meteorite once it impacts.
Debbie(aussie)
You are such a bunch of wonderful people. Thanks for your hugs and advise.
The prophet Nostradumbass
@NotMax: Thank you for your contribution. It will be given the consideration it deserves. In the meantime, perhaps you could tell Russia Today.
Death Panel Truck
@Debbie(aussie): My heartfelt condolences. It’s never easy to let go of a pet. I had a grey cockatiel hen for 14 years. Simone was eight years old when I got her from my brother-in-law in 1995. He and his wife had neglected her, and she was happy to be with a family who loved her.
She stood on my shoulder every day for 14 years until she got progressively sicker with a respiratory ailment. Toward the end she was gasping for every breath, but I just couldn’t bring myself to have my buddy euthanized. I was thinking more of myself than of her. My wife finally convinced me it was time to let go of Simone.
As we were waiting in the examining room for the vet tech to come in and perform the procedure, Simone died right front of me in the shoebox I had brought her in. The vet tech had left us in the room so we could have a few minutes to say goodbye. I told Simone it was okay for her to go, and about 90 seconds later she breathed her last. I still feel bad that I let her suffer needlessly when it was obvious that it was time for mercy. I only hope she forgave me.
Debbie(aussie)
@Death Panel Truck:
Thank you for sharing. Patch has respiratory problems too. He had some teeth removed two plus years ago and has had horrible sinus problems ever since. He started on steroids just after Christmas. They have helped, but that is diminishing, he has gained a lot of weirht and is always hungry. As he is stil doing all mnenysone mentioned above and the fact that I love him,I am reluctant to let him go.
Debbie(aussie)
Can’t edit, sorry, should be ‘weight’. I can spell, honest, typing is another matter tho.
Nemo_N
It’s God’s punishment to the soviets for being godless communists! Locusts to follow!
? Martin
@Nemo_N: Wayne LaPierre will run an ad tomorrow warning everyone that under Obama’s America, nobody will be allowed to have a gun capable of shooting down a meteorite.
Nemo_N
Couple of videos of the moment of the meteorite crash (explosion?):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f1IGK9GdCmU
This one at 00:27:
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=209_1360907851
scav
as always (and they’re up earlier) good stuff at the Guard liveblog on the meteorite
PeakVT
@Nemo_N: Moar vidz. The pic of Putin riding the smoke trail down near the bottom is pretty sweet, also, too.
Schlemizel
@NotMax:
Is that like Eskimo words for snow? Why 3 words to describe the same thing? I propose “space rock”. So simple a gooper can use it
WereBear
@James E. Powell: And she did NOT do a good job. She built a sports center on land the town didn’t own. I think they are still sorting that one out.
SFAW
@PeakVT:
Was he wearing a cowboy hat? Did he have Vera Lynn on his Russki version of an iPod?
SFAW
@Schlemizel:
You lie!
1) It has two words, not one.
2) It doesn’t mention Jeebus
3) It sounds like something a moocher would use
4) It’s perilously close to “rock and roll,” which is music of the Debbil
5) It contains no grammatical errors (as far as I can tell)
6) Ted Nugent
7) It’s not white
and there are many more reasons, but you get the idea.
ed_finnerty
Debbie(Aussie)
I have had two long termers to deal with in the last year. One (14 years) had cancer and died on the way to the vet. But he was himself and happy (though weak) up until the last hour or so. The other, (18+ years) just wore out. The last two weeks I was on vacation and spent every hour with her. She slept during the day and we both stayed up and watched bad TV at night (Yuup). One night she just gave me THAT look and I called the vet the next day. I miss the smell of her ears.
It is not easy, but whatever you decide don’t regret any of it.
satby
{{{Debbie}}} He knows how much you love him. That’s heaven on earth to our furry buddies.
handsmile
@SFAW:
And a tip o’ the Stetson for that comment!
SFAW
@handsmile:
As long as it wasn’t a wag o’ the fingah.
NotMax
@ Schlemizel
Ice, water, steam. Three words for H-two-O.
central texas
Well (2) and (6) I beg to differ. IMO, Ol’ Doghouse and Mr. Pierce offer some of the best informed commentary to be read in the blogs. Perhaps, (6) Dave Brooks or Douthat is more to your taste, at least in their NYTs benign version.
The nice things about both Doghouse and Pierce are that they have been watching for a long time, they remember what they saw and they have an effective way of saying what it means.