I’d find the struggle to beat back this attempted hijacking of U.S. democracy by a white supremacist, patriarchal, authoritarian, oligarchical cabal more pleasant if our opponents weren’t such whiny fucks. Sweet Baby Jeebus, these entitled shitheads not only want us to hand over our freedoms, prosperity and legal protections, they want us to do it with a fucking smile.
Trump is said to be in a nonstop rage about the impeachment threat. He thought he beat the rap when his crooked AG lied about the conclusions of the Mueller report and the baying media pack jumped on that rhetorical squirrel, and now Trump is whining about not being allowed to have a “normal” presidency, what with all these crimes tumbling out of the closet and sparking new investigations.
The obvious retort is, “Stop being such an obvious fucking criminal and act like a president.” But rather than trying to jam the man into the mold, Trump’s simpering toadies are breaking the mold to piece it together around the man. Barr, for example, is trying to placate the puling orange infant by trotting all over the globe (on our dime!) and rendering America even more ridiculous abroad by questioning incredulous foreigners about the alleged conspiracy waged by US intelligence agencies against Trump.
Fox & Friends is pulling babysitting duty stateside, generously applying butt-balm each morning. Here’s a recent glob:
Fox & Friends guest host Emily Compagno says it "so offensive really, literally just as a human, as a citizen" that Democrats dismiss the idea of a vast anti-Trump conspiracy within the intelligence community. pic.twitter.com/3CNXV4CTWu
— Bobby Lewis (@revrrlewis) October 25, 2019
Good God – and the audience for this is the “fuck your feelings” people? Speaking of fucking feelings, a sad trombone of a man is experiencing them:
Two things are true
There’s only been ONE man EVER who was always right & deserves blind loyalty & his name was Jesus;
And
No matter what a Republican does the left will never be fair to them. What they want is Republicans who will douse themselves in kerosene & light a match.
— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) October 24, 2019
What an embarrassment to the great state of Florida and, more importantly, the Gator Nation. We want them to do their fucking jobs and protect us, though to be honest, a little self-immolation would be entertaining in lieu of that.
Does Putin whine all the time? I don’t know for sure since I don’t speak the language, but I suspect not. Our authoritarian wannabes and their hapless lackeys need to cowgirl up if they’re going to pull this shit off.
Open thread.
ETA: Holy shit!
Hillary Clinton: Like that Old Testament prophet, Elijah Cummings stood against corrupt leadership of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel.#ElijahCummingsFuneral pic.twitter.com/z20m9GQSEc
— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) October 25, 2019
Gravenstone
No. The audience is one cretin, and only one. Trump. Anyone else who buys in is purely incidental.
The Moar You Know
Yeah, actually, Thirsty Marco, that IS pretty much what I want.
Odd that he’d be right about anything.
Their state media sure does. ALL THE TIME. I doubt there’s much daylight between their media and the man.
Eric NNY
I will gladly provide Rubio with a lighter.
waspuppet
And an apology. Preferably a kneeling one.
No, really.
Captain C
We weren’t asking, Marco, but if you’re offering, we accept.
Dorothy A. Winsor
Say what?
D Gardner
Assumes facts not in evidence.
Jeffro
Hillz is gonna troll the Mango Menace right into a stroke, or worse.
And for that we would surely owe her a debt we could never repay.
Jeffro
@Eric NNY: I’m willing to do whatever it takes…flint, rubbing sticks together, whatever the thing is that Scouts learn how to do…just go ahead and pour that kerosene, Marco, and I’ll be right with you…
Martin
Trump sues to undo California’s climate change pact with Canada, calls it rogue foreign policy
Maybe we should have gotten Rudes and a couple of Russian goombas to set up our climate pact instead of having the Governor do it.
What an idiotic thing to fight over. It has literally no impact on national policy. What it does do is draw a lot of jobs and investment to California, which I guess is a bad thing?
Today, fuck everyone.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
this is one of those moments when I wish I had, at some point in the last twenty years, made good on actually reading one of the two or three copies of the Bible I own– I think I have a KJV somewhere, an annotated Catholic one, one with a nice binding and cover that I bought for two dollars at a used book store and have probably never opened.
I’ll now go check wiki to remind myself about the original Elijah, Ahab and Jezebel
germy
“Queen Jezebel”
Oof!
Bill Arnold
She went there! (Smiling :-)
Two things (bold mine):
Alabama pastor asks church to pray for Trump, against witchcraft attacking him (Aug 22, 2018. Also)
#MAGA Church: The Doomsday Prophet Who Says the Bible Predicted Trump – A charismatic pastor in New Jersey (who also calls himself a rabbi) leads a church fixated on end times. Before the apocalypse, however, he’s fitting in a trip to Mar-a-Lago. (Sam Kestenbaum, March 15, 2019)
dmsilev
I don’t know that it’s what I want (if nothing else, think of how hard it would be to get the smell out of the carpets and drapes), but I certainly wouldn’t object.
Jeffro
@Martin: trumpov…is accusing someone else…of conducting “rogue foreign policy”?!?!?
Truly, the gods of irony have deserted us all, perhaps forever…
germy
Photos
dmsilev
@Dorothy A. Winsor: Trump said that he was going to go to Game 5 but wouldn’t throw out the first pitch because his body armor makes him look fat.
You’re welcome.
germy
Millard Filmore
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
Perhaps it the message was to clear up any confusion about Trump going to game 5 as a spectator.
https://www.nbcwashington.com/blogs/capital-games/President-Trump-to-Attend-World-Series-Game-5-But-Jose-Andres-to-Throw-Out-First-Pitch-563849041.html
Dorothy A. Winsor
Is anyone representing the WH at that funeral?
dmsilev
Beware the wrath of the scorned mustache:
(TPM)
Luciamia
“Whiny little fucks.”. Sums it up nicely .
rikyrah
The one reason Lindsey Graham’s impeachment stunt may actually matter
10/25/19 10:20 AM
By Steve Benen
Gvg
We are being fair to Trump and Republicans. Hating them is fair. Trump is a stupid criminal with power and the GOP have chosen to be a threat to many of us. Minorities, women, disabled, people needing health insurance, businesses, and more. There is nothing unfair about it and it’s all based on actions they have taken and chose to take.
Jeffro
@dmsilev: not counting our chickens yet but if John Bolton ends up being the neocon whackjob ‘dynamite’ that blows up the dam here, well, I’m okay with Satan giving him a slightly less murderously hot room in hell down the road. SLIGHTLY.
rikyrah
Boom. Tim Morrison will testify, even if WH tries to block him, per his lawyer: https://t.co/M0ABjMn5c4
Morrison will likely confirm key elements of Taylor’s testimony. It’s getting worse fast.
Presto: Suddenly we hear about Barr’s criminal review, with no details of any kind: https://t.co/Oi6jW3z495
— Greg Sargent (@ThePlumLineGS) October 25, 2019
Bill Arnold
@Bill Arnold:
Note: there are few things going on there theologically. Hillary is riffing on the accusation of her being Jezebel; the other is a warning about actual witchcraft, not mapped AFAICT to visible political figures.
Enhanced Voting Techniques
Wow, that Rubio tweet is an exercise in pure 1984 level double speak.
rikyrah
Reader Adrift (@ReaderAdrift) Tweeted:
Anyone surprised that #JohnDurham, #BillBarr’s sidekick on this new DOJ criminal investigation OF the Russia Investigation is also #Catholic?
Many giving him benefit fo the doubt, just as they did with Barr. Would be great if media looked into the agenda of Right wing Catholics. https://twitter.com/ReaderAdrift/status/1187743550387171329?s=17
cleek
And in reply to Marco:
https://twitter.com/JRubinBlogger/status/1187347572530257921
The GOP done pissed her right off.
Dev Null
Aww, Betty … don’t hold back. Tell us what you really think!
And a +1 to everyone here who is encouraging Marcus Rubius’ (Rubii?) – the Last Honest Man – to follow through on his offer.
rikyrah
WARNING: I heard a DC rumor fm a close Trump source in May 2017 he wanted to charge Obama, Biden, Brennen & Clinton w/treason over Russia. Now with Barr as AG this may be crazy but viable. It could incite civil unrest…the ultimate distraction to help steal an election. #Standby https://t.co/2NEwetZrWz
— Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) October 25, 2019
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@rikyrah: I’m seeing/hearing that Morrison is a true believer Republican who’s going to say he sees nothing wrong in trump’s phone call, so I wouldn’t count chickens on his count. I gather the Defense Dept witness of the other day just confirmed some details about normal procudure with foreign aid, and Morrison will probably just confirm some things in the timeline and give Rs a talking point for a day “He said there was nothing wrong!” .
But if Bolton is ready to start stirring shit up, things could get interesting.
Martin
@rikyrah: Meh. Their loyalty to Trump only extends as far as Trump can help them, which most feel he still can do. The moment Trump is an electoral liability (coming quickly) they’ll drop him like 3rd period French.
TaMara (HFG)
@Dorothy A. Winsor: My favorite thing in the world is to call out lying liars with a good dose of polite truth.
That’s gonna leave a mark.
Cacti
Speaking of whiners…
There’s a new documentary coming out about the (dis)honorable Clarence Thomas.
You’ll be shocked to learn that after 3-decades on SCOTUS, he still cries like a toddler about what a victim HE is.
Poor baby.
But I am glad that it stings him to know he’ll be remembered exactly the way he deserves to be.
rikyrah
In a matter of weeks Marina Butina will be hailed as a Hero of Russia & revealed as an FSB intelligence officer even if she was just a influence subcontractor. We will be humiliated but Russia will laugh at how Republicans will deny they’ve been played. https://t.co/I8SQzOZh9M
— Malcolm Nance (@MalcolmNance) October 25, 2019
rikyrah
The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) Tweeted:
Tulsi Gabbard went on Sean Hannity and delivered Jim Jordan’s talking points.
Fuck her. https://twitter.com/HoarseWisperer/status/1187693902205198343?s=17
JAFD
Good day, fellow Jackals and everyone else !
Today be anniversary of
the Battle of Agincourt
the Charge of the Light Brigade
(also the Charge of the Heavy Brigade, a smashing Brit victory, Tennyson also wrote poem about it, no one remembers it)
and, seventy-five years ago, the Battle of Leyte Gulf
If you need a good laugh today
http://theminiaturespage.com/boards/msg.mv?id=517670
possibly also
https://www.thecut.com/2019/10/watch-aoc-grill-mark-zuckerberg-and-feel-blessed-video.html
this should get you free ebook download today
http://www.mailcannon.co.uk/click?url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/Agincourt-1415-Field-Barry-Renfrew-ebook/dp/B0714BND16/
Hope you’re all healthy and happy. Have great weekend.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Martin: Yup, if can get away with it, and/or thinks he needs to in order to hold the Senate, McConnell would (metaphorically) slit trump’s throat with a smile so wide it would be visible as far as ten feet away.
Speaking of McConnell, everybody see this from yesterday?
oatler.
I would hope it finishes like Lee Marvin and Gene Hackman in “Prime Cut”. But I wouldn’t wish that on the hogs.
rikyrah
Well????
Melanie Jean (@princessmom122) Tweeted:
When Tulsi Gabbard is running her third party campaign next fall, that ad with Biden calling her a good person, Beto saying she’s her own person, Bernie’s sappy tweet, and Booker’s defense, is going to be one for the ages. https://twitter.com/princessmom122/status/1187494995349123073?s=17
rikyrah
????
I’m beyond troubled, Kathleen. This looks like Barr using – ok, abusing – the DOJ to assist a criminal president. This is how institutions fail. The House should consider drafting articles of impeachment for Barr. They can’t let Barr corrupt/destroy the DOJ w/out a fight. https://t.co/RHaRneiDlT
— Glenn Kirschner (@glennkirschner2) October 25, 2019
rikyrah
Yep???
Don’t miss the message that is being sent here. Right as we head into the 2020 campaign season, the Trump administration is telling our intelligence community that criminal charges could be waiting for anyone who dares to flag or investigate foreign election interference. https://t.co/3ghApPwI9t
— Caroline Orr (@RVAwonk) October 25, 2019
germy
Pallbearer didn’t shake Turtle’s hand.
rikyrah
Criminal inquiry opened into Trump-Russia probe’s origins: NYT
Katie Benner, Justice Department reporter for the New York Times, talks with Rachel Maddow about breaking news that the investigation into the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation is now a criminal investigation, giving new powers to U.S. Attorney John Durham, who leads the investigation under close watch of Trump Attorney General Bill Barr.
Another Scott
TheHill:
It looks like the end is approaching for the laggards. They better get a move on…
[eta:] It looks like the RCP polling average at the moment has the list as being:
Biden, Warren, Sanders, Buttigieg, Harris
as the only ones above 5% at the moment. It could make for a lively debate.
Cheers,
Scott.
Just Chuck
@rikyrah: And all part of a larger pattern. Tell me how this doesn’t spell capital-T Treason.
rikyrah
I usually enjoy Chuck, but hearing him trying to give that US Attorney guy the benefit of the White Privilege doubt..I just couldn’t take it. He’s a piece of garbage in league with Barr, Chuck. Period.
Barr’s political goals eyed in criminal review of Russia probe
Chuck Rosenberg, former senior DOJ official, talks with Rachel Maddow about Trump Attorney General Bill Barr turning the probe of the origins into the Trump-Russia investigation into a criminal investigation.
rikyrah
Trump, Barr push specious theory against backdrop of impeachment
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, member of the House Intelligence Committee, talks with Rachel Maddow about Bill Barr making a criminal investigation of the probe into the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation, and how Republicans are reacting to progress in the Trump impeachment inquiry since the important testimony of former Ambassador Bill Taylor.
Klobuchar: Arrows point to abuse of power in Russia probe query
Senator Amy Klobuchar, former prosecutor and 2020 Democratic candidate for president, talks with Rachel Maddow about Trump Attorney General Bill Barr’s criminal investigation of the Trump-Russia probe seen in the context of Donald Trump’s desire to politicize the DOJ and lash out at detractors.
rikyrah
Criminal inquiry of Trump-Russia probe ‘born in political taint’
David Laufman, former head of the counterterrorism section of the DOJ, talks with Rachel Maddow about the difficulty of separating the investigation by U.S. Attorney John Durham into the origins of the Trump-Russia investigation from Donald Trump’s political goals and Bill Barr’s willing role as Trump’s tool.
spudgun
I really, REALLY love NFLTG Hillz!! :-D That’s MY president!!
TaMara (HFG)
Trump is melting down on chopper talk right now.
TaMara (HFG)
@germy: Ouch.
rikyrah
@Another Scott:
FINALLY!!!
Chyron HR
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
I mean, I would have preferred they announce that he’s not welcome in the stadium, but baby steps.
rikyrah
@germy:
That’s been all over Black Twitter last night and this morning.
BWA HA HA AH AH AH AH AH
Another Scott
RollCall:
tick, tock…
Cheers,
Scott.
Ella in New Mexico
@germy: OMG the comments:
No mention of exactly WTF she’s doing on Capital Hill in the first GD place
The Moar You Know
@Martin: It is for Republicans. Even the ones who live here hate it that we’re head and shoulders above the rest of the country in a lot of ways. Crab bucket politics is real. As you know.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
my thought, too
Felanius Kootea
Goddamn! Go Hillary!!! She really has no fucks left to give and I’m loving it.
Someone should have socked a Gym Jordan in the mouth for aggressively chewing gum during the funeral.
TaMara (HFG)
@Ella in New Mexico: You clearly missed mine:
Miss T
@TaMarasKitchen
Meh. You can dress up an old porn model, but you can’t give her class. And I’m classy enough not to post her gross nudie magazine photos.
10:16 AM – Oct 25, 2019
Zinsky
Absolutely Betty! These sniveling little conservative snowflakes are so sickeningly entitled it makes me puke in my mouth a little. Matt Gaetz needs a huge can of whuppass opened on him – Mmm mmm…,
For the person upthread who was waxing rhapsodic about Melania, Queen of Neverland, let’s all remember when El Trumpo was talking about her being nude while chatting with perv Howard Stern:
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2016/08/trump-files-donald-and-melania-creepy-howard-stern-interview/#
What a wonderful family man!
Aleta
@germy: It’s a fucking pantsuit. And a purse shaped like an old-fashinoned suitcase, and I can imagine each of those brands sending her $ or something of value, in a deal as a social media influencer.
The Very Reverend Crimson Fire of Compassion
If this Pretendent gets re-elected (or, more likely, manages to steal the election with help from Russia and our media), we will see Soviet-style show trials in this country for everyone who resisted or tried to cling to the rule of law. This election is life-or-death for our democracy, and it’s terrifying how few people seem to understand what’s at stake.
catclub
@rikyrah:
They have learned that since there were no actual crimes, being specific will fail to immediate laughter.
Chyron HR
@Ella in New Mexico:
She’s making it obvious Peron is off and rolling.
Miss Bianca
@germy: @rikyrah: Is it wrong that I loved this snub so much? And Schumer looking like a cat about to choke to death on cream?
jimmiraybob
Forgot Christian Nationalist.
AliceBlue
@TaMara (HFG): Ouch. Nicely done, TaMara!
Just One More Canuck
Your proposal is acceptable
rikyrah
44 is about to speak at Rep. Cummings’ funeral.
jc
Well said, Betty. What’s always grated on me about Trump & Co. is their tendency to not just grift and gaslight at every opportunity, but to be arrogant on top of it. Don’t lie and cheat your way through and then act like you’ve earned some authority or deserve some respect. Wankers.
Eric NNY
@Jeffro: Stop being incendiary……..
catclub
@Martin:
and on the other hand, as long as Trump is powerful as a Republican, all the ones who do say anything against Trump are always ex- or soon to be retired, Republican officials. Romney is an actual exception, and even he is keeping most his comments under a bushel basket.
Representative Rooney, on one day saying he would consider impeachment, and the very next day announcing he is not running for re-election.
Kay
@rikyrah:
Oh, I’m glad. It’s sad to me- Cummings decency contrasted with these mean-spirited, nasty creeps now in power.
Did you hear Conway on the phone with that poor reporter? It went on and on. Just fucking berating her saying the same “clever” insults over and over. The cruelty is the point.
sdhays
@Martin: I hope you’re right. The thing is that the base won’t turn on Dump until he loses an election, and these guys ignore the base at their peril.
At least, that’s what they believe. They don’t see much benefit in leading. Much better to do just do what they’re told.
Aleta
1–
(Space.c om) An enormous asteroid will fly by Earth today (Oct. 25), and you can watch it zip by in a live webcast from the Virtual Telescope Project.
Asteroid 1998 HL1 will be 3.86 million miles (6.21 million kilometers) away from Earth — about 10 times the average distance to the moon — when it makes its closest approach at 1:17 p.m. EDT (1717 GMT), according to NASA.
The Virtual Telescope Project, an online observatory founded by astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of the Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory in Ceccano, Italy, will stream live telescope views of the asteroid just before the close encounter, beginning at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT). You can watch it via the Virtual Telescope Project’s website.
2–
Also, in news close to home, my dog just won a recommendation as the Most Wonderful Dog in the Universe, an award shared by at least 8 billion jillion gazillion other dogs.
Kay
@rikyrah:
My husband said what amazed him about the Conway rant at the reporter is how LONG Kellyanne stayed on the phone. She has this high powered job and she spends all this time repeating high school level insults to a reporter who isn’t even fighting back? This is her fucking WORK DAY?
They’re low quality hires, in just every way.
Dorothy A. Winsor
@Felanius Kootea: He was chewing his cud. No wait. That was Nunes.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@rikyrah: and the sub-tweeting of The Beast has begun
“There is nothing weak… about kindness and compassion… there is nothing weak… about looking out for other…. there is nothing weak about being honorable, you’re not a sucker if you have integrity and treat others with respect… “
Kent
THE HOUSE INCEL CAUCUS
Courtesy of Atrios.
I cannot think of a more appropriate name for Matt Gaetz and his stormtrooper wannabees. I hope to hell that it sticks. We all need to do our part.
Aleta
(Space) An enormous asteroid will fly by Earth today (Oct. 25), and you can watch it zip by in a live webcast from the Virtual Telescope Project.
Asteroid 1998 HL1 will be 3.86 million miles (6.21 million kilometers) away from Earth — about 10 times the average distance to the moon — when it makes its closest approach at 1:17 p.m. EDT (1717 GMT), according to NASA.
The Virtual Telescope Project, an online observatory founded by astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of the Bellatrix Astronomical Observatory in Ceccano, Italy, will stream live telescope views of the asteroid just before the close encounter, beginning at 1 p.m. EDT (1700 GMT). You can watch it live.
Also, in news close to home, this dog here just won a recommendation as The Most Wonderful Dog in the Universe, an award shared by more than 23 billion trillion gazillion other dogs.
He will be celebrating on the couch today, and all are welcome to attend him.
donnah
Hearing Obama’s tribute to Cummings is a comfort and a celebration. Also, it reminds me again of how much I miss MY President. I miss his wisdom, compassion, and even the sound of his voice.
RIP, Elijah Cummings.
And thank you, President Obama.
Aleta
test
Kay
This is really bad. Trump capturing the DOJ is the worst case scenario. You could weep at how quickly the Trump Administration destroyed things- it makes me believe “our institutions” were weak and of poor quality going in. They shouldn’t have collapsed this easily. They weren’t strong. We thought they were, but they weren’t. Strong walls don’t just fall down when you lean on them. There had to be rot growing for a long time.
Jeffro
@TaMara (HFG): What’s ‘chopper talk’?
Also, WaPo has a bulletin up: Trump Org thinking of selling its DC hotel business? Verrrry fishy, that (unless they’re taking offers in cash and planes waiting on standby)
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Jeffro
@Eric NNY: Nice one! I’m just trying to keep it lit around here. ;)
Betty Cracker
The SHADE!
Ladyraxterinok
Note!!!
Evangelicals claim Bill is the modern Ahab, Hillary the modern Jezebel, and Trump is the one God has annointed to save the US.
This was preached almost daily on the JimBakker show before the 2016 election.
IIRC, Jezebel’s crime was bringing in foreign ideas to contaminate God’s chosen people and separate them from him. Evangelicals think this is dead on description of Hillary and the democrats!
Also I believe Jezebel is killed in a particularly gruesome manner. You can see why Evangelicals just love this view,
Aleta
Also, in news close to home, this dog here just won a recommendation as The Most Wonderful Dog in the Universe, an award shared by more than eight billion trillion gazillion dogs.
He will be celebrating on the couch today, and all are welcome to attend.
sukabi
I absolutely LOVE no fucks left Hillary!
Kay
Trump and the low quality hires must be furious at this public celebration of decency and kindness.
One cannot HELP but see the clear contrast. I just shudder because now they’ll lash out at a 5 year old immigrant or something. Some ordinary person will be punished for this.
rikyrah
Charles P. Pierce (@CharlesPPierce) Tweeted:
Bill Clinton doesn’t have the old pipes, but he still knows the tune. Barack, of course, remains the whole damn symphony. Please use these voice elsewhere than funerals these days. https://twitter.com/CharlesPPierce/status/1187772974331510785?s=17
Aleta
@Aleta: https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/2019/10/21/potentially-hazardous-asteroid-162082-1998-hl1-close-encounter-online-observations-25-oct-2019/
mrmoshpotato
Waahhh waaahh! What’s “normal” about having a Soviet shitpile mobster conman in the Oval office? Here’s a book about the past 44 loyal Presidents we’ve had. Have someone read it to you, Tiny Fingers. We’ll wait.
P.S. Pay attention, ie. shut the fuck up and listen. An adult is reading you a story.
Aleta
@Aleta: https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/webtv/
rikyrah
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
the SHAAADDEEEE
rikyrah
BrooklynDad_Defiant Savage! (@mmpadellan) Tweeted:
Bill Barr is nothing more than a mob consigliere. He is a DISGRACE to the law profession, and he’s a DISGRACE to everyone who has ever held the position of Attorney General.
He and trump are turning the United States into a banana republic before our very eyes. #ImpeachBarr https://twitter.com/mmpadellan/status/1187718532001423360?s=17
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I love Pierce, but my god…. the people who didn’t listen to Obama in 2016 aren’t going to listen to him now. Not the racists who can’t forgive him for being president, nor the infantile Rose twitter brigades who think he used the Constitution as an excuse not to be an enlightened dictator.
And Pierce, of course, spent the 2016 primaries talking up Bernie, to ‘send a message’/, IIRC….
Kent
@Kay:
What we are discovering is that the only real wall is Congress. And it isn’t a wall at all if the GOP are in control. Every organization and especially those like the DOJ have a very well defined chain of command. If you put someone like Barr in charge then frankly no amount of principled opposition among the lower ranks is going to accomplish anything except make it easier for the political appointees to know to fire, investigate, or sideline.
There are really very few agencies and organizations in the executive branch that are independent of the white house. The Federal Reserve is one example. the FEC and FCC are ostensibly independent but as we have found are easily neutered by leaving them without a quorum.
It all comes down to the Senate. And that gives me no hope.
Dorothy A. Winsor
This is interesting. Will they follow through and disbar him?
Aleta
@Aleta: I’m told it’s cloudy over the telescope.
Some explanation in English by an enthusiastic Italian scientist at the link for now.
PST
There has been a genuine shift in public opinion about Trump in the last month. I’m always skeptical of the meaningfulness of small changes in specific polls because of random variation. But I do watch the averages. Over on 538, the gap between approval and disapproval has widened in 30 days from 9.9 percent to 14.1 percent. A lot has happened, and no one would want to attribute this to a single factor, but to me it offers evidence that the Democrats in the House are handling the impeachment inquiry just as they should.
Amir Khalid
@germy:
A briefcase? What does Melania Trump have to put in a briefcase?
Ladyraxterinok
@germy:
Comments to this tweet remind me of a comment I saw somewhere before inauguration about how with Melania ‘we’ would FINALLY have a FLOTUS with some class!—-???
sukabi
@mrmoshpotato: need to be a “normal president” to have a normal presidency. Insane psychotic clowns get this.
Leto
So this dingbat was a Federal attorney too? I mean she states that right at the beginning. Are the standards to be a FA that low that someone like this can clear it? When you have former FAs that spew this bullshit it doesn’t make the rest of them look that great, nor does it speak well of your hiring practice/criteria. It’s in the same vein as @rikyrah’s: comment about Chuck: if your former associates are acting like shit goons, it doesn’t really matter what you think of them/how you knew them/how swell they were. Evaluate their actions in the now, the present. Maybe being out of the institution is what is needed for people like Chuck to finally have the blinders off and see who these people really are.
MattF
A cruel person forced a bot to listen to 1000 hours of interviews with Rudy Giuliani. Here’s the first page of the output:
https://mobile.twitter.com/KeatonPatti/status/1076153081019146240/photo/1
Kathleen
@germy: Are we sure that’s not a Maggie Haberman pseudonym?
PST
@rikyrah: SHAAADDEEEE indeed! I got home and flipped on the TV just in time to catch that. PBO has lost nothing.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Loose uncut diamonds for her mother to smuggle back to Slovenia when they and Barron flee the aftermath
Immanentize
@Amir Khalid:
Bondage rig?
sukabi
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: could also be drumpfs next dose of speed.
Ladyraxterinok
@rikyrah:
Opus Deì? Is this meant. I think maybe 1 or more on SCOTUS are connected to Opus Dei,
Leto
@Dorothy A. Winsor: One can only hope. You can do it, NY Bar! Disbarr him!
Enhanced Voting Techniques
@The Very Reverend Crimson Fire of Compassion: Maybe, my bet is Trump will go after Republicans like Mittens for the show trials because they won’t fight back because they are committed to The Movement like a Democrat would. Remember all of Stalin’s victims in the Great Terror were good communists.
donnah
I wish someone could talk me off the ledge in regards to what Barr is doing. I read that the DoJ already has indictments lined up. He’s got unlimited funds, power, and range and nobody seems prepared to stop him. I think this is way more than a smokescreen to divert attention from the impeachment process.
SiubhanDuinne
@rikyrah:
I watched all three hours of Elijah Cummings’ funeral. Of course, I mostly wanted to see and hear Presidents Clinton and Obama — I find in these Trumpian days I need to hear Obama’s voice as both antidote and prophylactic — but I found myself moved to both tears and laughter by many of the earlier speakers: Hillary, Nancy Smash!, the two Cummings daughters and his powerfully passionate wife, members of his staff, colleagues, protégés, mentors, and friends. Elizabeth Warren read the 23rd Psalm. A lot of the eulogists quoted poetry, from Shakespeare to Frost. I’ve always loved a good funeral, and this was one of the best. Rest in peace and power, Congressman Cummings.
Chris T.
As it turns out, this particular usage of “citizen” means “white supremacist”.
The Golux
@TaMara (HFG):
I prefer the classic by Dorothy Parker, when asked to use “horticulture” in a sentence:
Immanentize
@Leto: Hmm, That made me wonder — what does she mean by “Federal Attorney? She was never an Assistant US Attorney (prosecutor). Rather, this detail is really obscured in her online info. This is the best I could find:
What on God’s green earth does that mean? That could be anything. She was an attorney at the Department of Agriculture filing bull sperm reports?
Immanentize
@Ladyraxterinok: Scalia was. His son was an Opus Dei priest, I think. But Alito is certainly an Opus Dei felllow traveler.
Kay
@PST:
We had a really good turnout at the county Dem dinner last night. This is a 70% Trump county so it’s not like it’s essential to success in 2020 but I was so glad to see it. I helped with the table set up and we had to add two tables. Coming out is a commitment. Physical presence. That’s what I want to see. I wonder if it’s starting to trickle down to the non-obsessed. They were all Democrats so it’s not disillusioned Trump voters but I haven’t seen some of the people I saw last night in years.
HumboldtBlue
I just finished reading this piece from the Guardian from a riter who watched FOX News every day for 44 months.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@SiubhanDuinne: okay I really don’t want to be crass but I’m a political junkie and I can’t help myself: Warren was invited to take part in the service and Biden wasn’t?
ETA: @Immanentize: I’d place a large bet that Kavanaugh is, too.
Amir Khalid
@Kay:
Remember the Mark Twain story, The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg? You never really know how strong an institution is until it is tested.
Miss Bianca
@MattF: “I New Yorked them to death!”
SiubhanDuinne
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I was struck by that, too. Seemed like a deliberate insult to Uncle Joe, but of course none of us knows what went into the decision.
Miss Bianca
@Kay: I wish I could say the same for our Democratic dinner. We had to cancel ours. : (
Better luck next year, I’m thinking!
Immanentize
@Leto: OK, a little more of Compagno — It seems “managing attorney” is a lie:
Leto
@rikyrah: @SiubhanDuinne: Is this online somewhere? I was out most of the morning so wanted to watch this later.
@Immanentize: Ha! I’m with you though, I don’t know. But the number of former DoJ officials who are expressing “shock and dismay” over how their former associates are now acting is… telling? Maybe they didn’t know them as well as they thought. Those people are now showing their true colors. Like Kay is stating above, the DoJ had a ton of rot and it’s being exposed. If we can survive this, that’s a good thing. Let the rebuilding begin.
catclub
@donnah:
yes, definitely step away from the ledge ( inboard!). Taking powerful people who can afford excellent defense attorney’s to court and trial
is no longer the DOJ’s strong suit.
SiubhanDuinne
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
I didn’t see any of the usual suspects in the crowd-panning shots. But Gym Jordan was there, chewing a big wad of gum with his mouth open.
Immanentize
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Actually, I do not get an Opus Dei vibe from him. I knew a lot of Opus Dei when I was in San Antonio. Kavanaugh is too Irish frat boy to go dour end-of-times-punishment harsh. When thinking about Opus Dei, imagine a cilice which is the discipline tool associated with the order.
Jeffro
@Enhanced Voting Techniques: One thing few folks are thinking about, maybe, is that while we’ve seen how bananas trumpov has been just during this initial House impeachment inquiry…does anyone think he won’t be 10,000x even MORE bananas once articles of impeachment have been voted on and passed and sent to the Senate? The Senate trial?
His twitter feed is going to be LIT. I would be surprised if it wasn’t just long, random strings of consonants before Day 3 of the trial starts. He will be threatening, cajoling, tweet-weeping, all of it. And that will have an effect on those Senators (and on the country as a whole).
THAT’s when we all need to be marching and calling our reps like mad.
Aleta
@Miss Bianca: Because of fire?
Kay
@Amir Khalid:
It’s shocking how fragile it all is. I just didn’t know. I would have thought it would be more resilient.
Oh, well. We have to rebuild anyway. May as well dig a deeper foundation while we’re at it. Test it against a couple of random reality tv show stars, see if it holds.
Leto
@Immanentize: GS-12? FFS… Also surprised that San Fran doesn’t get a locality pay increase. We do in the Philly area because of how expensive it is, SF has to be even more. And the fact that she’s lying… obligatory shocked face comment.
HumboldtBlue
@JAFD:
And a footnote to the list: It’s the day Taffey 3 took on the battleships and heavy cruisers of the Japanese Fleet in the Battle off Samar, a true David v Goliath matchup
Leto
@Kay:
Wait, one isn’t enough? Why do you hate us Kay, why??? What did we ever do to you??? :P
SiubhanDuinne
@Leto:
I watched the PBS NewsHour live stream on my phone. C-Span also carried it live, I believe. Not sure what plans are for rebroadcasting the entire service, but shouldn’t be too hard to find. Maybe if one of the FPs can track down a link later, they could put up a special thread.
Immanentize
@catclub: I am old enough to remember when Strzok was just about to be indicted!!!!111!
Then, nothing.
Miss Bianca
@Aleta: No, lack of interest. My best guesses as to why are that we moved it from June to September (three days before the community dinner that is probably the single biggest social event in my tiny town), and that we moved it away from one of the local restaurants that had been sponsoring it. Oh, well – better luck next year, I hope!
ETA: Oh, yeah, and we are probably an 80% turn-out for Trump county, so Democrats are few and far between on the ground here. Blood-red county in a “blue” state.
Immanentize
@Jeffro: Kinda like Lenny Bruce in the final days?
Kay
@Miss Bianca:
That’s too bad. I was hoping they’d come out and then they did. It was a good night except for one candidate for city council. I know her and come to find out she might be a crazy person. I didn’t take her yard sign. I’m not supporting her, which might be awkward but this was the speech of a crazy person. No more crazy. I’m full up.
Ruckus
@Gvg:
I’m going to have to correct you a bit here. You are correct about the threat and many groups are in worse shape but trump, and his minions supporting him are making things worse for ALL of US. He’s such a massively idiotic asshole that he’s making it far worse for everyone, including himself. You might consider that the wealthy are, at least in their minds better off because he lowered their taxes, which it seems a number of them didn’t/don’t pay anyway. But he’s making life worse for all of us, and for many people in other countries as well. People are literarily dying because of him, we are killing people because of his ignorance/stupidity/lack of any morality/outlook on life-narcissism. He is destroying the fabric of our lives, no matter how imperfect those lives are. Those lives had a chance of improving, until him. Now he has destroyed that chance. And the republican party has decided that is what they have always wanted was destruction of anything but their limited view of life. That is after all the conservative concept, maintain a specific lifestyle, that the majority doesn’t want, that is harmful to anyone who doesn’t look/act/talk/live like they want. And most of that concept is about the “true” conservatives having money and therefore power. Except it is absolutely, totally, dangerously, unsustainable, and dangerous to all of us, including themselves. trump is the embodiment of this danger, the living example of it’s danger, an idiot with a god complex and the power of rage and stupidity.
Immanentize
@HumboldtBlue: Was Raven’s Dad in on that action?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@catclub:
I’m half-persuaded by those who say this some minor issue, probably about a leak, that they’re blowing up to keep the howler monkeys het up, and there’s a long walk from opening an investigation to a trial, and I don’t believe John Brennan or Strzok or anyone else on trump’s list will actually be tried, much less convicted. But it will probably cost them and a lot of other people a lot of money in legal fees, which is almost certainly part of Barr’s thinking.
Miss Bianca
@Kay: Oh, no! Crazy how? Like Tulsi Gabbard Republican Lite crazy, or “the aliens have just landed in my scrambled eggs” crazy?
MattF
@Jeffro: I think, specifically, that McConnell will drive Trump bananananapants crazy. If Trump is expecting to get fealty from Mitch, he’s in for some… disappointment.
catclub
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
No doubt. But i suspect Obama, Hillary, and John Brennan will be easily able to come up with funds. The usual threat to impoverish the defendant with legal costs, if they do not plead, is not here.
rikyrah
@donnah:
WHICH IS WHY HE NEEDS TO BE IMPEACHED
Ladyraxterinok
@Immanentize:
Read somewhere they have a very strong chapter in DC with young charismatic leader.
I think I also saw they run schools to train young boys—no girls of course
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@catclub: right, but I was thinking of mid-level people whose names don’t make the news, but will be harassed and hurt by this investigation, as a message sent to other would-be whistle-blowers (in the legal and colloquial sense).
And whatever else Barr is, I think he’s too smart to go after Obama that directly, as much as The Beast might rage about it.
Kent
@Leto: San Francisco gets 40% locality pay adjustment. Maybe those are built into that table or on top of it: https://www.federalpay.org/gs/locality/san-francisco
Ruckus
@Kay:
They’re
lowsNO quality hires, in just every way.Fixed that for you.
Aleta
some live image-taking of the asteroid now (w/explanation); clouds cleared
https://www.virtualtelescope.eu/webtv/
sukabi
@MattF: pretty sure that’s just a verbatim transcript of the last Guiliani interview. It makes as much sense anyway.
trollhattan
Notice that Li’l Marco believes Dems want Republicans to self-immolate using elitist kerosene. Where the hell would Gaetz even buy that? Joke’s on you, Marco, we will gladly accept this beneficial form or Republican protest using good old flyover country gasoline–unleaded please–or even Secretary of Energy Perry’s favorite–Freedom Gas!
Lighters up!
Another Scott
@donnah: Twitter:
People inside are fighting back. Don’t give up. Do what you can (advocacy, supporting good people, voting, etc.).
Cheers,
Scott.
Jamie
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’m also reassured (somewhat) by the fact that they supposedly had an indictment all lined up for Andrew McCabe, and it completely fizzled, in all likelihood because a grand jury said, “Piss all over *that.*”
Ladyraxterinok
@Immanentize:
Now and then I think how truly bizarre it is that so many totally freaked out in 1960 at the mere thought of a Catholic as president –hey, I was in Houston where SoBaptists were going ballistic! And now how many Catholics are on tne SCOTUS?
The Moar You Know
@Amir Khalid: Memories of a time when she knew what the words “dignity” and “self-worth” meant. It’s empty, of course.
But seriously, if she’s smart? At least one of Trump’s tax returns.
HumboldtBlue
@Immanentize:
Now that you ask you have piqued my curiosity, I don’t know.
Calouste
@Amir Khalid: Duh, briefs of course.
Starfish
@Ladyraxterinok: “Class” equals “white” every time they say it. Same people dying because Michelle wore a sleeveless shirt were talking about Melania’s class as she was getting paid to do a nude cover photo for a magazine as she was becoming first lady.
Calouste
I notice it’s that time of the year when people whose symbol is an instrument of torture, which is also often used as a gravestone, complain about the imagery of Halloween.
Redshift
@trollhattan: for Gaetz, I think used deep-fryer oil would be most appropriate.
Kathleen
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Thank. You. I could go on but will refrain.
Matt
Nah, that’s aiming low – I want Republicans who will douse the whole rest of the klavern with kerosene, then themselves, THEN light the match.
Eric NNY
@Jeffro: You’re on fire. (okay lame). How about this: Give a man a fire and he’s warm for the day. But set fire to him and he’s warm for the rest of his life.
Starfish
@Miss Bianca: Oh no! I always thought I failed you and missed Adam’s thing. How many people do you need to make it viable?
chopper
“asking us to not commit crimes is like asking us to immolate ourselves” is a refreshingly candid attitude i’d honestly like to see more republicans adopting publicly.
Redshift
@donnah:
Oh, it’s way more than a temporary distraction. It’s meant to pave the way for sanctions to be lifted (top of Putin’s wish list), or at least make it look like Trump is trying. For the election, it’s meant to undermine defense against Russia helping them again, give wingnuts a talking point whenever anyone brings up their 2016 crimes. It’s meant to must the waters with “everybody does it” to depress voter turnout. And intimidate witnesses and whistleblower. And probably more.
If Barr isn’t in prison when all this is over, we don’t have a justice system any more.
Miss Bianca
@Starfish: Different events. The Digital Security conference is the one Adam was scheduled to be at – *that* got cancelled because of the Decker Fire. Rescheduled for early in 2020.
Our county’s Democrats’ Dinner normally gets about 50 participants. If we do it next year, I think we will have to shift it back to June!
Miss Bianca
@chopper: LOL!
geg6
@Dorothy A. Winsor:
That might actually get me to tune in to a baseball game. For that anyway. Screw the game. Only tv sports more boring than baseball are NASCAR and golf.
Uncle Cosmo
@Immanentize: My dad, a diesel mechanic, was in all likelihood watching from Leyte onshore. (I never asked him & he never spoke about it on his own.) His motor pool unit came ashore on A-day +2 or 3 and spent its time stevedoring supplies off landing craft until the pool was set up & ready for customers, which probably would have been the 23rd or 24th. He might not have been in a position to see it, but he must have heard it. (The guns would have woken him up if he’d been asleep, but he told me he’d stay awake all night, afraid of some Japanese infiltrator slitting his throat while he slept.)
catclub
@geg6:
Excellent for napping!
Ksmiami
@Gvg: I want them defeated and utterly destroyed myself so…
Ella in New Mexico
@TaMara (HFG):
I’m sorry–I only made it through about 5 or 6 before I had to go throw up but it was spot on lolol
Ksmiami
@Ruckus: there r way more of us than them and we are better w technology so…
debbie
@Immanentize:
You’re not counting Trump’s impersonation of Strzok having sex with Lisa Page during one of his rallies? //
Origuy
Passport, naturalization papers, key to a safe-deposit box, and a notarized copy of the pre-nup agreement.
Don’t leave home without it.