I just absolutely had A Day today. Fortunately, I was cheered right up by playing with Samwise using his new favorite toy. These are too good not to share.
Which one are you? I am both.
Open thread!
by Major Major Major Major| 46 Comments
This post is in: Cat Blogging, Open Threads, Pet Blogging
I just absolutely had A Day today. Fortunately, I was cheered right up by playing with Samwise using his new favorite toy. These are too good not to share.
Which one are you? I am both.
Open thread!
This post is in: Books, Grifters Gonna Grift, Open Threads, Republican Stupidity, Republican Venality, Republicans in Disarray!, Assholes, Decline and Fall, I Smell a Pulitzer!
You mean like last time? You’re literally the only candidate who could lose a GOP seat in pro-Trump, pro-USA ALABAMA. Running for office should never become a business model. If you actually care about #MAGA more than your own ego, it's time to ride off into the sunset, Judge. https://t.co/Twg9isFRkY
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) May 28, 2019
No way Junior actually wrote this tweet — even he understands that “running for office as a business model” is why his old man is currently squatting in the Oval Office. But Young Don’s girlfriend Kimberly Guilfoyle is now a paid “senior political advisor” on Daddy’s reelection campaign, so I guess we can assume this is the real, if not the official, Trump administration stance on Roy Moore. Rooting for injuries!
Speaking of injuries…
Steve Bannon needs to learn how to talk like an anonymous source. https://t.co/LvIwBofjZu
— Zeddediah Springfield (@Zeddary) May 29, 2019
I’m sure a guy who said “I’m fucked, my presidency is fucked” after hearing of a special prosecutor totally said this.
— Molotov Frappuccino Thrower (@agraybee) May 29, 2019
Steve ‘Muck & Mucker’ Bannon is looking for a little earned media (free publicity) from Michael Wolff’s new book Siege: Trump Under Fire & Fury II:
… “Siege” is ostensibly about Trump — portrayed here as a very unstable non-genius cracking under the pressure of being thrust into the highest office — but its guiding worldview looks remarkably like Bannon’s. It’s a mordant, readable tell-all designed to show how Trump, simply by being Trump, has made himself the perfect wrecking ball, blasting holes through an array of institutions…
Wolff says that Kushner represents “liberal globalism,” though he doesn’t offer much to back it up, instead repeating Bannon’s pet theory that Kushner’s behavior shows how glaringly hypocritical the “true and deeply self-interested face of liberal globalism” actually was. Against this, Bannon positions his own “party of the peasants,” with their “peasant honesty, peasant wisdom and peasant loyalty,” prompting Wolff to make what is either a deeply ironic or inadvertently hilarious comparison of Bannon to Tolstoy.
The political analysis in this book is close to nil, but that’s by design. “The heart of this book,” Wolff says, is the experience of the Trump presidency: “an emotional state rather than a political state.” Policies, decision-making, anything that requires even a minimal amount of attention to detail — that happens, as much as possible, without Trump, Wolff says. The president’s staff sees it as their job to keep him in his “bubble,” munching candy bars at night and getting his ego stroked in marathon phone calls with the Fox News host Sean Hannity. On good days, Wolff writes, the president arrives late to the office and is whisked through a series of staged, anodyne meetings to keep him busy: “A distracted Trump was a happy Trump.”
So now Wolff gets another probable best seller, and Bannon, who boasts about communicating with Trump through the media, gets to show the president who’s really boss. “Bannon believed he was the man of populist destiny and not Donald Trump,” Wolff writes, with Bannon even entertaining the idea of being a presidential contender in 2020. Bannon might wax sentimental about the country’s white working class — whom he lovingly calls “deplorables” — but he treats them as endlessly credulous, riling them up with stories about immigrant caravans and the boons of a trade war while offering them nothing more concrete than the fireworks display of watching the establishment burn…
? @Axios exclusive: Publishing sources say that more than 2/3 of key sources for "Fire and Fury" talked to @MichaelWolffNYC for explosive sequel,"Siege," out June 4 @MichaelWolffNYC https://t.co/roHxm226Ss
— Mike Allen (@mikeallen) May 15, 2019
Did those ‘sources’ measure the “more than 2/3 of key sources” by individual, or by body mass? Because, TBH, Steve Bannon’s multiple shirts probably weigh as much as a whole Kellyanne Conway.
A crucial phrase: "according to Michael Wolff." https://t.co/EbZ5oTsEkK
— Jonathan Swan (@jonathanvswan) May 28, 2019
<em>Repubs In Disarray!</em>… Open ThreadPost + Comments (91)
by TaMara| 129 Comments
This post is in: Open Threads
Sixteen-year-old high school student Emma Stevens sang a version of The Beatles’ “Blackbird” in her native Mi’kmaq, to raise awareness of Indigenous languages and culture. Here & Now’s Robin Young speaks to Stevens and Katani Julian, who translated the song, about the experience. The audio of the interview is here
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I thought this was so beautiful. The interview is good, too, if you have time.
What a day. I have so many thoughts on everything, but a full day of work to distract me. Last night Kamala Harris said that she’d pursue charges against Trump after he’s out of office, and I think I want to hear all the Dem candidates make a similar pledge.
For now, I’m still for slow walking impeachment and following Speaker Pelosi’s lead. Her entire focus seems to be getting Trump out of office one way or the other. And Rick Wilson made me laugh with this take:
@TheRickWilson : “There are three things you don’t rush in life: sex, BBQing ribs, and impeachment.” https://t.co/jdfAwnyaAm
— Miss T (@TaMarasKitchen) May 29, 2019
McConnell is still my biggest concern as his traitorous behavior seems to be putting democracy at risk daily. So taking back the Senate is imperative.
I’m hoping his guy can show Graham the door:
I may not be a superhero, but I am a proud South Carolinian, and I'm ready to fight for a better future for our state and our country. I hope you are, too. Find out how you can #JoinJaime and get involved: https://t.co/2jIqtqbKAB pic.twitter.com/zTjktJ1RpA
— Jaime Harrison (@harrisonjaime) May 29, 2019
With a good campaign, I really think a hollow core door could beat Corey Gardner. And we have some good candidates in the running against him. So I am hopeful there.
What do you think the next steps should be in regards to Trump, Barr, impeachment, etc?
Open thread
This post is in: Live Blogging, Open Threads, All we want is life beyond the thunderdome
Breaking: Special Counsel Robert Mueller will make a statement on camera on the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election at 11am ET
— Jim Sciutto (@jimsciutto) May 29, 2019
Just a warning that there is a greater than 50% chance that this Mueller statement will be boring or disappointing so the best thing to do is just ignore it until 11 and see what he says.
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) May 29, 2019
!!! pic.twitter.com/IxVMHyTOie
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) May 29, 2019
I am trying to keep my expectations down.
The floor is open for your speculations.
Update: Live Feed
This post is in: A Woman's Place Is In The House, Indict the MOFO, NANCY SMASH!, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, All we want is life beyond the thunderdome
Karen Tumulty, in the Washington Post:
There is something about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) that allows her to unnerve President Trump as seemingly no one else can.
“I pray for the president of the United States,” she said on Thursday. “I wish that his family or his administration or his staff would have an intervention for the good of the country. Maybe he wants to take a leave of absence.”
The proof that she had hit the giant bull’s eye of Trump’s insecurities was his response: “I am an extremely stable genius.”
Exchanging insults with Trump is not an endeavor that is normally productive, as many others who tried it have found. But Pelosi is a dangerous foil for a president who operates on impulse and outburst. While Trump succeeds in making everyone else around him dizzy, Pelosi’s unique talent is an ability to keep her focus on the endgame.
Her current goal is to assure that the president vacates the Oval Office, as swiftly and as surely as possible.
That means Pelosi must do two things at once: Keep Trump off balance, and restrain those within her Democratic caucus who are urging a precipitous drive toward impeachment.
Pelosi knows that unless and until there is overwhelming, bipartisan support for such an effort, it will end with Trump’s acquittal in the Senate. And that would only help him win another four years in office. “He wants to be impeached so he can be exonerated by the Senate,” she told top Democrats in a private meeting. “His actions are villainous to the Constitution of the United States.”
The speaker argues for another course: Continuing congressional oversight and relying on the courts to provide air cover as six different House committees seek documents and testimony from a stonewalling administration. While not as gratifying to those who are eager to begin impeachment proceedings, and who argue that anything less is a dereliction of Congress’s duty to hold Trump accountable, it is the more likely path to defeating him in 2020…
So, in the end, I don’t think Pelosi is fundamentally opposed to an impeachment inquiry. I think she wants it on her terms, on her timetable, and only after Trump behaves so badly that he shifts public attitudes, much as he did during the shutdown. 6/
— Daniel W. Drezner (@dandrezner) May 23, 2019
Because, Jay, it is unreasonable to ask why Democrats are not rushing into the trap you’re hoping they’ll spring. I hope they’re going to impeach, but I understand if they’re not willing to do it on your schedule and for your reasons. https://t.co/IXekyJbTRq
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) May 25, 2019
Everybody’s laughing except Joy, who’s just all “yep.” She knows, y’all.
— wine-stained lens (@winestainedlens) May 25, 2019
Michael Flynn walking through the halls of Congress would be described like the actual Crucifixion
— Please, Falcons… (@newanimeavi) May 27, 2019
I may have to stay away from Twitter if I continue to be so annoyed that so many people are insisting that if we try to find out number of hostages, hostage takers, floor plan, etc., vs having the hostage rescue team barge in immediately, that we reward hostage taking.
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) May 24, 2019
Glad to just hear @ezraklein describe Pelosi as not opposing impeachment, but letting things play out to see if support would fade or if it will grow, & that she’s pushing him in ways that will build support.
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) May 24, 2019
I do think the House should move toward impeaching Barr.
— Dana Houle (@DanaHoule) May 24, 2019
A quick one on how narcissists respond to ego injury.
Nancy Pelosi implied Trump is unwell and in need of an intervention.
Trump immediately responded with a bizarre, clumsy, awkward insistence that it’s actually Pelosi who isn’t quite all there.
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) May 24, 2019
It is likely Trump knows fully well he is indeed losing a step – and also knows Alzheimer’s runs in his family – and is terrified not of his declining faculties per se but of the inevitable loss of esteem he’ll suffer if that becomes known.
Pelosi found the kryptonite.
7/
— The Hoarse Whisperer (@HoarseWisperer) May 24, 2019
Sorry but @SpeakerPelosi had this idea first! https://t.co/BhOcJCAthN
— Ronald Klain (@RonaldKlain) May 27, 2019
Wednesday Morning Open Thread: The Long GamePost + Comments (173)
by Alain Chamot (1971-2020)| 16 Comments
This post is in: On The Road, Open Threads, Readership Capture
Good Morning All,
On The Road and In Your Backyard is a weekday feature spotlighting reader submissions. From the exotic to the familiar, please share your part of the world, whether you’re traveling or just in your locality. Share some photos and a narrative, let us see through your pictures and words. We’re so lucky each and every day to see and appreciate the world around us!
Submissions from commenters are welcome at tools.balloon-juice.com
Have a wonderful day and weekend; enjoy the pictures!
Today, pictures from valued commenter ?BillinGlendaleCA.
The Desert Blooms
Occasionally after I go out and shoot, I’ll post links to a picture or two in the comments on a Open Thread. I did this last week after shooting at The Huntington. There was a request to see more, so here they are.
The Desert Garden at The Huntington is one of the original gardens that existed when Henry Huntington lived there(the Japanese Garden is another). Some of the plants were purchased from the estate of Authur Letts(he founded The Broadway and Bullucks department stores), when his estate in Los Feliz was subdivided(he wanted it preserved as a park but his son-in-law saw $$$). Where the Chinese and the Japanese gardens are orderly, the Desert Garden isn’t, there are pathways and a multitude of various desert plants. While we’ve been having a somewhat extended winter here in southern California, the plants haven’t noticed and are blooming. It’s not a hillside filled with color like the super bloom, but the flowers are quite colorful.
On a personal note: If you see a picture in this or any other of my OTR posts and you think it’d look fantastic on your wall…today’s your lucky day. I’ll be posting all the OTR post picture over at my place, clicking on my nym will take you there.
Taken on 2019-05-20 00:00:00
The Huntington, San Marino, CA
As I noted in the general description, things are not the most orderly in the Desert Garden, while they do have posts that identify some of the plants, they don’t have a post by each plant. You’ll notice the spherical nodules next to the flower, those are flowers getting ready to bloom.
Taken on 2019-05-20 00:00:00
The Huntington, San Marino, CA
This cactus had this nice ring of pink flowers.
Taken on 2019-05-20 00:00:00
The Huntington, San Marino, CA
This one really caught my eye with it’s stunning number of color and the foreboding barbs of the cactus.
Taken on 2019-05-20 00:00:00
The contrast between the delicate and attractive flower and the barbs of the cactus provides quite a contrast.
Taken on 2019-05-20 00:00:00
The Huntington, San Marino, CA
This one caught my attention since it’s blue, I think it’s the only blue flower that I saw in the garden.
Thank you so much ?BillinGlendaleCA, do send us more when you can.
Travel safely everybody, and do share some stories in the comments, even if you’re joining the conversation late. Many folks confide that they go back and read old threads, one reason these are available on the Quick Links menu.
One again, to submit pictures: Use the Form or Send an Email
This post is in: 2020 Elections, A Woman's Place Is In The House, Open Threads, All Too Normal, DC Press Corpse, Rare Sincerity
For the 65,853,514 millionth time (the exact number that voted for @HillaryClinton, 3 million more votes than Trump):
Yes, America has already shown at the ballot box that we are READY for a woman President and VP.
Stop writing these infuriatingly misogynistic articles. https://t.co/sBdYWzAfDc
— Maya Contreras (@mayatcontreras) May 28, 2019
It would greatly simplify the Media Village Idiots’ job if we could all pretend that the Oval Office Occupant actually got more votes than Hillary Clinton. But it would not be true.
Among the many delights of the day when a woman (Harris? Warren? Klobuchar? Gillibrand?) faces a (no doubt fuming) John Roberts on Inaugural Day… will be watching people like Chuck Todd and Jonathan Karl earnestly inquire of each other how ‘The American voter could possibly have made such a counterintuitive choice!’…
I would argue the person who gets the most votes is the most inspiring. https://t.co/KYBubXyFiJ
— Molotov Frappuccino Thrower (@agraybee) May 28, 2019
Cold Grey Pre-Dawn Open Thread: Getting the Mule’s AttentionPost + Comments (20)