Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

šŸŽ¶ Those boots were made for mockinā€™ šŸŽµ

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

I did not have telepathic declassification on my 2022 bingo card.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

Letā€™s not be the monsters we hate.

“But what about the lurkers?”

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

Consistently wrong since 2002

Come on, man.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

A Senator Walker would be an insult to the state and the nation.

The GOP couldnā€™t organize an orgy in a whorehouse with a fist full of 50s.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

Americans barely caring about Afghanistan is so last month.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

No one could have predicted…

ā€œEverybodyā€™s entitled to be an idiot.ā€

A democracy canā€™t function when people canā€™t distinguish facts from lies.

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74Comments

  4. 4.

    General Winfield Stuck

    Every day is spent toiling under the icy stare of the master:

    Every master needs a servant.

  5. 5.

    Turgidson

    Is that the “you just interrupted my siesta, you blubbering idiot!! Get out of my sight before I smite you!” look?

    I can almost sense Tunch’s disdain all the way over here on the west coast. And it’s awesome.

  7. 7.

    CaseyL

    When I embiggen the photo, it looks like Tunch’s right forepaw is a little bit clenched, meaning he’s semi-kneading, which is a sign of affection – presumably, affection for you, the No. 1 human in his life.

    So, yes, it is reasonable to believe he loves you.

    Actually, after reading that amazing Dog Revisionism article you posted a link to, I wonder if cats don’t love us more sincerely than dogs, since they have not gone through all the trouble to be as manipulative as the article claims dogs have. Or maybe they just have more confidence in their ability to manipulate us using only the power of their sheer physical perfection, and the purr…

  8. 8.

    CynDee

    @ John Cole:

    Maybe he’s just wondering why you like to walk up to him, assume some sort of posture, look through a funny little box and click it, and even sometimes set off a light.

    “Is it some totally bizarre greeting?? Are you trying to figure out how to commit aggression?? Why are you abasing yourself before me every day of the year?

    Humans are nuts, and what if one goes completely off his head, hmm? How will I see it coming?? GOT to keep The Eye on you.”

  9. 9.

    gbear

    ā€œIs it some totally bizarre greeting?? Are you trying to figure out how to commit aggression?? Why are you abasing yourself before me every day of the year?

    Humans are nuts, and what if one goes completely off his head, hmm? How will I see it coming?? GOT to keep The Eye on you.ā€

    Imagine what they must think when you get a phone call.

    PS: Tunch’s tail always looks like an off-brand aftermarket accessory.

  10. 10.

    raholco

    My cat Ozzie looks like Wilford Brimley (he’s a rescued Red Persian (whose parents were champions) fur clogs up my computer.) He’ll purr like the dickens one minutes and then wail like he lost his balls (hate to tell you Ozzie-you lost them before I got you.)

    (If he starts meowing ‘Diabetes’ then I need some new meds….)

  11. 11.

    raholco

    @John Cole: His markings paint him as having a Turkish Van linegae. Does he like water? Turkish Van’s have been known to be water-loving…..

  14. 14.

    RedKitten

    Maybe heā€™s just wondering why you like to walk up to him, assume some sort of posture, look through a funny little box and click it, and even sometimes set off a light.

    Good point. I know there have been a few occasions when my pet at the time looked at me as though to say, “You’re seriously weird, hoo-man, but I suppose you’re harmless enough.”

  15. 15.

    John Cole

    @raholco: He has the classic Turkish Van markings, but trust me, I almost bled out the time I tried to introduce him to water.

    @Comrade Jake: You honestly have not seen how sweet and delicate Lily is. I’m totally not bullshitting when I say that 6:30-9:00 am when we are walking and doing our thing is the best part of the day. The rest of the day involves people.

  17. 17.

    Nicole

    Every day is spent toiling under the icy stare of the master

    He’s like your own personal Eric.

    (That was for the True Blood fans on the board.)

  23. 23.

    Violet

    The disdain is palpable.

    I have convinced myself he loves me, otherwise the glares would be unnerving.

    He loves that you are the food source. We know that much, at least.

  27. 27.

    Comrade Kevin

    So, does the area near his neck feel soft like a baby lamb, or just look like it?

  28. 28.

    Laura Clawson

    I actually take looks like that as something other than glares. My cat often looks at me like that while he’s purring away, so I figure it for…some sort of avid but not angry focus.

  30. 30.

    MBSS

    @ JK

    she’s a one woman brain trust. the future of the party is in good hands. the reincarnation of Rand and the scourge of the left….

    victory, thy name is megan mcardle. be dazzled as she finds new ways to savage the opposition and protect the interests of those currently in power, whoever they may be.

    1. establismentarian

    2. contrarian

    3. tall

  32. 32.

    Steeplejack

    @gbear:

    Tunchā€™s tail always looks like an off-brand aftermarket accessory.

    Win. Or the brown wingtips with the seersucker suit.

  37. 37.

    JK

    @MBSS:

    I still can’t get over McArdle’s insane line about Taibbi being the “Sarah Palin of Journalism”. That’s 1 of the 2 stupidest comments I’ve heard or read since Friday, that I can’t get out of my mind. The other stupid comment came from Sports Illustrated baseball writer Jon Heyman when he was asked if he favored a salary cap in baseball. Heyman yelled “You can’t have a salary cap in baseball. That’s communism”.

    OT
    Belated thanks to all who contributed the great posts last night on the thread for favorite tv comedy shows. Great to see so many fans of British comedies.

  38. 38.

    MBSS

    esĀ·tabĀ·lishĀ·menĀ·tarĀ·iĀ·an (-stblsh-mn-tĆ¢r-n)
    adj.
    Of, relating to, or supporting the political or social establishment.
    esĀ·tablishĀ·menĀ·tariĀ·an n.
    esĀ·tablishĀ·menĀ·tariĀ·anĀ·ism n.

  39. 39.

    Mary

    @JK: Regarding Audra Shay as the newly-elected racist leader of the Young Republicans, it gets better. You do know, don’t you, that her opponent was Rachel Hoff, who was convicted of vote fraud in the 2004 South Dakota Senate race? It was a fairly close race between the two.

    http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0209/Vote_fraud_at_issue_in_YR_race.html

    My heart aches for Tunch, such a handsome little dude, because he knows John is gaga over the new dog and his feelings are hurt. His dignity in the face of this sad state of affairs is inspiring.

  40. 40.

    MBSS

    @JK

    check her site today. she edited the thread and redacted anyone who had the gall to call b.s. on her.

    aaron arnold and a couple others made a convincing case for taibbi and against her. it’s not difficult in this particular instance, but theirs were quite compelling.

  42. 42.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @Mary:

    My heart aches for Tunch, such a handsome little dude, because he knows John is gaga over the new dog and his feelings are hurt. His dignity in the face of this sad state of affairs is inspiring.

    I’m worried he may take one of his nine lives.

  43. 43.

    Comrade Kevin

    I still canā€™t get over McArdleā€™s insane line about Taibbi being the ā€œSarah Palin of Journalismā€.

    That’s like comparing a Fuji apple to cheez wiz.

  44. 44.

    JK

    @Mary: I wasn’t aware of that story. Thanks for passing it along. I don’t have the patience to do it myself, but I hope someone out there is compiling a list of all the racist statements from Republicans (ie Republican comparing Michelle to an ape) directed towards Barack or Michelle since Jan 20th. Olbermann has mentioned a few of them on Countdown. I can’t believe how much blatant racism has come out of the mouths of Republicans since Inauguration Day.

    @MBSS:

    I didn’t know about this, but thanks for telling me. I’m not surprised. Megan’s dishonest analysis of Taibbi coupled with her deletion of negative comments on her blog reminds me of Robert Shaw’s line to Paul Newman in The Sting: “Not only are you a cheat, but you’re a gutless cheat at that”

  50. 50.

    DonkeyKong

    Is it because his stare is technically true but collectively nonsense?

    Here comes the shoe………………………………….duck!

  52. 52.

    Anne Laurie

    He is actually a lover. He just photographs angry.

    To a cat, the half-closed eyes “squint” indicates affection & contentment. On the other hand, the wide-eyed, corners-of-the-mouth-pulled-back look that means “happy smile play face” to humans — and dogs! — is what cats do when they’re feeling mean & threatening. Primates, like humans, instinctively read half-closed-eyes as a threat. (Remember the Cheshire Cat saying “I growl when I’m happy, and wag my tail when I’m angry”?) Part of the awesomeness of our household tigers is that they’re willing to put up with our clumsy monkey misinterpretations of their best etiquette.

    If you live with a cat, next time they’re sitting happy & looking at you, try half-shutting your eyes while looking straight at them; usually they’ll respond by hooding their own eyes… and revving up the purr volume.

  53. 53.

    YellowJournalism

    I love Tunch, especially these pictures. He reminds me of my childhood pet. I had a very fat white kitty who used to give everyone, even my sister’s giant lab, that evil-eyed, reigns-supreme stare. She used to walk up to the dog, who was a good 100 pounds larger and eight years younger than her, and just slap the crap out of his face (with declawed paws…not my choice) for no reason that we could see except to keep herself established as the queen of the house. The dog learned to just get up and get out of her way whenever she entered the room.

    Sadly, she died a few years back of hyper-thyroid disease. She ruled to the end, though. Oddly, it was the dog who missed her the most the first month. He would sleep near her toward the end when she was scrawny and unable to move around as much. He was the one who let my mother know where she was the day that everything went bad and my parents had to put her down.

  55. 55.

    Gina

    Tunch looks lovey-dovey for sure. Our cat Eric is big giant, pure white with blue eyes. My daughter can do anything to him, he just purrs and purrs, all hugs and kisses. However, if my husband diverts from the usual routine for AM feedings, he’s treated to full-bore Devil Cat. Since Eric has light blue eyes, when his pupils dilate and the light hits them right they look glowing, demonic, red. Just to screw with DH, Eric combines the eye thing with a Halloween cat pose, and otherworldly growls and hisses.

    DH now uses this as his excuse reason not to work out in the AM anymore.

  56. 56.

    Punchy

    @Linus: Lots o’ speculation on the finance blogs that they’ve got a combo of wicked fast software and insider knowledge of prices to make a few cents on every trade every time, adding up to (I’ve seen quotes of) 100 mill a day. The impression is that they’re exploiting a manifestly unfair advantage to screw everyone and make a mint.

    Fucking monsters.

  57. 57.

    Dennis-SGMM

    Apparently, John McCain made his 20 millionth appearance on the Sunday morning gasbag parade and dropped some more of his increasingly runny wisdom.
    From The Hill:

    McCain said that Palinā€™s resignation was consistent with his qualities of leadership, because she made the decision that ā€œshe can be most effective by stepping down, and she did.ā€
    ā€œI donā€™t think she quit. I donā€™t know if there was a quote promise [to the people of Alaska to continue serving as Governor]. But I do know that she will be an effective player on the national stage.ā€

    Considering McCain’s half-ass, scattershot campaign I’d have to agree with him about the comparison between his leadership style and that of Palin. Essentially, both have neither leadership nor style.

  58. 58.

    MBSS

    @Punchy.

    isn’t it odd that GS’s plot to rule the world and the plot of “Office Space” are the same?

  59. 59.

    Dennis-SGMM

    @Linus:
    Having the Bush administration let one of GS’ main competitors (Lehman Brothers) go under didn’t hurt either. That then-SecTreas Hank Paulson was a GS alum was merely coincidental.

  61. 61.

    asiangrrlMN

    @Just Some Fuckhead:

    Iā€™m worried he may take one of his nine lives.

    Ha! Love that line.

    John, he doesn’t look angry to me in this pic. He looks like he’s giving you blinkies, which, as others have pointed out, is a cat’s way of showing affection.

    I love the Tunchinator. He is one hell of a cat.

    @JK: I read that on TBoggs’ blog. She seems like the perfect leader for the Young Republicans (hard to believe she’s my age).

  62. 62.

    JK

    @Dennis-SGMM:

    John McCain is an abomination and an obscenity. After the Joe McCarthy style campaign he ran, it’s a goddamn outrage that these dickless anchors are treating this warped, frustrated scumbag as a respectable elder statesman.

    Best Takedown of McCain I’ve read over the last few months

    John McCain is unqualified to be Commander-in-Chief. McCain is a guy of rather mediocre intellect, little curiosity, and very poor and impulsive decision-making skills. Heā€™s vain and headstrong, and he easily turns opposition over matters of policy or politics into personal vendettas. He became a political commodity in 1973 because he embodied the right-wing working-class value of patriotism under duress at a moment when patriotism and the white working class felt under attack for their complicity in a disastrous foreign war. And he was seized upon by a desperate Republican Party in political free-fall; in the thick of Watergate, the Nixon administration launched him as a political celebrity. He then parlayed that notoriety into a political career a few years down the road. He certainly has a substantial amount of charm and an instinct for playing the press, and heā€™s hardly the dumbest guy in the Senate. But he is not a responsible or serious person. And to a great degree, when he met Sarah Palin, he probably felt he was looking at a younger version of himself. Which is to say that the ā€œrotā€ in the GOP, the eagerness to substitute celebrity and resentful pseudo-patriotic gibberish for real political discussion, goes back a lot longer than 8 years.

    h/t http://mattsteinglass.wordpress.com/2009/07/08/why-mccain-matters/

  63. 63.

    Dennis-SGMM

    @asiangrrlMN:

    I read that on TBoggsā€™ blog. She seems like the perfect leader for the Young Republicans (hard to believe sheā€™s my age).

    I’m in my sixties so forty doesn’t strike me as “old”. OTOH, if you aren’t a Redwood or a Bristlecone Pine tree, calling yourself a Young Republican or a young anything else at forty strikes me as either wishful thinking or hebephrenia.

  65. 65.

    ninerdave

    @Linus:

    SURPRISE, MOTHERFUCKERS!…
    No one could have predicted this.

    Goldman Sachs is a bit more complex that the underpants gnomes…but let’s try this:

    Step 1: Figure out fancy ways to game the system.
    Step 2: Tell everyone that there has to be a perfect storm to crash you investment.
    Step 3: Housing bubble which you based all your investments on bursts. (*)
    Step 4: Take a bunch of money from the tax payers, use this to buy legislators.
    Step 5: Invent a new investment instrument to double down on the taxpayer’s money.
    Step 6: Rail against NO NEW TAXES!!!!
    Step 7: Profit.

    Seems pretty simple to me.

    (*)Oh yeah, tell everyone that real estate never goes down.

  66. 66.

    Nellcote

    @JK:

    I canā€™t believe how much blatant racism has come out of the mouths of Republicans since Inauguration Day

    .

    It really is rampant isn’t it? It’s depressing to see how it’s becoming mainstreamed into the media. Just to be fair and balanced, don’t cha know.

  68. 68.

    inkadu

    @YellowJournalism: The slow blink is one of my favorite things about cats. You can communicate with them very nicely, if you know what to say. The other one I like to do is the silent meow. I sometimes get it back. But the blink is classic. Another good way to get a cats attention is to duck around a corner and peek at them from around the bend. That sort of freaks them out sometimes, but at least they know they’re not being ignored.

  69. 69.

    Nethead Jay

    @JK: Whoa, that is indeed some takedown. Very good point that the sickness goes back way longer than most people think.

    The Tunchinator is, as always, awesome.

  70. 70.

    maya

    @JK:

    Has the point been reached yet that we can now simply refer to Republicans as, Klux without a Klu?

  72. 72.

    inkadu

    @Molly: I hope your dog doesn’t develop kid allergies; it would be a real shame to “accidentally” leave the kids in a field a few hundred miles from your house and not be able to find them again.

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