Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

People really shouldn’t expect the government to help after they watched the GOP drown it in a bathtub.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Let the trolls come, and then ignore them. that’s the worst thing you can do to a troll.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

Anne Laurie is a fucking hero in so many ways. ~ Betty Cracker

If you thought you’d already seen people saying the stupidest things possible on the internet, prepare yourselves.

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

The revolution will be supervised.

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

“In the future, this lab will be a museum. do not touch it.”

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

Oppose, oppose, oppose. do not congratulate. this is not business as usual.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

America is going up in flames. The NYTimes fawns over MAGA celebrities. No longer a real newspaper.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

I desperately hope that, yet again, i am wrong.

I’d like to think you all would remain faithful to me if i ever tried to have some of you killed.

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Steelers Open Thread

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Caught Lily in the middle of a solid pre-game scratch:

scratch

You may not recognize it yet, but that is her game face.

*** Update ***

I forgot all about the menu:

Unnamed Pasta Dish
Loaf of Bread
Apple & Blackberry Crisp

I’ve never had unnamed pasta before- sounds exotic. Lots of carbs in this meal, though.

*** Update #2 ***

By popular request, proof of life:

And for the haters, here is another one, with nothing but him bitching:

It’s cute for about a minute.

Reader Interactions

250Comments

  2. 2.

    JK

    Kudos to Kathy Kattenburg and David Silbey for their takedowns of Pat Buchanan’s despicable Hitler column
    Pat Buchanan’s Vile Defense of Hitler
    themoderatevoice.com/45208/pat-buchanan-vile-defense-of-hitler
    I Read Pat Buchanan’s Column On Hitler And My Eyes Are Bleeding
    edgeofthewest.wordpress.com/2009/09/02/i-read-pat-buchanans-column-on-hitler-and-my-eyes-are-bleedin…

    Van Jones Update
    A Truther Czar? Obama’s Green Czar Van Jones believes Bush Admin was behind 9-11
    gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/09/truther-czar-obamas-green-czar-van.html

    Kathryn Jean Lopez wants to know Where Did the American Flag Go? from the website of the US mission to the UN
    corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YWRjMDI3NmM3YmRkMDQ2NDBmZDU1MzQ2M2UzMDJiMzU

    I enjoyed Jon Voight’s performance in Midnight Cowboy, which makes his crossing over to the dark side and descent into wingnut madness all the more disgusting
    Jon Voight and Mike Huckabee engage in fear mongering
    youtube.com/watch?v=UyJQqDjNSIk&feature=popular

  3. 3.

    arguingwithsignposts

    Well, I hate to bring the whole thread into a downer right off the bat, but I learned today that my grandfather died in his sleep last night – 82 years old, bone cancer. Fortunately, he did not linger in a lot of pain.

    peace.

  12. 12.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @John Cole:

    Thanks. He started going downhill a couple of weeks ago, so it was quick. My mom got to go down and be with him and my grandmother for the last week, which was good too.

    He wasn’t actually my grandfather (blood), but he adopted my mom and her sister when they were babies, and they never even knew their blood father, who apparently was a loser. I never knew he wasn’t their blood father until I was 25.

  15. 15.

    MikeJ

    the best way to go though…

    I’ve always said I’d like to die peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather did, not screaming in terror like his passengers.

  20. 20.

    CaseyL

    @demkat620: Condolences to you and your family. That’s pretty amazing, for your granddad to not just adopt your mom (and her siblings), but to never mention it or make a big deal out of it. A good man.

  21. 21.

    Annie

    @arguing: Truly sorry for loss…

    My father had a “pre-game” Steeler scratch, too. Must be a Pittsburgh tradition. And, Steeler fans are all about tradition. Other noises came during the game, after consumption of several cans of beer. Go Stillers!

  22. 22.

    John Cole

    @Annie: I don’t drink during Steeler games- I feel like I can not give it 100% concentration then blame myself when I lose.

    I did have a ritual Steelers breakfast on gameday for years, but I have wavered on that in recent years. I mean, what breakfast can save you when Kent Graham is QB?

  23. 23.

    AdamK

    I hate to tell you, but that’s her same old regular cutiepie face. I don’t think she’s giving it 110%.

  27. 27.

    steve s

    (inspired by an article at Slate)

    If one of the big three networks fired their $15 million a year newsreader, and replaced them with Joe Schmoe newsreader backed up by 75 new reporters, could they make an impressive show?

    part two: Would it matter, ratings wise? Consider that there are a lot more people reading People magazine than Foreign Policy. Fox News easily beats MSNBC and CNN, and they outsourced all their reportage to Corky from Life Goes On.

  28. 28.

    AhabTRuler

    @John Cole: You make being a fan sound like way too much hard work. Lately, thanks especially to Dan Snyder (WARNING! WaPo paywall – Sorry) but also due to things like talk of expanding the season to 18 games, the bloodletting of stadiums and ticket prices, NFL Channel, &c., I have been getting bummed out on the consumerist excess of the NFL “experience”.

    Oh, and the fact that my team sucks balls ain’t helping my enthusiasm, either!

  30. 30.

    Dave C

    @steve s:

    OT: I have a message from the Church Burnin’ Ebola boys. We all miss you and were hoping that you might want to stop by sometime soon to help up celebrate the soon-to-be 500th page of Uncommonly Dense, part 2! :)

  32. 32.

    General Winfield Stuck

    Joe Klein is seemingly back on his meds today and accurately describes (IMHO) the current state of play in this country.

    Could I just say that the intensity of this getting pretty scary…and dangerous? We are heading toward a cliff and the usual brakes of civil discourse are not working. Indeed, the Republicans have the pedal to the metal–rushing us toward a tragedy far greater than the California health care forum finger-biting Karen describes below. I’m usually not one to panic or be overly worried about the state of our country–even when we do awful things like invade Iraq and torture people, we usually right our course before long–but I have a sinking feeling about where we’re headed now. I hope I’m wrong.

    Wonder why?

    I know DougJ had this in a post, but bears repeating I think.

    Michelle Cottle reports that there are Republican-sanctioned efforts afoot to have parents not send their children to school on September 8 because the President is scheduled to address the nation’s school-children that day and they are afraid that he will fill their little heads with soc-ialist propaganda. That is somewhere well beyond disgraceful.

    The Queen of Outrage chimes in.

    The activist tradition of government schools using students as junior lobbyists cannot be ignored. Zealous teachers unions have enlisted captive schoolchildren as letter-writers in their campaigns for higher education spending. Out-of-control activists have enlisted their secondary-school charges in pro-illegal immigration protests, gay marriage ceremonies, environmental propaganda stunts and anti-war events.

    Yes, Zombie Hordes of Obama bot Children of the Damned will eats your flesh of good Christian Wingnuts and zap you with laser eyes.

    How soon they forget.

    During the first evening news conference of his Presidency, President Bush on Thursday night had a special request for the kids of America. “I ask you to join in a special effort to help the children of Afghanistan,” he said. “Their country has been through a great deal of war and suffering.” President Bush asked each child in America to earn one dollar for a special fund that will provide badly needed food and medicine for the children of Afghanistan.

    Anty up you little brats, We gotta a war to fight.

  33. 33.

    freelancer

    @AhabTRuler:

    No, Party keeps posting on every damned thread, “Embrace my meme! Embrace my meme!”. The subject itself was kind of ironic and humorous, but it’s the only thing he posts is his ‘Glenn Beck won’t deny he killed a girl’, thing. We’ve used it here before to hilarious effect a la “Until Hannity can show me conclusive proof, we have to assume that he does, indeed blow goats”.

  35. 35.

    Demo Woman

    @arguingwithsignposts: I’m sorry about your grandfather.

    The US Open is on and the usopen.org has a live feed. James Blake just won his match. Today a 17 year old girl from Marietta, Ga beat Diementieva (4h seed).

  37. 37.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    I’m so sorry about your grandfather. Condolences to you and the entire signposts family. Yes 82 is a fine age, but if someone loves you it doesn’t matter how old you are — it’s always too young.

  38. 38.

    eric

    Arguing: he did get to see a black man as president and he left before the sell out. ;)

    Peace be with you

  39. 39.

    Comrade Darkness

    Speaking of pets and scratching. My ornery cat was making me crazy earlier today. 15 minutes of even more ornery and indissuadable to move on than usual. I finally let her out on the porch where she ran over to the cat brush corner. One thorough furminating later, she’s happy as a clam. Left me alone the entire rest of the day.

    Sheesh.

  42. 42.

    JK

    @steve s:

    Under your scenario, it’s possible such a news program might yield impressive content. Unfortunately, broadcast journalism today operates under a variant of Gresham’s Law – Bad Content Drives Out Good Content

    C-SPAN is not a news organization in the strictest sense. However, Washington Journal does provide news headlines and decent interviews and is way more informative than all of the other morning shows combined.

    To counteract the garbage from the MSM, there are many useful alternative and independent news sources if you’re willing to dig for them.

  45. 45.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    arguing sorry to hear of your loss. I never knew any of my grandparents, they all died before I was born. I am always sorry about that. Be thankful that you had him and cherish the memories you have of him. You are in my thoughts.

  50. 50.

    The Saff

    @Litlebritdifrnt: No kidding. I’m totally depressed after seeing the first half of Countdown. Is Obama really going to throw the progressive Dems under the bus? Based on that last report, it sounds possible if not likely.

  53. 53.

    AhabTRuler

    And I am again shocked and disheartened by John’s inability to crudely render the clearly NSFW picture suitable for polite viewing. I, for one, demand more horrendously un-aesthetic censorship!

  54. 54.

    ThatLeftTurnInABQ

    @arguingwithsignposts:
    You have my sympathy and condolences. I’ve been there multiple times myself and I known that there is no good way to lose a family member or close friend. Please pass the friendly regard and concern of a stranger on to your family.

  55. 55.

    schrodinger's cat

    @arguingwithsignposts:
    I am sorry for your loss. I was out of the country when my grandfather died and couldn’t say my good bye to him. It has been over 10 years since he died, but I still miss him.

  58. 58.

    CynDee

    @arguingwithsignposts: Thank you for telling us about your grandfather. In this world of so much needless insanity, it is wonderful to hear about a good man who made the most of the life that was given to him. We will remember him, and when worried in the night about what to do, try to be like him.

  59. 59.

    AhabTRuler

    @Tattoosydney: Some time ago, I think in the massive electronica/dance music thread, you recommended this, by Dave Seaman (interesting name, that). I just got it a couple days ago and I again find myself agreeing with your tastes in electronica. It is quite good.

  60. 60.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @litlebritdifrnt: I am WAY overdue in thanking you for that truly wonderful Mike Oldfield link the other day. It made me cry. Just beautiful.

    I’ve always been that way about hauting Highlands/Islands music. When I was a little girl, my pianist uncle used to tell all the grownups, with a wicked twinkle, “Watch this.” Then he would start to play the Skye Boat Song. Within seconds my small tear-stained face would peer around the music room door, and I would sob “It’s so beauty!” I’m within spittin’ distance of 70 now and the SBS (and many others) still reduces me to a quivering moist jelly. Thanks for adding to the repertoire of Music That Makes Siubhan Cry.

    I also want to weep — when I’m not gnashing my teeth in rage — at what certainly appears to be craven capitulation by the White House. I’ll wait to make a final judgment until there’s an actual bill to be signed or vetoed, but right now I am depressed as hell and horribly disappointed in Obama. I hope he still comes through but I’m growing more pessimistic by the hour.

  61. 61.

    steve s

    @Dave C: Awww, the CBEBs. I’ll consider the invitation, thanks. I accidentally came across something by Casey Luskin recently. It took all my fortitude to turn away from that kind of reagent-grade tard.

  62. 62.

    AZmando

    I never pay attention to the ads here, but just noticed all the baloon ads up top and along the side, and there’s even an 800 number for helium tank delivery.

    We now know that Google really puts a lot of thought into the ad placement process!

  63. 63.

    arguingwithsignposts

    Thanks all for the kind thoughts. Both my grandfathers that I knew were pretty gruff in a lot of ways – WWII veterans. I got to see this grandfather at Thanksgiving last year and he was much thinner than he had been last I’d seen him. Grandmother is also having health problems and she lives in the middle of nowhere. Parents are trying to help her decide what to do. There are no family members nearby to help if she has a health crisis.

    End of life planning. Weren’t we talking about that recently?

    On another topic: anyone have suggestions of how to cook tuna steak?

  64. 64.

    John Cole

    Anyone heard from A Mom Anon lately? Also, I thought of someone I have not seen comment in a while- J. Michael Neal. Did he drop off the face of the earth, too?

    This blogging business is weird. People just disappear for weeks on end and then you wonder what happened to them but have no way of knowing.

  67. 67.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @John Cole:

    Mom Anom makes a comment every few days or so, and Neal as well. I think maybe a week or so ago.

    I’m wondering what happened to Dennis, he just disappeared and I miss his brand of snark/

  68. 68.

    AhabTRuler

    I emailed PETA about the Pam Anderson ad asking if they would put up something else

    Dammit! No! I loved that ad! The endless bitching and moaning about it was, well, just tits!

  70. 70.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I never knew one grandfather (my dad’s dad) and the other one died when I was very little, only 5, although I do have a few “snapshot” memories of him. Oddly, I had two GREAT-grandfathers who lived long enough that I have memories of them both. The family story about one of them is that he served in both the Civil War and the Spanish American War, and lied about his age both times. I don’t know if that’s true, but I hope it is :-)

  71. 71.

    Crashman06

    @AhabTRuler: I was always disappointed to click on that ad, and then realize it wasn’t actually for her tape. I mean, I wanted to see what part of her body that weird third arm was growing out of.

  73. 73.

    mai naem

    @arguingwithsignposts: condolences. Yesterday was Aiko, today your grandad. I hope there’s not a number three tomorrow.@General Winfield Stuck: My sis volunteers at my niece’s magnet school – these kids have to test to get into the school and I believe there’s a waiting list to get in now. I bring this up only because I would assume that the parents of kids like these would be at least somewhat sharp. Well, apparently not. My sis said they had several calls because they didn’t want their kids “exposed” to Obama’s little deal next week. One man came in to talk to the principal to complain about his kid having to listen to the speech. The school has had to set up an alternate program for the parents who do not want their kids “exposed” to Obama. The stoooopid. It hurts.

  74. 74.

    Crashman06

    @SiubhanDuinne: My other granddad, who passed away last summer, was an engineer on a destroyer escort during World War II. His ship hunted Nazi submarines, and one time, he told us that they forced one to surface, captured it, and realized it had a hold full of gold bullion. Pretty cool story.

  77. 77.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @John Cole:

    I emailed PETA about the Pam Anderson

    Never a complaint from Moi’/ Pam is special / I checked into a motel in the middle of Little Texas, AKa Carlsbad NM about ten years ago, where you can’t sling a dead cat without hitting a baby Jeevus sign. And when I turned on the teevee there was Pam religiously boffing some porn star dude.

    Salvation arrives in all different ways, I suppose. Sometimes reading the Gospel, other times it’s righteous pRon.

  79. 79.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @IndyLib:

    I tried once to register to comment on FDL blogs, but could never get properly registered and just gave up. TBogg is great, but it ain’t BJ.

  81. 81.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Crashman06/9:27 pm

    Great story! [Rubs hands together greedily]

    @Keith G/9:29 pm

    I like your recipe style. Ever thought of writing a cookbook?

  85. 85.

    Cat Lady

    John Cole – I heard on NPR that a judge has determined that the First Amendment defense the rating agencies wanted to use, and historically have used, won’t be allowed in the case CalPERS has brought against them for fraud.

    This is very good news. CalPERS will not be settling for any amount, and from most accounts they want retribution. There will be blood.

  86. 86.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    @arguingwithsignposts: Here’s what I do:

    Seared Ginger Tuna:
    4-4oz tunasteaks
    1 tbsp olive oil
    2 tbsp lemon juice
    2 tbsp soy sauce
    1 tbsp fresh minced ginger, or 2 tsp dried
    2 green onions, choppedsalt & pepper to taste
    skillet
    Heat oil in skillet over medium high heat. While pan is preheating, rub tuna with 1 tbsp lemon juice, season with a little salt & pepper. Sear tuna for 1-2 minutes on each side, depending on thickness, and remove from pan. This will cook it rare (it will be cool pink in the center). Remove and place on serving platter. Turn heat down to medium and add remaining lemon juice & the rest of ingredients to pan and cook for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper. Pour over tuna and serve immediately.

  87. 87.

    Crashman06

    Tomorrow is our trip up to the Great White North. Either I will return engaged, or with an expensive piece of jewellery that I no longer want anything to do with.

  90. 90.

    Demo Woman

    @steve s:

    Fox News easily beats MSNBC and CNN, and they outsourced all their reportage to Corky from Life Goes On.

    That’s a poor analogy, Corky did have morals.

  91. 91.

    Demo Woman

    John, The recipe looks pretty good. Just use wholewheat pasta and add a spinach salad instead of the bread.
    Tonight I made a plum/peach chutney to serve with my chicken. It was from an idea that I saw here a few weeks ago. Delish!

  93. 93.

    freelancer

    Instead of being lazy and waiting for someone else to do it, I decided to spend the last 45 minutes creating a 30 second homage to wingers and their Tracy Flick-like RAGE.

    This is my first YouTube upload, and they said it might not work right away. But I got it to play, so here you are.

    youtube.com/watch?v=_6hwf5ONZMA

  95. 95.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @Crashman06:

    Take a bottle of Jack Black along, Always better to be likkered up in the face of possible rejection. That’s what we teach in our “oh God what did I do” seminar/

  97. 97.

    Dave C

    @steve s:

    Ah, good ol’ Casey Luskin. Where would we all be without the unibrow of doom? Anyway, stop by sometime if you feel like it! :)

  98. 98.

    Tom

    So, I’ve never been one to accuse people of being racists or play the race card, but this paragraph in an American Spectator piece saying that Obama is not Carter caught my attention:

    Finally, Obama has the advantage of a more ethnically diverse nation that has far less of a common culture and less of a common appreciation of shared socio-political history and values. Why is that an advantage? Because it gives him more leeway to make outlandish claims, and still have huge pluralities believe him, than Carter could ever hope for.

    spectator.org/archives/2009/09/03/tk

    Isn’t this the same as saying the blacks and Mexicans who are overtaking this nation don’t have the same traditional values as white America (the real America), so are more likely to fall inline behind the socialist agenda that our new black president is pushing?

  101. 101.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @SiubhanDuinne: When you get a spare hour or two on Youtube search Mike Oldfield and

    Lake Constance (makes me weep every time I hear it)
    Mont St. Michelle
    Tubular Bells II (and III)
    Far Above the Clouds
    Voyager
    Ascension
    Magellan

    and then enjoy any others you come across. It is the music that I play loudly with my headphones on when I need to completely divorce myself from reality, it has helped me through some very difficult times in my life. As someone said in a previous thread, he is one of the greatest composers of our age I believe.

  103. 103.

    freelancer

    @Crashman06:

    You need to have a 9mm strapped to your leg when you pop the question. That way she knows that you really do love ‘Merka.

    In all seriousness, best of luck, and a pre-emptive congrats.

  105. 105.

    Laura W

    @John Cole:

    Well, you all drove off my only one paying customer-

    Right! I’ve been meaning to thank you for all of those free Project Wonderful ads you’ve been letting me run on this site since last April.
    Asshole.

  108. 108.

    Tattoosydney

    @AhabTRuler:

    “this, by Dave Seaman (interesting name, that).”

    Anything by Uncle Dave is good, I find, but your link didn’t work, so I am not sure which of his albums I am supposed to be raving about…

  109. 109.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Crashman06:

    Good luck.

    Update on the Tuna: Unfortunately, it got a little too late to cook it tonight. Plus now I need peppercorn and lemon juice. Will cook tomorrow for lunch/dinner.

  111. 111.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    @Laura W: Hey there! I want you to know, I wrote tonight’s menu a while ago, with you in mind, because you said you didn’t cook. I This one is pretty foolproof. :-)

    I even left you a stevia note in the comment section.

  112. 112.

    Robertdsc-iphone

    My condolences, Signposts.

    Best wishes and a positive resolution, Crashman.

    All hail King Tunch of Futon!

  115. 115.

    Corner Stone

    @Crashman06: If you’ll take advice from an Old Salt – just walk away.
    If you still feel compelled 6 months from now then ruin your life. But trust someone you’ve never met on the internet – nothing good will come of this.

  120. 120.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    @John Cole: I love that cat.

    When I visited my Aunt last week, this monster of a cat (as sweet as he was large) walked through the room. I picked him up and almost dropped him, he was solid and heavy. She said he was Maine Coon and he weighed 19lbs. I have no doubt about the coon part – but I think 19lbs was like me saying I weight 125lb. That cat was easily 25lbs.

    I say this so that anyone who dares comment on Tunch’s weight will take a pause (paws) before doing so.

  122. 122.

    Comrade Luke

    There’s a bunch of people on Facebook who had their status set to this today:

    No one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick. No one should be unable to change jobs because of a “pre-existing condition” or fear of losing health care.

    A guy I went to college with now has his status set to:

    wishes candy grew on trees, every day was Christmas and that flowers instead of bullets were all that came out of gun barrels. And that the tooth fairy was real. Oh…and everyone could afford the home of their dreams, have the good life without wo…rking or sacrificing for it, experience extra-sensory perception, and meet the love of their life in the checkout line at the supermarket. Did I miss anything?

    He’s a super-smart guy who’s on the Board of Regents at my University…and an ex-Goldman Sachs employee who left for a smaller, boutique firm about a year ago because he was “tired of being under the government’s thumb”.

    He also just got back from a weekend in the Hamptons.

  123. 123.

    Crashman06

    Thanks to all for the best wishes, and thanks for the warning, Corner Stone. But it’s been over three and a half years; at this point, I am certain.

  125. 125.

    opium4themasses

    I am reposting this because I really do want help with an issue, but I don’t know if there is anything to be done. Also, it seems kinda silly to talk about after someone has their grandfather pass on.

    So I figure this is a good place to put this little bit of news (and request for advice too I guess).
    My new kitten turns out to have Feline Leukemia. I don’t want to put her down but the chances of finding a good place for her to live are next to nil as best I can determine. (I can’t keep both her and my FeLV negative cat, they’ll just get each other sick.)
    I was wondering if anyone knew of any home I could take her in the College Station, TX area. (I could arrange to drive her to Houston, Dallas, Austin, San Antonio…)
    I am heartbroken and trying to find something I can do about the situation. She is the most adorable cat ever (proof)

  126. 126.

    Corner Stone

    @Corner Stone: And I use the term “cat” loosely. Not sure what a “turkish van” is but that sounds a hell of a lot closer to what’s going on here.

  127. 127.

    Mark S.

    TPM had a preview of the upcoming Vanity Fair article by Sarah Palin’s almost son-in-law:

    According to Johnston, she doesn’t pay attention to her kids, didn’t work hard as governor, has an unhappy marriage with Todd, and rarely attends church. But perhaps the cruelest cut of all for this Republican superstar…she doesn’t hunt and fish, either

    For some reason, none of this surprises me (well, maybe not paying attention to her kids) except for the “rarely attends church.” I wonder how many of these Bible slapping politicians actually only go to church once in a blue moon.

  129. 129.

    Laura W

    @The Grand Panjandrum: Perhaps, if said thread comes with a series of photos of Lawrence in his gorgeous suits and ties.
    (And thanks for remembering that I loved him on BJ before it was fashionable to love him on BJ . Loyalty is grossly undervalued in this day and age.)

  130. 130.

    Corner Stone

    @Crashman06: That’s cool, we all have to learn on our own somehow. Otherwise we’d have gone the way of the dodo by now I guess. I knew mine for 10 years before we made it official.
    Good luck to you.

  131. 131.

    Cat Vasectomy

    I can’t wait to hear Andrew Sullivan posting about gerbils period, especially the part about New Orleans! What IS it about gerbils and bald gay guys?

  140. 140.

    Cat Vasectomy

    Let’s put it bluntly: take your pets and fuck off. Call us when you can master human relationships.

    I generally like this site, because I generally agree with John and Doug’s take on things, even though it’s almost 100% reactive. You’ll never be in the same league as Sully, Yglesias, Ezra Klein, Krugman, Kevin Drum, Anonymous Liberal, Taibbi–oh wait! They actually report shit, you just snark after it’s all reported. Nice gig if you can get it.

    But this pet shit has to go. Though I can understand why you feature it, God knows you’re not doing any research tonight.

  141. 141.

    Corner Stone

    @Litlebritdifrnt: I know one other couple similar to this. They’re happy some 20+ odd years later with 2 HS/College age kids. Couple of military brats got together.
    Everyone else I know under 50 openly express huge regrets. But that’s the bean, right?

  142. 142.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    LOL I love the way he walks out of the frame “f**k you hoomin I ain’t letting you film me when I don’t feel like it”

  143. 143.

    jl

    Also. ‘Proof of life’? What is that about. I have no dobut that Tunchismo abides timelessly in its raspy meowing glory.

    I guess we are to infer that Cole has survived another day, from evidence of an unseen presence being vaguely useful to his Tunchness.

    And, now, I don’t wanna get banned, but first thing I thought about the Lilty The Dog pic is, well, what I see of Lily wrt Steelers, is a dog lifting its leg. It was called scratching. I will take this blog’s word for it, for in Balloon-Juice I trust.

  147. 147.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @Corner Stone:

    We were not military brats, we were military, used to fleeting relationships, both of us had a bad marriage behind us, but when we met we just knew, for some reason. We have been through all sorts of hell in those years but somehow we (and inanimate objects around us) have managed to survive. The most recent out and out, screaming at the top of our lungs, fight that we had was about Barry Bonds (me he took steroids he should be banned, him there is no proof), go figure.

  150. 150.

    arguingwithsignposts

    P.S. – is the fourth game of the NFL preseason the most *useless* game of any season. the first stringers sit them out most of the time.

    Just a way for the owners to get a little more jack without any real cost.

  151. 151.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @John Cole:

    what are you using to shoot those videos? I seem to remember when you got the camera, but don’t remember the model. /tech geek

  156. 156.

    Wile E. Quixote

    @steve s

    (inspired by an article at Slate)
    If one of the big three networks fired their $15 million a year newsreader, and replaced them with Joe Schmoe newsreader backed up by 75 new reporters, could they make an impressive show?
    part two: Would it matter, ratings wise? Consider that there are a lot more people reading People magazine than Foreign Policy. Fox News easily beats MSNBC and CNN, and they outsourced all their reportage to Corky from Life Goes On.

    What a great idea. At the very least you’d have created 75 new jobs at the cost of losing one job, and since that job belonged to an airhead who cares. I’m sure that most TV news readers on Fox/CNN/MSNBC could find jobs in the “erotic services” section of Craigslist. I mean look at Maria Bartiromo’s interview of John Thain and tell me that she couldn’t make a living by sucking cock. Look at Chris Wallace’s interview with Dick Cheney and tell me that he couldn’t make a living letting leather daddys lead him around on a leash and use him as a toilet.

  157. 157.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    P.S. – is the fourth game of the NFL preseason the most useless game of any season. the first stringers sit them out most of the time.

    I was just thinking this same thing. Every wannabe gets a last chance, which is how it should be, I suppose. But not much fun to watch and root for your team.

  164. 164.

    Corner Stone

    @Litlebritdifrnt: His Shatner-esque recreation and hand gestures…
    Any damn fool that watches Beck and walks away thinking he has connected the dots…not sure what else to say after that.
    But yeah. I’m not the biggest fan of KO yet that segment was epic.

  165. 165.

    Jay in Oregon

    @jl:

    Also. ‘Proof of life’? What is that about.

    I’m sure we can get Dr. Frist to watch that video and give you an opinion…

  170. 170.

    AhabTRuler

    @Wile E. Quixote:

    make a living letting leather daddys lead him around on a leash and use him as a toilet.

    Well, “Looking for Daddy” is Hunter Green, while Yellow, natch, is for Golden Shower, and the bottom is right pocket, so, there ya go.

  171. 171.

    jl

    @Jay in Oregon: I am sure Frist would give a definitive neurologic diagnosis of Cole (or whoever the Tunchinator deigned to deal with) from the mouse toy bounces.

    Bill would be steep, though.

  173. 173.

    John Cole

    Everyone say hello to cat vasectomy. I thought it was one of you jackasses spoofing, but apparently it is a real live crazy person who just emailed me to tell me about an exciting piece he is writing for the Nation, Mother Jones, and the Atlantic about “liberals” like me living in Pittsburgh in my parent’s basement sponging off the trust fund they gave me.

    I know I am excited.

  176. 176.

    General Winfield Stuck

    . I thought it was one of you jackasses spoofing,

    Me too. You just never know.. , What are we gunna do with so many wingnuts? They’re like frickin Fire Ants. Spreading over the landscape bringing nothing but swarms of pain and misery.

  177. 177.

    freelancer

    @John Cole:

    Usually it’s how can we miss you if you won’t go away, but didn’t you say you banned his ass?

    Wow, it’d be nice to be so unhinged that you’re so far to the left that you end up seeming like you’re on the right and claiming you’re writing for magazines like The Nation and Mother Jones. I’m tempted to try something on the right, but Doug Stanhope already beat me to it.

  178. 178.

    jl

    Um… I was just thinking, could cat vasectomy be unbanned long enough to give out his e-mail address. Sounds like some one I would like to do business with. I have a Remarkable business opportunity, but which must be kept secret and requires the utmost Discretion.

    Probably not, I guess. Maybe he will show up on the next Balloon-juice craft fair and we can do business then.

  179. 179.

    JGabriel

    John Cole:

    Check the update- new video with nothing but nonstop bitching!

    Not to get too pedantic, but I think there’s a bit a species confusion going on here. Can cats bitch? If so, does that mean female dogs can be catty?

    .

  180. 180.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @freelancer:

    Katrina vanden Heuvel with one of her classic icy liberal stares would make this dude pee his pants and cry for mamma. Nolo contendre.

  181. 181.

    asiangrrlMN

    @arguingwithsignposts: I’m so sorry. Me deepest condolences to you and your family. Your grandfather sounds like a wonderful man. May he go gently to the other side.

    Cole, thank you from the bottom of my heart for the pic of Lily and especially the two videos of the wonderful Tunch (although both my cats freaked over the second one). Tunch is, indeed, the tonic for all that ails me.

  186. 186.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @John Cole:

    I thought it was one of you jackasses spoofing

    IMHO, there are two subjects that no BJ regular would spoof to the extent that Cat Vasectomy did: kittehs and puppehs.

    Olbermann’s takedown of Beck was awesome. But compared to Beck’s actual teh stupid, even KO’s best writing is a pale shadow. I don’t think even Colbert or Stewart’s crew could adequately satirize that. He’s like if Art Bell got a prime time show.

  187. 187.

    General Winfield Stuck

    Don’t know why, but this tune popped into my head.

    Allman Bro’s = Melissa

    From the band that gave the greatest concert I ever went to.

  190. 190.

    tripletee

    @John Cole:

    Also, I thought of someone I have not seen comment in a while- J. Michael Neal. Did he drop off the face of the earth, too?

    He posted earlier today in another thread.

    @<a href=”@The Grand Panjandrum: “>The Grand Panjandrum:

    BTW where the hell is ThymeZone?

    He was posting yesterday under the handle LoveMonkey. He drops aliases faster than a Republican congressman drops trou in an airport bathroom.

  200. 200.

    freelancer

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Our Lady Peace – Julia
    youtube.com/watch?v=Y0sTEpxE7PA

    Val Emmich – Shock
    youtube.com/watch?v=gQLLFdQyObA

    Coheed & Cambria – The Velorium Camper II: The Backend of Forever
    youtube.com/watch?v=sMf28Qe5DbA

    Coheed & Cambria – The Light and the Glass
    youtube.com/watch?v=XjERdCJ_hto

    Perfect Circle – 3 Libras (Acoustic)
    youtube.com/watch?v=CwAf1ITQPFs

    Brand New – Me vs. Maradona vs. Elvis
    youtube.com/watch?v=v6Y8euc1G9A

    Imogen Heap – Hide and Seek
    youtube.com/watch?v=5cpSv2mNhhc

    The Postal Service – This place is a prison
    youtube.com/watch?v=PveGQoqeSD4

    Godspeed You Black Emperor – Storm
    youtube.com/watch?v=GZFzJr9NnPE

    A Silver Mt. Zion –
    Sisters! Brothers!…
    youtube.com/watch?v=M-obKx7i15M

    13 Angels standing ’round your bed
    youtube.com/watch?v=hQZfGa5t4e8

  204. 204.

    freelancer

    @asiangrrlMN:

    Yeah, I gave you a ton of songs, some taken from the two albums I listen to when I have my moments of existential dread.

    A Silver Mt. Zion’s

    “He Has Left Us Alone But Shafts of Light Sometimes Grace the Corners of Our Rooms”
    and
    “Born into Trouble as the Sparks Fly Upwards”.

    In the meantime, you can tell me whether my own contribution to the web is either depressing, disturbing, or hilarious.

  209. 209.

    SGEW

    More depressing songs? Insatiable.

    Surely you’re all familiar with “Is That All There Is?” right? I highly recommend the P.J. Harvey and John Parish version.

    [Caution: very depressing.]

    Meanwhile, to get back into the high spirits of the academic year, I myself have been listening to tons of Fugazi. (Damn, but they’re just the best four piece two guitar rock band ever ever. Ever.)

  214. 214.

    burnspbesq

    @John Cole:

    “Everyone say hello to cat vasectomy.”

    I think that, on balance, I’d prefer to say goodbye to him/her/it/them. But since you asked …

    Hello, you ill-mannered idiot.

  216. 216.

    burnspbesq

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    “I’ve always been that way about hauting Highlands/Islands music. When I was a little girl, my pianist uncle used to tell all the grownups, with a wicked twinkle, “Watch this.” Then he would start to play the Skye Boat Song. Within seconds my small tear-stained face would peer around the music room door, and I would sob “It’s so beauty!” I’m within spittin’ distance of 70 now and the SBS (and many others) still reduces me to a quivering moist jelly. Thanks for adding to the repertoire of Music That Makes Siubhan Cry.”

    You may not know it yet, but you love Cara Dillon. Check this out.

    youtube.com/watch?v=hmK5WDQ3kUs&feature=PlayList&p=9548C2FED6BEE34E&index=0&play…

  224. 224.

    Anne Laurie

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    LOL I love the way he walks out of the frame “f**k you hoomin I ain’t letting you film me when I don’t feel like it.

    Wait — are we talking about His Royal Tunchness, or the new spooftroll that just got banned?

  225. 225.

    DougL (frmrly: Conservatively Liberal)

    arguingwithsignposts, I am sorry to hear of your loss. It sounds like he was a good man who lived a good life.

    Regarding the newest (and shortest) member here, Cat ‘Nip’:

    Fuck the stupid dog and cat pics on this site.

    If you do, video tape and post it on YouTube. I know you freaks like teh animal secks but usually you peeps stick to the live ones. Boffing animal pictures posted on a web site is taking it to a whole new level.

    Hopefully you have a monitor with some depth to it though it now occurs to me that it’s more likely that a flat screen is the perfect fit for you.

  226. 226.

    CaseyL

    Tunch has the sweetest little voice! If that’s what he sounds like when he’s complaining, what’s he sound like when he’s feeling all mellow and loving?

    I love my Ariel, but good god she has a screechy, loud, piercing voice when she’s pissed off about something… or, well, whatever mood she’s in. Unless she’s in a very loving mood, and then I get the Silent Miaow.

  228. 228.

    Lesley

    How can a cat bitch and purr at the same time? Who does Tunch think he’s kidding?

    As for the first video, I’d call those Tunch bootcams (the Tunch version of a bootcamp). It’s interesting how he manages to play without moving his haunches.

    Lily’s adorable and deserves a video.

  229. 229.

    Lesley

    surprised lowlife vasectomy likes sullivan since he has pets, too.

    people who don’t like animals are not to be trusted.

  230. 230.

    Ruckus

    arguingwithsignposts

    Out of touch most of the day, just saw your post.
    Sorry about your gramps.
    Losing those around you is probably the hardest part of growing up, right up there with learning to be responsible, sensible, or whatever the hell else it is we’re supposed to do.

  235. 235.

    BethanyAnne

    ooo, or there is always Firefly by Delerium, with Jacqui Hunt of Single Gun Theory on vocals. Do you know Single Gun Theory? Wish I could find a video of “Words Written Backwards” to link.

  236. 236.

    Wile E. Quixote

    One of the reasons I love Leverage so much is that they’re willing to let Nate, Timothy Hutton’s character, be a real dick at times. That’s just so refreshing in a show like this.

  238. 238.

    Gravenstone

    These may well have been covered in the original depressing music thread (haven’t found it to peruse), but my two all time depressing tunes are:

    Honey – Bobby Goldsboro (kitschy divsion)

    Cat’s in the Cradle – Harry Chapin (non-kitschy division)

    If you’ve never heard the first, consider yourself lucky. Anyone alive and exposed to AM radio in the late 60’s was bombarded with that melodramatic catastrophe.

  239. 239.

    freelancer

    @The Main Gauche of Mild Reason:

    Once again I am reminded that Obama is more conservative than Richard Nixon. This plan Nixon describes is very similar to the French system. Fuck you, Ronald Reagan.

    How sad is it, in this time and place that we find ourselves, that in terms of domestic policy, that leaders like Nixon and Eisenhower, if held to current standards would be branded as flaming commie left-wing moonbat liberals?

  244. 244.

    Comrade Darkness

    @Corner Stone: I was going to suggest something along the lines of: Don’t pull out the stone right away, go with something sure to illuminate her true feelings. “Honey, I’m sure you’ll agree that expensive baubles are meaningless and perhaps insulting to the True Love we feel for one another. That we’re together forever is all that matters.

    Oh, well in that case, I did get you this…”

  247. 247.

    asiangrrlMN

    @BethanyAnne: Ok, I think we have a different interpretation of depression music. KMFDM makes me wanna go out and bust up some heads. Firefly makes me wanna go out and have sex all night long–it’s an absolutely sensual, yummy song. Neither of them are good for wallowing!

    @Gravenstone: You really really really suck for the first song, but you totally fucking rock for reminding me how much I like the second song.

    And, I watched the Tunchie vids again because he is the best antidote to depression evah.

  249. 249.

    Erika Froh

    I clicked on the Tunch singing video last night and my cats absolutely flipped – whatever he was saying (“the revolution has begun”?) really got their attention.

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