Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you don’t.

A norm that restrains only one side really isn’t a norm – it’s a trap.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

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

Something needs to be done about our bogus SCOTUS.

Somebody needs to explain to DeSantis that nobody needs to do anything to make him look bad.

In my day, never was longer.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls 2 years from now.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

One lie, alone, tears the fabric of reality.

Donald Jessica Trump found guilty as fuck – May 30, 2024!

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

If you still can’t see these things even now, maybe politics isn’t your forte and you should stop writing about it.

No one could have predicted…

Days Since JD Vance Insulted Women Across America: Zero

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

Bad people in a position to do bad things will do bad things because they are bad people. End of story.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

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Reader Interactions

167Comments

  1. 1.

    General Winfield Stuck

    A mixture of perkiness, optimism, contentedness and maybe a little holiday cheer.

    Unicornist.

  3. 3.

    aimai

    John, I love you. Really. I’ve adored this site since I found it way back when you were just a newly minted unicornist (yes, I second that emotion). I’m one of the few who doesn’t care about dogs, or cats, but dammit you big lug I care about recovering republicans.

    aimai

  8. 8.

    Elizabelle

    Um, what’s a unicornist? Not in the lexicon.

    But good to hear about the good mood. Maybe the season, maybe it’s relief that healthcare reform passed in some form? (A start.)

    Merry Christmas week to Balloon Juice friends and pets.

  11. 11.

    donovong

    Don’t worry. It is a temporary state of affairs that will soon be corrected by a sudden attack of reality or conscience.

  12. 12.

    Third Eye Open

    Naw, that is the first signs of hypomania.

    On another note, I am conflicted. In this years Gator Bowl, my alma mater, FSu will face your Mountaineers for bragging rights … for I don’t know what. But, my dilemma stems from the fact that I have an irrational distaste for Bobby Bowden, yet a soft spot in my heart for you, John. Can I root for both teams to lose while still enjoying the game?

  13. 13.

    Butch

    John, a company called Hyperdog has brought out a slingshot that shoots tennis bills for dogs to fetch. You need to get one for Lilly; I actually managed to tire out Butkus with it this weekend.

  17. 17.

    Punchy

    But…but….but….what about pre-conditioned policies and recission and pubic options and Obama Da Commy?

  18. 18.

    Robin G.

    This news will wreck it: Renesmee (the name of Bella and Edward’s undead hellspawn super-special unique snowflake child) in the abomination that is the Twilight series) has been voted Baby Name of 2009.

    Civilization has officially ended.

  20. 20.

    donovong

    @Butch: How does it do that? Does it fold up the bills and fly them like paper airplanes? Wet them and wad them up like spitballs? ;-)

  22. 22.

    John Cole

    @Butch: Lily is completely and totally uninterested in balls. I wave it in front of her, she smiles and wags her tail, I throw it… and she stays there smiling at me wagging her tail. I go get the ball, she follows me every step of the way, I hold it in front of her and say “look at the ball, look at the ball” and she gets excited and wags her tail and prances around a bit, I throw the ball, and she stands there wagging her tail and smiling at me.

    Rinse and repeat.

    @aimai: Aww.

  23. 23.

    dr. bloor

    @Butch:

    John, a company called Hyperdog has brought out a slingshot that shoots tennis bills for dogs to fetch. You need to get one for Lilly; I actually managed to tire out Butkus with it this weekend.

    Anything in their catalog for eleven-year-old boys?

  24. 24.

    Butch

    Pancho does that, John. I throw the ball and he looks at me like “you threw it. You go get it.” Butkus, Barley, and Beauregard, on the other hand, go crazy.

  27. 27.

    Steerpike

    @John Cole: My dog, Milo is the same way, and also terrified of frisbees, be they never so gently lofted. Not only won’t chase, but actively runs away from. And Milo is a strapping husky/shepherd mix, mind you.

  28. 28.

    ronin122

    I’d avoid the blogosphere or the news until the holidays if I were you, if you want to maintain that mood for at least a few days. Nothing in particular today, just “the usual”.

  30. 30.

    Comrade Mary

    Hooked on a Feeling
    __
    I’m feeling a little odd this morning. A mixture of perkiness, optimism, contentedness and maybe a little holiday cheer.
    __
    Is this what you people sometimes refer to as a “good mood?”

    Here, let me fix that for you.

    (I love you, too, John. I just show it differently than aimai.)

  31. 31.

    kid bitzer

    every day that i wake up and the bush crime syndicate is no longer in office, is a good day.

    they fucked up eight good years of my life. long may they rot in hell.

    so, yeah–i’m in a good mood too!

  33. 33.

    Roger Moore

    @Robin G.:
    Cite please. Or maybe not. I’d hate to think that this is actually true and not something that a twisted person made up to drive everyone insane.

  37. 37.

    The Moar You Know

    I’m feeling a little odd this morning. A mixture of perkiness, optimism, contentedness and maybe a little holiday cheer.

    Stroke. Get your ass to the ER immediately.

  38. 38.

    jibeaux

    It’s probably twenty degrees colder here than it normally is this time of year, I have a ton of work to do, and no motivation to do it. But I am sooooo looking forward to playing board games with my kiddos, watching them open their presents on Christmas, and eating and drinking too much, that it’s putting me in a good mood regardless. Happy Festivus, Christmas, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Solstice, etc. to the entire Balloon Juice community, unless there’s any Jehovah’s witnesses lurking around in which I guess it’s a just another day, and honestly you might want to look into a slightly more joyful religion, but that’s just me.

  41. 41.

    cintibud

    Actually, I’ve been feeling in a better state of mind myself. I think a big part of it is because it looks like we will get a health bill passed. I have been in a bad mood for a long time due to the lies from the right and the very serious shortcomings in the bill(s) but now that it looks like a go there really is a sense of accomplishment and that we will have a base from which we can improve upon in the future. A huge sense of relief in general.

    Happy Holidays!

  42. 42.

    ricardo cabeza

    Could not agree more! I have no earthly reason why. Such a baffling question too. Not felt this good in months. And that’s sad. No unethical/illegal chemical imbalances to blame, I’m afraid. Must be the “Lost” season 6 premier. That’s the only thing I can come up with.

  43. 43.

    beltane

    Tom Coburn’s prayer for the demise of Sen. Byrd was partially effective. Byrd is fine, but Inhofe was apparently taken ill and missed a vote last night. If Coburn were a true believer, he would be chastened by this.

  44. 44.

    DecidedFenceSitter

    Being a fairly grim and serious person, the few times when I get positively giddy are always terrifying for those closest and dearest to me.

    I love teasin’ them with “Why are you so afraid, don’t you want me happy? *Sniff, sniff*”

  46. 46.

    Betsy

    I’m feeling a little odd this morning. A mixture of perkiness, optimism, contentedness and maybe a little holiday cheer.

    Carbon monoxide leak. Get yourself and the pets outside immediately.

  47. 47.

    Kristine

    Happy Holidays to BJ’ers one and all…even if their name happens to be Renesmee.

    King fetches, but he’s part Lab so it fits. Gaby fetches sometimes, especially if she wants to 1) be chased or 2) keep the ball away from King. Other times, she chases the ball to where it lands, then stares at it, sniffs it, and trots back to me.

  49. 49.

    tamied

    It could be a mid-life crisis. You don’t happen to have an urge to buy a Corvette or a Harley, do you?

  50. 50.

    Robin G.

    @Roger Moore: @GReynoldsCT00: I’m very, very sorry. On the plus side, the selection is based both on popularity and on indications of a broader cultural theme… so, it’s not the most popular girl’s name in the country this year (though alarmingly enough, people ARE naming their daughters that), it just means that Sparklepires are possibly the most culturally significant subject of 2009.

    Actually, that doesn’t make me feel better.

  51. 51.

    jibeaux

    Is Renesmee supposed to be some sort of combination of Renee and Esmee? I like Annelise better as far as combo names go.

  52. 52.

    Betsy

    @jibeaux:
    LOL! Agreed.

    I would also like to raise a glass to our lovably curmudgeonly host. Thanks for making this such a snarky-yet-sappy place to hang out.

  53. 53.

    janeform

    My dear Sheltie has no interest in fetching (but he loves chasing trucks). He stands there and looks at other dogs who are doing it, and says, really, how ridiculous!

  54. 54.

    Bob In Pacifica

    From the hated Firedoglake, how health insurance companies’ stocks have risen since Joe Lieberman said he was going to filibuster the healthcare legislation with a public option:

    Coventry Health Care, Inc. is up 31.6 percent;
    CIGNA Corp. is up 29.1 percent;
    Aetna Inc. is up 27.1 percent;
    WellPoint, Inc. is up 26.6 percent;
    UnitedHealth Group Inc. is up 20.5 percent
    Humana Inc. is up 13.6 percent.

    I’m going to walk over to the coast here in Pacifica and watch that apartment building fall into the ocean.

    Merry Christmas! Ho ho ho.

  55. 55.

    Xanthippas

    I’m feeling a little odd this morning. A mixture of perkiness, optimism, contentedness and maybe a little holiday cheer.

    I’ve experienced the same strange feeling the last few days. I thought maybe it was something I ate.

  56. 56.

    Robin G.

    @jibeaux: Yes. It’s their respective mothers’ names combined. Except that Esme is less Edward’s mother than she’s, uh, a vampire in their incestuous sibling-fucking “foster family.” And the offspring was such a Unique Snowflake that she needed her own made-up name.

  60. 60.

    gbear

    Is this what you people sometimes refer to as a “good mood?”

    I wouldn’t know. It’s christmastime. Kickoff to the two most depressing months of the year.

  62. 62.

    Butch

    I always thought “Harry” would be a good name for a dog because then it would be “Harry the dog that bit you.” No one else thinks its funny.

  63. 63.

    mr. whipple

    “Good mood?

    Don’t worry.

    It will pass.”

    I got rid of mine quick by turning on CSpan and heard Shelby and now, Kyle, tell me I’m going to die from Big Gvt. health care. Kyle is now mocking other country’s health systems.

  64. 64.

    scav

    @Mike E: oh, that worries me in a freaky sort of way. That was TUNCH with the furmigator. I don’t know what John could have thought to do with whatever might have come off Lily. O, it is scary to carry around what must be that squishy grey stuff in my cranium. I need to go somewhere private to recover.

  65. 65.

    GReynoldsCT00

    @jibeaux:

    yes it is.

    I’ll cop to reading the books, it was like one long twinkie eating marathon, but naming you kid, that’s over the top

  66. 66.

    lonelypedestrian

    The days are now going to start getting longer maybe that accounts for the good mood.

    Although I would check your grains for ergot poisoning.Just in case.

  68. 68.

    Seanly

    Here’s a link to depress you. Two smug environmentalist have written a book listing dogs & cats as the worst thing for the environment since Cheney switched to the coal-fired heart.

    I try to be good to the environment – recycle (even bring stuff home from office), turn off lights, put candy wrappers in my pocket till I can find a garbage can, but I’m not going to get rid of my dogs. The humorless brand of enviros can go shove tree branches up their rumps when it comes to suggesting I get rid of my two cherished dogs.

    If you’re going to figure out the yearly strain on the environment for pets, why not include wild animals or children? Surely there would be a lot less pollution if we wiped out every living thing on the planet except for us 6 billion turds.

  69. 69.

    John Cole

    You know what else I am completely loving the last couple of weeks? Diet Rite Pure Zero Tangerine.

    I know we are not supposed to drink soda because it is bad for you, but this stuff is great.

  70. 70.

    Beeb

    @Third Eye Open: There is nothing irrational about a distaste for Bobby Bowden.

    @beltane:Thereby proving the FSM can’t tell them apart. I sympathize. I, myself, occasionally wonder whether they are the product of a cloning experiment gone horribly wrong.

  72. 72.

    Violet

    @John Cole:
    Tangerine? That sounds good and I don’t even like sodas.

    I’m currently eating all the tangelos and mandarin oranges picked from my own trees. Now those are truly yummy.

    I’m feeling an odd mix of holiday cheer (decorated the tree last night) and trepidation as I face down the hours of required cooking baking. It’s always hard to get started.

  73. 73.

    Morbo

    Hmm, that’s basically how I feel Wednesday nights after the weekly One Piece viewing. Except some of those episodes are real downers. And the holiday cheer is the better part of a bottle of wine.

    @Robin G.: Gotta love those Mormon family values.

  74. 74.

    Kristine

    @John Cole:

    Diet Rite soda is underrated, imho. Best flavor of all the diets, but you never hear about it.

    Black Cherry is good, too. The only flavor I don’t care for is the White Grape.

  75. 75.

    Ash Can

    A mixture of perkiness, optimism, contentedness and maybe a little holiday cheer.

    See? Aren’t bloody marys with beer chasers great?

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    request for another smudge pic?

    Hellz yeah! Keep ’em coming. Smudge is such a cutie.

    As for my happy holiday thoughts, the son, husband, mom-in-law and I hit the Christkindl Market in Daley Center Plaza yesterday afternoon. I splurged on some gorgeous blown glass ornaments (where else can you find an ornament of a bratwurst on a bun with mustard to hang on your tree). And we pigged out on such goodies as piping hot potato pancakes (I had mine with sour cream that was laced with chopped lox and fresh dill), leberkase with sauerkraut, hot chocolate, hot spiced cider, and of course gluhwein. Prosit!

  76. 76.

    Randy P

    @Butch:

    John, a company called Hyperdog has brought out a slingshot that shoots tennis bills for dogs to fetch. You need to get one for Lilly; I actually managed to tire out Butkus with it this weekend.

    Feh. New-fangled nonsense. Although I have to admit I sat and smiled for five minutes thinking about what I could have done with a tennis-ball slingshot and my beloved hyperactive black Lab.

    I used to do it the old fashioned manual way: Fake throw three or four times, then wind up slowly, sloooowly, driving her into a near frenzy of anticipation as she watched my arm intently, waiting, waiting for… RELEASE! At which point she would gallop full speed and barking after the ball/stick, so fast she usually did a somersault when she got to it and braked abruptly.

    A few of those would wear her out good.

    I miss having a dog around, but my lifestyle definitely doesn’t fit one right now.

  77. 77.

    jibeaux

    Can I ask something completely off the wall? Read, e.g. this link, but I’m sending it for the style rather than the substance. I honestly don’t read the NY Times often. They use Mrs., Ms., and Mr., talking about Senators, House Speakers, and the president. How they make the Mrs./Ms. distinction I don’t know because last I checked both Nancy Pelosi and Barbara Boxer were married, but they get different titles. Somehow this strikes me as very sort of British, sort of Economist-y, and I thought our standard style manuals generally left off those kind of titles. Like you might say Barbara Boxer, Senator from California, or Senator Boxer, or whatever, and then later just refer to her as “Boxer”. But “Mrs. Boxer” throws me off guard.

  78. 78.

    Third Eye Open

    @Beeb: Being an alumni, and the fact that I still work for the university … yeah, you might as well admit you’re into banging dead-baby animals (pedo-necro-bestiality, is there short-hand for that?). Bobby has his own two story stained-glass window fergawdsake.

  80. 80.

    jibeaux

    Tangerine? That sounds good and I don’t even like sodas.

    I’m currently eating all the tangelos and mandarin oranges picked from my own trees. Now those are truly yummy.

    I have never tried Diet Rite Pure Zero Tangerine, but I’m guessing it’s not going to have that just-picked-fresh-squeezed juice taste. Just a hunch. :)

    Still, it’s worth a shot. I’m a diet Coke addict and when that crap isn’t on sale it’s expensive. I know, I should quit, but without the caffeine I get debilitating headaches. I should taper. Someday.

  81. 81.

    Randy P

    @jibeaux:
    Yeah, it’s always a little jarring, but I guess I’m more or less used to it by now as I’ve been reading the NY Times a lot lately. I tried to keep up with my old hometown paper the WaPo when I moved to the Philly area, but a combination of declining quality and always-sucky circulation finally drove me into the arms of their northern competitor.

  82. 82.

    gbear

    @Butch:

    John, a company called Hyperdog has brought out a slingshot that shoots tennis bills for dogs to fetch.

    If I don’t have a dog, can I use it to shoot medium sized lumps of coal at the neighbors’ kids?

  83. 83.

    Comrade Mary

    I’ve cut myself down to one diet pop per day, less if I can manage it. My poor, poor tooth enamel …

  86. 86.

    jibeaux

    @Randy P:

    So did Nancy Pelosi call in and say “You better call me Ms., bitchez” or did Barbara Boxer say “It’s Mrs. to you” or are they just irrationally inconsistent?

  87. 87.

    HRA

    Sounds good to me, John. Could it be the tangerine drink?
    Going down to the stores here on campus and looking for it. I really need something to get me out of these doldrums.

    Happy whatever is celebrated to all the juicers.

    Merry Christmas

  90. 90.

    gbear

    @John Cole:

    You know what else I am completely loving the last couple of weeks? Diet Rite Pure Zero Tangerine. I know we are not supposed to drink soda because it is bad for you, but this stuff is great.

    Diet Rite is actually one of the least-bad diet sodas. It’s not sweetened with aspartame like most of the other diet sodas.

  91. 91.

    Third Eye Open

    So, who is bringing the Festivus pole? And John, as the head of our “household” who will you be tapping for the Feats of Strength?

  92. 92.

    Tax Analyst

    Easily curable, John. Just read two pundit columns and slam your hand in your car door. Or just think about Joe Liebermann and Ben Nelson teaming up to act as “Co-deciders” on all legislation for the next few years. You might not even have to do the physically-painful-hurting stuff if you do that.

    I guarantee you will feel like your old, cranky, lovable self within minutes.

  101. 101.

    Brick Oven Bill

    Between yesterday’s winter solstice, and the increasingly disappearing prospect that Carbon Dioxide might help warm things up, I too feel a glimmer of hope.

    Mostly the winter solstice though.

  104. 104.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    An American Carol is on Showtime this morning. It’s even worse than I had thought.

  106. 106.

    Tax Analyst

    @#22 John Cole said:

    @Butch: Lily is completely and totally uninterested in balls. I wave it in front of her, she smiles and wags her tail, I throw it… and she stays there smiling at me wagging her tail. I go get the ball, she follows me every step of the way, I hold it in front of her and say “look at the ball, look at the ball” and she gets excited and wags her tail and prances around a bit, I throw the ball, and she stands there wagging her tail and smiling at me.

    It’s good that Lily has taught you to chase and fetch. That’s probably why she’s smiling and wagging her tail. You see, when she’s standing there all excited, wagging her tail and prancing it shows that she really thinks you’re making a lot of progress and may soon be ready for more complex tasks.

    I know this because my cat, Loki, trained me this way about 38 years ago. She used to chase the bouncy rubber inside core part of a golf ball down my apartment stairwell, bat it around the driveway for 3 or 4 minutes, then pick it up in her mouth and prance back up the stairs and drop it at my feet, signalling she was ready for another round. Then one day she did Part I…the chasing and driveway hockey…but when she was done with that she just lay down on the last step of the stairwell, did a little panting and then tucked her paws beneath her…so naturally I went down and fetched…brought the ball upstairs again and bounced it down…without standing up she raised one paw and took a disinterested swipe at it…so I fetched again…I finally caught on at about the 3rd try.

    As far as the additional tasks though, I’m pretty sure she considered me “just barely adequate”, but she probably just figured that it was hard to get good servants so she put up with me.

  108. 108.

    bemused

    @Comrade Mary:
    Oh my gawd. That’s incredible. The question is did David turn to drink after having to do this for a paycheck or did he do it because he was already drunk out of his mind?

  109. 109.

    Randy P

    @jibeaux:
    I don’t think I ever noticed a “Mrs.” in the Times. One can only guess what arcane rule they use, though there is a published New York Times style guide.

  112. 112.

    Max

    Another reason why I’m an O-bot.

    POTUS called #WTOP Radio in Washington today, where Va. Gov. Kaine was appearing. Obama identified himself as “Barry from DC”

    via Twitter.

  113. 113.

    gogol's wife

    I’ve really enjoyed the lively debate on health care here the last few days. I’ve learned a lot — thanks for maintaining this inimitable forum.

    It’s the first Christmas for many years without Bush-Cheney. I’m in a good mood too.

  114. 114.

    Brick Oven Bill

    ‘Ariel Attack’, AKA ‘Schwenkler’, the transgendered anarchist Democratic worker, just got busted for smashing windows. Ariel Attack’s actions have been blamed on conservatives, and probably, secretly behind closed doors, Teabagger Rage.

    Ariel Attack is a ‘friend and comrade’ of Denver Bash Back, a peace movement. Ariel Attack is not known to have yet bitten off anybody’s fingers.

    So this pleases me too. Also the anticipation of seeing with my own eyes an image of Ariel Attack, as he-she is 24, and an adult under the current criminal justice system.

  115. 115.

    Annie

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Yes, more and more — keep them coming.

    Also, you may consider putting a small blanket right next to you for Lady Smudge so she doesn’t always sit on the laptop. My kitties love to do their kittie paw thing on the blanket, turn around several times, and drop. They put their butts on the blanket and one paw on my leg…I love it.

  119. 119.

    Bill Arnold

    It’s the day after the winder solstice. Days are now getting longer (for those us in the northern hemisphere). (My wife feels this solstice effect especially strongly. I’ve stopped arguing that she’s imagining it.)

  121. 121.

    Max

    @MikeJ: Thanks for that. It’s a fun way to start the morning.

    I liked at the end when they automatically go into radio mode and “traffic at the 8’s”

  122. 122.

    NobodySpecial

    Two days off work! I have nothing to do but occasionally shovel off the stairs, play with family on World of Warcraft, and make sure my cat has enough attention to last. Good times.

  123. 123.

    Jennifer

    Yes, John, this is called a good mood. I am afraid I am like this most of the time, also known as a thing called an “optimist,” or “someone who can always find a pony in a pile of shit,” or a “bliss ninny.”

    I have no fear that you will become like me. :)

  126. 126.

    Demo Woman

    @Steerpike: Some how I doubt that I am the only one that listened to the entire song.
    ooga, ooga, ooga, chaka.. I think that we could use that in the lexicon.

  127. 127.

    Jennifer

    @John Cole:

    I throw the ball, and she stands there wagging her tail and smiling at me.

    Lily sounds like a searcher, like she’d like to look for something rather than retrieve it. We had a dog like that, we used to hide her toys and she’d go find them. She wouldn’t bring them back, bit that wasn’t the point.

    And there are few things as joyful as a Lab hitting water at warp speed to retrieve a ball. But mine will NOT go out when it’s raining. Go figure.

  128. 128.

    Randy P

    @Tax Analyst:

    It’s good that Lily has taught you to chase and fetch. That’s probably why she’s smiling and wagging her tail.

    Babies in high chairs are also particularly good at this kind of training.

  130. 130.

    Tattoosydney

    Still snow in Amsterdam. Just back from shopping at the local coffeeshop. Bought a Sachertorte on the way back.

    Good mood? Hell yes.

    Thanks to all the minions for their recommendations in various threads for places to visit in Amsterdam. It’s our fourth visit but it’s always great to get ideas of other things to do.

  132. 132.

    Common Sense

    My dog is deaf and doesn’t quite get the concept of fetch. I’m not sure how to train her properly.

    She chases balls just fine. The problem is that she does not understand that the goal is to return to the person who threw the ball. No, she doesn’t turn it into a game of keep away. Rather, she runs to the spot in our yard where I was standing when I instigated the first game of fetch two and a half years ago and waits for me to meet up with her there. She will not return to me after she retrieves the ball.

    At parks she is usually too distracted to play effectively and simply finds a nearby ball and takes it to a nearby person, usually abruptly halted midgame by another dog (my dog is not shy). If we are alone in an unfamiliar environment she will get the toy and look back at me, then sits and chews while I wave at her, beat on my knees/the ground, and generally make a fool of myself trying to get her to come to me.

  134. 134.

    bob h

    Think how Obama must feel. Knowing that he will go into the history books for reasons having nothing to do with his skin color.

    I am optimistic that success will now breed more success.

  135. 135.

    ronin122

    Breaking: Conservadem from the deep south has decided to switch parties. Via the Great Orange Satan.

    Who is going to be the first beltway dipshit to say that this is evidence that Obama is losing his party or similar bullshit?

  137. 137.

    ellaesther

    Hee hee! You made me laugh, John Cole, and for that, this under-employed, overly-woesome writer is very grateful.

    Enjoy it while it lasts — and hey, maybe stay away from the internet for awhile to see that it lasts longer.

  139. 139.

    geg6

    Glad you are in a good mood, John. For myself, I don’t know what to call my mood. I am dreading the holidays with family as my sisters are all bickering lately. I just got a call from my boss reaming me out for an innocent action I took that apparently undermined something he was doing that I was unaware of. So my vacation glee is much hampered by that. And politics just sucks. But my John has a lovely Christmas celebration planned for just the two of us. He put up lights and a tree for the first time since we’ve been together. And he’s cooking me a goose for dinner on Christmas. He is the one truly and unequivocably good thing in my life and what I’ll be feeling thankful and happy about this holiday season. Here’s hoping that all BJers have as much to look forward to for a happy new year as I do with my John.

  141. 141.

    Chat Noir

    @arguingwithsignposts: Love the Smudge pix. Kittens are so much fun. Take lots of pictures of her now when she’s small. When she’s a grown cat, you’ll be able to marvel at how tiny she once was.

  144. 144.

    Chuck Butcher

    I the grand baby’s cold, swell. I completely missed the conjunction between the Harley ride yesterday and the Soltice – cool.

    If it’s a mid-life thing john, I have a Harley for sale since I can only ride one. Nice bike, black 80 CID (1340CC) ’98 SuperGlide w/19K and a bunch of new stuff. It’ll do 80mph day and night @50 mpg. – and it is a Harley. You could ride it home from NE OR and claim you’ve been somewhere…

    Next year

  148. 148.

    Sentient Puddle

    @donovong: And just for the hell of it, I’ma quote Jane Hamsher:

    Fox is not a news outlet, it’s an openly partisan opinion factory and the Democrats should not be legitimizing them (and allowing them to recruit Democratic viewers to propagandize to) by doing this [appearing on Fox News].

  151. 151.

    Shell

    as I face down the hours of required cooking baking. It’s

    I’m bummed, thought I was well stocked with yeast but found I’m plumb out. Can’t get to the store till tomorrow so some of the baking will have to wait.
    Dresden stollen is one of the few german traditions I make for the holidays. Never had a liking for german cookie recipes. They all seem geared more for long preservation than tastiness. Lebkuchen you could use as roofing tiles.

  152. 152.

    Betsy

    @Randy P:
    They call Clinton “Mrs.”
    @jibeaux:
    I actually like it this way – it equalizes everyone. From the President down to a homeless person, you’re Mr. or Ms., or Mrs. if you request. It seems very quaint and democratic.

  153. 153.

    Tax Analyst

    @#131 Common Sense said:

    My dog is deaf and doesn’t quite get the concept of fetch. I’m not sure how to train her properly.

    She chases balls just fine. The problem is that she does not understand that the goal is to return to the person who threw the ball. No, she doesn’t turn it into a game of keep away. Rather, she runs to the spot in our yard where I was standing when I instigated the first game of fetch two and a half years ago and waits for me to meet up with her there. She will not return to me after she retrieves the ball.

    OK – here’s a partial blockquote fail – the following paragraph is from Common Sense’s original comment:

    At parks she is usually too distracted to play effectively and simply finds a nearby ball and takes it to a nearby person, usually abruptly halted midgame by another dog (my dog is not shy). If we are alone in an unfamiliar environment she will get the toy and look back at me, then sits and chews while I wave at her, beat on my knees/the ground, and generally make a fool of myself trying to get her to come to me.

    This is not necessarily a bug, but rather a Feature. She really has no way of knowing exactly how this game you would like her to participate in is supposed to be played. If fact, if this were a cat you would probably be receiving a strong “annoyance” vibe for not playing the game correctly. Dogs generally seem to be much easy-going and kinder about such things.

    What I find funny is how amused I seemed to get playing the feline’s fool just so I could see her register that unmistakeable look of haughty disdain. But then again I am pretty weird in more than a few ways.

  154. 154.

    gwangung

    Ah, well…a bit of the holiday blues hitting. Something to do with all the people I know (including me!) shuttling into and out of town at the same time.

  157. 157.

    RedKitten

    I’m feeling a little odd this morning. A mixture of perkiness, optimism, contentedness and maybe a little holiday cheer.

    I’m scared…hold me.

  160. 160.

    Ruckus

    This is why I like this community.
    I was feeling a little, well crappy this morning.
    Came here, got to laugh out loud, got to hear that there is reason for cheer and now feel better.
    Thanks y’all.

  161. 161.

    keestadoll

    I’m feeling a little odd this morning. A mixture of perkiness, optimism, contentedness and maybe a little holiday cheer.

    Is this what you people sometimes refer to as a “good mood?”

    Yes! Yay John!

  162. 162.

    Anne Laurie

    @Robin G.:

    Renesmee (the name of Bella and Edward’s undead hellspawn super-special unique snowflake child) in the abomination that is the Twilight series) has been voted Baby Name of 2009.

    Have y’all seen Baby’s Named A Bad, Bad Thing?

    Myself, I gave up all hope somewhere between the Nevaeh-is-heaven-spelled-backarseward craze and the teenagers of my acquaintance who named their daughter after a Magic:the Gathering card.

    I have fifty years’ experience trying to get people to spell an “ordinary, old-fashioned” name correctly, or at least consistently, and those poor girls are facing a lifetime of minor frustrations.

  163. 163.

    Anne Laurie

    @Common Sense:

    She chases balls just fine. The problem is that she does not understand that the goal is to return to the person who threw the ball. No, she doesn’t turn it into a game of keep away. Rather, she runs to the spot in our yard where I was standing when I instigated the first game of fetch two and a half years ago and waits for me to meet up with her there. She will not return to me after she retrieves the ball.

    Treats are your friend. Find little chunks of something irresistable, small enough she can eat them in one gulp. (I like Zuke’s Mini Naturals but small chunks of cheese, chicken or microwaved hot dog work too.) Start around the house: get her attention, show her a treat, feed her the treat when she comes to you. Once she’s got the idea, next time you’re outside alone (do NOT try this at the dog park), throw the ball, wait until she picks it up, and then show her a treat. If she brings the ball back when she comes for the treat, make a big happy fuss while giving her the treat, and then throw the ball again. If she just drops the ball & comes back for the treat, give it to her but don’t make a big deal. Repeat this often enough, and she’ll eventually get the idea that you want her to bring you the ball, although she may or may not believe this is a fun game apart from the snackies.

    Actually, the “I Gots Cookies!” routine is a good game for any dog, especially rescues. Have a special word, Come or Here or whatever, and say it as you show Rescue Stray the extra-good treat. NEVER use that word to call Rescue Stray for anything ‘unpleasant’, like going home from the dog park or giving up the inedible object they’ve just found — just for ‘the good stuff’. Start around the house, and if the two of you are so new to each other that Rescue Stray doesn’t automatically come towards you when you call, use a leash and pull RS gently towards you while waving the treat & give it to them as soon as they’re within arms length. If Rescue Stray does not react enthusiastically, find a more desirable ‘special treat’ (stinkier cheese, or slices of hot dog, or even cat treats for a small dog). Doing this on a regular basis will not, as the behaviorists phrase it, automatically shape a reliable recall… but it will reinforce Rescue Stray’s opinion that coming back to you is a Good Thing, maybe almost as good as following that rabbit scent or chasing the car. And establishing an automatic “Hey, are they offering the Good Stuff?” response may provide a precious few seconds’ pause that will someday keep your dog from darting into traffic or getting into a fight before you can grab them.

  165. 165.

    Ruckus

    @Anne Laurie:
    After my last job I figure that a lot of people can’t spell my name correctly. Common name, 7 letters first and last, and too many people miss-spell it “Asshole”.
    Now I’m not going to say they didn’t get the gist of it correct but not one of those letters is in my real name.

  166. 166.

    mandarama

    I’m late to this happy party because holiday stuff is wearing me out…I need to have whatever John Cole’s having. Even if it’s Diet Rite.

    You know, I notice that none of the new, um…active participants…from the health care threads are here on this thread. That elevates my mood for sure. I wonder if there’s a way to have more threads that are uninteresting to new, uh, active participants?

  167. 167.

    Jay in Oregon

    @Anne Laurie:

    Myself, I gave up all hope somewhere between the Nevaeh-is-heaven-spelled-backarseward craze and the teenagers of my acquaintance who named their daughter after a Magic:the Gathering card.

    You know Lhurgoyf Atog Rabinowitz? What a small world!

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