Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Second rate reporter says what?

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

When you’re a Republican, they let you do it.

I’m starting to think Jesus may have made a mistake saving people with no questions asked.

People are complicated. Love is not.

There are some who say that there are too many strawmen arguments on this blog.

with the Kraken taking a plea, the Cheese stands alone.

Just because you believe it, that doesn’t make it true.

“That’s what the insurrection act is for!”

An almost top 10,000 blog!

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it’s not glory.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

American History and Black History can not be separated.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

I didn’t have alien invasion on my 2023 BINGO card.

Fuck that bum, let’s go Joe!

He really is that stupid.

Biden: Oh no. We’ve upset Big Pharma again.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

“Let’s not pretend [Trump] wants to engage in high-minded discourse.”

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Reader Interactions

99Comments

  1. 1.

    Max

    Rest up buttercup. You’ve blogged your heart out today and at almost 300 comments and going, you deserve a break.

    O-bot programming note – Michelle Obama is going to be on Larry King live tomorrow night. Larry King is the worst interviewer, mainly because he’s half dead, but Michelle is always lovely.

  2. 2.

    Josh Huaco

    I’m sorry to hear that, John. I hope this passes soon.

    Glad there’s no gator gator gator gator gator gator ad right now.

  5. 5.

    General Winfield Stuck

    I just don’t see much blogging for me happening tonight.

    You did good blogging today, so relax, buttercup. :–0)

  6. 6.

    Midnight Marauder

    AND ANOTHER THING FOR ALL YOU “KILL THE BILL” TYPES OUT THERE–

    Whoops! Looks like…I am in the wrong thread. I thought this was the site of the Balloon Juice Thunderdome.

    Two Progressives Enter, One Republican Majority Leaves.

  7. 7.

    beltane

    Sorry about the pain. Progress with rehab is often uneven; you might wake up in the morning feeling much, much better.

    And that was one great post there earlier. It’s been quite the disappointment to realize that many in the so-called new media are every bit as flawed as the mainstream media figures they are seeking to replace.

  8. 8.

    rootless_e

    To me, a number of the “progressive” whiners are just looking for an angle to boost their careers, and the MSM is always looking for some stooges for a “critics on the left” attack on Democratic politicians.

  11. 11.

    Brian J

    I don’t mean to beat a dead horse, but I just thought I’d add the following:

    Obama sucks
    Rahm sucks
    Obama and Rahm suck
    Obama sucks
    Rahm sucks
    Obama and Rahm REALLY suck

    Seriously now, is anyone here a fan of “Damages”? It’s been good this season, although since I only watched a little bit of last season, I forgot how much of a mind trip the constantly switching time line is.

    Also, “Real Time with Bill Maher” returns this Friday. I’ve been feeling oddly optimistic lately, so I guess it’s about time that I come home on Friday night for my weekly dose of pessimism. He’s pretty sharp most of the time, although I’d wish he lighten up on the anti-medication stuff.

  12. 12.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Napoleon: Good find. This part is good too, from Weigel

    That’s really a pretty representative list of candidates who became darlings of the D.C. media establishment.

    He’s referring to McCain, Hagel (is Clemons still here?) and Bloomberg

  15. 15.

    Josh Huaco

    Don’t know if this has been mentioned in prior threads, but the Buffalo Beast has released its annual list of the 50 most loathsome Americans. IMO the writing is a little weaker than years past. But as always, ‘You’ is my favorite entry.

  16. 16.

    Mnemosyne

    We are happy/worried at work right now because my boss had her twins early this morning. Happy because, well, baybeez! Worried because they weren’t due until April.

    But still — baybeez! Apparently they’re far enough along gestationally that they have a 90-95 percent chance of doing just fine (yes, I Googled it), so I may just be a worrywart.

  17. 17.

    Brian J

    @Max:

    Perhaps, although much of his core audience, like me, doesn’t give a hoot about the Olympics, although I do like the “HHHH, HAHUH, HAHUHHAHUHHAHUH” beat that they always bring.

  21. 21.

    LuciaMia

    Local forecasters sound almost gleeful that we, i.e. northern NJ, Manhattan and Long Island will probably get flattened by this Wednesday’s storm.

  24. 24.

    J.W. Hamner

    Finished Mass Effect 2 last night. I won’t spoiler anything, but I was surprised with the variation in the endings from reading various gamer sites. Obviously, you either win or you don’t, but there seems to be a large range of final scores.

  28. 28.

    meh

    so we had 30″ of snow dumped on us – looks like another 10-20″ is coming tomorrow. The plows aren’t clearing secondary streets (which we’re on). And I’m running out of diapers for an 18 month old who is doing her best to go through more diapers than Vitter after a weekend bender…the brochure for kids said “It’s going to be Awesome!” – still waiting for that part…

  29. 29.

    demo woman

    @Brian J: I really enjoyed Damages the last two seasons. FX put it behind a pay wall this year so I have not been able to watch it.

  30. 30.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Just clicked through O’Reilly long enough to see Jim Vandehei whinily pleading with Bill-O to be nice to him, and referring to Politico reporters as “refugees from the mainstream media”.

  31. 31.

    chopper

    dammit, why hasn’t obama repealed DOMA with an executive order yet?? and also gramm/leach/bliley! too.

  33. 33.

    arguingwithsignposts

    I just don’t see much blogging for me happening tonight.

    Famous last words.

    ETA: I think I’ve posted this pic before, but here’s the smudge again. She has been very vocal over the past couple of days about me leaving her for the weekend. Seemed pissed. Tore up another roll of toilet paper.

    She is no doubt plotting a coup as we speak.

  36. 36.

    Equal Opportunity Cynic

    They tried to make John go to rehab, he said, no, no, no….

    Seriously, John, best wishes on your recovery.

  37. 37.

    Brian J

    @demo woman:

    Really? I didn’t know the network would want to do something like that.

    Perhaps you can download it, either legally or illegally.

  38. 38.

    Napoleon

    Keith O reporting the Reps are saying that among preconditions to attending a health care summit that Obama must discard going the reconciliation route among a bunch of other things.

  41. 41.

    LuciaMia

    preconditions to attending a health care summit that Obama must discard going the reconciliation route among a bunch of other things.

    Also that there must not be any camera’s in the room.

  42. 42.

    Steeplejack

    __

    Chuck

    ¡Caramba! Kristin Kreuk is teh hot. And perky. Normally I hate perky, but perky and hot can be a good combination. If people like this really worked at Geek Squad, I would never do my own computer maintenance.

    That is all.

  43. 43.

    goblue72

    When I get laid up with long recovery illnesses (flu, strained back), it just means its time to load up the first couple of seasons of Farscape on the DVD. And Star Trek II: Wrath of Khan.

    Seriously, how can you not feel better after watching Shatner over-act screaming “Khaaaaaaaaannnn!!!!”. Plus, you get (1) pre-fat Kirstie Alley in Spock ears, (2) Ricardo Montalbon in a wig and a fake chest, (3) 80s looking duded with perms and (4) Spock dies.

  46. 46.

    Brian J

    @LuciaMia:

    The truly hysterical reactions to the potential for snow this past weekend were something else. You’d think we were about to experience something one step below a nuclear attack. In the end, of course, nothing happened, so I will save my reactions for when the snow actually appears.

  48. 48.

    Martin

    @Brian J: I love the Olympics. I’d watch almost every minute if I could. I’d much rather support amateurs who have put years of effort into winning for their nation than some jackasses who can’t resist needling up so they can get their $30M contract renewal.

  50. 50.

    CaseyL

    I have tried to get into Chuck,but no can do.

    I should have started watching from the premiere, because Mat Bomer played a recurring character named Bryce Larkin who kicked major butt, and I’ve become rather fond of Bomer…

    … except that the only reason I like Bomer is because I finally started watching White Collar after resisting its not-very-original yet too-cute-by-half premise for months. The premise is still ridiculous, but the acting is quite good, the characters interesting right down to the supporting roles (I love Mozzie to pieces), and now of course I regret that I didn’t start watching White Collar earlier in its run.

  51. 51.

    JGabriel

    I miss seeing GOP ads on the site. I always clicked those suckers, sinfully enjoying their wasted pennies.

    .

  54. 54.

    Comrade Mary

    Shelby blinked.

    Sen. Shelby (R-AL) released his blanket holds on Obama nominees this morning — but he’s maintaining his holds on a few unnamed nominees he says on directly related to “his holds on all but a few nominees directly related to the Air Force tanker acquisition until the new Request for Proposal is issued.” …
    __
    “The purpose of placing numerous holds was to get the White House’s attention on two issues that are critical to our national security – the Air Force’s aerial refueling tanker acquisition and the FBI’s Terrorist Device Analytical Center (TEDAC). With that accomplished, Sen. Shelby has decided to release his holds on all but a few nominees directly related to the Air Force tanker acquisition until the new Request for Proposal is issued. The Air Force tanker acquisition is not an ‘earmark’ as has been reported; it is a competition to replace the Air Force’s aging aerial refueling tanker fleet. Sen. Shelby is not seeking to determine the outcome of the competition; he is seeking to ensure an open, fair and transparent competition that delivers the best equipment to our men and women in uniform. Sen. Shelby is fully justified in his concern given the history and current status of this acquisition.”

  56. 56.

    J.A.F. Rusty Shackleford

    I bought 2 budget-price games on Steam this weekend, Watchmen: The End Is Nigh and NBA2K10.

    Watchmen looks good and is a straight beat’em up. You control either Rorschach or Night Owl and you fight your way from checkpoint to checkpoint picking up new fighting moves along the way. Rorschach has some especially vicious finishing moves, my favorite being one where Rorschach slides beneath the thug’s legs delivering a kick to the crotch before popping up behind with three elbows to the base of the neck and a finishing chop to the adam’s apple.

    NBA2K10 is the only basketball title available for the PC since NBA Live left for console-only after 08, and despite the $19.99 price, it cuts no corners. The menu system gives the game away as a console port and there seems to be some controller issues (button assignment doesn’t match the controller default) with both an Xbox360 or Logitech controller but they are not anything that can’t be easily overcome with just getting familiar with a new control scheme. The game looks amazing. The details are sharp and varied. Whether it’s the life-like crowd or the team mascots goofing around during a time out NBA2K10 looks really great.

    Gameplay is solid and doesn’t breakdown to rushing up and down the court trading easy scores around the basket. At the default setting personal fouls seem a little too infrequent but there are user sliders to adjust AI tendencies. The controls take some time to master but work well once you get them down pat.

    The My Player mode allows you to play as a raw developmental league player. You design your look and style of play and then compete in drills and d-league games until you gain enough skill points to be called up to the NBA. In this mode you’re only responsible for your player and regularly have to watch part of the game from the bench (though you can sim through the game until you’re subbed in).

    I’m really looking forward to MLB2K10 on March 2nd. If the NBA title is any indication it looks like I will be spending a lot of time with that game.

    Also, I bought some White Sox tickets today – yea! I have 2 for Opening Day and 2 for the Saturday night game against the goddamned Cubs in June.

    Spring training is just weeks away.

  57. 57.

    General Winfield Stuck

    @Comrade Mary: My guess is he got clobbered with the idiot stick by some of his slightly more sane Senate wingnut buds. Placing a blanket hold on ALL of Obama’s appointees was a bit far for even them.

  58. 58.

    Brian J

    @Martin:

    I assume you are referring to Conan as opposed to Maher.

    I don’t really hate the Olympics. I just don’t care about them. I guess it’s nice, though, that this means fewer repeats of some of my favorite NBC shows.

  59. 59.

    The Main Gauche of Mild Reason

    @CaseyL:

    It’s not that ridiculous of a premise.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Abagnale

    “In 1974, after he had served less than five years, the United States federal government released him on the condition that he would help the federal authorities without pay against crimes committed by fraud and scam artists, and sign in once a week.[6”

  62. 62.

    JGabriel

    Napoleon:

    Keith O reporting the Reps are saying that among preconditions to attending a health care summit that Obama must discard going the reconciliation route …

    Good. I’m beginning to think the GOP is on its own path to become a Greek tragedy, a really funny one, with hubris as its major flaw.

    It’s like they don’t even realize they’re setting themselves up to look like obstructionist assholes to even the independent voters. Treating the President of the United States like he’s Iran or N. Korea, and that Republicans won’t talk to him unless he meets their ultimatums … that’s not going to fly very well with anyone but the more extreme half of the teabaggers.

    .

  64. 64.

    Bad Horse's Filly

    And John, sorry you’re feeling under the weather. But there is Chuck and Big Bang to comfort you. I’d say Castle, too, but I think that’s more of a “I loved Nathon Fillion naked in Firefly so I watch Castle” girl thing.

  65. 65.

    Keith G

    Okay, I need your help. Why is Chuck a watched show, to the degree it is? I just watched my 1st epi.

    I mean, it seems to be bunch of white kids with really good teeth playing grown up. Its a “How I Met Your Mother” with an extra 30 min and a semi serious (at times) spy-comic book twist.

    Maybe I just answered my own question. Well, the last segment of Ema is on Masterpiece Classics.

    Saved by edit.

  67. 67.

    JGabriel

    @Martin: Nope, not just you, though I’m surprised more haven’t chimed in. I expect a lot us ran up the click-throughs on RNC and other wingnut ads, just for the pure joy of it.

    .

  68. 68.

    Svensker

    @Cat Lady:

    Oh, and for those who can’t get enough of the Peytie Pout. This one’s for you.

    Thank you. Enjoyed the heck out of it. I always love when Peyton does the “how the HECK did you miss that catch?!” look.

  69. 69.

    HRA

    John, if it’s really excruciating pain, make sure you inform the PT about it and maybe adjustments to the schedule will be needed. It never pays to be silent about it.

    That other post was excellent though I have to admit I did not see what caused it.

  70. 70.

    RedKitten

    @Keith G: Dude, you’ve only watched one episode, and it was the third episode of the third season — there is a TON of backstory that you’re missing.

    No, it’s not a deep show (although it does have that underlying thread of how someone can lose who they are while pursuing a dream, and not even realize it until they’re too far in — which is a fairly heavy theme for such a “fluffy” show). But it is a hell of a lot of fun to watch, it’s got some great dialogue, some damn nifty stunt scenes, appealing characters, and Adam Baldwin, who is always a delight to watch.

    There are much worse ways to spend an hour.

  72. 72.

    Ash Can

    @Napoleon:

    …among preconditions to attending a health care summit…

    LOL! Those assholes are going to bail, I just know it. They’re already loading up with excuses. And when Obama says, “Why can’t you guys just come and talk about all these great ideas you have?” they’ll all wail that Obama won’t work with them and isn’t being bipartisan. And if at that point anyone in the news industry (who isn’t senile and doesn’t work for Roger Ailes) still takes the GOP congressdorks seriously, their bosses should kick their asses out into the alley and set fire to their desks.

  74. 74.

    Dave C

    Despite its ridiculous premise and consistently-hokey “spy” plots, Chuck is a great show. Why? Because it has a great cast playing great characters, lots of well-written comedy, and because it exudes mass amounts of pathos in nearly every episode. That’s why I love it, at least. Not since Buffy have I seen a show that can change tones on a dime like Chuck can.

  75. 75.

    Joshua Norton

    I haven’t seen tonight’s episode yet, but Chuck is starting to get on my nerves a little. He seems to only have the “powers” needed to create forced suspense for the storyline in that particular script. One week he can kung fu 6 guys at once while shooting a gun out of some baddie’s hand and the next week he’s a quivering mess getting kicked in the face.

    Annoy. Ing.

  78. 78.

    Maude

    @Ash Can: They are losing excuses one by one. If they bail, how do they say that Obama shut them out? Lying won’t cut the mustard. It’s out there long enough so that they can’t find wiggle room.
    They’ve been whining forever about not being included.
    The problem the righties have is that they are starting to bump into reality. I hope it smarts.

  80. 80.

    RedKitten

    @Joshua Norton:

    I haven’t seen tonight’s episode yet, but Chuck is starting to get on my nerves a little. He seems to only have the “powers” needed to create forced suspense for the storyline in that particular script. One week he can kung fu 6 guys at once while shooting a gun out of some baddie’s hand and the next week he’s a quivering mess getting kicked in the face.

    That’s kind of the point. The intersect is only as good as the person it’s in. And Chuck is not a cool, calm and collected guy who can just access that stuff at will. Part of the whole narrative is that it’s still unreliable, which mirrors Chuck’s evolution as a spy.

  81. 81.

    RedKitten

    @John Cole:

    @RedKitten: I am starting to get very worried that they are going to write Sarah out of the show.
    And I hate that she is cheating on Chuck.

    I haven’t heard any rumours about Yvonne leaving the show, but I suppose the viewers and the writers were getting a little tired of the on-again, off-again thing with Chuck and Sarah. It makes sense to give them their own side romances so as to not always make the show about their angst.

    My guess is that they’d write Agent Superman out of the show before they’d write her off.

  83. 83.

    Ash Can

    @Maude: Oh, to be sure. But looking like perfect asses has never stopped them before, because no one has ever really called them on it starting with the press. This time, though, they’re getting jammed so tightly into a corner that it’s hard to imagine anyone in their right mind buying their bullshit. (Not saying much, I know, but still…) In typical O-bot fashion, I will speculate that Obama’s shooting for making it virtually impossible for the press to give the congressional GOP fuckwits any more cover.

  85. 85.

    Sentient Puddle

    OK, and as extremely not terrible this season of Heroes has been, I think they rather dropped the ball with the ending. Bah.

  86. 86.

    JGabriel

    @John Cole:

    I hate that she is cheating on Chuck.

    But Chuck’s cheating on Sarah! He kissed Hannah while Sarah was still pushing Shaw away. If Chuck moves on, Sarah gets to move on too — and let’s not forget that it was Chuck who refused to run away with Sarah, not the other way around.

    .

  88. 88.

    WaterGirl

    @SIA: I agree! I almost posted earlier to say that the photos from Mrs. J show animals that are much more appealing than the ones from our shelter here, just a few hours north of jeffreyw, who lives somewhere in southern Illinois.

  89. 89.

    SIA

    @WaterGirl: I agree, those photos were great and having the animals out and being held makes them better. Sometimes the shelter pictures are so pitiful it’s hard to even look at them. I would adopt every single one of them if I could!

  90. 90.

    Yutsano

    @SIA: My guess off the top of my head is somewhere in southern Illinios since that’s where the crew of them are all based. It could be over the border somewhere however.

  91. 91.

    Elie

    @beltane:

    I totally agree…its a longer haul than people expect with rehab

    About 3-4 months in on my shoulder rehab, I thought that I had done the wrong thing, picked the wrong surgeon and had fucked up my life forever

    What happened as I worked and participated in a number of different activities and exercises, was that I really improved. But it wasnt smooth — I would make a jump then plog along then jump…

    John, I don’t know your deal or anything, but once I got to six months they talked to me about starting to swim — initially just holding onto a float and using my operated arm gradually. I tell ya — that swim thing took me to a level that I never dreamed. I was not sore afterwards and I guess because of how swimming works the muscles etc., I had way more extension and flexibility than with “land” exercises.

    Not saying that will happen for you, but when the therapist says this is possible, give it a whirl and see what you get. I LOVE swimming for me — its relaxing and wonderful for all my muscles and also fun.

    Keep after it, man…

  92. 92.

    asiangrrlMN

    Cute animals, per usual. Awesome food pr0n, per usual. Cole, please be careful. You are a national treasure, you know. Wouldn’t want your wing to be permanently busted. Shelby is still a dick as are most of the Republicans in general.

    I think that about covers all the topics in this open thread.

  95. 95.

    YellowJournalism

    I am so glad I didn’t start reading this thread before watching my DVR’ed episode of Chuck! Chuck, Big Love, and Supernatural are the three shows I most look forward to in the week. Each one has great acting, good comedic and dramatic moments, and excellent supporting casts and characters (I heart Morgan and felt so bad for him tonight.). All of the shows also have great one-liners. I think my fav line of the week so far is from Big Love: “I don’t know why anyone would want to be a Democrat. We [Republicans] have all the fun.”

    Big Bang Theory isn’t bad, either, and this week’s episode was cute with a very satisfying ending.

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