Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

You cannot shame the shameless.

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

🎶 Those boots were made for mockin’ 🎵

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

I really should read my own blog.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

Republicans want to make it harder to vote and easier for them to cheat.

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

Hot air and ill-informed banter

Trump’s legal defense is going to be a dumpster fire inside a clown car on a derailing train.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

If you are still in the GOP, you are an extremist.

Thanks for reminding me that Van Jones needs to be slapped.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

Republican obstruction dressed up as bipartisanship. Again.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

We’re not going back!

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

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Reader Interactions

156Comments

  4. 4.

    LikeableInMyOwnWay

    I was progressive before you were born, and I am still progressive now. I don’t pay much attention to the oldster bashing around here, it’s weakass fu.

  7. 7.

    IanY77

    Careful John, Ben Domenech can tell you about what happens when you lift a PJ O’Rourke joke ;).

    In all seriousness, I use that joke all the time. It kills. My uncle owns a couple of car dealerships that sells those big “Old People Cars”. He loves that line.

  9. 9.

    JasonF

    Not every baby boomer is part of the problem, but a disproportionate number of people who are part of the problem are baby boomers.

  14. 14.

    Dinah

    I buy most of my food from a local farmers’ market, and I get there in my 12-year-old Corolla. I am perfectly sane and can still work the Saturday NYT crossword. Can you?

  16. 16.

    suzanne

    @JasonF: Word. My mom, who’s a Boomer, has been growing increasingly disenchanted with her own generation in the past few years. She keeps lamenting to me, “Didn’t we learn anything in the sixties with the civil rights movement?” I have to remind her that those same people went on to learn in the eighties that greed was good. I am trying to find progressives around her age for her to hang out with, but in Phoenix, that often proves to be a tough order. Not a lot of old hippies.

  18. 18.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @JasonF: be that as it may, or may not, if all those young people would put down their Atari machines, pull up their pants, and go down to the voting booth, we wouldn’t have to worry so much about pro-choice, pro-gay rights boomers voting for John Boehner because they’re being “taxed to death” to the point they can’t even afford to redo the kitchen at the summer place.

    and you know those tattoos are permanent, don’t you, young man or lady?

  20. 20.

    Chad N Freude

    their Mercury Marquis Cadillac Medicare sled

    You kids are so busy running all over grownups’ lawns you can’t even get your brands straight.

    I’m betting this “apology” doesn’t help much.

    At least you got that right.

  22. 22.

    licensed to kill time

    Also, the only time I ever had blue hair was in the early 80’s when I used to color it blue and purple while wearing my Eat The Rich t-shirt and listening to X on my Walkman. So there.

    she bought a clock on Hollywood Blvd the day that she left
    it felt sad it felt saaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad

  25. 25.

    Linda Featheringill

    Yes, I know I am repeating myself. Maybe that’s because I am old and white and probably not sane at all.

    I think we could do some good in all of this by sending a note of support to the Islamic community in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

    This is the url:

    http://www.icmtn.org/

    Mention the state you live in. Show them that not everybody in the US is an absolute idiot.

    Thanks.

    [BTW, I lost my shit several years ago. Have you seen it, John?]

  27. 27.

    ruemara

    I think you mean everyone under 70 IQ and stuck on FAUX has lost their shit.

    OT, caramelized bacon is fairly awesome. Needs more jalapenos to be really awesome, but fairly is a good start.

  28. 28.

    Josie

    Thanks for the apology, even if it was in quotes. I’ll have you know that I drive a Toyota Matrix and never go to early bird specials. I have recently discovered a number of other old hippies at the local farmers’ markets. I never knew there were so many of us out there, maybe because we are all staying home, growing our vegies and baking our sourdough bread.

  31. 31.

    Maude

    These morans were that way when they were in their twenties. People don’t change, I read that in a novel, so I know it’s true.

  32. 32.

    steveinillinois

    Mercury Marquis? Please. Everyone knows that the Buick LeSabre (preferably in gold) is the preferred car of the AARP set.

    I wouldn’t be caught dead in one, though, despite being 53. And I don’t get up early enough for the early bird special!

  33. 33.

    ricky

    As someone who fits in the denounced demographic
    I regret to inform you that the last time I owned a Mercury I was young enough to be trusted.

  34. 34.

    Et Tu Brutus?

    Something strange is happening to many of the “blue hairs” up here in Idaho- for instance, a friend who is a lifetime Rethug, suddenly thinks Obama is doing a good job, considering the mess he inherited; while OTOH, a student of mine, a lifetime independent who voted Dem in the last cycle, Has “… had it with the Black Muslims taking over the country, and their disrespect for the 9/11 victims via their desire to build a Mosque on WTC ground, It’s straight Republican from now on”. The only significant difference I can see behind their attitudes is the Rethug has friends and associates of several different ethnic and racial extractions, while the former Independent has always made remarks that suggest to me that he is a bit of a racist ( he studies Tai Chi with me, and I can’t afford to be to selective about a student’s personal beliefs). Of course we are talking Idaho here, which is hardly representative of the Nation as a whole.

  36. 36.

    Bnut

    I think the older posters are concerned this kind of post will pop up as some sort of meme by right wing blogs to show something retarded like age discrimination among liberals. It’s obvious he is talking about stupid old teabaggers. If you post on this blog it probably means you are at least less crazy than most. Christ, you dont’ see 200 comments over shit that’s a little less trivial than so called generation wars.

    Ntm, from the level of kiss ass directed towards John in particular, you would think he would be given a little more benefit of the doubt concerning his message.

  38. 38.

    Gen. Jrod and his Howling Army

    People keep saying that the white male vote skews Republican, but I’m a white male and I never vote Republican! How dare someone talk about a demographic without first noting that every individual is a precious unique snowflake, defined solely by their inherent human qualities?

    I’m writing nasty letters to every pollster, demographer, and sociology department in the country. How dare they say things about white males based on what the majority of white males do?! I am sooooooo outraged right now!

  40. 40.

    ricky

    “Apologies” should never be offered to any beyond those “who might have been offended.”

  42. 42.

    MattF

    Well, all right. And note that if you really want to irritate that elderly gentleman over there, just walk over, smile, and make solicitous inquiries about his prostate.

  43. 43.

    ondioline

    Old people are old and they never die and they just get crazier and crazier.

    Medicare was SUCH a bad idea, dudes.

  46. 46.

    KyCole

    Whoa. I’m 53 and am sort of tired of being blamed for everything. Never voted for a Republican, pay my taxes and helped my children through college. Now I expect to work until I croak, and maybe supplement my small-business owner paltry paycheck with some government Social Security when I’m 70, if I don’t die first.

  48. 48.

    ColleenSTL

    Hey, hey, hey! We over-50’s already seem to have to defend our presence on line… I was a little surprised to see it here and more than a little surprised to hear it come from our cranky host! I always imagined him closer to my demographic that most. So FU Cole! Fifty is the new forty and no-one under age 80 has blue hair anymore. Maybe YOU are the one who needs to get with the program! I got my dog, my garden, my Packers and my Accord and you can kiss my wrinkly old ass!

  49. 49.

    Gen. Jrod and his Howling Army

    @KyCole: Because when people note that the group keeping right-wing insanity alive tend to be white and over 50, what they’re really saying is: “That fucker KyCole! Everything is his fault!”

  51. 51.

    stuckinred

    Yes I am a pirate, two hundred years too late
    The cannons don’t thunder, there’s nothin’ to plunder
    I’m an over-forty60 victim of fate
    Arriving too late, arriving too late

    I’ve done a bit of smugglin’, I’ve run my share of grass
    I made enough money to buy Miami, but I pissed it away so fast
    Never meant to last, never meant to last

  52. 52.

    General Stuck

    @Gen. Jrod and his Howling Army:

    You must not get out much jrod. There are plenty of young wingnuts with mouths about as big as yours keeping the shit stirred. So hop on down from your pony son, and learn something other than fueling generation wars that are meaningless in the big scheme of things.

  56. 56.

    ItAintEazy

    Just wanna repost what a commentator posted in the other thread:

    Interestingly, we moderate, relatively sane WP>50 are never asked to disavow the actions of insane WP>50. We object, “but I’M not like that!” and expect a retraction. “They are just a minority, they don’t represent REAL WP>50!” Welcome to the everyday world of the American Muslim or scapegoat du jour.

  57. 57.

    Ruckus

    John, I could have understood everyone over 60, but not 50. Or is it 70? Or is it all white people? All white people older than you?

    I may be the only one who took John’s original post to be snarking on racism by making an entire group inclusive. Or not.

  59. 59.

    KyCole

    Just to clear things up. I’m a woman and my hair isn’t blue. Also, married one of those damn Arabs and gave him a green card. Now his whole family is over here making America just a little browner every day! Not whining, just tired of hearing people talk about how the Boomers suck and ruined everything. I didn’t make it to Woodstock either- I was in sixth grade.

  60. 60.

    merrinc

    Mercury what? I drive a Prius. According to my daughter, with embarrassing music (i.e., classic rock) emanating way too loudly from my iPod.

  62. 62.

    CynDee

    @ John Cole:

    blue hair

    Insult and injury.

    In July I spent nearly my last dime to get my hair colored so that someone may, just MAY, think I’m a normal ordinary person and decide to hire me in spite of my long resume.

    I and tens of thousands don’t have the luxury of looking over 50, however skilled, smart, hardworking, intelligent, reliable, accomplished, literate, and mannerly we are.

    I didn’t used to, but now I cry at night.

    Glad you’re carefree enough to be glib. Enjoy your nice house and your nice job and your nice friends and parties and the luxury of being able to have pets, and lots of food and interesting potables and self-sufficient parents and siblings you don’t have to support financially and physically. I hope you never have to dye your hair, either. But please don’t, you, of all people, reduce me to an idiot stereotype.

  63. 63.

    Ross Hershberger

    51, white male and certifiable. My grandmother is 93. Always voted R when Grandpa was alive but not any more. Reads the paper closely every day. Sees the evil deeds of the GOP and speaks out eloquently against them.
    She’s on a cruise in Alaska right now with her 87 yo and 85 yo sisters. That’s what I wanna do when I grow up.

  64. 64.

    aimai

    I can afford to be calm about this whole fracas because I’m not going to be 50 for another…uh…20 days.

    aimai

  65. 65.

    Gen. Jrod and his Howling Army

    @General Stuck: There are plenty in the sense that there are plenty of black people in the Republican party; that is, enough for some nice photo ops.

    I don’t deny that there are plenty of right-wing psychos and bigots among the young, and every other group. It’s a simple fact, however, that the right is dominated by the old and the white. Sorry if saying so hurts some pwecious fee-fees out there, but it’s the truth.

    Just to be fair and balanced, I completely hate my generation’s refusal to vote, which is nearly as blameworthy as your generation’s tendency to vote based on fear. I also blame people in areas like my beloved home state that consistently vote their irrational hatreds rather than their self-interest.

    This whole country is fucked up, in a variety of ways. One of those ways is the voting patterns of old white folks. This isn’t me starting a age war, this is me pointing out a problem that needs to be dealt with.

    Or maybe I can troll the nets for somebody who says that young people are on Facebook too much, and totally lambaste that bigot because I hardly ever use Facebook, so there! So much fun.

    @Scamp Dog: That’s Sgt. Fury’s outfit, whereas I am a grande Generale. I’m thinking of resigning, though, cuz’ the joke went stale a month ago.

  66. 66.

    JWL

    The stupid-to-smart ratio among Americans has been a constant since humanity first set foot on the continents.

  67. 67.

    Paris

    @gbear: I used to listen to that every day when I was a wee lad. Now you’ve got me watching David Lindley videos on YouTube – another Sunday evening wasted :(

  68. 68.

    eemom

    I turned 48 last week and on my way home from OBX today a lady in a toll booth told me my gray hair looks good. So take THAT, you lawn-trampers.

  70. 70.

    General Stuck

    Here is the white vote for Obama in 08 broken down by age groups.

    Other stats-
    age 18-24 68%
    age 25-29 69%
    age 30-37 55%
    age 40-49 50%
    age 50-64 55%
    age 65 and over 45% won in every age group but over 65

    The white vote for all women was 56% and white men 41% not broken down by age. So there was and is a definite anti dem bent to males of all ages. But strictly by age, only the over 65 group went to Mccain. And they are on the cusp of the baby boomer gen, considering it beginning after WW2/

    these numbers came from a yahoo answers page, so if they are wrong, I pre apologize.

  73. 73.

    Linda Featheringill

    @CynDee:

    It seems you are going through a difficult time. My sympathies.

    There is a lot of that going around, especially around my house. :-)

    I really do understand the anger and I really do understand the fear.

    Hang in there, dear. What is the alternative? Curl up and die?

  74. 74.

    BB

    @Gen. Jrod and his Howling Army:

    You may be right, but it hasn’t been my experience; at least not with a large segment of my peers. I’m 24 years old, college educated, with an advanced degree. My college and grad school friends are all fairly progressive in their tendencies (even if most of them are more or less apolitical), my high-school friends, however, the ones who didn’t go to college, are all very, very right-wing.

    It’s getting to a point where it has become difficult to actually remain friends with them. Racist talk is common, and paranoia and anxiety impregnates every “political” conversation.

    I try to talk with them, but it’s useless.

    Anyway, the point is, these guys are pretty common around here (NY suburb). Their networks of friends are similar in that they are also occupied by anxious and angry and bigoted people.

    I’m really not nearly as sold on this idea of young people are very much advanced over the boomer generation on racial issues as some. I think we are somewhat, but it’s hard to be too sanguine…

  76. 76.

    Janet Strange

    @General Stuck: Y’know, from time to time I wonder – I keep hearing what’s wrong with white people, what’s wrong with old people, why are they so stupid? But it seems to me that the obvious question is what the hell is wrong with men? White men, anyway. Politically speaking that is.

    Now as a classic second wave feminist, it seems like I’ve spent my whole adult life patiently explaining that just because I think female human beings are entitled to be treated fairly that doesn’t mean that I hate men. But sheesh, guys, what is it with (most of) your (white) gender?

  77. 77.

    quaint irene

    d special to inform me that not everyone over the age of 50 has lost their mind.

    Old? I’m not old! Just came in from weeding the tomato patch and….oh , so achy.

    So, what is 50 the new…what? The new black?

  80. 80.

    demo woman

    TPM had an interview with a person who blames the homosexuals for his lack of promotions. Doesn’t Beck teach personal responsibility?
    My hair is not blue….

  82. 82.

    Linda Featheringill

    Generations:

    Erik Erikson was a developmental psychologist and is still respected today, several decades after his death. His main contribution towards understanding humans is the idea that at each stage, we have developmental tasks. Whether we succeed at this tasks or fail affects our personalities.

    In the later years, we are supposed to learn that strength comes through care of others and production of something that contributes to the betterment of society or is good for the following generations. Otherwise we are likely to become angry and bitter and hate young people.

    In the last stage of development, we are tasked with knitting it all together and enjoying our connection with all humans [and perhaps all that is alive].

    But some adults may reach this stage and despair at their experiences and perceived failures. They may fear death as they struggle to find a purpose to their lives.

    Alternatively, they may feel they have all the answers (not unlike going back to adolescence) and end with a strong dogmatism that only their view has been correct.

    Does any of this sound like some of the old jerks being complained about here?

  83. 83.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @CynDee: Sorry, I posted my “blue hair” riposte before seeing your own anguished message. I’m so sorry. That’s a terrible, painful situation and I don’t blame you for being sensitive to the thoughtless stereotype. What I know, and I know you know this too, is that John Cole, for all the glibness and crankiness, doesn’t have a mean cell in his body.

    We’re in this together, whether our hair is blue or chemically-enyouthened or (in my case) tweed.

  84. 84.

    Bruce (formerly Steve S.)

    No need to apologize, I’m white and insane and in honor of your previous post I accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Saviour.

  85. 85.

    merrinc

    @CynDee:

    Sorry to hear about your troubles but I’m sure our blog host did not mean for his special brand of sarcasm to cause you any pain.

    My husband was up against age discrimination a few years ago when he was laid off. His small company was bought out by a much larger one which immediately got rid of the highest paid people in each department. He also has an excellent resume, references, etc but no one wanted to hire someone his age. (49 at the time.) Lots of hiring managers (most quite younger than him) told him he was overqualified. It took him nine very long months to find a job and this is when the economy in this region was *booming*. So I feel for you – and I think it’s even harder for women.

    BTW, don’t pay someone to color your hair. It’s an easy D-I-Y fix. I started going gray at 21 and by 26, rude co-workers were remarking on it. So I’ve been coloring my hair for a very long time. Start with a semi-permanent color no more than two shades lighter or darker than your original color.

  86. 86.

    frosty

    @General Stuck: Look at your table. It’s those 40-49ers who don’t get it. Grew up under Reagan and Bush I, listened to the demonizing of liberals, drank the Koolaid, and can’t for the life of them realize that times have changed.

    Hey, all of us can play the game of Blame Some Other Group!

  87. 87.

    frosty

    @SiubhanDuinne: Hey, at least you’ve got hair! Mine started falling out at 19, just when I decided to grow it long, be a hippie, and part it in the middle.

    Now it’s parted in the middle, all right. :-(

  88. 88.

    Gen. Jrod and his Howling Army

    @BB: Humans are naturally racist. A person has to work actively to suppress this instinct to hate and fear anyone who is different, an instinct that hasn’t been useful to humanity for 10k years or more. Take a disintegrating economy that disproportionately hits young adults and seniors, throw in a bunch of high-profile bigots preaching bigotry to these desperate people, and you get a rise in racism in all demographics. People love their scapegoats.

    It’s still more common among the older set, simply because a lot of them grew up when racism was rarely challenged. Give it another twenty years for the oldest Americans to fade out, and I expect differences between age groups to even out a lot.

    There will always be bigots. Some people will always refuse the introspection needed to not be a bigot, and the rest of us will always have to deal with their ignorant, lazy asses.

  91. 91.

    catboxer

    I saw the apology before I saw the post that was the cause. But I think you were right the first time.

    If you’d ever lived in a retirement trailer park in SoCal or Arizona — and I have — you’d come away with a resentment against old people no matter what your age.

    I’m 66 by the way.

  94. 94.

    morzer

    White, escaped Protestant, touch of grey at the temples, aged 40, so I guess I don’t qualify for the John Cole Over 50-somethings Colonize Mars mission….. My wife has expressed a desire to dye her hair blue occasionally. I blame anime. And you old people!

  96. 96.

    shortstop

    Aha! So that punk kid who bitched last week about the superannuated nature of this blog “community” was right!

  97. 97.

    bemused

    John doesn’t need to apologize. People are way too touchy. I’ve done my share of generalizing out of frustration without really thinking the whole damn group was identical. It’s like saying all republicans are certifiably insane. That might not be the best example….

  98. 98.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @BB:

    My college and grad school friends are all fairly progressive in their tendencies (even if most of them are more or less apolitical), my high-school friends, however, the ones who didn’t go to college, are all very, very right-wing.

    I’d be willing to bet that the latter group has a higher percentage of regular voters.

  99. 99.

    Yutsano

    @morzer:

    My wife has expressed a desire to dye her hair blue occasionally. I blame anime.

    Blue is pretty tame for an otaku. When she wants to go Zentraedi green then you should get concerned.

  100. 100.

    gnomedad

    Although I’m betting this “apology” doesn’t help much.

    It’s probably the best manners we can expect from someone your age.

  101. 101.

    Liberal Sandlapper

    Speaking as a 55 year old WASP male living in the land of Sanford, DeMint and Atwater, I can understand how Mr. Cole could make this mistake. I sometimes think I am the only sane person in this fucking state. So, no harm no foul.

  102. 102.

    eemom

    @catboxer:

    self-hating oldster!

    OMG, I see where this is going. Every time someone under 40 says something even remotely critical of old people, everyone starts yelling anti-Oldite…..and if they’re old themselves, they’re condemned as a self-hating Oldster.

    Next thing you know, AARP will start getting people fired from their jobs……

  104. 104.

    Ahasuerus

    @Janet Strange:

    But it seems to me that the obvious question is what the hell is wrong with men? White men, anyway. Politically speaking that is.

    Because the older white men have experienced: 1) the loss of their legally enforced superior status over black people due to passage of civil rights legislation in the 60s; 2) the loss of their legally enforced superior status over women due to the passage of equal rights legislation in the 70s; 3) the loss of their jobs, with attendant income and status, due to the ownership class moving jobs to cheaper overseas destinations. They are reacting to that loss of status (and income) in a fundamentally lizard-brained way, by blaming those groups, those “others” who are proximally “responsible” for that loss of status. And in their desperate scramble to regain that lost status, they will listen to any charlatan who offers them simplistic solutions to return to that (fictional) golden age. And for the past 30 years those charlatans have been pushing an agenda which seeks to demonize any group which is not a white christian heterosexual male.

    That’s the short answer. Now get off my lawn.

  105. 105.

    KyCole

    LS- You’re right. I live in Louisville among the only liberal people in Kentucky it seems. In my little bubble of progressives I find it really hard to understand where the rest of them are coming from. Also, my parents are in their eighties- the “greatest generation” types who have great pensions, medicare, social security and vote Republican every time. My kids think they don’t care about them.

  106. 106.

    THE

    OK, I’ll out myself too, since everyone is doing it.

    There it’s done.
    I’ll just have to live with it now.

  107. 107.

    Steaming Pile

    Apparently every single non-insane blue hair in America has stopped their Mercury Marquis Medicare sled on the way home from the early bird special to inform me that not everyone over the age of 50 has lost their mind.

    Thank God. That’s all I would add to that in addition to the apology.

  109. 109.

    pto892

    I’m 50 years old, came of age during the 70’s, grew up listening the what’s now called classic rock and switched to punk during the college years. I still listen to punk but have leavened it over the years with jazz and blues. My hair has reverted to it’s natural titanium shade of gray, and I have although I’m a political independent I tend to vote for the more liberal candidate when given the choice. Oh, I hated the Reagan Revolution followed by the Gingrich Congress, realizing even back then that those guys were just a bunch of carpetbaggers and crooks. I simply can not see any way to vote for any Republicans in this coming cycle, or for them any time in the future unless they stop feeding the crazy and do time in penance. They can’t be trusted as far as I’m concerned-it’s really just that simple. And I hate all those large American cars, always preferred something smaller and more efficient-owned a steady stream of VW’s, Subarus, and Toyotas over the years, as well as Ford Focus and Ranger (still have the Ranger, it’s just broken in at 125K miles). Not all the 50+ crowd are jingoistic babies who need a diaper change.

  111. 111.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Linda Featheringill #82:

    Erik Erikson was a developmental psychologist and is still respected today, several decades after his death.

    The CNN gig finally got to Erik son of Eri . . . Oh, okay, never mind.

    @Frosty #87: One of those double-wide center parts, eh?

    @bemused #97: LOL

    @eemom #102: I’m waiting for the Breitbart tape.

  115. 115.

    odp

    I’ll take the apology, thanks. I’m 60, white (with white hair, though it’s been going that way since I was 16), voted for Obama (and will again), and haven’t driven anything but Hondas since my Fiat died in 1983.

  117. 117.

    Alice Blue

    I’m actually 21 years old–but with 57 years of experience.

    Never driven a Marquis, but my in-laws had one. At night, the turn signals on that thing would light up half the county.

  118. 118.

    oldfatherwilliam

    Since we’re all talking about ourselves I naturally can’t resist adding my own foolish narrative. I’m 75, bitches, and have been voting as left as possible since Kerouac and Cassady. There are lots of us out here in Oregon; DFH are us. I hope someday you’ll join us, and the world will be—. Maybe some of you brash young snappers will get that.

  120. 120.

    Kewalo

    @suzanne:

    Suzanne, you might try finding a Drinking Liberally chapter somewhere near you. It isn’t just young people and a nice place to meet new people. And it’s perfectly acceptable to have a coke if your mom doesn’t drink.

  121. 121.

    Cat Lady

    @oldfatherwilliam:

    Rock on dude. Not foolish to share – we’ll need to know who each other is when the time comes to all join up. Get a Tunch T-shirt, and wait for the orders to march!

  122. 122.

    eemom

    @THE:

    I mean, HOW old you iz. In terms of like, numerical years.

    You haven’t REALLY come out, without that.

    But, since I’ve always suspected you’re God anyway from your definitive initials, I guess we can go with a conservative 6,000.

  123. 123.

    Janet Strange

    @Ahasuerus: Yeah, I know, I know. But what I want to know is why we don’t see all the “what’s the matter with men” stories? Wait, I know that too. Because most of the people deciding what the narrative is are . . . white men.

    Frustrating though.

    Kind of like the narrative “black people denied gays the right to get married” during the Prop 8 vote in CA, when of course, Blacks in CA are a small minority and a hell of a lot more white people voted for that unAmerican abomination. (Oh yeah, and Mormons had something to do with it too. Who, as they say, have something of a history when it comes to African-Americans.)

    But anyway, I wish someone would talk up the men are causing all this Republican crap. Maybe it would embarrass at least a few of them into rethinking.

  124. 124.

    Ahasuerus

    @Janet Strange: Y’know, I think there is (or at least was) a narrative about all the “what’s the matter with men” stories. But it was not found in the mainstream news, which as you observed had its narrative decided by those very same white men. The subversive narrative found its way into the sitcoms, starting with All In The Family, which featured the white male as a clueless reactionary clown regularly outwitted by traditional non-power groups (women, minorities, children). Comedy, especially satire, is at its heart subversive, and the people who created and wrote for those comedy shows were pretty much the only ones in media who were able to propagate that subversive message in the guise of light entertainment.

    Even today, the two television shows which consistently get high marks for discussing actual news instead of the MSM narrative-du-jour are The Daily Show and The Colbert Report; both ostensibly comedy shows.

  125. 125.

    General Stuck

    @Janet Strange: In fairness, I strongly suspect that that 41 percent of white men voting for Obama doesn’t hold true outside of the deep south, where Obama won an average of around 20 percent of the white vote, and though I don’t have the actual stats on sex and age, I bet most of that 20 percent were women, which would skew the national numbers of white males voting for Obama, and would likely be higher overall. And actually, 41 percent of white males voting for a dem candidate was higher than Carter at 38 percent, and he was a southerner. and white

  126. 126.

    RareSanity

    @Ahasuerus:

    That is exactly what is happening.

    More specifically, the members of that larger group that are either blatantly bigoted, or, are just naturally resistant to change, of any kind.

    The 50+ that frequent this blog would obviously not fall into this group because, obviously, you are able to understand differing perspectives and value critical thought over the comfort of things never changing.

    If it weren’t for that fact that the main group of malcontents are so hateful, I would almost pity them. They legitimately feel like their entire world is crashing around them and they seek shelter from anyone giving them an easy plan to “get things back to the way they were”.

    To the rescue comes the right wing echo chamber and it feels comfortable.

    But, as my old high school football coach used to say, “you’re looking for a pat on the back, when what you need is a kick in the ass!”

  128. 128.

    LindaH

    @John Cole: I know you were just “kidding” but there was a reason why the Age Discrimination Act was passed and remarks like this are one reason. I’m 57, I worked my way through college. I walked around Akron, Ohio holding a candle and singing “Give Peace a chance” in a totally ineffectual effort to stop the Vietnam War. I was working full time and going to school at night, so I did drive a Chevy Impala because it was reliable and cheap. For many years I road around town with a “Nixon’s through in ’72” sticker on my bumper. I was off by 2 years, but I always figured it was the thought that counted. I can’t say I never voted Republican in the mid ’70’s the local Republican politicians weren’t nutzo crazy rightwing, just fiscal conservatives. They changed and I never voted for them again. For the last 30 years I’ve voted Democrat all the way. I drive a Toyota Carrolla (37 MPG). In winter I drop my temperature to 57 degrees and pile on the sweaters. I support liberal causes and donate monthly to Doctors without Borders. I support Planned Parenthood. Oh, and I”m one of the people your new front pager thinks should be living under a bridge, eating dog food and apologizing for my life. I’m a Librarian paid by the county and even though the PERS fund that covers me is, in fact fully funded and is drafting legislation to keep it that way, I am, in fact supposed to be ashamed that I have worked for 39 years giving people information on how to get a divorce, how to write their wills, how to have Grandma keep her home when Grandpa gets Alzheimers and has to be put in the nursing home.

    I’m sorry that you seem to think that I’m someone who deserves to be ridiculed just because I happened to be born in the 50’s. Frankly while you were still sure that the Republicans were the good guys, I was doing whatever I could to try and get the bastards out. I have knocked on doors for John Kerry and worn Vote Obama tee shirts. Why don’t you pick on someone who is an actual registered republican, instead of me because of my age.

  132. 132.

    Smedley

    Nice Non-apology John.
    Sarah and Beck would be proud.

    Old age and treachery will overcome youth and intelligence every time.

    …and the horse you rode in on.

  133. 133.

    TrishB

    Huh, oddly enough, my almost 70 year old parents moved a few years back, but still keep the same poster in the garage that I remember from my youth. It says “War is not healthy for children and other living things.” Guess how many times they voted Republican? Yeah, not.

  134. 134.

    CatStaff

    Another 58-year-old checking in to say that I certainly haven’t lost my shit.

    No, wait, seriously, I just had it right here.

    Let me go out of the room and come back in . . . .

  135. 135.

    John Casey

    @General Stuck:

    In 2008, the 50-64 cohort were born in the 1944 to 1958 time period, i.e., the early to mid boomers. And we went for Obama by 55%, thank you very much.

    the 65 and older crowd has been referred to as the Silent Generation, the one that came of age in the late 50’s and early 60’s. They missed all the fun (well, except for the minority of them that were leading the fun), and have resented it ever since.

    Also, your numbers show that the generation of late boomers/early Gen X were less for Obama than we were. So there’s that too.

  136. 136.

    Smedley

    000Ps, I just remembered; I owned a Mercury back in the early 60’s
    ’56 Merc, stick shift, T-Bird mill, Crower log with three
    2- barrel holleys, modified cam.

    A real go faster and I had the official citations from the state to prove it…

    Oh well, today it’s an over the hill pick up.

  141. 141.

    Bubba Dave

    1) My 97-year-old (at the time) grandmother was the one who called me on primary day in Texas to make sure I got out and voted for Obama. When I was volunteering for Obama in Ohio, she was bragging about me like I’d just graduated from med school and won a Nobel Prize. On Inauguration day she was tearing up with joy. She’s too nice to tell you to go sodomize yourself with a splintery stick, but I’m not.

    2) You know who the problem is? You and me and all those damn white males. If we could just depress white male turnout by about 10% — my preferred plan is to schedule every college rivalry game for Election Day, but I’m also willing to support mandatory prostate screenings at the voting center– we’d have never had a President George W Bush, let alone eight years of his nonsense, and the big discussion for this election would be whether Republicans could up their House share to 40% of the seats.

  143. 143.

    chaseyourtail

    LMAO John, you’re killing me today. You’ll make a great geezer someday. GET OFF MY BLOG!

  145. 145.

    roshan

    I am late for this thread, but somebody has to say it. The geezers that are 70 and older need to stop meddling with public policy and DIAF if they are doing so. And the geezers who are above 50, need to stop voting for anyone older than 70 especially the GOP assholes. Now go out and strut that ass.

  147. 147.

    sherifffruitfly

    I like the way you apologize.

    Those old white folks are sooooooooo oversensitive.

    lmao

  149. 149.

    asiangrrlMN

    That’s why I love this blog. I’m one of the young’ins at 39!

    @Janet Strange: I’m right there with you. Until recently, all the big spree/mass killers were white males. People kept musing over why this or that or the other thing, but no one talked about the killers being white males (specifically) or males (in general).

    @ItAintEazy: Yep. Exactly. White folks get to be individuals while others don’t have the luxury.

  150. 150.

    harlana

    Well, I just want to say that my parents are both over 80 and are better Democrats than I am. I am pushing 50 and have, however, continued to lose bits and pieces of my mind progressively since 2003.

  151. 151.

    Deb T

    You don’t have to apologize to me (I drive a Chevy Aveo – I know, pathetic). I’m from the “don’t trust anyone over 30” generation, and I still have trouble trusting myself.

    A lot of us geezers do seem to have lost both our sense of humor and our grasp of political reality. There is a lot of bad news out there. I don’t think the politics are any worse, but the consequences of the foolishness that seems to have taken over the Republicans is.

    Rage on John. Rage on.

  152. 152.

    Daniel

    It’s all true…..I’m over 50 now, and it seems that any number of folks who were friends of my misspent youth have become full blown wingnuts. I had the experience a few months back of having dinner with old friends, virtually all of whom, back in the day, had long hair, liberal politics and…expansive views of personal freedoms. I was treated to an extended period of bitching and moaning about big government, bailouts, insane financial policies, etc etc, and after a couple of hours was finally unable to hold back.

    My comment was something along the lines of…”you know, there’s a lot of that with which I agree. My question to you, then, is where the fuck have you been for the last eight years? If you’re only fussing now because of that Kenyan interloper in the White House, your deeply held convictions are a complete crock of shit.” Naturally, this produced your basic turd in the punchbowl reaction. What they seem to want is a return to those golden days when they were children – when white men ran everything and were guaranteed good well paying jobs, and women, children, foreigners, niggers and spics (let’s just say foreigners) knew their place and by god kept to it.

  154. 154.

    Don Moors

    As a member of what Nixon called “the Negro persuasion” I don’t run into wingnuts in my own social group. Nobody who’d vote for a Republican unless he was running against Hitler. However, at 70 years of age I do find a lot of ass backwards social conservatism in my community.
    I attribute it to the dumbing down that a lifetime of religion brings but
    hey, what do I know? I’m just a rapidly aging jazz musician. A musical anachronism. But getting old beats getting dead. One way or another you’ll find that out.
    I’ll leave it to you all to sort out your own issues with your personal family & friend low information bigot types…

  155. 155.

    Tax Analyst

    @Paris:

    @gbear: I used to listen to that every day when I was a wee lad. Now you’ve got me watching David Lindley videos on YouTube – another Sunday evening wasted :(

    David Lindley! I was just listening to some of the stuff of the old 60’s group Kaleidescope that he used to be in. That was one great freakin’ group!

    I doubt that there are any videos of them, however.

  156. 156.

    Seeley

    @aimai:

    I can afford to be calm about this whole fracas because I’m not going to be 50 for another…uh…20 days.

    30 days for me. Got my first gray hairs a few months ago. Now I find out that in 30 days it’s all going to turn blue.

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