Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Cancel the cowardly Times and Post and set up an equivalent monthly donation to ProPublica.

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

“But what about the lurkers?”

You are either for trump or for democracy. Pick one.

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

“I was told there would be no fact checking.”

Let there be snark.

If America since Jan 2025 hasn’t broken your heart, you haven’t loved her enough.

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

You’re just a puppy masquerading as an old coot.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

Giving up is unforgivable.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

Michigan is a great lesson for Dems everywhere: when you have power…use it!

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

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

You come for women, you’re gonna get your ass kicked.

I am pretty sure these ‘journalists’ were not always such a bootlicking sycophants.

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

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

Trump’s cabinet: like a magic 8 ball that only gives wrong answers.

Prediction: the gop will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Cat Blogging / Open Thread: Clean & Articulate!

Open Thread: Clean & Articulate!

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From commentor Inkadu:

I swear this is not Merrinc’s cat. This is Chedda’ Bob, 6-month old rescue.

***********
On a totally unrelated topic, since I come from people who believe a good grudge is a resource to be cherished, it pleases me to know that Assistant House Minority Leader James Clyburn (D-S.C.)…

[Palin] is an attractive person, she is articulate, but i think intellectually she seems not to understand what is going on here.

… is never gonna let Joe Biden off the hook for a certain un-thought-out comment.

Reader Interactions

99Comments

  1. 1.

    Southern Beale

    Looks just like my Julius! Except about 15 pounds lighter.

    He has big bones.

    :-)

    In other news, Arizona Republicans are resigning, citing threats from AZ Tea Partiers. Apparently supporting John McCain over J.D. Hayworth has caused some backlash and even the Republicans are afraid of the creepy crawlies beneath the GOP rock.

  5. 5.

    aimai

    On Clyburn I think the poet said it best “A thing of beauty/is a joy forever.” His comment is so lovely that I think it should be recorded and played every Christmas.

    aimai

  8. 8.

    MoonBatista

    Chedda Bob is hawt!! And Clyburn is wonderful. I got the reference when I first read that, and giggled. Then I giggled again.

  10. 10.

    Comrade Javamanphil

    It nevertheless pleases me that Biden is our VP. Frankly, that is all I needed to know about Obama’s character. Can you imagine the Quitter picking a VP who criticized her in ANY manner?

  11. 11.

    WereBear

    I love Chedda’ Bob! And his name! And those eyes.

    @Southern Beale: even the Republicans are afraid of the creepy crawlies beneath the GOP rock

    And they are planning to run away and let others deal with it, I am sure.

  12. 12.

    merrinc

    OMG! I refreshed the page, saw this photo, and did a double take. Then I realized that pic isn’t among the several dozen my kidlet snapped of Tigger and that His Orangeness isn’t that um, svelte. He has big bones too. Covered by lots of um, flesh and lovely orange fur.

  13. 13.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    i think intellectually she seems not to understand what is going on here.

    I agree, in a limited sense – that is, limiting “here” to meaning “on Earth at any point in history.”

  17. 17.

    Violet

    What a cute kitty! Adorable.

    Clyburn is a gem. That comment was spot on and had the bonus of making me laugh. Good thing Biden has a sense of humor.

  18. 18.

    trixie larue

    Nice picture. Looks like a nice cat.

    I followed the link to Clyburn and got lost in the Washington Post where it was all about the loonie lefties. Wait, where am I? I don’t think this is balloon juice anymore…

  19. 19.

    Jade Jordan

    Biden’s done worse: voted Clarence Thomas out of the Judiciary Committee when he should have been Borked.

    Beautiful cat. My cat looks at the snow with disdain because it hides the critters.

  21. 21.

    AAA Bonds

    @Southern Beale:

    I can’t imagine that anyone even wants to visit Arizona anymore, at least without hazard pay.

    With this development, things are due to get a lot nastier there before they get better.

  22. 22.

    asiangrrlMN

    Chedda’ Bob is a hottie, too! But, yeah, the resemblance is amazing.

    James Clyburn, aw, snap!

    @Hogan: Because of what you said, I read his comment. So, thanks a lot (not) for that.

  23. 23.

    Amanda

    Having just slogged home through the huge snowdrifts here in Boston, I logged in and saw that chipper kitty all psyched to be out in the cold. What a cutie pie!

    And ditto to all the Clyburn praise upthread. He is old school and I’ve always liked that about him.

  24. 24.

    gene108

    THE SOUTH NEEDS SNOW PLOWS!!!!!!

    I grew up in North Carolina. I understand the “sit at home, until all the snow melts” attitude of the South very well.

    But right now, I need to deal with folks in Atlanta for business, and those folks are snowed in. I can’t get a damn thing done.

    It’s very frustrating.

    They need to realize their people do business all of the country and invest in snow plows. The rest of the country doesn’t take off for a week because they get 6″ of snow.

    Gaaaaarrrgh…it’s frustrating….

  25. 25.

    Comrade Javamanphil

    @gene108:

    They need to realize their people do business all of the country and invest in snow plows. The rest of the country doesn’t take off for a week because they get 6” of snow.

    Please. The free market will solve this problem way more efficiently than the government.

  26. 26.

    The Dangerman

    @sukabi:

    shorter, not PC Clyburn: Cute woman, stupid as a box of rocks.

    Sadly, Republican Men don’t get all “starbursty” over what they can do with a box of rocks.

  30. 30.

    Comrade Luke

    Jonah Goldberg, National Review:
    __
    I should have said this a few days ago, when my friend Glenn Reynolds introduced the term to this debate. But I think that the use of this particular term in this context isn’t ideal. Historically, the term is almost invariably used to describe anti-Semitic myths about how Jews use blood — usually from children — in their rituals. I agree entirely with Glenn’s, and now Palin’s, larger point. But I’m not sure either of them intended to redefine the phrase, or that they should have.

    “I disagree with their use of the term, but I think they used it by accident and agree completely with the argument”.

    What a complete fucking cop-out. I really hate that guy.

  31. 31.

    merrinc

    @gene108:

    Are you kidding me? I’m not in Atlanta – I’m further north in a much nicer city in NC where our county commission has been slashing the school budget right and left, laying off parks and rec staff, and closing libraries and you want us to buy snow plows? Fuck that.

    Al Gore just needs to shut up about global warming and God will stop making it snow.

  33. 33.

    Skepticat

    If John Boehner were to have a cat (not that a cat would have him, nor would I wish him on one), that would be the cat. They’d be well color-coordinated.

    That’s one gorgeous feline.

  34. 34.

    AAA Bonds

    @gene108:

    Need I point out – snow plows cost, and right now, no municipality has extra money sitting around to throw at problems like Southern snow that come up maybe once or twice a year, if that.

  35. 35.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    , but i think intellectually she seems not to understand what is going on here.

    In semi-related news, a boy noticed his Emperor was naked as a jaybird today, sending shockwaves through the assembled courtiers

    That is one fine looking cat, too.

  36. 36.

    ET

    That cat looks like trouble. A cat enjoying the snow as much as that one looks to be, has to be trouble.

  37. 37.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    And Palin is articulate like John Kerry is concise (See? I dinged both sides, can I be on TeeVee?)

  38. 38.

    SectarianSofa

    Hilarious Clyburn, nice cat. (New year’s word diet. I can say anything I want, but I’m trying to keep the portions small.)

  39. 39.

    Mark S.

    I wonder what Sarah’s going to do next? Maybe she’ll put out a video for MLK day where she puts her hair in cornrows, eats a watermelon, and talks about how she has a dream that this blood libel will stop.

  40. 40.

    Barb (formerly Gex)

    Does anyone know how to get a libertarian to answer you when you point out one flaw in their proposed solution to a problem? I asked EDK for clarification on one of his points in two different threads, several times. Today it was clear he was on after I reiterated my question. Still no response.

    Whatever. Fuck it.

  44. 44.

    Chyron HR

    Look, Sarah Palin is just some isolated nut. It’s completely unfair of you to suggest that she’s a member of the Tea Party or that has in any way been influenced by their rhetoric.

  45. 45.

    Barb (formerly Gex)

    I guess so long as interstate competition works in thought experiments, the real world example of South Dakota and the credit card industry I provide is irrelevant.

  46. 46.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    Just got back online and right now a show is on The History Channel about the Black Plague where they talk about the Jews that the Christians persecuted because they believed that the Jews had poisoned wells and so on, causing the plague. Yes, they talk about blood libel and give a bit of the history behind it. It’s like the stars lined up against her perfectly today. The description was complete with the reenactments of the public attacks, imprisonment, torturing, false confessions, murder and burning at the stake that they suffered at the hands of the Christians as a result of this persecution.

    Timing, Sarah Palin just doesn’t have it. What she did was disgusting but I am glad this shitstorm is raining down on her.

    This couldn’t happen to a more deserving person.

  48. 48.

    sukabi

    @stuckinred: well the snow will probably be a godsend then… they can dock the teacher’s pay for not working on the days the school is closed to help make up the budget gap.

    this is snark, and not meant to give ideas for budget fixes.

  50. 50.

    kelly

    He’s gorgeous and he knows it!

    Chedda Bob, not Clyburn (though his words ARE a thing of beauty).

  53. 53.

    stuckinred

    @sukabi: s.
    Gov. Nathan Deal on Wednesday vowed to end teacher furloughs and to eliminate 14,000 government jobs as he laid out his budget plans during his first State of the State address.

    State university programs would see their funding cut about $300 million over the next 18 months under Deal’s amended 2011 and 2012 budgets. Technical colleges would take a substantial hit as well. In an interview Wednesday afternoon, Deal told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that was intentional.

    Colleges, he said, are “going to take about a 6 percent reduction. I did not feel that they had the same priority as k-12.”

  55. 55.

    hilts

    Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX) complained today that the FBI is not releasing details on suspected Tucson shooter Jared Loughner’s politics, and suggested that it’s because his politics may turn out to be liberal: “it may be embarrassing to some of the current administration’s constituents, and, heaven help us, we wouldn’t want to embarrass any of the president’s constituents.”

    h/t tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/gohmert-fbi-mum-on-loughners-politics-to-avoid-embarassing-obama…

  57. 57.

    eemom

    hate to dirty up this nice clean & articulate kitty thread, but Alan Dershowitz joins the list of prominent Jewish persons who wanna cut lil Sarah some slack:

    The term “blood libel” has taken on a broad metaphorical meaning in public discourse. Although its historical origins were in theologically based false accusations against the Jews and the Jewish People,its current usage is far broader. I myself have used it to describe false accusations against the State of Israel by the Goldstone Report. There is nothing improper and certainly nothing anti-Semitic in Sarah Palin using the term to characterize what she reasonably believes are false accusations that her words or images may have caused a mentally disturbed individual to kill and maim. The fact that two of the victims are Jewish is utterly irrelevant to the propriety of using this widely used term.

    Fucking you, you fucking LAWYER.

    And fuck YOU, Ezra Klein, Jeffrey Goldberg, whatzisname at TNR, and anyone else who stuck up for this bitch today — if only because her obscene cult of self-victimhood really SHOULDN’T have been what ANYBODY was fucking rushing to get on the record over today.

    Fucking assholes, all of them.

  58. 58.

    danimal

    That’s some fine wordsmithing by Clyburn. I laughed immediately. There’s at least one skilled surgeon in Congress.

    Palin’s biggest problem is that every time this topic is posted, it goes up with a link to the videotaped interview of Giffords stating that “words have consequences.”

    “Words have consequences” indeed. She’s put herself in a position where she’s arguing with a congresswoman who’s just been shot in the head. Palin’d be better off to shut up, but we all know how likely that is.

  59. 59.

    Just Some Fuckhead

    @Barb (formerly Gex):

    Does anyone know how to get a libertarian to answer you when you point out one flaw in their proposed solution to a problem?

    Be polite, quiet and firm.

    EDIT: Nevermind, I thought you said librarian.

  60. 60.

    lamh32

    Ya know what, I’m getting really sick and tired of these “people acquainted” with the Arizona killer all over the news, just saying shit, that there is no way of even fuckin’ verifying, and the MSM just reporting it as if what they are saying is the frickin’ gospel truth.

    this is why so much mis-information is out there. Bryan Williams, Wolf Blitzer, Katie Couric and whoever else, should not be just letting this people come on tv, and not at least saying that NONE of what they have been saying about the killer can really be substantiated! It’s irresponsible.

    Some dude on with Bryan Williams, with his faux-hawk talking about how he didn’t want to go on a camping trip with the killer when they were in HS or something…huh.. WTF! Who cares?

    First of all, comb your damn hair dude, this ain’t some MTV “I wanna be a VJ” interview, your on nat’l TV, and you aint’ some teenager. Second, what evidence has he given that even begins to prove that he’s speaking even a remote truth?

    None that’s what, and it’s just really aggravating a just so damn irresponsible, IMHO!

  62. 62.

    Josie

    The kitty, the photo and the photographer are exceptional. James Clyburn is not too bad either. He knows how to turn a phrase, doesn’t he?

  64. 64.

    lamh32

    @stuckinred:

    I’m no one. I just have such a hatred for the faux-hawk hairstyle. It’s for people who don’t have the courage to go full mo-hawk!!

    It’s a personal pet peeve, I hate grown men with faux-hawks and black eyeliners.

    Sue me.

  66. 66.

    suzanne

    I’m watching on TV as McKale Center (UA basketball stadium) fills up with people waiting to see President Obama speak.

    Last time I was there, I got my BFA.

    This is depressing.

  68. 68.

    Brachiator

    Brand new year. Same old problems.

    WTF? How did this happen? From the New York Times Hezbollah Forces Collapse of Lebanese Government

    Hezbollah and its allies forced the collapse of the government here on Wednesday, deepening a crisis over a United Nations backed tribunal investigating the assassination of a former prime minister.
    __
    Eleven of the cabinet’s 30 ministers announced their resignations, a move that dissolves the government. They said they were prompted to act by the cabinet’s refusal to convene an emergency session to oppose the tribunal, which is expected to indict members of Hezbollah.
    __
    Ten of the ministers announced their resignations just as Prime Minister Saad Hariri was meeting with President Obama in Washington. The opposition had hoped that all 11 ministers would resign together, to bring down the government at that time and expose Mr. Hariri to the maximum embarrassment.
    __
    The collapse of the fragile government is the worst crisis in Lebanon since 2008, when an agreement reached in Qatar achieved a truce to end sectarian clashes that killed 81 people and brought Lebanon to the brink of a renewal of its 15 year civil war, which ended in 1990.

    And in Australia, the terrible floods continue.

    Worsening what has become one of Australia’s most devastating natural disasters, more than 20,000 homes and businesses were inundated in the country’s northeast on Wednesday as raging floodwaters converged on Brisbane, Australia’s third-largest city, and the surrounding townships.
    __
    Officials said the vast flood zone could remain under water for days.
    __
    Eastern-moving flash floods that killed 12 people in the last week slammed into Brisbane, a city of two million people, and other densely populated coastal areas of the state of Queensland on Wednesday.
    __
    Around 25,000 homes and businesses were totally or partially submerged when two major river systems burst their banks, sending a slow-moving brown tide through dozens of neighborhoods. The torrent closed highways and bridges, cutting the city in two, and ripped yachts and sections of docks from their moorings.
    __
    In Ipswich, a city of 150,000 people about 20 miles west of Brisbane, officials estimated that 3,000 homes and businesses were flooded when the Bremer River overflowed. Aerial images showed murky water lapping at the awnings of businesses along the main street. Colorful rooftops and the tips of palm trees dotted the water like lily pads.

    Fortunately, most people, and presumably their pets as well, have managed to scramble to safety.

  69. 69.

    Villago Delenda Est

    suggested that it’s because his politics may turn out to be liberal: “it may be embarrassing to some of the current administration’s constituents, and, heaven help us, we wouldn’t want to embarrass any of the president’s constituents.”

    Or, and I realize this is a vanishingly small possibility after the eight years of Rethuglican rule in the last decade, they might be just professional and not disclosing information that could endanger leads in an ongoing investigation.

    But of course, such thoughts are a form of blood libel on the saintly rancid cumstain that is Louie Gohmert.

  71. 71.

    JAHILL10

    I really like the Clyburn remark. Snap! and the fact that many are now pointing out that Caribou Barbie used a teleprompter to issue her completely inappropriate remarks today. Though I do suppose it is a couple of steps up from scrawling “blood libel” on your hand!

    EDIT: And that kitty pic is GORGEOUS!

  75. 75.

    WaterGirl

    Jeffreyw, with all the talk of palin and telprompters and writing things on her hand, I think it’s time for you to link to my favorite photo (I think you’ll know what that is).

  76. 76.

    The Grand Panjandrum

    Via Sully here is some pretty good Scalzi:

    Sarah Palin has a perfect right, both legally and morally, to protest those who are trying to directly tie her, her rhetoric, or the rhetoric of her political allies, to Loughner.

    Doing so by asserting that her and her pals getting pinked for their political messaging is just like the entire nation of the Jews enduring centuries of pogroms and persecution because of the enduring lie that they murdered babies for their religious ceremonies?

    …

    Again: Palin perfectly correct to complain about those trying to blame her for Loughner’s actions. But of all the stupid, appalling, jackassed things Sarah Palin has ever said in the history of the time she’s inflicted herself on the consciousness of our great nation, this is, alas, merely the most recent.

  78. 78.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Mike Kay:

    At the risk of providing some equivalency for the rantings of various Rethuglican personalities, Dershowitz has been dead to me ever since he mistook 24 for reality.

  80. 80.

    Gustopher

    Aww, what a good looking cat.

    Also, too, Palin sure is articulate when she’s using a teleprompter.

  83. 83.

    Phyllis

    Btw, Clyburn? My Congressman!

    One daughter of his is a middle school teacher in a nearby district. She’s pretty damn cool too.

  84. 84.

    jinxtigr

    How’s this for being tied to Laughner?

    Glenn Beck and Laughner look fucking identical

    I’d like to see THAT picture all over the place. Laughner’s was bad enough, but now I like it because it’s just mind-shattering to see how he and Beck have the same face, the same expression, the same agenda apparently, to the point that you can combine their faces and it looks like THE SAME GUY.

    Thanks to Driftglass for originally doing this, once you see it you can’t unsee it.

  85. 85.

    Triassic Sands

    Chedda’ Bob, you’re so damn…orange.

    I assume Chedda’ Bob cleared the snow himself. Nothing like a cat willing to work for his/her keep. Good work, C-Bob.

  86. 86.

    Elie

    I sadly feel no gloating towards Sarah or any of the other morans we hear from on the right — including apologists like Dershowitz..

    I am just so ashamed. So mortified that what this country has stood for — open access to your leadership, to the system, has been so modified by psychological and social perversion… that the bullies, the social Darwinists have defined us — and we let them

    Not only do I grieve the Congresswoman’s and other’s injuries and the death of a child for this sad sad situation, but the unbelievable tragedy of a young, mentally ill person who gave warning, but was not appreciated enough by his parents, or school, or friends to be helped.. This is happening TODAY, I assure you, for someone else’s kid.

    Who would have thought, looking at your newborn son, that someday, he would do this? No one.

    We need to have this be a fulcrum for change in not only our discourse on the mega political landscape, but in the small landscape where most of us live.

    If you see a kid, know a kid who is struggling — risk a little bit, and reach out to parents or to the kid. Try to make something good happen for him or her. You will probably not be thanked, you will not see a big payoff for what may have been avoided. But your caring is the soul of what we need way more of in this country. We have to build that up again…

  91. 91.

    inkadu

    Thanks for all your kind comments about Chedda’ Shredda. It was his first snow. After some sniffing and paw shaking he went back inside.

    Credit goes to my awesome and talented girlfriend for the image — she’s a professional photographer.

  94. 94.

    Jebediah

    I would also like to get on the anti-fauxhawk bandwagon. If you are older than nine, it’s just as sure a sign of doucheness as an Ed Hardy t-shirt.

  96. 96.

    Triassic Sands

    [Palin] is an attractive person, she is articulate, but i think intellectually she seems not to understand what is going on here.

    Palin is an attractive woman; as a person, i.e., a human being, she’s pretty damn ugly.

    Articulate? Palin is a lot of things, but articulate certainly isn’t one of them. What on Earth inspired Clyburn to say that?

    “…she seems not to understand what is going on here.” Duh. If asked which word better described Palin, “articulate” or “clueless,” does anyone think a random sampling of any group other than ardent Palin devotees would ever respond “articulate?” I still can’t believe Clyburn came up with that word to describe her.

    Wouldn’t it have been more accurate, if less polite, to say:

    Sarah Palin has a mean streak a mile wide and a weakness for whining incessantly about what a victim she is, but more than anything here Palin once again displays her profound cluelessness for all to see.

    Palin makes the vacuum of space seem crowded by comparison.

  97. 97.

    Triassic Sands

    @Elie:

    Chedda Bob is the best kitty pic I have seen this year…

    I returned to this thread to voice that same sentiment. However, since “this year” is only 12 days old, I’d express my opinion of this photo a little differently; a bit more expansively — this is the best pet pic I can remember seeing on BJ. If this were an audition photo for an adoption, it’s hard to believe Chedda Bob wouldn’t get snapped up in a matter of seconds.

  98. 98.

    Comrade Mary

    I was about to say the same thing. As much as I love Tunch and all the kittehs, that is an amazing cat picture. Kudos to the girlfriend! (And the snow, and Chedda Bob Himself.)

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