Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

“woke” is the new caravan.

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

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

You can’t love your country only when you win.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

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

I was promised a recession.

Our job is not to persuade republicans but to defeat them.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

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

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

When do the post office & the dmv weigh in on the wuhan virus?

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

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

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

This blog will pay for itself.

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

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

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Open Thread

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Despite the fact that it is rainy and crappy and the temperature is plummeting, I’ve been in such a good mood and felt so good today that I am beginning to wonder if maybe I am bipolar, just my poles are unevenly distributed with one up day and 364 down days. I’m not used to this whole “smiling” thing but I think I have caught myself doing it once or twice today.

Reader Interactions

71Comments

  4. 4.

    Mike Kay (Ding-Dong-Broder's Dead)

    WINNINNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNG!!!!

    how does the Tiger blood taste?

  6. 6.

    Mike Kay (Ding-Dong-Broder's Dead)

    Must be Broder’s death.

    I know I still can’t stop smiling.

  7. 7.

    SiubhanDuinne

    John,

    You’d feel ever so much better if you would just put up a few pictures of Tunch and Lily and Rosie.

    Also too, it has been a very long time since you’ve mentioned (let alone posted photos of) Ginny and Guesley. Are they doing okay? Still crazy energetic, or are they beginning to mellow out now that they’re no longer puppies? Plus also, your brother’s dogs? You are not reporting in the way you used to, and some of us worry.

  8. 8.

    BGinCHI

    One way to continue your good mood, John, would be to steal a beer truck and drive it to Madison for the weekend.

    Can you pick me up on your way through?

    I’ll ride in the back.

  10. 10.

    General Stuck

    SAD is real, and before I left that chilly winter swamp back east, I was either sleeping every spare moment, or awake and eyeing the steak knives. It was literally like night and day for me when spring arrived. I tried the sunlamp route, and it helped a little, but have not been bothered at all since moving to a southern latitude. The days are just as short in winter, but the sunshine is much more frequent and of higher quality. I don’t know if that is it, or something else, but I will never move back east or north.

  12. 12.

    schrodinger's cat

    Meanwhile DougJ and John’s favorite blogger is concern trolling about the deficit again. Not a word about what is happening in Wisconsin and elbenty posts about beards. Now I wonder what did I ever see in Andrew Sullivan’s blog. It used to be one of my favorites.

  14. 14.

    kindness

    Oh Noes!!!! It’s the pod-person John.

    What have you done with our gruff and surly John?

  15. 15.

    Nick

    For the record. You want to know why Peter King is doing this stupid hearing and Congress blocked Gitmo’s closure. this is why;

    Not only are Muslims being viewed with a skeptical eye in Congress, but adults nationwide appear to be wary of fellow Americans who are Muslim, according to a new Gallup poll.
    The results offer a surprising view of just how suspicious Americans are of not only Islam in general, but of Muslims living within the United States. The poll was released the same day that House hearings on the radicalization of American Muslims, led by Rep. Peter King (R-NY) got off to a highly emotional start.
    Gallup posed a number of questions about Muslims living in America, including one which asked respondents if American Muslims were “supportive of the United States.” A narrow 53% majority agreed that American Muslims overall supported the nation, while 32% said that was not the case.
    While Republicans were the least likely political demographic to say Americans Muslims supported America (43%), Democrats and Independents were hardly overwhelming in voicing the opposite. Just 59% of Democrats and 56% of Independents said they think American Muslims support the U.S.
    The poll also found that a 52% majority of all Americans think Rep. King’s hearings on Muslim radicalization in American are appropriate, compared to 38% who said they were inappropriate. Respondents split largely along party lines in response to that question, with just 40% of Democrats saying the hearing were appropriate, but 69% of Republicans saying the same.

  16. 16.

    beltane

    I’m glad it’s raining here because that means it’s not snowing. At this rate the snow will be here until late April.

    This afternoon I made the mistake of turning on NPR only to hear the headline: “How extreme is the US Muslim community? Rep. Peter King is trying to find the answer.” David Broder is no more but the stupidity will linger on eternally.

  17. 17.

    daverave

    The Smiling is probably due to the fact that this week surely… surely, we have finally witnessed Peak Wingnut.

    It’s all ponies, rainbows and unicorns from here on!

  18. 18.

    beltane

    @Nick: Conversely, the American public feels this way because of a decade’s worth of intense propaganda efforts. Whipping up hatred of minorities, any minority, is the easiest thing in the world to do.

  21. 21.

    singfoom

    John,

    I’ll say this every time you’re sad.

    Wolf Blitzer is considered a journalist.
    Wolf Blitzer is considered a journalist.
    Wolf Blitzer is considered a journalist.

    Now, if that doesn’t get you laughing (dark satirical laughter), then you’re dead. Sorry about that.

  22. 22.

    PaulW

    Remind yourselves. Remind your friends. Remind your family.

    Republicans Lie.

    Republicans Hate.

    Don’t Vote Republican.

  23. 23.

    jl

    I did suggest once that Balloon Juice was the bipolar lush of the miserable lefty blogosphere.

    So, since it turns out I may have made the right diagnosis, all I have to say is, have you eaten your peas now, Cole? You must eat nothing but peas, cruciferae, remember. We can start on the mutton next week. A revolution’s taking place in science!

  24. 24.

    Nick

    @beltane:

    the American public feels this way because of a decade’s worth of intense propaganda efforts.

    You mean the right wing media festers a right wing popular opinion?

    whoocoodanode

  25. 25.

    General Stuck

    @Omnes Omnibus:

    I might now have a little of that myself, but it likely comes from not having air conditioning when it’s 110 inside and 100 outside. I can keep cool enough, but barely, with fans.

    And then actually look forward to cooler temps and the paradise fall is here, instead of dreading winters back east. Winter can visit here, and very much did this year, but is acceptable and short, and now spring has arrived with 60 to 70 degree temps, until June when the devil turns up the furnace for a few months, but it also rains most days during that time. no complaints though, other than the usual bitching about something.

  27. 27.

    cat48

    Looks like President McCain found a way to run the country from the Senate and make all major decisions on detainees:

    Six senators, led by Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC), are pushing for sweeping changes to the nation’s laws governing detainees and the war on terror, including one that would strip Attorney General Eric Holder and the Justice Department as a whole of the power to make decisions about where to try suspected terrorists.
    The group of senators, which includes Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Scott Brown (R-MA), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Joe Lieberman (I-CT), are working with Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee on a bill that would usher in comprehensive detainee policy changes and would, among other things, affirm the military’s right to detain, hold and interrogate detains at its discretion without the involvement of the Department of Justice or Holder.

  28. 28.

    beltane

    @PaulW: Republicans will make you poor. There are a lot of people who don’t care about lying and hating who might object to being bankers’ serfs.

  30. 30.

    beltane

    @cat48: Can we get the military to detain a few of our wingnut legislatures and governors? If they spend the remainder of their natural lives roasting under the Cuban sun it wouldn’t bring any tears to my eyes.

  31. 31.

    Nick

    @beltane:

    There are a lot of people who don’t care about lying and hating who might object to being bankers’ serfs.

    not if it means they have to be nice to Muslims, gays, immigrants and black people

  33. 33.

    Chuck Butcher

    Well John, I’m sure there is something out there that would reliably put a smile on your face. For me it is the Harley, though it isn’t a lot of use when it is snowing or raining, and it is raining today. I’m really not suggesting a bike to someone who injures themselves naked mopping the bathroom, but there are things. (hunting and fishing might also be contra-indicated and crocheting does involve big needles)

  34. 34.

    beltane

    @Nick: Well, those people can just take their tribal hatred and feed their kids with it. It’s a surefire way of ensuring their tribe goes extinct.

  35. 35.

    jl

    @YellowJournalism: OK, thanks. I guess that explains it. Lily took over for a day, and Cole done got cut some slack.

    Which reminds me that if Cole posted come Cole household pet pix, he would get a fantastic show of thanks, devotion and twoo wuv from his faithful minions in the comments.

    Which would give Cole fuel for two days in a row of Happy.

    Before the Hammer of Tunch takes the helm again.

  36. 36.

    Suffern ACE

    @cat48: Lovely. Well at least they’re not trying to strip anyone of their citizenship on the accusation of terrorism this time…it’s like they’ve given this at least a few minutes of thought this time.

  39. 39.

    Suffern ACE

    @Nick: Well, no duh. They can win in many places on the “liberal wimps would let you be robbed if it weren’t for us real men who shoot straight” stance for a few hundred more years if they want to.

  40. 40.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    @beltane: Oh yes – and while the propaganda has been especially strong as you say over the last decade, it’s been going on for a long time. Quite apart from the Crusades and all, I recently found some 1970s Mad magazines in my basement, from when the OPEC oil embargo was going on, and the anti-Arab stuff in them was pretty shocking. It wasn’t aimed only at religious issues, but damn.

  41. 41.

    Platonicspoof

    I’m not used to this whole “smiling” thing but I think I have caught myself doing it once or twice today.

    Just be patient.

    Let your tomato plants mature, and I expect you’ll be grinning more and more.

  42. 42.

    beltane

    @Martin: Looked upon unfavorably by whom? Every authoritarian on the planet (probably 27% of the population) gets a woody at the thought of kneeling at the feet of a generalissimo.

  45. 45.

    Suffern ACE

    @Kryptik: Besides tourism (which is really golf-course development), real estate and oranges, what exactly is the economy of Florida?

  47. 47.

    jl

    @cat48:

    Will they form a Committee of Public Safety in the Convention to directly oversee the military’s administration?

    I sure hope so.

  48. 48.

    jl

    @Kryptik:

    An excerpt from your link:

    ” Florida already is choking on golf courses (more than any other state). Or that some of those courses, including some in Central Florida, are in financial trouble. Or that the sport’s popularity has been on the decline.

    These bills would exert even more financial pressure on Florida’s existing golf courses by letting the government pick development winners and letting them build on some of the choicest locations in the state.

    Speaking of picking winners, the House and Senate bills specifically mandate that all of the courses be designed by golfing legend Jack Nicklaus. What a sweet deal for Mr. Nicklaus, a South Florida resident who met in January with Gov. Rick Scott. Mr. Scott said he wanted Mr. Nicklaus to “give me his ideas on economic development in the state.”

    We now have a better picture of what those ideas included, like handing the Golden Bear a no-bid, exclusive opportunity for his company to design golf courses on public property. ”

    Bottom line is payola for favored interests and a corrupt crony capitalist state government.

    I am sure there are others in the slush fund line heading for the feeding trough than the Golden Bear. Probably he is only the most famous, so only one who gets a mention.

    Edit: My emphasis in the excerpts.

  49. 49.

    Mike Kay (Ding-Dong-Broder's Dead)

    This is great.

    Bradley Manning’s father gave an interview to the PBS Newshour today, saying he has visited his son 9 times in Quantico and that his son is being treated well.

    Ooops. Looks like you know who forgot to coach him.

    He also believes his son is innocent of the underlying charges.

  50. 50.

    Tim

    John, I have often wondered, just based on the quality and tone of your posting, if what you describe might not be the case for you.

    Why not see a shrink and/or therapist and see what might be done to help?

  52. 52.

    Nick

    @Mike Kay (Ding-Dong-Broder’s Dead):

    Bradley Manning’s father gave an interview to the PBS Newshour today, saying he has visited his son 9 times in Quantico and that his son is being treated well.

    LMFAO.

    I’m not following the Bradley Manning drama, where did the rumors about his treatment come from anyway?

  53. 53.

    Mike Kay (Ding-Dong-Broder's Dead)

    @Nick: from “you know who”

    I would say their names, but Cole will get mad a me for hippie punching.

  57. 57.

    Mike Kay (Ding-Dong-Broder's Dead)

    @Nick: Frankly, I hesitate to imagine how Frankie and Johnnie dream up their conspiracy theories.

  58. 58.

    patrick II

    No matter how bad it gets, when my mom asks how things are going, I always say ok. I don’t know if that is unusual, but I for one don’t like to worry my only living parent who often takes their children’s hardships harder than their own.

    Manning’s lawyer has cited specific instances of abuse, in addition to bloggers who have visited him. FDL has also cited instances of abuse, Greenwald has also talked about it.

    I would not be so quick to disregard abuse. Just the fact that his is being held in solitary confinement and let out of his cell for less than an hour a day, plus instances of taking his clothes away or awaking him while he is trying to sleep.

    We are getting just a little to flippant about the treatment of someone who has not been found guilty of a thing.

  61. 61.

    Nick

    @patrick II:

    No matter how bad it gets, when my mom asks how things are going, I always say ok. I don’t know if that is unusual, but I for one don’t like to worry my only living parent who often takes their children’s hardships harder than their own. Manning’s lawyer has cited specific instances of abuse, in addition to bloggers who have visited him. FDL has also cited instances of abuse, Greenwald has also talked about it.I would not be so quick to disregard abuse. Just the fact that his is being held in solitary confinement and let out of his cell for less than an hour a day, plus instances of taking his clothes away or awaking him while he is trying to sleep.

    Gee, I guess its not only the teabaggers who make up their own sets of facts.

    Ok, let’s recap

    No matter how bad it gets, when my mom asks how things are going, I always say ok. I don’t know if that is unusual, but I for one don’t like to worry my only living parent who often takes their children’s hardships harder than their own.

    Manning’s father VISITED him IN PRISON NINE times. You’d think if they were doing to him what they said they were, he’d know about it. If you told your mom you were ok, but you were actually homeless and she went to visit you, don’t you think she’d find your homeless.

    Manning’s lawyer has cited specific instances of abuse, in addition to bloggers who have visited him. FDL has also cited instances of abuse, Greenwald has also talked about it.

    Manning’s lawyers, bloggers, FDL and Greenwald all have a vested interest in convincing the public that Manning is being abused. His father does not. That makes his father credible. Now if you tell me his father is secretly working for the State Department or Fox News or something, then things change.

    I would not be so quick to disregard abuse. Just the fact that his is being held in solitary confinement and let out of his cell for less than an hour a day, plus instances of taking his clothes away or awaking him while he is trying to sleep.

    “the fact”- we don’t know this is a fact. You’re declaring that he is being abused and believing it based on information gathered from people who have a vested interest in you believing it.

    We are getting just a little to flippant about the treatment of someone who has not been found guilty of a thing

    .

    No, we just want to know if its true.

  63. 63.

    Suffern ACE

    @jl: When the economic development of putting 50 of the courses designed by the same guy in one state doesn’t pan out, what then? I suppose you blame the groundskeepers.

    That is a huge contract to give away.

  64. 64.

    4jkb4ia

    As far as the taking clothes away part, Charlie Savage reported that, and got the military to confirm it.

    /Sigh
    /My dad wants to know why I wasn’t guarding Kemba Walker

  66. 66.

    jl

    @4jkb4ia: uh…, thanks I guess. What a bag o’ fail.

    The performance so far is exceeding my expectations for a total mess.

    And, driving to work today, the though did occur to me that these hearing probably will increase the chances of me or some one I know getting blown up by some tiny amount, either by a jihadi or a right wing nutcase. Probably impact on Muslim Americans (a few of which I know well) greater.

    From now on I will refer to the jackass who is running the hearing at ‘terrorist IRA supporting hypocrite’ Peter King.

  67. 67.

    Tsulagi

    Despite the fact that it is rainy and crappy and the temperature is plummeting

    I`m about 3000m up in the Andes and it´s lightly raining too. Temp isn´t too bad, about 21C; it´s summer time in South America. And my mood is better too as these kind of trips where you can´t fail to see how good you got it help to recalibrate your perspective meter.

  70. 70.

    Kathryn

    @Nick: It would seem the “main fact” is that Manning is in solitary confinement (with all that entails) and is that not a form of abuse? If you go with “whistleblower” then yes, that’s abusive. If you go with “aiding the enemy” then probably not.

    And if I was his parent I would be wary of saying anything negative about how he was being held if it seemed minimally tolerable because it could be a lot worse, or made to be worse if I bitched about it.

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