Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

Petty moves from a petty man.

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

This fight is for everything.

It’s a good piece. click on over. but then come back!!

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

Today in our ongoing national embarrassment…

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

I desperately hope that, yet again, i am wrong.

American history and black history cannot be separated.

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.”

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

When we show up, we win.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.

Jack be nimble, jack be quick, hurry up and indict this prick.

Dear media: perhaps we ought to let Donald Trump speak for himself!

No one could have predicted…

Text STOP to opt out of updates on war plans.

75% of people clapping liked the show!

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94Comments

  1. 1.

    PsiFighter37

    I think I’m drinking too much these days. Had 5 beers each of the past 3 days, and not for really any other reason than boredom. Time to find some new hobbies, methinks. Any tips for a Manhattanite?

  2. 2.

    Villago Delenda Est

    With any luck at all, the Libyans will invite world-renowned Middle East and Islam expert M-C to advise them, and we’ll never hear from her again.

  3. 3.

    hamletta

    Yeah. Would be nice to know it wasn’t “Meet the new boss, the same as the old boss.”

    I guess that’s what Juan Cole is for.

  6. 6.

    Lolis

    @PsiFighter37:

    Yoga. I do it so much it makes me not want to drink any alcohol. I’ve read that Kundalini Yoga is actually recommended as a way to combat addictions of all kinds. Not that I’m saying you are an addict. Yoga is good, clean fun. There are awesome deals for it, even in New York.

  10. 10.

    Violet

    @PsiFighter37:
    Weather is nice this time of year in NYC. How about running or cycling or some other outdoor exercise activity. Central Park offers a lot of opportunities for that kind of thing.

  11. 11.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Lolis: I am about the least physically flexible person on the face of the planet. Even the thought of yoga causes me pain.

  13. 13.

    Cat Lady

    @Violet:

    It looks like Gadhafi was thinking about putting rabbit ears behind Saleh’s head and stopped himself at the last second. Planning Lockerbie was so last decade.

    Good riddance, asshole.

  14. 14.

    suzanne

    I’m sure that Bellatrix Lestrange will come along soon to blah blah blah at us about “judeoxian democracy is incompatible with islam because of defense against proselytization!”. And I and everyone else will just respond with :::snoooore:::.

    In all seriousness, I have been wondering that myself. I would like to think that all the western democracies helping the rebels have found whomever is “in charge” and begun drafting some sort of Constitution-ish document and planning for the transition.

  15. 15.

    Samara Morgan

    Do we have any idea who will run Libya and how they plan to run it?

    the Muslim Brotherhood.
    just like Egypt.

  17. 17.

    suzanne

    Hah, I just looked over at the “Send in the Clowns” post, and I was correct, word for word. (Not that she’s unpredictable or anything.) Girl really needs a hobby. Or a vibrator.

    ETA: Shit. I say her name and she appears. Sorry, ya’ll.

  20. 20.

    Dennis SGMM

    Do we have any idea who will run Libya and how they plan to run it?

    I hear that Achmed Chalabi is available.

  22. 22.

    PaulW

    There may be calls for a constitutional monarchy, based on the Senussi dynasty which Qaddafi overthrew in the first place. There were a sizable number of rebel forces and supporters who carried pictures of King Idris and the current claimant, Mohammed El-Senussi.

    In terms of post-war stability, Libya has the advantages of a relatively small population but also decent income levels due to the vast oil fields stimulating their economy. The major disadvantages are that Libya has tribal factions which could lead to a post-Iraq situation of an unstable coalition government, and that same oil industry could well be exploited (Nigeria, anyone) to where income inequality can disrupt what could be a stable economy…

  24. 24.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Dennis SGMM: You know, maybe, just maybe, since they managed to form an interim government and it seems to be tossing Qadaffi out, this interim government thingy might be involved. And they might have been working on a draft constitution too.

  25. 25.

    gex

    @Mark S.: Manic people have time for anything and everything. I say this because the speech (type) pattern reminds me of myself when I’m in a manic phase.

    ETA: Although I never use the word “cudlips”.

  26. 26.

    Violet

    Do we have any idea who will run Libya and how they plan to run it?

    Tim Pawlenty’s looking for work.

  28. 28.

    hamletta

    @suzanne:

    I’m sure that Bellatrix Lestrange will come along soon….

    And that’s why the Good Lord and cleek gave us the pie filter.

    Seriously. Why bother? I feel a tiny bit guilty not having ammunition to defend Our Malaysian Friend, but he seems to be doing well on his own; with grace and patience at which I can only marvel.

  32. 32.

    LesGS

    @srv: It would be cool if we could find it and send it to the Libyan revolutionaries so they could hang it across the front of Qadaffi’s compound. It would *finally* not be a sickening visual anymore.

  33. 33.

    Suffern ACE

    @PsiFighter37: B&H photo and the School of the Visual Arts to get you started on projects. Or become a life model. At least that will get you out of the apartment.

  34. 34.

    Dennis SGMM

    @Omnes Omnibus:
    Well, hello again. That was a joke. Get it? No, you didn’t, did you?

    Until the interim government stops being interim, you can say whatever you want to and you’ll still be pissing in the wind.

    I deeply and sincerely hope that Libya emerges from this with a democratic government that does not embrace Sharia law and that recognizes the rights of women and non-Islamic minorities. That would be a great step. Time will tell.

  36. 36.

    Steve Crickmore

    The self annointed “king of the kings of Africa” allegedly had his daughter marry Idi Amin, the butcher of Uganda when Idi fled to Libya after being deposed in Uganda, because he wanted his adored Idi to be his son-in-law. Amin stated that Hitler “was right to burn six million Jews”. Sudanese president famously said “Gaddafi had a split personality, and that both parts were evil”.

    Who will run Libya now? That is bit like asking who will run Germany after Hitler and the Third Reich have gone.

  43. 43.

    Jared

    These are the best comments I’ve seen so far on reddit..

    On cynicism about Libya’s future

    I’ve been thinking a lot about this. I really think the cynicism is just a default stance of this generation, and it’s hard to blame them with all that’s happened in the past 10 years. It is difficult to watch though; nothing inspires optimism, it seems.
    The problem is that at some point we started equating cynicism with intelligence. As if a person couldn’t be just as wrong by being cynical as they could be by being optimistically naive.
    When somebody expresses a ridiculous viewpoint that’s optimistic, they get called an idiot in our society. When somebody expresses a ridiculous viewpoint that’s cynical, there’s pretty much no backlash.

    On Gaddafi

    If years of combat have taught me anything, this is going to be the most crucial part of the entire operation.
    Once they enter Gadhafi’s stronghold, a large steel door will close behind the rebels. At this point they’ll not be able to do much except stand there whilst Gadhafi gives a speech about his hopes and dreams being crushed. The floor will then fall away except for some large stone cubes, revealing a lake of lava.
    As soon as Gadhafi opens his mouth and a ball of fire starts to build, the rebels should be prepared to jump twice – one from the ground, and again from mid-air. If they can aim their landing at his large flashing hat, the impact would be fatal if performed three times. During this fight, the rebels will have to navigate the lava, watch out for hordes of incoming soldiers. These guys will be easily dispatched by watching for Gadhafi’s flight pattern, standing where he would land, and dodging away at the last minute. Gadhafi shouldn’t take flight until after the second attack to his head.
    After the rebels have dispatched Gadhafi – and his cybernetic demon form which will rise up from his corpse – Libya has the unenviable task of rebuilding their society. While there will be large gemstones and coins inside Gadhafi to help with this task, it is the will of the people that will be of most value.

    EDIT:blockquote fail

  45. 45.

    Dennis SGMM

    @Omnes Omnibus:
    No worries. IF we don’t yell at each other from time to time here on BJ it means that we all went to sleep.

    Each of us, in our own way, really cares about things or we wouldn’t be here. That leads to some fiery exchanges at times. That’s good; it means that we’re still alive and kicking.

  46. 46.

    themanintheguyfawkesmask

    Until the interim government stops being interim, you can say whatever you want to and you’ll still be pissing in the wind.

    In the long run, all governments are interim.

  48. 48.

    General Stuck

    Though Rep. Michele Bachmann says her experience as an IRS tax lawyer on “hundreds of civil and criminal cases” triggered her interest in tax simplification, a Minneapolis Star Tribune review finds “a more nuanced picture.”

    “It appears that Bachmann seldom entered a courtroom and fully litigated only two cases in four-plus years… Co-workers from the time describe her as pleasant and professional, but cannot recall one important case or criminal prosecution she handled.”

    Happy Birthday Elvis!

  50. 50.

    Sarah Proud and Tall

    @Samara Morgan:

    How are you, my little carbuncle? I’ve noticed that this iteration of your being is falling down on her capitalization and punctuation.

    Haven’t I told you that people won’t take you seriously if you sound like a ranty, uninformed e.e.cummings?

  51. 51.

    askew

    So, now that Qaddafi is about to fall, who’s next – Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia?

    OT – Why am I seeing jokes about Jane Hamsher and jail? What has she done now?

  58. 58.

    eemom

    meh. Y’all have moved threads and missed my cover of Jane Austen on toko-loko. And it was SO perfect. : (

  59. 59.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @suzanne:

    ETA: Shit. I say her name and she appears. Sorry, ya’ll.

    She’s like Kibo, only without the intelligence, wit, or any other redeeming quality.

  60. 60.

    burnspbesq

    I am pleased to announce that the door of BigLaw did not hit me on the ass as I passed through it for what will hopefully be the last time.

    I have office space effective September 1, and I have five engagement letters that have to go out tomorrow. Have to sign up for malpractice insurance tomorrow, figure out what I’m doing about COBRA, get business cards printed, and deal with a thousand other nit-picky things.

    Anyone have any experience with Lexis/Nexis Firm Manager or Office 365, MSFT’s new cloud thingie? I think that being my own IT person is going to be my least favorite part of this deal.

  61. 61.

    eemom

    @Samara Morgan:

    oh and fer fucksake, dumbass, SARAH IS NOT MORZER. MORZER IS NOT SARAH.

    Yes, I thought that too, at one time — but it was long ago debunked, reliably, by both parties, including Morzer, who split on this entire blog months ago — probably to no little measure due to the infestation of such blog by the likes of, well, you.

    He wuz a good man. I misses him. : (

  70. 70.

    eemom

    @burnspbesq:

    That’s wonderful burnsy!! Multiple congrats!!

    I can honestly say that — resigned as I am to the fact that I personally shall remain in thrall to Big Law for the rest of my godforsaken hour-billing days — my heart rejoices for your Emancipation.

    As for the IT thingie, I know nothing substantive, but I do know there are lots of very smart folks who do that sort of thing on an independent contractoring, part-time basis for smaller practices.

    Indeed, the reason I know this is that I was once employed by a semi-sole-practice firm (1 sole practitioner, 2 half-assed wannabes), whose IT services were performed by exactly such an independent contractor…..who was kind enough to have refrained from blackmailing me with a certain steamy, if admittedly ill-advised, personal e-mail correspondence I carried on whilst employed there. I do remember him fondly.

  71. 71.

    eemom

    @suzanne:

    you….you……don’t like Jane Austen….?

    [hyperventilation]

    [deep breath deep breath deep breath]

    [restoration of speaking capacity]

    but…..but…..why?

    [quiet whimpering]

  72. 72.

    Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason

    @Jared: I was still following along about midway through the “years of combat” discussion until I got to… lava? blocks of stones????

    Excellent.

  73. 73.

    gocart mozart

    Get Your Fresh Mangos at the Corner grocer!

    Qaddafi’s fall imminent
    August 21, 2011 8:21 P.M.
    By Andrew C. McCarthy
    The Libyan mujahideen (a/k/a the “rebels”) have reportedly entered Tripoli, captured at least one of Muammar Qaddafi’s sons, and are closing in on Qaddafi’s compound. It appears that those who wanted Qaddafi supplanted by an unknown that is known only to include virulently anti-American Islamists are about to get their wish. Here’s hoping that they are right and I am wrong about what happens next.

    and from the comments

    Kadafi’s fall will probably reveal again, the reality the USA should be leading with a far more aggressive, forceful, intense effort to end the numerous threats around the World. For example, Iran, Syria, etc., are going to have to be dealt with eventually. Regretfully Team Obama has foolishly enabled the mess. Their failure to act is evident in Egypt. One must be ahead of the movements – engaged intensely – with a ‘big stick’. The push for liberty grew in the Arab Region after the successful liberation of the Iraq, but Obama and Company were too partisan to employ this success for the best interest of the USA and the Free World – instead they simply tried to deny the positives and undercut our hard earned gain. The Cairo Speech for example, may just go down in history as the ultimate advertisement of appeasement failure. On par with Neville Chamberlain’s embarrassing memory in history.

    No, you’re right, Andy. It will be an anti-American, anti-israel islamic state. The kind of guys Obama likes.

  74. 74.

    Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason

    @darkmatter: How dare you call SP&T fictional! I met her when my grandmother had to go to Shady Pines herself. You have no idea how Violently Senile she can be.

  77. 77.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @gocart mozart:

    Cripes. The stupid, it burns!

    These people honestly think that the US needs to conquer the world. We’re going to ram “liberty” down your throats, if necessary, until, in the name of the Blessed Exchequer, you are all our willing debt peons.

    The last time a major power tried this, it got its ass kicked almost to the stone age.

  78. 78.

    AA+ Bonds

    Well, they kidnapped and killed Younis and arrested Hifter, right? The people who did that. They run Libya.

  79. 79.

    Sarah Proud and Tall

    @Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason:

    How dare you call SP&T fictional! I met her when my grandmother had to go to Shady Pines herself. You have no idea how Violently Senile she can be.

    Haven’t you heard dear? I have loosed my closet doors and come out as proudly fictional.

    I think I do remember you and your grandmother, though. Was she the sweet old thing who helped me put sugar in the gas tank of Michele’s campaign bus?

  85. 85.

    soonergrunt

    @burnspbesq: Holding together. Getting ready to go to bed because I have work in the morning. I love my job at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. My heart is doing well. About as well as we can be hoped.
    I really do have to go to bed, but I am loving watching the Libyan people grab their own future. I don’t know what will happen. Will Qaddafi escape into exile or will he be tried for his crimes or simply strung up? Will they create a democracy of some type or will a strong man rise? Will it completely degenerate into a civil war?
    I love watching history happen in real time!
    And again, congratulations on seizing your future!

  86. 86.

    Viva BrisVegas

    Do we have any idea who will run Libya and how they plan to run it? Just asking.

    Libyans. What NATO and the UN have given them is an opportunity, not a guarantee.

    Whether they will be crazy or sane Libyans is yet to be decided. Of course pretty much the same can be said of the U.S. in 2012.

    Sometimes I wish that Obama was just a bit more demonstrative. He should go out to one of those aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean, put on a codpiece and flight suit, and in front of a banner that says “Suck on This”, grab his crotch and moondance.

    After all the shit he took over Libya, he’s entitled.

  87. 87.

    Yutsano

    @Viva BrisVegas:

    He should go out to one of those aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean, put on a codpiece and flight suit, and in front of a banner that says “Suck on This”, grab his crotch and moondance.

    The Republicans would come back from vacation to start impeachment proceedings. I shit you not. It would give them so much Angry Black Man ammunition the dog whistles would be heard on Mars. But it might be worth it if it gave the fat fuck Rush his fatal heart attack.

  88. 88.

    Amir Khalid

    @Viva BrisVegas:

    He should go out to one of those aircraft carriers in the Mediterranean, put on a codpiece and flight suit, and in front of a banner that says “Suck on This”, grab his crotch and moondance.

    The guy who wouldn’t spike the football after he got Osama bin Laden? Grandstanding is not his style, as you know. And Obama was always careful not to make this America’s fight against Qaddafi, to let it remain the Libyans’ fight. So this one’s not his victory to celebrate either.

    ETA: Maybe the guy who plays him on Saturday Night Live could do it. That would be cool.

  89. 89.

    AxelFoley

    @Jared:

    If years of combat have taught me anything, this is going to be the most crucial part of the entire operation.
    Once they enter Gadhafi’s stronghold, a large steel door will close behind the rebels. At this point they’ll not be able to do much except stand there whilst Gadhafi gives a speech about his hopes and dreams being crushed. The floor will then fall away except for some large stone cubes, revealing a lake of lava.
    As soon as Gadhafi opens his mouth and a ball of fire starts to build, the rebels should be prepared to jump twice – one from the ground, and again from mid-air. If they can aim their landing at his large flashing hat, the impact would be fatal if performed three times. During this fight, the rebels will have to navigate the lava, watch out for hordes of incoming soldiers. These guys will be easily dispatched by watching for Gadhafi’s flight pattern, standing where he would land, and dodging away at the last minute. Gadhafi shouldn’t take flight until after the second attack to his head.
    After the rebels have dispatched Gadhafi – and his cybernetic demon form which will rise up from his corpse – Libya has the unenviable task of rebuilding their society. While there will be large gemstones and coins inside Gadhafi to help with this task, it is the will of the people that will be of most value.

    I think I did this whole sequence in Halo. Or was it Gears of War?

  90. 90.

    Cacti

    @Dennis SGMM:

    I hear that Achmed Chalabi is available.

    We already have a Libyan version on the CIA payroll.

    Meet Khalifa Hifter resident of Langley, VA for the past 20 years, and even his best friend wasn’t sure how he supported himself financially.

  91. 91.

    Kane

    I was scared for a moment when I heard that the rebels had taken “the square.” I thought that they had captured Romney.

  92. 92.

    A Humble Lurker

    @AxelFoley:

    If years of combat have taught me anything, this is going to be the most crucial part of the entire operation.
    Once they enter Gadhafi’s stronghold, a large steel door will close behind the rebels. At this point they’ll not be able to do much except stand there whilst Gadhafi gives a speech about his hopes and dreams being crushed. The floor will then fall away except for some large stone cubes, revealing a lake of lava.
    As soon as Gadhafi opens his mouth and a ball of fire starts to build, the rebels should be prepared to jump twice – one from the ground, and again from mid-air. If they can aim their landing at his large flashing hat, the impact would be fatal if performed three times. During this fight, the rebels will have to navigate the lava, watch out for hordes of incoming soldiers. These guys will be easily dispatched by watching for Gadhafi’s flight pattern, standing where he would land, and dodging away at the last minute. Gadhafi shouldn’t take flight until after the second attack to his head.
    After the rebels have dispatched Gadhafi – and his cybernetic demon form which will rise up from his corpse – Libya has the unenviable task of rebuilding their society. While there will be large gemstones and coins inside Gadhafi to help with this task, it is the will of the people that will be of most value.

    I think I did this whole sequence in Halo. Or was it Gears of War?

    I think it was Mario.

  94. 94.

    Swellsman

    I’m holding out for Maud’dib as the new Libyan leader. He’s the only one that inspires any confidence in me.

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