Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

Trump should be leading, not lying.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

Peak wingnut was a lie.

The real work of an opposition party is to hold the people in power accountable.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

A norm that restrains only one side really is not a norm – it is a trap.

“Perhaps I should have considered other options.” (head-desk)

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

These are not very smart people, and things got out of hand.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

The willow is too close to the house.

T R E 4 5 O N

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Do we throw up our hands or do we roll up our sleeves? (hint, door #2)

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

Republicans: The threats are dire, but my tickets are non-refundable!

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

Let the trolls come, and then ignore them. that’s the worst thing you can do to a troll.

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

No one could have predicted…

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / James Hoffa’s Speech at the Labor Day Rally in Detroit

James Hoffa’s Speech at the Labor Day Rally in Detroit

by | 110 Comments

This post is in: 

As AA+ Bonds pointed out “it’s a great speech for the Democrats to learn how to talk to people”:

“Are there any Teamsters in the house? This is Motown, but today, this is union town. We are union, we are workers. That is the message that we send today, and that is the message that we send to America.

There is a war on workers. You see it everywhere: It is in the unemployment, it is in the Tea Party, it is in the people that fight what we believe in. And we see the war in Wisconsin where they try to take collective bargaining from our public employees. We took two senate seats back, we are taking Wisconsin back.

That’s number one. Number two, in Ohio, we are fighting a battle there with regard to taking away collective bargaining. We will beat SB5. We’ve got a million signatures. We are going to win in Ohio — that is our number two. And in Michigan, they are thinking about right to work. It ain’t going to happen in Michigan. No way.

We have to keep an eye on the battle we face — a war on workers. And you see it everywhere there is the Tea Party. And you know there is only one way to beat and win that war.

The one thing about working people is we like a good fight. And you know what, they’ve got a war, they’ve got a war with us and there is only going to be one winner. It is going to be the workers of Michigan and America – we are going to win that war. All the way.

But it starts with your involvement, it starts with next November. We’ve got a bunch of people there that don’t’ want the president to succeed, and they are called the Tea Party – the people who don’t want him to do anything right and he is working hard for us.

President Obama is frustrated by what’s going on. Well, guess what, we’ve got the vote. And the answer to what we say is, we remember in November. We will beat the Tea Party and give this country back to workers and America. We can do it together.”

We’ve also got to talk about jobs. I get so tired about people who …(inaudible) these big corporations that send our jobs to Mexico, they send our jobs to China, and they’ve got the audacity to say ‘where are the jobs?’

Well I’ve got news for you. It’s time to bring those jobs back to America and bring America back to work. That’s what we’ve got to do.

We are going to hear from President Obama in a few minutes, and I am so glad that he has come to Michigan because this is where he sees the real America. He looks out on this army of people and you know what I say? President Obama, this is your army. We are ready to march. President Obama, we want one thing: Jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs…(The crowd joins the chant.)

That’s what we are going to tell America…..When he sees what we are doing here, he will be inspired, but he needs help. And you know what? Everybody here has got a vote. If we go back, we keep the eye on the prize, lets take these sons-of-bitches out and give America back to America where we belong.”

Open Thread.

Reader Interactions

110Comments

  1. 1.

    General Stuck

    President Obama is frustrated by what’s going on. Well, guess what, we’ve got the vote. And the answer to what we say is, we remember in November. We will beat the Tea Party and give this country back to workers and America. We can do it together.”

    A fucking Men

  5. 5.

    Elie

    Say it brother!

    If we go back, we keep the eye on the prize, lets take these sons-of-bitches out and give America back to America where we belong.”

    Kick ass speech that should be delivered over and over in one form or another.

  6. 6.

    Jay B.

    That or we could complain that a tea party moron used Obama’s name in a dumb way.

    Hoffa’s completely right. His biggest problem, and ours, is that we are an army whose brass has trimmed and hedged on the very thing we want to fight for to such an egregious extent, some of us don’t quite believe they are on our side. That, or they’re the most incompetent Generals since the ones who suit up against the Globetrotters 4 times a week.

  8. 8.

    arguingwithsignposts

    The one thing about working people is we like a good fight.

    See, I don’t really agree with this. Working people (generalizing from personal experience) just want to be able to live their lives, earn a decent wage, and have some time off, maybe be able to retire, pay for their kids’ schooling, maybe buy a house and enjoy their grandchildren, maybe not go bankrupt because of an unexpected medical expense.

    The fact that you have to fight for those things, well, I don’t know that anybody enjoys that.

  10. 10.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    Con went to the Rainbow Bridge this morning. His hip was shattered, and the Vet said that although they could possibly pin it back together again (with a great deal of pain for him in the healing process) as a 14 year old cat he simply did not think it was fair to him. “Sometimes you just have to let go” he said to me. I don’t know how long I stood there in the dark room looking at the x-rays. All of the possibilities going through my mind. “What about amputation?” I asked. “He is an outdoor cat, with three legs he will be at a major disadvantage it would not be fair”. The hardest thing I have ever done was signing the consent form and then saying goodbye to him. I told him I would see him at the Rainbow Bridge and told him I loved him. The only thing that comforts me at this time is that I actually got a chance to say goodbye there are alot of times when you don’t get that chance. I just can’t stand the thought of the morning, when he will not be there to greet me when I open the front door. I know I did the right thing but I cannot stop crying at having made that decision I can’t help thinking that I killed him. Can’t cope.

  12. 12.

    trollhattan

    Tea Party is a wholly manufactured “movement” that warrants being called on the carpet at every opportunity. The more whinging from them, the better because you know they can stand negative attention about as much as Palin(tm). Moar, plz.

  13. 13.

    Loviatar

    you know its getting to be bad when James Fallows is starting to open the can of whoop ass.
    .

    I Wonder If President Obama Really Believes This
    .

    It is admirable, even touching, that the President of all the people states his faith that “both parties can work together to solve our problems.” But can he actually “still believe” this? Based on what vote? By what Republican? On what bill? At what point during Obama’s time in office? It is hard to imagine that he has not noticed the real-world evidence. So if he has observed reality and knows that no matter what he proposes the GOP simply will not sign on, what’s the next move? And lot depends on whether and when the “Mr. Reasonable” strategy pays off.

  14. 14.

    trollhattan

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    Very, very sorry. Yes, you surely did the right thing but it may take a long time to truly feel as though you did. But you will so hang in there, in the meantime.

  20. 20.

    Raven (formerly stuckinred)

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    We who choose to surround ourselves
    with lives even more temporary than our
    own, live within a fragile circle;
    easily and often breached.
    Unable to accept its awful gaps,
    we would still live no other way.
    We cherish memory as the only
    certain immortality, never fully
    understanding the necessary plan.
    — Irving Townsend

  21. 21.

    MikeBoyScout

    What ever happened to the General Strike as a means of labor action?
    How much longer shall we go with 10% unemployment until those of us remaining grow a back bone and flex our own muscle?

    Tea party? How about a GD Labor Party?

  22. 22.

    General Stuck

    Sometimes, when shit is a fucked up, a tune from the past that reminds me of better times comes to me. I have no idea why this song popped into my head. It was during a particularly pleasant period during my third year as a freshman in college.

    And for those that the exquisite grace and beauty of a hummingbird brings you a measure of serenity.

    The weather here is the high desert is perfection today.

  24. 24.

    SFPoet

    @arguingwithsignposts: I don’t think he was talking about fighting just to fight, but the history of trade unions.

    Their fighting is the only reason that workers have weekends, vacations, retirement and a decent wage.

    I agree though, that it is sad that those battles have to be fought again in the 21st Century.

  25. 25.

    cat48

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    My sincerest sympathy to you. I had to do that once and I felt the same way. It helped me just knowing he wouldn’t have to suffer any longer. I cried for a week & even now just thinking about it brings tears. My kitteh was only two. Hang in there as it does get better.

  33. 33.

    Gex

    @Litlebritdifrnt: Hugs. I’ve had to have 3 cats put down so far in my lifetime. I imagine there will be many more. The consolation I take is that I gave them a better life than they would have had and that making that very hard decision is a kindness we can give to our four-legged family members who are suffering. Be kind to yourself. You’re going through enough.

  36. 36.

    Jay B.

    This is why we fight:

    Separately next week, Mr. Obama is expected to recommend ways to reduce annual budget deficits to a special Congressional committee charged with finding up to $1.5 trillion in savings over 10 years. He plans to propose more than that in deficit reductions, aides say, partly to offset the stimulus costs.

    And:

    “We’ve got a lot more work to do to recover fully from this recession,” Mr. Obama said. “I’m going to propose ways to put America back to work that both parties can agree to because I still believe both parties can work together to solve our problems.”

    Hoffa correctly identified the issue, the problem and the solution. Passionately, he laid out the fact that a partisan class war has been waged against the working (and Middle Class) people of America.

    His General then lauded the good faith of the people who’ve won the war.

    Fucking Christ.

  37. 37.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Raven (formerly stuckinred): How about just no more hard times? (written in the 1850s)
    LYRICS
    Let us pause in life’s pleasures and count its many tears,
    While we all sup sorrow with the poor;
    There’s a song that will linger forever in our ears;
    Oh hard times come again no more.
    Chorus:
    Tis the song, the sigh of the weary,
    Hard Times, hard times, come again no more
    Many days you have lingered around my cabin door;
    Oh hard times come again no more.

    While we seek mirth and beauty and music light and gay,
    There are frail forms fainting at the door;
    Though their voices are silent, their pleading looks will say
    Oh hard times come again no more.
    END LYRICS

    That’s the James Taylor/Yo Yo Ma version. Pretty cool.

  38. 38.

    Cain

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    Con went to the Rainbow Bridge this morning. His hip was shattered, and the Vet said

    I’m so sorry. He would have been in a lot of pain and his quality of life would not have been what he would have wanted. You didn’t kill him. You freed him. It was not the kind of life for a cat.

    Please post pictures of your cat. We would all love for you to share Con with us.

  42. 42.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    Con went to the Rainbow Bridge this morning.

    Having grown up near an actual bridge named the Rainbow Bridge, I had no idea of this terminology until you mentioned it today.

    Again, my thoughts are with you for your loss.

  43. 43.

    Chris

    @trollhattan:

    Tea Party is a wholly manufactured “movement”

    Indeedy. Can you imagine what unions or ACORN could do if they had that kind of astroturf money behind them? Damn, dude.

  52. 52.

    Arclite

    Apparently, Apple profits would be 50% if it were made in America vs. 64% being made in China. So, we hollow out our manufacturing base for a measly 14%.

  53. 53.

    satby

    @Litlebritdifrnt: You did the right thing for Con, otherwise he would have suffered so much more. Be comforted by the fact that because of you he had 14 years of love, so many animals never even get 1.

  54. 54.

    Jennifer

    Great speech, though I wish he had identified the policies with the Republicans, because they’re the teabaggers.

    Also, it would be nice to hear them called out on this “producer/parasite” bullshit. Back in the 60’s, no one would have DARED to crap on working people like that in public. Sure, lots of them THOUGHT it, but they didn’t dare say it out loud. These days, it’s in heavy rotation 24/7 from Fox, Limbaugh, and the Republican leadership itself. We need to get back to the practice of running people out on rails if they dare to condescend to ANYONE who is working full-time. It’s not the workers’ fault they aren’t being fairly compensated for their time.

  55. 55.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @MikeBoyScout:

    It was not given to us. People fought and died for that.

    There are so many things we take for granted, and the 40 hour work week, time and a half for overtime, holidays, vacations, all of those things were, quite literally, paid for with blood.

    A very annoying thing about glibertarians is they take a great deal for granted. Like all the infrastructure that we benefit from today.

  58. 58.

    Thymezone

    I don’t care who says it, Hoffa, or your momma. It works, and I love it. Yes, take those sons of bitches out. Vote their asses out. That’s what America is all about.

    More of this, a lot. Every day.

  59. 59.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @satby:
    His full name is Amy’s Con, cause he was brought to my DH when he was student teaching by a student who said “my daddy said he will kill him if I don’t find him a home, please take him!” Turns out Daddy had said he would take him to the pound (which in some cases can be the same thing). That is what I kept saying to myself “he had 14 good years” that he might not have had. There are very few cats that can say that. It helps.

  61. 61.

    The Sheriff's A Ni-

    @Jennifer:

    Great speech, though I wish he had identified the policies with the Republicans, because they’re the teabaggers.

    I don’t think he’d get away with it, he in all likelihood still has disaffected Republicans in the audience.

  62. 62.

    Belafon (formerly anonevent)

    @Loviatar: So, here’s a problem with my BJ index (the first comment that goes after Obama) from earlier: Almost all of them will be the first comment by Loviatar, who cannot seem to understand the concept of going after Republicans, even under a speech by a Union President about going after the Republicans.

  63. 63.

    gelfling545

    @Litlebritdifrnt: So sorry & wishing you comfort. When I had to make this decision a while ago the Vet said “He doesn’t know how old he is or how long he should live. He only knows if his life is good or bad. WHen it’s more bad than good you need to make the decision that will be best for HIM”. I know you made the loving decision for your friend.

  66. 66.

    Kristine

    @Litlebritdifrnt: I had to make that decision in 1999. Prince was an active, outdoor dog, a mid-size GSD-Lab mix. He was 13 when he developed Shepherd myelopathy, a deterioration of the spinal cord common to GSDs. He functioned well for about 6 months, then went downhill fast a few weeks after his 14th birthday. He couldn’t feel his hind legs, so he couldn’t lift up his hind end all the time. Sometimes he was fine. Other times, his end would drop and he would shuffle along, scraping the backs of his hocks and soiling himself. There were other issues as well, bouts of shivering and disorientation. Dogs he had seen along the walking trail for years would bark, and he would cower behind my legs, alarmed by the noise. All animals deserve better, but an active animal just tries to keep going and winds up injuring themselves further. It hurts like hell, but you did the right thing. Respect and dignity, an end to the confusion and fear when what used to be there, when the things they used to know and understand, aren’t there anymore.

    I am so sorry. But you did the right thing.

  70. 70.

    arguingwithsignposts

    @Strandedvandal: A bit south of there. used to be on the list of “top bridges that will fail” until they replaced it and lowered the height considerably.

  71. 71.

    stickler

    About the working-class liking the fighting, as referenced above: I think it goes way beyond the working-class liking to have a good fight (though I suppose that’s usually true).

    They really want to side with a winner. This is the genius of “bitch-slap politics” — it may be mostly (or all show), but it shows voters who has the guts to take it to the other guys. With the GOP it’s usually petty, irritating crap. (Though their assault on unions is serious as a heart attack!)

    And it’s where Obama hasn’t done enough. Rationally, sure, I understand why picking a stupid fight over when to talk to Congress made no sense. But the lizard brain in me really, really, really wants to see Boehner, Cantor, McConnell & Co. eat a heapin’ helpin’ of shit sandwich for a change. I want to believe that we have a Machine Chicago Pol for POTUS — “they send one of yours to the hospital, you send one of theirs to the morgue” and all that.

  72. 72.

    phil

    And the White House ran away from those remarks as fast as they could

    Moving quickly to distance himself and President Obama from Hoffa’s controversial comments at a Labor Day rally, Carney (WH press sec.) said that Hoffa “speaks for himself, he speaks for the labor movement, the AFL-CIO.”

    * of course as a Teamster, Hoffa doesn’t speak for the AFL-CIO.

  73. 73.

    Mr Stagger Lee

    It will be nice to see a Democratic Party where the men are not afraid to wear pants, and don’t have to look inside to see if they had a pair of balls. Thank God for the 2nd amendment, we may need it when the Christian Taliban assumes power in 2013.

  74. 74.

    J. Michael Neal

    Hoffa’s speech was great and I hope to hear more. I stand by my opinion that this is something on which Obama should be a follower. The real fire and brimstone speeches should be delivered by surrogates. For instance, it would be great if the Congressional Progressive Caucus would do this kind of stuff and figure out a way to draw attention to it instead of sending a letter to Obama asking him to do things. You are free willed, autonomous beings. Act like it.

    There are ways to make sure you get attention. For instance, call the Republicans cockroaches. That would cause them to start whining that someone is being mean to them, and cause the media to give space to the speech even if they hadn’t before. Try it, Raul. You might like it.

    I am amused by the entirely implausible image of Bernie Sanders shouting that someone is a cockroach in a fiery speech. One socialist in Congress, and he’s one of the quiet, thoughtful ones. As useless as he was actually running anything, we need an Alexander Kerensky. Just don’t let him become president.

  75. 75.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    Thanks everyone. I know I just needed confirmation that I did the right thing. You have that awful screeching in your head “you KILLED him” and while in the other side of my common sense brain tells me that I did the right thing I can’t drown out that screeching, no matter how much wine I drink.

  76. 76.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Litlebritdifrnt: Thinking of you – it always hurts. They leave such big paw prints on our hearts, and we have to make the best decisions we can with the information we have. FWIW, I believe you did the right thing, and understand just how hard it was and is.

  77. 77.

    J. Michael Neal

    Guh. In moderation because of Bernie Sanders. Let’s try again.

    Hoffa’s speech was great and I hope to hear more. I stand by my opinion that this is something on which Obama should be a follower. The real fire and brimstone speeches should be delivered by surrogates. For instance, it would be great if the Congressional Progressive Caucus would do this kind of stuff and figure out a way to draw attention to it instead of sending a letter to Obama asking him to do things. You are free willed, autonomous beings. Act like it.

    There are ways to make sure you get attention. For instance, call the Republicans cockroaches. That would cause them to start whining that someone is being mean to them, and cause the media to give space to the speech even if they hadn’t before. Try it, Raul. You might like it.

    I am amused by the entirely implausible image of Bernie Sanders shouting that someone is a cockroach in a fiery speech. One sockulist in Congress, and he’s one of the quiet, thoughtful ones. As useless as he was actually running anything, we need an Alexander Kerensky. Just don’t let him become president.

  78. 78.

    boss bitch

    @Loviatar:

    In the same speech Fallows is referring to Obama also said that he’s not going to wait for Congress. He’s going to challenge them but he’s also going to do some things on his own. You can’t exactly run around the country saying, ‘its not me, its them’ w/o showing the public that you are making an effort.

  79. 79.

    Darkrose

    @Litlebritdifrnt: I’m so sorry. Even when you know you’re doing the right thing, that never helps much at the time.

    I lost my big hairy boy over a year ago. I still miss him, and I know his place in my heart will always be there.

  80. 80.

    Elizabelle

    The New York Times highlighted this reader comment on Romney’s economic plan speech today.

    How many dog whistles can you spot?

    From “PMac in Parsippany”, comment 46:

    The repeal of Obamacare is excellent – that alone will save the taxpayers trillions. Romney understands the United States is not a socialist country and should not be turned into one.

    Obama is the worst president we have ever had; he should resign. His comment this weekend “I am not afraid of hard times – are you?” turned my stomach. Obama has made millions while in office, and he never will experience ‘hard times’ himself — but he sure knows how to create them for other people.

    Romney has my vote; I want to listen and look at a president I can relate to even though I may not agree with some of his policies.

    Bush was not our smartest president, but he and his lovely wife, Laura, added dignity to the White House and he appreciated the time he lived there. I never tought for a minute that he was there only for his personal gain. On the other hand, Obama is in the White only for his personal gain….not to mention his wife.

    Romney has a plan — whether or not it will be 100^ successful is doubtful, but it is a plan pointing this country in the right direction.

    http://community.nytimes.com/comments/www.nytimes.com/2011/09/07/us/politics/07romney.html?sort=highlights

  83. 83.

    boss bitch

    @MagicPanda:

    Hoffa, Biden and Obama gave great speeches on the middle class, jobs and the importance of unions. The news said Detroit was going to be a tough crowd but Detroit made complete liars out of them.

  85. 85.

    Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason

    @Litlebritdifrnt: My experience with our three dogs is that there is only a very narrow window, about 4 weeks long, where you can worry if you’re doing the right thing.

    Our vets, with more experience, would have known what was coming and would have put our dogs down at the earlier part of the window.

    We, having lived with our dogs for 12-14 years, wanted to hang on as long as possible. However, at the far side of the 4 week window, it’s obvious that your critter is suffering and even the most kind-hearted knows it’s time.

    We usually split the difference somewhere. I am glad that we tried to keep them with us a little bit longer, but I’m also glad they didn’t suffer too long.

  86. 86.

    Thymezone

    Here it is, the word sociaIism without triggering the unfailingly stupid WP mod filter.

    As pointed out to me long ago by some kind BJer, just use an uppercase “i” for the “L” in the word and it looks fine and passes the filter every time.

  87. 87.

    Cat Lady

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    Cattitude – he had it! It’s so painful to let go, but it was all meant to be. Pets are lucky we can help them go without suffering. My mother is in late stage Alzheimer’s and is in such a sorrowful state that I wish I could do what you did, out of nothing but love and compassion. His time had come.

  88. 88.

    BruceFromOhio

    @Litlebritdifrnt: It means you are alive. We love and we let go as we need to, and it hurts because it matters.

    Don’t question your choice, you already made it, and you know it was right. Doesn’t make it any easier, sadly.

    Please accept my condolences on your loss.

  89. 89.

    Elizabelle

    @Litlebritdifrnt:

    Sounds like you made the best decision possible, and without too much warning you’d have to make it.

    Your vet knows. And you did the right thing.

    Very sorry for your loss. Glad you and Con had so many good years together.

    It’s haunting to have to make that decision. You always wonder if you did the right thing. But you made it out of love and knowing Con faced an uncertain future.

    Better to let him go out on top.

  92. 92.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @Brother Shotgun of Sweet Reason: The idea of hanging on for just one more day was so strong, just one more day of seeing him at the front door, just one more day of him snuggling his nose against mine, just one more day. This morning I would have killed for one more day, just one more day. I have to admit that there was a moment when I though about just taking him home, just to have him with me for his last days, probably sleeping in a laundry basket and in pain. Inthe end there was that thought that the hip bone was poking into his organs was out and out cruelty. At some point you have to let go (as the vet said). I still would have killed for one more day.

  93. 93.

    Lolis

    I agree with others here, Obama surrogates everywhere should be hitting Republicans hard and not analyzing every sentence the president utters with a microscope. He will never be able to be as partisan as a union rep.

  95. 95.

    Claessens1

    This whole thread is just surreal. I just hope that Con’s owner is not registered to vote. Does he/she not have any friends? Or any sense of privacy?

  96. 96.

    FlipYrWhig

    @Litlebritdifrnt: I really want to say encouraging, consoling things, but I’m just sad about it all, and I don’t know what to say, and I’m glad that you’re sharing it with us.

  97. 97.

    NickM

    @jron – as a usually-lurking labor lawyer, it’s true that general strikes are unlawful. It was one of the many things that unions hated about the Taft-Hartley Act. Class solidarity is very dangerous and therefore forbidden.

  99. 99.

    Jamey

    Honest question: Why is anybody, save the likes of Sherrod Brown and Bernie Sanders (who are too easy for Foxies to paint as elitists) so fucking skeeered to deliver a speech like this to supporters? (I’m looking at you, Mr. President.)

    I mean, they want to hamstring us and no matter what we do, they’ll work the refs like a TV wrestling heel. So let’s take the fight to them. What could Boehner possibly say to a crowd in his Ohio district to refute Hoffa, other than to bemoan the lack of civility? Fired up with rhetoric that plainly states the obvious–that there is a war on workers who earn enough to afford the stuff they make or sell–I’m guessing that the crowd would be pretty hostile to any calls to play nice.

    Yes, I know crowds at boner events are hand-picked
    Yes, I understand that this question has been asked hundreds of times
    But has our President really answered it–and not offered some sort of deflection or sop to the need to solve our problems as one. The only “one” I’m interested in hearing from is the one vote over 50% that gives power to leaders who back sensible liberal policies.

    Also, to further burnish my patron-saint-of-lost-causes cred: Let’s go Mets.

  101. 101.

    Jamey

    @arguingwithsignposts: Yeah, me, too. I thought this was a reference to the Falls–many is the time I went across for cheaper, better beer (and back again for cheaper gas).

    Poor kitteh. He was loved. Short of a longer life, that’s the best wish I can have for any being.

  102. 102.

    Marc McKenzie

    @Lolis:

    “I agree with others here, Obama surrogates everywhere should be hitting Republicans hard and not analyzing every sentence the president utters with a microscope.”

    I mean, it’s so simple, right?

    I mean…to me, it seems that a lot of “progressives” spend more of their time firing off rhetorical mortars at Obama than at the Republicans and their Tea Party acolytes. Is it that hard to just send some anger at the GOP, because it is they, not Obama, who have screwed us rotten, especially since January of this year?

  105. 105.

    Mnemosyne

    @Claessens1:

    Does he/she not have any friends?

    She has lots of friends here at Balloon-Juice. Why are you interrupting friends who are talking to each other?

  107. 107.

    Svensker

    @Cat Lady:

    Big hugs. Been there. It’s tough. But it can also be a strangely uplifting and spirit-filled time, as well. Just never forget the love. Best to you.

  109. 109.

    Paul

    @Litlebritdifrnt: @Litlebritdifrnt: Many, many years ago my young wife and I came home to find our little cat beast
    broken and bloody in the driveway. He was a neat little beast, with six toes on each front toe. Clumsiest little thing you ever saw. It was hilarious to watch him jump. Acted more like a dog than a cat. We did some research, and it turned out that this particular little six toed beast was part of a line that began with Earnest Hemingway. Anyway, it was the middle of the night, and we were able to find an emergency vet. There was absolutely only one way this was going to end, so we just petted him and talked quietly as the obviously vary caring vet did what had to be done to put our little beast at peace. We were both crying quietly, as our little friend slipped away into peace and release from pain. The ultimate responsibility of taking on animal friends is knowing when the time is right and acting as quickly as can be done for your pet’s peace and release from pain. But doing the right thing doesn’t make it any less painful, and I grieve with you.

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