Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

If you’re pissed about Biden’s speech, he was talking about you.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Not all heroes wear capes.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

Everybody saw this coming.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

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

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

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

John Fetterman: Too Manly for Pennsylvania.  Paid for by the Oz for Senator campaign.

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

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

And we’re all out of bubblegum.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

Bark louder, little dog.

The willow is too close to the house.

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

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

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

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70Comments

  2. 2.

    Boudica

    You must not have to cook or clean up. Thanksgiving-yuck. It’s all about eating. (Although I will be glad to have my daughter home from college.)

  5. 5.

    RossInDetroit

    I may be giving it a miss this year. This head cold is getting the better of me. I don’t think I should drive across the state and share my germs with a bunch of old people and kids.

  9. 9.

    RalfW

    In case the average suburban newspaper reader doesn’t already hate OWS, one of the ahem, top stories on the St. Paul Pioneer Press’ home page this morning is a breathless – and long – AP piece titled Occupy protests cost nation’s cities at least $13M

    For the love of g*d, thirteen million is a rounding error compared to the bank bailouts. Or even DHS grants to cities and counties for armored vehicles and SWAT gear over the past ten years.

    And since a lot of readers are financially illiterate, they will hear the wingosphere say $13 million with this gravitas that in their fevered brains will equal $13 trillion dollars. Its all the same to them: massive. government. waste.

    Is this really worthwhile journalism, Meghan Barr and Ryan J. Foley? I think you know it’s not. It’s in service to crapping on OWS.

    Happy Thanksgiving, wankers.

  10. 10.

    Mark S.

    I love the stock photo TPM uses for Bachmann. It provides fair warning that you are about to read about some crazy.

    Anyway, Bachmann, who apparently graduated from some law school, had this to say:

    “He was not an American citizen. We don’t give Miranda warnings to terrorists, and we don’t read them their rights. They don’t have any.”

    The 5th Amendment says:

    No person Merican shall . . . be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law

    Wait, when did they change that?

  11. 11.

    M-pop

    Hubby was showing us this last night – crazy, man!

    Totally agreed, Thanksgiving has got to be the best!

    And just as a reminder to other juicers, don’t support businesses who make their workers work on Thanksgiving or during Black Friday sales – let’s all enjoy this holiday together!

  12. 12.

    Ivan Ivanovich Renko

    This madness is demonstrative– the Indian Army is not to be fucked with. Those bearded dudes in the turbans are, if I’m not mistaken, Sikhs– warriors from WAY back. If memory serves, Sikhs are like 10% of the Indian army and 20% of their officer corps… and they are total fucking hardasses.

    AND– like all Indians, they got rhythm!

  13. 13.

    Cat Lady

    @mistermix:

    Right on brother. In my perfect world, it would go Halloween, Thanksgiving, New Year’s Eve. Christmas is the biggest fucking scam ever perpetrated on humanity, where every aspect of it feels designed to make you feel poor, fat, inadequate and stressed. Bah, humbug!

  14. 14.

    RalfW

    @Mark S.:

    Freedom for me but not for thee may fit her very, very narrow Christianist white supremacist view of things, but it sure as fvck isn’t the America of Ellis Island and, for that matter, the so-far-not-quite-destroyed US constitution.

    Perhaps La Bachmann should emigrate to Singapore, where she can enjoy crime-free streets thanks to the fact that any moran can be placed in the slammer for spitting out her chewing gum.

  15. 15.

    brent

    That was fantastic and it went on and on. I love the fact that its a friggin’ talent show and within 3 minutes everybody on stage is covered in blood and every one of the judges is basically screaming in horror. This is absolutely the way that American Idol should be organized.

  20. 20.

    The Dangerman

    I love the fact that its a friggin’ talent show Congress and within 3 minutes milliseconds everybody on stage is covered in blood and every one of the judges constituents is basically screaming in horror delight. This is absolutely the way that American Idol Government should be organized.

    FTFY x 6

  23. 23.

    eric

    @Soonergrunt: as an announced techie, I have a question of you or any other techie…perhaps you could start an open thread with a response. I HATE my current internet provider because of the limitations on download speed with my dumba$$ building. It makes streaming or even watching you tube unbearable. I get cant another hard-wire provider, so it would have to be wireless. Then, i read the reviews of the wireless internet providers, and well, lets just say Goldman Sachs has a better reputation. I want to stream so I know I will eat up GBs. Price is not really a problem (within limits). Please help. (I have a Toshiba laptop from 5 years ago, so maybe an upgrade, but the streaming through the Wii is just as painful). Thanks.

  24. 24.

    KXB

    @M-pop:

    This madness is demonstrative—the Indian Army is not to be fucked with.

    I am actually sympathetic to some of the more paranoid elements of the Pakistani military, who, when told by well-meaning outsiders to not get too worried about India, can point out they have actually fought them. Erwin Rommel, the Desert Fox, noted that the British Empire would have not been possible without Indian soldiers. The Indian Army was the only Asian army to stop the advance of the Japanese in WW II.

    For my Thanksgiving, I’ll eat for about 40 minutes, and then spend over an hour cleaning.

  26. 26.

    Rosalita

    I love Thanksgiving for all the reasons already stated. I don’t mind cooking and it’s a relaxing family day. As for Christmas, I love hearing Bruce and the Big Man perform “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” but that’s about where it ends.

  29. 29.

    Paul in KY

    I would like to note that you are not supposed to breath the gas from inside a flourescent light bulb.

    Maybe those dudes have already been exposed to so many toxins that xenon gas (or whatever is in em) doesn’t hurt tham.

    Liked the music.

  30. 30.

    gene108

    Holy crap, Warriors of Goja RULE!!!!

    That was AWESOME.

    The look on the female judges face was hilarious, compared to the crowds screaming in excitement.

    My only complaint is, if your going to pull a car with your teeth, you need to pick something bigger than a Nano.

  31. 31.

    Paul in KY

    @RalfW: I’d love to see her get some good ole Singapore-style corporal punishment.

    I’d be quaffing a fine Singapore Sling while seeing her get her ass in a sling.

  33. 33.

    General Stuck

    Happy Turkey day to all!! Including front pagers, commenters, trolls and those who love them. No exceptions

  37. 37.

    Morbo

    Jai ma Kali, ayo gurkhali!

    I’ll admit for the first few seconds there I was hoping this would be an Indian black metal group.

  40. 40.

    Soonergrunt

    @JPL: Rarely anymore, now that I’m FP here and Star Wars The Old Republic is in final beta.

    @mistermix:

    Thanksgiving without apple pie is Kenyan Socialism.

    And what, pray, is wrong with Kenyan Socialism? I hate pumpkin pie with the passion that mclaren hates me. And thanks for the kindness.

  41. 41.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @ schrodinger’s cat: Ooooh, Holmes. No to Bailey’s. I had brandy in the house. Also too, I will get turkey and pumpkin pie, but part of my family tradition is that my father and I demand goose and mincemeat. Thus is order maintained in the universe.

  42. 42.

    4jkb4ia

    @Cat Lady:

    My husband thinks that the Maccabees were tragic and invited the Romans to take over in the end, so I get a very, very low-key holiday in my house. I ordered a DVD, “Emperors and Rebels: The Story of Hanukkah,” but we can’t find it anymore. The relentless hype around Christmas makes it very hard to believe that anyone over the age of 12 would envy it, but they seem to.

    (And in the Artscroll Sfas Emes series there is a volume on Hanukkah and Purim, which I may break down and get.)

  43. 43.

    Soonergrunt

    @eric: If you have a smart phone or tablet, have you considered tethering?
    Without knowing more about your location and available services, I can’t really suggest anything specific.

    @General Stuck: Hear, hear!

  44. 44.

    Ivan Ivanovich Renko

    I’ll be baking pies tonight– one sweet-potato pie, one chess pie, one apple pie (with raisins and walnuts, ohhhh, mamma!) and one mincemeat pie (demanded by the Mistress of the Table, tho I doubt even she will eat very much of it).

    Also– whoever said it– we’ll cook and bake for hours, eat for about 40 minutes, and then spend hours cleaning and putting away. Oh, fun, fun fun!!!

  45. 45.

    Rihilism

    @Paul in KY: Unbroken fluorescent light bulbs are considered universal waste, while broken ones are considered hazardous waste. Unless something was changed in the manufacture of those particular bulbs, those performers exposed themselves (and the judges and audience?) to a nice little dose of mercury…

    Good times!….

    As for Thanksgiving, a better holiday has yet to be invented, though giving thanks is only slightly more preferable to airing of grievances…

  48. 48.

    Soonergrunt

    @eric: lol. [email protected]
    I won’t be able to check it until tonight though.
    I don’t know if there’s a functional app for iOS devices in the current iteration. Android 2.3 and later have tethering as part of the OS. There are apps in the Android Market for 2.2 and earlier.

  51. 51.

    gene108

    @KXB:

    I am actually sympathetic to some of the more paranoid elements of the Pakistani military

    Why? India has never attacked Pakistan.

    Any, I agree with the rest of your post. India’s roll in the first and second World Wars really doesn’t get enough mention in the West.

    India was the backbone of British operations in Asia and lent Great Britain a bunch of cash and provided a bunch of soldiers for WWI.

  52. 52.

    KXB

    @horatius:

    It’ll be a different story today

    It was considerably different in 1987. From Wikipedia:

    At the end of 1986, India granted statehood to Arunachal Pradesh, which is an area claimed by China but administered by India. The Chinese government proceeded to protest. But the military movements in Tawang, taken in conjunction with this political action were seen as a provocation by the Chinese. In early 1987 Beijing’s tone became similar to that of 1962, and with the Indian Army refusing to stand down, Western diplomats predicted war.

    The Indian response to the Chinese buildup was Operation Falcon and involved movements across the Sino-Indian border. Among the more interesting deployments, using Mi-26 heavy lift helicopters, was that of Infantry Combat Vehicles (ICVs)and some armour in North Sikkim in the east and Demchok in the west. These two were viewed as particularly threatening by the PLA because they seemed to indicate that India had moved from a strategy of defence in its own territory to that of a larger offensive involving all of Arunachal Pradesh.

    The result was a thaw. Indian Foreign Minister N.D. Tiwari arrived in Beijing in May 1987 en route to Pyongyang, North Korea. He carried with him messages from Indian leaders that there was no intention on New Delhi’s part to aggravate the situation. The first formal flag meeting to discuss “ the freezing of the situation” since 1962, was held on the fifth of August 1987 at Bum La in the aftermath of the Wangdung affair. Both sides decided to take up talks with renewed urgency and the following year, Rajiv Gandhi visited Beijing, returning Zhou Enlai’s ’60s visit.[4]

    Basically, India made it clear there would be no repeat of 1962. China, realizing it was not worth it to find out, backed off.

  53. 53.

    KXB

    @gene108:

    True, India did not initiate any of their wars with Pakistan, but when Pakistan’s military talk of their fear of Indian military force, they focus on the actual fighting, not on who started it. They were the only country in the post-WW II period to be ripped in half by their neighbor, and in their mind, the world sat by and did nothing. For their own convenience, they ignore their conduct in then East Pakistan that brought about India’s intervention.

  55. 55.

    Poopyman

    @Omnes Omnibus: I could hear the neighbors out in the marsh at dawn, ahh, “collecting” your goose this morning. Multiple geeses, as a matter of fact.

    Also too, the Blue Carbuncle was in the Christmas goose. Gotta endure another month wait, my friend.

  57. 57.

    Suffern ACE

    I thought “We gather together” was a Thanksgiving carol.

    Anyway, I am now thankful that accountancy is a relatively safe profession that does not require its market researchers to eat lightbulbs or to be run over by bicylces. It’s the little things that make the day special.

  58. 58.

    Rihilism

    @Paul in KY: Mercury is the hazardous material in fluorescent bulbs, though a Google search seemed to indicate that the amount of mercury has been reduced…

  59. 59.

    Paul in KY

    @Rihilism: Saw your post up above & didn’t know if the mercury was in the gas or was part of the glass/components. Appreciate your help.

    Hope the performers/judges/crowd don’t end up as mad as a hatter.

  60. 60.

    piratedan

    I’ve been avoiding posting this simply because I haven’t been able to find the emotional courage to do so. For those that have been supportive of my struggles with securing and providing care for my Mother and Stepfather, my Mother passed this last Saturday. I want to thank those that have offered their support, sympathy and prayers as they assured me that I wasn’t alone and they did provide an additional reserve of perseverance to keep fighting for what was rightfully theirs. She was on hospice and passed peacefully and yet the battles continue with my personal interactions with the ambivalence of the health insurance industry and the issues that permeate our crisis with health care. They were/are fortunate, they had/have insurance and even now the fight continues over just how sick you have to be before they’ll pay up. Again, thank you folks for being there and letting me use this blog as an outlet for my frustration and tribulations.

  62. 62.

    Mnemosyne

    Since G accidentally brought home pumpkin pie filling when I asked for 100% pure pumpkin (to put in the cats’ food to keep them regular), I’m making mini pumpkin pies. Hopefully they’ll turn out.

  63. 63.

    Rihilism

    @Paul in KY: I believe it is both liquid and gas in the bulbs, but it’s been awhile since I’ve dealt with hazardous waste issues.

    Prolly insufficient for insanity or any immediate health effects, but if I was in the audience, I’d be insanely pissed off about the unnecessary exposure.

    But, such is “art”…

  64. 64.

    Joel

    I’ve done the brick-smashing stunt, on my stomach, not my head. All the force is dispersed in smashing the bricks.

    But the bulbs? There’s mercury in those things, although very little, since fluorescent lamps are low pressure. The powdery stuff is phosphorous.

  65. 65.

    ruemara

    @piratedan:

    I’m so sorry, Dan. My heartfelt condolences on your loss. Of course we’re always here for you. BJ internet support group is only a click away.

  70. 70.

    Rihilism

    @piratedan: So sorry for your loss. Take care of yourself and make sure you surround yourself with plenty of support. As I often tell friends who’ve had to deal with such difficult circumstances, don’t hesitate to seek out professional counseling services if things get to be too much. Our family and friends can provide tremendous sustaining support, but sometimes an objective, professionally-trained third party can give us an outlet for the issues that are just too painful to share with loved ones and sometimes those are the issues we need to deal with in order to heal.

    Take care,
    Rihilism

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