Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

In my day, never was longer.

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

Come on, man.

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

You cannot shame the shameless.

I really should read my own blog.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

Putin must be throwing ketchup at the walls.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

We are aware of all internet traditions.

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

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

They’re not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

Optimism opens the door to great things.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

Russian mouthpiece, go fuck yourself.

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Reader Interactions

73Comments

  1. 1.

    Mino

    This NDAA bill is a monster. And Levin was only doing what the administration asked him to do.

    Even Feinstein is scared by this.

  4. 4.

    Violet

    Trying to recover from a chaotic and extremely draining trip to the UK to visit family. No sleep, dealing with emotionally impaired relatives, a family crisis, not to mention the usual costs encountered with such a trip and jet lag. I’m exhausted and grouchy and am now having to deal with Christmas on this side of the pond. I want to go hide under a rock.

  5. 5.

    Phylllis

    @Raven: Mine’s about the same, except I have work five days next week. Well, more like four because Friday is a half-day and I have two luncheons next week.

  7. 7.

    Suffern ACE

    @Mino: O.K. That’s worth discussing. So what makes it more of a monster than any other NDAA we’ve had in the past? Just wondering.

  8. 8.

    Redshift

    Hockey game tonight, voter registration tomorrow, then maybe a local Scandinavian festival tomorrow evening, bunny adoption event Sunday afternoon, and maybe Washington Revels on Sunday evening. Unusually busy weekend for me.

  9. 9.

    Violet

    @Litlebritdifrnt:
    All over this trip, almost from top to bottom. Glasgow south to the Lakes, Manchester, Birmingham and down to Hampshire. F**king exhausting. Add in a health crisis (older family member there), a virus that simply wouldn’t lessen its grip (me), and emotionally difficult relatives, and it was as trying a trip as I’ve had in years. Never again. F**k Christmas.

  10. 10.

    Xboxershorts

    Work…nothing but work on the near horizon. 72 hours this week…60 hours next week, then it slows back down to my regular 48 hour work week right through the end of the year.

    And then…I am being laid off.

    I love my job, hate the company

  11. 11.

    Special One

    Me and Puppet Ronnie will be going all Clausewitz on Pep and the boy Messi at El Super Classico. It will be, I think, fantastic.

    Be champions!

  16. 16.

    Mino

    @Suffern ACE: The stinger is in the tail which says it can be applied to any American citizen if they want to do so.

    Anonymous has up a statement.

    Wilkerson has made a statement.

    And expect incoming from Greenwald shortly.

    War on Terra trumps Bill of Rights. And only the DFH have their hair on fire. You’d think Padillo might give pause.

  17. 17.

    Cris (without an H)

    @Xboxershorts: Sorry that you’re soon going to be out in this lousy job market, but other than that — congratulations. If you hate the company, I’ll send my hopes that this separation is for the best, like getting out of a lousy marriage.

  20. 20.

    Svensker

    @Violet:

    So sorry to hear about your troubles. Just remember, the trip is over and you’re home! And you don’t have to do THAT for a while again, if ever. So that’s a good thing.

    We’ve just found out that a big deal we thought was all signed, sealed and delivered, got cold feet at the last minute and walked away. I feel like Clark in Christmas Vacation realizing that not only is there no money for the pool but the money we spent on getting the car fixed doesn’t have anything to back it up…. Don’t think Cousin Eddie’s going to come through for us, though. Oh, well. Other folks are a lot worse off.

  21. 21.

    FormerSwingVoter

    I’ve been depressed about the NBA being turned into the WWE over the last day or so. Somehow it makes me feel better to read the political news and remember that there are much, much bigger things to worry about.

    I’m a sick, sick man.

  22. 22.

    Mino

    @Suffern ACE: And that is one of the arguments for passing it. It’s no worse than what Bush passed. But I think they’ve left out the band-aid requirement that the citizen be officially designated before he can be processed.

  25. 25.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @Violet: Damn when I go over it takes it out of me just vegging at Mum’s house and then wandering down town for a meat and tatey pie pub lunch. I can certainly feel for you. Hope your creeping crud gets better soon.

  26. 26.

    Maude

    @Xboxershorts:
    Well, heck.
    I saw a car with two little reindeer antlers on the side windows today. It was the first humorous thing I’ve seen this holiday season.
    There is an almost somber feel to this season. Last year it wasn’t like this. I think people are worn down with wondering what will happen to them.
    I need to make money.

  27. 27.

    Horrendo Slapp (formerly Jimperson Zibb, Duncan Dönitz, Otto Graf von Pfmidtnöchtler-Pízsmőgy, Mumphrey, et al.)

    Poor Rick Perry. His ad is nearing 500,000 hates on Youtube. So I thought maybe I could help him rework it:

    I’m not ashamed to admit that there’s nothing I like better than beating a faggot to death with a lead pipe. Well, other than blowing up a church full of niggers. Wait, are we on? Are we live? Is that thing running? Are we–? Shit. Damn it. Well, anyways…

    So anyways, ever since that commie Barack Hussein Obama oozed his way into the WHite House, you can’t even kill a fag and dump his body in a ditch here anymore, but it’s nice to know there are still a few places left in the world where you can. But now Hussein is trying to change that, too. If he gets his way, pretty soon you won’t even be able to shoot a fag in Uganda anymore, and not killing faggots isn’t how this country became great.

    But when I’m president, I’ll stop Hussein‘s war on normal people. When I’m president, you won’t even need to come up with an excuse for killing a fag. You’ll never have to say, “He was hitting on me.” Or, “He fondled my ass, and I was scared I was beginning to like it!” Or, “He was using his curiously effective gay magnetism on me.” Nope, under my administration, you kill a fag, you walk, no questions asked.

    I’m Rick Perry, doing the Lord’s work, and I approve this message. And so does he.

  28. 28.

    S. cerevisiae

    Yes! Tonight’s hockey game between my # 1 UMD Bulldogs and the Wisconsin Badgers will be televised and I get the channel it’s on! Out here on the left coast I get few chances to see them so this is a treat. Go Dogs!

  29. 29.

    Cris (without an H)

    @Mino: It’s no worse than what Bush passed.

    And there is the linchpin of the trap. We all have known for a long time that many of our problems are bipartisan. But it’s still too easy to fall for the fallacy that because Democrats perpetuate the same militarization of our society, the same consolidation of power into the unitary executive, the same erosion of citizen privacy, as Republicans, that we should withdraw our support for the Democrats.

    I’m not accusing you of that, by the way. I’m just saying it’s a pity that this kind of conversation always degrades into “Obot or firebagger.” That if we point out the genuine problems of the Obama administration, we must be abandoning ship, and if we gloss over them, we are hypocrites.

  30. 30.

    Mino

    Levin was asked by the administration to remove the language that would have exempted citizens and lawful residents from the application of Section 1030 (which allows for military imprisonment for life without trial.)

  31. 31.

    Hill Dweller

    @Mino: I’m not questioning your assertion, but can you give me a link? I was under the (wrong?)impression no one(WH, Pentagon, CIA, DOJ) wanted this in the bill, and Obama threatened to veto it.

  32. 32.

    Mino

    @Cris (without an H): Not to excuse them, but there was war hysteria going on originally. It’s not the first time we’ve gone off course temporarily. But Osama is dead, Iraq is over bar the shouting and finger-pointing and Afghanistan is intractable, but not an international threat, except to our economy. We should be coming to our senses. Why aren’t we???

  33. 33.

    MikeJ

    @Hill Dweller:

    and Obama threatened to veto it.

    this was also my understanding.

    I’m sure there’s an article on the examiner website that will spell out how the dusky usurper has betrayed us again.

  35. 35.

    JCJ

    @S. cerevisiae

    Go Bucky! Good luck to your Bulldogs the rest of the year. The Badgers are only so-so this year, but they did beat the (evil) Gophers in Madison earlier this year. That will probably help keep UMD on their toes!

  37. 37.

    Dee Loralei

    OFA-TN is meeting tomorrow in Nashville for a day long training session and holiday party and I’m going with my local Memphis OFA group.(leaving at 6:30 AM) They just informed us they want a skit, or song or poster, and I’m plum out of ideas. Anyone got any cute “why I support Obama” thoughts? I told my groups fall fellow that we were all middle-aged and I thought being old was what made us original, since most OFA staffers are youngens.

  38. 38.

    Mnemosyne

    @Cris (without an H):
    @Mino:

    Here’s the thing I will say — to me, the big difference between having Bush in the White House and having Obama in the White House is that I really feel that if we make a big enough stink, Obama might actually listen and veto the bill.

    So … time to get stinky. :-)

  39. 39.

    Comrade Dread

    One week sans booze.

    No rock bottom story, but it was starting to become a problem.

    The main side effect so far is an increased sense of wellness and a lot less tolerance of political stupidity.

  40. 40.

    Xboxershorts

    I appreciate the kind thoughts from folks. I am extremely fortunate that the company is large enough and I’m in a critical role so that the company provides severance.

    Too many others in this tiny community got that option. So I will be ok. In fact, I look forward to no longer putting in hundreds of hours of OT each year (for the past decade) and I definitely intend to pay off all kinds of shit and enjoy a little downtime on some of that unemployment insurance I’ve been paying into for the past 35 years…

    Rick Santorum can go frothy to his heart’s content, I really don’t give a damn what he, or others like him, thinks.

  41. 41.

    Comrade Dread

    @MikeJ: Well, you know, he is in league with the Muslim world, as evidenced by his continuation of the policy to drop freedom bombs on them and all.

  43. 43.

    Alex S

    “I do believe in basic science. I believe in participating in space. I believe in analysis of new sources of energy. I believe in laboratories, looking at ways to conduct electricity with — with cold fusion, if we can come up with it. It was the University of Utah that solved that. We somehow can’t figure out how to duplicate it.”

    -Mitt Romney

    ——————

    I have no idea how this quote is not getting any attention. It is absolutely and completely insane.

  44. 44.

    FlipYrWhig

    I’m looking for consumer advice — where do y’all turn to buy decent-quality sunglasses? It’s for a gift. I’m a tightwad.

  45. 45.

    lamh35

    can someone try to explain to me in completely rational and evidential terms why Tweety et al seemed to think that Newt Gingrich will be sooooo much tougher for POTUS to debate than Romney?

    So Newt’s a bomb thrower? Has Obama ever been one to “take the bait” as it were? Plus as the House GOP did last time at their retreat, you under-estimate the 1000 ninja cuts by thin blades that is Obama on a a slow day and not even trying hard.

    I know, I know, SASTQ, but I am seriously just agog at this BS from Tweety et al?

  47. 47.

    Mino

    @lamh35: I’m afraid Obama will spend too much time looking incredulous at what spills from G’s mouth. God knows what the Villiagers would make of that.

  49. 49.

    FlipYrWhig

    @lamh35: It’s because the Villagers all think Newt is very, very, smart, so he’ll surely shine in a debate context. IMHO, facts not in evidence.

  50. 50.

    dmsilev

    @lamh35:

    I know, I know, SASTQ, but I am seriously just agog at this BS from Tweety et al?

    Tweety’s a loud blabbermouth who reminds people of their cranky uncle. He sees Newt as a kindred spirit, is all.

  54. 54.

    Comrade Dread

    @Mnemosyne: Thanks. I am definitely experiencing the whole ‘wanting to beat the ever living piss of out of some people’ issue he describes.

    I’m looking forward to that passing soon, or I might end up throwing a brick through my TV at some talking newsbot.

  55. 55.

    The Other Chuck

    @Cris (without an H):

    And there is the linchpin of the trap. We all have known for a long time that many of our problems are bipartisan. But it’s still too easy to fall for the fallacy that because Democrats perpetuate the same militarization of our society, the same consolidation of power into the unitary executive, the same erosion of citizen privacy, as Republicans, that we should withdraw our support for the Democrats.

    Democrats don’t have my support. I withdrew that a long time ago. What hasn’t changed, and has only increased year after year, is my unstinting determination to see the absolute destruction of the Republican party within my lifetime. And while that being the primary rationale for electing the other guy might serve to perpetuate a crappy system, it at least doesn’t facilitate the rise to power of psychopathic nihilists who want to burn it all down out of hateful spite.

    GOP Delenda Est.

  59. 59.

    KG

    @Villago Delenda Est: he’s the owner of the Cleveland Cavilers. Driving force behind the NBA lock out (upset because his best player decided to play in Miami when his contract expired). And now complaining because the Lakers had a deal to trade an All Star and borderline All Star to New Orleans (owned by the NBA) for the best point guard in the league… complaining so much that the legal vetoed the trade.

    As a basketball fan and a Laker fan, this guy just pisses me off.

  60. 60.

    boss bitch

    @Mino:

    It still doesn’t clear things up for me. There’s the video, yes. Then there is the article I linked to and a blog post by the ACLU (dated today) that says the WH will veto. I would think the ACLU would be up in arms about this.

    In any case, whatever the final decision please don’t give Levin a pass on his role in this or any Democratic member of Congress. The WH requested it? and so what? He doesn’t work for the WH and Pres.Obama is not the type to punish people for their vote. If Levin votes to pass the bill and it gets signed, he should get just as much flack as the WH.

    On a lighter note, Obama would clean Gingrich’s clock in a debate. Obama is very competitive and does best when his opponents get a little too cocky. He won’t be doing the Al Gore sigh.

  62. 62.

    lamh35

    @Mino: yeah, but when have we ever seen Obama look “incredulous” ore even sigh like Al Gore did.

    Heck the only thing I remember is when Obama told Hilary she’s “likeable enough”.

    Even that wasn’t that bad.

  63. 63.

    Mnemosyne

    @lamh35:

    So Newt’s a bomb thrower? Has Obama ever been one to “take the bait” as it were?

    I have very, very rarely seen Obama get angry in public, and he does it in that Midwestern way that apparently the rest of the country doesn’t interpret correctly. (The Midwestern way: when Mom or Dad’s voice gets very, very quiet, you are in the deepest shit of your entire life.)

    So there’s really no way that there could be a debate between them that wouldn’t end with Newt completely losing his shit and screaming obscenities on live TV while Obama just watches him go.

  64. 64.

    burnspbesq

    @Mino:

    “This NDAA bill is a monster”

    No kidding. Permanent full employment for every ACLU staff lawyer in America. Don’t these people know 1984 was fiction?

  65. 65.

    burnspbesq

    @FormerSwingVoter:

    “I’ve been depressed about the NBA being turned into the WWE over the last day or so.”

    I could care less about the NBA, but the illogic of Stern’s position on the Paul trade is breathtaking.

  66. 66.

    maya

    @FlipYrWhig: Didn’t you get this week’s copy of the Village Intelligencer? Newt would be the kind of president we would all like to do tequila shooters with. Obama hasn’t a chance.

  69. 69.

    TooManyJens

    @Mnemosyne:

    I have very, very rarely seen Obama get angry in public, and he does it in that Midwestern way that apparently the rest of the country doesn’t interpret correctly. (The Midwestern way: when Mom or Dad’s voice gets very, very quiet, you are in the deepest shit of your entire life.)

    This may explain why I, an Illinois girl born and raised, never understand it when people say Obama doesn’t get angry with Republicans.

  70. 70.

    Suffern ACE

    @maya:

    Newt would be the kind of president we would all like to do tequila shooters with.

    From what I can tell, the guy does everything to excess. So just some advice to that “we” – don’t wear the types of shoes that it would be difficult to clean vomit from, and bring a camera. Those photos you take will be worth money someday.

  72. 72.

    boss bitch

    @Mino:

    Here is Levin in his own words.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?f…..KvSz_wX8#!

    ABL just cleared this up today on her twitter timeline. Like me, her BS alarm went off when she saw that video clip. I suggest you check it out or her blog or on her twitter feed.

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