Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Fucking consultants! (of the political variety)

We are learning that “working class” means “white” for way too many people.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.

The fight for our country is always worth it. ~Kamala Harris

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

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

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

Welcome to day five of every-bit-as-bad-as-you-thought-it-would-be.

Michigan is a great lesson for Dems everywhere: when you have power…use it!

So very ready.

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

Our messy unity will be our strength.

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

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

“Alexa, change the president.”

You are so fucked. Still, I wish you the best of luck.

A tremendous foreign policy asset… to all of our adversaries.

T R E 4 5 O N

Tide comes in. Tide goes out. You can’t explain that.

The arc of the moral universe does not bend itself. it is up to us to bend it.

If ‘weird’ was the finish line, they ran through the tape and kept running.

the 10% who apparently lack object permanence

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

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45Comments

  3. 3.

    Ronnie Pudding

    The 2-2 tie “screw Italy” scenario is interesting. People will scream conspiracy, but it’s also an equilibrium. If Spain leads 2-1, Croatia goes all out for the equalizer or goes home.

  7. 7.

    handsmile

    La Furia Roja had better play reasonably furia today, because a victory by Croatia, coupled with the anticipated Italian icing of Ireland, would result in the unthinkable: Spain out of Euro2012.

    There has been much consternation in the football media whether Spain and Croatia would conspire to a 2-2 draw. In fact, there is a permutation in which Italy can advance to the QFs with a victory and a Spain-Croatia draw. (The Guardian MBM on the match has the details.) Goal diffential, thanks to Ireland’s welcoming defense, should be decisive, however.

    By most accounts and virtually all statistics, Ireland has been the worst squad in the tournament. That said, Irish coach Giovanni Trappatoni has a bitter relationship with the Italian Football Federation, and his enmity might inspire the team to be spoilers today. This should add a certain spice to what could have been an insipid (all one ingredient) dish. (That and the “Mario Balotelli ‘red-mist’ watch. He was a model citizen against Croatia, so one might imagine him to be overdue.)

    After this weekend, I’m making no public predictions on group stage final matches, but tapas is being served in the handsmile household tonight. And a bottle of Barolo.

    ETA: Amir Khalid: Thanks muchly for your link on an earlier thread today re “my favorite Dane’s” new career as an underwear model.

  13. 13.

    J. Michael Neal

    Is the tiebreaker for this Spain/Croatia matchup that the win goes to whichever team has the uglier jerseys? That’s the only explanation I can come up with.

  15. 15.

    pete

    I like this comment from Rob Smyth at the Grauniad’s MBM on Croatia vs Spain:

    As a piece of visceral entertainment this match has been a stinker; as a piece of arthouse entertainment it’s been just very, darling.

  16. 16.

    Amir Khalid

    Ireland fail to defend a corner; Italy are 1 – 0 up, and might go through if the scores hold.

  19. 19.

    nickgb

    It’s absurd that the outcome of today is that either Italy wins the whole group, or that Italy fails to move on at all and two other teams do. If ever there was proof that these tiebreakers are poorly chosen…

  21. 21.

    handsmile

    Sturdy Croatian center back Gordon Schildenfeld has effectively neutralized Torres thus far. Spain has been patient, probing, patient, probing, but Croatia is playing with five defenders across the back and three more just a few yards ahead.

    With Italy in the lead in its match, Croatia must open up its play: a Rakitic long cross to Mandzukic (like in their first two matches) and it all turns to la mierda for Spain.

    I really don’t want to stomach another Russia v. Greece result.

  22. 22.

    Punchy

    I guess now I gotta cheer for Croatia.

    What happens with a Croatia win and a Italy/Ireland tie?

  24. 24.

    Amir Khalid

    I see the Grauniad’s MBM hasn’t let up all night in its attack on poor widdle Nando Torres.

  28. 28.

    MikeJ

    Can someone tell me why Chelsea paid £50M for Torres? Spain finally win without him.

  30. 30.

    pseudonymous in nc

    That was a bullshit red card: the referee has been suckered all match by the Italians being Italians.

    On the other hand, that was just bonkers from Mad Mario.

  32. 32.

    Amir Khalid

    Spain up 1 – 0; Italy up 2 – 0. Spain and Italy into the quarter-finals as Group C winners and runners-up respectively.

  35. 35.

    SRW1

    @Mark S.:

    Navas was off-side, but didn’t participate, Iniesta, who rceived the ball, i.e. participated, was NOT off-side.

  37. 37.

    Amir Khalid

    My prediction for England-Ukraine: Rooney’s return throws the English forward line out of whack. A defensive oopsie lets Ukraine score against the run of play, and Woy’s boys go home to face the usual lamentations in the media.

  40. 40.

    handsmile

    A HUGE SIGH OF RELIEF!!

    I may be an atheist, but I WORSHIP Andres Iniesta.

    With the depth and quality of Spain’s squad, you can’t say they were lucky in this match, but what a nerve-shredding second half! (And it’s the quality and depth of the squad that made the thought of its elimination so awful.) Great save by Casillas on Rakitis’ volley after Modric’s brilliant breakaway. (What an embarrassment of riches for Spain to have both Casillas and Victor Valdes as goalkeeping options.)

    Some very questionable offensive tactics by Spain as the match wore on: why bring on a pure winger like Navas if you’re not going to exploit the flanks? Far too many runs/passes into the middle of Croatia’s defense, and SHOOT THE F*CKING BALL when you have an open shot! Torres really doesn’t deserve too much criticism for his play today: he may have been ineffective, but that was primarily due to a Croatian MoM performance by Schildenfeld.

    Didn’t watch the Italy v. Ireland match at all. Will catch the ESPNDeportes rebroadcast or ESPN online.

    Whew….

  41. 41.

    Origuy

    Club 12? Sounds like an overpriced ultralounge with steroid-infused bouncers outside and fruit-infused vodka inside.

  42. 42.

    burnspbesq

    @Origuy:

    I am somewhat a fan of the late, unlamented Rangers because they’ve played a lot of Americans over the years, but if there is a new club being formed it should start in the Third Division and work its way up.

  43. 43.

    pseudonymous in nc

    @Randinho:

    I’ll make it wines for the quarterfinals (I’ll come up with something else for England).

    Spirits? Not that I’m confident that England will make it to the quarter-finals.

  45. 45.

    handsmile

    From this morning’s Guardian: “Italy player explains why he ‘gagged’ Mario Balotelli”:
    guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jun/19/euro-2012-italy-mario-balotelli

    Except of course the “explanation” is a little more than dubious. Bonnucci’s reaction to Balotelli’s remarkable goal (left-footed volley, with back to goal, falling down) was the most entertaining moment in the Italy v. Ireland match.

    The competent Azzuri go through, the discomposed Irish go home. But surely, Ireland’s magnificent choir of full-throated supporters have provided the most moving tribute in this tournament so far.

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