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You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2012 / Early Morning Open Thread: Only 20% ?

Early Morning Open Thread: Only 20% ?

by Anne Laurie|  October 6, 20125:04 am| 144 Comments

This post is in: Election 2012, Open Threads, Our Failed Political Establishment

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(Matt Davies via GoComics.com)
__
After yet another valiant attempt to explain to those of us in the reality-based community where Repub sooper-geenyuses like Allen West and Jack Welch get their ideas, Dave Weigel makes a prediction:

… The way things are going, if the GOP doesn’t win this election, I’d say there’s a 20% chance of a congressional investigation into vote fraud and a 5% chance of an Avignon Presidency set up by those who refuse to believe the election was lost.

Because I am a cynic on the internet, I’d say there’s a 20% chance of a congressional investigation into vote fraud even if (against all likelyhood) Romney wins, because The Base will demand moar trophies. Even as recently as 2008, I’d have expected the Republican wing of the Permanent Governing Party to quash the truly destablizing crazy, since impeaching Clinton didn’t work out so well for the last bunch of triumphalist Gingrich-led “conservatives”. But now it seems like those Republicans who haven’t actually gone full-bottle Montgomery-on-Dr-Moreau’s-Island have given up attempting to control “their” party, so who can tell?

As to setting up an ‘Avignon Presidency‘, I don’t think there’s any one faction powerful enough to command a sufficient allegiance, and the last time that got tried around here it didn’t work out so well for the instigators…

Apart from gaping at the freak show, what’s on the agenda for the start of the weekend?

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Reader Interactions

144Comments

  1. 1.

    amk

    October 6, 2012 at 5:10 am

    An early morning race between you and sooner?

  2. 2.

    Anne Laurie

    October 6, 2012 at 5:12 am

    @amk: Could you at least stop off at his post and wish him a speedy recovery?

  3. 3.

    amk

    October 6, 2012 at 5:18 am

    @Anne Laurie: Done. Poor guy.

  4. 4.

    raven

    October 6, 2012 at 5:21 am

    Well dang. We have arguably the biggest game for Georgia in ten years tonight against South Carolina. We have friends having their “commitment” ceremony at 6 and the game is at 7. We’re going but I’ve been working on my “deep fade” move all week!

  5. 5.

    Splitting Image

    October 6, 2012 at 5:25 am

    As to setting up an ‘Avignon Presidency‘, I don’t think there’s any one faction powerful enough to command a sufficient allegiance, and the last time that got tried around here it didn’t work out so well for the instigators…

    Well, keep in mind that the Avignon papacy wasn’t powerful enough to command everyone’s allegiance either. The church eventually ended up with three popes each one excommunicating the other two.

  6. 6.

    Mustang Bobby

    October 6, 2012 at 5:36 am

    I’m in the middle of a state park in Indiana in an old lodge with spotty wifi service getting ready for my nephew’s wedding this afternoon. It’s really pretty here, and they say we’ll have some fun when it stops raining.

    I’m surrounded by very friendly white heterosexual Republicans. Here’s hoping I don’t start a bunch of family feuds with some off-hand remark about the 47% and Big Bird.

  7. 7.

    Soonergrunt

    October 6, 2012 at 5:41 am

    @Mustang Bobby:

    Here’s hoping I don’t start a bunch of family feuds with some off-hand remark about the 47% and Big Bird.

    Go for it. You know you want to.

  8. 8.

    arguingwithsignposts

    October 6, 2012 at 5:41 am

    The way things are going, if the GOP doesn’t win this election, I’d say there’s a 20% chance of a congressional investigation into vote fraud

    Am I to assume by this statement that he believes the GOP will retain control of the House? Or “congressional” in the sense that anyone who wants in Congress can book a hearing room and hold an “investigation”? Because I can’t see a Dem.-controlled chamber holding such stupid hearings.

    Also, thanks for the wiki link re: Avignon. I guess Weigel was trying to work in his “Obscure Historical Fact of the Day” into his posts. Some of us aren’t that well-versed in Papal history.

    The Avignon Papacy was the period from 1309 to 1376 during which seven Popes resided in Avignon, in modern-day France.[1] This arose from the conflict between the Papacy and the French Crown.

  9. 9.

    amk

    October 6, 2012 at 5:42 am

    @Mustang Bobby: Not the occasion for a family feud. Think of nephew.

  10. 10.

    amk

    October 6, 2012 at 5:45 am

    @Soonergrunt: It’s the fever talking, man.

  11. 11.

    c u n d gulag

    October 6, 2012 at 5:52 am

    Will the investigations over voter fraud take place before or after they start impeachment hearings?

    What can they impeach him for?
    Did you know Obama’s shagging a black woman, and he’s got two black daughters?
    In other words, they’ll have to get creative.

    FSM, I’d love to see the frenzy they work themselve into if they lose the House, too!

  12. 12.

    Central Planning

    October 6, 2012 at 6:49 am

    Yesterday the kids found their voice-controlled R2D2 robot. As I was searching the ‘tubes for the list of voice commands, many of the web pages started putting up ads for Mitt Romney. Coincidence?

  13. 13.

    jeffreyw

    October 6, 2012 at 6:51 am

    Breakfast porn, take one.

  14. 14.

    Linda Featheringill

    October 6, 2012 at 6:55 am

    @jeffreyw:

    You’re up early.

  15. 15.

    jeffreyw

    October 6, 2012 at 6:56 am

    Summertime – Ella and Louis

  16. 16.

    jeffreyw

    October 6, 2012 at 6:58 am

    @Linda Featheringill: Pretty much everyday, these days. Old farts don’t sleep much but we do tend to nap a lot. How are you this morning, Ma’am?

  17. 17.

    Soonergrunt

    October 6, 2012 at 6:59 am

    @amk: Yeah. This is the Nephew’s day as the Groom, and particularly the Bride’s day.

    @c u n d gulag: Since when do the Conservawhackos need any actual evidence of crimes to impeach a Democratic President. It certainly wasn’t the case last time.

  18. 18.

    jeffreyw

    October 6, 2012 at 7:05 am

    My Way

  19. 19.

    ColleenMary

    October 6, 2012 at 7:17 am

    My son and I started running together this summer (he’s 14), and today is our first 5k. He’ll be terrific, but my goals are 1) don’t fall down; and 2) please God don’t let me finish last out of 2000 people. I’m about the most non-athletic person ever, so this is WAAAYYY outside my comfort zone–but I’m also kind of excited. Just surviving will be pretty cool, y’know?

  20. 20.

    MikeJ

    October 6, 2012 at 7:21 am

    @jeffreyw: Please explain those eggs. I need to know. For reasons.

  21. 21.

    jeffreyw

    October 6, 2012 at 7:23 am

    La donna e mobile

  22. 22.

    The Ancient Randonneur

    October 6, 2012 at 7:25 am

    OK, Avignon Presidency is laugh out loud funny. Just finished re-reading Barbara Tuchman’s epic historic narration A Distant Mirror, covering 14th century Europe.

  23. 23.

    jeffreyw

    October 6, 2012 at 7:25 am

    @MikeJ: Deep fried softboiled eggs, bro. ‘Nuff said.

  24. 24.

    MikeJ

    October 6, 2012 at 7:30 am

    @jeffreyw: All I need now is somebody less lazy than I am to make them.

  25. 25.

    JPL

    October 6, 2012 at 7:33 am

    @raven: It’s very likely that you won’t be alone.
    I still haven’t recovered from the game last night. Chipper is a class act by taking the blame, though.

  26. 26.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    October 6, 2012 at 7:35 am

    I have to say though I am looking forward to enjoying a bottle of Châteauneuf-du-Twit some time in the future.

  27. 27.

    Capt. Seaweed

    October 6, 2012 at 7:38 am

    @Mustang Bobby:

    It’s really pretty here, and they say we’ll have some fun when it stops raining.

    Excellent Allan Sherman reference. Is the park named, Camp Granada?

  28. 28.

    Maude

    October 6, 2012 at 7:47 am

    @Bill E Pilgrim:
    heh

  29. 29.

    Svensker

    October 6, 2012 at 7:59 am

    @arguingwithsignposts:

    Also, thanks for the wiki link re: Avignon. I guess Weigel was trying to work in his “Obscure Historical Fact of the Day” into his posts. Some of us aren’t that well-versed in Papal history.

    But it is kind of Western Civ history, since the popes were fairly major dudes in those days. Also, if you ever have the chance to visit the Papal Palace in Avignon, do. It’s magnificent.

  30. 30.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    October 6, 2012 at 8:00 am

    @arguingwithsignposts: It’s actually one of the funnier episodes in European history, basically a French guy was elected Pope and said but wait you don’t actually expect me to leave France, do you? And they said well yeah, and he said feggidiboutit and they said who the hell do you think you are, the Pope oh right wait you are and so he ended up moving whole Papacy to France where he was, instead of going to it. So then future Popes were inspired to get even more picky and say not only do I want to stay in France but I want to move it over here, because I don’t like his original place, and so they actually had two serving Popes, duplicates, through a whole series of them and one line is now considered “illegitimate”, though anyone using the word “legitimate” to refer to any of this really must have a good sense of humor if you ask me.

    The end. The wine is excellent though I have to say, I knew it long before I knew what Châteauneuf was referring to.

  31. 31.

    Mustang Bobby

    October 6, 2012 at 8:01 am

    @Capt. Seaweed: Not quite, but they have some campgrounds with names that lean toward parody.

    Glad you caught the reference. Allan Sherman and his musical stylings are always on the edge of my referential humor.

  32. 32.

    jeffreyw

    October 6, 2012 at 8:01 am

    That’s the spirit!

  33. 33.

    jeffreyw

    October 6, 2012 at 8:05 am

    Are you blue, Honey?

  34. 34.

    Baud

    October 6, 2012 at 8:06 am

    a 5% chance of an Avignon Vichy Presidency set up by those who refuse to believe the election was lost.

    Better.

  35. 35.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    October 6, 2012 at 8:11 am

    @Mustang Bobby: I spent my youth wondering what “Lakass alligators” were. I don’t know why, something about the way he pronounced it, I just couldn’t get it.

  36. 36.

    MrSnrub

    October 6, 2012 at 8:13 am

    We are in Cape May, NJ on a 4 day weekend. Fabulous beach weather yesterday and today, tomorrow cold and rainy.

    Sadly, my project at work is behind schedule (mostly due to unrealistic expectations by senior management), so I’m spending some time working as well. At least I won’t have to spend any vacation days. Meh.

  37. 37.

    Evinfuilt

    October 6, 2012 at 8:15 am

    @Bill E Pilgrim:
    I’ll pass on that, probably taste a bit vinegary due to the 27% rotten grapes.

  38. 38.

    Evinfuilt

    October 6, 2012 at 8:15 am

    @Bill E Pilgrim:
    I’ll pass on that, probably taste a bit vinegary due to the 27% rotten grapes.

  39. 39.

    Thlayli

    October 6, 2012 at 8:15 am

    Citeh have the early lead.

  40. 40.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    October 6, 2012 at 8:16 am

    Hmm, wonder what I said to end up in moderation.

  41. 41.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    October 6, 2012 at 8:17 am

    @Baud: Really? Why?

    A country was invaded and occupied and installed a puppet government of locals, versus a schism involving people refusing to acknowledge the designated leader and setting up their own — the second of those seems closer to me. Actually in some ways De Gaulle’s government seems more of a parallel than Vichy, though none of it really matches. In fact Avignon Papacy only really works in the sense of the second line, the original one didn’t exist in parallel with another Papacy, they just moved it.

    Edit: Unless we’re thinking occupied by the Kochs, who installed their own government of collaborators. That works. Sort of.

  42. 42.

    Bill E Pilgrim

    October 6, 2012 at 8:18 am

    @Evinfuilt: You mean sour grapes? Well done.

    Oops, look at the time. Gotta go……

  43. 43.

    the Conster

    October 6, 2012 at 8:21 am

    @jeffreyw:

    That’s awesome. I love the internets.

  44. 44.

    chris y

    October 6, 2012 at 8:24 am

    An Avignon Presidency (which is a wonderful coinage) wouldn’t in practice involve secession or the formation of an alternate government. What would happen would be that a quorum of leading Republicans would denounce the election as invalid and that various county and city governments, and just possibly one or two states, would actively neglect to implement any legislation passed by the new Congress. Their response would be guided by a “shadow administration” of media pundits. Probably the federal government would decide not to send in the troops on the basis of it.

    The fun would start with the next Presidential election cycle.

  45. 45.

    Randy P

    October 6, 2012 at 8:32 am

    We already are getting the list of investigations. Besides voting, we’ll have poll fraud, labor statistics fraud, corruption by judges who side with the voters in voter ID hearings…

  46. 46.

    Baud

    October 6, 2012 at 8:35 am

    @Bill E Pilgrim:

    In part, it’s the Koch angle. Also, the word “schism” as applied to some alternative wingnut government, in my view, gives that endeavor too much legitimacy.

  47. 47.

    kay

    October 6, 2012 at 8:46 am

    We’ve already had bogus voter fraud investigations. The Bush Administration US Attorney scandal was grounded in pressuring prosecutors to find evidence of voter fraud. That’s what it was about.

    The attorney general stepped down. Quite the scandal.

    The larger scandal was that media dismissed the facts and downplayed the issue until it could no longer be ignored. The refrain from media and conservatives was “US attorneys serve at the pleasure of the President”. They repeated it like a chorus. Thankfully, Talking Points Memo pursued the story, but they were essentially alone in that pursuit.

    Maybe Weigel was on vacation that year, year and a half.

  48. 48.

    danielx

    October 6, 2012 at 8:52 am

    @Mustang Bobby:

    Well, the blue norther has finally blown completely through and the sky is clear, so I’d say it’s going to be a beautiful day for a wedding, barring the fact that it’s 41 degrees outside. May be just a little chilly if it’s an outside wedding but never mind, Mrs. x and I got married for the first time twenty six years ago on a day very like today and it was a wonderful day for a wedding and reception.

  49. 49.

    the Conster

    October 6, 2012 at 8:56 am

    @kay:

    Remember when Jay Carney, when he was blogging at Swampland, dismissed all the TPM stories as Bush Derangement Syndrome? Good times.

  50. 50.

    Gian

    October 6, 2012 at 9:05 am

    @Central Planning:
    Mitt has spent a fortune on it, I had his name pop up in advertising when I searched for instructions on the repair of a single handle moen shower faucet

    It’s the GOP obsession with “branding” I half expect them to do the value jet thing and rename themselves instead of jet blue, they’ll steal from alabama ’cause they got a name for the winners in the world.
    and ya know, alabama

  51. 51.

    hep kitty

    October 6, 2012 at 9:06 am

    smoking cessation, Day One

    can’t find remote, Day Five

  52. 52.

    kay

    October 6, 2012 at 9:06 am

    @the Conster:

    It was amazing and frightening to watch. The Bushies fed them one sentence “serve at the pleasure of the President” and they ALL bought that, no questions asked. Blanket amnesty on US attorney scandal. Done. Nothing to see here.
    I don’t know how many times I read it and heard it.
    Hundreds. Thousands.
    One sentence is all you need.

  53. 53.

    millekat

    October 6, 2012 at 9:07 am

    afaik the term “Avignon Presidency” was coined by Charlie Pierce (now over at Esquire, but at the time he had a perch at The Nation). He used it to refer to Dubya.

    Methinks it was the Presidency, not the occupant, who was being “held captive” like the Pope in Avignon. Trust Charlie to come up with the obscure historical reference.

  54. 54.

    millekat

    October 6, 2012 at 9:07 am

    afaik the term “Avignon Presidency” was coined by Charlie Pierce (now over at Esquire, but at the time he had a perch at The Nation). He used it to refer to Dubya.

    Methinks it was the Presidency, not the occupant, who was being “held captive” like the Pope in Avignon. Trust Charlie to come up with the obscure historical reference.

  55. 55.

    hep kitty

    October 6, 2012 at 9:11 am

    Initial reaction to right wing fuckery:

    SHUT THE FUCK UUUUUUP!

    After some pragmatic reflection:

    KEEP TALKING, KEEP TALKING. NEVER, EVER STOP TALKING!

  56. 56.

    burnspbesq

    October 6, 2012 at 9:15 am

    @c u n d gulag:

    What can they impeach him for?

    Benghazi will be the pretext. The real charge will be PWB.

  57. 57.

    hep kitty

    October 6, 2012 at 9:21 am

    The percentage of takers jumps from 30% to 60%

    Ryan’s consistent, repetitive, endless theme of “takers vs. makers”

    Over and over and over and over and over and over again.

    Circulate.

  58. 58.

    RaflW

    October 6, 2012 at 9:21 am

    @c u n d gulag:

    Will the investigations over voter fraud take place before or after they start impeachment hearings?

    That’s pretty much my take on it. If Obama wins, they’ll do to him – over what ever flim-flamery they can think of – what they did to Clinton.

    If by some miracle, or by stepping on their dicks, the GOPers loose the House, I’d not be shocked to see them lame-duck impeach him.

    No matter what, I can’t see it going thru the Senate, pre or post inauguration, so it will just be a play to the frothing base, but it’ll be quite a mega-drama of rightwing freakout proportions.

    If they can get this insane over a jobs report they don’t like, well, there is not such thing as peak wingnut.

  59. 59.

    MrSnrub

    October 6, 2012 at 9:23 am

    @JPL: To hell with Larry “wife beater” Jones. The only better ending to the game would have been a strike out on his final at bat.

    It’s truly a shame that such talent was wasted on a guy like that.

  60. 60.

    Gian

    October 6, 2012 at 9:24 am

    @RaflW: @RaflW:

    umm on the whole stepping on their own dicks thing. Do the GOP members have super short legs?

  61. 61.

    NotMax

    October 6, 2012 at 9:27 am

    But if they pack up all their toys and relocate from D.C., hookers will starve and be begging in the streets.

  62. 62.

    RaflW

    October 6, 2012 at 9:28 am

    @Baud:
    One does wonder if he was alluding to that but not wanting to Godwin the item.

  63. 63.

    mai naem

    October 6, 2012 at 9:28 am

    Romney’s got to be wasting a shitload of money on the intertubes. Every freaking search I have done has a Romney ad. Also too, I get Mormon ads especially on my phone. Gee, I wonder if the Mormon church and the Mittster collaborate? Wait, would Republicans screw around with campaign law?
    Anyhoo, I rarely go to conservative websites. General news sites – yeah, but not conservative. I don’t get that man Obama ads. About the only one I’ve gotten is the Obama/Michelle we’ll pay for the flight ads.

    I kinda wish the Dems would do what the Repubs are accusing them of doing and wish the Repubs wouldn’t do what they accuse the Dems of doing.

    Also, the Romney Indian advisor on Chris Hayes must a third rate advisor/surrogate. He’s truly awful. He’s been on before and he ain’t gotten much better except that now he opens his mouth to say stupid sheet, before he was too intimidated to open his mouth much.

  64. 64.

    the Conster

    October 6, 2012 at 9:29 am

    @kay:

    I know – it was a time of mass hypnosis and frightening as hell to watch as a rational sane person, since Bush was a demonstrable lying fool. What a fucked up few years that was, but, I guess the argument can be made that he made Obama possible.

  65. 65.

    mai naem

    October 6, 2012 at 9:33 am

    I want to start making a list of all the idiots and come up with something super snarky to send them via email or twitter, a few days after Obama wins. All the Hedge fund dicks, the guys who were at the 47 percent fundraiser, the CEOs, the ex-CEOs, the casino fools, the Hollywood conservatives. I know it’s very immature and adolescent.

  66. 66.

    R-Jud

    October 6, 2012 at 9:35 am

    @ColleenMary:

    My son and I started running together this summer (he’s 14), and today is our first 5k. He’ll be terrific, but my goals are 1) don’t fall down; and 2) please God don’t let me finish last out of 2000 people.

    You won’t. There are always people who walk 50% of it (or more). Hope you have fun, and that you do better than you thought you would.

  67. 67.

    Palli

    October 6, 2012 at 9:40 am

    There should be election fraud investigations- against the republicans. No witnesses should be allowed on small planes-ever.

  68. 68.

    Evolving Deep Southerner

    October 6, 2012 at 9:44 am

    @raven: Heh. I’d “commit” to about the first 10 minutes. Ain’t no waying I’m missing this one voluntarily. What do you truly think, Dawg? I’ve had a feeling of foreboding about it, honestly.

  69. 69.

    Kristine

    October 6, 2012 at 9:47 am

    @ColleenMary: Good luck!

  70. 70.

    Kay

    October 6, 2012 at 9:49 am

    @the Conster:

    US attorneys are so powerful, and what we are talking about here is an attempt to pursue politically-motivated federal prosecutions against (mostly minority) individuals. Felonies. Serious charges.

    Big yawn from major media. Where were libertarians? Incredible abusive use of police power to attempt to achieve a political end They yawned too. It still blows my mind that a (mostly) political site, TPM, was the one and only firewall.

  71. 71.

    redshirt

    October 6, 2012 at 9:49 am

    I don’t doubt the Repukes will try an impeachment. I just wonder on what pretext? They’d really have to dig deep to come up with anything remotely sane.

  72. 72.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    October 6, 2012 at 9:50 am

    Trying again.

    Animal Planet has this adorable kitten cam. Five kittens, one room, and a Capitol Building scratching post/play area that made me say WANT the minute I saw it.

    ETA: Looks like one of the links tripped me up the first time. First link goes to a UStream live cam, second to a pic of the scratching post.

  73. 73.

    dr. bloor

    October 6, 2012 at 9:50 am

    @NotMax:

    Hah. No evidence to suggest that Democrats can’t keep them gainfully employed. Although their incomes will probably fall off a bit due to lost up-charges for kink, wetsuit supplies, etc.

  74. 74.

    Lojasmo

    October 6, 2012 at 9:55 am

    single track run this morning, then scads of laundry and housekeeping that i neglected while wife was away at a conference. Shopping for food, also, too.

  75. 75.

    Or something like that.Suffern Ace

    October 6, 2012 at 9:55 am

    @Baud: Oh that’s an even worse analogy unless that fascist Harper invades us. I think they’ll try to turn one of their tax shelters into a tax fortress and escape to the cayman islands, Bermuda or the isle of man. They will field their own Olympic team and take the seat on the security council, but in a few years they’ll be forced to compete as American St, George’s.

  76. 76.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    October 6, 2012 at 9:56 am

    @the Conster:

    it was a time of mass hypnosis and frightening as hell to watch as a rational sane person, since Bush was a demonstrable lying fool. What a fucked up few years that was, but, I guess the argument can be made that he made Obama possible.

    I keep thinking of Babylon 5 whenever I think of those years, and the continuing madness of the right wing.

    “Among Minbari, one individual leads but we move as one. We are at our best when we move together, and we are at our worst when we move together. When our leader was killed by your people, we went mad together. We stayed mad for a very long time, a madness that almost consumed your world, until finally, before it was too late, we woke up together.”

  77. 77.

    raven

    October 6, 2012 at 9:58 am

    @Evolving Deep Southerner: You know how insane these games are. Richt’s teams have often played better on the road than at home. Bennett being out won’t help but I think we’re loaded at receiver and look for some more tight end action to take up the slack. Clowney is a beast but I also look forward to better D from us.

  78. 78.

    RaflW

    October 6, 2012 at 9:58 am

    @Gian: Y’know, even as I typed that, I realized that I’d just picked that up here at BJ without thinking much about it. Hadn’t used it before, so I’ll need a better dig.

    Though one thought is that they’re just so permanently limp…

  79. 79.

    Citizen_X

    October 6, 2012 at 10:01 am

    @Bill E Pilgrim:

    It’s actually one of the funnier episodes in European history

    Meaning that it can be described without using the phrase “mass graves.”

  80. 80.

    Schlemizel

    October 6, 2012 at 10:01 am

    @Gian:

    Very very short legs

  81. 81.

    arguingwithsignposts

    October 6, 2012 at 10:05 am

    @Svensker: I wasn’t commenting on the fact that it might have been an important part of western history. But it was the 1300s, and France, and the Pope. I could be wrong, but I would guess the percentages of people who would “get” the term at first glance would be on the low side. My point was more along the lines of “If you’re going to try to be cute with the (arguably) obscure historical fact, provide a link for the readers, so they can follow along. Not everyone has been reading the same historical novels.

    And thanks for the travel tip, seriously.

  82. 82.

    Sparrowgal

    October 6, 2012 at 10:08 am

    @Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: Saw this yesterday, and didn’t respond. At the time of your post, kittehs were in deep sleep mode. Checked in again later, and they were boinging off of the walls, climbing the Capital’s roof (really neat design), and having some dastardly cat fights. My guys looked up with “WTF?! – not us, Mom” expressions on their faces. This site is loads of fun!! Thanks for pointing it out.

  83. 83.

    SiubhanDuinne

    October 6, 2012 at 10:09 am

    @Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism:

    Kittens are sound asleep. I actually tapped on the screen of my iPad to try and get their attention, but it didn’t work.

  84. 84.

    arguingwithsignposts

    October 6, 2012 at 10:12 am

    @Citizen_X: ha!

  85. 85.

    amk

    October 6, 2012 at 10:14 am

    181 mil & 1.8 mil donors in September, baybee.

  86. 86.

    rlrr

    October 6, 2012 at 10:15 am

    @c u n d gulag:

    What can they impeach him for?

    Presidenting while black. But seriously, Republicans have always wanted to bring down a Democratic President as pay back for Nixon…

  87. 87.

    Anya

    October 6, 2012 at 10:16 am

    I finally watched that nasty old crank Jack Welch embarrassing himself on Hardball and CNN’s 360 with Anderson Cooper. Whenever someone challenged him he kept saying: “well they called Romney a liar,” and no one asked him “WTF does that have to do with you accusing the BLS and the Obama Admin of corruption?” What an insane man.

  88. 88.

    Xecky Gilchrist

    October 6, 2012 at 10:16 am

    I’d say there’s a 20% chance of a congressional investigation into vote fraud even if (against all likelyhood) Romney wins, because The Base will demand moar trophies.

    Yup. If the Gingrich Revolution and the Bush years taught us anything, it’s that wingnuts are terrible losers but they’re a million times worse as winners.

  89. 89.

    22over7

    October 6, 2012 at 10:17 am

    Woke up to an editorial in my local rag, railing about the debt and entitlements and sacrifice and if people have to work two or three jobs then they should just get over themselves and climb the ladder of success like real Americans.

    This editorial was written by a woman I know. She spent her career at a state-run university, her husband worked for the state government, and in her old age (of course she’s old) she receives state pensions, medicare, and social security.

    I am so sick and fucking tired of this shit that I want to drive over to her house and yell at her all day. But I won’t; she’s my best friend’s MIL, and it would cause him grief.

    Fucking teabaggers.

  90. 90.

    JoyfulA

    October 6, 2012 at 10:18 am

    @Kay: And TPM conducted the investigation mainly by reader contributions. The crowd-sourced muckraking was a beautiful thing to see.

  91. 91.

    the Conster

    October 6, 2012 at 10:19 am

    @Kay:

    Don’t forget (and I’m sure you don’t) that TPM was the first political site to use crowd sourcing to put the pieces together, and I believe that marks the end of gatekeeping information and having one firewall. Bad deeds like voter suppression come to light pretty quickly now, and although the media is still hard wired for Republicans, the Republicans’ continued self-deportation from reality puts more space between them and the right wing.

    Libertarians are still hopeless nose picking teenagers though.

  92. 92.

    amk

    October 6, 2012 at 10:19 am

    @Anya: Basically mittbot has only the washed out old coots like sununu and welch now having his back. None of the leading rethug luminaries seem to give a fvck about the bot.

  93. 93.

    R-Jud

    October 6, 2012 at 10:25 am

    @SiubhanDuinne: I just clicked over to that with the Child on my lap. She yelled, “Wake up kitties! Is you all right?”

  94. 94.

    Omnes Omnibus

    October 6, 2012 at 10:26 am

    @Gian: Detachable willy.

  95. 95.

    SiubhanDuinne

    October 6, 2012 at 10:26 am

    @MrSnrub:

    “Wife-beater”? Chipper cheated on his first wife and fathered a child, and he’s separated (or maybe divorced by now) from his second wfife, but I don’t remember anything about his being charged with spousal abuse or domestic violence. Not saying it didn’t happen, though, so could you please provide a link?

  96. 96.

    Mike in NC

    October 6, 2012 at 10:27 am

    Headline in local right wing newspaper: “October Surprise: Unemployment Rate Drops to 7.8%, Wages Up”

  97. 97.

    NotMax

    October 6, 2012 at 10:28 am

    @amk

    Noticed that Boehner has disappeared from facing the lights and cameras, suddenly becoming a non-speaking Speaker.

  98. 98.

    SiubhanDuinne

    October 6, 2012 at 10:36 am

    @R-Jud:

    To the tune of “Pinky and the Brain” —

    It’s kitteh and the Bean,
    Yes, kitteh and the Bean,
    One likes to sleep,
    The other, to scream….

  99. 99.

    Steeplejack

    October 6, 2012 at 10:39 am

    The kittens are having a tag-team wrestling match now, although it just rolled off camera.

  100. 100.

    raven

    October 6, 2012 at 10:43 am

    @SiubhanDuinne: Probably a dumb ass Mets fan confusing Chipper with Cox.

  101. 101.

    Anya

    October 6, 2012 at 10:44 am

    @amk: My favorite Bill Maher (major douche) New Rule segment he said this:

    We haven’t lost our freedoms. I’m pretty sure the only things Obama has killed are bin Laden and Donald Trump’s last shred of dignity.

    I might ad, he killed the dignity and credibility of a lot of “serious” people, who lost their shit completely when he won the first time. I am afraid they might commit massive suicide on national teevee when he wins a second term. There must be some sort of disease that turns (greedy fucks) generally sane people into raving lunatics. I think the CDC needs to look into this disease that’s spreading at an alarming rate.

  102. 102.

    the Conster

    October 6, 2012 at 10:45 am

    @NotMax:

    Congress is in recess, so there’s that. But even when they weren’t Boehner was useless, unless you’re really into crying orange men.

  103. 103.

    amk

    October 6, 2012 at 10:48 am

    @Anya:

    I am afraid hoping they might commit massive suicide on national teevee when he wins a second term.

    fix’t.

  104. 104.

    Mustang Bobby

    October 6, 2012 at 10:50 am

    @danielx: It’s currently 47F and clear; the wedding is outside at 4:30, so it will be in the mid-50’s, or so they say. A sweater under my blazer will suffice.

    The reception is inside the Canyon Inn.

  105. 105.

    divF

    October 6, 2012 at 10:50 am

    @hep kitty:
    A “Philadelphia Story” reference ? (the second, not the first).

  106. 106.

    NotMax

    October 6, 2012 at 10:52 am

    @the Conster

    Yes, they’re in recess, but if Boehner called a press event or even responded to questions in his own district, the media wouldn’t say “Get back to us later.”

    Yes, he is a piece of work indeed, but he holds the position and is still 2nd in line to the presidency. His apparent absence from the 3-ring circus of the elections is telling.

  107. 107.

    lamh35

    October 6, 2012 at 10:54 am

    Whoa, have you seen the OfA and Dems September fundraising numbers! I’d heard $150 but the actual amount is $181 mill total & all from donors who gave less than $250. Which means that can still give more in this last month right! Question, with the new Citizens United world, can any other Dems compete with the Obama campaigns ability to get their supporters to contribute? I adj because thinking about 2016, other than maybe Hilary who else could raise the amount of funds needed to compete against the Superpacs?

    http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/obama-camp-announces-record-fundraising-in-september?m=1

  108. 108.

    the Conster

    October 6, 2012 at 10:57 am

    @NotMax:

    Well, those bottles of Scotch and packs of Marlboros aren’t going to drink and smoke themselves.

  109. 109.

    NotMax

    October 6, 2012 at 10:57 am

    @divF

    I believe the first was the dialogue written for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern in Shakespeare’s first draft of Hamlet.

    Or not.

  110. 110.

    MrSnrub

    October 6, 2012 at 11:18 am

    @raven: Not a dumb-ass, not a Mets fan, yes, I mistook him for Bobby Cox. My bad.

  111. 111.

    mandarama

    October 6, 2012 at 11:18 am

    @Mustang Bobby: You gave me a really happy memory with that offhand quote. My dad used to sing that song to us when we were kids, and since I have a little brother…well, the jokes wrote themselves. “He’s just like all of us except his bed is wetter.”

  112. 112.

    SiubhanDuinne

    October 6, 2012 at 11:21 am

    @raven: You’re probably right.

  113. 113.

    mandarama

    October 6, 2012 at 11:24 am

    I posted some here in 2008 and even had my sweet Golden make the pet pic parade, but have kept lurking in the years since. Now that we’re looking at an even crazier election–which I truly didn’t believe possible after Sarah Palin was foisted on our national consciousness, but that’s what I get for believing in Peak Wingnut–I’m even more grateful for Cole and the snarling mass of vitriolic jackals. I aspire to be a vitriolic jackal.

    The weekend holds lots of quiet because my husband has taken our two boys camping. I hardly know what to do with myself, so I’m standing around thinking “why the hell can’t you think of anything fun to do, idiot?”

  114. 114.

    MrSnrub

    October 6, 2012 at 11:29 am

    @SiubhanDuinne: I was wrong, and I apologize.

    That said, Larry has a google problem. Google ‘Chipper Jones Wife’ and ‘Chipper Jones Wife Beater’ and ‘Chipper Jones Wife Abuse’ show up as the first two options.

  115. 115.

    Capt. Seaweed

    October 6, 2012 at 11:57 am

    @Mustang Bobby:
    My folks were big fans Allan Sherman. As is the stereotype today, where every liberal has one gay or one black friend, Sherman was my WASB parents one Jewish friend even if they only knew him by his records. Some of my first cogent memories are of Hello Muddah, Hello Faddah.

    Sherman’s next door neighbor in LA was Harpo Marx. This, I did not know. The internet teaches us much. Cherish it always.

  116. 116.

    Evolving Deep Southerner

    October 6, 2012 at 11:58 am

    @raven: Mrs. Deep Southerner (a Florida grad, I think I’ve mentioned that in the past) raised a good point in response to my foreboding. South Carolina, while a helluva team, is really no better than they were last year. They’ve got Lattimore and Clowney, yes, but do they really have any more formidable weapons they didn’t have last year?

    Georgia, on the other hand, has a shit-ton more talent than last year. And you remember last year’s game.

    So in that spirit, I proceed into the afternoon.

  117. 117.

    Evolving Deep Southerner

    October 6, 2012 at 12:02 pm

    @Evolving Deep Southerner: And Corso just picked South Carolina, so we’ve got that going for us.

  118. 118.

    Judas Escargot, Acerbic Prophet of the Mighty Potato God

    October 6, 2012 at 12:03 pm

    @hep kitty:

    Ryan’s consistent, repetitive, endless theme of “takers vs. makers”

    Ive got $200 for the first person to have the guts to remind Ryan that he’s never had a ‘makers’ job in his entire life, on camera. Worth it just for the reaction shot.

    Sadly, NaGaHappen.

  119. 119.

    Evolving Deep Southerner

    October 6, 2012 at 12:04 pm

    Hey, how would a college football open thread sound? I know Mr. Cole’s somewhere watching the ‘eers, but can one of you other front-pagers oblige?

  120. 120.

    dr. bloor

    October 6, 2012 at 12:05 pm

    @MrSnrub:

    Google ‘Chipper Jones Wife’ and ‘Chipper Jones Wife Beater’ and ‘Chipper Jones Wife Abuse’ show up as the first two options.

    Both being searches that were suggested to you by Google, no doubt.

  121. 121.

    cckids

    October 6, 2012 at 12:09 pm

    @Mustang Bobby:

    Here’s hoping I don’t start a bunch of family feuds with some off-hand remark about the 47% and Big Bird

    I always tell my kids, “You don’t want to be the one who STARTS a fight. Be the one to finish it.”

  122. 122.

    raven

    October 6, 2012 at 12:17 pm

    @MrSnrub: That’s the difference between knowing what you are talking about and relying on the google to make a point.

  123. 123.

    grandpa john

    October 6, 2012 at 12:26 pm

    @Evolving Deep Southerner: Heh, as a Clemson grad, I’m hoping they both somehow find away to lose.

  124. 124.

    charles pierce

    October 6, 2012 at 12:39 pm

    Not for nothing but “Avignon Presidency” was mine, and it referred to the late reign of C-Plus Augustus. Just sayin’.

  125. 125.

    John

    October 6, 2012 at 12:42 pm

    @arguingwithsignposts: I’d think there’s at least a 20% chance that, if Obama wins, the Republicans will still control the House.

  126. 126.

    Evolving Deep Southerner

    October 6, 2012 at 12:50 pm

    @grandpa john: grampa john, I taught at and worked for Clemson for eight years, and just left this past December. I’ll tell you, I like Dabo. He’s an odd little man, roosterishly excitable. But he’s coached the hell out of that team. And they got him for a song, salary-wise.

    If you want to see how Tech fans feel about the game, you should go to Stingtalk and hunt up the thread “Post A Picture Of Our Secondary.” I laughed until I couldn’t breathe. You guys should embarrass them.

    Go Tigers! Win it for grampa john! And grampa john, I hope you are in turn pulling for my Dawgs against the chickens.

  127. 127.

    James E. Powell

    October 6, 2012 at 12:58 pm

    @Kay:

    Public knowledge of a US attorney’s investigation along with the cost of defending it can ruin any person or company. And, no, you do not get your money back if you are acquitted or they drop the investigation.

  128. 128.

    J R in WV

    October 6, 2012 at 1:01 pm

    @22over7:

    You need to write a letter to the editor spelling out exactly why the editorial writer (your friend’s MIL?) is a hypocrite. If it causes friction in your friend’s family, that the fault of the hypocrite, not your fault for pointing out the obvious facts.

    I’m sick of people taking all the federal aid they can get and then attacking the government for helping other people. The red states are takers – they take way more than their share of federal funding, and they pay far less in taxes than blue states.

    Yet they criticize Democrats for trying to provide a safety net for people who have tragic events in their lives and trying to provide a path to success for people without a family history of success, even while they apply for federal grants for fish hatcheries so they can continue their fly-fishing for trout hobbies.

    These people are despicable! Makers my ass!

    They need to have their lack of intelligence, lack of morality, lack of honesty, and hypocrisy splashed in their faces daily, until they learn different!

    Argh!

    Thanks for the opportunity to rant, I needed to get that out early today, before the football consumes me.

  129. 129.

    phoebes-in-santa fe

    October 6, 2012 at 1:24 pm

    @Capt. Seaweed: What’s “WASB”?

  130. 130.

    Amusing Alias

    October 6, 2012 at 1:36 pm

    If the Repubs win both the House and Senate, is there anyone, R or D, who doubts that Obama and Biden will be impeached, convicted, and removed from office before January 31, 2013; and John Boehner (or possibly a new Speaker of the House such as Eric Cantor) will be President of the United States?

    This is, of course, making the natural assumption that several Dems will vote with the Repubs to demonstrate to the press and their corporate sponsors that they are “serious” people.

    Anybody see any reason that the shameless won’t act shamelessly?

  131. 131.

    hep kitty

    October 6, 2012 at 1:46 pm

    @Judas Escargot, Acerbic Prophet of the Mighty Potato God: Maybe it will come up in the next debate which happens to be a town hall format :)

  132. 132.

    Senator Blutarsky

    October 6, 2012 at 1:54 pm

    Conservatives (of whom I am one) dismayed by the misleadingly bullish headline unemployment number should focus less on the probability that the numbers were cooked, which is quite low, and more on the probability of mean reversion in the November number, which is high.

    And they should really avoid associating their own credibility with that of Jack Welch, who in his own memoir offered evidence that GE routinely engaged in what in boardrooms is called “earnings management,” and out of boardrooms is called “fraud.”

    http://senatorjohnblutarsky.blogspot.com/2012/10/you-really-dont-want-to-hitch-your.html

  133. 133.

    the Conster

    October 6, 2012 at 1:54 pm

    @charles pierce:

    Just curious Charlie – have you used any Balloon Juice memes in your work? There are some serious snarksters here, and I’ve made some serious points using the funny comments here, although with your high profile I guess you have to be way more careful…..

  134. 134.

    Evolving Deep Southerner

    October 6, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    @Senator Blutarsky: Is this the Senator from Get The Picture?

    ETA – If that’s a side gig, you are truly multi-talented. If you are the GTP Senator, don’t worry, I won’t mention you Juicing or moonlighting over there. If you’re not, well, nevermind any of this.

  135. 135.

    1badbaba3

    October 6, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    @charles pierce: Perhaps you imagined this, sir. According to the other side, no such presidency ever existed. So sorry.

  136. 136.

    mandarama

    October 6, 2012 at 2:28 pm

    @Senator Blutarsky:

    I’m sorry, I really did want to read your linked article out of my deep and abiding respect for Faber College and your magnificent toga performance, but I got to this part:

    “One good rule in the blogosphere is: when in doubt, trust Megan McArdle.”

    Then I laughed so hard I fell off my chair. Prime satire is prime.

  137. 137.

    Mike G

    October 6, 2012 at 4:00 pm

    @ColleenMary:

    Dead Last is better than Did Not Finish, which easily trumps Did Not Start.

  138. 138.

    Capt. Seaweed

    October 6, 2012 at 4:04 pm

    @phoebes-in-santa fe:
    WASB – White Anglo Saxon Baptist =)

  139. 139.

    Capt. Seaweed

    October 6, 2012 at 4:18 pm

    @Amusing Alias:

    If the Repubs win both the House and Senate, is there anyone, R or D, who doubts that Obama and Biden will be impeached, convicted, and removed from office before January 31, 2013…

    No offence, AA, but your assumption is ludicrous. On what grounds do you base your thesis? I have always been under the assumption you needed to commit, ya know, an actual crime to be removed from the Presidency. Can you point one out that qualifies?

  140. 140.

    Barry

    October 6, 2012 at 4:47 pm

    @Capt. Seaweed: “No offence, AA, but your assumption is ludicrous. On what grounds do you base your thesis? I have always been under the assumption you needed to commit, ya know, an actual crime to be removed from the Presidency. Can you point one out that qualifies?”

    Pick something, call it a crime. Make sh*t up.

  141. 141.

    Capt. Seaweed

    October 6, 2012 at 5:28 pm

    @Barry:
    Again, I’m just about positive that “Makin’ shit up” isn’t going to cut it when it comes to impeachment, not even when one-quarter of our congress is insane. It’s not like there was a surreptitious blowjob to lie about, well, not that we know of anyways.

    And I didn’t really see where The Big Dog’s trouser troubles were impeachable anyway. Like, everybody loves a big, sloppy blowjob, amirite? To give AND to receive. =)

  142. 142.

    Ken_L

    October 6, 2012 at 7:01 pm

    @Anya: Welch got canonised by American business schools decades ago as the greatest management genius of all time and it obviously went to his head. But when people pay you hundreds of thousands just to hear the same speech you’ve given 149 other times already, it’s natural to start believing you must be an intellectual giant beyond compare.

  143. 143.

    fuckwit

    October 6, 2012 at 7:11 pm

    I think this is the most dangerous and scary election we’ve had in years, particularly because, not only is one side so wildly unhinged, but somehow (according to polls showing Obama and RMoney in such a tight race) they represent almost exactly 50% of the electorate. How is that even possible, that 50% of the people voting could be voting for fucking lunatics?

    This is a frightening time for democracy. Truth, science, rationality, mathematics, and common sense all seem to be becoming irrelevant. If those get shitcanned, you can’t have a functioning democracy.

    This country is a rationalist, Enlightenment-era experiment, which has survived reasonably well, but that can only operate with a rational, enlightened electorate.

  144. 144.

    Triassic Sands

    October 7, 2012 at 5:03 am

    …the last time that got tried around here it didn’t work out so well…

    They’re still fighting it 150 years later — racists don’t know when to give up.

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