Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

Happy indictment week to all who celebrate!

Glad to see john eastman going through some things.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

Just because you believe it, that doesn’t make it true.

Too often we hand the biggest microphones to the cynics and the critics who delight in declaring failure.

If you are in line to indict donald trump, stay in line.

In my day, never was longer.

He really is that stupid.

Second rate reporter says what?

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

Putin dreamed of ending NATO, and now it’s Finnish-ed.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

We’ll be taking my thoughts and prayers to the ballot box.

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

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

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread

Reader Interactions

88Comments

  11. 11.

    Mike in NC

    Freakin’ cold here the past couple days. We go to Tampa at the end of the month and looking forward to it.

  12. 12.

    Todd

    You are allowed to forget long pants there. Which means you’ll show up with 2 pairs of overalls, one canvas coverall and a pair of jeans.

    With long underwear.

  13. 13.

    Tractarian

    The US Anti-Doping Agency released its evidence against Lance Armstrong today. The affidavits from ex-teammates are damning. Among the revelations, is that Lance threatened and intimidated Tyler Hamilton after learning that Hamilton had been contacted by federal agents:

    120. On June 11, 2011, I traveled to Aspen, Colorado to attend an event organized by Outside magazine to which I had been invited. Before traveling to Aspen I had actually checked Lance’s schedule online just to confirm that he was not going to be in town and found that he was supposed to be at an event in Tennessee.
    121. Part of the Outside magazine event in Aspen involved an afternoon bike ride. After the ride a group of us went to the restaurant Cache Cache for dinner.
    122. During dinner that evening I got up from [the] dinner table and walked to the back of the restaurant to use the facilities.
    123. I was returning to our table when a hand reached out and forcibly stopped me. It was Lance and all of a sudden he was in my face, saying sarcastically, Hey Tyler, how’s it going? In comments punctuated with expletives, Lance asked, “How much did 60 Minutes pay you? How much are they fucking paying you?
    124. He said, “When you’re on the witness stand, we are going to fucking tear you apart. You are going to look like a fucking idiot.” Lance continued, “I’m going to make your life a living . . . fucking . . . hell.”

    Crazy stuff.

  19. 19.

    Brian S

    Have a meal and some beer at Brother Tucker’s just up the road in Pompano Beach. Their soup is killer.

  20. 20.

    PurpleGirl

    Have fun in Ft. Lauderdale, JC. The snowbirds from Canada should be starting their winter migration by that point. You’ll see signs around places in English and French. There’s a touristy boardwalk area with food stands and restaurants that’s really neat — not upscale but good food, good place for an evening out. And again, with French signage. (I forget the name of boardwalk but my friends took me there on one of my trips to South Florida.)

    I’m envious. I liked South Florida when my friends lived in Boca Raton and I took trains to Miami and Ft. Lauderdale for day trips. (Also went to Ft. Lauderdale for a couple of science fiction conventions.)

  22. 22.

    Anne Laurie

    You bringing Lily, Rosie, and the Morkies along, too?

    Don’t envy you Florida — I had to be in Miami once in November, and “85 degrees, 85% humidity” is not my favorite weather — but I’m glad you’re going to be spending time with your friends!

  26. 26.

    lacp

    I’m hoping to be in Sarasota for Christmas (will know in a week or so). Have fun down there….you may not want to come back.

  27. 27.

    SectionH

    Go John! Have a wonderful time! Just be careful. I’m superstitious about some things, and I srsly try to avoid weather bragging, because it will always come back to bite me sometime. YMMV of course.

  28. 28.

    KG

    Y’all will be freezing while I am on a beach.

    I live in Southern California, if by “freezing” you mean “enjoying another day of blue skies and a temperature in the mid-60s to low=70s”, then yeah, I’ll be “freezing”

  30. 30.

    NotMax

    So Mitt last week gave a decent audition for the part of Harold Hill in The Music Man: antic, overbearing and fast-talking whatever untruths and half-truths he deemed would advance his agenda with his audience.

    At this point, I’m fully expecting Ryan to do a turn as J. Pierrepont Finch in How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying tomorrow.

  32. 32.

    Mike Goetz

    NBC/Marist polls coming tomorrow will show:

    Virginia: 48/47 Romney over Obama
    Florida: 48/47 Obama over Romney
    Ohio: 51/45 Obama over Romney

    Likely voters, taken Oct. 7-9

    Not bad.

  33. 33.

    PaulW

    @Spaghetti Lee:

    If Obama loses, there won’t BE a Fort Lauderdale!

    Possibly true. Romney and the GOP will most likely outsource all of Florida to South America.

    Damn you, Bugs Bunny, for their inspiration…

  34. 34.

    dance around in your bones

    Watch out for those palmetto bugs. Other than that, have fun. Nice to see you come out of your shell!

    Not that there’s anything wrong with The Shell.

  36. 36.

    PaulW

    @Mike Goetz:

    NBC/Marist polls coming tomorrow will show:
    Virginia: 48/47 Romney over Obama
    Florida: 48/47 Obama over Romney
    Ohio: 51/45 Obama over Romney

    …why the hell is con artist Romney still getting 45-47 percent of likely voters? Haven’t y’all learned yet that Mitt will say ANYTHING in such pandering, deceitful ways that would insult the intelligence of everyone actually paying attention?!

  37. 37.

    ShadeTail

    Y’all will be freezing while I am on a beach.

    Depends on your point of reference for “freezing”. For example, in Southern California where I am, the rocks won’t be melting. So it’s definitely below the freezing point of lava.

    BTW, watch out for dipshits who decide to “stand their ground”.

  38. 38.

    SectionH

    @KG:

    I refrained from pointing that out, because I really really do not like to tempt the weather ghods. But I did more or less think the same thing,

  40. 40.

    jwb

    @PaulW: If Romney keeps his base enthused, his floor is in the 45-47% range. That floor only collapses if the turnout of his voters is depressed. That’s one reason that freaking out is about the worst thing our side can do, since it ramps up the enthusiasm of the other side, who still basically don’t like their guy and are starting to turn on him again as he attempts to occupy the middle ground and sounds like he doesn’t know what the fuck he believes on abortion, etc. No matter what happens at the debate tomorrow night, I just hope our side remembers to hammer the right guy when it’s done.

  42. 42.

    Hill Dweller

    @Mike Goetz:Virginia:

    48/47 Romney over Obama
    Florida: 48/47 Obama over Romney
    Ohio: 51/45 Obama over Romney

    With the exception of the Virginia poll, they don’t look all that different than the pre-debate polls.

    Those numbers are a snapshot of what is hopefully Obama’s worst week of the campaign. If he has a solid debate, and repeatedly hammers Willard’s lying from now until the election, I think he can gain a bit more breathing room in VA and FL.

  43. 43.

    Mike Goetz

    @Hill Dweller:

    My thought exactly. For a nadir, these numbers are not scrotem-tightening.

    Romney getting jerked around on abortion today probably ends the “Moderate Mitt” ruse too.

  44. 44.

    burnspbesq

    Sandy Levinson can stick his theories about the anti-democratic Electoral College where the sun don’t shine. The Electoral College is going to save the country next month.

  49. 49.

    KG

    oh, in case no one has noticed it, the google images search for “completely wrong” is rather priceless… saw it on Sully a little bit ago

  50. 50.

    amk

    @Mike Goetz: The money quote

    One factor that may have pulled the party ID more heavily toward Democrats in this poll was early voting. One-in-five respondents (18 percent) said they have already voted, and, of those, almost two-thirds (63 percent) said they voted for Obama.

  51. 51.

    Hill Dweller

    @Mike Goetz: I’m hoping Willard shamelessly using a dead SEAL to help his campaign will get more national attention. Maddow had a clip of him saying the SEAL running back to help the ambassador was analogous to him coming to rescue of the country. He really is a piece of shit.

    It appears the House wingnuts exposed classified CIA operations in Libya while trying to attack Obama. That should get more attention.

  52. 52.

    James E. Powell

    On Rachel Maddow tonight, she played video of Romney talking about his meeting with Glen Doherty , the Navy SEAL who lost his life in the attack on the consulate in Lybia. Then she played an audio of Mr Doherty’s friend, who was there, that makes it pretty plain that Romney’s story is completely made-up bullshit. And then Mr Doherty’s mother condemned Romney and his use of her late son in very strong terms.

    Can you imagine if a Democrat did anything like that? It would be the only story for 72 hours.

  53. 53.

    Hill Dweller

    @Mike Goetz: I think they had Obama up 2 in FL before the debate. Virginia is the only place Willard closed the gap, but NBC sucks, so it isn’t surprising.

    Again, I’m hoping this is Obama’s low point.

  56. 56.

    Mike Goetz

    @Hill Dweller:

    I can’t see things getting worse. The backlash to the debate hysteria is starting, and a lot of Dems seem to be somewhat contritely regaining their balance. I think we are ready to put this foolishness behind us.

  57. 57.

    Mike Goetz

    And FWIW, Detroit News has Obama up 49-42 in Michigan.

    Tomorrow might be an up day for us (pending Quinnipiac).

  59. 59.

    The Dangerman

    @Tractarian:

    The US Anti-Doping Agency released its evidence against Lance Armstrong today … Crazy stuff.

    Did you happen to catch the ESPN documentary on Ben Johnson? No doubt he was using (he admitted it), but it looks like his post-race drink at the 88 games may have been spiked from someone affiliated with the Carl Lewis camp. Lewis was probably also using, probably from before 84, but was smart enough not to get caught.

    I love sports, but there is so much cheating … I saw things at a P-12 school that would shock you (it wasn’t USC, which shouldn’t shock anyone). It’s really rather sad all around.

  60. 60.

    Hill Dweller

    @Mike Goetz: The Detroit News also has an article on Willard’s camp saying they don’t need Michigan to win the election. I think they’ve already given up on PA and MI.

    I can’t see this renewed push in Ohio working out for Willard.

  62. 62.

    jharp

    @The prophet Nostradumbass:

    Can’t agree with you but an American Leaguer all the way. Cleveland Indians and all.

    Yankees game pissed me off too.

    Did dig on the Reds losing to be one away from being swept at home though.

  63. 63.

    TexasMango

    @Hill Dweller: If he were smart he’d pull out of OH and put those resources in VA, NC and FL. His problem with OH is that people are already voting and Obama’s lead was too big for him to seriously cut into. If they stay in OH that means that they have figured that they can’t win without it, which is good for our side.

  64. 64.

    The Dangerman

    @TexasMango:

    My money is still on Obama winning VA.

    I assume the polling is a binary (BO or MR)…

    …but isn’t Goode on the ticket in VA? A little ratfucking payback for Nader would be sweet.

  66. 66.

    TexasMango

    @The Dangerman: Last poll I saw that included Goode, he took from MR. That was a while ago so I’m not sure now.

    Maybe someone from VA could tell us what’s going on.

  69. 69.

    andrewtna

    You should really go to Greek Islands while you’re around. Skip dessert and go to Kilwins.

  70. 70.

    YellowJournalism

    @gwangung: Knowing that Ichiro is on that team is like hearing the nice boy you broke up with left you for a stuck-up mean girl.

  75. 75.

    Yutsano

    @gwangung: You do have that redeeming quality this is true. At least until I get my CPA cert from Cal (if all goes well this year) then there might be issues. :)

    @YellowJournalism: I’m from a blended family. Thanksgiving will be entertaining as my aunt the UW trained doctor will be there. At least Apple Cup is in Pullman this year.

    PS: How was your Turkey Day?

  76. 76.

    max

    @TexasMango: Maybe someone from VA could tell us what’s going on.

    Hard to say. Here, Obama had the jump (if you count yard signs) prior to early September, and then it looks like Romney pushed out his yard signs and had the advantage (locally) in an area where McCain won fairly big. Thing is, the signage and stickers are not what they were four year ago.

    My sense is that VA is very much a state with a lot of undecideds – older people who want that Social Security and Medicare and who want to keep their jobs, so Moderate Mitt, Douchebag-at-large was fairly appealing, particularly when they’re queuing up the advertising B-52’s. That said, I don’t see any reason for it to stick.

    Near as I can tell, the sequence went: Mitt lies a lot, Obama sounds tired, so the R’s are happy to that Mitt showed that (you know), and the upper-crust D’s decided to take up writing angst poetry, so the rank and file D’s were somewhat disheartened, and then the polls piled on, and in places where there isn’t much advertising, Mitt got a bounce. In the swing states, not so much, but enough to move the needle a little, particularly in graycoat land.

    All that goes away tomorrow, because we’ll have a new narrative to replace ‘slit my wrists’/’gloat idiotically’, regardless of who gets declared the victor.

    I think the upshot here, is that in VA, Mitt’s actual economic uh, ‘program’ such as it is, is even less popular than blackitude. If something Obama did himself hurt him in the debate, it was with all the deficit-reduction Social Security crap.

    It would be good to pin Ryan on his voucher system.

    max
    [‘Things go up, and then they go down again, but whatever happens, Mitt Romney is still a jackass douchebag.’]

  78. 78.

    Mnemosyne

    @ruemara:

    Which part is that? We’ve been doing work with some folks in San Francisco and they told us back in June that they had had to break out their winter coats for their morning commutes.

    Of course, that’s the claim made by the most famous quote Mark Twain never said.

  80. 80.

    Mustang Bobby

    John, Thanksgiving here in South Florida is nice; the weather should be settled into the dry season, which means 70’s and 80’s with a touch of humidity and a breeze to keep it at bay.

  81. 81.

    Arclite

    This coming out of the shell shit has perks. Y’all will be freezing while I am on a beach.

    Y’know what else has its perks? Livin’ on da island. So, enjoy dude! What we get to year ’round. (even though we pay through the nose for it)

  85. 85.

    Ronzoni Rigatoni

    Ha! Screw those polls. Ol’ Mom and I just voted straight Dem here in sunny FL. Absentee ballots are great. Wish I had more of ’em.

  86. 86.

    PreservedKillick

    There’s a touristy boardwalk area with food stands and restaurants that’s really neat—not upscale but good food, good place for an evening out

    That’s probably Hollywood Beach you are referring to – and it is a lot of fun in a laid back kind of way.

  87. 87.

    YellowJournalism

    @Yutsano: Sorry, had to head to bed last night. My Canadian turkey day was quiet. Hubby and I made dinner together for our boys, and we spent the evening relaxing as a family.

  88. 88.

    Denali

    Florida sounds like a plan for turkey day! Enjoy the beach. I like Delray Beach – just north of Fort Lauderdale and less crowded.

Comments are closed.