Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

Also, are you sure you want people to rate your comments?

Giving in to doom is how authoritarians win.

Republicans cannot even be trusted with their own money.

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

I swear, each month of 2025 will have its own history degree.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

When you’re in more danger from the IDF than from Russian shelling, that’s really bad.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

You cannot shame the shameless.

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you do not.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls 2 years from now.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Books are my comfort food!

Washington Post Catch and Kill, not noticeably better than the Enquirer’s.

Prediction: the gop will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Various things

Various things

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* Shut up, Ruy. If the GOP wants to unskew itself into a permanent minority then maybe just let them.

* Speaking of race! It turns out that being racist does not necessarily make you join the tea party. On the other hand, joining the tea party does make you more racist. To be fair, you meet more minorities at an average Salt Lake City country club. The tea party is to healthy attitudes towards minorities as long-term solitary confinement is to cocktail party skills. Social science research, so the ususal caveats apply.

* Write your own metaphor: a 250-HP Nissan GTS-T (adduming they did not modify it, which they probably did) takes on a mobility scooter in the quarter mile. Just watch.

I would embed the vid but I cannot find embed code on my iPad. Any front pagers who can figure it out, feel free to add it to this post.

* Chat about whatever.

Reader Interactions

51Comments

  1. 1.

    lamh36

    Trayvon Martin’s parents and their attorney are on Rev Al’s Politics Nation right now. Not sure if I can watch it without being mad, sad or pissed

  5. 5.

    kindness

    Something on the site is still buggy. I’m getting a note popping up about an Adobe script running which makes transmission run slowly. I’ve canceled the script twice today.

  6. 6.

    Elizabelle

    Public service announcement:

    Sharknado will reair on the Syfy channel at seven Eastern today.

    That’s all I got.

  7. 7.

    brettvk

    @kindness: My beef is with the new coupon popup crap that keeps shoehorning faux links into posts. May the coder choke on his/her own ads.

  8. 8.

    Emerald

    Worry not about Ruy. The wingers aren’t reading his blog.

    They disapprove of reality and can’t understand why it keeps biting them.

  9. 9.

    lamh36

    @princss6 2m
    Sybrina Fulton: They did not see #Trayvon as their son. He was minding his own business, he wasn’t doing anything wrong. #PoliticsNation

  10. 10.

    lamh36

    gn ‏@GN192 32s
    The contrast between Sybrina Fulton/Tracy Martin versus the Zimmermans is almost comic book level of good versus evil. Wow what a contrast.

  11. 11.

    Rich2506

    General gripe about a wingnut who makes comments on YouTube. Media Matters put up a YouTube on Rush Limbaugh saying racist things, so we got lots of wingnutty comments defending him.
    Someone responded to my comment and used my specific name to do so, but he did something to his comment that makes it refer to his own YouTube account! So he responds to my comment, but no one can see my comment as his comment refers only to his own section! What the fuck’s up with THAT shit?!?!!?

  12. 12.

    lamh36

    @chrislhayes 11m
    From the beginning the Martin/Fulton family has conducted themselves with unfathomable grace and dignity.

  13. 13.

    MikeJ

    1) While reading thinkprogress, I saw a pic of Keith Olberman from his ESPN days.
    2) A month ago a sat down and watched all 45 episodes of the 1998 Aaron Sorkin sitcom/dramady Sportsnight.
    3) I just caught the second season premier of Aaron Sorkin’s the Newsroom. While watching it so soon after Sportsnight I kept saying, “ok that’s the Jeremy character, that’s the Natalie character…”

    4) It didn’t dawn on me until this moment that both shows are based on the same real life person. I mean I knew each one was, I just never put it together.

  15. 15.

    lamh36

    ‏@GottaLaff 3m
    “How you go from 2nd degree to Not Guilty at all troubles me.” #Trayvon ‘s dad on @TheRevAl show

  16. 16.

    NotMax

    Speaking of Nissan, they are resuscitating the moribund Datsun nameplate, beginning in India.

    In keeping with the ‘various things’ descriptor, what else?

    Oh, the execrable Tachmonites of Westboro are still at it, but it is likely that Canada will quash them a second time.

    Pilgrimage from your parents’ basement! Snack and save! The Pope now offers time off from Purgatory via the internet.

  18. 18.

    Bubblegum Tate

    Link in the second bullet point is the same as the one in the first bullet point.

  19. 19.

    Emerald

    @JPL: He said last night that he was going to try to find a home for sweet little Snowbell, the 12-year old kitty he originally went to see in the shelter.

    So he may be out doing that.

  20. 20.

    lamh36

    Tracy Martin and Sybrina Fulton describing the difficulty of having to sit in a courtroom with their son’s murderer. @TheRevAl

  21. 21.

    PsiFighter37

    Back in lower 48 today…spending a couple days at my buddy’s place in Chapel Hill. Decompress a little before going back to the meat grinder of Manhattan.

  23. 23.

    lamh36

    gn ‏@GN192 13s
    “What God is *he* serving?” @SybrinaFulton on Zimmerman calling his murder of Trayvon “God’s plan.”

    Trayvon Martins dad seems to be holding back tears as they talk about seeing the crime photos in the courtroom

  24. 24.

    SIA

    @lamh36: Thats what I want to know. One juror leaning toward 2nd degree, two towards manslaughter, and they come up with acquittal!???! The hell!

  25. 25.

    The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik

    I honestly don’t think I could watch the parents’ interview. I saw a picture of Tracy Martin’s face from it and…god. It’s just haunting.

  26. 26.

    Violet

    @lamh36: Saw their interview on the Today Show this morning. They were so dignified. They said they’d started the Trayvon Martin Foundation. I hope it does a lot of good for people so their son’s name will live on in a positive way.

    Speaking of the GOP and minority voters, thought this was interesting:

    Hispanic media to GOP: “Cuidado!”: If you want to see how big of a potential problem Republicans have with Spanish-language media right now in this immigration debate, look no further than what Univision TV anchor Jorge Ramos said earlier this week. All House Republicans have to do is vote “against immigration reform or boycott the process… That’s enough to make your candidate lose the presidential election in the United States in 2016,” Ramos wrote (translated into English).

    And this part is the MSNBC First Read commentary on it, but I thought this was also interesting:

    Whether all Republican strategists are ready to admit it or not, this is damaging to the Republican brand, especially since the Spanish-language media so aggressively covers the immigration debate. While many conservatives have convinced themselves there’s no real political penalty in killing the Senate immigration compromise (or something similar) as far as 2014 is concerned, it could leave a long-term mark. Ramos’ warning shot is something that shouldn’t be ignored and simply seen through the prism of “biased media.”

    Republicans are clueless about Spanish language media. I bet they don’t even know they cover the immigration debate. Heck, they may not even know they cover news. Nothing but telenovelas, in the GOP mind.

    Edit: Forgot link: http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/17/19521027-first-thoughts-hispanic-media-to-gop-cuidado?lite

  27. 27.

    lamh36

    @The Snarxist Formerly Known as Kryptik: I honestly wasn’t planning on watching it LIVE either, but my friends and I figures we had to. People need to see the dignity and poise and civility Trayvon’s mom and dad carry as opposed to the evil of the Zimmerman KKKlan

    It is LIVE though and on the last segment when they discussed seeing the crime scene photos and seeing him on the ME’s table, Tracy Martin seemed to be holding back tears.

  28. 28.

    lamh36

    ‏@skepticalbrotha 1m
    if the Department of Justice has placed a hold on all evidence in the #TrayvonMartin case, they’re more serious than I thought. #p2

  29. 29.

    lamh36

    ‏@PoliticsNation 47s
    “I begged her, I pleaded with her” @SybrinaFulton explains why she’s thankful that Rachel Jeantel testified #PoliticsNation

  30. 30.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    I found a toaster! It is a Rival heavy duty four slice monster that will not only toast my home made bread but will toast it no matter how thick I slice it. Not only that I found a Mrs. Tea for $6.00, they are currently going for upwards of $50.00 on Amazon. VICTORY!

  32. 32.

    NotMax

    @Litlebritdifrnt

    True tea-related story from maybe 1970, give or take a few years.

    Very rich relative from South America (as opposed to other very, very, very rich ones) was visiting, and was left alone while everyone else was off to work/school.

    With a raft of servants employed, she not only had never set foot in her kitchen, but probably didn’t even know where it was in the house.

    But she craved a cup of tea in the afternoon and was stymied.

    Turns out she went next door and knocked. The neighbor answered and my relative explained who she was and said, “I think I’ve figured out how to heat the water, but I don’t know how to get the color into it.”

  33. 33.

    lamh36

    ‏@GN192 42s
    @SybrinaFulton + @BTraymartin9 explaining that their movement has evolved to encompass more than Trayvon; they’re looking out for all kids.

    @PoliticsNation 3m
    “There are people of all colors that say something is wrong w/ the system if an adult male can get away with murder.” @SybrinaFulton

  34. 34.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    anybody else see Villagers rejoicing at the return of Mavericky Maverick John McCain?

    WASHINGTON — Republican Sen. John McCain says he will block Gen. Martin Dempsey’s nomination for a second term as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
    McCain told reporters Thursday he was frustrated with Dempsey’s response toward the end of his confirmation hearing when he pressed the general about his personal opinion on Syria. He is seeking additional answers.

    Captain Senator Queeg wants his war, dammit!

  35. 35.

    lamh36

    @mataharikrishna 5m
    Tracy Martin: “The Trayvon that we know and love was not the Trayvon they were portraying him to be.” #PoliticsNation

  37. 37.

    Violet

    @lamh36: Heard something on the radio that the Tennessee Black Caucus (?) is petitioning Tennessee to review its Stand Your Ground law.

  39. 39.

    lamh36

    @PoliticsNation 1m
    .@SybrinaFulton says she can still feel her son’s presence – “our angel is watching us”

  41. 41.

    mai naem

    @Litlebritdifrnt: We had a 4 slice rival one for around fifteen years until it finally broke. I bought an eighty dollar kitchen aid one which broke in 2 weeks. I am not exaggerating. 2 weeks when the half of it broke. I never got around to returning it so we use the side that works.

  43. 43.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    @Violet:
    I make my own bread and the regular piddly toasters will not toast a slice of my home made bread (it will only toast half of it) I have been looking for a toaster that will toast a whole slice of my homemade bread but I am not willing to buy a new one, (I hate buying anything new), and have been scouring my local thrift stores for the right model. Today I found it, a Rival 4 slice toaster that will not only toast a slice of my home made bread but will toast it no matter how thick I slice it. It cost me $4.95.

  44. 44.

    lamh36

    Final comment on this for now:

    @psddluva4evah 29s
    @elonjames did you watch the interview on Rev Al w/Trayvon’s parents? if not you should. look at their strength and use it.

  45. 45.

    JGabriel

    Ruy Teixeira via Tim F. @ Top:

    So-called missing white voters were to a large extent a product of a relatively low turnout election that affected both minorities and whites. So the idea that it will somehow be possible to add missing whites back into the voting pool without also adding missing minorities back in seems fanciful — tantamount to calling for a whites-only high turnout election. That’s not likely to happen …

    … Unless Republicans gerrymander 60%-70% of the states in their favor, and pass Voter Suppression Laws that disproportionately deny blacks, hispanics, women, and other Democratic-looking people the right to vote throughout the country.

    But the GOP would never do anything that blatantly fascist, right?

  46. 46.

    Bubblegum Tate

    @mai naem:

    We got a 4-slice Breville toaster as a wedding present. It really is a remarkable piece of machinery, and it makes really great toast, but I can honestly say I never would have bought one on my own. As something to throw on the gift registry, sure, let somebody else buy it for us. But buying my own toaster? Hell no. I’ll just stick with the basics, thanks.

  49. 49.

    CaseyL

    “That’s not a moon mobility scooter, that’s a space station low-slung motorcycle!”

    I am impressed, and I want one.

  50. 50.

    Patricia Kayden

    @lamh36: Watched the entire thing. They’re very dignified in their grief. I’m sure they’re biting their tongue a lot while in public. I agreed with their reasoning for not being in court for the verdict — I wouldn’t have been able to not cry out either.

    I’m glad they know and acknowledge that they have many supporters. That should bring them at least a little comfort.

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