Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

Republicans in disarray!

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

I really should read my own blog.

This fight is for everything.

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

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

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

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

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

After roe, women are no longer free.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

Roe isn’t about choice, it’s about freedom.

Consistently wrong since 2002

It’s time for the GOP to dust off that post-2012 autopsy, completely ignore it, and light the party on fire again.

You are here: Home / Past Elections / Election 2014 / Sunset orange

Reader Interactions

126Comments

  3. 3.

    ranchandsyrup

    OT but saw this on the twitters and it made me larf: The Clash’s new box set includes rare outtakes, B-sides & a letter apologizing to the world for inspiring Bono to start a band.

  7. 7.

    suzanne

    ….and in Republican Congressional offices across Washington, all one can hear are the dulcet tones of voices screaming in unison “ONETWOTHREENOTIT”.

  8. 8.

    dmsilev

    Yond Cassius Cantor has a lean and hungry look.

    (of course the second half of that quote, ‘he thinks too much; such men are dangerous’, doesn’t really apply to Cantor very well)

  12. 12.

    Warren Terra

    The question is: true, or some people spreading the rumor so as to undermine him (naming no Cantors)?

  16. 16.

    dmsilev

    i assume that when the time comes, Boehner will announce that he wants to spend more time with his lobbyists?

  18. 18.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    “Step aside”? Hell, the way things are going, he may get primaried from the right and not get reëlected. Kind of hard to be speaker of the House if you’re not actually in it.

  20. 20.

    Davis X. Machina

    Cantor. “First Jewish Speaker!” is what he says to the shaving mirror each morning, I am sure….

  21. 21.

    Hunter Gathers

    He’s just going to jump ship before he gets forced to walk the plank. This way, he gets to save face before going to spend the rest of his life with his 2 true loves – cheap whiskey and Marlboros.

  25. 25.

    Betty Cracker

    Unsurprised to hear about Boehner’s impending exit. He’s just a simple, old-fashioned bagman who never expected to get eaten alive by ravening teajadis. I’d pity him if he didn’t so richly deserve that fate.

  30. 30.

    askew

    It’s a shit job and it’s well known that Boehner doesn’t like to work very hard. It will be horrifying if Cantor becomes the first Jewish speaker though.

  32. 32.

    Amir Khalid

    @Betty Cracker:
    Besides, Speakering must have come, over the past few years, to feel too much like hard work — what with all the crazy people in his own party whom he’s had to try to work with for years. I’m a bit surprised he still wanted the job after 2012.

  33. 33.

    Keith P.

    “I’ve achieved all I’ve ever wanted to accomplish – holding an oversized gavel and being applauded by my peers.”

  34. 34.

    kindness

    @cleek: When I loaded up my ipod I made sure to include the 3 Clash records I have. Having said that, U2 has made more great music than the Clash did. Just an observation, mind you.

  36. 36.

    piratedan

    I like to think of John The Orange as a dishonest man thrust into the limelight forcing him to mimic being a statesman. Ill fitting clothes indeed.

  37. 37.

    The Other Chuck

    It’s going to be delicious fun watching the teahadi wing throw Cantor under the bus the moment he makes a compromise to keep a coalition together.

    Actually, I’m rather hoping for Speaker Pelosi after 2014

  38. 38.

    scav

    Knock Knock!
    Who’s there?
    Orange.
    Orange who?
    Orange ya glad you’re no longer Speaker?

    Knock Knock!
    Who’s there?
    Orange.
    Orange who?
    Orange ya glad you’re finally home to greet Lobbyists?

    Knock Knock!
    Who’s there?
    Bananas.
    Bananas who?
    Don’t you recognize your Party?

  41. 41.

    Yatsuno

    @Anoniminous: Meh. When that translates into actual votes I’ll be happy to welcome back Madam Speaker with open arms. But right now the olds are soaking in their tea of bitterness.

  44. 44.

    The Dangerman

    @cleek:

    few bands, especially not The Clash, can top War + Unforgettable Fire + Joshua Tree.

    I can’t think of many bands from the early 80’s (or earlier) that are still relevant today (relevance = releasing new music and touring). The Stones. Tom Petty (though I can’t recall his last new work, but I guess that applies to the Stones, too).

    U2 has well earned their place in music history.

  47. 47.

    Shakezula

    Orange Crush[ed].

    Having disposed of all of the reasonable Republicans, the TeaHaddists now turn to chasing out the not sufficiently bugfuck crazy.

  48. 48.

    raven

    So now walnuts voted yes!

    A divided Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday approved an authorization of force against the Syrian regime, setting up a showdown next week in the full Senate on whether President Obama should have the authority to strike.

    The 10-7 vote showed bipartisan support for a strike, but bipartisan opposition as well. Yes votes included Senators John McCain, Republican of Arizona, Bob Corker, Republican of Tennessee, and Jeff Flake, Republican of Arizona. No votes included Democratic Senators Tom Udall of New Mexico and Chris Murphy of Connecticut. The Senate’s newest member, Edward Markey, Democrat of Massachusetts, voted present.

  49. 49.

    fuckwit

    @The Other Chuck: Please please please, this.

    I think the Syria vote broke him finally, and he’s curled up in the corner, sobbing uncontrollably. He knows what’s going to happen: half his caucus will vote against it, half will vote for it. The party unity, the classic Rethug lockstep, is done with. He doesn’t have a caucus at all.

    Meanwhile, Dems will either vote for or against depending on their local constituencies and how good a snow, er, sales job the CIA/JCoS/AIPAC does on them in that briefing, and suffer no consequences because of it. My guess is both caucuses will be pretty evenly split, and the thing will fail, and the neocons heads will explode. The difference is, though, that Democrats are used to being all over the place, they don’t value blind obedience the way the Rethugs do, so it’s not actually a mark against them. Hell, when Democrats actually DO act with any kind of unity or cohesion, it’s a big fucking deal, and nobody expects that.

    Side order of freedom fries: Kerry’s warmongering is nauseating me, but I’m happy because he’s nauseating the teabaggers even worse! Every time he opens his fucking mouth, he loses a teabagger vote in favor of this thing, there’s no way they’re going to do what some French-looking guy who windsurfs says, even if he sounds like Bill Kristol’s butt boy.

    Finally, yes please to Speaker Pelosi. We have so much work to do to repair the damage that the Rethugs have done to this country. We’ll need a long stretch of Democratic House, Senate, and President, to recover.

  50. 50.

    cleek

    @fuckwit:

    Finally, yes please to Speaker Pelosi.

    i vote No.

    “It is in our national interest to respond to the Syrian government’s unspeakable use of chemical weapons. Indeed, it has been, and remains, a core pillar of our national security — under Democratic and Republican administrations — to prevent, limit, and halt the spread and use of nuclear, chemical, and biological weapons,” Pelosi wrote. “This is a matter of national, regional, and global security.”

  51. 51.

    Haydnseek

    @Suffen ACE: Because they simply aren’t very good. They’ve written the same fucking song 200 times, their ace guitar slinger has one riff, that he plays with one sound, but he’s been playing it for fucking decades so he must be great. U2 has done a wonderful job of making money. Good for them.

  53. 53.

    Anoniminous

    @Yatsuno:

    This is the kind of thing that has to happen for the House to flip. Looking at the 2010 exit polls if senior support for the GOP drops from a 21 point margin to 5 points plus the extreme gerrymandering the GOP is going to lose a lot of seats.

    I’m not saying the House will flip. Too soon for that. I’m saying the necessary conditions for the House to flip are being established.

  54. 54.

    cleek

    @The Dangerman:

    I can’t think of many bands from the early 80′s (or earlier) that are still relevant today (relevance = releasing new music and touring).

    i just happened to see Iron Maiden last night, and i gotta say they’re as relevant as ever. they get huge crowds everywhere they play, still put out new music, and still look like they’re having fun doing it.

    but i guess since metal has always had to subsist in the shadows, their ‘relevance’ outside metal circles could be debatable.

  55. 55.

    Anoniminous

    @Haydnseek:

    U2 has done a wonderful job of making money.

    It did once but then the production run ended, it was shot down over the Soviet Union and we have better photo-reconnaissance assets now.

    Wait … what?

  58. 58.

    shortstop

    @cleek:

    of course metal has always had to subsist in the shadows

    Kinda like chlamydia, cockroaches and poop fetishes. KIDDING!

  60. 60.

    Haydnseek

    @Anoniminous: I was gonna make a Francis Gary Powers Reference, but decided against it when I realized that most Juicers are quite a bit younger than me. Thanks for putting it out there……..

  61. 61.

    The Dangerman

    @cleek:

    of course metal has always had to subsist in the shadows…

    I just looked up Metallica and surprised they date to 81 (though they didn’t reach “relevance” for many years). Same with Anthrax. Didn’t know Iron Maiden was still releasing new stuff…

  62. 62.

    piratedan

    @cleek: i’m sure that their bank balances are relevant and they play to adoring fans and sell their music, I would imagine that they could give a shit about the rest of the music industry

  66. 66.

    cleek

    @Belafon:
    oh, i’m not saying she’s a DINO. i’m saying she and i disagree on this and i’d prefer someone i do agree with.

    we all have our own list of political priorities, and this one is kindof a big deal to me.

  67. 67.

    Haydnseek

    @raven: Fair enough. Bono has walked the walk on a number of important issues, and is to be commended. That doesn’t change the fact that U2 is laughably overrated. Music is subjective, of course, and serious music fans can disagree.

  68. 68.

    cleek

    @piratedan:

    that’s probably all true. seems like the perfect situation, IMO. do your thing, get paid a fuckton to do it, and not have to worry about keeping up with fads.

    sign me up!

  69. 69.

    burnspbesq

    @flukebucket:

    Were the neighbors wearing hoodies?

    Article doesn’t say, but I’m sure they looked like a real credible threat, standing around unarmed in the back yard, barbecuing and shit.

    I guess we’ll have to wait for T&H to show up with his superior legal mind and blinding insight into the human condition, and tell us why this is exactly the direction in which the law should be moving.

  70. 70.

    Anoniminous

    @raven:

    This is going to be an interesting vote. Either way they vote it’s a no-win situation for a House member. The GOP Whip has zero incentive to arm twist for an Aye. The Dem Whip is going to find it difficult as each member is going to be looking at the polling in their districts.

    217 to pass and it’s going to be close.

    ETA: @Haydnseek

    You’re welcome.

  77. 77.

    burnspbesq

    @burnspbesq:

    ETA: just watched the video. Whoever the shooter was, he got off 30 shots in less than a minute, and there’s a pause that can only logically be interpreted as stopping to eject the first clip and put in a fresh one.

  79. 79.

    shortstop

    Well, I sure don’t like to see people dying, especially for nothing, but as long as it happened, perhaps several unarmed pale people getting mowed down under SYG will help get a few more white Floridians interested in the problem.

  81. 81.

    shortstop

    @Yatsuno: Many of us would be more than willing to offer her refuge. I admit that chicken housing presents a minor challenge for some of us. Yet we live to problem solve.

  82. 82.

    Ash Can

    The news about Boehner is big (or at least would be, if it comes to pass), but not terribly surprising. Heck, I didn’t even expect him to last this long, given his backbenchers’ shenanigans. And I too am very much looking forward to a Speaker Cantor — or, far better, a Minority Leader Cantor — getting thrown under the bus by the raving lunatic House members, with said bus being backed up and re-running over him multiple times.

  84. 84.

    Roger Moore

    @Enhanced Voting Techniques:

    My god is that insane.

    Desperate, yes. Insane, no. It looks as if their client committed first degree murder, so the lawyers are creating the best case they can put forward. I don’t think their argument that an imminent threat can be anything you’re seriously worried about happening in the future will fly in court, but citing President Bush’s use of it that way seems like as plausible an approach as any.

  86. 86.

    Trollhattan

    @cleek:

    Yeah, wowzers. And re. the mugshot, “Why is this man smiling?”

    Up next, Special Timmeh to tell us the dead neighbors were wielding the pavement in a threatening manner.

  87. 87.

    Trollhattan

    Aw jeez, article kink on the same page as the Florida story.

    An 8-year-old boy in Shippensburg, PA was shot in the head by his 6-year-old brother after the boys’ mother fell asleep with a loaded rifle and pistol lying out in the open.

    According to WHTM Channel 27, the older boy is in very critical condition and the younger boy in custody of child protective services after police and paramedics found them in a home environment strewn with garbage, piles of dirt, abandoned vehicles and open food containers as well as the two weapons.

    The children were visiting their mother, who police said appeared drugged and lethargic when they spoke to her. She told officers that she did not hear the shooting take place, but was awakened by her 6-year-old son after the gun went off.

    “How many more times?”

  89. 89.

    Suffern ACE

    @Enhanced Voting Techniques: Probably. Also, they will threaten to impeach him for even asking them to pass something. I mean what a power grab. The President asking Congress to pass something he wants! Only diktators do that.

  91. 91.

    Shakezula

    @Gin & Tonic: The fact that the attorneys are attempting to invoke foreign policy as a defense suggests they’re a bit desperate. The fact that they’re in Florida means their attempt to broaden the definition of imminent threat is so crazy, it just might work.

  92. 92.

    Botsplainer

    @Betty Cracker:

    He’s just a simple, old-fashioned bagman who never expected to get eaten alive by ravening teajadis.

    In a better world, he wouldn’t have been a bad Speaker. Brokering compromise, getting stuff done, doling out goodies. Wonder how many more votes to shut down Obamacare he’ll get to preside over prior to his exit?

  93. 93.

    burnspbesq

    @Shakezula:

    In any rational criminal justice system, defense counsel would get sanctioned for making this argument. In Florida, it’s a good faith argument for extension of existing law. Scary.

  95. 95.

    EconWatcher

    @burnspbesq:

    There is no equivalent of Rule 11 of the civil rules for making frivolous arguments in criminal cases, and for good reason:

    I have been court-appointed counsel for criminal defendants. Sometimes they refuse to plead guilty no matter how overwhelming the evidence, maybe because the prosecution is being unreasonable, maybe because of insane sentencing guidelines, or maybe because they’re delusional. As the defense lawyer, you gotta just give it your best shot, even if you don’t have much to work with. In a civil case, it would be a good result if all attorneys just walked away from a party with a frivolous claim or defense, but in a criminal case, not so much.

  96. 96.

    Botsplainer

    @burnspbesq:

    In any rational criminal justice system, defense counsel would get sanctioned for making this argument.

    First by the trial judge, in a hastily called in camera conference. The way it goes is that the judge calls lawyers on three way with prosecutor, and says “get your fucking ass down here, NOW!”

    In the painful, short conference (the judge telling the lawyers to “shut the fuck up, you pig ignorant asshole” off the record if they try to interrupt him), it will be explained that the pleading will be withdrawn or that a sanction order will be entered mandating a fine of not less than $1000 and 20 hours ethics training.

  97. 97.

    Botsplainer

    @EconWatcher:

    There is no equivalent of Rule 11 of the civil rules for making frivolous arguments in criminal cases, and for good reason

    In my state, Rule 11 still applies in criminal proceedings

  98. 98.

    Jewish Steel

    I think of the dazzling variety of styles of music The Clash embraced from 77 to 84.* And then I think of that anthem that U2 did over and over. It’s a fine anthem, but please.

    *and beyond if you reckon with Big Audio Dynamite and Joe Strummer’s solo stuff.

  99. 99.

    scav

    @burnspbesq: Pre-emptive repossession. Wouldn’t Banks et al enjoy pushing that direction. “We could observe you are going to go bankrupt in future and we have the fiduciary obligation to our shareholders to protect / maximize their profit by taking your assets before that.” Likely would clear up all those mistaken addresses and missing paperwork cases too.

  101. 101.

    Doug Milhous J

    @Jewish Steel:

    I dislike U2’s music especially, but I also have the same problem with them that I have with Coldplay (not quite as bad as U2 IMHO) and bunch of these others that try to be international: the lyrics are so unspecific as to be meaningless. Like the Clash’s politics or not, you knew where they stood on Nicaragua (or Afghanistan or Tibet) and you knew what they thought of our Galtian Overlords. It wasn’t all this “let’s join hands” bullshit. Fuck joining hands.

  102. 102.

    Botsplainer

    @scav: \

    Pre-emptive repossession. Wouldn’t Banks et al enjoy pushing that direction. “We could observe you are going to go bankrupt in future and we have the fiduciary obligation to our shareholders to protect / maximize their profit by taking your assets before that.” Likely would clear up all those mistaken addresses and missing paperwork cases too.

    Actually, a lot of older notes and mortgages retained just such a right, using weasel language about the discretion of the lender to deem an obligation insecure, and specifying their remedies in such cases. The courts generally wouldn’t go along with that, so you didn’t see it happen much, but they did try and push it.

  103. 103.

    ruemara

    Hell of a lot of U2 haters out there. No matter, they’re still a great band and there’s a lot of musical style. Your taste may not be pleased but that’s just you.

    RE: Boner. Could care less. I only want to never see another Republican Speaker of the House for at least 20 odd years.

  105. 105.

    cokane

    That story has zero sources willing to go on the record. I would be highly skeptical.

    Boehner’s obituary has been written several times before. There’s little for the party to gain by switching from Boehner to Cantor or some other mostly conservative guy.

  107. 107.

    Tone in DC

    I don’t quite get the U2 hatred. Music is subjective, as someone else mentioned.

    I know we have a lot of contrarians/snarling jackals/unreconstructed iconoclasts with authority issues on B-J, but this kind of vitriol should be saved for those who truly deserve it:

    Oasis
    Madonna
    Lady Gaga (or whatever her name is)
    Creed
    REO Speedwagon (Kevin Cronin version)
    The entire cast of American Idol, since its inception
    Every boy band of the last 20 years

  108. 108.

    Jewish Steel

    @Doug Milhous J: The Clash could also be quite sly, tongue in cheek. U2’s greatest weakness for me is their earnest humorlessness. Perhaps a result of that internationalism. That’s an unforgivable sin.

  109. 109.

    StringOnAStick

    @Anoniminous:

    I’m not saying the House will flip. Too soon for that. I’m saying the necessary conditions for the House to flip are being established.

    Best news I’ve heard all day.

  111. 111.

    Gravenstone

    @The Dangerman: Final Frontier from a couple years ago is an incredible album (assuming metal is to your taste). Give it a ride, you won’t be disappointed.

  112. 112.

    shortstop

    Well, I wasn’t going to get involved, but…

    @Jewish Steel:

    U2′s greatest weakness for me is their earnest humorlessness.

    This. Oh, sweet Jesus, this. Rattle and hum? No, plod and thunk.

    (But the #2 sin is writing the same song 200 times, as Haydnseek pointed out above.)

  113. 113.

    JoyceH

    So – the guy who entered politics for the schmoozing, boozing and free golf (come on, you know he did!) decides to quit when it starts feeling too much like work – and we’re supposed to be shocked?

    Okay. Gasp. I’m shocked. (I’d faint, but I left my smelling salts in my other reticule.)

  115. 115.

    Tone in DC

    I’m not saying the House will flip. Too soon for that. I’m saying the necessary conditions for the House to flip are being established.

    That would be so nice.

  117. 117.

    Jebediah

    @Jewish Steel:

    and beyond if you reckon with Big Audio Dynamite and Joe Strummer’s solo stuff.

    A couple of those Mescaleros songs get my eyes leaking pretty good.

  124. 124.

    Steeplejack

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Heh, I didn’t have them for so long, and now I can’t deny myself.

    In the ’70s I spent big bucks to get my very own IBM Selectric III, and I spent even more to get the “international” model that would do accents, cedillas, tildes, umlauts. Typographical heaven.

    Now it’s all ridiculously easy to do with software, of course. And people seem to have less and less use for it. Get off my lawn, or something.

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