Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

After roe, women are no longer free.

The revolution will be supervised.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

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

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

No Justins, No Peace

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

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

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

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

Republicans don’t trust women.

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

Everybody saw this coming.

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

No one could have predicted…

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

Bad news for Ron DeSantis is great news for America.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

The GOP couldn’t organize an orgy in a whorehouse with a fist full of 50s.

Only Democrats have agency, apparently.

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93Comments

  4. 4.

    satby

    Treats (in my house it’s all called “cookies”) rule the world. Think there’s a way we can try to train the GOO with them?

  6. 6.

    srv

    At least your animals deserve their treats, living imprisoned by their human master, unlike all the tax dollars and benefits the moochers get.

  9. 9.

    ⚽️ Martin

    The boy had his last final of 10th grade today. He starts his first full-time job tomorrow. Not much of a vacation but there’s an $18,000 project on a tight deadline and nobody running the show and he’s being put in charge. Welcome to the deep end, son.

  10. 10.

    Little Boots

    I think John should show up. It’s selfish, but I’m kind of selfish.

    and it is fun when john shows up. and it is his damn blog, dammit.

  11. 11.

    Morzer

    When I yell “Who wants a treat?” I am seriously the most fucking powerful man in America. Or so I feel.

    But when the treats run out and all those hungry carnivorous eyes turn towards the most obvious source of protein in the room….

  14. 14.

    SarahT

    I was good today, yet no one’s offering ME a treat – I have to get off the sofa and walk to the kitchen and get my own damn wine, harumph !

  16. 16.

    Morzer

    @SarahT:

    But would you really want to move to West Virginia and shack up with John Cole for the privilege of trotting hopefully towards him with your tongue hanging out?

  22. 22.

    Little Boots

    I cannot worm anyone out of their shell tonight.

    good lord, this place.

    john, and omnes, just come on, you cowards.

  30. 30.

    Little Boots

    @SarahT:

    yup, but now I’m starting to think about morzar.

    oh dammit, but it’s hard and he might have a point.

  34. 34.

    Mnemosyne

    I finally broke down and signed up with a fitness group on Fitocracy — basically, I now have a virtual personal trainer and a support group. We’ll see how it goes.

  35. 35.

    Kay

    Chris Christie is now reneging on the pension funding deal he made with public employees, a deal he traveled the country promoting as evidence of what a great manager he is, to near-universal pundit acclaim.

    His entire budget was smoke and mirrors and hype.

    You just wonder if there’s ever going to be any kind of reckoning, you know, now that everything he said turned out to be complete bullshit.

  36. 36.

    Morzer

    @Kay:

    An abusive, swindling, bullying, lying thug turns out to be Chris Christie.

    Well, ain’t that a land-speed record for surprises?

  38. 38.

    SarahT

    @Kay:Very much doubt it. And don’t get me started on NJ Dems who voted for him because he was so moderate and such a straight shooter and blah blah blah… Makes me sick just thinking about it.

  40. 40.

    askew

    @Kay:

    He’s under investigation for diverting Port Authority to a non-PA tunnel. Hopefully, this will amount to something.

  42. 42.

    trollhattan

    @SarahT:
    Even Cole thought he was a likeable lug, not the oversized punk and charlatan he actually is. We all make mistakes but jeez, this guy has more lives than a basket of cats.

  43. 43.

    Little Boots

    told you you should pop in, john. you think I’m mean, you should pop in now and then.

  44. 44.

    Kay

    @Morzer:

    He has to renege on the deal because NJ is like “Detroit”
    That would be the state he runs and the deal he made.
    He denounces all that. It’s like “Detroit”
    Most over-hyped governor ever, and that’s putting aside corruption.

  45. 45.

    Morzer

    @trollhattan:

    The second volume of The Collected Errors And Recantations Of Comrade John Cole by a Gentleman of West Virginia is on sale now for a very reasonable price.

  47. 47.

    Morzer

    @Kay:

    I think he’s reneging on the deal because he never meant to keep it in the first place. This is all about putting the screws to public employees yet again to keep his fat cat buddies happy.

  49. 49.

    Kay

    @Morzer:

    I just read the one article but they (wisely!) got it in writing. The judge said he can weasel out for this payment but only because his budget is such a huge fucking mess he’ll push them into disaster unless he finds a zillion dollars in the next 30 seconds.

    This is the fiscal hero of the pundit class. A complete and utter fraud.

    Everyone on Morning Joe is officially declared a moron. They’re dangerously dumb people.

  50. 50.

    Little Boots

    needs more Omnes. he’s annoying, but damn, it does come alive here when he’s here.

  52. 52.

    Morzer

    @Kay:

    It’s easy to be a hero of the pundit class – you just have to go after the people that class hates, regardless of the impact on your state.

  53. 53.

    Randy P

    Continuing my tradition of somehow timing my visits to Europe to coincide with Euro/World-cup fever, I arrived last night in Switzerland. There was a full-fledged World Cup fair going on, and needless to say it got pretty noisy beginning about 10:06 pm local time (first goal against Honduras) and around midnight (3-0 final score).

  54. 54.

    Mnemosyne

    So if anyone remembers me raving about a cult classic movie called Ganja and Hess, it turns out that Spike Lee’s secret Kickstarter project is a remake of that film. I can see why Lee would do it, because the original film has some really interesting things to say about class divisions between African-Americans, which is right up Lee’s alley (see also School Daze). It hasn’t been getting awesome reviews, but I’m still curious because I found Ganja and Hess to be a really fascinating, hypnotic movie that showed that you could do interesting work even with a microbudget.

  56. 56.

    max

    @Violet: I want a treat. Hell, I need a treat.

    Deal to End Senate Rift May Give Democrats Full Control in Albany

    A group of independent Democrats who share control of the New York State Senate with Republicans agreed on Wednesday to reunite with their fellow Democrats, a move that could shift the balance of power in Albany.

    The reconciliation, which was brokered in part by Mayor Bill de Blasio of New York City and would take effect after the elections in November, could leave Democrats in full control of the state government as soon as early next year.

    max
    [‘Sorry it’s not better.’]

  57. 57.

    NotMax

    When I yell “Who wants a treat?”

    Just so long as hierarchical priorities are maintained and Shawn is first in line.

  60. 60.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @NotMax: Someone is operating here under the laughable assumption that hairless apes outrank feline overlords.

  61. 61.

    WaterGirl

    @max: Wasn’t this part of the deal between Cuomo and (I forget the name of the group) in exchange for them not running their own candidate?

  62. 62.

    John (MCCARTHY) Cole

    @trollhattan: This is a misreading of my opinion of the man. Of the Republicans, he is less odious. He works for his state (bridge shit that has now come to light aside). He did a couple things that made him seem reasonable- defending the Muslim judge, working with Obama, etc.

    I noted that this is the kind of guy who could get a lot of traction with blue collar dems and a lot of Republicans who are more conservative than him, because they like a “straight talker” and a bully. I then said this is a guy Democrats should look out for in 2016.

    That got spun by trolls intoI had a man crush on Christie and I was not a real Democrat and I would vote for Christie and switch back to the GOP because that is where my true colors are and go fucking poke your eyes out you fucking asshole trolls.

    I’m personally ecstatic he has imploded politically and may even be criminally indicted.

  63. 63.

    max

    @Morzer: Looks like Cuomo was right to fear the arrival of that dangerous radical!

    He had to support fellow Democrats! It’s so gauche! Think of the poor bankers!

    @WaterGirl: Wasn’t this part of the deal between Cuomo and (I forget the name of the group) in exchange for them not running their own candidate?

    Working Families Party. Yeah, but they hadn’t uh, consummated the uh, deal, yet.

    max
    [‘Arranged marriages are so retro.’]

  65. 65.

    Morzer

    @John (MCCARTHY) Cole:

    He works for his state (bridge shit that has now come to light aside).

    Except that he doesn’t. He rejected funding for infrastructure that might have benefited his state at a time of chronic recession and high unemployment. He’s gone after just about every public official in the state. He’s screwed up the state budget. He’s swindled public employees over the pension fund. He hasn’t even managed to disburse the funds for disaster relief properly.

    How the hell is this working for his state?

  66. 66.

    ⚽️ Martin

    My early prediction for tomorrows match against Germany: a draw. Germany wants the US to advance, Germany will want to advance at the top of the group. A draw is in both teams favor, and mysteriously, they will play to a draw.

  67. 67.

    Morzer

    @⚽️ Martin:

    I think Germany would rather see a toothless Portugal advance*, while maintaining their own momentum and record by beating the US.

    *Insofar as they care who else advances with them, which I doubt they really do.

  68. 68.

    David Koch

    Bernie Sanders says he’ll probably run in 2016

    in an interview in his Capitol Hill office, Sanders sounded like he was in for 2016,

    He likened his situation -– and Clinton’s –- to the one in the 7th Congressional District of Virginia, where voters in the Republican primary shockingly ousted the incumbent House majority leader, Eric Cantor

    “I think what we need is a new politics — a different type of politics than Hillary’s,” he said. “A politics that is much more grassroots-oriented, much more having to do with strong coalition-building and grassroots activism than I think Hillary has demonstrated over the years, or supported.”

    Start hording your popcorn now before the shortages hit in 2016

  70. 70.

    Steeplejack

    @Morzer:

    Plus he killed that Manhattan tunnel project, which, in addition to being a huge dose of infrastructure spending, was desperately needed.

  72. 72.

    Jay C

    @max: @max:

    Well, I’ll believe the reality of this deal when I see it (hopefully in November!) The NY State Lege has made a fine art out of political dysfunction since forever – being pushed into a situation where they might actually have to DO something is a place they’re not used to….

    And Andy Cuomo must go biting the heads off nails when he reads stuff like this: he had a nice gig going in Albany for quite a while where he could play Mr. Gov. Sober Centrist (except for taking the easy out on social-agenda stuff like SSM, about which neither he nor a majority of voters give a crap), while relying on the GOP-dominated Senate as a handy excuse for not getting stuff done. The last thing (AFAICT) that he wanted was any serious pressure from portside: especially through having to cut a deal with the WFP – which, frankly, had been considered a joke in NY politics for years – and even worse, a deal that boosts Mayor Bill De Blasio’s profile: it’s CW around NY that the two top Dems in the State don’t like each other very much…

  73. 73.

    NotMax

    @David Koch

    Yeah, he said much the same thing (minus the Cantor reference) in an interview back in early March.

    Two words come to mind: Mike Gravel.

    There’s a lot to like about Sanders. In Congress. For prez, he may as well be listed on the Don’t Blink Or You’ll Miss It party line on any primary ballot.

    @Villago Delenda Est

    Although have rarely mentioned it so as not to seem as if deliberately giving offense, don’t think it is any secret that felines rank somewhat below flesh-eating bacteria on the list of things I want in my life.

  74. 74.

    ⚽️ Martin

    @David Koch: Would be quite a thing to have Bernie, Warren, Biden, and Hillary all in there. It would be better for all involved if we had more than one true populist in the debates, Bernie and Warren pulling the rest of the field over.

  75. 75.

    NotMax

    @⚽️ Martin

    Not having that talismanic (D) after his name would for all intents and purposes exclude him from primary season party-affiliated debates.

  76. 76.

    Culture of Truth

    @John (MCCARTHY) Cole: This is prettty much my take. I felt he was real threat for 2016 until he was exposed as not just hopelessly corrupt, but monumentally stupid as well. Perhaps it was inevitable that he would be relvealed as a grifter surrounding himself with thieves, but then again Bush was elected President. Twice.

  77. 77.

    askew

    @David Koch:

    That would be a disaster. It would split the liberal vote and could give a Republican the presidency. He can’t run in the primary against Hillary because he isn’t a Democrat. He should be pushing for a liberal Dem to run against Hillary. And since Martin O’Malley is running in 2016, there is a liberal alternative to Hillary already. No need for him to mount this pointless campaign.

    Here is where I lay out my argument for why I am backing O’Malley’s run for president.

  78. 78.

    Culture of Truth

    @Morzer: Sure, all those things are true, but there are a lot of peple who read that list and say ‘good, he’s working for the state’. Certainly they would play in a GOP primary, and you know the national media would lurve a Christie GOP nominee. Not now, but before multi-scandal-gate.

  79. 79.

    askew

    @⚽️ Martin:

    @David Koch: Would be quite a thing to have Bernie, Warren, Biden, and Hillary all in there. It would be better for all involved if we had more than one true populist in the debates, Bernie and Warren pulling the rest of the field over.

    O’Malley is running, so we’d have Warren and O’Malley splitting the liberal vote. Bernie can’t run in our primary unless he plans on finally joining the Dem party. I’d pay to see a debate between Warren, O’Malley, Biden and Hillary though. All of them are whip smart and are good debaters. O’Malley would stand out as the only one under 60 and I just can’t see Biden running if Hillary does. He knows she’ll kick his ass and that would be an embarrassing note to end a career on.

    And with the GOP running Rubio, Cruz, and possibly Sandoval, it would be weird that the Dems will be the party with the all-white primary.

  80. 80.

    Morzer

    @Culture of Truth:

    How do they get from a destructive, corrupt, mendacious, arrogant buffoon to “he’s working for the state”? In what mentally ill world is this working, let alone for anyone else?

  81. 81.

    Culture of Truth

    @Morzer: You know. The state is in bad shape and he’s stickin’ it to those really to blame — unions, teachers, public employees, and all *those* people. He was easily re-elected, and it wasn’t all cheating.

  83. 83.

    ⚽️ Martin

    @askew: Bernie isn’t self-centered enough to do that. He’d jump in early to get the narrative he wants. He’d throw his support behind a candidate for some issue to be advanced or to gain support for something he’s pushing in the Senate. He just wants to make sure some policy areas aren’t ignored.

  85. 85.

    J R in WV

    @askew:

    So you guys seriously think he couldn’t be successful as a Democrat with 2 1/2 years to go? Coming to the Democratic party from the progressive side of politics?

    I think you’re delusional… the progressive wing of the party would love him for his policy work. He would drag the other primary candidates into the progressive world of wanting to put the banksters where they belong just for starters!

    Who in the Democratic party would be hating on that? Meaning Democratic voters as opposed to politicians….

  86. 86.

    Betty Cracker

    @J R in WV: I think Martin has it right above — Sanders (and I love him and wish he was my senator) is doing this to highlight his issues.

  87. 87.

    askew

    @⚽️ Martin:

    @askew: Bernie isn’t self-centered enough to do that. He’d jump in early to get the narrative he wants. He’d throw his support behind a candidate for some issue to be advanced or to gain support for something he’s pushing in the Senate. He just wants to make sure some policy areas aren’t ignored.

    I hope you are right. I don’t want another Nader. Sanders seems more reasonable than that. I think he’d come off like Mike Gravel did in the 2008 primary if he ran though. He’s old and pretty weird. Has great policy positions but I doubt he’d be able to get elected to the Senate outside of Vermont.

  88. 88.

    David Koch

    @J R in WV: what bubble do you live in?

    He has no money to GOTV, to hire staff, build social media platforms, run commercials, to pay basic expenses like traveling back and forth, lodging, food.

    He has no experience in running a large campaign. Vermont ranks 50th in population. A typical congressional district is larger than the entire state of Vermont. Plus, it’s a homogenous state.

    He’ll be 75 years old in 2016. Running is a national campaign is grueling.

    He’s a bore. You can’t expect college kids to come out in droves for someone with the charisma of Wilford Brimley.

    He has no tangible ideas, just platitudes. He’s been in Congress for 24 years and hasn’t passed a single bill.

    And I say this as someone who thinks Hillary is a disgusting warmonger. That said, I live in reality and not in an Aaron Sorkin fantasy.

  89. 89.

    Suffern ACE

    @Morzer: well, if none of that corruption is reported, how would people know about it? Remember, your Democratic Party leaders fell in line rather easily in that state.

  90. 90.

    WaterGirl

    @Suffern ACE:

    Remember, your Democratic Party leaders fell in line rather easily in that state.

    That may be the biggest scandal of all!

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