Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

… gradually, and then suddenly.

I am pretty sure Katy Tur wasn’t always such a bootlicking sycophant.

T R E 4 5 O N

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

“Joe Biden deserved better than he got from some folks in his own party.”

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

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

A thin legal pretext to veneer over their personal religious and political desires.

There is no right way to do the wrong thing.

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

Democrats are back in array!

Republicans choose power over democracy, every day.

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

I did not have this on my fuck 2024 bingo card.

Republicans: The threats are dire, but my tickets are non-refundable!

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

Tick tock motherfuckers!

It’s not hopeless, and we’re not helpless.

They are lying in pursuit of an agenda.

You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Friday Evening Open Thread

Friday Evening Open Thread

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I invented this wonderful cocktail just moments ago:

  

It’s about 1/4 vodka, 1/4 apple cider and half ginger ale. And garnished with a cinnamon stick! (Mine sank, which is that thing at the bottom of the glass — not a beetle!) 

What shall I call this heavenly concoction? Apple Gingerooski? 

What are you up to this evening?

Reader Interactions

66Comments

  2. 2.

    MomSense

    I’m just happy it’s not frickin pumpkin spice. Egads but Autumn in New England is full of that nauseating crap.

    Tonight is tv, wine, and knitting for me. Tomorrow I’m going apple picking and then helping some friends who press their own cider.

    How ’bout Apple Saucy?

  4. 4.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Even making allowances for the fact that (I think the evidence is overwhelming) Barbara doubled her already considerable gin intake for at least the first two pregnancies, how the hell does he keep saying this shit?

    Jeb BushVerified account
    ‏@ JebBush
    How pathetic for @ realdonaldtrump to criticize the president for 9/11. We were attacked & my brother kept us safe.

    Maybe the bright side is that after almost fifteen years, and now that (quasi) Republican is bringing it up, we can talk about the run up to the attack.

    Then we can discuss whether the Iraq War was just a thing that happened, that couldn’t be avoided.

  5. 5.

    Diana

    I need one of those. Just went into the basement of my co-op apartment building to turn off the water to the garden (it’s supposed to freeze this weekend here in the Northeast) and stepped on a glue trap — because, of course, residents are not supposed to be in the basement. However, the Super doesn’t like to work after hours unless it’s an emergency and the water was still on in the garden despite the coming freeze. Now I have to get mousetrap glue off my shoe.

    No good deed goes unpunished.

    BTW can Marc post some more pictures of Miri’s kittens? I think they should still be in the supercute phase. Any updates on getting them into their forever homes?

  9. 9.

    Not That Guy

    @srv:
    Calories?

    This is drinking we are talking about. Leave it to you to focus on what doesn’t matter.

    How about Pomme de Vodka? Too elitist?

  16. 16.

    Brachiator

    What are you up to this evening?

    I am bone tired but may still either go to the movies or rent one.

    In an earlier thread rikyrah recommended Nelson George’s Misty Copeland Doc, A Ballerina’s Tale, available in various places (Amazon, etc) for $6.99

    Also in the queue is the thoughtful, well crafted sci fi film Ex Machina, which features Oscar Isaac. I say see it not only for the great acting and subtle robot special effects, but also for a brief, crazy dance scene.

    I think that Isaac is an interesting actor to watch. So I also recommend A Most Violent Year, with Isaac and Jessica Chastain. The last time I looked this was available as a 99 cent rental in Google Play and Amazon, or a free streamer for Amazon Prime customers.

    And I guess the movie theaters are suddenly bursting with Halloween type and series movies: ‘Goosebumps’ and ‘Crimson Peak’ for scares, and “Bridge of Spies” for more thoughtful drama, along with the holdover of “The Martian.”

  17. 17.

    trollhattan

    Weekend doesn’t begin for a few hours, so plenty of planning time left. Glad to say it’s the first day in many where the temp won’t be north of 90, plus the smog is clearing. Thanks, VW!

  19. 19.

    shell

    Pretty stressed out here. Trying to decide whether to take my mom to the hospital tomorrow. She’s 93 and not in bad health besides bad arthritis. Since Monday shes stayed in bed (she was getting up later and later the past week) only getting up to use the bathroom and sleeping the rest of the time. The doctor saw her on Wednesday; her blood pressure was very high and it looked like she hadnt been taking her meds. He also gave a script for a suspected UTI. Was hoping that would help, but here it is Friday and shes no different. Worrie that something else is definitely going on,but also worried about the stress of hospitilizing this elderly woman.

  22. 22.

    Not That Guy

    @Brachiator:

    Also in the queue is the thoughtful, well crafted sci fi film Ex Machina, which features Oscar Isaac. I say see it not only for the great acting and subtle robot special effects, but also for a brief, crazy dance scene.

    Plus nudity. Which is integral to the plot, natch.

  23. 23.

    David Koch

    Hillary retakes lead in NH

    Clinton……..37%
    Sanders……35%
    Biden……….11%
    Webb………..3%
    O’Malley…….1%
    Chafee………1%

    The poll also has Hillary winning the debate 54% to 24%, very similar to all the national polls so far.

    NBC poll shows Hillary won 56% to 33%;

    Huffington Post: Hillary 55% to 22%;

    Gravis: Hillary 62% to 30%

  24. 24.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    @shell:

    Oh no! It is, unfortunately, sounding like she may need to go to the hospital to be checked out. From what I’ve heard, UTIs can really mess with the elderly, so it’s best to get it looked at.

    Have you looked into some level of home care? It would probably relieve your mind if you could have someone who could come to the house to make sure she’s taken her meds and things like that. It might require an official declaration of her being in hospice care, but I’m assuming at her age that neither one of you would want her to have heroic measures taken if she did get seriously ill.

  26. 26.

    Mnemosyne (iPhone)

    I’m taking the spouse to the airport tomorrow morning so he can go visit family in Chicagoland. Yarn show on Sunday, followed by dinner with my aunt since I can’t really go to the small city she lives in and not visit.

  27. 27.

    satby

    Coming back from a visit to Chicago with my exchange daughters. Beautiful day, we also saw my daughter in law for lunch. Barely scratched the surface of what to see in the city, we only had 5 hours before we had to head home to the herd. But a enjoyable day was had by all.

    Edited to add: I would kill for one of Betty’s drinks right now.

  28. 28.

    Phylllis

    Working my way through a six-pack of hard root beer (at 5.4% alcohol, I’d call it more medium ball candy stage actually, but it goes down smooth). Off to Aiken SC tomorrow for some shopping & lunch.

  33. 33.

    bystander

    I know Hillary is the Dems’ best shot at keeping the WH. I also know if the nom were to go to Bernie, the press will be all too willing to do the repubs’ dirty work for them. There will be no substantive discussion of his plans. It will be a constant “SOCIALISM” shriek from Ayndrea Mitchell and her ilk. But dammit, he is one likeable guy.

  37. 37.

    WereBear

    I like the Gingerooski name. I invented a cherry vodka gimlet I call the Pink Floyd. Good cocktail names have a lot of snap to them.

    Also, letting folks know the Way of Cats Fund Drive is still in progress.

    Thanks to all Juicers who have supported my endeavors!

  39. 39.

    Betty Cracker

    @shell: Sorry to hear that. We dealt with a very similar situation with our 96-year-old grandma a few months back (blood pressure and UTI as well), and she did get stabilized in the hospital and has done well since. You never know with these old birds; they’re so fragile. Best of luck.

  41. 41.

    Betty Cracker

    @schrodinger’s cat: Jelly jars were my preferred glassware before the first hipster sprouted chin hair. Guess I’m a trendsetter.

    @bystander: I admire Bernie and am thankful he’s in the race. No matter what happens, he has influenced the direction of the party for the better.

  43. 43.

    MomSense

    @PurpleGirl:

    I just finished a lace piece that was for a paying client (!) and some baby sweaters and hats for another paying client so now I’m going to try to get as many of my Christmas gifts done as possible. I’m making a huge blanket for my stepmom that is a combination of Aran cables and stitches. It’s about 2600 yards worth so I have to get going. Then a bunch of fair isle hats and mittens and some boot toppers. My boys have asked for sweaters again this year but I told them I couldn’t finish in time for Christmas.

    We do an all local/handmade Christmas except for the really little ones who get toys. I did buy Ta Nehisi Coates’ book for two of the boys because this book must be read!

  44. 44.

    David Koch

    @different-church-lady: there is a major chernobyl-like meltdown happening at DKos. They’re saying the polls are rigged, that cNN rigged the debate, and most laughable that the media was only pretending to hate Hillary so they could establish the credibility to declare her the winner.

    Here’s a sample:

    In other words, Debbie Wasserman Schultzs’s sabotage & Big Media rigging “works”.

    You run the debate at a paywalled cable TV venue,

    …then make the media followup all about ONE candidate,

    …then ask a pile of people who watched the FOLLOWUP, & NOT the actual debate, about what they saw?

    Duh; they’re going to regurgitate the corporate media line on that one candidate — because that’s all they know.

    Deception & manipulation are the oligarchy’s MO. That is what we’re up against if we want to get our democracy back.

    I had no idea Debbie Wasserman Schultz was in realty Keyser Söze

  45. 45.

    A guy

    I’m currently in my deer stand bow hunting bout 30 more minutes to shoot. Lots of gods creatures feeding now. Squirrels evrywhere

  46. 46.

    MomSense

    @shell:

    So sorry to hear about your mom. UTIs are scary and it sounds to me like your instincts are saying not to wait and to take her to the hospital.

    This happened in my extended family and unfortunately they waited too long and he developed a septicemia. I don’t want to be alarmist but I would take her.

  49. 49.

    shell

    @WereBear: At first he mentioned the hospital, but she was so adamant against it, we decided to let the meds do their work for a while. But after two days with no change, I cant let her go on like this.
    The problem with me is Im partly disabled and dont have a car. I have to wait to see if someone can give me a lift and back from the hospital.

  50. 50.

    different-church-lady

    @David Koch: I managed to look away from those loonies for about a month, and my sanity is better for it. I just happened to look in for the first time yesterday, because I couldn’t resist seeing how they were handing the debate results. Yesterday was full-on denial and poll-unskewing, but today seems to be more quiet resignation.

    Why Kos has let that place fall completely to shit I have no idea. I’m pretty sure that even in Bernie-world those folks are considered off their rockers.

  51. 51.

    PurpleGirl

    @MomSense: Thank you. Hope you get it all done. The projects sound nice. I crochet just for myself right now but I’m starting to think of things I could make to sell. The cat toys are one of the things I’m thinking I could quickly and yet make a small profit on. (Besides I like doing hyperbolic crochet; I took part in the Hyperbolic Crocheted Coral Reef project and have some 30 pieces included in the permanent collection in Los Angeles.)

  54. 54.

    different-church-lady

    @David Koch: Jbou always redeems my forays into the swamp.

    The ironic thing is I completely dig Bernie, and in a perfect world I’d support him unequivocally. But we do not live in a perfect world, and the Bern-feelers of DK just can’t seem to get their heads wrapped around that. It’s like watching a bunch of sports fans who think if they win arguments on a website their team actually gets points for it.

  57. 57.

    MomSense

    @PurpleGirl:

    I want to learn crochet. I’ve seen some beautiful almost architectural pieces done in crochet.
    Baby and pet things are so popular on Etsy. Whenever I put some baby things on my site, they are purchased instantly. I wish I had time to make more of them.
    Can I see your things online?

  59. 59.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @different-church-lady: in a perfect world, or just a more rational country, Bernie Sanders would be a far less unusual politician.

    t’s like watching a bunch of sports fans who think if they win arguments on a website their team actually gets points for it.

    Even now I’m amazed at how many blog commenters, who you assume spend a lot of time reading about politics out in meatspace, think their blog comments section is representative of the country. Atrios had that great line about the MSM thinking the political spectrum runs all the way from Free Republic to The New Republic. The irony was (is?) that most of his comment section (and sometimes the man himself) seemed to think it ran from FireDogLake to Balloon Juice, with Eschaton solidly holding the center.

  60. 60.

    WereBear

    @shell: Then it sounds like something you have to address. I hope there is someone you can call, even if it is someone you don’t know well. They would be glad to help, I’m sure.

  61. 61.

    A guy

    I missed a six point low. Tough shot thru a couple branches that I took because he was gonna run. Got my arrow back tho. Then I figured I was done and rode the four wheeler back across the holler to the house and there’s seven deer in the front yard I could have shot from my sons bedroom window.

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