Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The lights are all blinking red.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

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

The real work of an opposition party is to hold the people in power accountable.

The fight for our country is always worth it. ~Kamala Harris

The cruelty is the point; the law be damned.

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

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

There are some who say that there are too many strawmen arguments on this blog.

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

Today’s gop: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

Let’s show the world that autocracy can be defeated.

Fight them, without becoming them!

Trump should be leading, not lying.

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

Dear media: perhaps we ought to let Donald Trump speak for himself!

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

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80Comments

  6. 6.

    srv

    Reminds me of Hillary. We can call her the “snow” elf:

    The Clinton Foundation’s Colombia-based investment company was not registered as a private equity fund in the country, which may have allowed it to avoid certain industry regulations and oversight from the Colombian government.

    Although Fondo Acceso described itself as a “Private Equity Fund” in company promotional materials and business presentations, it is not listed in a database maintained by the Colombian government of current or previously registered private equity funds.

  11. 11.

    Mike J

    I had never heard of these either, but google says “Annalee dolls” are popular.

    It looks like the sort of thing that would go over big at Hobby Lobby.

  12. 12.

    Botsplainer

    Hmmmm, judging from the posts on Free Republic, the US has no longstanding treaty obligation with Turkey, and the express purpose of NATO is expanding Islamist hegemony at the expense of Russia.

  14. 14.

    Mnemosyne (tablet)

    I’m not the only one who finds the whole “Elf on the Shelf” thing creepy, right? For those unfamiliar with it, it’s an elf doll that you put in unexpected places in your house so your children know that Santa is always watching them and they have no privacy from the surveillance of the Klaus organization.

  15. 15.

    Mike J

    @Mnemosyne (tablet):

    so your children know that Santa is always watching them and they have no privacy from the surveillance of the Klaus organization.

    How else can we protect our freedom?

  16. 16.

    shell

    My Mom has one of those. I think the original face design is…Swedish?

    But definitely looks like something that could sub for the clown doll in “Poltergeist”

  22. 22.

    Brachiator

    @Mnemosyne (tablet):

    so your children know that Santa is always watching them and they have no privacy from the surveillance of the Klaus organization.

    Some versions of the Scandinavian Santa Klaus always had sinister overtones:

    The lyrics of older traditional Sinterklaas songs, still sung today, warn that while Sinterklaas and his assistant will leave well-behaved children presents, they will punish those who have been very naughty. For example, they will take bad children and carry these children off in a burlap sack to their homeland of Spain, where, according to legend, Sinterklaas and his helper dwell out of season.

    Kind of a Sinterklaas Gitmo, where naughty children would no doubt be waterboarded.

  23. 23.

    gogol's wife

    And “Where the Woodbine Twineth,” another really creepy one, on the Alfred Hitchcock show.

  25. 25.

    Botsplainer

    These are photos from the spare room at my parents’ home.

    http://imgur.com/ug48sAd
    http://imgur.com/a1BtM0N
    http://imgur.com/ouTxIPS

    They live close to the airport now, and insisted I stay over the night before I left for a solo trip to Mexico. Between the creepy eyes, my dad’s amazing snoring and the EXTREMELY LOUD television that my mom insists on running all night in their bedroom the next room over, I didn’t sleep much. First time I overnighted with them in 28 years – haven’t missed much.

  26. 26.

    FlyingToaster

    @Steeplejack: I had it last weekend.

    I’d been warned about it when I got my flu shot, so here’s my advice.

    2 days solid of bed rest. Anything else will prolong the suffering.

    Limited activity on day three. You’ll still have dregs of sinus drainage after that, but it won’t be the headache/muscle ache/dizziness of the first two days.

    I started feeling bad Saturday morning; went to bed Saturday afternoon and left WarriorGirl to her dad’s devices until Tuesday morning. I was able to help with all of the Turkeyday shopping and take the girl to her haircut and everything else for Tuesday and Wednesday.

    I’m still having my sinuses going, but that’s because my SIL has a cat and a dog to which I’m allergic.

  29. 29.

    Botsplainer

    @FlyingToaster:

    I got a cold October 27,and still have a lingering cough from it. Supposed to be going to Key West in 17 days (reconnection – things are looking up) – am concerned about our planned dive on the Vandenburg. If I’m coughing still, I’m scratched. The deck is at 100 feet deep, and current can be an issue.

  31. 31.

    catclub

    I hope they got David Sedaris (of Santaland Diaries and other books/stories fame)
    to do the voice for that doll.

  32. 32.

    Redshift

    @Mnemosyne (tablet): I concur. I doubt my parents would have been into that if it had existed when I was a kid, but if they had, I’d like to think we would have found creative ways for it to “accidentally” end up in places where it couldn’t “see” is.

    Or alternatively, like this.

  34. 34.

    Brachiator

    @gogol’s wife:

    That’s the one!

    It was based on a Richard Matheson story called “Prey.” I remember simple shots of the doll quickly running to hiding spots in the woman’s bedroom as especially creepy, the more so because the thing was so small.

  35. 35.

    opiejeanne

    @Mike J: Someone gave us an Annalee mouse. It is dressed in red velvet with white fur trim, dress with matching hood and its paws in a white fur thingie (not going to use the word “muff” because people will have too much fun if I do).
    It does not have the creepy face or it would not still be amongst the Christmas decorations. Or maybe I gave it away a couple of years ago. Can’t remember.

    These were all the rage in the 60s, some of them were of drunk mice and other animals holding little bottles. Supposed to be humorous. My best friend’s mom had a couple of them.

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-95-ANNALEE-DRINKING-DRUNK-MOUSE-DOLL-FIGURE-FIGURINE-PARTS-ITEM/151884920086?_trksid=p2047675.c100011.m1850&_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIC.MBE%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20140602152332%26meid%3D84308b6cd77e41179b9ac86fbc755363%26pid%3D100011%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D1%26sd%3D151819402540

  37. 37.

    J R in WV

    Too Strange. So many dolls are uncanny valley weird, and somehow deeply disturbing in that way.

    Mixing that with Xmas is painful.

  38. 38.

    Botsplainer

    @Emma:

    Exactly. The bottom one is the worst horror of the lot. I just imagined chittering dolls reaching for me from two feet away.

    I apologized to my kids for having to stay in that room when they stayed there on occasional overnights.

    My youngest swears that one of the dolls blinks.

  40. 40.

    maya

    More xmas controversy:
    Rudolph (very similar to Adolph) The Red Nosed Reindeer was added to our musical culture and lexicon in the commie hunting 50’s. Coincidence? I think not.
    Gene Autry may have or may not have been a personal friend of Joe McCarthy, whatever. But what was the real purpose for Rudolph’s red nose lighting up? Guiding Santa’s sleigh through fog, or, perchance, an early warning device to steer Santa around or away from those less than real American chimneys? You decide.

  42. 42.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Botsplainer: That guest room is so creepy I don’t know how you got any sleep. Clearly I missed a chapter if there’s a reconnection in Key West.

  43. 43.

    NotMax

    That’s no elf, that’s the larval form of the creepy Burger King.

    Beginnings of the cocoon already showing at the wrists, neck and ankles.

    Be afraid, be very afraid.

  45. 45.

    Felonius Monk

    So I think I could crush it under my heel fairly easily if it did re-animate.

    Only if you are awake when it re-animates. Sleep well.

  46. 46.

    bemused

    Elf has an uncanny resemblance to Fargus from A Christmas Story.

    Re: Dowd’s brother from thread below. He is a piece of work. Fascinating how he said Trump touched a nerve because people are fed up liberals being offended at every little slight. Aside from mega projection from King, he completely ignores Republican panic that Trump has thrown a gigantic monkey wrench into the GOP works and the efforts to knock him out of the running.

  47. 47.

    Botsplainer

    @a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q):

    That guest room is so creepy I don’t know how you got any sleep.

    It might be the brightest, happiest room in the house, if you can believe it.

    Clearly I missed a chapter if there’s a reconnection in Key West.

    Everything appears to be headed back to the good. Lotsa two-sided effort has been under way; this is kind of a reward for each of us.

  49. 49.

    WaterGirl

    Yeah, that’s what I refer to as the serial killer line of creepy dolls and decorations. Ugh. I look at those and think of all the good designers who are out of work and must weep when they see crap like this.

  54. 54.

    bemused

    @efgoldman:

    I have a rightwing in-law who is a very likable, smart person and then she occasionally shares her political views. I knew she thinks Michael Savage is a hilarious hoot to listen to, was such a big fan of Sarah Palin she put Palin’s book on her Christmas gift wish list so I wasn’t exactly shocked to learn yesterday that she is a Trump fan and said she’d vote for him. Still can’t fathom how people who have healthy, rational skepticism about many life issues but it all vanishes into twilight zone when it’s a right vs left thing.

  55. 55.

    Botsplainer

    Watching Spies Like Us while wife and youngest are off getting glasses for youngest.

    I forgot how lousy this was.

  59. 59.

    skerry

    @Origuy: Reports are saying the shooter is a white male in 40s wearing a long coat and a hunting hat. shocking.

    4 hurt, including 2 police. 1 dead.

    (ongoing so info may change)

    ETA: local press now saying 3 police shot.

  61. 61.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Botsplainer: That’s good news for your family.

    @raven: Rub it in. I’d have thought the gorgeous photos were enough, But no. I don’t have any envy issues, why do you ask?

  62. 62.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @skerry: But it can’t be terrorism because the shooter is a US born and raised white guy (most likely identifying as Xian also).

  63. 63.

    MazeDancer

    AP says 3 police officers injured in Planned Parenthood shoot out. Shooter – non-refuge, non-terrorist, pro-“life” – is now contained.

  65. 65.

    andy

    @Origuy: Another emotionally fragile Law Abiding Gunowner™ having his mad minute, no doubt. I imagine all the other boys at the range are practicing saying “I never knowed the guy…”

  66. 66.

    MazeDancer

    Apparently, AP not correct. Colorado Springs PD spokesperson says they don’t have shooter. Still consider this an active situation.

    Civilians are injured, but they don’t have them all yet.

  67. 67.

    Central Planning

    @Brachiator:

    Kind of a Sinterklaas Gitmo, where naughty children would no doubt be waterboarded.

    I, for one, welcome our Kristmas overlords.

  68. 68.

    Emma

    Comment number 9 ( or so) on newspaper website: it’s a War on Christmas false flag operation by Obama.

    I think he was serious.

  70. 70.

    Ajabu

    @maya:
    I’ve always been amused at the message behind Rudolph, the Red Nosed Reindeer.
    In essence it says: Rudolph was born with an obvious birth defect, was ostracized and ridiculed by the entire community because of it (wouldn’t even let him join in reindeer games – WTF?).
    Until they found a way to personally benefit from his “affliction”. Then he’s a fucking hero.
    I’m sure that if the sky was clear the following Xmas, old Rudolph would be back in the reindeer shithouse.
    What the hell kind of message is that giving kids? If somebody is different, fuck him over unless you can find a way to make use if him to your ends. Fits right in to current ‘Murica.

  71. 71.

    Ajabu

    @efgoldman:
    When I’m teaching music to little kids I actually explain & denounce the message when they learn that song. Somehow, the Black kids don’t seem at all surprised or shocked. (We all receive and give “The Talk”)

  73. 73.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    I have an about 18″ Santa doll that my aunt gave me for Christmas when I was 2. I still have it and poor Santa is showing the 53 years. He totally creeps out my step-daughter, she calls him “Creepy Santa”.

  74. 74.

    Ajabu

    @efgoldman:
    And, if I was a child and some snowman started dancing when I put a hat on him I’d make Usian Bolt look like he was standing still. Xmas songs are very weird…

  75. 75.

    Ajabu

    Full Disclosure: Rudolph is actually on my Xmas CD (available directly at [email protected])
    but it’s an instrumental version so you can enjoy the melody without the ugly sentiment.
    And 19 other secular holiday songs as well…

  79. 79.

    Geeno

    Elf on the Shelf redux. It was weird when I was a child (my mom hid them all over the house – you never knew when you’d look up and see one),and it’s still weird now.
    This scary elf/Santa thing was big up until the sixties – I have no idea why.

  80. 80.

    Brian

    My wife and I got something from the same collection to take to a Christmas party for Yankee swap. When the person who chose it opened it, she burst into tears.

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