Y’all need to simmer down. Clinton or Sanders are both fine candidates, so there is no need for the rancor.
Here’s a picture of Thurston on the basement stairs eyeballing me while I ride the 400 dollar towel rack/exercise bike in the basement:
And here is sweet Lily relaxing in a pile of freshly folded clothes. If you look to the right of her, you can see a Steve indentation on the t-shirts.
I feel better now, don’t you?
Joel
So, I mean, Trump is going to win the Republican nomination, isn’t he?
Corner Stone
G.F.Y.
SIA
Yes.
dww44
Yes, John, I do feel better. Now, if there had also been an actual pic of Steve, it’d be perfect. Glad you reminded us too to keep our eyes on the prize.
PurpleGirl
Lily!!! and Thurston Howl III !!! Thank you JC. Pictures of the pets are always welcome.
ETA: Two of four is 50%. So you owe us Rosie and Steve. Tomorrow, maybe?
John Cole
@dww44: Steve is outside doing cat things atm.
oklahomo
@dww44: I’m beginning to suspect he fades out of pictures like some strange Cheshire Cat.
TaMara (BHF)
Thurston: Bi-peds are weird.
NotMax
Trying to change the subject to assuage (presumed) building rancor?
Don’t see a dhoti in that pile of clothing.
:)
beltane
Steve leaves an awfully big indentation. My husband’s name is Steve and he also leaves big indentations like that.
trollhattan
Aww, critters.
dexwood
In late September, I wrote about Dexter Dog’s bone cancer diagnosis, about his “maybe” two months left to live. Dexter lost his battle this morning after months of taking a boatload of medications to keep him as comfortable and pain free as possible. It’s strange how a home feels so different once a beloved pet is gone, how fast you feel the difference. He was a great dog. Wonderful to the end. Wag on, Dexter Dog.
MomSense
Is the couch turned over or is it yoooge? Yay for puppehs.
Renie
its good to let the steam (rancor) out once in a while; prevents explosions! I’m off from work this week so it’s my first time in a long time to have some fun here tonite!
MomSense
@dexwood:
Oh I’m so sorry to hear your sad news. You have my sympathy.
NotMax
Please, please, don’t tell us it is naked towel rack riding.
Mary G
@dexwood: Condolences to you and the family for your loss. It is awful, but you gave him a great life.
Redshift
This is a rabbit that I helped rescue on Sunday night. He’s very cute and friendly. If you want to contribute to his care, there’s a link there, or if you’re in the DC/Baltimore area and want to adopt him after he’s fixed.
(The post is written as if he’s female because we didn’t yet know at the time. His name is now Bolt, because he was so fast he was really hard to catch!)
Juju
@Joel: I read that as reptilian at first, but I didn’t have the right readers on.
eclare
@dexwood: I’m so sorry. I have two four legged space heaters here and dread the days. Hugs across the universe.
FlipYrWhig
@dexwood: Aw, man, that’s rough. Stay strong.
Eric NNY
@dexwood: so sorry my friend. My dear Gracie (Lewis County Sled Dog) turned 16 on Feb. 1. I can’t imagine life without her. My condolences.
TheMightyTrowel
We are going to the RSPCA to look at cats this weekend. I AM EXCITE.
Mike J
Unless Thurston gets the nomination, I’m sitting out the November election.
Princess (now General) Leia
Condolences, Dexwood.
PurpleGirl
@dexwood: So sorry for your loss. I hope you can find comfort in the many years of good memories of your puppeh.
NotMax
NH delegate count at the moment:
Sanders – 15
Clinton – 9
Trump – 11
Kasich – 3
Cruz, Bush, Rubio – 2 each
amk
dems in disarray? hoocudda thought.
rikyrah
Lily looks so sweet.
Glad to see Thurston..
Omnes Omnibus
You fuckers don’t deserve to see Beau’s pic again. Other than that, I have Plant, my plant. Fuck it, I would have to take a pic of Plant and it would then be regard as more suited to a garden thread. You see my dilemma. right? I want to be a community member…. I do…
seaboogie
I feel better now, and thank you for the critters. I had a real bitch of a customer go all agro on me because she didn’t like our return/exchange policy, and I had to take an Ativan to calm down afterwards. But then the day got better and continues to do so.
I really don’t understand these authoritarian types who feel free to treat people like crap if we don’t snap to and adhere to their worldview, so that’s why I vote Dem – no matter who gets the nom.
PurpleGirl
@TheMightyTrowel: Yay!!! Yes, a rescue. As Foster Dad John (fosterer for a shelter outside Seattle) says “Rescue is my favorite breed.”
NotMax
@Omnes Omnibus
Put a cutesy sweater on it and you’ll have both bases covered.
:)
Linda Featheringill
@dexwood:
I’m so sorry for your loss.
<>
seaboogie
@dexwood: So sorry for your loss Dexwood – my nym is after my beloved Seamus who passed away 3 years ago at Thanksgiving. I was just speaking about him this evening with a wonderful local customer who is a cat person and didn’t quite understand why her son and his girlfriend are so in love with their rescue Boxer – so I shared awesome dog stories, and she was understanding of my tears even three years later. There is a reason why Dog is God spelled backwards….
Omnes Omnibus
@NotMax: Plant has its dignity.
David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch
BWHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHHAHH
#NoBrains #NoSoul
max
@dexwood: He was a great dog. Wonderful to the end. Wag on, Dexter Dog.
Amen.
max
[‘.’]
NotMax
@Omnes Omnibus
Dignity?
This is Balloon Juice, isn’t it?
seaboogie
@Redshift:
Good thing you didn’t name him Usain, else the neighbors would think he is a terrorist bunny. He’s a cutie!
hilts
“Y’all need to simmer down.”
Good advice Cole
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItIkqcss0iU
Corner Stone
MSNBC is the fucking worst. They just had a 15 minute bull (mainly female) session on how HRC should be hung upside down, gutted, stuffed full of bouquet garnis and then roasted for 20 hours.
I’m going to find a high level contact to send a hand written letter to MSNBC and let them know that my social security receiving, 64+ boomer ass will never watch another minute of their air.
max
@Joel: So, I mean, Trump is going to win the Republican nomination, isn’t he?
Perhaps. The one thing you don’t want to do is insist he can’t win. Or probably won’t win.
max
[‘Freak out early, avoid the rush, get it out of your system.’]
Frankensteinbeck
@Joel:
Looks like it. Things are so weird on their side it’s definitely not certain, but he smacked down the one big argument against him – that his poll numbers might not reflect actual votes.
SWMBO
@dexwood: My heartfelt condolences. We have lost many near and dear ones over the years. The only thing I have learned is you can learn to love again and again. Peace and comfort now for you and your family.
seaboogie
@David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: About Rubio crashing in the polls after the last debate (and this ties into my earlier post too): I watched him and realized that the dude was having an anxiety attack – something with which I am all too familiar. The drymouth, the inability to function or think properly because you are pretty sure that you are going to die as your pulse races and you start to hyperventilate. Then today Huffpo had an article noting that his allies confirmed as much.
I suspect it’s only going to get worse for him, because you start to fear the next attack and the situation in which it occurred. Rubio should have asked Carson for a bit of whatever he was on, because he is obviously overmedicating himself.
Omnes Omnibus
@NotMax: It’s also Plant. Plant wants Plant’s dignity.
Diana
for everyone so certain that a Sanders voter will become a Trump voter if Hillary wins the nomination:
http://grist.org/climate-energy/clinton-comes-out-against-atlantic-offshore-drilling-angling-to-win-green-voters-away-from-sanders
there’s more on the table than just socialism v. fascism. Some of us also care about whether we’re destroying the planet.
Renie
@seaboogie: very interesting observation. i did see that article about his tendency to panic at minor stuff.
guachi
Well, let me be the first to say it. I can’t see myself voting for Sanders. The hysterical demonizing of Wall Street is just so over the top it reminds me of anti-Muslim hysteria by Republicans.
Has Sanders even MET a banker? Probably not because talking to them would taint him. Or something.
The more I read of Sanders economic proposals the less I’m impressed. And economics is his main focus. He’s been in Washington for two years more than Clinton and his foreign policy experience is less than mine. And I’m not qualified to be President.
That and I prefer a real Democrat and not an opportunist.
Major Major Major Major
Samwise Gamgee the Brave the Cat
http://m.imgur.com/a/4rCGV
NotMax
@Omnes Omnibus
“Feeeeeeeeeeed meeeee.”
Mnemosyne
I’m going to re-promote Anne Laurie’s post from this morning, because the world is going to know his name.
Also, tuxies are best kittehs ever always. We currently have two.
Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA
@dexwood: I’m so sorry.
Rest in peace, Dexter Dog. I know your humans are forever grateful for time they had with you.
hilts
Atlantic Reporter Agreed to Tailor Article to Clinton Spokesman’s Demands
http://gawker.com/this-is-how-hillary-clinton-gets-the-coverage-she-wants-1758019058
Major Major Major Major
@hilts: nobody has ever done these things for access before. Especially not the New York Times with Bush.
bemused senior
Dexwood, I lost my precious boy Toro a month ago. My heart goes out to you. The only downside to adopting a senior dog is the chances are good you will lose it way too soon, but I just did it again. I had to fill that hole in my heart.
piratedan7
okay… so to sum up… Bernie is bringing the yoots in to vote for him. Great job Mr. Sanders… hope we can keep them voting Dem no matter who the nominee is…
The media gets their horse race… at least until South Carolina and Nevada… which apparently aren’t in Mr. Sanders wheelhouse if the conventional wisdom is to be believed.
The GOP, well it’s a shitshow still and will continue to be because their roster is comprised of shitshowmen and one creepy ex-CEO who happens to be of the other gender.
Is that about right?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Were Rubio’s numbers this bad? I really want him gone, but I don’t dare get my hopes up, and I’ve been saying for months that every outcome of the GOP primary seems equally unlikely to me
Christie I never took that seriously. I don’t think they want to bet that Waldstein or Kelly, and even more so that big lawyer who was running the Port Authority, are done talking
seaboogie
@Renie: Interestingly, I was leading a public tour at an olive oil mill at which I worked just after Rubio’s response to the SOTU speech and the infamous first water bottle incident. I had an anxiety attack doing that familiar thing that I do well, and got the worst drymouth, spaced out experience. I finally was in a place where I could excuse myself for a moment to get a sip of water – and was jokingly compared to Rubio.
slag
When did you become the rational one?
Redshift
@seaboogie: LOL, thanks!
Taiko
“In completed counties, Democratic turnout is 13 points lower than in 2008…” I guess it’s a quiet revolution… I expect, in the end, this revolution will not be televised.
seaboogie
@efgoldman:
Nope. I tend to freak out driving on freeways, so I understand that becoming an interstate truck driver, or a limo driver, or any kind of driver is not a good career choice for me.
PurpleGirl
@bemused senior: Bless you for adopting a senior critter. Shelters have many senior or even teenaged dogs and cats. Everyone wants a cute kitten or puppy and the older cats/dogs are left alone. Senior critters need love and furever homes too.
benw
@dexwood: Sorry, that sucks.
NotMax
@Taiko
Same day registration.
A 9-person primary will always entice more than will a 2-person one.
benw
@bemused senior: Sorry about Toro. And good for you. Older pets need homes, too.
NotMax
If I never hear a TV election personage again moan about what a late night it is, it will be too soon.
David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch
I think ¿Jeb? and Christie stay in for 3 more weeks (until Super Tuesday) just to trash Lil’ Marco who they really seem to personally despise.
Renie
@David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: Great! More fun times to watch.
NotMax
Not entirely set in stone, but the chisels have all been sharpened and the tablets prepped.
NH delegate counts:
Sanders – 15
Clinton – 9
Unpledged (by party rules) – 8
Trump – 11
Kasich – 3
Cruz – 2
Bush – 2
Rubio – 2
Unpledged (by party rules) – 3
EconWatcher
In this crazy, topsy-turvy world, it’s good there are still some things you can rely on. Like Bill Kristol: https://mobile.twitter.com/BillKristol/status/674200932054355968?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
Peale
@efgoldman: I think we discussed this before. Its a three way tie for fifth. If there’s no third place, CNN won’t be able to determine who won.
David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch
@Peale: NYT spent a lot of resources cheer leading Lil’ Marco and the Lil’ robot self destructed on them.
David *Rafael* Koch
Is Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas a secret Mooslim?
NotMax
Mind boggling.
Clip shown of Trump saying the unemployment numbers are a lie and the actual number is 35 or even 42%, and that’s why he can get such large crowds.
Guachi
Looks like Christie is done. He’s not going to south Carolina.
Ruckus
@NotMax:
I wonder if he even knows he’s lying.
I’m pretty sure that if he does know he doesn’t give a shit.
Peale
@NotMax: yet if he were to become president, why do n’t I think he’ll spend a lot of time reforming the methodology so that that real 35% figure will become official?
Kropadope
@NotMax: So trump thinks his supporters are mainly people who would rather collect unemployment forever and visit clown shows than look for a job?
@David *Rafael* Koch: I doubt it, though I understand he’s one of ISIL’s top recruiters.
Kropadope
@Peale: Well, I can believe that a third of people don’t have jobs and, frankly, it’s ludicrous that we don’t count the elementary schoolers and the retirees who have no excuse not to be working.
BR
@guachi:
Yeah, this is one of the things that really bugged me from earlier last week — the fact that when some lefty policy analysts called out Sanders’s single payer plan as having bogus numbers, his campaign just put out new equally bogus numbers in their correction. I mean really — if he’s going to focus on domestic policy, he should at least get some competent policy people and the fact that he can’t or can’t be bothered to is a problem for me.
I’m really hoping in the back of my mind that single payer is just a negotiating position to get a public option. Because I like the idea of a public option and think it’s a good next step. But I’m not sure it is.
Kropadope
@NotMax: I’m sure that they and members of their staff won’t be stopping in at 24 hour stores on their way homes in solidarity to the employees thereof.
BR
@Ruckus:
There was an excellent book called On Bullshit that can be summarized really simply: Bullshit is different from Lying. Someone spewing Bullshit, like Trump, doesn’t care whether what they’re saying is true of false. Whereas someone Lying, like Cruz, is false things deliberately. Both are willing to say anything. The difference is that Cruz knows what he’s saying is false, whereas Trump has such a huge ego that anything he says is by definition correct and there is no such thing as objective true and false that can be applied to his statements.
NotMax
@Kropeadope
“Whaddaya mean room service is closed? The mini-bar in this rural fleabag sucks.”
SRW1
@TaMara (BHF):
Thurston: That dude is getting nowhere. And it makes him try even harder.
StellaB
@guachi: Yes, but Sanders has had years of experience compromising with congressmen and senators of another party. Sadly, his compromising experience is limited to the Democratic Party.
hilts
@BR:
On Bullshit should be required reading for everyone.
Good interview with author Harry Frankfurt
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1RO93OS0Sk
magurakurin
@NotMax: By the Cook Political Report Scorecard, Sanders did what he needed to do in New Hampshire, 15 delegates. Unfortunately, so did Clinton, 9 delegates. And he didn’t get it done in Iowa so, the score is Clinton +10 Sanders -10. On to Nevada. There Sanders needs 20 to Clinton’s 15 to hit his target, but he’ll need 25 to Clinton’s 10 to bring it even.
mclaren
@max:
Trump is like Bill from Gravity Falls, or Bob from the Church of the Subgenius. Whenever they appear, unutterable chaos and destruction follow, together with snappy dressing.
mclaren
@BR:
That’s a “fact” like the “fact” that the Titanic didn’t sink and everyone on board ended up living in luxury on the island of Tahiti.
It’s not a “fact” at all.
That claim about Sanders’ health plan allegedly having bogus numbers is the result of the far-right Pete Peterson organization ginning up fake numbers and crap claims in a frantic effort to discredit Sanders. Alas, Sanders was not discredited — see Robert Reich: The Washington Post is lying to you about Bernie Sanders: A new editorial claims Sanders’ proposal would reduce the quality of American healthcare. The notion is ludicrous,” 1 February 2016.
Keep it up, people! Keep parroting those bullshit right-wing talking points. Keep repeating the far-right disinformation in a vast echo chamber of lies and nonsense.
These non-fact ‘facts’ are right up with the `fact’ that President Obama is a muslim born in Kenya, the `fact’ that Bill Clinton murdered Vince Foster, and the `fact’ that the 1969 moon landing was faked by Stanley Kubrick in a movie studio in England.
goblue72
@Corner Stone: That’ll show ’em.
BR
@mclaren:
I am happy to stand corrected. However the link you provided doesn’t correct what I was talking about — I agree the stuff about health quality is BS right-wing talking points, but that’s not what I’m saying.
I recall a front-page thread here a few days back about this, and several analyses were linked by various folks indicating Sanders’s plan was wrong. For example, there was something about prescription drug savings that Sanders’s was claiming was astronomical and didn’t make sense, and when called out his campaign put out new numbers that equally made no sense. Is there a rebuttal / discussion of that you can provide?
BR
Here’s a quote that stands out to me:
http://www.vox.com/2016/1/28/10858644/bernie-sanders-kenneth-thorpe-single-payer
opiejeanne
@Diana: I don’t understand that narrative that says a significant number of Sanders’ voters will suddenly lose their minds and vote for Trump if Sanders is not the nominee. I just don’t believe it. More likely that some will choose not to vote, which is a terrible prospect.
opiejeanne
@NotMax: I saw that bit of horrorshow by Trump but missed worse stuff, I’m told.
Amir Khalid
@opiejeanne:
Some Bernistas, particularly among the group who write for Salon, have publicly advocated writing Bernie in if Hillary is the nominee.
NR
@magurakurin: Counting superdelegates is disingenuous. Supers can change their minds at any time, they are not locked in for Hillary. Sanders currently leads in pledged delegates.
opiejeanne
@Amir Khalid: Ugh. That’s not helpful, that’s stupid and selfish.
David *Rafael* Koch
@Amir Khalid: of course they have. I read them. DudeBros only care about themselves. Have you noticed they never-ever write about abortion, the environment, cops murdering blacks, or immigration. It’s johnny-one note with them.
bin Lurkin'
I’m reading rumors that Sanders has raised $10 million in 24 hours online.. Crashed the donation system so many people were trying to give his campaign money.
Please stand by for confirmation.
David *Rafael* Koch
@bin Lurkin’: Tad Devine is about to become even richer!
Amir Khalid
@NR:
So Hillary’s superdelegates have only a provisional commitment to her. Does that mean they will change their commitment in any but exceptional circumstances, such as the utter collapse of her candidacy? It seems implausible. Perhaps someone with a copy of the delegate rulebook can enlighten us on when a superdelegate may change sides.
bin Lurkin'
If Sanders wins the popular vote in the primaries and superdelegates overturn it count on a Republican President, there are a lot of Sanders supporters who will raise all kinds of hell and will not be voting for Hillary.
Not a threat, I have no power to change the course of history, it’s a prediction based on talking to many enthusiastic Sanders supporters, they have no intention of being brought to heel.
Another Holocene Human
@seaboogie: Had a customer like that last night. I stayed relatively calm and assertive but I’m still concerned she’s going to file a complaint on me. From what I can figure out (I’m not sure–it was a busy evening) she screwed up but now I was supposed to hang around on unapproved overtime and spend company resources fixing her problem. Uh… how about no.
On second thought, perhaps she was talking to me that way (loud and enunciated) because she thought I was too stupid to know how things work around here. Been working here for ten years. Next!
Another Holocene Human
@Diana: I’m certain that only one candidate has pledged to assist Democratic Senate candidates. We already know the BernieBros, if they are Ronulans as Nate Silver has asserted, don’t make up a significant portion of the electorate.
Another Holocene Human
@guachi: I thought Trump would be your candidate of choice.
Another Holocene Human
@Major Major Major Major: It’s different when Hilary Clinton does it. So … grasping.
satby
@dexwood: so sorry for your loss dexwood. So hard when a beloved pet goes.
satby
@bemused senior: And condolences on the loss of your Toro, who you honor so well by adopting another!
pea
i live in florida. our governor should’ve been put in prison given the hca scandal, our legislature is dominated by rethugs. despite overwhelmingly passing amendment #1 in 2014, they are now passing laws to allow fracking in florida (land of sinkholes, what could go wrong?).
despite the profound failure of michigan rethugs to care for flint, their focus? making anything but missionary sex illegal.
unless state politics are changed
it won’t matter who is president
Iowa Old Lady
@dexwood: I’m sorry about Dexter.
Amir Khalid
@opiejeanne:
Here’s confirmation for you.
Hillary Rettig
@dexwood: I’m so sorry.
DCF
@mclaren:
Why Bernie vs Hillary Matters More Than People Think
http://benjaminstudebaker.com/2016/02/05/why-bernie-vs-hillary-matters-more-than-people-think/
DCF
@dexwood:
Althea
Unequivocally, YES!
dexwood
Good morning. Thank you to all who expressed condolences, for all the kind words. Dexter was an amazing dog in so many ways. I told people for years he was my guru. He was also a gunshot survivor though we did not know that when we adopted him. His snout was crooked and a bit concave on the upper right where he was missing most of his teeth. Everyone thought he must have been hit by a car. We adopted him, really, he picked me, knowing he would cost us a few bucks given his dental problems. A chronic sinus infection, led us to a Veterinary dental specialist where x-rays revealed numerous bullet fragments in his face and nasal cavity. Five hours of surgery cleaned him up, corrected what could be corrected, and gave him a healthier, happier life. The most expensive dog we’ve ever owned, but worth every penny for so many reasons.
Thanks again, all, and DCF, he was a Golden Retriever.
gogol's wife
@dexwood:
I’m so sorry for your loss. You’re a mensch, and Dexter knew it every moment of his life with you.
shomi
“Clinton or Sanders are both fine candidates, so there is no need for the rancor.”
Just when I thought Cole couldn’t say anything dumber. My bad. What would you expect from the guy who was totally behind the “single payer or I’m not voting” nonsense. This from the guy who thinks Griftwald is totally awesome. This from the guy who thought Fat Bastard Christie was a heck of a guy.
The stupid it burns.
If you want at least a 65% chance of another Republican gov’t twice as bad as G Dubya, just support Bernie to win the primary. If you want an almost 100% chance that won’t happen. Support Clinton. Simple as that. Progressives are dumber than right wingnuts sometimes. Totally happy to cut off their noses despite their face.
Cole is such an idiot he has absolutely no business running a political blog site. No business whatsoever.
Lurker
@dexwood:
Sorry for your loss. When our beloved pets cross the rainbow bridge, we are lost.
Lurker
@shomi:
No need to insult John Cole. What’s your problem?
Lurker
@PurpleGirl:
I adopt senior cats only.
shomi
@Lurker: He says stupid stuff far too often to be called anything other than an idiot. Clearly the shoe fits.
I would love to call him much worse but then he will ban this handle and I will have to waste a few more seconds of my time creating a new one.
mr_gravity
@seaboogie: Certainly explains why the Marcobot sees I sis lurking in the shadows. Your second point explains Carson’s inability to find his way onstage.
JimV
Yes. But then I thought some day Thurston and Steve are going to die and felt sad again. But then I just saw that “Better Call Saul” will be back next week and I felt better again.
J R in WV
@dexwood:
So sorry for your loss!!
Dexter Dog sounds like he was a great companion. Hang in there.