Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I’m more christian than these people and i’m an atheist.

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

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

I am pretty sure these ‘journalists’ were not always such a bootlicking sycophants.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

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

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Radicalized white males who support Trump are pitching a tent in the abyss.

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

Hi god, it’s us. Thanks a heap, you’re having a great week and it’s only Thursday!

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

Good lord, these people are nuts.

New McCarthy, same old McCarthyism.

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

People are complicated. Love is not.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

One way or another, he’s a liar.

Books are my comfort food!

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Yeehaw! (Open Thread)

Reader Interactions

115Comments

  1. 1.

    Seebach

    Poll for juicers:

    If you don’t think Trump will be the nominee, where do the bets lie? Cruz? Rubio?

    Curious how people think this’ll shake out.

  8. 8.

    geg6

    @Leto:

    She had a good, long life. And she died as one of the most beloved authors in American literature. It’s a good way to go.

  10. 10.

    JPL

    @TaMara (BHF): That’s the same article that I read. Another story on the site, was about friends of Shelby’s preventing a group from meeting, if the point of the meeting was to disparage Shelby. It was suppose to be a debate that Shelby couldn’t attend.

  11. 11.

    geg6

    Happy birthday to the Crackers!

    I’m working, as usual. Have a long day today. First, I’m finding out that the new student system is not working correctly when it comes to awarding our freshman scholarships and there was no way to know that until I started getting phone calls from parents whose kids have been offered all three of our freshman scholarships when the programming was supposed to sort them into one of the three types based on a probability score. Fuck this new system.

    I will also probably not get home from work until after 8:30 pm because we have an accepted student dinner tonight. Fuck that, too.

  12. 12.

    Leto

    @Betty Cracker: It is, and she did.

    I hope you and Mr. Cracker have a wonderful birthday boat trip! I can’t wait for the MS Paint depictions of you catching a gator and the ensuing kerfuffle. :)

  15. 15.

    Germy

    @Seebach: I’m guessing Rubio because the Villagers want it SO BAD. They fluff him so much.

    Unless Jeb’s rightToRise crew digs up a second family or some other scandal, I’m guessing Rubio.

  17. 17.

    JPL

    Happy Birthday to the Crackers and have a wonderful time. I was able to enlarge the picture by clicking on it.

  20. 20.

    satby

    Happy Birthday to Betty Cracker and the Mister Cracker. Unusually warm and sunny today and tomorrow here with a lot of wind, but so delightful to get a hint of spring that I’m already having a more productive morning than most of my entire day is during the cold grey winter.

  21. 21.

    satby

    @Germy: the student is from the same exchange service as mine, and though they say “Asian”, a lot of our Indonesian students wear hijab, though it’s not mentioned in the story.

    Edited to add: just found out she’s from China

  22. 22.

    Germy

    Last December, the town council in Camarillo, a small town in southern California, a man called Prince Jordan Tyson stood up and delivered a three minute speech as a “concerned citizen” about a planned construction project before the council.

    Tyson is not a concerned citizen of Camarillo: he’s a struggling actor from Beverley Hills, who was paid $100 to deliver a scripted position from the podium while misrepresenting himself as a local, sincere citizen.

    Tyson worked for Adam Swart, a recent UCLA grad, who runs a company called “Crowds on Demand,” which hires actors to attend politicians’ campaign meetings, and to deliver scripted dialog in the guise of concerned citizens. Swart says that he has been paid by “dozens of campaigns for state officials, and 2016 presidential candidates” whom he won’t name, because if he “did, nobody would hire us.”

    http://boingboing.net/2016/02/19/citizens-who-speak-at-town.html

  24. 24.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    James Clyburn endorses Clinton, saying he’s torn between his head and his heart and goes with his head. Damn, that’s some half-hearted endorsing.

  27. 27.

    Germy

    @satby:

    Edited to add: just found out she’s from China

    How long before some smug internet commenter says “does this mean we should ban all hatchets?” I haven’t checked my local news online, but I’m sure one of the regulars will ask that.

  29. 29.

    Starfish

    Betty, you never told us about the feral monkeys. I feel like you have let us down in telling us strange Florida tales if you have omitted the monkeys.

  31. 31.

    Germy

    @Starfish: My favorite feral monkeys are the ones in Gibraltar. They steal bags from tourists, looking for fruit. They are completely unafraid.

    I was watching a PBS travel show, and the host had his backpack pulled off by a monkey. When he tried to get it back, the monkey slapped at him.

  33. 33.

    Amir Khalid

    @satby:
    The story doesn’t mention the student’s national origin or religion or ethnicity at all. I guess that mentally disturbed man would have attacked anyone who looked foreign to him. From the story’s description of his psychiatric history, it would seem he belongs in permanent custodial care.

  34. 34.

    Betty Cracker

    @schrodinger’s cat: No doggies on this boat ride. We only bring them when we’re sure they’ll have an opportunity to stop and frolic on land at some point. Otherwise, they don’t enjoy it. Boxers aren’t water dogs.

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’ll say! I thought Clyburn was tight with the Clintons.

  36. 36.

    El Caganer

    Happy birthdays to you both. My Friday will be spent wishing I was already moved to Sarasota instead of being parked on my ass in Phrigid Philly.

  39. 39.

    Snarkworth, short-fingered Bulgarian

    Taking bets on when we’ll see Thump kneeling in the snow outside Canossa, begging for the pope’s blessing.

  43. 43.

    Paul in KY

    @Germy: Wouldn’t be surprised if there were more than that. Next time anyone stands up & asks a Jim Gilmore related question, we’ll know he paid for it too.

  44. 44.

    Paul in KY

    @Germy: Probably classified as ‘cruelty to animals’, but wonder what would happen if you got some monkeys blissfully stoned? Then filmed it, of course.

  45. 45.

    Jean King

    My very favorite structure/business in your part of the world is Shh, Don’t Tell Momma Adult Megacenter in St. Pete Beach. Cracks me up every time I drive past it on the way to the family vacation in Madeira Beach.

  46. 46.

    MattF

    @Seebach: I have no idea.

    Apparently if it’s not Der Trump, then it’s either Cruz or Rubio– but any one of the three is horrifying in his own special way. I’m gonna just not think about it.

  47. 47.

    low-tech cyclist

    Betty – happy birthday wishes to you and your ‘MUCH older’ hubby! (I’m 11 years older than my wife, so I have the view from the other side.) I see from your pic that you were passing through Arcadia – I’m guessing you’re heading to Gasparilla Sound? Anyway, enjoy!

  48. 48.

    lgerard

    @Germy:

    This was an actual subdivision of radio giant Premiere, which is home to Limbaugh and (at the time) Beck.
    I would not doubt that there is a similar effort online. We have certainly seem examples of “editorials” and letters to the editor that are massed produced and show up all over the country.

  49. 49.

    Frances Perkins

    Yesterday we went to see Michael Moore’s new movie, “Where to Invade Next?”.

    It is understandable that it has been given virtually no publicity and limited release because it’s political implications are explosive.

    Moore traveled to a number of European countries to examine the various ways in which these countries tremendously enhance the quality of life for their citizens. He contrasts this with the way we do things in America and America comes off very badly in the comparison. No wonder that the powers that be in the U.S.A did what they could to have as few Americans see the movie as possible.

    Go see it while you can and tell all your friends!

  50. 50.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: @Betty Cracker: d’oh! got that wrong, based on some bad reporting from MSNBC–
    Clyburne was saying his head was telling him to stay neutral in the primary, which is his long-standing custom, but his “heart has always been with Hillary”

    (word press changes “Clyburn” to “Cleburne”. What the hell’s a Cleburne? )

  51. 51.

    Scout211

    Happy Birthday Crackers!

    We are on a road trip to Washington (state) to celebrate our youngest grand baby’s third birthday tomorrow.

    Rain and wind and rain and wind. I miss California already.

  52. 52.

    ET

    The line at the Supreme Court for the Scalia viewing is pretty impressive. No I was not in line, only passing by so to speak.

  53. 53.

    Chyron HR

    @Frances Perkins:

    Obviously the new Michael Moore documentary would be destroying Avatar’s box office records if only the powers that be weren’t afraid of the political implications.

  56. 56.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Frances Perkins: I’ve seen the ad quite a bit. I was gonna say on TV, but maybe I’m thinking of internet pop ups? I genuinely can’t remember, I don’t pay a lot of attention to ads.

    Mostly I wanted to say: I love your nym de blogue.

  57. 57.

    Germy

    @Chyron HR: Well, Avatar was playing on multiple screens at every single theater within driving distance of our house. I’ve been looking for the Moore film, but it isn’t playing anywhere near me.

    Marketing drives attendance. Most blockbusters are heavily marketed and distributed.

  58. 58.

    Amir Khalid

    @NotMax:
    It was always the superPAC that had the Brinks trucks, wasn’t it? Jeb’s campaign had already been tightening its belt for months, as I recall.

  59. 59.

    Patricia Kayden

    @satby: “Police arrested 59-year-old Dana Ericson of Nashville. Police say Ericson has a long history of psychological issues telling police he intended to kill the Asian woman in an act of “ethnic cleansing. He told police he was a white supremacist and that he set out to kill the woman.”

    Awful. In the age of the Trump campaign, not surprised that this is happening.

  60. 60.

    NotMax

    No comment, other than noting the loose application of the term destroyed.

    US airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria have reportedly destroyed more than $500 million cash reserves and 20 kilograms of gold stored by the terror group.
    [snip]
    As proof of their successful targeting the US-led coalition released video of one of the Mosul airstrikes that showed what appeared to be large amounts of bills fluttering in the air after the airstrike. Source

  62. 62.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Germy: I don’t know much about your show business, but I’m kind of surprised Moore hasn’t gone with a cable channel or a streaming service.

  64. 64.

    Raven Onthill

    Here at CT we’re not big on posting about topics just because they’re happening. (Unless it’s the 6 Nations, obviously.) But this Apple FBI back door saga is making me feel I should post something, not because it’s topical, not because I know a lot more about it than anyone who reads a decent newspaper / tech journal etc. (because I don’t), but because it’s becoming clear that this event is morphing into something of a turning point in how governments interact with tech firms in the US and, at more of a distance, the UK.—Maria Farrell, who does know something about it

  65. 65.

    Germy

    “To Kill A Mockingbird” is coming to Broadway in a new adaptation written by Aaron Sorkin.

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I don’t much about that stuff either, but I assume more people will see Moore’s film on their personal devices, rather than a crowded movie theater.

  66. 66.

    The Golux

    @Germy:

    …hires actors to attend politicians’ campaign meetings…

    A guy I know was one of the people Trump paid to be in the crowd at his campaign launch.

  67. 67.

    NotMax

    @Amir Khalid

    Linked item mentions the superPAC supposedly down to having under $15 million, which is bupkis with upcoming multi-state primaries looming.

    Again, though. BIG grain of salt.

  69. 69.

    Kropadope

    @Amir Khalid:

    And how does one “destroy” gold, anyway?

    Given that, as far as I’m aware, we haven’t achieved nuclear fission on any non-radioactive elements, you don’t.

    ETA: I suppose one could fairly say they disintegrated and scattered the gold.

  71. 71.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Amir Khalid:
    By blasting it into chips and powder that cannot be efficiently recovered. Bonus points if you’re in an area inhabited enough that all surviving bills and gold chunks are stolen by civilians. People do that when dollar bills flutter down out of the sky. Terrible.

  72. 72.

    NotMax

    @Amir Khalid

    Bingo.

    Entirely conceivable to fragment, melt or even vaporize it, but that wouldn’t leave much paper floating around the immediate surroundings.

  74. 74.

    WaterGirl

    @geg6: Whoa, so I guess you have to honor ALL the scholarships they were TOLD they got, even if the intent was to only offer one? The alternative would be terrible for anyone who thought they got a scholarship and would be told “never mind”. Yikes. Sorry you have to deal with this.

  78. 78.

    lgerard

    @The Golux:

    A very famous example of this type of thing occurred a few years ago in Cambridge, MA. The FCC was in town to hold a hearing about internet access and one of the issues that was going to be discussed was the practice of “sandvining”, a software program which restricts bit torrent sharing that Comcast had stated to use in the area.
    Comcast (or its agent) actually put an ad on Craigslist to hire people for the day for an unspecified purpose. What they did was truck everyone over to the hall where the hearing was held and pack it to capacity. When the hearing began, no critics of Comcast could even get into the hearing.
    Sadly for Comcast, they left too broad a back trail, and when the FCC found out, they were PISSED. They ordered Comcast to stop using Sandvine, and we all lived happily ever after.

  81. 81.

    Dork

    @NotMax: I’m not sure you can vaporize gold, at least not easily. But if it can be melted and thus contaminated with sand or other rubbish, it’s not worth much at all.

  83. 83.

    WaterGirl

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: Good point about Michael Moore distributing his movie. Doesn’t Louis CK charge just $5 for each of his new releases? Maybe Netflix and Amazon don’t want to touch it either? But surely ITunes would be willing to sell it.

  84. 84.

    lgerard

    @The Golux:

    I want to get one of those “crisis actor” jobs. I heard a militia nut saying that the ones in Burns, Oregon were being paid $500 a day.

  85. 85.

    Miss Bianca

    @Frances Perkins:

    I’m scared to go see that movie. I’ve wanted to leave this country and live in Europe (or at least Canada) ever since my teens. Don’t need any more fuel to stoke that particular fire.

    I remember my mother telling me before my first European trip that I’de be so glad to come back to the US. I remember telling her after I got back, “Nope.”

    Better food, better wine, better coffee, better conversation, more support for the arts, more vacation time, hell, Italy had nap time built into its afternoon schedule! My worst fears were confirmed…there was an entire continent where people lived life the way I wanted to live it, and I hadn’t been born there.

    However, in the spirit of Ms. Betty’s mural, I am getting ready for some awesome rough riding over our (still) public lands, the best feature of life in these United States, so that’s something!

  89. 89.

    The Golux

    @Germy: I don’t know. He told me about it a couple of weeks later, before the Trump phenomenon had metastasized. At that point I assumed his supporters would always be paid shills.

  90. 90.

    raven

    @John W.: Tom Rush “Urge For Going”

    Summertime is falling down and winter is closing in
    I’ll ply the fire with kindling and pull the blankets to my chin
    I’ll lock the vagrant winter out and I’ll bolt my wandering in
    I’d like to call back summertime and have her stay for just another month or so
    But she’s got the urge for going so I guess she’ll have to go
    She get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
    And all her empires are falling down
    And winter’s closing in
    And I get the urge for going when the meadow grass is turning brown
    And summertime is falling down

  91. 91.

    ruemara

    @Amir Khalid: Actually, the man said he attacked her because she was Asian and to start “ethnic cleansing”. updated for derp

    I’m uploading scripts, working on my press kit, ordering new glasses, working out. About to drop a buttload of cash for festivals and grants. Hoping, in my half-assed way. Nervous as fuck, but, I’ve seen so many mediocre movies presented with great fanfare. Least I should do is square my shoulders and knock on some doors. All I need is one to open.
    My teacher wants me to get certified to train fitness. I think if I do, I will be certified in adaptive fitness. I have to make adjustments for my physical issues, so I’d like to be able to help do that. But it needs more thinking on it. It is surprisingly attractive to just be allowed to wear spandex tights all day.

  98. 98.

    boatboy_srq

    @Seebach: Cruz gets the lion’s share of the popular vote; Rubio wangles the delegates. But I still think Trump has the staying power to go the distance – at least as much as anyone else in the clown car.

    More popcorn, please.

  99. 99.

    boatboy_srq

    @Miss Bianca:

    Better food, better wine, better coffee, better conversation, more support for the arts, more vacation time

    Not to mention that the food and wine and coffee and arts and vacations are generally cheaper (unless you’re feeling spendthrift and you HAVE to be in Hamburg, Vienna, Milan, Paris or London). Yes, taxes are higher – but the intangibles more than make the difference, and there’s much more interest in and care for the common space (old is “quaint” there where it’s “dilapidated” in the US, especially for public trans) and the people are more articulate in any language (seen this morning on a cafe sandwich board: “‘something witty and thought provocing’ – what my boss said to write. Also, Panin’s!” Verbatim. WTF people!?).

  100. 100.

    Frances Perkins

    Scuffletuffle,
    Not only am I pining for French food but also the other life-enhancing benefits Moore talked about.

  103. 103.

    J R in WV

    Happy Birthdays!!!

    I’m mixing cement and sand, OoooF!!

    Just a minute tho, you said hubby ” is MUCH older” ?? Really?

    From my mid-60s I bet you’re both spring chickens!! Much indeed. Like 3 or 7 or somfing loike dat I betcha…

    Be Happy!

  104. 104.

    Miss Bianca

    @boatboy_srq:

    My experience travelling was that food, wine etc was not necessarily *cheaper*, but that the quality was so much higher than what I’d be getting if I paid a similar amount in the States. And yes…the average person on the street seemed so much better-educated and intellectually curious – certainly far, far more aware of what was going on in the world – than my fellow Americans, it made me feel sad for people here. We have been so brainwashed into believing “We’re Number One!”, and so much about our way of life seems so lacking when you compare it to other/older cultures…

  106. 106.

    WaterGirl

    @J R in WV: I don’t know, but I’m guessing he’s a year or two older and Betty Cracker takes the opportunity to give him some shit. (As she should!)

  107. 107.

    The Lodger

    We’re going to be in San Francisco for a day or two. Any recommendations on things to do or affordable restaurants?

  109. 109.

    boatboy_srq

    @The Lodger: Depends. What cuisine do you like? For Chinese, there’s Win’s and Hong’s, both in the Outer Parkside: very good food last I was there. Thai: both Cha Am (SoMa) and Thai Stick (Lower Nob Hill, and Fillmore) are excellent (Cha Am has a better tom ka gai, but Thai Stick does better stirfry). Le Cheval in Oakland is very very good Vietnamese. For Italian, Gold Mirror in the Inner Parkside was always excellent (if more typically Italian and not the usual US-style pasta house), and Calzone’s in North Beach has good food for decent prices (try the chicken marsala ravioli, or the smoked trout ravioli if it’s on the menu). You have to have breakfast: recommendations are Mama’s Girl in North Beach, Town’s End on the Embarcadero (South Beach side), Pork Store in Haight and Delancey Street on Embarcadero, in that order. Fog City Diner (Embarcadero, North Beach side) is probably a bit upscale for your budget but they do excellent contemporary American. For seafood you might try either Alioto’s or Castagnola’s at Fishermans Wharf, or Kincaid’s in Oakland (Jack London Square). There used to be an excellent New Orleans style seafood place in the Inner Sunset: (PJs) but they seem to have closed: if anyone knows a good replacement I’m all ears.

    Mind you this is all a bit out of date: any SFO BJers with better recommendations please add updates.

  110. 110.

    boatboy_srq

    @Miss Bianca: Budapest, not six months ago: goulash soup, pot roast, and two glasses of a very excellent house red (local produce): $20 (7000 forint). Kosice, the week before: best risotto I’ve had in years, garlic bread and bottled soda: 10 euro. A lot depends on where you dine, I guess.

  113. 113.

    J R in WV

    @Amir Khalid:

    I think there is an acid that will dissolve gold. 20 Kilos = 44 pounds = about $844,000 at about $1200 an oz, it’s probably more than that, I quit keeping track once it started shooting through the roof. There’s troy oz too, which gets way too complicated for someone mixing concrete and taking a break.

  114. 114.

    Scout211

    @Linnaeus:

    Ha! You betcha we will be returning to California. Monday morning we are outta here!

    Currently we are sitting in the car at a rest stop on I-5, rain and hail pounding our car. We aren’t in California anymore.

    To be fair, I do like Washington in the summer–all 37 days of it. ;-)

  115. 115.

    J R in WV

    Additionally, Mrs J is 19 months older than I am…my Daddy had to sign for me even though I was a sailor in the U S Navy! ‘Cause I was under 21, but she wasn’t.

    Back then it was a good thing to be older if that meant you were old enough to buy alcoholic beverages. She still claims it makes her more mature than I am, but I dunno about that!

    I’m mixing the last of 3 batches of cement mortar for the shower floor. The recipe called for 15 gallons of sand, 5 gallons of cement, and a pint of water – BAD typo, probably meant a pail. Hard work for an old dude~!

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