Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

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

We won’t go back.

There are more Russians standing up to Putin than Republicans.

Just because you believe it, that doesn’t make it true.

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

Somebody needs to explain to DeSantis that nobody needs to do anything to make him look bad.

Pelosi: “He either is stupid, or he thinks the rest of us are.” Why not both?

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

In my day, never was longer.

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

A norm that restrains only one side really is not a norm – it’s a trap.

People are weird.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

“That’s what the insurrection act is for!”

I’m starting to think Jesus may have made a mistake saving people with no questions asked.

Oppose, oppose, oppose. Do not congratulate. This is not business as usual.

Live so that if you miss a day of work people aren’t hoping you’re dead.

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

Accountability, motherfuckers.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Here’s Another Open Thread to discuss the Shitty RNC and all Those Awful People There

Here’s Another Open Thread to discuss the Shitty RNC and all Those Awful People There

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A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned I was going to a colleague’s retirement party. She officially retired on the 1st of July. Several days ago, she woke up during the night, fell and hit her head, and did a great deal of damage, and was in a coma ever since. Today they removed her from life support. Everyone is very upset. 2016 has just been brutal.

In good news, Christion got a job today.

Enough catchup. Rinse Pubis is speaking.

Reader Interactions

218Comments

  2. 2.

    SiubhanDuinne

    How tragic and awful about your colleague. That’s incredibly sad, and I’m so sorry.

    Happy for Christion, though. How’s he doing, in general?

  7. 7.

    Emma

    It really has. I keep expecting to be yanked out of sleep with bad news. I am so sorry.

    Congratulations to Christion on his new job.

  8. 8.

    lamh36

    So on the RNC convention…

    I’m betting no real bump…just like with Romney.

    Didn’t Romney NOT get a bump after convention.

    I wouldn’t expect a negative bump…but if so..I wouldn’t be surprised

  10. 10.

    BR

    I’m seeing a lot of punditry talking about how scary and brilliant Trump’s speech is going to be. Sounds like they’re ramping up for a “Trump saves the day, etc.” storyline?

  13. 13.

    dr. bloor

    @lamh36: Brace yourself, and expect a bump. Trump and the speech he delivers tonight will tap into the brainstems of more American citizens than anyone would care to acknowledge.

    OTOH, Hillary, Bams et al are in the on-deck circle. The ’27 Yankees would be envious.

  16. 16.

    CaseyL

    Horrible; I am so sorry! Congrats to Christion, though; some joy to go with the grieving.

    RNC- I haven’t watched anything that wasn’t posted on Twitter, and don’t intend to start watching it now. If Trump spontaneously combusts while giving his big speech, someone is sure to capture the moment on their phone.

  18. 18.

    PsiFighter37

    Finished working out…I will tune in to watch the Donald just to see just how far he can up the outrage meter.

  19. 19.

    PsiFighter37

    @dr. bloor: I would be a tad more excited if it didn’t sound like she had settled on 2 boring-ass white guys (Kaine and Vilsack) as her finalists. I suppose one can hope that she comes to her senses and picks Perez?

  20. 20.

    Dadadadadadada

    Who is this band? Are they a real band, or just a Cleveland dad-rock-cover bar band? Why are they playing in all the between-speech segments? Could the RNC really only find one band willing to be seen with them?
    I really hope that the DNC features 20 different music luminaries from all different genres to heighten the contrast.
    Also, delegates should never attempt to dance.

  22. 22.

    I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet

    That’s horrible John. Condolences to you and your colleagues.

    Great news for Christion. Thanks for letting us know. Best of luck to him!

    Take care.

    Cheers,
    Scott.
    (Who is watching the RedSox destroy the Twins.)

  25. 25.

    NotMax

    For all the resources available to her, why doesn’t Melania wear something that fits better?

    Another white shmata tonight, again bunching up in a number of places.

  27. 27.

    Schlemazel Khan

    What an awful story, so sorry for all involved John. 30 years ago I worked with a guy, we were on our way to his retirement luncheon, the day before his last. He had a massive stroke & didn’t even make it till the ambulance arrived. One of the nicest guys you would ever meet with many great plans for his retirement.
    Life is needlessly cruel.

  29. 29.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (Formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    @PsiFighter37:

    Where did you hear that? I really don’t want her to choose Kaine. We’re lucky here to have two Democratic senators, and I don’t want to have to have a race for an open seat in an off-off year. We’ll have a tough enough time holding the open governor’s seat. We don’t need the hassle of having to fight to keep a Senate seat, too, and then we’ll have to do it all over again, when the seat comes up in 2018.

  33. 33.

    dr. bloor

    @PsiFighter37: I’d rather Perez as well, although I suspect they’re going to look at the post-convention numbers pretty closely to figure out who they need to appeal to most.

    Interestingly, heard a bit on NPR last night about HRC consulting with Obama on her choice. At one point, it was said that Obama regards his choice of Biden as “the best political decision he’s ever made.”

  35. 35.

    PsiFighter37

    @Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (Formerly Mumphrey, et al.): Kaine has been tabbed as the/a frontrunner for the past couple of weeks. Vilsack just popped up, which would be extremely disappointing.

    Clinton should recognize that it’s Obama’s Democratic Party that got her the nomination – the last thing we need is a centrist white guy with zero charisma. Of course, it likely comes down to the fact that she doesn’t want someone who could potentially overshadow her…

  38. 38.

    Fair Economist

    I’m so sorry to hear that.

    And the news about your colleague is even worse. That’s just so unfair, to die in a freak accident and not be able to enjoy retirement. I’m sure it’s hard on you and everybody else. Hope you can find something positive and comforting to take your mind off it (pets are good for that!)

  39. 39.

    Botsplainer, Neoliberal Corporatist Shill

    I’m drinking. It helps soothe the angry thoughts directed toward Paul “Needs a Russian Bullet in the Skull for Failing His Lord and Master Putin” Manafort, and Peter “I Really Deserve a Curb Stomping from Someone a Lot Less Smug and a Lot Less White” Thiel.

  41. 41.

    PsiFighter37

    @dr. bloor: And apparently Obama has been talking Kaine up as well. Obama does personal politics very well. Party politics – less so.

  44. 44.

    Botsplainer, Neoliberal Corporatist Shill

    Fuck. I’d been hoping we could lose that Lee Greenwood bullshit forever.

  46. 46.

    Mary G

    They’ve got the littlest Trump with them today. That man has some strong genes. He looks a mini-me of Uday and Qusay. OK, they cheered the gay guy.

  48. 48.

    Emma

    She will pick the right person for herself, as Obama did. I remember the usual suspects tearing their hair out over Biden, and Uncle Joe did brilliantly.

  49. 49.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (Formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    Shit. One of the reasons she had cooled on Warren was supposedly that it would put a Senate seat in a race in an off-off year, when it would be harder to hold, and now she’s thinking about putting another, harder seat in play instead? What can she be thinking here? I’m going to be truly pissed off if she does this.

  51. 51.

    Gin & Tonic

    Very sorry about your friend, John, but happy for Christion at the same time.

    Didn’t see much mention here (although, shame on me, I haven’t read every post in every thread) but the NBA removed next year’s All-Star Game from Charlotte because of HB2. Sucks for the people of Charlotte who seem to be enlightened, but this is an important stand, and the NBA should be commended.

  53. 53.

    debbie

    @lamh36:

    So many musicians have objected to the GOP’s use of their music. Maybe there will be a lawsuit soon. It seems like a lot of rights are being ignored.

  54. 54.

    Peale

    @PsiFighter37: vilsak was ok. But if I remember right, he panicked during the Sherrod Affair and fired her before getting her side of the story.

  57. 57.

    NickM

    Andrew Sullivan is freaking out – he’s read Trump’s speech and thinks it’s brilliant and is going to catapult him. So far his performance at this convention has been much less than brilliant but he’s starting to panic me too. But I’m also trying to remember his freak out after the first debate in 2012.

  59. 59.

    Anoniminous

    With the GOP House and Senate gutting research funds a speaker at the GOP National convention actually wonders why the Federal Government no long invests in science and technology?

  62. 62.

    Schlemazel Khan

    I do not see what Kaine brings to the party. I don’t see him delivering VA in some way anyone else couldn’t, he certainly is not exciting or charismatic, I’m don’t see him as an expert in any area Clinton is weak (both policy and electorally). Whats the draw there?

  63. 63.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (Formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    @Emma: Yeah, but it’s always dicey choosing a senator to run with you, since that seat opens up if you win. You know, it was only blind luck that we even held that Delaware seat in 2010, when Biden’s seat came up in a special election. Chris Coons was likely to lose to a well liked long-time congressman and former governor who was running to take the seat. It was only because not-a-witch Christine O’Connell took the nomination that Coons won the seat.

  64. 64.

    goblue72

    Ugh, that’s just awful. No way around that.

    Can’t even bring myself to watch the Trump speech. The entire RNC convention this year felt like watching part of the American soul wither up and die.

    I see Sullivan is pissing himself all over again – just like his freak-out after Obama’s first debate performance against Romney. Hillary has her flaws – but going up against blowhard bullies isn’t one of them. You’d think a GOP obsessed about Benghazi would recall the degree to which she eviscerated and filleted the GOP during Benghazi testimony. Sullivan seems to forget that while Trump has mastered the art of bloviating lies, that Tracy Flick is up every morning at 5AM memorizing the Encyclopedia Brittanica.

  65. 65.

    PsiFighter37

    @NickM: I hope someone gives him a paper bag that he can breathe into.

    There’s zero chance Trump comes out of this smelling like roses. The main has zero capability to deliver a speech via teleprompter with any kind of touch.

  67. 67.

    dr. bloor

    @NickM:

    Andrew Sullivan is freaking out – he’s read Trump’s speech and thinks it’s brilliant

    Relax. “Andrew Sullivan” is Queen’s English for “Bill Kristol.”

  72. 72.

    dmsilev

    OK, do you really want to say that Trump is best reflected in his wife?

    Which one?

  75. 75.

    I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet

    @Emma: I hope she picks someone who has held elective office. Tom Perez has a good record, but his elective office experience is kinda light (4 years on the Montgomery County Council; he ran for MD Attorney General but was disqualified by not having practiced law in the state for 10 years).

    Whoever is on the ticket is going to have to work hard for the ticket and campaign like there’s no tomorrow. I hope he (or she) is a good fit for that part of the job, also too.

    Cheers,
    Scott.
    (Who doesn’t think a general/admiral would be a good fit for VP for that reason, either.)

  79. 79.

    Schlemazel Khan

    @Mary G:
    But the reason they love him, the reason he is there at all is – despite his being gay – is that he is using his personal wealth to destroy independent media. They love anyone who can afford to make reporters afraid to tell the truth and to bankrupt outlets that dare to not play in the billionaires favor.

  80. 80.

    PsiFighter37

    I do hope that Peter Thiel gets completely ostracized by the folks back in Silicon Valley for making himself look like an ass on television. Of course, that won’t happen, but he deserves it.

  83. 83.

    dr. bloor

    @Howard Beale IV:

    So now Alex Jones and Roger Stone plan to ratfuck/primary Ted Cruz in 2018.

    I doubt he’s worried. I already foresee the early stages of the 2020 primaries in which Cruz has the luxury of giving Rubio, Christie, Cotton et al sonic wedgies over their endorsements for the product of a fever dream who has faced civil and criminal charges for his conduct since the election.

  84. 84.

    Botsplainer, Neoliberal Corporatist Shill

    @schrodinger’s cat:

    This guy (Tom Barrack) engages the audience well, and speaks in a cadence which resonates with me.

    I’d be a total sucker for his country club investment pitch at a bar.

  87. 87.

    smintheus

    Did I misunderstand the businessman nincompoop, or did he really refer to Donald Trump striding in *in his armor*?

  88. 88.

    Botsplainer, Neoliberal Corporatist Shill

    He does well doing an extemporaneous talk with a crowd – this is a truly naturally gifted public speaker, politics be damned.

  89. 89.

    delk

    The rest of the Log Cabin Republicans were supposed to rush the stage during Thiel’s speech.

  91. 91.

    debbie

    @goblue72:

    The entire RNC convention this year felt like watching part of the American soul wither up and die.

    Almost makes one miss those weeklong shiny, happy infomercials.

  93. 93.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Pogonip: What Pogonip said. Condolences to you and your colleagues, John, but major cheers for Christion.

  94. 94.

    Botsplainer, Neoliberal Corporatist Shill

    @Baud:

    Not only a time share, a Gatlinburg time share, with a floating maintenance fee.

    I totally need this, and know that I can do an easy swap for a Kauai timeshare – really!

  97. 97.

    Johannes

    So sorry about your friend, John.

    Sullivan is frustrating, I know, but he’s right about the strongman approach Trump is taking, and I suspect his usual panic reaction is exacerbated by the eerily placid coverage it’s getting from a tainted press.

    Of course, anything he says about liberals or “the Left” is almost apodictically certain to be wrong–but we’ve known that for years.

  106. 106.

    dmsilev

    So, if I’m reading the schedule correctly, the next speaker is Ivanka introducing Dear Old Dad at 10 PM Eastern when the networks tune in. So, they’re just going to play crappy music for fifteen minutes straight?

  107. 107.

    I'mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet

    @Schlemazel Khan: Kaine is a guy who knows how to win conservative voters while having a good heart and holding liberal positions. He’s a strongly religious guy who argues that it’s not his business to impose his religious beliefs on others.

    They apparently got along pretty well in their joint rally in Annandale.

    I agree that it would be better if there was someone outside the Senate that was as good a choice. Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t. But he would be a good choice, and could campaign hard for Hispanic votes, helping to make it a wave election, and thereby increasing the chance of flipping the Senate (and the House).

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  113. 113.

    Baud

    Kevin Drum

    Tom Barrack is now telling us about the time he sold Trump the Plaza Hotel. “He played me like a Steinway piano,” Barrack said. Trump was a steely-eyed negotiator, a tiger in the jungle.

    Who is he kidding? The Plaza Hotel was a disastrous deal. Trump went with his gut and overpaid enormously. He bought it for $407 million, spent over $50 million in renovations, and then, when Trump was going through bankruptcy proceedings, was forced to sell it in 1995 for $325 million. Barrack and his boss took Trump to the cleaners.

  114. 114.

    Renie

    Last minutes to place your bets on how long Trump will speak before he goes off script and starts ranting and raving.

  117. 117.

    smintheus

    @Omnes Omnibus: Seems more credible. I could only think of one of those atrocious Roman statues with a saggy old politician’s head stuck onto a virile armored torso. That’d be really gruesome in Trump’s case.

  119. 119.

    dmsilev

    @Renie: Point of order: The speech as leaked is largely ranting and raving. How can we tell the difference?

  121. 121.

    Schlemazel Khan

    @I’mNotSureWhoIWantToBeYet:
    Agree about his religious/state views, I just don’t see that as winning many votes. That he makes conservatives comfortable is not a huge advantage to Clinton either. I’m more worried about our left than the GOPs ‘left’ this November. Anyone approaching sane is not voting for Drumpf. I don’t see Kaine adding to the tally. Maybe in a debate with Pence he will be exciting.

  123. 123.

    Zinsky

    I am quite convinced most modern Republicans are shit wrapped in skin. Ambulatory fecal matter.

  124. 124.

    Mary G

    I’m not sad that it’s almost over. I did enjoy Sully’s insults if Peter Thiel and only being able to find one non-crazy Tweet in support of Trump. Why are all the employees they show are young, skinny women?

  126. 126.

    Schlemazel Khan

    @Baud:
    Always tell the sucker he took you. Chances are they are stupid enough to believe it. That makes them willing to come back for more

  127. 127.

    BR

    I have a small idea that maybe is a big idea.

    We can’t counter fear with fear. That doesn’t work.

    But what we can do, in addition to normal election volunteering, is spread hope, spread kindness, togetherness, etc. All the values that are opposite to fear and hate. And we can do it in a partisan way.

    Imagine groups of people doing charity work, community activities, fun events, etc. but wearing Hillary or Dem buttons, etc. This sends two messages simultaneously without having to be explicit about it, and directly counters fear. It also can bridge divides in ways explicit campaigning can’t.

  129. 129.

    dmsilev

    So, they started showing the video 5 minutes _before_ the networks started their broadcasts?

  130. 130.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @dmsilev:
    Trump speaking off the cuff is incoherent. So far, tonight has cleared the incredibly low bar of not being a flaming wreck of a disaster. Every single night so far failed. Can Trump pull off the ‘listlessly read from a teleprompter’ victory the press is slavering for?

  131. 131.

    Iowa Old Lady

    I think I’ve reached Trump overload because my only observation is the shallow one that all the women in Trump’s family wear their skirts tight enough to cup under their butts. It looks trashy to me, but what do I know?

  132. 132.

    Shana

    @NotMax: Yeah, I wish people would stop thinking that “tight” makes them look thinner. All it does is make you look like you’ve gained weight from whenever you bought it. Well fitting ALWAYS makes you look better.

    Good news about Christion, very glad for some good news for him.

    So sorry to hear about your friend. 3 years ago my dad passed out and fell backwards down half a stairway made of slate and hit his head. He was sedated for several days and when he regained “consciousness” couldn’t speak, couldn’t remember much of anything, barely, if at all, recognized me, couldn’t breathe on his own. He had often talked about not wanting to be kept alive just to be alive, so my brother and I made the decision to remove life support. I know logically that it was the right decision but every six months or so I wake in the middle of the night convinced that I’d made a horrible mistake.

  138. 138.

    Mnemosyne

    @lamh36:

    I’m bored by Jared Leto. The one thing I thought I liked him in, it turned out I had mixed him up with Jared Harris (who later turned up in “Mad Men,” where he was really good).

    I’m not sure I could even tell you a movie I saw Leto in at this point.

  139. 139.

    PsiFighter37

    Ivanka’s up. I really do wonder what the family dynamics are like with the Trump kids…it is no secret at all that Ivanka is by far Donald’s favorite.

  142. 142.

    Botsplainer, Neoliberal Corporatist Shill

    I’ve cranked up “Tomorrow Belongs to Me” for Trump’s entrance.

  143. 143.

    NotMax

    Is it a thing for women of fashion to trowel on goop to the point of looking they’ve been punched in both eyes?

  149. 149.

    Mnemosyne

    @BR:

    FWIW, this is exactly the strategy they’ve been talking about in the Hillary campaign emails I’ve been getting. They even have a button: “Hope Trumps Fear.” Lots and lots of talk about being kind to each other and coming together, which I think a majority of voters overall will respond to.

  151. 151.

    dogwood

    @Schlemazel Khan:
    Kaine is a good liberal democrat. The left seems to care more about style over substance so they’ll always be up in arms. If that’s who she is most comfortable with, she should pick him. Politics as entertainment needs to end in this country. Choosing a vp isn’t a policy decision; Biden didn’t call the shots in the Obama administration, yet he was a good partner. Trustworthy and loyal. I’m getting frustrated with this “boring white guy” meme. Most politicians are boring. I’d be happy if she picked Perez as well, but he’s far from exciting as a speaker.

  154. 154.

    Corner Stone

    God damn. This is a real deal Trump family fucking hate-off. Melania hates Ivanka so hard.

  158. 158.

    hovercraft

    @dmsilev:
    He wants to make sure that every minute of his favorite child and him speaking is in the 10 o’clock hour. The video doesn’t need the crowds adulation he does, and he’s waited long enough dammit.
    Ivanka not as good as Uday, but then again I’m not a guy. I suspect she’s supposed to blow everyone away with her glamour and looks.

  160. 160.

    JPL

    I’m only awake, because I am waiting for company to arrive. Since I use an antenna, my channels are limited, but I did manage to find something else to watch.

  162. 162.

    dmsilev

    Does anyone believe that Donald is a hands-on manager who takes advice from the guys actually pulling wire and hanging wall panels?

  164. 164.

    Mary G

    I hope Hillary has a bunch of people Trump stiffed lined up to counter this BS his kids are spewing.

  165. 165.

    Aleta

    “He hires the best person for the job” and then lets them choose: accept 10 cents on the dollar or spend the rest of your life in court.

  166. 166.

    mike in dc

    GOP cheering for equal pay and maternity leave. Which I’m pretty sure is NOT in their platform.

  168. 168.

    Botsplainer, Neoliberal Corporatist Shill

    Affordable and accessible childcare? Pay equity?

    LOLOLOL

  172. 172.

    MomSense

    I’m really sorry, John. Something similar happened to the husband of a good friend recently. 2016 has been the worst.

    I can’t believe I’m watching this convention tonight. I can’t take much more of this Ivanka speech. When a woman becomes a mother she is supported blah blah blah. Not one of the Republicans elected to Congress will vote for paid maternity leave. Why are these people cheering for equal pay or affordable childcare when they never ever vote for the candidates who support these policies?

  174. 174.

    Aleta

    He is so supportive of women that he chose Pence to campaign for him.

    (Affordable and accessible childcare takes government support, doesn’t it?)

  179. 179.

    NotMax

    Note the different lectern which will be there when Donald speaks, with a gold stripe in the same shape as that of the wings of the symbol for radioactive.

  182. 182.

    Botsplainer, Neoliberal Corporatist Shill

    I like Ivanka. I’d consider supporting her.

    I won’t be voting for her dad.

  183. 183.

    hovercraft

    Her brother give her a standing ovation while Melania is not watching, she’s talking to the youngest princeling.

  189. 189.

    hovercraft

    They said he had a special entrance planned, what happened?
    Did he go out and get an extra coat of color, he looks more orange than usual. That ferret was also trimmed.

  190. 190.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    Cole, I am so, so sorry for your loss, and for that of her family and other friends. I can’t even imagine.

    Yay Christion!

  193. 193.

    Mnemosyne

    @Botsplainer, Neoliberal Corporatist Shill:

    Fun fact: many people mistake it for a real Nazi song, but it was written by two Jews, Kander and Ebb, specifically for the show.

    That’s what gives the song its extra layer of irony: the “tomorrow” that the kid is singing about only lasts for about 10 years, and he probably dies in the frozen mud on the Russian front.

  196. 196.

    NorthLeft12

    I would like to nominate Chachi as the winner of the most odious D list celebrity to speak at he RNC. The interview he had on CNN where he was questioned about the vile Hilary photo he shared on FB sealed the deal. The absolutely smug, self satisfied smirk he had on his face during the question spoke volumes. Hopefully he disappears back into the void or gets relegated to E list celebrity status soon.

  198. 198.

    Botsplainer, Neoliberal Corporatist Shill

    Jesus, he’s going for Radio Rwanda – I have to turn it off before I get mad and shoot my TV.

  199. 199.

    Miss Bianca

    Oh, dear God. That is so terrible. I am so sorry.

    I mean, I’m glad Christion got a job, but the other is just cruel, cruel, cruel.

  200. 200.

    burnspbesq

    The Berniacs on my FB feed are screaming “betrayal” (yes, they have become one-trick ponies) at the very possibility of Kaine’s consideration. Apparently his crime is supporting a minor tweak to a banking regulation, designed to give small to mid-size local and regional banks some flexibility in dealing with capital requirements. Ironically, there is almost no space between Kaine’s position and Warren’s.

    Assholes, the lot of them. And ignorant, to boot.

  201. 201.

    patroclus

    I think if President Baio had been in charge, Syria would be in much better shape.

  202. 202.

    burnspbesq

    @catclub:

    I still think Elizabeth Warren for VP, wins the election, says she will return to the senate.

    Under what conceivable scenario does the Republican governor of Massachusetts re-appoint a highly effective Democrat to the seat she resigned from to become Veep?

  204. 204.

    Miss Bianca

    @dr. bloor: “generally regard the dynamics of the choice as being well above my pay grade.”

    Thank you for this. Helps me to keep things in perspective.

    btw, completely o/t: I think “umbilical stump” is an invective term that for sheer awesomeness competes with anything that Tom Levenson’s Baroque/Restoration-era rake-intellectuals ever came up with…

  208. 208.

    Ben Cisco (onboard the Defiant)

    Getting to the thread late. Cole, very sorry for you and your friends’ loss. 2016 has been both brutal and unnecessarily cruel. The only coverage of this fractal dumpster fire of a convention I’ve gotten is through this site. Thank all of you who have been watching so the rest of us didn’t have to.

    Trump needs to be DESTROYED AT THE POLLS.

  209. 209.

    Irony Abounds

    John, I understand your sentiments about 2016. Among the highlights: my sister died at 58 earlier this year, my best friend was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, the 26 year old son of the gal who has been cutting my hair for over 35 years was diagnosed with the worst kind of brain cancer, and my daughter’s fiance broke his neck (no paralysis, thankfully). Don’t mean to be overly dramatic, but when people say Trump doesn’t stand a chance, I just look at how shitty this year has been and I’m kinda thinking that may be the crowning blow to a really really bad year.

  210. 210.

    cain

    I have a similar story where, my friend who was fighting pancreatic cancer, retired from her place of work and then not two weeks later relapsed, fighting for her life and died. It was terrible. I had to attend her funeral. All very sad. At least it was over quickly. Sometimes I think that is the best way as a drawn out affair would just suck all the money from you and leave your family destitute.

  211. 211.

    Aleta

    Christion, Congratulations. Wishing you a good summer.

    John,
    Condolences to your friend’s family. I’m sorry for your loss of friend and colleague. I’m sure it has hit you hard.

    My parents were planning the big cross country camping trip they had always talked about, for right after her retirement. My mom had sewn a tent and was starting on sleeping bags; my dad was designing the back space of a used toyota truck for a camper. He died a year before she retired.

    It was such a blow to her, and she regretted that she had needed to keep working. (But they had no choice as it was their only income.) Then she made sure she did the trips she had dreamed of. Asked for a kayak for her retirement gift (so she could keep paddling as a single person). Over the next 15 years she came to Japan to stay with me, took a raft trip down the grand canyon in her 70s, then down the Volga. Scotland for a whiskey tour, Elder hostel archaeology trip to the southwest. She invited me to come on some of them but I didn’t. I regret it.

  216. 216.

    Paul in KY

    @Shana: Shana, that’s what he said, when he was lucid, that he wanted. You were a good daughter & did your duty. I hope you start sleeping better.

    The kind of ‘life’ he would have endured is no life.

  218. 218.

    Plantsmantx

    The media destroyed Howard Dean’s primary campaign because he said “Yearrrgghh”. Donald Trump’s daughter had to physically pull away from him to keep his teeninchee hands off her backside, in front of tens of millions of people, and…nothing.

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