Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

I was promised a recession.

Speaking of republicans, is there a way for a political party to declare intellectual bankruptcy?

I did not have telepathic declassification on my 2022 bingo card.

The GOP couldn’t organize an orgy in a whorehouse with a fist full of 50s.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

Why is it so hard for them to condemn hate?

Being the leader of the world means to be the leader of peace.

Come on, man.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

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

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

Authoritarian republicans are opposed to freedom for the rest of us.

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

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

It’s time for the GOP to dust off that post-2012 autopsy, completely ignore it, and light the party on fire again.

A Senator Walker would also be an insult to reason, rationality, and decency.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

The willow is too close to the house.

JFC, are there no editors left at that goddamn rag?

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

“Squeaker” McCarthy

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Open Thread: Could Not Happen to A More Deserving Zombie-Eyed Granny Starver

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255Comments

  2. 2.

    gf120581

    I assume McConnell is (a) making plans to move his stuff back into the Minority Leader’s office and (b) trying to find as quick a way as he can to confirm Garland in the lame duck. (Don’t laugh; you know they’re going to try that rather than risk Hillary nominating someone more to the left.)

  3. 3.

    PigDog

    He’ll have a great comeback as America’s number one frown model. Seriously, every pic of him is full-on sad grimace-face.

  4. 4.

    Mnemosyne

    Ugh. I hated having to go to work with a cold today, but I had to since I’m taking Friday off with unbreakable plans. I need soup and ginger ale, stat!

  5. 5.

    JPL

    @lamh36: twitter is telling me that Trump complained because Hillary kept going on his side of the stage… Do you know if he said that O’Reilly. She’s the stalker, not him.

  6. 6.

    NotMax

    Someone please pass some throat lozenges to the proverbial fat lady, she’s a-gonna be needing them.

  8. 8.

    Aussiesmurf

    My concern on Garland isn’t his attitude – its his age. For better or worse, the lifetime appointment of judges on the Court has meant Rs appoint VERY (comparatively) young judges who could sit for 30-40 years. Cf Roberts & Alito.

  19. 19.

    Jeffro

    @dmsilev: That was a great article and I loved the comparison between the attention-wh0re (Trump) and attention-prude (Clinton…sorry, had to make a point!)

    Hey Paul Ryan, here’s a math question for you: if all the Trumpkins vote Trump and skip the down-ballot, and all the Establishment voters write in “Pence” or “Reagan” for prez + vote straight Establishment R down-ballot, what’s your effective turnout rate?

    Truly, profiles in courage, this Ryan guy…

  20. 20.

    Anonymous At Work

    @gf120581: Mitch expects to be back in the minority office for 2 years tops and to filibuster and poison-pill-amendment the entire time. Ryan’s the one who, if he stays Speaker, has to actually do stuff. Mitch’ll spend 2 years saying, “No” in the most passive-aggressive way possible.

  26. 26.

    Jeffro

    Also, c’mon Obama, pull the Garland nomination on Election Eve…make them feel the full weight of what they did…let Hillz nominate an even more liberal, younger judge…pleeeease?

  27. 27.

    Mary G

    The Hill says they have the email as proof:

    Steve Bannon, the chairman of the right-wing news outlet Breitbart who became CEO of Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, gave explicit orders to his staff to destroy Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).

    On editorial conference calls, the Breitbart chairman would often say “Paul Ryan is the enemy,” according to a source who worked with Bannon at the news organization.

    In December 2015, weeks after Ryan became Speaker, Bannon wrote in an internal Breitbart email obtained by The Hill that the “long game” for his news site was for Ryan to be “gone” by the spring.

  28. 28.

    NorthLeft12

    @dmsilev: That is actually a very good campaign slogan. I may actually use it at work with my boss [I have my quarterly review on Thursday].

  30. 30.

    hovercraft

    @JPL:
    Well she is the devil after all, by invading his space she was placing his soul in danger. Even though he is a big strong alpha male, she is very strong, when she’s not being weak and lacking in stamina. She is scary, to him and America, but weak and ineffectual in the face of Putin and ISIS.

  33. 33.

    lamh36

    Oooh…Rachel reporting that the Nebraska fundraiser with Pence, cause of lack of interest in attending but it wasn’t the only one.

    Hmmm…

  35. 35.

    redshirt

    Since many on this blog seems to get sick all the time, here’s some tricks not to get sick:

    1. Practice immaculate hand/mouth/nose/eyes discipline. That is, unless you are positive your hands are free of germs, don’t stick them in your orifices. Carry hand sanitizer at all times.
    2. Skip buffets/food sitting out in the open in public. It’s been coughed/sneezed on.
    3. Thoroughly wash any veggies/fruits.
    4. The absolute first moment you think you might be getting sick, burn it out, by the following:
    A. Gargle mouthwash. Huff the fumes. Swallow a little bit.
    B. Take a multivitamin and overload on Vitamin C.
    C. Sweat – simulate a fever by working out hard and getting very hot.
    D. If you can, take a couple of shots of hard liquor. I recommend vodka but I suppose anything will work.
    E. Sleep as soon and as long as possible.
    5. Only for the truly hardcore: If you’re taking public transportation at a time there’s a lot of people with colds/flu, wear a mask.

    Follow these steps to prevent 90% of colds and flu! Doctors hate me!

  36. 36.

    NorthLeft12

    @lamh36:

    I really don’t know WHY NBC Today show thought they’d be able to keep him…

    I have very little idea why NBC would want to keep him.

  37. 37.

    Jeffro

    @hovercraft:

    Well she is the devil after all, by invading his space she was placing his soul in danger.

    You know, I heard from Alex Jones that she and Obama literally smell like sulfur…TRUE!

    Even more true? I saw a video of Obama mocking the crap out of Alex Jones today…sometimes I think a little sunlight and a lot of good humor is all we need to clean up this cockroach infestation. Also, cockroach spray.

  38. 38.

    Calouste

    Sounds like the Zombie-Eyed Grannie Starver is going to feel the wrath of the Wannabe Sex Offender.

  41. 41.

    hovercraft

    @germy:
    Sorry that man has never and will never step outside of LA, Vegas, NYC, the Hamptons, and the Southern tip of Florida. So unless you go to one of those he can’t help you.

  42. 42.

    Lizzy L

    This is truly amazing. (Warning: some hyperbole.) The Rs created the conditions for Donald Trump, they handed him the nomination, and now he appears to be destroying them. I should not be this happy, I should be worried about the country — and I am — but I am contemplating John McCain, Pat Toomey, Kelly Ayotte, Mark Kirk, MARCO RUBIO, (ohpleaseyes) and Paul Ryan LOSING, and I can’t quit smiling.

  45. 45.

    raven

    @redshirt: “Carry hand sanitizer at all times.” Come on. . . it’s like all those terrified people at the grocery store frantically wiping off the buggy handles. My grandma, Ingeborg, used to say “you have to eat a pound of dirt before you die”!

  46. 46.

    PPCLI

    I’m entertained by all this mess and confusion. But I do hope this doesn’t distract people from pressing what should be perhaps the most important question to press.

    We have a candidate whose second campaign manager appears to have been a bought-and-paid for Putin stooge. Several other high advisors are on Russian payrolls in one way or another. The Kremlin is obviously trying hard to influence the election in the direction of this candidate. We’ve recently learned (though the evidence is ambiguous) that he is taking information directly from these Russian sources. We have some reason to believe that he has borrowed money from Russian interests, and we have reason to believe that he was involved at certain times with mobsters. This candidate is such a pathological liar that he will deny water is wet repeatedly without shame or hesitation, and with gaslighting confidence, so his word is worthless on any topic.

    How is it that the entire body politic isn’t rising up and demanding that before we consider him for one day more, he needs to give detailed documentation of who he owes money to, who he has business associations with, and who he gets money from. Just for starters. How could this be a partisan question?

  47. 47.

    gf120581

    @lamh36: News of Nebraska; according to Politico, Deb Fisher, who was one of those who bailed on Trump this weekend, came crawling back to support him (probably after getting some very nasty calls from the deplorables). Governor Ricketts also reaffirmed his Trump support, but he also canceled a couple of fundraisers. Looks like the new game plan may be mumble you support him before running for cover.

  50. 50.

    redshirt

    @raven: I don’t overuse it, but if I’m going to eat something and can’t wash my hands, it’s the go to. If I have to touch anything on the subway, bam! Better safe than sorry.

  51. 51.

    Percysowner

    @lamh36:

    really don’t know WHY NBC Today show thought they’d be able to keep him…

    My understanding is part of the reason they held back on releasing the tape was because they were looking for a way to edit out Billy Bush’s part in the tape. The leak meant they couldn’t save him. Now why they thought he was so important to save him I don’t know, maybe he has a contract that means they have to make a big payout if they let him go?

  52. 52.

    NotMax

    @redshirt

    Or just down a few drops of propolis diluted in a glass of water. Not a guarantee, but pretty efficacious.

    (Vitamins in quantities more than the body can use are flushed out in urine, thus essentially wasted. And some vitamins are deleterious in large amounts.)

    Shall never understand people who admit they are sick going to work and exposing others to illness.

  55. 55.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    and Old Man Ross hits a homer!

    (he’s, I think, twelve years younger than me)

    Chi-SF tied at 1

  61. 61.

    dmsilev

    @Aleta: If she were just slightly nerdier, she’d be quoting Gandalf facing down the Balrog: “You Shall Not Pass!”.

  63. 63.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @raven: it’s like all those terrified people at the grocery store frantically wiping off the buggy handles

    usually smack dab in the center of the entrance to the store, cause the Ebola will get you if take the time to step to the side. And you’ll get the Zika if you don’t toss the wipe into the bottom of the cart and leave it there.

    In other news, anybody just catch Rhonda the Revolutionary is almost in tears talking about how she’s gonna rise up if Hillary steals the election. I’m tempted to say I’d like someone to ask her what she thinks Trump and/or Hillary is going to do to help/hurt her, but I could probably write that script of ignorance, hate, paranoia and confusion.

  73. 73.

    wenchacha

    “Alpha males” my shiny metal ass.

    Is it his roots that make him rather “fussy” or seem less than ubermanly when he waves his hands around? It’s similar, in a strange way, to Tony Soprano’s fussiness over food and other peoples’ inappropriate behavior.

    Spoiled abused narcissists, I guess. I’m sure he can glower and shout and whisper and all that. And if I were opposite him in some lawsuit, I would never have money enough to win on my own. But he doesn’t elicit any response in me that says “this guy is a decent leader.” Neither did Dubya, of course. Bill Clinton could talk like a grownup, but he’d get very defensive kid-sounding when he had his back up.

    Yipes. Watching PBS Frontline about ISIL. Secy. Chuck Hagel seems like a grownup compared to anyone who ran for the GOP nom this year. I know he’s no Democrat, but at least he seems like an old-style Republican.

  76. 76.

    Aunt Kathy

    Check out Josh Barro’s Twitter feed from the last couple of hours. He’s announced he just officially changed registration from R to D cuz he didn’t want to (paraphrasing) be part of a party that had no interest in governing, and that was actually trying to destroy the republic.
    Also, too, TPM has report of Pence telling woman at rally it’s NOT a good idea to start a revolution if Hills wins, but “Don’t worry, there will be a revolution on Nov 8.” By now these people have been totally convinced that if Trump loses it will be because of voter fraud. I fear that we are entering into dangerous territory….

  80. 80.

    PPCLI

    @lamh36: Man, you would have thought Kelly would have remembered the classic Donald answer in the first debate on the racial discrimination in renting lawsuit: “I didn’t admit guilt!!!” Three times through clenched teeth.

    That might have ended any other presidential campaign, but it was just the 100’th most bizarre thing about debate 1, so I can understand why Kelly would have forgotten.

  82. 82.

    Dork

    @lamh36: When you’ve lost O’Liely, thats a bigly tell.

    Damn I wish Larry Wilmore was still on. Mike Yard and his Conspiratorial Man act would be comedy gold

  84. 84.

    Jeffro

    @Aleta: It does clarify things a bit…

    I think most folks here saw it all coming early on, but clearly some portion of the country has woken up and been galvanized by the thought of waking up on Nov 9th with this dangerous clown as president. We get down sometimes and knock voters, parties, the media, the whole system, but…it’s kind of working. Maybe despite human nature, maybe despite the built-in “both sides” media environment…it’s working.

    The GOP wasn’t strong enough to resist the Trump virus, but America as a whole is looking like it can take on a huge change in demographics, white reactionary politics, a celebrity-driven media, a TV star vs a much-maligned homework-doing grandmom…and still produce a talented, thoughtful leader at the head of a unified majority party.

    I mean, we all feel lucky the way things are shaping up these days, and there is still MUCH work to be done, but still: it’s working. Quiet competence + a diverse and educated country. It’s working.

  85. 85.

    Cckids

    @lamh36:

    Katherine Miller Retweeted Andrew Lawrence
    Underrated part of this: O’Reilly throwing up his hands (literally) and saying, “Be the bigger man.”

    Wow. So Bill O’Reilly’s never met Trump.

    Bigger man. Pfffft. As if.

  93. 93.

    Oldgold

    I understand the glee many are expressing at this sh.t show. And, in part, I feel it myself. Yet, over the recent past watching Trump, has made me damn uneasy.
    This is damn frightening stuff.

  95. 95.

    joel hanes

    Prominent female R in my Iowa hometown sent letter to editor to endorse HRC after Trump’s grabbing remark and the second debate.
    Local Rs now split, and hating on each other in the vituperative, fact-free mode we’ve come to know and love, blowing up letter-to-the-editor comment sections into hundred-comment hatefests. Eternal vengeance vowed. “You’ll never get another contribution from my list of donors”

    It’s a good thing I have a nearly infinite capacity for popcorn.

  97. 97.

    Baud

    @Oldgold: It’s frightening. But the glee has a purpose. Cowering in fear, especially when we’re ahead, does not encourage turnout.

  101. 101.

    redshirt

    @Oldgold: It’s a risky game to play. If we win and win in the fashion it looks to be shaping up as, it might finally change the game board in a major way.

    If we lose, we’re doomed.

    High stakes, high reward. I like our odds though.

  112. 112.

    Lizzy L

    From the NYT today:

    Mrs. Clinton’s campaign has concluded that at least two traditionally Republican states, Georgia and Arizona, are realistic targets for her campaign to win over. And Republican polling has found that Mr. Trump is at dire risk of losing Georgia, according to people briefed on the polls, who spoke on the condition of anonymity.

  113. 113.

    Punchy

    Lwmmie see if I get this…ZEGS is going to continue to endorse a man who is quite actively, doggedly, and vicously trying to get him fired and unemployed?

    He’s going to help elect a guy who will fire him as soon as he’s president? (I know, not really the CinC’s thing to mess with Congressional leadership, but guarenteed Trump wont be playing by any rules)

  114. 114.

    John Weiss

    @NorthLeft12: Hey, now he’s a Bush and therefore suspect, huh? Come on, the guy was a show host pallin’ around with the talent. Sure, it would have been cool to have called the asshole out, but put yourself in Bush’s position. He’s got no control over the Orange Miracle. If anyone could’ve called the asshole out it would have been the producers.

    However, he certainly could’ve said, “I’d rather not talk”.

  123. 123.

    Oldgold

    Although I like our prospects of winning this election cycle ‘bigly.’ I would prefer a narrower victory over a sane center-right party.

  124. 124.

    p.a.

    @redshirt: Pretty solid advice. Some quibbles: alcohol~ bourbon (America fuck yeah!) or calvados (French, but apples), not vodka. Hand sanitizer~ meh. Just because everyone else is creating superbugs doesn’t mean you have to also. Personally, I rely on my personally built up 57 year old layer of bacteriological crud for protection. We be mates.

    Also too, I swear by Zicam (and knockoffs). Take at 1st sigh of cold, and I honestly believe (placebos can be effective!) my rhinoviruses are less severe and of shorter duration.

  125. 125.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Greg Sargent ‏@ ThePlumLineGS 6h6 hours ago
    Top Dems tell me they expect Clinton camp to escalate efforts to help win back Senate and House in coming days:
    Dems want three things from Clinton: Message, margin, and money. Also, money. And money. And also, money

  126. 126.

    redshirt

    @Patricia Kayden: Welcome. I’d like to add if you have access to a sauna, use it. Absolutely the best treatment, and you can skip the exercise. Just be careful of putting your hands in your mouth/eyes/ears/nose/eyes!

  127. 127.

    Iowa Old Lady

    @John Weiss: To me, his real bad behavior started once they got off the bus and he urged the woman they’d been talking about to hug Trump and then him. It was like he and Trump shared a secret joke about her. That was on him. And this was his work place, not a locker room.

  131. 131.

    Mary G

    @John Weiss: I think it was Bush asking the soap actress to give the Donald a hug, then one for the Bushie, that put the nail in his coffin. You can understand not contradicting the network’s big star on the bus, but the hugging part was all his idea.

  132. 132.

    DCrefugee

    @lamh36:

    Apparently Trump just said in Florida that election is Nov 28th…

    Actually the Republicans are supposed to vote on November 9. Pass the word…

  134. 134.

    some_doc

    @redshirt:
    0. Get a flu shot
    00. Tell [boss to tell] sick coworkers to stay home

    Face hygiene (wash hands before touching eyes or mouth) and getting enough sleep are legit. But a mask alone is for their protection, not yours. Meaning, if someone insists on working sick, the sick person should wear a mask to contain their coughs and sneezes. If you want to protect yourself, you need to cover your eyes as well. Droplets containing virus can infect you through any mucous membrane. Mask plus wrap-around glasses or, ideally, face shield. Plus serious hand hygiene. Why do I never see anyone on the bus with a mask and face shield?

  138. 138.

    John Revolta

    @lamh36: Huh. Is that the same Pat (ptui!) McCrory who’s begging FEMA for money at this very moment?

    Seriously, fuck that guy.

  139. 139.

    redshirt

    @p.a.: Hand sanitizer is essentially alcohol. And I only recommend that, not anti-bacterial products (which thankfully the FDA has cracked down on – no more anti-bacterial soaps). We won’t create super bugs by occasionally using hand sanitzer.

  140. 140.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Mary G: @John Weiss: I think it was Bush asking the soap actress to give the Donald a hug,

    and I’m pretty sure Bush said “Mr Trump”, cause that shit just fascinates me.

  142. 142.

    p.a.

    hmmm, new issue: I don’t have permission to edit my own comment. not timed out, so ???

    anyway ch: sigh to sign. obviously.

  144. 144.

    amk

    Josh Barro ‏@jbarro 2h2 hours ago

    This was probably years overdue, but I re-registered as a Democrat today, so I can be in a party that’s not trying to destroy the republic.

    0 replies 1,343 retweets 4,903 likes

  145. 145.

    Barbara

    @Mary G: The hugging cemented the bond between them — it made Bush an active participant in Trump’s games with females. Anyone who has ever watched little kids playing together knows what was going on there.

  146. 146.

    Baud

    @amk:

    I re-registered as a Democrat today, so I can be in a party that’s not trying to destroy the republic.

    Purity troll.

  151. 151.

    Aleta

    Question: Today I bought some whole chickens from a friend who’d just had them processed at a slaughterhouse. Do I have to wash them more than would be needed for a chicken from a grocery store? If so, how? What’s the process ?

  153. 153.

    lamh36

    Anyone else noticed that Bill C is LESS and LESS on the trail an prominent like he used to be?

    I think that’s probably on purpose.

    Of course he still does fundraisers and stuff, but on the trail…haven’t seen him since Trump decided the Bill C was worse was the way they were going to go

  157. 157.

    Baud

    @amk: I don’t understand twitter-fu, but I assume he blocked replies.

    @lamh36: I’ve noticed that he comes and goes throughout the election cycle.

  161. 161.

    me

    Paul Ryan’s district is only R+3. Undervotes could cost him his seat. He romped in his primary, but back then he was on board with Trump.

    Wishful thinking. I see quite a few of Ryan and Johnson signs and only enough Trump signs to count on one hand.

  162. 162.

    Brachiator

    Nate Silver’s latest post presents the presidential election gender gap in stark terms.

    If women were the only ones who could vote, Clinton would win 458 electoral votes to just 80 for Trump.

    If men were the only voters, conversely, that would yield 350 electoral votes for Trump to 188 for Clinton.

  164. 164.

    lamh36

    Ok…now for some superficial stuff..

    How slow am I that I DIDN’T realize Joel Edgerton played Charlie in the Kinky Boots film?

    Someone mentioned it on TLo and I never realized it! OMG he was sooo young!

  166. 166.

    dogwood

    @lamh36:
    Bill isn’t disciplined enough to be completely trusted on the campaign trail. A week or so ago he was badmouthing Obamacare.

  168. 168.

    Barbara

    @Aleta: If I am ever in doubt about whether raw produce or meat is clean enough, I wash it in cold soapy water. You have to rinse it really well, of course. In the case of meat, the biggest risk is bacterial contamination. However, if it is a whole chicken, it would only be surface contamination, and thus would almost certainly get killed in the cooking process.

  169. 169.

    Baud

    @me: Probably, but yard signs are irrelevant. Although Republicans are more dedicated voters than Dems, Republicans, like Dems, are motivated most by who is at the top of the ticket. If their turnout is low because of Trump, I could see an upset.

  174. 174.

    Anoniminous

    @NotMax:

    Hey!

    Night of the Lepus has one of the All Time Great Lines in the History of Cinema:

    There’s a herd of killer rabbits headed this way and we desperately need your help!

  175. 175.

    jl

    ” Disloyal R’s are far more difficult than Crooked Hillary. They come at you from all sides. They don’t know how to win – I will teach them! ”

    Looks like Trump will spend as much or more time trying to bring down crooked unfair and rigged GOP traitors to his cause than he will spend on HRC. Makes sense from Trump’s reality show, WWE, view of the world. The crummy third-rate pseudo-faces who stood in his way to the top now turn on him and reveal themselves to be, in reality, sniveling treacherous cowardly heels who turn on him.

    G-damn, sure, it looks like he’ll be knocked out of the ring now, but watch as he fights through his no good back-stabbing crooked coaches and trainers, gets a hold of a folding chair and lays them all out on the floor, knocked out cold. Trump, leaps and atomic-bombs the crooked ref. The crowd goes nuts and cheers. They are all on his side now, every last one. They saw the light. Then, standing alone, battered bleeding and bruised, he advances on the Crooked Hillary, who is revealed to be a demon, sheer evil. Trump alone, staggers… determined, relentless, alone… oh… wait, what was I talking about….?

  178. 178.

    Mnemosyne

    @redshirt:

    I work with people who have toddlers at home, so there’s always the risk of a cold. Adorable little germ factories, they are.

    The most annoying thing about a cold with a stuffy nose is that I can’t sleep, because I can’t breathe right, and even getting the decongestant you have to buy from behind the counter only works for about 4 hours before I wake up stuffy again. I tried a dose of Benadryl last night and that helped a little.

    @NotMax:

    Meh. I was out sick yesterday, so everyone already knew I was sick. I kept to myself and used a lot of hand sanitizer if I did need to touch something before handing it to someone else.

  180. 180.

    me

    @Baud: I’d argue that there are a significant number of people in this district that take the time to put out yard signs for Republican candidates but fail to put out a Trump sign suggests that there is a distinct lack of enthusiasm for Trump.

  181. 181.

    Barbara

    @Aleta: I would wash that too. But really, chicken almost always gets cooked to an internal temperature that would kill any commonly found pathogen. The danger with meat is almost always from undercooking.

  182. 182.

    Kay

    Just a great guy, that Donald:

    A sound engineer who attached Donald Trump’s microphone on The Apprentice told BuzzFeed News that Trump repeatedly referred to him as a “fucking monkey” and regularly sexually harassed the women on set — including pointing out their butts.
    The engineer, who is white (and asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retribution), was a sound mixer on NBC’s The Apprentice for two seasons in 2004 and 2005. Sometimes it was the engineer’s job to mic up Trump, which involved intimate physical contact, including threading the wire up Trump’s shirt and around his collar.
    “Micing him was honestly the most abusive, humiliating experience of my 15 years as a sound engineer,” the engineer told BuzzFeed News. “He treated me like I wasn’t a human being.”
    The engineer said the first time he was assigned to put a mic on Trump, the television personality refused to shake his hand, instead turning to one of his many assistants and saying, “’Whoa, whoa, whoa, who’s this fucking monkey?’” the engineer said, adding that the comment was not racially charged.
    He said that throughout their interactions, Trump refused to address him directly, instead aiming all of his comments about the engineer to his assistants.
    “’I’m not gonna let this fucking monkey touch me unless he washes his hands,” Trump said, according to the engineer. Trump then made one of his assistants escort the engineer to the bathroom and watch him wash his hands, before walking him back and telling Trump he washed up.
    “Trump just kept calling me a ‘fucking monkey’ over and over,” the engineer said. “I’ve mic’d everyone from Ben Affleck to Renée Zellweger, and never, ever in my career have I run into something like that.”
    The engineer said everyone on set was treated badly by Trump. He spoke of Trump pointing out a female camera operator’s butt in front of everyone and saying other misogynistic things.
    “Everyone was walking on eggshells,” the engineer said.
    He eventually quit The Apprentice because “no amount of money was worth that toxic environment.”

  183. 183.

    hovercraft

    @Iowa Old Lady:
    He’s been pretty much a democrat in all but name only ever since the kamikaze contingent in the house tried to default on the National debt. He clung onto his party, hoping that sanity would return, but he’s finally given up. Considering that his father is a conservative economist of some renown, I’m sure this was a hard decision for him. Good for him.

  184. 184.

    ? Martin

    @John Weiss:

    Come on, the guy was a show host pallin’ around with the talent. Sure, it would have been cool to have called the asshole out, but put yourself in Bush’s position. He’s got no control over the Orange Miracle. If anyone could’ve called the asshole out it would have been the producers.

    CA hostile workplace laws are pretty aggressive. Bush did several things that are ground for a suit against the employer in California, not the least of which was asking for the hug from a position of authority.

  186. 186.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @me: Flip side of the that: I’ve noticed that a lot of people around my area have added Hillary and Clinton/Kaine signs to their Russ and Pocan signs in the past couple of weeks.

  187. 187.

    Anne Laurie

    @Jeffro:

    Also, c’mon Obama, pull the Garland nomination on Election Eve…make them feel the full weight of what they did…let Hillz nominate an even more liberal, younger judge…pleeeease?

    I actually feel bad for Merrick Garland, who seems to be a genuinely good man with center-liberal credentials. True, he’s not as young as I’d like for a Dem-appointed SCOTUS justice, but that’s the only argument I’ve heard against him.

    Maybe we should let Garland’s nomination go through, possibly during the lame-duck session, and count on Justices Thomas, Scalia or Roberts to quit in a huff once the she-devil of their fevered imaginations ascends to the Oval Office?

  188. 188.

    Miss Bianca

    mmm, off to make some dipping chocolate. Got the marzipan balls rolled up, coconut chunks chopped, ginger chunked and candied orange sliced…play nice now till I get back, y’all!

  195. 195.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Aleta: First rinse thoroughly, inside and outside, with cool/cold water and pat completely dry with paper towel. Then you have two options: 1) Make a brine with kosher salt, lemon slices including the peels, cracked black pepper, and what ever other seasonings you like, put the chicken in a sealable container or plastic bag, and pour the brine over it. Seal the container and or bag and refrigerate for at least 24 hours. Or 2) Place the chicken in a sealable container. Using kosher salt, pack the chicken, inside and out – basically you’re bedding the chicken down in the salt after rubbing it all over the inside, then covering it in kosher salt, seal the container, and refrigerate for at least 24 hours. I highly recommend that you spatchcock the chicken in either case, but definitely in the latter case.

  196. 196.

    Mnemosyne

    @Aleta:

    Current FDA advice is to never wash chicken, because all you end up doing is spreading the bacteria around. Cooking it should be sufficient to kill anything that washing would have gotten rid of.

    Do not rinse raw meat and poultry before cooking. “Washing these foods makes it more likely for bacteria to spread to areas around the sink and countertops,” says Davidson.

  198. 198.

    Joel

    @Mnemosyne: I use afrin — sparingly — when it gets really bad. It is bar none the most effective decongestant, largely because it’s topical (hitting the vasculature right in the sinus). The downside is that you develop tolerance very fast. I only use one spray per nostril when I use it, and never more than once every 24 hours.

  204. 204.

    eclare

    @Aleta: Do not wash chickens, you will spread whatever is on them, bacteria wise, all over your sink. I used to think you had to rinse chicken before cooking it, no.

  205. 205.

    Felonius Monk

    @Anne Laurie:

    Maybe we should let Garland’s nomination go through, possibly during the lame-duck session,

    Obama has said he would not pull Garland’s nomination if Hillary is elected. But if McConnell decides to take up the nomination after Hilz wins, I’d love to see Garland withdraw his name and Obama not name anyone else saying that Hillary should select nominate the next Justice after she assumes office. Karma for the Turtle.

  207. 207.

    Kay

    This is the new Trump strategy:

    Mr. Trump plans to keep up a relentless assault on Mrs. Clinton, including her use of a private email server and allegations about her husband, former President Bill Clinton, with the intention of keeping some of her supporters home on Election Day, his advisers said.

    Nothing makes Democrats sadder than poor email management practices. When this server issue drops all bets are off.

  208. 208.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    I wanna have a drink with John Boehner. I imagine he’s a pretty happy man right about now.

  211. 211.

    sigaba

    @Kay: Putting lavs on people is never fun. Sounds like Trump is a real piece of work but there are many war stories along these lines.

    @Mnemosyne: I wish the FDA would level with people and just tell them the truth, there’s no such thing as safe meat.

  212. 212.

    Kay

    I don’t think I’ve ever heard a candidate say his strategy was to keep the other side’s voters home. These people are just pathetic. Reverse GOTV, but for the other side’s voters? Will they canvass? “Hi. We’d like to talk to you about why you can’t vote this year- Donald Trump doesn’t want to lose”.

  213. 213.

    redshirt

    @me: I can testify to this. I feel like I see more Trump than Romney signs, but the Romney signs used to accompany all the other R’s. Trump signs are often alone.

  215. 215.

    normal liberal

    @Aleta:
    Cut a lemon in half, and use the cut surfaces to scrub the cavity while squeezing the lemon to force the juice out as you scrub. Immediately throw that lemon away – I shove them into the disposal. If you like lemon, quarter another one and stuff it into the chicken, along with whatever seasoning you prefer. (Or do any of what Adam suggested.)
    Roast chicken is a leading reason why I couldn’t stick with a vegetarian diet.

  216. 216.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Omnes Omnibus: Thanks. The hardest part will be tomorrow afternoon, when I’m not serving as the second line of defense against something, and am home on break and have to frost the dark chocolate cupcakes I baked this afternoon for tomorrow night’s break fast. I’m making a dark chocolate mousse for the frosting. And this will only be an issue because I usually taste things as I prep. Otherwise, I’m good for a day without food.

  221. 221.

    Trentrunner

    @lamh36: Bill’s Obamacare gaffe was pretty harmful. Made its way into Sunday’s debate. I’m fine with him being invisible for a month.

    Or stand behind the candidate and nod silently. :)

  223. 223.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Omnes Omnibus: I understand. I will take and post pictures with recipe links – I got the cupcake recipe from Martha Stewart because I wanted something fool proof and specifically designed to function as a cupcake. My normal chocolate cake recipe is too moist for cupcakes – the structure won’t hold up under frosting in that specific shape and size.

  227. 227.

    JR in WV

    @redshirt:

    I have to admit, I have had good results from gargling good bourbon and letting it trickle down my throat. Not much, not even a shot, but letting it burn in the back of my throat.

    It helps with coughs and sore throats both. not always, but more than not, and if no bourbon, anything high proof, 90 to 110 will help.

    Old country remedy, called the two-hat cure. When you take sick, go to bed and put your hat on the bottom bed post. Drink until you see two hats, and then go to sleep. When you wake up, you will be over your illness. From a Baptist grandma who never drank a drop for pleasure, only to cure the flu or snakebite.

  228. 228.

    Miss Bianca

    @JR in WV: Reminds me of my favorite joke from Hee-Haw:

    Junior Samples (to Grandpa Jones): Grandpa, what do you do when you have a cold?

    Grandpa Jones: Well, I get a big old jar of corn liquor and I put it on my bedside table. Then, about every fifteen minutes or so, I take a drink from the jar.

    Junior (with every appearance of thinking hard): Does that cure your cold?

    Grandpa: No, but it makes bein’ sick a whole lot more interesting!

  229. 229.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @JR in WV: I was told that the way to do it is run a very hot bath. Climb in with brandy or whiskey. Sip slowly and steadily in the the bath is tepid. Get out. Dry off. Go to bed. In the morning, you will allegedly feel as good as new. I’ve never tried it.

  231. 231.

    Miss Bianca

    @Omnes Omnibus: That sounds like just the sort of remedy I would try – being a fan of both hot baths and brandy. Not sure it would really work, but honestly…who cares? Sounds like a good evening in to me!

  238. 238.

    NotMax

    @efgoldman

    Ought to have been a given was referring to those who have the option, not to 100% of the labor force.

    Didn’t intend to arouse Capt. Obvious from slumber.

  239. 239.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @NotMax: I don’t see why people should read in the caveats that you didn’t type.

    ETA: Normally, we read the words that people write.

  240. 240.

    Plantsmantx

    Katrina Pierson Verified account
    ‏@KatrinaPierson
    I can’t keep my phone charged due to the mass volume of texts from people all over the country who will #VoteTrump but⬇️ballot not so much.

    I love it:).

  243. 243.

    Chris T.

    @Adam L Silverman: Fun fact: salting like this kills bacteria. (Not all bacteria, and sometimes even the dead stuff will still make you sick, but that’s why we used to preserve meat by salting it.)

    Sugar has the same effect on bread, and this is how cake frosting came about.

  244. 244.

    Chris T.

    @Joel: Nothing works for me. A “12 hour” or “24 hour” spray lasts for maybe 4 hours, after which I get severe rebound effect.

    I did break my nose as a child and probably have physical issues. I can always tell where my nasal cycle is just by observing to myself which side feels congested. Exercise opens both sides (somewhat, for some time, but that’s the best I normally get).

    I got a nerve block once, for some fairly major oral surgery, that kept my nose open for a full day, at the cost of being completely numb for the same full day…

  245. 245.

    eyelessgame

    Am I the only one who noticed that she gave Billy Bush a full-body, friendly close hug, but her “hug” to Donald was engineered to touch nothing below the shoulders? She knew which one had the reputation as a creep.

  246. 246.

    Ian

    @NotMax:

    Shall never understand people who admit they are sick going to work and exposing others to illness

    When paid leave exists across the country and the “right to work” laws are overthrown in all 50 states I shall agree with your statement.

  248. 248.

    Anonymous At Work

    @Patricia Kayden: With 51 Senators, including some more conservative ones (although Lieberman and Nelson will be gone)? Unlikely, especially under Schumer. They’ll get rid of the filibuster for appointments, maybe for bills, but this will be a short 2-year window.

  250. 250.

    Lee

    The thing is I’m STILL uncomfortable with the level of support gets.

    I cannot fathom how anyone could still support him after this. I’ve got some very devout friends that are still defending him.

  251. 251.

    les

    @raven:

    @redshirt: “Carry hand sanitizer at all times.”

    S/he musta missed the part where research shows sanitizers don’t, ya know, do any good.

  253. 253.

    Gemina13

    @NotMax:

    No sick pay provided is usually my reason, coupled with past managers who use taking sick time as a benchmark for dividing employees to keep from employees to lay off.

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