Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

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

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

When do the post office & the dmv weigh in on the wuhan virus?

Take your GOP plan out of the witness protection program.

People are complicated. Love is not.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

Schmidt just says fuck it, opens a tea shop.

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

A democracy can’t function when people can’t distinguish facts from lies.

Anyone who bans teaching American history has no right to shape America’s future.

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

“woke” is the new caravan.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Prediction: the GOP will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

In my day, never was longer.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

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100Comments

  5. 5.

    Chat Noir

    That’s how our black cat, Hobbes, looked when we got him (our vet guessed that he was 3 or 4 weeks old). He is now eight years old and a happy camper, though his eyes changed to a topaz color.

  8. 8.

    hovercraft

    @debbie:
    She has not forgotten what was done to her. I hope whoever perpetrated the crime has eyes in the back of their head. Payback’s a bitch.

  11. 11.

    SuzieC

    That is so adorable. We have 2 black rescue semi-feral kitties. We love them. Black cats are the best.

  20. 20.

    rikyrah

    The Authentic Power of Michelle Obama
    Frank Bruni
    OCT. 15, 2016

    Isn’t it delicious that after trafficking in racism, promoting sexism and using a lie about Barack Obama’s birthplace as a pivot into political relevance, Donald Trump could receive his final death blow from a black woman: the president’s wife?

    And isn’t it interesting that after so many years of keeping a studied distance from the ugliness of the political arena, the first lady is throwing herself with such passion into this grotesque campaign?

    That says everything about the singular threat that Trump poses, and she’s emerging as the fiercest counter to it: Michelle Obama, octopus slayer. She’s effective because she has never gone looking for a fight — we know that about her. She acts when she has something to defend, and as she made clear in a stirring, searing speech late last week, that’s more than her husband’s legacy, which a Trump victory would decimate. It’s her dignity as a woman. It’s the dignity of all women.

    I don’t mean to overstate her impact: Trump was going down before she joined the chorus of condemnation. But her eloquence is sealing the deal. First at the Democratic convention in late July and then in New Hampshire on Thursday, she embodied the nation’s conscience and staked her claim as the most earnest guardian of our most important values.

  22. 22.

    lamh36

    Started this week’s lunch meal cooking early. Next week’s meal… Slow Cooker Red Beans & Rice!

  25. 25.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    @John Revolta:

    A cat’ll hold a grudge almost as long as an Irishman.

    Don’t know whether you heard “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” today, but one of the questions had to do with “According to a recent study, what do cats, alone among the animal kingdom, do?” and the answer was “Hold a grudge.” Of course Paula Poundstone was all over that, partly because she is WWDTM’s resident cat lady, but mostly because she never met a scientific or academic study she couldn’t scorn, humiliate, and demolish.

  26. 26.

    gogol's wife

    @satby:

    I adore black cats. I want this one!

    But I have to say, I’ve never bathed any of my cats, except one who used to sit under cars.

  27. 27.

    Highway Rob

    I gave some thought to what Hillary C. said about the depths to which this campaign has plunged…

    I take absolutely no satisfaction in what is happening on the other side with my opponent[.]

    Something tells me Ivana, Marla, and Melania have all said the exact same words about the exact same dude.

    ETA: I’m not going to request deletion, but I will request everyone’s forgiveness. It’s late, and even as a most-of-the-time lurker this is far from my best work.

  30. 30.

    planetpundit

    Had a sister/brother black cat duo Chaos (girl) a total sweetie and Havoc (boy) playful and non too bright. Both great cats.

  32. 32.

    Suzanne

    Oh, what a cutie. I could use some kitten snuggles right now.

    It’s been a really busy week. I have had a bunch of big client meetings, including one that I have been dreading, in which we had to tell a client that their project is going to cost about three times their budget. And I am finally trying to get my ass back in gear to study for the LEED AP test. I am sick of tests.

    Still carved out this morning to go canvassing. Mr. Suzanne and I went to the very first house on our canvass list, and it turns out to be the worst canvass experience we’ve ever had in our many cycles of doing this. We were only going to Dem voters to do GOTV and talk about the local candidates. A woman’s name was on the list, so we knocked on the door, and a man answered. We asked if the woman on our list was available, and he said yes, and he started to talk to us. As soon as we said that we were volunteers with the AZ Democratic Party, he freaked out on us and literally chased us out into the street, screaming at us in front of his neighbors the entire time. “You ought to be ashamed of yourselves! Do you see that flag?! (US flag) This is a Republican house! Go vote for Hillary and watch her take all of our money and give it to the Arabs and Jews!” When I responded that I am Jewish (just a little bit, but I didn’t say that), he SCREAMED, “I’m five percent Jewish and I’m ashamed of every drop! GET OUT OF HERE!” We drove away and skipped canvassing the houses on his street because we were concerned that he would vandalize our car or follow us.

    The thing is……his wife or daughter who lives there is a registered Democrat and I don’t think he knows that. I am afraid for her safety. I am absolutely sure that there are firearms in that home. Also, I sometimes take my kids canvassing, and I don’t think I’m going to do that anymore. Holy shit.

  42. 42.

    frosty

    @lamh36:

    Slow Cooker Red Beans & Rice!

    Oooh! Hints or recipe? I sucked at this until we went to the NO School of Cooking on our vacation a couple of years ago and the teacher gave me the hint: “You’ve got to cook the heck out of it, honey.” That plus throwing the bricks of butter and lard in at the end!

  45. 45.

    Mnemosyne

    @John Revolta:

    Once, when my late great cat Boris was a kitten, the vet gave me a can of flea mousse (yes, mousse) to use on him in lieu of a bath. Since Boris had a very thick coat with an undercoat, it did not go well, to say the least.

    For years after that, if he saw me with a can of hair mousse, he would run and hide. YEARS. Cats have almost frighteningly good memories, and very little sense of time.

  46. 46.

    MomSense

    @Suzanne:

    Oh that’s so scary. I’m sorry that happened to you. I’m only doing phone calls this time around as much of our turf is not canvassable. This year I’m ok doing phone calls.

  47. 47.

    Betty Cracker

    @Elizabelle: Wednesday.

    @Suzanne: Damn, that’s awful. We had some negative experiences canvassing in ’08 and ’12 (kiddo was with me at all times at her request) but nothing quite that bad. What a dick that guy is. I really think Trump unleashed a lot of ugly latent assholery like that.

  49. 49.

    Suzanne

    @catclub: Yes, we reported the address and described the incident. I don’t want any other canvassers to go near that house, because I don’t want anyone to provoke that man. I’m less concerned for canvassers than I am for the woman in that house.

    We have had people be rude to us before, but never literally chasing us off their property while screaming racial slurs. The Trump coalition is not going to be able to keep their shit together after November 8.

  50. 50.

    Mnemosyne

    @MomSense:

    You asked yesterday what we knit in Southern California, but I think people gave you good answers. We do wear hats and scarves at night during the winter since it can get down into the low 40s or even the 30s even if it’s warm during the day. Shawls and cardigans are very handy for overly air-conditioned offices, as are handwarmers or fingerless gloves. And I’ve been playing around with boot toppers because they’re cute and they keep rain from getting into the tops of your boots.

  51. 51.

    Davebo

    My dog loves cat food.

    Mostly because he thinks it’s made of cats!

    That’s a problem as my girlfriend has two lovely cats….

  52. 52.

    Pogonip

    @Suzanne: This reminds me of the old Bloom County where the Meadow Party is on a doorstep. As soon as they mention “election,” the homeowner grabs a broom and beats hell out of them. Back on the sidewalk, they look at her, rubbing their heads, and Opus says: “Yep, it’s too early.”

    Or in your case, too late; around here at least, people are sick of the whole thing. Just today I overheard a lady saying she had told her brother not to come over unless he was ready to stop talking about Hillary, whom he called Killary. That’s a big thing in talk radio, not sure why, although it’s not as bad as some of the other things they call her.

    I respect her for hanging in there after 40 years of this. Most of us, me included, would just say “Ah, to hell with it” and move to Europe.

  53. 53.

    Lizzy L

    @Suzanne: That’s pretty terrifying. Sounds like you reacted in the best possible way, i.e. you got out of there immediately. I echo your concern for the woman in the house whose name is on the Democratic list, but apart from reporting it, I doubt there’s anything you can or should do.

    My brother lives in Phoenix. He’s skeptical that AZ will tip Democratic, but he really really wants Joe Arpaio gone, and polls are looking good.

    Take care of yourself. Chill. Find a kitten.

  55. 55.

    Pogonip

    @Suzanne: Don’t get too worried, it’s likely the woman is well aware her boyfriend doesn’t like Hillary. To you it was a nasty surprise.

    That guy needs anger management lessons from the West Deplorable family with a Clinton sign AND a Trump sign in their yard.

  56. 56.

    Wapiti

    @SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch:

    Don’t know whether you heard “Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me” today, but one of the questions had to do with “According to a recent study, what do cats, alone among the animal kingdom, do?” and the answer was “Hold a grudge.”

    They haven’t dealt with crows, I guess. (Should have read all comments before posting)

  57. 57.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    @Wapiti:

    Crows are wicked smaht, and I feel sure they are the equal of any cat at holding grudges.

  58. 58.

    Suzanne

    @Pogonip: I’m only concerned because he said, “This is a Republican house!” like he thinks that everyone that lives there votes the same way. If his wife registered Dem secretly, then I hope we didn’t blow her cover.

    @Lizzy L: We are in Phoenix, too, and I also doubt that AZ will ultimately go blue (though it did the last time there was a Clinton on the ballot), but I would just love love LOVE to get Arpaio out of office and into prison. Or at least Tent City. McCain is a close second.

  61. 61.

    SiubhanDuinne, liberal mob enforcer bitch

    @Suzanne:

    That’s genuinely terrifying. And I agree that the real worry is on behalf of the woman. Glad you reported it to Dem HQ, not only to make sure other canvassers avoid the place, but to go on the record. Most political parties have several lawyers on staff/volunteer duty and would be well-equipped to take quick legal action if necessary.

    One of the things they drummed into us at the Voter Protection training this afternoon was “over-report.” ANYTHING that’s out of line, or seems fishy, or potentially threatening, we are to report immediately to the Dem Party boiler room, which will be staffed by 20-30 volunteers, all lawyers.

  62. 62.

    Glidwrith

    @gogol’s wife: I have had to bath one of my previous kitties, Squeaker. We had been dumping our charcoal cinders in one corner of the yard. One day, when letting the kitties into the yard, he found it. That cat literally looked at me as I cried “Nooooo!” and proceeded to drop and rub.

    Sigh. White fur on his feet, chest and underside. 16 pounds of furry pudding but with claws. I put on jeans and two layers of sweater then climbed into the shower with him. He wasn’t too happy, but we got him rinsed and dried. I miss that cat.

  64. 64.

    Lizzy L

    From DailyKos:

    Yahoo News National Correspondent Holly Bailey was on hand covering the Trump rally today (10-15-16) in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and tweeting what she was hearing. Senator Sessions preceded Rudi Giuliani on stage, saying at one point, “They are attempting to rig this election.”

    So when is the Republican leadership going to repudiate this piece of total fuckwittery?

    Crickets….

  66. 66.

    Ruckus

    @Lizzy L:
    Why would you expect republican leadership to repudiate this? They aren’t any better, they just don’t talk about it as much or in public as trump does and that doesn’t make them better, only quieter.

  70. 70.

    RobertDSC-Quad Intel Mac

    I have zero confidence in Henrik Lundqvist as goaltender for the New York Rangers.

  75. 75.

    Pogonip

    @Suzanne: Well, let’s hope she’s spent all these years chuckling quietly to herself in the booth as she cancels out Mr. Friendly’s vote.

  76. 76.

    WaterGirl

    @rikyrah: I love this line:

    …she embodied the nation’s conscience and staked her claim as the most earnest guardian of our most important values.

  81. 81.

    redshirt

    I just took a bunch of peak fall full moon night long exposure photos. Amazing. It’s amazing how with but a 15 second exposure full moon night looks just like day. Blue sky with stars.

  89. 89.

    The Golux

    @patroclus:

    Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go! Hey Chicago what do you say, the Cubs are gonna win today!

    Steve Goodman is smiling today. Here’s hoping for seven more.

  93. 93.

    JR in WV

    @gogol’s wife:

    Yeah, we had one big cat that got to rubbing against an unfortunately leaking transmission under an elderly PU truck out by the barn. I wore welding gloves, that come up to your elbows. It wasn’t as bad as I feared, because I had the gloves I wasn’t afraid, just did what had to be done.

    He was horror-struck, but it wasn’t cold water, it was warm, and so put up with a shampoo with Dawn dish soap. He was filthy, it would have been really bad for him to leave it on him.

    Should have pictures, but it was film-only era, so not so much.

  94. 94.

    redshirt

    @Villago Delenda Est: I have to say I have some hesitant respect for Jeff Flake (R-AZ). He’s stood up to Trump from the beginning and been vocal about it. Also, he did some weird thing where he spent a week on a deserted island with a Democrat to prove they could get along. I liked it. As a Survivor fan.

  95. 95.

    seaboogie

    @John Revolta: I disagree. My kitties have always been very zen and in the moment and hold no grudges as long as you “stop doing that – right now!”. Dogs have a longer memory.

  98. 98.

    Sm*t Cl*de

    @catclub:

    I thought they had shown that not only do Crows hold a grudge, but they pass it on to their kids and friends.

    I had a Siamese once who managed to kill a magpie. Other magpies saw him do it.
    That cat could not go outside during the day for the rest of that summer.

  99. 99.

    SWMBO

    @Glidwrith: @JR in WV: I ran a pet grooming business putting myself through college. We had one client that had a Persian Chinchilla cat that they left with a friend while on vacation for 3 weeks. They came home to a hissing, spitting clawed mat. They brought us the cat to try to brush it out and clean it up. The poor cat was matted to the skin and it took over 6 hours to get most of the mats out. We had to cut a stripe down each side about half an inch by 3 inches where it was matted to the skin and raw underneath. The way you bathe any cat is to put chicken wire on a wooden frame. Screw weights to the frame so it will sink in water. Cover that with fabric so it doesn’t scratch the tub. This is a two man operation. Put the cat on the chicken wire and pull its tail. The cat will hook its claws in the wire and as long as someone is pulling on the tail, they can’t let go. Pick up the frame and cat and put in tub. One person pulls the cat’s tail and the other washes the cat. All you have to worry about are the teeth. Pick up frame and put on grooming table. Dry cat with towel and put cat in cage to calm down. We bathed all the cats this way and didn’t have to have transfusions. Pulling on their tails enough to maintain tension doesn’t hurt them (you aren’t trying to yank the tail off just trying to keep their claws from retracting and then coming back at you as weapons).

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