I feel like I have been cheating on you all, saving my best stories for the book of faces and the twitter machine, so here are two things that happened in the last 24 hours that you will find amusing. From last night:
So my favorite trick or treater tonight was a little girl, who was 3-4 years old and she and her same aged friend came slowly, timidly, to the door. She was dressed as a princess and carrying one of those plastic pumpkins to hold her candy. They knocked and said trick or treat, and I opened the door to give them candy, and held out a big bowl of assorted treats. Without missing a beat, she handed her pumpkin to her friend, took the entire bowl from me, and started down the sidewalk.
I just started laughing. Her mother was mortified. Funniest thing I have seen a kid do on Halloween.
And today, this horrible event unfolded:
I had one reese cup left over from yesterday because I gave the extra bags of candy away to neighbors because I can not be trusted with it. After hours of it staring at me and me saying to myself “You don’t need it you fat bastard” I broke down and went to eat it. As I was opening it I fumbled with the wrapper and dropped it and it rolled underneath my desk and Thurston lunged for it, and I reacted by thrusting my foot as far as it would go under the desk because dogs and chocolate. And now I have a fucking reese cup stuck to the bottom of my shoe and I am stuck with the guilt of breaking down and eating it even when I didn’t get to and fuck you I hate this cruel world.
This is the first election since 1992 that I simply can not bring myself to turn on cable news but briefly. I am so fucking ready for this to be over. Steve can sense it, though, and has been extra lovey.
Major Major Major Major
Hi all. Sorry to threadjack?
I had to cut a dear, dear friend out of my life this afternoon over the last month’s worth of behavior turned abusive. I tried everything short of this but I had to pull the trigger today. I’m absolutely numb. I feel awful.
Maybe I’ll see how he’s doing, in time. But I couldn’t leave that door open for him so I told him ‘never’.
☹️️
redshirt
What was wrong with the 1992 election? I forget how it could even be like 11% as terrible as this one.
Coin operated
@Major Major Major Major: Sorry. Have had that to do that twice over the last 3 months. People who would normally be considered “moderate” Republicans turned full on Trumpers.
Hopefully after the election, they return to normal.
Elizabelle
Love the story about the candy-snatching princess.
And not turning on cable news is a great idea. I wish it would tank, and the industry would realize it needs to put out a better, more informative product. Not just sensationalism. Dream on.
@Major Major Major Major: Sorry to hear this. Perhaps it will work out, in a few weeks. You did it for a reason. Remember that.
Major Major Major Major
@Coin operated: this had nothing to do with politics.
chopper
my three year old, at the first house, instead of saying “trick or treat” for some reason yelled out “happy Hanukkah”. I bent over laughing and so he spent the rest of the night yelling it or to every house and confusing the shit out of people.
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
((((@Major Major Major Major:)))) Oh dear. That does hurt, but abusive behavior is a dealbreaker. Here’s hoping it causes him to do some serious self-examination that at least benefits him, if not you.
Gin & Tonic
I saw the peanut butter cup story on Twitter and for the life of me couldn’t figure out why you couldn’t eat the damn thing anyway, shoe or no shoe.
Bill E Pilgrim
You mean a peanubuttercup?
Coin operated
@Major Major Major Major: Understood. Same feelings toward the situation apply…hope the abuse goes away.
hovercraft
@Major Major Major Major:
Sometimes no matter how much it hurts, you just have to step back. You have to do what’s right for you, and accepting abuse is not healthy. You did the right thing, period. Take as much time as you need to decide how you want to proceed, and if in time you still don’t feel comfortable reconnecting, that’s fine. I’m sorry for your loss.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@Major Major Major Major: I’m sorry for your loss. It sounds quite necessary, but that doesn’t diminish the sorrow.
Gin & Tonic
@Major Major Major Major: Life’s easier if you have no friends.
JPL
A few decades back, I called the vet because Pudgy, my SharPei was licking a chocolate covered doughnut. Of course Pudge was sitting politely on a chair. BTW licking chocolate is not a problem.
@chopper: What a sweet story..
TaMara (HFG)
Well I loved the trick or treater story, made my day earlier. I wish I could bring something good to the thread, but I’m in tears and absolutely fucking horrified. I decided to smudge the house tonight, got out the lighter and smudge stick, when Bailey saw the lighter, she ran and hid and I had to coax her out with treats. I don’t even EVER want to know why.
I sat on the floor and just wrapped her up in my lap and tried not to cry. I’m going to tell myself it was just some horrible puppy accident – they do get wild and crazy at the worst moments – Bixby got hot soup spilled on him one time.
khead
I am seeing WAY too much stress from my friends over the election.
So, again, relax and have some kittehs.
rikyrah
@Major Major Major Major:
Sorry for the loss. But, sometimes it has to happen
Singing truth to power
@Major Major Major Major: i wish you peace and love –
Adam L Silverman
@Major Major Major Major: Sorry to read that. Its never easy. We’ll keep good thoughts.
hovercraft
@redshirt:
I suspect it was all of the crap about Bill and the women and everything else they flung at him. Remember a lot of the stupid investigations into the Clinton’s were based on crap that was floated during that election.
TaMara (HFG)
@Major Major Major Major: Right after my divorce, I realized that a life long friend was treating me in the worst way, and had been since we were in college. It was the hardest thing to let that friendship go at the same time I was letting my marriage go. But the only person who can put a stop to abuse is us – so [[hugs]] to you and gentle days ahead.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
@hovercraft:
I terminated a BPD relationship early last year that was wretched, toxic, soul-diminishing. Stay strong. It’ll hurt for a time, but that will fade. Best wishes.
West of the Rockies (been a while)
@West of the Rockies (been a while):
That was meant for MMMM. Sorry, Hovercraft.
Adam L Silverman
@TaMara (HFG): Most likely she had no idea what you were doing and why you seemed to be on fire.
steve herl
Jeebus John, don’t sweat a peanut butter cup and your dog. I think I read where a pound of bakers chocolate could kill a 20# dog. If you follow that ratio I’m guessing if you snarfed 20# of bakers chocolate ( or 40# of Reeses ) you might have issues too.
JJ
@Major Major Major Major: hey, this sounds really painful… I support your taking care of yourself. Hang in there.
Major Major Major Major
@steve herl: did you just guess Cole at 400 pounds?
Quinerly
@Major Major Major Major:
You aren’t alone. Hang in there.
Keith P.
A single Reese’s isn’t going to kill your dog.
opiejeanne
@Major Major Major Major: I’m sorry. It can be hard, and I had to do that with a longtime online friend just before last Christmas. It wasn’t about politics, just a long friendship that suddenly became toxic for reasons I still can’t fathom.
We have mutual friends; if I need to know about her they’ll tell me.
a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)
@TaMara (HFG): Lots of hugs for both of you. And Bixby can probably offer some comfort, or at least heft.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Keith P.: my recollection is there’s so little actual chocolate in American candy, it’s unlikely to cause any harm, but I think Thurston is a very small dog
NotMax
Time to change the name from John to Job?
:)
TaMara (HFG)
@Adam L Silverman: Well I’d comfort myself with that IF I’d had lit it.
I showed her the lighter again as I put it a way, she got ready to bolt and reassured her that it was ok.She was safe with me. I’ll work on desensitizing her a bit at a time. Just to reassure her that it won’t be an issue here.
We’ve been working on positive feedback since she got here – she had “professional” training as a puppy and it was all negative reinforcement with a shock collar (as her only training tool). She’s responded really well to this and I felt we’ve made real progress since she’s beginning to feel ok about giving me “sass” when she doesn’t want to do something. She’s a talker and loves telling me when she is not happy with my rules.
Love this dog.
Comrade Colette Collaboratrice
@Keith P.: True that. But a single Reese’s could teach him what the good stuff looks like and if he figures out where to find it (which, being a dog, he will), he could find himself in a lot more danger.
steve herl
@Major Major Major Major: I was thinkin closer to 200…but my math skills may be declining in my dotage.
Timurid
@TaMara (HFG):
My rescue cat used to run away every time she saw a broom. I had to avoid anything that resembled a kicking motion. When I absentmindedly kicked a toy across the floor to her, she panicked. She’s gotten a lot better about triggers, although she’s still terrified of large plastic garbage bags for reasons I probably don’t want to know about.
And despite that, she still loves people. The gentlest, most laid back cat I’ve ever been around…
Major Major Major Major
Thanks for the kind words, everybody.
We’d usually be chatting right about now. Sigh.
laura
@Major Major Major Major: I’m sorry that you’ve been pushed to this decision point, and echo the chorus of support in choosing self-care over abuse.
Peace and comfort.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
I’d seen the first part of this quote, but not the second. I completely agree. I don’t know a whole lot about Weld, but his decision to join the G-Libertarian ticket struck me as very odd when he did it, and even more so now
Adam L Silverman
@TaMara (HFG): Makes more sense now. She’ll come around.
Lizzy L
@Major Major Major Major: Sorry that happened. Sending good wishes.
Bobbo
I don’t know how anyone can watch cable news, ever. It was pretty easy for me to cut the cord
West of the Cascades
@Timurid: My kitty Margie is the same way – I got her after her elderly owner had passed away, and given how she reacts to brooms and (until the last three years or so) women friends of mine, I imagine a daughter-in-law who whacked her a few times. She’s utterly gentle, though, and has gradually gotten to the point (after 11 years) she trusts me with a broom. And, like Steve, she’s being extra cuddly the closer we get to November 8.
Seanly
American milk chocolate is not the type of chocolate that will hurt a dog – there’s not enough cocoa. They are in more trouble if they eat a bag of chocolate candy bars from the wrappers and sugar. Dark chocolate & baker’s chocolate are a different matter (artisanal crap too)
Keith P.
@Comrade Colette Collaboratrice: You got me there! Best to teach the dog that chocolate is bad, even if it won’t hurt them in small amounts.
opiejeanne
@Major Major Major Major: In a couple of weeks you will feel a lot better about this. Give yourself some time to grieve.
Quinerly
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
It was a very good interview. Highly recommended. On Rachel tonight. You could tell he thinks Johnson is an idiot
cmorenc
@John Cole:
This is the first election since 1992 that I simply can not bring myself to turn on cable news but briefly.
In recent days, members of CNN discussion panels purportedly “balanced” by including representatives for both sides have frequently gotten into screaming matches with each other, trying to simultaneously shout over each other. I cannot recall ANY prior election where this extent of sheer rude incivility and hostility have been on such frequent, open display on cable news channels. This is especially true where discussions have ventured into Comey and the FBI, but it’s spread into other topical discussions as well.
amk
Don’t know about moody’s record but will take it.
cckids
@chopper: When my now 21-year-old was three & trick-or-treating, when we’d ring people’s doorbells, she’d just waltz into the house, believing she was there for a visit. (these were total strangers). Had to pull her out of at least 5 homes.
She’s still a people person.
Juice Box
I did great the last few days, just reading novels, but today I slipped up and started reading political blogs. I’ve voted, HRC is going to win, it’s time to move on. But. I. Just. Can’t.
Schlemazel
@Major Major Major Major:
Hey, you did the right thing. I have spent my life cutting out abusers and users and I know I am happier for it. The couple I am forced to interact with (my SIL being one of the worst) I have gotten down to the very minimum of time spent with after my wife & i came to an understanding. It took my wife 20 years to come to the same point but she feels she ‘owes’ her sister so I can’t make it zero but she now does stand up for herself and has all sorts of tricks to limit the ogre’s control and abuse.
The lost friend will hurt a bit but not as much as continued abuse. And who knows maybe yours will be the wake up call they need to see themselves as others do & you will get a better friend back
Jim, Foolish Literalist
Schlemazel
I has a fever of 102 on Sunday & was still not well last night so we decided to not answer the door. I had to talk my better half into leaving a bowl of candy and a note on our steps. Most of the candy was still there at the end of the night so I viewed that as a win.
Schlemazel
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Well, Pee still thinks he has a future in whats left of the GOP after Tuesday and they only reward those who set fire to the shop when they demand it.
He really has no clue how toxic the shrub brand is, poor little dear.
cckids
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I saw him tonight on Rachel too. He had a pretty solid rec for Hillary. He is exactly the type of normal Republican who is all-but extinct. I heard another one this morning on public radio here in NV; the CEO of (I believe) MGM gaming. He talked about how dangerous Trump is, how experienced and smart Hillary is; he actually said “I’m no Adelson or Wynn, but I make a lot of money. And I’m not taxed nearly enough.”
All I could think of with both of them was “Dude, WHY ARE YOU STILL A REPUBLICAN??”
Adam L Silverman
@amk: This is their economics forecasting arm – not the ratings side of things. Its run by Mark Zandi, who was Senator McCain’s chief economic advisor in 2008. He’s a very straight shooter, excellent methodologist. Knows his stuff.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Zandi
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Schlemazel: I think there’s a whole generation of up and coming Republicans who are gonna knock out Pence and Ryan, much less the fourth generation of Yankee carpetbaggers with a history of what is now called “crony capitalism”
amk
@Adam L Silverman: Danke.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
I’m pretty sure it involved losing a bet. Alcohol may have been involved.
Ruckus
@Major Major Major Major:
Sometimes you have to do that just to keep a hold on your own sanity. It’s hard and no one sane enjoys it. I’ve had to do this a couple of times for various reasons, because I still have to live with myself. Sorry that you had to.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Tissue Thin Pseudonym: the amber liquids, as he likes to say? He had a bottle Lagavullin, and Johnson had a bag of Obama Kush?
He’s very good on the FBI thing, but I disagree we should “ignore this”, there should be a through investigation. Not holding my breath
Soylent Green
Having attended two days of the Bundy trial, I’m depressed by the verdict, and even more depressed by the current state of American politics, which I blame on the so-called news media. For me, no more of their blathering until election night.
redshirt
I may have partied with Weld back in the day. I can’t recall.
Peale
@Soylent Green: he’ll. I don’t even watch cable news any more and haven’t since 2006. and they still piss me off.
Adam L Silverman
@amk: No worries, but you’re on your own from here on out. I’m going to bed. I think I’m coming down with the flu (and yes, I got the shot).
Mike J
@redshirt: Tuesday?
GrandJury
@Bobbo: Just boggles my mind when people mention something Morning Joe or Tweety or Chuckles Toad said like it actually matters. There can’t be that many people that watch that stuff. Their ratings were in the toilet back when I stopped watching years ago and it must be even worse now.
Not only do I not watch cable news, I can’t even stand watching clips of them on youtube or wherever. Not even for a few seconds. I tuned all the shit out shortly shortly after Obama won in 2008. Don’t feel any less informed that’s for sure.
Davebo
A few years back when I lived in a predominately hispanic neighborhood I got excited about trick or treaters and stocked up on candy. For years I lived in a community that had almost no children and never got trick or treaters.
Well.. Word got out that the house with the gringo had the best candy (and I did) and I really enjoyed it for an hour or so. Finally, I just left a basket of candy on the porch. I woke the next morning to a neighbor returning my basket which had been taken overnight. There are two conclusions to draw from this. I prefer the one that says despite some kid taking all my candy and the basket that held it I got my basket back!
That and Taco Trucks! They are freaking awesome!
Brachiator
@Major Major Major Major: Sorry to hear about your cutting a friend out of your life. But it also sounds like you did what was best for you.
enplaned
Comey fucked Hillary, but Hillary put herself in position to be fucked. Can you imagine Obama allowing one of his folks to have an ongoing liability like Abedin-Weiner? I dunno, I find it inconceivable. Some people liked Hillary’s loyalty to Abedin and the fact that Abedin was trying to work on her marriage. But it was clear from Weiner’s original 2011 episode that there was something deeply wrong with him, and by the time he was discovered doing the same thing in the middle of his 2013 mayoral race it was clear he couldn’t control his impulses. There was really no excuse for not cutting Weiner and/or Abedin loose then. If Abedin wanted to work on her marriage, that’s a legitimate choice, but not at the risk of damaging her boss. Heck, there was probably no excuse for not getting rid of Weiner in 2011, but Abedin was pregnant, etc.
Because no Weiner, no Comey. Weiner started sexting a 15 year old girl — out of state. So, FBI investigation. If Weiner was three years in the rear-view mirror at that time, much less of a problem. If he was five years in the rear-view mirror, likely no problem at all.
Again, can you ever imagine Obama getting entangled in something like this the way that Hillary has? No way. Obama is crisp, he’s clean, he’s no drama and he’s no bullshit. And he almost certainly expects the same from everyone who works for him. Anyone who would develop a liability like Abedin-Weiner would be expected to resolve it quickly and quietly — if necessary, by taking themselves out of the Obama orbit. Because the people’s business demands no less (in Obama’s view).
This one is on Hillary. She knows a lot of the world is out to get her. She can’t afford to take risks like that.
Matt McIrvin
@Jim, Foolish Literalist: Weld keeps saying these things that sound like he’s throwing in the towel and endorsing Clinton, and it gets reported that way, and then he denies that he meant that. Over and over and over.
Matt McIrvin
@enplaned:
What? Hillary is one of his folks.
redshirt
Hillary or die.
Mnemosyne
@Adam L Silverman:
BTW, I just realized that Count Roehenstart was not only in England at the same time as my fictional hero, he was in Philadelphia at the same time, too. Thanks a lot — now my plot is even more complicated.
Matt McIrvin
@cckids: Well, Weld apparently isn’t a Republican any more… he’s a Libertarian, for some unfathomable reason.
amk
@enplaned: Well, she was his SOS for 4 years. You can believe all the bs about her or you can vote for your interest.
redshirt
@Matt McIrvin: Not really though. It’s more like gang to gang. A few exchanges.
Mnemosyne
@enplaned:
I remember people squawking because Obama cut Shirley Sherrod loose as soon as Breitbart released a fake video. You can’t have it both ways — if you cut people loose immediately at the slightest hint of scandal, you’re going to hurt innocent people more often than guilty ones.
amk
Trump accused of tax fraud in Mexico.
The same shit everywhere.
FlipYrWhig
@enplaned: How did you feel about Van Jones? He was dislodged from Team Obama over some bullshit, and took with him a whole set of proposals he could have helped make happen. Was that a good thing or a bad thing, would you say?
NotoriousJRT
@Major Major Major Major:
I am so sorry. When a friendship becomes destructive it is important to protect yourself. Admitting a friend is toxic is hard and painful. I wish you peace.
redshirt
I am sorry in Siam.
?BillinGlendaleCA
@redshirt:
That good, eh?
Ruckus
@enplaned:
Is the sky blue enough for you?
What’s it like to be perfect? I’ve never met anyone else who is.
Have you ever had a friend or anyone who worked for you? Nice of you to be willing to dump someone who is also a victim overboard. Does it feel good to be this much of a prick?
Botsplainer
I’m trying to figure out why the FBI is involved in a case of a sexted 15 year old. That seemed odd to my friends who were sex crime and child pr0n prosecutors in the past.
enplaned
@Botsplainer: 15 year old was in North Carolina… Cross border crime belongs to the FBI. QED.
Mnemosyne
@Major Major Major Major:
Also, too, sometimes you have to cut people loose. It sucks, but it happens. It’s no easier breaking up with a friend than it is with a lover, so go easy on yourself.
enplaned
@Ruckus: um, if Hillary had been more of a “prick”, we’d be in better shape for the election. I’ll take that trade. (And it’s not being more of a prick. It’s deciding the people’s business is more important than any one person’s personal drama)
enplaned
@Mnemosyne: that was equally an error because she didn’t get a chance to defend herself.
Mnemosyne
@enplaned:
Has Huma Abedin had a chance to defend herself against the charge of having a crappy husband?
enplaned
@Matt McIrvin: not after 2012 she wasn’t.
enplaned
@Mnemosyne: presumably, since Hillary kept her on.
enplaned
@amk: I don’t believe all the BS about her. But the point is she sometimes makes it easy for people to concoct more BS about her.
Pest Bog Mummy, Frakensteinbeck
@cmorenc:
One of the candidates is a woman. Have you noticed how the tenor of a disagreement online changes when it’s a woman who has the controversial position? We’re witnessing the same process of aggression written across an entire national election.
Mnemosyne
@enplaned:
If Hillary was willing to keep her on, why are you quibbling with that decision?
I voted for Bill back in 1992 (and 1996) so I can tell you from 20+ years of experience, it doesn’t matter what Bill or Hillary or anyone around them does. The Clintons were the subjects of a seven-year-long witchhunt because a con man cheated them out of their money and then tried to get a lighter sentence for himself by claiming they were in on the con. And some people still believe to this day that there was more to Whitewater than that, because they want to believe the Clintons are bad.
Ruckus
@enplaned:
The only person here concocting bullshit about her is you.
She should be more of a prick? What the fuck kind of a world do you imagine this is? The right and some seemingly on the left have been making up shit about her for 25-30 yrs. She’s never good enough. Fuck you and your purity pony bullshit. Go crawl back under your rock.
Mnemosyne
Also, I have a question for the hivemind (and I’ll ask the morning crowd again tomorrow): has anyone ever used a site called TravelPony to book a nice hotel room at a cheap rate? I’m going to be in San Francisco on November 19th (Bay Area, start planning now!) and need a hotel room for the night of the 18th. Since I am a middle-aged woman traveling alone, I strongly prefer a nice, quiet, 4-star hotel to a hostel or AirBnB, especially since it’s just for one night.
Ruckus
@Mnemosyne:
Where in the city? Left, right, north, south? I can ask around, I still know a number of people there.
Mary G
@Major Major Major Major: I’m sorry for your loss. Once you have finished mourning, there will be room for the new friend that’s not toxic
in your life.
opiejeanne
@Schlemazel: I can’t imagine George P. voting for Trump after what he said about JEB, his father.
Mnemosyne
@Ruckus:
Union Square, but it looks like there’s an East and West? I’d like to be within walking distance (half mile or less) of a BART station since I’ll be car-less.
opiejeanne
@Mnemosyne: Never mind, the hotel in Union Square where we stayed must have changed its name.
I will see if I can locate it because we enjoyed our stay there.
Keith P.
@opiejeanne: It’s kind of easy to explain it in Texas – party line voting. All a TX Repub has to say is “As a good Republican, I always vote straight party line.” Of course, that will probably not work on Barbara.
enplaned
@Mnemosyne: I was around then too. Sorry, it does matter. The Comey bullshit is suppressing her vote… People who were inclined to vote for her getting cold feet. It’s not about converting hostiles…
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
I’m watching Luke Cage. I thought the first 5-6 episodes were really good, but ever since, it’s been going downhill. I’ve got two episodes to go, and it’s become deeply stupid.
opiejeanne
@enplaned: The polls say that it’s not suppressing the vote for Hillary, that the polls have not moved at all.
Tissue Thin Pseudonym
@enplaned: The problem with your analysis is that what is going on has absolutely nothing to do with Clinton being tarred by association with Weiner. His actions aren’t being projected on to her at all. The problem is just that there was a complete coincidence that happened to link the two cases together just enough that Comey was able to ignore all DoJ precedent and make it an issue. It’s the sort of coincidence that you can’t plan for, and could just as easily happened in some other fashion.
Indeed, cutting ties with Huma Abedin wouldn’t have done a damned thing to prevent this from happening, because most of Clinton’s tenure at the State Department, and thus most of the time during which any emails on that computer would have been received, came before the first Weiner incident, and all of them did so before the second. So, the emails would have been found anyway, and James Comey would have made an ass of himself anyway.
In short, you haven’t thought through your argument at all. I suspect that’s because you have more interest in dumping on Hillary Clinton than you do in analyzing anything.
Mnemosyne
@enplaned:
Sorry, but if you get cold feet about a candidate because her aide has a jerk for a husband, then either you’re an idiot, or you’re a sexist asshole who thinks men only stray because their wives didn’t try hard enough to please them.
opiejeanne
@Mnemosyne: You could always stay at the Sir Francis Drake. Be sure to eat at John’s Grill if you get a chance.
Mnemosyne
@opiejeanne:
I think that was one of the options on Hotels.com that was pretty reasonable.
I’ll admit, I think I’m liking the idea of a gamble with Hotwire or TravelPony, just to see what I would get. They do guarantee you a certain level of hotel, so I shouldn’t get anything worse than a Marriott Courtyard.
Betty Cracker
@enplaned: There are two problems with the approach you recommend: it is immoral, and it is ineffective. It’s immoral because you’re advocating the destruction of people’s lives and careers for the sake of political expediency. It’s ineffective because at least 40% of the electorate and perhaps a greater share of the media are eager to uncritically swallow bullshit scandals, even if you’re willing to ruthlessly hang innocent bystanders out to dry.
You believe that Obama is “crisp” and untainted by scandal, and you’ll find plenty of agreement here, including from me. But don’t imagine our view is shared by Republicans, a significant portion of non-affiliated voters and a non-negligible percentage of the Beltway press.
In their world, both of Obama’s attorneys general were insanely corrupt, the administration has been beset by scandals (Fast & Furious, Solyndra, IRS, etc.), the president spends 100% of his time on a golf course apologizing for America and denigrating the police, Michelle Obama takes $1B vacations at taxpayer expense, etc.
It’s a fool’s errand to try to appease deluded and hateful wingnuts by throwing people overboard, and it’s just plain wrong as well.
Central Planning
@Schlemazel: To me, that’s a loss. I don’t want any extra candy around. It’s also the reason I give out candy I dislike. I really don’t want/need the extra calories.
Pogonip
@Seanly: This has been so for a long time, 50 years ago my mom unthinkingly left a box of Valentine candy on the coffee table and after we went to bed our poodle ate it. Box and all. The dog threw up all over the house all night but she was fine in the morning. I don’t remember the brand but it would have been one of the common American brands, good chocolate wasn’t readily available in rural areas in the late ’60’s.
D58826
@enplaned: The only way that the Clinton’s can avoid these kind of risks would be if they moved to a deserted island (and from a GOP point of view one that was a former leper colony) in the South Pacific.
No one was holding a gun at Comey’s head to violate years of protocol about releasing information close to an election.
Barbara
Milk chocolate won’t really hurt a dog, especially if it weighs more than 15 pounds, but even small quantities of cocoa can make them vomit (trust me on this one — I have found out the hard way). I never watch cable news unless I am forced to do so in an airport, which, for me, makes flying even more unpleasant than it already is. As for not eating the Reese’s — give yourself a break. Just one, and the last one! Consider it a reward for giving the rest of it away. I don’t normally buy Reese’s, but I have the ingredients for an impromptu Reese’s: semisweet chocolate chips and peanut butter. You take a big tablespoonful of peanut butter and push a bunch of chips into it (on a little plate). It’s way better than Reese’s.
laura
@Mnemosyne: check out the LA Luna on Lombard in the Marina or, the Hilton in the Embarcadero, or out at Ocean Beach at the end of the Muni line the Ocean Beach Motel. There’s a ton of small hotels in the shopping and theatre district.
Ruckus
@Mnemosyne:
Sounds like others here are well informed, better than me. The Drake is one I was thinking of although I’ve never stayed there. I know little about Bart as whenever I went into the city I had to take my van as I was going in for work and Bart didn’t run into Marin.
Denali
@Major, Major, Major,
A gentle dissent. You don’t say what triggered this rift with your friend. But I know from experience how devastating it is to be cut off from a loved one. No one says or does the right thing all the time, and none of us is perfect. I am not trying to excuse bad behavior or language. I am saying that longtime friends are treasures who have shared their love over many years, and ending that relationship overnight hurts both of you. I am hopeful that you will find words to heal these wounds.
Barbara
@Ruckus: When I stay in San Francisco it’s usually for work so I don’t have anything useful to contribute on the financial front. I have stayed at the Meridien, the Mandarin, the Omni, the Hilton and the Westin-St. Francis. All I can say is, if you get anything approaching a reasonable deal at the Mandarin, you should consider taking it. It’s definitely the nicest hotel I stayed at in SF, and the views are glorious and unbeatable. I would like to stay in a neighborhood other than the Financial District once in a while but there is a definite advantage to being in a neighborhood well-served by transit.
Mel
@Major Major Major Major: So truly sorry that you are going through this.
Sometimes you have to walk away, for the sake of your own health, safety and sanity. Even though the sadness and sense of emptiness right now are very painful and unsettling, your job is to keep yourself safe and sound, both for you and for the friends and loved ones who treasure you. And that is what you are doing.
Be kind to yourself as you walk through this change. Wishing you peace and calm today.