Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

White supremacy is terrorism.

Our messy unity will be our strength.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

“But what about the lurkers?”

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

The real work of an opposition party is to oppose.

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

The Supreme Court cannot be allowed to become the ultimate, unaccountable arbiter of everything.

Too often we confuse noise with substance. too often we confuse setbacks with defeat.

Give the craziest people you know everything they want and hope they don’t ask for more? Great plan.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

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

They are not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

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

They punch you in the face and then start crying because their fist hurts.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

DeSantis transforming Florida into 1930s Germany with gators and theme parks.

Not rolling over. fuck you, make me.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

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

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Here’s Your President-Elect, Trumpkins

Here’s Your President-Elect, Trumpkins

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A small, delusional narcissist who can’t focus on the fact that he won the big prize but has to quibble over the implicit slights in his historic popular vote loss:

img_1010

Never mind that alleging massive voter fraud hardly serves his cause — people are saying he was beaten by a girl! Outrage!

This is your president-elect, Trumpkins. You were taken in by a not-too-bright conman. That makes you an especially idiotic mark.

Had you only squandered your life sayings on a hard-sell shakedown disguised as a real estate course, it wouldn’t be any of my business, except perhaps as a concerned citizen who wants to shut down similar scams.

But with your vote, you made me and mine collateral damage to the con you signed up for, and second-class citizens into the bargain.

Wanted to “send a message,” did you? Well, message received, motherfucker: You don’t give a shit about this country that you’ve entrusted to a lunatic. Never dare to question my patriotism again.

So, he’s all yours, Trumpkins. Defend his petty vendettas at the cost of your soul. Or sack up and join the resistance.

Reader Interactions

330Comments

  3. 3.

    SenyorDave

    This isn’t real, is it? I mean he really did not tweet that millions of people voted illegally, right? Because if he believes that, than an investigation into this massive voter fraud should be the highest priority for the DOJ when he takes office.

  4. 4.

    Kay

    That’s the face of the GOP from here on out. Hope it works out for them. I’m betting “not”, but he could miraculously turn into a decent person at 70 years old, I guess! :)

    He literally gets less Presidential the longer he’s President-elect. He’s going backward.

  7. 7.

    JMG

    An illegal vote means a vote that wasn’t cast by a white person. That will be a top legislative and executive branch priority. When you say resistance, Ms. Cracker, you may be closer to the truth than you think.

  8. 8.

    Davis X. Machina

    Interesting experiment. Can you gaslight an entire country? With our present media ecosystem, I’m not prepared to say ‘no’.

  9. 9.

    Kay

    @SenyorDave:

    America elected a whiny toddler to run a huge country. What’s worse we have an entire industry devoted to telling the public things will be fine despite all evidence to the contrary.

    Cause and effect has been suspended, due to American Exceptionalism. The trick in the Age of Trump will be to stay sane. Many will fail at that.

  10. 10.

    Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA

    It’s not a bug for his followers — it’s a feature. He’s the same confused, bigoted, petty perpetual victim that they are, but they can’t yell at anyone. He does it for them. He doesn’t have to make sense.

  12. 12.

    SiubhanDuinne

    “Millions of people who voted illegally”???

    What the everloving blue-eyed FUCK is he talking about?

    ETA: And what SenyorDave@3 wrote: “an investigation into this massive voter fraud should be the highest priority for the DOJ when he takes office.”

  13. 13.

    debbie

    Betty, have you checked out who his 40 followers are? Almost half have Trump somwhere in their name (people and businesses), then there’s Drudge, Coulter, Hannity, etc. Syncophants all. I’d almost bet he self-abuses while reading his feed.

  22. 22.

    Roger Moore

    @SenyorDave:
    I think you’re still stuck on the idea that Trump actually thinks before saying stuff. He doesn’t; he just says whatever he thinks sounds good at the moment without considering how it might fit into the bigger picture. He’s making up a stupid reason why he really won the popular vote because he’s mad the legitimacy of his election is being thrown into doubt without bothering to think about how he would have to respond to that as president. His tendency to do that kind of thing should have been enough to disqualify him even without all his other flaws, but nobody should be surprised by it anymore.

  28. 28.

    SFAW

    @amygdala:

    I was about to ask the same thing. Did he break 300 EV? (I really have no idea, I pretty much stopped reading/watching news related to politics after 11/9. Of course, I always have time to catch up on the ne plus ultra of candidates, Dr. Jill Stein. She got something like 29 EV, right?)

  30. 30.

    SFAW

    @Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA:

    How long before he offers Alex Jones a cabinet post?

    Well, first he has to create the Cabinet position itself, i.e., Secretary of Paranoid Conspiracy Theories.

    Or maybe Jones can be “The Other Chief Strategist” to go with Bannon’s title. The only question is: which one would be Doug, and which one would be Dinsdale? Of course, those two are more like Reg and Ronnie than like Doug and Dinsdale.

  31. 31.

    Mnemosyne

    @JMG:

    An illegal vote means a vote that wasn’t cast by a white person. That will be a top legislative and executive branch priority.

    Yep. The states of Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio were “fixed” (pun intended) by making sure that minority voters were shut out. Now they’re going to take that effort nationwide.

  35. 35.

    JPL

    This is the lead on the Washington Post
    Donald Trump’s new explanation for losing the popular vote? A Twitter-born conspiracy theory.
    This is from the article

    That’s the broader point that’s worth raising. The president-elect of the United States is willing to embrace unproven and highly questionable data to raise questions about the electoral process even after he won simply to soften the blow of losing the popular vote. Trump has repeatedly suggested, including in his Thanksgiving message, that the country must unite behind his presidency. Casting the votes of millions of Americans as somehow suspect seems like an odd way to achieve that goal.

  38. 38.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Major Major Major Major:

    You know, I still haven’t had anybody explain to me WTF a czar is.

    It’s a person tasked with doing a big project with lots of authority granted by the President, it dates back to Nixon.

  39. 39.

    Major Major Major Major

    So if 6+ electors are unfaithful, the vote taking that into account becomes the “recorded” vote, the topline number, with an asterisk, right? That’s how they do it with Wikipedia.

    I want his presidency to be considered so illegitimate that even in the history books his election will have qualifications and asterisks on the fucking tables.

    ETA: @BillinGlendaleCA: so it’s just like hiring a consultant/subject matter expert to run a project that somebody would be running anyway? What’s the big deal? The senate wants to cram their ego into more places?

  40. 40.

    Kay

    @Mnemosyne: \

    The NYTimes will report that Trump has graciously agreed not to prosecute the people who voted for the other candidate.

    They just keep lowering the ‘ol bar and Trump keeps tripping over it. It’s a groove in the floor at this point.

  41. 41.

    Kay

    Is this like a threat to the Americans who didn’t vote for Donald Trump? Next he “prosecutes”?

    I wonder when those “institutions” we’re all relying upon will step up. Could be waiting a long time!

  44. 44.

    gbbalto

    Trumpkin the dwarf was a great and honourable upholder of Narnia. May I suggest the term Trumpnik instead?

  45. 45.

    divF

    @BillinGlendaleCA:
    @Major Major Major Major:
    Here’s a good discussion. I remember Bill Simon as energy czar during the first oil embargo under Nixon. Doonesbury wonderfully skewered both him and the concept.

    ETA: to answer M^4’s second question above, the reason for a Czar is to have someone who has the political juice to resolve cross-agency jurisdictional disputes.

  46. 46.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Major Major Major Major: You know, I still haven’t had anybody explain to me WTF a czar is.

    I was shocked, when I looked it up, I mean googled it, to learn… /gasp… eyes widen/… it means… KING!

    (all the clips are much too long, but this one you can skip to 1:40 to see Gretchen Carlson, BA Stanford, assume her audience is illiterate ETA: I guess in fairness, Carlson might have had to explain it like that to the Two Dooceys.)

  48. 48.

    Kay

    @Baud:

    Important and 100% true:

    Matthew Yglesias ‏@mattyglesias 5m5 minutes ago Washington, DC
    A handful of Republican senators could drastically curtail Trump’s nonsense & corruption pretty easily but they choose not to.

    They’re failing every single day. NPR says oversight will begin when the “honeymoon” is over.

    Is that a date certain by media and could they let us know when? Or just more bullshit?

  53. 53.

    Kay

    I’m going to cry when Obama’s helicopter lifts off, not because I’m sentimental but because I don’t want the grownup to leave me alone with these people.

    Take us with you. Please, sir. We’re scared.

  54. 54.

    Baud

    @Kay: He’s done enough. We obviously haven’t learned to stand on our own, and now we’re going have to learn the hard way.

  57. 57.

    Mnemosyne

    @MobiusKlein:

    Imagine how excited the Russians are to see this further evidence that the new President of the United States is willing to believe any stupid thing he sees on Twitter. They’ll have a direct line to the Oval Office that’s even better than the one they get with Flynn, Bannon, and Giuliani.

  59. 59.

    Suzanne

    @Kay: Yeah. I know. Me too.
    I will miss him terribly, because he’s completely and utterly charming, and his family is, too. But I also have to have the sleaziest, grossest, trashiest people in my face every day for the next four years.

    Garrison Keillor’s suggestions were solid……grow heirloom tomatoes; read good books; go to museums and symphonies and other elitist, beautiful things; knit. I think this is what it’s going to take in order to not waste away in despair for the next four years.

    I have started by working on de-cluttering my home. Because I am no Marie Kondo, but I hate, hate, HATE clutter and crap out of order. We took a car load of kids’ clothes to Goodwill, and got a nice IKEA bookshelf for Spawn the Younger. Yay clean.

  61. 61.

    Baud

    @Mnemosyne:

    I seem to recall that the Secret Service severely restricted Obama’s communications devices. Could be the first major fight in the new administration.

  62. 62.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Judd Legum read Trump’s book-like product so we don’t have to

    Judd LegumVerified account
    ‏@ JuddLegum
    1. Trump lays out how he manipulates the media in Art of The Deal (1987)

    he really does do quite a job of describing our modern political media (I originally typed “press”, but in fairness the TV networks, cable and traditional, seem to go much harder for him), all the more astounding that he wrote it thirty years ago, and was probably talking about people magazine and New York tabloids.

  63. 63.

    Mnemosyne

    @Kay:

    Obama probably feels the same way I do whenever I think about my two nieces who are stuck living with their crazy narcissist mom: I have to do what’s legal, but it’s painful to know that they’re being damaged every day and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.

  65. 65.

    Mnemosyne

    @Suzanne:

    I am a super slob and terrible pack rat, but Kondo’s method of folding t-shirts and stacking them sideways is fucking genius. Her book is worth it just for that alone.

  66. 66.

    Hungry Joe

    Millions of illegal voters? I’d like a reporter to ask him this question at a press conference:

    “Can you name one? Or point to a single instance?”

    The problem with that is twofold: 1) The word “reporter” — and I used to be one — no longer has any meaning; and 2) Trump may not hold any press conferences. Ever. There’s no law that says he has to, just as there’s no law that says he has to release his tax returns.

    He makes the rules, he runs the game. The whole Trump phenomenon reminds me of a brief experience in college. A friend and I went to the gym for some pickup basketball. We joined in a half-court game dominated by a strong, husky guy who hung around under the basket for rebounds, and shouldered, shoved, or elbowed everybody else out of the way. He wouldn’t listen when somebody tried to call a foul. “This isn’t basketball,” he said, “this is gym ball.” Since he was the one who’d checked out the ball and reserved the space, there was nothing we could do but play under his non-rules — and I was thin and non-rugged, couldn’t go one-on-one with him for rebounds — or walk away. Eventually, after a few too many elbows to the neck, I walked away.

    Trump is playing gym ball while everyone else continues to try, as they always have, to play basketball. And now it’s his ball and his court.

  67. 67.

    D58826

    @MobiusKlein: What exactly is the point of his law suit? The popular vote doers not matter other than for bragging rights. Trump has necessary 270 in the EC. On the other hand in the be careful what you wish for, what if he does sue and it was the illegal votes that turned Pa/Mi/WI red !!!!!!!

  68. 68.

    ruemara

    @gbbalto: Just call him Donald Trump. You can’t be more scummy, traitorous and disgusting than that. Leave the good dwarf Trumpkin out of this.

  74. 74.

    Kurt Montandon

    This should be grounds for day one, withing hours of the Inauguration, issuance of Articles of Impeachment.

    We have the President-elect of the United States – not Zimbabwe, nor Burkina Faso, not Venezuela, the United States of America – claiming that the election he won involved millions of illegal votes. Fuck him, and kick his ass out on day one.

  76. 76.

    D58826

    @divF: And funny how the GOP didnot have a problem with the term. They didn’t seem to mind when Bill; Bennett was the anti-drug czar.

    IN the mean time the normalization of Trump continues with Chuck Todd wondering who put Jill Stein up to filing the petitions for a recount. Probably those devious Clinton’s again. I think Bill wants Vince Foster to lead the legal team. His ‘death’ was really only a way to hide him from political scrutiny until they needed his legal leadership.

  78. 78.

    InternetDragons

    I don’t trust mainstream newspapers these days, but I have to admit that this article about how Obama isn’t likely to fade quietly into the sunset once he leaves office gave me a little flicker of happiness:

    http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/20/us/politics/obama-may-jump-into-fray-as-democrats-counter-trump.html

    Also, too…here’s a little tidbit on the guy who gave Trump the supposed info about 3 million illegal voters. LOL

    “Phillips would not provide any additional information when asked by PolitiFact. He said he has chosen not to release more information because he is still working on analyzing the data and verifying its accuracy. Phillips would also not say what the data is or where it came from, or what methodology he used.

    Phillips said he would release the information publicly once he is finally finished.

    According to his page on LinkedIn, Phillips is a former finance director of the Alabama Republican Party. He also served as executive director of the Mississippi Republican Party and was managing director of a super PAC that supported Newt Gingrich’s 2012 campaign for president.”

  79. 79.

    Betty Cracker

    @Mnemosyne: The other day on Twitter, I said Obama is treating Trump the way a loving dad would treat his grown daughter’s moronic boyfriend. As the parent of a grown woman myself, I think the analogy holds (even though I haven’t been tested that way, thank dog!).

    They’ve made their decision, so you don’t want to oppose too strongly and drive them further into the psycho’s web. And yet you’re appalled and want to help them avoid danger. Basically, you’re waiting for the psycho to reveal himself. Only a bad boyfriend can be dumped. A bad president, not so easily…

  82. 82.

    D58826

    @BillinGlendaleCA: Why? he just puts one of his toadies in charge of the NSA and everything will be cool. Just waiting for them to change the nuclear launch instructions from English to Russian.

  84. 84.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Betty Cracker: I had to do that, on a lesser scale, with the kid’s bf at Thanksgiving. He seems to be of the mind that once he gets his food, it’s time to eat. I told him it would be nice if he waited until everyone else had returned with theirs. Next time I’ll inquire if he was raised in a barn.

  88. 88.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @D58826: I know that I’ve given Adam a hard time about this*, but there are laws that restrict what he can and cannot do.

    ETA: *Adam says that there are laws and I point out that Nixon said “It’s not illegal when the President does it”.

  89. 89.

    Tyler Forrest

    Imagine if democrats had spent the last two weeks calling him a fluke president instead of dithering about how we lost about how we lost an election that we actually won.

    He is one of those rich assholes who thinks it’s never luck, it’s always his innate superiority. Call those people lucky and they loose there minds.

  93. 93.

    TriassicSands

    From the NY Times:

    Dalia Carmeli, who drives a trolley in downtown Miami, voted for Donald J. Trump on Election Day. A week later, she stopped in to see the enrollment counselor who will help her sign up for another year of health insurance under the Affordable Care Act.

    “I hope it still stays the same,” said Ms. Carmeli, 64, who has Crohn’s disease and relies on her insurance to cover frequent doctor’s appointments and an array of medications.

    This is what brought us Donald Trump — president elect. It wasn’t white men or white women; it wasn’t angry people down and out; and it wasn’t racists and xenophobes. It was stupid, uninformed people.

    The great thing about stupidity and ignorance is they can explain just about everything about the Republican Party and the majority of American voters (some of whom voted for Hillary Clinton).

    You have to be stupid and/or ignorant to be a racist or xenophobe. You have to be stupid and/or ignorant to believe that NAFTA is behind all (or most) of our manufacturing job losses. You really have to be stupid and ignorant to believe anything that Trump says. You could continue this list for hours.

    Ms. Carmeli is an idiot. She has an incurable disease that may require injections or infusions that cost an uninsured patient tens of thousands of dollars a year. Crohn’s disease also often necessitates surgery to remove diseased sections of the intestines. Yet, Carmeli voted for a man and a party that have made repeal of the ACA a central part of not just their platform, but in the case of the GOP a key part of their raison d’etre (i.e., privatizing health care and making sure that millions of Americans go without). She “hopes” they won’t change the law. Jeebus! If they don’t change it, she will owe a great debt to the Democratic Party which will, we hope, defend the ACA with its last dying breath if necessary.

    Ms. Carmeli is exhibit A in why the Democrats have such a difficult road ahead. She is not susceptible to true information. She will vote without understanding who or what she is voting for. And she will, despite all evidence to the contrary, hope that the people she voted for will keep her in mind when they are dismantling our health care system. There is nothing unusual about Ms. Carmeli. I talk to people like her all the time. Some of them are Democrats, but the overwhelming majority are either Republicans, Libertarians, or something even worse.

  98. 98.

    Ohio Mom

    @BillinGlendaleCA: He’s a kid, he might not know better. Really. You don’t know what his parents did or didn’t teach him. There were a lot of gaps in my upbringing and I am grateful to this day for the adults who stepped in and filled those gaps in.

    Bit you did okay the way you handled it.

  102. 102.

    Patricia Kayden

    @TriassicSands: Hate to sound like an awful person but Ms. Carmeli is going to get exactly what she deserves under Trump. Ignorance doesn’t excuse voting for a dangerous buffoon nor will it save her from the consequences of a Trump presidency.

  105. 105.

    Mnemosyne

    @BillinGlendaleCA:

    As Ohio Mom said, he really might not know better. The next time he does it, you might be better off saying, “In this house, we wait until everyone has been served before we eat.” (Or, even better, have your kid relay the information ahead of time.)

    “Were you raised in a barn?” is what you say on the third occasion, which is when the message should have sunk in for any reasonable person.

  111. 111.

    ThresherK

    @ruemara: “Well now: The result of last week’s competition when we asked you to find a derogatory term for the Belgians…A Mr St John of Huntingdon said he couldn’t think of anything more derogatory than Belgians.”

  112. 112.

    Mk3873

    You still don’t seem to get it. Talk like that Tweet you reference here is exactly WHY Trumpkins voted for him.

    They LOVE this sort of in-the-face Liberal smackdown talk.

    The more the MSM and Libs get mad, the happier Trumpkins will be.

  114. 114.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    I was shocked, when I looked it up, I mean googled it, to learn… /gasp… eyes widen/… it means… KING!

    I remember how excited I was — at age, oh, I dunno, around 10 or 11 — to figure out that Czar (Tsar), Caesar, and Kaiser were etymologically related.

  115. 115.

    schrodinger's cat

    @TriassicSands: Its not just the people who voted for the Republican candidate who suffer from this malady but also Jill Stein voters. US position after WWII has cushioned the population against their own stupid for a long time. That time is running up.

  118. 118.

    Mnemosyne

    @BillinGlendaleCA:

    You usually have to say something twice before it clicks for most people that you’re actually serious about it. I usually try and say it very clearly because I don’t do interpersonal nuance very well, what with the ADHD and all, so I prefer to have people say what they want from me clearly but kindly.

    And weird as it seems, I have run into families where the kids and adults eat separately — they feed the kids first and then the parents/adults eat — and it even sometimes extends into adulthood for the kids.

  121. 121.

    Ohio Mom

    @Major Major Major Major: Well, how old are we talking about? A twenty year old is still wet behind the ears.

    Also, it seems to me that bad table manners are on the trivial side. I remember when my niece, back when she was in her mid-twenties, bought a boyfriend to Thanksgiving who had table manners but kept putting my neice down in subtle ways. He was the type of moronic boyfriend we bit our tongues about, and then fortunately, one day he was history. But I know how my sister and BIL agonized.

  122. 122.

    Bumper

    So, on a weirder note in this open thread, oldest child is doing college applications and some of the questions are just bizarre. He’s had to list his favorite app, favorite website, describe himself with a hashtag, favorite word, theme song, best movie of all time, favorite snack. And there’s more! And these are very respected schools.

  123. 123.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Mnemosyne:

    And weird as it seems, I have run into families where the kids and adults eat separately

    This happens in Korea(actually males and the olds eat first), the boy’s not Korean(he’s half white/Mexican).

  124. 124.

    schrodinger's cat

    @Suzanne: Since you are the design guru, I have a question to ask. Is there a software you prefer for designing a kitchen? I know that IKEA, Home Depot etc have their own proprietary apps, programs etc.

    Immediate question, where to place the island that the sellers left.

  126. 126.

    Ruckus

    @Kay:

    It’s a groove in the floor at this point.

    I think that as unbelievable as it may seem, because it can get far deeper, it’s more like the Grand Canyon.
    Who knew that when he discussed infrastructure he was talking about digging trenches to hide his stupidity in?

  129. 129.

    TS

    @Baud:

    I seem to recall that the Secret Service severely restricted Obama’s communications devices. Could be the first major fight in the new administration.

    Obama understood the position of President – Trump does not. He’ll borrow a phone from one of the children if anyone disappears his major comm device.

  131. 131.

    InternetDragons

    I’m sorry to post again so soon. It feels spammy. But jezuzgod this is upsetting.

    I did a little poking around, and the people supplying the “data” to Trump about the supposed 3 million illegal voters aren’t just random wingnuts. The non-facts are being pimped via Alex Jones, who among other things hosts a Sandy Hook “truther” website.

    I feel sick just writing that.

    And @Steeplejack – thanks for catching the error on the link I posted earlier. I am trying to be active in joining discussions here after years of mostly lurking, and am still stumbling around some of the mechanics.

  132. 132.

    Mnemosyne

    @BillinGlendaleCA:

    It’s possible that he’s from one of those families where the mom/women do all the serving while the men eat, and then the women eat later. My mom was raised that way and we still haven’t quite gotten her comfortable sitting down with the rest of us at meals. So hopefully it’s just a matter of explaining that you don’t do meals that way at your house, and he adapts to that. If he can’t adapt, then you’ve got a bigger problem on your hands.

  133. 133.

    TriassicSands

    @Patricia Kayden:

    Actually, and let no one think that life is fair, Ms. Carmeli may luck out. She may be eligible for Medicare before any ACA changes can be made or put into effect (they aren’t likely to take effect instantaneously, after all). Then, if the GOP remains true to their despicable plan to leave current recipients of Medicare alone and voucherize it for those who are not yet eligible, then Ms. Carmeli may get away with her idiocy. Of course, she may pay in other ways, since health care isn’t all that Trump and the GOP have in their sights. However, one of the things about being stupid and ignorant is you are protected from realizing you’ve made a mistake, no matter how egregious. Most likely, if Ms. Carmeli somehow loses her health care, she probably won’t blame in on Trump. Instead, she’ll listen to his latest pack of lies and vote to re-elect him in 2020, so he can fix what she needs fixed. She hopes.

  134. 134.

    D58826

    It doesn’t really matter if der Fuhrer is doing this as a way to distract from the conflict of interest stories or he is just throwing a temper tantrum, it will destroy (if it hasn’t already) any credibility in the world that the US is lead by a serious leader. Like the phrase ‘world policeman’ or not but it has been the stability of the US that has held the world together since 1945. We have done a lot of stupid things but we have prevented a recurrence of some madman in an out of the way corner of the world from starting a world war like 1914. Now the madman will live in the WH

  137. 137.

    D58826

    OH FSM, ABC is running a story about what der Fuhrer can learn from Obama’s rough ride on health care. Maybe it will be a blessing if der Fuhrer does shut down the media. they are a total waste at this point anyway.

  139. 139.

    Mnemosyne

    @Ohio Mom:

    I’m pretty sure that it’s the dad’s job to automatically dislike any boyfriend the daughter brings home, and the boyfriend’s job to win dad over. That’s how it worked with my parents, anyway. ?

  141. 141.

    TriassicSands

    @schrodinger’s cat:

    I’m sad to say that this is not limited to any one party, although it is overwhelmingly true of Republicans. I’ve met plenty of Democrats who are horribly misinformed about important issues. In many cases, they vote for Democrats because that’s how they were raised. It’s not an informed choice, but a default condition.

    Back in 2010, I spoke with many Democrats who opposed the PPACA, mostly because they hated the idea of a “mandate.” Some policy issues are complicated and difficult to understand. But the need for a mandate is not one of them. Even when I carefully explained why the mandate was necessary under Obamacare, I could tell they weren’t really convinced. Their ignorance made them oppose the mandate; their stupidity made it impossible for them to understand why it was necessary — not helpful or advantageous, but absolutely necessary.

    This isn’t a problem of one or some, but not other generations. It is a problem that is endemic in the United States. (There’s reason to believe the Brits have their share as well. See Brexit.)

  142. 142.

    Mnemosyne

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    From hints that Betty has dropped (so as not to impinge on her daughter’s privacy), let’s expand that out to say that hopefully she has raised her daughter to steer clear of moronic significant others.

  144. 144.

    Kay

    Greg Sargent ‏@ThePlumLineGS 4h4 hours ago
    Journalists:
    1) All criticism of our performance during elex is partisan whining.
    2) Whoa, look at all these conflicts the new prez has!

    They did the conflict investigation only after he was elected.

    That’s the equivalent of malpractice in journalism, right? Timely delivery of crucial information?

  146. 146.

    debbie

    @Kay:

    I just saw on my FB feed that he’s furious at the editorial cartoons making fun of him. I say Aneurism by February 1, 2017.

  147. 147.

    Baud

    @Kay:

    That’s the equivalent of malpractice in journalism, right?

    Nope. They defeated the bitch. That’s what they wanted. Mission accomplished.

  148. 148.

    Mnemosyne

    @schrodinger’s cat:

    My mom is actually my stepmom of almost 40 years and she was (sometimes literally) raised in a trailer park, so I’m not sure if it’s a class thing or a crappy family thing for her.

    She also had a major reflex to wait on my dad hand and foot, but they managed to work it out between themselves so that he always asked politely and thanked her for everything she did so neither one of them felt like she was some kind of servant.

  150. 150.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Kay:

    I’m going to cry when Obama’s helicopter lifts off

    Me too.

    Remember in 2009, when Cheney faked some kind of back injury (from “packing moving boxes,” yeah right) so he had an excuse for not standing for Obama?

    I wouldn’t blame POTUS, FLOTUS, VPOTUS, SLOTUS, and the First Daughters for all experiencing lower back pain on January 20, 2017. But they are all better people than I am, and will do the transfer with aplomb.

  155. 155.

    Kay

    @debbie:

    I take his hissy fits seriously after January. Because he’ll be wildly powerful.

    It’s all fun and games and good tv until douchebag gets mad at someone and uses the full power of the office to punish that person or persons. “Petty, vindictive and wildly powerful” is not a good combo.

  156. 156.

    Mnemosyne

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    I’m already wondering what Mrs. Obama is going to wear that will make Melania look like the nouveau riche gold digger she is. Michelle won’t do it on purpose, but that’s how it’s going to work out.

    ETA: I’m hoping there will be some sartorial side-eye that Black Twitter will clue me in on.

  157. 157.

    mostlygrey

    I’m certainly glad president-elect has time to follow a bunch of conspiracy theory crap and send out tweets instead of maybe taking security briefings. I gain confidence in his awesomeness by the hour. Was asking Fabio about SoS a trick question because Fabio will be SoS? Enquiring minds want to know.

  158. 158.

    Shalimar

    @Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA: Alex Jones will be the brand new Secretary of Preparedness, once they create the department. He will also run his massive company selling conspiracy theories and prepping supplies, because it would be a sin in Trumpworld not to make a profit off of your government position. It will be a booming business too, because everyone is afraid of nuclear winter now.

  163. 163.

    Kay

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    The best part of that NYTimes interview with Trump was where Trump was name-dropping Obama.

    So gross. How pathetic is he, that he has to bootstrap off the former Prez? “Obama likes me!” Yeah, sure he does.

    I heard a man and a woman arguing over how the man “couldn’t” vote for Clinton and she said “grow up”. That’s Obama’s attitude towards Trump.

  165. 165.

    debbie

    @Kay:

    I think that before that happens, he’ll be no more than a punchline in a Kim Jong-Un joke.

  168. 168.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Emerald:

    That is exactly what Al Giordano says to do first: clean house. Literally. You can’t function effectively amid clutter.

    You cannot possibly know how important those words are to me, right now. Thanks for the precise kick in the ass I have needed for longer than I like to admit.

  170. 170.

    OldDave

    @Brachiator: Wiki says 306 to 232. The closer elections in recent memory belong to Dubya (286-251 in 04, 271-266 in 00). Bill Clinton’s two wins were by margins of 379-159 (96) and 370-168 (92). I didn’t go further back than that.

  171. 171.

    danielx

    @Kay:

    “Petty, vindictive and wildly powerful” is not a good combo.

    No it is not, and the man has skin as thin as tissue paper. However, his followers understand the concept of rewarding your friends and punishing your enemies really well, and in his own mind those enemies multiply by the day.

  173. 173.

    Mnemosyne

    So, in somewhat happier tidings (I hope), I’m assuming that this new guy who’s all over Facebook with my brother-in-law is his new boyfriend since they’re doing things like going to the zoo and seeing the new Disney movie. G may be going out there to visit in January, and he will be instructed to bring back The Scoop for me.

  175. 175.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Starfish:

    A bunch of Trump voters believe that we are overrun with illegal aliens who are voting. They are bad with numbers.

    They are bad with reality. Which is (among many things) what’s quite frightening.

  176. 176.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Major Major Major Major:

    I admit he doesn’t look exactly pleased. OTOH, he knows precisely how to position himself for best lighting, given that he is a perfect complement to the furnishings (did you select him to match them, or vice versa?)

  179. 179.

    Davis X. Machina

    @D58826: Don’t worry. I have been reliably informed that the world just has to go better without the US as hegemon, or even better, no hegemon at all, what with the US being the focus of evil in the world since about 1945 or so. This is because foreigners don’t actually have agency, and the world is run out of the basements of various innocuous-looking professional buildings in Northern Virginia.

  180. 180.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Mnemosyne:

    You will note that I deleted my comment almost immediately, because I became aware that I might have inadvertently shared more information about Ms Cracker the Younger than was appropriate.

    But yeah, what you said.

  182. 182.

    raven

    So we went down the street to see our neighbors put up their tree. The have twin 3 year old and a 6 year old and, while I was wrestling with them, my frickin hearing aid bud came off in my ear. It doesn’t hurt so I guess I’ll wait until morning and go see if the VA audiologist can fish it out!

  183. 183.

    Steeplejack

    @InternetDragons:

    No problem. Your fix was fine. You just got nipped by what we call an “edge condition” (URL as very last thing in a comment). Alain has been made aware of this.

    And I’m not criticizing or nitpicking, just trying to channel my OCD copyediting gene for the good of humanity.

  186. 186.

    Morzer

    So, now we know that the Cuckwork Orange is mentally ill, mostly likely with a bonus of Alzheimer’s thrown in there. And of course he has that sick little Talibangelical kook Pence whispering in his ear. I hope we make it through the next four years, but I have a horrible feeling that we are heading for a massive breakdown of anything like American normality or decency. The GOP will do their damnedest to strip away civil liberties on a massive scale for anyone who doesn’t look white enough to be a “good” guy. I doubt that people will just sit down and shut up in the face of apartheid, but I fear the police will be willing agents of fascism as long as they get to keep their bennies.

  188. 188.

    Denali

    Somehow it feels as though we are in some sort of time warp where things that should have happened before the election -the NYT report on Trump’s significant business conflicts of interest and the proposed million women’s march – are happening after they might have made a difference and changed history. Instead the press put Trump on the front page for two years and thus legitimized him as a candidate,while at the same time droning on and on about Benghazi and emails. Trump owes the press this election.

  190. 190.

    Garbo

    George Takei has coined, or is propagating, the term minority-president-elect. I’m signal boosting it everywhere I can. Just the sort of thing to get under Cheeto Jesus’ thin skin and continue to make a fool of himself.

  191. 191.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Mnemosyne:

    ETA: I’m hoping there will be some sartorial side-eye that Black Twitter will clue me in on.

    You remind me, I need to start following “Awesomely Luvvie.”

  192. 192.

    Emerald

    @SiubhanDuinne:
    Ha! Me too! I went through decades of accumulated junk when my Dad passed away four years ago, but left a few “knots” of junk in out-of-the-way places. Gotta tackle those now, whether or not I can do anything in The Resistance. Time to streamline, whatever happens.

  195. 195.

    Baud

    @Garbo:

    If you want to get under Trump’s skin — and I know you do — constantly advise him to show humility. That’s a go-to term for conservatives who want to put Democrats down.

  196. 196.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Kay:

    I read the whole transcript. Nothing I saw reassured me in the slightest, either about the looming Trump administration or the reliability of our national media. His neediness is pathetic in an ordinary human, terrifying in a president-elect.

  197. 197.

    Mnemosyne

    @Morzer:

    As far as the police go, it’s going to depend on the state and possibly even the city. Despite their ongoing issues, the LAPD wouldn’t go along with that because it’s going to be opposed at the state, county, and city levels of elected officials. Localities without those existing levels of opposition are going to be much more likely to give in.

  201. 201.

    FlipYrWhig

    @Baud: Maybe his desire to keep using the devices he’s most familiar with will lead him to set up a private email server.

  202. 202.

    Tyler Forrest

    @Baud: I stated that a little crudely. Obviously we lost according to the rules, but dems received more votes, therefore our ideas won the popularity contest. Unfortunately for us that doesn’t mean anything. However, it is useful in beating back the idea that the democrats fucked up or that republican ideas are popular.

  203. 203.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Major Major Major Major:

    In my experience, cats are very good at finding a place that either (a) sets them off to high advantage to themselves (e.g., contrast, black cat upon white furnishings or v-v), or (b) renders them largely invisible (e.g., black cat in the dimmest recesses of an unlit closet). They’re clever that way.

  204. 204.

    mai naem mobile

    I am too tired to go through this thread but the theory on the twitter machine by several people including journos is that this mini twits storm is a distraction from the NYT story about Trumpys businesses and conflicts of interest around the world. Also too,the Kelly Ann Conway Romney story. I am just glad that some journos are catching on. I feEl like we’re entering an Orwellian political speech period.

  205. 205.

    germy

    Weird that People Magazine, of all outlets, actually described it this way on twitter:

    People Magazine ‏@people 2h2 hours ago

    President-elect Donald Trump falsely claims in bizarre tweets that “millions” voted illegally for Clinton:

    I mean… People Magazine?

  208. 208.

    Suzanne

    @Kristine: I clean as a way to exert control, too.

    I’m not as fastidious about dirt or dust, though I do like to take care of that. It is clutter that is my enemy. Part of the trouble is that my mother moved in with us a couple of years ago, and she is…..not a hoarder, but she is kind of hoarder-adjacent? Not sure how to phrase it. She loves to shop, and is a bit retail therapy person, and usually that manifests as cheap, junky toys for my kids. She also ended up with most of my grandparents’ belongings when they died, and now every one of those things they owned is fraught with significance. And she is just not a tidy, orderly person anyway. She’ll wash a load of laundry, dry it…..and then leave it on a chair, unfolded, where the cats lay all over it and it becomes dirty again. She will not tell my children to put their belongings away, so I get to be the bad guy. No amount of telling her to STOP BUYING THINGS and GET RID OF CRAP will get her to do it. And I will not do it for her, and I have fought with her too many times about it. So I get to be miserable, and throw things away when she isn’t looking. It sucks. It is seriously having deleterious effects on my mental health, but apparently it doesn’t matter, because even though it’s my house, my opinions don’t matter.

  214. 214.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @germy: I was just gonna post that with this commentary by Josh Marshall. I don’t know why he “hates to say it”, unless he’s mourning that it needs to be said.

    Josh Marshall ‏@ joshtpm 9m9 minutes ago
    Hate to say it. But nets and big papers could learn a lot about accurate headlining here.\

  216. 216.

    Feathers

    @Mnemosyne: @BillinGlendaleCA: Reminds me of one of my favorite SNL sketches Thanksgiving Dinner, it’s from the fifth season, dating myself here. The set reminds me so much of my great-aunt’s basement, where there was a kid’s table, mostly because we didn’t all fit in the dining room. There still is a “kid’s table” at my parent’s house, but it is an extension of the main table, extending into the living room. There are usually close to 25 for dinner. Didn’t go home this year, so missed the election drama. My brother is the family wing nut, but I usually let him be. If I find a point that I know I can get him to agree to, I push it hard, and he usually does come around. He was all Trump is a fucking idiot in the primaries, but by the time the election rolled around apparently the evils of Hillary overwhelmed all of that. Part of the reason I leave it alone is that there are deeply dysfunctional undercurrents in my family, which my parents refuse utterly to acknowledge “all problems are your problems,” and I think my brother’s politics in many ways serve to give him a cover for the emotional distance he keeps from my parents. I’m at the point where I wish I had found something similar when I was younger. Turning wingnut would not have suited me at all.

    But on a lighter, open thread note, in one of the cooking threads, I mentioned my new Instant Pot and there was some interest. Made risotto for the first time tonight, from the Hip Pressure Cooking recipe. Went very well, quite easy and quick and delicious. It was just me, so I halved their recipe. Made the Lemon Pepper version. Kept the cheese and butter from the base recipe, might not if I made it again.

  218. 218.

    Shalimar

    @germy: People magazine was the target of several of the bizarre Trump lying sprees during the campaign.

    The first was the “publicist John Miller” conversations Trump had with journalists in the early 90s, where he admitted on tape at the time that it had been him and then denied during the campaign that he did such a thing. A People reporter had tapes of the calls, including the admission.

    The second was Trump sexually harassing People reporter Natasha Stoynoff a decade ago, where again Trump denied it happened and People produced evidence to support their former reporter.

    People magazine are not Trump fans.

  221. 221.

    Steeplejack

    @schrodinger’s cat:

    A couple of recommendations from HGTV shows:

    Love It or List It uses FloorPlans Pro by Green Tea Software.

    Can’t remember the show, but one of them uses Room Planner by Chief Architect.

    I haven’t used either of these myself, but they looked good enough that I made notes on them.

  227. 227.

    Mark B

    Anyone who thought that Trump might become more moderate and presidential once he started the process of getting ready to govern just lost their bet.

  232. 232.

    ThresherK

    @Svensker: I actually can’t tell a Newfie accent. I have made at least 8 trips to see CFL games, one a Grey Cup, but I’m an American.

    All I know about Newfies are what SCTV had done on them, so I won’t risk international relations by taking it as gospel.

  234. 234.

    germy

    I’m waiting for a hard-hitting exposé from Highlights For Children.
    People can’t be the only magazine with balls.

  235. 235.

    Mike in NC

    Trump fans should be called Trumpenvolk.

    And him following Obama into the White House is about as appropriate as Al Capone following FDR. Shameful and disgusting.

  237. 237.

    Scratch

    And they haven’t managed to wrestle the phone away from him. Some 25 minutes ago, Trump doubled down with another tweet about vote fraud.

    Serious voter fraud in Virginia, New Hampshire and California – so why isn't the media reporting on this? Serious bias – big problem!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 28, 2016

  240. 240.

    Aleta

    @BillinGlendaleCA: After impeachment, a sudden reopening of investigation/inquisition, drawn-out. Eventually seems to end, then suddenly reopens, followed by drawn-out perjury investigation, repeat.

  242. 242.

    PhoenixRising

    @raven: My teen had that happen recently (falling off a horse going 32mph vs wrestling with preschoolers but you get the idea). Your audiologist CAN remove that, without surgery, unless you force it further into the ear canal in your sleep (ask me how I know).

    I suggest finding a pair of mittens before bedtime. Worked for me when I had to not rub my eye post-surgery. Asleep Mind asks, Hey, why is it so hard to try to get that thing out of my orifice…? while Awake Mind kicks into gear and says Stop that!

  246. 246.

    raven

    @PhoenixRising: It’s not really bothering me. I can feel it with my finger tip when I gently probe it. I assume since it’s not bothering me I won’t push it in further in my sleep. My one issue is whether to go to the VA where they gave them to me or to my GP?

    It’s is in the ear that I don’t sleep on. Maybe I shouldn’t sleep.

    ETA Some of the youtubes of removal have dude that have had them stuck for weeks!

  247. 247.

    TS

    @Mnemosyne:

    And weird as it seems, I have run into families where the kids and adults eat separately — they feed the kids first and then the parents/adults eat — and it even sometimes extends into adulthood for the kids.

    Very English way of eating – the children have “tea” the adults later have dinner. Works best if you have a nanny :) Also provides a time out from the children.

  248. 248.

    PhoenixRising

    To the point: Where do we need to Tweet/fax/email our demand that the press corpse wake up and report on a disaster while it is still preventable?

    It’s not impossible for reporters to track down the members of the Electoral College, read them these publications/utterances from the presumptive next POTUS, and ask them–now, not in a year–to reflect on what they think they are obligated to do Dec. 19th?

    Or GOP state party leaders in the states the Creamsicle of Rage ‘won’ barely. They’re the people who send the EC into the closed room to actually elect our President. Who is going to be brave and clever and ask them: Does this lunacy represent the views of South Carolina’s GOP on election fraud? On the meaning of the emoluments clause? On the rights of POTUS to direct the DOJ? And if not, how do you intend to be accountable for the choice you are making to put a maniac with ideas that are dangerous to future elections in the Oval?

  250. 250.

    Steeplejack

    I think I’ve created a monster. The housecat has been off her feed a bit lately, so the last time I bought wet cat food I threw in a jar of Gerber’s baby food (turkey with gravy). Gave her some of that earlier today and she was all “Me likey!” So she has been going and staring at her empty bowl every hour until I give her a little more. I just gave her the last of it, so I expect rioting later in the evening. I will get more tomorrow so I can add it to the rotating menu. Didn’t know it was going to be such a hit. She is old (16) and skinny, so I do what I can to indulge her.

  251. 251.

    SFBayAreaGal

    @Kay: Nixon had a blacklist of people that didn’t like him. He was not above using his powers to punish his opponents. He used the FBI to assist him.

  253. 253.

    PhoenixRising

    @raven: You want to see your audiologist. Not your GP–they’ll just send you to the audiologist. (Ask me how I know.)

  263. 263.

    Miss Bianca

    @ThresherK:

    All I know about Newfies are what SCTV had done on them, so I won’t risk international relations by taking it as gospel.

    All you REALLY need to know about Newfies is what you can learn from Codco.

  266. 266.

    Mary G

    I just tweeted at It using my real name, because this is appalling:

    Serious voter fraud in Virginia, New Hampshire and California – so why isn't the media reporting on this? Serious bias – big problem!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 28, 2016

  271. 271.

    raven

    @PhoenixRising: I didn’t want my bride messing with it but a friend came by and took a look with a light. She wanted to grab it but resisted, she said it’s easy to see and doesn’t think the audiologist will have any problem.

  273. 273.

    JMG

    Article 25, Section 4: The President-elect is insane. Preventing him from taking office is now the duty of any American who has the slightest belief in patriotism. Alas, that’s about 0.0001 percent of Republican elected officials. Three options. 1. Tyranny in which people like ourselves are in camps. 2. Nuclear war. 3, Military coup. That’s the good one.

  274. 274.

    Steeplejack

    @Mary G:

    I’ll put it on the list. I think her teeth are okay, because she eats a little dry food every day, but she much prefers wet food, and much prefers the “gravy lover’s” flavors. Sometimes it seems like she just licks the gravy and gets some solid bits only by chance.

    I could have sworn that I gave her Gerber’s before and she had a less enthusiastic response to it: “Yeah, it’s a different flavor, but whatevs.” Anyway, she’s eating it with gusto now, so I’ll ride this trend while it’s on.

  276. 276.

    Mnemosyne

    @Baud:

    It’s not perfect, but we have our moments. Right now, our moment is that our entire state government is united against Trump.

    But LAX is still one of the worst airports in the whole damn country.

  277. 277.

    Kathleen

    @Kay:
    NPR says oversight will begin when the “honeymoon” is over.

    Is that how NPR refers to sex slave trafficking these days?

  280. 280.

    ThresherK

    @Miss Bianca: Oh gawd, it took 90 seconds for me to love this. It’s so up my alley that Spousal ThresherK will absolutely hate you for introducing me to it*, as she considers my sense of humor “unique enough already”, what with my offhand references to Monday Night Curling.

    (*I will therefore not name names.)

  283. 283.

    Mnemosyne

    @Steeplejack:

    Double-check with your vet — they may want you to try and mix in some high-nutrition food, too, and also check her kidneys just in case. But when I’ve had sickly/too-thin cats in the past, they’ve recommended baby food.

  284. 284.

    dww44

    @SiubhanDuinne: I have an answer to that as a Trump voter wrote this insane LTE in my paper on Wednesday. in which he claimed that Clinton wasn’t qualified, that Trump was already Making America Great Again(by convincing Ford to keep that auto plant open), that Trump won both the electoral vote and popular vote, and that 3 million people voted illegally.

    I researched that 3 million illegal voters. Snopes had a response ( they said no data at all to support this theory in circulation since a week after the election) and had copies of Alex Jones and Allen West FB posted links to the claim of illegal voting at infowars.com and 100percentfedup.com.

    I didn’t even bother to visit those two web sites but I now know why Trump won. His voters consume all that false news and eat up the conspiracy theories. Their brains have been fried. I am not joking. Further, I’ll bet this is where Trump”s “millions of illegal voters” originates.

  286. 286.

    ThresherK

    Henry Burris is having himself a game, already at 312 efficient yds 3 mins into the third quarter.

  287. 287.

    TriassicSands

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Not really king, but emperor, which is above a king. In German, for example, king is Koenig, while emperor is Kaiser. In the US they adopted the Russian czar to denote a person with complete control over some aspect of government. Obviously, that doesn’t mean the same kind of unlimited power that a true Czar or Kaiser would have, but it is the person ultimately responsible for a specified governmental function. If the US had any intention of seriously confronting climate change, a president might appoint a Climate Czar to oversee all aspects of climate change policy.

  289. 289.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Baud:

    Oh, okay, if you insist. Shaggy Newfie story.

    Spoiler and trigger warning to all Canadians, politically incorrect, okay? D’accord??

    *****

    So a Newfie is ice fishing one day, singing to himself ? “I’se the bye who builds the boat, and I’se the bye who sails ‘er, I’se the bye who catches the fish and takes ’em home to Liza” ? when a spaceship lands close to him, an alien gets out, approaches and says, “Excuse me, sir, but I’m from Mars and I’m doing research on Earthling brains. Do you mind if I perform a little procedure on you?”

    “Okay,” says the Newf, so the Martian clamps a device on his head, dials up the controls, and SCHLURRP he extracts 1/4 of the Newfie’s brain. Looks like a normal brain.

    So a few minutes later, he returns to the Newfie who is still ice fishing and singing ? “I’se the bye who builds the boat, and I’se the bye who sails ‘er” ? and SCHLURRPs up another quarter of the Newfie’s brain and takes it back to the spaceship for analysis.

    Still no change in the data, so the Martian once again goes out to the middle of the icy expanse where the Newfie is ice fishing and singing ? “I’se the bye who builds the boat, and I’se the bye who sails her!” ? and says, “I’m sorry to bother you again, but I need another sample.” Newf says “Okay,” and the alien again attaches the brain-sucking device, SCHLURRPs up a third quarter of the Newfie’s brain and takes it back for analysis. Still no change. And the Newfie has only 1/4 of his original brain remaining.

    The Martian, very perplexed and befuddled by now, goes back out to the ice-fishing Newfie. “I’m ever so sorry, but I’m going to need to extract the remaining 1/4 of your brain.” The Newfie gives him a big grin and sings ? “I’se the bye who builds the boat…. ” ?

    SCHLURRP goes the Martian’s device, extracting the remaining 1/4 of the Newfie’s brain, and he takes the sample back to his spaceship. Eureka! There are data that show a distinct change in brain function! The Martian, being a thoughtful chap, thinks he must share the results with his Newfie subject, so once again he sets out over the ice to where the Newf is still ice fishing and singing to himself….

    ? “Alouette, gentille alouette….” ?

  291. 291.

    Miss Bianca

    @ThresherK: Wait till you get to Ron Slaney’s call-in show. “I want to remind all my callers to CHECK THEIR MEDICATION before they call.”
    You’re welcome. : )

  292. 292.

    Major Major Major Major

    @Baud: —–BEGIN PGP MESSAGE—–
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  294. 294.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Major Major Major Major: Actually, his then campaign manager, Lewandowski, manhandled a Breitbart reporter and then called her delusional when she had the nerve to announce the event. She quit – shockingly Breitbart was not very supportive – and ultimately Trump hired the CEO.

    Granted, he certainly may have groped one of their reporters as well.

  297. 297.

    MomSense

    I think I’d like to go back in time and redo the last couple years. My friend with breast cancer is getting ready for major surgery. My friend with congestive heart failure is weaning off her meds and planning for her exit. I spent the day with another friend of 25 years who is struggling with caring for her parents and tonight I’m just wiped out.

    The good news is that I came home and found that my youngest cleaned the house and made dinner. My older boys are checking in with me all the time which is sweet. The dog greeted me at the door with the sweetest body/tail wags and prancing paws.

    Planning to escape the world with some season 5 Dr. Who and a beer.

    Tomorrow is another day.

  302. 302.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Davis X. Machina: I have talked to leftists outside the US who were hoping for a Trump win precisely because it would mark the end of American global hegemony. Given US behavior over the decades, I can understand the desire; I know US leftists who at least contemplated supporting Ron Paul in 2012 for the same reason. The problem is, what they’ll get is not so much the end of hegemony and more like the hegemon transformed into an unpredictable rabid dog, while retaining all of its military power. We’ll see how they like it.

  304. 304.

    Mike in NC

    @dww44: The people in our neighborhood with the TRUMP yard signs had a median age of 75 and slavishly follow FOX News, NewsMax, and all of the other assorted RWNJ propaganda operations.

  306. 306.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @MomSense:

    Fuck you with a rusty backhoe, WordPress. This is the third time I’ve attempted to respond to you, MS, but my comments have disappeared into the æther.

    Trying to say, first, please be good to yourself, and second, young Austin Henry Jones, for whom you knitted (crocheted?) the beautiful blue sweater, was safely delivered by Caesarian section a couple of hours ago. Emily went into labor this time yesterday, so it was a long delivery. By all accounts, all involved are exhausted but doing well.

  308. 308.

    Another Scott

    @TriassicSands: Late to the party, but I think you are being too hard on Ms. Cameli and those like her. Normal people have a hard enough time simply surviving. We all depend on institutions to act fairly and not lie to us. Everyone has sources and people they trust for whatever reason. People naively believe that if stuff is on the radio or TV then it has been vetted and has some credibility. Few have the time or interest to weigh and investigate every sensational story – they go with their gut.

    The FCC is powerless to ensure that broadcasters and mass news providers tell the truth (even if they had the authority, and they don’t – for good reasons). Media companies seem to only care about clicks and profits.

    If we’re stuck in an environment where clicks and profits count more than the truth and what is right and honorable, then we must fight them by taking away their clicks and profits. It shrank Rush”s power, it can shrink the rest of them as well.

    We should go after their advertisers, and name names in their management that is enabling the dumbing down and destruction of the common good. Media companies love covering controversy, but they hate being in the news themselves.

    Us beating up on the powerless – punching down – isn’t going to help.

    My $0.02.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  309. 309.

    mainmata

    @Michael Bersin: If it comes to that, yes, Article 4 will be the one that implements a President Pence. That would be the one who received not one single vote for President either in a primary or general election and is widely disliked as governor in his home, very conservative state.

  311. 311.

    Ruckus

    OK I’ve got to vent a bit. Or a lot.
    I found out today that my roommate voted for the shit-gibbon. I can no longer, in good conscience continue to live here. I am on the lease and can not just leave, unless we both do or she finds a new roommate that can take over the lease. I have a decent paying job that I work part time, so semi-retired but while I can do it well and the boss is great, I feel like I need a change as it is the same type of work I’ve done since I was a young teen, with one decade long detour. How do I unstick myself from this mess? BTW I lost everything in the last recession and my retirement is totally dependent on SS aside from what I’ve been able to save over the last 4 yrs. And my health issues mean I can’t work forever or possibly more than 3-5 more.
    Any grand Ideas?

  312. 312.

    Another Scott

    @Ruckus: Sorry to hear that. :-(

    Don’t do anything rash. If you have to make changes, do your best to try to ensure that you’re in a better situation going forward. It sounds like it may be better to think on it some more – is the devil you know actually the better situation? Etc.

    I’m a rather conservative person when it comes to personal risk and change, so take this with that in mind.

    Good luck!!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  315. 315.

    Ruckus

    @Mnemosyne:

    But LAX is still one of the worst airports in the whole damn country.

    Not even close.
    And I should know, I used to be in the top 5% of Hertz renters, I traveled that much. I was on the road for a decade for over 6 months a year. I used to know the best food stands in most airports. I’ve slept on the floor of more than a few of them. BTW none of that is as much fun as it sounds like.

  316. 316.

    Steeplejack (tablet)

    @Steeplejack:

    Trouble in paradise. Ran out of baby food and put down Fancy Feast for the housecat. She is sitting at her bowl staring fixedly at me. “Not this. The other.” Will be sleeping with one eye open tonight.

  317. 317.

    Ruckus

    @Another Scott:
    My situation going forward? How do you plan for that? The only possibility right now looks like jumping in feet first and hoping that the alligators don’t eat too much all at once. Or maybe that they do.
    If I do figure out how to move then there is that I’m spending money that will come in handy for the next few years. If I don’t move then my sanity (already being held together by some thread I found on the floor) takes a shit. My friends, who I just visited in northern CA, want me to me close to them but I looked and see no way to afford it. They owned property and sold that to purchase their current home, I think for cash. Me, I’m worth just a little over $1.95 so I’ve got that going for me. BTW did I mention, I fucking hate republicans and every fucking thing they stand for.

  319. 319.

    Another Scott

    @Ruckus: Granted, it’s a tough situation. You’ve been through a lot and shouldn’t have to put up with being around people who drive you nuts if there are decent alternatives. I wish I could be more helpful. In any event, keep on keeping on and good luck.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  321. 321.

    Morzer

    @Ruckus:

    Can you find a friend/decent acquaintance who might go halves on a decent rental? See if your friends in northern CA might rent you a room, maybe?

  322. 322.

    Ruckus

    @Morzer:
    All of my friends are married or are less than half my age. My friends up north are my age and I love them but this is a small house and I don’t see how that might work. I’m not giving up on that mind you, have known one of them for decades, have stayed with them at times in the past, but I’m not sure that is workable, given the house they bought. (Which BTW is fine for them, it’s much nicer than the one they sold. Just would be crowded with 3 people) They live an hour north of SF and rents are as bad as where I am now.

  323. 323.

    TriassicSands

    @Another Scott:

    I respectfully disagree. But I’m not going to write a long explanation when this is a dying thread. Suffice it to say, excuses and rationalizations aside, citizens in a participatory democracy must take the time and expend the energy to be well-informed and to overcome naivete and gullibility if the system is to function and thrive. Our system is clearly not thriving. Sixty million plus voters who elected Donald Trump are why our system is not thriving. They elected a man who is unqualified and unfit to be president — and that information was widely available to virtually every American.

    Note: there are many people who voted for Clinton who are also poorly informed. The fact that they didn’t vote for a sociopathic buffoon is good; their failure to be better informed is not.

  325. 325.

    Mnemosyne

    @Ruckus:

    The one and only time I’ve seen someone wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat was at a grocery store in Burbank so, yeah, they exist.

    There was also a house with a giant “Trump/Pence” banner in my neighborhood, but it was taken down right after the election. I’m assuming they got tired of their house getting egged.

  326. 326.

    Ruckus

    @Mnemosyne:
    Both of the people that I know do not advertise that they voted for the idiot. But they have been vocal in settings where they are at ease, home and work. The work person I can just ignore or grunt at. The person at home I see and hear daily. And it’s my home. Work I’m only there 3 days a week and can quit in an instant pretty easy, not so much from the home. Home? Here every fucking day. I share space, commitment, and money.

  327. 327.

    frosty

    @Mnemosyne: Lucky ducky. All the Trump signs except one on my street are still up. And the missing one is because of a windstorm.

    I gotta get the F outa here.

  330. 330.

    Ruckus

    @Vor:
    They have to believe they are the overwhelming majority or admit they are fucking idiots. Those are the only two options in their tiny little minds. And of course they have to have a backup reason for being actual fucking idiots and being an oppressed minority fills that bill. And they should know, they’ve been oppressing a minority for what, 400 yrs?

    That’s what passes for rational logic in those tiny little minds.

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