Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

Today’s GOP: why go just far enough when too far is right there?

The line between political reporting and fan fiction continues to blur.

How can republicans represent us when they don’t trust women?

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

Second rate reporter says what?

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

Glad to see john eastman going through some things.

Meanwhile over at truth Social, the former president is busy confessing to crimes.

The new republican ‘Pastor’ of the House is an odious authoritarian little creep.

Consistently wrong since 2002

Michigan is a great lesson for Dems everywhere: when you have power…use it!

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

There is no compromise when it comes to body autonomy. You either have it or you don’t.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

No Justins, No Peace

I’d try pessimism, but it probably wouldn’t work.

Republican also-rans: four mules fighting over a turnip.

In short, I come down firmly on all sides of the issue.

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

Teach a man to fish, and he’ll sit in a boat all day drinking beer.

I’m pretty sure there’s only one Jack Smith.

You are here: Home / Music / Sunday Morning Open Thread: Merry Xmas

Reader Interactions

161Comments

  2. 2.

    SFBayAreaGal

    Had to post this again. It is a beautiful Christmas carol.

    O Holy Night – A Gift to us from a Christian, a Jew, and an abolitionist.

    Great background story to the song O Holy Night. Two versions of the song is also offered. One by Enrico Caruso and the other by Celtic Women. Listen to both versions. You won’t be disappointed.

    http://m.dailykos.com/stories/1607075

  4. 4.

    geg6

    Merry Christmas to you, AL! And to all of BJ! This place is the greatest gift I’ll get this awful, horrible year. Thanks to all of you for keeping me as sane as possible through 2016 and, hopefully, beyond.

  6. 6.

    Smiling Mortician

    Merry Xmas, everyone. Vacationing in Thailand with old friends, and Xmas day is almost over. Here’s hoping y’all enjoy the day as much as we have.

  8. 8.

    RealityBites

    Wanted to spend quiet time at home. But obligations of friendship call. Sigh. But maybe next year?
    Hope everyone else gets to enjoy their holiday exactly as they wish. Peace and good wishes for all.

  11. 11.

    Keith G

    Love the city center early on Christmas day. Few creatures are stirring except the raccoon family that congregates near my fence line.

  14. 14.

    satby

    Merry Christmas to you all! And big virtual hug to @OzarkHillbilly:!
    My day doesn’t really start until I have coffee ☕ with you all every morning. Thanks for being there, and to all the front pagers too.

  16. 16.

    randy khan

    Merry Christmas to the Christmas-celebrating BJers (and it’s not too late to wish a Happy Chanukah to the Chanukah-celebrating BJers, either)!

  18. 18.

    mai naem mobile

    Happy Holidays Bjrs! May we all survive 2017 in good cheer!

    *Happy Holidays cuz I’m a Latte Sipping Artisanal Kale eating Coastal Liberal. Also so I can piss off Bill Oreally.

  19. 19.

    Iowa Old Lady

    We’re going to see Rogue One this morning. Mr IOL is big on efficiency and has decided that the 9am show will be best. I will hold off on coffee until afterwards.

    Happy holidays to BJ.

  21. 21.

    zhena gogolia

    Happy Holidays, Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, happy atheist day, to all my dear friends here at BJ. We have a lot of fighting ahead, so stay strong, everybody!

  22. 22.

    Elizabelle

    So I have a sports channel on TV. Orchestral Christmas music; bearded guy in pajamas sitting before a roaring fireplace, eating cookies.

    It’s festive. Other channels have It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Story. But the music does just fine.

    @Iowa Old Lady: Good plan. Will dedicate my morning coffee to you. If you’ve not seen Dr. Strange, that is wonderful too.

  23. 23.

    Mustang Bobby

    Merry Christmas or whatever makes your day to all my early-morning thread friends, including but not limited to OzarkHillilly, raven, satby, rikyrah, Iowa Old Lady, BillinGlendaleCA, Baud, NotMax, AL, Betty Cracker, and if I left you out, you’re in there, too, for my best wishes and sincere thanks for making my day at the office start with thought-provoking insight and chuckles.

  24. 24.

    Nicole

    Six-year-old son begged for a replica of Ginny Weasley’s wand.

    Husband dutifully ordered from Amazon; had it sent to Grandma’s.

    We arrived at Grandma’s yesterday afternoon; husband discovered Amazon did not send the wand. Instead they sent an Oakland Raiders calendar.

    I feel like this is a metaphor for the whole year.

  25. 25.

    p.a.

    Merry xMas, Happy xHanuxxxx-whatever spelling you prefer! The Eve went well, as someone set some bottles of limoncello in front of the ladies, and the youngest kid is now 13, so the common thought was “screw it, he knows whats what, we’re drunk and want to dance…” Place your cellphone in a low, wide glass, and you have a nice hack for a speaker. Even Dominic the Christmas Donkey song can be fun. If you’re drunk.

  26. 26.

    magurakurin

    メリークリスマス Merry Christmas from Japan. We just finished our Christmas dinner. We got a whole roasted chicken from the local butcher and it was damn good. Roasted chicken legs are the traditional Christmas Eve or Christmas dinner here. Then we had our Christmas Cake, another tradition here. Christmas passes without much fanfare here. There are decorations in the stores and Santa brings gifts, but over all it is a very mellow event. I hope everybody has a good day today and a good 2017. I know that’s gonna be tough, but this place is the only thing that really kept me off the ledge. It is important to know that one isn’t alone. I worry about all of you back home, so take care.
    Cheers to all.

  27. 27.

    debbie

    It’s very gloomy outside, probably very prophetic. In less than an hour, I will be among the Trumpsters in my family. I hope they don’t bring up politics, but I’ve already planned my escape route. Merry Christmas, everyone.

  29. 29.

    greennotGreen

    Happy Holidays, fellow Juicers! And a special greeting to R-Jud’s lovely Rose. Shred it, girl!

    Hoping to spring my mother from the hospital today. She went in five days ago for tests, but this local hospital specializes in suckitude and didn’t start the tests till two days later, then failed to put her echocardiogram in the cardiologist’s queue until the family pressed for why the doctor wasn’t seeing her, so that was another two days. Finally, yesterday afternoon they started her on the various IVs she needed, but the unit of blood they couldn’t start till 10:30 p.m. because they didn’t have a nurse available to watch her till then. My sister and I share the blame because my niece could have driven our mother into town to a good hospital, but we thought the local one could handle a day of tests. Beware assuming competence in the face of contradicting history!

    Anyway, the parental unit is actually in pretty good shape for 93, and she’ll be home soon, and the feast with roast beast will be on the table with some family here and some on Facetime, and the pagans and the agnostics and the Christians will get along just fine. A Joyous Winter Solstice (late) to you all, and whatever holidays you celebrate, be well and of good cheer!

  31. 31.

    JMG

    I’m the only one awake. One of the markers of increasing age is when your children get to an age where they wish to sleep in on Christmas morning. I wouldn’t be awake myself but my hangover woke me up to give me a stern talking to. Lovely evening last night.

  32. 32.

    satby

    @debbie: We’re here for you debbie! Hang tough, they’ll find out soon enough how bad they fucked up and you’ll have the last, probably bitter, laugh.

  36. 36.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Elizabelle:

    Cooking with Dog. On how to make a Christmas cake. The dog is co-chef.

    I was a bit concerned(as were the dogs), I have two Koreans(madame and the kid) as guests for Christmas dinner.

  39. 39.

    OzarkHillbilly

    So I made the poteca on Friday. Complete fail. Absolute disaster. Never had one go so bad. Told my sons I was so embarrassed I could not possibly let them eat any of it or dare to allow even a small slice of it pass out the door. They said it was too much of a sacrifice for me to make by myself and to help lighten the burden they each sliced off a third and stole off into the dark of night with it.

    The bastards.

    For our annual Christmas hike (is there a better day to be out in the woods then when everybody else is with family at home fattening up on Turkey or eating at a Chinese restaurant or taking in the latest Star Wars movie?) I’m taking the wife to Taum Sauk Mountain and because it has been wet we will hike down to Mina Sauk Falls and then over to the Devil’s Toll Gate. Supposed to get up to 61 degrees but drizzly. If it is more than just drizzly we’ll probably head for Millstream Gardens which is a shorter hike and much less steep. Might even catch a few kayakers shooting the rapids.

    I’m pretty sure she has never been to either so they will be a nice little present for her.

  40. 40.

    Kay

    The NYTimes is incredibly bad on Donald Trump:

    Realizing that his presidency could face potentially crippling questions over conflicts of interest, Donald J. Trump and his family are rushing to resolve potential controversies — like shuttering foundations and terminating development deals — even as the president-elect publicly maintains that no legal conflicts exist.
    In recent days, the president-elect and his aides have said that he intends to distribute the assets of his personal charity and then close it down, has examined a plan to hire an outside monitor to oversee the Trump Organization and has terminated some international business projects.
    “This is a process that my father and my family are taking incredibly seriously,” said Eric Trump, who will help oversee the Trump Organization, and who announced last week that he was terminating fund-raising for his own charity, the Eric Trump Foundation.
    But in recent weeks, as public scrutiny of Mr. Trump’s global business operations has intensified, Mr. Trump, his family, their executives in New York and a team of outside lawyers have been working to eliminate many of these potential flash points — a task so complicated that Mr. Trump has delayed announcing the details.

    It reads like Eric Trump planted it to head off political damage on the conflicts. They’re buying time hoping it all goes away.

    In interviews late last week, executives at the Trump Organization, advisers on the Trump transition team and members of Mr. Trump’s family said they were determined to move aggressively in the remaining days before the inauguration to clear as many of these potential conflicts as possible.

    That’s a good group of people to interview on Trump Family conflicts, right? The Trump Family and their loyalists? They’ll definitely tell the truth.

  45. 45.

    Elizabelle

    @Kay: The NY Times has an editorial up, about the stolen Supreme Court seat.

    Guess what, you jackholes. Wouldn’t be an issue if you hadn’t shivved Hillary in response to your Clinton Derangement Syndrome.

    Yes. They handle the Trumps differently. Mofos at NYTimes afraid of being sued, perhaps.

  46. 46.

    Phylllis

    Happy Holidays to all y’all. It’s quiet, clear, and a tad chilly in these parts. Supposed to warm up to 72 for the day. As soon as the chill burns off, I plan to park myself on the porch and finish Hidden Figures. Dinner later is a Honey-Baked Ham, field peas & rice, and sweet potato casserole. Keeping it low key and simple.

  48. 48.

    Kay

    Eric Lipton ‏@EricLiptonNYT 19h19 hours ago
    Anyone who might complain we r going soft on Trump. False. Covering his moves. Will watch closely as implemented too

    They could start with not presenting “a bunch of vague bullshit Eric Trump said” as fact.

  52. 52.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    Well, the roast(cut in two cause it was so big) has been infused with garlic and is sitting in the fridge in ziplock bag filled with beef stock. I have to clean the cave, cook the green beans and fill out the xmas cards for madame and the kid’s presents(they’re getting a surprise present(a framed pic of them from the kid’s BSN pinning)).

  54. 54.

    joel hanes

    I heard the bells on Christmas Day
    Their old familiar carols play
    And wild and sweet, the words repeat:

    PEACE ON EARTH GOODWILL TO MEN

  55. 55.

    Kay

    @Elizabelle:

    The editorials are the ass-covering for the lousy political coverage.

    Of course Eric Trump says the family are moving to resolve conflicts. He would say that. They don’t have a shred of evidence any of these efforts to resolve conflicts are even happening.

  56. 56.

    Elizabelle

    @Kay: to Eric Lipton: you jackholes needed to cover his moves before he ended up PEW-OTUS. And repeat it, again and again.

    You’re at the forefront of institutions that failed.

    Look, Eric — Hillary’s EMAILS.

  58. 58.

    Alain the site fixer

    Merry Christmas to all and to those non-celebrating, best wishes to you and yours. I can’t wait till duck, but first must enjoy soufflé with bellinis to open our eyes! Love and good cheer to all…I’m trying to stock up on love and goodwill to last through the next year of horror that is our future. Since there’s not a new Tesla under the tree, I must admit that Santa doesn’t love me like I had hoped he did!

  59. 59.

    Schlemazel

    @OzarkHillbilly:
    Can’t imagine how a poteca could not taste good so what was the failure?

    My mom, a caterer, taught me to never admit failure in the kitchen. “Just tell them this is how it is done someplace else (pick a different region or neighboring country), nobody will know so they can’t say it wasn’t right”. As long as it tastes good you’re in the clear!

    Murray Christmas to all

  60. 60.

    Kay

    @Baud:

    “Eric Trump told us his family plans to resolve conflicts” That’s what that story is. That’s political damage control, it’s not “news”.

  61. 61.

    joel hanes

    @Baud:

    Santa probably voted for Trump

    Let us hope that The Donald was visited in his gilt tower last night
    first by the ghosts of all the business partners he has cheated
    and then by three spirits in succession

    ——

    ‘Look here.’

    From the foldings of its robe, it brought two children; wretched, abject, frightful, hideous, miserable. They knelt down at its feet, and clung upon the outside of its garment.

    ‘Oh, Man. look here. Look, look, down here.’ exclaimed the Ghost.

    They were a boy and a girl. Yellow, meagre, ragged, scowling, wolfish; but prostrate, too, in their humility. Where graceful youth should have filled their features out, and touched them with its freshest tints, a stale and shrivelled hand, like that of age, had pinched, and twisted them, and pulled them into shreds. Where angels might have sat enthroned, devils lurked, and glared out menacing. No change, no degradation, no perversion of humanity, in any grade, through all the mysteries of wonderful creation, has monsters half so horrible and dread.

    Scrooge started back, appalled. Having them shown to him in this way, he tried to say they were fine children, but
    the words choked themselves, rather than be parties to a lie of such enormous magnitude.

    ‘Spirit. are they yours.’ Scrooge could say no more.

    ‘They are Man’s,’ said the Spirit, looking down upon them. ‘And they cling to me, appealing from their fathers. This boy is Ignorance. This girl is Want. Beware them both, and all of their degree, but most of all beware this boy, for on his brow I see that written which is Doom, unless the writing be erased.

  64. 64.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Alain the site fixer: There’s not a new Tesla* under my tree either, though I’d settle for a used Prius.

    *A Tesla would do me no good anyway since I park on the street and have no place to plug it in.

  65. 65.

    magurakurin

    @Elizabelle: that’s pretty much it. But these days cakes come it a fair number of varieties. The white, fresh cream icing strawberry shortcake is a biggie, but most bakeries have three or more different cakes to choose from. We always get chocolate.

  66. 66.

    Kay

    It’s all such bullshit. Trump isn’t closing down the charity because of concerns about “conflicts”. He’s closing down the charity because it’s a fucking scam and he got caught.

    Eric Lipton ‏@EricLiptonNYT 16h16 hours ago
    Context:NYS AG ordered him to cease fundraising. His charity being investigated. It was self dealing. Now it will be gone after AG signs off

  69. 69.

    magurakurin

    @Baud: better yet bring a bottle of that methanol bath scent that people are ODing on in Siberia. That’s what is coming down the road for all of us anyway.

  70. 70.

    Elizabelle

    @OzarkHillbilly: Yeah, I was thinking that. Glad it was delish!

    @magurakurin: Interesting that they did not sweeten the whipped cream; the cake is sweet enough. My mom made a similar dessert, with an angel food cake. This one looked easier and just as pretty. And the dog in a Santa hat was festive.

    From the NPR link: After December 25, the unsold cakes go at a discount.

    So, “Christmas Cake” has become slang for a woman not married by age 25.

  73. 73.

    Kay

    @Baud:

    No one knows what Donald Trump owns (or probably more importantly OWES) so no one can say that he’s resolved conflicts. I don’t have any way to tell if what he does is self-dealing, and either does anyone else. The Trump Foundation is bullshit. It’s tiny. His “dissolving” it in the midst of an investigation IS self-dealing. It’s to benefit the Trumps.

  74. 74.

    magurakurin

    @Elizabelle: I’ve never heard that slang…might be pretty old. Icing isn’t usually very sweet here and butter icing is unheard of. Most people who have tried butter icing in the States hate it. And they also find most sweets in the US to be too sweet. Donuts here are an absolute lie. They look great, but you bite into it and its like a roll. Totally not sweet. I’ve sort of gotten used to it, but I always make sure to eat a real donut at least once when I visit back home. Nothing like those super sugary chocolated frosted ones that have so much sugar in them your teeth shiver in fear. But the French style pastry shops here make some really good cakes. The custard fillings are first rate in some of the tarts. And of course Japanese sweets made with sweet adzuki bean paste can be wonderful once you acquire the taste for them…and realize that they are meant to be eaten with hot green tea.

  75. 75.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @Schlemazel: You must have missed the part about my sons not wanting me to carry the burden of eating all that poteca by myself. Sarcasm is so wasted around here. ;-)

  76. 76.

    Baud

    @Kay:

    No one knows what Donald Trump owns (or probably more importantly OWES) so no one can say that he’s resolved conflicts.

    I expect that at some point he’ll ask for a taxpayer bailout of his debts to eliminate the conflicts.

  78. 78.

    Elizabelle

    @OzarkHillbilly: Definitely caught that part. But wondered if the cake had turned out unsightly, but delicious.

    Straighter reporting, please, of your day hike. Or I will be worrying about injuries to you and resident wildlife.

  83. 83.

    Aunt Kathy

    @debbie: Luckily my whole immediate family was for Hil, so we don’t have discord there, but to any Trumpsters I come across I’ve taken to just saying, “Well, I hope it turns out as well for you as you think it’s going to…” and then just let it go. There is likely nothing I can say that would convince them otherwise, and they certainly would not sway me to their thinking.

  85. 85.

    Kay

    With a big reach and a bigger self-image, the relatively small company has come under intense scrutiny as its chief prepares to become president of the United States.

    But not during his 4 year campaign to be President. Only after he was elected. Time to apply some “intense scrutiny” to Donald Trump, 25 days before he takes office.

    I sure hope the FBI isn’t the investigatory/police agency overseeing Trump’s conflicts and possible self-dealing. That’s a dead end, clearly.

  87. 87.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @Kay: I’m sure the FBI is still working on Hillary’s E-mails, so there’s no time to investigate Trump.

  89. 89.

    Elizabelle

    I am very concerned, too, that Trump got away without financial disclosure. It’s a dangerous precedent.

    Hope that David Cay Johnston and other retired journalists are on the beat. With, perhaps, a massive legal aid pact from journalism consortiums and wealthy donors.

    The NY Times is timid and a few months late. Somebody needs to do some real reporting on what’s going on at that shit show. Ownership change? Publisher? Fuckup by executive editor Dean Baquet and his hires/promotions, all the way down?

    Also FWIW, Michael Hiltzik of the Los Angeles Times is very good. Two degrees of separation: he’s a fan of Richard Mayhew; has mentioned him in his stories.

  91. 91.

    Elizabelle

    @Baud: There is not going to be enough room on Alex Pareene’s hack list this year.

    But it would be great to do some blogposts on the good reporters out there. They are the exception, not the rule, and we need to follow and support them and their work.

    That’s a cheery thought for now and 2017.

  92. 92.

    planetjanet

    Merry Christmas to all. I am relaxing on the porch in a lovingly restored hotel in the heart of Appalachia. Will be taking my mom to church service a little bit later. Glad that I can enjoy some time with all of you.

  94. 94.

    kindness

    In our house we have a tradition of playing John Lennon’s Happy Christmas, War Is Over when we sit down to exchange gifts. It’s really a very nice tradition for me.

  97. 97.

    Rob

    Happy Holidays to all front pagers & commenters from this lurker. I’m tearing up playing the Dar Williams song right now. We haven’t heard this song in a long time.

    eta: We’re both tearing up.

  98. 98.

    Kay

    I got my 14 year old really expensive head phones. He’s been begging for them for 2 years and we kept saying no but he really does love music- he practices the 2 instruments he plays a lot- so I got him the ones he wanted. They wear the headphones around their necks at school so they’re also kind of a status symbol. Two birds with one stone :)

  99. 99.

    zhena gogolia

    Thinking of the fight ahead, I was consoled by this thought: We’re fighting for the weaker and less privileged members of society to have a chance for a better life. Trumpanzees are fighting to help the privileged amass more power. Whether we win or lose, I’m happy to be on this side. As someone said the other day, I like to sleep at night.

  100. 100.

    zhena gogolia

    @Kay:

    I read a terrifying thing in the NYT yesterday — there’s some law passed in 1989 that says it’s impossible for the President to have a conflict of interest? Do you know about this?

  102. 102.

    NeenerNeener

    I wonder if Andy Cuomo would put the investigative screws to all of Trump’s New York dealings as a way towards the 2020 nom for the Dems.

  103. 103.

    max

    @Baud: I expect that at some point [Trump will] ask for a taxpayer bailout of his debts to eliminate the conflicts.

    There we go! Baud’s got it figured out.

    @NeenerNeener: I wonder if Andy Cuomo would put the investigative screws to all of Trump’s New York dealings as a way towards the 2020 nom for the Dems.

    Andrew Cuomo running is for the nom is not a merry thought at all. Blech.

    max
    [‘Merry Christmas anyways. I gotta go wash the bad taste out of my mouth.’]

  105. 105.

    NeenerNeener

    @max: “Andrew Cuomo running is for the nom is not a merry thought at all. Blech.”

    I agree, but it would be fun to watch him be a thorn in Trump’s side, all the same. Might even get some indictments out of it.

  106. 106.

    Patricia Kayden

    @SFBayAreaGal: Thanks for that interesting story.

    Merry Christmas to you all. Thanks Trump for allowing us to use that phrase again. We Christians are so persecuted here in the US.

  107. 107.

    aimai

    @greennotGreen: I am so sorry to hear this! 93 is a great age.My parents are 84 and we are just entering the stage of vigilance. I’ll be thinking about you all and hoping things go better for your mom after the hospital gets its head on straight.

  108. 108.

    Spanky

    Christmastime is one time of year I regret not having had children.

    As you get old, you gain a stripped-down life, minus the clutter and hullabaloo, the excess food and alcohol, the meaningless gifts, and it is quite satisfying to sit with your true love in candlelight, a plate of cookies on the table, and let memories come and go. My mother is there. It’s 6 a.m., still dark out, and I’ve come down the stairs in my pajamas to the darkened tree, a note from Santa, the crumbs of the gingersnap I left for him, and I hear the padding of bare feet on the stair, and suddenly the tree bursts into light, and my mother is standing there in a raggedy robe. She missed her dead mother and found her every year in making Christmas for us.

    Even after she moved to Florida, she flew back for a proper Minnesota Christmas with frost on the windows and wind in the chimney. What you do for children is never wasted: This Christmas will live on and nourish them long after you have faded away.

    – Garrison Keillor in the WaPo

  109. 109.

    Patricia Kayden

    @Kay: Covering his moves = reporting on everything Trump farts or burps out without any analysis or criticism.

    How about NYT going after Trump’s jugular like they went after Secretary Clinton’s?

  111. 111.

    JPL

    We have friends and family for X-Mas eve. My sister-in-law is visiting with her two dogs, and one is a chihuahua/jack russell mix. The other part German Shepherd. Let’s just say that there were several glasses of wine spilled.

  113. 113.

    max

    @NeenerNeener: I agree, but it would be fun to watch him be a thorn in Trump’s side, all the same. Might even get some indictments out of it.

    Hmm. That’s whatshisname’s gig in the NY state AG office. (I cannot remember the guy’s name.) I’ll bet he’s interested in moving up.

    Yggles at Vox, just this morning:

    Research by Dan Hopkins of the University of Pennsylvania indicates that Trump dominated among voters who decided in the final two weeks of the campaign — a period in which Comey’s letters about Clinton’s emails dominated media coverage.

    Big events sometimes have small causes

    These events are at high risk of slipping out of view of the historical record for a variety of reasons. Republicans, for starters, had a vested interest in putting forward the idea that the election results constituted a sweeping public affirmation of their policy agenda. Competing factions of the Democratic Party, meanwhile, sought to use Clinton’s defeat as a rationale for advancing their own preferred substantive agendas.

    More broadly, the further the email issue receded into the past the less credible it seemed that a major historical turning point could really have hinged on something so trivial.

    And certainly one can imagine a variety of scenarios in which Clinton might have won the election despite her email woes. More successful economic policymaking from the Obama administration could have done the trick. So could a better campaign message or better targeting of resources. It was, after all, a very close election.

    The crucial point, however, is that in broad ideological terms, the 2016 election happened at a time when the incumbent president was popular and the insurgent demagogue promising dramatic change was not popular. The unpopular insurgent managed to win, despite accumulating fewer voters than the popular incumbent’s designated successor, largely because she had become personally unpopular thanks to a massive onslaught of criticism largely focused on her email server.

    Even at the time, some of us found it hardly credible that a decision as weighty as who should be president was being decided on the basis of something as trivial as which email address the secretary of state used. Future generations must find it even harder to believe. But the facts are what they are — email server management, rather than any deeper or more profound root cause, was the dominant issue in Donald Trump’s successful rise to power.

    max
    [‘This country’s politics run on bullshit.’]

  114. 114.

    jeffreyw

    Beef short ribs with broth and red wine in the pressure cooker for the gravy. Rib roast has been at 130 degrees in the water bath since late last night. I’m thinking a finishing blast at 550+ for a few minutes and the roast is good to go. Dressing and cranberry compote made and ready. Sweet potatoes, finger potatoes, and some purple potatoes in olive oil and honey will roast in that hot oven while the roast is resting. Sourdough bread to mop up any gravy that escapes.

  115. 115.

    Adrift

    Merry Christmas everyone! The cat and I just watched the Queen’s Christmas message, and are currently listening to Christmas programming on BBC Radio 3.
    https://youtu.be/zscqxgDc9f8
    Escapism at it’s best, yes, but warms my heart.

    ETA minor edit

  116. 116.

    MomSense

    Wishing a peaceful day to all the juicers and especially to Debbie. Don’t let the trumpards get you down. Good to hear that greennotGreen’s mom is on the mend.

  117. 117.

    liberal

    With all the praise dumped on Jimmy Stewart in the other thread, it should be remembered that he was a right-winger. Though unlike John Wayne he wasn’t a chickenhawk.

  118. 118.

    Another Scott

    Happy Holidays everyone. Here’s hoping the Trumpus didn’t visit those who didn’t deserve it.

    Best wishes for health and happiness going forward. Keep up the fight!

    Cheers,
    Scott.
    (“Who put his ACLU and “Don’t Tread on my Obamacare” stickers on his car yesterday.)

  119. 119.

    Another Scott

    @Elizabelle: I haven’t heard much from Jane Mayer lately (but I haven’t looked). I’d like to think that she’s working on some magnum opus on Donnie, she’s been on the beat…

    Cheers,
    Scott.
    (Who should subscribe to the New Yorker again, and make the time to read it…)

  120. 120.

    Larkspur

    Nothing beats a good poteca. I was worried until I adjusted my own sarcasm meter.

    Happy Sunday everyone. It sure was nice to watch the POTUS/FLOTUS Xmas message.

  121. 121.

    ruemara

    @liberal: he’s also dead and running up to piss on him is worthless.

    Happy Christmas, all. I’m going to go make my pancakes and bacon so I can watch the parade. I may make the last batch of Christmas cookies for the people I couldn’t get to prior and then go see Moana or Passengers or both. Then come back to last night’s leftover lamb. The creepy old guy roommate is unfortunately here all weekend, so hanging at home is unattractive. Enjoy your holiday!

  123. 123.

    ThresherK

    Season’s Greetings to all. Subdivisions as follows:

    Merry Christmas to all of that sort. Having given up the church right after confirmation, I have a teensy bit of guilt about getting gifts w/o going to church.

    Happy Chanukah to those so inclined, and Kwanzaa as well.

    Traveling out this early afternoon, back tonight.

  124. 124.

    Another Scott

    @zhena gogolia: I recall hearing something about that. There’s a sensible reason for it (that I don’t recall at the moment), but the President and Vice President are supposed to be sensible, upstanding people who are constrained by norms. Take George Washington as a role model – stuff like that.

    PBS has more.

    There is a bright line – The Title of Nobility Clause – and it will trip him up if he doesn’t do something serious about it.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  127. 127.

    delk

    A very Merry Christmas to all.

    We had to take our dog to the vet yesterday. Of course, Christmas Eve at 4:30 pm means the 24 hour emergency vet. He had been lethargic all day long but seemed ok until he started shaking and licking his lips. Just as we got him into the vet’s office, he threw up blood. So they kept him overnight for tests.

    Just talked to the vet and he seems to be improving. All the tests came back fine and they will probably release him this evening. So much for our plans of lounging around in our pj’s snacking on ham, smoked turkey, and polish sausage — the emergency vet is about a 45 minute drive.

    Oddly, the way to the vet is the same way we would have taken to my mother’s house for Christmas Eve so it was chance to remember my mom with some holiday memories.

    Anyway, here’s a picture of me and Gav, we are the third picture.

    Hope everyone has a great day!

  128. 128.

    Another Scott

    @delk: Glad your pooch is recovering – that must have been scary! Great picture. Thanks for sharing. :-)

    Peace and happiness to Gav and all of the delks.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  130. 130.

    chopper

    @jeffreyw:

    I did a rib roast the same way a few days back. came out awesome. I ran it at 131, but no real difference there. still making sandwiches with it.

  133. 133.

    BBA

    @NeenerNeener: Knowing how Cuomo operates, he’d make a big deal about an extremely minor violation, perp walk some low-ranking Trump crony, and declare victory…all the while secretly agreeing not to investigate anything serious in exchange for New York State getting a few extra favors in the budget.

  134. 134.

    hovercraft

    Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Grievous Festivus, Happy Atheist, Happy Kwanzaa, and a happy and healthy day to all of the agnostics out there.
    Thank you all for being a part of the BJ family.

  135. 135.

    Corner Stone

    We did our brief get together and gift exchange yesterday. Maintained discussion on gifts and football.
    Glad it’s over.

  136. 136.

    Corner Stone

    @Spanky:

    Christmastime is one time of year I regret not having had children.

    Consider the other 360+ days to be your Christmastime.

  137. 137.

    Corner Stone

    @Nicole:

    We arrived at Grandma’s yesterday afternoon; husband discovered Amazon did not send the wand. Instead they sent an Oakland Raiders calendar.

    Was it a calendar of Raiders Cheerleaders? Because then I can kind of see how it *wink* *wink* “happened”. But if it was just pics of the team playing then that is a total bummer all around.

  138. 138.

    BGinCHI

    Merry Christmas, Chanukah, Festivus, or whatever the hell you are celebrating.

    I’d wish for peace on earth, but obviously that’s fucking impossible.

  139. 139.

    Corner Stone

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    So I made the poteca on Friday. Complete fail. Absolute disaster. Never had one go so bad. Told my sons I was so embarrassed I could not possibly let them eat any of it or dare to allow even a small slice of it pass out the door.

    On the rare occasions my mom made homemade cinnamon rolls she tried this same business. It had reliably consistent outcomes similar to your kids reaction.

  140. 140.

    Mike in NC

    I suppose there have been worse Christmases in this country. 1941 was probably a downer for most Americans, as was 1963. We’ll be lucky to even see Christmas 2017 with the Orange Grinch and his nefarious family busy stealing everything not nailed down.

  141. 141.

    West of the Rockies (been a while)

    @Nicole:

    Ugh. A Raiders calendar probably won’t compare to the Ginny Weasley signature-model wand….

    We ordered a Clinton, got a Clump.

  142. 142.

    ThresherK

    It has just popped into my head that Spousal ThresherK and I won’t watch Santa Claus Conquers the Martians this year.

    I sang a few lines of its theme song, “Hooray for Santa Claus”, at which point my wife said “I should have thought twice about marrying a man who can remember every song he hears!”

  143. 143.

    West of the Rockies (been a while)

    @ThresherK:

    The late Dennis Wolfberg (stand up comedian) quipped, “Someone once actually wished me a happy Chaka Khan!”

  144. 144.

    Dog Dawg Damn

    Told every Trumper in my family group today: HAPPY HOLIDAY, SEASON’S GREETINGS, & HAPPY HANNUKAH!

  145. 145.

    Larkspur

    @delk: What a beautiful photo! I hope your pup continues to improve. I knew a dog once who somehow got into the children’s liquid Advil – a very bad thing. A lot of blood, but she recovered completely. So best wishes and very gentle tummy rubs for your guy.

    PS: And a very big Merry Everything to the expensive but absolutely essential 24-hour emergency veterinarians out there who are working even as I type. May your holiday be quiet, with only happy outcomes.

  147. 147.

    HRA

    May your Christmas sparkle with moments of love, laughter and goodwill. And may the year ahead be full of contentment and joy. Have a Merry Christmas.and a Happy Holiday.

    In about 3 hours, I’ll be going up 3 houses on my street to my eldest granddaughter’s home where there will be upwards of 20 very close relatives and their spouses, fiancees, etc. I am bring 4 different homemade breads, 9 different cookies, nut and poppy seed filled rolls, cheesecake (Pagliacci’s NY Deli recipe) and gifts for everyone.

  150. 150.

    Josie

    @Corner Stone: I’m glad it went okay. Extended family can be difficult. My middle son (in Houston) just texted me really frustrated at the atmosphere at his in-laws, vowing to do things differently next year.
    To everyone else: I hope you all have a peaceful and blessed day and that we all are strong for facing our interesting new year.

  151. 151.

    Aleta

    Twelve Days of Christmas. Nice Xmas song mixed into a dorky 60s comedy routine. The funny thing to me is how Glenn Campbell lapses into sounding like Opie halfway through. Maybe Andy Griffith just brought out the Opie in everyone?

  152. 152.

    Ben Cisco (onboard the Defiant)

    My brother is here, and I have everything simmering. Grandniece and grandnephew inbound. They don’t know that he’s here, so extra bonus for me. Things are going as well as I could have dared to hope.

    Greetings and best wishes to all you Juicers wherever you are.

  153. 153.

    Corner Stone

    @Josie:

    My middle son (in Houston) just texted me really frustrated at the atmosphere at his in-laws, vowing to do things differently next year.

    If I were not already divorced I would have filed for divorce instead of going to the in-laws this year.

  154. 154.

    J R in WV

    @planetjanet:

    As a person who lives somewhere near the heart of Appalachia, I would be interested in knowing a specific about the charming restored hotel. We like to visit charming restored hotels for a short midweek trip.

    Thanks!

    And Merry Holiday, Happy Xmas and Jolly Good New Year to all !!!! We’re just spending a quiet day at home, in the deep woods, with the dogs and cats.

  155. 155.

    liberal

    @ruemara: fuck off. People piss on dead people all the time.

    IMHO someone who actively campaigned for Goldwater deserves a big, long piss, even if it’s on his grave.

  156. 156.

    bemused senior

    @OzarkHillbilly: my poteca came out well. This was the first time I made the dough in the bread machine. I also used a non-standard filling, a boozy apricot one. Is it still poteca without the nuts? None of my grandparents’ generation is still available to ask, nor my Mom.

  158. 158.

    Brachiator

    @Adrift:

    Merry Christmas everyone! The cat and I just watched the Queen’s Christmas message

    I heard that a pre-recorded message was used because she was still not feeling well.

    Interesting tradition. Over here, we have the new tradition of Trump’s holiday Twitter message.

  161. 161.

    J R in WV

    @Another Scott:

    ”

    @Brachiator: Because nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a raised closed fist …”

    A very, Very Small fist !!! Ouch… hope that stings.

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