Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Chutkan laughs. Lauro sits back down.

We’ve had enough carrots to last a lifetime. break out the sticks.

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

It could be worse. Vance could have said “post-menopausal sows.” Waiting for that audiotape to surface.

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

Joe Biden can go out like FDR, not by dying in office, but by crushing the fascists.

Found liable for massive fraud, is required to post a massive bond, gets a break, then files a *fraudulent* bond!

It may be funny to you motherfucker, but it’s not funny to me.

This really is a full service blog.

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

American History and Black History can not be separated.

Second rate reporter says what?

Republicans don’t trust women.

Fuck that bum, let’s go Joe!

Peak wingnut was a lie.

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

Trump’s legal defense is going to be a dumpster fire inside a clown car on a derailing train.

ha ha ha! Nice try weird people.

I wonder if trump will be tried as an adult.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / Open Thread: New Year’s Eve at the Court of the Fake-Sun King

Open Thread: New Year’s Eve at the Court of the Fake-Sun King

by | 102 Comments

This post is in: , , ,

However unsatisfactory your own evening’s plans, at least you’re not spending it in the company of people who’ve paid good money to hang around Lord Smallgloves. Per Politico:

Mar-a-Lago, the pricey private resort in Palm Beach, Florida, sold hundreds of tickets at more than $500 a piece to an annual New Year’s Eve extravaganza planned for Saturday night that will feature a very special guest: the president-elect of the United States of America and his family.

President-elect Donald Trump owns the members-only luxury resort, which each year sells tickets to swank parties it throws on holidays and special occasions, including New Year’s Eve, Thanksgiving and Christmas…

Sean Spicer, Trump’s incoming White House press secretary, on a Friday morning conference call with reporters, said the party is already “sold out” with more than 800 people scheduled to attend, including actor Sylvester Stallone and music producer Quincy Jones, in addition to Trump, his wife, incoming first lady Melania Trump, and their son Barron Trump.

A person who travels in Palm Beach society circles said that tickets to the party were being sold for $525 each for members and $575 each for guests…

Incoming White House Director of Strategic Communications Hope Hicks rejected criticisms that Mar-a-Lago was selling access to the president-elect.

“The transition is not concerned about the appearance of a conflict,” she said. “This is an annual celebratory event at the private club, like others that have continued to occur since the election. Additionally, the president cannot and does not have a conflict.”…

“When the president does it, that means that it is not illegal.”

***********
Just got back from our wrap-up-the-year dinner at an ‘upscale chain’ burger joint (because it’s close enough we didn’t have to trust our luck on the freeway). Contemplating whether I should take a nap before watching the midnight fireworks on television, or maybe invite the Spousal Unit to join me for a Netflix movie instead. The predicted ‘light wintery mix’ is just starting to precipitate… and for the moment, my life is perfectly satisfactory.

What’s on the agenda for the night, celebratory or otherwise?
.

Reader Interactions

102Comments

  4. 4.

    Mnemosyne

    Pizza, snacks, and probably “The Great Holiday Baking Show” on Hulu because stupid Comedy Central has denied me a “Drunk History” marathon this year. Also, cats and the spouse cozying up on a rainy California night. What could be better?

  7. 7.

    Mnemosyne

    @Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA:

    Heh. I love how you managed to capture Muppet’s eye roll on camera.

    My BFF brought her two daughters (ages 11 and 13) over on Thursday and they made a huge fuss over our oldest cat, who loved every second of it. G is already wondering when the oldest one will be old enough to catsit when we’re out of town.

  8. 8.

    pat

    Went for an early dinner (only time left for reservations), beef tenderloin and garlic mashed potatoes, creme pie with raspberry sauce for dessert, brought home enough filet and potatoes for another meal, now listening to Mahler, drinking a bit of scotch, and waiting for a decent time to go to bed. Like maybe 9:00.

    Did not sleep between 2 and 5 last night….. too much to worry about……

  10. 10.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA: Happy new Year to you, Iggy, Muppet, and Mr. Mingobat. The celebratory beverage Chez Q is a French 75, so my sobriety will conclude shortly.

    Happy New Year to all Juicers. Even those who think I’m stodgy with pantsuits and a security clearance.

  12. 12.

    Suzanne

    On antibiotics for the FUBAR finger, so I shouldn’t, but we will probably make some Moscow mules at home tonight. We’re grabbing some Pita Jungle right now, but after this, we’re going home and will likely be there all night. Must finish Westworld. Have book to read. Prefer keeping paw elevated.

  19. 19.

    SiubhanDuinne

    I’m really tired and would like to go to sleep soon. But I really feel the need to make damn sure that I pets ally see the arse-end of this year. (In case you didn’t see the end of the dying thread one level down, William Christopher — Father Mulcahy in M*A*S*H — died earlier today, age 84. The year 2016 just refuses to go quietly.)

    Happy New Year to all Juicers and their Significant Others/Spousal Units, children, parents, pets, and friends. May 2017 be appreciably and noticeably better for all of us, and may all the surprises be good ones!

  23. 23.

    Mnemosyne

    @brettvk:

    G and I were just talking about that. Anyone who expects Trump to be grateful that they helped him get elected, or to return a favor of any kind, is doomed to disappointment. Narcissists don’t do favors. In fact, they become enraged if you so much as hint that they owe you something.

    Donald just had his inflated self-image justified by being elected President, and anyone who so much as hints that it happened for any reason other than the entire populace rising up and recognizing his awesomeness is going to be on the receiving end of a spittle-flecked rage.

    I fully expect Koch to be making a groveling public apology on Tuesday, if not sooner. Otherwise, he’s going to be very, very sorry.

  26. 26.

    eclare

    Sitting on the couch trying to keep my dog calm from the firecrackers (at least I hope they’re firecrackers). Ugh.

    Happy New Year to all!

  27. 27.

    Mingobat f/k/a Karen in GA

    @Mnemosyne: Yeah, there wasn’t going to be a dialogue tonight, but I happened to walk by while that was happening and I couldn’t resist.

    Mr. Mingobat and I are sitting in front of the TV tonight. Fattening snacks later, we’ll flip off 2016 at midnight, then crawl into bed. I have a new full-frame camera coming in a few days that I’m very much looking forward to owning, and it should arrive right about when I anticipate the back being fully recovered, so I’m just waiting out this weekend.

    I start school a week from Monday. I hope to keep too busy over the next couple of years to notice that the idiot shitgibbon is burning the country down. Yay distraction!

  35. 35.

    Mnemosyne

    @efgoldman:

    He’s President(-elect) of the United States. And more to the point, he’s BFFs with Vladimir Putin. Very bad things could happen to the Kochs’ business interests in Russia if Donald so desires, because Putin would be happy to fracture our political landscape even further.

    Never underestimate the vindictiveness of a narcissist. They will always, always come up with an unexpected way to screw you.

  38. 38.

    Steve in the ATL

    @efgoldman: BTW, hang on to your dollar for now–I have not yet made a court appearance in a muumuu. I reserve the right to do so, however, after I finish this apple pie.

  42. 42.

    Steve in the ATL

    @Suzanne:

    we will probably make some Moscow mules at home tonight

    Et tu, Suzanne? I thought at least BJ posters had not yet climbed aboard the Putin Express.

  43. 43.

    a hip hop artist from Idaho (fka Bella Q)

    @Mike in NC:

    the French 75 was a drink named after one of the deadliest weapons of WW1, a quick firing 75mm cannon.

    Aptly, I should note. Our tradition is scrabble with the beverage on NYE.

  45. 45.

    Villago Delenda Est

    @Mnemosyne: “Very bad things” have already happened to Koch business interests in Russia. Fred Koch got his ass handed to him by a superior businessman, Uncle Joe Stalin, which is why Fred was one of the co-founders of the John Birch Society.

  50. 50.

    khead

    Look, I hate to be the grumpy old man but I am having a hard time accepting D-lister mannequin Jenny McCarthy giving tribute to real stars like Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher on Dick Clark’s New Year’s Eve. Ryan Seacrest could’ve at least used Fergie for that segment.

  54. 54.

    Sibelius

    @pat: Mahler and whisky, one of my favorite pastimes. This year I have indulged, well, often. Prefer Islay (Ledaig, Ardbeg, or Laphroig) and symphonies 1-5 (Chailly/RCO, Boulez/Vienna & Chicago, Fischer/Budapest), haven’t gotten past those yet. Or Das Lied Von der Erde (Nezet-Seguin/LPO).

    Slainte, and a Happy New Year to all.

  59. 59.

    delk

    I think the last time we ‘did’ NYE was Y2K. We have a pic of that night on one of our tables with us all young and thin and clean shaven.

    Gav just took his last poo of 2016 so we are in for the night.

    If you are going out, stay safe!

  63. 63.

    BillinGlendaleCA

    @zhena gogolia: Now I’m trying to figure out what building that was shot in, I think it may be the Orpheum Theater Building. I can see the sign for the Los Angeles Theater out the window.

  69. 69.

    NotMax

    @Mnemosyne

    If it was possible, would push several through the intertubes to you. Lemon tree in back yard must have 100 fruits on it, each nearly the size of an orange.

  70. 70.

    Shalimar

    0% chance Trump spends any time pondering it once someone comes up with the idea, 90% chance those on the White House tour are given the opportunity to take a photo with President Trump for $500.

  73. 73.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Fireworks and/or gunfire making lots of noise. Could they not at least wait until midnight?

    / grumpy old lady

  75. 75.

    Suzanne

    @SiubhanDuinne: My neighbors are setting fireworks off, too, and I am annoyed. My Luna doesn’t lose her shit anymore, but she is restless. I gave her an extra biscuit.

  78. 78.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @zhena gogolia:

    “The transition is not concerned about the appearance of a conflict,” she [Hope Hicks] said. “This is an annual celebratory event at the private club, like others that have continued to occur since the election. Additionally, the president cannot and does not have a conflict.”…

    However did Trump manage to find staffers even more arrogant and patronizing than he himself is? Does he hire them because they’re already obnoxious, or do they gradually become obnoxious after a little time in his company?

  79. 79.

    Suzanne

    @Steve in the ATL: Call it something else, then. Like a Danube Donkey or something. It is a tasty drink.

    Right now, I am drinking two Vicodin. The pain is much better today, but when I try to do things, it starts to ache.

  80. 80.

    Inmourning

    Sibelius, my Grandfather was born on Islay, so I have made it one of my life’s work to taste all of the Islay single malts. Right now, I am a fan of Laphroig. It reminds me of the time we spent as children, running behind the truck that sprayed fresh tar on our street. Good times!

  83. 83.

    Schlemazel

    @khead:
    I don’t have much of a grudge on Dick, it was mostly not wanting to see the decomposition. OTOH, it would still be more entertaining than Kathy Griffin

  85. 85.

    Mnemosyne

    @SuzieC:

    Koch arrived for a round of golf with the writer who published a book where Ivana claimed that the Donald had raped her after she mocked his hair plugs. When Trump threw the writer out, Koch left with him.

  86. 86.

    Sibelius

    @Inmourning: My wife and I were planning a winter trip to Scotland about 11 years ago. Had hoped to be there for Burns’ Night (maybe minus the haggis). Something else happened along the way, her 10th birthday is Monday. Someday I’ll get there.

  87. 87.

    jacy

    Headed to The Boyfriends to smooch and watch TV — whee, the big new year’s extravaganza around these parts. But he did get some Ben & Jerry’s Cookie Dough Beer. Not sure how I feel about that, but probably a fitting way to see out this shitty year. Hope all juicers have a safe and happy evening, and that everyone finds something in the new year to bring them some comfort and happiness, even if it’s just the small things.

  88. 88.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Sibelius:

    My wife and I were planning a winter trip to Scotland about 11 years ago. Had hoped to be there for Burns’ Night (maybe minus the haggis). Something else happened along the way, her 10th birthday is Monday. Someday I’ll get there.

    Um.

  89. 89.

    Inmourning

    Sibelius, there is a scotch festival on Islay. I don’t have a bucket list, but wouldn’t that be a trip. All that fermenting malt, and for five days.

  90. 90.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Suzanne:

    You will discover, if you haven’t already, that the injured finger turns out to be the single most important and indispensable part of your entire body.

    And the beauty thing is, it doesn’t matter which finger, which hand — heck, it could be a toe, or a piece of your ear, or anything — whatever it is, you can’t get through more than a few minutes without realizing how much you rely on that body part operating at full capacity.

    Kind of amazing, really, the way we’re designed, but an awful pain (in every sense of the word) when bits get damaged.

    Hope your finger recovers fully and quickly and comfortably. Happy New Year!!

  92. 92.

    hitchhiker

    Tomorrow will be the 33rd anniversary of the 1st date I had w/ Mr Hitchhiker — we met for a late New Years Day breakfast at a divey restaurant on State St. in Salt Lake City. Gotta say, agreeing to that breakfast was one of my better choices, and I’ve made a shit ton of stupid ones to balance it out.

    We ate Italian food tonight while picking at an old Merl Reagle crossword puzzle & laughing at the puns.

    If this version of “old” can last a decade or so, I promise to be content and grateful. I know this blog skews older, but to anybody in the <40-ish range, I'd offer this: think in chunks of 5 years, or 10. Almost anything you can name will take longer than it seemed like it would. There will be occasional 2x4s to the head; try not to take them personally. The most unbelievably unfair shit will happen — did happen to me and mine — but so did a whole lot of good luck.

    I’m glad to be here figuring out how to be in a DT world with all of you. When the clock rolls into 2017, me and the mister will be over at St James cathedral for a late Handel concert, goggling at the Catholic penchant for excess & floating on the music.

  93. 93.

    Suzanne

    @SiubhanDuinne: I’ve been doing okay. The injured finger is on my left hand, which is not my writing hand. But it hurts to straighten my hand out, and gripping is out of the question.

    Weird thing: Mr. Suzanne and I just went and grabbed dinner, and it’s a casual place, where they will bring you a to-go box for your leftovers, but typically won’t put the food in the container for you. But owing to the paw injury, I asked the waitress to put my salad in the container. She takes a look at my hand and goes, “Ohhhh!”. Then she turns to my husband and says, “Is that what happens in your house when you disagree?!?!”

    Like, WTF? Domestic violence jokes? For real?

  94. 94.

    No One You Know

    @Schlemazel: I was surprised to learn that preserved lemons are a thing in Moroccan cooking…enabling year-round lemon. Granted, there are probably things I shouldn’t put salt-preserved lemons into…just haven’t found them yet.

  98. 98.

    The Lodger

    @zhena gogolia: Love it! I haven’t heard much Weird Al since my son got over his 14-year-old fanboy obsession, and I have to say he’s improved. (Al or my son, you may ask? Both, actually.)

  99. 99.

    Schlemazel

    I had never thought of that, but then I never had a lemon tree either so never had to deal with the surplus. That would be a good thing to do with them though.

    EDIT: OK, it is the reply field that is causing the issue – very odd

  100. 100.

    Schlemazel

    @No 1 u Know:
    I had never thought of that, but then I never had a lemon tree either so never had to deal with the surplus. That would be a good thing to do with them though.

    EDIT: yup it has something to do with the NYM

  101. 101.

    Ruckus

    @SiubhanDuinne:
    I’ve had both hands in navicular casts but not at the same time. Losing the use of your dominate hand for about 10 weeks is not a lot of fun.
    However…..
    Had a friend who had an accident and had both hands in the same kind of cast. At the same time. He said it is amazing what other people will do for you when you can not do normal, usually private tasks. The bathroom is where he said most of the kindness occurred. He was still amazed 20 yrs later.

  102. 102.

    Redleg

    Thus the Trump cabal has forfeited the right to ever use the following phrases:
    1. Clinton Foundation.
    2. Corrupt Hillary
    3. The Lincoln Bedroom
    4. Hillary’s email server
    5. Populist
    6. In touch with regular folks

Comments are closed.