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You are here: Home / Pet Blogging / Dog Blogging / Friday Morning Open Thread: Barkus! Barkus! Barkus!

Friday Morning Open Thread: Barkus! Barkus! Barkus!

by Anne Laurie|  February 24, 20176:09 am| 127 Comments

This post is in: Dog Blogging, Open Threads

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Thought about saving these for next (Shrove) Tuesday, but we’ve all earned a break this week. Thank you, Ozark Hillbilly, for these fine canine candids from the 22nd annual St. Louis Pet Parade!

***********
Apart from checking the pancake supplies, what’s on the agenda for the end of another insane week?




(Gotta admit I like this dude’s style — sometimes a simple accent is all the costume one needs.)

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Reader Interactions

127Comments

  1. 1.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 6:12 am

    Good Morning,Everyone???

  2. 2.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 6:13 am

    the pictures are adorable???

  3. 3.

    raven

    February 24, 2017 at 6:15 am

    Knuckleheads on parade!!!

  4. 4.

    Tissue Thin Pseudonym

    February 24, 2017 at 6:27 am

    Playoff hockey starts tonight.

  5. 5.

    laura

    February 24, 2017 at 6:36 am

    That’s a fancy chicken float.
    Good morning everyone. I’m having a cup of tea, then it’s on the road at 4 to Saputo Dairy in Gustine to walk the picket line from 6 till noon. This strike ain’t never going to end. Saputo, global multinational union busting mofos.

  6. 6.

    OzarkHillbilly

    February 24, 2017 at 6:41 am

    @laura: Stay strong.

  7. 7.

    NotMax

    February 24, 2017 at 6:51 am

    Haven’t seen it in over 50 years, but remember it being a rollicking good ride.

    Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Eastern on TCM, That Man From Rio. trailer

  8. 8.

    Kay

    February 24, 2017 at 6:52 am

    White House chief of staff Reince Priebus asked a top FBI official to dispute media reports that President Donald Trump’s campaign advisers were frequently in touch with Russian intelligence agents during the election, a White House official said late Thursday.
    The official said Priebus’ request came after the FBI told the White House it believed a New York Times report last week describing those contacts was not accurate. As of Thursday, the FBI had not stated that position publicly and there was no indication it planned to.
    The New York Times reported that U.S. agencies had intercepted phone calls last year between Russian intelligence officials and members of Trump’s 2016 campaign team.
    Priebus’ discussion with FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe sparked outrage among some Democrats, who said he was violating policies intended to limit communications between the law enforcement agency and the White House on pending investigations.

    I feel like they’re missing the whole story here. This is what happened. Priebus went on cable shows and said that top people in the FBI had told him the NYTimes and CNN stories were inaccurate. Three days after Priebus did that the story came out that he had contacted the FBI and told them to knock down the stories.

    These contacts are two-way. FBI to Priebus and also Priebus to FBI. They’re presenting this as if Priebus tried to interfere in an investigation and the FBI bravely refused. But that isn’t how the sequence of events looks – it looks like the FBI gave Priebus information to go on cable shows and defend Trump. If Priebus also asked them to “knock down” themselves (and they refused) doesn’t change that Priebus went on cable shows and said he had information from the FBI that contradicts the CNN report. Who gave him that if it wasn’t the FBI? Could be a GOP Senator because GOP Senators were briefed by Comey, but someone gave it to him.

    The way they’re setting this up as the FBI “refusing” to do something or other ignores that Priebus himself carried this out- Priebus “knocked down” the Trump/Russia stories and he said he was knocking them down based on FBI information. This is two-way.

  9. 9.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 6:58 am

    @rikyrah: Good morning.

    OzarkHillbilly wins the day!

  10. 10.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 7:01 am

    @Kay: The biggest cover-up since fake Benghazi.

  11. 11.

    debbie

    February 24, 2017 at 7:01 am

    How do dogs have the patience to put up with people?

  12. 12.

    JPL

    February 24, 2017 at 7:05 am

    @Kay: The FBI would never comment on an ongoing investigation.
    We are so lucky not to have a democrat as President, because we’d have to listen to the possible interference in an investigation ad nauseam.

  13. 13.

    Alain the site fixer

    February 24, 2017 at 7:08 am

    And of course I forgot to set the publish for the on the road feature. I’m putting it up shortly.

  14. 14.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 7:10 am

    @Kay:
    @JPL:

    Thank God Reince and the FBI didn’t exchange pleasantries on a tarmac. The media would be aghast.

  15. 15.

    Lapassionara

    February 24, 2017 at 7:12 am

    Good morning.

    It’s the corruption! I would put the word “stupid” too, but I am afraid the young people would not get the reference.

  16. 16.

    Kay

    February 24, 2017 at 7:12 am

    @Baud:

    The FBI rejected a recent White House request to publicly knock down media reports about communications between Donald Trump’s associates and Russians known to US intelligence during the 2016 presidential campaign, multiple US officials briefed on the matter tell CNN.
    But a White House official said late Thursday that the request was only made after the FBI indicated to the White House it did not believe the reporting to be accurate.

    I don’t know, Baud. How brave and principled was the FBI refusal to knock down the Trump/Russia ties if the FBI gave the White House enough information for the White House to do it? The issue is communication between the FBI and the people they’re investigating, not who spread it.

    Are people at the FBI talking to the people they’re investigating in the White House about the fucking investigation they’re supposedly conducting on the people in the White House? WTF? They update Prebius on whether CNN is on the right track?

    It’s past time to stop giving the FBI the benefit of the doubt. They look corrupt. Over and over and over.

  17. 17.

    satby

    February 24, 2017 at 7:14 am

    @rikyrah: Good morning! Happy Friday!

  18. 18.

    Kay

    February 24, 2017 at 7:18 am

    @Baud:

    James Comey is on track for Benedict Arnold levels of infamy. He should have resigned. He’s not credible and it gets worse every day. One of two things is true- he’s corrupt himself or he has absolutely no control over the FBI.

  19. 19.

    OzarkHillbilly

    February 24, 2017 at 7:19 am

    @Alain the site fixer: About time. I still have to say how Quinerly blows and how Major x 4 used to blow but now that he’s back it’s all forgiven.

  20. 20.

    Elizabelle

    February 24, 2017 at 7:21 am

    @Kay: Could not both those statements be true?

    Good morning all. Happy Friday.

    Love the Barkus pics — well done, Ozark. Especially the chicken out on parade. The dogs all look happy to be there.

  21. 21.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 7:22 am

    @Kay:

    It’s the age-old logic problem. If two liars accuse each other of lying, who’s telling the truth?

  22. 22.

    kindness

    February 24, 2017 at 7:22 am

    My pups do not like wearing costumes. Except when we take them up into the Sierras for a snow hike when it’s middle of winter. Then the lil girl lets us put a doggie sweater over her. She complains a little but we know she’s happy. Short haired dogs you know. The big guy? Na, Shepard coat. Loves cold. Prefers it really.

  23. 23.

    OzarkHillbilly

    February 24, 2017 at 7:23 am

    @Kay:

    he’s corrupt himself or he has absolutely no control over the FBI.

    More than likely, both.

  24. 24.

    Elizabelle

    February 24, 2017 at 7:24 am

    WaPost headline:

    Prominent Chicago sportscaster suspended for calling America a ‘country full of simpletons’ and Trump a ‘cartoon lunatic’

    Suspended for telling the truth?

  25. 25.

    Iowa Old Lady

    February 24, 2017 at 7:25 am

    The chicken float made me laugh.

  26. 26.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 7:29 am

    @Kay:
    Keep on bringing the truth Kay

  27. 27.

    MomSense

    February 24, 2017 at 7:30 am

    Great photos!

  28. 28.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 7:30 am

    CNN

    For those looking to participate in the upcoming “A Day Without A Woman” strike, organizers of the Women’s March on Washington have released additional information on how to observe the day.

    Three action items are listed on the Women’s March website for “anyone, anywhere,” including:

    1. Women take the day off work.

    2. Exclusively shop at “small, women- and minority-owned businesses.”

    3. Wear red “in solidarity.”

  29. 29.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 7:30 am

    @Kay:
    Maxine Waters has already told you:
    “The FBI Director has NO credibility.”

  30. 30.

    satby

    February 24, 2017 at 7:31 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: Thanks for the pictures Ozark! Every morning I start the day dreading what fresh new horror the news will bring, so this was a happy start for a change.

  31. 31.

    Kay

    February 24, 2017 at 7:31 am

    @Elizabelle:

    This probably isn’t fair because James Comey might be fawning to every President- I don’t have a comparison- but watch the clip of Comey meeting with Trump at some “welcome” event in the White House. Comey bounds over to kiss Trump’s ring and Comey is beaming. He looks at Trump with what can only be described as worship. I felt sick to my stomach watching it, like “well, forget THAT investigation”.

    It bothers me not just for the corruption aspect but for the unequal treatment of the public based on whether they are R’s or D’s. Comey can be this dogged G-Man who steps over the line when investigating, like he did with Clinton, but if he is that person he has to at least apply it across the board. He’s not working for the public. He’s working for the part of the public who are Republicans.

  32. 32.

    greennotGreen

    February 24, 2017 at 7:32 am

    No better way to start the day than with puppies!
    One of my dogs has a very short coat and almost always sleeps either under the covers, or huddled up against me, or both. Yet put a sweater on him and he acts like it’s a straight jacket. He might participate in a pet parade if he could march with the naturist contingent.

  33. 33.

    satby

    February 24, 2017 at 7:34 am

    @Baud: is it just me or does that all seem pretty lame as a march follow-up?

  34. 34.

    OzarkHillbilly

    February 24, 2017 at 7:36 am

    @Elizabelle: The chicken, a Rhode Island Red if anyone cares, is for Betty. I took several pics of Great Danes for Tamara including a threesome “dive team”. Every time the pic came out with something wrong, usually the dog turned their head away or some stupid human stepped in front of me. C’est la vie, the lead pic will do.

    Pic #5 (right after the chicken) is in fact a cat all buttoned up in a roll around back pack.

  35. 35.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 7:38 am

    @satby: It would be hard to top the march. But I hope they are also doing some organizing work behind the scenes.

  36. 36.

    Iowa Old Lady

    February 24, 2017 at 7:40 am

    Trump is UPSET with the FBI this morning.

    Donald J. Trump
    Verified account
    ‏@realDonaldTrump 6m
    6 minutes ago
    More
    The FBI is totally unable to stop the national security “leakers” that have permeated our government for a long time. They can’t even……

    Donald J. Trump
    Verified account
    ‏@realDonaldTrump 2m
    2 minutes ago
    More
    find the leakers within the FBI itself. Classified information is being given to media that could have a devastating effect on U.S. FIND NOW

  37. 37.

    Kay

    February 24, 2017 at 7:42 am

    I stopped reading Daily Kos because they were all screaming at each other constantly and they’re often too self-important for me but they ARE presenting info on where you can go to a Congressional town hall and I think that’s useful and important.

    I admit I’m not creative- just get that out there before I say this- but I am often disappointed in the creativity of liberals with organizing. I am buying that “you people” are creative. Show me some. Feel free to innovate. I’m a team player. I will happily adopt any and all creative ideas :)

  38. 38.

    OzarkHillbilly

    February 24, 2017 at 7:42 am

    @satby: I live to serve. (humbly bows)

  39. 39.

    satby

    February 24, 2017 at 7:44 am

    @Baud: agreed. I’d rather see organizing events than any of those “actions”. Example:
    3. Wear red and sign up to speak at every public appearance of your elected officials.

  40. 40.

    ThresherK

    February 24, 2017 at 7:45 am

    @Elizabelle: Given the poll numbers I’d generously say “nearly half full”, so he strictly was not telling the truth.

    Also I’ve watched a lot of cartoons and I don’t know if Trump has his act together like a real villain. He’s more a Venture Bros.-level incompetent except most of them are just playing in a sandbox, and even their Guild of Calamitous Intent has a conduct code.

  41. 41.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 7:45 am

    @Kay: Agree. Kos is a mixed bag. They are big enough to provide useful and necessary information, but the circle jerk is strong there.

  42. 42.

    OzarkHillbilly

    February 24, 2017 at 7:51 am

    @ThresherK: Trump is the Wile E Coyote of the political world.

  43. 43.

    greennotGreen

    February 24, 2017 at 8:02 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: Wile E. Coyote is a much more sympathetic character. He’s just trying to get dinner.

  44. 44.

    ThresherK

    February 24, 2017 at 8:04 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: After he does his regular bangup job Wile E. has some self-awareness which Trump has yet to display, even in false words. (This link is not canon but works.)

    And Trump needs an audience without which he’s disappear, like Tinkerbelle..

    But the not-thinking-thru is a big characteristic of Trump and Wile.

    (PS Great pix!)

  45. 45.

    efgoldman

    February 24, 2017 at 8:12 am

    @Elizabelle:

    Suspended for telling the truth?

    Which one? By who? Thom Ricketts (Cubs owner) is an extremely RWNJ and Shitgibbon supporter.

  46. 46.

    MomSense

    February 24, 2017 at 8:16 am

    @Kay:

    It’s an outrage. I don’t trust Comey is an honest dealer in this mess. Can you imagine the howling (I would join in) if Obama’s Chief of Staff called the FBI to tell them to push them to bury or not pursue an investigation?

  47. 47.

    raven

    February 24, 2017 at 8:18 am

    WLS-Channel 7 sports anchor Mark Giangreco is in the penalty box with his bosses for a tweet calling President Donald Trump a “cartoon lunatic” elected by “a country of simpletons.”“Sports Anchor Mark Giangreco’s Twitter comments are not in line with ABC 7 Chicago’s non-partisan editorial standards,” station management told the Chicago Sun-Times. “We’ve reviewed the matter and are taking the appropriate action.”

  48. 48.

    satby

    February 24, 2017 at 8:21 am

    @Elizabelle: it Mark Giangreco:
    http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/chicago-sports-anchor-calls-trump-cartoon-lunatic/186163

    Annnd, raven got there first

  49. 49.

    Paul in KY

    February 24, 2017 at 8:22 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: I would MUCH rather have Wile E.Coyote as President than this whackjob. You can tell that poor Mr. Coyote’s heart is in the right place, IMO.

  50. 50.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 8:24 am

    @Paul in KY: So would the Acme Company.

  51. 51.

    satby

    February 24, 2017 at 8:25 am

    @MomSense: Just wanted to thank you for my fabulous pu$$yhat! It’s perfect.

  52. 52.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 8:27 am

    @raven: That rule doesn’t offend me as long as they apply it consistently, unlike MSNBC.

  53. 53.

    Kay

    February 24, 2017 at 8:29 am

    @MomSense:

    if Obama’s Chief of Staff called the FBI to tell them to push them to bury or not pursue an investigation?

    But that;s what worries me. The BEST take on it is the WH called the FBI to “bury an investigation”. That’s the Watergate scenario and media love, love, love comparisons so they put it in that box.

    It doesn’t look like that to me because of the Priebus appearance and his assertion that he was relying on info from the FBI. It looks two way. Like they’re working together.

    It looks like the FBI gave him information and he thought (rightly) it would be more credible coming from the FBI so he asked and they (wisely) said “no” (because it would be incredibly stupid for them do this themselves) and then Prebius did it himself. Went on cable and knocked it down with information from the FBI. That’s much worse than the WH pressuring the FBI. That’s the WH working with the FBI to protect Donald Trump.

    “call the police! Oh, right, they ARE the police!” :)

    Call the… other police?

  54. 54.

    Elizabelle

    February 24, 2017 at 8:35 am

    From the Chicago Tribune: twas a Canadian that set him up, but I like Giangreco’s feistiness here:

    ABC-7 sportscaster Mark Giangreco, who in a tweet Sunday referred to President Donald Trump as a “cartoon lunatic” and America as “a country full of simpletons,” has been suspended.

    “Sports anchor Mark Giangreco’s Twitter comments are not in line with ABC 7 Chicago’s non-partisan editorial standards,” the Disney-owned station’s management said Thursday in a statement. “We’ve reviewed the matter and are taking the appropriate action.”

    Efforts to reach Giangreco for comment through his agent Thursday were unsuccessful.

    Channel 7’s spokeswoman declined to discuss the action beyond issuing management’s statement, but it appears the suspension will not begin until Monday. Blogger Robert Feder first reported the news of Giangreco’s multiweek suspension without pay.

    Giangreco’s remark about Trump and Americans came after Toronto Star sports columnist Bruce Arthur tweeted: “Donald Trump: a hateful ignorant corrupt simpleton supported by 87 (percent) of Republicans”.

    Giangreco’s response (as posted) said: “@brucearthur so obvious, so disturbing .America exposed as a country full of simpletons who allowed this cartoon lunatic to be ‘elected’.”

    Giangreco’s tweet, which additionally could be read as casting aspersions on Trump’s legitimacy through the quote-marks around “elected,” was deleted.

    How badly will that go over in a city full of Democrats (and the dead, voting repeatedly)?

    I question Trump’s legitimacy too. Losing the popular vote by almost three million, and then “governing” only for rightwingers?

    I hope we see more people acting out against Trump.

  55. 55.

    hovercraft

    February 24, 2017 at 8:37 am

    @Baud:
    Once again you are expecting the media to treat both sides the same way. If this is going to be your mind set you will lose 2020 before the campaign even begins.

  56. 56.

    Humboldtblue

    February 24, 2017 at 8:40 am

    Police chiefs in California are quickly getting tired of Federal immigration officials being duplicitous when it comes to immigration enforcement.

    Other, who can feel the impacts of immigration policies personally, have drawn their lines in the sand when it comes to assisting the Feds.

  57. 57.

    Jerzy Russian

    February 24, 2017 at 8:44 am

    This parade was recently held in St. Louis? There are people roaming around in short sleeves and shorts in winter in a place that is not southern California or Florida? It is normally that warm there this time of year?

  58. 58.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 8:47 am

    @Jerzy Russian:
    If this was last weekend, the weather in Chicago was mid 60’s during the same time.

  59. 59.

    ThresherK

    February 24, 2017 at 8:50 am

    @MomSense: Spousal ThresherK is interested in one of those hats. What is your Etsy shop?

  60. 60.

    MomSense

    February 24, 2017 at 8:50 am

    @satby:

    Oh good! I am making more but had to take a break last night because I was tired. I should post more this weekend.

  61. 61.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 8:50 am

    Due to a crashed computer system, I am still on my morning train that should have gotten in 50 minutes ago.???

  62. 62.

    Kay

    February 24, 2017 at 8:51 am

    @Jerzy Russian:

    We have one (1) liberal judge in the counties where I practice and I was with her all day yesterday for a trial and she had her chambers windows open. The whole gang in there other than me were exclaiming on how gorgeous it was and she looked at me and said “this is not normal”. I knew she meant the weather in NW Ohio, not the other people in there who are also not normal :)

  63. 63.

    Elizabelle

    February 24, 2017 at 8:52 am

    @Jerzy Russian: Yeah, that struck me too. Bizarre weather. Glad to have it — I like warm! — but so early.

  64. 64.

    Elizabelle

    February 24, 2017 at 8:52 am

    @rikyrah: At least you have wifi. TGIF.

  65. 65.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 8:55 am

    @Kay: Agree. I hate hearing the weather folks talk about how gorgeous it is. It is, but not for this time of year.

  66. 66.

    OzarkHillbilly

    February 24, 2017 at 9:02 am

    @Jerzy Russian: No, it is not normal for upper 60s in February, but it is not exactly uncommon for us to have short warm spells lasting a few days. This warm spell however has been with us since mid January (or something like that). I assure you, global warming is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese with their supersecret weather control satellites.

  67. 67.

    Elizabelle

    February 24, 2017 at 9:04 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: This whole last year feels like the Twilight Zone.

    Climatically, politically, culturally.

  68. 68.

    OzarkHillbilly

    February 24, 2017 at 9:06 am

    @Baud: I miss winter.

  69. 69.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 9:07 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: I’m not looking forward to my weeds coming back so soon.

  70. 70.

    Jerzy Russian

    February 24, 2017 at 9:08 am

    @Elizabelle: It is actually pretty cold right now in San Diego. I have 39 on my patio, and the sun is just coming up. That is about 10 degrees below “normal”. Inside it is 62 right now, which is pretty cold for an inside temperature if you are trying to sleep, or sit at a computer for a long time, etc.

  71. 71.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    February 24, 2017 at 9:08 am

    @Baud: Mine are already here and the landlord hasn’t mowed them.

  72. 72.

    Paul in KY

    February 24, 2017 at 9:09 am

    @Baud: I hear those Acme ™ helicopters work great! Huge savings over Bell & overpriced Sikorsky stuff.

  73. 73.

    Jerzy Russian

    February 24, 2017 at 9:10 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    I assure you, global warming is a hoax perpetrated by the Chinese with their supersecret weather control satellites.

    Hmm, this needs more research. I thought it was a hoax perpetrated by those “scientists” (mostly American?) so they can get those lucrative research grants. I suggest we do nothing and hide our head in the sand until this issue is resolved.

  74. 74.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    February 24, 2017 at 9:12 am

    @Jerzy Russian: It’s 37 outside of the cave right now.

  75. 75.

    hedgehog mobile

    February 24, 2017 at 9:12 am

    Thanks for the pics! Belated thank yous for the birthday wishes.

  76. 76.

    laura

    February 24, 2017 at 9:15 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: thanks! Everyone’s been hinging in since new years day, but the stormy Cali weather has proved formidable.

  77. 77.

    hovercraft

    February 24, 2017 at 9:16 am

    White House abandons consistency when applying alleged principles

    02/24/17 08:40 AM

    By Steve Benen

    At yesterday’s White House press briefing, Sean Spicer was asked about the Trump administration’s shift away from protections for transgender kids. The president’s spokesperson had a talking point he repeated over and over again.

    “It’s a states’ rights issue,” Spicer said. “And that’s entirely what [Donald Trump] believes – that if a state wants to pass a law or rule, or an organization wants to do something in compliance with the state rule, that’s their right. But it shouldn’t be the federal government getting in the way of this.” He added, “We are a states’ rights party. The president on a lot of issues believes in these various issues being states’ rights.”

    In all, the press secretary referred to “states’ rights” eight times yesterday.

    Spicer, however, did not use the phrase when the discussion turned to marijuana use.

    White House spokesman Sean Spicer said he expects the Justice Department to increase enforcement of laws prohibiting the recreational use of marijuana, a departure from the Obama administration’s less aggressive stance as states began legalizing recreational as well as medical use of the drug.

    “There are two distinct issues here: medical marijuana and recreational marijuana,” Spicer told reporters Thursday. “There’s still a federal law that we need to abide by when it comes to recreational marijuana and other drugs of that nature.”

    Asked if the Trump administration intends to take action in states that have legalized recreational marijuana, the press secretary said, “I do believe that you’ll see greater enforcement” of existing federal law.

    In other words, the Trump White House is absolutely committed to states’ rights, except when it isn’t.

    For those unfamiliar with the broader debate, let’s quickly review. There have been some historic breakthroughs in recent years on U.S. drug policy, with voters in several states approving ballot measures to legalize recreational or medicinal marijuana use. These state-based policies have been allowed to proceed because the Obama administration extended its approval.

    But it didn’t have to. As we’ve discussed, under federal law, officials could have ignored voters’ will and blocked those policies from advancing. State experimentation has been allowed to flourish because President Obama and his team adopted a progressive approach to the issue.

    Attorney General Jeff Sessions prefers the opposite approach.

    Politico recently published a piece on the Alabama senator’s record on the issue: “In April, he said, ‘Good people don’t smoke marijuana,’ and that it was a ‘very real danger’ that is ‘not the kind of thing that ought to be legalized.’ Sessions … has called marijuana reform a ‘tragic mistake’ and criticized FBI Director James Comey and Attorneys General Eric Holder and Loretta Lynch for not vigorously enforcing a the federal prohibition that President Obama has called ‘untenable over the long term.’”

    Obama has permitted states to pursue their own course, but federal law has not changed as it relates to illegal drugs, including marijuana. Sessions has the authority to – at a moment of his choosing – effectively undo the voter-endorsed state marijuana laws and reverse all of the recent progress on the issue.

    According to Sean Spicer, that’s precisely what Americans should expect, states’ rights be damned.

  78. 78.

    amk

    February 24, 2017 at 9:18 am

    don’t see no economically anxious peeps.

  79. 79.

    chris

    February 24, 2017 at 9:21 am

    To quote rikyrah, uh huh, uh huh. Yet another motherfucking shitweasel. Via Krugman

    “Oxford university has distanced itself from the political scientist who wants to be Donald Trump’s ambassador in Brussels, accusing him of falsely claiming to be a fellow at two of its colleges.”

    That is the opening paragraph, then they really go to town on poor Ted Malloch. A true trumpista, if he tells you it’s raining you better go outside and check.

  80. 80.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    February 24, 2017 at 9:21 am

    @hovercraft: Seems as though Spokes Spice doesn’t understand that medical marijuana is effectively recreational marijuana. Getting a “prescription” is trivial.

  81. 81.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 9:22 am

    @chris: I wonder how much Soros is paying Oxford University to lie like that.

  82. 82.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    February 24, 2017 at 9:25 am

    @Baud: Have you received your monthly check from Soros? Mine must be lost in the mail, SAD!

  83. 83.

    dexwood

    February 24, 2017 at 9:27 am

    Fun pictures, Ozark. thanks. Love the chicken wagon.

  84. 84.

    Baud

    February 24, 2017 at 9:27 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: That’s why I insist on getting paid in bitcoin.

  85. 85.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    February 24, 2017 at 9:28 am

    @Baud: You kids and your fancy “money”.

  86. 86.

    chris

    February 24, 2017 at 9:31 am

    @Baud: Well, you know how poor they are…

  87. 87.

    MomSense

    February 24, 2017 at 9:41 am

    @ThresherK:

    Here’s the link to the shop but I won’t have more hats until this weekend.

    etsy

  88. 88.

    ThresherK

    February 24, 2017 at 9:44 am

    @MomSense: Got it. I’ll show it to her.

    About where are you on the coast? My FiL grew up on Vinalhaven, and my wife and I have taken the ferry over there a few times.

  89. 89.

    OzarkHillbilly

    February 24, 2017 at 9:47 am

    @hovercraft: I take exception to the title of that article. They can’t abandon what they’ve never had.

  90. 90.

    OzarkHillbilly

    February 24, 2017 at 9:50 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: Shhhhhhhhhhhh……

  91. 91.

    MattF

    February 24, 2017 at 9:51 am

    @chris: That FT article is pretty funny. I’d be a bit suspicious of anyone who thinks that being called a ‘thought leader’ is a good thing. In addition, the FT has done fact-checking on various specific claims– this is my fave:

    ● That he completed his “entire doctoral programme in an unprecedented less than three years”. Mr Malloch now says this did not include finishing his thesis.

    D’oh.

  92. 92.

    chris

    February 24, 2017 at 9:56 am

    @MattF: The smartest guy in a room full of dumb people.

  93. 93.

    hovercraft

    February 24, 2017 at 9:56 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:
    Point take, “alleged” is doing a lot of work in that headline. To cut him some slack, he probably didn’t write the headline and we all know that to be completely honest about this shitshow of a president and his WH can earn you a stint in the penalty box. Must. Not. Show. Liberal. Bias. Ever. Too bad for them, reality and facts have a liberal bias.

  94. 94.

    Kristine

    February 24, 2017 at 9:56 am

    Good morning, All.

    Awoke this a.m. to find the furnace blowing cold air and indoor temps in the mid-50s**. Furnace is 15+ years old, so. Awaiting repairman and subsequent verdict. Given that I received a you-might-want-to-think-about-a-new-furnace warning last year, I’m not optimistic.

    **I know that Situation Normal for some folks, but it’s a bit on the nippy side for me.

  95. 95.

    WereBear

    February 24, 2017 at 9:58 am

    I tried it once:

    Tristan wears a sweater

    Shorter: did not want.

  96. 96.

    hovercraft

    February 24, 2017 at 9:59 am

    @BillinGlendaleCA:
    But my back hurts, when I sit down, the only thing that soothes it without causing nausea is marijuana, really, I’ve tried everything, I need it. The pain is chronic, yes, I need regular prescriptions.

  97. 97.

    zhena gogolia

    February 24, 2017 at 10:01 am

    @WereBear:

    So funny!

  98. 98.

    tobie

    February 24, 2017 at 10:03 am

    @Kay:

    It doesn’t look like that to me because of the Priebus appearance and his assertion that he was relying on info from the FBI. It looks two way. Like they’re working together.

    My initial reaction to Priebus’ claim that the FBI told him that they had questions about the information CNN was reporting was that Priebus was lying. Everyone in this administration lies, asserting they know X or Y based on an unimpeachable source. The Russian stories are making people question the patriotism of the administration. The administration knows that. They want this story to go away, so they claim that the FBI doesn’t believe what the media is reporting. Then they ask the FBI to validate their statements. Rinse and repeat.

    This is just a theory. Your take may be more accurate but I do think it’s important to remember that nothing Reince Priebus or any other administration official says should be taken at face value. They invent stuff all the time–case in point the “Bowling Green Massacre.”

  99. 99.

    The Moar You Know

    February 24, 2017 at 10:10 am

    Suspended for telling the truth?

    @Elizabelle: Yeah, really failing to see the problem there. This country is truly full to the brim of morons, and not all of them are GOP voters.

  100. 100.

    The Moar You Know

    February 24, 2017 at 10:14 am

    Seems as though Spokes Spice doesn’t understand that medical marijuana is effectively recreational marijuana. Getting a “prescription” is trivial.

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: That’s just CA. Other states that have legalized medical marijuana take it VERY seriously and you’ve got to jump through some intense hoops to get and keep a prescription.

    CA’s law from the get go was a backdoor method of legalizing recreational sales. I mean, the law is “SB420”, for God’s sakes. Talk about a wink and a nod.

  101. 101.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    February 24, 2017 at 10:14 am

    @tobie:

    Rinse and repeat.

    Shouldn’t that be “Reince and repeat”?

  102. 102.

    tobie

    February 24, 2017 at 10:21 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: Too true.

  103. 103.

    OzarkHillbilly

    February 24, 2017 at 10:28 am

    @chris: A perfect fit.

  104. 104.

    Jeffro

    February 24, 2017 at 10:33 am

    @Kay: Trump is already raging at the FBI for not stopping the “leakers“…OMG I LOVE THIS! That Karma, he’s a bastard, isn’t he? =)

  105. 105.

    LAO

    February 24, 2017 at 10:34 am

    @MomSense: Can’t remember if I thanked you already, but the hats are great. THANKS!

    @OzarkHillbilly: Thanks for the pictures, looks like a fun day was had.

  106. 106.

    Jeffro

    February 24, 2017 at 10:35 am

    @Iowa Old Lady: Ah you beat me to it…thanks IOL!

  107. 107.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 10:39 am

    @MomSense:

    thanks for that link.

  108. 108.

    Miss Bianca

    February 24, 2017 at 10:41 am

    @Jeffro: @Kay: so, lemme see if I got this straight…Trump is in bed with the Russians, the FBI – or at least a part of it – is actively sharing information about its investigation with Reince Priebus, and Trump is raging about…”FBI leaks”?

    I may have to start putting Baileys in my morning coffee.

  109. 109.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 10:42 am

    @MomSense:

    I don’t see the kitty hat as a possibility. All I see is a baby beanie.

  110. 110.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 10:45 am

    As support for ‘Obamacare’ goes up, Trump’s backing goes down
    02/24/17 09:20 AM—UPDATED 02/24/17 09:30 AM
    By Steve Benen

    Mike Pence spoke to the far-right CPAC audience yesterday, and the vice president spoke with pride about his party’s intentions to destroy the Affordable Care Act. “America’s Obamacare nightmare is about to end,” he declared. “Despite the best efforts of liberal activists around the country, the American people know better.”

    Pence, who’s often confused about key aspects of the health care debate, may want to take a closer look at what the American people know.

    With congressional Republicans discussing proposals to replace the Affordable Care Act, public support for the 2010 health care law has reached its highest level on record.

    Currently, 54% approve of the health care law passed seven years ago by Barack Obama and Congress, while 43% disapprove, according to a national Pew Research Center survey…. The new survey finds that when those who disapprove of the law are asked about what should happen to it now, more want GOP congressional leaders to focus their efforts on modifying the law than on getting rid of it.

    This data from the Pew Research Center coincides with new results from a Quinnipiac poll, which found a sharp shift in Americans’ attitudes against repealing the ACA. Shortly before the president’s inauguration, Quinnipiac found 48% of Americans supported Trump’s efforts to repeal the reform law, while 47% opposed. Now, those numbers are largely reversed: 54% oppose repeal, while 43% support it.

  111. 111.

    Major Major Major Major

    February 24, 2017 at 10:47 am

    Caitlyn Jenner is a fucking idiot, but you knew that already since she supported Trump. http://www.joemygod.com/2017/02/24/caitlyn-jenner-trump-disaster-video/

    ETA: I never thought leopards would eat MY face…

  112. 112.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 10:47 am

    The Trump administration’s infrastructure plans start to unravel
    02/24/17 10:13 AM—UPDATED 02/24/17 10:28 AM
    By Steve Benen

    Of all of Donald Trump’s grand ideas, the Republican’s dream of a massive infrastructure package seemed almost plausible. “We are going to fix our inner cities and rebuild our highways, bridges, tunnels, airports, schools, hospitals,” Trump vowed the night he won the election. “We’re going to rebuild our infrastructure, which will become, by the way, second to none. And we will put millions of our people to work as we rebuild it.”

    Democrats thought that sounded pretty good, and they even unveiled their own proposal to mirror Trump’s goals and demonstrate that the minority party was serious about tackling the issue.

    But as president, Trump’s focus has shifted away from areas of bipartisan consensus. Axios reported yesterday that the Capitol Hill calendar is already “way overstuffed,” so Republicans are moving forward with a different infrastructure strategy in mind.

    [The plan is to] push off until next year any consideration of the massive infrastructure plan Trump wants to push for roads, airports and other big projects, giving Republican lawmakers more breathing room amid a crowd of issues that’ll require massive effort, time and political capital. […]

    Republican strategists say that Democrats, who’ll be reluctant to give Trump a win, will be in a jam as midterm elections close in: They’ll be under huge pressure to support big projects that’ll bring money and improvements to their districts. And blue-collar unions, including construction and building trades, can be expected to favor of the package, driving a wedge into the Democratic base.

    As political strategies go, this is … odd. Trump could pursue this popular goal now – instead of, say, fighting to take Americans’ health care benefits away – but according to these Republican sources, the White House prefers to use the plan as an election-year prop in 2018.

    And that wouldn’t necessarily be absurd – interesting things can happen when election-year pressures rise – were it not for the fact that the entire plan appears based on faulty assumptions.

  113. 113.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 10:52 am

    Pence’s claims on ACA and jobs fall apart under scrutiny
    02/23/17 03:47 PM
    By Steve Benen

    In early December, during the presidential transition process, Mike Pence told ABC News, “[W]e’re working on President-Elect Trump’s commitment to repeal and replace Obamacare. It’s all going to begin right out of the gate by repealing this disastrous policy that’s been killing jobs.” Yesterday, the Republican vice president said something similar, calling the Affordable Care Act “a job killer.”

    There are some reality-based criticisms of the ACA, pointing to legitimate areas where the law could be changed, but Pence’s argument isn’t one of them.

    Let’s revisit our previous coverage, looking anew at how the data has changed since the last time the vice president got this wrong. As regular readers may recall, in 2014, the first full year of ACA implementation, job growth reached a 15-year high. In fact, the first two years of ACA implementation were the best back-to-back years for job creation since the 1990s.

    But we can go a little further with this. Forbes’ Dan Diamond made a great observation, which inspired the above chart, noting private-sector employment in the United States over the last eight years. The red line shows the final two years of the Bush/Cheney era, as the private sector shed jobs; the light blue line shows the first year of the Obama era, when the Great Recession started to end; and the hard blue line shows March 2010 through the present.

    As Diamond added a while back, “Obamacare was signed into law in March 2010. The private sector hasn’t lost jobs since.”

  114. 114.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 10:53 am

    THE 11TH HOUR WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS 2/23/17
    VP Pence: Activists at town halls won’t stop Obamacare repeal
    Reacting to the scenes of anger from constituents at town halls across the country, Vice Pres. Mike Pence says they won’t stop the repeal of the Affordable Care Ac

  115. 115.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 10:55 am

    A section of people in the back of #CPAC2017 waving Russian flags — a staffer just came and demanded they all be handed over.

    — Tim Alberta (@TimAlberta) February 24, 2017

  116. 116.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 10:56 am

    If this account is true, then the current FBI investigation is permanently tainted and we need an immediate special counsel.

    — Matthew Miller (@matthewamiller) February 24, 2017

  117. 117.

    Peale

    February 24, 2017 at 10:56 am

    @rikyrah: Good. I’d rather they not drop this effort and start in on threatening social security as well. If we need to frighten our voters to keep them active, so be it. Hurting immigrants isn’t going to be enough to keep our voters engaged.

  118. 118.

    hovercraft

    February 24, 2017 at 11:01 am

    @Major Major Major Major:
    I just love all of these special snowflakes who are feeling butt hurt. That voted for him because they thought he would screw other people, not them. The fucking man was inconsistent about everything. He lied about everything, he stated, recanted, restated and recanted, often in the same sentence, how the hell do you claim that he promised anything? Yes Caitlin is an idiot, then again she’s a republican, so redundant.

  119. 119.

    rikyrah

    February 24, 2017 at 11:01 am

    Trump, Like Anita Hill, Inspires Women to Run
    by Martin Longman
    February 23, 2017 3:44 PM

    Apparently, the combination of Hillary Clinton’s unexpected loss and the genital grabber-in-chief’s surprising win has motivated more women to explore running for office than at any time since 1992. Of course, 1992 was dubbed the Year of the Woman because Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer of California, Carol Moseley Braun of Illinois, and Patty Murray of Washington were all elected to the U.S. Senate. Prior to that election, the only two women in the Senate were Democrat Barbara Mikulski of Maryland and Republican Nancy Kassebaum of Kansas.

    This doesn’t seem like much to talk about in retrospect, but it was a big deal at the time, and the narrative revolved around an alleged backlash against the Clarence Thomas/Anita Hill hearings that had taken place the year before. At least in Patty Murray’s case, the hearings may have provided her impetus to run.

    According to Jean Sinzdak, of the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers University, there was a more general uptick of women who ran for office in 1992, and this is the first time since then that she’s seen a comparable level of interest.

  120. 120.

    zhena gogolia

    February 24, 2017 at 11:02 am

    @Major Major Major Major:

    Facepalm

  121. 121.

    Jeffro

    February 24, 2017 at 11:05 am

    @rikyrah: Pence is almost frightening in his ability to just bald-faced lie, lie, lie. “Trump didn’t say that.” “Obamacare has been a disaster.” “The sky is orange and the ocean is pink.” It’s amazing.

  122. 122.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    February 24, 2017 at 11:05 am

    @Miss Bianca: Have some marijuana instead, while you still can.

  123. 123.

    Jeffro

    February 24, 2017 at 11:06 am

    Btw folks, this is a great, accessible interview with a Russian newspaper editor on how Putin is playing Trump for a fool, and why. HIGHLY suitable for Facebook, Twitter, and sending on to friends/family of any persuasion.

    How Putin made Trump his puppet.

  124. 124.

    Miss Bianca

    February 24, 2017 at 11:10 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: And I would be seriously tempted, but my corporate masters have decreed that we all have to submit to random drug testing now. So no Baileys, either, actually – have to deal with the slings and arrows of outrageous workaday fortune sober, alas.

  125. 125.

    J R in WV

    February 24, 2017 at 11:26 am

    @Kay:

    “One of two things is true – Comey himself is corrupt or he has no control over his FBI!”

    Why not BOTH? Corrupt, incompetent and incapable of controlling his staff. All three. Somewhat stupid too, I bet.

  126. 126.

    J R in WV

    February 24, 2017 at 12:43 pm

    @Jerzy Russian:

    Here in SW West Virginia it is already 75+ degrees today. Our daffodils are in bloom, 6 weeks early. The high will be around 80 this afternoon. Tomorrow the high will be around midnight at 63, and it will drop all day to about 23 by midnight, Saturday night.

    I don’t mind 20 degree temps in February, but not after 3 days in the 70-80 degree range.

    This weather is VERY strange. Tree crops will be destroyed, in bloom already, with many freezing nights to come.

    I don’t know that much about factory farming, but when to plant is always a huge decision. Too early, your seeds can rot from excess moisture, or sprout well and then get frozen dead. Too late, and it can get too dry for good germination. So strangely warm weather isn’t just us people feeling weird, it can lead to agricultural failures that lead to people having trouble affording food to eat!

    Right now it’s already 75 in the house, after a night with the heat set to 65 degrees last night. We pick up a huge amount of solar heat before the trees leaf out, so right now a high temp of 80 outdoors may lead to it pushing 90 indoors by 4 pm. Imagine needing to run the A/C in February to get the house habitable this evening! So very weird.

  127. 127.

    sukabi

    February 24, 2017 at 2:04 pm

    @Kay: I’ll go with both are true… Comey is corrupt AND he has no control over the FBI.

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