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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Wednesday Evening Open Thread: Not Even Baby Ducks Are Safe When the Repubs Are in Town

Wednesday Evening Open Thread: Not Even Baby Ducks Are Safe When the Repubs Are in Town

by Anne Laurie|  May 17, 20177:04 pm| 159 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Republican Stupidity, Republican Venality, Assholes

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If it looks like a duck and walks like a duck, it must be government waste. pic.twitter.com/JKgabZ47O5

— Rep. Mark Walker (@RepMarkWalker) May 15, 2017

Member of Congress going after, like, the best $20 the government spends just supported an $883 billion tax cut called AHCA.

Very principle https://t.co/OBjwgRALsD

— Matt Fuller (@MEPFuller) May 16, 2017

Because we’re living in the Doonesbury archives, these days. It *would* be a Repub from North Carolina; I guess he’s cranky that he’s not allowed to beat up pregnant women and transgender kids outside his Republic of Gilead:

Political turmoil rocked the nation’s capital again on Tuesday evening as politicians from both parties responded to President Trump’s — you know what, never mind. This is a story about ducks.

Ducklings, to be precise. Ducklings walking up a ramp and stepping off it into the waters of the Capitol Reflecting Pool, which can be difficult for them to do unassisted because they are very small.

The two ramps at the reflecting pool are a new feature whose arrival Monday attracted attention (from humans, at least) only after a congressman voiced his displeasure. This is happening in Washington, after all, so it may not surprise you to hear that the duck ramps were controversial…

In a statement posted online on Monday, Erin Courtney, a spokeswoman for the architect’s office, said that the ramps were needed because getting into and out of the reflecting pool, just west of the Capitol, often posed a problem for the ducklings. Four families of mallards have “made the pool their home,” she said…

Anne Lewis, the president of City Wildlife, said a ramp could be the difference between life and death for the ducklings. “Ducklings get into the water — often helped there by visitors — and then can’t get out because of the high curb at the water’s edge,” she said in an email. “They will drown from exhaustion or die of starvation unless they have a way to get out of the water.”

Your modern GOP: People angry that “mooching” baby ducks aren’t literally dying in front of them.

Duckling update: Ramp in Use! pic.twitter.com/34E6oJOkCF

— U.S. Capitol (@uscapitol) May 16, 2017

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Previous Post: « Oh boy… now it is getting real and weird
Next Post: Pens vs. Sens open thread »

Reader Interactions

159Comments

  1. 1.

    Baud

    May 17, 2017 at 7:11 pm

    This might anger more people than the treason thing.

  2. 2.

    Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (Formerly Mumphrey, et al.)

    May 17, 2017 at 7:15 pm

    I keep waiting for Republicans to just give in to their deepest wishes and bring up a bill outlawing the A.S.P.C.A. and the Humane Society. After that, they can vote to outlaw all charity altogether.

  3. 3.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    May 17, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    TWO fucking ramps?

    TWO????

    What’s a new fucking aircraft carrier cost?

    And what did Ross say about Drumpf’s $100MM plus Cruise missile attack on Syria?

    “After-dinner entertainment?”

    There is no circle of Hell hot enough for assholes like this to roast in…

  4. 4.

    Major Major Major Major

    May 17, 2017 at 7:17 pm

    I used to have two ducks. They were named Bernard and The Archduke.

  5. 5.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 7:19 pm

    @Baud: Sad but true.

  6. 6.

    West of the Rockies (been a while)

    May 17, 2017 at 7:19 pm

    boyish squealing…

    There’s a new Star Trek Discovery show on CBS this fall. Trailer on YouTube. It looks very promising!

  7. 7.

    dmsilev

    May 17, 2017 at 7:19 pm

    Republicans are literally attacking cute little ducklings. What’s next, a screed against apple pie?

  8. 8.

    Mnemosyne

    May 17, 2017 at 7:19 pm

    @Baud:

    Didn’t the more conservative guy in the NYC mayor’s race a few years ago lose in part because he bitched about the Transit Authority halting the subway to rescue some kittens?

    Don’t mess with the baby animals, people. It’s the one big thing that crosses party lines.

  9. 9.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 7:20 pm

    If it looks like an ass and smells like an ass, its Mark Walter.

  10. 10.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:20 pm

    Evening folks…

    @ananavarro
    Email from Mexican friend:

    “Tell ur Republican friends, we won’t pay for Trump’s Wall, but we’ll pitch-in for his impeachment proceedings!”

  11. 11.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    May 17, 2017 at 7:20 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: Ducks are very cool… they have personality… ever been up to Sac River Valley in the wintertime when MILLIONS and MILLIONS of ducks and geese winter there?

  12. 12.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 7:20 pm

    @dmsilev:

    What’s next, a screed against apple pie?

    Baseball first, I think.

  13. 13.

    ruemara

    May 17, 2017 at 7:20 pm

    They literally cannot help themselves in being stupid.

  14. 14.

    dmsilev

    May 17, 2017 at 7:20 pm

    Also, that Congressman should consider seeing his (paid for with tax dollars) optometrist. That ramp doesn’t really look all that much like a duck, and it’s not walking at all.

  15. 15.

    Baud

    May 17, 2017 at 7:21 pm

    @lamh36: I bet even Mexico would pay for that!

  16. 16.

    p.a.

    May 17, 2017 at 7:21 pm

    Rethugs to backtrack on the ramps: those aren’t Black Ducks.

  17. 17.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:21 pm

    @yashar
    CNN’s @LauraAJarrett is reporting that AG Jeff Sessions was informed AFTER Deputy AG Rosenstein signed the Special Counsel order.

  18. 18.

    West of the Rockies (been a while)

    May 17, 2017 at 7:22 pm

    @Thru the Looking Glass…:

    We need those tax dollars for more MOABs! Oh, and presidential trips to Grope-a-Lago.

  19. 19.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:22 pm

    Bwhahaha…so not only will there be twitter rants about the special counsel, but ya’ll KNOW he’s gonna have something to say bout Ryan and McCarthy joking bout him…

    http://www.reactiongifs.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/tumblr_ljh0puClWT1qfkt17.gif

  20. 20.

    dmsilev

    May 17, 2017 at 7:22 pm

    I think we can state with some assurance that Republicans are objectively pro-clubbing-baby-seals.

  21. 21.

    chopper

    May 17, 2017 at 7:22 pm

    and how much is the f-35 costing us? but oh yeah, here’s a five dollar fucking duck ramp.

  22. 22.

    West of the Rockies (been a while)

    May 17, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    @lamh36:

    Oh, burrrrn!

  23. 23.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    May 17, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    @Smedley Darlington Prunebanks (Formerly Mumphrey, et al.): Hell, I’m waiting for them to decide it’s time to resume commercial whaling…

    Chattel slavery won’t be far behind… perhaps they’ll be satisfied w/ indentured servitude…

  24. 24.

    Comrade Colette Collaboratrice

    May 17, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    Alexandra Petri, National Treasure.

    He’s a human Failure to Read the User’s Manual.

  25. 25.

    Major Major Major Major

    May 17, 2017 at 7:23 pm

    @Thru the Looking Glass…: I’ve tooled around the valley in the winter but never noticed lots of ducks and geese. Mostly noticed the traffic because I was trying to get through the valley.

  26. 26.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:24 pm

    Republicans on tv talking about they wanted an independent investigation…like they aint’ been stalling since Jan!

    I wish one reporter would call them on the lies.

  27. 27.

    SiubhanDuinne

    May 17, 2017 at 7:25 pm

    @lamh36:

    This day just keeps getting better and better.

  28. 28.

    Jay Noble

    May 17, 2017 at 7:26 pm

    What would it cost to change the locks on the White House while Trump is outta town?

  29. 29.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 7:26 pm

    @chopper: Eight dollars.

  30. 30.

    Cheryl Rofer

    May 17, 2017 at 7:27 pm

    Today is an anniversary!

    Televised Senate Watergate hearings began today 1973: #AP pic.twitter.com/Cd8Dxl6bob

    — Michael Beschloss (@BeschlossDC) May 17, 2017

  31. 31.

    hovercraft

    May 17, 2017 at 7:27 pm

    I swear every one of these fuckers tore the wings off of insects as kids and I;m sure they are cruel to their pets. These people are sociopaths, how much fucking money are these fuckers wasting to fly home to their districts every five minutes to attend to constituent services, and then refuse to meet their fucking constituents?

  32. 32.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:28 pm

    @KatyTurNBC
    “I look forward to this matter concluding quickly” – POTUS statement on special counsel

    Yeah…Cheeto…That’s not how this works…

  33. 33.

    Cheryl Rofer

    May 17, 2017 at 7:28 pm

    Trump statement on the special counsel. Def. not in his voice. pic.twitter.com/EAVryRj8Ax

    — Garance Franke-Ruta (@thegarance) May 17, 2017

  34. 34.

    Mary G

    May 17, 2017 at 7:29 pm

    Rep. Dana Rohrabacher responds to WaPo story on McCarthy saying that Putin pays Rohrabacher/Trump, gets on dinosaur farts tangent pic.twitter.com/I4YFtvv8Uo— Tim Mak (@timkmak) May 17, 2017

    He never actually answered the question. Corrupt AND stupid is no way to go through life, son.

  35. 35.

    Baud

    May 17, 2017 at 7:30 pm

    @Cheryl Rofer: Hahahaha. That’s so not Trump. Trump would actually be offended by that. Can’t wait for him to tweet.

  36. 36.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:30 pm

    @KatyTurNBC
    “I look forward to this matter concluding quickly” – POTUS statement on special counsel

    Yeah…Cheeto…that’s not how this works…
    https://media.giphy.com/media/2fs2I4ujlBf20/giphy-downsized-large.gif

  37. 37.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 7:30 pm

    @Mary G:

    gets on dinosaur farts tangent

    And that sound you just heard was the Onion jumping off a ledge.

  38. 38.

    ThresherK

    May 17, 2017 at 7:31 pm

    a congressman voiced his displeasure. This is happening in Washington, after all, so it may not surprise you to hear that the duck ramps were controversial…

    I’m surprised that the NYT managed to identify the politician who doesn’t like ducklings as a Republcan in the first four paragraphs.

  39. 39.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:31 pm

    Yeah that’s not how this works.

    https://media.giphy.com/media/2fs2I4ujlBf20/giphy-downsized-large.gif

    @KatyTurNBC
    “I look forward to this matter concluding quickly” – POTUS statement on special counsel

  40. 40.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    May 17, 2017 at 7:31 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: Ya gotta go to the right refuges…

    Birds taking off from Colusa Nat Wildlife Refuge

    At just the right moment, it’s spectacular… 1st thing in the morning, when they’re off to forage, or right before sunset when they come back to roost for the night…

    The sandhill cranes all go to Consumnes…

    (I’m a very big fan of birds…)

  41. 41.

    Patricia Kayden

    May 17, 2017 at 7:31 pm

    This from the party that okayed hunting hibernating bears. I swear that Republicans hate everyone and everything but 1%-ers.

  42. 42.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:32 pm

    ok…why am I in moderation?
    not how this works…

  43. 43.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:32 pm

    https://media.giphy.com/media/2fs2I4ujlBf20/giphy-downsized-large.gif

  44. 44.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:33 pm

    @Cheryl Rofer:smh… That’s not how this works…Cheeto…smh

  45. 45.

    Major Major Major Major

    May 17, 2017 at 7:33 pm

    @Thru the Looking Glass…: Oh, wow, cool. And here I think I’m spoiled because I work right by a heronry.

  46. 46.

    Patricia Kayden

    May 17, 2017 at 7:34 pm

    @lamh36: They’ll soon tell you that they love the ACA and it was actually all their idea. And when Trump leaves office, they’ll ask “Trump who?” Republicans really are a mess.

  47. 47.

    bemused senior

    May 17, 2017 at 7:35 pm

    @Thru the Looking Glass…: Sacramento national wildlife preserve ftw.

  48. 48.

    Major Major Major Major

    May 17, 2017 at 7:35 pm

    PSA, for the tweeters out there, Twitter has a new privacy and data policy that you’ll want to opt out of. They should give you a little pop-up the next time you visit the site; click the tiny link at the bottom to get to all the boxes you’ll want to uncheck, or just go here.

  49. 49.

    Corner Stone

    May 17, 2017 at 7:37 pm

    @Cheryl Rofer: Trump is going to pull a Spicer-Pence-McMaster switcheroo. He will undercut this bullshit statement, by his own words, either in a tweet or interview soundbyte in 24 hours or less.

  50. 50.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:39 pm

    @Patricia Kayden: and of course already they are back to saying “this is too soon for impeachment” talk…as I said in previous thread this gets them a breather, but as some have pointed out…this is a essentially looking for criminal activity at this point…the idea that ANYTHING will get done by this Pres until this special counsel is done…

    The Dems better NOT be making ANY deals until it is all all done.

  51. 51.

    Ladyraxterinok

    May 17, 2017 at 7:40 pm

    Hasn’t everyone read the kid’s book Make Way for Ducklings (1941)?? It’s a classic!! GOP is INSANE

  52. 52.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:41 pm

    @AlGiordano 30m30 minutes ago
    More
    Al Giordano Retweeted Twitter Moments
    Mueller is a high school classmate of John Kerry, and a good friend of Leon Panetta. This should be interesting…

  53. 53.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 7:42 pm

    @Patricia Kayden:

    This from the party that okayed hunting hibernating bears.

    In all fairness to them, hunting an active bear would probably end up with the bear eating them.

  54. 54.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    May 17, 2017 at 7:42 pm

    @bemused senior: There’s more than one up there… it’s a complex w/ five refuges total in it… Colusa is one of them…

    There’s also Gray Lodge which is managed by the St of CA…

  55. 55.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 7:42 pm

    @lamh36: And we now know how FOX is gonna play it.

  56. 56.

    JDM

    May 17, 2017 at 7:43 pm

    Trust me, in the mid-terms some Republican will do an ad showing him stomping ducklings and his base voters (pun intended) will love him for it.

  57. 57.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    May 17, 2017 at 7:43 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: Blue herons?

    They’re really cool… they look so prehistoric…

  58. 58.

    Major Major Major Major

    May 17, 2017 at 7:43 pm

    @lamh36:

    Mueller is a high school classmate of John Kerry, and a good friend of Leon Panetta.

    DRAIN THE SWAMP

  59. 59.

    Patricia Kayden

    May 17, 2017 at 7:44 pm

    @lamh36:

    The Dems better NOT be making ANY deals until it is all all done.

    I get the feeling that the Democrats are up for the fight and know that they have absolutely nothing to lose by standing firm against Trump. There is zero reason for them to help Republicans pass any legislation or anything else at this point.

    Let Trump continue to drag the entire Republican Party down and don’t throw them any lifelines.

  60. 60.

    Baud

    May 17, 2017 at 7:46 pm

    @Patricia Kayden: Impeachment is ON the table.

  61. 61.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    May 17, 2017 at 7:47 pm

    @West of the Rockies (been a while): Well… in all honesty, baby ducks can’t blow anything up…

  62. 62.

    Corner Stone

    May 17, 2017 at 7:48 pm

    Somebody locate Cheryl and Adam’s physical location and setup coffee and/or energy drink IV’s STAT!!

  63. 63.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    May 17, 2017 at 7:49 pm

    @Patricia Kayden:

    Let Trump continue to drag the entire Republican Party down and don’t throw them any lifelines.

    I say we tie Trump around their collective necks like an anchor and push ’em all overboard…

    In DEEP water…

  64. 64.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:49 pm

    @Patricia Kayden: they better…I have more trust in Pelosi than Schumer but I do think they know better for sure

  65. 65.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:51 pm

    Someone pondered, can the Special Counsel advice Cheeto NOT to leave?

    @EricBoehlert
    Trump’s foreign trip may double as farewell tour?

  66. 66.

    efgoldman

    May 17, 2017 at 7:52 pm

    @TenguPhule:

    hunting an active bear would probably end up with the bear eating them

    Yes, and?

  67. 67.

    Immanentize

    May 17, 2017 at 7:53 pm

    On post point. At my undergrad college, SUNY Binghamton, they created new ramps so that little lizards that fell into the road in the nature preserve could get out without getting squashed or fry.

  68. 68.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 7:54 pm

    @efgoldman: Giving bears a taste for human flesh doesn’t strike me as a good idea.

    They are bigger and faster then we are, after all.

  69. 69.

    mdblanche

    May 17, 2017 at 7:55 pm

    CBS News‏ @CBSNews

    WATCH: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell makes no comment after Robert Mueller appointed special counsel by DOJ

  70. 70.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 7:56 pm

    @Thru the Looking Glass…: Gonna need a bigger rope.

  71. 71.

    Roger Moore

    May 17, 2017 at 7:56 pm

    @Jay Noble:

    What would it cost to change the locks on the White House while Trump is outta town?

    It would be cheaper just not to fly him back. That way we’d save on fuel, too.

  72. 72.

    Barbara

    May 17, 2017 at 7:57 pm

    Once when I was on the way to work, driving down Constitution Avenue, a family of ducks decided to cross the street just like in Make Way For Ducklings. It was right around this location. I wish I had gotten a picture but the whole family made it across safely because every vehicle stopped to let them cross. I thought helping baby animals was one of the last bipartisan activities left in DC.

  73. 73.

    SiubhanDuinne

    May 17, 2017 at 7:57 pm

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    Well now there’s a curious coinkydink.

  74. 74.

    MomSense

    May 17, 2017 at 7:58 pm

    @Immanentize:

    We’ve had salmon ladders next to our dams forevah.

  75. 75.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 7:58 pm

    WHAT DA FUCK!!!

    Gay Russians Are Trying To Flee Kidnapping And Torture. The US Has Denied Them Visas. https://www.buzzfeed.com/lesterfeder/us-denies-visas-to-gay-russians-fleeing-kidnapping-and?utm_term=.nmW7O376e via @jlfeder

  76. 76.

    Baud

    May 17, 2017 at 7:59 pm

    @lamh36: Peter Thiel will fix it!

  77. 77.

    SiubhanDuinne

    May 17, 2017 at 7:59 pm

    @mdblanche:

    He’s in it up to his necks.

  78. 78.

    dmsilev

    May 17, 2017 at 8:01 pm

    @Roger Moore: Not much fuel savings. We’d still want the plane back; it was expensive.

  79. 79.

    trollhattan

    May 17, 2017 at 8:01 pm

    @lamh36:
    Just herd 5 minutes of John Ashcroft(!) on NPR practically elevating Muller to sainthood, so it would appear the usual attacks may not work. Adroit choice on Justice’s part, perhaps.

  80. 80.

    TS

    May 17, 2017 at 8:01 pm

    And the special counsel comes the day after Wilmer said it wasn’t needed.

  81. 81.

    Ladyraxterinok

    May 17, 2017 at 8:02 pm

    @Ladyraxterinok: Story does take place in Boston, that notorious hot bed of rebellion. So I guess it makes sense that GOP has come out against ducklings!

  82. 82.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 8:02 pm

    @dmsilev: They don’t need to land, just kick him out at 30,000 feet and fly home.

  83. 83.

    Baud

    May 17, 2017 at 8:02 pm

    @TS: Cite?

  84. 84.

    Roger Moore

    May 17, 2017 at 8:03 pm

    @TenguPhule:

    In all fairness to them, hunting an active bear would probably end up with the bear eating them.

    Not if they were in a helicopter, which they definitely like doing.

  85. 85.

    NotMax

    May 17, 2017 at 8:05 pm

    Surprised he didn’t insist they pull themselves up by their palmate straps.

  86. 86.

    JWR

    May 17, 2017 at 8:05 pm

    @lamh36:

    @Patricia Kayden: and of course already they are back to saying “this is too soon for impeachment”

    On my local CBS affiliate, reporter asks Jake friggin’ Tapper about the I word. Tapper says, almost to the word, that it’s too soon for impeachment. Grr.

  87. 87.

    germy

    May 17, 2017 at 8:06 pm

    @mdblanche:

    WATCH: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell makes no comment after Robert Mueller appointed special counsel by DOJ

    Thank you for the link. Seeing that video went a long way to brighten my mood.

    He looks a bit scared behind the tight little smile.

  88. 88.

    Doug R

    May 17, 2017 at 8:06 pm

    @lamh36: Good Riddance I say.

  89. 89.

    Roger Moore

    May 17, 2017 at 8:07 pm

    @TenguPhule:

    Giving bears a taste for human flesh doesn’t strike me as a good idea.

    It all boils down to whether Republicans taste different from Democrats…

  90. 90.

    mdblanche

    May 17, 2017 at 8:08 pm

    @germy:

    He looks a bit scared behind the tight little smile.

    I thought so too.

  91. 91.

    Roger Moore

    May 17, 2017 at 8:08 pm

    @Barbara:
    If Democrats want to help baby ducklings, Cleek’s Law says Republicans must want them dead.

  92. 92.

    NotMax

    May 17, 2017 at 8:09 pm

    @Roger Moore

    Can only eat a few bites at a time.

    Too rich.

  93. 93.

    Another Scott

    May 17, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    But what about the alligator snapping turtles? Do they get ramps, too?

    An individual was captured from the Reflecting Pool, in the Mall area of Washington, D.C., in August 1994 (Katz, 1994).

    […]

    Katz, C. 1994. Mall safari bags snapping turtle. The Washington Times 1994(8 August):C4

    IIRC, the turtle was eating goslings…

    Perhaps the good Representative is willing to give up his GFE cell phone and the like, to help reduce the spending that he’s so concerned about…

    (groucho-roll-eyes.gif)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  94. 94.

    Roger Moore

    May 17, 2017 at 8:10 pm

    @germy:

    He looks a bit scared behind the tight little smile.

    He ought to be frightened; he’s in up to the top of his shell with trump.

  95. 95.

    Major Major Major Major

    May 17, 2017 at 8:13 pm

    We have stairs coming out of the water feature at work for endangered salamanders.

  96. 96.

    NR

    May 17, 2017 at 8:13 pm

    @TS:

    And the special counsel comes the day after Wilmer said it wasn’t needed.

    Source on that? Because this is from last week.

    On Wednesday, Sanders renewed his concern about Comey’s firing, calling for a special counsel to look into what the Trump administration might be hiding and why it may have wanted to stop Comey’s investigation.

  97. 97.

    germy

    May 17, 2017 at 8:13 pm

    @Roger Moore: Are there restrictions on the special prosecutor? Can he go wherever the evidence takes him (like Ken Starr did) or is he limited?

  98. 98.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 8:15 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    It all boils down to whether Republicans taste different from Democrats…

    Fairly certain bears aren’t that picky when it comes to flavor.

  99. 99.

    Gravenstone

    May 17, 2017 at 8:15 pm

    @lamh36: Well, Sessions *is* supposed to be recused from all things related to the Russian affair. So no need to let him know ahead of time.

  100. 100.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 8:16 pm

    @Another Scott: Well now we know what Murtle Mcconnell was doing on his lunch breaks.

  101. 101.

    Frankensteinbeck

    May 17, 2017 at 8:20 pm

    @mdblanche:
    If McConnell is implicated, all Hell will be out for noon. Twitler is a figurehead. McConnell is the real mastermind murdering our democracy.

  102. 102.

    the Conster, la Citoyenne

    May 17, 2017 at 8:21 pm

    @NR:

    oh look – Wilmer’s old man jock sniffer showed up.

    Here’s some more FAKE NEWS for you.

  103. 103.

    Gravenstone

    May 17, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    @efgoldman: Which is the greater act of animal abuse, shooting a defenseless bear or feeding Republicans to them?

  104. 104.

    Fair Economist

    May 17, 2017 at 8:22 pm

    @TenguPhule:

    They don’t need to land, just kick him out at 30,000 feet and fly home.

    The Argentine Junta solution.

  105. 105.

    Another Scott

    May 17, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    @germy: Horse’s mouth:

    Department of Justice
    Office of Public Affairs
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    Wednesday, May 17, 2017
    Appointment of Special Counsel

    Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein today announced the appointment of former Department of Justice official and FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III to serve as Special Counsel to oversee the previously-confirmed FBI investigation of Russian government efforts to influence the 2016 presidential election and related matters.

    “In my capacity as acting Attorney General, I determined that it is in the public interest for me to exercise my authority and appoint a Special Counsel to assume responsibility for this matter,” said Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein. “My decision is not a finding that crimes have been committed or that any prosecution is warranted. I have made no such determination. What I have determined is that based upon the unique circumstances, the public interest requires me to place this investigation under the authority of a person who exercises a degree of independence from the normal chain of command.”

    Deputy Attorney General Rosenstein added, “Each year, the career professionals of the U.S. Department of Justice conduct tens of thousands of criminal investigations and handle countless other matters without regard to partisan political considerations. I have great confidence in the independence and integrity of our people and our processes. Considering the unique circumstances of this matter, however, I determined that a Special Counsel is necessary in order for the American people to have full confidence in the outcome. Our nation is grounded on the rule of law, and the public must be assured that government officials administer the law fairly. Special Counsel Mueller will have all appropriate resources to conduct a thorough and complete investigation, and I am confident that he will follow the facts, apply the law and reach a just result.”

    Special Counsel Mueller has agreed to resign from his private law firm in order to avoid any conflicts of interest with firm clients or attorneys.

    A copy of the order is attached.

    The order says:

    […]

    The Special Counsel is authorized to conduct the investigation confirmed by then-FBI Director James 8. Corney in testimony before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on March 20, 2017, including:

    (i) any links and/or coordination bet ween the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump; and

    (ii) any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation; and

    (iii) any other matters within the scope of 28 C.F.R. § 600.4(a).

    (c) If the Special Counsel believes it is necessary and appropriate, the Special Counsel is authorized to prosecute federal crimes arising from the investigation of these matters.

    (d) Sections 600.4 through 600. l 0 of Title 28 of the Code of Federal Regulations are applicable to the Special Counsel.

    It seems pretty broad, with the potential to become broader, but I’m no expert, and IANAL.

    HTH.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  106. 106.

    NR

    May 17, 2017 at 8:23 pm

    @trollhattan: He was a former FBI director for 12 years under W Bush and Obama. He has a reputation as a straight shooter. I hope it’s accurate.

  107. 107.

    Fair Economist

    May 17, 2017 at 8:24 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    If McConnell is implicated, all Hell will be out for noon.

    McConnell is certainly in on this somehow – he was told about the evidence for interfence in the fall and chose to help cover it up. The question is why is he in on it, and is there proof? (Proof to a legal standard, that is.)

  108. 108.

    germy

    May 17, 2017 at 8:26 pm

    @Another Scott: thank you.

  109. 109.

    boatboy_srq

    May 17, 2017 at 8:31 pm

    Member of Congress going after, like, the best $20 the government spends just supported an $883 billion tax cut called AHCA.

    I believe the [cough cough] distinguished gentleman [cough cough] would say that he was interested in supporting only the good, healthy ducklings who didn’t need ADA-mandated accommodations.

    /s

  110. 110.

    debbie

    May 17, 2017 at 8:32 pm

    Ramps are for sissies!

  111. 111.

    bemused senior

    May 17, 2017 at 8:33 pm

    @Thru the Looking Glass…: been there, but not for a couple of years.

  112. 112.

    debbie

    May 17, 2017 at 8:34 pm

    @Roger Moore:

    Has his little smile ever not been tight?

  113. 113.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 8:35 pm

    @brianstelter 18m18 minutes ago
    More
    Whoa. @TuckerCarlson says White House offered him an interview with @KellyannePolls tonight, then “they cancelled it” right before airtime

  114. 114.

    germy

    May 17, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    @debbie:

    Has his little smile ever not been tight?

    What I noticed is how his smile fades as he walks past the reporter. His expression changes to anxiety.

  115. 115.

    p.a.

    May 17, 2017 at 8:36 pm

    Duncan Black is a cynic. I hate that they’re often right.

    Lawyer Up
    I have no idea if Robert Mueller, SPECIAL COUNSEL, will do what needs to be done, but he will at least have to pretend to, and the way to pretend to is to go after the little people. Anyone working for Trump needs to hire a lawyer and get the fuck out of there as soon as possible.
    by Atrios at 18:46

  116. 116.

    debbie

    May 17, 2017 at 8:37 pm

    @Baud:

    If you’re right, they better not screw this up.

  117. 117.

    Roger Moore

    May 17, 2017 at 8:37 pm

    @Fair Economist:
    Remember that McConnell’s wife is Secretary of Transportation. Unfortunately, proving the appointment was a payment for services rendered would require documentary evidence that is probably lacking.

  118. 118.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 8:38 pm

    @JoyAnnReid

    Following
    More
    Joy Reid Retweeted
    As if on cue, Russia’s little helpers go after Mueller:

    https://twitter.com/JoyAnnReid/status/865001115074437120

  119. 119.

    Ceci n est pas mon nym

    May 17, 2017 at 8:42 pm

    Hooray for baby ducks! Nice relief from a little goose tragedy I may have witnessed last week (somehow as I age I seem to be more aware of the less peaceful side of nature around our pleasant human parks and suburbs).

    Came into work and saw two adult geese with two little yellow fuzzballs wandering the parking lot (there’s a pond nearby). “Aha”, I thought, “it’s that time of year again. Cute little guys, must have just hatched in the last couple days. Funny that there only two of them though…”

    Came out at the end of the day and found one little fuzzball wandering the parking lot alone. No other geese in sight anywhere.

    What happened? Did some predator eat the rest of the family? Or perhaps attack the adults and they had to flee, abandoning the chicks? I’ll never know.

    And then as I drove home I saw the main flock, which is YUUUGE (and boy do those things poop). So it’s not like this little tragedy is going to impact the local population much.

  120. 120.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 8:44 pm

    @CBSNews
    As special counsel, Mueller will be given civil service protections; won’t be able to be removed by the president, @stevenportnoy reports.

  121. 121.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 8:44 pm

    @NR: So did Comey. So forgive me for being more then a little gunshy here.

  122. 122.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    May 17, 2017 at 8:46 pm

    @TenguPhule: And longer too…

  123. 123.

    lamh36

    May 17, 2017 at 8:46 pm

    @matthewamiller
    Just wait until Trump finds out the regs allowing a special counsel to be appointed were drafted by @EricHolder.

  124. 124.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    May 17, 2017 at 8:48 pm

    @efgoldman: It’d probably make the poor bears sick…

  125. 125.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 8:49 pm

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    If McConnell is implicated, all Hell will be out for noon.

    For Mcconnell’s fall, I’d be out at dawn.

  126. 126.

    Origuy

    May 17, 2017 at 8:49 pm

    RusskiLeaks is already on the case.

    As if on cue, Russia's little helpers go after Mueller: https://t.co/UEu5iAEqIK— Joy Reid (@JoyAnnReid) May 18, 2017

  127. 127.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    May 17, 2017 at 8:51 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: Tiger salamanders?

  128. 128.

    Another Scott

    May 17, 2017 at 8:52 pm

    @lamh36: Putin and Russia aren’t going to suddenly give up their machinations now. They’re going to do as much damage as possible, as quickly as possible, while they think they’ve got the upper hand. Putin’s desperate to take advantage while he can, because he knows it’a all down-hill (in the USA and in Europe, and likely elsewhere) from here.

    I hope American voters are smart enough, and cool-headed enough, to look at the big picture when it comes to this propaganda. We need to stop letting our lizard brains control our reactions and our national policies…

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  129. 129.

    MisterForkbeard

    May 17, 2017 at 8:52 pm

    @Origuy: The best part is mentioned several responses down – that this was a planned thing to return Uranium stolen from Russia and caught in a sting. Which wikileaks conveniently left out.

  130. 130.

    TenguPhule

    May 17, 2017 at 8:54 pm

    @Another Scott:

    I hope American voters are smart enough, and cool-headed enough, to look at the big picture when it comes to this propaganda.

    I hope for a unicorn that farts gold dust.

    I think we’ll find the unicorn first.

  131. 131.

    Thru the Looking Glass...

    May 17, 2017 at 8:54 pm

    @germy:

    He looks a bit scared behind the tight little smile.

    Why… why… YES… he does look scared!

  132. 132.

    amk

    May 17, 2017 at 8:57 pm

    @Cheryl Rofer: his real official statements are/will be on twitter.

  133. 133.

    Felonius Monk

    May 17, 2017 at 8:58 pm

    @TS:

    And the special counsel comes the day after Wilmer said it wasn’t needed.

    That’s our boy Wilmer, alright. A day late and a dollar short and full of shit to boot.

  134. 134.

    SiubhanDuinne

    May 17, 2017 at 9:03 pm

    @Another Scott:

    I live in a townhouse, in a fairly large apartment complex, and my front door faces a little lagoon, which is nicely stocked with ducks, geese, and turtles.

    I love the geese, even when they delay me (as a family did, last Saturday, making me late to the cinema for the Met Opera’s final HD transmission of the season) and even when they shit everywhere, as they are wont to do. The adults are gorgeous, and the babies are just too cute.

    The first year I lived here — 2005 or thereabouts — I used to walk around the lagoon and admired the hundreds of turtles treading water and sunning thrmselves, when I witnessed a true “Nature red in tooth and claw” moment: a whole family of ducks (mother, father, perhaps nine or ten ducklings) were testing the waters when a turtle SNAP!! lurched up out of the lake, grabbed one of the babies, and it was history before the parents figured out how to count the remainder. It all happened literally in a few seconds, and actually wasn’t particularly sad — I mean, the turtles have to eat, too, right? — but it brought home that even in quiet suburbia there are issues of raw life and death.

    BTW, as a child (and secretly to this day) I always called them “dumplings and goblins.”

  135. 135.

    Anne Laurie

    May 17, 2017 at 9:04 pm

    @NR: Last night, Sanders said on CNN that he “wasn’t ready” to approve a special investigator.

    Today, the winds shifted, and St. Bernie hurried to get on the right — I mean, true progressive — side of history.

    “The people have spoken! As their leader, I must hurry to get in front of them!”

  136. 136.

    amk

    May 17, 2017 at 9:04 pm

    @TS: Guess bs is afraid his own russian connections might come out.

  137. 137.

    Kathleen

    May 17, 2017 at 9:05 pm

    @Roger Moore: Rethuglicans taste like chicken.

  138. 138.

    NotMax

    May 17, 2017 at 9:06 pm

    Meanwhile, for the overflowing Floriduh file:

    Florida man tries to kiss rattlesnake; gets bitten

  139. 139.

    amk

    May 17, 2017 at 9:09 pm

    A great thing about working for @BarackObama is that we never had to scrap our whole day at 9am because he threw a tantrum at cable tv— Cody Keenan (@codykeenan) May 12, 2017

  140. 140.

    Felonius Monk

    May 17, 2017 at 9:10 pm

    @Anne Laurie:

    “The people have spoken! As their leader, I must hurry to get in front of them!”

    No. More like “Whoops, I stepped in my own shit again. Well, on to the next revolution.”

  141. 141.

    p.a.

    May 17, 2017 at 9:10 pm

    @NotMax: did the rattlesnake survive?

  142. 142.

    amk

    May 17, 2017 at 9:12 pm

    @Anne Laurie:

    “The people have spoken! As their leader, I must hurry to get in front of them!”

    lol. mean girl.

  143. 143.

    amk

    May 17, 2017 at 9:13 pm

    Tillerson: "No way to know" if Russians bugged Oval Office during meeting https://t.co/S5guxv8k3G pic.twitter.com/QyAgyJ51SL— The Hill (@thehill) May 17, 2017

    jeez.

  144. 144.

    NotMax

    May 17, 2017 at 9:14 pm

    @p.a.

    Story says it’s disappeared.

    My guess is it is heading as fast as possible to get out of the state.

  145. 145.

    Omnes Omnibus

    May 17, 2017 at 9:17 pm

    @NotMax: Heading to a vet.

  146. 146.

    Major Major Major Major

    May 17, 2017 at 9:18 pm

    @Thru the Looking Glass…: you know it.

  147. 147.

    David ?I hope U can let this go? Koch

    May 17, 2017 at 9:18 pm

    DuckGate just pissed off Oregon.

  148. 148.

    amk

    May 17, 2017 at 9:20 pm

    has twitler invited mueller for dinner yet?

  149. 149.

    Fair Economist

    May 17, 2017 at 9:21 pm

    @MisterForkbeard:

    The best part is mentioned several responses down – that this was a planned thing to return Uranium stolen from Russia and caught in a sting. Which wikileaks conveniently left out.

    Ruskileaks has really gotten blatant that they’re just a Russian propaganda outfit.

  150. 150.

    David ?I hope U can let this go? Koch

    May 17, 2017 at 9:25 pm

    @Anne Laurie: Not only that, last week on CNN he said Richard Burr was trustworthy and then he admonished Democrats not make the investigation partition and called on Democrats to reach out to Republicans. (oy vey).

    He really thinks he can win over the working class racists if he’s soft on Trump.

  151. 151.

    Anne Laurie

    May 17, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    @amk: It’s a quote from Walt Kelly, mocking (IIRC) George Wallace c1971. I believe Kelly took it from another would-be caudillo — Franco, maybe?

  152. 152.

    BruceJ

    May 17, 2017 at 9:38 pm

    @Immanentize: Here in Baja Arizona they’ve built a number of wildlife bridges They’re working too..

  153. 153.

    amk

    May 17, 2017 at 9:40 pm

    @Anne Laurie: whatever its provenance, love it.

  154. 154.

    Gvg

    May 17, 2017 at 9:40 pm

    @NotMax: bet the guy was drunk. A lot of snake bites involve alcohol.

  155. 155.

    Miss Bianca

    May 17, 2017 at 10:01 pm

    @Anne Laurie: and here I’ve heard that quote attributed to Gandhi…

  156. 156.

    Omnes Omnibus

    May 17, 2017 at 10:02 pm

    @Gvg:

    A lot of snake bites involve alcohol.

    Of course.

  157. 157.

    NotMax

    May 17, 2017 at 10:11 pm

    @Omnes Omnibus

    I always keep a supply of stimulant handy in case I see a snake – which I also keep handy.

     ― W. C. Fields

  158. 158.

    NR

    May 17, 2017 at 10:30 pm

    @Felonius Monk:

    That’s our boy Wilmer, alright. A day late and a dollar short and full of shit to boot.

    Except it never happened. TS never gave a source for his claim, and Sanders has made plenty of public statements supporting a special counsel.

    Sad to see BJ embracing fake news.

  159. 159.

    NR

    May 17, 2017 at 10:35 pm

    @Anne Laurie: Do you even read your own links? Sanders was talking about impeachment, not a special counsel. Those are different things.

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