• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓
  • ←
  • →

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Hot air and ill-informed banter

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

“Just close your eyes and kiss the girl and go where the tilt-a-whirl takes you.” ~OzarkHillbilly

Republicans: “Abortion is murder but you can take a bus to get one.” Easy peasy.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

Relentless negativity is not a sign that you are more realistic.

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

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

He really is that stupid.

I’m more christian than these people and i’m an atheist.

When we show up, we win.

Giving up is unforgivable.

Yeah, with this crowd one never knows.

In my day, never was longer.

Tide comes in. Tide goes out. You can’t explain that.

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

Giving in to doom is how authoritarians win.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Consistently wrong since 2002

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

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

These days, even the boring Republicans are nuts.

Mobile Menu

  • 4 Directions VA 2025 Raffle
  • 2025 Activism
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!
You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / Thursday Morning Open Thread: The Great War Is Here

Thursday Morning Open Thread: The Great War Is Here

by Anne Laurie|  May 25, 20176:05 am| 148 Comments

This post is in: C.R.E.A.M., Open Threads, Republican Venality, Trump Crime Cartel, World's Best Healthcare (If You Can Afford It), Ever Get The Feeling You've Been Cheated?

FacebookTweetEmail

The great war begins 7.16.
Rally the realm. Share the official #GameofThrones Season 7 trailer. #GoTS7 pic.twitter.com/R3K5dm8ecc

— Game Of Thrones (@GameOfThrones) May 24, 2017

Paul Ryan and Mick Mulvaney are gonna get matching Blood for the Blood God tattoos…

… Released Wednesday, the CBO’s scoring of the new bill finds that a few cosmetic tweaks don’t change the fact that the AHCA remains a breathtakingly cruel bill…

The AHCA is cruel. There is no other word for it. If the law is enacted, people will die because of it.

Given recent headlines, Democrats naturally have been focused on ties between Donald Trump’s campaign and Russia and his related actions as president. But Democrats have to make the AHCA central to their plans for 2018 and beyond. In recent polling by the Kaiser Family Foundation, only 24 percent of Trump voters want him to decrease Medicaid spending, and 42 percent say that the program is somewhat or very important to them. Independents and Democrats are overwhelmingly against the bill. And for the vast majority of Americans, health care is a visceral issue, something that affects their everyday lives. We’ve seen this reflected in the sharp confrontations between GOP members of Congress and their constituents, who are furious at their representatives’ support for a bill that voters do not want. For moral — not just political — reasons, Republicans must be made to regret their AHCA vote.

Well, pretty sure they think they're gods anyway. pic.twitter.com/bjOIA1Lxq3

— Schooley (@Rschooley) May 24, 2017

Key dynamic: What matters more $119 billion in savings or 23 million uninsured by 2026?

— Chris Cillizza (@CillizzaCNN) May 24, 2017

Seems like a good time for a reminder that, prior to the ACA, lack of insurance killed an est. 45,000 people a year. https://t.co/ZW1yRl3zEv

— Jess (@soaringleap424) May 24, 2017

Jeanne Lambrew, in the NYTimes, “Republicans, Get Ready for the Trumpcare Headlines”:

… If the Senate makes this flawed bill law, Republicans will have the chance to watch, all the way up to the midterm elections, as Americans pay higher premiums and lose coverage. By the time the bill’s full changes went into effect in 2020, many of those who voted for it could be long gone…

President Trump has repeatedly said that Obamacare should be blamed for any problems in the individual market this year and next. Yet many of the predicted premium increases are actually a reaction to the attempts to repeal Obamacare, an attempt on the part of insurance companies to protect themselves from the uncertainty induced by the congressional debate and President Trump’s executive actions. And poll after poll shows a majority of Americans dislike the Republican approach and will hold Republicans responsible for any future problems.

So Republicans citing Obamacare headlines should take a moment to imagine the likely Trumpcare headlines and what they will mean for their job security.

40 pro-Trumpcare Republicans revealed to own lots of healthcare stock https://t.co/TTp3BifUP2 pic.twitter.com/LrVWWvTXkS

— deathandtaxes (@DeathAndTaxes) May 24, 2017

Since Mormons aren’t supposed to ‘disfigure their bodies’ with tattoos, the First Rat Off the GOP House Ship is feeling pretty good about his latest career choice…

Chaffetz on leaving Congress: "At some point, you've got to get off this crazy train" https://t.co/EDHULpVSDg pic.twitter.com/vCUQ4vYuxR

— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) May 25, 2017

When it's on fire and falling off a bridge and also you helped set the fire is a good time. https://t.co/O9hfcrJnGK

— Schooley (@Rschooley) May 25, 2017

Apart from that freighted discussion, what’s on the agenda for the day?

Gianforte lost his shit over a question about the CBO score, if you want to know how confident Republicans feel about defending their bill.

— Matthew Yglesias (@mattyglesias) May 25, 2017

@danbbaer Regardless, Dems now have an excellent talking point on AHCA: "GOP would rather commit assault than discuss their healthcare bill"

— Christopher Jarmas (@jarmascm) May 25, 2017

FacebookTweetEmail
Previous Post: « On The Road
Next Post: ACHA review »

Reader Interactions

148Comments

  1. 1.

    rikyrah

    May 25, 2017 at 6:12 am

    Good Morning, Everyone ???

  2. 2.

    albertZ

    May 25, 2017 at 6:13 am

    Game of Thrones? Never heard of it. Any good?

  3. 3.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 6:16 am

    Good morning. WaPost has link to Obama and Merkel, in Q&A session LIVE NOW at the Brandenburg Gate. Lots of the program in German, but always lovely to start the morning with Barack Obama, unfiltered. Large, enthusiastic crowd, listening attentively.

    http://www.washingtonpost.com

  4. 4.

    p.a.

    May 25, 2017 at 6:16 am

    @rikyrah: good morning! (searching for yawny face… none found…)

  5. 5.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 25, 2017 at 6:22 am

    SSDD.

  6. 6.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    May 25, 2017 at 6:23 am

    Chuck Todd‏ @chucktodd

    Our politics is beyond broken. A) this shouldn’t be seen as a successful strategy. B) paid professionals should be ashamed exploiting it

    BOTH SIDES!!

  7. 7.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    May 25, 2017 at 6:24 am

    Eric Boehlert‏ @EricBoehlert

    Eric Boehlert Retweeted Chuck Todd

    “our politics”?? you misspelled “the Republican Party”

    Mark A.R. Kleiman‏ @MarkARKleiman

    It succeeds because reporters like Chuck Todd
    say “Our politics is beyond broken”
    when what needs saying is
    “The GOP is a bunch of thugs.”

  8. 8.

    satby

    May 25, 2017 at 6:25 am

    @rikyrah: Good morning! ? And it is hopeful at least, if our brain dead media is reporting the truth about the sadism of the AHCA.

  9. 9.

    JPL

    May 25, 2017 at 6:26 am

    @Elizabelle: Wow. The crowd size appears to be larger than those at Trump’s inauguration. hmmm

  10. 10.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 6:28 am

    @JPL: Yes. And more fit, too!

  11. 11.

    Just one more canuck

    May 25, 2017 at 6:29 am

    @albertZ: think Monty Python and the Holy Grail meets Caligula

  12. 12.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 6:30 am

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: What’s the Toddster rabbiting on about now? Did David Brooks write his talking points for him?

    Now, a question in German about the Stephen Colbert show. Can’t wait to find out what it is … tune in.

  13. 13.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    May 25, 2017 at 6:32 am

    Neo-Liberal Obama draws 250,000 in Berlin

    Photo #1

    Photo #2

    Photo #3

    BERLIN (AP) — Barack Obama received a rock-star welcome in Berlin as he appeared at a public debate Thursday with Chancellor Angela Merkel, whom he praised as one of his “favorite partners” during his presidency.

    They treat him like he’s a big deal or something. SMH.

  14. 14.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    May 25, 2017 at 6:33 am

    @Elizabelle: He’s blaming last night’s assault in Montana on …… wait for it…….. the republicans BOTH SIDES!!!

  15. 15.

    Betty Cracker

    May 25, 2017 at 6:33 am

    Here’s a sign of how AHCA support is going over in my R+20 district:

    Spotted on I-75 near Ellenton, FL: @VernBuchanan BETRAYED 274,300 constituents with pre-existing conditions. Bravo, @action2gethersc! #AHCA pic.twitter.com/hL0I01kRlT

    — Indivisible FL-13 (@IndivisibleFL13) May 24, 2017

  16. 16.

    Amir Khalid

    May 25, 2017 at 6:33 am

    @Elizabelle:
    Not that I want to harsh your mellow or anything, but try imagining Trump in Obama’s place at that Q&A session. For the life of me, I can’t.

  17. 17.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 6:35 am

    Obama says his focus is going to be creating a network to train the next generation of leaders. Totally sidestepped whatever about Colbert … wondering if it was the comment that drew FCC attention.

    Seems program is concluding. Obama ended saying he wanted to be a better husband to Michelle.

    Somebody’s got a sign up: Please stay. Our elections are coming.

    Massive applause and waving and hopping at Obama. Young crowd.

    Happy for them. Melancholy that there is so much more Obama could have achieved, if we didn’t have Mitch McConnell and our servile awful Republicans obstructing at every turn.

  18. 18.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    May 25, 2017 at 6:36 am

    Even the liberal Willie Geist:

    I’ve got Morning Blow on in the background and Geist just said the GOP healthcare plan exposes them as immoral.

    Baby steps, baby steps.

  19. 19.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 6:37 am

    @Amir Khalid: I don’t see der Trump’s handlers allowing him anywhere near anything but a rally of his Trump supporters. Hall/arena rental getting cheaper by the day. His appeal is “becoming more selective.”

    In fact, I don’t think I heard the word “Trump” throughout the whole program. Will check the transcript when it’s finally up. (In translation, please.)

  20. 20.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 6:38 am

    @rikyrah: Good morning.

  21. 21.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 6:40 am

    @Elizabelle: His next rally will probably be in a honky tonk bar in Amarillo.

  22. 22.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 6:41 am

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: LOL. The CNN headline: Merkel meets with Trump in a few hours? No wonder she was less bouncy than her retired peer.

    And the second photo: had no idea the crowd was that large.

    Proud of the Germans. They are turning up to say, we don’t want a Trump (and LePen) world.

  23. 23.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 6:43 am

    how is #maga working out for ya numbnutz?

    The police decision to stop sharing information specifically about the Manchester attack with their security counterparts in the US is a hugely significant move and shows how angry British authorities are.

    The information from the crime scene wasn’t shared on a whim: the British and Americans have a lot of shared world-leading expertise in improvised explosive devices and scientists would be discussing whether the Manchester device tells them something new that could, ultimately, track down a bomb-maker.

    Other sharing will continue. The UK and US share a vast amount of information about terror and espionage threats – its a tight-knit network that also encompasses Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

    That system is based on trust and the “control principle”: if a piece of intelligence is shared, the receiving nation has no right to further disseminate it without permission.

  24. 24.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 25, 2017 at 6:43 am

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: Fake news.

  25. 25.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 6:44 am

    @Baud: Oh. That’s an idea for a thread right there. What’s on the jukebox?

    Laughing at the image.

    More seriously, has Trump had any large public appearances on this trip? I think his handlers know he would get booed, massively, unless he’s in a repressive country.

    Loving the photo with the Pope and the widow ladies. (What? No?)

  26. 26.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    May 25, 2017 at 6:47 am

    @Elizabelle: If Merkel wants to win she better bring Bernie over pronto and start railing against the oligarchy.

  27. 27.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 6:50 am

    @amk: Wow. From your BBC link:

    Home Secretary Amber Rudd had said she was “irritated” by the disclosure of Abedi’s identity against the UK’s wishes and had warned Washington “it should not happen again”.

    However, the pictures of debris – which appear to show bloodstained fragments from the bomb and the backpack used to conceal it – were subsequently leaked to the New York Times, prompting an angry response from within Whitehall and from UK police chiefs.

    BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera says UK officials believe that US law enforcement rather than the White House is the likely culprit for the leaks.

    A Whitehall source described the second US leak as “on another level”, and said it had caused “disbelief and astonishment” across the British government.

    Maybe the crazy asses in the NYC FBI office? I guess only the NY Times could disclose that. But her emails!

  28. 28.

    rikyrah

    May 25, 2017 at 6:51 am

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch:
    Love these pictures ?

  29. 29.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 6:53 am

    @Elizabelle: more from your BBC link:

    The UK’s National Police Chiefs’ Council described the “unauthorised disclosure” as a breach of trust which had potentially undermined a “major counter-terrorism investigation”.

    Counter-terrorism detectives have spoken in the past about how a delay of about 36 hours before the public know who is being investigated can allow known associates of the suspect to be arrested without being tipped off.

    Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said the leaks had worried him “greatly”, and he had raised them with the US ambassador.

    Lord Blair, who was the head of the Metropolitan Police at the time of the bombings in London on 7 July 2005 said intelligence leaks by the US were not new.

    “I’m afraid it just reminds me exactly of what happened after 7/7 when the US published a complete picture of the way the bombs in 7/7 had been made up,” he said.

    “It’s a different world in which the US operate in terms of how they publish things and this is a very grievous breach but I’m afraid it’s the same as before.”

    Interesting.

  30. 30.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 6:54 am

    @rikyrah: I teared up when I saw the crowd size. Just wow.

  31. 31.

    Betty Cracker

    May 25, 2017 at 6:56 am

    @Elizabelle: It only took four months for Trump to completely destroy US credibility abroad. Lord knows I wasn’t optimistic about the son of a bitch, but I am surprised by the speed with which he squandered the goodwill PBO built over eight years (in the wake of the GWB disaster).

  32. 32.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 6:56 am

    @Elizabelle: The UK “special relationship” is one of the few things conservatives respect. Another test for them. Do they still stand with Trump.

  33. 33.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 6:59 am

    So, it took an actual act of violence for the 3 big MT newsies to de-endorse the thug?

  34. 34.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 6:59 am

    @Betty Cracker: It’s awful, but I think it will ultimately be cleansing for our country. All but FoxWorld can see it, and more people are getting woke, every single day.

    I was walking on a Barcelona street last night, near Montjuic (gorgeous hills over the harbor) chatting with two young Brits I met who’d also been out to see the sunset, and told them “I can’t stand Trump” — and a young man walking directly towards us on the sidewalk shouted — “Damn right. We can’t stand him either.”

  35. 35.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 7:01 am

    @Elizabelle:

    It’s awful, but I think it will ultimately be cleansing for our country.

    American Enema: An unauthorized biography of Donald Trump.

  36. 36.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 7:02 am

    @amk: Amazing that they wouldn’t endorse Quist in this environment.

  37. 37.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 25, 2017 at 7:11 am

    new Q national poll on whether Trump is honest: Republicans 79% yes, 16% no; Democrats 6% yes, 91% no; independents 34% yes, 59% no

  38. 38.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 7:13 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: Why are Dems so divisive? /Chuck Todd

  39. 39.

    Iowa Old Lady

    May 25, 2017 at 7:13 am

    I see Trump is scheduled to come to Cedar Rapids next week. That’s in IA 1, my district, and presents a dilemma for my Representative, Rod Blum. This district was Democratic all the while we lived here until Blum was elected in 2014. He’s a member of the Freedom Caucus. Does he want to cozy up to Trump or not?

    On another note, I’m leaving town again for a few days, visiting my friend who’s an FBI agent actually. We’ll see where the conversation leads us.

  40. 40.

    JMG

    May 25, 2017 at 7:13 am

    @Baud: You have to understand newspaper editorials. They are written by employees, but decisions are made by publishers. In small cities/towns like these, that’s a guy (almost always a guy) wired into the local business elite for purposes of chasing advertising who reflects the views of the average car dealer, furniture store owner, etc. For them even to unendorse the Republican is a pretty big deal.

  41. 41.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 25, 2017 at 7:14 am

    @Baud: Heh.

  42. 42.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 7:15 am

    @JMG: Makes sense. Thanks.

  43. 43.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    May 25, 2017 at 7:15 am

    We need to temper our expectations for tonight.

    Republicans haven’t lost a congressional race in Montana since 1994.

    While Montana has elected Democrats to the Senate and State house, at the congressional level, Dems tend to cap at 40%

    2016: 40%
    2014: 40%
    2012: 43%
    2010: 34%
    2008: 32%
    2006: 39%
    2004: 33%
    2002: 33%
    2000: 46%

    If Quist wins that would be fantastic, but in pragmatic terms, it’s best to judge the outcome on how much he over performs recent historical results.

  44. 44.

    debbie

    May 25, 2017 at 7:16 am

    @JPL:

    Ooh! I hope someone posts side-by-side shots of this and Trump’s inauguration! What better way to welcome Trump back!

  45. 45.

    debbie

    May 25, 2017 at 7:17 am

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch:

    He clearly hasn’t listened to the audio then. The fact that a Fox news crew is backing up the reporter’s version is all anyone needs to know.

  46. 46.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    May 25, 2017 at 7:18 am

    @Baud: Even the liberal Fox News:

    John Harwood @JohnJHarwood

    new Fox poll shows Trump job approval rating slipping 5 points to 40%; losing ground among Republicans, non-college whites since last month

    3:07 PM – 24 May 2017

  47. 47.

    debbie

    May 25, 2017 at 7:20 am

    @Elizabelle:

    Colbert has been exceedingly critical of Trump. Practically all of his monologues — literally — have been slams of Trump. He’s been blunt, no-holds, and unbelievably funny. When you get back here, you have many hours of viewing pleasure ahead.

  48. 48.

    debbie

    May 25, 2017 at 7:21 am

    @Baud:

    Actually, one’s scheduled for Iowa.

  49. 49.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 7:22 am

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: Agreed.

    @debbie: And his ratings have gone through the roof. Take note TV producers.

  50. 50.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 7:22 am

    @Baud: Yup. Apparently, a folk singer is unfit for congress. Unlike the real life thug and russian puppet.

  51. 51.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 7:22 am

    @Baud: I read the endorsements. They all hedged and hoped leopard Gianforte wouldn’t actually eat the faces he promised. “Do what we’d like you to do, not what you say you will do.” And the Helena paper, in rescinding its endorsement, was a classic:

    The Helena Independent Record: they can’t even bring themself to say “Quist.” They make it sound like there are other options.

    While we have always had serious concerns about Gianforte, which were noted in our endorsement of him, we are formally withdrawing that endorsement in light of Wednesday’s developments. We take our endorsements seriously and retracting an endorsement even more seriously, but we cannot in good faith continue to support this candidate.

    We do not want this to be construed as an endorsement for any of Gianforte’s opponents, however. And we encourage all voters to review the information available, listen to their conscience, and vote for the best candidate for Montana at the polls today.

    Good luck finding out who it is, Big Sky Country!

  52. 52.

    debbie

    May 25, 2017 at 7:22 am

    @amk:

    Too late probably. The down side of early voting.

  53. 53.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 25, 2017 at 7:23 am

    @Iowa Old Lady: I’ll bet more than once s/he says “I can’t talk about that.”

  54. 54.

    SFAW

    May 25, 2017 at 7:24 am

    @Betty Cracker:

    It only took four months for Trump to completely destroy US credibility abroad.

    He beat his own schedule. Take THAT, libtards!

  55. 55.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 25, 2017 at 7:27 am

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: Shifting the goal posts, typical neo-liberal.

  56. 56.

    Lapassionara

    May 25, 2017 at 7:27 am

    @Elizabelle: what the Brits do not understand is that in the US, the most important goal is profits. US media needs to be first with a juicy story, integrity and future cooperation are not considered. Profits before everything, including safety, country, integrity, and wishes of sources. Not a great long term plan, but there it is. We aim for profits now, even if it hurts us in the long term.

  57. 57.

    randy khan

    May 25, 2017 at 7:28 am

    NY Times reporting that the Republican thug candidate (redundant I know) in Montana has now been charged with misdemeanor assault.

  58. 58.

    SFAW

    May 25, 2017 at 7:28 am

    @Baud:

    The UK “special relationship” is one of the few things conservatives respect. Another test for them. Do they still stand with Trump.

    I can’t tell if you’re joking. Especially the “do they still stand with Trump” part.

  59. 59.

    Betty Cracker

    May 25, 2017 at 7:29 am

    Dog training question for the hive mind: Our dogs have the supremely irritating habit of trying to wake up folks who are sleeping in a bedroom with the door closed. This happens when we have overnight guests and also when I am up before the mister (which happens A LOT because insomnia) and let the dogs out, walk them, etc. Then they decide they want the mister to be awake too, so they scratch at the bedroom door, whine, etc. I say “no” and call them away, but they don’t get that this is unacceptable behavior. Any ideas?

  60. 60.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 7:29 am

    @debbie: colbear has been fabulous. my weekends suck because of him.

  61. 61.

    SFAW

    May 25, 2017 at 7:30 am

    @Baud:

    And his ratings have gone through the roof. Take note TV producers.

    Don’t worry, they’ll bring in Andrew Lack to fix that. Maybe Sean Hannity will be available to take over, soon?

    Not joking as much as I’d like.

  62. 62.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 7:31 am

    @SFAW: Nope. Even if the answer is clear, it’s important to ask the question.

  63. 63.

    Ladyraxterinok

    May 25, 2017 at 7:33 am

    Barbara Conrad Smith, world renowned Black opera star, died Monday. She was center of controversy in 1957 when as one of the first African Americans to attend the U of TX she was chosen to sing Dido paired with a white Aeneas. She had an impressive career. Her life was the subject of a PBS documentary “When I Rise.” See Wikipedia, NYT obituary, etc.

  64. 64.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 25, 2017 at 7:34 am

    @Betty Cracker: Hit them with the water hose every time they scratch at the door.

  65. 65.

    SFAW

    May 25, 2017 at 7:34 am

    @debbie:

    Ooh! I hope someone posts side-by-side shots of this and Trump’s inauguration!

    Couple that with a side-by-side of Trump’s hands and Obama’s hands, and you’re getting close to a trifecta.

  66. 66.

    SFAW

    May 25, 2017 at 7:36 am

    @Baud:

    Nope. Even if the answer is clear, it’s important to ask the question.

    I misunderstood your focus. I agree: make them own it/him.

  67. 67.

    Another Scott

    May 25, 2017 at 7:40 am

    @Betty Cracker: It’s the old conflict between giving them the attention they seek (rewarding the behavior) and getting them to stop.

    Somehow, you need to make it more rewarding for them not to bother you than to do so.

    How? Dunno.

    Our Sophie would drive me nuts barking ferociously at black dogs she saw walking anywhere near the house. Yelling “No!” at her didn’t seem to faze her (and maybe indicated to her that there was something to be upset about). If I’d walk up to her and wag my finger, she’d try to slink past and go to a different window. If I delayed her enough so that the dog was out of view, it was much better (but I was not around to delay her every time).

    It’s a problem, but trying to figure out how their crazy little brains work, and how to make them understand what you want when we know they usually don’t understand English is a big part of why we love them so.

    Good luck!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  68. 68.

    MJS

    May 25, 2017 at 7:41 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: And there’s the problem in a nutshell. The 35% or so of Americans who identify as Republicans are themselves liars. They listen to lies all day, and believe them. They lie to their families, friends, and people they work with. Most importantly, they lie to themselves. They tell themselves they aren’t racists. They tell themselves they aren’t misogynists. They tell themselves that poor people are poor because of bad choices, not bad policies. They tell themselves that tax cuts pay for themselves or, if they don’t, that deficits don’t matter (unless a Democrat is in the White House). They tell themselves that they are put-upon, aggrieved, and discriminated against. They do not live in a fantasy world, they live in a world they know is a lie. They like to lie.

  69. 69.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 7:43 am

    @OzarkHillbilly: LOL. Reading from the bottom up, and thought this might be about getting Republicans off your doorstep. ETA: or dudebros.

    Yesterday, was reading NY Mag and for a second, thought der Trump had given the pope a collection of the writings of Martin Luther. That’s ballsy, I thought. And a first edition must be a serious chunk of change.

    And then the Litella moment.

  70. 70.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 7:45 am

    @MJS: 79% of 35% is 27%. There is that damn number again.

  71. 71.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 25, 2017 at 7:46 am

    @Another Scott: My girls understand English and Korean.

  72. 72.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 7:46 am

    @Betty Cracker: kick out the hubby unit from the bedroom.

  73. 73.

    Kay

    May 25, 2017 at 7:46 am

    Sometimes they wait to charge in Ohio because if the victim seeks medical care and there’s evidence of some kind of “serious physical harm” they can bump it up to a felony. Serious physical harm is pretty broad and they might not even know it occurred without an x ray, etc.

  74. 74.

    SFAW

    May 25, 2017 at 7:47 am

    @Elizabelle:

    Yesterday, was reading NY Mag and for a second, thought der Trump had given the pope a collection of the writings of Martin Luther. That’s ballsy, I thought. And a first edition must be a serious chunk of change.

    And then the Litella moment.

    Missed that one — what did he actually do, give Pope Francis a first edition of “Art of the Deal”?

  75. 75.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 25, 2017 at 7:48 am

    @Elizabelle: I never tried it with Republicans but it works like a charm with Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.

  76. 76.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 7:48 am

    @Kay: People were already getting mad last night when charges weren’t forthcoming.

  77. 77.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 7:49 am

    @debbie: Maybe not, though. Montana elected a Democrat as governor last fall; Gianforte lost by 4 points in a state Trump carried by 20.

    They have seen Gianforte, and passed on him already. Plus, healthcare has been a prominent issue.

    Fingers crossed.

  78. 78.

    Patricia Kayden

    May 25, 2017 at 7:49 am

    @JPL: Hush your mouth!! Why you lying like that? Fake news!!!

  79. 79.

    SFAW

    May 25, 2017 at 7:50 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    I never tried it with Republicans but it works like a charm with Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.

    Right. As if you have running water at your shack. (The plumbing for the still don’t count.)

  80. 80.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 7:50 am

    @SFAW: Nah. Collection of writings by Martin Luther King, Jr. I missed the “King.”

  81. 81.

    SFAW

    May 25, 2017 at 7:53 am

    @Elizabelle:

    Nah. Collection of writings by Martin Luther King, Jr. I missed the “King.”

    “Hey, Pope! The blacks LOVE me! Bigly! So I got you the latest book by their leader! I woulda got something by that Frank Douglass guy, but his latest one hadn’t hit Amazon yet.”

  82. 82.

    SFAW

    May 25, 2017 at 7:55 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    My girls understand English and Korean.

    Do you? (Serious question. I can’t seem to get the hang of it. Maybe if I worked harder at it?)

    ETA: I meant Korean, but I guess a case could be made for me vis-a-vis English and whether I talk it good.

  83. 83.

    Applejinx

    May 25, 2017 at 7:55 am

    Lack of health care. Insurance isn’t health care. Insurance (as we practice it) is a privatized, third party way to handle most or all of the duties of truly universal health care while still paying some assholes who are only there to run companies that serve as middlemen.

    People don’t die for lack of those asshole CEO types, they die because of lack of health care. Insurance is one of the things that gets in the way, as well as a privatized mechanic for getting those people some health care under capitalist, privatized rules.

  84. 84.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 25, 2017 at 7:58 am

    @SFAW: I keep a rain barrel over the door.

  85. 85.

    Kay

    May 25, 2017 at 7:59 am

    @Baud:

    It makes a huge difference, waiting for an ER visit. Assaults where the victim is thrown to the ground often involve skull fractures and people don’t know they have one without an x ray. I didn’t object too much to them not arresting him immediately because they know who he is and where to find him. He can hardly flee. As you know all states are different but I read he got an x ray so that’s good. If his face swells up he should go back to the doctor and get photos- extensive bruising can be “serious physical harm”.

  86. 86.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 8:01 am

    @Kay: Can’t they recharge him before the trial if it turns out the injuries were more serious?

  87. 87.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 25, 2017 at 8:05 am

    @SFAW: I speak very little Korean(I took a year at UCLA Extension), my wife is Korean(born and raised in Seoul).

  88. 88.

    Kay

    May 25, 2017 at 8:06 am

    @Baud:

    Oh, sure. Repeat violent offenders all know it. They fear the hospital visit because they were blind with rage. They have no idea how much harm they did.

  89. 89.

    Elizabelle

    May 25, 2017 at 8:06 am

    @debbie: Awesome re Colbert. And we don’t get SNL here, even online, so there’s something to look forward to.

    I always kinda hoped that, by the time I get back in July, Trump will be in so much trouble, and one foot out the door. But he’s gotta take Pence, Ryan, McConnell and all those traitors with him.

  90. 90.

    Patricia Kayden

    May 25, 2017 at 8:08 am

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: President Obama will always be a rock star. We have a petulant kid in the White House now. With the exception of Russia and Israel, the whole world misses BHO.

  91. 91.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 8:08 am

    @Kay: Good.

  92. 92.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 8:09 am

    @Patricia Kayden: I’m pretty sure Israeli intelligence misses Obama.

  93. 93.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 25, 2017 at 8:10 am

    @Applejinx: You know, that’s what the Republicans have been saying. People won’t lose healthcare, they can go to the ER.

    The problem with going to single payer and getting rid of the insurance companies is cost(it’s quite alot) and people have insurance now and are afraid of the unknown and don’t want to risk it. We’re in the early stages of discussing single payer here in California, I don’t think it’ll get very far when people hear about the price tag.

  94. 94.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 25, 2017 at 8:12 am

    @Baud: Intelligence misses Obama.

  95. 95.

    Kay

    May 25, 2017 at 8:14 am

    @Baud:

    The asshole-nish of that statement is appalling. No apology, no regret. All whiny “I’m the victim of the liberal media”

    It’s like Trump. Voters don’t need any more information. The incident and the statement are disqualifying – he’s out of the “ordinarily decent person” category.

  96. 96.

    MomSense

    May 25, 2017 at 8:14 am

    @Elizabelle:

    Can’t wait for Ivanka to incorporate some of MLK’s quotes into her next book.

  97. 97.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 8:15 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: In theory, single payer or any other universal health care scheme should cost less. But the transition creates winners and losers, and as you say, people are skittish about the unknown.

  98. 98.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 8:16 am

    @Kay: Expected, given who the president is and how he won.

  99. 99.

    Jeffro

    May 25, 2017 at 8:17 am

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: those are excellent responses

  100. 100.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 8:17 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: LOL.

  101. 101.

    efgoldman

    May 25, 2017 at 8:18 am

    @Baud:

    Amazing that they wouldn’t endorse Quist in this environment.

    Unfortunately (in this case) they have early voting in MT, and ~40% are already in.

  102. 102.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 8:20 am

    Google is planning to track billions of credit and debit card sales to compare online ad clicks with money spent offline.

    Google Attribution will allow advertisers to see whether online ad campaigns generate offline sales.

    Announcing the service, Google said that it captures around 70% of credit and debit card transactions in the US.

    Critics said it represented another blow to privacy.

    ya think?

  103. 103.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 25, 2017 at 8:20 am

    @Baud: There’s still a pretty prevalent streak of anti-tax sentiment here in California(home of Prop 13), handing folk a 10k tax bill won’t go over well. I’m not sure how effective clawing back the funds that employers(the ones that actually do) are currently paying for health insurance. I agree that it should be more cost effective, but it’s a heavy lift.,

  104. 104.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 8:21 am

    @efgoldman: Early voting is considered a good thing for Dems. I don’t like seeing it attacked based on this one example.

  105. 105.

    manyakitty

    May 25, 2017 at 8:22 am

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: And look at the size of his hands!

  106. 106.

    Kay

    May 25, 2017 at 8:23 am

    LISTEN to longtime politics analyst Sally Mauk on her intv w Gianforte: “Thin-skinned, offended by being questioned“

    That to me is almost the definition of “privilege”. Lower status people assume they will be “questioned”, constantly, on everything. There’s an assumption they will have to defend actions or opinions- they’re eager to offer the expected defense, often before they’re asked. In his world, no one questions anything he does or says.

  107. 107.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 8:23 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: Agreed. But the proposal eliminates all health care costs by the individual. Logically you have to look at the net. That said, it’s pretty clear that a lot of people have an irrational hatred of taxes, even if they are really saving money over market prices.

  108. 108.

    Betty Cracker

    May 25, 2017 at 8:24 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: IMO, the biggest obstacle for getting to single payer is the fact that the US healthcare system is largely employer-based. That hides the true cost. We’ll eventually get to single payer because it’s ridiculous to build the cost of the Aetna CEOs yacht into our healthcare delivery system. But it’s such a tangled web — I’m afraid it won’t happen in our lifetimes.

  109. 109.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 8:26 am

    @Betty Cracker: Obamacare could have gotten us there faster, but our side had to keep fighting over whether it was good enough.

  110. 110.

    ?BillinGlendaleCA

    May 25, 2017 at 8:26 am

    @Baud: The problem is that many of those costs are hidden, as I said, it’s a tough sell.

    ETA: What Betty said.

  111. 111.

    Weaselone

    May 25, 2017 at 8:26 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:
    The problem isn’t so much total cost. Single payer covering the entire country wouldn’t necessarily cost more than what we have now. The problem is that under the current system, businesses and individuals are picking up a sizable chunk of total costs. Shift to single payer and the government has to pay those costs, which means more government spending and raising taxes.

    Republicans have been playing the reverse version of this for years. Take a government service, privatize it, subsidize it at some reduced amount. Government spending goes down, tax cuts for rich people, people and businesses suffer some combination of increased costs and reduced services which vastly exceed what the government saves. Repeat. It’s exactly what they’re attempting with the acha.

  112. 112.

    Patricia Kayden

    May 25, 2017 at 8:33 am

    I wonder if Trump will have anything to say about the race-related killing of a Black man in Maryland. The murderer was a proud member of the alt-right.

  113. 113.

    Sab

    May 25, 2017 at 8:33 am

    @Betty Cracker: Maybe dog-crates at the other end of the house?

  114. 114.

    Kay

    May 25, 2017 at 8:34 am

    Not that anyone should be surprised because she’s a wealthy GOP operative and not a politician, but Betsy DeVos also refuses to answer questions from media. The same whiny retreat into offended victimhood but stoic suffering.

    So fucking sick of these people and their combination of incredible arrogance combined with self-pity.

    I always think of Obama and Joe The Fake Plumber, how Obama went out of his way to really engage on his question although Obama’s smart and a very savvy politician and he knew damn well it was fake question. That comes out of not believing he was entitled to that job. He knows he has to earn it.

  115. 115.

    MomSense

    May 25, 2017 at 8:34 am

    @Applejinx:

    Do you have health insurance?

  116. 116.

    bemused

    May 25, 2017 at 8:35 am

    It’s disgusting but predictable Gianforte would blame “liberal reporter” for his own anger meltdown. All that is relevant is Gianforte lost his shit and assaulted someone. Along with blaming the victim for his own actions, linking “liberal” to someone who is viewed as an opponent is a go-to tactic for modern day Republicans.

    I’m wondering if Gianforte has swollen or bruised hands today after punching a guy and breaking his glasses. Hope reporters get a chance to get some photos of Gianforte hands.

  117. 117.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 8:37 am

    Fox & Friends parrots Gianforte's defense for assaulting reporter, doesn't mention the Fox reporters who witnessed https://t.co/4NPIerO0lS pic.twitter.com/UmMHMJqQxh— Media Matters (@mmfa) May 25, 2017

  118. 118.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 8:40 am

    twitler with his usual handshake stupid idiocy with the french dude.

  119. 119.

    rikyrah

    May 25, 2017 at 8:44 am

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch:
    Major shade by Merkel…. having 44 and Dolt45 on the same day ???

  120. 120.

    OzarkHillbilly

    May 25, 2017 at 8:44 am

    @Patricia Kayden: “Nice job you did there. Appreciate it bigly.”

  121. 121.

    bystander

    May 25, 2017 at 8:49 am

    Trump as a cleansing agent? Like the Civil War cleansed the nation?

  122. 122.

    gene108

    May 25, 2017 at 8:49 am

    @Baud:

    @Betty Cracker: Obamacare could have gotten us there faster, but our side had to keep fighting over whether it was good enough.

    Outside of flame wars on blogs, we liberals have very little real power.

    What hurt Obamacare are the multiple lawsuits that nearly killer the law in the courts, Republicans taking a cynical view to oppose it no matter what for political gain, the Roberts rule that allowed states to opt out of the Medicaid expansion, Republican governors opting out to stick it to the black man in their White House, and the current lawsuit winding its way through the courts launched by the House, in 2014, challenging the legality of insurance subsidy payments.

    Basically, the real drag is all from Republicans.

  123. 123.

    MomSense

    May 25, 2017 at 8:51 am

    @amk:

    hahahahaha!

    This link has a good photo of poor twump’s wittle hands being smooshed by that french meanie

  124. 124.

    Baud

    May 25, 2017 at 8:53 am

    @gene108: Republicans are worse. But I’m not persuaded that hostile rhetoric on our side doesn’t do considerable harm.

  125. 125.

    Lurking Canadian

    May 25, 2017 at 8:55 am

    @Elizabelle:

    Somebody’s got a sign up: Please stay. Our elections are coming

    I am reminded of the scene in Canada’s Parliament, when the entire damned House of Commons answered Obama’s last official address to them with a chant of “Four more years! Four more years!”

    Note that this event preceded the election. It wasn’t just “We hate and fear Trump.” It was “We love you”.

  126. 126.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 8:56 am

    @Baud: Yup, the loony left kneecapped the dems in 2010 bigly.

  127. 127.

    gene108

    May 25, 2017 at 8:57 am

    @Patricia Kayden:

    Go with the Obama Doctrine. Drone strike on the people who radicalized the murderer.

  128. 128.

    geg6

    May 25, 2017 at 8:58 am

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch:

    Yup. This. My John was all excited about this race last night after seeing the reports about the body slamming. So I had to be Debbie Downer and say that it will just be good if Quist overperforms.

  129. 129.

    D58826

    May 25, 2017 at 9:00 am

    Probably OT but a lotg of electrons have been burned on BJ over the Hiullary vs Bernie issue:

    Russia Duped Bernie Fans via Facebook, San Diego Dems Told. Oliver Mitov was dispatched by the Kremlin to get Bernie Sanders fans to vote third-party in the November election, write in the Democratic primary loser for president — or not vote at all. But investigative journalist John Mattes, describing how fake stories on Facebook helped defeat Hillary Clinton, isn’t sure who Mitov is.

    “He may be a bot. He may be a person [or four]. He may be living in Macedonia, laughing,” Mattes told a rapt audience of 90 Thursday night in Hillcrest.

    But Mitov’s thousands of posts — and similar ones from Albania and elsewhere — duped just enough of the 13 million Sanders supporters to hand the election to Donald Trump and prove Russia could hack American democracy, said the 66-year-old resident of Pacific Beach.

    And the GOP controlled congress is doing nothing to prevent it from happening again. They seem to figure Pution will be on their side in future elections.

    This and the Trump investigations are related. What it really will take is a joint select committee to get to the bottom of this and recommend new legislation. The committee would have the investigators, subject matter specialists, etc to dig into the entire affair. The oversight committees, even if they wanted to, don’t have the necessary staff/expertise. They drag witnesses from one committee to another where questions range from good to misdirection. Given the time limits on each critter (plus camera hogging) unified lines of questions are impossible. On Maddow last night one D was talking about following the money of Der Fuhrer’s business enterprises but hey don’t have the kind of accountants and investigators on the committee staff to do the job correctly.

    http://timesofsandiego.com/politics/2017/03/23/russia-duped-bernie-fans-via-facebook-san-diego-dems-told/

  130. 130.

    LurkerNoLonger

    May 25, 2017 at 9:01 am

    @debbie: Colbert is offended by Trump on a moral level. I think that’s were the relentless (and funny) criticism comes from.

  131. 131.

    geg6

    May 25, 2017 at 9:03 am

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    Empty water bottle about 1/3 full of pennies, shaken vigorously. It mostly works for me.

  132. 132.

    Kay

    May 25, 2017 at 9:03 am

    @Applejinx:

    I want to do socialized medicine for ordinary care and insure the pricey stuff. Why doesn’t anyone do that? Everyone would have to buy the pricey stuff supplemental so it would be fair and spread risk.

    I love community health centers. I felt I got great “whole person” care in one- to the extent I felt as if they were nagging me, but nagging works. It was like a team of women – “we’re not mad, just disappointed you ate Skittles for lunch”

  133. 133.

    D58826

    May 25, 2017 at 9:04 am

    @Weaselone:

    The problem is that under the current system, businesses and individuals are picking up a sizable chunk of total costs. Shift to single payer and the government has to pay those costs, which means more government spending and raising taxes.

    Seems to me that you would have to develop a legal structure where by the employer/employee contributions would go into the single payer monetary pool -kind of like the FICA matching deduction. Gov’t would still be paying more but not the entire amount

  134. 134.

    FlipYrWhig

    May 25, 2017 at 9:09 am

    @Kay:

    I want to do socialized medicine for ordinary care and insure the pricey stuff.

    Yes, I’d love to see that too. Urgent care for all!

  135. 135.

    gene108

    May 25, 2017 at 9:14 am

    @Baud:

    There’s a rift. It came out with Bernie’s campaign and even Applejinx’s comment

    There are people on our side, who view gutting private insurance companies as a goal in and of itself.

    Anything that does not get rid of private for profit health insurance companies is a failure.

    I don’t know, if compromise is possible.

  136. 136.

    Kay

    May 25, 2017 at 9:16 am

    @FlipYrWhig:

    I feel like it’s moving in that direction anyway. My daughter’s in an advanced practice program (she works with really old- elderly- those are her people) and they had this lecture on how they have divided “oral care” out to dentists exclusively and there’s no reason for it. They can include an exam and refer out. She considers herself “front line” and that’s appealing to her, not a lesser role but a different one.

  137. 137.

    FlipYrWhig

    May 25, 2017 at 9:31 am

    @Kay: I am for anything that makes the process of picking a doctor in a new city less confusing. My wife and I have 4 advanced degrees between us and we never understand WTF we’re supposed to do. You get these lists of people and have to research them based on… something? Why is that so complicated? Just walking into the public clinic would be a massive improvement.

  138. 138.

    clay

    May 25, 2017 at 9:31 am

    @MomSense: Trump’s fingers are straight in that picture; he’s not gripping Macron’s hand at all. Which means he was giving a limp handshake. Winning!

  139. 139.

    rikyrah

    May 25, 2017 at 9:36 am

    @Kay:

    Not that anyone should be surprised because she’s a wealthy GOP operative and not a politician, but Betsy DeVos also refuses to answer questions from media. The same whiny retreat into offended victimhood but stoic suffering.

    AS IF, folks don’t have THE RIGHT to ask her HOW the money is being spent.

    I know we don’t like Attorney General White Citizens Council, Kay.

    But, DeVos offends on a special level too.

  140. 140.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 9:37 am

    and of course, chucky toady has to ‘interview’ the MT thug he wuz ‘ruing’ about just yesterday. asshole.

  141. 141.

    amk

    May 25, 2017 at 9:49 am

    "locker room talk""recess monitor""lunch money"conservatives have an unhealthy tendency to make everything into be a high school parable https://t.co/hDGDOcfScr— Kevin ? Glass (@KevinWGlass) May 25, 2017

  142. 142.

    schrodingers_cat

    May 25, 2017 at 9:51 am

    @amk: They never outgrew their teenage years.

  143. 143.

    rikyrah

    May 25, 2017 at 10:01 am

    @Elizabelle:

    Home Secretary Amber Rudd had said she was “irritated” by the disclosure of Abedi’s identity against the UK’s wishes and had warned Washington “it should not happen again”.

    However, the pictures of debris – which appear to show bloodstained fragments from the bomb and the backpack used to conceal it – were subsequently leaked to the New York Times, prompting an angry response from within Whitehall and from UK police chiefs.

    BBC security correspondent Gordon Corera says UK officials believe that US law enforcement rather than the White House is the likely culprit for the leaks.

    A Whitehall source described the second US leak as “on another level”, and said it had caused “disbelief and astonishment” across the British government.

    This is quite serious. And, another indication of the curve for the White Man.

    IF 44 or Hillary had upset an ally like this, by being irresponsible with such sensitive information, the right wing media would have been up in arms.

  144. 144.

    rikyrah

    May 25, 2017 at 10:08 am

    @Patricia Kayden:

    I wonder if Trump will have anything to say about the race-related killing of a Black man in Maryland. The murderer was a proud member of the alt-right.

    Another curve for the White Man.

    When 44 was President, he was asked about each and every one of these types of murders.

    Now that Dolt45 is there, complete with WHITE SUPREMACISTS WORKING IN THE WHITE HOUSE..

    It doesn’t seem to come up.

    Uh huh
    Uh huh.

  145. 145.

    Fair Economist

    May 25, 2017 at 10:13 am

    @amk:

    Google is planning to track billions of credit and debit card sales to compare online ad clicks with money spent offline.

    Google Attribution will allow advertisers to see whether online ad campaigns generate offline sales.

    I’m sure the results will be TOTALLY unbiased.

  146. 146.

    opiejeanne

    May 25, 2017 at 10:19 am

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: Oh God, I talked to my sister yesterday and she was whining about the gasoline tax being raised. I was so exasperated after explaining where that money will go that I finally asked her why she cares since she never goes anywhere.

    She also waved away my worry about Medicaid and Medicare being cut, saying she just doesn’t believe they’ll do that. I asked her why she’d vote for anyone who threatens to do so, who threatens to hurt people. She said she was happy in her little bubble.

  147. 147.

    sphex

    May 25, 2017 at 1:23 pm

    @Baud: OK, I mostly lurk, but I’m reading here, standing at the podium while proctoring a final exam, and you made me actually laugh our loud. I had to attempt to pretend it was a cough, but my eyes are giving away the truth. Students are intrigued.

  148. 148.

    David Spikes

    May 25, 2017 at 2:49 pm

    @D58826: Early analysis seems to show that yearly cost of Cal-med would be about 200 billion.150 billion of that would be offset by pulling back present charges-still leaving about 50 billion in new spending. About $1250 per person in new taxes-so, probably not.
    The group foto of the Euro meeting makes the Pope look positively cheerful-Merkel is just so obviously delighted that asshole is there.

Comments are closed.

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - twbrandt - Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan 7
Image by twbrandt (7/18/25)
Donate

Recent Comments

  • stinger on Saturday Late Morning Open Thread (Jul 19, 2025 @ 1:11pm)
  • Jeffro on Saturday Late Morning Open Thread (Jul 19, 2025 @ 1:09pm)
  • kalakal on Saturday Morning Open Thread: Everybody Needs A Hobby (Jul 19, 2025 @ 1:04pm)
  • WaterGirl on Saturday Late Morning Open Thread (Jul 19, 2025 @ 1:03pm)
  • Sister Machine Gun of Quiet Harmony on Saturday Morning Open Thread: Everybody Needs A Hobby (Jul 19, 2025 @ 1:03pm)

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
No Kings Protests June 14 2025

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)
Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix

Keeping Track

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)
Republicans Fleeing Town Halls (TPM)
21 Letters (to Borrow or Steal)
Search Donations from a Brand

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Copyright © 2025 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc

Share this ArticleLike this article? Email it to a friend!

Email sent!