Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

Dear media: perhaps we ought to let Donald Trump speak for himself!

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

’Where will you hide, Roberts, the laws all being flat?’

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

You passed on an opportunity to be offended? What are you even doing here?

Consistently wrong since 2002

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

In after Baud. Damn.

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Trumpflation is an intolerable hardship for every American, and it’s Trump’s fault.

Never give a known liar the benefit of the doubt.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

Damn right I heard that as a threat.

T R E 4 5 O N

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

They want us to be overwhelmed and exhausted. Focus. Resist. Oppose.

My right to basic bodily autonomy is not on the table. that’s the new deal.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Labor Day Monday Open Thread

Labor Day Monday Open Thread

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(Signe Wilkinson via GoComics.com)
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I have reached the inevitable point during our vacation when I swear to all the gods that, if only we can reach home without disaster, I AM NEVER LEAVING AGAIN.

Apart from that, what’s on the agenda as we wrap up the holiday weekend?
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Reader Interactions

71Comments

  2. 2.

    Amir Khalid

    So far Trump has been doing the opposite of everything Obama advised him to do in that letter. That is no surprise at all, and its consequences are also no surprise.

  6. 6.

    satby

    @rikyrah: is it? I think it has been leaked by someone not very fond of Drumpf, because it shows how classy and gracious Obama was to a POS that had been everything but decent to him.

  7. 7.

    rikyrah

    @satby:
    I dunno satby. That he showed the letter over and over is just tacky. Remember, anything that 44 said to do, Dolt45 thinks the opposite should be done.

  8. 8.

    mai naem mobile

    @satby: I don’t believe so. Sounds like Dolt was showing it off to any of his pals who walked into the Oval Office. I caught a few mins of CNNs Sunday Show yesterday and Ricky Santorum bitched because Obama said Dolt had a “remarkable run” instead of victory and he said many “millions” instead of all Americans. After all we’ve learned since the election Ricky can’t just simply say the black man wrote a nice letter. Noooo,it would kill him to say something simple like that.

  9. 9.

    satby

    @rikyrah: and I wouldn’t be surprised that President Obama assumed that it would be made public by the narcissistic cretin. And when it was, it immediately highlighted that the intelligent, capable POTUS is gone and isn’t the person occupying the office right now.

  11. 11.

    satby

    @mai naem mobile: and Santorum sounds stupid complaining of that to unengaged non-voters. I don’t disagree that showing the letter off isn’t tasteless, I just think that President Obama factored that in; the man excelled at sizing up situations and his opponents. He can make them look stupid without breaking a sweat, he did it again with that letter, and that’s one of the reasons they hated them. Because he is better than them in every way.

  15. 15.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    Congratulations on a remarkable run. Millions have placed their hopes in you, and all of us, regardless of party, should hope for expanded prosperity and security during your tenure.

    This is a unique office, without a clear blueprint for success, so I don’t know that any advice from me will be particularly helpful. Still, let me offer a few reflections from the past 8 years.

    First, we’ve both been blessed, in different ways, with great good fortune. Not everyone is so lucky. It’s up to us to do everything we can (to) build more ladders of success for every child and family that’s willing to work hard.

    Second, American leadership in this world really is indispensable. It’s up to us, through action and example, to sustain the international order that’s expanded steadily since the end of the Cold War, and upon which our own wealth and safety depend.

    Third, we are just temporary occupants of this office. That makes us guardians of those democratic institutions and traditions — like rule of law, separation of powers, equal protection and civil liberties — that our forebears fought and bled for. Regardless of the push and pull of daily politics, it’s up to us to leave those instruments of our democracy at least as strong as we found them.

    And finally, take time, in the rush of events and responsibilities, for friends and family. They’ll get you through the inevitable rough patches.

    Michelle and I wish you and Melania the very best as you embark on this great adventure, and know that we stand ready to help in any ways which we can.

    Good luck and Godspeed,

    BO

    There’s no way Drumpf got beyond the first sentence.

    He won’t even read intelligence reports. They had to cut out all the words and use pictures.

    The president prefers “big pictures” during his intel meetings in more ways than one: Trump doesn’t care to read long narratives about developing events around the world, instead preferring imagery he can better understand..

  16. 16.

    Yoda Dog

    @satby: I don’t know. While I agree, of course BHO is better on his worst than any of them could ever hope to be on their best, I think maybe the one thing he didn’t excel at was “sizing up situations and his opponents.” I’m still not so sure he correctly appraises how ugly these people are and how much danger the country finds itself in.

    This letter would be a good example. Did he really expect Trump to sincerely read that and take it to heart? I hope not. I doubt it, really, BHO isn’t naive, but I’m not sure what else that was supposed to accomplish. I dont know, the whole story strikes me as extremely odd.

  17. 17.

    Cermet

    Tragic that enough amerikans voted for that pile of stinking $hit called dolt45; just proves what lack of access (and desire for many) to decent education can lead. Now that the $hit has started to float even some of those rather limited in intellect are smelling the $hit. Hope a future nuclear attack against us isn’t caused by that fart cloud striking the little fat boy in Korea; while they would never directly retaliate, be sure they can and would sell the necessary materials and expertise to terrorist that would not hesitate to explode a bomb in amerika. Hope that even the fart cloud realizes this … .

  18. 18.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    The President is “a moron,” says former SNL cast member Taran Killam.

    ***

    “… I mean, there was no big reveal. He struggled to read at the table read, which did not give many of us great confidence. Didn’t get the jokes, really. He’s just a man who seems to be powered by bluster.”

    SNL cast member Pete Davidson recalls time spent when Donald Trump was hosting the show last year. Davidson said it was quite clear that Trump couldn’t read, either from a teleprompter or from a script.

  19. 19.

    WereBear

    The Republicans have been distilling hate and ignorance so long that we now have a highly concentrated substance they turned into a head of state.

  20. 20.

    mai naem mobile

    @OzarkHillbilly: @satby:
    I agree people will read into it what they may but the RWingers talk about bringing the country together but they can’t even let a gracious letter go by without criticizing it. They fucking well won but can’t even just say a simple ‘nice letter’ and move on. I know in the bigger scheme of things it’s not important, it just aarrghhh!

  21. 21.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @Yoda Dog:

    BHO isn’t naive, but I’m not sure what else that was supposed to accomplish.

    How’s about Obama was just being the better man that he’s always been? Gracious to a fault because that’s how he was raised.

  22. 22.

    Aimai

    @Yoda Dog: no. Don’t be silly. That letter was written because it had to be written and it is a very public rebuke and kiss off to 45. Written with a clear eye to its being read by others.

  23. 23.

    Baud

    @WereBear: Right. As we recently recalled, well before Trump entered the picture, Texas Senators voted against Sandy relief. Trump didn’t create the hate he now embodies.

  24. 24.

    Baud

    @mai naem mobile: No, you are right to bring this up because we are always attacked for not sacrificing our dignity for the sake of unity. No one demands anything of the other side.

  25. 25.

    David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch

    @Yoda Dog: digya miss the myriad of times he publicly denounced the whack job and warned the country.

    I’m here to tell you that all that progress goes out the window if we don’t make the right choice right now. And it shouldn’t be a complicated choice, because it’s a choice between somebody who is as qualified as anybody who has ever run for this office, and somebody who has proven himself unfit to lead or represent this country that we love.

    And I’ve said this before. Democrats and Republicans have always had their differences, and that’s a good thing. That’s how democracy is supposed to work. And when I was running against John McCain, when I was running against Mitt Romney, we had serious disagreements and debates about economic policy, and foreign policy, and social policy. And those elections were close. And I thought I had the better argument and I’d be the better President. (Applause.) But I could have seen either one of them serving honorably — not embarrassing us on the world stage. They would engaged in legitimate debates and normal democratic processes.

    But that’s not the case with today’s Republican nominee. He doesn’t have the temperament, he doesn’t have the knowledge, he doesn’t seem to have the interest in acquiring the knowledge or the basic honesty that a President needs to have. And that was true before we heard him talking about how he treats women. And it was — don’t boo. What do I say?

    AUDIENCE: Vote!

    THE PRESIDENT: Don’t boo, vote.

    And by the way, that was true when he talked about how Muslims are unpatriotic. Or when he talked about how Mexicans were rapists. Or when he made fun of somebody who was disabled. Or he talked about our veterans and our troops and our Gold Star mom. You know, you don’t have to be a husband or a father to know that that kind of language, those kinds of thoughts, those kinds of actions are unacceptable. They’re not right. You just have to be a decent human being.

  26. 26.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @mai naem mobile:

    the RWingers talk about bringing the country together but they can’t even let a gracious letter go by without criticizing it.

    After 8 years of Republicans trying to stop everything Obama, now trying to tear down everything Obama, their idea of “bringing the country together” amounts to nothing more than a “Why won’t you do everything we want?” whine.

    This is what I expect of them. They are who I thought they were.

  30. 30.

    mai naem mobile

    I am trying to imagine Dolt’s letter to the next POTUS barring he’s dragged out in a strait jacket or cuff. I think that’s one for Betty Cracker to come up with. It would be all about him and his victory, pretend accomplishments that he didn’t and self victimization.

  31. 31.

    Yoda Dog

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: Well no, I caught that, that’s what I’m saying.. Writing the letter doesn’t square in my mind with the public position he took on Trump. The letter concedes Trump is a normal human with feelings and the ability to read thoughtfully or learn or care about anything. I thought we were past those delusions.

    But you guys/gals are right of course, the letter was likely written for everyone except Trump. And I don’t mean to sound like I’m criticizing Obama, I love the guy. Don’t get me wrong.

  35. 35.

    bystander

    If President Obama had been truly prescient, his four point recommendations to Trump would have been never drink rat poison, do not press your razor into your carotid artery, never try to get a breath of fresh air when you’re on AirTrump, and never, never wade into a crowd at the Antifa Convention.

  40. 40.

    WereBear

    @Iowa Old Lady: I have long regarded Trump of an example of someone who has been so coddled they are an adult infant. Even now he is surrounded by people who regard him as a useful fool and do not require him to take care of himself.

    It’s a wonder he is toilet trained.

  42. 42.

    efgoldman

    @satby:

    And good morning to you!

    And to you (don’t tell anybody!)
    Going back to bed in a few. Didn’t sleep worth a damn, for no good reason.

  43. 43.

    Jeffro

    @mai naem mobile:

    I am trying to imagine Dolt’s letter to the next POTUS barring he’s dragged out in a strait jacket or cuff. I think that’s one for Betty Cracker to come up with. It would be all about him and his victory, pretend accomplishments that he didn’t and self victimization.

    Glad I read through the thread for once – was thinking the exact same thing, and I’m grinning ear to ear!

    – “Letter from a DC Jail”
    – “The ADX Florence Address”

    LOL

  47. 47.

    Jeffro

    @mai naem mobile:

    Still picturing lines from that letter from Trumpov to his successor…

    “…Pence, you lying dirtbag, I never put you up to anything about Russia…”

    “…I still say there was nothing wrong with ‘colluding’ or whatever you want to call it. History will prove me right and I’ll be out of here soon. This doesn’t look much like Colorado by the way…”

    “…you watch, you’ll end up getting prosecuted for some FAKE CHARGES too, John, and then you’ll have to cut a deal with Mueller or whatever. Guy was about to take everything I had. Settling for my Trump Tower condo and a million in walking-around money is actually more than I had though, considering how much I owed. OPM – I love it!”

  48. 48.

    Baud

    This just reminds me that the letter should have been addressed to Hillary, and it reignites my anger.

  49. 49.

    The Golux

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch:

    Trump doesn’t care to read long narratives about developing events around the world, instead preferring imagery he can better understand..

    It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the TSG counts looking at a picture as the equivalent of reading a thousand words.

  50. 50.

    Gelfling 545

    @mai naem mobile: Perhaps Trump has been showing it to people in hopes that someone might read it to him.
    And honestly, I had to stop and think for a few minutes who this Rick Santorum might be. I feel pretty sure that his relevance has become distincltly irr.

  51. 51.

    ThresherK

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: I was reading Obama’s gracious note, and wishing the first letter of each paragraph spelled something sly and covertly dismissive. (An acrostic, I think it’s called.)

    I was hoping to read the secret message, “G-O-O-D-L-U-C-K-W-I-T-H-T-H-A-T”.

    Anyone else?

  53. 53.

    randy khan

    The bit quoting Trump as saying the letter was “long” and “complex” is pretty cutting. The question is whether he was lying or thought he was telling the truth. Given the evidence, and despite my usual rule of thumb for anything he says, I’m going with the latter.

  55. 55.

    FlipYrWhig

    @David ?Canadian Anchor Baby? Koch: He can read enough to give a speech, but I’m doubtful of his attention and comprehension and I think it’s all aggravated by the fact that he can’t see without glasses and won’t wear the damn glasses in front of anybody. Such a small, stupid man.

  56. 56.

    debbie

    @Baud:

    Obama also couldn’t say what The Santorum wants because then that would be lying, and it’s not Christian to lie.

  58. 58.

    satby

    @OzarkHillbilly: don’t conflate the fundie, grifter evangelicals with followers of Christ. It’s like making ISIS stand for all Muslims.
    Both groups would happily slaughter others of their respective faiths for belonging to the wrong flavor.
    Edited to ad: as ISIS actually does with Shia.

  60. 60.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @satby: The Catholic Church’s lies are well documented and innumerable. The same can be said of every other branch of Christianity…. Or Islam, or Hindu, or Buddhism etc etc etc. Some people may be basically honest (telling little white lies for many reasons, some of them good) but I have never seen a religious organization that was above corruption or would not lie at the drop of a hat to cover up said corruption. The ‘integrity’ of Church/Mosque/Temple/Synagogue is far more important than the truth.

    Every time.

  61. 61.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @debbie: BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHASHAHAHAHAHAHA….. gasp…. wheeze…. You funny girl. When was the last time a Christian followed the Bible? And I mean all of the Bible, not just the parts they like.

  62. 62.

    satby

    @OzarkHillbilly: I don’t consider most organized religion to represent a true following of Christ’s teaching, and that probably goes for the other religions as well. I’m agnostic anyway; I don’t think faith is required for people to do good works and lead a good life, even though some people use their faith as their rationale.
    And the more “Christians” bray about how devoted they are, the more I suspect them.
    So we don’t really disagree here.

  63. 63.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @satby: @debbie: Also, people lie. As part of the human condition, it’s what they do. There are times when it is the right thing to do, like when every time I was leaving my Alzheimered father at the end of a visit, I would tell him I was going to the bathroom and I would be right back because if I didn’t he would completely break down.

    There are times when it is wrong to lie but people do because they are embarrassed or feel guilty or don’t want to face the consequences of their actions. It would have been real easy for me to lie when my eldest asked if I had written a letter to the Crawford County DA that may or may not have played a part in his mother’s going to prison for her first stint. He knew his mother was a liar. He also knew I would tell him the truth because I always had, no matter how ugly it was. Whether to tell the truth or not was a decision I made when I wrote that letter but it still wasn’t easy to look him in the eye and say “Yes.” Most people wouldn’t.

    And then there are the other lies we all tell that just make life a little easier to negotiate, like when one’s wife asks, “Does my ass look fat in these pants?”

  64. 64.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @satby:

    I don’t consider most organized religion to represent a true following of Christ’s teaching

    When so much of what Jesus preached was in direct contradiction of the old testament…. It is hard for me to see how any Christian church follows both Old and New Testaments but they say they do.

    For the record I’m a hard core dyed in the wool atheist (i know you know this) but I try to never attack a persons religious beliefs, mainly because I’m a little envious of them. They ‘know’ what comes after this. I don’t. Add to that the fact that most belief systems are really just guidelines to help people find their way thru this mess and how can I find fault with that? There is good and bad in all religions but people pick and choose what parts to follow.

    Religions don’t do bad things, people do, sometimes in the name of said religion but it’s the people doing it.

  65. 65.

    debbie

    @OzarkHillbilly:

    No argument there, but it is in the teachings…

    I saw a Tweet yesterday that Osteen finally opened his mega-church to flood victims. He held a service for them and had the nerve to pass a collection plate and ask for donations. I hate these people.

  67. 67.

    OzarkHillbilly

    @debbie:

    but it is in the teachings…

    There is much that is good in the teachings. Also more than a little that is not so good. But then the Bible is a human construct and like it’s writers is flawed.

  68. 68.

    mai naem mobile

    @Jeffro: hee hee I forgot about the prison address. I wrote one up earlier with mispellings etc. buy WP won’t let it through. It probably came through as gibberish. I think if it’s in 2021 it would start with ‘I won bigly,more biglier then you! Loser!’ Also, there would be something about not hiring a stick in the mud COS because they cut all the fun out of the job. And, real estate advice about buying a hotel near the WH.so you can profit from your presidency. But really this fake letter is best left to Betty C.

  69. 69.

    mai naem mobile

    @Gelfling 545: I didn’t think about that. That actually may be seriously correct. Somebody to read and translate into Trumpinese for him.
    And Rick Santorum might have become irrelevant but Santorum lives on on the google machine thanks to Dan Savage.

  70. 70.

    Another Scott

    @Iowa Old Lady: IIRC, he needs glasses but is too vain to be seen wearing them. Maybe he’s been wearing contacts lately, and wasn’t when he was doing the SNL thing.

    Nothing about the man would surprise me when it come to him and his self-image…

    Cheers,
    Scott.

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