Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republican obstruction dressed up as bipartisanship. Again.

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

A Senator Walker would also be an insult to reason, rationality, and decency.

I’ve spoken to my cat about this, but it doesn’t seem to do any good.

People are complicated. Love is not.

The words do not have to be perfect.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

A last alliance of elves and men. also pet photos.

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

Jesus, Mary, & Joseph how is that election even close?

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Conservatism: there are some people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

Presidents are not kings, and Plaintiff is not President.

The next time the wall wtreet journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

A sufficient plurality of insane, greedy people can tank any democratic system ever devised, apparently.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

You are here: Home / Balloon Juice / Meetups and social events / Los Angeles Area Meetup? (Open Thread)

Los Angeles Area Meetup? (Open Thread)

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Valued commenter opiejeanne and mister opiejeanne will be in the Los Angeles area from Friday October 27th until November 13 and are interested in a meetup. LA jackals, please feel free to hash out ideas about where and when in comments, and when you’ve reached consensus, let me know the details via the email form thingy so I can post particulars for all to see.

Meanwhile, here’s the fabulous Cate Blanchett, whose native Aussie accent always surprises me because she’s Streep-level good at American and British accents (IMO), and I expect her to sound like she does in the roles she’s played:

Love how she links the “women wearing slut clothes are askin’ fer it” issue to Trump’s disheveled Svengali: “No one says to Steve Bannon, ‘You look like a bag of trash; do you want me to throw you out?’” ?

Open thread!

PS: Let’s go, Rastros! (Sorry, LA jackals.)

Reader Interactions

106Comments

  2. 2.

    Wapiti

    Cate Blanchett is a freaking chameleon. I think everything I ever saw her in, I almost totally forgot it was her, and just saw the role she was playing. I never made it thru the Dylan movie, but the Blanchett scenes were uncanny.

  4. 4.

    khead

    Can’t remember my fellow BJ jackal who lives in Cecil County, MD – and I am too lazy to look it up even though it was just in the last week or so – but they mentioned that there might be enough folks in the DE/MD/PA/NJ border area (AKA Wilmington) for a meet up. Curious to know if there’s any interest ’cause I might be willing to try and organize something. Maybe.

  5. 5.

    Mary G

    Oh thank you Baby Jebus, five women accuse Mark Halperin of sexual harassment.

    “During this period, I did pursue relationships with women that I worked with, including some junior to me,” Halperin said in a statement to CNN Wednesday night. “I now understand from these accounts that my behavior was inappropriate and caused others pain. For that, I am deeply sorry and I apologize. Under the circumstances, I’m going to take a step back from my day-to-day work while I properly deal with this situation.”

    Bwah ha ha. That improves my mood quite a bit.

  8. 8.

    Betty Cracker

    @Mary G: Just saw that on the Twitters. Utterly unsurprising; Halperin has always been a creepy, smarmy, entitled shit-stain.

  10. 10.

    SFAW

    @Mary G:

    “Under the circumstances, I’m going to take a step back from my day-to-day work while I properly deal with this situation.”

    Here’s a suggestion on how to “deal with this situation” Halperin, you fucking Rethuglican knob-slobberer: seppuku. And if you find it doesn’t help, then we’ll think of something else for you to try.

  14. 14.

    Corner Stone

    Is there a man anywhere who did not press his boner against someone and call it a relationship?

  18. 18.

    Matt McIrvin

    I won’t be satisfied until Doocy goes down.

    (Gretchen Carlson is apparently forbidden from talking about anything that happened at Fox News as a condition of her settlement. So I guess it’d have to be someone else.)

  26. 26.

    jl

    “No one says to Steve Bannon, ‘You look like a bag of trash; do you want me to throw you out?’”

    Now that she’s given me the idea, if I ever cross his path, that line will be hard to resist. And for the Trumpster HImself too.

  30. 30.

    Mike J

    Ryan M. Spaeder‏ Verified account @theaceofspaeder 27 seconds ago

    19.05% of all extra-inning homers in #WordSeries history have been hit in this game.

  31. 31.

    opiejeanne

    @Corner Stone: Beginning to wonder.
    I’ve been looking back at my college years and it makes me shudder, although at the time I just shrugged off most of it.

  32. 32.

    Enhanced Voting Techniques

    No one says to Steve Bannon, ‘You look like a bag of trash; do you want me to throw you out?’” ?

    And that’s the pity of it.

  36. 36.

    Fair Economist

    I’m interested in an LA meetup, but I’m in Orange County so it probably won’t be near me.

  39. 39.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Betty Cracker: and he once called Obama a “dick” on live TV

    ETA Obama was “feisty” and “partisan” at a news conference
    J

    oe Scarborough: Mark Halperin, what was the president’s strategy? We are coming up on a deadline and the president decided to please his base, push back against the Republicans. I guess the question is, we know a deal has to be done. Is this showmanship? A lot of times you go up there and both sides and they act tough so their base will be appeased, then they quietly work the deal behind the scenes.
    Mark Halperin: Are we on the seven second delay?
    Mika Brzezinski: Lordy.
    Halperin: I wanted to characterize how the president behaved.
    Scarborough: We have it. We can use it. Go for it. Let’s see what happens.
    Brzezinski: We’re behind you, you fall down and we catch you.
    Halperin: I thought he was a dick yesterday.
    Scarborough: Delay that. delay that. what are you doing? I can’t believe — I was joking. Don’t do that. Did we delay that?
    Halperin: I said it. I hope it worked.

    Look at me! I’m going to be edgy!

  41. 41.

    opiejeanne

    @Feebog: Did you say you might show up for a meet up somewhere in the LA area? Yay! I hope Mary G can make it this time, and I hope Mnemosyne can make it.

    I’d be good with either the weekend of November 4/5 or Nov 11/12. This first weekend is probably too soon for us even though we’ll be here. I think my son might come up to the cabin. We are staying in Blue Jay, right next to Lake Arrowhead for the duration.

  44. 44.

    Mike J

    Ryan M. Spaeder‏ Verified account @theaceofspaeder 9 seconds ago
    22.7% of all extra-inning homers in #WordSeries history have been hit in the last hour.

  48. 48.

    ThresherK

    Foof, what a game.

    I tuned in in the LA 10th when Houston had a 2 run lead and thought there was nothing left to see!

  51. 51.

    tobie

    @khead: Just saw your post. I’m the other BJer from Ceciltucky. November is not a good month for me for a meetup, as I’m going in for surgery, but December should be swell. Anyone else in the Wilmington, DE environs? I bet we’re a small but feisty group.

  55. 55.

    Mike J

    @catclub: I just cut and paste, I don’t write ’em.

    But to be fair, the poor guy had to update his stat twice in 20 minutes. Things usually don’t happen that fast in baseball.

  56. 56.

    The Lodger

    @tobie: I’ve got relatives in northern DE but unfortunately no plans or budget to go back to the area for some time. When the situation changes I’d like to let you and khead know.

  59. 59.

    Fair Economist

    @opiejeanne: With the directions of traffic, Blue Jay to Burbank is only moderately scary in evening rush. OC to downtown, and then on to Burbank however – OMG.

  61. 61.

    Ruckus

    @Fair Economist:
    People do it every day, How hard can it be?
    Do understand that I’ve commuted from all areas of LA over the decades. Daily travels at one point of 70 miles/day. Also traveled a lot for a job once. Driven to or in 46 states. Lived in 4 of them. Most were nice, some I don’t care to return to.

  63. 63.

    jl

    Halperin?

    I guess we’ll see if there is anything to this, and if so, how serious it is. But in the meantime, Halperin gets the awkward copy he deserves.

    Tim Dickinson
    @71m
    “Halperin denies grabbing a woman’s breasts and pressing his genitals against the three women.”

    Edit: sorry, when I opened the thread it went to the pic with Trump, and I didn’t check above. So, Halperin…

  64. 64.

    Ruckus

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:
    A suggestion. If we do a weekend meet maybe it could be daytime? Might be better for travel, or maybe not, but finding a place might be easier than Sat/Sun night, most places are very busy Fri/Sat nights.

  70. 70.

    hilts

    Scott Brown alert

    The US ambassador to New Zealand Scott Brown has admitted he has been investigated over allegations he made inappropriate comments on his inaugural trip to Samoa, of which he is also the US representative.

    Brown told New Zealand media on Wednesday he wanted to address “innuendo and rumour” about his visit to Samoa in July to celebrate 50 years of the peace corps in the country.

    Brown – speaking with his wife, Gail Huff, by his side – confirmed he was the subject of an official administration inquiry by the US state department, which sent investigators to Wellington to look into what took place on the trip.

    Brown said the official complaints related to comments he had made at a party in the Samoan capital, Apia, where he told attendees they looked “beautiful” and could make hundreds of dollars working in the hospitality industry in the US. Brown and Huff said they had “no idea” the comments would be regarded as offensive.

    “I was told by my people that you’re not Scott Brown from New Hampshire any more, you’re an ambassador, and you have to be culturally aware of different cultures and sensitivities,” Brown said.

    h/t https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/oct/25/scott-brown-us-ambassador-to-new-zealand-investigated-over-inappropriate-comments

  73. 73.

    jl

    @hilts: “I was told by my people that you’re not Scott Brown from New Hampshire any more, you’re an ambassador, and you have to be culturally aware of different cultures and sensitivities,”

    And now New Hampshire is offended, and Brown is not even from there.

  74. 74.

    Ruckus

    @jl:
    It’s OK, I’ve know people who’ve lived here for decades that wouldn’t know that. But then there is also a lot of other stuff they don’t know as well……..

  78. 78.

    jl

    @Ruckus: I am ashamed to admit that I have a few of the minor freeways completely mixed up in my head.
    San Fernando starts out as the Ventura Freeway and then connects to Foothill Freeway?
    They’re all mixed up now. I hang my head in shame.

  82. 82.

    Mnemosyne

    @hilts:

    Brown said the official complaints related to comments he had made at a party in the Samoan capital, Apia, where he told attendees they looked “beautiful” and could make hundreds of dollars working in the hospitality industry in the US. Brown and Huff said they had “no idea” the comments would be regarded as offensive.

    Going just by what Brown says that he said, he told them that they could be successful prostitutes in the US and is now astounded that they would find that offensive?

  83. 83.

    Mnemosyne

    @Ruckus:

    There’s also less chance of live music on a weekend day. Maybe a Sunday and call it brunch?

    You guys may have to plan around me, because I’m also busy most of next Saturday in addition to being fully booked up this weekend. Probably best to pick a time and I’ll see if I can move anything. Next Sunday 11/4 would be best for me, in general.

  84. 84.

    jl

    @Mnemosyne: Still a goofus boorish thing to say even if Brown wasn’t thinking about prostitutes, though I would put a whole lot of money on that bet.

  87. 87.

    Mnemosyne

    @?BillinGlendaleCA:

    Hence brunch and not breakfast. Brunch can happen anywhere between 10 and 2.

    There’s a writing thing I’d like to show up for in Pasadena that Sunday, but it runs from 3 to 6 and I don’t have to be there at any specific time. Heck, if we meet at Dupar’s in Pasadena on Lake St., I can just walk from one room to the other.

  88. 88.

    GregB

    Brown before uproar: Yous broads would make great who-was.

    Brown after uproar: Who knew an ambassador was supposed to be diplomatic and sensitive to the mores and folkways of the locals?

  92. 92.

    Anne Laurie

    @jl:

    And now New Hampshire is offended, and Brown is not even from there.

    I don’t think Granite Staters can be offended… except by a suggestion they spend money on public services, or such shibboleths.

    Dumb bastid undoubtedly thought it was a compliment to suggest that female LEOs could make “hundreds of dollars in the entertainment industry”. Remember, he pimped his kid’s “American Idol” stint — and her single status, nudge-nudge guys! — while on the campaign trail here.

  93. 93.

    jl

    @Mnemosyne: That’s some of that West Virginia stuff. Who knows what goes on back there?
    And BillinGelndale did not use proper Los Angeles surface street and freeway grammar.
    I don’t think BillinGlendale is from LA, I think he drives in from Moorpark for Simi Valley for sinister purposes.
    and it’s all Baud’s fault.
    Good night.

  95. 95.

    Ruckus

    @Anne Laurie:

    Dumb bastid

    With spelling like that it’s pretty obvious that 1. You hold nothing for SB as a human being, this of course is the proper decorum for someone of his stature. 2. Your upbringing is rather pegged, location wise.

  96. 96.

    scav

    @GregB: Not to mention his baseline assumption that in his culture, it’s unproblematic to advise / complement women on how profitable they’d be as whores. The queer and unexpected oddities of these foreign cultures he’s now faced with!

  97. 97.

    Ruckus

    @jl:

    And BillinGelndale did not use proper Los Angeles surface street and freeway grammar.

    I’m starting to take some offense here. His dialect may be slightly more western than mine but it was perfectly understandable and used all the proper local words.

  98. 98.

    Amir Khalid

    @hilts:
    This foot-in-mouth moment sounds exactly like what you’d expect from an ambassador appointed by dem Scheißgibbon.

  99. 99.

    Ruckus

    @Amir Khalid:
    I used google translate and it came back the fucking gibbon.
    I tried to get it to translate the shitgibbon and it comes back the same as your german.
    What did you intend?

  100. 100.

    Amir Khalid

    @Ruckus:
    Depending on Google Translate’s mood, it translates “dem Scheißgibbon” as either “the fucking gibbon” or “the shit gibbon”; bu it reliably translates “dem Scheiße Gibbon” as the latter. GT can be erratic that way. I went with “Scheißgibbon” because it is closer in form to the English. If anyone’s curious, dem is the dative (indirect-object) case of the masculine definite article der.

  101. 101.

    hilts

    @Amir Khalid:

    Trump sure knows how to pick em. Every appointee that he’s chosen is either a kunckledragging neanderthal, a crook, or a combination of both.

  102. 102.

    Ruckus

    @Amir Khalid:
    Had a feeling that’s what it was.
    @hilts:
    Which one isn’t both? I can’t recall that there is anyone who doesn’t stink up the place both ways. I thought it was a requirement that one had to fall into both camps to even be considered.

  106. 106.

    Tehanu

    @BillinGlendaleCA:

    So far, all of them have been in Burbank, Glendale, or Pasadena.

    I live in the city (near West Side – La Brea & Olympic, approximately) but my kids are in Atwater just west of Glendale so no problem getting over there, or to downtown, either. I’m hard of hearing though, so if it’s a noisy venue it’s a real strain. And I am DEFINITELY not a morning person!!

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