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You are here: Home / Archives for 2018

Archives for 2018

Russiagate Open Thread: Happy New Year, Ms. Butina!

by Anne Laurie|  December 31, 20187:14 pm| 133 Comments

This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Open Threads, Russiagate

Following FSB anno that a US citizen, Paul Whelan, has been accused of espionage, US State Department confirms detention of a US citizen in Russia. US has requested consular access. 'Due to privacy considerations, we have no additional information to provide at this time.'

— Sarah Rainsford (@sarahrainsford) December 31, 2018

If I were Maria Butina, I’m not sure I’d be all that eager to return to the warm embrace of Mother Russia, but then what does an untravelled American like me know about true patriotism?

Per the Washington Post:

… President Vladi­mir Putin, in his New Year’s greeting to President Trump, said he was open to a meeting of the two leaders. Trump canceled a formal meeting with Putin at the Group of 20 summit in Buenos Aires in December over Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian naval vessels and crew.

“Russia-U.S. relations are the most important factor behind ensuring strategic stability and international security,” Putin wrote to Trump on Sunday, in one of many messages to heads of state around the globe…

In December, Russian gun rights activist Maria Butina pleaded guilty to conspiring with a senior Russian official to infiltrate U.S. conservative groups. Butina, 30, is the first Russian national to be convicted of seeking to influence U.S. policy in the run-up to the 2016 election by acting as a foreign agent.

Shortly before Butina pleaded guilty, Putin said she was not known to any of his spy agencies. The Foreign Ministry has gone to great lengths to paint Butina as a political prisoner, notably by launching a wide-ranging social media campaign.

(For the pedants, yes I understand that Orthodox Russia’s real New Year isn’t for another two weeks. But the ‘Relect Trump’ campaign needs a media distraction for when it’s discovered that Lord Smallgloves attended tonight’s big donor party at Mar-A-Largofvckyourself.)

Well, we know who Trump is going to agree with. "Putin told me™ he was a bad guy, so why not swap him for the confirmed Russian agent who cultivated the NRA-GOP connections?" https://t.co/CSrfhgF7BD

— Mig Greengard (@chessninja) December 31, 2018

With respect to #Russia's FSB detaining Paul Whelan, this action is purely retaliatory, as arrests of random Americans have been repeatedly suggested by Russian lawmakers. Additionally, the Russians may be hoping to swap Whelan in exchange for #Butina. https://t.co/RBZTfLz9r0

— Julia Davis (@JuliaDavisNews) December 31, 2018

Russiagate Open Thread: Happy New Year, Ms. Butina!Post + Comments (133)

Starting The Countdown

by Cheryl Rofer|  December 31, 20182:39 pm| 210 Comments

This post is in: Because of wow., Open Threads

The New Year is beginning to creep across the globe, maybe hoping that nobody will notice.

East Asia first –

North Korea welcome in 2019 New Year Celebrations: https://t.co/as3jiAm9Au via @YouTube

— Muhammad Rehan Kiani (@raihankiani) December 31, 2018

Kim Jong Un will also give a speech.

My phone perspective, the time of the New Year 2019, roasting the stove, eating squid, and drinking tea … #Beihai #China #food #emotion #life #travel #photography #foodphotography pic.twitter.com/BL7mNQpZbF

— Sunlight Lin (@lin_sunlight) December 31, 2018

#India ?? you are one hour into the new year #HappyNewYearIndia pic.twitter.com/3tsPFRUNpQ

— Sonica (@5onica) December 31, 2018

2018 through the Prime Minister's lens: Dmitry Medvedev's photographs from Russian regions pic.twitter.com/bigPPDWBkG

— Government of Russia (@GovernmentRF) December 30, 2018

And some not-so-happy greetings –

Moscow Patriarch Kirill threatened Constantinople Patriarch Bartholomew with the "Last Judgment" unless he withdrew his recognition of Tomos for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Not very nice New Year greeting.https://t.co/qnnaaCukju

— Anders Åslund (@anders_aslund) December 31, 2018

Not quite to Europe yet, but here’s an old German postcard from Tallinn that doesn’t look too different from the Town Hall Square now.

Happy New Year! In the pic: New Year’s postcard from #Tallinn, dating back to 1912, a glimpse to the Town Hall Square. #raekojaplats #Estonia #headuutaastat #hyvääuuttavuotta #GottNyttÅr pic.twitter.com/epYNJSrwyx

— Sofi Oksanen (@SofiOksanen) December 31, 2018

From more recent years past –

Today in #SpyHistory: On December 25, Gorbachev resigned as leader of the USSR. The Soviet Union ceased to exist on December 31, 1991. pic.twitter.com/kDDYs1lEqZ

— The Spy Museum (@IntlSpyMuseum) December 31, 2018

https://twitter.com/noboa/status/1079810941368320002

What are you doing in the countdown? What good things happened to you this year? How can we make 2019 better?

Open thread!

 

 

Starting The CountdownPost + Comments (210)

Fuck ‘Em Round-Up: 2018

by Betty Cracker|  December 31, 201810:29 am| 286 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Assholes, General Stupidity

The mister and I don’t really make New Year’s resolutions. We make and break resolutions all year long, such as “eat healthier” and “get more exercise” and “spend less money.”

But there are people who should make and keep a resolution to just fucking stop [insert bad behavior] in 2019. What follows is a partial list. First up, these motherfuckers:

Young Republican women are aggrieved, outnumbered, defiant. And they aren’t going to apologize for loving the guy in the White House. https://t.co/NkIoQAJRpC

— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) December 29, 2018

I don’t mean the subjects of this type of human (garbage) interest piece, who should obviously direct themselves to the nearest conflagration and leap into it forthwith; I mean the editors who green-light pitches for these trash stories.

I actively avoid this type of content but have seen at least 10 stories this year on how Trump supporters can’t get laid. I don’t give a shit. No one gives a shit. The obvious solution is for them to go fuck themselves. Stop telling us about them.

The vacationing Mr. Cole pointed out another species of this media phenomenon early this morning:

so tired of exit interviews of fucking nazis

Kelly, on His Way Out, Says Administration Long Ago Abandoned Idea of Concrete Wall https://t.co/E2Hd5hJZv8

— Cake or Death (@Johngcole) December 31, 2018

A-to-the-fucking-men. Kelly is an unrepentant liar who sold his shriveled husk of a soul for a seat adjacent to a traitorous sociopath, revealing himself to be the small, petty, mendacious worm he was all along in the process. That’s a dog-bites-man story in Trump’s DC. Media, please amplify the voices of their victims instead of participating in the attempted rehabilitation of these vile shit-stains.

Speaking of vile shit-stains, Louis CK is back:

Imagine thinking the best way to resurrect your career after admitting to sexual misconduct is to mock trans people and Parkland gun violence survivors. pic.twitter.com/SH7wDYe7kA

— Shannon Watts (@shannonrwatts) December 31, 2018

To review, last year, after admitting he jerked off into potted plants in front of appalled female colleagues, CK said: “I have spent my long and lucky career talking and saying anything I want. I will now step back and take a long time to listen.”

As pretty much everyone on Twitter noted, CK apparently meant he’d be listening to unfunny Dennis Miller sets. Anyhoo, here’s hoping he finds himself jerking off in front of ever-smaller crowds in 2019, perhaps capping off his career with a CPAC sploodge-a-thon. Fuck off, already, Louis CK.

There are so many more people and things that need to fuck right the fuck off in 2019, but I’ve got holiday preparations to do, so I’ll leave it to you to enumerate them. Or discuss whatever — open thread!

And, in case I don’t get a chance to check in again before midnight, Happy New Year!

Fuck ‘Em Round-Up: 2018Post + Comments (286)

Warren makes it official

by Betty Cracker|  December 31, 20189:12 am| 196 Comments

This post is in: 2020 Elections, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

Every person in America should be able to work hard, play by the same set of rules, & take care of themselves & the people they love. That’s what I’m fighting for, & that’s why I’m launching an exploratory committee for president. I need you with me: https://t.co/BNl2I1m8OX pic.twitter.com/uXXtp94EvY

— Elizabeth Warren (@ewarren) December 31, 2018

I don’t know if she’ll win the nomination, but of all the contenders so far, she’s got the most fully baked message and proposals I’ve heard. Even if she doesn’t ultimately prevail, I’m glad to see Warren in the mix. The ideas she’s put forward recently — like the Accountable Capitalism Act and the Anti-Corruption and Public Integrity Act — need to be part of the conversation for Democrats.

Open thread!

Warren makes it officialPost + Comments (196)

On the Road and In Your Backyard

by Alain Chamot (1971-2020)|  December 31, 20185:00 am| 11 Comments

This post is in: On The Road, Open Threads, Readership Capture

Good Morning All,

On The Road and In Your Backyard is a weekday feature spotlighting reader submissions. From the exotic to the familiar, please share your part of the world, whether you’re traveling or just in your locality. Share some photos and a narrative, let us see through your pictures and words. We’re so lucky each and every day to see and appreciate the world around us!

Submissions from commenters are welcome at tools.balloon-juice.com

 

Sorry about Thursday/Friday, I was sick and went to bed early and forgot to post Thursday and then Friday’s I setup the post to publish a day later than desired. At least there was a bonus Saturday post!

For this last day of the year, let’s go out with something nice and blog-appropriate.  Tomorrow we return to Africa from our beloved Compte.

Have a wonderful day, and safe evening. See you next year!

 

show full post on front page

On the Road and In Your BackyardPost + Comments (11)

Monday Morning Open Thread: Counting Down

by Anne Laurie|  December 31, 20184:55 am| 122 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Readership Capture, Daydream Believers

My grandpa got Michelle Obama’s book for Christmas, started crying, and then said, “I can take myself off of the waitlist at the library, I was 353rd in line to read it.” ?? pic.twitter.com/bMZtfZ1Hif

— olivia (@olivia_rayy) December 26, 2018


Readership capture (literally).

More snippets to cheer us through the last day of 2018…

The News & Observer's 2018 Tar Heel of the Year is …
Rev. William J. Barber II.

He led NC's Moral Monday rallies as leader of the NC NAACP. The MacArthur Fellow has launched a rebirth of the Poor People’s Campaign.https://t.co/l8gJDG8gaO#NandOTarHeel @RevDrBarber

— The News & Observer (@newsobserver) December 29, 2018

Very interesting that @msnbc just named @sharicedavids as the face of the incoming Democratic wave class in the House. I agree: red state winner, incredibly formidable American. Was a privilege to be on #TeamSharice this year. She'll be a national figure. pic.twitter.com/NgDgmJ6VTd

— Tom Watson (@tomwatson) December 30, 2018

House Dems will move expeditiously on Day 1 to end the reckless #TrumpShutdown. But we will not pay a $5 billion ransom note to build a medieval border wall. That’s a 5th century solution in connection with a 21st century problem. We need #ComprehensiveImmigrationReform pic.twitter.com/Q2ea1rps9O

— Hakeem Jeffries (@RepJeffries) December 30, 2018

I’m reminded of something a Republican said to me during the attempted Moulton revolt: “Nancy Pelosi is as good as Mitch McConnell thinks he is.” Anyway, Trump v. Pelosi in 2019 will be lit. https://t.co/hL2uEmbeME

— Kimberly Atkins (@KimberlyEAtkins) December 28, 2018

As the year winds down and we look toward 2019, I’m asking you to make a commitment: find something you want to change in your community and take the first step toward changing it. If you need some inspiration, take a look at some of the young leaders who inspired me this year.

— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) December 29, 2018

Monday Morning Open Thread: Counting DownPost + Comments (122)

Day Two In Florida

by John Cole|  December 30, 20189:35 pm| 104 Comments

This post is in: John Cole Presents "This Fucking Old House"

So far, I am having a pleasant time in South Beach. I spent a few hours in little Havana today, and had a delightful coffee:

I had a very nice time watching people playing dominos in the park, and spent a good bit of time watching people roll cigars. I picked up a few decent ones for Brian, Tammy’s husband.

Came back, spent some time by the pool, and then ordered Thai food for dinner. Watching Boston Legal and calling it an early night, as my sister is showing up tomorrow for a few days.

Good to see the blog has not blown up.

Day Two In FloridaPost + Comments (104)

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