Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The snowflake in chief appeared visibly frustrated when questioned by a reporter about egg prices.

Accused of treason; bitches about the ratings. I am in awe.

“The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.”

You come for women, you’re gonna get your ass kicked.

This blog will pay for itself.

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

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

Do not shrug your shoulders and accept the normalization of untruths.

I did not have this on my fuck 2025 bingo card.

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

We’re watching the self-immolation of the leading world power on a level unprecedented in human history.

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

Also, are you sure you want people to rate your comments?

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

And now I have baud making fun of me. this day can’t get worse.

Live so that if you miss a day of work people aren’t hoping you’re dead.

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

Donald Trump found guilty as fuck – May 30, 2024!

They think we are photo bombing their nice little lives.

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

Tick tock motherfuckers!

“A king is only a king if we bow down.” – Rev. William Barber

It’s the corruption, stupid.

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Reader Interactions

189Comments

  1. 1.

    Comrade Nimrod Humperdink

    College football starts in earnest today. That counts for something, ambivalent as it may be

  8. 8.

    Corner Stone

    I found the program for today’s McCain event as I am trying to determine when Obama may speak. They don’t give times for each of the slots but best I can tell it should be somewhere after noon, maybe 1PM CT? I have some errands to run but don’t want to miss The Islamic Shock picking it up and putting it down.

  9. 9.

    thruppence

    Going up to the Boulder Farmers Market. Colorado has a shortish growing season, but the best of the year should be there. Positivity.

  13. 13.

    Corner Stone

    Hillary is looking like she’s in good health, if I do say so myself if I do say so myself.

  14. 14.

    Corner Stone

    At the service the Reading is from 2 Corinthians. Somebody please tell me this whole week has not been one long and epic troll.

  15. 15.

    dnfree

    At first I thought someone had hacked into Balloon-Juice using John’s name because the language seemed too tame, but I guess there is one “hell”.

  16. 16.

    Comrade Nimrod Humperdink

    @Corner Stone: It’s amazing how much strain running a pizza pedo parlor can put on somebody. I wonder, given how much bullshit she’s suffered gracefully the last 30ish years, how she’s feeling about NOT being the boogie woman anymore. If she’d won she’d be history’s greatest monster forever.

  19. 19.

    Schlemazel

    I am trying on this positivity thing to see if it works.

    See, I work the other way. I start each day saying, “Oh gawd another shity awful damn day”. Then before I go to bed I look back & realize it was not as bad (usually) as I thought it would be. That makes it a big win!

  20. 20.

    Baud

    @Comrade Nimrod Humperdink:

    She, being a better person than I am, is probably more unhappy about seeing what Trump is doing to the country rather than happy about her own legacy.

    But I hope she is enjoying her life to the fullest.

  21. 21.

    Elizabelle

    Whatever happens at High Washington Rites for John McCain the Last Good American Politician, Period, Aretha’s sendoff yesterday was better and more real.

    People were there out of love and respect, not just as a ranked hierarchy.

  23. 23.

    Baud

    @Elizabelle: The McCain send off is over the top, but I can tolerate it knowing it makes Trump unhappy.

    The smartest decision McCain ever made was telling Trump he wasn’t invited to his funeral.

  24. 24.

    Elizabelle

    We should have Bingo cards. This group can probably identify a lot of the Very Important Personages in attendance.

  26. 26.

    Elizabelle

    John Kelly is sitting in front of Henry Kissinger, who is sitting in front of McCain Jarvanka BFF Lindsey Graham.

  28. 28.

    Comrade Nimrod Humperdink

    @Baud: I suspect that’s true. I still feel like everything is so, in flux now, that I have no idea what the midterms will spawn, nor what that will lead to further down the track. In some respects we’re all a bit more day-to-day right now than we’d like to be. But I tell myself that at the end of this will be a reckoning, and either a renewal or an irreversible decline. That the latter is a possibility bothers me, but the former gives some hope. I guess I just see Hilary’s juxtaposition with Trump’s as a symbol of this weird parallel universe.

  29. 29.

    Comrade Nimrod Humperdink

    @Elizabelle: Lindsay Graham has some kind of kompromat hanging over him. He has since roughly the inauguration. He went from being as openly contemptuous of Trump as McCain (cattier, in fact) to being a good soldier, instantly.

  31. 31.

    Elizabelle

    @Comrade Nimrod Humperdink: I think so too. I’d be more impressed if Graham would be courageous and let the chips fall where they may be.

    He bet on the Tea Party tanking before he was up in 2020. Maybe it will have been destroyed by then, maybe not.

  33. 33.

    Elizabelle

    @Comrade Nimrod Humperdink: We have to work to win the midterms. I think they are very winnable, and that business as usual does not factor in Democratic strength and people’s revulsion at the country’s slide into fascism.

    Am going out canvassing later today.

  34. 34.

    Elizabelle

    @Corner Stone: I’ll check next camera scan through. Glad to see Al Gore in the front row, I think.

    Horrifying that the front row includes two Democrats who won the popular vote but were not inaugurated POTUS. We have to make sure that never happens again.

    I guess we got …. a painter out of it.

  35. 35.

    kindness

    Sept 1st. Start of dove hunting season here in CA. I know that because I woke up to a chorus of shotgun bursts at dawn. I live on the edge of town so people go out on the ranch roads and shoot ’em at sun up & dusk mostly. It only lasts for a week or two both in the spring & fall. My dogs are not gun dogs but they don’t completely freak so it’s not so bad.

  36. 36.

    Corner Stone

    I’ve been trying to decide if I’d prefer to be a Right Reverend or a Very Reverend. At the moment I am leaning towards Right Reverend just for all the Airplane! skits I could get out of it.

  37. 37.

    Elizabelle

    If you are Caucasian, a bit older, and own black clothing, Washington National Cathedral is the place to be today.

  39. 39.

    Another Scott

    @Elizabelle: Every Republican of national prominence is almost certainly compromised, by taking Vlad’s money via the NRA if nothing else.

    Sen. Warner keeps hinting that he thinks Mueller has much, much more than people think. I think that’s almost certainly true.

    Mueller’s a smart guy, and he certainly doesn’t want to get only half of the story (by, say, showing that Trump conspired with Vlad against the United States without also rolling up Pence via Manafort). But what’s obvious to these eyes and what can be proved in open court (e.g. without giving up “sources and methods”) can be different things.

    Grrr…

    65 days to go!!

    (via BlueVirginia.US)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  41. 41.

    Elizabelle

    Yep. Hillary is seated next to the Cryptkicker.

    Cindy just greeted the front row. She has been perfect throughout this; great dignity.

  42. 42.

    Elizabelle

    @Yarrow: They are there as reps of It that is in the White House. Ivanka acting like she’s at a swell cocktail party. People streaming up to pay fealty. Gag.

    Wouldn’t it be fun if this is the last major gathering before many of the gathered are indicted? Please, please, please. McConnell not be a happy or sleeping well man of late.

  45. 45.

    Schlemazel

    @Elizabelle:
    Yeah, the front row is POTUS in order then VPOTUS in order seated boy-girl. That is how HRC ended up next to Darth.

    The two greatest crimes of the 21st century (so far) Thank the holy Pasta that hair furor is not there

  46. 46.

    Elizabelle

    @Another Scott: I will let you know what I hear at the doors this weekend.

    Thanks for info re Mark Warner. Suspect he is not wrong, and that Team Mueller is strategizing how to prosecute but protect sources too.

    Interesting that the first Manafort jury pretty much disregarded Rick Gates’ testimony, that of a liar, and relied on documents. So they say.

  48. 48.

    MomSense

    I can’t watch the McCain send off. I just can’t. I’ll check out the video of PBO later.

    I’m usually a fairly positive person but today I’m disappointed. Was supposed to spend the day with some friends who live in Switzerland. They are renting a lake house for the week and I was looking forward to some time with them.

    Alas, the mosquito bite that was itching on Wednesday must not be a mosquito bite because that area (over my trapezius) is now very swollen and covered in a crazy rash. Also, too I have a horrific headache and have been doing some intense power booting. I’m guessing my doctor is going to send me to the ED.

    So Cole I think you can just enjoy your day worry free since I have taken the bad luck for team jackal.

  49. 49.

    JPL

    @Yarrow: If they were invited, then trump must really be upset. Trump’s been tweeting though, and did you know he lost his 4th amendment rights.

  50. 50.

    dnfree

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: I posted once before that my dad, who was in the Pacific in World War II, requested the Navy Hymn at his funeral four years ago. I wasn’t even aware it existed, but it was his only request. His ship, the Orestes, was bombed and damaged.

  51. 51.

    Schlemazel

    @Yarrow:
    That way lay madness. Don’t try to guess when, have faith in RMIII’s demonstrated competence and skill and let it flow in its own due time

  58. 58.

    Comrade Nimrod Humperdink

    @Yarrow: Shame it’s Saturday. Otherwise I could at least daydream about the Feds cuffing them outside the Cathedral afterwards

  59. 59.

    Yarrow

    @Another Scott:

    Sen. Warner keeps hinting that he thinks Mueller has much, much more than people think. I think that’s almost certainly true.

    Of course he does. He has access to FBI and CIA intel, as well intel from our allies, Five Eyes and NATO. The iceberg meme that was circulating months ago (“What we know” above water, “What Mueller knows” below) is very accurate.

    @Schlemazel: I’m not guessing; I’m speculating. The investigation will play out the way it plays out. What we do will not influence Mueller’s progress. However, outside events might have some effect. We won’t know that unless and until books are written and even then we may not find out.

  60. 60.

    rikyrah

    @MomSense:
    Sorry to hear about your rash. Did you go to the doctor?

    PS- you posted that you were interested in seeing Aretha Franklin ‘s funeral. I had come late,but told you to just go to YouTube, and put in the Search engines, a group of people and Aretha Franklin.
    The list is in Cole’s Happy Friday post, Comment #137.

  64. 64.

    Quinerly

    Got sucked into the McCain funeral. Turned it on to see the people and where they were seated. (Hillary next to Cheney… Ugh). Watching Meagan is upsetting. With that said, looks like I’m going to postpone my day… When does Obama speak? Anything posted re timing, order?

  66. 66.

    Elizabelle

    @Yarrow: Mark Warner seems to have a close relationship with his committee co-chair, Richard Burr of North Carolina. Who is, I believe, one of the largest recipients of NRA $$$.

    I wonder what Warner knows about that.

    Meghan is greeted with applause: “America does not boast.”

  67. 67.

    Corner Stone

    She’s going on a bit but I am enjoying the rare shots at Trump. Will need a transcript as I keep muting parts of her delivery.

  71. 71.

    Amir Khalid

    @Elizabelle:
    Oh yes.
    In the meantime, The Guardian’s live-stream of Aretha’s funeral is up on YouTube. It’s nine hours long so I may watch it over a number of sessions.

  72. 72.

    Another Scott

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: I’ve got the BBC coverage on, but it’s muted. I can’t stand to listen to the hagiography, though I understand it…

    People are complicated, especially national politicians. And long-serving senators deserve national recognition when they die. But this whole week has been so over-the-top.

    I don’t remember anything like this when, say, LBJ died.

    Prominent elected Republicans somehow are instantly on the road to sainthood as soon as their heart stops.

    Yeah, I’m being ungenerous too.

    She just finished.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  73. 73.

    Elizabelle

    I think the front row looks mildly horrified at the display of tears, even though some/much of Meghan’s words are genuine.

    But a lot of it is mythologizing. And — her father is gone. So are a lot of ours. Mine died at age 62 as a result of his Viet Nam service. Get over it, Meghan.

  77. 77.

    Schlemazel

    @Corner Stone:
    “We gather here to mourn the passing of American greatness. The real thing, not cheap rhetoric from men who will never come near the sacrifice he gave so willingly, nor the opportunistic appropriation of those who lived lives of comfort and privilege.”

  78. 78.

    Corner Stone

    Not that I would ever actually want to be, but I have to say I am glad I am not married to Meghan McCain. No man living is ever going to be able to match up to her Daddy worship of JSMIII.

  82. 82.

    Yarrow

    @Another Scott:

    I don’t remember anything like this when, say, LBJ died.

    The TV people said the week-long funeral event started in the modern era with Reagan. apparently Abraham Lincoln had a week-long funeral but none since him until Reagan. Ford died soon after Reagan and they did the week-long thing again.

  84. 84.

    Carolina Dave

    You’re right John, It’s going to be a great day! I’m heading down to Charlotte with some ‘eers fans to watch WVa open the college football season by whipping the volunteer s

  85. 85.

    Quinerly

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: I lost my mother almost 3 years ago, my dad 10 years ago. I’m an only child and still cry sometime out of the clear blue when talking about them. No way I could have spoken at their services. I’ll give Meaghan that. But too long for the eulogy. . Over the top…. Practically unwatchable.

  86. 86.

    Elizabelle

    @Schlemazel: I winced at that because — American greatness is still here. It will not be interred with Meghan’s sainted father. It’s not sword-rattling, either. It is, however, muted by the shabby-ass traitor who embarrasses us all, and who was wisely shut out of these proceedings. And his shabby ass supporters.

    Our challenge will be forcing them back under their rocks.

  89. 89.

    donnah

    @debit:

    Yes, and the crowd applauded when she said America was already great and didn’t need to be made great again.

    I’m no McCain fan, but her tribute was powerful and moving. I thought she spoke from her heart and did so eloquently. And she did take shots at Trump, which I found both amusing and affirming.

    It’s a memorial that will resonate across both parties and reminds me that at one time both sides could get along, even marginally. Will it change anything? Not really. But for now, it is a good thing. And I’m okay with that.

  92. 92.

    Corner Stone

    This event is running a lot tighter than I expected. After Droop Dog we get War Criminal Kissinger to mumble through, then Battle Hymn and then W!

  95. 95.

    Elizabelle

    @schrodingers_cat: I am watching C-Span precisely to miss the cable news lapdogs and bootlickers. It’s interesting, and it’s history. Treat yourself to the Aretha experience, which was more fun and more honest.

    “Tribal partisanship.” Droopy dog just said it.

  96. 96.

    Quinerly

    @Yarrow: I remember several days re Teddy Kennedy but nothing like this. He didn’t lie in state at the Capitol, either. I also have vivid memories of watching the Robert Byrd funeral a few years back. Need to look up when he died.

  97. 97.

    Mnemosyne

    Morning, jackals! My knee surgery went well and I take my next dose of pain meds in about 15 minutes. It turns out that if you tell them that you actually vomited ON a medical person in the recovery room the last time you had opiates and anesthesia, they take you more seriously. ? This time, they gave me a slow-release version of the opiate and also some Celebrex that I can switch to if I start having issues with the opiate.

  98. 98.

    Yarrow

    @Elizabelle:

    Get over it, Meghan.

    That’s unfair. He died only a week ago. Everyone experiences grief differently and it’s been clear all week that Megan has been overcome with grief. She gets a pass, from me at least, for her grief.

  99. 99.

    Another Scott

    @Elizabelle: Well said.

    The idea that rushing off to war at the drop of a hat (“We are all Georgians now!”) is somehow patriotic and principled and strong and courageous is toxic.

    Once this is finally over and his body is in Annapolis, I do hope that there’s a strong push-back beginning next week over the white-washing of his policies, his votes, and his rhetoric. The idea that one has to be a militarist to be patriotic is just so much jingoism and it needs to be dumped by the country.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  100. 100.

    Elizabelle

    RFK had a funeral train. That said: he died on June 6 in California, and his funeral was on June 8 at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. After which, the funeral train to DC, and an evening interment at Arlington National Cemetery at 10:30 that day. The only night burial at the cemetery, to date.

    Had no idea it was so rapid.

  101. 101.

    Quinerly

    @Elizabelle: Did you see Laura Ingraham’s mini rant that Aretha’s funeral was “gratuitous” and too “political?” Might have been the same show where she played “Shock the Monkey” before interviewing DeSantis.

  102. 102.

    Yarrow

    @Mnemosyne: Glad you made it through the first night okay. Pain meds are wonderful things. Take them on schedule as instructed and they’ll work better for you. Was the surgeon pleased with how everything went?

  103. 103.

    Elizabelle

    @Yarrow: It just surprises me because a long battle with cancer gives a family a long time to come to terms with the impending loss. You live under its shadow, for months and years and even decades. That said, I probably was too harsh re Meghan.

    @Mnemosyne: Glad to hear you are comfortable (I hope) and the surgery was a success. Now some well-earned recuperation.

  107. 107.

    Elizabelle

    @Quinerly: Nope. I don’t pay any attention to those morons. Morons gonna moron. They got airtime to fill, and attention to try to grab. Fuck ’em.

    Aretha would not pay them no mind either. (brushes off shoulder, or drops a fur — in her case)

  109. 109.

    donnah

    @Elizabelle:

    Yeah, my dad battled cancer for a year and passed away in hospice. We knew it was coming all along, but there’s the finality when it hits you hard. He’s been gone three years now and I still reach for the phone to call him to tell him about something funny I read.

  110. 110.

    Cheryl Rofer

    I’ve tuned in to the funeral and will probably stick with it. I can’t resist stuff like this, even Lieberman and Kissinger. They are pulling out all the tearjerker quotes, but I like those quotes. Can do some things on the side. According to the Twitters, the President* has left for an undisclosed location, probably the golf course.

  111. 111.

    Yarrow

    @Elizabelle: Knowing it’s coming and having it happen are not the same thing. Some people grieve earlier and the end doesn’t hit them as hard and some people find that finality a shock. Megan is clearly in the second group. She’s been sobbing all week every time they’ve shown her on TV. We also don’t know what else is going on in her life and what else is happening with the family. Her grief may not be just about her dad; there could be other things wrapped up in it.

  112. 112.

    Elizabelle

    @chopper: My point is not “getting over it.” You never do.

    But dignity wears better than (childish) emotion-spewing. That said, apologies to Meghan, I guess, although you could see that performance coming.

  113. 113.

    Elizabelle

    @donnah: It’s hard. I was tearing up in restaurants for a year after my dad’s death, because I’d be out by myself, a good dinner after working late, and I wanted another dinner out with my dad, so badly. Just any time at all with him.

  114. 114.

    japa21

    I wonder how many folks who are being harsh to Meghan would say the same thing if it was Chelsea Clinton doing the same thing at a service for either of her parents? And I wouldn’t be surprised if she did do the same thing.

  115. 115.

    Corner Stone

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    the President* has left for an undisclosed location, probably the golf course.

    It’s got to be a golf course as he is not welcome any where else.

  116. 116.

    Yarrow

    @Elizabelle:

    But dignity wears better than (childish) emotion-spewing.

    So you think her crying in her grief over losing her dad only a week ago is childish emotion-spewing? Wow.

  118. 118.

    chopper

    @japa21:

    i know a lot of right wingers, among other things, would be rolling their eyes and saying stuff like ‘oh, get over it, chelsea”.

  119. 119.

    Corner Stone

    @japa21: Chelsea may be emotional at that time but it won’t be with the same degree of waterworks and heavy breathing. Chelsea knows her father is a flawed man and probably loves him despite all that. It seems likely that Meghan never accepted her dad was anything less than the ideal she holds of him.

  120. 120.

    Suzanne

    So the Arizona service was at a church right up the street (less than a mile) from my office. The AZ Capitol is not far away, either. The motorcade carrying him was very moving. No pun intended. I didn’t go to the Capitol to pay respects on Wednesday, but he has been such a large part of the landscape of this weird place where I live, and I hope his family finds peace and comfort.

  123. 123.

    Quinerly

    @Corner Stone: well said. You obviously watched Meaghan eulogy, like Elizabelle and a few others here. If someone didn’t see it, it is hard to explain. With that said, is Obama last? I feel like I need to see him… Like an old friend who will comfort me and make me feel better about the country.

  127. 127.

    Cheryl Rofer

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: Yes. Even Lieberman had a few things to say that reflect on our current condition, whether he intended them that way or not. We need to be reminded that there are other possibilities than what we see in Washington right now.

  132. 132.

    Suzanne

    @Corner Stone:

    It seems likely that Meghan never accepted her dad was anything less than the ideal she holds of him.

    Then that means that he was a great father to her, and that is wonderful.

    I doubt that any child is oblivious to their parents’ faults.

    Can we extend people some grace as they grieve?

  133. 133.

    scav

    @Yarrow: It could very well be — what have so many people got invested in i being ab authenic response? It’s as honest a hman reaction to say “Oh Plu-lease . . . ” when faced with a somewhat OTT emotional response as to rush up and take everything at simple face value. This is a media event being televised with multiple agendas all spearing through it and populated largely by people very much invested and habituated to projecting a persona. Hell, people retreat to conventional and expected behaviors and subtly compete for the number one mourner position at private events.

  134. 134.

    Elizabelle

    A longing for what cannot be restored. And what can endure. And sacrifice for something greater than ourselves.

    I think Kissinger’s eulogy is actually quite good. Also starting with the danger of isolationism.

  136. 136.

    Mike in NC

    TV this morning is all McCain funeral, all the time. That’s OK provided it’s driving Fat Bastard up the wall. Hope he has a stroke on the golf course.

  137. 137.

    Brachiator

    Order of remaining elements of McCain services

    Tribute by Senator Joseph I. Lieberman
    Tribute by Dr. Henry A. Kissinger
    Anthem, “Battle Hymn of the Republic”
    Tribute by President George W. Bush
    Tribute by President Barack H. Obama
    Anthem, “Battle Hymn of the Republic”
    The Collect for Burial by The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral
    Prayer for Those Who Grieve by The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral
    Reading, Wisdom 3:1-5, 9, by Senator Kelly Ayotte
    Anthem, “The Lord is my Shepherd,” led by the Washington National Cathedral Choir
    Reading, 2 Corinthians 5:6-8, read by Sidney McCain
    Hymn, “How Great Though Art,” sung by the congregation
    Gospel, John 15:12-13, read by Senator Lindsey Graham
    Homily by Father Edward A. Reese, S.J.
    Musical Reflection, “Danny Boy,” sung by Renee Fleming
    The Lord’s Prayer
    The Prayers
    Concluding Prayer, led by The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington
    Anthem, “America the Beautiful”
    The Commendation, led by The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral; The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington; and Father Edward A. Reese, S.J.
    The Blessing by The Right Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Washington
    The Dismissal by The Very Rev. Randolph Marshall Hollerith, Dean of Washington National Cathedral
    Postlude, “Final,” from Symphony I, OP.14 and Piece d’orgue, BWV 572

  138. 138.

    Corner Stone

    @Suzanne: I have no problem with her grieving and thought her eulogy was moving, if maybe a little long for the event. I hope her faith in that comforts her.

  140. 140.

    Kathleen

    @Schlemazel: Sometimes calm and positivity are highly overrated. When I give myself permission to have a crappy run or a crappy day the results usually are not crappy at all.

  141. 141.

    Corner Stone

    I noticed earlier they had Battle Hymn listed twice. Now I see they meant Amazing Grace the first time and maybe Battle Hymn the second go round.
    W!

  142. 142.

    JPL

    I turned the service on and Kissenger was talking about McCain’s involvement with reconciling with Vietnam. I have a real problem with that traitor talking about Vietnam.

  143. 143.

    Mr. Mack

    I likely will not be around to see one or both of the Obama girls eulogize their father ….but I know it will be a graceful, heartfelt send off, just like Meghans was. Performance? May I never be that heartless.

  145. 145.

    donnah

    I’m still watching the service. Gotta say, the Naval Academy Glee Club’s version of Amazing Grace is beautiful and moving. I, too, am antcipating a good tribute from Obama and will find it bittersweet, I’m sure.

  148. 148.

    Cheryl Rofer

  149. 149.

    trollhattan

    Glad y’all are watching so I don’t have to. Still working the espresso maker in order to jumpstart the day. Alert me if Stevie Wonder makes a guest appearance.
    #NobodyTopsAretha

  150. 150.

    sdhays

    @Baud:

    The McCain send off is over the top, but I can tolerate it knowing it makes Trump unhappy.

    This articulates my sentiments exactly.

  151. 151.

    trollhattan

    @Cheryl Rofer:
    Remember HOW VERY MUCH Obama supposedly played golf? A constant Republican complaint when it was actually just white people outreach.

    Trump will catch and pass Eisenhower–Bestest golfing president, ever!

  152. 152.

    Corner Stone

    @Quinerly:

    I know when I’m bailing.

    When Obama finishes and drops the mic, cable companies across the US are going to look up in unison and exclaim, “What happened?! We just reclaimed 80% of our used bandwidth!”

  153. 153.

    donnah

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    Trump has that ego-centric ability to ignore anything that doesn’t directly meet with his own agenda. He chooses to pretend that the vast tributes to anyone but himself are invalid and unimportant. His jealousy and hate define him.

    I cannot imagine living in a tiny world where no one but I exist. A man like this should never be president.

  154. 154.

    Steeplejack

    @Cheryl Rofer:

    Not complaining about any shade thrown at Trump, but that’s a bit of piling on. After all, he was explicitly disinvited. What’s he supposed to do?

  158. 158.

    Corner Stone

    “Ladies and Gentlemen! I am pleased to present to youooooo!!! Barack “The Islamic Shock” Hoooossayyynn OBAMA!!!”

  159. 159.

    B.B.A.

    @Another Scott:

    The idea that rushing off to war at the drop of a hat (“We are all Georgians now!”) is somehow patriotic and principled and strong and courageous is toxic.

    If McCain were still alive, he’d be in favor of the upcoming disastrous invasion of Venezuela.

  164. 164.

    Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho

    @donnah: 20+ years later I still have the impulse to call my father about things. And my mother as well (they died the same year).

    I agree with the point that there is a shocking grief when it finally happens no matter how long you’ve seen it coming, because the event itself is a shock. But you can still do some adulting, generally. Pierce said after one of the overwrought View (is that it) episodes, I think even before the death, that he advised “as someone who’s been there” that Meghan McCain should not be on television right now. I thought that was gracious.

    Of course everyone grieves differently but her speech felt a little like a diva’s biggest time in the bright lights to me, as much as I enjoyed slams at Agent Orange. With Javanka right there!!

  165. 165.

    Steeplejack

    Okay, I grudgingly tuned in just to hear Obama after a friend tipped me off.

    Bill Clinton is chewing gum?! WTF.

  166. 166.

    laura

    I have almost nothing in common with Meghan McCain except we were loved and wanted children, we had dad’s who loved us unconditionally and without reservation or hesitation and we both lost our dad’s to brain cancer. I had the privilege of writing both parent’s obituaries with my dad and of bringing him home and caring for him in hospice along with my brothers.
    I planned a beautiful service sith a Marine Color Guard that meant the world to his friends, but there was no way I could have spoken at his service.
    I respect her loss, and cannot bring myself to criticize her in her public displays of grief. I lost the most influential man in my life and sadly, Meghan McCain did too.

  167. 167.

    Elizabelle

    @laura:

    there was no way I could have spoken at his service.

    That’s the thing, though. The self-knowledge to make that decision.

    But everyone can go ahead and call me a heartless bitch. I am not. I just found Meghan’s tribute over the top. That is all.

  170. 170.

    normal liberal

    @Elizabelle:
    Listening to her was uncomfortable, but she was consistent with how she has always spoken about her father. I respect the fact that she did it all, in that setting and, as they say, before that congregation. I couldn’t do it at my dad’s memorial service-I knew I couldn’t get through it.
    I’m surprised that both Holy Joe and Kissinger were not as cringe-inducing as seemed probable.

  171. 171.

    Elizabelle

    Small. Mean. Bombast. Phony Controversies. Manufactured outrage. …. pretends to be … tough but is born of fear.

    Trump will never sit through all of this, but it’s good to have Ivanka and Jared having to do so.

    Melania is probably toasting this with a Bellini!

  173. 173.

    laura

    @Elizabelle: i did not mean my comment as a criticism to you, and am sorry if that is how it felt. My apologies to you.
    Grief and loss takes so many forms and I meant to say that I can’t criticize anyone’s expression of loss and sorrow.
    Also, fuck that war criminal Kissinger/Cheney.

  177. 177.

    Mnemosyne

    @Yarrow:

    G said he was. If I talked to the surgeon right after the surgery, I don’t remember it, but he did call last night to check up on me.

    Because I got a donor ligament, they now give you the option of writing a note to the donor’s family to tell them you were helped by the donation. I thought that was nice.

  179. 179.

    Elizabelle

    @laura: And my condolences on your father passing of brain cancer. That is so tough.

    I think we should do a fundraiser for cancer research this week.

  181. 181.

    laura

    @Elizabelle: my dad would prefer that we use all our resources and efforts to get rid of this moron sex pest infesting the people’s house.
    Dad’s brain cancer was runaway melanoma -and likely service-related. He was in the above ground atomic testing in Nevada, though he never mentioned That until this last year.
    Id like my government to fund r&d in health care and all other juicy big, responsive governmentin’ stuff, paid for by wrining the idle weath out of the hands hands of billionaires, ymmv.

  182. 182.

    Elizabelle

    @laura: I am liking your dad! Interesting about the atomic testing.

    And I agree completely with your last sentence. Idle wealth is a threat to us, in so many ways. We should tax them harder, if just to make it that much more difficult to buy our government and subvert the greater good.

  184. 184.

    Elizabelle

    @laura: “Interesting” is an insufficient word; apologies there. But I’d believe it is connected.

    A friend born in New Mexico says a lot of Mormons (and others out West) are infertile, and it has to do with atomic testing. This came up WRT a conversation on adoption and her family, in particular. And many, many cancer deaths.

  185. 185.

    laura

    My older brother had testicular cancer and he was born a few years after dad was discharged. I was/am infertile and a des daughter. my mother was convinced her breast cancer was due to exposure of common household chemicals. So many teratogenic possibilities…

  187. 187.

    Amir Khalid

    For the first time in four years, an American player has scored in the English Premier League. Newcastle United’s DeAndre Yedlin scored an equaliser for 1-1 against defending champions and visiting team Manchester City. (Last week, though, he scored an own goal which handed Chelsea a 3-2 win.)

  188. 188.

    Yarrow

    @Mnemosyne: I did not realize you were getting a donor ligament. That’s cutting edge! Glad the surgeon is pleased with how it all went. Rest up.

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