Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

Nothing worth doing is easy.

Republican obstruction dressed up as bipartisanship. Again.

You cannot shame the shameless.

The revolution will be supervised.

Fuck the extremist election deniers. What’s money for if not for keeping them out of office?

Take hopelessness and turn it into resilience.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires republicans to act in good faith.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

T R E 4 5 O N

Just because you believe it, that doesn’t make it true.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

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

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

Balloon Juice has never been a refuge for the linguistically delicate.

I did not have telepathic declassification on my 2022 bingo card.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

… pundit janitors mopping up after the GOP

Reality always lies in wait for … Democrats.

Usually wrong but never in doubt

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84Comments

  4. 4.

    West of the Rockies

    Open thread, so for any basketball fans here, why is Jimmy Butler so highly regarded? 22 points a game last year, five assists, five rebounds… Those don’t sound like superstar numbers to me.

  5. 5.

    Mike J

    Every time somebody posts a video like this it turns out that an animal only engages in whatever cute behavior it is if it has spina bifida or croup or something.

  7. 7.

    Alternative Fax, a hip hop artist from Idaho

    Beach pronking! Adorableness in motion. Because I’m legally required to be pedantic, I must point out that the correct term for that particular gait is “pronking” rather than “prancing.”

  8. 8.

    guachi

    Seven hours until the eye of tropical storm Michael passes a few miles north of my house.

    Exciting!

  11. 11.

    JCJ

    @West of the Rockies:

    He is a very good individual defender and can get his shot in the fourth quarter. Having said that, I would not have made the trade that sent Lauri Markkanen for him. Also, at age 29 I would be reluctant to commit to a long term deal as few NBA players maintain high levels of productivity past age 30 or 31.

  14. 14.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    @Adam L Silverman:
    Adam, have you heard about this? Commenter Jay posted it below and it disturbed me:
    https://www.propublica.org/article/atomwaffen-division-hate-group-active-duty-military

    I think the the Democrats if and when they gain control of the House/Congress should open investigations into the military’s handling of white supremacists at the unit level as well as how they screen recruits. I plan on writing to my Rep and Dem Senator about this.

  16. 16.

    Another Scott

    Daniel Dale Retweeted Carol Leonnig Verified account @CarolLeonnig
    47 minutes ago

    This previously unreported standoff is big news, explains a lot.

    Rod Rosenstein and Andrew McCabe each wanted the other out of the Russia probe.

    [image]

    Hmmm….

    ‘night all.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  17. 17.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    @Walker:
    Are you kidding? They’re beautiful creatures. That doesn’t mean I’m against hunting them but they are nice animals.

  18. 18.

    Adam L Silverman

    @??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??: I saw the ProPublica report when it came out. I had a discussion with senior personnel at the US Army’s Provost Marshal General’s Office about this back in 2014. My understanding is that they do screen for them and if they manage to still get through, then as soon as they know about them they get rid of them. The Marines in the ProPublica story have been courts martialled already. It’s like everything else, some are going to sneak through. Some will become radicalized once in. But by and large the military’s culture is antithetical to being a white supremacist because of how it is structured, how the military is generated to include training and education, as well as how units are put together.

    Is it a problem? Yes. Is it the military’s top personnel problem? No. Is it in the top five? I’m not sure. I’m far more concerned about infiltration of white supremacists and anti-government extremists into civilian law enforcement. Especially at the local level.

  22. 22.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    @Adam L Silverman:
    What was most disturbing was that a Military Times survey found that 25% of all active-duty military personnel had claimed to have encountered white supremacists within their ranks. That’s a very high number all things considered and suggests to me that the either army regs aren’t sufficient or aren’t being enforced well at the unit level, which is what the article suggests.

    I’m far more concerned about infiltration of white supremacists and anti-government extremists into civilian law enforcement. Especially at the local level.

    I can’t argue with you on this. We need to have people on the police force that are committed to the rule of law and serving the public trust. Having nazis on it undermines that public trust at a time when relations between civilian law enforcement and those they serve is at all time low, due to the latter’s actions.

  25. 25.

    Another Scott

    @Major Major Major Major: A few days ago the Japanese maple seedling in our front yard suddenly looked different – most of the bark was stripped from the trunk. My running hypothesis is that one or more deer did it.

    Yeah, ‘big rodents’ is a decent short hand for them, in cases like that.

    Grrr…

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  27. 27.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    @Major Major Major Major:
    I got mine over a week and half ago. It hurt like hell when I’d move it for the first few days and I’d get shooting pains in my hand. But I’m glad I got it (I also had to get it for school anyway). The union evidently footed the bill since I was able to get it for free at my job. AND I got $5 off my next grocery purchase.

  30. 30.

    JAFD

    Greetings from New Jersey,

    Got letter from Board of Elections ‘You have been appointed… a board worker for the General Election’. And below in Big Red Letters ‘election laws changed, please attend training course even if you don’t legally have to this year’.

    Anyway, hockey season finally begins in Nuuk tonight. As you know, whenever a NHL team gets snazzy new uniforms, they ask the league office to bring the Devils for their home opener, so they can hold a promotion for ‘New Jersey Night’.

  31. 31.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    So, the DOW dropped 800 points today. Those predictions for a recession in 2019 are looking on point.

  35. 35.

    West of the Rockies

    @oldgold:

    His numbers compare with James Worthy’s, so, yeah, I guess he’s better than I thought. He’s no Westbrook or Michael or Magic or Bird though.

  37. 37.

    Jay

    @Major Major Major Major:

    These were deer that know me. I’m the nice guy, the guy with the safe place on weekends and hunting season. The guy who saves their fawns. The guy who keeps them from being hit by cars.

    The assholes just didn’t care.

  39. 39.

    Yutsano

    @??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??: In the immortal words of Douglas Adams: Don’t Panic. Unless the sell-off continues or goes world-wide. Then still: Don’t Panic. The stock market is not the economy.

    Having said that, the softening housing market and Ford cutting production does worry me some.

  45. 45.

    CaseyL

    A friend of mine moved to Port Townsend (lovely, lovely town). She loved deer, and at first loved that so many live in town. I mean, LOTS of deer, all over the town, gathering on corners and strolling up the middle of the street. Very picturesque.

    Then she tried to plant a rose garden.

    She didn’t know deer eat roses. Apparently, deer love to eat roses. Her husband had to build an arbor to protect the roses.

    Now she understands why all the vegetable gardens in Port Townsend are enclosed in fences-with-roofs.

    And she calls deer “long-legged rats.”

  46. 46.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    @Yutsano:

    Ford cutting production does worry me some.

    Is this related to Ford’s decision to focus only on trucks and SUVs?

  49. 49.

    eemom

    I saw a heartbreaking thing at the Outer Banks in August. It hurts me to even recount it.

    A deer being chased by a doggie ran into the ocean, and got carried out. A couple of guys dashed in and tried to save it but it was hopeless.

    Really fucked up my first day on the beach.

  50. 50.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    @Major Major Major Major:
    Are you referring to comment 46 or 43?

    Yeah, Ford in two years is going to stop selling sedans. I think it’s stupid and not sustainable but what do I know?

  56. 56.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    @Major Major Major Major:
    Oh, sometimes links get screwed up and I wasn’t sure.

    I also thought about your advice from last night. I’m just going to portray the future GOP as they pretty much are now: an alliance between social conservatives and businessmen who are rabidly far-right and willing to use authoritarian tactics to maintain their power mixed with Putin’s United Russia Party under the illusion of electoral democracy. Also incredibly xenophobic and racist.

  57. 57.

    Comrade Colette Collaboratrice

    @CaseyL: @Sister Golden Bear: My mom, veteran Northern California gardener, calls them “rats on stilts.” I hate the bastards anywhere except my dinner plate, but I recognize that I’m a bit extreme on that point.

    My flu shot yesterday was actually easier on my arm than in past years. I managed to relax instead of clenching every muscle – maybe that helped?

  59. 59.

    ??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??

    @??? Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)  ??:
    However, I might call them something else. Don’t know for sure. I know I definitely want it to be a near-future dystopia, so many will have memories of the system from before. Maybe it will be a successor to the GOP?

  63. 63.

    Jay

    @sigyn:

    Neither’s much of a story.

    First time, changing the leader on my flyline on the shore of Edith Lake, got run over by a deer, ( Patches, due to the scarred pelt), “pronging” as kids seem to call it these days, along the shore, got away with cuts and bruises.

    A week later, “Big Momma”, ( 4 fawns in tow), two does, “pronged” me while sharpening the chainsaw. That time I got stitches.

  64. 64.

    opiejeanne

    @Comrade Colette Collaboratrice:

    I managed to relax instead of clenching every muscle – maybe that helped?

    It definitely helps if you relax. I clenched one time when I was a kid and initially rejoiced because I didn’t feel it, but then I felt it for a week. OW!

    It also helps if the shot giver is good at it and knows that trick about grabbing some of your arm and giving the shot in that area. The guy at Costco didn’t do that but still didn’t hurt us. I noticed a little soreness if I explored that area of my arm the next day, but not otherwise.

  67. 67.

    raven

    Damn, It’s blowing and pouring but the power is still on and the internet works in Athens, GA!

  70. 70.

    JPL

    @raven: It rained most of the night, and nextdoor says some trees are down, but the streets
    listed so far are in Cobb. I’ll check out my yard at daylight.

  73. 73.

    OzarkHillbilly

    Wierd. For a period of time, Cole’s twitter feed has said there is an OtR post up. I keep refreshing the page but the OtR post never shows. I click thru to this comment thread (where the comment count hasn’t changed from 67 thru several refreshes) just to see if I can get something to change around here and VOILA!

    71 comments and the OtR post shows to the right.

    Never to early to start drinking.

  76. 76.

    germy

    NISKAYUNA — Niskayuna students watching Tuesday’s varsity girls soccer game against Schenectady were heard using racial slurs toward black Schenectady players during the game, according to school officials.

    Niskayuna administrators are investigating reports of the incident, and in a statement posted on the district’s website said such behavior is a violation of “everything that we stand for as a school district.”

    Schenectady schools athletic director Steve Boynton on Wednesday confirmed that Schenectady soccer players were targeted with racist comments from the Niskayuna fans section. He said he was proud of how the Schenectady players handled themselves during the game and that some of the players broke down in tears after the game.

    “That did occur from a small portion of the Niskayuna student body,” Boynton said of the racist remarks. “[The Schenectady players] handled themselves like young ladies.”

    https://dailygazette.com/article/2018/10/10/nisky-students-hurl-racial-slurs-at-schenectady-girls-soccer-players

  82. 82.

    otmar

    @Schlemazel: Pittsburg? I haven’t been there yet and somehow it isn’t on my bucket lists of things to see.

    So: nah. The beer is better here in Brussels.

  84. 84.

    J R in WV

    @zeke:

    Good call, deer don’t pronk like that at all.

    Saddest deer thing I ever saw was a deer that ran out onto a tall bridge just outside Beckley, WV. Traffic all slowed way down, then the deer danced along to the edge of the bridge and happily bounced off the bridge something like 300 feet in the air. Was very elegant jump.

    Everyone stopped… and then went on, nothing to do to help after that.

    Sort of like the US in November, 2016. Jumped, never looked first!

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