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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

It is possible to do the right thing without the promise of a cookie.

Disappointing to see gov. newsom with his finger to the wind.

Republicans are radicals, not conservatives.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

Let me file that under fuck it.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

It’s all just conspiracy shit beamed down from the mothership.

Let there be snark.

This year has been the longest three days of putin’s life.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Republicans: slavery is when you own me. freedom is when I own you.

The real work of an opposition party is to oppose.

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

You cannot shame the shameless.

After dobbs, women are no longer free.

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

They are not red states to be hated; they are voter suppression states to be fixed.

When your entire life is steeped in white supremacy, equality feels like discrimination.

Republicans got rid of McCarthy. Democrats chose not to save him.

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

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

There are no moderate republicans – only extremists and cowards.

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

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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Sunday Afternoon Rambling Open Thread

Sunday Afternoon Rambling Open Thread

by John Cole|  March 31, 20193:47 pm| 123 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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First things first- it is pretty clear that I need to spend more time around here in the comments and whip you fuckers into shape, because I don’t know when we became such delicate fucking flowers. Judging the reactions to the post about Pete Buttigieg below, you all would think I killed the man in a hate crime then pissed on his grave. Fer fuck’s sake, people. I like the guy and donated and right now he’s in my top tier of candidates.

But let’s be real, here- if one nasty op-ed from a Bern-or-Bust guy is all it takes to sink his candidacy, maybe, just maybe, he doesn’t deserve to be the nominee, let alone President? I don’t agree with everything in the piece, some of it I found interesting, particularly in how other people may view him, but it’s just some guy’s opinion. I like to read differing views about shit. If I didn’t explore what other people said about things and then MAKE MY OWN FUCKING DECISION, I’d probably still be a god damned Republican, and lemme assure you, no good can come from that.

We’ve got a lot of great candidates- let’s look at them warts and all. And you can’t be afraid of what Republicans and the media are going to say in the general election, because THEY ARE GOING TO SAY IT ANYWAY. So just simmer down and roll with the punches. Y’all re going to have a heart attack and the way things are going, we Juicers are dropping like god damned flies as it is.

Second, the bathroom downstairs is a new color:

It used to be the same powder blue color as the kitchen, but I was tired of it, so I just went in to the local hardware store and picked out a color. Fuck it. If I on’t like it after a couple of months, we’ll just change it again. For now I like it. Oh- the color is intercoastal by Valspar. It’s darker than I expected. Also I hate that mirror/medicine cabinet but it came with the house so it is there for now until I find something cheap that I like.

Third- Any suggestions on how to clean a mattress? I was changing my sheets and the bed was uncovered, and Thurston went outside, came back in, and got dirty pawprints all over the mattress. Just a normal detergent with a damp cloth?

That is all. Continue your Sunday.

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Reader Interactions

123Comments

  1. 1.

    trollhattan

    March 31, 2019 at 3:51 pm

    Like the color FWIW. It may be fine spring-fall then too dark & cool come winter, but you have plenty of time for that test.

    Upholstery cleaner then vacuum for the mattress, I’m guessing will do fine. Darn doggies! (Mine is on the mattress RIGHT NOW while I have the sheets in the wash. Sigh.)

  2. 2.

    zhena gogolia

    March 31, 2019 at 3:55 pm

    Because you don’t read the comments, you weren’t aware that all day yesterday the comments were full of attacks on Buttigieg.

  3. 3.

    Han

    March 31, 2019 at 3:55 pm

    Let it dry, then vacuum it up.

  4. 4.

    clay

    March 31, 2019 at 3:55 pm

    I, for one, am tired of all these people supposedly on the same side who spend all this time tearing down fellow Democrats, before the primaries have even started!

    I can’t wait until after the primaries, when they’ll all tear down the nominee for not being perfect.

  5. 5.

    satby

    March 31, 2019 at 3:55 pm

    Love the color!
    Second the upholstery cleaner and vacuum.
    Threads have gotten so toxic lately I just stay out of them.

  6. 6.

    schrodingers_cat

    March 31, 2019 at 3:57 pm

    Nice bathroom! Is the upstairs bedroom still pink?

  7. 7.

    dnfree

    March 31, 2019 at 4:00 pm

    It’s hindsight advice, but maybe buy a waterproof mattress pad?

  8. 8.

    zhena gogolia

    March 31, 2019 at 4:01 pm

    We’ve got a lot of great candidates- let’s look at them warts and all.

    Let’s use the front page to talk about their great qualities and interesting policy proposals. Not to magnify hit jobs that seem to be coordinated for certain days.

  9. 9.

    Major Major Major Major

    March 31, 2019 at 4:04 pm

    if one nasty op-ed from a Bern-or-Bust guy is all it takes to sink his candidacy, maybe, just maybe, he doesn’t deserve to be the nominee, let alone President?

    I… am not following this line of thought? Neither the antecedent nor the consequent.

  10. 10.

    NotMax

    March 31, 2019 at 4:04 pm

    Obligatory: #1 – #2.

    :)

  11. 11.

    Hilfy

    March 31, 2019 at 4:05 pm

    Brush off any loose dirt. Use carpet stain remover, spray or foam – whatever you’ve got. Follow the directions, but don’t get the fabric really wet. By the time it dried, some other of your critters would get up there and mess it up. Carpet stain remover is good on furniture fabric too. On any fabric that can’t be washed.

  12. 12.

    JGabriel

    March 31, 2019 at 4:05 pm

    John Cole @ Top:

    Y’all re going to have a heart attack and the way things are going, we Juicers are dropping like god damned flies as it is.

    I blame Trump. And Ayn Rand.

    I always blame Ayn Rand.

    Because it’s always Ayn Rand’s fault.

  13. 13.

    trollhattan

    March 31, 2019 at 4:06 pm

    @NotMax:
    Monster!

  14. 14.

    satby

    March 31, 2019 at 4:06 pm

    @NotMax: too close to the house!!!

  15. 15.

    Lymie

    March 31, 2019 at 4:07 pm

    Nice color for a small room.

    Let the dirt dry and vacuum. Then a Solution of oxyclean and a cloth, dry and vacuum anything left.

  16. 16.

    hells littlest angel

    March 31, 2019 at 4:09 pm

    Nice watercolors. Giving rolls of toilet paper the same pride of place is a little weird, though.

  17. 17.

    West of the Rockies

    March 31, 2019 at 4:09 pm

    I had never heard of Pete until about two weeks ago. I’m presently for Harris. But after a glowing introduction (he’s gay and is a polyglot and pretty cool), some people have given him serious side-eye.

    Maybe that’s part of the electorate vetting a candidate. Politics ain’t beanbag and all…

    But the level of anti-Pete vitriol seems intense. We saw it with Warren and Harris and everyone else. It takes the excitement and optimism out of politics, at least for me. YMMV.

  18. 18.

    Aleta

    March 31, 2019 at 4:10 pm

    That darker color makes the white zing

    I get into trouble when I try a damp cloth on dirt. My attempt would be sprinkle/pour baking soda right away, to dry and absorb. Vacuum when dry. Maybe gentle brushing to loosen (lift dirt out not grind in) if the mattress absorbed mud that’s dried. Can use a toothbrush or something.

  19. 19.

    debbie

    March 31, 2019 at 4:11 pm

    @Lymie:

    Oxyclean Max Force (spray bottle) and Shout! wipes are both awesome. Both get out absolutely anything.

  20. 20.

    satby

    March 31, 2019 at 4:14 pm

    @West of the Rockies: the pro and con Pete threads are even longer than the RIP efg threads. Something seriously off about that ratio.

  21. 21.

    Major Major Major Major

    March 31, 2019 at 4:16 pm

    Twitter is cool it's a place you can see Benito Mussolini's granddaughter get really mad at Jim Carrey for smearing her grandfather pic.twitter.com/rKLTC3GF6t

    — Wild Geerters (@classiclib3ral) March 31, 2019

  22. 22.

    Zelma

    March 31, 2019 at 4:19 pm

    I’ve donated to two candidates: Mayor Pete and Corey Booker. I’ll probably give to Warren as well before this is all over.

    I also really don’t understand the vitriol towards Mayor Pete. I’ve heard him talk several times and he’s made good sense to me. His criticism of Hillary was no worse than what I’ve frequently read here. Whether he can (or should) win is another question.

    And I find it discouraging that there is the idea that all Trump voters are irredeemable. I live in a red area and I know enough Trump voters who have changed their minds to be more hopeful.

    BTW, I love the color.

  23. 23.

    Sister Golden Bear

    March 31, 2019 at 4:20 pm

    Reposting from downstairs (given my talent for posting when a thread is winding down)…

    In honor of Transgender Day of Visibility, I wanted to give a shout out to “And Then There Was Eve,” co-starring my friend and all-around bad-ass, Rach.

    https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7-7CRad4ZKc

    Headed by an all-women team, it won best in category at the LA Film Festival, and just came out on video-on-demand (on Amazon, etc.).

    It was also a return to acting for Rach, who’s gotten glowing reviews. She’d been a successful off-Broadway actor when she was living as a man, but after she transitioned about a decade ago, the only roles available were for the live trans hooker, or the dead trans hooker.

    Kudos to the writers/director/producers for being insistent that they cast a trans woman to play a trans woman — even when it looked like that might mean scrapping the production.

    BTW, if any of you go to the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Rach is playing the Duke Senior (as a woman) in “As You Like It” — to more great reviews — and has a supporting role in another play this season.

    https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.siskiyoudaily.com/news/20190330/theater-review-well-crafted-as-you-like-it-at-osf%3ftemplate=ampart

    I’m looking forward to seeing her on stage when I head up to Ashland in a couple weeks.

  24. 24.

    Major Major Major Major

    March 31, 2019 at 4:20 pm

    @West of the Rockies: @satby: from what I’m seeing on twitter, the economic left is coming at Pete hard, probably because they see him as an actual threat to win the nomination. They’re even digging up the time he criticized hillary’s campaign to discredit him with the base, even as they themselves have made a career of it.

    Now, he’s got some legitimate statements to answer for, which he will I’m assuming, and could stand to have an interview focused on racial issues or something, which I’m sure he’s more than capable of.

  25. 25.

    Mary G

    March 31, 2019 at 4:21 pm

    Everyone’s nerves are raw with PTSD over Hillary’s loss and the national nightmare that is the Twitler administration. But demanding everybody toe the line is what Republicans do. I prefer to be one of the herd of cats.

    I have stopped commenting much on specific candidates here because saying I don’t like something one of them did can lead to feeling accused of treason or sabotage.

    Please let’s be kind to each other and stop engaging with the trolls whose purpose is to divide us. We are all going to work our hearts out to get the eventual nominee elected, regardless of who the primary voters pick.

  26. 26.

    Major Major Major Major

    March 31, 2019 at 4:22 pm

    @Sister Golden Bear: would you be interested in writing up something for TDOV that I could front-page this evening? Could just be mostly what you’ve written here.

  27. 27.

    Suzanne

    March 31, 2019 at 4:24 pm

    I am sick of the sheer stupidity of so many of these “debates”. We spend less time discussing why our candidates are good than why candidates are giant fucking failures. And maybe I would feel differently if we weren’t doing this in front of the backdrop of a potential second term for literally The Worst President In American History.

    Right now, I really like Harris. She’s my first choice right now. But I also like Beto, despite his relative youth and inexperience. I like Warren, despite the Native American ancestry stuff. I like Abrams, despite the fact that she isn’t even running yet. I like Booker, despite all his love-fest crap. I like Buttigieg, despite only being a mayor of a small city in a red state. I am totally over Joe and Bernie, but either of them would be a vast, vast improvement over what we have now.

    We have great fucking candidates. A huge bench of talent. And we are in an existential battle for the survival of everything we stand for: democracy, equality, independence. I just have no appetite for bullshit takedowns.

  28. 28.

    JMG

    March 31, 2019 at 4:25 pm

    You picked a good bathroom color.

  29. 29.

    geg6

    March 31, 2019 at 4:26 pm

    The bathroom color is great. I love it.

    Get some upholstery cleaner and use that on the mattress. Should be fine. Poor Thurston, always in the role of bad doggie.

    And I totally agree with you about seeing the other side, as long as it’s not the Republican side. I haven’t jumped on the Mayor Pete bandwagon, though some of my FB friends have lost their minds over him. But we have a long way to go before I have to commit to anyone, especially considering how late the primary is here in PA. As of right now, I want to see the debates and, perhaps, the results of Super Tuesday. I think that will shake out the real contenders from the others and then I can make my choice. Until then, I’m less than interested in what all the commenters here and on my FB friends list have to say about their preference and their vehemence about that preference. I find it off putting and I’m trying mightily to not let it influence my opinion of their candidates. Except when it comes to Sanders and Gabbard, who can fuck right off.

  30. 30.

    Sister Golden Bear

    March 31, 2019 at 4:27 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: Send me an email. I may have something you can use.

  31. 31.

    msdc

    March 31, 2019 at 4:27 pm

    if one nasty op-ed from a Bern-or-Bust guy is all it takes to sink his candidacy, maybe, just maybe, he doesn’t deserve to be the nominee, let alone President?

    Counterpoint: If Sanders supporters can’t nominate their guy without trashing every other candidate and hurting their chances in the general, then maybe their guy doesn’t deserve to be the nominee, either.

    (…seriously, why even listen to a Bernie-or-Buster in the first place? We know what their priorities are, and they don’t include defeating Trump.)

  32. 32.

    satby

    March 31, 2019 at 4:28 pm

    @Suzanne:

    We have great fucking candidates. A huge bench of talent. And we are in an existential battle for the survival of everything we stand for: democracy, equality, independence. I just have no appetite for bullshit takedowns.

    Word.

  33. 33.

    rikyrah

    March 31, 2019 at 4:29 pm

    itgurl (@itgurl_29) Tweeted:
    @amakabot @PragObots More and more, I believe we’re going to lose 2020 and Trump won’t even need the Russians to win. The excesses of Woke Inc and MeToo is gonna kill every Dem candidate’s chances. The right are already exploiting this. https://twitter.com/itgurl_29/status/1112381512261996546?s=17

  34. 34.

    West of the Rockies

    March 31, 2019 at 4:29 pm

    @Major Major Major Major:

    It’s just exhausting. I read an article on The Root wherein Booker was being mocked for having screwed up a “black handshake” with Don Lemon. His essential authenticity was being questioned in the article and comments section. “Is Booker Gay?” was also a heated issue recently. He’s seen additionally as being too moderate and courteous.

    I’m not particularly a Booker fanboy, but shredding candidates now to derail their potential nomination in 2020 ALSO serves to diminish their potential going forward as senators, governors, etc.

  35. 35.

    rikyrah

    March 31, 2019 at 4:30 pm

    itgurl (@itgurl_29) Tweeted:
    @PragObots @amakabot You can’t question anything, no matter how many holes are in the story. The right knows this and they know we’ll eat our own at the mere hint if an allegation, even if it’s false. Bernie knows it too. https://twitter.com/itgurl_29/status/1112380793639309312?s=17

  36. 36.

    Bill Arnold

    March 31, 2019 at 4:30 pm

    A seriously must-read by Gavin de Becker, who is not to be fucked with, especially when backed by the wealth of J. Bezos. (It’s like a rhetorical version of a John Wick fight scene. Sorta. :-)
    Bezos Investigation Finds the Saudis Obtained His Private Data – The National Enquirer’s lawyer tried to get me to say there was no hacking. (Gavin de Becker 03.30.19)

    AMI has repeatedly insisted they had only one source on their Bezos story, but the Journal reports that when the Enquirer began conversations with Michael Sanchez, they had “already been investigating whether Mr. Bezos and Ms. Sanchez were having an affair.” Michael Sanchez has since confirmed to Page Six that when the Enquirer contacted him back in July, they had already “seen text exchanges” between the couple. If accurate, the WSJ and Page Six stories would mean, clearly and obviously, that the initial information came from other channels—another source or method.

    Further, to respect officials pursuing this case, I won’t disclose details from our investigation. I am, however, comfortable confirming one key fact:
    Our investigators and several experts concluded with high confidence that the Saudis had access to Bezos’ phone, and gained private information. As of today, it is unclear to what degree, if any, AMI was aware of the details.

    And it goes on, and on, and on.
    Looks to me, based on this story and others, like there is a strong possibility that Michael Sanchez was used as cover by AMI for highly illegal hacking. They certainly have some ‘splaining to do. Under oath, one fervently hopes.

  37. 37.

    tamiasmin

    March 31, 2019 at 4:30 pm

    Aren’t there two apostrophes in Y’all’re? :-)

  38. 38.

    TaMara (HFG)

    March 31, 2019 at 4:31 pm

    Wow, love that color!! As for the mattress, I’m sure others have already said, but yes, soap and water. Just make sure it’s good and dry before you make it again.

  39. 39.

    rikyrah

    March 31, 2019 at 4:32 pm

    PragmaticObotsUnite (@PragObots) Tweeted:
    Witnessing the bs Repubs and the media tried to pull on President Obama and Dems, makes me look at everything and everyone with a critical eye. I will raise questions if I sense something is suspect, and I truly believe this “Biden is creepy/a predator” narrative is suspect. https://twitter.com/PragObots/status/1112379236298436608?s=17

  40. 40.

    eclare

    March 31, 2019 at 4:33 pm

    @trollhattan: Must be something in the air, my cats were on the mattress earlier while the sheets were in the wash. Luckily when I bought the mattress I splurged for some kind of microfiber spill proof mattress cover, so no biggie.

    Like the color, binging The Good Place, looking forward to new Barry tonight. Dog snoring beside me, all is good.

  41. 41.

    rikyrah

    March 31, 2019 at 4:34 pm

    Uh huh
    Uh huh ?
    But… believe all women?
    Phuck Outta Here ? ?

    ? (@amakabot) Tweeted:
    So this woman is a hardcore Bernie supporter, was never alone with Biden, and her entire interaction with Biden was on stage and photographed and witnessed by dozens of people who never saw this incident take place. There is also no photo or video of this. https://twitter.com/amakabot/status/1112373935914520578?s=17

  42. 42.

    Mary G

    March 31, 2019 at 4:35 pm

    And I am laughing about the paint being darker than you expected, John, because it’s what always happens with me. I am planning to paint my house and there are 21 swatches of sample paint on my bedroom wall right now. And none of them were exactly right. I mixed three together to finally get the shade I had in my head.

  43. 43.

    Bill Arnold

    March 31, 2019 at 4:35 pm

    Another interesting piece, with plenty of of interesting details
    How the mysteries of Khashoggi’s murder have rocked the U.S.-Saudi partnership (David Ignatius, March 29, 2019)
    The following quotes don’t do it justice; if interested, read it.

    Some members of the Saudi Rapid Intervention Group that was sent to Istanbul received training in the United States, according to U.S. and Saudi sources. The CIA has cautioned other government agencies that some of this special-operations training might have been conducted by Tier 1 Group, an Arkansas-based company, under a State Department license.
    A U.S. plan to train and modernize the Saudi intelligence service is also on hold, pending State Department approval of a license. This project was developed by Culpeper National Security Solutions, a unit of DynCorp, with help from some prominent former CIA officials. No work on the project has been done.
    …
    Tier 1 Group and DynCorp are both owned by affiliates of Cerberus Capital Management, a privately owned investment group based in New York.
    …
    Stephen Feinberg, the co-chief executive of Cerberus, is also chairman of the President’s Intelligence Advisory Board, which provides independent counsel on intelligence matters.
    …
    NSO Group, an Israeli-founded company that provides sophisticated tools for hacking mobile phones, has reviewed and modified its relationship with Saudi Arabia, according to a Saudi source. The company, which was recently acquired by a London-based private equity firm called Novalpina Capital LLP, concluded after an internal review that its surveillance technology didn’t directly contribute to tracking Khashoggi on his way to his death. [editorial note: they might be lying.]
    …
    Israel sees its secret intelligence links with the Gulf states as a breakthrough and potential path to peace. But it can be a slippery slope, when governments license private companies to work with regimes that don’t share Western values. These questionable relationships can encourage a dangerous proliferation of intrusive surveillance technologies to nations that spy on their own people.

  44. 44.

    Betty Cracker

    March 31, 2019 at 4:36 pm

    I’ve been redecorating/renovating too and also hated the bathroom mirror and light fixture in the main bathroom, but mine were separate units. Found an old mirror with a cool frame at a yard sale for $7, so that solved the hideous mirror problem. Now I need to find an inexpensive, non-ugly light fixture. A couple of folks here recommended Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore thrift shops, and the one near me is a great place to find stuff like that. I had different priorities last time I visited it, but I am definitely gonna check it again for a fixture. If you’ve got one near you, maybe check there when you’re ready to give the mirror-fixture combo the heave-ho on the cheap.

  45. 45.

    Ruckus

    March 31, 2019 at 4:38 pm

    JC
    Reposting this from the thread you mentioned.

    Everyone is uptight and worried about the future and if we can do anything about at least trying to shape it so that we doesn’t intentionally inflict damage and possibly actually make it better. And there is good reason to worry and be uptight. We see daily that our candidates are being bad mouthed and smeared. The right can not win on it’s actual policy, nor on it’s reasonable candidates, because it’s actual policy is horrible and none of it’s candidates are reasonable human beings.
    I think we need to hammer this home every day, because the candidates can’t do this reasonably. But we have to also, as always, pick our battles and strategy. We are smarter than the opposition, we should use that and not our anger, which we all have plenty of.

  46. 46.

    Leto

    March 31, 2019 at 4:38 pm

    First-

    Y’all re going to have a heart attack and the way things are going, we Juicers are dropping like god damned flies as it is.

    My heart is just fine! Have it tested three times a week and it’s good. As long as you don’t knock my cane out from under me, I’m also fine!

    Second, the color- eh, not my thing but I could see why it would be yours after all the time you spent on Sullivan’s isalnd.

    Third- fire. Straight up burn it. He’s claimed it as his and you’ll never get it back.

    Watching college basketball and waiting for the Juicer War of 2019 to settle. Seems way to early for this shit. Need a few more gardening threads.

  47. 47.

    Mike in NC

    March 31, 2019 at 4:40 pm

    Nice color for that bathroom. Years ago my wife decided to paint the half bath in the downstairs hallway of our townhouse a garish pink shade — think Pepto-Bismol — and people found it very unsettling. Eventually she got sick of it herself and changed it to plain white.

  48. 48.

    Major Major Major Major

    March 31, 2019 at 4:42 pm

    @Sister Golden Bear: Done.

  49. 49.

    satby

    March 31, 2019 at 4:42 pm

    @Betty Cracker: I always find great stuff at the ReStore! Two ?.

  50. 50.

    raven

    March 31, 2019 at 4:43 pm

    @Leto: What a great fucking game.

  51. 51.

    Josie

    March 31, 2019 at 4:44 pm

    @Suzanne: What she said.

  52. 52.

    TaMara (HFG)

    March 31, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    @Mary G: One of the reasons it is almost always darker, is because people forget to take into account it is going to reflect off the walls to the other walls, hence deepening the color more than if it was just on one wall surrounded by white walls.

    I’ve had good luck finding the color Iike and then actually buying a shade or two lighter.

  53. 53.

    Raven

    March 31, 2019 at 4:45 pm

    @Leto: Marlo Stanfeild from The Wire is playing point for Auburn!

  54. 54.

    O. Felix Culpa

    March 31, 2019 at 4:49 pm

    @TaMara (HFG): Good advice.

  55. 55.

    Raven

    March 31, 2019 at 4:54 pm

    Pure guts by Auburn

  56. 56.

    The Dangerman

    March 31, 2019 at 4:58 pm

    OK, one of the principal one and doners (Kentucky) is going home; as much as I like shots of Ashley Judd in the audience, Coach Cal is a prick. That he put his name in the hat for UCLA pisses me off. Cal has as much chance as Pitino (i.e., none)

    Now, if another of the one and done brigade (Duke) loses, well, it will be a good day.

  57. 57.

    Fair Economist

    March 31, 2019 at 5:01 pm

    @JGabriel: It usually begins with Ayn Rand. Because it actually does – the book talks about how much of the right wing movement started from Rand’s books. Dated now because it’s almost 50 years old but still instructive.

    And keep in mind that a significant part of the deregulation frenzies that caused so many problems, including the rise of the oligarchs in Eastern Europe, ultimately came from these movements.

  58. 58.

    Ryan

    March 31, 2019 at 5:03 pm

    Trump hotels have used mattresses IIRC.

  59. 59.

    Fair Economist

    March 31, 2019 at 5:04 pm

    @Mary G: My experience is that paint seems *lighter* on the wall than it does on the swatch, but that the color seems more saturated. Even a significantly off-white neutral room still looks just white at a glance but just a tinge of purple and blam, I’m in Wonderland.

  60. 60.

    Raven

    March 31, 2019 at 5:04 pm

    @The Dangerman: I think Mark Fox will be a good fit for Cal

  61. 61.

    Starfish

    March 31, 2019 at 5:05 pm

    @clay: Same.

    @West of the Rockies: I don’t think what is going on is strictly about Pete. We are not going to mid-West nice our way out of the mess we are in today, and there is a reflexive attack on all the candidates who are willing to sell Democrats out on issues. I think this is the chickens coming home to roost on neo-liberalism. “If we only reach across the aisle enough…” is not the right take when Mitch McConnell has been an obstructionist on basically everything and stolen a Supreme Court seat.

  62. 62.

    Jay

    March 31, 2019 at 5:09 pm

    After you’ve cleaned it, get two washable spill/bedbug covers for the mattress, change them and wash them at the same time you do the sheets.

    Helps big time with pets on the beds accidents, fleas, mites, bedbugs, $30 investment to protect an $800 mattress.

  63. 63.

    geg6

    March 31, 2019 at 5:10 pm

    @Starfish:

    I think this is exactly right.

  64. 64.

    eclare

    March 31, 2019 at 5:11 pm

    @The Dangerman: Abso-fucking-lutely. Hate Duke with the heat of one thousand suns, for several reasons. One of them is still the 1992 game with Kentucky. Never let go of a good grudge.

  65. 65.

    MattF

    March 31, 2019 at 5:12 pm

    A book on Trump’s cheating in golf is being released in a few days. Here (via Slate) is an excerpt:

    Mike Tirico, the former ESPN football announcer, said that he once hit a great shot that he knew was close. But when he got to the putting green it was much further away than he expected. Tirico didn’t understand what happened until Trump’s caddy spoke up. “Trump’s caddy came up to me and said, ‘You know that shot you hit on the par 5?’” Tirico said. “‘It was about 10 feet from the hole. Trump threw it in the bunker. I watched him do it.’”

  66. 66.

    debbie

    March 31, 2019 at 5:12 pm

    @rikyrah:

    I’m listening to her being interviewed right now. I’m with you. “I never said we were alone.” “I don’t think he should run for president.”

    ***

    Every time I look up and out the window, there’s stray snowflakes. Stop it, already!

  67. 67.

    zhena gogolia

    March 31, 2019 at 5:13 pm

    @Suzanne:

    Great comment.

    I am most excited about Harris, but Buttigieg caught my eye with his intelligence and eloquence. I see great qualities in all the other candidates except Sanders and Gabbard, and am looking forward to hearing them debate and learning more about all of them.

  68. 68.

    joel hanes

    March 31, 2019 at 5:15 pm

    A wet/dry shop vac works great as an upholstery water extractor after a wet cleaning step.

  69. 69.

    Jay

    March 31, 2019 at 5:15 pm

    @Starfish:

    There’s a war on. Some people don’t get that.

    For 40 years we have had policies that make the poor, poorer, the rich, richer, and the precariate even more vulnerable.

  70. 70.

    waratah

    March 31, 2019 at 5:17 pm

    https://www.texastribune.org/2019/03/23/beto-orourke-south-carolina-beating-trump/

    South Carolina is not mucking around at a town hall they let Beto know they were interested in if he had counted how to win the electoral votes.

  71. 71.

    Leto

    March 31, 2019 at 5:19 pm

    @Raven: To my great shame I’ve never seen The Wire. I know I should but it seems to slip further out of sight. Also I started to get into college basketball this only this year but a lot of the games seem to be really good. Zion is roughly from my neck of the woods, but the kid from Murray State (who also played on the same travel team as Zion) is literally from the back gate of Shaw AFB (his little town is two minutes away and had a great Chinese place). It’s nice to see them doing so well.

  72. 72.

    debbie

    March 31, 2019 at 5:20 pm

    @waratah:

    Pence helped Lindsay kick off his reelection campaign last night. If they’re doing it this early, they must be nervous.

  73. 73.

    Hungry Joe

    March 31, 2019 at 5:21 pm

    The great last line in the great baseball novel — the great novel, period — “Bang the Drum Slowly,” by Mark Harris: “From here on in I rag nobody.” (“Rag” as in, torment, tease, pester, demean)

    From here on in — till election day 2020 — I rag no Democrat. I’ll discuss policy, tactics, etc., explain why I prefer X to Y (Warren over Harris, for example), but will not trash anyone who could possibly end up on the ticket. Not the Bern. Not even Tulsi. This ain’t no party. This ain’t no disco. This ain’t no fooling around.

  74. 74.

    West of the Rockies

    March 31, 2019 at 5:22 pm

    @Starfish:

    Sure, but there are plenty of internal Democratic party attacks on Harris and Warren as well (not just on so-called moderates). And I would rather have an occasionally-moderate Booker or Buttigieg than a rightwing tool in places like New Jersey and Indiana, but we may not have such people if purity ponies insist on shredding the reputations (and hand-shaking style) of our candidates.

    If we loudly chorus today that Abrahms lacks national experience or that Beto is an over-sharing, privileged twerp, won’t that diminish them going forward in other capacities?

  75. 75.

    waratah

    March 31, 2019 at 5:22 pm

    I watched this with his Facebook live and it was great. They Started chanting fired up ready to go. Beto was the first one to accept the town hall and they were hoping for more candidates.

  76. 76.

    joel hanes

    March 31, 2019 at 5:22 pm

    @MattF:

    A book on Trump’s cheating in golf
    The Slate article is here :
    https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2019/03/donald-trump-cheats-golf-rick-reilly-commander-in-cheat.html

    From the article: Trump claims a handicap of 2.8.
    Jack Nicklaus has a handicap of 3.4

    Also there’s this :
    https://www.golf.com/news/2019/03/10/president-trump-club-championship-did-not-enter/

  77. 77.

    Mike J

    March 31, 2019 at 5:23 pm

    @zhena gogolia: Attack, quote, whatever.

  78. 78.

    waratah

    March 31, 2019 at 5:25 pm

    @debbie: I thought about him when I watched. They said that African Americans were 55% .

  79. 79.

    zhena gogolia

    March 31, 2019 at 5:26 pm

    @Mike J:

    OMG, he criticized Hillary! He’s off my list forever!

    Whose turn will it be tomorrow? Booker? Warren?

  80. 80.

    Suzanne

    March 31, 2019 at 5:29 pm

    @zhena gogolia: Fuck, if it came down to Sanders or Tulsi against Trump…..that’s still an easy fucken decision for me. This is big shit right here.

  81. 81.

    rikyrah

    March 31, 2019 at 5:32 pm

    The bathroom is beautiful, Cole?

  82. 82.

    RAVEN

    March 31, 2019 at 5:34 pm

    @eclare: You mean like when Dickey Beale took four giant steps at midcourt against Illinois in the regional final in Rupp (the last time a school will play on their home court in a regional final ? Like that?

  83. 83.

    B.B.A.

    March 31, 2019 at 5:34 pm

    @zhena gogolia: In my view, criticizing Hillary is a mortal sin for a white man, forgivable for anyone else. In the same bucket: smelling a woman’s hair.

  84. 84.

    Juju

    March 31, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    The bathroom color is very nice. You’re right about the medicine cabinet, it is an eyesore. I wish painting was easy for me, but I have a latex allergy. Latex is in a lot of stuff. As for the medicine cabinet, I’d do what Betty suggested. Look for a frame and have a mirror made or look for a framed mirror and look around for, I’m guessing a fixture that mounts on the wall and not the ceiling. If the mattress doesn’t clean up well, I’d get a bed envelope. Bed envelopes are exactly as they sound. It covers the whole mattress and zips closed. You put your mattress cover over it and no one will ever know your dog walked on your mattress with muddy feet.

  85. 85.

    Jay

    March 31, 2019 at 5:38 pm

    Turns out, Moray Eels are Aliens, just like in the movies

    http://briannathestrange.tumblr.com/post/183699500789/mahouwl-silverhawk-silverhawk-the-fact

  86. 86.

    zhena gogolia

    March 31, 2019 at 5:44 pm

    @Suzanne:

    Yeah, you’re probably right.

  87. 87.

    eclare

    March 31, 2019 at 5:48 pm

    @RAVEN: Sure, everyone has their grudges.

  88. 88.

    piratedan

    March 31, 2019 at 5:50 pm

    @zhena gogolia: i’m not mad that he criticized HRC, everyone should be open to reviewing that campaign and trying to figure out how to be better.

    It’s what he criticized her campaign for, which smacks of the same tired shit that Wilmer used (the same economic anxiety shit, out of touch with mainstream america, yada yada yada despite the fact that she was the only one that actually published policy proposals… so if they were wrong, what was wrong about them?), with nary a nod about the fact that not only was she running her campaign, she was also facing the headwinds of unprecendeted coverage from the MSM, serious amounts of ratfuckery not just from the NYT, but the BernieBro’s, the Russians themselves and even the fucking FBI. No mention of GOP voter suppression, nada, zilch, bupkis.

    That’s my issue with his statements. It’s the fucking narrative that was set that seemingly ignores the fact that our elections were compromised and somehow even THAT was her fault, so none shall mention it and the fact that NO ONE HAS APPARENTLY MENTIONED IT as a cause I find disturbing, to say the least.

    I don’t have an issue if Mayor Pete gets to be on the main stage, I do have an issue if he keeps repeating this tripe.

  89. 89.

    Raven

    March 31, 2019 at 5:53 pm

    @eclare: I like the description of Irish Alzheimers, “You forget everything but your grudges”!

  90. 90.

    mrmoshpotato

    March 31, 2019 at 5:55 pm

    @Major Major Major Major: What a world we live in.

    Does Alessandra Mussolini not know her family’s history (or 20th century history?)

    Has she yelled at Jim Carrey yet to leave her mass-murdering, Nazi-allying, dictatorial grandfather out of this?

  91. 91.

    Thom Rogers

    March 31, 2019 at 5:59 pm

    If you own a dog and or cat or dogs and or cats, there is one product that takes care of vomit stains, blood stains (I have an eleven year old Lab with a nasty epulis that bleeds at the drop of a hat), or any other detritus they choose to share. Resolve. Truly the best ever pet stain remover. Trust me.

  92. 92.

    Jay

    March 31, 2019 at 6:01 pm

    @mrmoshpotato:

    She’s a Nazi,

    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alessandra_Mussolini

  93. 93.

    Heidi Mom

    March 31, 2019 at 6:03 pm

    Great color choice, John. I’ve seen a lot of greens I don’t like, but this one is gorgeous.

  94. 94.

    Sister Golden Bear

    March 31, 2019 at 6:08 pm

    @Sister Golden Bear: Thanks. Check your email, and see what you think.

  95. 95.

    BCHS Class of 1980

    March 31, 2019 at 6:09 pm

    @tamiasmin: As a border-state native, I still hold to my childhood “You all,” though it was apparently never all that common and is becoming less so. I’m not sure if the Blogfather grew up with that, “y’all,” or if he was a yinzer.

  96. 96.

    A Ghost To Most

    March 31, 2019 at 6:09 pm

    @Suzanne: Talk about a bleak scenario.

  97. 97.

    Ruviana

    March 31, 2019 at 6:11 pm

    Love the color! I think it’s exactly my house trim color!

  98. 98.

    Ken

    March 31, 2019 at 6:15 pm

    the color is intercoastal by Valspar

    This year. When you’re trying to match it in five years to do some touchup, the paint companies will have renamed it to Mock Turtle or Pine Needle or some such thing. Keep the original swatch, or the label with the amounts of each pigment.

  99. 99.

    The Pale Scot

    March 31, 2019 at 6:16 pm

    Any suggestions on how to clean a mattress?

    Home depot or such, rent a hand steam cleaner. Be sure to fill it with hot water

  100. 100.

    Sister Golden Bear

    March 31, 2019 at 6:17 pm

    @Starfish: Quoted for truth.

    Outreach yes. Accommodating those who at best want to strip my rights as an American and as a human being, and at worse want me literally dead… fuck no. (And no I’m not talking about Mayor Pete in particular.)

  101. 101.

    Pyre Light

    March 31, 2019 at 6:18 pm

    The above advice for cleaning your mattress is fine for small amounts of soiling, but if you ever need to clean a large or deeply stained area a carpet cleaning machine will do the trick.

  102. 102.

    BCHS Class of 1980

    March 31, 2019 at 6:18 pm

    @joel hanes: Damn, if Jack can keep a 3.4 with a hip replacement at 79, I’m even more impressed. Interesting Wikipedia note: he suffered from hip pain from his early 20’s. Took ne about a year of serious pain to finally get the replacement.

  103. 103.

    A. Simpatico

    March 31, 2019 at 6:19 pm

    Nice dense color. A good way to update the medicine cabinet would be to paint its white areas black. Try a flat black if you want to first, then switch to glossy if the flat is not to your liking. Then add a couple of black & white or black & cream toile accessories and the room will pull together. The black on the cabinet is at least refresh it, and may make it tolerable until you strike upon the perfect replacement. If you go this route paint (spray?) the metal wall rack black also.

  104. 104.

    eclare

    March 31, 2019 at 6:21 pm

    @Raven: Hahaha, I’ll have to remember that!

  105. 105.

    BruceFromOhio

    March 31, 2019 at 6:24 pm

    Second, the bathroom downstairs is a new color:

    Man you know exactly how to pivot with this crowd. Nicely done.

  106. 106.

    trnc

    March 31, 2019 at 6:27 pm

    @JGabriel: Ayn Rand was just the nutty woman at the bar that I would be trying to figure out how to get the hell away from five minutes in. It’s assholes like Paul Ryan who took obviously crazy shit and turned it into policy.

  107. 107.

    Darkrose

    March 31, 2019 at 6:31 pm

    @rikyrah: Biden’s been the creepy uncle for years, but it was okay because he was our creepy uncle. Now some of us are having to acknowledge that his behavior was not cute or funny even when he was Obama’s VP.

    There’s so much video and photo evidence of Biden sniffing women’s hair and touching then in ways that would have gotten him smacked if he hadn’t been Good Old Uncle Joe. It wasn’t okay then and it’s not okay now.

  108. 108.

    Dan B

    March 31, 2019 at 6:44 pm

    @Starfish: Pete doesn’t agree with the GOP’s policies or actions. He seems to believe that spending a lot of energy attacking them can push their weaker supporters into a corner. It seems like he wants to do an end run rather than a frontal attack.

    At the same time he does seem to have some priviledged white guy blind spots. I’m keeping an eye out for further indications of where he stands and where he can evolve.

    My first choice is Harris followed closely by Warren and Abrams-if-she-runs.

  109. 109.

    Starfish

    March 31, 2019 at 6:52 pm

    @Sister Golden Bear: Yes. This. Some people have to understand that willingness to compromise away someone else’s life is not okay.

  110. 110.

    Brachiator

    March 31, 2019 at 7:14 pm

    @Darkrose:

    Biden’s been the creepy uncle for years, but it was okay because he was our creepy uncle. Now some of us are having to acknowledge that his behavior was not cute or funny even when he was Obama’s VP.

    Creepy ain’t the same as criminal.

    And Republicans expect Democrats to resign while they sit back and kiss the forgiving ass of Baby Jesus over far more serious acts.

  111. 111.

    Mike in Pasadena

    March 31, 2019 at 7:21 pm

    You are wrong, John. Criticism of the opinions of Nathan Robinson dumping on Pete B. is well founded and justified. You don’t have to read much of Nathan Robinson before you come to a truly boneheaded criticism of Pete. He faults Pete for not having enough specific proposals and being too general about his policies. HELLO! Hillary had volumes of specific proposals and they were ignored and buried by the media and the electorate. This is a goddamned campaign, not a doctoral dissertation. We heard endlessly about how Hillary was too-detailed, too egg headed, not down-to-earth, blah, blah, blah. So which is it? Are Democrats allowed to talk philosophy? Are democrats allowed to talk specifics? If Pete B. already had volumes of specific proposals, Robinson would be slagging him for being too-detailed, too egg headed, not down-to-earth. Nathan Robinson is a fraud offering up crap criticism. Democrats are always criticized no matter what they do. He talks philosophy? Reject him because he’s not specific. He talks specifics? Reject him because he’s too detailed. Oh, and he eats pizza with a knife and fork. FUCK ALL THAT! I am sick of the “Democrats can never do anything right” talk more than a year and a half before the election. Tired of it. Fuck Nathan Robinson with a rusty pitch fork.

  112. 112.

    Omnes Omnibus

    March 31, 2019 at 7:25 pm

    @Sister Golden Bear: Rachel is a commenter here and a former staffer at my undergrad. I got her to publicize her go fund me here a couple pf years age and quite a few Ju8icers ponied up.

  113. 113.

    J R in WV

    March 31, 2019 at 7:33 pm

    @Fair Economist:

    Our small house in the AZ high desert has numerous pale yellow/lavender/green shades on various walls and the high sloped ceilings in every room. 3 or 4 shades in every room but the bathroom, which is usable, but un-decorated so far.

    All that said, I like the green in the bathroom OK, as long as there’s plenty of bright light, even after sunset.

  114. 114.

    Dan B

    March 31, 2019 at 7:39 pm

    @Mike in Pasadena: Thanks Mike! Pete may have some blind spots but he’s got an approach that feels important to me. I know that the GOP leadership is at war with Dems and every minority but the top 10% minority. Pete seems to believe that a frontal assault won’t “win”. He seems like a speak softly but carry a big stick kinda politician. Lots of people mistake this for bipartisan wish fulfillment. I don’t.

  115. 115.

    Darkrose

    March 31, 2019 at 7:44 pm

    @Brachiator: Good thing I didn’t say creepy=criminal.

    I get that Republicans will go to bat for actual pedophiles, while Democrats resign because they grope people, and that’s unfair. But I’m glad to belong to the party that is coming to realize that respecting people’s bodily autonomy is a good thing instead of the party that justifies sexual harassment and assault.

    I’ve had guys—mostly white guys—touch me without asking as though they had every right to do so. It gets really fucking old, especially when you’re expected to laugh it off and play along because he doesn’t mean any harm, and he’s important and obviously you’re not so go home and take a long shower and don’t say anything about how it made you feel.

  116. 116.

    J R in WV

    March 31, 2019 at 7:47 pm

    @Jay:

    Turns out, Moray Eels are Aliens, just like in the movies

    WTF!!! I’ve cruised right by moray eels off Key West in the long ago when I was there in the USN… Holy Crap, that’s scary looking — no wonder they’re one of the hazards of diving!

    Not way aggresive for larger stuff, like people, but still!!!

  117. 117.

    hitchhiker

    March 31, 2019 at 7:49 pm

    I’m not reading critiques and exposes and fanfic and commentary at all.

    I’m making an effort to find places where the candidates themselves are speaking, preferably at length and under questioning. If there’s video, great. If not, I’ll take audio.

    I’m listening/looking for someone who has thought through what we’re up against and sounds like they have some coherent ideas about how to deal with it.

    That’s all. This trump thing is already so exhausting that there’s just no point in wearing ourselves out, especially given that we KNOW there will be a shit ton of false, bad faith, worthless stories coming at us.

  118. 118.

    Hunter

    March 31, 2019 at 9:50 pm

    I love the color. If you want to change the look of the medicine cabinet, maybe try something as a simple as changing the bulbs to old style Edison bulbs. They even have LED versions.

  119. 119.

    Original Lee

    March 31, 2019 at 10:12 pm

    Re: dirty mattresses. For your consideration going forward. I use waterproof mattress covers by Allergan. They are hypoallergenic and zip on easily, and when the pets or kids decide to pee on them or take a dump on them or vomit on them or muddy-paw them, they zip off and wash in the washing machine very nicely.

  120. 120.

    Sab

    March 31, 2019 at 10:13 pm

    Love your bathroom paint. Contemplating paler shade for ours.

    Read the earlier thread to about 150. Had to stop after that.

  121. 121.

    gogiggs

    March 31, 2019 at 11:08 pm

    I love that color!

  122. 122.

    smintheus

    April 1, 2019 at 12:59 am

    @Mike in Pasadena:

    He faults Pete for not having enough specific proposals and being too general about his policies.

    That’s just not true. He faults Buttigieg for having no specific proposals or policies, and quotes him refusing to be drawn on the subject when asked why he won’t produce any specifics. I’ve read hundreds upon hundreds of comments here praising him to the skies in the most general terms, and defending his honor vigorously against any who would dare criticize him; but not one of those comments mentions any specific proposals or policies of Buttigieg. That’s because he has none.

    One of the points that Robinson made, which I suspect irked a lot of people here, is that Buttigieg has had very few meaningful policies as mayor of South Bend…and even fewer that made peoples’ lives better. Robinson made a strong case that Buttigieg is all talk, but rather than rebut that case by making a positive case for what he has done in the past and what he proposes to do in the future, his defenders have just lamented that anybody would harsh their mellow about a candidate they want to love.

  123. 123.

    droog

    April 1, 2019 at 6:32 am

    A good feature on a bathroom mirror is the heated version. They’ll have a small 20W-ish heating element that de-fogs the mirror ahead of anything else in the room. However, getting this feature will limit the range of products from an aesthetic point of view.

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