Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

The willow is too close to the house.

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

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

The party of Reagan has become the party of Putin.

Fear or fury? The choice is ours.

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

I have other things to bitch about but those will have to wait.

With all due respect and assumptions of good faith, please fuck off into the sun.

Baby steps, because the Republican Party is full of angry babies.

Many life forms that would benefit from greater intelligence, sadly, do not have it.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

“Can i answer the question? No you can not!”

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

the 10% who apparently lack object permanence

Tick tock motherfuckers!

Not so fun when the rabbit gets the gun, is it?

If ‘weird’ was the finish line, they ran through the tape and kept running.

Republicans in disarray!

Let me eat cake. The rest of you could stand to lose some weight, frankly.

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

Technically true, but collectively nonsense

Not loving this new fraud based economy.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

Republicans: The threats are dire, but my tickets are non-refundable!

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Open Thread: Political Gaming of Thrones

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  1. 1.

    lamh36

    evening

    Question of the night:

    So I’ve been approved for TSA Pre-check, now I’m wondering if I should try for Global Entry or nah…I know pre-check is good for 5 years.

    But IDK if Global Entry is or not?

    Question for international travellers…is Global Entry even for say a year or two…worth it?

  3. 3.

    SFAW

    I’m getting a little tired of all these wimmins who think that — just because they have accomplishments, experience, and/or great policy ideas/proposals — they’re entitled to be allowed to run for President.

  4. 4.

    Jeffro

    @SFAW: Stephen? Stephen Moore? Is that you?

    LOLOL

    I’m growing comfortable with a Harris/Warren, Warren/Harris ticket here…not that they need my blessing. But O what a ticket that would be!

  6. 6.

    Chetan Murthy

    @SFAW: Oh, idunno, all these accomplished outstanding women don’t seem to really be getting in the way of males who are outright dunces and charlatans, do they? //

    A situation for which we should devoutly wish a change.

  7. 7.

    piratedan

    “There is no politically-inconvenient exception to the United States Constitution.” — @ewarren

    just sayin’

    in a way, I think Nancy is playing us…. she’s letting the outrage build to the point as more gets known, more transgressions revealed that the public demands that the impeachment process starts. She’s taking it slow, letting her consigliere’s do their work to start demanding answers and oversight to what this administration is doing as a response to the needs of the Republic and public outcry.

    Perhaps that’s a cynical take, but I trust her political instincts.

  16. 16.

    Adam L Silverman

    @rikyrah: When the President declared his national emergency to misappropriate funding for the MAGADope Line everyone explained to McConnell why if he didn’t push back hard and ensure the veto was sustained this would set the conditions for the next Democratic president to immediately declare a national emergency regarding gun violence, climate change, and health insurance/health care. McConnell was warned, McConnell was given an explanation, nevertheless, McConnell persisted.

  17. 17.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Harbison: Hmmm … a google search seems to indicate that you’re a newbie around here. Like: only a few days. Maybe you might want to stick around and read comments, in order to understand whether commenters are aware of Joy Reid’s history, and what she’s done since then? Just a thought.

    OTOH, you might be a troll. Always a possibility. Whataboutism is a classic troll technique, after all.

  21. 21.

    FlyingToaster

    @Harbison: Outing yourself as a troll is really not a good look. Subtlety and finesse is EVERYTHING here.

    And the blogfather calls us jackals.

    You should probably find a shallower sandbox to play in.

  24. 24.

    FlyingToaster

    @Mary G: Nope. Calling them out makes them go away nowadays.

    The previous crowd of russian trollbots seems to have been defunded in favor of one-offs.

  26. 26.

    khead

    @rikyrah:

    Yeah. More like a straight up “Fuck you Matt”. I’m too tired to provide a more detailed analysis aside from I like Warren and not that other shithead.

  27. 27.

    FlyingToaster

    @Amir Khalid: But I don’t think Castro deserves to be left out. If we can have the Democratic Party platform written by Warren and Castro, it would go a long way towards restoring faith in the party. “We say this, and we mean it. Get used to it.”

    Wilmer ain’t no democrat.

  28. 28.

    plato

    The mental rigours of being US president.

    Donald Trump is not the first president to be called unhinged. But many of his predecessors are said to have endured mental health conditions ranging from social anxiety to bipolar disorder. Some are even thought to have been psychopathic.

    And yet, according to a psychiatric analysis of the first 37 commanders-in-chief, Adams, Roosevelt and Wilson did have actual mental health issues.

    The 2006 study estimated that 49% of presidents suffered from a malady of the mind at some stage in their life (a figure said by the researchers to be in line with national rates).

    Twenty-seven per cent of them were found to be affected while in office.

    A 2012 study by psychologists from Emory University in Georgia found several presidents exhibited psychopathic traits, including Bill Clinton.

    The two determined to be most psychopathic were Lyndon Baines Johnson and Andrew Jackson, Mr Trump’s hero.

    Psychopathic attributes were identified by the Emory team as superficial charm, egocentricity, dishonesty, callousness, risk-taking, poor impulse control and fearlessness.

    The research covered every president except the current one and Barack Obama.

  30. 30.

    Jay

    It’s also a pretty pathetic attack on Reid’s twitter comment.

    The real way to critique her GOT themed comment is that the sentiment is based in a “zero sum, winner take all, anything to win”, mentality, and that’s how we got here.

    Either way, there would still be a RedWedding, just the names of House’s who were betrayed and murdered would just be different.

  31. 31.

    normal liberal

    @lamh36: @lamh36:
    I think Adam responded, but (as I am about to do) do global entry – it includes TSAPre and I think the fee the fee is only an extra $15. Naturally, and having lived such a quiet live, I’m a little freaked by the background check, but what the hell.

  33. 33.

    Wag

    @Amir Khalid:

    I figured that was the case when I tried to see what set everybody off and couldn’t find it. Now I’m curious. But not that curious.

  36. 36.

    ThresherK

    Over at TinyKittens youtube one of their very preggers cats is giving birth. This is live, so be forewarned.

    The count is two kittens with a third expected.

    TinyKittens are a TNR (trap neuter return) org in suburban British Columbia. The 3000 miles distance from my home is one reason why I haven’t submitted to adopt any of their kittens, or else I’d want them all.

  39. 39.

    Juice Box

    @lamh36: Global Entry is great on the way into the country! No lines, put your hand on the scanner, and boom! you’re through.

    I have a metal knee and even though I get to go through the pre-check line, I then have to wait twenty minutes or so while they rustle up a woman TSA agent to peer at the blurry outline of my wizened body on the scanner. I don’t care who looks, but they will not let me go through the scanner when it’s monitored by a male agent. Sometimes I still get patted down afterwards despite the clearly obvious fake knee. Can’t trust those little old ladies.

  40. 40.

    Juice Box

    Sen. Warren has a Republican governor. Sen. Harris has a Democratic governor. That’s a point in my senator’s favor.

  41. 41.

    My Side of Town

    I haven’t flown since the 80’s mid 90s when I flew a couple hundred thousand miles a year. Got lots of free miles then and could smoke in the back of the plane. Get to the gate 5 minutes before takeoff. But did take a trip 2 years ago, domestic; florida to indiana and back. Had a belt on with a metal buckle and some metal snaps on the pockets of my pants. They had to get a guy to subtly feel my dick. Was embarrassing for him and me. On the way back I paid the 5 bucks for the express service.

  44. 44.

    Jay

    @Juice Box:

    Oaklahoma is a Special Election/Regular Election State.

    The Governor doesn’t get to appoint an interm replacement.

    The seat stays vacant.

  45. 45.

    Redshift

    OMG. I read the Elizabeth Warren Game of Thrones piece, but I just assumed it was deadpan humor, “this is how Warren would sound if she was writing about GoT.”

  47. 47.

    Adam L Silverman

    @Jay: Senator Warren is from Massachusetts. She grew up in Oklahoma. She lives in/near Boston as she’s a Harvard Law professor.

  48. 48.

    ruemara

    Shitty analysis like this is why we have Trump. The problem with pop analysis is often the concept that’s received is not the concept you wanted to give.

  50. 50.

    My Side of Town

    I favor Warren for the top spot as a policy wonk. Damn, she impresses me like no other Dem. And is not shy. Harris is younger and better looking, but younger is always better looking. Just because the Gov of Mass is Rep, doesn’t mean he will be. I don’t know. Is he up in 2020?

  51. 51.

    My Side of Town

    And I think a white lady, paired with a black lady would be unbeatable on the optics, either way. It would break the glass ceiling for all time.

  52. 52.

    Chetan Murthy

    @My Side of Town:

    Damn, she impresses me like no other Dem.

    Indeed. Indeed. The only strike against her, is that (they say) she’s “too old”. Sen. Harris is my senator, and I’d be happy/happy/happy with President Harris. But if it came down to a choice, I’d pull the lever for Sen. Warren.

  53. 53.

    lamh36

    Off too bed…thx for the comments on GE vs TSA.

    Too bad I’ve already paid for TSA pre-check…

    So if I do GE I’ll have to pay full price…damnit.

    Still it might be worth it not having to hassle threw long lines, esp since I’ve got 2 overseas trips planned this year.

    Although, I don’t think the GE app will be through in time for my May trip to London…but it should be ready for my Nov trip to Paris.

    And if I plan to do 1-2 international trips a year…then it’s still a great investment for 5 years..

    Again…thx guys

    And good night

  56. 56.

    NotMax

    Mom just now called from Noo Yawk, all bent out of shape about a computer problem. Diagnosed and fixed over the phone from here, 6000 miles away.

    Damn, I’m good.    :)

    (In actuality it was an an easy one. And no, not one which involved rebooting.)

  57. 57.

    Jay

    @My Side of Town:

    In Mass. the Governor wouldn’t get to appoint Warren’s replacement.

    The seat stays vacant until there is a Special Election/Regularly Scheduled Election.

  58. 58.

    Another Scott

    @NotMax: Maybe you can help me with my new Synology NAS that isn’t seen by my old one when running Hyper Backup??!!1

    Grr….

    ;-)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  61. 61.

    Redshift

    @lamh36:

    Too bad I’ve already paid for TSA pre-check…

    So if I do GE I’ll have to pay full price…damnit.

    Yeah, I was pretty pissed off to find out that GE includes pre check, but they don’t tell you that in the pre check instructions and ask if you want global entry instead.

  62. 62.

    Feathers

    Missed the Warren college debt threads while they were active. Did see some people complaining The the $50,000 wouldn’t go far against private school tuition. Reading her proposal, what I’m seeing is that the debt relief is for the 42 million currently holding student debt. The future relief would come from free tuition at state schools, NOT forgiveness of loans from Liberty U and U of Phoenix. That really would be a trek back to the old days, where private colleges had to keep tuition low to compete with basically free private schools. I’ve worked in high end higher ed for nearly two decades and there is a great deal of reform to be had.

    Am I misreading this?

    GOT content: Arya slut shaders can take their foolishness out into the rain. Defending the purity of fictional characters from the creative team behind the work, actors, writers, and directors is just a sad, sad use of one’s activist energies.

  63. 63.

    Jay

    “Charges were dismissed against three students involved in a protest against US border patrol agents at the University of Arizona that was captured on video.

    The case was dismissed Friday at the request of prosecutors after they learned the university would conduct an administrative investigation into the 19 March protest in Tucson, said Amelia Cramer, chief deputy for the Pima county attorney’s office, noting the students could face punishments if they were found to have violated the university’s code of conduct.”

    Snip

    “In a joint statement, the three students said they wanted an apology from the university’s president “and a promise that he will never again jeopardize the safety or free speech of students in service of Border Patrol”. The three said they would continue to “demand all punitive measures against us permanently cease”.

    https://amp.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/apr/22/arizona-students-border-patrol-protest-charges-dropped

  64. 64.

    Jay

    @opiejeanne:

    Yup, but the only difference between Oaklahoma law, and Mass. Law, is Oaklahoma get’s 30 days to hold a replacement Special Election and Mass. get’s 145-160 days.

  66. 66.

    Feathers

    @Jay: No, somebody gets appointed. Duvall Patrick appointed Mo Cowan, his former chief of staff, who pledged not to run in the election. The election is required to be fairly soon, however. I’m not remembering the details.

  67. 67.

    NobodySpecial

    @Harbison: Ah, the famed double down. Always works wonders.

    You should really email the owner of the site about the shabby treatment. Be sure to use all caps to point out how angry it makes you.

  68. 68.

    opiejeanne

    @Jay: I saw that.

    (And there’s no apostrophe in “gets”, unless you use “get” as a possessive noun.)

  71. 71.

    Omnes Omnibus

    @Jay: From your link:

    In Massachusetts a bill was passed iin response to the death of Senator Edward Kennedy and his request that the current law be changed. Previous law in Massachusetts called for a special election to be held, but not until five months after the vacancy occurs. The new law retains the special election, but permits the governor to appoint a temporary successor in the interim.

  73. 73.

    piratedan

    @Harbison: she answered and addressed this months ago when the RW echo chamber attempted to use this to get her kicked off from MSNBC… written in the past, she apologized and indicated that her attitudes over the topic had changed. No one has seen her place a foot wrong since.

    and now, back into the pie filter with you…..

    If you wish to swim with the people who bathe in racism every fucking day, well, you know where to find them. Unrepentant they appear to be…

  75. 75.

    Anne Laurie

    @Juice Box:

    Sen. Warren has a Republican governor. Sen. Harris has a Democratic governor. That’s a point in my senator’s favor.

    Here in the People’s Republic of Massachusetts, the legislature appoints a new Senator, not the governor. Zero to fewer chances our state leges pick a GOP replacement for Sen. Warren. Even if Masshole voters do have an inexplicable soft spot (in their heads) for RINO-style Repub governors, mostly (I’m told) because we’re one of those states where ‘governor’ is mostly a ceremonial position.

  76. 76.

    Feathers

    @Omnes Omnibus: But there was a great deal of wailing in the old that debt relief would be a giveaway to Liberty and Phoenix. I was pointing out that that is not the case. If what you are saying is that the real losers will be low endowment smaller private colleges, that will certainly be the case. But they have been hurting in the current environment.

    As to grad school, that whole mess needs a huge overhaul. I don’t know about the professionally focused masters, but I am hearing rumblings about programs being required to support all PhD candidates as a requirement for accreditation.

  84. 84.

    Dan B

    @rikyrah: Yikes! Another time suck having to watch Town Halls, especially Kamala!!
    Well, somebody’s gotta do it. //

    Good to hear that Ana thinks that Kamala feels a great person to stand up against the Trump forces. There’s a lot of rot to clear out – a generation’s worth.

  85. 85.

    JR

    That face you make when the job you have prepared for half your life, is taken away from you by some dude who never really wanted the job in the first place but is acting up all of a Sunday

    Snow = Louis XVI
    Cersei = Robespierre
    Dany = Napleon

  86. 86.

    sherparrick

    @Feathers: Reference Arya finally hooking up with Gendry on what may be her last night among the living. These are people who never had problems with the prostitute scenes or the rapey scenes, but a young woman having consensual, volitional, sex with a guy she has had a crush on for 10 years (it is always hard for me to tell the passage of years in GoT since the seasons go on for years instead of a year = 4 seasons). I would say that each season of GoT = 1 year so Arya was 11 in the first season and is 19 now (Maise Williams has actually grown up with the show was 12 when casted for the show and is now 22). It is a reminder of how scary women’s sexual freedom is to many people.

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