Sen. Susan Collins’s (R-Maine) approval rating is deeply underwater about a year ahead of her reelection race, according to a new poll from the left-leaning firm Public Policy Polling.
Thirty-five percent of Maine voters polled approve of the job Collins is doing, while 50 percent disapprove. Collins trails a generic Democratic candidate 44 percent to 41 percent in the 2020 Maine Senate race, a drop from September, when she led a generic Democrat 44 percent to 38 percent.
It’s early, I know, but that’s not good for Collins. Any Mainers who want to weigh in on Collins’ chances of losing?
6.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): interesting numbers– I wonder how many of those disapprovers are trump-LePage types who don’t think she’s loyal enough
This is the best ever picture of Steve. He does indeed look magnificent. And “in his glory.”
10.
TomatoQueen
Steve is a very good boy who sits still for a pic, unlike a certain Capn Crazypants, who has been showing off flying skills today.
American Experience episode tonight, new, 2 hours about Joseph McCarthy, with footage of things you’ve heard of, but were a bit too young to see. The parallels are eerie and the lies were fresh and shiny and new.
11.
Mike in NC
I recall that LePage planned to leave Maine and become a Floriduh Man, just like Fat Bastard. Anybody know if it happened?
12.
jl
Thanks for beautiful petportrait.
But ‘boy’? How old is Steve in cat years?
13.
frosty
And that’s a great picture John. You captured the essence of Steve.
14.
Mallard Filmore
Cat blogging! I have 2 questions …
Is it normal for a cat to want to lick plastic and cellophane? Packing tape? Shower curtains? Stuff like that?
Every day or two, Cat goes into hunt mode. His pupils dilate to the max, even as he purrs, then he strikes with claws out. Sometimes biting. He beats a quick retreat before I can fully react.
Dunno. It is an interesting question. The article goes on to say that basically Collins is in a no-win situation with impeachment. If she votes to convict, she’ll piss off the Republican primary voters. If she votes against conviction, she’ll alienate many voters and lose what little cross D support she still has
The parallels are eerie and the lies were fresh and shiny and new.
I just watched the second hour. What a fucking schmuck Roy Cohn was.
17.
Kattails
That is one handsome dude.
@the Conster: Working today, light snow/gray day in New England, commenting on weather w/ customer. I said at least we’re not burning up, mentioned picture of car with melted aluminum tire rims (Australia). The melted aluminum seemed to rouse him from his own “whatever” a bit, he said sucks to be them. I said if we’re not careful it will be us. He just seemed completely indifferent, detached. I don’t know the guy, but he’d always seemed reasonably intelligent. I found the emotional distancing depressing. We seem to have become very poorly equipped to handle the slightest uncomfortable emotion.
On the other hand, when I pulled in to park the bumper sticker on the car next to mine said “Literally any sane adult 2020” so that’s something.
Could be. Normal behaviour varies with the individual cat and stage of life. Pounciness is a thing that some younger cats go through. My Bianca used to be like that, but she’s now a more sedate 15+.
@Mallard Filmore: I’m not @werebear, but yes, the plastic licking is normal. Some cats really like it.
I’ve never had one do the striking thing, so can’t speak from experience there. The one question that comes to mind is does the cat have plenty of toys to exercise its hunting instinct?
21.
Amir Khalid
I am working on the lick in the chorus from Brown Sugar — you know, the part where Mick says “Ah, Brown Sugar”. I’m really glad I Keefed the Girl.
22.
Matt McIrvin
@Mallard Filmore: Normal, I don’t know, but I had a cat who liked to lick plastic and similar things. Slick coated paper. Didn’t seem to be a symptom of anything, just a weird habit. I’d try to keep her away from anything that might be dangerous.
23.
joel hanes
The photo is properly lit and not blurry.
I feel like I don’t even know you any more, John Cole.
Finding the mustard now is probably not a good thing, considering what it may have become after all this while.
25.
jl
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): Not a Mainer here, but we all know that Susan Collins is very dismayed and disappointed in the Senate. I hope the good Mainers of the great state of Maine can find a way for her to find some happiness in the all too brief span of life.
Our old Persian (RIP) loved to lick pictures, almost more than she liked licking butter. When she was 19 years old she would sky up to the counter top and pounce on the butter dish.
28.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@jl: 35% approval is amazing. I think pre-trump she was usually in the high fifties
29.
Mallard Filmore
@Auntie Anne: Cat is 7 years old, but its an indoor cat. He was terrorized by a pair of neighbor Siamese kittens a few years ago.
As far as the clawing and biting goes, make it clear to your cat that it hurts and it’s not OK. Don’t do anything physical to the cat, but go ahead and yelp and otherwise act like it’s painful. A cat who likes you will recognize that they did something you don’t like and will back off. For example, my cat will sometimes claw me when he’s sitting in my lap. I just have to say, “Careful with the claws, Jake”, and he knows he’s doing something wrong.
32.
Gemina13
That’s one incredibly handsome cat. Steve has gorgeous markings and, of course, beautiful eyes.
Penny is a ham – I can get her to pose with ease — but I need to improve on taking photos. And while she isn’t nuts about licking plastic, she will do so once in a while. She prefers making it crinkle to licking it, though.
33.
opiejeanne
@Roger Moore: I just say “OW!” Not super loud but enough that the cat looks thoughtful. Works on bunnies when they’re young and nip you; they stop.
That is a gorgeous cat, and the left whisker (our right, but his left) pointing in the wrong direction… perfection.
Good cat.
37.
Jay
Utah came up with a great idea to save big money on prescription drugs: Fly public employees who need the most expensive meds to Mexico, where they can purchase the same drugs they’d get in US America for about half what they cost here. And as an incentive, the program, called “RX Tourism,” pays airfare for the employee and one family member, plus $500 per trip to get a 90-day supply of meds. The savings in costs to the state insurance plan more than cover the cost of the travel and the $500 cash payouts. It’s such a big savings for some employers that there’s an entire niche industry built around arranging trips for Americans to purchase drugs at Mexican hospitals. The Salt Lake Tribune ran a jaw-dropping story on the arrangement Sunday.
@Mallard Filmore: I have a tortie kitten, and I would love her vicious assaults to be only once a day or two.
The general advice is no attention when the cat is being vicious, other than to show pain. And more of the cat’s vicious play with toys at other times.
Do NOT accidentally reward that behavior.
Someday, my kitten will be a good pet. She is a great cat though.
Oh my god, I remember that ad! It’s so great because it directly calls out and mocks that “moderate” Republican “I’m disappointed” BS Collins and others do
I’ll never forget her whining about the campaign fund that was set up for her eventual Democratic opponent during and after the Kavanaugh vote that it was a “bribe” and how she was to going to seek legal action to shut it down. I guess nothing ever came of her threats
Utah Flies Public Employees To Mexico To Fill Prescriptions And Isn’t That Normal AF?
…
Utah came up with a great idea to save big money on prescription drugs: Fly public employees who need the most expensive meds to Mexico, where they can purchase the same drugs they’d get in US America for about half what they cost here. And as an incentive, the program, called “RX Tourism,” pays airfare for the employee and one family member, plus $500 per trip to get a 90-day supply of meds. The savings in costs to the state insurance plan more than cover the cost of the travel and the $500 cash payouts. It’s such a big savings for some employers that there’s an entire niche industry built around arranging trips for Americans to purchase drugs at Mexican hospitals.
@Amir Khalid: We should all aspire to such tufts! Then again we might end up looking like an off-off Broadway version of Cats….. :)
51.
Jay
Dariana was 9 years old when she was taken from her father and put in a camp.PBS asked her if any adults took care of her in the camp. “No, there were only cameras.”For 11 days Dariana slept on the floor, locked inside 23 hours a day with 50 kids ?https://t.co/K4xNcudNGLpic.twitter.com/QJHprUOJSX— ✡️ Never Again Action ✡️ (@NeverAgainActn) January 6, 2020
52.
Jay
The GOP’s commitment to the distribution and trafficking of misinformation is alarming. This is a sitting member of Congress sharing a photoshopped image of President Obama. Congressman, this is disgraceful and shameless act, do better! https://t.co/v6wzJhF2jq— Ilhan Omar (@IlhanMN) January 6, 2020
it’s only “certain Government Employees” and “certain levels of insured”.
they ain’t flying the two minimum wage job working mom and her daughter to Mexico for $32 insulin. They can suck it up and water the good stuff down to make it last longer, buy horse insulin, our just die already, like the other poors.
Fun new tactic I heard about today.
Company cuts employee’s weekly hours to zero.
After a month of zero hours, employee applies for UI.
Thread’s long dead but look at that magnificent beast!
60.
Yutsano
@Steeplejack: Ghosn basically walked out of the country right on to his private jet. The Japanese police are extremely embarrassed.
61.
Mel
@Mallard Filmore: I’m not sure about whether or not it’s normal, but I have had two cats over the years who would try to lick anything thin and plastic or plastic- adjacent: scotch tape, sandwich bags, the see- through plastic package that encased a new smoke detector, the surface of bubble wrap, etc. It didn’t need to make crinkling noises or be shiny for either of them to lock onto the target. Cat-proofing was a 24/7 job with those two!
Then again, I had a kitty a few decades ago who was obsessed with trying to lick the surface of photographs. Polaroid or print, made no difference. She was relentless. Every photo in the house had to be hidden in a box or covered with a glass frame to keep her safe from licking chemicals.
Hubby had a cat that adored the smell of toothpaste, but would fly up onto the bathroom counter without warning, rush the hand holding the toothpaste tube, and quickly sniff, purr, and then make a hideous retching gag. It was one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen. He would do the sniff-purr-gag thing if he got close to someone’s face after they had just brushed their teeth, as well.
The seek and sniff part made sense: toothpaste is usually minty smelling, and catnip is in the mint family, so I suspect that was part of the olfactory attraction. But the whole dramatic gag and dry retch, and the ceaseless attempts to get just one more whiff of something that made him dry heave? Baffling!
Steve is beautiful, and I love that he’s looking right at me. Those are my favorite Lily pics, too, where she is looking right at me and I feel like I can see right into her simple and beautiful “I love Cole so much” soul.
64.
Bookeater (formerly JosieJ)
@Mallard Filmore: I think enough people have weighed in on the attraction to plastic to demonstrate that it’s entirely normal!
As far as the pounciness, several people have weighed in on that, too, but I wanted to reiterate that cats are hunters, and if they don’t get to fulfill that instinct in one way, they’ll find another. Inert toys alone won’t alleviate the problem; make sure some are interactive or at least motorized. Interactive play with you is best, even with a simple piece of string, a crumpled ball of foil (that you throw) or a widget on a stick. Give them 1/2 hour of play every evening before bed, and redirect them from biting your leg to a scratching post—along with making appropriate “ow!” sounds when they bite you—and you can train them out of the pouncy behavior.
65.
ChrisS
I had to put my dear old balinese mix kitty to sleep yesterday morning. Her kidneys and liver failed after a long illness that we had been treating. 14 years ago my wife had rescued her as a 7-8 month old street cat who miscarried not long after she was brought into the SPCA as stray. She had been the most wonderful cat who loved a good cuddle and headbutt when she wanted a kiss. She would play fetch (about as well as cats do anyway), loved her toy mice, and would greet us at the door when he came home. Unfortunately, my wife was out of the country visiting family when Amiya started the rapid descent and I had relay the everything by text. It was heartbreaking, even though I know it was for the best. This is the third pet in four years. Thankfully, the two we have now should be trouble-free for about a decade.
Martin
Who the fuck took that picture? It’s in focus, centered, good lighting – very unCole-like.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Martin: it’s a selfie
stinger
Some Cat!
the Conster
He’s so beautiful.
The videos from Australia of all the dead and injured animals have broken my heart. I feel like I want to die too – like, I’ve seen enough.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
Steve is a good boy!
Reposting from below:
Things aren’t looking good for Susie Q Collins
It’s early, I know, but that’s not good for Collins. Any Mainers who want to weigh in on Collins’ chances of losing?
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): interesting numbers– I wonder how many of those disapprovers are trump-LePage types who don’t think she’s loyal enough
Another Scott
He sent it to Kevin Drum for some Photoshop magic.
;-)
Or maybe not. (Beautiful shot, JC.)
Cheers,
Scott.
Villago Delenda Est
Steve remains a magnificent beast. Simba can only look on with envy.
Hilfy
This is the best ever picture of Steve. He does indeed look magnificent. And “in his glory.”
TomatoQueen
Steve is a very good boy who sits still for a pic, unlike a certain Capn Crazypants, who has been showing off flying skills today.
American Experience episode tonight, new, 2 hours about Joseph McCarthy, with footage of things you’ve heard of, but were a bit too young to see. The parallels are eerie and the lies were fresh and shiny and new.
Mike in NC
I recall that LePage planned to leave Maine and become a Floriduh Man, just like Fat Bastard. Anybody know if it happened?
jl
Thanks for beautiful petportrait.
But ‘boy’? How old is Steve in cat years?
frosty
And that’s a great picture John. You captured the essence of Steve.
Mallard Filmore
Cat blogging! I have 2 questions …
Is this normal?
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@Jim, Foolish Literalist:
Dunno. It is an interesting question. The article goes on to say that basically Collins is in a no-win situation with impeachment. If she votes to convict, she’ll piss off the Republican primary voters. If she votes against conviction, she’ll alienate many voters and lose what little cross D support she still has
debbie
@TomatoQueen:
I just watched the second hour. What a fucking schmuck Roy Cohn was.
Kattails
That is one handsome dude.
@the Conster: Working today, light snow/gray day in New England, commenting on weather w/ customer. I said at least we’re not burning up, mentioned picture of car with melted aluminum tire rims (Australia). The melted aluminum seemed to rouse him from his own “whatever” a bit, he said sucks to be them. I said if we’re not careful it will be us. He just seemed completely indifferent, detached. I don’t know the guy, but he’d always seemed reasonably intelligent. I found the emotional distancing depressing. We seem to have become very poorly equipped to handle the slightest uncomfortable emotion.
On the other hand, when I pulled in to park the bumper sticker on the car next to mine said “Literally any sane adult 2020” so that’s something.
Amir Khalid
@Mallard Filmore:
Could be. Normal behaviour varies with the individual cat and stage of life. Pounciness is a thing that some younger cats go through. My Bianca used to be like that, but she’s now a more sedate 15+.
opiejeanne
@Kattails: Maybe he was having a very bad day.
Auntie Anne
@Mallard Filmore: I’m not @werebear, but yes, the plastic licking is normal. Some cats really like it.
I’ve never had one do the striking thing, so can’t speak from experience there. The one question that comes to mind is does the cat have plenty of toys to exercise its hunting instinct?
Amir Khalid
I am working on the lick in the chorus from Brown Sugar — you know, the part where Mick says “Ah, Brown Sugar”. I’m really glad I Keefed the Girl.
Matt McIrvin
@Mallard Filmore: Normal, I don’t know, but I had a cat who liked to lick plastic and similar things. Slick coated paper. Didn’t seem to be a symptom of anything, just a weird habit. I’d try to keep her away from anything that might be dangerous.
joel hanes
The photo is properly lit and not blurry.
I feel like I don’t even know you any more, John Cole.
What next, are you going to find the mustard?
Amir Khalid
@joel hanes:
Finding the mustard now is probably not a good thing, considering what it may have become after all this while.
jl
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka): Not a Mainer here, but we all know that Susan Collins is very dismayed and disappointed in the Senate. I hope the good Mainers of the great state of Maine can find a way for her to find some happiness in the all too brief span of life.
Susan Collins is Very Disappointed
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QryuTpPh5Yk
khead
@Mallard Filmore:
Absolutely yes to question one. We cannot leave any plastic grocery bags or boxes with packing tape out because several cats will start munching.
Jager
@Auntie Anne:
Our old Persian (RIP) loved to lick pictures, almost more than she liked licking butter. When she was 19 years old she would sky up to the counter top and pounce on the butter dish.
Jim, Foolish Literalist
@jl: 35% approval is amazing. I think pre-trump she was usually in the high fifties
Mallard Filmore
@Auntie Anne: Cat is 7 years old, but its an indoor cat. He was terrorized by a pair of neighbor Siamese kittens a few years ago.
I will get him some more cat toys.
Thanks.
different-church-lady
BE THE MUSTARD, JOHN! BE…THE MUSTARD…
(DCL +3 really strong ones…)
Roger Moore
@Mallard Filmore:
As far as the clawing and biting goes, make it clear to your cat that it hurts and it’s not OK. Don’t do anything physical to the cat, but go ahead and yelp and otherwise act like it’s painful. A cat who likes you will recognize that they did something you don’t like and will back off. For example, my cat will sometimes claw me when he’s sitting in my lap. I just have to say, “Careful with the claws, Jake”, and he knows he’s doing something wrong.
Gemina13
That’s one incredibly handsome cat. Steve has gorgeous markings and, of course, beautiful eyes.
Penny is a ham – I can get her to pose with ease — but I need to improve on taking photos. And while she isn’t nuts about licking plastic, she will do so once in a while. She prefers making it crinkle to licking it, though.
opiejeanne
@Roger Moore: I just say “OW!” Not super loud but enough that the cat looks thoughtful. Works on bunnies when they’re young and nip you; they stop.
Mrs. D. Ranged in AZ
Great photo of His Majesty. Love that Floof!!!!
Jay
Gustopher
That is a gorgeous cat, and the left whisker (our right, but his left) pointing in the wrong direction… perfection.
Good cat.
Jay
https://www.wonkette.com/utah-pays-public-employees-to-fill-prescriptions-in-mexico-and-isnt-that-normal-af
Gustopher
@Mallard Filmore: I have a tortie kitten, and I would love her vicious assaults to be only once a day or two.
The general advice is no attention when the cat is being vicious, other than to show pain. And more of the cat’s vicious play with toys at other times.
Do NOT accidentally reward that behavior.
Someday, my kitten will be a good pet. She is a great cat though.
Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)
@jl:
Oh my god, I remember that ad! It’s so great because it directly calls out and mocks that “moderate” Republican “I’m disappointed” BS Collins and others do
I’ll never forget her whining about the campaign fund that was set up for her eventual Democratic opponent during and after the Kavanaugh vote that it was a “bribe” and how she was to going to seek legal action to shut it down. I guess nothing ever came of her threats
hitchhiker
that sexy fur in his ears, tho’!
Amir Khalid
@Jay:
It’s the tweet-bomber! Run!
Jay
https://www.vice.com/amp/en_us/article/y3mg9x/ice-detention-center-captain-was-on-a-neo-nazi-website-and-wanted-to-start-a-white-nationalist-group?__twitter_impression=true
Jay
@Amir Khalid:
how’s your soccer teams doing?
covet any new guitars?
Amir Khalid
@Martin:
Remember, this is a formal photo of John Cole’s boss. He has to make it look good.
Mrs. D. Ranged in AZ
@hitchhiker: Dontcha just love ear tufts! My Lottie has the best ear hair.
Jay
Amir Khalid
@Jay:
Liverpool FC is doing fantastic, thanks for asking!
Well, I’d be ever so grateful if you bought me a guitar like this.
Amir Khalid
@Mrs. D. Ranged in AZ:
If I had luxuriant ear hair like Steve’s, I wouldn’t need to pluck out the pitiful few strands I do have.
Martin
American exceptionalism keeps getting more exceptional.
Even the government has given up on this shit.
Mrs. D. Ranged in AZ
@Amir Khalid: We should all aspire to such tufts! Then again we might end up looking like an off-off Broadway version of Cats….. :)
Jay
Jay
Steeplejack (phone)
@Goku (aka Amerikan Baka):
I’m sure Collins is “very concerned” about this situation.
Jay
@Martin:
it’s only “certain Government Employees” and “certain levels of insured”.
they ain’t flying the two minimum wage job working mom and her daughter to Mexico for $32 insulin. They can suck it up and water the good stuff down to make it last longer, buy horse insulin, our just die already, like the other poors.
Fun new tactic I heard about today.
Company cuts employee’s weekly hours to zero.
After a month of zero hours, employee applies for UI.
UI asks, were you laid off, fired or quit?
Steeplejack (phone)
@Amir Khalid:
Phrasing!
Sister Golden Bear
Fixed it for you.
Steeplejack
@Jay:
Did Ghosn escape by hiding in a steamer trunk? I haven’t been keeping up with the news.
Steeplejack
@Amir Khalid:
Those double-neck guitars are bullshit, man! Snap out of it.
Next thing, you’ll be wanting a keytar.
mrmoshpotato
Thread’s long dead but look at that magnificent beast!
Yutsano
@Steeplejack: Ghosn basically walked out of the country right on to his private jet. The Japanese police are extremely embarrassed.
Mel
@Mallard Filmore: I’m not sure about whether or not it’s normal, but I have had two cats over the years who would try to lick anything thin and plastic or plastic- adjacent: scotch tape, sandwich bags, the see- through plastic package that encased a new smoke detector, the surface of bubble wrap, etc. It didn’t need to make crinkling noises or be shiny for either of them to lock onto the target. Cat-proofing was a 24/7 job with those two!
Then again, I had a kitty a few decades ago who was obsessed with trying to lick the surface of photographs. Polaroid or print, made no difference. She was relentless. Every photo in the house had to be hidden in a box or covered with a glass frame to keep her safe from licking chemicals.
Hubby had a cat that adored the smell of toothpaste, but would fly up onto the bathroom counter without warning, rush the hand holding the toothpaste tube, and quickly sniff, purr, and then make a hideous retching gag. It was one of the most bizarre things I’ve ever seen. He would do the sniff-purr-gag thing if he got close to someone’s face after they had just brushed their teeth, as well.
The seek and sniff part made sense: toothpaste is usually minty smelling, and catnip is in the mint family, so I suspect that was part of the olfactory attraction. But the whole dramatic gag and dry retch, and the ceaseless attempts to get just one more whiff of something that made him dry heave? Baffling!
Amir Khalid
@Steeplejack:
I know, I wouldn’t pay for one myself.
WaterGirl
Steve is beautiful, and I love that he’s looking right at me. Those are my favorite Lily pics, too, where she is looking right at me and I feel like I can see right into her simple and beautiful “I love Cole so much” soul.
Bookeater (formerly JosieJ)
@Mallard Filmore: I think enough people have weighed in on the attraction to plastic to demonstrate that it’s entirely normal!
As far as the pounciness, several people have weighed in on that, too, but I wanted to reiterate that cats are hunters, and if they don’t get to fulfill that instinct in one way, they’ll find another. Inert toys alone won’t alleviate the problem; make sure some are interactive or at least motorized. Interactive play with you is best, even with a simple piece of string, a crumpled ball of foil (that you throw) or a widget on a stick. Give them 1/2 hour of play every evening before bed, and redirect them from biting your leg to a scratching post—along with making appropriate “ow!” sounds when they bite you—and you can train them out of the pouncy behavior.
ChrisS
I had to put my dear old balinese mix kitty to sleep yesterday morning. Her kidneys and liver failed after a long illness that we had been treating. 14 years ago my wife had rescued her as a 7-8 month old street cat who miscarried not long after she was brought into the SPCA as stray. She had been the most wonderful cat who loved a good cuddle and headbutt when she wanted a kiss. She would play fetch (about as well as cats do anyway), loved her toy mice, and would greet us at the door when he came home. Unfortunately, my wife was out of the country visiting family when Amiya started the rapid descent and I had relay the everything by text. It was heartbreaking, even though I know it was for the best. This is the third pet in four years. Thankfully, the two we have now should be trouble-free for about a decade.
I’m going to miss the hell out of that damn cat.
Steeplejack (phone)
@ChrisS:
Condolences to you. It’s tough to lose them at any age.
Bonnie
What a gorgeous cat!