Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

Whoever he was, that guy was nuts.

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

Humiliatingly small and eclipsed by the derision of millions.

I would gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today.

Accountability, motherfuckers.

Innocent people do not delay justice.

If you can’t control your emotions, someone else will.

If a good thing happens for a bad reason, it’s still a good thing.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

Everything is totally normal and fine!!!

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

They don’t have outfits that big. nor codpieces that small.

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

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

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

How stupid are these people?

The Giant Orange Man Baby is having a bad day.

Let me file that under fuck it.

This really is a full service blog.

The real work of an opposition party is to hold the people in power accountable.

“Alexa, change the president.”

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

There are times when telling just part of the truth is effectively a lie.

You are here: Home / Elections / Election 2020 / Monday Evening Open Thread: Bad (for the GOP) Omens

Monday Evening Open Thread: Bad (for the GOP) Omens

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New convention logo! — that’ll turn the news cycle around…

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304Comments

  3. 3.

    cain

    I swear that crack bout the Lone Ranger.. and masks. The man has made us the laughingstock and a target for mockery the world over.

  5. 5.

    cain

    @Jeffro:

    It’s just crazy who all got these PPPs. The fucking Daily Caller got money? Can you believe that shit? No wonder they ran out of money – it was just money sent to people who already have cash. Worse, they aren’t even entities that employ a lot of people.. god almighty.

  7. 7.

    Ken

    The FIVE stars on the RNC LOGO are to SECRETLY invoke the RULE OF FIVE, the principle by which the BAVARIAN ILLUMINATI control everything through their PRIMARY AGENTS:  the QUEEN OF ENGLAND, the BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA, the BILDBERG GROUP, the FLUORIDATORS, and the SPACE LIZARDS.

    UN-ALTERED REPRODUCTION and DISSEMINATION of this INFORMATION is ENCOURAGED, especially on BULLETIN BOARDS and GEOCITIES PAGES.

  9. 9.

    Doug R

    Yeah, it does look like one of those things at the fair where they give you a pellet machine gun and you have to shoot out the star.

  12. 12.

    Elizabelle

    Sarah Cooper for the win. Watched that Tik Tok through, twice. And when she gets to the Lone Ranger mask …. pow pow pow.

  13. 13.

    Ken

    @LuciaMia: I really can’t see a physical convention happening at all, much less one like Trump wants.  With any luck he’ll use that as an excuse to drop out of the race, preferably after the virtual convention has finished all business thus making it hugely more difficult for the RNC to change candidates.

    Edit: Suddenly I’m having conspiracy-theory thoughts about today’s SC ruling on faithless electors, and the explicit carve-out for the case where the candidate dies after the election….

  14. 14.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @cain:  I dunno if he really thought he looked like “the Lone Ranger” but I’m much more confident he was looking for a Loan Arranger to bail out one of his shitty investments:

    Deutsche, Deutsche Bank, gib mir alles,
    Gib mir alles, was ich brauch’!

  15. 15.

    HumboldtBlue

    Came here to ensure Ms. Cooper had made an appearance, and no, not Central Park Cooper who is now facing charges.

  17. 17.

    cain

    @Uncle Cosmo:

    @cain:  I dunno if he really thought he looked like “the Lone Ranger” but I’m much more confident he was looking for a Loan Arranger to bail out one of his shitty investments:

    ::snorts:: – I think the only thing he could remember that he liked that ‘wore a mask’ was the Lone Ranger.

  19. 19.

    Searcher

    these are like the worst campaign ideas anyone could ever dream up and that’s it, that’s trump’s real platform

    Hey now, let’s wait to see what Trump comes up with this month.

  21. 21.

    catclub

    There weren’t enough Confederacy sympathizers to win a national election in 1860 and there aren’t today.

     

    I thought actually there were, as Lincoln did not get a majority, but they split their votes.

  22. 22.

    Boris Rasputin (the evil twin)

    @cain: Eric and Junior went hunting elephants? That’s what it looks like to me.

  24. 24.

    HumboldtBlue

    On a lighter note, a Tweet appeared on my feed last night, describe your favorite novel in the most boring way possible.

    Mine: broke sea captain meets broke doctor. They do stuff.

  25. 25.

    cain

    @Calouste:

    @Doug R: I’m surprised they didn’t put the stars in a diagonal cross, like the traitor flag.

    Hey 5 stars could be arranged in a pentagram. Red, pentagram.. Satanic if you ask me.

  26. 26.

    Searcher

    @Ken:

    I really can’t see a physical convention happening at all, much less one like Trump wants.  With any luck he’ll use that as an excuse to drop out of the race, preferably after the virtual convention has finished all business thus making it hugely more difficult for the RNC to change candidates.

    The Republican platform makes a lot more sense if they are expecting Trump to drop out.

  27. 27.

    Kelly

    I’m winding down after a quick trip to my local hardware store. Unmasked clerk claiming a medical exemption. I’m surprised I didn’t just buy my couple rolls of tape, mention masks are important and leave. The medical exemption claim kinda wound me up. Near as I can tell if you medically can’t wear a mask you best stay home.  Ended up yelling at her manager who was wearing a just a clear face shield. Nearest competing store is 7 miles away vs 1 mile. When I called the other store they assured me everyone is masked.

  29. 29.

    Ken

    @Searcher: wait to see what Trump comes up with this month.

    “Pundits agree:  Trump’s daring decision to strangle a kitten at his rally may be what he needs to turn his campaign around”

  30. 30.

    dmsilev

    @Ken: They’ll try to put on the Jacksonville event; Trump’s ego demands it. It will probably end up like the Tulsa flop; two thirds of the planned attendees will suddenly remember that it’s their turn to shampoo the neighborhood squirrels that week, and gosh getting the curlers on the tails is taking so long so have to cancel the trip. Sad.

  31. 31.

    Jeffro

    @cain: no wonder the maladministration didn’t want to publish the list.

    I don’t know why they’re worried.  The attention span of the average American is, um, wait, what was I saying again?

  32. 32.

    Baud

    @Ken:

    “By pardoning Ghislane Maxwell and Jeffrey Epstein posthumously, a defiant Trump makes the bold decision to run to Joe Biden’s left on the issue of criminal justice reform.”

  34. 34.

    SiubhanDuinne

    The Trump campaign sent out an email with a picture of a big huge gigantic statue, over the caption WE WILL PROTECT THIS (and an appeal for money, of course).

    The statue pictured is of Jesus.

    Specifically, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

    Brazil.

  35. 35.

    senyordave

    I ordered the Mary Trump book from Amazon. I’ve heard the arguments against buying it ranging from it will just reiterate how terrible we already know he is (that is a given) to she wouldn’t do this if she had gotten a larger settlement (duh). All I know is that it is one more thing that will make shitgibbon fly into a rage, and that is worth $19.80 to me. I hope she sells a couple million copies.

  36. 36.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Kelly:

    We’ve been pretty good here, although it felt like a different world when I decided to drive around town for about 30 minutes yesterday,

    I rarely go any further than my immediate four or five-block radius but mask-wearing — at least the few places I actually go — is very good, 90 percent or so.

    I think we’re still without a Covid-related fatality as well.

  38. 38.

    JPL

    @senyordave: Apparently, you will receive it early, since they moved up the date.

    Bookstores should already have or will soon.   The leaks will begin shortly.

  39. 39.

    Ken

    @HumboldtBlue: Retired civil servant reads old files and learns who his boss is working for

    (WBUA YR PNEER GVAXRE GNVYBE FBYQVRE FCL – and could you give the answer to yours as well?)

  40. 40.

    Roger Moore

    @catclub:

    I thought actually there were, as Lincoln did not get a majority, but they split their votes.

    Not true.

    1. Secession wasn’t officially on the ballot.  None of the 1860 candidates said they wanted secession.  The Southern Democrats may have threatened secession if they lost, but that’s not the same thing as being in favor of it.
    2. Lincoln did win only a plurality (39.8% of the vote) but he wasn’t the only anti-secession candidate.  Both Stephen Douglas (29.5%) and John Bell (12.6%) were clearly anti-secession.  John Breckinridge was the only candidate who was even tacitly OK with secession.
  44. 44.

    trnc

    @cain: No wonder they ran out of money – it was just money sent to people who already have cash.

    That’s the center spot on the republican fiscal “policy” bingo card.

  45. 45.

    JoyceH

    @HumboldtBlue: “Central Park Cooper” isn’t specific enough – that might mean Dog Lady Central Park Cooper, or Bird Man Central Park Cooper.

  46. 46.

    oldster

    I strongly support Joe Biden’s plans to select a woman of color as his VP.

    May I nominate Sarah Cooper?

    She’s so damned smart.

  48. 48.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Ken: Two aging cowboys go on a long cattle drive (to pick one of many favorite novels– yours would be in there, too)

    (WBUA YR PNEER GVAXRE GNVYBE FBYQVRE FCL

    ???

    I saw that tweet as describe your favorite movie in the most boring way possible. Mine were:

    Immigrant’s son vows to make his own way in post-war America; finds himself stuck in the family business.

    CPA and theatrical producer run a Ponzi scheme targeting elderly women.

  49. 49.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Ken:

    and could you give the answer to yours as well?

    Crap, forgot to add the title — Master and Commander, first book in the Aubrey-Maturin series.

    I haven’t deciphered your yet, too distracted posting comments.

  50. 50.

    Kelly

    @HumboldtBlue: No cases so far in our little rural community although there was a cluster at an old folks home 10 miles away. I was less grumpy before the Oregon mask mandate. Masks were so rare discussion seemed pointless. We did all curbside or home delivery. The countries that masked up are such clear evidence for masks I’m short tempered with the recalcitrant unmasked. Overall I’ve observed masking at around 90% since the Oregon mandate went in so I should be feeling good about it.

  52. 52.

    cain

    @trnc: That’s the center spot on the republican fiscal “policy” bingo card.

    Same shit different generation. Actually it’s the same damn generation..  :D

  53. 53.

    cmorenc

    Out on the beach today, a guy was flying a flag, blue lettering against solid white backround that said:

    TRUMP

    2020

    NO MORE BULLSHIT

    Irony is dead.

    We share this country with 27% who mentally live in a dark version of “Cloud Cookoo-land”.

  54. 54.

    senyordave

    @Ken: I have a small family and they are pretty much all hard core Democrats, but if I was related to a Trumpster I would have to give it to them as present.

  57. 57.

    jonas

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    The statue pictured is of Jesus.

    Specifically, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

    Brazil.

    Yeah, but do you think the people that ad is aimed at know that? He could have just shown that massive “Mother Russia” statue near Volgograd and said it was the archangel Michael and everyone would be all “Hey libs! Hands off our angels!”

  59. 59.

    HumboldtBlue

    @schrodingers_cat:

    It will not only inconvenience international students but also fuck up universities real good when they are already hurting.

    That’s the subject of a long twitter thread today among professors including our Prof. Levenson

  60. 60.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @jonas:

    Yeah, but do you think the people that ad is aimed at know that?

    Of course not, and that’s exactly what Parscale is counting on.

  65. 65.

    Spanky

    @cmorenc: There are 3 of those in the general neighborhood here, one of which is directly across the street from the local high school. Family values, donchaknow.

  66. 66.

    Ken

    @Roger Moore: Yes.

    I used ROT13 to give the answer – I thought, after the recent discussions of the (ahem) collective experience of the Balloon Juice commentariat, that most people would remember it from the USENET days.

  68. 68.

    Anya

    I’ve just watched a clip of shitgibbon’s Mount Rushmore racist speech. Boy is he low energy. Why did he sound like he was on sedative? And the audience was also low energy. The supposed applause lines didn’t land as they expected.

    Trump and Mount Rushmore are made for one another. They’re both tacky.

  69. 69.

    Ken

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: I’m guessing (rot13 again) GUR TBQSNGURE and GUR CEBQHPREF.

    Actually only the first one is a guess, I can’t imagine there are two movies that fit the second. Well, two movies that aren’t just the original movie, and the move adaptation of the stage musical based on the original movie.

  70. 70.

    trnc

    @catclub: I thought actually there were, as Lincoln did not get a majority, but they split their votes.

    I looked that up and stumbled upon the 1864 election page, and learned 2 things:

    – Lincoln clobbered his opponent (no confederate states voting, obviously)

    – He did not officially run as a republican. Be sure to toss that fact at the Rand Pauls of the world who smugly tell you Lincoln was a republican. Let them sputter about labels and party switching for once.

  72. 72.

    Kay

    Change Research
    @ChangePolls
    Net approval for governor’s handling of COVID-19
    Whitmer (MI) +18
    Cooper (NC) +10
    Evers (WI) +10
    Wolf (PA) +6
    DeSantis (FL) -6
    Ducey (AZ) -26

    I’m glad Whitmer came out ahead. The loathsome Trump Administration specifically targeted her.

    She’s tough though – just shrugged it off and kept going :)

  74. 74.

    trnc

    @SiubhanDuinne: I won’t rest until I can watch Sarah Cooper’s “How to Concession Speech.”

    Likely to be a cloud of dust with unintelligible audio. So, I guess the same as all the others but with dust.

  76. 76.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Ken: I have erased the musical version from my memory. I’m a Nathan Lane fan, but who could follow Mostel? And Matthew Broderick…. oy.

    I’ve heard Mel Brooks interviewed a hundred times, but nobody ever really asks about Mostel. I’ve always wondered if Brooks wrote the part with him in mind

    ETA: @senyordave: I had the same thought. As I understand it, at least Ducey tried to reverse course, and DeSantis is still trying to out-trump trump. That AZ number probably has McSally day-drinking.

  77. 77.

    Ken

    @Ivan X: The original “rule of 5” from the Illuminatus! trilogy was a hierarchy; each top-level group controls five others, each of which control five others, and so on. So the vaccinators might be several layers down, e.g. the Queen controls Big Oil controls Biker Gangs controls Vaccinators.

    Steve Jackson’s Illuminati game used the same principle. Of course 6 of the 8 top-level groups in the game were fictional.

  79. 79.

    NotMax

    @HumboldtBlue

    1) Man concocts better paint, sales increase.

    2) A man, a plan, no encyclopedia.

    3) A stroll to the see the Pacific and back again.

    4) Monks check in but they don’t check out.

    5) Ice isn’t nice.

  80. 80.

    Another Scott

    COVID-19 has literally hit home. I have had NO symptoms and have tested positive.

    — Keisha Lance Bottoms (@KeishaBottoms) July 6, 2020

    (She’s the Mayor of Atlanta.)

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  81. 81.

    Ken

    @senyordave: I assume it’s polling within the state, and Florida is full of Florida Men and Women. Either that, or they’re cooking the polling numbers nearly as much as their COVID numbers (“only 17 COVID deaths so far, but boy have there been an awful lot of ordinary pneumonia cases”)

  84. 84.

    trnc

    @Kay: That’s good. Can’t believe Desantis is only down 6, but that could change in the next couple of weeks if the current trend continues.

  85. 85.

    Calouste

    @HumboldtBlue: Not my own, not boring, and also not my favorite novel, but:

     

    Transported to a surreal landscape, a young girl kills the first woman she meets and then teams up with three complete strangers to kill again.

  88. 88.

    Kay

    @trnc:

    You guys. The glass is half FULL. It’s Florida!  – 6 is great.

    I particularly resented Trump’s attacks on Whitmer because it was so clearly designed to help him in MI and I don’t think it has.

  89. 89.

    zeecube

    @Litlebritdifrnt: Have fun!  Our anniversary is at the end of the month, and we’d love to get away if just for a night.  But not likely right now here in south Louisiana.  We have not gone out since March 16. I think it may be safe to reserve a spot at one of the tables set up outside the local fancy restaurant.  That’s as far as I can go right now.

  90. 90.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Another Scott:

    Just heard that in the tease for Joy Reid’s new prime time show. Mayor KLB is going to be her guest

    (ETA: show just started, mayor not on yet)

  92. 92.

    JPL

    The mayor of Atlanta has tested positive for the virus and so far is asymptomatic.   Contact tracing should be interesting.

  94. 94.

    hueyplong

    @trnc: A couple of things:

    1. Lincoln won big because Sherman delivered Atlanta a couple of months before the election.

    2. The problem with Lincoln running as a unity candidate instead of under the name Republican is that’s how we ended up with Andrew Fucking Johnson, who let it all go to hell after Lincoln’s death.

  98. 98.

    JPL

    @hueyplong:  The city that I live in has antebellum homes because the Union used them while preparing for their march into Atlanta.  Someone I know has a house which backs up to GA Power land.  It overlooks the Chattahoochee.   Anyway he and a buddy are constantly finding relics using a metal detector.

    Oh the Trail of Tears started here, too.

  99. 99.

    Fair Economist

    @catclub: Lincoln’s opponents weren’t all Confederate sympathizers. Only Breckenridge was, running on a platform of forcing slavery on unwilling territories (yes, literally, they split with Douglas and the Democratic party organization because Douglas wanted territories to vote on whether to allow slavery.) Douglas and Bell were running as Unionists opposed to secession.

    The really weird part is that even if all votes not for Lincoln unified for a single candidate, he still would have won. His 40% of the vote would still have given him a majority in the electoral college. A pity they split because in that situation I think we’d have gotten rid of the EC and been spared W and Trump.

  107. 107.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Roger Moore:

    Captain Nemo says hello!

    I got the t, w, e and knew where you were headed, the last two three-letter words gave it up

  111. 111.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Jinchi:

    The Ayn Rand Institute took a government handout !?

    As people have commented, Ayn Rand did.  But it’s not actually contrary to her philosophy, either.  The government is stupid and immoral to spend money helping people, but as an individual the moral thing to do is cheat them of every cent you can wring out of them.

  112. 112.

    Jinchi

    @SiubhanDuinne: I won’t rest until I can watch Sarah Cooper’s “How to Concession Speech.”

    You realize that she’ll have to write it herself.

  116. 116.

    hueyplong

    Randy Rainbow has another anti-Trump/Broadway tune effort up, called “Poor Deplorable Troll.”  I think it’s great even though I don’t know the tune he’s riffing on (it’s possible I’m alone in not knowing it).

    Nothing will ever beat his “Bunker Boy.”  The Lincoln Project hasn’t come close, though I assume they will.

  118. 118.

    Calouste

    Chuck Grassley doesn’t want to die for the shitgibbon and is not going to the convention.

    Also, Bolsonaro has symptoms and is awaiting test results.

  124. 124.

    Ivan X

    @cmorenc: I saw the same flag. I actually thought that, if nothing else, it exemplified Trump’s brand appeal in an honest, unvarnished way, even stripping away the pretense of common decency.

    Some people think it’s bullshit to ask for tolerance, acceptance, empathy, consideration, politeness, non-whiteness, or anything else beyond what You as an American Individual want for Yourself and Yourself only.

    Plenty of people think being the whole point of being an American is being entitled to your competitive, selfish pursuits, and that’s what makes us a free and special country. After all, people have what they have, or don’t have, because they deserve it, right?

  125. 125.

    Jinchi

    @Calouste: Also, Bolsonaro has symptoms and is awaiting test results.

    If he has it, I hope he feels sick enough that he stops the BS argument that it’s nothing worse than the flu.

    It’d also be nice if he was quarantined away from the levers of power long enough for someone with sense to tackle this problem.

  126. 126.

    Another Scott

    @Frankensteinbeck: OTOH…

    Reuters:

    WASHINGTON (Reuters) – As Congress signed off on trillions of dollars in coronavirus aid, the small-government group Citizens Against Government Waste urged lawmakers to oppose bailouts for U.S. states, broadcasters, unemployed people and other recipients.

    The group also secured at least $150,000 in government funds for itself, records released on Monday show.

    […]

    Because of course they did…

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  127. 127.

    cain

    @cmorenc:

    It’s funny how they show their defiance for their loser President. When they put that flag out there they are showing their grievance.  Morons.

  130. 130.

    Jinchi

    @SiubhanDuinne: Specifically, Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

    Smart move on their part. They picked something that wouldn’t be immediately torn down by protesters here in America.

  131. 131.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @Ivan X:

    After all, people have what they have, or don’t have, because they deserve it, right?

    While the prosperity gospel certainly exists, I don’t think that’s really the standard Republican viewpoint.  Their viewpoint is that they deserve everything, both materially and in terms of social dominance.  If they don’t get everything, they whine that they’re being cheated.  The whole ‘If you get good things you deserve it’ is mostly reserved for blaming their victims, in both a personal and societal sense.

  133. 133.

    randy khan

    @Jeffro:

    I’ll be honest, outside of the amusement, I don’t find anything noteworthy about those groups getting PPP money.  I don’t even find it slightly troubling because the PPP basically was there to get people to spend money on payroll and rent, and you get the benefits only if you do those things.

    Probably more important, PPP is doing a ton of good.  I’m on the board of two nonprofits that got PPP loans and it’s been hugely important to maintaining financial stability and keeping employees on the job while they adapt to the pandemic.  Honestly, what would make me happy would be for the PPP to be extended and for current beneficiaries to have the opportunity to re-up for more money so they can keep their employees on payroll.

  136. 136.

    NotMax

    @randy khan

    still $130 billion available

    (raises hand high)

    With a bit of judicious trimming I think I could manage to squeak by on that.

    :)

  139. 139.

    Patricia Kayden

    Well, ain’t that a *itch?

    Grover Norquist's organization, Americans for Tax Reform which has a long record of railing against federal government aid, received between $150K and $300K inCOVID small business aid from the Paycheck Protection Program… pic.twitter.com/mqgBZwDwfT— Will Ragland (@citizenwillis) July 6, 2020

  140. 140.

    randy khan

    @catclub:

    1860 was a mess all around.  Lincoln had a bit less than 40%, Douglas was around 30%, the Southern Democrat had 18%, and the Whig candidate had 12.6%.  So one way to look at it was that the pro-slavery candidate had less than 1/5 of the vote; another is to say that Douglas didn’t care about slavery, which put him in the pro-slavery camp, so pro-slavery candidates got 48% of the vote.  But – and this is interesting – Lincoln had the absolute majority in enough states to win the Electoral College without considering the states where he only had a plurality.  And Douglas ended up with only 12 electoral votes, largely because Lincoln absolutely crushed him in the North.

  143. 143.

    germy

    Surrendering to COVID but fighting for the Confederate flag is a strange strategy for political resuscitation.

    — David Plouffe (@davidplouffe) July 6, 2020

  144. 144.

    randy khan

    @NotMax:

    2) A man, a plan, no encyclopedia.

    If this is what I’m thinking of, there was an encyclopedia eventually.

  145. 145.

    jl

    I thought the story on Trump promise to protect the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro was an Onion story. Maybe a new Trump foreign policy promise to protect the Vatican and Mt. Sinai from the ravages of BLM and antifa communists?

    As for bad GOP omens, I hope the complete face plant in in AZ, FL and TX is noticed. Heard on news this morning that counties in TX and FL are requesting return to shelter-in-place. But I don’t want to throw many stones, since I am in CA, and I need to hope that we can avoid our own different sort of face plant. Also heard on news this morning that more CA counties have been ordered to close bars. What!? They should all have been closed since last week.

    I think demonstrated in more countries around the world that the only way to safely reopen is to get prevalence of infection so low that outbreaks can be controlled with localized mass testing, contact tracing and isolation. SF Bay Area counties are slowly getting up to speed, but at this point, it is turning into a desperate race, and malfeasance on part of Dept of Corrections and mass outbreaks in prisons do not help.

    In US, in several regions, things so bad now, in order to get to that low level before Fall, either need another strong set of statewide shelter-in-place policies (ruinously expensive, and will we be any better in getting things ready for after they end?), or mass saturation testing programs (as seems to be working in several countries). I don’t have high hopes for either, at least for all the places with renewed waves of infection.

  147. 147.

    germy

    Absolutely sickening… The victim of this attempted LYNCHING is Vauhxx Booker, a prominent civil rights activist in Bloomington, IN. He was assaulted, pinned to a tree and threatened with a noose!! Then police refused to make an arrest and let these white supremacists walk free. pic.twitter.com/uA7YVx25if

    — Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) July 6, 2020

  149. 149.

    germy

    @jl:

    There are 20,000 Catholic Churches in the US. Every one has a crucifix and most have a Baby Jesus statue, as well as Mary, Joseph, and the patron saint of the church. And none have been torn down because Jesus wasn’t a slaver in the US.

    — Susan of Texas (@SusanofTexas) July 6, 2020

  151. 151.

    Sab

    OT: My shoes just came in the mail. Brand name Manitobah. Company owned and employing First Nations in Canada.

    Also too these shoes are amazingly comfortable. I have difficult feet. Very wide with very high instep. I went barefoot too much as a child. Almost every shoe I have ever worn tried to maim me.

    Theses are the most comfortable shoes I have ever owned.

    I hate shoes. I don’t get excited about shoes. They mostly always hurt or at least don’t fit.

    These shoes are amazing. Plus tasteful beadwork on the moccasins. I can’t wait for winter with the mukluks.

  153. 153.

    Baud

    @germy:

    And none have been torn down because Jesus wasn’t a slaver in the US.

    Neither was Columbus. Checkmate, librul!

  155. 155.

    jl

    @HumboldtBlue: “Slavers sure as hell used Jesus and his dad as justification to enslave others, however.”

    I think Trump is already on record that he is the only one who can protect God from the likes of antifa. Kind of a humble brag IMO. Maybe if things get worse he’ll remind the suburbs.

  157. 157.

    Elizabelle

    @debbie:   LOL.  At least he’s a brand ambassador.  Ralph Lauren and Nautica.  Didn’t listen to whatever he was saying.

  159. 159.

    Taken4Granite

    @HumboldtBlue: Man rules by finding dirt on his political opponents. (NYY GUR XVATF ZRA)

    No, it’s not about Trump, or even W. But it is based on a historical political figure.

  160. 160.

    germy

    Lawyers say that “Breonna Taylor's shooting was the result of a Louisville police department operation to clear out a block in western Louisville that was part of a major gentrification makeover” t.co/2O1icoNyJK— Niraj Warikoo (@nwarikoo) July 6, 2020

    "When the layers are peeled back, the origin of Breonna’s home being raided by police starts with a political need to clear out a street for a large real estate development,” lawyers for Breonna Taylor said. t.co/2O1icoNyJK— Niraj Warikoo (@nwarikoo) July 6, 2020

  161. 161.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    There. Is. Always. A. Tweet. Part The Nth to the Nth power

    Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump · Oct 8, 2013
    President should not be telling the Washington Redskins to change their name-our country has far bigger problems! FOCUS on them,not nonsense

  164. 164.

    Jeffro

    @randy khan: um why couldn’t we have done both?  Be pro-PPP but anti-lobbying groups (especially ones that are against government in general!) getting dough?  How are they ‘essential’ to the country’s well-being (at any time, but especially during a pandemic)?

  165. 165.

    gene108

    @cain:

    It’s just crazy who all got these PPPs. The fucking Daily Caller got money? Can you believe that shit? No wonder they ran out of money – it was just money sent to people who already have cash. Worse, they aren’t even entities that employ a lot of people.. god almighty.

    Most small businesses do not employ a lot of people, by their nature.

    Like with disability payments, there’s going to be some fraud or abuse. Either make things so hard, even deserving people get denied, to minimize fraud and abuse, or just suck it up and accept some folks will scam the system

  166. 166.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Taken4Granite: trying to guess without going to the translator…. Kinda looks/sounds like All The President’s Men, but that third word’s too short….

    Ah! novel… All The King’s Men? Huey Long?

  167. 167.

    Jeffro

    @randy khan: and yet, oddly enough, it’s completely unavailable for state budgets or school divisions.  No way to help those folks out, I guess.

    ”Here you go, cruise lines!  Here you go, Ayn Rand Institute!  F U, America’s state governments and public schools”

  170. 170.

    mrmoshpotato

    Fucking hell.  Anyone else torn between wanting to unplug from this shit and feeling like that’s irresponsible as a citizen?

    Random thought: I should find a zombie movie to enjoy tonight.

  172. 172.

    Taken4Granite

    @NotMax:

    2) A man, a plan, no encyclopedia

    Sounds like the Foundation trilogy.

    5) Ice isn’t nice

    Would this one be Cat’s Cradle?

  174. 174.

    germy

    @Origuy:

    Law enforcement officers with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources responded to the reported battery at about 8 p.m. Saturday night, according to a news release.

    They couldn’t make arrests?

  175. 175.

    cain

    @Ken: I used ROT13 to give the answer – I thought, after the recent discussions of the (ahem) collective experience of the Balloon Juice commentariat, that most people would remember it from the USENET days.

    Uh.. no.. I think most of them do not remember the USENET days.. I used to use rot13 often back in the early 90s. :)

  176. 176.

    jl

    @Baud: “Trump’s Obama tweets make me believe in the occult.”

    As I noted, Trump is clairovoyent in foreseeing his future self-owns. But, then, Obama was a shape-shifting time traveler wizard who was able to foil all Trump’s plans for greatness.

    Is American a great country or what? Our presidents have supernatural powers and are battling in a cosmic struggle over good and evil.  It’ like watching some out of control sequel to Lord of the Rings, except with more WWE depth and production values.

  178. 178.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Taken4Granite: I’ve never read/seen it, but now I’m that much more curious, especially running to the Wiki to check which Long was which, I’m shocked to see Huey was only 43 when he died? He built up a helluva reputation in a short time.

  181. 181.

    cain

    @gene108: Most small businesses do not employ a lot of people, by their nature.

    That’s a good point. I think what I was trying to say (poorly) is that they are rich organizations that have a lot of money and don’t hire a lot of people. Meaning they can easily support what they have.

  182. 182.

    Kay

    Following months of legal drama, threats, and public controversy surrounding multiple books published by former Trumpworld insiders, yet another blockbuster Trump book is set to hit shelves next month and contain “explosive” revelations about first lady Melania Trump, written by her once close adviser and friend of 15 years.
    According to people familiar with the project, Stephanie Winston Wolkoff—who was previously seen by the first lady as a loyal confidante and helped plan President Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration in Washington, D.C.—will release a tell-all, Melania and Me, on Sept. 1.

  184. 184.

    Ken

    @Kay: I can hardly wait to see Barr’s attempt to justify blocking that book on national security grounds.

  186. 186.

    Steeplejack

    @Kelly:

    I would love to have just one of these “medical exemption” people be forced to explain the exact nature of their condition—and maybe produce some paperwork.

  187. 187.

    Poe Larity

    5) Ice isn’t nice.

    MotherJones:

    ICE Tells Foreign Students to leave country if their schools are going on-line only

  188. 188.

    Kay

    @Ken:

    People with knowledge of the project say the content of the book is largely negative and that the manuscript heavily trashes the first lady.

    Melania is, after all, a birther so no one should be surprised that she’s as horrible as her husband.

  190. 190.

    jl

    @Ken: “I can hardly wait to see Barr’s attempt to justify blocking that book on national security grounds.”

    Slovenia will declare war?

  194. 194.

    Origuy

    @germy: They couldn’t make arrests?

    I don’t know what authority IDNR officers have. They are probably used to dealing with people fishing without a license. They should have arrested the assholes or called in the sheriff’s office for backup, though. Since Lake Monroe is a state reservoir, 911 probably sent them first.

  195. 195.

    jl

    @Kay: Who’s going to buy it if they release shocking revelations and surprises like that before the book is out?

  198. 198.

    Jeffro

    Btw if anyone is curious, Fox News dot com does not have
    – a story about the Russian bounties on our troops
    – a story about Mary Trump’s book coming out sooner than expected (much less coming out at all)
    – a story about 132,000 dead Americans
    BUT
    – they are all over Ghislane Maxwell, Ben Shapiro defending trumpov, and some recent NFL draftee tweeting that he has never been to an actual NFL game

    Priorities!

  199. 199.

    TS (the original)

    @Anya:

    Trump and Mount Rushmore are made for one another. They’re both tacky.

    From the other side of the world – prior to trump – it was never seen as tacky (nor did we know the history).

    Everything trump touches turns to dust.

  200. 200.

    Kay

    @cain:

    I’m okay with it. I think means testing makes assistance a hard political sell and I’d hate to get into what’s a “worthy” smaller entity and what is not.

    I was thrilled they flooded the zone with money and I hope they keep it up. I never again in my lifetime want to see 16% unemployment and page after page of foreclosures. All that pain and so much of it completely unnecessary.

  201. 201.

    Kay

    @jl:

    Oh, I’m not BUYING it. Yuck. I loathe these people. Fat chance they’re getting 24 dollars from me.

    I don’t like her though. I find birtherism unforgivable. It was always straight up racism.

  202. 202.

    Mary G

    @Steeplejack: Not to mention that the ADA doesn’t say what they say it does. It requires a reasonable accomodation, which for stores is curbside pickup, or give us a list and wait outside while we shop for you. Even Bill Barr won’t take their side.

  203. 203.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Kay: I heard a brief podcast teaser on Slate from the recent bio of Melania, and the author maintains they have a much closer relationship than is generally believed. She’s the first call he makes after a rally, to see how it played on TV, and she’s one of the people who keep him stirred up by sending him unfavorable news coverage and quotes. The same author, btw, who confirmed my suspicions about a post-election amendment to the prenup. Maybe this latest one will win my double-or-nothing bet of quatloos that the missing inaugural cash is in an account in Luxembourg under the name Knauss.

    And surprise surprise she and Ivanka have a very cool relationship and I hope that’s understatement for they make each other miserable.

  206. 206.

    dopey-o

    @Sab: shoes? Pictures! Pictures! Pictures!

    NB: i used to make a big deal about buying shoes when my daughter was young. Now she’s a registered dyed in the wool Democrat. Just like her mother and her grandparents. I flatter myself to think i actually had any influence….

  207. 207.

    Ladyraxterinok

    @John Revolta:

    When my son was in jr high in 80s, he discovered Pinkwater’s Alan Mendelssohn Boy from Mars. Boy narrator tells about Alan, the new boy in school. As the result of Alan’s stories, two cliques develop in the school and start an overt and covert war over whether or not Alan is actually from Mars.

    Absolutely priceless book for a kid in jr high school! (I found it pretty good, myself)

    N

  211. 211.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @jl: okay, that’s good

    I’ll add: Knickerbocker bro plays halloween prank on dorky teacher

  212. 212.

    Another Scott

    BlueVirginia.US:

    […]

    See below for the map of Virginia, and a few things that jumped out at me.

    First, per the NY Times, “Latino people have also been infected at a jarringly disparate rate compared with white people. One of the most alarming hot spots is also one of the wealthiest: Fairfax County, just outside of Washington, D.C. Three times as many white people live there as Latinos. Yet through the end of May, four times as many Latino residents had tested positive for the virus, according to the C.D.C. data.”

    The numbers in Fairfax County are: 269 per 10k for Hispanics, 50 per 10k for Blacks, 23 per 10k for whites.

    In Arlington County, Hispanics are at 229 per 10k, Blacks at 61 per 10k and whites at 30 per 10k.

    The Eastern Shore is very striking: in Accomack County, Blacks are getting COVID at a rate of 547 per 10k, Hispanics at 311 per 10k, and whites at just 43 per 10k. Massive, massive difference. And in Northampton County, Blacks are at 343 per 10k compared to 58 per 10k for whites.

    In Buckingham County, Blacks get COVID-19 at a 168 per 10k rate, compared to 86 per 10k rate for whites.

    In Loudoun County, Hispanics are at 98 per 10k, Blacks at 24 per 10k and whites at 16 per 10k.

    In Prince William County, Hispanics are at 163 per 10k, Blacks at 42 per 10k and whites at 21 per 10k.

    In Culpeper County, Hispanics are at 451 per 10k, whites at 15 per 10k and Blacks at 7 per 10k.

    In Spotsylvania County, Hispanics are at 92 per 10k, whites at 10 per 10k and Blacks at 5 per 10k.

    In Rockingham County, Hispanics are at 184 per 10k, whites are at 25 per 10k.

    So those are just a few examples of racial disparities in Virginia COVID-19 cases. What jumps out at you?

    UPDATE 1:07 pm – From Fairfax County Board Chair Jeff McKay…here is a “summary of the interventions Fairfax County has taken to reduce risk and address disparities in the Latino community.”

    * “Establishing a High-Risk Communities Taskforce within the Health Department to coordinate activities addressing disproportional impacts of COVID-19 in specific groups.

    * Engaging with Latino advocacy groups and listening to their insights and suggestions.

    * Actively recruiting and hiring bilingual Community Health Specialists and Community Health Workers to expand culturally competent public health outreach.

    * Working with federally qualified health centers (HealthWorks of Northern Virginia and Neighborhood Health) and non-profit clinics to increase routine testing opportunities to populations who may lack health insurance or a medical home.

    * Promoting increased COVID-19 testing and holding community testing clinics in collaboration with safety net medical providers in areas of increased disease.

    * Working with trusted non-profit and interfaith partners to enhance public health outreach to limit disease spread in the home setting.

    * Working with trusted non-profit and interfaith partners to provide needed supports for families including emergency food and housing financial assistance.

    * Promoting support services through the Coordinated Planning Services (CSP) line, to include a Service Navigation Support Team for COVID-19 referrals.

    * Providing locations (hotels) where infected individuals capable of self-care can isolate or quarantine in a temporary shelter.

    * Collaborating with One Fairfax to develop broader initiatives to address community needs and underlying factors that increase COVID-19 risk.

    * Using targeted media to provide culturally appropriate materials to provide education and links to resources.

    * Hosting a COVID-19 telebriefing for Spanish-language news media and making frequent appearance on Spanish-language radio to share health information with Latino audiences.

    * Developing a COVID-19 language portal that features information and resources in several languages including Spanish and providing Spanish-only text service. Users can text FFXCOVIDESP to 888777 to get COVID-19 updates from the county.”

    It’s good that McKay is working to reduce the disparities in Fairfax (one of the wealthiest counties in the USA).

    But I suspect that much of the disparity is a consequence of the vast amount of construction, lawn care, home cleaning, food prep and service, etc., that is done by people in the Latinx community. And Black people in similar situations down-state. They can’t stay home and telework.

    IOW, people who have to keep working in physically demanding jobs. :-(

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  214. 214.

    Gin & Tonic

    After safely self-isolating for long enough, I spent the last four days visiting with my grandchildren. They, aged 5 and 3, do not know who Donald Trump is. I envy them.

  216. 216.

    Kay

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    I don’t care about the prenup. I hope she got one. They’re horrible and they’ll screw her, like they did Mary Trump.

    I really came to dislike Melania. The interview she gave where said she is the “most bullied” person in the world. That’s the thing with the Trumps. They can’t just be horrible assholes and “get one over on people” and be satisfied with that- they also petulantly demand you love them. I don’t love them and I think it’s an imposition that they expect me to.

  218. 218.

    JMG

    Movie: Family-owned business struggles with succession issues.
    Book: Maritime commercial venture fails to return profit.

  220. 220.

    Kay

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Oh, how nice. Such fun ages. The moment DeWine sprung me I went to NY to see our only grand. Her facial expressions are EXACTLY like her mothers, which we were joking was because she was born into a quarantine so saw only her parents for months. She’s since been on a trip to see her other grandparents in Pittsburgh, so she’s getting out and about now, which I think is important, that she meet people :)

  221. 221.

    joel hanes

    @Baud: 

    Ahem.

    Columbus was a slaver (and genocide) in Puerto Rico.

    Puerto Rico is a part of the United States.

  222. 222.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    @Kay:

    The interview she gave where said she is the “most bullied” person in the world. That’s the thing with the Trumps. They can’t just be horrible assholes and “get one over on people” and be satisfied with that- they also petulantly demand you love them.

    trump sat at the Lincoln Memorial and whined that he’s treated worse than Lincoln. How is that respecting our history and our beloved statues?

  224. 224.

    Ken

    @AnneWith: So it’s reckless homicide – or perhaps vehicular manslaughter, if the DA is feeling daring – not murder one?

  225. 225.

    Kay

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist:

    Seriously though, WTF is wrong with them? You don’t have to actually have “empathy” to behave decently. When you’re asked about your anti-bullying program and you are First Lady DON’T use your extremely privileged adult self as the example! Bad! Bad example! Can she not invent an anecdote about a 5th grader?

    Jesus. Just parrot normal people. WWNPD. What Would Normal Person Do. How can they have been alive this long and not know any of this?

  230. 230.

    randy khan

    @Jeffro:

    That’s a fair question.  At one level, my take on it is that this is sort of like the John Keynes example of paying people to dig holes and then to refill them.  It’s not necessarily productive in the usual sense to give money to groups of dubious intention, but it still puts that money out into the economy, which is the primary purpose of the PPP.

    There are two other things I would consider:  (a) It probably was impractical for the banks or SBA to screen applicants based on whether they’re advocacy groups (and, in truth, it was a huge plus that PPP funded non-profits at all; from what I can tell the overwhelming percentage of non-profits that got money are ones that everyone should agree should benefit); and (b) With this Administration, I don’t think I’d want to give them a chance to apply an advocacy litmus test.  I doubt we would like the results.

  231. 231.

    Roger Moore

    @Kay:

    Jesus. Just parrot normal people. WWNPD. What Would Normal Person Do. How can they have been alive this long and not know any of this?

    I think the core is that they don’t spend enough time listening to normal people to understand what normal people are like.  They socialize only with awful people like themselves.  The main time they interact with normal people is when they’re bossing them around, which doesn’t involve paying careful attention to their opinions.

  232. 232.

    randy khan

    @Jeffro:

    There are different pots of money for different things.  PPP is not meant for schools, which are funded differently (if inadequately – there’s nowhere near enough money going to state and local government).  Heck, it also isn’t going to cruise lines or airlines – that’s a different pot of money.

  234. 234.

    Another Scott

    ICYMI, It’s time to address airborne transmission of COVID-19 (9 page .PDF):

    Commentary

    We appeal to the medical community and to the relevant national and international bodies to recognize the potential for airborne spread of COVID-19. There is significant potential for inhalation exposure to viruses in microscopic respiratory droplets (microdroplets) at short to medium distances (up to several meters, or room scale), and we are advocating for the use of preventive measures to mitigate this route of airborne transmission.

    Studies by the signatories and other scientists have demonstrated beyond any reasonable doubt that viruses are released during exhalation, talking, and coughing in microdroplets small enough to remain aloft in air and pose a risk of exposure at distances beyond 1 to 2 m from an infected individual (see e.g. [1-4]). For example, at typical indoor air velocities [5], a 5 μm droplet will travel tens of meters, much greater than the scale of a typical room, while settling from a height of 1.5 m to the floor. Several retrospective studies conducted after the SARS-CoV-1 epidemic demonstrated that airborne transmission was the most likely mechanism explaining the spatial pattern of infections e.g. [6]. Retrospective analysis has shown the same for SARS-CoV-2 [7-10]. In particular, a study in their review of records from a Chinese restaurant, observed no evidence of direct or indirect contact between the three parties [10]. In their review of video records from the restaurant, they observed no evidence of direct or indirect contact between the three parties. Many studies conducted on the spread of other viruses, including respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) [11], Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) [8], and influenza [2,4], show that viable airborne viruses can be exhaled [2] and/or detected in the indoor environment of infected patients [11-12]. This poses the risk that people sharing such environments can potentially inhale these viruses, resulting in infection and disease. There is every reason to expect that SARS-CoV-2 behaves similarly, and that transmission via airborne microdroplets [10,13] is an important pathway. Viral RNA associated with droplets smaller than 5 μm has been detected in air [14], and the virus has been shown to maintain infectivity in droplets of this size [9]. Other viruses have been shown to survive equally well, if not better, in aerosols compared to droplets on a surface [15].

    […]

    Wear your masks!!

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  237. 237.

    senyordave

    Is Melania Trump the most useless first lady in history?  Covid-9 is the biggest health crisis in our lifetime, and that was followed by protests over George Floyd’s murder which is a huge issue for the country, and she is invisible.  I once read that the WH brags about her staff being one third smaller than Michelle Obama’s.  She should have no staff since she doesn’t do a damn thing.

  238. 238.

    jl

    @Ruckus: Good thing that the US is not like some commie country like Switzerland, where the bigger the company, the less automatic assistance. The largest corporations were told that they could take care of themselves, and if they got into a fix, to come with a good explanation.

    Man, the horrors of totalitarian dystopia. Thank God we are not condemned to live in that broke-ass disease ridden hellhole.

  239. 239.

    Wapiti

    @joel hanes: Great factoid. I, in my non-Puerto Rican worldview, never made the connection that Columbus in PR means that Columbus was in America.

    F-in’ teachers lied to me in grade school.

  240. 240.

    mrmoshpotato

    @senyordave: Sounds like someone is not doing their best to be best.

    (How the fuck did no one on her staff go, “Ummm…..let’s work on that some more.)

  241. 241.

    NotMax

    @mrmoshpotato

    How to Get Amazon Prime for Free (or cheap).

    You could conceivably burn through a helluva lotta of movies and TV during the 30 day free trial period. Or if you have a friend or relative willing to add you as an Amazon Household name (no extra charge for that) on their account you could arrange to reimburse them half the cost of what they’re paying annually, which works out to five bucks a month.

    ;)

  244. 244.

    Dahlia

    A young wealthy man’s arrival in a rural English village elicits matrimonial hopes in a neighboring family.

  248. 248.

    Geminid

    @Another Scott: the landscapers and construction workers usually travel with one or more others in the same truck. And their families here and abroad need the money. I hope that next year a new Congress will finally legalize those without papers. Those who survive. They really are an asset to this country and deserve legal status.

  249. 249.

    Yutsano

    What’s with going to half Tbogg until new thread trend lately?

    Anyway, my Dad’s in the hospital. Possibly something cardiac related. No real details yet.

  250. 250.

    NotMax

    @Dorothy A. Winsor

    To the tune of “Dulcinea” from Man of La Mancha:

    Bolsonaro… Bolsonaro…
    Are you coughing, sneezing
    Wheezing, Bolsonaro!
    Now you’re hung up,
    On the path to hack a lung up
    Bolsonaro… Bolsonaro!
    .

  251. 251.

    raven

    Effective July 15, 2020, University System of Georgia (USG) institutions will require all faculty, staff, students, and visitors to wear an appropriate face covering while inside campus facilities/buildings where six feet social distancing may not always be possible. Face covering use will be in addition to and is not a substitute for social distancing.

  255. 255.

    raven

    Gov. Brian Kemp will deploy as many as 1,000 Georgia National Guard troops to protect state buildings in Atlanta on Monday following a burst of violence across the city that left four dead, including an 8-year-old girl, and saw the ransacking of the headquarters of the Georgia State Patrol.

  256. 256.

    Amir Khalid

    @jonas:

    The Kennedy Center chooses the honourees. The Center then gets the White House to lend its prestige to the ceremonies — or at least it did before Trump.

  257. 257.

    AnneWith

    @joel hanes:

    Bah. That’s in the movie, where it was all a dream. No such scene in the book.

    @Ken:

    Objection! My client did not pilot the house, nor was it even possible to do so. We ask the court to acknowledge that the actions were a result of an Act of God, and that all charges be dismissed.

  259. 259.

    Gin & Tonic

    @raven: I like musicals (and opera) and had an opportunity to watch Hamilton when I was visiting my daughter over the weekend – she has little kids, so has had Disney+ for a while – and found it outstanding, probably worth watching several more times (because I’m sure I missed a lot.)

  263. 263.

    Brachiator

    @trollhattan:

    Sarah strikes again. My Monday larf!

    The Lone Ranger!

    Yep, it hit the spot.

    Earlier, I was chatting online to a guy who boldly declared that he would only wear a mask if he knew he was sick. Otherwise, he didn’t think it necessary. He is otherwise a fairly reasonable guy, but I was weirded out that he elevated the hostility when I suggested that wearing a mask is good since a person might be asymptomatic.

    He just would not accept that. Somehow, he seems to think that if people accept wearing a mask now, they are agreeing to wear a mask forever, because you never know what might be in the air. So, the known sickness thing seems to be some kind of psychological compromise.

    Others chatting sided with this guy.

  264. 264.

    James E Powell

    @HumboldtBlue:

    On a lighter note, a Tweet appeared on my feed last night, describe your favorite novel in the most boring way possible.

    A man marries his first cousin and founds a new town where their descendants are the leading citizens until it is destroyed in a storm.

  265. 265.

    raven

    @Gin & Tonic: Nope, I go to a physical therapist in the morning and I’m interested in what I find. If I am fixable and can increase my walking that’s probably what I’ll do. I do have a buddy who has offered to let me try his out so that’s a possibility too. I’m just afraid that I won’t ride one enough to make it worth it since I’ve given my last two away because I didn’t use them. I’m also considering a stationary.

  268. 268.

    raven

    @JMG: Well I don’t like musicals and I liked it. I remember when a friend insisted I see Miss Saigon so we went to Atlanta and I thought it was awful.

  271. 271.

    Steeplejack

    @debbie:

    Nope. From your linked story:

    Suspicions that Bolsonaro had been infected arose shortly after a number of aides who accompanied him on a March trip to Mar-a-Lago to meet with President Donald Trump tested positive. At the time, Bolsonaro denied that he had the virus, emphasizing his strength as a reason for why he had not caught it. He also fought to keep his exam results private, though months later they would be revealed and show that he tested negative.

  272. 272.

    raven

    @Gin & Tonic: Yea, I had two of those I didn’t use either. It’s just that I’m not going back to the pool anytime soon so I gotta figure something out.

  273. 273.

    Nicole

    @raven: I saw Miss Saigon in the final months of its original run on B’way- a friend lived in the NYC actor housing and got an orchestra seat through them for $1.00 and couldn’t go so I bought the ticket.  For $1.00, it was adequate.  The show was definitely looking tired in those final months.

  281. 281.

    Yutsano

    @?BillinGlendaleCA: Right now all I know is his chest X-ray was normal and they got his tachycardia under control. After that I have no other news. Odds are he’ll be admitted tonight but this hospital is notorious for pushing people out of the ER before they even bother to fix the problem. I know. It’s happened to me twice there.

  284. 284.

    Logan Brown

    @Kay: No wonder Dan Forest is stuck making crazier and crazier claims against Cooper. Even many R’s support some of his measures with the virus.

  287. 287.

    Aleta

    Four children of a man who has dedicated his life to helping others find themselves facing a series of challenging predicaments.

  292. 292.

    cain

    You know when these Republicans are going to really lose it? When an occupant of a senate seat that is not up for re-election dies from the ‘Rona creating another opportunity to fill with a democrat.

    If the disease is creating holes in the senate and house – shit’s gonna get real, real fast.

  294. 294.

    cain

    @Yutsano – sending good luck waves to your dad. I hope the hospital does the right thing.

  296. 296.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    The Hoarse Whisperer @HoarseWisperer 21m
    Katie Miller, Stephen Miller’s wife, is also a sociopath.

    Jacob Soboroff of MSBNC has written a book about trump child-separation policy. Rachel Maddow had him on and he tells a more complete version of the quote linked above that will be available at the Maddow Blog soon, if they’re still operating the same way– I pretty much quit looking when it became pretty much all show links. I remember Soboroff’s coverage of the issue and he was genuinely angry and upset about it. I hope his book reminds people of what was done in our names.

  297. 297.

    Yutsano

    @Jim, Foolish Literalist: To make it worse: they’re spawning. Lord knows how many twisted ideas that child is going to have in its head. Even worse if s/he is homeschooled. If all the way through high school it will be a mess that can’t get in to college anywhere 

  298. 298.

    Ruckus

    @Gin & Tonic:

    That’s because most stationary bikes really don’t fit properly nor do they work well. Because if you build them right they cost a lot more. Like many times more.

  300. 300.

    joel hanes

    @AnneWith:

    I like the illustrations in all the other books better than those in the first.

    Books of Wonder did facsimile editions of some of the Baum ones a while back.   The cover of The Emerald City Of Oz is gorgeous.  IIRC, Ozma of Oz was my favorite to read.

  304. 304.

    AnneWith

    @joel hanes:

    Oh, me too! John R. Neill’s illustrations are just fabulous. Ozma of Oz  is one of my favorites, too, along with Tik-Tok of Oz. (I consider Oz to be my 1st fandom.)

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