Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

I really should read my own blog.

Human rights are not a matter of opinion!

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Republicans want to make it harder to vote and easier for them to cheat.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

We know you aren’t a Democrat but since you seem confused let me help you.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

He seems like a smart guy, but JFC, what a dick!

They want us to be overwhelmed and exhausted. Focus. Resist. Oppose.

Fundamental belief of white supremacy: white people are presumed innocent, minorities are presumed guilty.

I desperately hope that, yet again, i am wrong.

The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.

Hey hey, RFK, how many kids did you kill today?

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

Giving up is unforgivable.

Republican speaker of the house Mike Johnson is the bland and smiling face of evil.

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

Trump should be leading, not lying.

Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.

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

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / The Clintons Cast Electoral College Votes for Biden-Harris

The Clintons Cast Electoral College Votes for Biden-Harris

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This must’ve been a somewhat satisfying exercise of their civic duty as New York State electors:

The Electoral College giveth, and the Electoral College taketh away. Take that, Emperor Tang!

Open thread.

ETA:

So say we all.

Reader Interactions

271Comments

  2. 2.

    Nettoyeur

    Soon (if not already) it will be time to re-up Jon Stewart’s performance of “Go F**k Yourself….”

  10. 10.

    danielx

    Sigh….waiting to get Zoey the Senior Cat scheduled for being put to sleep. Liver cancer sucks, along with every other kind of cancer. Already miss my napping buddy something awful.

  11. 11.

    Zzyzx

    I’m more amused than annoyed at the people who are showing up and declaring themselves to be alternative slates of electors like that has any standing. I want to get a few dozen people to do that in Texas.

  14. 14.

    Mike in NC

    @rikyrah:  Many of us also feel that way, and it will be very interesting once Trump is gone to see what’s forthcoming about how he was installed in the Oval Office. It might have been Putin and the GRU, or it might have been the action by three Rust Belt GOP governors engaged in voter suppression, or maybe both of those things plus the nonstop demonization of the Clinton campaign by the New York Times. In six months the truth just might finally come out. That’s why Republicans are so damn desperate to steal the election and maintain the coverup.

  16. 16.

    VeniceRiley

    @schrodingers_cat:  Love that show. Purchase worthy soundtrack for several seasons. Still among my favorites to this day. Now I watch everything Bear McCreary scores. He has a fine scoring blog as well.

  19. 19.

    Kent

    @rikyrah: Will go to my grave believing that Hillary was elected in 2016.

    I tend to think the final vote count was accurate, but that the election was stolen through voter suppression, Russian meddling, and a racist electoral college system.

  22. 22.

    dmsilev

    @Jay C: My theory is that Trump’s plan is to lose so many times that Biden ends up with more than 270*2.5=575 Electoral Votes and therefore is ineligible to be President under the two-and-a-half term limit of the 22nd Amendment.

  32. 32.

    rikyrah

    A woman who was cheated out of her Governorship.
    In the home of Gone With the Wind
    Casting her ballot as an elector for the first Democrat to win the state in almost 30 years

    It’s official. Stacey Abrams tallies the votes of state electors and announces that Georgia casts all 16 of its electoral college votes to President-elect Joe Biden, the first time in 28 years a Democrat has carried the state in a presidential election. pic.twitter.com/RBj8fpOf2g— Keith Boykin (@keithboykin) December 14, 2020

  36. 36.

    Barbara

    I knew there must be a reason I feel so sad today.  I just realized that today marks the 8th anniversary of Sandy Hook.  When it happened, I thought that it would be hard to imagine an event that would so effectively mark so many of us as being morally bankrupt, and yet, here we are 8 years later, with a totally different kind of event or series of events that seems to have made me feel the same way about so many.

  38. 38.

    EmbraceYourInnerCrone

    @danielx: I am so sorry. Cancer sucks, and losing a sleeping buddy/faithful friend sucks more. I have been privileged to have raised 3 cats to senior-hood in my current home.   Keeping you in my thoughts.

  45. 45.

    Splitting Image

    Michigan’s votes just dropped. All of the disputed states have now cast their votes for Biden and Harris. No faithless electors so far.

  46. 46.

    Geminid

    Speaking of counting, a court-ordered recount of the New York 22nd District Congressional race started today. The final canvas showed Republican Claudia Tenney with a 12 vote lead over Congressman Anthony Brindisi, with 600 disputed ballots. The state judge said there were so many reports of canvass problems generally that he wanted a district wide recount before he considered challenged ballots.

  48. 48.

    TomatoQueen

    @danielx:  May Zoey’s going to the Bridge be peaceful and without pain. You gave Zoey a wonderful life and a loving home.

    Zoey on the Bridge.

  54. 54.

    Ken

    @germy: Only around 8 protesters, most of whom are arguing about legal challenges to the election.

    I’m going to read that as “arguing among themselves” because it amuses me.  Especially if a fist-fight breaks out between two or more factions over their contradictory, but equally deranged, claims.

  56. 56.

    OGLiberal

    @Kent: This is what I think, too.  I don’t think dead people voted or people voted twice or whatever these assholes think happens when Democrats vote more than they do.  I think enough assholery got out there on the Internets to make some folks stay home, either because they thought Clinton had it in the bag or because they thought she was some sort of demon, on par with Trump so why bother.  That enough people bought that crap and stayed home or voted for Jill Stein is troubling.  That a lot more people didn’t buy that crap this year is a big fucking deal. But having 74M people vote for this fucking mess is still very scary.  I am watching people I grew up with who I thought were somewhat normal lose their fucking shit, supporting Texas secession, etc.  And I grew up in fucking New Jersey!

  57. 57.

    Nicole

    I loved seeing Hillary Clinton’s tweet.  While I will always be bitter about 2016, I take solace that she does not seem to be (if only one of us is going to be at peace about it, I’d much rather it be her).  She’s spent 30 years being the media’s punching bag, and she still continues to stand up for what’s best for the country.  An actual patriot.  That’s some real grace, there.

  59. 59.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    OT – Beware, the claims process with Amazon delivery driver damage to property is a labyrinth of misery. Yesterday, a delivery driver in a large box impacted some overhead utility lines located in the easement across my drive – they ripped out my neighbor’s fiber optic line and managed to bend the mask that all his incoming lines went into, dislodging it from the boot, causing shingles to move and unknown structural damage in the eaves. It also did something to the amalgamation of wires at the pole on the street. This line stretches about 120 yards, and is spaghetti in my yard, the street, the neighbor’s yard.
    Spent about two hours yesterday getting transferred to different desks at Amazon, where nobody apparently documented anything. Neighbor, in the meantime, learned from the utility he needs an electrician to repair/replace, and that service will be shut down for the duration of whatever needs repairing. I finally got through to their claims administrator this afternoon after going through a maddening morning, only to be told that their process is cumbersome and stupid for claims over 3K and then even moreso after 10K, is only a reimbursement plan and that he’d be better off with faster service making a claim on his homeowners and having them subro back for the total and deductible.

  60. 60.

    CaseyL

    @danielx:  There is no good cancer – and all cats are good cats (just like all dogs are good dogs).

    I am so sorry to hear you’re losing Zoe, and hope that thinking back on the very good life you gave her is some comfort.

  63. 63.

    Spanky

    @germy:

    They said that they were the Republican electors there to cast their vote for president. State police declined to let them enter the building or leave votes offered in a manila envelope

    Perhaps they should set fire to the manila envelope, ring the doorbell, and run away. That would seem more consistent with their ethos.

  66. 66.

    Gravenstone

    @Kent: As I’ve described it basically since it occurred, stolen by the combined hostile action of enemies both foreign and domestic.

  67. 67.

    Spanky

    @danielx: You have my deepest condolences, as an escort to our end of the rainbow bridge too many times already. Take comfort  and strength in the fact that you have served her well, and will continue to do so through the end.

  69. 69.

    Steeplejack (phone)

    My house has nine alternate electors [checks to make sure both frogs are still alive] yes nine. They are all going for Biden except for the super-violent moody rabbit who I think is going for jo jorgensen.

    — AlternativeGroupOfHats (@Popehat) December 14, 2020

  71. 71.

    StringOnAStick

    @danielx: I am so sorry for you and Zoey.  Doing the right thing is so hard and the duty we accept for having such sweet companions.

  73. 73.

    dmsilev

    I think the Post summarizes today nicely:

    Following the gatherings, which will continue throughout the day, Biden plans to address the nation. Trump has planned no public events but continues to tweet grievances about the election, which he claimed Sunday is “under protest.”

  74. 74.

    danielx

    Thanks all. Heading out in a bit so I can be with her (suitably masked) when they give the injection, and then bring her home for burial in her favorite blanket and with her favorite stuffed mouse – which until the last couple of weeks she caught on a daily basis and brought to us with loud meows for suitable praise for her hunting prowess. Crossing the Rainbow Bridge….

  77. 77.

    Nicole

    @danielx: I’m so glad you can be with her at the end.  I think it’s the great gift owners give the animals who are so much to us- that our animal companions can close their eyes, knowing we’re there, right until the end, still doing what is best for them.  I’m so sorry for your loss.  She was lucky to have you for her person.

  81. 81.

    Betty Cracker

    @dmsilev: Wish Le Post had included an estimated time for Biden’s speech. We’re going for a boat ride soon — I’m on the trail of an elusive bird that we recently sighted on the river. But I don’t want to miss the speech!

  87. 87.

    mrmoshpotato

    Via bluegal

    The odds of Trump winning the Electoral College today are about the same as his releasing his tax returns, not lusting after his daughter, or saying something truthful.— Soros-Funded Deep State Operative (@ExGOPer) December 14, 2020

  90. 90.

    J R in WV

    @danielx:

    Sorry to hear of Zoe’s illness. I do know how it is. Last winter I had to take Happy Dog to the Vet ER for that service — she was listless, they found a tumor in her abdomen bleeding out. Suddenly sad.

    Never easy!

    Hang in there. Best wishes from WV…

    ETA: So glad to learn you will be with her, it will help her be calm. That’s all you can do for her now.

  92. 92.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @danielx:

    I’m so very sorry. May Zoey’s journey across the ? Bridge be enlivened by stuffed mice to chase, and may she drink lavishly from the cream that rises to the top of the Milky Way

  93. 93.

    Dan B

    @danielx: Such sad news about your kitty.  Right at this moment the BaBu is right next to me in the chair.  I’m trained to sit in the front of the chair while he gets the back half (2/3).  It’s taken 9 months to nudge him from friendly feral to a kitty who is excited to be with his hoomins.  Are snuggling / napping reflections of our trustworthiness?  Probably so and ‘trust’ is in such short supply these days.  They give us what we need.  It’s no mystery why today is a time for you to be heartbroken.

    We are all sharing it with you.

  98. 98.

    Le Comte de Monte Cristo, fka Edmund Dantes

    @Gin & Tonic:

    Yeah, that was the decision he made after we talked – the good part is that knowing that it’s a readily and easily  subrogable claim, they won’t be stingy so they’ll pay about a 15% premium on the work.

    It’ll cost them a lot more at the end of the day, which I’m fine with.

  99. 99.

    Kattails

    @germy: THESE PEOPLE ARE FUCKING INSANE.  (Channeling Different Church Lady)–driving out today to get my package off to Mom and there was one yard loaded with more Trump signs than before, like “united we stand under Biden we fall”.  I am fantasizing about sneaking back tonight with one straight across from their driveway with a giant fuck your feelings on it.

    When we hit 270 I am pouring myself a drink and will breathe again for the first time in four years.

    PS my mind mis-read Kayleigh McEnany’s name today as “McEnemy”.

  102. 102.

    Jeffro

    Apparently the Nevada GOP electors seems to think that if they ‘cast their votes’, well, then THEY COUNT!

    (except trumpov lost Nevada, so his slate of electors ain’t worth jack/shit)

    This isn’t stopping right wing loons (including Rudy G) from tweeting their ‘victory’ (eyeroll)

    Someone figure out how to bring these people back to reality, stat!

  105. 105.

    Barbara

    The Trump campaign just filed another lawsuit over the use of drop boxes, this time in New Mexico, and is asking the federal court to enjoin New Mexico electors from casting their votes today.

  106. 106.

    Anotherlurker

    @danielx: I am so sorry that you are saying goodby to Zoey. She sounds wonderful!

    As Theodore Geisel aka Dr. Seuss said: “Don’t cry because its over, smile because it happened.”

  110. 110.

    trnc

    @Jeffro:

    This isn’t stopping right wing loons (including Rudy G) from tweeting their ‘victory’ (eyeroll)

    Someone figure out how to bring these people back to reality, stat!

    I like repairing things, but some shit is just too far gone to save so off to the dump it goes.

  111. 111.

    EmbraceYourInnerCrone

    @Dan B: Hmm, several of my kitties have learned the slide in to the back of the chair and slooooowwwwly push the human until she has the 2 inches on the edge to sit on.  Spousal unit used to make fun of me, until he started working from home and found he is supervised by the kittens..

  112. 112.

    Matt McIrvin

    All of the Trump states are in now–I think only Oregon, Hawaii and California are out. No faithless electors so far (I didn’t think there would be any at all).

  116. 116.

    Mike S (Now with a Democratic Congressperson!)

    @Kattails: Good Idea! The closest house to us with Drumpf flags is over a mile away, although there are still a few Drumpf-Dence signs around the corner. As I mentioned in the morning thread, someone stole our Biden-Harris yard sign last night. After 3 months of being untouched. I need to find another one to put out.

  117. 117.

    Cameron

    Horseracing the living shit out of it, Washington Post as of a couple minutes ago has it Biden – 240, Trump – 232.  I’m so excited, I may just watch another episode of Shooter on Netflix.  Or make dinner.  Or go for a walk.  Or call GF.  Or whatever.

  121. 121.

    Matt McIrvin

    @trnc: WA even passed a new law saying they’d instantly replace the votes of anyone who pulled that, and nobody tried to test it.

  122. 122.

    The Dangerman

    Not sure about doing away with the EC. No one would give a shit about swing states or what Rufus T. Jones of Bumblefuck, Iowa (just a jog down the the road from the Cornporn Palace) thinks. Imagine the anarchy!

  124. 124.

    StringOnAStick

    In a few minutes the moving van will arrive with the 99% of our stuff that has been in storage for the last 6+ weeks; sleeping on a bed again is going to be nice.   This period of getting by on much less has us thinking we need to donate a huge amount of this stuff and embrace the idea of living with less, so it’s been an interesting enforced simplicIty.  Of course, unpacking stuff that’s been boxed up, some for months, will be like Christmas in many ways too.

  126. 126.

    jonas

    @Mike in NC:  The long-term goal has to be getting Congress to pass robust voter protection laws and put some teeth back into the Voting Rights Act. Unfortunately the new SCOTUS appears to lean strongly towards letting states do whatever the hell they want and disenfranchising whoever they want regardless of what Congress says (unless it somehow inconveniences Christians, I suppose).

  131. 131.

    Dan B

    @EmbraceYourInnerCrone:  Our little grey one is fearful of laps!?  But snuggled behind on the chair and batting at my leg if I don’t say “foods!” when I’m headed to the kitchen are safe.  It’s endearing to watch them gain confidence.  Grey / BaBu did curl up on my Mike Guy’s lap one evening so maybe in a few years time.

    It’s entertaining and comforting especially since we lost all three of our kittens last year.  One was a traumatizing trip to an emergency vet clinic the day after Christmas.  We were there for four hours waiting to have Oscar put to sleep after they had installed a line.  So many hours holding a terrified kitten was tough.  Having the ability to save a couple from the cold is healing for us.

    LOL for your husband learning about the natural hierarchy of cats and hoomins!

  134. 134.

    hedgehog mobile

    @danielx: I’m so sorry.  No matter how long we have them it’s never long enough.  As others have said you ate doing the loving thing, but it hurts all the same.

  136. 136.

    Searcher

    Honestly a part of me is intensely curious to see how the direct election of electors for a few election cycles would go nowadays, but not so curious as to want people with less privilege than me to have to live with the consequences.

  137. 137.

    Ken

    @dmsilev: So, about one in a quadrillion then?

    I thought it was quintillion.  My favorite mockery of that idiotic claim was the one pointing out that Biden took 100% of the Dixville Notch votes, so mathematically Trump couldn’t have won a single state.

  139. 139.

    cain

    @danielx:

    I know how that goes – my two black velociraptors sleep with me every night – they also co-pilot when I’m working in my office.

    So heart breaking for you – wishing you good thoughts and love to your kitty.

  141. 141.

    Kropacetic

    @The Dangerman: No one would give a shit about swing states or what Rufus T. Jones of Bumblefuck, Iowa (just a jog down the the road from the Cornporn Palace) thinks.

    Likely no more or less true under either scenario, but the status quo makes it way easier to ignore way more voters overall.

  143. 143.

    ByRookorbyCrook

    @WaterGirl: Contractually he must wear the same pants, but can choose his own undergarments. This was renegotiated after the 2018 Election scabies infection in the newsroom.

  147. 147.

    Bnad

    Pleasantly surprised that Michigan managed to cast its votes without any yahoos trying to murder electors.  An old HS classmate / FB friend / 3 percenter was very vocal with gun/ammo posts that made it seem like he was about to take action.

  150. 150.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @The Dangerman:

    Actually, I’ve read that the EC isn’t the real problem, it’s FPTP, winner-take-all voting that’s bad. From this reddit post:

    How to Become President With 22% of the vote

     

    persondotcom_idunno

    *From a CGPGrey video: youtube.com/watch?v=7wC42HgLA4k*
    If you would get 50.1% of the vote of each red-coloured state, 22% of the population of the country, you would become president, even if 78% of the country voted for another person, this is assuming that 49.9% of people in the the red-coloured states voted for the blue party, and 100% of the people in the blue-coloured states voted for the blue party.
    NOTE: The colours dont mean anything

     

    Brookenium

    He’s conflating issues with the electoral college and first past the post voting (Which is so odd because he did a video on FPTP in 2011). These are two entirely separate issues and FPTP is far worse.

    The electoral college could easily be fixed by rebalancing the house of representatives. It hasn’t been done for a while (2010 census) and NY CA, and TX need more reps since their populations have skyrocketed.

    It makes sense in the US, which isn’t a democracy but a (constitutional republic made up of 50 semi-autonomous states) to give a little extra power to the smaller states.

    With FPTP eliminated and states dividing their electoral votes as a result of their individual popular votes, this issue is eliminated entirely. Yes, Whyomingers have slightly more vote per person, but this way their state isn’t ignored both in the election but most importantly when laws are passed.

     

    beatmastermatt

    Does it really make sense to give more power to smaller states anymore? It’s an outdated argument. The country is more nationalized and urbanized than ever. North Dakota residents have much more in common with New York residents compared to any previous point in history. Federalism is usually underwritten only because the federal government foots the bill.

    Brookenium

    It does by the design of our country. We’re united states, each with their own governments. It is important to make sure each state has a voice.

    That being said the vote proportions aren’t that far off, CCP’s video is skewed by using total pop not voting pop. It’s important to make sure rural America isn’t completely forgotten about. They have separate needs and wants from urban/suburban America and the EC does a decent job balancing that. One could argue forever on what balance is best and no one would disagree, so we continue with what we have.

    It’s FPTP which causes these elections to swing to presidents with less of the popular vote. IIRC to date no election would be different with popular vote vs. Electoral College if the states divided their votes by the interstate popular vote or even by representative districts for the house or some other similar system.

    FPTP is crushing the voice of urban areas in Texas and other more generally rural states as well as crushing the voice of rural areas in states with huge population centers such as California and New York.

    FPTP is the real enemy, the EC really doesn’t matter.

    So, what do you all think of this argument/view?

  152. 152.

    Mary G

    @Dan B: Mine were both difficult cases who had spent a long time in the shelter, one returned from a failed adoption and the other “semi-feral.” The first is also grey, and still flinches when I go to pet him and he sees my hand out of the corner of his eye or a broom comes out. He spent a month under my spare bedroom’s furniture when I first got them, then another month sneaking out to eat the bonito flakes the other cat doesn’t care for. Multiple months to be in the same room together.

    Ten years later he jumps up on my lap looking for pets or brushing, sleeps with me, talks loudly all the time, especially when evening snacks are late, tolerates housemates and even let a strange visitor who is a cat whisperer pet him! It’s worth the wait.

  155. 155.

    Mary G

    I think there are a whole bunch of people in the GOP who won’t want to wait for 2028, and I also think people are underestimating how hard and fast Trump and his family are going to fall as soon as they don’t have his presidency to hide behind. We’ll see! t.co/bxsx9GUI27
    — John Scalzi (@scalzi) December 14, 2020

    I mean, assuming he’s not in jail, I’m willing to put down a 2024 marker on Trump running as an independent after he’s frozen out of the GOP, thus dooming the election chances of, oh, let’s say, Ted Cruz. Which honestly would be FUCKING DELIGHTFUL. But I guess we’ll see! t.co/odEgC5MChr
    — John Scalzi (@scalzi) December 14, 2020

  157. 157.

    Kattails

    Also; from Sara Gibbs: “Santa watches you while you sleep. He judges you. He brings you little presents. He creeps into homes that aren’t his and gets fed there.

    Santa is a cat.”  ;-)

    Are we there yet?

  165. 165.

    sdhays

    @Baud: The argument for giving smaller states more power is specious as well. We already have a very strong mechanism for this, known as the United States Senate, or more affectionately as “The World’s Most Useless Deliberative Body”.

    Not to mention that the states themselves are the product of gerrymandering.

  166. 166.

    Joy in FL

    @Kattails: The goat in the duck suit is Polly. She is a special needs goat at Goats of Anarchy.

    Goats of Anarchy is on Instagram and YouTube. There is a children’s book about Polly and her goat suit.

    The founder, Leanne, is a former event planner who adopted two goats and found out that she loves goats, and that rescue organization is her life now. It’s a great place to follow and support.

  169. 169.

    trnc

    @West of the Rockies: I assume Biden will kick each one out on 1/20 with a well-aimed boot to the keister.

    Yeah, I hope he’s got a ton of orders already written out. Maybe as soon as he’s sworn in, he can turn to one of his aides and say, “Implement Operation Fumigate immediately.” And I’m not just talking about some mist in the White House, know what I’m sayin’?

  172. 172.

    sdhays

    @Mary G: This would be great, but I’ve been reading about “the leadership” of the Republican Cult Party rejecting/standing up to/controlling/etc. Dump for nearly a decade now, and the reason he’s their President is that they never, ever did.

    I don’t believe they actually want to shut him out (say things quieter and more politely, occasionally, sure), and I’m pretty sure that if they sincerely do, they don’t know how.

  174. 174.

    Sister Golden Bear

    I felt a great disturbance in the Force, as if millions of MAGAts heads’ suddenly exploded in incomprehension and sputtered “Fake news! Fake news!” I celebrate that something wonderful has happened.

    #BidenHarrisPass27

    #ItsAllOverExceptThePouting

  176. 176.

    leeleeFL

    To quote our Blog Father, who famously said in 2008  “Yes, we fucking did!”. Again!

     

    Democracy rules!

  177. 177.

    Cameron

    In the words of America’s greatest philosopher of eschatology: “Eh-da-eh-da-eh-da-eh-dat’s all, folks!”

  179. 179.

    Kattails

    @Joy in FL: The things you learn on this website! that’s so fun, thanks for the follow up.

    AND CONGRATULATIONS PRESIDENT ELECT BIDEN AND VICE PRESIDENT ELECT KAMALA HARRIS

  181. 181.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @Baud:

    Happy that California got to be the one to put Biden and Harris over the top.

    In a way, I almost wish things could have been jiggled so that Hillary could have cast the 270th vote — but I’m glad Kamala’s home state brought it home!

  183. 183.

    eddie blake

    @Betty Cracker:

    late to the thread, but no. the modern BSG is a giant mess. the three episode miniseries was fantastic, but you could figure out pretty soon that the writers were making it up as they went along and had no fucking clue how to pull off a satisfactory ending.

    the show REALLY starts to fall apart in the later seasons and when they bust out the jimi hendrix, it’s seriously shark-jumping time.

  184. 184.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Baud:

    Yeah, that’s what I thought too. I wouldn’t be surprised to see efforts to change how EC votes are allocated based gerrymandered congressional districts going forward under red governors/legs in swing states.

    Plus, all the talk of “we’re a constitutional republic with 50 semi-autonomous states nota democracy” and “every state needs a voice” kinda reeks of “libertarian/centrist” dudebroism

  186. 186.

    trnc

    @Baud: Happy that California got to be the one to put Biden and Harris over the top.

    “But why should California get to tell Idaho what to do? Huh? Huh? Idaho should get to tell everyone what to do, and California should have to ship their beaches to Idaho! NO FAIR!!!!!!”

  187. 187.

    Dan B

    @trnc: My best friend is working on a campaign by Unions in Montana.  The Republican governor is pushing right to work legislation.  The state had Democratic governors who were a firewall between the legislators and and union laws.  It’s going to be a tough campaign to prevent the gutting of unions.

  193. 193.

    Geminid

    @sdhays: I don’t know about a decade ago, but in 2015-16 it seemed to me that the established republican party leaders really did not want trump, but republican voters did. When the leaders realized they could not stop trump, they went along.                                               As for 2021 and beyond, I think republican party leaders would poison trump if they thought they could get away with it. They want trump’s voters, but trump himself is a disruptive liability.

  194. 194.

    unique uid

    @dmsilev:

    Earlier today, Biden won Georgia for I think the fifth time in six weeks.

    My thinking is Biden should get an extra term for every extra win.  We’re up to about 200 years now, right?   Long may he live!

  195. 195.

    Mary G

    Don’t let the door hit ya on the way out!

    Bill Barr Quits Effective 12/23/20. His resignation letter is a weird love letter to trump. pic.twitter.com/wiUpZgiMQx— Gamora (@exoticgamora) December 14, 2020

    ETA: Twitler must be demanding something that would land him in jail, so he’s out. I wish I thought that whoever is acting is for the 20 days would knock off the executions.

  197. 197.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    Barr’s departure is the latest sign that Trump is getting more batshit crazy by the minute.

    God only knows what additional crazyass bullshit Trump will pull between now and Jan 20th.

  198. 198.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @trnc:

    “But why should California get to tell Idaho what to do? Huh? Huh? Idaho should get to tell everyone what to do, and California should have to ship their beaches to Idaho! NO FAIR!!!!!!”

    If only Lex Luthor’s plan to set off the San Andreas faultline and cause California, Oregon, and Washington state to slide into the Pacific had succeeded, Idaho would have beachfront property! Damn you Superman! I always knew he was a libturd ?

  201. 201.

    sdhays

    @Baud: If Oracle, Tesla, etc. were moving to Wyoming and Montana instead of Texas, it could happen by 2024. But I guess there are reasons that’s not happening.

  203. 203.

    TS (the original)

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    trump has posted the resignation letter on his twitter. As usual no “real” announcement.  It will be wonderful to have a President who doesn’t use twitter to run the country.

    Barr was fired because he didn’t find the voter fraud to give the election to trump. There can be no other reason. And how stupid 5 weeks before President Biden takes office.

  206. 206.

    mrmoshpotato

    @Mary G:

    Get ready for Acting Attorney General Rudy Giuliani rushing through indictments of everyone Trump hates. (Illegal in all sorts of ways, but when has that stopped them?)— Kurt "Masks Save Lives" Eichenwald (@kurteichenwald) December 14, 2020

  217. 217.

    sdhays

    @mrmoshpotato: LOL. And get ready for prosecutors explaining to judges that, no, they’re not actually alleging any crimes were committed by these “indictments”, just that it would be horrible if was true and someone should really look into it.

  219. 219.

    Matt McIrvin

    @Baud: The Democrats have some small states. Delaware, Vermont, New Hampshire (most of the time these days), Hawaii, Rhode Island, all quite small.

    The small-state bonus isn’t our big problem with the EC. It’s that among the big states, the blue ones are bluer than the red ones are red, so more of our votes are “wasted” by being over the 50 percent threshold. The great thing would be to flip just one of those big red states.

  220. 220.

    Wyatt Salamanca

    @TS (the original):

    It will be wonderful to have a President who doesn’t use twitter to run the country.

    It will be great to have a President with an attention span longer than that of an infant.

    Melania or Ivanka needs to give this fucking lunatic a diaper change and a pacifier.

  221. 221.

    Mary G

    The letter is creepy. Could’ve been written by any MAGAt who could spell. Like an Elvis fan writing to their King.

  222. 222.

    TS (the original)

    And, of course, trump wants to distract from the reality of LOSING the EC. The media is now talking about trump, Bill Barr and Hunter Biden. But of course they are …

  223. 223.

    Jim, Foolish Literalist

    Robert Costa saying on MSNBC that his sources tell him trump wants an independent counsel to investigate the Biden family.

  229. 229.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @burnspbesq:

    Ha! I just learned that word earlier today (as far as I can discern, it basically means “You’re out of time, motherfucker!” but IANAL).

    Please, how is “laches” pronounced? I’m torn between Scottish, Jewish, or Ignorant.

  230. 230.

    bluehill

    When the time is right, the new DoJ needs to look into what Barr did during his term (along with everyone else in the administration). Resigned or fired, I think Barr wanted to get out before the ship went under.

  233. 233.

    TS (the original)

    @Mallard Filmore:

    And there it is. We are not allowed the celebrate Biden winning the EC. It is way past time that the media stops trump & the republicans gaining 99% of the media to spread their propaganda. I’m watching that bastion of liberal broadcasters MSNBC and it is 100% Barr &  Hunter Biden.

  238. 238.

    Goku (aka Amerikan Baka)

    @Baud:

    Ditto. Though, I wonder if once Manchin and Brown retire/die those Senate seats will be lost forever

  239. 239.

    Dan B

    @Mary G: Thanks for a heartwarming story about persevering with kindness to cats who have suffered through times.  It’s an analogy to what us democracy lovers and empathy are going to need to recover from 4 years of Trump and 8 years of W.

    I’ve got a large reserve of patience with Jackals who freak out.  It could have bern me if the anti-LGBTQ Trumpers got to advance their plans.  What has been done to immigrants, black men, trans, and Muslims is frightening.  Then again there us a Supreme Court majority that wants to enshrine “religious rights bigotry” in America.

  241. 241.

    debbie

    @debbie:

    On second thought, I’d rather an unredacted Mueller Report be released on 1/21/21. They can start the investigation on 1/22/21.

  244. 244.

    mrmoshpotato

    @sdhays:

    Judges: What is your legal complaint?  This ummm….indictment?, that you scrawled on a napkin, just says “WWWWAAAAAAHHHHH!!!!!! god emperor Trump should’ve won!!!!”

  246. 246.

    Uncle Cosmo

    @Geminid: I think know republican party leaders would poison trump if they thought they could get away with frame a Democrat for doing it.

    FTFY. I’m somewhat surprised the Thugs haven’t already found a POC with a mortal grievance against Trumplthinskin and, mmm, slid him into POTUS’s presence with deadly force he knows how to use. (Who knows – maybe they tried, but the Secret Service refused to be compromised.)

  247. 247.

    cain

    @schrodingers_cat:

    @cain: DDLJ has great music just like most YRF movies but I hate that movie with a hatred of a 1000 suns, the values it preaches are so retrograde and archaic.

    I must have watched like about 4 movies of the 90s. For some reason I just didn’t want the songs ruined by watching the movies :D My favorite 90s movie is Dil Chahta Hai.

  248. 248.

    Dan B

    @schrodingers_cat: No sock puppets here.  I can barely manage myself.

    BTW I designed and installed a Gayatri Mantra path at a favorite client’s home.  It’s Travertine marble sanskrit letters inserted into Pennsylvania Bluestone, approximate 15 feet by 3 feet.  And there are many other features in their garden that represent their country of origin, in the country that is their home.  I should unearth the photos that are stored in a defunct computer.

  253. 253.

    burnspbesq

    @raven:

    It wasn’t always in Salem. I went to one in King’s Island, OH, in which my alma mater got screwed out of a championship-winning last-minute TD on an egregiously bad call.

  255. 255.

    schrodingers_cat

    @Dan B: Interesting, that would be interesting to see. Bnad didn’t sound like you but he has same name hence my guess

  259. 259.

    UncleEbeneezer

    @Betty Cracker: The first two seasons were absolutely amazing.  After that something happened that distracted us (other series’, or we lost access or something) and we never went back because my wife had already watched the whole series and really hated the ending.  But I’ve always wanted to back and start it up again.

  261. 261.

    Dan B

    @schrodingers_cat:  My feeling is the Gayatri Mantra path is not the most evocative feature of the garden but the totality of the features is wonderful.  And the process of things like unpacking a container of treasures and surprises from India.  It was all these landscape grunts who were very excited to be part of the experience, and the contractor who assembled the huge teak pavilion structure, with zero plans, in their shop and then hand carried it down the hillside to reassemble it on site.

    These clients have had friends and family to visit who can’t completely process a garden that is a hybrid American / Indian landscape.  It’s a reflection of the ideal of America – a melting pot.

    I’ll try to get the photos transferred and off to Watergirl.  She’s seen a waterfeature from this garden with Kousa Dogwoods – the trees she was curious about.

  263. 263.

    Sister Golden Bear

    @UncleEbeneezer: The main problem with BSG’s ending is that they didn’t spend enough build-up time to sell it. (A not uncommon problem with series endings. <cough, GOT, cough>. I.e. the decisions made were plausible, but we didn’t see why the characters were willing to make those decision.

    Actually kind of similar to GOT’s problematic ending. GOT wasn’t necessary unbelievable given a proper script, but the story shortcut the steps to make it believable (i.e. a certain character’s messianic tendencies leading to despotism).

  265. 265.

    eddie blake

    @UncleEbeneezer:

    it just went sideways. the ending of that show was a jumbo jet crashing into an oil train, and smashing into a dumpster-covered mountain.

    in fairness, the MIDDLE of BSG wasn’t well-thought out EITHER, but it wasn’t as ABSURD as the ending.

  266. 266.

    eddie blake

    @Sister Golden Bear:

    i don’t agree. there were SO may points that just SHATTERED the suspension of disbelief.

    (as to not ruin the experience of the people who haven’t watched it, not gonna spoil any of them, but oy.)

    it was no babylon 5, with a clearly-crafted story bible featuring a season by season timeline written in advance. dunno where i read it, but the showrunners admitted they didn’t know what they were doing and were making it up as they went along.

    eta- ps- saw your article waay late when the thread was dead. just wanted to say it was quite moving and beautifully written.

  267. 267.

    Geminid

    @Dan B: I worked for a masonry contractor who once sent me on a bluestone run to Pennsylvania when his regular driver had child care duties. It’s quarried in a valley north of Allentown that runs into New York state. There were many small stone yards. I heard that it’s quarried by tapping a row of wedges- old truck leaf springs cut in half- into the side of an outcrop until a big sheet pops off.   The New York Times had an article about bluestone about 2007. The article said that in the latter half of the 19th century a lot of New York City sidewalks were paved with bluestone. Bluestone contracts were a big source of boodle for Tammany Hall.

  268. 268.

    Dan B

    @Geminid: The town where I did most of my growing up in NE Ohio, where Sab has a rental house, had Bluestone sidewalks.  They were cracking and heaving – frost does that.  They tore them out.  My father hauled several tons to our house for a big terrace.  I didn’t recognize Bluestone as the same material because what we had in Ohio was so smooth.

    When we set the Travertine lettering into the Bluestone for the Gayatri Mantra path we had to break the Travertine words to fit the irregular contours of the Bluestone otherwise parts would be sunken and fill with dirt and other parts would stick up and get chopped or been trip hazards.

  269. 269.

    Geminid

     

     

    @Dan B: cleft bluestone isn’t always in plane. Larger pieces like 3-6′ wall caps and stair treads are ground true and then thermally treated to have a uniform granular surface. But the cleft bluestone has it’s own beauty. I hope you can get pictures put up of the installation you describe. I’d love to see it.

  270. 270.

    Mary Ellen Sandahl

    @danielx:I’m very sorry – my sleeping buddy is elderly, too. Sympathies for you both. It’s hard to have to do the right thing.

  271. 271.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @danielx:

    I’m so sorry to hear this. I have a nine year old sleeping buddy, losing one to cancer sucks. This is the suck part of being responsible for our furry family members but it’s what we have to do for them.

    Best wishes to your kitty and you.

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