Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

Republicans do not pay their debts.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

So cool that a Black prosecutor nailed his ass.

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

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

A lot of Dems talk about what the media tells them to talk about. Not helpful.

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

So many bastards, so little time.

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

This isn’t Democrats spending madly. This is government catching up.

Battle won, war still ongoing.

It’s a new day. Light all those Biden polls of young people on fire and throw away the ashes.

FFS people, this was a good thing. take the win.

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

I know this must be bad for Joe Biden, I just don’t know how.

if you can’t see it, then you are useless in the fight to stop it.

This must be what justice looks like, not vengeful, just peaceful exuberance.

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

Shut up, hissy kitty!

Consistently wrong since 2002

Bogus polls are all they’ve got left. Let’s bury these fuckers at the polls a year from now.

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GOP Venality Open Thread: Trying to Kill the Hostages

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You’d think the GOP would have some respect for their own political futures, if not for their constituents, but apparently their fealty to Dear Leader trumps all. From the Washington Post:

President Trump on Saturday continued to demand changes to the $900 billion stimulus deal that Democrats and Republicans approved on Dec. 21, raising the odds that the government could shut down on Tuesday and the economy could suffer a devastating shock in the final days of his presidency…

The president’s denunciation of the agreement represented a stunning public broadside against his own treasury secretary, who for four years loyally shielded the president’s tax returns, endured repeated presidential tirades in private, and defended even Trump’s most incendiary and contradictory remarks. Through it all, Mnuchin had emerged with the unique ability to walk a tightrope between Trump and congressional leaders, serving as an emissary in difficult negotiations. That all ended on Tuesday, when Trump posted a video on Twitter ridiculing the agreement…

One day before Trump’s video was released, Mnuchin called the relief package “fabulous” in an interview with CNBC. Mnuchin stressed that the administration would send payments of as much as $2,400 to millions of American households as early as this week. It would have amounted to one of the largest federal cash payment transfers in history outside the Cares Act in March.

Instead, Trump decided to risk torpedoing the effort while raging against congressional Republicans on Twitter for not supporting his effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump has also expressed anger at congressional Democrats for not agreeing to a stimulus package before the presidential election…

President-elect Joe Biden on Saturday slammed Trump for refusing to sign the agreement into law.

“It is the day after Christmas, and millions of families don’t know if they’ll be able to make ends meet because of President Donald Trump’s refusal to sign an economic relief bill approved by Congress with an overwhelming and bipartisan majority,” Biden said in a statement. “This abdication of responsibility has devastating consequences.”…

Not feeling any sympathy for Steve Mnuchin, me. Smart, well-connected money guy like him, he knew exactly what he’d get from the Oval Office Occupant, no matter how sycophantic one’s service. Hope the selfies were worth it, Mnuch!

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Let’s Talk Poultry

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Clearly we need more thread. Also, while I’ve sucked as a regular poster here for quite some time, I am, of course, the resident roast chicken obsessive, so as a way of overcoming my COVID-induced poster’s-block and in serving the jackaltariat, here’s a recently added recipe to the repertory that I can recommend without reservation.

My only edits are to add a tablespoon, more or less of Ricard (or any other anise-flavored digestif) and maybe a teaspoon or so of ground fennel, to kick up that flavor a bit. And I can emphasize the need to spread out the onions to get that richly caramelized effect. In our household, there are only two customers for this dish, so we usually cut the recipe in half or three quarters, and that works just fine. It’s really fast, really easy, and because of the tarragon/fennel combo, tastes very chic indeed, thank you very much.

Other than that? Like some here, I think, I’ve been spending most of my energy fighting off (or trying to) both targeted and free-floating dread, which is why I’ve been mostly absent. But yes: the world is better today than it was before 11/3–and even if the forces of darkness remain, and remain powerful, we’ve landed some shots. Which is, as they say of such things, a good start. (Note my careful tiptoeing around insulting the lawyers here. ;_)

So here’s looking for a much better 2021…and in anticipation of that consummation devoutly to be wished, here’s a little Tikka and Champ action to help the mood to the turn of the year:

First, one taken just a couple of minutes ago.  I am a man rich in cats:

Let's Talk Poultry

Next, how mountaineers are made.

Let's Talk Poultry 2

Let's Talk Poultry 3

Let's Talk Poultry 4

Finally, here’s a portrait, to prove that I really suck at those “some assembly required” holiday gifts:

Let's Talk Poultry 5

Here’s to better days, and the animals who help us get to them.

Open thread.

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Saturday Morning Open Thread: Back to the Countdown

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Saturday Morning Open Thread: Back to the Countdown

(Arlo and Janis via GoComics.com)

ICYMI:

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COVID-19 Coronavirus Updates: Friday/Saturday, Dec. 25-26

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Merry Christmas Everyone!

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I slept until noon today (technically- Steve woke me up at 6 am for breakfast) but I promptly fell back asleep. Had some eggs, scrapple, and fried green tomatoes for breakfast, made a light lunch of a salad, and then had a ribeye, smashed potatoes, corn, sliced tomatoes, and a nice big glass of milk for dessert.

In between I watched the Stand, some other garbage, played a little WoW, and all in all it was a pretty damned good day.

I have noticed that during lockdown, my need for interaction has dropped even more than where it was before. I literally could go days without even talking to someone on the phone anymore. That’s probably not good.

At any rate, Merry Christmas to you all. I’m ready for a new year, new President, new everything.

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Ghosts of Holidays Past: Mix & Match Edition

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Barney S. contributed this photo of his beloved friend, the Rare Montana Spotted Reindeer.

Ghosts of Holidays Past: Day 1
What a great pup, gone but most definitely not forgotten!

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Joy in FL shares this memory of a very special Christmas.

Ghosts of Holidays Past: Day 1 1
This is me with my new best friend. I had asked my parents for a Siamese cat because of the Disney movie The Incredible Journey. I was so happy to have him. I named him Tao after the cat in that movie. He was so good to me and such a friend for all his long life of 18 years.

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Hebe shared this happy family photo.  Well, at least the adults are happy!  The kids would probably rather be playing. :-)

Ghosts of Holidays Past: Pets Edition
We would all watch White Christmas and sing, “We’ll follow the old man wherever he wants to go……” and everyone used to fit in our red vests. This must have been Christmas 1994. I am in the middle with my son on my lap. My parents and brother in law (back row, right) are gone, now.

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way2blue shares a few photos of their cats enjoying the Christmas festivities and treats.

On The Road - way2blue - CHRISTMAS, CAT EDITION 7
Skeeter wondering what’s up…

On The Road - way2blue - CHRISTMAS, CAT EDITION 6
Skeeter now hiding in the wrappings…

On The Road - way2blue - CHRISTMAS, CAT EDITION 4
Skeeter and her brother Misha…

On The Road - way2blue - CHRISTMAS, CAT EDITION 2
Misha loves his catnip…

On The Road - way2blue - CHRISTMAS, CAT EDITION 1
Nap time!

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Here are a couple of pics from Dan B.

Ghosts of Holidays Past: Mix & Match Edition 1
One from 1955 – notice the curtains, or, avert your gaze.  They were weird murky, dark green, and lots of other colors, none of them pretty.  My brother, mother, Grammy, and a couple cousins are in the photo.  I’m not sure I am.

And because it’s Balloon Juice After Dark, here’s a little extra something from Dan B.

Ghosts of Holidays Past: Mix & Match Edition
This picture is what happens when gay boys who have found refuge far from their disapproving families find they don’t have a steady anchor.  Motto: Survive the Holidays, a wonderful boring future awaits, with crazy photos at the bottom of boxes of the box.

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Merry Christmas, everyone!

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Xmas Leftovers Open Thread: Random Snippets

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This is a household that absolutely, positively does not include cats. Or dogs. Or, for that matter, children…

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