Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

If West Virginia and San Francisco had a love child.

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

It’s all just conspiracy shit beamed down from the mothership.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

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

Putting aside our relentless self-interest because the moral imperative is crystal clear.

We won’t go back.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

“Jesus paying for the sins of everyone is an insult to those who paid for their own sins.”

Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.

A consequence of cucumbers

Optimism opens the door to great things.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

Come on, media. you have one job. start doing it.

After dobbs, women are no longer free.

Red lights blinking on democracy’s dashboard

Republicans can’t even be trusted with their own money.

Nikki Haley, who can’t acknowledge ‘slavery’, is a pathetic shill.

Days Since JD Vance Insulted Women Across America: Zero

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

We are aware of all internet traditions.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

I’m sure you banged some questionable people yourself. We’re allowed to grow past that.

Make the republican party small enough to drown in a bathtub.

You are here: Home / John Cole Presents "Stories from the Road" / Friday Night Open Thread

Reader Interactions

104Comments

  1. 1.

    The Kropenhagen Interpretation

    What is that dastardly Supreme Inquisition going to foist on us this time?

  3. 3.

    piratedan

    I see that SCOTUS is answering the call of their owner, let see if he’s pleased with their service.

  5. 5.

    bbleh

    So northern WV resident here, and not to be TOO much of a downer, but I’m JUST getting over an upper respiratory / sinus thing I’ve had for MONTHS, which sounds very much like what you’ve described in posts over the past several days, and which according to similar accounts from other folks that correspond uncomfortably closely to my own likely started viral and then became bacterial and basically PERSISTED, and which caused all sorts of immunological difficulties including fatigue and RA-like symptoms as well as the usual disgusting respiratory stuff, and if I’ve not made it clear already which totally SUCKED!!

    I didn’t have it checked out at first because it wasn’t COVID and it seemed fairly routine.  I now regret that decision.  I suggest you go see some kinda doc, get swabbed and scraped, and in the meantime drink TONS of water and get lots of extra rest.

  6. 6.

    SpaceUnit

    As much as I love my home state of Colorado for attempting to kick TFG off the ballot, I’m not sure if it’s truly in the country’s best interest to see the move upheld.  If it is, every GOP dominated state will declare Democratic candidates seditionists and insurrectionists for the most ridiculous of reasons and kick them off ballots from now until the end of time.  And the current SC will have their asses covered.

    Just something to consider.

  7. 7.

    Ohio Mom

    Cole, I wish you would consult with an ENT about why your sinuses malfunction so frequently. Maybe there is something that can be done that hasn’t occurred to your primary care doctor.

    When it comes to taking care of our bodies, it helps to be a squeaky wheel.

  8. 8.

    Citizen Alan

    @SpaceUnit:  My fear is just the opposite. If Shitgibbon is kicked off of any blue state ballots, I feel sure a GOP House will refuse to count any electoral votes  from those states.

  9. 9.

    Suzanne

    Called it!

    Your sinuses are freaking out because they’re not used to the dust and mold spores. If you decide to make the desert lifestyle a regular thing, you should go see Dr. McKenna, who is cool as hell.

  12. 12.

    Mel

    @Ohio Mom:

    Absolutely agree. My frequent sinus infections turned out to be caused by a huge bone spur that had grown and partially obstructed my sinus and pushed my septum over enough to partially block the other sinus.

    It was far enough back that my internist couldn’t see it, but she knew something was really wrong b/c of the constant discomfort and infections, and she sent me to an ENT.

    When the ENT went in with the long, lighted scope – wow!

  14. 14.

    Another Scott

    Azelastine HCl/Astepro is available OTC now. Might be worth a try. It really helped me (reduces sinus swelling so they can drain better).

    Good luck. Feel better.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  15. 15.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Mel: Huh, now you’re makin’ *me* wonder about my sinuses.  I’ve always (like, entire adult life) had what I call “prenasal drip”.  Basically, I seem to produce way more snot out my nostrils than anybody else I know.  And esp. out the right nostril.  Esp.  Esp.  I don’t get any more sinus infections than the average bear, so I’ve never bothered to ask a doc about it.  But now I wonder if there’s something odd goin’ on.  I go thru Kleenex (ok, Puffs) like nobody’s business.

  19. 19.

    Leto

    @HumboldtBlue: honestly if they had put in more benches it would’ve been fine. It’s similar to mall/department store shopping. Men of our age group have trained for this our entire lives :p

  20. 20.

    Frankensteinbeck

    @piratedan:

    I see that SCOTUS is answering the call of their owner

    If you mean Trump, SCOTUS A) would take this case no matter who was involved, because ‘whether a president can be kept off by ballot by the 14th amendment’ is exactly the kind of giant question that’s their job, and B) Trump doesn’t own them.  Thank goodness.  They’ve given him the middle finger more than once.  They laughed off his election denialism.  They may be partisan hacks, but they’re not Trump hacks.  To put it another way, they’ve got their lifetime appointment and they don’t need Trump for shit anymore.

  21. 21.

    NotMax

    @Citizen Alan

    Cannot be refused by unilateral action. Longish excerpt from 3 U.S. Code § 15.
    Procedure at Joint Session Generally.—
    (1) In general.—The President of the Senate shall—

    (A) open the certificates and papers purporting to be certificates of the votes of electors appointed pursuant to a certificate of ascertainment of appointment of electors issued pursuant to section 5, in the alphabetical order of the States, beginning with the letter A; and

    (B) upon opening any certificate, hand the certificate and any accompanying papers to the tellers, who shall read the same in the presence and hearing of the two Houses.

    (2) Action on certificate.—
    (A) In general.—

    Upon the reading of each certificate or paper, the President of the Senate shall call for objections, if any.
    (B) Requirements for objections or questions.—

    (i) Objections.—No objection or other question arising in the matter shall be in order unless the objection or question—

    (I) is made in writing;

    (II) is signed by at least one-fifth of the Senators duly chosen and sworn and one-fifth of the Members of the House of Representatives duly chosen and sworn; and

    (III) in the case of an objection, states clearly and concisely, without argument, one of the grounds listed under clause (ii).

    (ii) Grounds for objections.—The only grounds for objections shall be as follows:

    (I) The electors of the State were not lawfully certified under a certificate of ascertainment of appointment of electors according to section 5(a)(1).

    (II) The vote of one or more electors has not been regularly given.

    (C) Consideration of objections and questions.—
    (i) In general.—

    When all objections so made to any vote or paper from a State, or other question arising in the matter, shall have been received and read, the Senate shall thereupon withdraw, and such objections and questions shall be submitted to the Senate for its decision; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall, in like manner, submit such objections and questions to the House of Representatives for its decision.

    (ii) Determination.—

    No objection or any other question arising in the matter may be sustained unless such objection or question is sustained by separate concurring votes of each House.

    (D) Reconvening.—

    When the two Houses have voted, they shall immediately again meet, and the presiding officer shall then announce the decision of the questions submitted. No vote or paper from any other State shall be acted upon until the objections previously made to any vote or paper from any State, and other questions arising in the matter, shall have been finally disposed of. Source

  26. 26.

    HumboldtBlue

    Huh, this looks interesting:

    An immersive documentary built entirely out of the unedited videos of the people who were at the Mall and the Capitol on 1/6/2021.

    All of the unedited videos collected here were taken from ProPublica’s archive “What Parler Saw During the Attack on the Capitol”: https://projects.propublica.org/parle…

    They were shared publicly on the social media app Parler on January the 6th, 2021.

    More information on their history and publication can be found here: https://www.propublica.org/article/wh…

    These videos contain numerous dubious, convoluted, contradictory and false claims concerning both the 2020 U.S. Presidential election and the events of the day itself. Their presentation here is not intended as an endorsement of any of these claims. They are collected here as primary source documents of a significant and hotly contested historical event. They are presented in chronological order.

  27. 27.

    jimmiraybob

    @Frankensteinbeck: ​  “…whether a president can be kept off by ballot by the 14th amendment’ is exactly the kind of giant question that’s their job…”

    I don’t know why there isn’t more discussion of 18 U.S. Code § 2383 – Rebellion or insurrection in conjunction with the A14 Sec 3 .

    “Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.”

    It seems clarifying.

  29. 29.

    SpaceUnit

    @NotMax:

    Wish your post made me feel better but there’s actually a lot of room for ratfucking in that language, especially considering the current GOP and its complicit Supreme Court.

    We need to flat-out murder them at the voting booths.

  30. 30.

    Yutsano

    I actually don’t envy them. If they remove Dolt45 from the ballot all across the country there will be political violence like we haven’t seen in this country.

    They allow him to stay on the ballot it pretty much makes the President of the United States a dictator. Not even impeachment would apply to him or her. After all, if they’re not an officer of the Constitution in one part precedent would say that it shouldn’t apply in the other 12 instances where “officer” is mentioned in the Constitution. No matter what, it’s going to be a bonkers decision.

  31. 31.

    Matt McIrvin

    I figure they’ll almost certainly rule that they can’t keep him off the ballot, but the question is precisely HOW they rule that.

    If they just say that he can’t be excluded unless/until he has a criminal conviction for supporting an insurrection… I’m almost kinda going to be happy with that. It might even be the right result.

  32. 32.

    Yutsano

    Now for where I’ve been: greetings from Providence Hospital in beautiful Everett, Washington! It looks like I have an infection in my bladder and kidneys.  I’ll keep y’all posted about what’s happening since I’m in a bit of a holding pattern right now.

  37. 37.

    Jackie

    @Yutsano: That happens when you desert the dessert for the West Side!

    All kidding aside, I hope you get better SOONEST! It sucks to be hospitalized anytime, but especially just after starting a new job.

  38. 38.

    wjca

    @Citizen Alan: If Shitgibbon is kicked off of any blue state ballots, I feel sure a GOP House will refuse to count any electoral votes  from those states.

    For the moment, the question is only whether he should be on the primary ballot.  So it would be a matter of the Republicans at the nominating convention deciding how to deal with those delegates.

    What gets decided for the general election ballot will be a whole new and different can of worms.

  42. 42.

    Martin

    @Yutsano: And if Trump loses handily, they won’t? If there is going to be political violence it’s because they want political violence and will retcon a reason for it. Ignoring the constitution is not the remedy, upholding it is.

  43. 43.

    TriassicSands

    I see the Supreme Court has opened up a door to a great deal of fuckery in the new term. Should be very helpful for Democrats in an election year. — John Cole

    It would be a lot more help if more voters paid attention to SCOTUS decisions that don’t directly affect them personally. And even some of the ones that affect everyone personally, like turning assault rifle toting crazy people loose on the entire country, don’t result in massive turnout for Democrats. It it did, there would be Democratic majorities in both Houses. The attitude that there is nothing we can do is too pervasive.
    John, you should take a look at recumbent trikes. There are a number of them on Amazon for under $500. Amazon was simply the easiest place to find them quickly.​

  45. 45.

    Chetan Murthy

    @Sanjeevs: Oh, interesting.  I googled: so it’s not dangerous unless it blocks the nose, and …. so far it hasn’t done that.  So I guess I’ll just keep on keepin’ on.  It isn’t really severe, after all.

  46. 46.

    Chetan Murthy

    @TriassicSands: I feel like I have to ask: I once bought a brand-new mountain bike (early noughties) for, like, $1500.  Got stolen.  From then on, I only bought used bikes off Craigslist, and I’ve had excellent luck with those.  I’d think that if you can find a recumbent trike on AMZN for <$500, one should be able to find ’em used on CL for …. half of that?

    Am I missing something?

  48. 48.

    Danielx

    @Frankensteinbeck:

    Which he does not understand at all, at all. He figures he got three of them their jobs, he owns them for life since it’s a lifetime appointment. Transactional, you know, one hand washes the other and all that good Mafia-style shit. What he doesn’t get is while none of them is under any illusions that they will be remembered as the next William O. Douglas, none of them want to be remembered as the next Roger B. Taney either.

    Or it could be as simple as “you are not the boss of me!”. Whatever works…I hope.

  50. 50.

    wjca

    @Danielx: What he doesn’t get is while none of them is under any illusions that they will be remembered as the next William O. Douglas, none of them want to be remembered as the next Roger B. Taney either.

    What he actually doesn’t get is that, if their view of reciprocal loyalty is the same as his (i.e. there’s no such thing), there’s not a damn thing he can do about it.  OK, he could incite his cultists to go after them personally.  But the success rate on that is limited at best — last I looked, Mike Pence still hasn’t been hung.

    And, if he did take out one of the hacks for “disloyalty,” well that’s one more vacancy for a reelected Joe Biden to fill.  Which note doubtless means I’m a bad person.  (Would it be less bad if I specified the rapist?)

  51. 51.

    Mike in NC

    Went to COSTCO yesterday. We don’t eat a lot of lobster, but I was in the mood. Got a package of four lobster tails and when the wife opened it up, there were actually five tails there. So much for Quality Control. They were small but delicious.

  53. 53.

    TriassicSands

    @Frankensteinbeck: ​
      “…whether a president can be kept off by ballot by the 14th amendment’ is exactly the kind of giant question that’s their job…”

    There is a very interesting column by Gerard N. Magliocca,* which disagrees with that conclusion. Based on his extensive research, he has concluded that the Supreme Court actually has no jurisdiction concerning this question, which, according to him, can only legitimately be decided by Congress giving Trump amnesty. It’s worth reading his column, because it makes considerable sense. I don’t believe it will have any effect on the Supreme Court, at all.

    Admittedly, sound reasoning is not going to prevent the high court from getting involved, but it would be a positive development if a lot more insightful thought and commentary went into questions like this, rather than the more typical knee-jerk responses we see from pundits and “experts.” I’m not including your comment in the knee-jerk responses, but it does seem to me that it is the result of a widespread assumption that the SCOTUS gets the final say concerning all constitutional questions.

    You may not agree with Magliocca’s conclusions, but I think it would still be worth your considering what he has to offer.

    The column is in the N.Y. Times, if B-Jers can overcome their abhorrence of that publication. Since it is a “guest column,” Magliocca doesn’t work for the Times, and he has simply chosen to submit his opinion to the paper that is likely to get the widest reading audience.

    *Mr. Magliocca has researched Section 3 of the 14th Amendment extensively and is the author of two legal papers on the provision.

  55. 55.

    piratedan

    @wjca: I was making the implication that while Trump may have been the mechanism to get the justices in place, they don’t owe any loyalty to him per se, more so that they owe their positions to their sponsors who got them in front of Trump to get picked.  The part that is unspoken by much of anybody is that if Trump goes full fascist (as he has promised to do) then he doesn’t need a SCOTUS anymore and these people could be put in prison or up against the wall just like anybody else… after all, who’s to stop him if they’ve made him a dictator?

  57. 57.

    Trivia Man

    @HumboldtBlue: Maybe it can answer a big question- where did the gallows come from? Who put it up? For as much screen time that rope gets, i have seen very few angles of it and i have no idea how long it was up.

    It MUST feature prominently in many home movies, surely one of them caught someone carrying lumber.

  58. 58.

    TriassicSands

    @Danielx: ​
     …none of them want to be remembered as the next Roger B. Taney either.

    You’re probably right, but it isn’t entirely impossible that Roger B. Taney is a hero to some of them. I wouldn’t be completely shocked if some of them have little private shrines to Taney. I mean, for a White Supremacist, what’s not to like about the Dred Scott decision?

    (Only slightly tongue-in-cheek.)

  59. 59.

    Ken

    @Martin: political violence will only happen once they get their marching orders.  This might be how the GOP elites just get rid of Trump after November.  All Harlan crow has to do is tell Ginni to sit down and keep her mouth shut.

  62. 62.

    RaflW

    Maybe this got picked up along the way today (I’ve been in and out around here this aft/eve) but along the Repubs in Disarray theme: U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn [CO-05 – Colorado Springs area] says he won’t seek reelection, giving all three of Colorado’s GOP-held seats open races.

    Even with their ‘red’ PVIs, this is going to cost the GOP money to sort out. X3. So sad!

  64. 64.

    mrmoshpotato

    WTF Marquee Sports Network?  Why would you show a game that the Cubs lose?  (’79 Phillies-Cubs 23-22 game)

  68. 68.

    Joey Maloney

    @SpaceUnit: I totally do not buy this general line of argument that “Democrats daren’t do [rule of law X], because then Republicans will do fuckery([rule of law X])”.

    First of all, the current GOP will do, is doing that fuckery already. I mean they’re currently trying to gin up an impeachment with not even a blowjob to go on.

    Second of all, that argument boils down to we daren’t enforce the Constitution or the insurrectionists will trigger a Constitutional crisis. If that’s where we’re at, surprise, that’s already a Constitutional crisis.

    Which, by the way, in my opinion we’ve been in the middle of one anyway since the Brooks Brothers riot and Bush v Gore in 2000.

  69. 69.

    TriassicSands

    @Joey Maloney: Second of all, that argument boils down to we daren’t enforce the Constitution or the insurrectionists will trigger a Constitutional crisis. If that’s where we’re at, surprise, that’s already a Constitutional crisis.

    This is maddening. We can’t do the right thing, because doing the right thing might cause people who virtually never do the right thing to do the wrong thing. I don’t know if the word “virtually” is necessary in the previous sentence.
    When people are that afraid of something, that something is well on the way to winning. See the Republican Party and their abject fear of Donald J. Trump or more accurately, his voters, who are not afraid of him and will abandon him if he starts behaving like a sane person with decent values and says things with which they disagree. They’ve booed him already for minor “heresy.”  He won’t make that mistake again. The voters are actually the dog that wags both Trump and Republican Party. Trump can get them to do his bidding as long as it is deranged enough and, they hope, involves threats and violence. Racism helps, too.
    Trump, Dr. Frankenstein, created the monster, but the monster, though brain-dead, has a mind of its own.​

  71. 71.

    wjca

    @TriassicSands: This is maddening. We can’t do the right thing, because doing the right thing might cause people who virtually never do the right thing to do the wrong thing.

    Except the real choice is a) do the right thing, fully expecting the wrong thing in response: rioting, serious violence, etc.  Or, b) avoid doing the right thing, and let back into power those who will then feel free to riot, direct serious violence to everyone, etc.  To everyone, not excluding those who helped put them in power.

    Pretty obviously, b) is a far worse option.  Unless you are under the delusion that you (and those you care about, if any) couldn’t possibly be targets.  News flash: you damn well could be.  Maybe not the very first targets, but sooner rather than later.

  73. 73.

    Sister Golden Bear

    @Matt McIrvin: lt’s probably because I’m grumpy from 5 hours in the road and another hour plus once the car finishes charging… but I’ve been considering the ways the SCOTUS punts on this.

    If enough justices lean on Thomas to recuse, and Roberts writes a “more in sorrow than anger concurrence with the three liberal judges—being careful to couch it in some narrow legalistic pretzel logic—then we’ve a 4-4 tie.

    And since the decision comes after Colorado’s ballot is printed… well then, we’ll just have to keep the status quo, won’t we.

  74. 74.

    Odie Hugh Manatee

    @Yutsano:

    I hope you get out of that holding pattern and make a healthy landing real soon! What a way to start the new year…

    Best wishes for a speedy recovery!!

  75. 75.

    NotMax

    @Yutsano

    Oh my. Hoping at least you’re able to snatch some snoozing time.

    “Wake up, sir. It’s time for your sleeping pill.”

  80. 80.

    NotMax

    Just finished putting together a small piece of utilitarian furniture I bought as a holiday present for people I’ll be seeing this weekend. Something I already know from past conversations they’ll put to use.

    And gadzooks, came with clear and easy to follow step by step instructions for assembly. In real English.

    Impulse buy made at Amazon a few days before Xmas. Must have been on closeout because the price of this specific unit was already well below that of the same model in other colors and on top of that there was a coupon for an additional 50% off. Almost embarrassed to admit that brought the total purchase down to just shy of $11. Good looking, sturdy feeling unit too. Not pressboard, it’s entirely made of some kind of solid plastic laminate.

  83. 83.

    Mel

    @Chetan Murthy: It’s worth getting it checked out. That bone spur developed over the span of a few years, and I didn’t realize how miserable it was making me feel b/c the symptoms increased slowly. It wasn’t until it was really blocking things and causing obstruction/ infections that I took notice. I’ve always had allergies, so I initially chalked it up to worsening allergies.

    The relief after having it removed was unbelievable.

  84. 84.

    Mel

    @Yutsano: Oh, wow! I’m so sorry you are going through that!  Fingers crossed for you for a speedy recovery and a quick escape from the hospital. Please keep us posted.

  86. 86.

    Martin

    @Trivia Man: Well, I don’t quite think that. But if the consequences of doing the right thing and the wrong thing are the same, always do the right thing.

    But if doing the right thing leads to the country being overthrown, and the wrong thing doesn’t, do the wrong thing.

  88. 88.

    SpaceUnit

    @Joey Maloney:

    Felt that you were suggesting Dems ought to adopt an “anything goes” strategy to combat today’s GOP.  And I really don’t think that’s wise.

  90. 90.

    Rusty

    The real insidious evil of the court will come in its other decisions.   It took up the question of hospitals providing emergency abortions under federal law.  Upholding the rights of states to preempt federal law will result in nullification and an end to federalism.  I could see this court doing it.  Hell, this court thinks corporations have religious rights that allow them to violate state amd federal laws, a bizarre notion, so why can’t states have them and override federal law?  There is also the questions around abortion pills or morning after pills.  Does federal law stand for distribution and can federal approval be attacked?  I expect horrible decisions in all these cases.  They will fundamentally change our federal structures and undermine our rights.  This court is all about empowering bigots under the guise of “freedom”, among is many other faults.

  91. 91.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    @Trivia Man: A legal saying I encountered in “Better Call Saul”:  Let Justice be done though the Heavens fall.

  93. 93.

    eclare

    And Alaska Airlines has grounded its fleet of Boeing MAX-9’s.  Sounds like all airlines need to do that, the plane only had around 145 flights in service.

  94. 94.

    m.j.

    I’ve been listening to Dahlia Lithwick over at Slate. She is great.

    We are so fucked as a country.

  95. 95.

    Joey Maloney

    @SpaceUnit:  I don’t know how you take that from what I wrote, but that’s certainly not what I meant to say. I’m saying that we should follow the law and the constitution and not be cowed from that by fear that the GOP will weaponize the law and the constitution against us. Because they will do that regardless

    I hope that is more clear.

  96. 96.

    Chris T.

    @Yutsano:

    It looks like I have an infection in my bladder and kidneys.

    That’s … not good. Hope it’s one of those things that’s easily handled by current antibiotics.

  99. 99.

    Matt McIrvin

    @TriassicSands: Well, obviously what we need is to re-litigate Marbury vs. Madison and ask the Supreme Court whether constitutional interpretation is their job! Maybe they’ll rule that the ruling they’re giving is invalid, and smoke will come out of their ears like a poorly programmed android on Star Trek.

  102. 102.

    Paul in KY

    @Trivia Man: It actually (to me) appeared to be a ‘prop gallows’ or they are so incompetent that they built one that even Homer Simpson (prior to his attempted hanging) would say “I don’t think that’s gonna hold me.”

    If they had got their hands on VP Pence, they either would have pummeled him to death right there or strung him up from a handy lamppost.

  103. 103.

    Ella in New Mexico

    John—go to an Urgent Care or a pharmacy and get tested for Flu and COVID. Both have antiviral remedies that greatly reduce the length, severity and risk of longer term symptoms that drag on and on for weeks afterwards. I’m pretty sure AZ is like NM in which pharmacists can dispense them w/a positive test.

  104. 104.

    john smallberries

    It’s the desert.

    You’re too used to that clean mountain air, without all the dust and pollen from the plants that should not be in the desert.

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