Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Is it negotiation when the other party actually wants to shoot the hostage?

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

Elections aren’t won by handwringing, cowering, and/or bashing your own candidates.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

Everyone is in a bubble, but some bubbles model reality far better than others!

Consistently wrong since 2002

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

The current Supreme Court is a rogue court. Very dangerous.

Republicans don’t lie to be believed, they lie to be repeated.

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

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

Not all heroes wear capes.

You cannot shame the shameless.

Speaker Mike Johnson is a vile traitor to the House and the Constitution.

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

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

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

Motto for the House: Flip 5 and lose none.

Dear Washington Post, you are the darkness now.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. let’s win this.

“Why isn’t this Snickers bar only a nickel?”

Bark louder, little dog.

You are here: Home / Open Threads / Open Thread: This Is How It’s Done

Open Thread: This Is How It’s Done

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This fellow from CBS News Miami shows the big boys (and girls) in the Media how it’s done.

Rep. Salazar is utterly shameless, outright lying even after he calls her on it.  Liar, liar pants on fire.

So refreshing to see real journalism in action.

Open thread.

Update at 3:15 pm:  Bonus!  This from Tony Jay is too good to be lost in the comments.

Biden – “Joe! Great to see ya. Walk with me, let’s talk.”

Manchin – “Good of you to agree to host this summit, Joe. Our people are watching.”

Biden – “Yeah, that’s right. The Infrastructure bill did extend broadband coverage for half a million homes in West Virginia. Pity we couldn’t get agreement on the funding for more, but, 50/50 Senate Rules, eh? What’s on your mind?”

Manchin – “….I’ve finalised some strategic plans to save the country from President Trump.”

Biden – “You, Dean, and everyone else. (Pats a passing intern on the back) Great work on those education figures, Jayson, keep it up, you’ll have my job one day. (Laughs) So what are you thinking? Push hard on Dobbs? Megaphone their corruption? Take a hard line on treason? Pound the wedges in between that fucking guy’s fanbase and anyone with a brain? You can help us there, Joe. You speak their language.”

Manchin – “….my people have been working on this for months. The plan is you shore up your weaknesses with the moderate centre by acknowledging how much the current recovery owes to my principled stands for fiscal responsibility.”

Biden – “Uh-huh.”

Manchin – “Nothing too out of character. Just a few interviews with the Post and The Times. A sit-down with Chuck Todd. Maybe a line or two in the State of the Union. Really push that you listened to me and see the clear benefits in the current recovery. Show Independents and Heartland Americans that you’ve learned the cost of extremism.”

Biden – “Uh-Huh.”

Manchin – “It should probably culminate in the offer of a major Cabinet post. SOS, Defence. Not the VP slot, not yet anyway, you know what those people are like when you take away their hand-outs, but something meaty. I won’t be able to accept, of course, but the gesture alone should be enough to win the trust of some moderate voters who feel unrepresented and disrespected.”

Biden – “That’s certainly something, Joe. Certainly something. Tell you what, I’ve got to take a meeting now with some people about ending childhood malnutrition in the twenty poorest states. I’ll be sure to tell them how much you’ve helped with that. Leave a number with Mary on your way out, we’ll get back to this sometime soon.”

Manchin – “….but, Joe!”

Biden – “It’s President Joe, Senator.” (Pops on a pair of aviators. Grins.) “Good talking to ya.”

One door closes. Stays closed.

Reader Interactions

149Comments

  4. 4.

    WaterGirl

    @rikyrah: “I’m not going to answer this as a politician…” as she answers the questions like the dishonest politician she is.

    @Alison Rose: Just like Trump, she’s called on it and then continues to repeat the lies and brazen her way through it.

  5. 5.

    Alison Rose

    @rikyrah: Also, it’s not like these were some piddly little things no one paid attention to. These were two huge bills, and she has to “ask her staff” about her votes? I mean, like…gee Congresswoman, if your memory is that bad, seems like maybe being in office isn’t the appropriate place for you.

  8. 8.

    WaterGirl

    @Alison Rose: Well, I suppose if she votes according to who gives her the most $$$ to do so, and not based on what is best for the country or for her constituents, then I suppose it’s possible that she might not recall which way she voted on which key votes.

  9. 9.

    HumboldtBlue

    FORT LUPTON — Lauren Boebert landed in fifth place in a straw poll conducted at a 4th Congressional District debate this week, a decidedly middle-of-the-pack showing among the nine Republican candidates who showed up for the event.

    And Boebert has earned a new nickname: Trailer Swift.

  10. 10.

    Alison Rose

    @WaterGirl: I hate that GOPers get away with this shit all the time. Vote against a bill, then act like a hero for the good things that bill brings to their constituency. I wish that everything that gets built based on money from a bill they voted against was labeled as such. “Podunk Memorial Hospital: Funded by the Something Something Bill which Rep Blowhard voted against”

  11. 11.

    RepubAnon

    @rikyrah: Follow-up question: “Ms. Salazar, do you believe that your cognitive decline means that you should not run for re-election?

  13. 13.

    JML

    I hope Biden and every Democrat in the country calls out these sleazy no-account grifters every single time they take credit for a bill they voted against, show up at ground-breaking ceremonies for projects they voted against, until it becomes SOP for every media outlet to include the phrase “which they voted against” or “they did not support” in every goddamn story about the project or the MOC.

    The GOP is the part of No Shame.

  17. 17.

    WaterGirl

    @HumboldtBlue: Did you see my post on that article about the debate?

    One of the questions she was asked was “Can you give the definition of a carpetbagger?”

    6 of the 9 Republican candidates raised their hands in answer to the question of whether they have been arrested.

    0 of the other 8 said they would support her if she won the Republican primary.

    They are sending their best!

  23. 23.

    prostratedragon

    Pitchbot:

    I just learned that it’s Iran, not Iraq, that borders Afghanistan (I had thought the Iraq and Afghanistan wars were more connected). Here’s what Biden must do to project strength in the Middle East…(1/17)

    The majesty unfurls itself slowly …

  24. 24.

    UncleEbeneezer

    I just saw a car with a “Joe Manchin for President 2024” and had to do my best not to slash the tires, lol

  29. 29.

    WaterGirl

    @HumboldtBlue: And the Sergeant at Arms said he is going to comply with the subpoena.  Thank goodness someone believes in the rule of law.

    *Can the Rs now boot the Sergeant at Arms from that position?

  31. 31.

    Jackie

    Looks like OK Senator Langford is next for the MAGA hanging noose?

    The Oklahoma Republican Party voted to condemn Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) for working on a bipartisan immigration deal that they say runs counter to the state party’s platform, the Oklahoma Voice reports.

    The resolution is “largely symbolic” but explicitly states the party will “cease all support” for Lankford.

    His seat is safe until 2028, so other than “Romney” him aka shun him, I’ll be curious how he responds.

  34. 34.

    West of the Rockies

    Christ, she is heinous.  I hope enough Floridians wise up and kick her useless keister to the curb.

  38. 38.

    WaterGirl

    @Jackie: I saw that earlier.  Appalling that working on legislation can get you censored.  It appears that Senator Lankford believes in trying to get something done for the American people – perhaps he should say fuck it and consider joining the Democratic caucus.

    Lankford just needs to run the clip of him saying 13-year-old girls can handle a rape baby.

    Excuse me while I go bang my head against the wall.

  39. 39.

    Leto

    @prostratedragon: from one of the comments:

    obijohnkenobi11@obijohnkenobi11
    5m
    Replying to @DougJBalloon
    In order to better understand the delicate nuances of middle eastern politics we turn now to the esteemed expertise of Oliver North

  40. 40.

    Josie

    I really resent the fact that Taylor’s name is connected in any way with Boebert’s. Ms. Swift is a smart, classy woman and Ms. Boebert is not. I could say something more descriptive about Ms. Boebert, but I’m being restrained in my coment. I see no humor in the stupid joke.

  41. 41.

    Yarrow

    Sorry anyone in Florida:

    Republicans in Florida now outnumber Democrats by more than 800k. That's a net shift of nearly 1 million in just 3 years.

    There are now -415k fewer Democrats registered in Florida than there were in 2012, which was the last time they won the top ticket there.— Ryan Tyson (@ryan_tyson) January 29, 2024

  42. 42.

    Bill Arnold

    @UncleEbeneezer:

    had to do my best not to slash the tires, lol

    Don’t do that. Relieve the tires of their valve cores.
    Valve Core Remover
    If you’re feeling nice, leave the valve cores on the ground next to the tires. Don’t leave fingerprints, though. (And don’t get caught.)
    [I do not do this particularly form of sabotage, to be clear. But am prepared.]

  44. 44.

    The Kropenhagen Interpretation

    @Josie:I really resent the fact that Taylor’s name is connected in any way with Boebert’s.

    Remember the pun was originally uttered by a Republican politician. Their whole schtick is based on appeals to sloppy thought.

  45. 45.

    Yarrow

    @Josie: Same. It’s stupid and not funny in any way. I wish people would stop it. It’s demeaning to Taylor Swift who has nothing in common with that person.

  47. 47.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Josie: ​ 

    Taylor’s a big girl, I think she’ll be able to handle a silly joke repeated on yes, a top 10,000 blog.

    Speaking of Swift:

    Taylor Swift has shattered virtually every major record in the music industry, and as she lives her best life supporting her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, she’s also breaking the brains of right-wingers.

    For months now, the digital fever swamps have been fuming over everything and anything Swift-related. Her popularity, the success of the Eras Tour, her relationship, her appearances at NFL games, and especially her politics. The Chiefs won the AFC championship on Sunday, punching the team’s (and potentially Swift’s) ticket to the Super Bowl in February. In response, long-standing conspiracy theories around the NFL’s “scriptwriting” for football seasons clashed with right-wing conspiracy theorists claiming Swift’s involvement with Kelce is part of a deep state plot to gin up support for President Joe Biden in the 2024 election. The result is as ugly as it is stupid.

  50. 50.

    Yarrow

    @HumboldtBlue: Why do you feel the need to pollute this thread by amplifying a not funny comment said by a Republican? It’s okay because “Taylor Swift can handle it?” No, it’s not. It’s dumb and not funny.

  51. 51.

    The Kropenhagen Interpretation

    @Yarrow: Sloppy thought has natural bipartisan appeal*. It’s actually probably good you pointed out this is not a great thing to be spreading, albeit relatively benign.

    *ETA: observe the sloppy bipartisan posturing of most media professionals and the worst Democrats

  52. 52.

    Eduardo

    @Yarrow: Things here are rather bleak, but this may partially due to a lot of Dixiecrats that are re-registering as Republicans.

  54. 54.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Yarrow: ​
    I see only two people whining about the least important thing in the world. Why did you come here to ruin everyone’s afternoon with some silly, childish whining about a non-issue that has no bearing on the universe in any way?​

  55. 55.

    comrade scotts agenda of rage

    That interview with the FL whackjob reminds me of some interviews I’ve seen on the BBC.  Don’t watch it enough to know if they always play hardball with total political clowns but the times I’ve seen it done, well, it looked like that.

    Wanna bet she’ll *never* go back on that station or talk to that reporter.  It’s that “fear of loss of access” that drives the DC Press Corpse to despair.

  56. 56.

    Joe Falco

    @Alison Rose:

    If only there was a way to take those stickers MAGA stuck up on gas station pumps when gas prices were high with a picture of Biden and the caption “I did that” and slap them on those construction projects paid for by the bill.

  57. 57.

    rikyrah

    @HumboldtBlue:

    Taylor Swift has shattered virtually every major record in the music industry, and as she lives her best life supporting her boyfriend, Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, she’s also breaking the brains of right-wingers.

    For months now, the digital fever swamps have been fuming over everything and anything Swift-related.

     

    They really have gone nuts. She’s just been going to games, supporting her Boo. Being with his family. I don’t get it.

     

    I have been cracking up at the TikTok videos of fathers whose daughters would never sit down with them when they watched football, but have done so, since Taylor has been dating Kelce. These men thought they’d never share this part of their lives with their daughters. I am amused. Having grown up as a football fan because both of my parents were sports fanatics, it just tickles me.

  58. 58.

    Josie

    @HumboldtBlue: I was not whining. I was stating my opinion of a stupid, crass joke.  I assume it’s still okay to do that on this blog. Or maybe we appointed you judge of opinions and I missed that day.

  59. 59.

    Geminid

    @Joe Falco: Democrats can put up billboards celebrating the projects. And if some Republican voted against the bill but is claiming credit for the project, the billboards can call them out as both liars and cheapskates.

  60. 60.

    Anoniminous

    @prostratedragon: ​
     
    Last time some fat fucks from the East came to “guard” the New Mexico border they lasted about 4 days before the border won. The bootheel section of the border in particular will kill you quick if you don’t know how to survive in a desert.

  61. 61.

    HumboldtBlue

    @Josie: ​ 

    And I was just responding to your silly, whiny nonsense. So we’re even right? Now go touch some grass.

  62. 62.

    Eunicecycle

    @Yarrow: there was one of the incels (Catturd or someone of his ilk) who said Boebert is the Right’s Taylor Swift. And he was roundly laughed at on Xitter. So I think that’s the origin of the name.

  63. 63.

    The Kropenhagen Interpretation

    @Eunicecycle: there was one of the incels (Catturd or someone of his ilk) who said Boebert is the Right’s Taylor Swift.

    No one ever accused Republicans of sending their best…

  64. 64.

    Yarrow

    @HumboldtBlue:

    I see only two people whining about the least important thing in the world. Why did you come here to ruin everyone’s afternoon with some silly, childish whining about a non-issue that has no bearing on the universe in any way?​

    I did not come here “to ruin everyone’s afternoon.” You already did that by amplifying this BS comment. Sticking up for accomplished women is not “whining.” But hey, I’ll leave. No need to hang around and ruin your fun, which apparently means dragging Taylor Swift into something horrible and completely unrelated to her.

  65. 65.

    geg6

    @HumboldtBlue:
    Hmmm, Ms. Swift has encouraged at least 30,000 young people to register to vote and single-handedly affected the economics of every city she has visited, not to mention the country.  She’s not  a non-issue.  She is actually quite relevant to the state of our country at this moment.​
     
    So how about you?

  69. 69.

    Josie

    @HumboldtBlue: ​ Wow! What a great way to make everyone’s afternoon a bit happier. “Touch a little grass.” WTF does that even mean? Just another way to put down a person who disagrees with you?​

  70. 70.

    TriassicSands

    @WaterGirl: ​
     
    C’mon, WaterGirl, why ya wanna be so mean. The infrastructure bill was such small beans. I mean, what was it, $200,000.00, maybe a quarter of a million? No one could be expected to remember how they voted on such a minor piece of legislation. Besides, it’s not her fault she voted against those bills. She just does does what she’s told, which is “Fall in line.”

    Poor Representative Salazar, having to admit to early onset dementia right there on the air.

    “Hey, I was in Washington, D.C. when the legislation passed, isn’t that what really matters? Look, I don’t remember what I voted for or against. I just do what I’m told. Trump says ‘Jump!’ and I say, how high?” Rep. Salazar

  72. 72.

    Anoniminous

    It is a plain & fancy fact successful women drive Republicans ’round-the-bend crazy. Taylor Swift is the very definition of “successful.” She is the most-awarded artist of the American Music Awards (40) and the Billboard Music Awards (40), and she has the most Album of the Year wins at the Grammy Awards (3), the most Video of the Year wins at the MTV Video Music Awards (4), and the most times awarded the Global Recording Artist of the Year by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (3). Swift was included in the Time 100 three times (2009, 2015, 2019), and she has registered 118 Guinness World Records as of December 2023.* If they don’t tear her down their dicks will fall off.

    * from her Wikipedia page

  74. 74.

    trollhattan

    Well this kind of sucks but he knew what kind of blowback was waiting for him.

    A former US tax worker has been sentenced to five years in prison over the unauthorised leak of Donald Trump’s personal tax records to media outlets.

    Charles Littlejohn, 38, must also spend three years under supervised release and pay a $5,000 fine for his actions. Littlejohn stole tax data from thousands of wealthy Americans while working as a contractor for the US-wide Internal Revenue Service.

    His sentence was the statutory maximum penalty that could have been imposed.

    Littlejohn’s offence was “an attack on our constitutional democracy”, federal District Judge Ana Reyes said before sentencing him on Monday.

    “He targeted the sitting president of the United States of America, and that is exceptional by any measure,” she added. “It cannot be open season on our elected officials.”

    In a brief statement to the court, Littlejohn acknowledged his crime and said he had been aware of its potential consequences at the time but claimed he was driven by a desire for transparency. “I made my decision with full knowledge that I would likely end up in a courtroom to answer for my serious crime,” he said.

    His legal team argued in a court filing that Littlejohn had acted “out of a deep, moral belief that the American people had a right to know the information and sharing it was the only way to effect change”.

    “He did what he thought was right at the time, but now fully acknowledges that he was wrong,” his lawyers added.

    That explanation did not appear to sway Judge Reyes in her sentencing decision.

    She said imposing the maximum penalty would ensure nobody could view Littlejohn’s conduct as “acceptable or justifiable or worth the trade-off”. “The fact that he did what he did and he is facing one felony count, I have no words for,” the judge said.

    BBC

    For the curious, judge is a Biden appointee.

  75. 75.

    The Kropenhagen Interpretation

    @Josie: I believe the implication there is that emotional investment in internet arguments isn’t especially healthy.

    I’d say this is the perfect place to have an argument like this. But people are also within their rights to find taking offense to a nickname offered to a powerful person by someone who will likely never touch their stature to be a bit…superfluous.

  76. 76.

    HumboldtBlue

    @geg6: ​ 

    A pun is big news now? We’re talking about pun, not registering voters, not saving kittens, just a pun. Somehow that pun is now the cause of severe issues within the universe, not sure how it happened, but there it is.

    I wonder what Taylor would think.

  79. 79.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Evidently that clip is making the rounds. Ali Velshi (subbing for Nicolle Wallace) just teased it for an upcoming segment on MSNBC.

  81. 81.

    trollhattan

    @Anoniminous: Republicans are relentless with ‘If he’s rich he has to be smart and qualified!” Even Walton heirs.

    And yet they’re so quick it to drop it like a hot rock when the wrong person gets rich. And she’s really damn rich.

  85. 85.

    piratedan

     

    @geg6:  I guess its the nature of the beast that the GOP has to find a way to denigrate what appears to be a publicly developing romance between a successful woman and man who stand for concepts that most of us just see as common sense, get registered and vote and go get vaccinated.  Since I’m a sportball fan too and visit various boards of the teams I follow and I see her name come up and I just shake my head at the insecurity around it.

    She’s just a woman (huge understatement), sweet on a dude who is a professional athlete.  She’s successful in her world (tremendous understatement) and she’s happy when her beau does well, what person doesn’t want that?  It’s not as if she’s hurt anyone and I assume that if she had her druthers, that the cameras would focus on something else, yet that’s not her call.

    All of this overflow into societal and political turf is because the GOP has made a point to put it there.  Just serves as further evidence that at the heart of the people crafting the GOP narrative that they discount women.  Kind of pathetic isn’t it?

  86. 86.

    Suzanne

    @Anoniminous:

    It is a plain & fancy fact successful women drive Republicans ’round-the-bend crazy. 

    Yes. Republicans don’t like when women earn their own money, power, and respect!

  87. 87.

    Old School

    The DOJ has subpoenaed something from the House of Representatives.  No one seems to know why.

    House of Representatives Sergeant at Arms William McFarland announced his office was served a grand jury subpoena by the Department of Justice (DOJ), sparking a wave of theories on social media on Monday afternoon.

    McFarland formally notified House Speaker Mike Johnson, a Louisiana Republican, of a subpoena on Monday. Details about the subpoena, including the investigation to what it is related to, remained unknown, causing some legal experts and political observers to speculate about what it could be about.

     

  89. 89.

    trollhattan

    @piratedan: Kimberly and Donny the Younger fell for one another in a cloud of cocaine and Adderall, and make a celebrity couple Republicans find just dreamy, to the point of listening to both screech at them, yet not laughing.

  91. 91.

    WaterGirl

    Well this is interesting.  I predict that Trump will come to regret blowing off the financial monitor when it has suited him.

  94. 94.

    piratedan

    @Old School: scuttlebutt it’s regarding the J6 shoes that are dropping regarding what DJT did and did NOT do during the events of that day.  Unsure if the subpoena is for the individual or the office.

  95. 95.

    wjca

    @Anoniminous: If they don’t tear her down their dicks will fall off.

    Alas that this will not literally happen.  Sometimes, the universe misses a trick….

  98. 98.

    The Kropenhagen Interpretation

    @Josie: Hey, you don’t have to preach to me. I agree that it’s a bad joke. I refuse to let it upset my mood, though.

  99. 99.

    Josie

    @The Kropenhagen Interpretation: ​
     I wasn’t intending to preach to you. I’m sorry if it came across that way. I was actually in a pretty good mood after coming out of a covid fog, but it bothered me to be put down for having an opinion that differed from the other commenter.

  101. 101.

    The Kropenhagen Interpretation

    @Josie: Fair.  I didn’t mean to imply I was offended in anyway. Casual use of the word preach. I’m mostly pretty easy-going.

  104. 104.

    lowtechcyclist

    @HumboldtBlue:

    A pun is big news now?

    Nah, but at least for me, it’s gross to see someone make any sort of connection between Swift and Boebert in a place I otherwise enjoy reading.  I’d much rather you find some better way of insulting Boebert.  There have to be plenty of them. Kindly find one or kindly STFU with this stupidity.

  105. 105.

    Balconesfault

    @Jackie:  without bothering to go look at it, I’m wondering what the Oklahoma Republican parties platform on immigration is?

    “Thou shalt not enter into any compromise legislation which intends to actually solve the problem and remove it as an effective campaigning tool for GOP politicians?”

  106. 106.

    stinger

    @Suzanne: ​
     

    Republicans don’t like when women earn their own money, power, and respect!

    So true. And in this case, they are also SO jealous that she’s so supportive of her man.

  109. 109.

    wjca

    @WaterGirl: Do they really call Taylor Swift a gold digger?  That’s beyond dumb.

    Nope.  Makes perfect sense.  All you need is to realize that reports of her wealth are, must be, FAKE NEWS!  Because . . . reasons.

  116. 116.

    TBone

    If you really wanna get upset, I read today that the Nazis’ answer to Taylor is Boebert and they’ve nicknamed her “Boebies.”

  119. 119.

    Suzanne

    @stinger: And in this case, they are also SO jealous that she’s so supportive of her man.

     
    They are also somewhat threatened. Their model of a relationship is one in which the woman has more money and fame, and therefore she is there by choice. Which means that Travis must treat her with respect. And she is not there to “reflect well” on him.

    There was an incident a few years back where one MLB player missed a game (maybe a couple of games?) because his wife was having a baby, And the commentators on some dumb sports show absolutely roasted this man for it, and the whole thing went viral. Said that there was nothing more important than the game, that this is how he makes his money that supports the whole family, and that his wife should see that and not ask him to be there when his child is born. That is the mindset of these assholes…. that sports are of paramount importance, that women and the family take a backseat to making money, that the man’s career is first and foremost.

    Taylor Swift represents the enormous cultural influence of women, and they don’t like that.

  120. 120.

    Chief Oshkosh

    @Yarrow: Meh, humor is in the mind of the beholder. I think it’s funny and makes the exact opposite statement that you Josie seem to be taking if for, that being: the rightwingers are freaking out about Taylor Swift essentially because she is an outstanding human and a strong woman, whereas their “best” are trashy grifters. I also thought “Tacky-O” was funny for a similar reason.

    Oh well.

  121. 121.

    The Kropenhagen Interpretation

    @Chief Oshkosh: I mean Lauren Boebert seems like the “prettiest” that Congressional Republicans have to offer. If all you care about Taylor Swift are her looks, the joke make sense alongside some heavy squinting.

  125. 125.

    Pink Tie

    I am just so unbelievably exhausted by the likes of Joe Manchin & his people. I opted for abortion after having three *wanted* babies, because I was aware of what parenting demands. Four or five kids was not in my future, and it should not be in anyone’s if that isn’t their choice. I am so infuriated that anybody thinks it’s their job to tell mothers how to live. I have no words for how angry I am at these people telling women how to conduct their lives! I don’t know who else has had an abortion on this blog, but i am glad i did it. My husband and kids are too. i would have divided my life into in increasingly tiny pie pieces and it would have been unfair. Abortion is a good choice for many families,

  127. 127.

    TriassicSands

    @WaterGirl:

    I was being sarcastic.

    The infrastructure bill was probably the biggest deal of Biden’s presidency and for someone to claim they don’t remember how they voted on it is, I like to say extraordinarily dishonest, but in the case of Republicans it is just lying as usual.

  129. 129.

    Sally

    This is fine, but I wish the interviewers would ask “why did you vote against this bill?” You know, “I have the list of votes here, and I want you to tell our listeners why you voted against your constituents receiving these funds”. And bring the voting record to show on the screen. It’s not enough to let them misdirect and lie. Too many R’s will be satisfied with “Oh that was last year, old news, she’s happy about it now”. And give her a pass. “Are you a hypocrite for accepting money you voted to reject?”. How can you hand out this money without turning into a pillar of salt, would be good … however.

  130. 130.

    Pink Tie

    abortion voters need  to speak out louder. i had to talk to my sisters and mom! i needed an abortion and believe me it was not a pleasant conversation.

  131. 131.

    lowtechcyclist

    @HumboldtBlue:

    And you’ve demonstrated you’re a tiresome twat draped in self-righteous indignation. Must suck to be you.

    Better, but still kinda weak, especially with the massive overshoot on ‘self-righteous indignation.’

  132. 132.

    Quadrillipede

    @Jay: Now I’m curious if there’s something particular to the lentil in this scenario, or if it could be replaced with, say a small ball bearing, or something else that’s about the size of a lentil (but isn’t a lentil…)

  133. 133.

    Sally

    Thank you to all the kind people who gave excellent advice for keeping my son’s cat safe – locking husband in a room worked a treat ;) . Cat is now happily ensconced in his home on the 17th floor in son’s apartment. He escaped twice (cat not husband), and husband had to catch him the second time and subsequently never failed to close doors. Cat became less interested in leaving, and son is struggling to live up to the spoilt routine of granny’s house!

  135. 135.

    TriassicSands

    I’m beginning to wonder if some commenters here should take a break from B-J. What is all the arguing and nastiness? I don’t know what the “pun” about Taylor Swift is and I don’t care. It hardly seems like something for adults to argue about and tell people to STFU.

    People here have different sensibilities, different likes and dislikes, and couldn’t possibly agree about everything. Unless there is a troll, everyone here wants the same person to win in November, even if some think the president is too old and should retire. Lots of people feel that way, but it doesn’t really matter, because Biden’s running and the overwhelming odds are that he will be on the ballot in November. (As someone who is old, I never rule out the possibility that someone Biden’s age could take a seriously bad turn at any time. I certainly hope that doesn’t happen.) Anyone childish enough or stupid enough to say they won’t vote for Biden for any reason when his opponent is a) Trump or b) any Republican isn’t worth arguing with. But I’m not aware of anyone here doing that.

    I really don’t see any point in people fighting about Taylor Swift. Nothing written here will have any effect on her life or well-being. If you like her, great. If you hate her, fine. If you don’t care at all about her, OK. She really isn’t an issue. If she’s getting people to register to vote, that’s great. (But more than a little troubling that it takes a celebrity to get anyone to fulfill their civic responsibilities. On the other hand, good for her for using her celebrity for something both good and important.)

    I’m not interested in arguing on the Internet. It is a waste of time. I disagree with some people, but I’m pretty sure I’ve never told anyone to fuck off or STFU. What’s the point?

  136. 136.

    TriassicSands

    @Sally:

    You’re right, interviewers should do a better job. However, the interviewer in the Salazar clip did more than 99.99% of MSM interviewers ever do. Yes, he could have done more, but maybe if more people did what he did, eventually they’d all realize that that is their job, and holding politicians feet to the fire is what they are there for when the politician is lying right in face.

  137. 137.

    matt

    well, if you can’t remember voting against a bill, how could you possibly find out if you had voted for it or not?

  140. 140.

    The Kropenhagen Interpretation

    @matt: The sum of everyone’s memories. When they’re in dispute, we have records. These were two of the highest profile bills that session, there’s zero chance she didn’t know how she voted on them. She’s a liar, but I suspect you know that.

  141. 141.

    Quadrillipede

    @matt: All I’m going to say here is that many people have written (800+ page) books on this topic. (I could probably try to provide 5 or so examples if there is any interest…)

  142. 142.

    Sally

    @TriassicSands: Yes, I accept that. I don’t, however, understand really, why it is here in the US that interviewers need to be smarmy in order to gain and keep access. Many other countries have much more aggressive interviewers and the politicians are scared to turn down the invitations to the prestigious (and most aggressive) shows.  See The Thick of It – even Malcolm Tucker was scared of World at One. If they turn down interviews, the show announces it, and the clear inference is, what are you afraid of?

  143. 143.

    WaterGirl

    @Sally: Locking your husband in the room was my idea, and I thought it was a good one :-) but I’m glad it never came to that.

    But maybe you read my idea out to your husband, and that helped put him on good better behavior?

  144. 144.

    WaterGirl

    @frosty:

    Want to help? We have a guest room.

    You might want to make that offer to BJ peeps closer to the fall, PA can use some help and some folks might take you up on it!

  145. 145.

    Gvg

    @HumboldtBlue: The joke has fallen flat, ok? It’s just not funny. You had to explain it and it still didn’t make sense.

    Now you’re mad because people didn’t agree with your humor and you are lashing out. The lashing out is even less attractive. Just allow other people to not have the same taste and drop it. You did get to share your joke and other people get to say they don’t like it.  Now its time to stop.

    I wouldn’t have bothered to say I didn’t think it was funny, but it seems to be escalating. There is no point to attacking someone who doesn’t laugh at your humor.

  147. 147.

    WendyBinFL

    @Geminid: You suggested that Democrats put up billboards celebrating projects funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the CHIPS and Science Act, and calling out Republicans who voted against the legislation. This afternoon, on Deadline: White House (MSNBC), that’s exactly what was recommended by former Missouri Senator Claire McCaskill. Love it!

  149. 149.

    Quadrillipede

    @evodevo: Ah, so it’s the shape of the lentil rather than its chemical properties that’s the important factor here. That’s cool. 😎

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