Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

Thanks to your bullshit, we are now under siege.

I like political parties that aren’t owned by foreign adversaries.

It’s a good piece. click on over. but then come back!!

Republicans: The threats are dire, but my tickets are non-refundable!

Text STOP to opt out of updates on war plans.

Republicans are the party of chaos and catastrophe.

Republicans firmly believe having an abortion is a very personal, very private decision between a woman and J.D. Vance.

I might just take the rest of the day off and do even more nothing than usual.

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

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

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

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

Impressively dumb. Congratulations.

Pessimism assures that nothing of any importance will change.

Do we throw up our hands or do we roll up our sleeves? (hint, door #2)

Giving up is unforgivable.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

There are some who say that there are too many strawmen arguments on this blog.

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

The lights are all blinking red.

That’s my take and I am available for criticism at this time.

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Reader Interactions

100Comments

  2. 2.

    karen marie

    Shit-poster thing?

     

    Hahahaha.  We said it at the same time.  Do we get a prize?

  4. 4.

    WaterGirl

    @WaterGirl: It is rather awe-inspiring to see all the terrible lilegal things he has been accused of all in one place!

    @different-church-lady:  @karen marie:

    I can’t believe that the only thing that has bubbled up to the surface in the past few days is something that the first two of you don’t recognize.

    It’s the shit-poster who posted on some website about the NY Trump jury and people believed that he knew in advance, and a bunch of MAGAs were thinking maybe there could be a mistrial.

  6. 6.

    smith

    @WaterGirl: Here’s one summary of Shitpostergate, including the way Hannity chose to run with it, even after the debunking

    ETA: The shit-poster later issued a statement saying that yes, it was a shit-post, and further delving into his social media history showed him to be a MAGA whackaloon from way back.

  7. 7.

    WaterGirl

    @smith: Thanks.  That’s the only thing that bubbled up for me.  I am hoping to hear about some important stuff that I missed.  Or maybe all we’ve had is bullshit all week?

  8. 8.

    smith

    @WaterGirl: More bullshit that I found striking: The Felon is claiming that he’s the one who negotiated lower prices for insulin, not Biden. It’s such an easily disproved claim, but he’s going for it. It will be interesting to see if the usual sycophants feel obliged to back him up, and perform further ritual public humiliation when called on it.

  9. 9.

    rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun)

    Today was 79 degrees and dry in Central Jersey. A perfect day. I was actually productive, I got the laundry done for the week and made caldo de pollo for dinner. I need lots of veggies right now.

    Has anyone here ever applied for Social Security disability? I’ve begun the process and I’d love to pick your brain.

  12. 12.

    SomeRandomGuy

    I have multiple foreign cables, all category one intel, that Henry stood still long enough to be photographed. There is now a lot of chatter to the effect of “WTF is Henry?” which soon caused multiple *supremely* paranoid terrorist groups to simultaneously launch pre-emptive strikes against each other.

    So there’s that. But someone finally had the wisdom to say “pics or it didn’t happen,” and the first ten were photoshopped, which continued the open warfare between terrorist groups.

  13. 13.

    TBone

    Habs warned us all via CNN that Dotard really is out for revenge if he’s reelected, and as added emphasis, stated that he is not in a happy place right now (insert Ronald McDonald.gif here).

  14. 14.

    smith

    @TBone: And Merchan, ever cautious, will hold a hearing on it, get it on record that it was a shit-post, and undercut the grounds for the inevitable appeal. It’s really amazing how random idiots can so easily gum up even the most serious of proceedings.

  16. 16.

    TBone

    @smith: well WHY does the Unified Judicial System in NY need a presence on Fascist book, also too?  I mean really!  WTAF

    I posted the story containing link to Judge Merchan’s actual letter to counsel for both sides earlier.

    I still can’t believe anyone bought into a fukn Facebook post.

  17. 17.

    hueyplong

    @TBone: Two reactions:

    1 The cheaper the crook the gaudier the patter.

    2 Good news about his dark place. Those clowns aren’t the types to force proper mental health care on the pig.

  22. 22.

    Trivia Man

    @rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun): Sorry to say the disability is a long and complicated road. Mrs Trivia was approved after about 3 years of trying, she was told it is nearly impossible to get it down without help from a specialist. IIRC getting the first rejection allows you to appeal and that is the time to get professional assistance.

  23. 23.

    TBone

    @rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun): see as many doctors as often as you can and build your medical records for the Judge.  Be sure your disability is covered by Social Security before you go to all those appointments. I’m dead serious about the doctor visits.  Also: find a really highly respected medical doctor who is a specialist on your disability and pay his fee for a detailed report to submit in Court.  That’s on top of building up your evidence that you needed medical treatment early and often.  If you have more than one diagnosis that SS will cover, see more doctors.

  26. 26.

    bbleh

    @smith: @TBone: naah.  He informed the attorneys out of an abundance of caution — he knows perfectly well they’re gonna throw everything and the kitchen sink at the appeals court, not least because TCFG will demand they include every meme or wack idea that he becomes even dimly aware of — but I can’t imagine he’d actually hold a hearing on it unless something really substantive emerged, and apparently the poster has already admitted it was just garbage.

    Cannon would hold a hearing.  Hell, she’d probably let the defense subpoena Zuckerberg.

  27. 27.

    TBone

    @rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun): you need a good attorney who ONLY does Social Security disability.  You should file your first application on your own, then take your rejection paperwork to said attorney.  Almost no attorney worth her salt will speak to you until after you’ve been rejected once. Pay attention to appeal deadline!

  30. 30.

    Suzanne

    The Pitchbot is en fuego.

    In this New Jersey town, it was a tradition: get in the car, drive through the Holland Tunnel, then drive nine blocks across town to a diner a half a mile east of Grand Central for waffles and eggs. But now the woke mob is taking all of that away.

  31. 31.

    buddhacat

    News I wish I had missed: All the white savior fans of Caitlyn Clark showing their asses with the rumor of CC not making the Olympic team. Such a great bunch of teams and players in the WNBA, with wonderful stories too, and these numbnuts had to come in and trash it with their nonstop sanctimonious grievances.

  32. 32.

    Jackie

    @different-church-lady: @karen marie: 

    Sean Hannity reacting to an already debunked FB story:

    …”And earlier tonight — this is huge, —Judge Merchan from the Trump trial sent a letter to lawyers on both sides of the case letting them know that before the verdict was announced that a Facebook user —I believe the day before the verdict — left a comment on the state court system’s posts, writing ‘My cousin is a juror and says Trump is getting convicted.’ Okay, was the fix in from the beginning? And is this cause for a mistrial?” the Fox News host asked.

    But long before Hannity’s show took to the airwaves, the wheels were wobbly if not fully coming off the claim, once the person, who goes by the name “Michael Anderson” backtracked.

    “Take it easy … I’m a professional s—poster,” Anderson wrote.

    https://www.rawstory.com/trump-felony-juror-rumor/

  33. 33.

    Suzanne

    It has been a busy day. I woke up at 5 to join the run club, and did a 10-mile run. Was 60 degrees when I started, 70 when I finished, and I took a wrong turn near the end….. ran through and area filled with a huge a gorgeous flock of Canada geese, and tried really hard to avoid all the goose poop on my way back to the meeting point.

    Should dye my roots right now. But enjoying lying around without pants on.

  34. 34.

    Betty

    @TBone: All of which to say how screwed up is this system for helping people who are disabled. Those with limited income and probably mobility issues.

  37. 37.

    Jackie

    @smith:

    More bullshit that I found striking: The Felon is claiming that he’s the one who negotiated lower prices for insulin, not Biden. It’s such an easily disproved claim, but he’s going for it.

    TCFG apparently made a big deal about it on his social media. Biden bit back immediately, calling TCFG a flat out liar.

    My worry is that too many folks will believe TCFG’s claim – AND this is just the start of his syncopates parroting the same lie to faux and newsmax viewers. And TCFG starts lying about other Biden accomplishments – claiming them as his own. He is well beyond shameless.😡

  38. 38.

    sab

    We have White Castle sliders in our grocery. Tiny square burgers with cooked onions, and cheese. I add a pickle. I think they are so-so but spouse thinks they are fabulous, so part of our meal rotation now. Easy to cook.  seconds in  the microwave.

    Served tonight with cole slaw and corn on the cob.

    Last time we had oven fried potatoes.

  39. 39.

    smith

    @Jackie: And of course people who exist entirely within Fox News Fantasyland never encounter contradictory information, so anything he claims is instantly a proven fact.

  40. 40.

    WaterGirl

    @sab: You went into moderation because your NYM showed as “sabh”.  So you’ll need to delete the H before you post again, or that will go into moderation, too.

    re: White Castle.  Loved them as a kid.  Noticed that you didn’t use the word “meat” anywhere in your comment, which is good.  Not sure there is any meat in there, but I don’t want to know. :-)

  41. 41.

    japa21

    @Jackie: Well if all the other Republicans can take credit for things they had nothing to do with, why can’t Trump?

  42. 42.

    Jeffro

    The HOOS are GOING to OMAHA!!!   (for the College World Series)

    Oh man, what fun today in Cville!

  43. 43.

    dmsilev

    Nothing quite so much fun as waking up to finding a 5:45 AM email from a grad student saying ‘I think there’s still a leak in the equipment’. Schlep into work to run the necessary follow-up tests. He was right. Sigh. Our marathon continues. Aggrieved ‘this has gone on long enough’ email to manufacturer has been sent, Highly Placed Colleague, one of the main users of Shiny New Equipment, duly informed and pissed-off response duly received (pissed off at manufacturer, not at me, so I understand and agree completely, but I still get the messages…). It’s been a day

    Roasting some chicken and potatoes in a nice lemon and fennel seed sauce right now. That seems much more pleasant than thinking about work.

  44. 44.

    dmsilev

    @Suzanne:

    a huge a gorgeous flock of Canada geese

    I really hope that’s AutoCorrect fucking with you, because I’m not sure ‘gorgeous’ and ‘flock of Canada geese’ belong anywhere near each other.

  47. 47.

    Jeffro

    @TBone:Habs warned us all via CNN that Dotard really is out for revenge if he’s reelected

    It’s a complete failure of imagination, I just can’t figure out on whose part: the media, American voters, both?

    YES…there really will be roadblocks and checkpoints set up across the country, ostensibly looking for illegal immigrants.

    YES…there really will be pharmacies refusing to fill prescriptions for even the most basic kinds of birth control, even in blue states.

    YES…every federal law enforcement agency in the country will be thrown into chaos once they are ordered to go ‘get’ prominent Democrats, members of the media, and a few token RINOs on charges of ‘disloyalty’ to the country.

    This is to say nothing of our instantaneous Inauguration Day withdrawal from NATO, 10% (or higher) tariffs slapped on everything, all forms of support to Ukraine withdrawn…whatever Vlad wants, he’ll get within the first week.

    Far too many on the right are far too complicit to stand up and say or do anything now.

    BUT

    …it is still a long time until Election Day.  Heck, it’s a long time to trump’s sentencing and the RNC, in my book.

    Wake people up.  Get them imagining.  And let’s all keep doing what we were going to do anyway: work like hell to turn out our folks and our votes.

  48. 48.

    WaterGirl

    @dmsilev: When it comes to physics experiments, the equipment trumps days of the week as well as previous plans.

    There are always hiccups, but faulty equipment needs to be remedied by the manufacturer. ASAP.

  49. 49.

    Jeffro

    @WaterGirl: yes indeed!

    The last game vs Mississippi State, and then last night’s game and today’s game vs Kansas State…it was like watching the same game three times.  (But in a good way!)

    Slight opponent lead…slight lead by Virginia…muddling along through the middle innings…and then WHAMMO!  3, 4, 5 runs to seal the deal near the end of the game.

    Good stuff!  I won’t be able to go see them in Omaha, but I’ll be watching.  =)

  50. 50.

    Ken

    @dmsilev: Maybe if they’re flying away?  Although I’ve never seen that; our local geese seem to have evolved away from that.

  51. 51.

    zhena gogolia

    Wow, I always learn about people when they die, from the obituaries in the NYT, which are the only part I read now. Amazing man, Jürgen Moltmann:

    Yet throughout his career, he returned to the point he made in his first books: God chooses not to be a judge of mankind, but to be a fellow sufferer, and he will one day end suffering for everyone, not just a select few.

    “I am convinced that God is with those who suffer violence and injustice and he is on their side,” he said in a 2012 interview with the British magazine Third Way. “He is not the general director of the theater, he is in the play.”

  53. 53.

    dmsilev

    @WaterGirl: Oh believe me, I’m well acquainted with the scheduling needs of expensive gear. The worst of all are the national facilities, where the things cost hundreds of millions of dollars to build and thousands of dollars per day per user to operate. When you get time on those things, it’s 24/7, and it’s a damned busy 24 hours usually. Send two or three people there for a week, work 16 or 18 hours a day with staggered shifts so you have both complete coverage and times when everyone is on site at once, and then collapse at the end.

    This isn’t quite that bad. Really, the student didn’t need to email me that early; I would have logged in and checked the system on my own soon enough.

    This particular set of leaks has been a real bear to track down. We seal everything up, check for leaks, and then cool down, and as things thermally contract, some seal loosens up and the thing starts to leak. Warm up, remake the seals in hope that it was just a factory worker being a bit sloppy, repeat. Nope, leaks open up again. So, looks like there are some threads that aren’t holding well or some other mechanical fault with that particular subsystem, so it will probably have to be replaced. Too bad for the manufacturer, who will have to eat the cost of a replacement unit, but they should have done a better job of quality control….

  54. 54.

    rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun)

    @Betty: Limited mobility is my main physical issue. On a good day I can walk 1000 feet. On a bad one I’m lucky to walk across the apartment.

  55. 55.

    Trivia Man

    @Betty: As it relates to student loan forgiveness: some  huge % of the bullions “Biden gave away” as a simple decree that “if you qualify for forgiveness under (several programs ) you do bt need to apply. It us automatically forgiven.”

    Many, man more benefits need to be this way.

  56. 56.

    rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun)

    Thank you @TBone and @hueyplong for the advice. I have a group that is supposed to be helping me now, but they’re about as useful as mammary glands on a bull. Will probably dump them, get denied by myself, then go to attorney for appeal.

    ETA

    physical diagnoses: class III obesity (same thing that just killed Mandisa), high blood pressure, three degenerative discs in back (hence the mobility problems)

    mental diagnoses: autism, bipolar disorder type II, complex trauma, anxiety disorder

  58. 58.

    narya

    Sitting in front of a roaring campfire, over which we grilled venison beef (2:1) burgers. It’s in the low 60s, so the fire is welcome. About to enjoy a 3-year vertical tasting of some Central Waters fancy something.

  62. 62.

    Suzanne

    @dmsilev: I love birds, and I think Canada geese are gorgeous. I mean… they’re definitely assholes, but they’re lovely. They had some of the little fuzzy goslings, and they were so stinkin’ cute.

    But, I mean…. I like pigeons, too.

  63. 63.

    PaulWartenberg

    I had to work at the library today. we’ve started our summer reading programs for the kids. oy.

    I need motivation to write. Please send a copy editor with a shotgun and an egg timer.

  65. 65.

    rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun)

    @Suzanne: In the Lenape language, they’re called Wawas. Which always makes me smile when I see one.

  70. 70.

    dmsilev

    @Suzanne: Right now, I’m watching some hummingbirds argue about access to my feeders. They’re very pretty, but pound for pound are probably bigger assholes than geese.

  71. 71.

    TBone

    @zhena gogolia: that is my quiet little understanding of how spiritual matters might work.  He exists because we do as well as vice versa, if that is the case…he created us so that he might exist, in other words.  Like yin and yang maybe.

  73. 73.

    rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun)

    @zhena gogolia: This interpretation is why I am a Christian. Not because of the American evangelical godbotherers, but in spite of them.

  77. 77.

    TBone

    @rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun): do you have a friend or family member who can help you get out and about?  The SS court requires substantial medical proof of disability, and without records of medical treatment that suffice to convince the judge that you required such treatment, the judge will give little weight to a claim.  They don’t take your word for it, they require proof.  An attorney will tell you the same thing. It sucks. It’s hard. Really hard!  It’s costly and time consuming.  But if it were easy, and could be accomplished by merely submitting your story to the court, any schmoe who can write would be getting paid.  That’s how the judge and the courts see it.

  78. 78.

    WaterGirl

    @dmsilev: Oh, I didn’t mean to sound like I was telling you how it is; I was attempting to let you know that I have a bit of understanding of how it is.

    Your experiments are similar to those of my best friend, who I have mentioned to you before – who is also a physicist.

    Meant more to say that I have witnessed your pain first hand. :-)

    Experimental physics is not for the faint of heart!

  79. 79.

    Suzanne

    @dmsilev: I just ordered a bird feeder with a camera and supposedly AI to identify the birds. It’s ostensibly for Mr. Suzanne for Fathers’ Day, but OMG IT LOOKS SO GREAT.

  80. 80.

    dmsilev

    @WaterGirl: No worries, your intended meaning came through. I’ve just been ranting about the situation at an increasing volume for the last month or so…

  81. 81.

    dmsilev

    @Suzanne: Sounds nice. I haven’t needed AI to identify the visitors I get; it’s a mixture of Annas and Rufuous hummingbirds, and hooded orioles in the spring. The latter look ridiculous drinking from the small feeders, but somehow that doesn’t bother them.

  82. 82.

    TBone

    @rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun): one of the reasons I know what it takes is because my SS judge didn’t think I required treatment because I didn’t have someone in my corner to help and I was too sick to get to all the doctors by myself.  Travel $, ability to ambulate or even get out of bed some days shot my case (medical records evidencing ongoing treatment) full of holes.  Denied!  The other reason I know is from working in the legal field.

  83. 83.

    rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun)

    @TBone: I don’t have a support system. BUT I have 10+ years of documentation, via medical records and HR records at my last fulltime job. I’ve been gathering that together, plus the records from my current psych and PCP.

    You’re right, it’s not easy. My Mom went through this in the 1990s.

  85. 85.

    Ohio Mom

    @rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun): Perhaps you already know this: there are a number of different Social Security programs.

    To qualify for SSDI, you need to have worked for at least 40 quarters (the equivalent of ten years). Assuming you are approved, the amount of your benefit will be based on your earnings. So a disabled former ditch digger will have a much small monthly benefit than a disabled neurosurgeon. After 24 months on SSDI, you are eligible for Medicare (even if you are under 65).

    If you don’t have enough of a work history, you may need to file for SSI. To qualify for SSI, you must be poor. As in, not have assets over $2,000. The amount of the monthly benefit is $943. You are allowed to earn money but your award will be decreased one dollar for every $2 you earn. On the plus side, you immediately automatically qualify for Medicaid.

    We are a miserably mean society.

    Also, let’s say you apply on July 1, 2024 and after the initial turn down an appeals, you are finally approved three years later. You will get a lump sum of all the benefits you would have collected if they had started on July 1, 2024. The attorney will take a big chunk of that for payment.

  86. 86.

    TBone

    @rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun): you’re off to a good start.  I hope you can stick it out and prevail!  My hubby was able to get SSD (not SSDI) because of a specialist who my boss at the time sent us to who wrote a few ironclad reports.  I hope you find (or have now) such a doctor.  He got Medicare immediately and a retroactive lump sum payment, plus monthly benefits.

  91. 91.

    rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun)

    @Ohio Mom: Sometimes it feels as if we are but one election removed from Dickensian workhouses.

    Thankfully I would receive SSDI, according to the phone interview I had with SSA.

  92. 92.

    rebelsdad (aka texasboyshaun)

    @TBone: That would be great. I will say that I’ve already spoken to my current PCP, my psychiatrist, and my psychologist. They are all enthusiastically on board. They’ve already gotten me a deferral from SNAP’s work requirements as well as a disabled passenger ID from NJ Transit.

  97. 97.

    Ken

    @WaterGirl: Experimental physics is not for the faint of heart!

    I’d think the experiments are fun and exciting, but the grant proposals require stoutheartedness.

    “We need twelve billion dollars to build a machine that may or may not confirm the existence of a new particle. Oh, and after it’s built we need a billion a year to run it.”

  98. 98.

    karen marie

    @WaterGirl: I don’t go looking for MAGA hysterics.  The only way I hear about such things are in point-and-laugh situations.

  99. 99.

    karen marie

    @TBone:   I’m a day late and a dollar short, but I’m sitting here laughing about poor fucking Maggie Haberman suddenly concerned for her own safety.

    Boo fucking hoo, Maggie.

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