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You are here: Home / Open Threads / Thursday Afternoon Open Thread

Thursday Afternoon Open Thread

by WaterGirl|  August 8, 20243:55 pm| 66 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

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I just had to share this, just sent to me by JCJ.

Thursday Afternoon Open Thread 7

Seems like the perfect starter for an open thread.

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Previous Post: «Time Machine: Oct 2018, Before Tim Walz Was Elected Governor Time Machine: Oct 2018, Before Tim Walz Was Elected Governor
Next Post: Grandpa Let Loose »

Reader Interactions

66Comments

  1. 1.

    BR

    August 8, 2024 at 3:57 pm

    I’m gratified that Trump’s press conference was as much of a trainwreck as I thought it would be. He’s remarkably predictable these days, and that might be part of why ordinary people are getting tired of him.

  2. 2.

    Mowgli

    August 8, 2024 at 4:00 pm

    Trolling Noem is like the easiest game ever played. These people are truly the worst, and stupid to boot.

  3. 3.

    VFX Lurker

    August 8, 2024 at 4:00 pm

    My official, tasteful “Kamala” signature shirt shipped yesterday from the official Kamala Harris store. Yay! Can’t wait to wear it.

    I ordered another four unofficial “Kamala Harris” shirts with lovely designs from Amazon. Not a dime goes to the Harris-Walz campaign…but I still hope to promote Kamala Harris by wearing them.

  4. 4.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    August 8, 2024 at 4:01 pm

    That picture is hilarious.

    I see Trump has agreed to debate Harris on ABC on Sept 10. I wonder if he’s convinced himself she’s stupid so he can safely face her.

  5. 5.

    Seanly

    August 8, 2024 at 4:02 pm

    My dogs (one coincidentally named Cricket) want me to say that Kristi can STFU.

  6. 6.

    Leto

    August 8, 2024 at 4:03 pm

    I’ve been saving this for an appropriate time: kindness.

  7. 7.

    TS

    August 8, 2024 at 4:04 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    I worry that the expectations of  Kamala will be over the moon, while trump will “win” the debate if he doesn’t melt down on stage and cry for his mother.

  8. 8.

    NaijaGal

    August 8, 2024 at 4:05 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor: He caved! Wonder how the outlets that breathlessly pushed the Fox News Trump-proposed debate with Harris as if it was a done deal will react.*

    *I don’t really wonder…

  9. 9.

    UncleEbeneezer

    August 8, 2024 at 4:05 pm

    @VFX Lurker: I just purchased three items today that I will hopefully get in a week or two.

    1.) Pink “Kamala 2024” tee shirt using the Barbie font

    2.) Cat Dad’s For Harris tee shirt

    3.) White Dudes For Harris hat (proceeds go to campaign)

  10. 10.

    zhena gogolia

    August 8, 2024 at 4:05 pm

    @Leto: Is it just my computer that doesn’t have audio?

  11. 11.

    What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    August 8, 2024 at 4:07 pm

    @NaijaGal: He caved for now. Tomorrow? Who knows? He may pull back out again.

  12. 12.

    BeautifulPlumage

    August 8, 2024 at 4:07 pm

    I stayed out of the VP nomination discourse knowing I knew little about the individuals and nothing about what the campaign would prioritize. I am so, so happy that picking Walz has made Democrats very happy and the grifter party very, very sad. Harris & Walz have a great team taking advantage of this time before the convention.

  13. 13.

    Dorothy A. Winsor

    August 8, 2024 at 4:07 pm

    @zhena gogolia: Mine doesn’t either. Just the captions.

  14. 14.

    Frankensteinbeck

    August 8, 2024 at 4:07 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    I wonder if he’s convinced himself she’s stupid so he can safely face her.

    I believe his press conference and the NABJ prove he’s so high on his own farts that he thinks the most vile, deranged shit that make him look like LSD Hitler is actually brilliant speech making.  While liberals were all panicking about Biden’s debate performance, Trump’s response to it was to throw a tantrum that his perfect performance wasn’t being appreciated – because undecideds listened to him and recoiled in horror.

    His team may be bowing to a much simpler reality:  Republican voters do not like loser stink.  Back out of a debate, and they see cowardice and your poll numbers drop.

  15. 15.

    Captain C

    August 8, 2024 at 4:08 pm

    @NaijaGal: It will be memory holed.

  16. 16.

    NaijaGal

    August 8, 2024 at 4:08 pm

    @Leto: That was so touching, even without audio!

  17. 17.

    Jackie

    August 8, 2024 at 4:09 pm

    @zhena gogolia: I’m not getting audio either.

  18. 18.

    NorthLeft

    August 8, 2024 at 4:09 pm

    Kristi: America, I knew Walz in Congress, and that man would not shoot a dog. Hell, he wouldn’t even shoot a goat! And just to be clear, I mean that as a criticism. Sometimes, as a parent or Governor, dogs and goats need to be shot!

  19. 19.

    TBone

    August 8, 2024 at 4:10 pm

    @BR: this is truly a great response from Harris Walz campaign:

    https://x.com/cmclymer/status/1821635676195926220

  20. 20.

    4D*hiker

    August 8, 2024 at 4:11 pm

    Walz was always going to be the sacrificial anode for this ticket. It’s one of the reasons he was selected as the older white male running mate for Harris, the first woman of color at the top of the ticket. Harris/Walz know this.

    …..and I have no doubt that Walz is saying “Bring it on, you weirdos.”

  21. 21.

    Leto

    August 8, 2024 at 4:11 pm

    @zhena gogolia: @Dorothy A. Winsor: it doesn’t, just captions.

    Via OldSchool in the last thread, at comment #329, this needs sharing again. A current Downfall parody:

    𝕊𝕦𝕟𝕕𝕒𝕖_𝔾𝕦𝕣𝕝@SundaeDivine

    Offered without comment

    I was laughing too hard!

  22. 22.

    Chris

    August 8, 2024 at 4:12 pm

    @Mowgli:

    Kristi Noem’s story keeps reminding me of that moment in Charlie Wilson’s War.  When he describes his first foray into politics, and it turns out it was revenge on a local politician who killed his dog.  (Spent all of election day driving voters to and from the polls and every trip, casually dropping into the conversation “by the way, Mr. Charles Hazzard killed my dog.”)

  23. 23.

    BeautifulPlumage

    August 8, 2024 at 4:12 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:  I like how he thinks the FOX debate* will happen first (Sep 4th).

    *rally he doesn’t have to pay for (I appreciate that commenters here and on Bluesky saw that right away)

  24. 24.

    brantl

    August 8, 2024 at 4:13 pm

    Well, Kristi, he beat your compentency by a lot, as he didn’t shoot his dog, you bitch.

  25. 25.

    Chris

    August 8, 2024 at 4:14 pm

    @Dorothy A. Winsor:

    Pity.  I was really hoping that we’d go the rest of the election season with no debates, and maybe, just maybe, the end result would be to stake that idiotic tradition through the heart.

    (No, it’s not that I’m bitter over Biden/Trump.  I haven’t watched a debate since 2008.  I fucking hate these things.  They’re pro wrestling for nerds, masquerading as civics).

  26. 26.

    eclare

    August 8, 2024 at 4:15 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    The sound didn’t play for me either.  I kept clicking on the video to get the sound icon, and it never came up.

  27. 27.

    WaterGirl

    August 8, 2024 at 4:16 pm

    @Mowgli:

    Trolling Noem is like the easiest game ever played.

    Are you sure fo that?  Because Vance and his couch are pretty easy to troll. :-)

  28. 28.

    thruppence

    August 8, 2024 at 4:17 pm

    @BeautifulPlumage: And if Kamala declines to accept the September 4th FOX debate (and why should she) Trump will duck the September 10th debate where he knows deep down he’ll be squashed like a particularly loathsome bug.

  29. 29.

    realbtl

    August 8, 2024 at 4:17 pm

    I’m pretty sure that’s a German Shorthair without a docked tail. If so my opinion of Walz went up another notch.

  30. 30.

    eclare

    August 8, 2024 at 4:17 pm

    @TBone:

    BURN!  Wow.

  31. 31.

    Old School

    August 8, 2024 at 4:18 pm

    @zhena gogolia:

    Is it just my computer that doesn’t have audio?

    Here’s a Facebook video of that with sound.

    And a YouTube follow-up video.

  32. 32.

    eclare

    August 8, 2024 at 4:18 pm

    @Chris:

    Oh that’s right.  Love that movie.

  33. 33.

    Baud

    August 8, 2024 at 4:19 pm

    @TBone:

    Heh. They accused Trump of wearing pants.

  34. 34.

    zhena gogolia

    August 8, 2024 at 4:20 pm

    @Jackie: Okay. It’s very cute and I want to hear the voices!

  35. 35.

    Chris

    August 8, 2024 at 4:21 pm

    @eclare:

    Probably my favorite Aaron Sorkin project.

    Though the book it’s based on is even better.

  36. 36.

    zhena gogolia

    August 8, 2024 at 4:21 pm

    @Leto: I loved the video of the little boy and Biden.

    And yes, Downfall is perfect for once!

  37. 37.

    NaijaGal

    August 8, 2024 at 4:22 pm

    @Old School: Thank you for sharing the FB version with audio. I’d never seen that particular video – don’t know how I missed it.

  38. 38.

    eclare

    August 8, 2024 at 4:23 pm

    @Chris:

    Philip Seymour Hoffman was so good.

  39. 39.

    sab

    August 8, 2024 at 4:24 pm

    @realbtl: I thought it was a Springer Spaniel or an English Setter. To much fur for a German Shorthair.

  40. 40.

    zhena gogolia

    August 8, 2024 at 4:24 pm

    @Old School: Great, thanks!

  41. 41.

    zhena gogolia

    August 8, 2024 at 4:25 pm

    @sab: Looks like a springer spaniel to me.

  42. 42.

    What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?

    August 8, 2024 at 4:26 pm

    @sab: Looks like a Springer to me but I have to confess I’m not familiar with English Setters. I did grow up with a Springer so I know those well.

  43. 43.

    KatKapCC

    August 8, 2024 at 4:26 pm

    @TS: They’re gonna ask her to recite pi to 100 digits, make her lectern levitate, and invent cold fusion on the spot.

  44. 44.

    MisterForkbeard

    August 8, 2024 at 4:35 pm

    @TS: Today’s press conference somewhat supports that. Trump was decompensating rapidly and couldn’t keep a straight line, and was saying straight up crazy things. Meanwhile, the primary news reaction is “Trump challenges Kamala to three debates”

  45. 45.

    JoyceH

    August 8, 2024 at 4:36 pm

    I saw that Twitter has coined a new term for Walz’s super power – he has ‘tonic masculinity’, which is the exact and delightful opposite of toxic masculinity.

  46. 46.

    Trollhattan

    August 8, 2024 at 4:38 pm

    @What Have The Romans Ever Done for Us?:

    I’m in camp springer. I have a GSP and the Walz pup has a feathered coat, and a fine friendly face. Clearly a Good Boy.

  47. 47.

    JoyceH

    August 8, 2024 at 4:38 pm

    @MisterForkbeard: The prime time news shows are going to run clips of that presser, and it’s not going to be favorable. In 2016, when the MSM gave Trump live coverage, it was an in-kind contribution to the Trump campaign. In 2024, it’s an in-kind contribution to the Harris campaign.

  48. 48.

    Miki

    August 8, 2024 at 4:44 pm

    @sab: English Springer Spaniel for the win.

  49. 49.

    Msb

    August 8, 2024 at 4:45 pm

    And Walz didn’t murder a creature that loved and trusted him. How Noem can sleep at night …

  50. 50.

    sab

    August 8, 2024 at 4:49 pm

  51. 51.

    TBone

    August 8, 2024 at 4:49 pm

    @Baud: I thought of you instantly!

  52. 52.

    sab

    August 8, 2024 at 4:50 pm

    I think it’s a Springer. It’s knee high, and Setters are bigger than retrievers. But he has an undocked tail, which is why I also guessed Setter.

  53. 53.

    TBone

    August 8, 2024 at 4:51 pm

    @eclare: Nicole Wallace just read the entire response on Deadline Whitehouse.  It’s a fact check for the ages!

    It is a thing of beauty!

  54. 54.

    Captain C

    August 8, 2024 at 4:52 pm

    @KatKapCC: And when she does all that they’ll give TCFG credit.

  55. 55.

    TBone

    August 8, 2024 at 4:57 pm

    @JoyceH:

    This Marcotte article came out about about tonic masculinity today and I was jumping for joy! 😍

    https://www.salon.com/2024/08/08/tim-walzs-normal-energy-is-causing-maga-to-come-unglued/

    I have been so lucky to have found my hubby, who demonstrates it daily.  His stepdad was a Marine (as was mine) who took time with his son to instill proper masculine values that first do no harm.

  56. 56.

    NaijaGal

    August 8, 2024 at 5:04 pm

    @TBone: Thanks for sharing that!

  57. 57.

    Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.)

    August 8, 2024 at 5:05 pm

    That’s a mighty nice looking Brittany spaniel he has there. Yet another reason he was the right one to choose.

  58. 58.

    JoyceH

    August 8, 2024 at 5:05 pm

    WaPo headline, their takeaway from the Trump event: Trump suggests he’s open to revoking access to abortion pill.

    Give that man a mike at every opportunity and watch him shoot himself in the foot with it.

  59. 59.

    TBone

    August 8, 2024 at 5:15 pm

    @NaijaGal: yours in service,

    TBone

  60. 60.

    Mousebumples

    August 8, 2024 at 5:18 pm

    @sab: I agree! Looks like the English Springer Spaniels I had as a kid.

  61. 61.

    sab

    August 8, 2024 at 5:19 pm

    @Lord Fartdaddy (Formerly Mumphrey, Smedley Darlington Mingobat, et al.): Thank you!

  62. 62.

    TheronWare

    August 8, 2024 at 5:37 pm

    The gun dog in the pick is a big plus. Hey I used to enjoy watching “Hunting With Hank” on OLN.

  63. 63.

    The Golux

    August 8, 2024 at 6:18 pm

    @Leto:

    I’ve been saving this for an appropriate time: kindness.

    What surprised me about that was that it was from 2020, and Biden didn’t seem much different than he is today.  Which just reinforces that the hyperventilating about Joe’s fitness was completely overblown.  Nevertheless, there was no way for Biden to tamp down the fitness panic (the mainstream media would relentlessly keep it alive), which was necessary.  No way, that is, except for making the handoff to Kamala, which now looks like a brilliant move.

  64. 64.

    Eyeroller

    August 8, 2024 at 6:41 pm

    @sab: Miki’s link above confirmed it was an English Springer Spaniel. So you were correct.

    German wirehairs have curly coats even away from the muzzle, which it’s pretty clear that dog did not have.

  65. 65.

    Eyeroller

    August 8, 2024 at 6:53 pm

    @The Golux: He couldn’t fight the Republicans and the press and his *own party*.

    There were other reasons to argue for a younger candidate (e.g. to contrast more sharply with Trump, have more energy for a tough campaign, etc.) and those are valid considerations.  But claiming he was mentally unfit was slander/libel.  He may have some of the very mild cognitive decline we all experience as we age, which could make it harder for him to manage his stuttering (I have read about stutterers who say it’s harder as one gets older).  Normal age-related cognitive decline also results in sometimes mixing up names or temporarily forgetting words.  Ask me how I know.  But it is not remotely near dementia.

    I watched a video of his appearance on Meet the Press in 2012 when he was arguing in favor of gay marriage (Obama was still opposed at this point).  I’d never really listened to him closely, but wow his stuttering+cluttering was very noticeable.  And that was 12 years ago.

  66. 66.

    Miki

    August 8, 2024 at 7:43 pm

    @Eyeroller: Guys & Dogs are one of the only reasons I occasionally consider partnering up again ($ and getting me out more are the other reasons).

    And yes – I am a poodle person.

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