Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

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

Optimism opens the door to great things.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

The republican caucus is covering themselves with something, and it is not glory.

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

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Republicans in disarray!

Celebrate the fucking wins.

“A king is only a king if we bow down.” – Rev. William Barber

Donald Trump found guilty as fuck – May 30, 2024!

The only way through is to slog through the muck one step at at time.

They want us to be overwhelmed and exhausted. Focus. Resist. Oppose.

This country desperately needs a functioning fourth estate.

Our messy unity will be our strength.

“Alexa, change the president.”

Come on, man.

… riddled with inexplicable and elementary errors of law and fact

Democracy cannot function without a free press.

“Until such time as the world ends, we will act as though it intends to spin on.”

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

Never give a known liar the benefit of the doubt.

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

Balloon Juice, where there is always someone who will say you’re doing it wrong.

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Holidays – Miki – Holidays When We Were Little series

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Christmas Day 1959 in Huntsville, Alabama. We would have been 8, 5, 4, and 3 here. (I’m the blonde kid with her eyes closed.) I’m thinking my mom did the tinsel on the tree – no way could us kids have hung that much that straight. Note that even my brother has a doll. My folks were way ahead of their time.

In addition to the annual posed picture, my dad also hauled out the big lights and took movies. Fun times. 

 

Holidays – Miki – Holidays When We Were Little seriesPost + Comments (12)

On The Road - Miki - Holidays When We Were Little series
Huntsville, Alabama December 25, 1959

Huntsville Xmas 1959

Tuesday Night Open Thread

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Joelle is in quite a bit of pain today and frustrated and struggling, but we will get through this. Dad was released and is home, and Devon flew down and is working from there for the next week.

I really wish I had time to say more but I have so much shit going on. Remember to take some time for yourselves, people.

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War for Ukraine Day 1,028: Russian General Go Boom

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Ukraine’s Security Service, the SBU, targeted and killed a Russian general in Moscow this morning.

Latest: A Ukrainian intelligence official with direct knowledge of the attack told me that the security service of Ukraine, the SBU, was behind the killing of Kirillov and his assistant. “Kirilov was a war criminal and a completely legitimate target,” the official said. www.ft.com/content/ccb1…

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— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 3:35 AM

Video of the liquidation of the Lieutenant General of the Russian Armed Forces Igor Kirillov and his assistant Ilya Polikarpov (apparently a Major) as a result of an explosion of a planted IED in Moscow.

One of the best and most successful operations of this kind in the entire war.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 6:23 AM

From The Financial Times:

A top Russian general accused of using chemical weapons in the invasion of Ukraine has died after a bomb went off at the entrance to his home in Moscow early on Tuesday, investigators said, killing him and his assistant.

Russia’s Investigative Committee, a major crimes unit, said Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, the head of the military’s nuclear, chemical and biological defence forces, had died in an explosion caused by a bomb placed on a scooter.

Kirillov is the most prominent military officer to be assassinated since Russia began its full-scale of invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Ukraine’s SBU security service had a day earlier put out a “notice of suspicion” — essentially a warrant — for Kirillov over alleged “war crimes committed” against Kyiv’s forces.

A Ukrainian intelligence official with direct knowledge of the attack told the Financial Times that the SBU was behind the killing.

“Kirillov was a war criminal and a completely legitimate target, as he gave orders to use banned chemical weapons against the Ukrainian military,” the official said. “Such an inglorious end awaits all who kill Ukrainians. Retribution for war crimes is inevitable.”

The official said the scooter carrying the explosives had been detonated when Kirillov and his assistant, identified in Russian media as Ilya P, were near the entrance of a house on Ryazansky Prospekt in Moscow where the driver had come to take the general to work.

The bomb on the scooter contained between 100 and 300 grammes of TNT, according to Russian news outlets, citing sources in the investigation.

The SBU’s statement on Monday said Kirillov was “responsible for the mass use of banned chemical weapons by the Russians against the defence forces on the eastern and southern fronts of Ukraine”.

It blamed him for “more than 4,800 cases of the enemy’s use of chemical munitions [that] have been recorded since the beginning of the full-scale war”.

Much more at the link.

President Zelenskyy traveled to Lviv today. He attended a memorial service and  visited with Ukrainian veterans in rehab.

President Zelensky in Lviv, on the Field of Mars, honored the memory of Ukrainian soldiers who gave their lives for independence.
t.me/c/1377735387…

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 6:26 AM

He also met with Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. Here is the video of their joint press availability.

Poland:

“Poland is preparing a new aid package for Ukraine worth €100 million.” – Polish Prime Minister Tusk announced during his visit to Lviv.

He also noted that Poland, together with its partners, is considering the possibility of providing Ukraine with additional equipment.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 11:41 AM

Georgia:

🗣️”The Georgian people deserves more.

They deserve better.

We stand by President Salome Zourabichvili and by all Georgians who fight for freedom and democracy”, Valérie Hayer, MEP, President of @reneweurope.bsky.social.

#GeorgiaProtests #StandWithGeorgianPeople

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— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) December 17, 2024 at 11:08 AM

The regime propaganda media POSTV rigged the @Europarl_EN press release. While the press release stated that the Georgian President Zourabichvili would address the EU Parliament, POSTV added the word “former” President.
And they couldn’t rig the elections?
#terrorinGeorgia

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 3:17 PM

“We demand new elections and the release of political prisoners under the regime” – #GeorgianProtests are underway in Tbilisi. Day 20.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 1:43 PM

Day 20. Release the unlawfully detained; schedule new, free and fair elections. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests
📷 Giorgi Burjanadze

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 1:46 PM

This is quite great. A good start for a potential general strike. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 10:35 AM

Updates here: Freebusiness.ge

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 7:27 AM

JUST IN: One of the Unity-National Movement leaders Giorgi Vashadze was attacked with a screwdriver. The attacker attempted to stab him in the neck. Essentially, it’s an attempted murder.
He managed to flee. #terrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 2:07 PM

The attacker dropped this.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 2:12 PM

The Kerch Strait:

Fuel oil from the wrecked tankers Volgoneft-212 and Volgoneft-239 washed up on the Black Sea coast. Krasnodar Krai, Russia.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 7:23 AM

The Black Sea:

Another, third Russian tanker, Volgoneft-109, has sent a distress signal near the port of Kavkaz in the Black Sea.

It is reported that fuel oil leaked through a crack on board.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 8:58 AM

The Kursk cross border offensive:

“Special Operations Forces killed 50 North Koreans on Kursk Front.

Soldiers of the 8th Regiment of the Special Operations Forces gave a warm welcome to North Korean troops in Kursk region. Over the course of three days, SOF operators killed 50 enemy soldiers and wounded 47 more.” t.me/ukr_sof/1305

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 4:22 AM

Zaporizhzhia Oblast:

In the Zaporizhzhia direction, a unit of the 3rd Special Operations Regiment demolished a building where Russians were hiding, destroyed a concealed enemy vehicle, and struck a military-purpose golf cart.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 11:52 AM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.

This is Glamour the Ukrainian cat! 😺 He is cared for by Lili, who is helping 80 (yes 80 🤯!) cats and dogs in the liberated frontline city of Izium. Some of the cats were sick, so the Hachiko team brought medicine along with food. Lili has quite the full house of displaced pets!

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— Nate Mook (@natemook.bsky.social) December 17, 2024 at 5:27 PM

Open thread!

War for Ukraine Day 1,028: Russian General Go BoomPost + Comments (20)

Justin, There’s No Answer

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Justin, There's No Answer 1
This is a real picture of Claudia Sheinbaum addressing a military academy graduation.  Maybe Trump’s jealous?

Well, things aren’t going so great for Justin Trudeau.  Yesterday, his deputy PM and finance minister, Chrystia Freeland, resigned.  This is a big deal — she was a key advisor and member of his cabinet.  She wrote him a letter.

“For the past number of weeks, you and I have found ourselves at odds about the best path forward for Canada,” said Freeland in a letter to the prime minister.

“Our country today faces a grave challenge. The incoming administration in the United States is pursuing a policy of aggressive economic nationalism, including a threat of 25% tariffs.

“We need to take that threat extremely seriously.”

Freeland wrote that Canada needs to keep its “fiscal powder dry today” so they have the reserves for a “coming tariff war”.

She warned Trudeau that “costly political gimmicks” need to be done away with as they can make Canadians doubt whether the government understands the “gravity of the moment”.

“That means pushing back against ‘America First’ economic nationalism with a determined effort to fight for capital and investment and the jobs they bring. That means working in good faith and humility with the Premiers of the provinces and territories of our great and diverse country, and building a true Team Canada response.”

Trudeau apparently wanted to replace her with Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of England and Bank of Canada, and she didn’t want to roll over and give someone else her job.

Anyway, Trump decided to double-down on shitting on Canada when he heard the latest:

“The Great State of Canada is stunned as the Finance Minister resigns, or was fired, from her position by Governor Justin Trudeau,” Trump posted on his site, Truth Social.

“Her behavior was totally toxic, and not at all conducive to making deals which are good for the very unhappy citizens of Canada. She will not be missed!!!”

Ever since Trudeau flew to Mar-a-Lago, kissed up, and had his picture taken with Trump, Trump has been making dominance displays, proposing to annex Canada and make it our 51st state.

Tellingly, Trump has not gone after Claudia Sheinbaum, President of Mexico.  She did not go to Mar-a-Lago, and as far as I know, has only had one phone call with Trump since the election.  Here’s what she said about Trump calling Mexico a state:

Asked on Monday about Trump’s suggestion that Mexico should become a state of the United States due to the trade imbalance between the two countries, Sheinbaum expressed her desire to cease “dialogue” with the former and future U.S. president “through the media.”

On Tuesday, she explained that what she meant was that her government won’t respond to every “declaration” made by Trump with a public statement of its own. […]

Sheinbaum said Tuesday that her government will “always” defend Mexico as a “free, sovereign and independent country” in the face of insults, accusations and attacks, but emphasized that “everyone has a different way of communicating.”

“This question of entering into permanent dialogue … [by responding to] every statement that is made [by Trump], I don’t think that helps us in the bilateral relationship, right?” she said.

She’s also been quite vocal about the US role in Mexican cartel violence in Sinaloa.

I post on this a fair amount, but I think Claudia is playing it a lot smarter than Justin.  She’ll probably have her time in the barrel, but not capitulating and flying to Mar-a-Lago was the smart move, and picking and choosing which bullshit provocations merit a response is also wise.

(Oddly enough, the President of Mexico does not have an airplane.  AMLO sold the 787 that Enrique Peña Nieto bought when he was in office.  Claudia flew economy to the G20 meeting in Rio last month.)

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It’s Cosplay All the Way Down

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First, this guy (state senator from Pennsylvania) is dumb and funny:

It's Cosplay All the Way Down 2

He now says this was a “joke” which is what all unfunny Republicans say when they’re caught saying something dumb, racist, sexist, abusive or (fill in the blank with a bad thing).

Second, MTG and the real point of this post:

It's Cosplay All the Way Down 3

This be the verse:

  1. I have a shiny toy, it kills and destroys.
  2. There aren’t many uses for my shiny toy, so I have to dream some up.
  3. To dream those up, I need to imagine a world where I, a privileged member of one of the most privileged groups on earth, is threatened.
  4. Then I can talk about using my shiny toy to attack imaginary threats.  It makes me feel better about my investment and bothers other people because my shiny toy is really fucking dangerous, especially in my incompetent/crazy hands.

One of the rentals where we stayed in the Denver area last year overlooked the garage of a serious StarWars cosplayer.  It was just wall-to-wall stormtrooper regalia —  the very definition of a harmless hobby.  Unfortunately, the cosplay that the MTGs of this country have chosen uses killing machines instead of replicas of blasters, so now we have to give a shit about it.

(All of this is via Digby.)

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Fat Cat Strut (Open Thread)

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I’ve never understood why public corruption doesn’t piss people off a lot more. When politicians funnel taxpayer funds to cronies or take massive bribes in exchange for favorable policy, it directly rips people off and/or leads to terrible outcomes, but in all but the most extreme cases (and sometimes even then), voters seem to shrug it off. I don’t know what it would take to make them care.

We’re about to undergo the ultimate test of the public’s tolerance for egregious public corruption when the tacky shoe, steak, water, vodka, fake university, bible and cologne peddler returns to office with an entourage of aspiring and actual monopolists. Senator Warren called attention to one of the worst offenders in a letter to the tacky peddler’s transition team. (WaPo)

“Putting Mr. Musk in a position to influence billions of dollars of government contracts and regulatory enforcement without a stringent conflict of interest agreement in place is an invitation for corruption on a scale not seen in our lifetimes,” Warren wrote. “As your Transition Team Ethics Plan makes clear, the role of government is not to line the pockets of the wealthiest Americans; a strong, enforceable ethics plan for the world’s richest man is a necessary first step for delivering on that promise.”

I’m certain Warren is under no illusions about Trump’s commitment to ethics, but it’s good to lay down a marker. The response to Warren’s email from transition spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt perfectly encapsulates the Trump 2.0 team’s professionalism:

“Pocahontas can play political games and send toothless letters, but the Trump-Vance transition will continue to be held to the highest ethical and legal standards possible — a standard unfamiliar to a career politician whose societal impact is 1/1024th of Elon Musk’s.”

It’s true that Warren doesn’t make exploding cars, so her career’s effects may be less impactful in a kinetic sense than Musk’s. But Warren was the brains behind the creation of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has returned billions of dollars to Americans who were ripped off by scammers like Trump.

Anyway, I’m glad Warren is on the case because the corruption of the incoming rightwing kleptocracy is an opening. Experience tells me it won’t matter as much as it should, but I have some hope that it might make a dent. Why? Because these grotesquely rich creeps are so brazen they might as well be wearing spats and monocles and carrying bags of gold. We’ll see if anyone gives a shit this time.

Open thread!

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