Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

We are learning that “working class” means “white” for way too many people.

🎶 Those boots were made for mockin’ 🎵

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

You would normally have to try pretty hard to self-incriminate this badly.

Let me file that under fuck it.

Peak wingnut was a lie.

Just because you believe it, that does not make it true.

Marge, god is saying you’re stupid.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

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

“I was told there would be no fact checking.”

Tick tock motherfuckers!

They fucked up the fucking up of the fuckup!

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

Since we are repeating ourselves, let me just say fuck that.

“woke” is the new caravan.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

The lights are all blinking red.

This chaos was totally avoidable.

Not loving this new fraud based economy.

But frankly mr. cole, I’ll be happier when you get back to telling us to go fuck ourselves.

You are here: Home / John Cole Presents "This Fucking Old House" / Wednesday Night Open Thread

Wednesday Night Open Thread

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It’s been unseasonably warm here in Tempe, with it hitting 84 here. Joelle and I are both cheap and not rich to begin with, so we are not turning on the AC- I am simply morally opposed to running AC in fucking February and I don’t care where I am. One of the first things I did here since she has no ceiling fans is pick up a bunch of fans, so we are now co-existing in a wind tunnel for the time being. Supposed to get back down in the 70’s next week, and the community pool will be back open (it is closed for a few days for annual cleaning).

In other news, I just got out of a national DSA new member orientation, and later this week I will attend the local meeting. I forget if I mentioned that before. I find some of it a little hokey, with the comrade stuff and what not, but they seemed like good people. OVERWHELMINGLY white, which was jarring, but I think I will enjoy seeing how they organize and getting involved in some direct action. My local chapter, however, looks like the United Colors of Benneton, so that is nice. On Friday they are going to Gallego’s office, and I might attend if I get my work done. Gallego has not really been covering himself in glory, so a little heat could be good.

I’ve kind of given up on Democrats in WV- I mean I will still vote for them and still do all the stuff I have done, but I think as an electoral force West Virginia is gone to the Republicans for the rest of my life. While I am out here I can participate in the things I find useful and lend a hand, and back home I will hit the Pittsburgh chapter. I figure if nothing else, my local chapter could use someone older looking and coded visually as a Republican, and maybe help to protect them at protests and temper the wilder impulses of youth when we visit Senators and the like. Whatever. I need to channel my energy into something and I haven’t seen any calls for action from any Democrats, so I will go where the action is.

For a multitude of reasons, I have not been sleeping well, so I am going to call it a night shortly. Joelle is in watching Severance, which everyone says is phenomenal, but I just have not been interested yet. I will, true to form, watch it in 5 years when the series is done and no one gives a shit.

Oh, one other thing- Maxwell is really warming up to Joelle. I walk into the room all the time and he is lying on her on sitting over her shoulder. I like that she is becoming part owner and not just the backup person.

Be good.

Reader Interactions

50Comments

  1. 1.

    Mai Naem mobil

    I know WV has turned super red but I do wonder if the effects if Medicaid cuts and federal job cuts might affect  voting.  If nothing else at least enthusiasm for voting for the GOP.

  2. 2.

    Jackie

    84 degrees is AC weather. But you can pretend you’re doing hot yoga… Thankfully you took care of Steve’s winter coat :)

  3. 3.

    dmsilev

    Joelle is in watching Severance, which everyone says is phenomenal, but I just have not been interested yet.

    It’s really good, but not exactly an uplifting and happy show, so gauge your mood accordingly before deciding whether to watch.

  4. 4.

    Bupalos

    I think Gallego is kind of covering himself in glory. Or at least in effective democratic representation. That would be a red seat if he didn’t marginally embrace the ick of your basic contractor types and tone down the social justice rhetoric. We can live with Gallego. We can thrive with guys like that.

  6. 6.

    Bupalos

    @Mai Naem mobil: Medicaid and job cuts will make people worse and more desperate. Which means more likely to latch onto post-truth right wing populism.

    If the way politics worked was when a party actually made people’s lives worse they went for the other party then we wouldn’t have a problem.

  8. 8.

    PsiFighter37

    Hopefully the DSA types out in Arizona are better than the worthless performative artists that they are in NYC.

  9. 9.

    dmsilev

    Annals of ‘the dog ate what?’:

    On Feb. 16, veterinarians at the Corona Animal Emergency Center performed abdominal exploratory surgery on Luna and removed a staggering 44 objects. Most of them were socks, the emergency center wrote on Instagram. X-ray photos showed a significant buildup within Luna’s stomach and intestines — and for good reason.
    She had managed to consume 24 socks, a scrunchie, two hair ties, a shoe insert, a onesie and multiple pieces of cloth.

  12. 12.

    Professor Bigfoot

    Cooper’s’ better, but still not 100%.

    He THINKS he is, so he’ll try to jump onto the couch and not… quite… make it, but he’s been able to land on his feet so (crossed fingers).

    Sweetie is doing better with her ACL- and that weird, sweet doggo will take pills straight from the hand. We started wrapping them in cheese, but one day Mrs. B thought, “I wonder if…” and damn my eyes if the dog didn’t take the pill. Without cheese. Anyway, she’s still limping, but not as much- I’m not sure if it’s that she’s getting better or it’s just my hopeful imagination; but we continue. We’re ready to do the ACL surgery, but as long as she’s getting along ok, we’ll stick with the meds.

    Does one take ones cat to the vet to get a lion cut? Or to a standard groomer? My cats would need heavy drugs, I’d think.

  15. 15.

    WaterGirl

    PSA:  Zoom #2 with Elle Reeves is on Saturday at 3:30 Eastern time.

    Be there or be square.  If you went to the last one, it’s the same zoom link, so you can just RSVP in the comments – unless you didn’t keep the link.

    If anyone is coming (hopefully) who wasn’t able to make the last one, please RSVP by email so I can reply with the zoom link.    my nym at balloon-juice.com

  16. 16.

    bbleh

    I concur — sadly — re Dems in WV.  If there is any population more thoroughly vulnerable to the Republicans’ culture-war BS than Appalachia, I’m not sure where.  (And yes I include the Deep South, because those states have substantial Black populations, while WV is whiter than anywhere except a few New England states.)  I suppose the only solace is, WV lost an Electoral Vote last time around.

    But if/when you’re in WV, may I suggest work in PA?  Swing state, very important!  (And more fertile than OH imo.)  And of course AZ is likewise important, and you’ve got NV nearby (relatively speaking).  And there’s always remote stuff: phone banking, post cards, fundraising, etc.

    Local organizations — joining existing ones and building new ones — are where it’s at right now, and state-level parties can be both viable and useful.  There’s lots to do!  Besides running a by now surely-within-the-top-10,000 political blog I mean.

  19. 19.

    prostratedragon

    Sounds good:

    In Maine, Democrat Sean Faircloth won a state Senate special election by more than 43 points. The Democratic presidential ticket carried the same district last fall by 23 points. There were similar results last week in Delaware in two special elections for the state Senate.

  22. 22.

    Bill Arnold

    @YY_Sima Qian:
    From the piece,

    “We seek a historically grounded scholar who takes a critical lens to issues pertaining to Palestine including but not limited to: settler colonialism, genocide, human rights, apartheid, migration, climate and infrastructure devastation, health, race, gender and sexuality,” the listing stated.

    If they took out three of those terms, there wouldn’t be a serious case against the listing. I mean, opponents would try anyway, but there is a CUNY Center for Jewish Studies, so they’d probably fail.

  24. 24.

    New Deal democrat

    Tell Joelle that while Ted’s Hot Dogs in Tempe is great (second time around I made sure to order my foot long blackened, which is the only right way), they really need to find a good supplier of salsa so they can do their own proper version of a Sonoran dog.

  27. 27.

    dww44

    I guess I’m just ignorant but what is DSA?

    CJ John Roberts just stayed The DC Appeals court order to the Trump admin to start disbursing UsAid monies.

    I’ve been genuinely interested in why none of the 4 living former Presidents are not speaking up.  If we are facing the destruction of our democracy (which we are) why aren’t 3 of the 4 joining forces (George is welcome, too) to lead the resistance.  Now is not the time for the former Presidents to adhere to the norms of a former era. We need them to join the battle.

  28. 28.

    Cheryl from Maryland

    I’m continually sad re West VA as Laura Jackson Arnold, Stonewall Jackson’s sister, was a prime mover in educating blacks and motivating the counties that form WVA to break apart from VA during the Civil War.  And now WVA has turned Confederate.  But I applaud your decision to focus on Arizona and Western PA – those are easier to turn blue.  As I am living in Blue Maryland, I am focusing this year on my birth state Virginia.  Good news re VA’s governor’s race, the mostly MAGA candidate for Governor now has a primary candidate on her right.  Let the MAGA eating games begin!

  29. 29.

    Darkrose

    @YY_Sima Qian: Wow. That’s absolutely chilling, for a governor to micromanage a public university’s job listings. Can’t wait for someone to decide that teaching African American Studies is “divisive”.

  31. 31.

    eclare

    @Jackie:

    Agreed.  I am cold a lot in the winter, I keep my house around 60, so I can really enjoy A/C when I need to.

    Plus it’s much more expensive to heat my house than cool it.

  32. 32.

    NotMax

    Modern AC units don’t suck up electricity nearly as much as the older ones did (and cycle on/off more intelligently), especially providing you’re not trying to cool an entire house with a unit designed for a room. Shut the doors to adjacent spaces.

    As days above 90 here, once upon a time maybe once or at most twice in a given year are now basically August, wish there were AC in the abode, if only to take the edge off and bring things down to the low 80s. The old school electrical wiring in this cottage (a rental) couldn’t handle it, though.

    with it hitting 84 here

    Mandatory “but it’s a dry heat.”
    :)

  33. 33.

    Eolirin

    @YY_Sima Qian: Unfortunately it’s not, it’s just deeply deeply sad. NYS has large Orthodox jewish population, and they were a large part of why we underperformed in 2022. Hochul is likely bowing into pressure there to try to reduce some of their voting intensity.

    As a Jew this makes me a little sick, but I get why it’s happening.

  34. 34.

    NutmegAgain

    Speaking of ceiling fans, I discovered a nifty fan/gadget. If you have recessed lighting, you can now swap out the bulb for a fan/light combo. Operated by a remote control, it’s not huge, but they are cheap and functional. Here’s a link to one at the evil empire. It’s $19.

  35. 35.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @Bill Arnold: Yeah, “settler colonialism”, “apartheid”, “genocide” will provoke intense reactions. OTOH, isn’t academic freedom one of the things the US used to take pride in? & these are not completely unsupportable description to aspects of Israeli policy toward the Palestinians, even if Anti-Semites will latch onto that to target Jews.

    & considering the many kooks that remain in good academic standing…

  37. 37.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @Bill Arnold: In the age of Trump, I don’t think we can take for granted that limiting academic freedom will fail because of resistance from the academic institutions. Especially privately endowed ones pliable to their donors. Most institutions rely upon federal grants, too.

    MAGA is targeting the most vulnerable 1st: Trans people, disabled people, Palestinian Americans, etc. Chinese Americans are going to be the next in line. Trump will be happy the sign the “most beautiful deal” w/ Xi on Monday & fan Sinophobia (along w/ all the other -phobias) on Tuesday.

  38. 38.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @Eolirin: Having lived in the NYC for a few years in the 90s, & NYS for a decade & half, I understand the political dynamic you are talking about.

    Honestly, I was wording my original post carefully, I did not want to start w/ throwing bombs & immediately make productive conversation impossible.

  39. 39.

    Jackie

    Not good news for seniors.

    “Most of the Social Security Administration’s regional commissioners have decided to retire at the end of this week, following mysterious meetings with agency leaders about plans to slash its workforce,” Government Executive reports.

    “At least five of the eight regional commissioners whose offices oversee and support the agency’s frontline offices across the country are leaving this week.”

    “After 35 years of rewarding service with the Social Security Administration, I have decided to retire from my position as regional commissioner in the Western region, effective February 28, 2025,” one regional commissioner, Howard Bowles, wrote in an internal email obtained by Government Executive, though he did not specify the reason for his departure. “It has truly been an honor to serve the American people during my tenure.”

    Regional commissioners LeeAnn Stuever, Rick Lenoir, Rose Mary Buehler, and Raymond Egan are also leaving, according to a source familiar with the situation.

    Their departures come amid rumors of impending staff cuts at SSA, where the workforce is already at a 50-year low and has toiled amid a customer service crisis born of lack of funding. Decades of congressional neglect have seen the agency’s administrative budget, which for decades sat at 1.2% of benefit outlays, shrink to under 1%.

    Last year, Martin O’Malley, a former Maryland governor, took the reins of the agency with a mandate to improve service delivery. On Wednesday, O’Malley told Government Executive that the retirements of top deputies reflect an organization “in free fall.”

    “We had everything moving in a better direction for the first time in a long time, and now these guys”—the Trump administration—“are intent on cratering it,” he said.

    Multiple news outlets reported Wednesday that Acting Commissioner Leland Dudek is looking to halve the agency’s staff of about 57,000 employees. But two SSA employees told Government Executive that an executive at the agency said in an internal meeting that Dudek wants to cut the SSA workforce by about 7,000 people. Another person familiar with the situation also confirmed that Dudek’s goal is to get the workforce down to 50,000. It’s not clear whether this includes frontline staff.

    “We have not set any reduction targets, however we will continue to pursue efficiencies within the agency and align like missions,” the agency told Government Executive in a statement. “We have no further information at this time.”

    Until recently, Dudek was a mid-level employee working in the agency’s anti-fraud office. He was under investigation, the Washington Post reported, for giving unauthorized access to information to Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency team. After Trump’s first acting SSA commissioner clashed with Musk’s team, he left and Dudek was elevated to replace him.

    Regional commissioners aren’t the only ones leaving SSA. An unknown number of other employees are also leaving the agency, which shuttered its civil rights and transformation offices this week.

    “I could not have predicted the rate of change over the past 30 days,” another retiring fed wrote colleagues in an email this week obtained by Government Executive.

    This. Is. Not. Good.

  40. 40.

    YY_Sima Qian

    @Jackie: Frightening. I am thankful that my parents are now living back in China, & have enough savings so as not be completely dependent on the SS checks.

  42. 42.

    NickM

    @Bupalos: That’s generally been true (it wasn’t in 2008) but this time it might be different.  Life is going to become measurably worse for virtually everyone.  It will be undeniable except to the dead Enders. Or so I hope.

  43. 43.

    A woman from anywhere (formerly Mohagan)

    @Professor Bigfoot: I think a vet, and the shaving is done under anesthesia. We did it a few times for our long-haired cat, and I thought she would be really pissed at us, but she loved the cut. She was cool, the burrs didn’t stick to her coat, and the fur grows out in time for winter.

  45. 45.

    Barry

    @Mai Naem mobil: “I know WV has turned super red but I do wonder if the effects if Medicaid cuts and federal job cuts might affect  voting.  If nothing else at least enthusiasm for voting for the GOP”

    I fear that they will just blame (((Them))).

  47. 47.

    Chris Johnson

    @dww44: DSA is Democratic Socialists of America. Back in 2016 I joined them but then ran away when other prominent supporters turned out to be Russian trolls (I started seeing those everywhere, but turned out to be right about Tim Pool, and the likes of Caleb Maupin were always obvious assets)

    I’m really interested in watching this. Seeing John post that he attended a DSA meeting on Zoom startled the hell out of me, but I trust John to flip the table if they try to sneak in Putin worship. I ran away from those folks for that exact reason, I thought they were too close to the Kremlin.

    Maybe it ends up becoming a sort of reverse takeover? Like the Russians took over the batshit wingnuts and the NRA and so on, Americans might take over the DSA?

  50. 50.

    Chris Johnson

    @John Cole: GOOD. I’ve been heartsick that trying to align with progressive leftwing politics is a trap. I would love to think DSA is legit.

    The more real, sensible people get on that bus, the less shenanigans can be taken with it. I’m sure there’s gonna be a risk of primarying Dems and such, but it feels like Dems have to be able to contend with worse, and if they can’t then maybe the DSA people can. Some of the progressives have ended up being real assets once elected and learning the ropes.

    I think they’re less trusting of Republicans and that’s important.

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