335 Comments

On the whole electing-a-rapist issue, I wonder how MAGAs would react if their daughter or wife were the victims. Would that even be enough for people to accept the truth? I’m gobsmacked by the whole political dynamic of indifference.

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Thanks for a spot of sanity - it does seem we are living through the pages of an old Mad Magazine

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I will disagree with Charlie about one thing. The times are serious enough. We have a European war, a murderous tyranny in China threatening to start a Pacific war, a real economy, particularly among small businesses, that has not recovered from the damage inflicted during the covid shutdowns, a short time to make medicare and social security solvent, schools failing the kids who need them most, and federal deficits that have to be reduced – just to mention a few things. What we seem to lack is serious people, at least when it comes to politics. For this week’s example we have conservatives and Republicans freaking out over a movie about a doll for little girls and lefties and Democrats freaking out over a not very good country song. That seems typical of the big brains on both sides and their pals in the media.

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I'm beginning to think Ronnie doesn't want the job. His latest idea - appoint RFK, Jr to oversee the FDA and CDC.

As for reaping what you sow, I think McConnell may be reaping what he's sowed. I'm not a doctor, but I had a father who had a massive stroke 12/22/98 from a head injury. He was functional for a long time. But . . . Anyone else see that clip of McConnell going blank while he was talking? That was Dad after his stroke. Not quite a TIA stroke. But he'd stop, go blank for a few seconds, and have zero recollection of what happened. As time went on, the episodes increased. Rs were freaking out about Fetterman. They should worry about McConnell - the man is ill even if they don't want to admit it.

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I get the feeling that Mitch is not long for this world. He looks incredibly frail.

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Depends on how he's treated. Dad was incredibly frail as well after the stroke, and he was an active man, never sick a day in his life type before the fall. Mitch is older than Dad was, in an incredibly high stress job. And the meds to mitigate strokes can cause (and did in Dad's case for the first few months) loopiness, weakness, mental disorientation, etc. He needs to resign, and if his family cared about him, they'd get him home away from stress. If Mitch stays on the job, at his age, he's heading for a full blown attack that he's not going to overcome.

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Will the average American ever learn that being rich is not a sign of overall intelligence? It should be clear by now that the loudest super-rich are, of more often than not, just super-confident con-men who have mastered the art of intimidation and bs. Trumpist Populism has given people permission to think they know more than experts. But they have no problem worshiping rich trash-talking celebrities.

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What is a "cockney spiv", and what wine do you pair that with?

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Eek, DeSantis's finger nails certainly tell a story: dirty and some so short that they must have been bitten. I feel for the nail tech that is tasked with making them look presentable. Ah, well, I'm sure trying to figure to how to fight the woke mind virus is a real nail-biter!

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Removed (Banned)Jul 26, 2023
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I hope for the Nail Tech’s sake he wasn’t scratching his ass after an incomplete wipe!

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"Hochman, a conservative writer who has earned more ink by the age of 25 than anyone this side of Justin Bieber, has garnered a reputation as a young MAGA whisperer. The New Republic tagged him as one of 'the radical young intellectuals who want to take over the American right'.”

And his video, of recent infamy, looks like it was put together by 14-year old with a 90s version of Blender VSE.

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As a tech PR person in Europe in the 90s, I used to work with Strassel on stories - she was the internet/online/personal tech correspondent back then. It's amazing that her career has come to this. I guess it's a good grift.

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Still trying to crowdsource the answers to the quiz in The Times (no Googling allowed, that defeats the fun):

3 - Istanbul

4 - Hannibal (thanks Robert Jaffee)

5 - Edinburgh (thanks Joey J)

6 - Sir Walter Scott

7 - Che (thanks Joey J)

10 - 45 (thanks Kate Fall)

11 - vicuna (thanks Walter Chuck)

13 - Charlie Sykes

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The single, most important, issue facing all of us on this planet:

"Meanwhile, a funnel cloud appeared over the Capitol, and the seas may be setting new temperature records."

And yet, we squabble over small change and fiddle while Rhodes burns.

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Reaps what he sowed? Too old fashioned. If BS is one's main input, what output should one expect?

Re the Barbie Movie, calumny from the right having no impact on the box office will only increase the right's ire at their own cultural, er, position (apter term: irrelevance). If there were an economically viable market for the modern equivalent of Pat Boone movies, wouldn't someone try to make money with them? OTOH, if there's no such market, perhaps it's time to STFU and go watch the Hallmark channel.

Finally, coverage of president's dog biting Secret Service agents is absolutely traditional silly season fodder, and in the spirit of maintaining traditions, it should be welcomed as a return to normalcy. TBH, I had a dog about 15 years ago who bit, and one learns to take some responsibility. Maybe Dr Jill needs to arrange an intervention for hubby and pooch, or just buy the dog a muzzle.

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Whenever you the words "campaign reboot",that means there is a campaign death spiral.DeSantis is dropping like a rock.Rocks don't bounce.Here is another bit of wisdom from his campaign;"Let Ron be Ron".Thats the problem.(among many others) Will Rogers famously stated;"I never met a man I didn't like". He didn't Ron DeSantis or Donald Trump. DY

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When I got may degree in physics, we often referred to dead cats. I do not think DeSantis will get even a dead cat bounce....

(yes, it was macabre, and no, we never did experiments with dead cats. It was just more fun than "spherical cows")

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The fact that Nate Hockman would put forward a tweet using a Nazi symbol should surprise no one, certainly not Ron DeSantis.Charlie as you always sarcastically say;"If only we were warned". You know the saying:birds of a feather flock together. DY

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I envision a 2024 a possible Biden campaign commercial that features a listing of republican(or Trump) stands on many issues followed by John McEnroe and his famous declaration;"YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS". DY

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Oh my! Sabato just roasts him. Perfect.

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