Happy Valentine's Day! Caution: sexual predators are not just on Epstein Island

Have you been turning to coverage of the Olympics to get away from more depressing news? Might not always help.

The new revelations from the Epstein Files are a disappointment so far to people who expected to be able to prosecute participants in a massive child sex ring, but do they help to explain some history?

A woman who flirted with Epstein in emails, accepted thousands of dollars of gifts from him, and was his unofficial attorney was Obama's top vetter and Ethics advisor.
Just spectacular stuff.

2017. Jeffrey Epstein's good friend Kathryn Ruemmler explains that she ran Obama's vetting and ethics department and was responsible for vetting all of Obama's cabinet members.
Ruemmler also said that she was saddened because Trump had "debased" the Presidency.
Ruemmler was so close to Epstein that she called the convicted sex offender "Uncle Jeffrey."

* * * * *

Ruemmler's involvement with Epstein is a reminder that the scandals surrounding him are not all about exploiting girls and women for sex. Walter Kirn suggested, You'd better read this from Matthew Stoller:

The Jeff Epstein saga isn't a scandal about pedophilia, it's about a Russian word called 'blat,' a Soviet-era word meaning 'the use of personal networks for obtaining goods and services in short supply and for circumventing formal procedures.' It's about a kind of government.
As with the large number of 'blatniks' in the Soviet era who made sure their factories got what they needed outside the formal state procurement process, Epstein greased the wheels for the neoliberal state. His job was governance.
What does that mean? Well it's clear that Epstein was an entrepreneurial broker across multiple public and private bureaucracies, helping organize 'under-the-table' deals among the legal, business, intelligence, and political elites to allow them to escape the rule of law and traditional conflict of interest restrictions. It's statecraft to allow a superclass to systemically escape the formalized rules.

The pedophilia and prostitution were part of it - that is obviously violating the rule of law - but so are the random favors Epstein bestowed. Like Epstein sending Senator Joe Manchin's request for a yacht, a request which came from the First lady of the Virginia Islands, to a random NY financier who might have one. Or working with Joi Ito at MIT and billionaire Reid Hoffman to restructure the Bitcoin Foundation. It's all about matching capital and talent and inputs outside of the restrictions ordinary people are subject to.
This kind of governance is particularly important in Soviet-style states, where everyone knows the rules are fake, where skirting the system IS the system. Epstein and his affiliates thrived because of the weakened institutions of the United States, institutions enfeebled in many cases by the men in his network, like Larry Summers. These men adopted multiple roles - advisor, businessman, academic, board member, regulator - and put on the hat that best maximized their self-interest and the self-interest of their narrow network at that moment.

The old world, where handing someone your business card meant you represented that institution, disappeared in the 1980s. Over the course of the 1990s, neoconservatives, neoliberals, bankers - ultimately Epstein's network - built this new social order. It was one where you couldn't succeed through the formal rules, but if you were let into the networks of trust by blatniks, you could do anything you wanted.
While all the specifics of Epstein's network are not known, and while conspiracy theorists often have crazy views, they have correctly fingered that the world of meritocracy and formalized systems is increasingly a fraud. And that the real government lies elsewhere.
In short, when formal democratic institutions like Congress stop governing, the networks of men like Epstein fill the power vacuum. . .

There's an academic reference plus interesting comments at the link.

So, where do we go from here?

Concerning weakened institutions, Larry Summers is not the only one weakening them. I just learned from someone who is an instructor at a top fine arts college that this year, Chinese students, who have recently constituted up to half of the student body, have disappeared, fearing that they will be detained or deported. Instructors at the school are losing their health insurance because the school is short on money.

How did this college become so dependent on Chinese and other foreign students? They pay up front rather than taking out student loans. They are not top students due to "cultural challenges". But our resources have apparently been going to educate them, until this year. And the arts are not the main focus of Chinese students in the USA, OR in China. They are not much into DEI.

* * * * *

What's happening in the UK?

The Epstein Files touched the Ambassador to the USA and advisors to the Prime Minister. And here's another "contact".

We have been reminded during the week of the UK government's hostility toward young girls and others trying to defend themselves against "Asian" abusers, both casual and heinous. But here is a reminder that most of the world would not be aware of the Rotherham and similar scandals without Elon Musk's insistence that news about them belonged on Twitter, and then on "X":

Worse than the worst nightmare I could have imagined https://t.co/XUlysocFsI
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) February 13, 2026

The government reportedly wants to erase the PUBLIC RECORDS of trials that have already taken place. Bad, bad, bad.

As noted above, the inquiry above just scratched the surface.

This is a wacky idea: Darryl Cooper is wacky, but why go with the namby-pamby suggestion of deporting families from the area of Pakistan where they believe in putting Sikh and British girls into sexual slavery and murdering the occasional girl from their own families? Put UK authorities who facilitate mass gang rapes and other abuses, including murders, on trial?

* * * * *

Weekend

Happy Valentine’s Day, a day to celebrate all kinds of love!! Be kind to yourself and those around you, today and always. I love you all lots!! 🩷💌💘

“We were born to love one another, this is something we all need” - Peter Tork pic.twitter.com/JIIiEQxI0o
— 💌 annie💘 (@magnoliasimmss) February 14, 2025

The Week in Pictures: Bugs Bunny Halftime Edition

I am calling for a complete and total shutdown of all Super Bowl halftime shows until we can figure out what the hell is going on. Moreover, I am calling for President Trump to appoint a bipartisan commission of inquiry chaired by Bugs Bunny, with full subpoena power over Bad Bunny, Good Bunny, and Okay Bunny. Also Roger Goodell, who I am renaming Roger Badell. I vote for next year’s halftime show to be Bugs Bunny and Weird Al Yankovic. Just be sure to check everyone’s ID before they vote.

* * * * *

Music

Ever heard traditional Gaelic Irish music sung by an a cappella group like this?

This is Ceann Dubh Dilis (My Sweet, Dark-Haired Love), arranged by Michael McGlynn and performed by Spokanki.pic.twitter.com/wywddM23PJ
— Massimo (@Rainmaker1973) February 12, 2026

* * * * *

Hope you have something nice planned for this weekend. Got any extra time off?

This is the Thread before the Gardening Thread.

Serving your mid-day open thread needs

* * * * *

Last week's thread, February 7, Which feelings are okay in non-leftist social media? In K-12 protest marches?

Comments are closed so you won't ban yourself by trying to comment on a week-old thread. But don't try it anyway.

Posted by: K.T. at 11:08 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Good morning KT

Posted by: Skip at February 14, 2026 11:11 AM (Ia/+0)

2 The Ruemmler shitcanning was one of the week's nice feel-good moments.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at February 14, 2026 11:14 AM (nWPIJ)

3
Willowed

Actually, I detest and despise all gift-giving occasions. Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries (we have two), Mother's Day, etc. I have no imagination for presents and don't want anything myself (anything I want I can't have anyway). You'd think 32 years of faithful support would be enough, but there have to be these little shit tests scattered through the year.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 14, 2026 11:16 AM (tgvbd)

4 Ruemmler was so close to Epstein that she called the convicted sex offender "Uncle Jeffrey.
Uncle Jeffrey did more than ‘touch’ her?

Posted by: Eromero at February 14, 2026 11:18 AM (INIdd)

5 I like the Gaelic Music. Can't say I care much for their outfits and makeup.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 14, 2026 11:19 AM (ix8EF)

6 Hola

Posted by: Thanatopsis at February 14, 2026 11:20 AM (LdBR/)

7 Obama's top vetter and Ethics advisor
There really should be scare quotes around "ethics."

Posted by: GWB at February 14, 2026 11:20 AM (XoEtr)

8 Well, she read the room.

AOC Accuses Israel of Genocide During Speech in Germany, Igniting Backlash

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at February 14, 2026 11:21 AM (J+Psw)

9 Ruemmler, Gitmo, Waterboard. Some assembly required.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 14, 2026 11:21 AM (8zz6B)

10 The SCOAMF and his beard will be low point forever in the history of the White House.

Word from the Street is that Big Mike just got 10 piercings; - at her advanced age.

What you don't know is that her 11th piercing was a Prince Albert.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 11:21 AM (gVUi7)

11

Ro Khanna read the names of six people on the House floor and described them as "wealthy, powerful men" involved in Epstein's crimes.

It turns out that 4 of them were just random people selected for an FBI photo lineup and had no connection to Epstein's crimes.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 14, 2026 11:21 AM (Cqx++)

12 Don't underestimate the power of being called a racist in society.
Probably 10s of thousands sexual assaults were swept away because of fear of being labeled

Posted by: Skip at February 14, 2026 11:23 AM (Ia/+0)

13
Word from the Street is that Big Mike just got 10 piercings; - at her advanced age.

What you don't know is that her 11th piercing was a Prince Albert.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone

In the can?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 14, 2026 11:23 AM (Cqx++)

14
Why isn't Joe Biden in that collage of sexual predators? He was awarded a PMOF by Barky, too.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 14, 2026 11:23 AM (xG4kz)

15
AOC Accuses Israel of Genocide During Speech in Germany, Igniting Backlash

*guffaws loudly*

Imagine, going to Germany to accuse someone else of genocide.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 14, 2026 11:24 AM (tgvbd)

16 I'm on the fence as to whether or not an association with Epstein, especially a passing one, is a damnation of someone. The left has been trying to use this with Trump, who only peripherally knew him.

However this Ruemmler broad and some of the other "associates" might have another thing coming.

The fact that details about various associates of Democrats, and some fairly "high level" ones were, in fact more than peripherally involved makes me wonder if the truth will ever really be known.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at February 14, 2026 11:24 AM (jtM2q)

17 WTF is up with the face paint and the odd costumes? The Leprechaun Association should sue those women for defamation.

Posted by: GWB at February 14, 2026 11:25 AM (XoEtr)

18
Are you sure the singing group's name is Spokanki?

I thought they were-

The Ghost Girls with Tragic Fashion Sensibilities

Nice voices though.

Posted by: naturalfake at February 14, 2026 11:26 AM (iJfKG)

19
performed by Spokanki.

They look more like Walla Walla or, better still, Yakima.

Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 14, 2026 11:26 AM (xG4kz)

20 Apparently, the Epstein Files revealed that the CEO of Victoria's Secret was an Epstein fan. Mrs. Wrecks told me she would no longer buy her unmentionables there. I told her I wouldn't buy my unmentionables there either.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at February 14, 2026 11:26 AM (J+Psw)

21 Imagine, going to Germany to accuse someone else of genocide.
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 14, 2026 11:24 AM (tgvbd)

---------

The irony of the fact that she was in Germany accusing Jews of genocide probably entirely escaped her.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at February 14, 2026 11:26 AM (nWPIJ)

22
performed by Spokanki.

They look more like Walla Walla or, better still, Yakima.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars

Walla Walla Bing Bang

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 14, 2026 11:28 AM (Cqx++)

23 Apparently, the Epstein Files revealed that the CEO of Victoria's Secret was an Epstein fan

---------

A while back I read that it was Lexner's decision to let Epstein manage his fortune that was the germ of Epstein's own wealth. He gave Epstein his start.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at February 14, 2026 11:29 AM (nWPIJ)

24 17 WTF is up with the face paint and the odd costumes? The Leprechaun Association should sue those women for defamation.
Posted by: GWB at February 14, 2026 11:25 AM (XoEtr)

I think they look quite cromulent.

Posted by: Zombie Marcel Marceau, in a box, in a windtunnel at February 14, 2026 11:30 AM (urh+R)

25 What did Anthony Weiner get a presidential medal for, being an arrogant douchebag?

Posted by: Smell the Glove at February 14, 2026 11:31 AM (Ggsrp)

26
The Epstein Files!!! are, on the whole, stupid and silly. Mostly money grubbers grubbing for money, thinking pecunia non olet. It's good that these machers get embarrassed and lose their jobs, but there won't be a lot that's actually criminal.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 14, 2026 11:31 AM (tgvbd)

27 Wexner's influence was Limited.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 14, 2026 11:33 AM (Cqx++)

28 Ever heard traditional Gaelic Irish music sung by an a cappella group like this?

So brave to perform when paralyzed.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at February 14, 2026 11:34 AM (Kt19C)

29 I just learned from someone who is an instructor at a top fine arts college that this year, Chinese students, who have recently constituted up to half of the student body, have disappeared, fearing that they will be detained or deported.
______
You can't say which school?

Posted by: Eeyore at February 14, 2026 11:34 AM (AlhUl)

30 Ceann Dubh Dilis?

It's hard to believe Gaelic could be an Indo-European language but I'm assured by the experts that it is.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at February 14, 2026 11:34 AM (nWPIJ)

31 Feel good Olympic moment of the day - The Canadian men cheat at Curling and show their true Canadian colors by being sanctimonious, foul-mouthed jerks when called out on their cheating.

Posted by: Wally at February 14, 2026 11:34 AM (d3Ybn)

32 I am sure that Wexner got some off-the-books benefit from his dealings with Epstein.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at February 14, 2026 11:34 AM (8zz6B)

33 pecunia non olet.

Gardening thread?

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at February 14, 2026 11:35 AM (Kt19C)

34 Wexner, not Lexner should have googled it first.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at February 14, 2026 11:35 AM (nWPIJ)

35 20 Apparently, the Epstein Files revealed that the CEO of Victoria's Secret was an Epstein fan. Mrs. Wrecks told me she would no longer buy her unmentionables there. I told her I wouldn't buy my unmentionables there either.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster!

Victoria’s Secret has been garbage for decades. Le Perla has quality pretties.

Posted by: nurse ratched at February 14, 2026 11:35 AM (IhIKR)

36 Imagine little text bubbles above the head of Bill Clinton, Harvey Weinstein, Anthony Weiner, and Bill Cosby, saying, "When those other details about me come out, I'm sunk."

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 11:35 AM (+YA9H)

37 The Jeffrey Epstein files has now turned into the 1600’s Salem Witch trials. Anyone suspected of having looked at Jeffrey Epstein is a witch and must be burned at the stake. The latest hysterics is over the former owner of the company that used to show up at your elementary school and take individual school pictures of kids. Thousands of schools were contracted with them across the country. He hasn’t owned the company for ten years but because his name was found in the files, schools are cancelling contracts today.

Posted by: Jen the original at February 14, 2026 11:35 AM (KWW++)

38 I was blissfully ignorant of pickleball until this morning. I blame all of you now for ruining that

Posted by: TheCatAttackedMyFoot at February 14, 2026 11:36 AM (jrgJz)

39 So the flag is what, "ohhh a ghost"?

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 11:37 AM (n1IFJ)

40 Victoria's Secret spent tons of its brand capital featuring ugly dudes and fat women modeling its lingerie. It just about wiped them out.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at February 14, 2026 11:37 AM (nWPIJ)

41 You can't say which school?"

Which one isn't would be a short list

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 11:38 AM (n1IFJ)

42 I was blissfully ignorant of pickleball until this morning"

So, obviously haven't been to Florida lately, huh?

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 11:40 AM (n1IFJ)

43 pecunia non olet.

Gardening thread?
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats

Motto of the Democrat party.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at February 14, 2026 11:40 AM (J+Psw)

44 performed by Spokanki.

They look more like Walla Walla or, better still, Yakima.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 14, 2026 11:26 AM (xG4kz)

HAHA!!! I tried to make a joke about that, but couldn't make it work. Excellent job.

Posted by: GWB at February 14, 2026 11:40 AM (XoEtr)

45 >>>Feel good Olympic moment of the day - The Canadian men cheat at Curling and show their true Canadian colors by being sanctimonious, foul-mouthed jerks when called out on their cheating.

Posted by: Wally

>Is this a larger scandal than Penisgate with the ski jumpers?

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 11:40 AM (gVUi7)

46 I incorrectly thought VS had gone bankrupt, looked it up when I first read their CEO was Epstein fan. I must admit Victoria's Secret is great naming.

Posted by: PaleRider at February 14, 2026 11:41 AM (+89TD)

47 >>Feel good Olympic moment of the day - The Canadian men cheat at Curling and show their true Canadian colors by being sanctimonious, foul-mouthed jerks when called out on their cheating.

I mentioned that down below in the coffee thread. The officials said the Team Canada guy did nothing wrong, but freezeframe of the video clearly shows the Canadian guy's finger on the curling stone after it passed the hog line.

Rules are rules...

Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 11:41 AM (Y1sOo)

48
Victoria's Secret spent tons of its brand capital featuring ugly dudes and fat women modeling its lingerie. It just about wiped them out.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at February 14, 2026 11:37 AM (nWPIJ)

Queen Victoria's Secret isn't something you want to see.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 14, 2026 11:42 AM (tgvbd)

49 >>38 I was blissfully ignorant of pickleball until this morning. I blame all of you now for ruining that

Sorry, blame me. I was the one who posted about the 20-person fight on the pickleball court here in FL.

Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 11:43 AM (Y1sOo)

50 33 pecunia non olet.

Gardening thread?
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at February 14, 2026 11:35 AM (Kt19C)

petunia olet

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 11:44 AM (+YA9H)

51 When you're going to the replay booth for Olympic curling in slow-mo, the sports world has gone complete mad.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 11:44 AM (gVUi7)

52 The Jeffrey Epstein files has now turned into the 1600’s Salem Witch trials. Anyone suspected of having looked at Jeffrey Epstein is a witch and must be burned at the stake. The latest hysterics is over the former owner of the company that used to show up at your elementary school and take individual school pictures of kids. Thousands of schools were contracted with them across the country. He hasn’t owned the company for ten years but because his name was found in the files, schools are cancelling contracts today.
Posted by: Jen the original at February 14, 2026 11:35 AM (KWW++)

Or, the Satanic Panic, as Ian (Lawdog) writes about yesterday:
https://shorturl.fm/vdinZ

Posted by: GWB at February 14, 2026 11:44 AM (XoEtr)

53 Olympic coverage.

New York Post
@nypost
Ex-ESPN star Sarah Spain felt ‘ill’ sitting near ‘demon’ JD Vance at Winter Olympics: ‘Like the devil’
. . . .
Twelve minutes into the first period, that area suddenly is awash with large men in suits with earpieces,' Spain said of a previously empty part of the arena that suddenly filled with Secret Service agents, 'and here comes JD Vance carrying a child and a bunch of security and eventually Marco Rubio.'
'When I see JD Vance’s eyeliner face, I literally feel ill,'
Spain added: 'I said, ‘I feel like I just looked at a demon,’ like the devil, and I don’t even believe in that.'
'My body felt like when you have been spooked and you have a little tingle that feels like, ‘Oh, something’s not right,’' she continued, 'or like when you get in a situation and you feel like, ‘Oh, some of the energy’s bad, something could go wrong here, maybe I should get out of here,’ or ‘something’s dangerous, this doesn’t feel right.’'
To hammer home the point, Span later reiterated that Vance exuded 'demon energy.

-
Wait. Vance was carrying Marco Rubio?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at February 14, 2026 11:50 AM (J+Psw)

54 Posted by: GWB at February 14, 2026 11:44 AM (XoEtr)

Trump warned this would happen.

Posted by: Opinion fact at February 14, 2026 11:51 AM (cwGMH)

55 53 Wait. Vance was carrying Marco Rubio?
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at February 14, 2026 11:50 AM (J+Psw)

And a child and a bunch of security.

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 11:52 AM (+YA9H)

56 >>Victoria's Secret spent tons of its brand capital featuring...fat women modeling its lingerie

Lane Bryant's Secret should exist.

Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 11:52 AM (Y1sOo)

57 Next you'll be telling me that teams don't try to cheat in NASCAR.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 11:54 AM (gVUi7)

58 Ex-ESPN star Sarah Spain felt ‘ill’ sitting near ‘demon’ JD Vance at Winter Olympics: ‘Like the devil’
. . . .

Sarah.. Seek help now.. You're bat shit crazy

Posted by: It's me donna at February 14, 2026 11:54 AM (VE6XX)

59 The Oligarchs have lost the mandate of heaven.

Posted by: toby928(c) at February 14, 2026 11:56 AM (jc0TO)

60 To hammer home the point, Span later reiterated that Vance exuded 'demon energy.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at February 14, 2026 11:50 AM (J+Psw)

JD is worse than a demon.

He's E-4 Mafia.

Posted by: AZ Hi Desert (Gringo fuertemente armado-Tempus belli) at February 14, 2026 11:56 AM (teTvQ)

61 >>>>>>>To hammer home the point, Span later reiterated that Vance exuded 'demon energy.
********
So she's really hot for J.D. ?

Posted by: Cosda at February 14, 2026 11:56 AM (qDzsd)

62 Wait. Vance was carrying Marco Rubio?

Carrying his love child?

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at February 14, 2026 11:56 AM (Kt19C)

63 Wait. Vance was carrying Marco Rubio?
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at February 14, 2026 11:50 AM (J+Psw)

Well, Marco does look a bit like Hugo in "Devil Doll."

Posted by: Pug Mahon, Rock 'n' Roll Martian at February 14, 2026 11:57 AM (0aYVJ)

64 Manolo Blatniks? What bunch of heels!

Posted by: muldoon at February 14, 2026 11:57 AM (qgHp7)

65 There is this video from an Irish wedding, posted here before.

https://tinyurl.com/ndkx3ywf

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 14, 2026 11:58 AM (+mUZM)

66 Labour members of Parliament are complaining to Kier Starmer that their constituents are calling them "Paedo-lovers" to their faces when they do voter outreach.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 14, 2026 11:58 AM (rbvCR)

67 I find myself increasingly frustrated with the left and the right regarding the Epstein files. The left seems only to want the files to incriminate Trump and only Trump. The right seems to be saying the files don't incriminate Trump and are a distraction that should be ignored.

I want as much sunlight as we can get shining on this information so I am pleased with anyone who is pushing for more transparency. I want*all* involved to be exposed and at a minimum, run out of government. My guess is that most of our government is involved and I'd rather have them removed from government this way than through a hot civil war later down the road.

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 11:59 AM (RkOfE)

68 ESPN star Sarah Spain"

So everyone is a star, huh?

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 12:00 PM (n1IFJ)

69 66 Labour members of Parliament are complaining to Kier Starmer that their constituents are calling them "Paedo-lovers" to their faces when they do voter outreach.

--------

Still my beating heart.

*snort*

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at February 14, 2026 12:00 PM (nWPIJ)

70 o hammer home the point, Span later reiterated that Vance exuded 'demon energy.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at February 14, 2026 11:50 AM (J+Psw)

But she's also an atheist. To ask a lefty to be logically consistent is like asking a Great White not to be a predator.

Posted by: Opinion fact at February 14, 2026 12:00 PM (cwGMH)

71 " ‘I feel like I just looked at a demon,’ like the devil, and I don’t even believe in that.'"

Then why did she say say it? Another high strung narcissist.

Posted by: FenelonSpoke at February 14, 2026 12:00 PM (ix8EF)

72 And there's this Irish work song from 1941

https://tinyurl.com/mppdj74u

Posted by: Notsothoreau at February 14, 2026 12:01 PM (+mUZM)

73 Next you'll be telling me that teams don't try to cheat in NASCAR"

*Smokey's Garage has entered the chat*

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 12:02 PM (n1IFJ)

74 AOC Accuses Israel of Genocide During Speech in Germany, Igniting Backlash

*guffaws loudly*

Imagine, going to Germany to accuse someone else of genocide.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 14, 2026 11:24 AM (tgvbd)

Well, when you have the brain power of sawdust....

Posted by: Berserker-Dragonheads Division at February 14, 2026 12:02 PM (snZF9)

75
JD is worse than a demon.

He's E-4 Mafia.
Posted by: AZ Hi Desert
--------

I think that most company grade officers suspect that somewhere, perhaps distant, there is an EM sitting at a desk and holding their (the officer's) fate in their hands.

I am completely innocent of that...mostly.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 14, 2026 12:03 PM (XeU6L)

76
Well, Marco does look a bit like Hugo in "Devil Doll."
Posted by: Pug Mahon, Rock 'n' Roll Martian

Does he eat ham?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at February 14, 2026 12:03 PM (Cqx++)

77 ...freezeframe of the video clearly shows the Canadian guy's finger on the curling stone after it passed the hog line.

**********

Change 'curling' to 'kidney' and this technique might replace lithotripsy.

Posted by: muldoon at February 14, 2026 12:04 PM (qgHp7)

78 ESPN star Sarah Spain"
So everyone is a star, huh?

Like porn.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at February 14, 2026 12:04 PM (Kt19C)

79 Next you'll be telling me that teams don't try to cheat in NASCAR"

*Smokey's Garage has entered the chat*
Posted by: man
--------
'Rule interpretation' is part of the game.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 14, 2026 12:04 PM (XeU6L)

80 Wow.

TDS is brutal. I dont know if there is a cure for Stage IV.

They are prepping for, “ yeah Trump was bad, JD is 1000x worser than Trump!”

Posted by: nurse ratched at February 14, 2026 12:04 PM (IhIKR)

81 Rubio gave a stem winder of a speech at the Munich Security Conference. 1. The US is not interested in managed decline, 2. The US wants strong allies not weak clients, 3. The UN could do great things and it isn't

He would be a great President, but he is going to have his hands full as Governor-General of Cuba

Posted by: Kindltot at February 14, 2026 12:05 PM (rbvCR)

82 Les Wexner, founder of Limited Brands (one of those was Victoria's Secret), has sold most of his holdings, if not all, in Limited Brands.
Victoria's Secret is that it is in Pataskala,Ohio, a suburb of east of Columbus. How exclusive!

Wexner is well into his 90's. Epstein and Wexner were very close for a long time. Even people around Wexner at the Limited were very suspicious of Epstein's influence on Wexner. That really expensive townhouse that Epstein lived at in New York City? Wexner gave him that.
The "Lolita Express" airplane? Wexner gave him that, it had been the Limited's corporate jet.
Wexner funneled money to Epstein to enable him to do a lot of things. A lot of money.
In an interview some years ago, after Epstein allegedly "died" in custody, Les and Abigail Wexner were interviewed in their mansion, and were just "shocked" about what Jeffrey had done. "We had no idea what he was up to!"
My wife theorizes that someday, after his children are grown, married and then divorced, that the exes of the kids will tell what they actually knew.
Donald Barr (Bill Barr's father) got Epstein his start. Donald Barr was in the OSS in WWII, and probably was a CIA recruiter.

Posted by: Pepperidge Farms remembers at February 14, 2026 12:05 PM (V+3EO)

83 The JEF sure could pick them.

No love for Diddy, Jay-z and Kanye?

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 12:05 PM (gVUi7)

84 there is an EM sitting at a desk and holding their (the officer's) fate in their hands."

As a milbrat, I couldn't figure out why the old man (20+ year NCO) seemed to have more influence than officers..
Then it hit me

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 12:05 PM (n1IFJ)

85 Fear me.

Posted by: JD Vance with glowing eyes at February 14, 2026 12:06 PM (jc0TO)

86 Hamas is guilty of genocide of Palestinians who oppose them. They kill those families including children.

Posted by: Opinion fact at February 14, 2026 12:06 PM (cwGMH)

87
I want as much sunlight as we can get shining on this information so I am pleased with anyone who is pushing for more transparency.

I'd like that to the extent of what it shows about these big shots: just how sleazy and avaricious they are. But not to the extent of assuming (I stress that word) that anyone who's name appears there is a pedophile.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 14, 2026 12:06 PM (tgvbd)

88 This song was popular a few years back. It's catchy and shines a light on "the old man in Ohio" of Victoria's Secret.

https://tinyurl.com/48496wxe

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 12:09 PM (RkOfE)

89 But not to the extent of assuming (I stress that word) that anyone who's name appears there is a pedophile"

Isn't everyone?

/ our betters

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 12:09 PM (n1IFJ)

90 >>>...freezeframe of the video clearly shows the Canadian guy's finger on the curling stone after it passed the hog line.

>Sorta like all of the ridiculous plane rules in the NFL. Was it the sideline, the endzone, the back of the endzone, the pylon? Are you the home team or the visitor? Is this a Kansas City game?

Let's make up a new rule as we go.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 12:09 PM (gVUi7)

91 for one thing I learned that you can't punch someone over 65 if you are under 65. I'm only 64 so it will be another year before I can fight at pickleball.

Second of all I learned that a pompous ass relative bought silver at 120 and now its back to 76. I'm hoping for a pullback all the way to 12. That would make me happy and like people again

Posted by: TheCatAttackedMyFoot at February 14, 2026 12:10 PM (jrgJz)

92 Would it be something if Ruemmler and Epstein were talking about getting together with John Brennan, Obama's Director of the CIA, in 2017? Cause that's in the emails.

The sexual perversion is the shiny object. Where did Epstein get all of his money? The don't give away islands in the Caribbean for green stamps.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:10 PM (viF8m)

93 passed the hog line."

.308 or 6.5 Creedmore?

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 12:10 PM (n1IFJ)

94 >>Victoria's Secret spent tons of its brand capital featuring...fat women modeling its lingerie
----------
They were "beyond fat." They were morbidly obese.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at February 14, 2026 12:11 PM (jtM2q)

95 Let's make up a new rule as we go.
Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 12:09 PM (gVUi7)

Actually you have to win a point to change a rule. If you are game enough, everything is Calvinball

Posted by: Kindltot at February 14, 2026 12:11 PM (rbvCR)

96 Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:10 PM (viF8m

I don't disagree but wouldn't the IRS be the agency to answer that question and to see if what's reported can be reconciled with what he had?

Posted by: Opinion fact at February 14, 2026 12:12 PM (cwGMH)

97 WRT to Gaelic being odd, isn't Basque supposed to be related to no other language on earth?

And also, WTF is up with the site lately? Why do I keep getting a pop-up add that makes me wait 4 seconds to close it whenever I try to access a thread?

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at February 14, 2026 12:15 PM (ufSfZ)

98 BTW, Little Marco is a boss. If you haven't heard his speech in Munich look for it. It will make you proud.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:16 PM (viF8m)

99 I'd like that to the extent of what it shows about these big shots: just how sleazy and avaricious they are. But not to the extent of assuming (I stress that word) that anyone who's name appears there is a pedophile.

I agree about not making assumptions of wrongdoing based on the appearance of a name, which is why context is needed and if context isn't sufficient then further investigation. Unfortunately most investigators are also corrupt so it is an extremely difficult, and equally important task if we want to rid our government of massive corruption.

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 12:16 PM (RkOfE)

100 It's interesting how quickly we went from "Don't fat-shame me!" "Big is beautiful!" and chunky women pirouetting sexily in front oof a mirror in their piddle panties on TV.

to

"Oh, oh, oh, Ozempic" and "Some lost more than 46 pounds." "...an this time I'm keeping it off.

I'm dizzy.

Posted by: muldoon at February 14, 2026 12:17 PM (qgHp7)

101 >>I don't disagree but wouldn't the IRS be the agency to answer that question and to see if what's reported can be reconciled with what he had?

It would seem logical but remember who was running the IRS under Obama.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:17 PM (viF8m)

102 97 A very pleasant scene in "The Quiet Man" is when Maureen O'Hara and Ward Bond are discussing her marital and family problems in the Gaelic.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at February 14, 2026 12:19 PM (gm9Sb)

103 There was no made up rule on the go, though. It's been a long-established rule -- no contact with the stone after it breaks the plane of the hog line.

Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 12:19 PM (Y1sOo)

104 Basque is figured to be the remaining pocket of pre Indo-European language remaining after the PIE invasion at the beginning of the bronze age that ended with the Roman conquest of Hispania

Gaelic is an Indo-European language, it was mostly supplanted or changed by Latin on the continent

Posted by: Kindltot at February 14, 2026 12:20 PM (rbvCR)

105 Shouldn't the Sexual Predator Award be a green dildo with a nutsack, wings and squirting love juice?

Print them out on your 3D printer like the kids do!

Posted by: Flying Fickle Dildo Of Fate at February 14, 2026 12:20 PM (Ksqrb)

106 >>but remember who was running the IRS under Obama.

Lois Lerner?

Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 12:20 PM (Y1sOo)

107 Seriously, the NFL is a joke. Do they still have a chain gang?

With all of the telemetry they have on the players and the ball and a 100 cameras there should never be any reason for going to the booth for a 10 minute slo-mo replay. It's a gridiron for fuck sake.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 12:20 PM (gVUi7)

108 This Guthrie situation has turned into a mega clown show headed up by the clown Patel. Laughable this guy is in charge of the FBI.

Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 14, 2026 12:21 PM (abIsI)

109 Half of Trump's cabinet seems to be guys who went to the freaking Island. They are everywhere. I get it, Trump is loyal and never apologize but seriously, just having gone there taints someone even if they were horrified and left right away. Surely he can find replacements

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 14, 2026 12:23 PM (PYyV9)

110 What we need is "Australian Rules Combat Racing" the fast qualifiers start in the rear of the field and if you are passed twice you are out, last car running is the winner

"Cheating and Motorsports" go together. AJ Foyt won at least one Indy 500 using the fire bottle as an extra fuel tank

The Menards team figured out that you could force open the waste gate on the turbo and muscle enough air through to make an extra mph or 2

I had a fellow competitor that was wrapped too tight that we would pester by marking our fuel jugs "legal fuel" and "illegal fuel"

Posted by: TheCatAttackedMyFoot at February 14, 2026 12:23 PM (jrgJz)

111 104 And Finnish is only understood with the secret decoder ring, free with every jug of vodka at the Alko Store.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at February 14, 2026 12:23 PM (gm9Sb)

112 It's interesting how quickly we went from "Don't fat-shame me!" "Big is beautiful!" and chunky women pirouetting sexily in front oof a mirror in their piddle panties on TV.

to

"Oh, oh, oh, Ozempic" and "Some lost more than 46 pounds." "...an this time I'm keeping it off.
---

Psychological mind operations, best to be ignored.

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 12:23 PM (RkOfE)

113 >>>There was no made up rule on the go, though. It's been a long-established rule -- no contact with the stone after it breaks the plane of the hog line.

Posted by: one hour sober

>The side or the bottom? It's not exactly shaped like a cube.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 12:23 PM (gVUi7)

114 there should never be any reason for going to the booth for a 10 minute slo-mo replay.

They aren't reviewing film, they are deciding what call to make that is consistent with the desired outcome.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 14, 2026 12:24 PM (PYyV9)

115 World Curling Federation has directed there be an umpire stationed at the hog line to observe the stone release in all matches going forward at the Olympics.

I guess a video camera positioned there to resolve disputes isn't good enough.

Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 12:25 PM (Y1sOo)

116 Why would Les Wexner, a certified billionaire living in Ohio, give Epstein his brownstone in NYC? How is that Epstein made hundreds of millions on Wall Street when nobody on Wall Street ever remembers dealing with the guy?

If you don't know what I mean
Won't you stand up and scream
Cause theres things going on you don't know

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:25 PM (viF8m)

117 100 It's interesting how quickly we went from "Don't fat-shame me!" "Big is beautiful!" and chunky women pirouetting sexily in front oof a mirror in their piddle panties on TV.

to

"Oh, oh, oh, Ozempic" and "Some lost more than 46 pounds." "...an this time I'm keeping it off.

I'm dizzy.
Posted by: muldoon at February 14, 2026 12:17 PM (qgHp7)

I knew this girl who would have been called ‘sturdy’ years ago, when today she would be called ‘fluffy’. Her mama told me her daughter had a gland problem. What she really had was a silverware .problem

Posted by: Eromero at February 14, 2026 12:26 PM (INIdd)

118 23 Apparently, the Epstein Files revealed that the CEO of Victoria's Secret was an Epstein fan

---------

A while back I read that it was Lexner's decision to let Epstein manage his fortune that was the germ of Epstein's own wealth. He gave Epstein his start.
Posted by: Cicero

At some point, there was a break in that relationship due to Wexner supposedly finding out that Epstein stole over one hundred million from him. Backstory is complicated but Wexner's wife apparently found out that Epstein was doing things like churning property so Wexner would buy it and then Epstein would buy it from Wexner at a much lower price. If you dig into the early Epstein stuff circa his first conviction, you will find some information there. On the other hand, Wexner had a relatively sleazy personal history and rumors of a mob tie in (Cleveland) for initial financing of his empire. IRRC, I think one Wexner associate person in the 80's died from a mob hit but that could just be associating him with someone else.

Supposedly his wife has a kinky streak as well as he does but all rumors, etc. unless you can find a lot more in the huge document dump.

Posted by: whig at February 14, 2026 12:27 PM (2swu2)

119 I knew this girl who would have been called ‘sturdy’ years ago, when today she would be called ‘fluffy’. Her mama told me her daughter had a gland problem. What she really had was a silverware problem

Yeah, it really can happen where someone has a physical problem that causes obesity, but 99.999% of the time its self control and lack of exercise. I mean, I don't take care of myself like I ought to, I don't mean I am any better but nobody makes excuses like a heavy girl.

Guys will say "yeah I'm a fat $(&@ and I should eat better" most of the time, but girls always have a reason why its not their fault.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 14, 2026 12:28 PM (PYyV9)

120 Half of Trump's cabinet seems to be guys who went to the freaking Island. They are everywhere. I get it, Trump is loyal and never apologize but seriously, just having gone there taints someone even if they were horrified and left right away. Surely he can find replacements
----
I think that those named in the emails with sufficient context should step down at the very least and be investigated further. One of his cabinet members wrote an email stating the age of his kids. That seems strange to me. Strange enough to warrant looking into.

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 12:29 PM (RkOfE)

121 The Harvey Weinstein thing is fascinating.

He was a "good leftist" well loved in Hollywood. Kamala and Newsom were his staunchest defenders and protectors.

When PoundMeToo came up he played along expecting they would all just get Trump but then Rose McGowan hijacked the whole movement and pointed it straight at an actual abuser - Weinstein.

And it...almost worked. Weinstein was too well protected and connected but she caused him a lot of embarrassment and almost prison time.

Posted by: 18-1 at February 14, 2026 12:30 PM (sKqQm)

122 Apparently, the Epstein Files revealed that the CEO of Victoria's Secret was an Epstein fan

Well, there's being in the Epstein Files and being in the Epstein Files. Elon Musk is in them a lot because famous billionaire, but that's not the same as Bill Clinton being in them because debauched disgusting rapist sex fiend.

Its also good to again remember that like any police file about a famous case, there's tons of crank files. They include everything out of due diligence but most of the stuff they get is some crazy person or rumors or stuff they cannot remotely use in a criminal case, etc.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 14, 2026 12:31 PM (PYyV9)

123 Apparently, the Epstein Files revealed that the CEO of Victoria's Secret was an Epstein fan

This has been known for a while...

Posted by: 18-1 at February 14, 2026 12:31 PM (sKqQm)

124 >>Posted by: whig

How are you doing?

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:31 PM (viF8m)

125 91
'for one thing I learned that you can't punch someone over 65 if you are under 65.'

Are you sure? It sounds like it would be easy.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at February 14, 2026 12:31 PM (fd80v)

126 "Big is beautiful!" and chunky women pirouetting sexily in front oof a mirror in their piddle panties on TV.

to

"Oh, oh, oh, Ozempic" and "Some lost more than 46 pounds." "...an this time I'm keeping it off.

Part of it is female intersex competition. Convince other women that fat is beautiful while you are not and you gain an advantage.

Posted by: 18-1 at February 14, 2026 12:32 PM (sKqQm)

127 One of his cabinet members wrote an email stating the age of his kids. That seems strange to me. Strange enough to warrant looking into.

Seems like there should be several categories

1) just being mentioned is just that, its not significant
2) being mentioned in a suspicious way or something potentially creepy should be checked into
3) being repeatedly involved in sketchy mentions and emails an investigation should be launched, and their job suspended
4) going to the island and you should resign AND be investigated.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 14, 2026 12:33 PM (PYyV9)

128 Basque is figured to be the remaining pocket of pre Indo-European language remaining after the PIE invasion at the beginning of the bronze age that ended with the Roman conquest of Hispania

************

The mountain folks in Spain are Proto-Indo
Their language is an odd one, don't you know?
It truly is unique
One that only they can speak
Now they're basque-ing in the warm afterglow

Posted by: muldoon at February 14, 2026 12:33 PM (qgHp7)

129 performed by Spokanki.

They look more like Walla Walla or, better still, Yakima.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 14, 2026 11:26 AM (xG4kz)

***

Washtucna has entered the chat.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 14, 2026 12:33 PM (2WIwB)

130 Convince other women that fat is beautiful while you are not and you gain an advantage.

Yeah, nobody is a woman's enemy worse than other enemies. The hot girls who tell a friend they look great in that outfit, the pretty girls who tell the fat girl she's sexy at any size, etc. Its about clearing the way for them to get the guy they want.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 14, 2026 12:34 PM (PYyV9)

131 Ro Khanna mistakenly and irresponsibly named four men who only appeared in the Epstein files via a captioned photo. He sincerely regrets his error. I doubt that there’ll be a “Have you no shame . . .” performance in a congressional hearing.

Posted by: Unkaren at February 14, 2026 12:35 PM (cDrfF)

132 Everybody be sure to watch Marco Rubio's speech in Munich!

https://youtu.be/gYftS2BTFwM

The HISTORIC and EMOTIONAL speech by MARCO RUBIO in MUNICH that moved everyone

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 12:35 PM (+YA9H)

133
The hot girls who tell a friend they look great in that outfit

"What a lovely dress! Did you sew it yourself?"

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 14, 2026 12:35 PM (tgvbd)

134 97
'And also, WTF is up with the site lately? Why do I keep getting a pop-up add that makes me wait 4 seconds to close it whenever I try to access a thread?'

Don't worry about that. That's perfectly normal.

Posted by: Bob at NSA at February 14, 2026 12:35 PM (fd80v)

135 I watched another interesting David Wong/Jason Pargin video.

He captured a bunch of leftwing people on twitter and similar places making fun of Kid Rock fans where the joke is basically, "ha ha you are poor trailer trash". He then pointed out you know if you really care about poor rural people like you claim or even just want them to listen to your political platform that's a bad idea.

And the funny thing? About half the leftwing comments in response to the video where "haha rural white people are all trailer park trash". I guess fortunately for us the left really can't learn anything can it?

Posted by: 18-1 at February 14, 2026 12:35 PM (sKqQm)

136 performed by Spokanki.

They look more like Walla Walla or, better still, Yakima.
Posted by: Krebs v Carnot: Epic Battle of the Cycling Stars (TM) at February 14, 2026 11:26 AM (xG4kz)

***

Washtucna has entered the chat.
Posted by: Diogenes

All named after uncivilized savages.

Posted by: George, WA at February 14, 2026 12:36 PM (abIsI)

137 Posted by: whig at February 14, 2026 12:27 PM

So good to "see" you! So glad you are feeling well enough to comment. Prayers continuing for healing and health. I enjoy reading your perspective.

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 12:36 PM (RkOfE)

138 ... like JackStraw said.

98 BTW, Little Marco is a boss. If you haven't heard his speech in Munich look for it. It will make you proud.
Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:16 PM (viF8m)

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 12:36 PM (+YA9H)

139 I want as much sunlight as we can get shining on this information so I am pleased with anyone who is pushing for more transparency.
Posted by: AmericanKestrel
=======
Go back and read the depositions in the first trial that were released several years back. These are both the criminal affidavits from witnesses and the later depositions for civil lawsuits by Giuffre and some others.

These were under oath and can be construed as being a bit more useful than the wankery over emails. Ditto travel to the secretive NM ranch. It is clear that Epstein's MO was an agent of influence, he sought to get close to scientists of various top universities, foreign CEOs and princes, and get in good with political fixers. Then there is his hedge fund activities and investor activities that are mainly overlooked right now and it is clear he sought insider info and was willing to pay for it. Last is his sex holiday shit. We don't have but snippets of it and the ugly truth is that the 'girls' we claim as victims were also in turn exploiters and recruiters.

And no, I don't think the governments are widely involved with it--specific individuals more like Whitey Bulger and the FBI.

Posted by: whig at February 14, 2026 12:37 PM (2swu2)

140 When PoundMeToo

The Paolo, he hears this often.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at February 14, 2026 12:37 PM (Kt19C)

141
And the funny thing? About half the leftwing comments in response to the video where "haha rural white people are all trailer park trash". I guess fortunately for us the left really can't learn anything can it?
Posted by: 18-1 at February 14, 2026 12:35 PM (sKqQm)

White people, in particular white males, are the only ones with agency. If their lives are poor and wretched, it's their own fault.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 14, 2026 12:37 PM (tgvbd)

142 If you haven't heard his speech in Munich look for it. It will make you proud.
Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:16 PM (viF8m)

What is even funnier is how ardently the Euroweenies applauded it.

It was a very good speech.

Posted by: AZ Hi Desert (Gringo fuertemente armado-Tempus belli) at February 14, 2026 12:38 PM (teTvQ)

143 ...to hammer home the point, Span later reiterated that Vance exuded 'demon energy.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Damn It Feels Good to Be a Trumpster! at February 14, 2026 11:50 AM (J+Psw)

But she's also an atheist. To ask a lefty to be logically consistent is like asking a Great White not to be a predator.
Posted by: Opinion fact at February 14, 2026 12:00 PM (cwGMH)

I wonder what are her opinions concerning abortion and transgenderism? I suspect she is unbothered by those issues.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at February 14, 2026 12:38 PM (pJWtt)

144 Yeah, nobody is a woman's enemy worse than other enemies. The hot girls who tell a friend they look great in that outfit, the pretty girls who tell the fat girl she's sexy at any size, etc. Its about clearing the way for them to get the guy they want.

At a job a while back I worked with a petite Japanese girl. She had beautiful long straight hair.

One of her work "friends" convinced her to chop it and then took her from person to person in the office to show it off. The Japanese woman now looked like a teenaged boy with her mop top. It was about the second dumbest thing I saw someone do at the job.

Posted by: 18-1 at February 14, 2026 12:38 PM (sKqQm)

145 Nothing says, "Classy" to me more than social media influencers taking selfies in the mirror with a toilet in the background and a smartphone covering half of their faces in the shot.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 12:38 PM (gVUi7)

146 So good to "see" you! So glad you are feeling well enough to comment. Prayers continuing for healing and health. I enjoy reading your perspective.
Posted by: AmericanKestrel
=====
Thank you for the kind words. I am recovering some function whereas before the op, I was losing control of my hands for touch typing with a lot more typos. Better finger control seems to be returning which is a good sign.

Posted by: whig at February 14, 2026 12:38 PM (2swu2)

147
We don't have but snippets of it and the ugly truth is that the 'girls' we claim as victims were also in turn exploiters and recruiters.

They all appear to be yacht girls recruiting other yacht girls.

Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 14, 2026 12:38 PM (tgvbd)

148 142 If you haven't heard his speech in Munich look for it. It will make you proud.
Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:16 PM (viF8m)

What is even funnier is how ardently the Euroweenies applauded it.

It was a very good speech.
Posted by: AZ Hi Desert (Gringo fuertemente armado-Tempus belli) at February 14, 2026 12:38 PM (teTvQ)

A couple of the women were just glaring. But maybe that is the way they are.

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 12:38 PM (+YA9H)

149 There's a Basque business district in Boise, ID. lots of restaurants and the pure aroma of all that meat cooking is enough to drive away any vegan with a lick of self respect (like they had any).Basques are into high protein and cook some mean steaks and briskets.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at February 14, 2026 12:39 PM (gm9Sb)

150
Seems like there should be several categories

1) just being mentioned is just that, its not significant
2) being mentioned in a suspicious way or something potentially creepy should be checked into
3) being repeatedly involved in sketchy mentions and emails an investigation should be launched, and their job suspended
4) going to the island and you should resign AND be investigated.
----
Sounds good to me.

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 12:39 PM (RkOfE)

151 World Curling also issued a warning to the Canadian curler who went on a rant using vulgar language directed at his Swedish opponent.

Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 12:40 PM (Y1sOo)

152 The mountain folks in Spain are Proto-Indo
Their language is an odd one, don't you know?
It truly is unique
One that only they can speak
Now they're basque-ing in the warm afterglow
----
😁

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 12:40 PM (RkOfE)

153 1 World Curling also issued a warning to the Canadian curler who went on a rant using vulgar language directed at his Swedish opponent.
Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 12:40 PM (Y1sOo)

Swedish chef was not impressed.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 14, 2026 12:41 PM (2WIwB)

154 The Epstein Op worked better than imagined.

Posted by: Mr Aspirin Factory at February 14, 2026 12:42 PM (7zn4w)

155 Basque is figured to be the remaining pocket of pre Indo-European language remaining after the PIE invasion

Apparently Hungarian and Finnish are the same kind of thing. Nothing like other Euro languages.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 14, 2026 12:42 PM (PYyV9)

156 Sex is what sells, but always follow the money. In the late 90s, the Taliban started forcibly shutting down the CIA's opium operations in Afghanistan. Shortly thereafter we invaded the place with a plan to allow/encourage the locals to restart growing opium. Go figure.

The kernel of Epstein was money laundering for the CIA and their friends (MI-5, Mossad, Saudi Arabia, occasionally others). Often with drugs on one end of the pipeline and weapons on the other. He used girls to smooth out the necessary deals when doing e.g. arms trafficking or whatever, but they weren't the point of his operation the way the media portrays it.

Benz wants someone in Congress to copy/paste the law that required the CIA to cough up the JFK files and search-and-replace JFK with Epstein. The existing law only covers FBI files, and those aren't where the real action was.

Also about following the money: DOGE just released tons of Medicaid records to encourage people to find the fraud, and Scott Bessent announced that whistleblowers for fraud will get from 10 to 30% of the fines levied against the perps. He may as well have been holding up a picture of Walz when announcing that, LOL.

Posted by: Ian S. at February 14, 2026 12:42 PM (QZThv)

157 Why was Epstein friends with Adnan Khashoggi, a Saudi and one of the biggest illicit arms traders in the world?

Khashoggi also tied to the CIA.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:42 PM (viF8m)

158 World Curling also issued a warning to the Canadian curler who went on a rant using vulgar language directed at his Swedish opponent.
Posted by: one hour sober
------

Severely worded, no doubt.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 14, 2026 12:43 PM (XeU6L)

159 Mom's Apple Pie > The PIE invasion > the movie American Pie > The molten lava McDonald's calls an apple pie

Posted by: 18-1 at February 14, 2026 12:43 PM (sKqQm)

160 The hot girls who tell a friend they look great in that outfit

"What a lovely dress! Did you sew it yourself?"
Posted by: Hadrian the Seventh at February 14, 2026 12:35 PM (tgvbd)

There's an old Punch cartoon from the 1880s where two women are at a swank event and one says to the other, "Oh, Muriel, that darling frock! It looks lovelier every year."

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at February 14, 2026 12:43 PM (ufSfZ)

161 RE: Rape Gangs

If Elon would fund me and about 60 other guys, we could solve this problem in less than a year.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 14, 2026 12:43 PM (2WIwB)

162 Now they're basque-ing in the warm afterglow
Posted by: muldoon at February 14, 2026 12:33 PM (qgHp7)

There is a school of thought in Spanish linguistics that argues that Castilian is a "Koine" (lingua franca or Creole) of Aragonese and Basque that was developed due to the heavy trade influence through the Pyrenees from Southern France to the Christian kingdoms in northern Spain.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 14, 2026 12:44 PM (rbvCR)

163 And you know that in the year that my
country was founded, Lorenzo and
Catalina Geraldi lived in Casau
Montarato in the Kingdom of Piedmont,
Sardinia, and Jose and Manuel Arena
lived in Sevilla, Spain.

I don't know
what, if anything, they knew about the
uh 13 colonies which had gained their
independence for the from the British
Empire. But here's what I'm certain of.
They could have never imagined that 250
years later, one of their direct
descendants would be back here today on
this continent as the chief diplomat of
that infant nation.

And yet here I am, reminded by my own
story that both our histories and our
fates will always be linked.

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 12:44 PM (+YA9H)

164 151
'World Curling also issued a warning to the Canadian curler who went on a rant using vulgar language directed at his Swedish opponent.'

What a good way to show the entire world you have no self control and aren't capable of being a grown up. He might as well have shit on the ice.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at February 14, 2026 12:45 PM (fd80v)

165 It takes real stones to do curling.

Posted by: Diogenes at February 14, 2026 12:46 PM (2WIwB)

166 If Elon would fund me and about 60 other guys, we could solve this problem in less than a year.

1) Maduro Kier Starmer
2) Rinse and repeat until everyone still willing to defend the great replacement is in CECOT
3) Profit

Posted by: Ian S. at February 14, 2026 12:46 PM (QZThv)

167 There is (was?) a Basque restaurant with bench style seating near willow springs raceway in CA. Remember pickled tongue. Mmmmm.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at February 14, 2026 12:46 PM (Kt19C)

168 > World Curling

Two words, together, I would never in a million years thought possible.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at February 14, 2026 12:46 PM (jtM2q)

169 And no, I don't think the governments are widely involved with it--specific individuals more like Whitey Bulger and the FBI.
----
If enough government individuals are involved, it involves the government; perhaps not in uniformity of purpose but uniformity in corruption.

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 12:47 PM (RkOfE)

170 109 Half of Trump's cabinet seems to be guys who went to the freaking Island. They are everywhere. I get it, Trump is loyal and never apologize but seriously, just having gone there taints someone even if they were horrified and left right away. Surely he can find replacements
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor
====
Gross exaggeration. Luttnick seems to be the one with the most mentions as to actually going to the island with his family but we shall see exactly what the situation was. Most of the list of people involved much with Epstein were in fact Democrats. Went through the cabinet list and only Luttnick went to the Island. Bondi is attracting all kinds of shitposting but no evidence that she was involved in the whole deal prior to inheriting it as AG.

It seems more like Steve Bannon and/or Bill Barr are hanging out in the wind. And that is leading a whole lot of influencers on line to instigate a civil war and throw out doubtful speculation that somehow Steve was actually being an inside man for intel gathering. Seems about as likely as Kathy Ruemmel's bullshit (Obama's key legal aide). Both thought they could play with Epstein and not get burned apparently.

Posted by: whig at February 14, 2026 12:47 PM (2swu2)

171 Speaking of the UK...

Liam Tuffs @liamtuffs1

Assuming people understand the magnitude of this threat, this is a next level, grave danger, no joke situation!

The government, media, Church of England, in fact the entire west should be up in arms about this

Keep a close eye on those who say nothing, they’re the ones to watch

Tommy Robinson @TRobinsonNewEra

BREAKING NEWS: I'M A PRIORITY TARGET FOR ISIS!!!

I have now left the country, I need time to work things out for my safety and the safety of my family.

I will probably have to relocate them.

I will update you when I can.

X: https://bit.ly/3OHL6jP

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at February 14, 2026 12:47 PM (P5BPp)

172 This Guthrie situation has turned into a mega clown show headed up by the clown Patel. Laughable this guy is in charge of the FBI.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 14, 2026 12:21 PM (abIsI)

It's still a local investigation. FBI is there to assist, WHEN requested by that moronic sheriff. The locals are the stereotypical Keystone cops, and that fact was early on by anyone who has followed this story from the beginning. The locals freed up the crime scene, allowing the media and everyone else to freely walk around. It was a reporter who noticed the blood on the front porch. Patel isn't in charge of the investigation.

Posted by: thatcrazyjerseyguy at February 14, 2026 12:47 PM (5xuJ/)

173 Ro Khanna mistakenly and irresponsibly named four men who only appeared in the Epstein files via a captioned photo. He sincerely regrets his error. I doubt that there’ll be a “Have you no shame . . .” performance in a congressional hearing.
Posted by: Unkaren at February 14, 2026 12:35 PM (cDrfF)
====================
Ro Khanna regrets every one of his actions over the last six months; he has stumbled from one loser of a crusade to another. The Epstein Transparency Act, which has done in the reputations of Democrat donors and politicians (the scumbags), his support for the California wealth tax being pushed by the Kaiser medical unions and that has driven wealthy Californians to Nevada and Florida, and now this.

His political career is toast. Happily for him, he has a rich wife.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 14, 2026 12:48 PM (N7r0o)

174 Under Secretary of State Jacob S. Helberg @UnderSecE

WE IN AMERICA HAVE NO INTEREST IN BEING POLITE AND ORDERLY CARETAKERS OF THE WEST’S MANAGED DECLINE!

X video (03:57): https://bit.ly/3ZyTIvB

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at February 14, 2026 12:48 PM (P5BPp)

175 His political career is toast. Happily for him, he has a rich wife.

Yeah, Khanna is the personification of the Democrats' 80/20 problem.

Posted by: Ian S. at February 14, 2026 12:50 PM (QZThv)

176 Apparently Hungarian and Finnish are the same kind of thing. Nothing like other Euro languages.
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 14, 2026 12:42 PM (PYyV9)

They are Uralic language group. Where PIE is from the Pontic steppes, Uralic home-land was further north. As recreated, like PIE was, it is similar for a number of the root words indicating that PIE and Uralic are sister groups from an older language group.
Hungarian is not a hold over or element of a previous population, it was brough by the Magyars who were a Uralic speaking group who displaced PIE speaking populations. (IIRC)

Posted by: Kindltot at February 14, 2026 12:50 PM (rbvCR)

177 155 When I was a little kid in the 50s our town took in a bunch of Hungarian refugees from the uprising.My Dad, born in Finland, fluent, could get along with them when they came in the bakery. Just enough to be understood with a bit of hand waving.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at February 14, 2026 12:50 PM (gm9Sb)

178 174 Under Secretary of State Jacob S. Helberg @UnderSecE

WE IN AMERICA HAVE NO INTEREST IN BEING POLITE AND ORDERLY CARETAKERS OF THE WEST’S MANAGED DECLINE!

X video (03:57): https://bit.ly/3ZyTIvB
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at February 14, 2026 12:48 PM (P5BPp)

For we in America have no interest in
being polite and orderly caretakers of
the West's managed decline.

--Marco Rubio

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 12:51 PM (+YA9H)

179 Doesn't the stone have a handle? I figure once you release the handle you can't touch the damn again.

But I dunno, and frankly don't care. I'd rather play shuffle board on the Lido deck than watch curling.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 12:51 PM (gVUi7)

180 Severely worded, no doubt.
Posted by: Mike Hammer

I guess.

"Any further violation [regarding abusive language] may result in suspension of the offending player."

Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 12:51 PM (Y1sOo)

181 AOC is totally understandable. When you know nothing of history it is very easy to show yourself as a complete bafoon.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 14, 2026 12:52 PM (0KSrI)

182 109 Half of Trump's cabinet seems to be guys who went to the freaking Island. They are everywhere. I get it, Trump is loyal and never apologize but seriously, just having gone there taints someone even if they were horrified and left right away. Surely he can find replacements
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor
====
Gross exaggeration.
Posted by: whig at February 14, 2026 12:47 PM (2swu2)
==================
Crazy gross, and weird. What a thing to say.

Posted by: Huck Follywood at February 14, 2026 12:52 PM (N7r0o)

183 It's still a local investigation. FBI is there to assist, WHEN requested by that moronic sheriff.

Arizona is Minnesota with Mexican cartels instead of Somalis doing the payoffs to the Democrats.

Posted by: Ian S. at February 14, 2026 12:52 PM (QZThv)

184 If enough government individuals are involved, it involves the government; perhaps not in uniformity of purpose but uniformity in corruption.
Posted by: AmericanKestrel
=====
I think it says more that our ruling class is both incompetent and corrupt. There are multiple scandals going on at the same time that are getting a lot less air due to the politics being worse for the Democrat blob. Massive government fraud, massive sex trafficking of illegals, massive importation of drugs involving both Canada and Mexican governments playing up to China and facilitating fentanyl shipments to the US, massive Dem attempts to literally turn criminals loose on the general public whether home grown or illegals.

And voter fraud on the level not to be believed in 2020 aided/covered up by many in the GOP with a few still in power. And then massive influence buying from oligarchs of officials (see Bolton), and thorough foreign penetration of our governments decision making.

The rest of this shit is going on while the Epstein circus gets all the outrage and it is timed by critters like Massie to surge whenever cover is needed for stalling or hurting critical votes in Congress.

Posted by: whig at February 14, 2026 12:53 PM (2swu2)

185 This Guthrie situation has turned into a mega clown show headed up by the clown Patel.

Ann Vandersteel @annvandersteel

OK I'll be the one to say it: No one is holding Nancy Guthrie for ransom.

If they were, her daughter’s $40 million net worth would have produced a seven-figure demand by now, and the woman would be home safe, case closed.

Instead, we’re fed a slow drip of non-facts, non-evidence, and carefully curated ambiguity designed to keep the spotlight locked in place.

I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night.

The sad, infuriating truth is that what we call “the news” has become a reality-control device. Nancy Guthrie vanishes, and suddenly—poof:

No more ICE protests clogging the airwaves. No discussion of the SAVE Act. No scrutiny of border numbers or cartel pipelines. No follow-up on the thousands of unaccompanied minors still missing from HHS custody.

One carefully amplified disappearance, and the entire national conversation pivots on command. The MEDIA MACHINE selects which crisis gets oxygen - and which ones suffocate in silence. And we’re left watching the approved story while the real ones bleed out off-screen.

Posted by: Clyde Shelton at February 14, 2026 12:53 PM (P5BPp)

186 Both thought they could play with Epstein and not get burned apparently.
Posted by: whig at February 14, 2026 12:47 PM (2swu2)

There is speculation percolating around that Bannon is a fixer like Epstein, just on a smaller scale. This is based on his background being eerily similar to Bob Woodward's life story.

Posted by: Kindltot at February 14, 2026 12:53 PM (rbvCR)

187 I have complete confidence I won't have to watch a second of the Olympics

Posted by: Skip at February 14, 2026 12:54 PM (Ia/+0)

188 177 155 When I was a little kid in the 50s our town took in a bunch of Hungarian refugees from the uprising.My Dad, born in Finland, fluent, could get along with them when they came in the bakery. Just enough to be understood with a bit of hand waving.
Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at February 14, 2026 12:50 PM (gm9Sb)

Hoping there are some home movies of that.

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 12:54 PM (+YA9H)

189 This Guthrie situation has turned into a mega clown show headed up by the clown Patel. Laughable this guy is in charge of the FBI.
Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 14, 2026 12:21 PM (abIsI)

Dude, I get that you don't like Pres. Trump, but at a certain point are you even contributing anything to the conversation? You're a broken record.

As far as the Nancy Guthrie abduction is concerned, I don't think it was a classic kidnapping. Most likely, it was a night-time burglary that went bad. She got killed, carried out of the house, and her corpse has been hidden. There's probably no personal connection between the perpetrator(s) and Guthrie: this makes for a difficult crime to solve.

To me, the Ring camera video doesn't show some Tier-1 operator. It's just some chunky male with a POS revolver stuffed into a POS holster. It just seems very impromptu. Who tries to cover a camera lens with some random greenery plucked from a flower bed?

I get the impression that the investigators are looking for an Aztec.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at February 14, 2026 12:54 PM (pJWtt)

190 >> Doesn't the stone have a handle? I figure once you release the handle you can't touch the damn again.

Double touches are permitted under the rules as long as the second touch occurs before the stone crosses the line. The second touch must be to the handle, not the stone itself.

Canada guy touched the stone itself with his finger and gave it a little nudge after the stone crossed the line.

Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 12:54 PM (Y1sOo)

191 When your government decides it's their job to minimize or hide crimes against it's citizens, then it's no longer your government but someone else's.

Posted by: Orangeent at February 14, 2026 12:54 PM (HqwAB)

192 Ever heard of The Safari Club?

Might be worth your time if not.

https://tinyurl.com/yva822fx

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:54 PM (viF8m)

193 I hear Rita Cosby on the TV in the other room.

I am so happy she finally coughed out whatever she used to have stuck in her throat.

Posted by: toby928(c) at February 14, 2026 12:55 PM (jc0TO)

194 WRT Guthrie, there are possible links to Antifa involvement. I have no idea what their plan was, but we already know many of those guys aren't high IQ individuals.

Posted by: Ian S. at February 14, 2026 12:56 PM (QZThv)

195 At Telegraph: "Secrets of a good kiss revealed by scientists"

'Best kiss: Alien face-hugger.
Worst kiss: Accidentally scratching the eight ball.'

Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 12:56 PM (N8ZBc)

196 Canada guy broke three rules in that one slide of the rock and subsequent "discussion" with the Swedish opponent.

Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 12:57 PM (Y1sOo)

197 192 Ever heard of The Safari Club?

Might be worth your time if not.

https://tinyurl.com/yva822fx
Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:54 PM (viF8m)

Just call me Bwana.

Posted by: George Bush at February 14, 2026 12:57 PM (/QdgR)

198 192 Ever heard of The Safari Club?

Might be worth your time if not.

https://tinyurl.com/yva822fx
Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:54 PM (viF8m)

"Surfin' Safari"

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 12:59 PM (+YA9H)

199 189
'I get the impression that the investigators are looking for an Aztec.'

That close to border? Yeah. I tend to agree.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at February 14, 2026 12:59 PM (fd80v)

200 Paging Sheriff Bart.

Posted by: Gaelic Acapella Group at February 14, 2026 01:00 PM (GI9/m)

201 'Second-worst kiss: Pavement, in motorcycle accident.'

Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:00 PM (N8ZBc)

202 Jesssss!

I strolled through the kitchen and Mrs928 is making her traditional Valentines Day giant heartshaped meatloaf.

I have said before that if I could only eat one thing for the rest of my life, it would be my wife's meatloaf.

Posted by: toby928(c) at February 14, 2026 01:00 PM (jc0TO)

203 Not as a counter to the Irish gals, but as an adjunct, vid of 7th Calvary movie 'They Died With Their Boots On' FF to 1:20

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m7RPjQxjmA

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 14, 2026 01:00 PM (XeU6L)

204 Surely he can find replacements
Posted by: Christopher R Taylor
====
Gross exaggeration.
Posted by: whig at February 14, 2026 12:47 PM (2swu2)
==================
Crazy gross, and weird. What a thing to say.

----
An exaggeration perhaps, but gross and weird? Only if one thinks that corruption only exists on one side of the aisle.

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 01:00 PM (RkOfE)

205 185 Ann Vandersteel @annvandersteel

OK I'll be the one to say it: No one is holding Nancy Guthrie for ransom.

If they were, her daughter’s $40 million net worth would have produced a seven-figure demand by now, and the woman would be home safe, case closed.

Instead, we’re fed a slow drip of non-facts, non-evidence, and carefully curated ambiguity designed to keep the spotlight locked in place.

I was born at night, but it wasn’t last night.

The sad, infuriating truth is that what we call “the news” has become a reality-control device. Nancy Guthrie vanishes, and suddenly—poof:

No more ICE protests clogging the airwaves. No discussion of the SAVE Act. No scrutiny of border numbers or cartel pipelines. No follow-up on the thousands of unaccompanied minors still missing from HHS custody.

One carefully amplified disappearance, and the entire national conversation pivots on command. The MEDIA MACHINE selects which crisis gets oxygen - and which ones suffocate in silence. And we’re left watching the approved story while the real ones bleed out off-screen.
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at February 14, 2026 12:53 PM (P5BPp)

She seems nice.

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 01:01 PM (+YA9H)

206 Why was Epstein friends with Adnan Khashoggi, a Saudi and one of the biggest illicit arms traders in the world?

Khashoggi also tied to the CIA.
Posted by: JackStraw

Epstein was probably "recruited" by Donald Barr (Bill Barr's father), who was ex-OSS,and likely a CIA recruiter.
From teaching at the private school that Barr administrated, Epstein went on to work at Lehman Bros (early 80's), and this is a guy that was a college dropout. After working at Lehman Bros for several years, he went on to other "finance" work. And very likely, he was a CIA "asset", but not officially working for the CIA. A cutout, a deniable contributor. The thought is that he was involved in the Iran - Contra business, at a low level, and because of that he knew and worked with Adnan Khashoggi.

Posted by: Pepperidge Farms remembers at February 14, 2026 01:01 PM (V+3EO)

207 'Third worst kiss: Drunk grandma.'

Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:01 PM (N8ZBc)

208 Mike Hammer , I have the DVD.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 14, 2026 01:02 PM (0KSrI)

209 It takes real stones to do curling.
Posted by: Diogenes at February 14, 2026 12:46 PM (2WIwB)

Casual observers kind of take that for granite.

Posted by: Cicero (@cicero43) at February 14, 2026 01:02 PM (JkO4W)

210 Who you calling a bafoon?

Posted by: Buffoon at February 14, 2026 01:02 PM (2Ez/1)

211 185 Ann Vandersteel @annvandersteel

OK I'll be the one to say it: No one is holding Nancy Guthrie for ransom.
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at February 14, 2026 12:53 PM (P5BPp)

This claim has currently netted @annvandersteel 6,452 comments, so ....

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 01:02 PM (+YA9H)

212 'Second-worst kiss: Pavement, in motorcycle accident.'
Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:00 PM (N8ZBc)

I investigated more than one fatal crash involving a motorcycle back when I was a cop. I wouldn't ride a motorcycle if you paid me. I call them "donor-cycles" myself.

Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop is now an engineer at February 14, 2026 01:03 PM (pJWtt)

213 157 Why was Epstein friends with Adnan Khashoggi, a Saudi and one of the biggest illicit arms traders in the world?

Khashoggi also tied to the CIA.
Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 12:42 PM (viF8m)

Trump should give MBS a Presidential Medal of Bad-Assery for giving that asshole what he deserved.

Posted by: Tom Servo at February 14, 2026 01:04 PM (/QdgR)

214 Crazy gross, and weird. What a thing to say.
Posted by: Huck Follywood
======
I look at the files perhaps differently than others do. What I am looking for is actionable data that could legitimately lead to an investigation and prosecution. What I see is a lot of hearsay, gossip, and Epstein emailing things himself discussing conversations at times. Some were getting stroked and presents from Epstein whether for influence or worse.

Posted by: whig at February 14, 2026 01:04 PM (2swu2)

215 Canada issues new postal stamp:

https://tinyurl.com/ykw5uts9

Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 01:04 PM (Y1sOo)

216 Hmm. Hard to keep up with the really important stuff, you know 'Guthrie!' with distractions like 'Curling!'

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 14, 2026 01:04 PM (XeU6L)

217 Thank you spellchecker. I should have consulted you first. Forgive my error.

Posted by: Ben Had at February 14, 2026 01:05 PM (0KSrI)

218 Gross exaggeration.

Its an exaggeration but nearly two dozen are in the files in a prominent way tied to Epstein. Several island-goers if the reports are to be believed.

Trump handled this really badly. He should have dumped the guys he found out were deeply involved, but instead tried to get everyone to forget about the files and kept them on.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 14, 2026 01:05 PM (PYyV9)

219 "I wouldn't ride a motorcycle if you paid me. I call them "donor-cycles" myself."

I shouldn't even be alive with all the crazy stuff I did on bikes. I should have died 3X over. Only by the Grace of God am I here to joke about it.

Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:05 PM (N8ZBc)

220 When I was a little kid in the 50s our town took in a bunch of Hungarian refugees from the uprising.My Dad, born in Finland, fluent, could get along with them when they came in the bakery. Just enough to be understood with a bit of hand waving.
Posted by: bill in arkansas

My very beautiful girlfriend I had for a couple of months in high school, was born in Hungary in June, 1956, and her family escaped a few months later. And she was sweet, but WAY out of my league in looks. But it was only for a couple of months.
They all spoke Hungarian at home.

Posted by: Pepperidge Farms remembers at February 14, 2026 01:06 PM (V+3EO)

221 "…quest which came from the First lady of the Virginia Islands…a re"

Could that be "Virgin Islands," or are there V Islands I never heard of?

Posted by: mindful webworker - isle of virgie at February 14, 2026 01:06 PM (6hyzx)

222 Anyone remember the Bank of Credit and Commerce, BCCI?

It was the bank for international gangsters. Money laundering, drugs, guns and other assorted ne'er do wells.

Almost kneecapped George HW Bush. Of course he was CIA before getting the big chair.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 01:06 PM (viF8m)

223 >>>Canada guy touched the stone itself with his finger and gave it a little nudge after the stone crossed the line.

Posted by: one hour sober

>So why isn't some 'official' jumping out onto the 'playing field' to divert the stone? They're not throwing 95mph fastballs. Seems to me the whole competition is a farce if it's allow to hit another stone. Nullify it and carry on.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 01:07 PM (gVUi7)

224 'Fourth worst kiss: Jealous drooling camel.'

Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:07 PM (N8ZBc)

225 The rest of this shit is going on while the Epstein circus gets all the outrage and it is timed by critters like Massie to surge whenever cover is needed for stalling or hurting critical votes in Congress.
Posted by: whig at February 14, 2026 12:53 PM (2swu2)

-----

One carefully amplified disappearance, and the entire national conversation pivots on command. The MEDIA MACHINE selects which crisis gets oxygen - and which ones suffocate in silence. And we’re left watching the approved story while the real ones bleed out off-screen.
Posted by: Clyde Shelton at February 14, 2026 12:53 PM (P5BPp)

----

The media is just as corrupt as most of the government and arguably more evil because they provide cover for corruption.

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 01:07 PM (RkOfE)

226 What I see is a lot of hearsay, gossip, and Epstein emailing things himself discussing conversations at times. Some were getting stroked and presents from Epstein whether for influence or worse.

Yeah I haven't gone through all the files yet but I see nothing in there that could be used to build a criminal case, let alone a trial. There's more than enough to justify investigation but not arrests, let alone wood chippers. This isn't the UK, we don't throw people in jail for saying stuff we don't like or find awful in an email.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 14, 2026 01:07 PM (PYyV9)

227 'Fifth worst kisses: Your boss's asses, over and over and over.'

Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:09 PM (N8ZBc)

228 "I wouldn't ride a motorcycle if you paid me. I call them "donor-cycles" myself."

I am getting old and cautious, just going 20 mph on my ebike makes me nervous :/

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 14, 2026 01:09 PM (PYyV9)

229 Casual observers kind of take that for granite"

I'm just brooming off these puns

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 01:10 PM (cGjQu)

230
I investigated more than one fatal crash involving a motorcycle back when I was a cop. I wouldn't ride a motorcycle if you paid me. I call them "donor-cycles" myself.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop
------

I did contract work for a firm whose sole business was accident reconstruction/failure analysis. Their clients were always insurance companies/attorneys. Most were industrial accidents or material failures, but occasionally vehicle incidents. It was the motorcycle incidents where I became involved. I've got stories...

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 14, 2026 01:11 PM (XeU6L)

231 The Guthrie woman's "kidnapping" should have been on pay-per-view.

It's designed to draw attention away from other matters that are more important.

I mean, it's a story manufactured by the MSM. What more need be said?

Posted by: Martini Farmer at February 14, 2026 01:11 PM (jtM2q)

232 First principles, Clarice. Read Marcus Aurelius. Of each particular thing ask: what is it in itself? What is its nature? What does he do, this man you seek?

He kills women

No! That is incidental. What is the first and principal thing he does, what need does he serve by killing?

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 01:11 PM (viF8m)

233 "…quest which came from the First lady of the Virginia Islands…a re"

Could that be "Virgin Islands," or are there V Islands I never heard of?
Posted by: mindful webworker - isle of virgie

A few years ago, my wife and I took a vacation to St. Thomas. We stayed at a nice bed and breakfast, and the lady that owned it told us the Virgin Islands Governor's wife had worked for Epstein as his secretary.
I guess that's what they meant by the "First Lady".
We also took a sunset sailing tour, and sailed past Little St. James, which is just across the bay from St. Thomas.
Joe Biden and family owned land on an adjacent island.
Think about that.

Posted by: Pepperidge Farms remembers at February 14, 2026 01:11 PM (V+3EO)

234 I shouldn't even be alive with all the crazy stuff I did on bikes."

You don't want to see.... well, nevermind....

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 01:11 PM (cGjQu)

235 Casual observers kind of take that for granite"

I'm just brooming off these puns
Posted by: man
-----

I'm brushing them aside.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 14, 2026 01:12 PM (XeU6L)

236 ride a motorcycle

The best 25+ years of my life!

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at February 14, 2026 01:13 PM (Kt19C)

237 Hmm. Hard to keep up with the really important stuff, you know 'Guthrie!' with distractions like 'Curling!'
Posted by: Mike Hammer

You're really upset about this Olympic curling controversy being reported on, aren't you?

What if I told you that there's another controversy involving a French figure skating judge allegedly stealing the gold medal for her country's skaters at the expense of the U.S. skaters?

(It's the Olympics. This kind of shit happens all the time in practically every Olympics held).

Posted by: one hour sober at February 14, 2026 01:14 PM (Y1sOo)

238 You know who else gave lively speeches in Munich and was a terr-ific dancer?

Posted by: Franz Liebkind's Biggest Fan at February 14, 2026 01:15 PM (oftw2)

239 >>We also took a sunset sailing tour, and sailed past Little St. James, which is just across the bay from St. Thomas.

Used to anchor across the bay from LSJ island. On a sailboat. Where somebody should be right now instead of wasting time here.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 01:15 PM (viF8m)

240 I doubt that I am alone here or worldwide in not really caring about the Olympics at all. I used to kind of like it back in the mid 90s at the latest but it just became dull and doing it every 2 years makes it even less special.

Posted by: Christopher R Taylor at February 14, 2026 01:16 PM (PYyV9)

241 The Olympics were the death of me.

Posted by: Richard Jewell, Killed by the media at February 14, 2026 01:18 PM (XeU6L)

242 Stupid things to do on a Honda CB450: Cruise bars, shitfaced, with a busted gas cap. Stop at next bar, drop the bike, dumping gas all over. Pick the bike up in a huge cloud of gasoline vapor, which somehow fails to ignite. Enter bar, get far drunker, and plan for Phase Two. Dance with a broom for a while.

Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:18 PM (N8ZBc)

243 So what happened to the government officials that were organizing the anti-ICE Signal chats in Minneapolis?

Nothing?

Posted by: I gotta ask at February 14, 2026 01:18 PM (2Ez/1)

244 I went through two CB450s and one CL450. Wrecked all three.

Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:20 PM (N8ZBc)

245 Did you expect something would?

Posted by: Skip at February 14, 2026 01:21 PM (Ia/+0)

246 World Curling also issued a warning to the Canadian curler who went on a rant using vulgar language directed at his Swedish opponent.

canadians should be banned from international competitions.

Posted by: No One Will Miss Them at February 14, 2026 01:22 PM (Ksqrb)

247 Friend, age 69, collided with pickup truck last week. In the hospital with both broken tibias.

Experienced rider, but conspiracy of circumstances....

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 14, 2026 01:22 PM (XeU6L)

248 240 I doubt that I am alone here or worldwide in not really caring about the Olympics at all. I used to kind of like it back in the mid 90s at the latest but it just became dull and doing it every 2 years makes it even less special.
Olympics,Ozempics. All is vanity.

Posted by: Eromero at February 14, 2026 01:22 PM (INIdd)

249 243 So what happened to the government officials that were organizing the anti-ICE Signal chats in Minneapolis?

Nothing?
Posted by: I gotta ask at February 14, 2026 01:18 PM
+++

Nothing will happen.

Posted by: Do you even need to ask? at February 14, 2026 01:22 PM (2Ez/1)

250 When your government decides it's their job to minimize or hide crimes against it's citizens, then it's no longer your government but someone else's.
----
Well said. And I don't like pretending that our government is what it is not. Especially the election fraud tells us that this government is not "of the people" nor "for the people".

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 01:23 PM (RkOfE)

251 canadians should be banned from international competitions.
Posted by: No One Will Miss Them
--------

I feel literally sick when I see them.

Posted by: Media Influencer at February 14, 2026 01:25 PM (XeU6L)

252 241 The Olympics were the death of me.
Posted by: Richard Jewell, Killed by the media at February 14, 2026 01:18 PM (XeU6L)

100% accurate.

Posted by: Eromero at February 14, 2026 01:26 PM (INIdd)

253 'I doubt that I am alone here or worldwide in not really caring about the Olympics at all.'

You are not alone. The Olympics is a giant racket of bribes, kickbacks, and waste.

Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:26 PM (N8ZBc)

254 Ike warned about the military industrial complex, not even considering the OSS was the real enemy.

Posted by: Rev. Wishbone at February 14, 2026 01:27 PM (gVUi7)

255 So what happened to the government officials that were organizing the anti-ICE Signal chats in Minneapolis?
Nothing?

This is a very complicated case, Man. You know, a lotta ins, a lotta outs, a lotta what-have-yous. And, uh, a lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Patel's head.

Posted by: Dude Patel at February 14, 2026 01:27 PM (Ksqrb)

256 US men's hockey team is worth watching. You won't find a more pro America group of athletes and they are really good. Their goal celebration song is Free Bird.

'merica. F#ck yea!

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 01:29 PM (viF8m)

257 The Olympics were the death of me.
Posted by: Richard Jewell, Killed by the media at February 14, 2026 01:18 PM (XeU6L)

100% accurate.
Posted by: Eromero
-------

Look, we were just doing our job as Journalists.

Posted by: The Atlanta Constitution at February 14, 2026 01:29 PM (XeU6L)

258
What if I told you that there's another controversy involving a French figure skating judge allegedly stealing the gold medal for her country's skaters at the expense of the U.S. skaters?
...
Posted by: one hour sober
---

He name is Jezebel.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 14, 2026 01:29 PM (y79kU)

259 Legalinsurrection.com Woman trues to burn down a building supposedly used by ICE

The Marxists will get someone else killed soon

Posted by: Skip at February 14, 2026 01:30 PM (Ia/+0)

260 GARDEN THREAD IS BLOOMING

Posted by: Skip at February 14, 2026 01:31 PM (Ia/+0)

261 I'm so old I remember when people here said Don Lemon would never be charged for being part of the mob that raided the church. Then he was and people stopped talking about it. Unexpectedly.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 01:31 PM (viF8m)

262
He name is Jezebel.

Posted by: Braenyard
-------
[licks chops]

Posted by: A dog at February 14, 2026 01:31 PM (XeU6L)

263 Tid bit from Jeffrey's files:

Maxwell did the fundraising for the inauguration of the Clinton Foundation.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 14, 2026 01:32 PM (y79kU)

264 FWIW, as of next Saturday, I shall be 16 years sober. Probably will be my greatest, maybe even the only, real contribution to humanity.

Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:32 PM (N8ZBc)

265 nood

Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:33 PM (N8ZBc)

266
Used to anchor across the bay from LSJ island. On a sailboat. Where somebody should be right now instead of wasting time here.
Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 01:15 PM (viF8m)

---
Well, when do you set sail? And do you need a kitchen maid?
Jk/

I don't want much and am very grateful for what I have, but I'm now thinking how can I turn this daydream into reality. Can I get to the islands one more time?

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 01:33 PM (RkOfE)

267 >>Maxwell did the fundraising for the inauguration of the Clinton Foundation.

The foundation was Epstein's idea.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 01:34 PM (viF8m)

268 Congratulations gp! Well done!

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 01:34 PM (RkOfE)

269 FWIW, as of next Saturday, I shall be 16 years sober. Probably will be my greatest, maybe even the only, real contribution to humanity.
Posted by: gp
---------
Congratulations, well done. A much larger thing than most people might understand.

Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 14, 2026 01:35 PM (XeU6L)

270 268 Thanks!

Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:35 PM (N8ZBc)

271 >>The government reportedly wants to erase the PUBLIC RECORDS of trials that have already taken place. Bad, bad, bad.
---

There were tragic events around here during the cattle range wars. After the killing was done and the feuds were settled the court house with all the records mysteriously burned to the ground.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 14, 2026 01:35 PM (y79kU)

272 255 So what happened to the government officials that were organizing the anti-ICE Signal chats in Minneapolis?
Nothing?

This is a very complicated case, Man. You know, a lotta ins, a lotta outs, a lotta what-have-yous. And, uh, a lotta strands to keep in my head, man. Lotta strands in old Patel's head.

Posted by: Dude Patel at February 14, 2026 01:27 PM (Ksqrb)

"Umm, you know, I think that, uh — this is such a, a — you know, I think that — this is a, umm — this is, of course, uh, a very longstanding, umm, policy"
--AOC

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 01:36 PM (+YA9H)

273 >>Well, when do you set sail? And do you need a kitchen maid?

Every other day or so I wonder why I ever left.

Posted by: JackStraw at February 14, 2026 01:36 PM (viF8m)

274 Again, the bookends to Epstein's life are hired by former OSS agent, Donald Barr, died in a prison run by his son Bill Barr.

In between was a lot of really, really wild and wacky stuff, involving a wide array of characters, from arms dealers, financial wheeler dealers, politicians, royalty, academics, business titans, spies, whores, celebrities, the creme-de-la-creme.

He was not some random dude.

And the thing that drives me crazy is that everyone on our side thought he was a big deal and that the bottom needed to be gotten to, and then on a dime, it's all, nothing to see here, move along, move along.

I moved along, I don't really care anymore, it no longer matters.

The bottom is not going to be gotten to and that's that.

Posted by: Thomas Bender at February 14, 2026 01:36 PM (XV/Pl)

275 264 FWIW, as of next Saturday, I shall be 16 years sober. Probably will be my greatest, maybe even the only, real contribution to humanity.
Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:32 PM (N8ZBc)

That's a great accomplishment.

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 01:38 PM (+YA9H)

276 Its an exaggeration but nearly two dozen are in the files in a prominent way tied to Epstein. Several island-goers if the reports are to be believed.

I went through all the garbage leftist bullshit on the left and the main assertion apart from Luttnick (who ironically last contacted Epstein to raise funds for Hillary in 2015 apparently), rests on people in his first administration like Acosta (who by all appearances did little wrong as the local DA who handled a prepackaged plea deal as central DoJ pulled the strings on that plea deal, and Billy Bagpipes Barr who we already know is corrupt and is far from any role in this administration. That leaves a couple of minor officials at the assistant level and a few fundraisers.

If you have names, then go ahead and name them. I always use the oppo research for that and if Madcow, etc. aren't screaming about someone, then they are probably not there in the files.

And fwiw, Acosta denies that anyone in government told him that Epstein was tied into intel, but there is some indication that Dershowitz might have done that at the time as he represented Epstein in some capacity back in that timeframe.

Posted by: whig at February 14, 2026 01:40 PM (2swu2)

277 Petunia non olet is just a lie! Petunias have a very sweet smell!

Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at February 14, 2026 01:42 PM (ZVgZ4)

278
Every other day or so I wonder why I ever left.
Posted by: JackStraw

Thank God for the memories.

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 01:45 PM (RkOfE)

279 277 Petunia non olet is just a lie! Petunias have a very sweet smell!
Posted by: NemoMeImpuneLacessit at February 14, 2026 01:42 PM (ZVgZ4)

50 33 pecunia non olet.

Gardening thread?
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at February 14, 2026 11:35 AM (Kt19C)

petunia olet
Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 11:44 AM (+YA9H)

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 01:46 PM (+YA9H)

280 He was not some random dude.

And the thing that drives me crazy is that everyone on our side thought he was a big deal and that the bottom needed to be gotten to, and then on a dime, it's all, nothing to see here, move along, move along.
----
I hear you!

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 01:46 PM (RkOfE)

281 As far as the Nancy Guthrie abduction is concerned, I don't think it was a classic kidnapping. Most likely, it was a night-time burglary that went bad. She got killed, carried out of the house, and her corpse has been hidden. There's probably no personal connection between the perpetrator(s) and Guthrie: this makes for a difficult crime to solve.

To me, the Ring camera video doesn't show some Tier-1 operator. It's just some chunky male with a POS revolver stuffed into a POS holster. It just seems very impromptu. Who tries to cover a camera lens with some random greenery plucked from a flower bed?

I get the impression that the investigators are looking for an Aztec.
Posted by: Retired Buckeye Cop

The first line investigators probably had the same/correct conclusion and like Trayvon-Zimmerman it was turned into a political shitshow.
Almost like a commen element.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 14, 2026 01:46 PM (/lPRQ)

282 Thanks for the conversations everyone

Posted by: AmericanKestrel at February 14, 2026 01:46 PM (RkOfE)

283
How did this college become so dependent on Chinese and other foreign students? They pay up front rather than taking out student loans.

Out-of-state tuition

Posted by: IllTemperedCur at February 14, 2026 01:49 PM (y9nCu)

284 And very likely, he was a CIA "asset", but not officially working for the CIA. A cutout, a deniable contributor. The thought is that he was involved in the Iran - Contra business, at a low level, and because of that he knew and worked with Adnan Khashoggi.
Posted by: Pepperidge Farms remembers

Government contractors always make more than the GS Drones that 'oversee' their work.

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 14, 2026 01:51 PM (/lPRQ)

285 260 GARDEN THREAD IS BLOOMING
Posted by: Skip at February 14, 2026 01:31 PM (Ia/+0)

Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 01:53 PM (+YA9H)

286 The Olympics is a giant racket of bribes, kickbacks, and waste."

Hey, we're not slouches either!

/F1, World Cup, NFL, MLB...

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 01:53 PM (cGjQu)

287 184
'it is timed by critters like Massie to surge whenever cover is needed for stalling or hurting critical votes in Congress.'

I didn't think it was possible to make me loath Massie more than I already did. He's the poor man's Adam Kinzinger.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at February 14, 2026 01:53 PM (fd80v)

288 Government contractors always make more than the GS Drones that 'oversee' their work."

Duh. Gotta pay more in taxes!

/

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 01:54 PM (cGjQu)

289 whig! You're up! Good to see you so soon. Good Show.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 14, 2026 01:58 PM (y79kU)

290

It is sad when a family member goes missing.

However, why is the Guthrie woman more important than our own family members. Of course it's a diversion from the shit going on in our country.

I read that the sheriff out there is "exhausted."

FU, did you think you signed on for an easy job?

Posted by: four seasons at February 14, 2026 01:59 PM (3ek7K)

291 The Blat network works exactly the same way as current effective money laundering networks. Which is what it is, after all. There is no bag of cash, just traded property, services or favors that come from third parties to make tracing and attribution difficult.

Posted by: Quid Pro Mo at February 14, 2026 02:01 PM (fKeBm)

292 Nap time over

Posted by: Skip at February 14, 2026 02:06 PM (Ia/+0)

293 Newly Declassified FBI Memos Reveal Bureau Ran SECRET ‘J6 Tabletop Exercise’ in Summer 2020 — Planned ‘Mass Prosecutions’ and ‘Embedded Informants’ MONTHS Before Capitol Event
-GWP

Summer of 2020. Wasn't that before an election with the "biggest fraud organization in history"*?

* To paraphrase The Big Guy

Posted by: Itinerant Alley Butcher at February 14, 2026 02:08 PM (/lPRQ)

294 By the late Soviet era, I observed that most of their economy was блат.

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 14, 2026 02:10 PM (RIvkX)

295 There was a language that grew around blat.

For example, the verb достать.

It doesn't mean, purchase, or buy. It means to get, to arrange, to obtain. As in "I arranged some oranges."

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 14, 2026 02:14 PM (RIvkX)

296 @203 "In Garryone's Fair Garden" is attributed to one
L. Van Beethoven.

He really got around.

Posted by: Way, Way Downriver at February 14, 2026 02:16 PM (zdLoL)

297 FWIW, as of next Saturday, I shall be 16 years sober. Probably will be my greatest, maybe even the only, real contribution to humanity.
Posted by: gp at February 14, 2026 01:32 PM (N8ZBc)

That's a great accomplishment.
Posted by: m at February 14, 2026 01:38 PM (+YA9H)
=====
b"h

Posted by: San Franpsycho at February 14, 2026 02:24 PM (RIvkX)

298 San Franpsycho at February 14, 2026 02:24 PM

A wonderful accomplishment! Congratulations!

Posted by: KT at February 14, 2026 02:29 PM (7vIsy)

299 He really got around."

Us too!
/ The Beach Boys

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 02:30 PM (n1IFJ)

300 Ooops. Congrats to gp.

Posted by: KT at February 14, 2026 02:30 PM (7vIsy)

301 It was the motorcycle incidents where I became involved. I've got stories...
Posted by: Mike Hammer, etc., etc. at February 14, 2026 01:11 PM (XeU6L)
======

Back when I was a kid, the school bus route took us around the moraine hills in our part of Ohio, and some of those hills were pretty steep. One day, the driver slowed down as we went up one of those hills. It was an accident scene involving two vehicles that had happened only minutes before. The first vehicle was a white pickup without a windshield. The front bumper was dented and the hood had a weird red racing stripe up the middle. The second "vehicle" was a motorcycle broken in half, with the windshield and most of instrumentation stripped off, along with, of course, the front wheel assembly.

Motorcycle riders should always obey traffic laws, and attempting to pass another vehicle in a no-passing zone is a very bad idea.

Posted by: mrp at February 14, 2026 02:31 PM (rj6Yv)

302 Reminder that one of the reporters who revealed back when Epstein got his first sweetheart deal that the DA skipped convictions for very young girls was a NYT REPORTER. And all those politicians and celebs still ignored her.

Posted by: KT at February 14, 2026 02:33 PM (7vIsy)

303 264
'FWIW, as of next Saturday, I shall be 16 years sober.'

How were you able to do that?

Posted by: Dr. Claw at February 14, 2026 02:37 PM (fd80v)

304 How were you able to do that?"

Want some tips?

/Trayvon Martin, 14 y sober

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 02:40 PM (cGjQu)

305 Ruh Roh,

...There is a story about a man named Harry Sargeant III in The Wall Street Journal. He has no authority, in any way, shape, or form, to act on behalf of the United States of America, nor does anyone else that is not approved by the State Department.

Without this approval, no one is authorized to represent our Country. Thank you for your attention to this matter! PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 14, 2026 02:50 PM (y79kU)

306 This is going to take up space. If you're not interest in Musk you may want to skip ahead.

An xAI engineer just described how the company operates, and buried in that description is the only thing that might save Western technological dominance.

No organizational overhead. No documentation requirements. No approval chains. You identify what needs building and you build it.

xAI engineer: “There isn’t organizational overhead getting in your way, having to write docs. You just do stuff.”

That’s not a workplace perk. That’s an emergency response to an existential competitive threat most people refuse to acknowledge.

China owns 50% of the world’s AI researchers. Not the developing world combined. Not Asia collectively. China alone controls half of every brain advancing the most important technology in human history.

While the West celebrates chip sanctions and export controls, China is doing something infinitely more dangerous: removing every organizational barrier between brilliant people and execution.

xAI engineer: “If you want to get shit done, you can get shit done.”

In most Western companies,

cont.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 14, 2026 03:07 PM (y79kU)

307 cont
In most Western companies, that sentence would be fantasy. Compliance reviews. Documentation mandates. Approval hierarchies. Risk assessments. Process optimization. Every layer bleeds velocity while competitors operate without friction.

This isn’t about efficiency. It’s about survival.

Talent compounds generationally. Elite researchers train the next wave. Each generation builds on everything before it. When you control half the pipeline and let them operate at maximum speed, your advantage doesn’t grow linearly. It explodes exponentially.

The West responds with governance frameworks. Ethics committees. Responsible AI initiatives. All valuable in peacetime. All fatal when you’re being systematically outpaced by an adversary that captured the talent advantage and eliminated the one thing slowing them down: bureaucracy.

xAI engineer: “It’s truly an environment where you just do stuff.”

That’s not unique culture. That’s the minimum operational requirement to compete against a system that owns half the world’s AI minds and removed every organizational obstacle between their ideas and reality.

cont to 3

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 14, 2026 03:07 PM (y79kU)

308 3

Western advantages are real. Capital markets. Research institutions. Democratic innovation. All of it becomes irrelevant if the output gap keeps widening because one side builds while the other holds meetings about building.

China isn’t trying to slow the West down. They don’t need to. They’re accelerating their own execution while Western organizations debate whether acceleration needs additional oversight.

The math is brutal. Control half the researchers. Remove bureaucratic friction. Compound that advantage across generations. The West doesn’t lose slowly. It becomes a spectator watching the future get built in a language it can’t read fast enough to translate.

The choice isn’t between chaos and order. It’s between execution and extinction.

Either we build environments where the smartest people can operate at the speed of thought without permission structures, or we watch capability concentrate where those structures were already eliminated and wonder how we lost a war we didn’t realize we were fighting.

This isn’t about xAI’s culture. It’s about whether Western civilization can remember how to move fast enough to matter before the advantage gap becomes permanent.

Posted by: Braenyard - some Absent Friends are more equal than others _ at February 14, 2026 03:07 PM (y79kU)

309 canadians should be banned ~~from international competitions.~~
Posted by: No One Will Miss Them

Posted by: Maj. Healey at February 14, 2026 03:08 PM (abIsI)

310 Listening to a new Winston Marshall podcast on a interview with a woman who is saying this Rape gang was a international sex trafficking
https://tinyurl.com/3wj7d2t9

Posted by: Skip at February 14, 2026 03:09 PM (Ia/+0)

311 No organizational overhead. No documentation requirements. No approval chains. You identify what needs building and you build it."

Sounds like most every large scale organization years ago. Before federal influence...

Posted by: man at February 14, 2026 03:12 PM (cGjQu)

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