Wednesday Morning Rant

Clinging

As a foreigner and a neighbor of sorts, I don't usually comment much on Canadian politics, but Trudeau's pseudo-resignation is so familiar and so typical of contemporary western politics that it feels very familiar. My understanding of the ins and outs of Canadian politics is superficial, but this also doesn't look particularly complicated. Trudeau didn't resign, he promised to resign when the party selects a new guy to replace him - a process that will likely take months.

So why the game? Why the promise to resign once the party and its pals find a replacement instead of just resigning or fighting to the end? To hold on, of course. "To hold on" would be an apt title for the entire beleaguered progressive establishment across the west. It probably will hold on, but it is once again losing ground because of how radical and vindictive a club it has become. Populist? Fiscal conservative? Cultural conservative? Nationalist? Trade pragmatist? Energy proponent? Skeptic of any kind? There's no room for you in any of the mainstream parties here or abroad, and they know it. So they, like Trudeau, cling.

Trudeau was guaranteed to lose a confidence vote soon. If that had happened, he'd be out on his ass, whether the party/coalition was "ready" for it or not. He could front-run it and resign because his control has broken down, but that means he's out on his ass today. Or he could derail that vote by promising to resign and take advantage of the lull so the party machinators can throw up obstacles and sow infighting within the bloc. He probably will actually have to resign before the scheduled elections in October, but this phony pseudo-resignation will prevent the confidence vote that would probably pull forward the elections by several months.

So the delay allows Trudeau - and more broadly his Liberal party - to cling a little longer. If snap elections followed a vote of no confidence, the party might lose. Too risky. But since the die was cast, Trudeau had to find a third way that protected himself, maintained his party's control as long as possible and allowed the various deep staters that Canada surely has stuffed into its government rank and file to jockey for position and set up to weather the storm.

Sound familiar? It should. This is how western politics work now. Trudeau has contrived a way to hold on for longer and probably avoid a snap election, allowing his party to fight it out on more favorable terms. And, of course, he will surely siphon off plenty of graft and give Canada many gifts before he goes. Just like our Congress and president have accelerated their graft and given us plenty of ill-smelling "gifts" in November and December, he will certainly shower Canada with little brown presents as he lines his pockets on his way out. No point in clinging to power otherwise.

His "resignation" speech was self-congratulatory, of course.

Why we rallied to support each other through the pandemic, to advance reconciliation, to defend free trade on this continent, to stand strong with Ukraine and our democracy.
And to fight climate change and get our economy ready for the future. We are at a critical moment in the world.

I am sure Canadians who were willing to take to the streets (literally) to blockade your borders and highways over your COVID power-grab, Canadian immigration opponents, foreign entanglement opponents, energy producers, taxpayers, blue collar employees and more all appreciate your efforts to destroy them. Good for you. You should be proud of your accomplishments.

I intend to resign as party leader, as prime minister, after the party selects its next leader through a robust, nationwide, competitive process. Last night I asked the president of the Liberal Party to begin that process.

A process that will, coincidentally, take a while and will happen at the end of March at the earliest. Not that this could have been the point of the exercise. No chance at all.

Trudeau is typical of the contemporary western political power man. They are either incompetent or evil (or, in most cases, both) and entitled. When facing the end, they don't take the opportunity to reflect or ever entertain the possibility that they could possibly be wrong, let alone bad. Instead, they contrive ways to hang on and salt the earth behind them for as long as possible.

If you want to find "bitter clingers," don't go looking for them in rural Pennsylvania or Alberta. Go to Ottawa or Washington or Paris or London or Berlin or Canberra. You can't swing a cat without hitting scores of bitter clingers in the western power centers.

Posted by: Joe Mannix at 11:00 AM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Commenting present

Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2025 11:00 AM (qxpRz)

2 First!

Posted by: stu-mick-o-sucks at January 08, 2025 11:01 AM (w9Wax)

3 Good morning good people.

I read the content - Rookie mistake.

Posted by: Tonypete at January 08, 2025 11:01 AM (WXNFJ)

4 Release the Kraken!

Posted by: stu-mick-o-sucks at January 08, 2025 11:01 AM (w9Wax)

5 Bitter clinging indeed.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 08, 2025 11:02 AM (W/lyH)

6 Dutifully called em
Reading Monica Showalter's article at American Thinker about fires, does break one's heart, but they voted for it.

Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2025 11:02 AM (qxpRz)

7 Its a country full of Canucks. They seem to be slow.

Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:02 AM (jFCkp)

8 I didn't want to be first, honestly

Posted by: Skip at January 08, 2025 11:02 AM (qxpRz)

9 Mannix for the save before I start stomping around crying. Now to read the content.

Posted by: Piper at January 08, 2025 11:03 AM (pZEOD)

10 I suppose he could be reelected?

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 08, 2025 11:04 AM (Q4IgG)

11 Where is Barry these days? Haven't heard a peep from him.

Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:04 AM (jFCkp)

12 Canadians- are y’all losing it over his suspension of parliament? To avoid a no confidence vote? To avoid rolling back some of his garbage policy moves? Do I have it wrong?

Posted by: Piper at January 08, 2025 11:04 AM (pZEOD)

13 That last paragraph nails it!

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 08, 2025 11:05 AM (d9fT1)

14 Strategic pseudo retreat, preparing the counterattack.

Posted by: davidt at January 08, 2025 11:05 AM (i0F8b)

15 What's the difference between Iron Man and Aluminum Man?

Iron Man stops the bad guys. Aluminum Man just foils their plans.

Posted by: Ciampino - Antiques Wus Us at January 08, 2025 11:05 AM (i0xsb)

16 It is familiar.
Not all that different from us and the democrats. As an election draws near, they talk much more centerist. Just enough to sway the LIVs. Once they win, its back to their neo-Marxism.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 08, 2025 11:05 AM (W/lyH)

17 Canada should change the locks and turn off the lights before he shows up to Parliament.

Posted by: NR Pax at January 08, 2025 11:06 AM (lXoJ5)

18 When I look at the army now, damn right I'm bitter.

Posted by: Cpl. Klinger at January 08, 2025 11:06 AM (NB9gA)

19 It's my understanding that the prorogation ends march 24, whether the Lieberals have managed to select a new leader or not. (Spoiler: they will anoint Mark Carney.)

Once Parliament resumes session, it could fall in a non-confidence vote the same day, unless snake Jagmeet Singh is properly bought off.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:06 AM (8zz6B)

20 Where is Barry these days? Haven't heard a peep from him.
Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:04 AM (jFCkp)

Probably still looking for another cook.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 08, 2025 11:06 AM (W/lyH)

21 18 When I look at the army now, damn right I'm bitter.
Posted by: Cpl. Klinger

In today's Army, Klinger would get a promotion and a wardrobe budget.

Posted by: NR Pax at January 08, 2025 11:07 AM (lXoJ5)

22 "You can't swing a cat without hitting scores of bitter clingers in the western power centers."

I'll drink to that.

Posted by: Old Lady Emhoff at January 08, 2025 11:07 AM (dg+HA)

23 Castreau only got 32% of the vote last election. And he lost the “popular vote” to the conservatives who got 33%. Or maybe it was 33 to 34. Either way only 1/3 of Canada voted for him.

parliamentary system is fucked up like that where a 1/3 of the vote gets you a win.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at January 08, 2025 11:08 AM (BqIHC)

24 Canadians- are y’all losing it over his suspension of parliament? To avoid a no confidence vote? To avoid rolling back some of his garbage policy moves? Do I have it wrong?
Posted by: Piper at January 08, 2025 11:04 AM (pZEOD)

Prorogation is just a tactic. Stephen Harper, the last worthy PM, used it, too.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:08 AM (8zz6B)

25 Hey, Joe and Chimp!

Posted by: Bulg at January 08, 2025 11:08 AM (77rzZ)

26 Probably still looking for another cook.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 08, 2025 11:06 AM (W/lyH)

Did you misspell something?

Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 08, 2025 11:08 AM (d9fT1)

27 Clinging allows for maximal damage and more importantly maximum time for him to arrange his next grifting opportunity. All he can do is grift, so its not like he's going to launch an architectural firm or build a textile factory--he had to announce he's "available" for whatever graft might present itself next.

Posted by: Crusader at January 08, 2025 11:09 AM (azSra)

28 In the waning months of World War II, the 855 women of color who comprised the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion — 824 enlisted Soldiers and 31 officers — completed a time-sensitive mission in the European Theater of Operations.
--------------
This is how you win wars!

Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:09 AM (jFCkp)

29 "We're all in this together--except those of you who get uppity!"

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:09 AM (krQz2)

30 Release the Kraken!
Posted by: stu-mick-o-sucks at January 08, 2025

***
"Smithers! Release the hounds!"

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2025 11:09 AM (J2vNu)

31 Fighting to make peaceful transition of power either impossible or, at least, very difficult make the likelihood of violent transition of power much higher.

But the fools who rule us think they know better.

We've had peace for so long they think it's the natural state of things. Because they are great fools.

"This business will get out of control. It will get out of control and we'll be lucky to live through it."

Posted by: Formerly Virginian at January 08, 2025 11:09 AM (zjgNU)

32 Trudeau is the very definition of bitter clinger.

Posted by: Northernlurker , Maple Syrup MAGA at January 08, 2025 11:09 AM (kTd/k)

33 I think Trump should rename Canada, maybe North Montana.

Posted by: Ripley at January 08, 2025 11:09 AM (GUOwU)

34 We've got our share of bitter clingers... look at the age of some of our political betters. How many have died while in office? (How many are still voting?) McConnell's barely able to function. Pelosi's not much better. Feinstein was wheeled around, nearly dead, for votes.

And, then, there's *biden.

So, yea. Bitter. And they cling to power. And money.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 08, 2025 11:10 AM (Q4IgG)

35 We all know who was the biggest loser in 2024.

Posted by: Stinky B. O. at January 08, 2025 11:10 AM (dg+HA)

36 Prorogation is just a tactic. Stephen Harper, the last worthy PM, used it, too.
-----------------
Everyone loves perogies.

Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:10 AM (jFCkp)

37 Biggest concern right now is that the Libs will gin up some sort of "emergency" to justify ruling by decree.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:10 AM (8zz6B)

38 33 I think Trump should rename Canada, maybe North Montana.
Posted by: Ripley at January 08, 2025 11:09 AM (GUOwU)

America Norte

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at January 08, 2025 11:10 AM (BqIHC)

39 Good riddance, Governor!

Posted by: t-bird at January 08, 2025 11:10 AM (KBusA)

40 "33 I think Trump should rename Canada, maybe North Montana.
Posted by: Ripley"
***********
Upper North Dakota

Posted by: Cosda at January 08, 2025 11:11 AM (u7WtD)

41 Willowed [always late to the party]

Re: LA Fire. We listened to some streaming LA news last night. Reported that some fire equipment could not be used because the air space was closed. The air space was closed because Biden was in Coachella declaring 2 more chunks of land as "national monuments." So there is a good possibility that a fire that could have been suppressed was not because of one more frivolous presidential act that could have been accomplished sometime within the last 4 years. Missing Carter's funeral was just a bonus.

Posted by: Mr. Barky at January 08, 2025 11:11 AM (pLMiL)

42 What's the difference between Iron Man and Aluminum Man?

Iron Man stops the bad guys. Aluminum Man just foils their plans.
Posted by: Ciampino - Antiques Wus Us at January 08, 2025

***
Ant Man makes the bad guys itch for revenge.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2025 11:11 AM (J2vNu)

43 We all know who was the biggest loser in 2024.
Posted by: Stinky B. O

Diddy or Didn’t He?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 11:12 AM (L/fGl)

44 If you want to find "bitter clingers," don't go looking for them in rural Pennsylvania or Alberta. Go to Ottawa or Washington or Paris or London or Berlin or Canberra. You can't swing a cat without hitting scores of bitter clingers in the western power centers.
---
And as they descend to Smeagol-level, they will become the bitterest of clingers.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:12 AM (krQz2)

45 The PM is still a member of Parliament and represents a constituency, right? How does that work? How does he do the PM's job and still find time to represent his local constituents?

Posted by: Bulg at January 08, 2025 11:12 AM (77rzZ)

46 What's the difference between Iron Man and Aluminum Man?

Iron Man stops the bad guys. Aluminum Man just foils their plans.
Posted by: Ciampino - Antiques Wus Us at January 08, 2025

***
They're still stinging from their last encounter with the Wasp Woman, too.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2025 11:12 AM (J2vNu)

47 *We've got our share of bitter clingers... look at the age of some of our political betters. How many have died while in office? (How many are still voting?) McConnell's barely able to function. Pelosi's not much better. Feinstein was wheeled around, nearly dead, for votes.*

Amateurs.

Posted by: Strom Thurmond at January 08, 2025 11:12 AM (dg+HA)

48 Are we sure we want Quebec?

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2025 11:12 AM (PiwSw)

49 Iron Man stops the bad guys. Aluminum Man just foils their plans.

Posted by: Ciampino - Antiques Wus Us at January 08, 2025
---
Oh the irony.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:12 AM (krQz2)

50 How does he do the PM's job and still find time to represent his local constituents?
***********
Rhetorical, right?

Posted by: Cosda at January 08, 2025 11:13 AM (u7WtD)

51 What's the difference between Iron Man and Aluminum Man?

Iron Man stops the bad guys. Aluminum Man just foils their plans.
Posted by: Ciampino

Ant Man makes the bad guys itch for revenge.
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius

Wonder Woman actually says 'Yes' to a suggested restaurant.

Posted by: Tonypete at January 08, 2025 11:13 AM (WXNFJ)

52 The greatest rock and roll prank of all time, Van Halen's Panama.

Listen closely, they are actually singing, "Canada!"

Posted by: davidt at January 08, 2025 11:13 AM (i0F8b)

53 Parliament should meet anyway, and Trudeau's "suspension" can GF itself. Vote "No Confidence" and require immediate elections. This clown show has to end.

Coincidentally I was just looking at NATO defense spending numbers (because since PDJT is going after Canada pretty hard these days I wanted to see what his issue is) and, unsurprisingly, Canada spent less in 2024 than all but 3 NATO countries (as a percentage of GDP) and, of the amount they spent, most went to personnel costs and less to actual equipment than all but 1 country (Belgium). All in all, Canada has a big hill to climb.

Canada is in for a major shock to its social net.

See Graph 3.

https://tinyurl.com/3aeb2jpv

Posted by: Huck Follywood at January 08, 2025 11:13 AM (g1w3t)

54 Trudeau is typical of the contemporary western political power man. They are either incompetent or evil (or, in most cases, both) and entitled. When facing the end, they don't take the opportunity to reflect or ever entertain the possibility that they could possibly be wrong, let alone bad. Instead, they contrive ways to hang on and salt the earth behind them for as long as possible.

One of the effects of the rise of "political science" and the modern government drone is that, for many of these people, their position in the hierarchy is who they are. It's all they have. Losing that is, for them, akin to dying.

They are nothing. A lie, presented to the weak-minded to convince them to trade the reality of their own existence for "security", or "fairness", or "inclusion", or whatever, never noticing that none of those things ever happen for them... no matter how faithfully they support these cardboard-cutout-people.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at January 08, 2025 11:13 AM (ExV1e)

55 48 Are we sure we want Quebec?

—

I’m sure I do NOT want it.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at January 08, 2025 11:13 AM (BqIHC)

56
Wonder Woman actually says 'Yes' to a suggested restaurant.
Posted by: Tonypete at January 08, 2025 11:13 AM (WXNFJ)

LOL

Posted by: It's me donna at January 08, 2025 11:13 AM (VE6XX)

57 I was so ready to make the pithy "bitter clingers" joke,

then Mannix robbed me in the last paragraph.

Posted by: scottst at January 08, 2025 11:13 AM (qcvs8)

58 I think Trump should rename Canada, maybe North Montana.
Posted by: Ripley"
***********
Upper North Dakota
Posted by: Cosda at January 08, 2025 11:11 AM (u7WtD)
---
Hoseria.

Backbaconia.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:13 AM (krQz2)

59 Are we sure we want Quebec?
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes,

We most definitely DON'T want it.

Posted by: Bulg at January 08, 2025 11:14 AM (77rzZ)

60 In the waning months of World War II, the 855 women of color who comprised the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion — 824 enlisted Soldiers and 31 officers — completed a time-sensitive mission in the European Theater of Operations.

Combat mailmen.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 08, 2025 11:14 AM (uxCna)

61 Yeah, don't go away mad, just go away.

Posted by: BignJames at January 08, 2025 11:14 AM (Yj6Os)

62 Combat mailmen.
Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 08, 2025 11:14 AM (uxCna)

Mailwomen !

Posted by: It's me donna at January 08, 2025 11:15 AM (VE6XX)

63 That last paragraph nails it!
Posted by: CharlieBrown'sDildo at January 08, 2025 11:05 AM (d9fT1)

If you want to find "bitter clingers," don't go looking for them in rural Pennsylvania or Alberta. Go to Ottawa or Washington or Paris or London or Berlin or Canberra. You can't swing a cat without hitting scores of bitter clingers in the western power centers.

Some years ago I was in DC on business and was headed to a bar near Dupont Circle. (Bar was named after an ancestor) As I was walking along P Street, I saw a door open at one of the stately buildings and out came Madeleine Albright. And she stood there. Alone, old, looking lost. No cab, no driver, no escort.
Very sad, and pathetic.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 08, 2025 11:15 AM (W/lyH)

64 "What's the difference between Iron Man and Aluminum Man?"

Iron Man got rusty with age.

Posted by: Ripley at January 08, 2025 11:15 AM (GUOwU)

65 They're not going to take it!

International Fact-Checking Union Convenes Emergency Meeting

-
Obligatory: That's not funny!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 11:16 AM (L/fGl)

66 The PM is still a member of Parliament and represents a constituency, right? How does that work? How does he do the PM's job and still find time to represent his local constituents?
Posted by: Bulg at January 08, 2025 11:12 AM (77rzZ)

Staff. MP's all have a "constituency office" centrally located in their riding, run by staff, and they have staff in Ottawa, too. The quality of the constituency service is a function of the quality of the staff, and of how seriously the MP takes the chore of providing it.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:16 AM (8zz6B)

67 I saw a door open at one of the stately buildings and out came Madeleine Albright. And she stood there. Alone, old, looking lost. No cab, no driver, no escort.
Very sad, and pathetic.
---------------
That chick is scary to look at.

Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:16 AM (jFCkp)

68 Speaking of constituents…

We have 435 congress critters for 330M people. Canada has 338 seats for 40M people.

It’s absurd that our ratio is as high as it is.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at January 08, 2025 11:16 AM (BqIHC)

69 Canada spent less in 2024 than all but 3 NATO countries (as a percentage of GDP) and, of the amount they spent, most went to personnel costs and less to actual equipment than all but 1 country (Belgium).

I read that Canada no longer participates in NATO exercises, because they don't have the equipment too do so.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 08, 2025 11:16 AM (uxCna)

70 In the waning months of World War II, the 855 women of color who comprised the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion — 824 enlisted Soldiers and 31 officers — completed a time-sensitive mission in the European Theater of Operations.

Combat mailmen.
Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 08, 2025

***
Most people don't know this, Norm, Sammy, but my Ma was one of those, uh, women mailmen.

Posted by: Cliff Clavin, of course at January 08, 2025 11:16 AM (J2vNu)

71 If you want to find "bitter clingers," don't go looking for them in rural Pennsylvania or Alberta. Go to Ottawa or Washington or Paris or London or Berlin or Canberra. You can't swing a cat without hitting scores of bitter clingers in the western power centers.

"I don't get it."
- Zombie Strom Thurmond

Posted by: Mary Poppins' Practically Perfect Piercing (aka Eloquent Depression) at January 08, 2025 11:16 AM (Q0kLU)

72 They're not going to take it!

International Fact-Checking Union Convenes Emergency Meeting
---
Pushing dogma is tight!

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:17 AM (krQz2)

73 Newsweek first to report this bit of critical information. The cult cannot be disrupted.

How Did Palisades Fire Start? Is Climate Change To Blame for LA Wildfires?

Posted by: AlaBAMA at January 08, 2025 11:17 AM (mzM2O)

74 Iron Man stops the bad guys. Aluminum Man just foils their plans.

Posted by: Ciampino - Antiques Wus Us at January 08, 2025
***

Can't say much about them, but in an origami class with Dwayne Johnson, I ruined his special paper cutter.
Yes, I broke the Rock's paper scissors.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 08, 2025 11:17 AM (W/lyH)

75 (Bar was named after an ancestor)
Posted by: Diogenes

You're descended from Felix Lighter?

Posted by: Bulg at January 08, 2025 11:17 AM (77rzZ)

76 Renaming Canada? How about the name I use for the area behind my garage where my dogs do their business: Turdopolis

Posted by: Bonecrusher at January 08, 2025 11:18 AM (JNTt1)

77 We have 435 congress critters for 330M people. Canada has 338 seats for 40M people.

It’s absurd that our ratio is as high as it is.

A "legislature" with thousands of people in it is no longer a deliberative body in any sense of the term.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 08, 2025 11:18 AM (uxCna)

78 Ironing Woman.

Posted by: Chinese Laundry at January 08, 2025 11:18 AM (i0F8b)

79 Give Quebec it's independence, they can now fail on their own, which is fair and just. Make Toronto, Ottawa and Vancouver independent city-states. Take the rest.

Posted by: Chuck Martel at January 08, 2025 11:18 AM (NB9gA)

80 In the waning months of World War II, the 855 women of color who comprised the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion — 824 enlisted Soldiers and 31 officers — completed a time-sensitive mission in the European Theater of Operations.
--------------
This is how you win wars!
Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:09 AM (jFCkp)

were there 6887 other Central Postal Directory Battalions?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:18 AM (8zz6B)

81 23
'parliamentary system is fucked up like that where a 1/3 of the vote gets you a win.'

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at January 08, 2025 11:08 AM (BqIHC)
----
What would you do if WE had 3 substantial parties of differing ideologies?

Posted by: Ciampino - could we do a coalition? at January 08, 2025 11:19 AM (i0xsb)

82 I want Kay Granger's staff members prosecuted. There is simply no way some of them didn't commit some sort of financial fraud to keep their paychecks processed and cashed while the congress woman responsible for them was spending months in a memory care facility.

Posted by: Crusader at January 08, 2025 11:19 AM (azSra)

83 I watched a program on all these people that say they are descended from John Wilkes Booth. All were of the opinion Booth did not die in the barn. I was annoyed since my 6x great cousin was the one that got him over the Potomac and down to the barn. Then he beat feet for Cuba.

Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:19 AM (jFCkp)

84 Collin Rugg@CollinRugg
NEW: MSNBC's Joy Reid and Mehdi Hasan hold a joint struggle session to whine about Elon Musk and Trump, blast Musk for condemning the UK grooming gangs.

-
The first rule of Muslim child rape gangs is you don't talk about Muslim child rape gangs.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 11:20 AM (L/fGl)

85 (Bar was named after an ancestor)
Posted by: Diogenes

You're descended from Felix Lighter?
Posted by: Bulg at January 08, 2025 11:17 AM (77rzZ)

Heh.
The bar was an Irish place called Hoban's. It closed in 2019.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 08, 2025 11:20 AM (W/lyH)

86 door open at one of the stately buildings and out came Madeleine Albright. And she stood there. Alone, old, looking lost. No cab, no driver, no escort.
Very sad, and pathetic.

Posted by: Diogenes

Sad maybe, but what a set of pins!

Posted by: Rate A Chick at January 08, 2025 11:20 AM (G5+As)

87 When did swinging a dead cat become a thing?

Posted by: Xipe Totec at January 08, 2025 11:20 AM (pohLc)

88 In the waning months of World War II, the 855 women of color who comprised the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion — 824 enlisted Soldiers and 31 officers — completed a time-sensitive mission in the European Theater of Operations.
--------------
This is how you win wars!
Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:09 AM (jFCkp)

-----

Stand by for the History Channel program claiming that but for their efforts, the War would have been lost.

Posted by: Zombie Robbo the Llama Butcher at January 08, 2025 11:20 AM (LxER7)

89 From last thread, something i thought should be addressed:

312 Am I the only one tired of hearing about the US taking Canada and Greenland? The absolute last thing I want is more non-US people being able to call themselves Americans...I dont want to take care of these people.
Posted by: Leupold

The Canada stuff is just Trump joking around, but Greenland is a serious issue. It only has 56,000 people or so, so we're talking a miniscule "burden" if we admit them as a perpetual territory. However, the potential economic, and more importantly, strategic geopolitical benefits of US control of Greenland (and the surrounding sea zones) is immense.

China has made significant investments abroad in developing nations (and the US) to buy influence....and often leverage when the countries can't fulfill their end of the arrangements. With Greenland looking at independence in the near future, it would be a ripe target for this kind of influence, with significant negative consequences for the US strategically.

Posted by: Military Moron at January 08, 2025 11:20 AM (JCZqz)

90 They're not going to take it!

International Fact-Checking Union Convenes Emergency Meeting

The Trump-haters at The Bulwark are apparently one one of the groups that Meta was paying for "fact-checking".

They are not pleased that the grift has ended.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at January 08, 2025 11:20 AM (uxCna)

91 Anybody ever seen videos of Pierre Poilievre?

Talk about somebody that can explain economics simply--also control a conversation.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:20 AM (krQz2)

92 were there 6887 other Central Postal Directory Battalions?
----------------
What can't central planning do?

Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:21 AM (jFCkp)

93 82 I want Kay Granger's staff members prosecuted.

Meh. Do you think her colleagues didn't notice her absence? She was absent for something like 6 months. This isn't some sort of staff-led conspiracy.

Posted by: The Mayo Clinic at January 08, 2025 11:22 AM (laHVL)

94 What would you do if WE had 3 substantial parties of differing ideologies?
Posted by: Ciampino - could we do a coalition? at January 08, 2025 11:19 AM (i0xsb)

My ideal would be a runoff election if nobody gets 50%. Like how Georgia does it for senate races.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at January 08, 2025 11:22 AM (BqIHC)

95 Are we sure we want Quebec?
Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2025 11:12 AM (PiwSw)

No and never.

Quebec go's qtow. In homage to widespread pepe

Posted by: Someday I'll choose a nick and stick with it but not today. at January 08, 2025 11:22 AM (89Sog)

96 I want Kay Granger's staff members prosecuted.
---
Why? She's never been sharper.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:23 AM (krQz2)

97 Sorry to keep harping on this subject, but from the
'The Brain Import That Saved The Soviet Union' article that JJ linked this morning:

"The same is true in any high-tech company, where the creative and technical work is done by either recent immigrants or foreigners. In Silicon Valley, almost 80% of the technology workers are foreign-born. American-born people work in marketing, sales, customer service, and other 'liberal jobs' where a high intellectual level is not a job requirement."

Unbelievable. They never stop. No. Just... NO. This is WRONG. There is no "high intellectual level" shortage in native-born tech labor pool. It's a ridiculous lie. Even with the woke-ification of liberal arts and the attempts of woke-ing STEM, these so-called nations of superior intellects SEND THEIR STUDENTS HERE. Every single major tech advancement in the last 50 years, up to and including the present day, was created by Americans. Every hardware technology, every chip design technology, every software language technology, every programming language created, every tool those languages use... was invented by Americans. And yes Linus Torvalds is a genius and from Finland but he built on US tek

Posted by: front toward enemy at January 08, 2025 11:23 AM (TIizU)

98 I see Trump has asked SCOTUS to intervene in the sentencing ...Not much chance of that...

Posted by: It's me donna at January 08, 2025 11:24 AM (VE6XX)

99 What can't central planning do?
Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:21 AM (jFCkp)

Provide electricity, for one.

Posted by: Most Cubans, right now at January 08, 2025 11:24 AM (8zz6B)

100 "When did swinging a dead cat become a thing?
Posted by: Xipe Totec"

It sounds like something James Carville would do before he swallowed it.

Posted by: eleven at January 08, 2025 11:24 AM (fV+MH)

101 Get off me, Mayo!

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at January 08, 2025 11:24 AM (laHVL)

102 When did swinging a dead cat become a thing?

Posted by: Xipe Totec at January 08, 2025 11:20 AM (pohLc)

You tried swinging a live one?

Posted by: BignJames at January 08, 2025 11:25 AM (Yj6Os)

103 Forgive them after carving nazi symbols upon their foreheads.

Posted by: humphreyrobot at January 08, 2025 11:25 AM (J8LnB)

104 Motto of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion: It's In the Bag!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 11:25 AM (L/fGl)

105 Trudeau is a homosexual, and like most homosexuals, he has developed sociopathic narcissism as a defense response to his sexual abuse as a child.

Being violated at an early age destroys the trust system that most families enjoy, and emasculates and shames little boys. Surely Trudeau grew up hearing "faggot! faggot!" taunts from normal children at school who had not been forced to handle adult penises or endure sodomy at the hands of older male homosexuals.

As a defense mechanism, they develop those narcissistic tendencies to overcompensate for their deep shame. When presented with power, they wield it cruelly and unjustly, just as the adults that sodomized them did when they were powerless children.

It's not really Trudeau's fault, the real blame can be laid at the feet of the family member or trusted family friend that molested him as a child. All homosexuals can be understood this way as all of them are homosexual as a result of childhood sexual trauma.

Posted by: Vlad at January 08, 2025 11:25 AM (YdlQW)

106
2020: Facebook and Twitter are private companies and Zuckerberg and Dorsey can do as they want.

2025 Update: Except change their minds on the efficacy of "fact-checkers"! That's TREASON!

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:26 AM (krQz2)

107 101 Get off me, Mayo!
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at January 08, 2025 11:24 AM (laHVL)

Bob Mayo on the keyboard, Bob Mayo....

Posted by: Peter Frampton at January 08, 2025 11:26 AM (PiwSw)

108 > I want Kay Granger's staff members prosecuted.
--------
*bidnen's staff too.

IMO they are responsible for every decision made since the Democrats and GOP put him in office 4 years ago. There's simply no way a dementia patient that far gone was make any rational decisions.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 08, 2025 11:26 AM (Q4IgG)

109 Maddie Albright was issued a leather A2 bomber jacket by the Air Force when she visited Osan. And …. she wore it. Fucking pathetic.

I was impressed by the hundreds of politicos, their family and friends, camp followers and the press who are apparently essential to any “fact finding mission” that congress does. Fact finding also apparently consists of shopping sprees at Itaewon, you understand.

Service members snd aircrew duties consisted of loading up their swag - credenzas and furniture - on CH47 cargo helicopters. It’s really kind of sick

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 11:27 AM (2RHvg)

110 IMO they are responsible for every decision made since the Democrats and GOP put him in office 4 years ago. There's simply no way a dementia patient that far gone was make any rational decisions.
Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 08, 2025 11:26 AM (Q4IgG)

But were any of Biden's decisions "rational"?

Posted by: Most Cubans, right now at January 08, 2025 11:27 AM (8zz6B)

111 I want Kay Granger's staff members prosecuted.

Meh. Do you think her colleagues didn't notice her absence? She was absent for something like 6 months. This isn't some sort of staff-led conspiracy.
=====
I'm not alleging the staff lead it. I'm alleging that one or more parties committed crimes to keep those paychecks coming. *Not* the crime of keeping a vote ready for Congress--I'm focusing on the fraudulent assertions and steps needed to keep the payroll system running for months on end.

Posted by: Crusader at January 08, 2025 11:28 AM (azSra)

112 Fact finding also apparently consists of shopping sprees at Itaewon, you understand.
--------------
There's a lot of brass at Itaewon.

Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:28 AM (jFCkp)

113 Yeah as we all know, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, Salesforce and Twitter we’re all started by foreigners. Cuz Americans are too dumb to innovate in tech.

Wait what?

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at January 08, 2025 11:28 AM (BqIHC)

114 Posted by: Vlad at January 08, 2025 11:25 AM (YdlQW)
---
It's like the Nazis actually wanted homosexuals in the SS. They were the most likely to have disdain for traditional sentiments.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:28 AM (krQz2)

115 23 Castreau only got 32% of the vote last election. And he lost the “popular vote” to the conservatives who got 33%. Or maybe it was 33 to 34. Either way only 1/3 of Canada voted for him.

parliamentary system is fucked up like that where a 1/3 of the vote gets you a win.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald
=========
Labour in UK after July 2024 elections got even about 33.7 percent but has a commanding majority in Parliament of 141 seats.

And both Canada and UK are superior parliamentary systems using first past the post. Proportional representation parliamentary nations often have coalitions between multiple parties where each of the parties in the coalition can veto actions affecting their interest which makes for dysfunctional politics like in Germany--shutting down nuclear plants to placate the Greens in the coalition but undercutting the Social Democrats by leaving Germans cold and in the dark post Ukraine war.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 11:28 AM (ctrM5)

116 Heard plenty about snap elections being delayed so one liberal party leader will receive full pension in the Spring of 2025.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at January 08, 2025 11:28 AM (wBaIH)

117 I am the first to point and laugh at the msn as they hyperventilate over Canada and Greenland. It is classic Trump trolling. Diverts everyone's attention while he does what he wants. But...
There is another issue about Canada and Greenland, and Trump refers to it in terms of security. Back in the old days we had a Cold War in a bi-polar nuclear world. MAD worked.
But now the calculus is changing. The world isn't a nuclear bi-polar model any more, and many ICBMs can credibly be shot down. So nations have developed hypersonic cruise missile. They start off ballistically and then drop down to fly to the targets. They can maneuver and are stealthy. Long range, low flyers. Consequently we need a lot of airspace to find them and kill them. Most HCM shots from Russia will come over the pole and over Greenland and Canada, and that gives us room to find and kill the missiles.
So...
Welcome to America!

Posted by: Diogenes at January 08, 2025 11:29 AM (W/lyH)

118 Canadian theme day covering two threads! (The morning art featured La Cloche Panorama by Franklin Carmichael, a Canadian artist and member of the Group of Seven.)

Cleanup in aisle 4 over a great deal of the world for the next so many years. Only time - a very few years - will tell if the cabal storms back if/after the economies stabilize and continue its Build Back Better charade.

BTW, and not necessarily relevant, Valerie Jarrett's lovely daughter, Laura, is married to Canadian lawyer Tony Balkissoon. Tony's dad is Canadian political figure Bas Balkissoon.

Posted by: L - When do we finally hit the bottom? at January 08, 2025 11:29 AM (NFX2v)

119 It's like the Nazis actually wanted homosexuals in the SS. They were the most likely to have disdain for traditional sentiments.
=====
Eh, I've read that one assignment Hitler made in regard to a high ranking officer appointment (can't recall the details) was the charge to rid the regular army of homosexuality.

Posted by: Crusader at January 08, 2025 11:32 AM (azSra)

120 I'm not alleging the staff lead it. I'm alleging that one or more parties committed crimes to keep those paychecks coming. *Not* the crime of keeping a vote ready for Congress--I'm focusing on the fraudulent assertions and steps needed to keep the payroll system running for months on end.
Posted by: Crusader at January 08, 2025 11:28 AM (azSra)

I'd bet good money that the system is setup to keep making payments automatically until someone asks for it to stop. So in that case no one would have been required to do anything at all; and everyone could have said "it's not my responsibility, it was Kay Granger's responsibility!" Of course being a dementia patient she has no accountability for anything.

It's a huge loophole, I suspect deliberately built into the system, and they all drove a Mack Truck through it.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 08, 2025 11:32 AM (wyMQY)

121 Service members snd aircrew duties consisted of loading up their swag - credenzas and furniture - on CH47 cargo helicopters. It’s really kind of sick
Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 11:27 AM (2RHvg)

Saw the same thing in Turkey. Better have someone standing by to escort the wives to all the "really good" shopping places.
And I know we have a hordemate who had the same problem in Greece. And a buddy of mine was unfortunate enough to be assigned to the Embassy in Paris. He and his wife were escorting "every fu*king weekend." That is a direct quote.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 08, 2025 11:33 AM (W/lyH)

122 Little known fact:

Iron Man's grandson is Ferric Bueller.

Posted by: mrp at January 08, 2025 11:33 AM (rj6Yv)

123 Heard plenty about snap elections being delayed so one liberal party leader will receive full pension in the Spring of 2025.
Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at January 08, 2025 11:28 AM (wBaIH)

Half right. New Democrat Party leader Jagmeet Singh, whose party supports the Liberals in Parliamentary votes, gets his (hugely over-generous) pension vested at the end of this month, so he has steadfastly refused to support an non-confidence motion out of naked self-interest.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:33 AM (8zz6B)

124 Poilevre debating that finance minister airhead is quite good. Look for it on YT.

She sounds like a Saturday Night Live skit, and apparently resigned. Freeland? Anyway, watch it. Classic authentic frontier gibberish.

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 11:33 AM (2RHvg)

125 Drooling Joe explains why he pardoned Hunter.

I meant what I said when I was asked whether I was going to pardon my son. But then I found out two factors. Number one, that he had paid all his taxes. He paid them late. He was fighting a drug problem. And he beat it. He's been square and sober for almost six years now. This was back in ’80, I mean excuse me, in 2000 and... What year was it? Anyway, long time ago.
And then the second thing I found out was that on this purchasing a gun, at the time, you have to sign a form if you're under the influence of anything. Well, I don't even know whether they got straight on the signing of the form. But the point was, no one's ever been tried on that. Nobody.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 11:33 AM (L/fGl)

126 111 I want Kay Granger's staff members prosecuted.

Meh. Do you think her colleagues didn't notice her absence? She was absent for something like 6 months. This isn't some sort of staff-led conspiracy.
=====
I'm not alleging the staff lead it. I'm alleging that one or more parties committed crimes to keep those paychecks coming. *Not* the crime of keeping a vote ready for Congress--I'm focusing on the fraudulent assertions and steps needed to keep the payroll system running for months on end.
Posted by: Crusader at January 08, 2025 11:28 AM (azSra)

And none of that is gonna happen, because everyone knew. May as well demand Johnson, the majority leader, and whip resign.

It's like insisting that Rehnquist's and Ginsburg's clerks should be prosecuted for the period they were paid when those two were basically dead on the bench. Again, everyone knew.

There's no chance of anything happening when everybody and their brother had a hand in it.

Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at January 08, 2025 11:34 AM (laHVL)

127 Foreigners who started major tech companies like Elon, Sergei Brin (co-founder of Google) are almost all from western countries. I’m sure there is one or two, but I can’t think of an Indian who founded or was instrumental in building any brand name tech company.

The idea that without millions of Indian H1Bs the US would have no tech sector is gaslighting on steroids.

And even the foreigners, were born overseas but then immigrated here and then happened to go into tech. They weren’t imported for the purpose of working in tech.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at January 08, 2025 11:34 AM (BqIHC)

128 Didn't somewhere here say a few weeks ago that Brave Sir Justine Castreau needed to hold out for a few more months to get his (full?) pension from the Canadian Feral Gubmint or something?

Posted by: ShainS -- Take Back and Rename the ~~Panama~~ America Canal! at January 08, 2025 11:35 AM (1i+dX)

129 Fact finding also apparently consists of shopping sprees at Itaewon, you understand.
--------------
There's a lot of brass at Itaewon.
Posted by: pudinhead at January 08, 2025 11:28 AM (jFCkp)
***

Same thing outside the main gate at the Air Base in Incirlik Turkey. Big John's I think it is called. Brass anything.

Posted by: Diogenes at January 08, 2025 11:35 AM (W/lyH)

130 TV has taught me that all that's needed to get rid of clingers is a Section 8.

Posted by: Biden's Dog sniffs a whole lotta malarkey, at January 08, 2025 11:35 AM (8f5FX)

131 It's like the Nazis actually wanted homosexuals in the SS. They were the most likely to have disdain for traditional sentiments.
=====
Eh, I've read that one assignment Hitler made in regard to a high ranking officer appointment (can't recall the details) was the charge to rid the regular army of homosexuality.
Posted by: Crusader at January 08, 2025 11:32 AM (azSra)
---
Yup. They did that too.

But a party that can do the Night of Long Knives doesn't have demonstrable loyalty to its members who have become less useful.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:35 AM (krQz2)

132 98 I see Trump has asked SCOTUS to intervene in the sentencing ...Not much chance of that...
Posted by: It's me donna
=======
Not sure, Merchan brushed off the Scotus decision on presidential immunity despite testimony and evidence for their argument that a 2017 action affected the 2016 election. That gives Trump the necessary federal question for Scotus to consider if only to issue a Scotus stay for the issue to be briefed for a cert petition.

Scotus generally does not like lower courts pissing on their rulings but at the same time, Trump exception is in play with at least some of the nominal conservative justices. If they reject the petition for a stay, you might get a dissent from the real conservatives--Thomas and Alito, possibly Gorsuch. Roberts, Coney Barrett, and Kavanaugh are the obvious ones to deny along with the leftists with some mumbo jumbo about interlocutory appeals, not ripe for consideration, or some other justiciability issue.

The thing about Federalist Society and Heritage justice types is that they never consider that Scotus is also a court of equity which means that outrageous illegalities of officials sometimes requires immediate remediation.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 11:36 AM (ctrM5)

133 Castreau has been PM for 10 years and still doesn’t qualify for a pension? Sheesh. That’s a high bar to meet. How many PMs last that long?

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at January 08, 2025 11:36 AM (BqIHC)

134 63
‘ out came Madeleine Albright. And she stood there. Alone, old, looking lost. No cab, no driver, no escort.
Very sad, and pathetic.’

Did anyone mistake her for a cleaning woman?

Posted by: Dr. Claw at January 08, 2025 11:36 AM (jbnUc)

135 123 Being half right in grasping the vicissitudes of the Canadian Grift makes my heart soar like a hawk.

Posted by: Field Marshal Zhukov at January 08, 2025 11:37 AM (wBaIH)

136 Good morning!

Let's smile & be happy & strike fear in the hearts of killjoy leftists everywhere.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 08, 2025 11:37 AM (u82oZ)

137 As Alberta Oil Peon has already stated, the government will fall in a non-confidence vote when Parliament resumes at the end of March. This is all about having a new leader of the Liberal Party in place when that happens to lead them in the resulting election.

Posted by: Denizen of Canuckistan at January 08, 2025 11:37 AM (F54Ov)

138 BTW, and not necessarily relevant, Valerie Jarrett's lovely daughter, Laura, is married to Canadian lawyer Tony Balkissoon. Tony's dad is Canadian political figure Bas Balkissoon.

Posted by: L - When do we finally hit the bottom? at January 08, 2025 11:29 AM (NFX2v)

Had to look him up. An "ethnic" politician in the Provincial Liberal party from the Greater Toronto area. Basically a DEI hire.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:37 AM (8zz6B)

139 It's like insisting that Rehnquist's and Ginsburg's clerks should be prosecuted for the period they were paid when those two were basically dead on the bench. Again, everyone knew.

There's no chance of anything happening when everybody and their brother had a hand in it.
Posted by: bear with asymmetrical balls at January 08, 2025 11:34 AM (laHVL)

It's an old Washington tradition. Everyone knew that Thurgood Marshall was literally comatose for his last 2 years on the bench, but everyone thought it was impolite to say anything, and his staffers wrote all of his opinions. The worst part is that there are more than a couple major SCOTUS opinions that were written by nameless staff members that were never appointed, never confirmed to anything. That's just how it works.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 08, 2025 11:37 AM (wyMQY)

140 Little known fact:

Iron Man's grandson is Ferric Bueller.
Posted by: mrp at January 08, 2025

***
Ferrous Bueller. He only lost two electrons when he oxidized.

Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius, Dreaming of Elsewhere at January 08, 2025 11:37 AM (J2vNu)

141 And then the second thing I found out was that on this purchasing a gun, at the time, you have to sign a form if you're under the influence of anything. Well, I don't even know whether they got straight on the signing of the form. But the point was, no one's ever been tried on that. Nobody.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 11:33 AM (L/fGl)
---
So there you go. That's the safety of gun reform. You have to sign a form, but you do not have to be truthful on it.

How Dem-typical.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:38 AM (krQz2)

142 Back to chores.

LA burning is the desired result.
The real role of the Media and the Left is as barbarians.

Posted by: NaCly Dog at January 08, 2025 11:38 AM (u82oZ)

143 137 As Alberta Oil Peon has already stated, the government will fall in a non-confidence vote when Parliament resumes at the end of March. This is all about having a new leader of the Liberal Party in place when that happens to lead them in the resulting election.
Posted by: Denizen of Canuckistan at January 08, 2025 11:37 AM (F54Ov)

That's placing a big bet on the NDP and its far left leader Singh. He may decide to blow off his promise to support a no-confidence vote and say it was only meant for Trudeau. If that happens, no election until October 25.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 08, 2025 11:39 AM (wyMQY)

144 Castreau has been PM for 10 years and still doesn’t qualify for a pension? Sheesh. That’s a high bar to meet. How many PMs last that long?
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at January 08, 2025 11:36 AM (BqIHC)

No, he's in like Flynn. Six years is the magic number.
If it were up to me, there would be zero pension. They are very well paid. Let them contribute some of those earnings to a private pension plan. Or not.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:39 AM (8zz6B)

145 141 And then the second thing I found out was that on this purchasing a gun, at the time, you have to sign a form if you're under the influence of anything. Well, I don't even know whether they got straight on the signing of the form. But the point was, no one's ever been tried on that. Nobody.
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 11:33 AM (L/fGl)

Okay.... But you "pardoned" him back 10 years...

Posted by: It's me donna at January 08, 2025 11:40 AM (VE6XX)

146 I don't want Ontario, either. Except for the Windsor strip clubs.

Posted by: Bulg at January 08, 2025 11:40 AM (77rzZ)

147 There was one associate justice who kept showing up to Court even after he retired. I think they ended up changing the locks. LOL

True story

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 11:40 AM (2RHvg)

148 Everyone knew that Thurgood Marshall was literally comatose for his last 2 years on the bench, but everyone thought it was impolite to say anything, and his staffers wrote all of his opinions. The worst part is that there are more than a couple major SCOTUS opinions that were written by nameless staff members that were never appointed, never confirmed to anything. That's just how it works.

Posted by: Tom Servo at January 08, 2025 11:37 AM (wyMQY)
---
Scalia didn't get that courtesy. He was gone the day they put the pillow over his face.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:40 AM (krQz2)

149 All these provinces are yours, except Quebec. Attempt no landing there. Use them together. Use them in peace.

Posted by: Matte Black Monoliths, making obnoxious squealing noises at January 08, 2025 11:40 AM (w9Wax)

150 When Donald Trump made noises about acquiring Greenland during his first term, Denmark's response was to make the images of Greenland and the Faroe Islands more prominent on the royal coat of arms.

Posted by: mrp at January 08, 2025 11:40 AM (rj6Yv)

151 When Donald Trump made noises about acquiring Greenland during his first term, Denmark's response was to make the images of Greenland and the Faroe Islands more prominent on the royal coat of arms.
Posted by: mrp

We should take Schleswig-Holstein, too.

Posted by: Bulg at January 08, 2025 11:41 AM (77rzZ)

152 2020: Facebook and Twitter are private companies and Zuckerberg and Dorsey can do as they want.

Today: we've been letting them run and gather evidence for us since 2018. Zuckerberg and Dorsey played their roles.

Posted by: t-bird at January 08, 2025 11:41 AM (KfN19)

153 Kevin Dalton@TheKevinDalton
Gavin Newsom 2010: California is going to get it right with this new high speed rail.
(15 years & 128 BILLION taxpayer dollars later)
Gavin Newsom 2025: It’s about damn time we have a high speed rail system in the great state of California
Reality: There is no high speed rail

-
Real high speed rail has never been tried!

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 11:41 AM (L/fGl)

154 That's placing a big bet on the NDP and its far left leader Singh. He may decide to blow off his promise to support a no-confidence vote and say it was only meant for Trudeau. If that happens, no election until October 25.
Posted by: Tom Servo at January 08, 2025 11:39 AM (wyMQY)

Singh is a snake. I would not trust him with a burned-out match.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:42 AM (8zz6B)

155 120 I'm not alleging the staff lead it. I'm alleging that one or more parties committed crimes to keep those paychecks coming. *Not* the crime of keeping a vote ready for Congress--I'm focusing on the fraudulent assertions and steps needed to keep the payroll system running for months on end.
Posted by: Crusader at January 08, 2025 11:28 AM (azSra)

I'd bet good money that the system is setup to keep making payments automatically until someone asks for it to stop. So in that case no one would have been required to do anything at all; and everyone could have said "it's not my responsibility, it was Kay Granger's responsibility!" Of course being a dementia patient she has no accountability for anything.

It's a huge loophole, I suspect deliberately built into the system, and they all drove a Mack Truck through it.
Posted by: Tom Servo
-------
The most likely statute to apply is the "Honest Services" statute but due to court cases, it would be a difficult slog. Haven't checked but it is possible this is one of the statutes that Congress exempted itself from.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 11:42 AM (ctrM5)

156 Gee, Joe... has anybody ever prosecuted a violation of the Logan Act?

It was Joe himself that suggested that maybe they could investigate Mike Flynn for a violation of the Logan Act, which caused the meeting where he "lied" to the FIB.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:43 AM (krQz2)

157 In 1997, back before passports were required to go into Canada, I saw their Ottowanic Parliament-style Hill buildings after they had just redone the roofs in shiny, shiny copper. Probably pretty dirty and stained now. I have pictures I took with a panoramic camera all those years ago, somewhere in a box.

Posted by: The Appian Way at January 08, 2025 11:43 AM (Ybyk2)

158 91
‘ Anybody ever seen videos of Pierre Poilievre?’
I like how he can stay cool, calm and collected in about any setting.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at January 08, 2025 11:43 AM (jbnUc)

159 Trudeau should be shot, but we conservative people have religion and therefore are unable to do the right thing

Posted by: Matthew at January 08, 2025 11:43 AM (OdsgZ)

160 Herr Schicklegruber may have been a little light in the loafers, if rumors were believed. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

A militant anti-tobacco vegetarian fag socialist. He would have fit in at Berkely. I pointed this out to my WWII combat veteran uncle, a hopeless liberal (except about the Bomb, strangely). He looked like he’d swallowed a lemon, he knew.

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 11:44 AM (2RHvg)

161 Has anyone asked the people of Alsace-Lorraine if they really want to be part of France?

Posted by: no one of any consequence at January 08, 2025 11:44 AM (ZmEVT)

162 I have pictures I took with a panoramic camera all those years ago, somewhere in a box.
Posted by: The Appian Way

A Pic in a Box?

Posted by: Justin Timberlake at January 08, 2025 11:44 AM (w9Wax)

163 RE: Trudeau and Canada

Can't blame him really, now he won't have to kiss up to fascist a-hole neighbors. you know Trump will claim a victory. sometimes I wonder if Musk is trying to make earth so bad we all cross like cattle onto Mars.

COVID strikes again. Nearly every incumbent govt has lost now regardless of which side of the aisle they are left or right. The entire planet is angry.

The hits just keep on coming. I really fear for the Canada I've known for 55 years, my adopted country. Dark times everywhere.

The authoritarian trend in North America has not hit Mexico yet. Mexico is trending liberal. The Trump coalition is probably eager to destabilize the Sheinbaum government. The more solid news we can pay attention to on Mexico the better for us.

The Trump coalition foreign relations wing promotes authoritarian El Salvador in Central America and is hostile toward the the surging of economic development and social liberalization in Mexico.

Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at January 08, 2025 11:45 AM (JCZqz)

164 In 1997, back before passports were required to go into Canada, I saw their Ottowanic Parliament-style Hill buildings after they had just redone the roofs in shiny, shiny copper. Probably pretty dirty and stained now. I have pictures I took with a panoramic camera all those years ago, somewhere in a box.
Posted by: The Appian Way at January 08, 2025 11:43 AM (Ybyk2)

Copper roofs are supposed to develop that green patina as they age. It would be impossible to prevent it, in any case.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:45 AM (8zz6B)

165 Ontario, Nunavut and the Maritime Provinces stay Canada, Quebec becomes a new country and the rest of the provinces become new US states. Except for Vancouver, we don't need another crazy leftist city.

Posted by: The Paolo at January 08, 2025 11:46 AM (9XPe8)

166 And yes Linus Torvalds is a genius and from Finland but he built on US tek

I don't think he's a genius, but he has the one major trait of successful open source software architects: strong technical opinions and a broad vocabulary of swear words.

Unfortunately he now uses them in the service of DEI since his daughter was born and he embarked on a crusade to eliminate white men that aren't him from tech so she has a level playing field (which, L-O-fucking-L).

Posted by: Ian S. at January 08, 2025 11:46 AM (2ocoG)

167 Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at January 08, 2025 11:45 AM (JCZqz)
---
My reactions to all comments: LOL.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:46 AM (krQz2)

168 Rep. Eric Swalwell@RepSwalwell
I don’t care if Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland. I just want to know what he’s going to do to lower the cost of groceries.

-
Well, first he should put you up against a wall. Might not help but couldn't hurt.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 11:46 AM (L/fGl)

169 34 We've got our share of bitter clingers... look at the age of some of our political betters. How many have died while in office? (How many are still voting?) McConnell's barely able to function. Pelosi's not much better. Feinstein was wheeled around, nearly dead, for votes.

And, then, there's *biden.

So, yea. Bitter. And they cling to power. And money.
Posted by: Martini Farmer
======
You left out fear of being prosecuted for what they did in office. Pelosi and McConnell especially for the shit they pulled on Jan 6th 2020. The guilty fleeth when no man pursueth.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 11:46 AM (ctrM5)

170 167 Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at January 08, 2025 11:45 AM (JCZqz)
---
My reactions to all comments: LOL.
Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:46 AM (krQz2

Especially the Mexico one

Posted by: It's me donna at January 08, 2025 11:47 AM (VE6XX)

171 The Trump coalition is probably eager to destabilize the Sheinbaum government.

I'd love to know how a non-Hispanic Jewish lesbian ended up running Mexico. It feels like a really dumb CIA op.

Posted by: Ian S. at January 08, 2025 11:47 AM (2ocoG)

172 Ontario, Nunavut and the Maritime Provinces stay Canada, Quebec becomes a new country and the rest of the provinces become new US states. Except for Vancouver, we don't need another crazy leftist city.
Posted by: The Paolo

Vancouver gets rolled into WA state.

Posted by: rickb223 at January 08, 2025 11:47 AM (jPu3+)

173 Congressional staffers hold unprecedented power. They generally write legislation their bosses sponsor, with the help from lobbyists friendly to whatever legislation is being proffered up. They write the talking points for the congress critters to use when talking to the press or each other. They control who does and doesn't get a word with their charges and makes sure only friendly commentary is ever seen or heard in their presence.

They are not elected. They have their own agenda. You are paying them too.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 08, 2025 11:48 AM (Q4IgG)

174 The authoritarian trend in North America has not hit Mexico yet. Mexico is trending liberal. The Trump coalition is probably eager to destabilize the Sheinbaum government. The more solid news we can pay attention to on Mexico the better for us.

The Trump coalition foreign relations wing promotes authoritarian El Salvador in Central America and is hostile toward the the surging of economic development and social liberalization in Mexico.
Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at January 08, 2025 11:45 AM (JCZqz)

If Mexico is trending to become a liberal Paradise, then all the illegal Mexicans in the USA will sefl-deport, right?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:48 AM (8zz6B)

175 Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at January 08, 2025 11:45 AM (JCZqz)
---
My reactions to all comments: LOL.
Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:46 AM (krQz2

Especially the Mexico one
Posted by: It's me donna at January 08, 2025 11:47 AM (VE6XX)
---
Gee why can't we have out-of-control cartels that basically run as sub-governments like Mexico?!

But good news, their politics are liberal!

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:49 AM (krQz2)

176 Herr Schicklegruber may have been a little light in the loafers, if rumors were believed. Not that there’s anything wrong with that.

A militant anti-tobacco vegetarian fag socialist. He would have fit in at Berkely. I pointed this out to my WWII combat veteran uncle, a hopeless liberal (except about the Bomb, strangely). He looked like he’d swallowed a lemon, he knew.
Posted by: Common Tater

Also a teetotaller. I think a lot of his "quirks" were the result of Geli Rabaul's death. He seems never to have gotten over that.

Posted by: Bulg at January 08, 2025 11:49 AM (77rzZ)

177 Canada actually deserves Justine as their PM. They love themselves free shit paid for by other people, can't give up their firearms fast enough and love every dirt bag 3rd and 4th worlder to come and live in Canada. Justine may be going away, but the asshats who elected him are still up there. President Trump should ban canadians from visiting or relocating to the US. Make them all go to Mother England where the Rape Gangs await.

Posted by: Zombie James Wolfe at January 08, 2025 11:49 AM (lX1hk)

178 I'd love to know how a non-Hispanic Jewish lesbian ended up running Mexico. It feels like a really dumb CIA op.
Posted by: Ian S.

By holding national elections on May 6th.

"We voted for who? Aye, carumba!"

Posted by: rickb223 at January 08, 2025 11:49 AM (jPu3+)

179 Poilievre swiftly and brilliantly dissected Trudeau's "slow-motion resignation." Nothing progressives do is not gamed to acquire or cling to power.

Posted by: Ordinary American at January 08, 2025 11:49 AM (ZlOcj)

180 If Mexico is trending to become a liberal Paradise, then all the illegal Mexicans in the USA will sefl-deport, right?

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:48 AM (8zz6B)
---
If paradise contained autonomous, violent drug cartels....

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:50 AM (krQz2)

181 168 Rep. Eric Swalwell@RepSwalwell
I don’t care if Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland. I just want to know what he’s going to do to lower the cost of groceries.
==

Wait, so Dems are admitting that inflation is a thing now?

Posted by: J. Frank Parnell at January 08, 2025 11:50 AM (eb5mD)

182 Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at January 08, 2025 11:45 AM (JCZqz)

Man, hard-core Commies really, really love their Cartel and gangster heroes.

Posted by: mrp at January 08, 2025 11:50 AM (rj6Yv)

183 "Rep. Eric Swalwell@RepSwalwell
I don’t care if Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland. I just want to know what he’s going to do to lower the cost of groceries."

That's weird. Did he ever mention his concern about the cost of groceries that past 4 years?

Posted by: Ripley at January 08, 2025 11:50 AM (GUOwU)

184 Vancouver gets rolled into WA state.
Posted by: rickb223 at January 08, 2025 11:47 AM (jPu3+)

And Vancouver Island, and the southern Gulf Islands, too. Presto! Most of the Woketards go to Wokeland. No net change to Washington.

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at January 08, 2025 11:50 AM (8zz6B)

185 I'd bet good money that the system is setup to keep making payments automatically until someone asks for it to stop. So in that case no one would have been required to do anything at all; and everyone could have said "it's not my responsibility, it was Kay Granger's responsibility!" Of course being a dementia patient she has no accountability for anything.

It's a huge loophole, I suspect deliberately built into the system, and they all drove a Mack Truck through it.
Posted by: Tom Servo

federal civil service pay systems operate on automatic pilot if they receive no user input. The system defaults to a normal two week pay period of 40 hours for all salary employees and it pays that person on payday. Hourly employees and some of the more obscure agencies operate differently but congress and most all of the DC employees are salary and their paychecks will keep coming until someone turns them off.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at January 08, 2025 11:51 AM (Rcnd3)

186 “Lower the cost of groceries”

Politicians are loathe for anyone to understand that monetary inflation is a permanent loss of purchasing power in the currency. Prices may go up, prices may go down, but the underlying damage does not. As it is, even “targeted inflation” means you lose about half your buying power every 20 years. And owe tax on your “gains”.

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 11:51 AM (2VfHu)

187 Denmark's response was to make the images of Greenland and the Faroe Islands more prominent on the royal coat of arms.

"Buy us, too!"

It's remarkable how much conquering we've done via the checkbook (ignoring some shenanigans). Manhattan, the Louisiana Purchase, the Gadsden Purchase, Seward's Folly... and now Greenland. Canada can be ours just by offering the people lower taxes and more freedom. They're just gong to turn their backs on their own government.

Posted by: t-bird at January 08, 2025 11:52 AM (wKqZM)

188 Also a teetotaller. I think a lot of his "quirks" were the result of Geli Rabaul's death. He seems never to have gotten over that.
Posted by: Bulg
=========
Interesting, did not know about her existence but then again, never cared to learn much about that Man's personal biography.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 11:52 AM (ctrM5)

189 > "Rep. Eric Swalwell@RepSwalwell
I don’t care if Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland. I just want to know what he’s going to do to lower the cost of groceries."
-------
I imagine the last thing that shithead has to worry about is the price of groceries.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at January 08, 2025 11:53 AM (Q4IgG)

190 We could do an Alberta MoMe!

Posted by: Bulg at January 08, 2025 11:53 AM (77rzZ)

191 President Trump should ban canadians from visiting or relocating to the US. Make them all go to Mother England where the Rape Gangs await.
Posted by: Zombie James Wolfe at January 08, 2025 11:49 AM (lX1hk)

Florida hardest hit.

Posted by: mrp at January 08, 2025 11:54 AM (rj6Yv)

192 federal civil service pay systems operate on automatic pilot if they receive no user input. The system defaults to a normal two week pay period of 40 hours for all salary employees and it pays that person on payday. Hourly employees and some of the more obscure agencies operate differently but congress and most all of the DC employees are salary and their paychecks will keep coming until someone turns them off.
Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at January 08, 2025 11:51 AM (Rcnd3)
---
They need to send in the Two Bobs from Office Space to "fix the glitch."

Posted by: "Perfessor" Squirrel at January 08, 2025 11:54 AM (BpYfr)

193 Progressive govts, let your city burn down, la, Hawaii etc, let your daughters get raped, Rotherham, invite cartel gangs to take over your housing projects, Denver. How is it possible for any sane person who has family, property, or wants to have it, to vote for progressive govt. Reality is not too be taken lightly, or mocked. It has teeth, and is extremely bitey.

Posted by: Seriously at January 08, 2025 11:55 AM (KoNQY)

194 That's weird. Did he ever mention his concern about the cost of groceries that past 4 years?
Posted by: Ripley at January 08, 2025 11:50 AM (GUOwU)

I was told that any concerns about inflation were in my imagination.

Posted by: blaster at January 08, 2025 11:55 AM (xhfG9)

195 Willowed, but I had to chime in.

“You built a factory out there? Good for you. But I want to be clear: you moved your goods to market on the roads the rest of us paid for; you hired workers the rest of us paid to educate; you were safe in your factory because of police forces and fire forces that the rest of us paid for. "

Riposte: "WE created the businesses that PAID for the government to do all those things. (And you can naff right off, buster.)"

Posted by: Beverly at January 08, 2025 11:55 AM (Epeb0)

196 RE: Greenland. It's like the hubbub in New Caledonia earlier this year. There was some movement for independence. Macron went there and said, "look, you people wouldn't stay independent for a week. Your two choices are to be a Chinese colony or a French colony."

Posted by: Henry O at January 08, 2025 11:56 AM (X5Mi4)

197 Blamed, shamed and arraigned is right. Good sidebar!

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at January 08, 2025 11:56 AM (QSrLX)

198 I was told by all the experts that inflation didn’t exist. Is That no longer the case Mr Swallwell?

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at January 08, 2025 11:57 AM (BqIHC)

199 Why would I want to swing a cat?

Safely thru the night here in coastal OC. Doesn't seem as windy as early this morning.

There was a commentator on the ONT who was near the fire in Altadena. Hope they made it thru ok.

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at January 08, 2025 11:57 AM (QGaXH)

200 Garland says he is gonna release "part" of Jack Smiths "report."

Posted by: It's me donna at January 08, 2025 11:57 AM (VE6XX)

201 Automatic payments, yes, basically the same mechanisms as social security and federal retirement payments.

No changes, they just roll along.

Posted by: L - When do we finally hit the bottom? at January 08, 2025 11:57 AM (NFX2v)

202 Interesting, did not know about her existence but then again, never cared to learn much about that Man's personal biography.
Posted by: whig

It's actually pretty interesting, with a lot of little surprising factoids. For instance, he had a half-nephew, William Patrick Hitler (his mother, married to Hitler's half-brother, was a Brit) who came to the US and served in the US Navy during the war.

Also, Hitler's company commander in WWI, who recommended him for the Iron Cross, was Jewish. After Hitler came to power, he told his people to leave that particular Jew alone, but the guy didn't trust Hitler's guarantees and also came to the US.

Posted by: Bulg at January 08, 2025 11:58 AM (77rzZ)

203 President Trump should ban canadians from visiting or relocating to the US. Make them all go to Mother England where the Rape Gangs await.
Posted by: Zombie James Wolfe at January 08, 2025 11:49 AM (lX1hk)

Come to think of it, I think Canadian truck drivers deserve permanent Green Cards. They're about the only Canucks with the cajones to get up and do something about their liberty.

Posted by: mrp at January 08, 2025 11:58 AM (rj6Yv)

204 Politicians are loathe for anyone to understand that monetary inflation is a permanent loss of purchasing power in the currency. Prices may go up, prices may go down, but the underlying damage does not. As it is, even “targeted inflation” means you lose about half your buying power every 20 years. And owe tax on your “gains”.
Posted by: Common Tater
=======
Stealth repudiation of public debt via inflation was always going to be the most likely outcome of this massive gap with the problem being kicked down the road until the US loses reserve currency status. Then actual austerity itself would have to kick in with exports equalling imports etc.

The US has in effect been the punch bowl of the world via the liquidity of the dollar as reserve currency and it has impoverished the nation at the same time. Something similar was happening to the UK but the full process was forestalled by the World Wars.

Basically, as a reserve currency nation, you have to run massive deficits in trade and budget so that other nations can use your dollars overseas to sustain their own international trade with the US or with other countries in the US currency orbit.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 11:58 AM (ctrM5)

205 I thought some historians posit that maybe you know who actuslly killed Geli. One of my history professors argued that had he died in 1938 he would be hailed as great leader even today. I dunno

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 11:58 AM (2VfHu)

206 Pasadena is now under an evacuation order.

Posted by: Bulg at January 08, 2025 11:58 AM (77rzZ)

207 If you want to find "bitter clingers," don't go looking for them in rural Pennsylvania or Alberta. Go to Ottawa or Washington or Paris or London or Berlin or Canberra. You can't swing a cat without hitting scores of bitter clingers in the western power centers.

All power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

Posted by: Taking Notice at January 08, 2025 11:59 AM (AsopM)

208 Joe Biden Falls Asleep During Prayer Service for Victims of New Orleans Terror Attack

-
Well, he was up all night fighting the California fires.

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 11:59 AM (L/fGl)

209
One of my favorite things Poilievre said is that he does not believe in the labels "right" and "left".

There *is* a self-defined "left": Marxism. Being to the "right" of that is not too bad.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:59 AM (krQz2)

210 Posted by: Intercepted DU Transmissions brought by the Intrepid AoS Liaison at January 08, 2025 11:45 AM (JCZqz)
---
My reactions to all comments: LOLGF.
Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 11:46 AM

My one small edit.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at January 08, 2025 12:00 PM (+QlJh)

211 "bitter clingers,"

Shouldn't that be frozen clingers?

Posted by: DaveA at January 08, 2025 12:00 PM (FhXTo)

212 204 Stealth repudiation of public debt via inflation was always going to be the most likely outcome of this massive gap with the problem being kicked down the road until the US loses reserve currency status.

don't worry. ~~steiner~~ the platinum asteroid will come.

Posted by: anachronda at January 08, 2025 12:00 PM (v3pYe)

213 It's actually pretty interesting, with a lot of little surprising factoids. For instance, he had a half-nephew, William Patrick Hitler (his mother, married to Hitler's half-brother, was a Brit) who came to the US and served in the US Navy during the war.

Also, Hitler's company commander in WWI, who recommended him for the Iron Cross, was Jewish. After Hitler came to power, he told his people to leave that particular Jew alone, but the guy didn't trust Hitler's guarantees and also came to the US.
Posted by: Bulg
=====
Knew about his brother and seem to recall that the Man himself apparently spent time with his brother's family pre WWI in UK (Birmingham in 1912 mebbe?) watching shipping come in and out of that port.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 12:00 PM (ctrM5)

214 If you want to find "bitter clingers," don't go looking for them in rural Pennsylvania or Alberta. Go to Ottawa or Washington or Paris or London or Berlin or Canberra. You can't swing a cat without hitting scores of bitter clingers in the western power centers.

Don't look to M*A*S*H, either. Despite being stuck in Korea, he had a pretty positive attitude.

Posted by: Confused Moron at January 08, 2025 12:01 PM (JCZqz)

215 All power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.
Posted by: Taking Notice

As one spastic commenter noted a long time ago, power doesn't corrupt. It attracts sociopaths. And the greater power, the greater the sociopaths.

Posted by: weft cut-loop at January 08, 2025 12:01 PM (IG4Id)

216 138. Had to look him up. An "ethnic" politician in the Provincial Liberal party from the Greater Toronto area. Basically a DEI hire.
Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon

👍

Posted by: L - When do we finally hit the bottom? at January 08, 2025 12:01 PM (NFX2v)

217 How can a reserve currency be based on …. dead presidents on pieces of paper? Or 1s and zeroes on a hard drive?

Any accountants want to ‘splain how you can square the books with a unit of account that has no definition?

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 12:01 PM (2VfHu)

218 208 Joe Biden Falls Asleep During Prayer Service for Victims of New Orleans Terror Attack

he should take up crochet. that's what keeps me from snoring during all the meetings agile thrusts upon me.

not that i'm bitter or anything...

Posted by: anachronda at January 08, 2025 12:02 PM (v3pYe)

219 206 Pasadena under evacuation orders. A little old lady seen trying to save her pretty little flower bed of white gardenias. And her brand new bright red super stock car.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at January 08, 2025 12:02 PM (gm9Sb)

220 Rep. Eric Swalwell@RepSwalwell
I don’t care if Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland. I just want to know what he’s going to do to lower the cost of groceries.
=====
Oh, I don't know....eh...Eric...just spit-balling here...you know, what with my understanding of *basic* economic theory, what if he were to:

* Stop printing money as if it had no effect at all on anything and actually have a (positive) plan for the money we did print.
* Pass a reasonable budget that wasn't bloated with pork
* Remove regulations that tie-up (and strangle) productive resources
* Drill baby, Drill!

Of course, we could ask the same question of you...Eric...you were elected to office, presumably, to do...something? What great ideas have you generated...ever...towards making the lives of your constituents more affordable?

Posted by: Crusader at January 08, 2025 12:03 PM (azSra)

221 Garland says he is gonna release "part" of Jack Smiths "report."
Posted by: It's me donna at January 08, 2025 11:57 AM (VE6XX)
---
Cannon's injunction was based on the idea that there are cases that still could go to trial where this would be prejudicing information in those trials.

So the AG is going to release information regardless of whether or not it could bias juries?

This is precisely why Smith's rush to release the report was so suspicious to Judge Cannon.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 12:03 PM (krQz2)

222 33 I think Trump should rename Canada, maybe North Montana.
Posted by: Ripley at January 08, 2025 11:09 AM (GUOwU)

Southwest Greenland.

Posted by: Brad at January 08, 2025 12:04 PM (oOc/o)

223 Stunning and brave.

Golden Globes Prevented Gal Gadot From Wearing Yellow Ribbon in Support of Hostages

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 12:04 PM (L/fGl)

224 196
‘ Macron went there and said, "look, you people wouldn't stay independent for a week. Your two choices are to be a Chinese colony or a French colony."’

He’s right, you know.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at January 08, 2025 12:04 PM (jbnUc)

225 Canada actually deserves Justine as their PM. They love themselves free shit paid for by other people, can't give up their firearms fast enough and love every dirt bag 3rd and 4th worlder to come and live in Canada. Justine may be going away, but the asshats who elected him are still up there.
===
It's not 100% libs, but they have the upper hand. Castro, is a second generation cuckhold. His putative father used to watch his 18 y old wife bang other dudes...

They are freaks who believe everything is relative there are no truths, and the only virtue is not discriminating against anyone including criminals, terrorists so no one can judge them either.

It's a mental Illness or a demonic oppression. Or in some cases both.

Posted by: SMOD where are you?? at January 08, 2025 12:04 PM (KoNQY)

226
Gee why can't we have out-of-control cartels that basically run as sub-governments like Mexico?!

But good news, their politics are liberal!
Posted by: Axeman

Do the cartels practice DEI?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 08, 2025 12:05 PM (63Dwl)

227 Any accountants want to ‘splain how you can square the books with a unit of account that has no definition?
=====
Not to be trite or pedantic, but double-entry accounting requires only that the debits match the credits for the books to be "square".

That's not to say that the books are *informative* at that point, but they at least "balance".

Posted by: Crusader at January 08, 2025 12:05 PM (azSra)

228 don't worry. steiner the platinum asteroid will come.
Posted by: anachronda
======
There are always weird circumstances that can forestall or even prevent what is apparently destiny. A way to get cheap energy would be one such matter as it would simultaneously destroy most of the pernicious rentier states of the Muslim world and other oil producers for export like Venezuela, Mexico, and Russia that export trouble to their neighbors.

All most of us can do is prepare to sail the high seas in a skiff made of paper and it has pretty much been that way throughout human history. The occasional islands of peace, prosperity, and calm should always be treasured in history by those lucky enough to live in those blessed times.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 12:05 PM (ctrM5)

229 "Rep. Eric Swalwell@RepSwalwell
I don’t care if Donald Trump wants to buy Greenland. I just want to know what he’s going to do to lower the cost of groceries."

That's weird. Did he ever mention his concern about the cost of groceries that past 4 years?

Posted by: Ripley at January 08, 2025 11:50 AM (GUOwU)

---------------

I'm old enough to remember DogEater taking full credit for Trump's economy.

And of course F. Joe Mugabe and his merry butt-boys like Shartwell blaming Trump for causing THEIR F*CKING INTENTIONAL hyperinflation.

Posted by: ShainS -- Take Back and Rename the ~~Panama~~ America Canal! at January 08, 2025 12:05 PM (lmsSh)

230 221 Garland releasing parts of Jack Smith's report. Anonymous sources say. While not confirmed, we have reason to believe. Somebody saw something.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at January 08, 2025 12:06 PM (gm9Sb)

231 Cry Me a River is back.

Hollywood Actor Jon Cryer Claims Kamala Lost Election Because Americans “Hate Black Women”

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 12:07 PM (L/fGl)

232 DC_Draino @DC_Draino
---
On the left is the LA Fire Chief allowing her city to be burned down with no water in fire hydrants

On the right is the New Orleans Police Chief who allowed a terrorist attack on Bourbon without street barriers

DEI is quite literally getting people killed

Bring back merit
---
Ideology kills.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 12:08 PM (krQz2)

233 Do the cartels practice DEI?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 08, 2025 12:05 PM

They practice DIE.

Posted by: RedMindBlueState at January 08, 2025 12:09 PM (+QlJh)

234 They are freaks who believe everything is relative there are no truths

Right, there is no objective reality. A favorite of quacks and pseudo-intellectuals in Academia.

They get really if you fuck with their pension, oddly enough.

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 12:09 PM (2VfHu)

235 Hollywood Actor Jon Cryer Claims Kamala Lost Election Because Americans “Hate Black Women”
=====
Actually, the last 20 years or so seem to prove that giving a black woman any position of authority is a non-serious choice.

But hey! Go ahead Jon, regale me with Kamala's best career achievements while holding any position (and simply *getting* the office isn't the same as achieving anything while holding it)?

Posted by: Crusader at January 08, 2025 12:09 PM (azSra)

236 How can a reserve currency be based on …. dead presidents on pieces of paper? Or 1s and zeroes on a hard drive?

Any accountants want to ‘splain how you can square the books with a unit of account that has no definition?
==
It is based on two things, slavery and the threat of war. Wage slavery, the fact that millions of us will pay taxes for 40.plus years, or in perpetuity, and the US will invade your ass if you screw with us and don't take our money. Which is to say, it is based on coercion. It's coercion all the way down.

Posted by: SMOD where are you?? at January 08, 2025 12:09 PM (KoNQY)

237 But good news, their politics are liberal!
Posted by: Axeman

Do the cartels practice DEI?
Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at January 08, 2025 12:05 PM (63Dwl)
---
Probably not enough.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 12:10 PM (krQz2)

238 CBS, ABC and NBC Absurdly Blame Trump for Canadian PM Trudeau's Resignation

-
"Blame"?

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 12:10 PM (L/fGl)

239 So, when Germany paid their wartime debts with paper currency with million or billion mark numbers, clearly the allies had no reason to complain?

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 12:12 PM (2VfHu)

240 238
‘ Blame Trump for Canadian PM Trudeau's Resignation

"Blame"?’
Hahahahaha!

Sorry, Canada. I guess you all hate us now.

Posted by: Dr. Claw at January 08, 2025 12:13 PM (jbnUc)

241 Not to be trite or pedantic, but double-entry accounting requires only that the debits match the credits for the books to be "square".

That's not to say that the books are *informative* at that point, but they at least "balance".
========

Ours not to reason why, ours just to tick and tie!

Posted by: Henry O at January 08, 2025 12:14 PM (X5Mi4)

242 The occasional islands of peace, prosperity, and calm should always be treasured in history by those lucky enough to live in those blessed times.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 12:05 PM (ctrM5)

----------------

So true.

[BTW, I saw the Pernicious Rentier States open for Chamillionaire at the Mandalay Bay in '06.]

Posted by: ShainS -- Take Back and Rename the ~~Panama~~ America Canal! at January 08, 2025 12:15 PM (1urRd)

243 CBS, ABC and NBC Absurdly Blame Trump for Canadian PM Trudeau's Resignation

-
"Blame"?
Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 12:10 PM (L/fGl)
---
Yup. When there's the perfectly good word "credit" to use.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 12:15 PM (krQz2)

244 200 Garland says he is gonna release "part" of Jack Smiths "report."
Posted by: It's me donna

Of course. A 'little' man who seems to live to needle & win. (He could very well be a Biden, at least in heart.)

A few hours ago, "but will keep under wraps for now the rest of the report focused on the president-elect's hoarding of classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate."
--
Remember the Panorama education controversy?

>Panorama Education
www panoramaed com › about
Today, we proudly support over 15 million students in 25,000 schools, 2,000 districts, and 50 states. ... Learn about Panorama's software platform for K-12 school ...

>The Lion, posted May 8, 2023: 'School district shells out thousands on controversial emotional survey program with ties to Merrick Garland'

Let's see how that goes under the Trump administration.

Posted by: L - When do we finally hit the bottom? at January 08, 2025 12:16 PM (NFX2v)

245 Actually, the last 20 years or so seem to prove that giving a black woman any position of authority is a non-serious choice.
—-/

Black leftist women. The democrat gate keepers don’t select for anything other than political reliability. One might be forgiven for thinking they are all bug nuts crazy, but that’s the Democrats problem. That’s how you got Trump, blacks are pretty sick and tired of being taken for granted and abused by their plantation overlords

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 12:17 PM (2VfHu)

246 What's a little perjury between friends?

14 Minneapolis officers sign sworn declarations that Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell perjured herself during Derek Chauvin trial

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 12:17 PM (L/fGl)

247 It is based on two things, slavery and the threat of war. Wage slavery, the fact that millions of us will pay taxes for 40.plus years, or in perpetuity, and the US will invade your ass if you screw with us and don't take our money. Which is to say, it is based on coercion. It's coercion all the way down.
Posted by: SMOD
-------
There are actually reasons why some sort of medium of exchange exists whether or not it has intrinsic value. Has to do with the massive inefficiencies in individuals, businesses, or even nations trying to exchange goods and services without it.

So it inevitably happens that some medium of exchange is developed which might or might not be a store of wealth occurs. Then the question becomes one of what is a preferred medium of exchange. People gloss over the problems of the gold and silver era in monetary exchanges because economic history is not well taught. But inflation, devaluation of currency, deficit spending, etc. all occurred during this era as well as the current one.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 12:18 PM (ctrM5)

248 Minneapolis officers sign sworn declarations that Assistant Chief Katie Blackwell perjured herself during Derek Chauvin trial

Posted by: Anonosaurus Wrecks, Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent at January 08, 2025 12:17 PM (L/fGl)
---
Saint George looks down and smiles.

Posted by: Axeman at January 08, 2025 12:21 PM (krQz2)

249 How can a reserve currency be based on …. dead presidents on pieces of paper? Or 1s and zeroes on a hard drive?

Any accountants want to ‘splain how you can square the books with a unit of account that has no definition?
Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 12:01 PM (2VfHu)

"I will pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today"

-- J Wellington Wimpy

the first fiat currency in the western world was issued by accident by Massachusetts colony. At the time the good masters of the colony would engage groups to go raid the French Canadians, and would pay the soldiers out of the spoils of the raid. One year they got beaten like a drum and came back empty handed. The colony issued promissary notes to be paid from future proceeds, and sent them home. There emerged a secondary market in the notes, the government noticed, and began covering all of their debts that way.

The state of Oregon for odd reasons did not allow the creation or issuance of paper money prior to the Federal Reserve, and because of that issues "warrants" which are promissory notes written on the state account, and may be unfunded - thus side stepping the prohibition on creation of paper money because bastards

Posted by: Kindltot at January 08, 2025 12:21 PM (D7oie)

250 239 So, when Germany paid their wartime debts with paper currency with million or billion mark numbers, clearly the allies had no reason to complain?
Posted by: Common Tater

No one did because those German marks were used by Britain and France to pay the war debts while US banks lent the money to Germany in a weird circular flow.

That being said, one of the reasons that the Versailles Treaty was harsh on the Germans was that the same harsh terms were imposed on France after the Franco Prussian War. France had to pay Germany massive reparations. Germany in turn, based it massive claims on what Napoleon demanded from Prussia during the Napoleonic Wars. And so it goes.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 12:22 PM (ctrM5)

251
"I will pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today"

-- J Wellington Wimpy

Posted by: Kindltot at January 08, 2025 12:21 PM (D7oie)
---
Lend us a couple of bob until Thursday.
I'm absolutely skint.
But I'm expecting a postal order and
I can pay you back as soon as it comes.

Posted by: Scottish Poet Ewan McTeagle at January 08, 2025 12:25 PM (krQz2)

252 Correct, but a currency that isn’t a store of value cannot be money; it has a value regardless of the entity that issues it.

Nobody gives a shit about some old long lost monarch’s checkbook at the bottom of the ocean, but they will send an expedition to retrieve bullion bars.

Just like “money is what we say it is” totalitarians like to claim money ISN’T what we say it is. 3 countries actually made gold illegal during the 20th century. They outlawed an Element on the Periodic table. Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany, and the United States.

Nice, huh?

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 12:25 PM (2VfHu)

253 The state of Oregon for odd reasons did not allow the creation or issuance of paper money prior to the Federal Reserve, and because of that issues "warrants" which are promissory notes written on the state account, and may be unfunded - thus side stepping the prohibition on creation of paper money because bastards
Posted by: Kindltot
----
Origin of paper money is considered China in the 7th Century as a medium of exchange but China, Carthage, and Rome each had promissory note exchange as an ersatz currency 2000 years ago.

Complicated story and it tends to muddy the waters for those proposing this or that as a nostrum for a medium of exchange.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 12:26 PM (ctrM5)

254 Y'know, if my boss and co-workers had so completely lost faith in me after such a comprehensive and unmistakable demonstration of malicious sabotage and sickening incompetence I would be fired summarily and escorted from company premises under guard and served with summons to answer criminal charges as well as civil. If I were a king and a provincial duke had behaved as Castreau my troops would be arresting him and all his appointees and anyone in any position that did not do their duty to oppose and prevent the crimes...public executions would quickly follow the trials.

Posted by: Stefan v. at January 08, 2025 12:26 PM (2XjOP)

255 247 So it inevitably happens that some medium of exchange is developed which might or might not be a store of wealth occurs.

back when jr. chronda was in 2nd grade, the teacher would issue phony happy bucks to kids that were particularly good or did particularly well. there were a few times a year when they could trade their phony happy bucks back to the teacher for some sort of treat. a spontaneous exchange rate developed among the kids; the good kids would sell you a phony happy buck for a quarter.

Posted by: anachronda at January 08, 2025 12:30 PM (v3pYe)

256 Lend us a couple of bob until Thursday.
I'm absolutely skint.
But I'm expecting a postal order and
I can pay you back as soon as it comes.
Posted by: Scottish Poet Ewan McTeagle at January 08, 2025 12:25 PM (krQz2)

"What's Twenty Quid to the Bloody Midland Bank" was your best work.

Posted by: I am the Shadout Mapes, the Housekeeper at January 08, 2025 12:30 PM (PiwSw)

257 “Gold and Economic Freedom” by Alan Greenspan is a pretty good read on the subject, published 1966

Not as well known, Howard Buffet (Warren’s dad) was a US congressman from Nebraska. He was a proponent of gold money for Americans. Warren seems to have taken a different view, maybe. But Howard was pointing out how the government was screwing the people over in the 1950s.

It has gotten worse for sure.

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 12:32 PM (2VfHu)

258 252 Correct, but a currency that isn’t a store of value cannot be money; it has a value regardless of the entity that issues it.
Posted by: Common Tater
========
Seems true but actually is not true---ideally a medium of exchange has some sort of intrinsic value but in real terms, even during the Gold era, nations could and did often refuse aka repudiate to exchange actual gold to settle international disputes but rather paper promises. There was also state sponsored devaluation because ideally your currency should never be set at 100 percent par value and it was usually something less, sometimes much less, so a) the coins, etc. were not melted down into bullion and/or steathily exported whenever the market price for silver or gold exceeded the stated value of the coins, and b) that the state could make a bit of a profit from the coinage value as stated and the lesser actual cost of materials and mfg.

All that is necessary for a medium of exchange is that other people accept it as payment and it makes a market economy work whereas barter economies always deteriorate until some new sort of medium of exchange occurs whether by nature or by a government.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 12:34 PM (ctrM5)

259 257 “Gold and Economic Freedom” by Alan Greenspan is a pretty good read on the subject, published 1966

Not as well known, Howard Buffet (Warren’s dad) was a US congressman from Nebraska. He was a proponent of gold money for Americans. Warren seems to have taken a different view, maybe. But Howard was pointing out how the government was screwing the people over in the 1950s.

It has gotten worse for sure.
Posted by: Common Tater
---------
You will find depressions, inflation, etc. all during the bi-metallic era. It is more a problem of governments doing stupid things than a medium of exchange issue.

Governments get into wars, spend too much, tax too much, etc. which is the first order effect. Monetary inflation or deflation is a second order effect.

Posted by: whig at January 08, 2025 12:37 PM (ctrM5)

260 Seems true but actually is not true
——

Uh-huh. Right.

Posted by: Common Tater at January 08, 2025 01:09 PM (2VfHu)

261 Are we sure we want Quebec?

—

I’m sure I do NOT want it.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at January 08, 2025 11:13 AM (BqIHC)

We can gift it to Haiti

Posted by: Oldcat at January 08, 2025 02:08 PM (n7h9X)

262 Stealth repudiation of public debt via inflation was always going to be the most likely outcome of this massive gap with the problem being kicked down the road until the US loses reserve currency status.

don't worry. steiner the platinum asteroid will come.
Posted by: anachronda at January 08, 2025 12:00 PM (v3pYe)

If we found that platinum asteroid and could mine it for free it would be worth about as much as dirt.

Posted by: Oldcat at January 08, 2025 02:15 PM (n7h9X)

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