Trump Reaches the 50% Approval Mark in One Poll

It is very rare for modern presidents to ever have majority support. Even Obama, who the media told me was a transformational figure that everyone loved (Except Racists (TM)) spent his entire presidency at 43-45% approval.

Insider Advantage says that Trump's at 50%.

President Trump is sitting at an even 50 percent approval rating nationally, placing him nine points above water nearly a year into his second term, according to a new survey from InsiderAdvantage. The poll, conducted Saturday among 800 likely voters, found 50 percent approve of Trump's job performance, while 41 percent disapprove and 9 percent remain undecided -- a solid net-positive showing at a stage when many modern presidents have already slipped underwater.
The numbers show familiar but politically important divides. Trump continues to post strong margins with men, nearly six in ten of whom approve of his performance, compared to just over a third who disapprove. Women remain more skeptical, with approval and disapproval nearly evenly split but tilted slightly negative. Age breakdowns, however, may raise alarms for Democrats heading toward the 2026 midterms. Trump runs even among voters under 40 and posts clear net-positive approval among voters 40 and older, including a +5 margin with seniors -- a bloc that often turns out heavily in midterm elections.
Among voters aged 18 to 39, Trump's approval and disapproval are deadlocked, while voters between 40 and 64 give him a comfortable edge.

Gen X represent.

...
The InsiderAdvantage results are more favorable to Trump than the broader national picture reflected in RealClearPolling, which currently shows the president below water overall. Still, a net-positive approval rating at this point in a presidency is a rare commodity in modern politics[.]

A YouGov poll has Trump at a mere 39% with "adults" and 42% with actually registered voters. Gotta figure "adults" includes a lot of illegals.

Does this matter? Eh, probably not. I continue to think Trump wins or loses based on how the economy looks by July 2026. If it's not more in the Ace range than the garret range, Trump loses Congress and spends his last two years dodging subpoenas. If it looks good, he keeps Congress and locks in Trumpism as the dominant alternative to AOC/Mamdani communism.

I know you guys don't like poll posts but can I reply that days before a holiday are very slow news days and I have had a case of Senioritis since before Thanksgiving?

Also: I had another post ready to go, but it's a Bad News post, and I didn't want to use a Bad News post to say:

Merry Christmas! Okay It's not Christmas yet. Merry Christmas Eve!

What are your plans? I'm mostly going to be nestling.

"I don't know what to do!" cried Scrooge, laughing and crying in the same breath; and making a perfect Laocoön of himself with his stockings. "I am as light as a feather, I am as happy as an angel, I am as merry as a school-boy. I am as giddy as a drunken man. A merry Christmas to every-body! A happy New Year to all the world! Hallo here! Whoop! Hallo!"

Whoop and Hallo to thee!

(Looking it up: Laocoön was a Trojan seer punished by the gods. He was attacked by great serpents. I don't know what Dickens means but my guess is that, by hiking up his stockings high, he resembles Laocoön being devoured, one leg at a time, by serpents. The stockings being likened to snakes. If it's not that, I'm stumped.)

🚨 HOLY CRAP! SHOCK poll finds President Trump's approval rating at +9 nationwide, a +14 point SURGE since November

50% approve, while 41% disapprove - InsiderAdvantage

WOW. Democrats can't believe this! The attacks failed, Trump is entering 2026 in a VERY strong position 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/6OVBvXGkcr
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 22, 2025

Oh, and here's how George Sloppadopoulos' Disney Groomer News Network reported on Trump's 4.3% GDP figure, compared to how they reported Biden's 2.8%:

How the totally unbiased ABC News described +2.8% GDP under Biden (1 year ago, Q3 2024) versus +4.3% GDP under Trump https://t.co/SprJ0QYTy4 pic.twitter.com/NJdQltpifC
— Chris (@chriswithans) December 23, 2025

lol pic.twitter.com/xTaE0nVuNS
— Drew Holden (@DrewHolden360) December 24, 2025

Posted by: Ace at 12:12 PM

Comments

(Jump to bottom of comments)

1 Strippers!

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 24, 2025 12:12 PM (ExV1e)

2 Meepmeep!

Posted by: nurse ratched at December 24, 2025 12:12 PM (IhIKR)

3 I alerted the others for this is the season of giving.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 24, 2025 12:12 PM (ExV1e)

4 Merry Christmas, ace.

Thank you for all you do. No peeking under the tree, you bad boy.

Posted by: nurse ratched at December 24, 2025 12:13 PM (IhIKR)

5 Yay! Festivus Poll!

Posted by: No Particular Grievance at December 24, 2025 12:13 PM (oftw2)

6 Chinese talking toys are loaded with cccp propaganda.

Posted by: Boss Moss at December 24, 2025 12:13 PM (PIdvu)

7 Unexpectedly!

Posted by: pookysgirl, still here at December 24, 2025 12:14 PM (Wt5PA)

8 Merry Christmas Eve, Ace Daddy-O!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 24, 2025 12:14 PM (kpS4V)

9 Zah polls are how you say in English, pour Les strippers, non?

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 24, 2025 12:14 PM (UJWr0)

10 All ready to don my gay apparel!

Posted by: The Great Poof! at December 24, 2025 12:15 PM (oftw2)

11 Merry Christmas!

Posted by: Axeman at December 24, 2025 12:15 PM (OaZlZ)

12 Bad news? You mean that the Supreme Court thinks blue cities should allow their citizens to be victimized by criminals? That is acceptable to me.

Posted by: steevy at December 24, 2025 12:15 PM (YwEeS)

13 Happy Christmas Eve everyone
Just slowly getting off work now

Posted by: Skip at December 24, 2025 12:15 PM (i+wP0)

14 Gotta figure "adults" includes a lot of illegals.

I hope they find the way home with their loved ones this year.

Posted by: t-bird at December 24, 2025 12:15 PM (jCHfL)

15 I know you guys don't like poll posts

I think you're mistaken. We like to complain about poll posts but that doesn't mean we don't appreciate them.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 24, 2025 12:15 PM (ExV1e)

16 It could be media bias with Biden, or it could be amazement, like "Can you believe we have even smallish 2.8% growth with a mentally retarded president?"

Posted by: Wally at December 24, 2025 12:16 PM (DEw/K)

17 HOLY CRAP! SHOCK poll finds President Trump's approval rating at +9 nationwide, a +14 point SURGE since November

I maintain that the bump in Trump's numbers is due largely to Melania's traditional Christmas decorations vs. the decadent gay burlesque show from Jill Biden.

Posted by: Archimedes at December 24, 2025 12:16 PM (Riz8t)

18 Almost all polls are shit except for private polling which is almost never released.

Media polling is particularly bad as it is always designed on purpose, to fit whatever narrative the media is pushing like Orangeman bad.

Same as 60 minutes stories, fabricated story telling where apply the laws is regarding as cruel because it hurts Dems. Applying the laws by throwing Jan 6 US citizens in horrible conditions for parading is good.

I would end any student loans and grants in going for journalism and communcation majors. Turning them back to teh old days of reporters who learned their craft on the job produced superior news gathering and a well earned cynicism regarding claims by pols and government.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 12:17 PM (WDjG6)

19 9 Zah polls are how you say in English, pour Les strippers, non?
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 24, 2025 12:14 PM (UJWr0)

Speaking of, amusing to look at other world leaders. Herr Merz has only got 32%% approval; Macron is polling at about 20%, lately, and I think Starmer is down to 14%.

Posted by: Tom Servo at December 24, 2025 12:17 PM (uWKK8)

20 The Clampett mansion had a wonderful spot for a tall! Christmas tree in front of their grand staircase.

Posted by: Miss Jane Hathaway at December 24, 2025 12:17 PM (oftw2)

21 Doesn't really "feel" like Christmas here. It's in the upper 50's but cloudy, almost foggy today. Tomorrow supposed to be even a bit warmer, but a chance of rain.

This, after 2 1/2 weeks of unrelenting, bitter cold and snow.

Posted by: Martini Farmer at December 24, 2025 12:19 PM (NwnyJ)

22 Cleaning my place and putting together the extra table so I can seat eight for dinner tonight.

Troll caught Alaskan King salmon with raspberry sauce
Asparagus strudel
Salad with toasted nuts, Stilton and blueberries
Rice spiked with saffron

Homemade pie by my niece. Also homemade ice cream.

Posted by: nurse ratched at December 24, 2025 12:19 PM (IhIKR)

23 "The poll, conducted Saturday among 800 likely voters, found 50 percent approve of Trump's job performance, while 41 percent disapprove and 9 percent remain undecided -- a solid net-positive showing at a stage when many modern presidents have already slipped underwater."

There has to be something wrong with this poll, no way any president gets 50% approval these days.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at December 24, 2025 12:19 PM (0N4FZ)

24 Speaking of, amusing to look at other world leaders. Herr Merz has only got 32%% approval; Macron is polling at about 20%, lately, and I think Starmer is down to 14%.
Posted by: Tom Servo at December 24, 2025 12:17 PM (uWKK

Hard to say where Starmer is since they jail anyone who proposes to publish poll results showing him as less than universally beloved.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 24, 2025 12:19 PM (ExV1e)

25 Son and family are at DiL's mom's this year so it's just me and my doggie until they get back on Saturday. Sunday will be my present giving and opening day..

Posted by: Tuna at December 24, 2025 12:19 PM (lJ0H4)

26 What are your plans? I'm mostly going to be nestling.

Hope my power stays on!

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 24, 2025 12:19 PM (pieWX)

27 I think the midterms will be great for the MAGA conservatives. but...that said...we have to vote like the third monkey trying to get on the Ark.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 24, 2025 12:20 PM (2WIwB)

28 The thing with starmer is his approval is so low that he’s gone full retard. He knows there is 0 chance of winning the next election. So he’s destroying as much as possible while he can. He just got rid of trial by jury. God knows what else he’ll do in the next 3 years.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 24, 2025 12:20 PM (UJWr0)

29 Troll caught Alaskan King salmon
----

🧌

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 24, 2025 12:20 PM (kpS4V)

30 This, after 2 1/2 weeks of unrelenting, bitter cold and snow.
Posted by: Martini Farmer

You'll freeze your ass off by New Years, so enjoy this while it lasts.

Posted by: Tex Antoine at December 24, 2025 12:21 PM (oftw2)

31 I think the midterms will be great for the MAGA conservatives.
Posted by: Diogenes at December 24, 2025 12:20 PM (2WIwB)

What about the other 99% of Congressional Republicans on the ballot?

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 24, 2025 12:21 PM (ExV1e)

32 Reuters or AP, One of them had Tru p at 36%. This 50% kinda cancels that one out. The average is around 44,45.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 24, 2025 12:21 PM (UJWr0)

33 What are your plans? I'm mostly going to be nestling.

Channel 5 shows hours of a yule log in a fireplace while Christmas carols play.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 24, 2025 12:21 PM (pieWX)

34 >>>Doesn't really "feel" like Christmas here. It's in the upper 50's but cloudy, almost foggy today. Tomorrow supposed to be even a bit warmer, but a chance of rain.

It's warm-ish where I am too. No white Christmas, but at least I'll get out for a hike and get some sun and exercise.

Posted by: ace at December 24, 2025 12:22 PM (1wjle)

35 15 I know you guys don't like poll posts

I think you're mistaken. We like to complain about poll posts but that doesn't mean we don't appreciate them.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

Too easy to manipulate by a number of unscrupulous tactics. I regard polling on par with Pravda and Izvestia. Pollsters have less scruples in defrauding the readers than most con men do.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 12:22 PM (WDjG6)

36 Another SHOCK poll says illegals are not feeling good about the direction the country is going.

Posted by: Chairman LMAO at December 24, 2025 12:22 PM (U/j9n)

37 Later, I'm attending Christmas Eve service at my church.

Up early Christmas morning to play golf with family and friends.

Merry Christmas, ace, cobs and to all the Morons/'ettes.

Posted by: Joe Mama at December 24, 2025 12:23 PM (TezPK)

38 26 What are your plans? I'm mostly going to be nestling.

Hope my power stays on!
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 24, 2025 12:19 PM (pieWX)
***

The big blow of 2025 didn't show up last night as predicted...and is now set for tonight. We shall see.
In the meantime, the neighbor is smoking a pork butt and has offered me some in exchange for a plate of cookies and pumpkin bread.
DEAL!!!

Posted by: Diogenes at December 24, 2025 12:23 PM (2WIwB)

39 Afternoon Ace.
I wouldn't mind the "unexpectedly" crap at 4.3%, if the propaganda ministries weren't "robustly" fellating the Biden administration at 2.8%

Posted by: Smell the Glove at December 24, 2025 12:23 PM (2vrAX)

40 Waves of heavy rain in van nuys.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 24, 2025 12:24 PM (Kt19C)

41 What are your plans?

At the moment I'm trying to decide what to do about dessert for tomorrow.

We're having prime rib roast, brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, rice, and gravy.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 24, 2025 12:24 PM (ExV1e)

42 The thing with starmer is his approval is so low that he’s gone full retard. He knows there is 0 chance of winning the next election. So he’s destroying as much as possible while he can. He just got rid of trial by jury. God knows what else he’ll do in the next 3 years.

Apparently they're rethinking that position, since there are some leftist politicians who hope to maintain electoral viability once Starmer walks the plank.

Posted by: Archimedes at December 24, 2025 12:24 PM (Riz8t)

43 32 Reuters or AP, One of them had Tru p at 36%. This 50% kinda cancels that one out. The average is around 44,45.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald
------
It doesn't work like that statistically. Basically if a polling outfit is garbage and Reuters has been traditionally wrong by double digits, it should be thrown out as an outlier.

You put garbage results and mix it via aggregation, you get garbage aggregation. Look up Meta analysis if you are really interested in doing your own homework on the issue.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 12:24 PM (WDjG6)

44 It's warm-ish where I am too. No white Christmas, but at least I'll get out for a hike and get some sun and exercise.
Posted by: ace

Gonna be 67 and cloudy tomorrow in Nashville land. Warming trend continues until middle of next week.

Posted by: Tuna at December 24, 2025 12:24 PM (lJ0H4)

45 "The poll, conducted Saturday among 800 likely voters, found 50 percent approve of Trump's job performance, while 41 percent disapprove and 9 percent remain undecided -- a solid net-positive showing at a stage when many modern presidents have already slipped underwater."

There has to be something wrong with this poll, no way any president gets 50% approval these days.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at December 24, 2025 12:19 PM

It isn't an actual poll, they call it a survey. Not sure what the difference is but I can't find anything that explains the difference on their website.

Posted by: Mister Scott (Formerly GWS) at December 24, 2025 12:24 PM (0N4FZ)

46 I know you guys don't like poll posts

Nah, the posts are important. I wouldn't know the current narrative being pushed because it's invisible in my day-to-day world.

Posted by: t-bird at December 24, 2025 12:24 PM (jCHfL)

47 "Insider Advantage says that Trump's at 50%."

Gotta admit, for all my beefs about the a-hole, I still don't regret my votes for him. There was no other choice.

Posted by: gp at December 24, 2025 12:24 PM (GHIyr)

48 Sorry to OT, but ERIS:
Just saw your post in last thread, I AM SO GLAD IT WORKED!!

It really is never fail, and so are you

Merry Christmas everybody! Just out of shower, and off to daughter's house for Christmas Eve.

Posted by: barbarausa at December 24, 2025 12:25 PM (enw9G)

49 The big blow of 2025

—

Oh?
- Sandra Fluke

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 24, 2025 12:25 PM (UJWr0)

50 It always helps to remember that media and university polls are just made up for the sake of convenience.

If they weren't, you'd see political campaigns hiring these units for internal polling.

But you don't, because they are fake, and just make numbers on behalf of the party and state.

They're at the other end of the process, 2-3 steps removed from the raw data, and reiterating it's carefully massaged output.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at December 24, 2025 12:25 PM (BI5O2)

51 It's Christmas Eve, so of course I'm watching the traditional Mark Felton video on Himmler:

https://tinyurl.com/2emxm75d

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 24, 2025 12:25 PM (kpS4V)

52 "know you guys don't like poll posts"

Let's run a poll to see how many people don't like poll posts.

Posted by: gp at December 24, 2025 12:26 PM (GHIyr)

53 Troll caught Alaskan King salmon with raspberry sauce
Asparagus strudel
Salad with toasted nuts, Stilton and blueberries
Rice spiked with saffron

Homemade pie by my niece. Also homemade ice cream.
Posted by: nurse ratched at December 24, 2025 12:19 PM (IhIKR)

Nurse, I love you dearly, but the words "asparagus" and "strudel" should never be put together.

Posted by: pookysgirl, somewhat horrified at December 24, 2025 12:26 PM (Wt5PA)

54 It doesn't work like that statistically. Basically if a polling outfit is garbage and Reuters has been traditionally wrong by double digits, it should be thrown out as an outlier.

You put garbage results and mix it via aggregation, you get garbage aggregation. Look up Meta analysis if you are really interested in doing your own homework on the issue.
Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 12:24 PM (WDjG6)

I said it clumsily. I mean the average of all other polls is 44,45. So the two outliers, this poll and the AP poll keep the average unchanged.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 24, 2025 12:26 PM (UJWr0)

55 36 Another SHOCK poll says illegals are not feeling good about the direction the country is going.
Posted by: Chairman LMAO

Every reputable pollster, and I actually knew one professionally that used to work for Roper as polling director, admitted that cell phones have killed traditional polling using RDD and non response bias (younger conservatives don't answer polling firms at the same rate as AWFLs or the elderly). So all samples are now bad, the question is how bad.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 12:27 PM (WDjG6)

56 We're having prime rib roast, brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, rice, and gravy.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 24, 2025 12:24 PM (ExV1e)
---

A berry pie, and maybe a lemon or mango sorbet as a palate cleanser.

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 24, 2025 12:27 PM (kpS4V)

57 Should I make a Laocoön of myself?

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 24, 2025 12:27 PM (pkeXY)

58 It always helps to remember that media and university polls are just made up for the sake of convenience.

You don't hear much about Larry Sabato any more. He used to be on the news constantly, presumably because he was willing to say what the left wanted to hear. He still is, but I think his credibility's shot. Fortunately for him, he'll always be a professor.

Posted by: Archimedes at December 24, 2025 12:27 PM (Riz8t)

59 We're having prime rib roast, brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, rice, and gravy.
Posted by: I used to have a different nic

Since it's just me, I have a nice pork loin to put in the crockpot tomorrow. Will have Brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes and cranberries to accompany.

Posted by: Tuna at December 24, 2025 12:28 PM (lJ0H4)

60 Polls are for strippers

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at December 24, 2025 12:28 PM (rbMHe)

61 I get hand blisters when I dig postholes for polls.

Posted by: gp at December 24, 2025 12:29 PM (GHIyr)

62 I don't want to get too far over my skis but I feel good about the prospects for the economy. All signs are pointing toward a very strong 2026 and if you put aside all the noise this administration is about as competent and committed to doing right by we the people as any I've seen.

And it sure doesn't hurt that Democrats seem determined to take the 20% position on seemingly every single issue. On top of that I think we are going to see some real fireworks in Florida when the grand jury is seated next month and the corruption by Democrats in place like Minnesota, California, Illinois, etc. is just starting to hit and it's about our money not a dirtbag president using an intern as a humidor.

As of now I like our chances next year, particularly with Orange Hitler whipping the troops like he's coming down the home stretch at Churchill Downs.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 24, 2025 12:29 PM (viF8m)

63 The only question is if the AI bubble will burst before Election Day next year.

Posted by: MAGA_Ken at December 24, 2025 12:29 PM (rbMHe)

64 Ace, there’s a famous sculpture of Laocoon (and his sons) being devoured by the snake(s): they’re all entangled in a yuge knot. I’m sure Dickens was thinking of that.

Posted by: Best Thief in Lankhmar at December 24, 2025 12:29 PM (64rer)

65 I used to take the cross-town 50th street bus sometimes when I worked in Manhattan. In a deli window was a large sign:

Planing A Party?
Try One Of Theese!

I'm sure it got more attention and eyeballs than if it was spelled correctly. After 40 years I still remember it.

Posted by: Terrestrial Celestial Commuter at December 24, 2025 12:30 PM (oftw2)

66 A YouGov poll has Trump at a mere 39% with "adults" and 42% with actually registered voters. Gotta figure "adults" includes a lot of illegals.

=====

In the world of polling YouGov is particularly useless.

It's not even a poll.

It's an opt-in online panel. There's no effort to make a random sample, or even control for partisan makeup.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 24, 2025 12:30 PM (GBKbO)

67 I took a cruise through YouTube comments on local network affiliates' stories on the most recent Epstein release. I only looked at ones that said Trump was mentioned, and only Trump, in their headlines.

Holy ratio, Batman! Nobody is buying the Epstein thing, in fact, it seems to be pissing people off, angry at the media.

Posted by: Bilwis Devourer of Innocent Souls, I'm starvin' over here at December 24, 2025 12:30 PM (pIfcn)

68 "Should I make a Laocoon of myself?"

Don't make me say it.

Posted by: Jasmine Ratchet at December 24, 2025 12:30 PM (AHWap)

69 One of my daughters is spending Xmas with her fiancee's family, so we had an early Xmas on the 21st. The fare was beef tenderloin, shrimp scampi, scalloped potatoes, green beans almondine, and lots and lots of Xmas cookies, cakes, and chocolates. For actual Xmas, we're having homemade lasagna, garlic bread, and asparagus.

Posted by: Archimedes at December 24, 2025 12:31 PM (Riz8t)

70 No plans for Christmas. Sons won't be here until New Year's eve.

the missus is making an Irish stew for tonight. I'll figure out something for tomorrow. Or just go to a Chinese restaurant. Fa Ra Ra Ra Ra!

Posted by: Pug Mahon at December 24, 2025 12:31 PM (PSEDc)

71 Meanwhile, Zelensky has an inspiring Christmas message:

My dear people, since ancient times, Ukrainians believed that on Christmas night, the heavens open.

And if you tell them your dream, it will surely come true.

Today, we all have one dream. And we have one wish for everyone:

"May he perish," as everyone says to themselves.

It's amazing how many people think that it is self-evident that Putin's successor will be better than Putin.

"Who could be worse than that warmonger Hindenburg?"

"Who could be worse than that tyrant Lenin?"

Posted by: The ARC of History! at December 24, 2025 12:31 PM (xTIDn)

72 An ideal poll would be find 1000 people or whatever number. And poll them repeatedly over time. The number itself wouldn’t matter but the trend would be what counts. If the same people are at 45% approval today and 3 months from now it’s 51% then you can say Trump’s popularity is increasing. Or if it falls to 40%, it’s decreasing.

But yeah finding random samples each time in a world of nobody answering their phones is kinda sus.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 24, 2025 12:31 PM (UJWr0)

73 Good afternoon, horde. Merry Christmas! I'm on vacation for ten days, starting now!

Hanging out at home with man and dogs, AOSHQ, and online poker. Will add bourbon right about 5 p.m.

Polls, meh. On the other hand, they're typically skewed so far left as to be laughable, so that 50% approval might be really meaningful.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at December 24, 2025 12:32 PM (h7ZuX)

74 Afternoon Horde. Hubby and I are in a hotel in Bozeman waiting to hear from the veterinarian if our pup can have surgery. As long as the mass in her chest hasn’t metastasized they will remove it. Hopefully it will stop the attack on the receptors that fire the movement of her hind legs. She has something called Myasthenia gravis.
Not my preferred way to spend Christmas Eve, has to be done.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at December 24, 2025 12:32 PM (rf2Yc)

75 The elites, really, really hate Trump.

But they hate him because he is disfavoring them instead for the middle class/normies.

Posted by: 18-1 at December 24, 2025 12:32 PM (sKqQm)

76 67 I took a cruise through YouTube comments on local network affiliates' stories on the most recent Epstein release. I only looked at ones that said Trump was mentioned, and only Trump, in their headlines.

Holy ratio, Batman! Nobody is buying the Epstein thing, in fact, it seems to be pissing people off, angry at the media.

Posted by: Bilwis Devourer of Innocent Souls, I'm starvin' over here at December 24, 2025 12:30 PM (pIfcn)

=====

Esptein is an online only obsession. In the before times, in the 90s, the networks would carry the water and amplify the story to the point of Congressional hearings, but they can't do it now. They're too distracted by too many other things all while Trump et al simply don't play along narratively.

Posted by: TheJamesMadison, seeing life through the shadows with Otto Preminger at December 24, 2025 12:33 PM (GBKbO)

77 Posted by: JackStraw at December 24, 2025 12:29 PM (viF8m)

Yeah, I'm feeling better heading into '26 than heading into '25, and I wouldn't expect many people feel that way, because I'm a naturally apprehensive person who looks for flaws.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at December 24, 2025 12:33 PM (BI5O2)

78 [WILLOWED:]

Shades of the movie, My Bodyguard. Decent 80's flick.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 12:10 PM (WDjG6)

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

Ah, yes -- never saw it but remember my stepdaughter watching it -- and that a young Adam Baldwin (whom I loved in Firefly and Chuck, plus he's a great Breithartian conservative) was in it.

Posted by: ShainS -- A DEI Kakistocracy, If You Can Keep It at December 24, 2025 12:33 PM (EAgl+)

79 I got a text a week ago asking if I’d like to participate in a poll. I would. But it’s probably a scam. So I deleted the text.

If it is not a scam, then the only people who will participate are the type of people who fall for scams and click random links sent to them. Which means the sample is biased out of the gate.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 24, 2025 12:34 PM (UJWr0)

80 Would expect many people feel that way. Stupid autocorrect.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at December 24, 2025 12:34 PM (BI5O2)

81 The elites, really, really hate Trump.

Always have.

Manhattan sophisticates have always viewed him as that parvenu from Queens.

Posted by: The ARC of History! at December 24, 2025 12:34 PM (xTIDn)

82 Troll caught Alaskan King salmon with raspberry sauce
Asparagus strudel
Salad with toasted nuts, Stilton and blueberries
Rice spiked with saffron

Homemade pie by my niece. Also homemade ice cream.
Posted by: nurse ratched at December 24, 2025 12:19 PM (IhIKR)

Nurse, I love you dearly, but the words "asparagus" and "strudel" should never be put together.
Posted by: pookysgirl, somewhat horrified at December 24, 2025 12:26 PM (Wt5PA)

***

Gotta go with the Pookster on this one. Strudel invokes thoughts of warm apple or cherries and a flaky crust.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 24, 2025 12:35 PM (2WIwB)

83 I think that Laocoon, like Cassandra, warned the Trojans not to take the horse into the city, and that’s why one of the gods sicced the snakes on him.

Posted by: Bulg at December 24, 2025 12:35 PM (XJtJW)

84 thanks for the Lacoon tip.

Posted by: ace at December 24, 2025 12:35 PM (1wjle)

85 >>Not my preferred way to spend Christmas Eve, has to be done.

Fingers crossed for you guys.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 24, 2025 12:36 PM (viF8m)

86 We need a metastudy of research on pollsters opinions of polling, and then get the pollsters opinions about quality of the metastudy. That would help bolster our confidence in polls. Solidly moor the certainty of our knowledge of our place in the status quo of opinion. Sleep better.

Posted by: gp at December 24, 2025 12:36 PM (GHIyr)

87 Even Obama, who the media told me was a transformational figure that everyone loved ...

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

"He was a fundamentally transformational figure, h8rs!"

Posted by: ShainS -- A DEI Kakistocracy, If You Can Keep It at December 24, 2025 12:37 PM (EAgl+)

88 I made a Lacoon of myself in Fang Fang's butt

Posted by: Eric Swallowall at December 24, 2025 12:37 PM (1wjle)

89 Merry Christmas (eve), ace.

Posted by: m at December 24, 2025 12:37 PM (RuTUS)

90 Thanks Jack. She’s our baby and better behaved than our grandkids.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at December 24, 2025 12:38 PM (rf2Yc)

91 It's a tax. Duck and cover. If you like your doctor you can keep your doctor. All that is far too boring to be diabolical. It's a habit dare I say thought disorder to be a progressive. Merry Christmas, Happy new year.

Posted by: Hokey Pokey at December 24, 2025 12:39 PM (YlWIZ)

92 I am still laughing about the Columbian president calling for Texas to be returned to Mexico. When is he handing over his country to Spain?

Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 24, 2025 12:40 PM (0U5gm)

93 Laocoon was the Trojan who had a vision that the Ithacan would would trick them. But since Odysseus had a divine right, he was stricken down, I think by a viper, if memory serves.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at December 24, 2025 12:40 PM (BI5O2)

94 >>>I have had a case of Senioritis since before Thanksgiving

huh; maybe more sunshine, more exercise, moar GAINZZZ

Posted by: m at December 24, 2025 12:40 PM (RuTUS)

95 Not my preferred way to spend Christmas Eve, has to be done.
Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at December 24, 2025 12:32 PM (rf2Yc)

I very much hope things turn out OK.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 24, 2025 12:40 PM (2WIwB)

96 There's always a new poll in the poll pot.

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 24, 2025 12:41 PM (pkeXY)

97 I've been poled too many times to mention.

Posted by: Chasten Buttigeg at December 24, 2025 12:41 PM (oftw2)

98 It's warm-ish where I am too. No white Christmas, but at least I'll get out for a hike and get some sun and exercise.
Posted by: ace at December 24, 2025 12:22 PM (1wjle)

Yeah, I'm cool with that. Traveling to have dinner with family will be more pleasant with warmer weather.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at December 24, 2025 12:42 PM (h7ZuX)

99 Homemade pie by my niece. Also homemade ice cream.

Posted by: nurse ratched

All of our ice cream is homemade, nothing like it. I just made mint chocolate chip using real creme de menthe. I wanted coconut chocolate chip, but was outvoted.

Posted by: Thomas Paine at December 24, 2025 12:43 PM (0U5gm)

100 >>>Insider Advantage says that Trump's at 50%.

It's a Trumpmas miracle.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 24, 2025 12:43 PM (dK+Kv)

101 100

Posted by: m at December 24, 2025 12:43 PM (RuTUS)

102 @78 Adam Baldwin was awesome as Animal Mother in Full Metal Jacket

Posted by: Smell the Glove at December 24, 2025 12:43 PM (2vrAX)

103 "I have had a case of Senioritis since before Thanksgiving"

Tell me about it. I've been paying people to come on my lawn so I can yell at them.

Posted by: gp at December 24, 2025 12:43 PM (GHIyr)

104 Asparagus strudel
Good googley moogley--that sounds disgusting (but I hate asparagus). But to each their own. Hope it turns out well.

Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at December 24, 2025 12:44 PM (XMwZJ)

105 Legacy media reports polls the same as news - framed to keep their brainwashed consumers reflexively opposed to Trump and incapable of reflection.

Merry Christmas Eve! Having grown up in a religious cult, I feel so fortunate to have Christmas and the Catholic Church in my life!

Posted by: Oglebay at December 24, 2025 12:44 PM (2ap+5)

106 A very merry Whoop! and Hallo! to you, Ace, and to all of the Horde!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at December 24, 2025 12:45 PM (Cjt/F)

107 It's the Friday of the year, Ace.

Nobody ain't doin' nothin (triple negative!) between the week of Thanksgiving and the Epiphany.

Posted by: moviegique (buy my books!) at December 24, 2025 12:45 PM (lpWi1)

108 I said it clumsily. I mean the average of all other polls is 44,45. So the two outliers, this poll and the AP poll keep the average unchanged.
Posted by: Its Go Time Donald
========
The problem with aggregating polling RCP style is that the polls used have different questions, different sample sizes meaning different error values, and different sampling frames (classic case is using too many NY and CA numbers but it can also be issues with weighting where minorities are oversampled but not MAGA or young white males which accentuates the bias).

Basically, pick a poll and watch the trend line over time rather than worry about the specific numbers. Usually election polls are only accurate just before Election Day in order for people not to exclude them from 538 or RCP as trash. Subnational polls are mostly trash because of small sample sizes and inadequate understanding of a state's peculiarities and thus how to weight the small samples.

Errors are even more magnified when dealing with Congressional districts.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 12:45 PM (WDjG6)

109 104 Asparagus strudel
Good googley moogley--that sounds disgusting (but I hate asparagus). But to each their own. Hope it turns out well.
Posted by: Angzarr the Cromulent at December 24, 2025 12:44 PM (XMwZJ)

Like a pie? Like a quiche?

Posted by: m at December 24, 2025 12:46 PM (RuTUS)

110 I may lose the Texas Senate race, but I'm positioning myself for the VP slot along side the dreamy Gavin Newsom for 2028!

Posted by: Jasmine C. from Dallas at December 24, 2025 12:46 PM (0sNs1)

111 Suck on it, Leftists.

Posted by: Ordinary American at December 24, 2025 12:46 PM (WHfpM)

112 Let's hope the Congress can deliver and not run out the clock like last time.

Posted by: GKWVE at December 24, 2025 12:46 PM (LCnMA)

113 "I have had a case of Senioritis since before Thanksgiving"

I get into ecstatic trances, where I channel Andy Rooney, and that nice man Morley Safer. Fortunately they are brief.

Posted by: gp at December 24, 2025 12:46 PM (GHIyr)

114 In other news, Tim Walz (D-MN) is still a retard.

Posted by: AoSHQ Celebrity News Bureau and Rumour Centre at December 24, 2025 12:47 PM (0sNs1)

115 So, is California capturing any of this rain in reservoirs for the future, or is it all flushing into the Pacific as usual?

Posted by: Semper Paratus at December 24, 2025 12:47 PM (oftw2)

116 "Asparagus strudel" I'll try it.

Posted by: gp at December 24, 2025 12:47 PM (GHIyr)

117 Get a load of this tone-deaf twat:

Alec Baldwin says tragic Rust shooting 'took 10 years off my life' as he reveals toll ordeal took on his health

~DM

Posted by: one hour sober at December 24, 2025 12:47 PM (Y1sOo)

118 Merry Christmas

I wonder what the bad news is going to be?

Posted by: Mark Andrew Edwards, buy ammo at December 24, 2025 12:48 PM (xcxpd)

119
Insider Advantage says that Trump's at 50%.

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

Since Trump's election last November, Larry Elder has been predicting that his approval would eventually reach and likely exceed 50%.

Posted by: ShainS -- A DEI Kakistocracy, If You Can Keep It at December 24, 2025 12:48 PM (4dxWO)

120 114 In other news, Tim Walz (D-MN) is still a retard.
Posted by: AoSHQ Celebrity News Bureau and Rumour Centre at December 24, 2025 12:47 PM (0sNs1)

Walzing MaTimDa.

Posted by: m at December 24, 2025 12:48 PM (RuTUS)

121 I like asparagus. Going to have a rib eye steak, either a baked spud or if I feel like it, scalloped spuds, and steamed asparagus.

Posted by: no one at December 24, 2025 12:48 PM (qFwJc)

122 Let's hope the Congress can deliver and not run out the clock like last time.
Posted by: GKWVE at December 24, 2025 12:46 PM

You are too old to be so optimistic.

Posted by: Duncanthrax at December 24, 2025 12:49 PM (0sNs1)

123 Bad news? You mean that the Supreme Court thinks blue cities should allow their citizens to be victimized by criminals? That is acceptable to me.

They don't. It's a refusal to grant an injunction, not a ruling. They'll let the lower courts play out until it properly comes up. AtC is threatening to "use the puppets" about people not understanding this, LOL.

Posted by: Ian S. at December 24, 2025 12:49 PM (QZThv)

124 I have no problem with the warm temperatures. We will be in the high 70's and maybe hit the 80's here. After last week's low of 12 degrees I welcome the change. And so does my bank account.

Posted by: Case at December 24, 2025 12:49 PM (G1OIb)

125 100 >>>Insider Advantage says that Trump's at 50%.

It's a Trumpmas miracle.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder
=======
I think it is fair to say that Trump is now a known quality in American politics and his poll ratings are fairly stable absent some cataclysm--what is revealed by something like RCP is more an artifact of sampling decisions made by polling directors.

You don't gain votes every presidential election as a candidate and have shitty polling much below 50 percent but probably with a cap of about 53-55 percent at the most by likely and registered voters.

Any pollster using all adults is trash as a sample for politics except possible for very young 18-24 who may have never registered to vote and voted yet.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 12:49 PM (WDjG6)

126 I don't care what you post, ace. You've earned some coasting if that was what you wanted to do.

Posted by: ... at December 24, 2025 12:49 PM (IuFEo)

127 Merry Christmas Eve! Having grown up in a religious cult, I feel so fortunate to have Christmas and the Catholic Church in my life!
Posted by: Oglebay

Out of the frying pan, into the.......

Posted by: Martin Luther at December 24, 2025 12:49 PM (oftw2)

128 86, 103, LOL gp!

Posted by: sock_rat_eez at December 24, 2025 12:50 PM (Cjt/F)

129 Well, that bullet took decades away from the gal.

Posted by: no one at December 24, 2025 12:50 PM (qFwJc)

130 101 100

Posted by: m at December 24, 2025 12:43 PM (RuTUS)

I'll regift my 100 to you. 'Tis the season.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 24, 2025 12:50 PM (dK+Kv)

131 Jen Fulwiler went from Atheist to RC.

"People were shocked and asked me why, an these were Catholics."

Posted by: no one at December 24, 2025 12:52 PM (qFwJc)

132 100!!!!

Posted by: Truck Monkey at December 24, 2025 12:52 PM (Bo9Yf)

133 123 Bad news? You mean that the Supreme Court thinks blue cities should allow their citizens to be victimized by criminals? That is acceptable to me.

They don't. It's a refusal to grant an injunction, not a ruling. They'll let the lower courts play out until it properly comes up. AtC is threatening to "use the puppets" about people not understanding this, LOL.
Posted by: Ian S.
=======
The hint that Gorsuch made in his dissent was that the President has the Insurrection Act and that the case may have come out differently if he invoked it.

Others made the point that active duty is under Trump's direct command already and Scotus has approved using US marines (Portland case I think) to protect and guard ICE facilities if needed.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 12:52 PM (WDjG6)

134 Where could fresh asparagus come from this time of year? Maybe South Florida, or somewhere in CA? Mexico?

Posted by: It's a Spring Crop at December 24, 2025 12:52 PM (oftw2)

135 Christmas in Texas

Oh, the weather outside is fry-t-ful
A fire would just be spiteful
And since there's no where to go
Open the bottle and let it flow

Posted by: Ben Had at December 24, 2025 12:53 PM (sDNVV)

136 Don't get your hopes up for the midterms, we're going fuck it up like monkeys on crack.

Posted by: Mike Johnson at December 24, 2025 12:53 PM (cHOHf)

137 124 I have no problem with the warm temperatures. We will be in the high 70's and maybe hit the 80's here. After last week's low of 12 degrees I welcome the change. And so does my bank account.
Posted by: Case
======
Cost more to heat than it does to cool. Should lighten electrical and gas bills this winter for some.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 12:53 PM (WDjG6)

138 128 Thanks for the LOL, sock_rat_eez! It really makes my day when I can get a lol out of you guys

Plus, it's the only way to get me to stop pitching for a while.

Posted by: gp at December 24, 2025 12:54 PM (GHIyr)

139 I know it's Christmas and all, but there's something funny going on over at the Stevens house!

Posted by: Gladys Kravitz at December 24, 2025 12:54 PM (oftw2)

140 Hey democrats, fake news media and Roberts! How does my ass taste now?

Like blueberries, tariffs and the sweet nectar of Chinese tears mixed with Epstein sex sweat I bet! Enjoy!

Posted by: President Donald J. Trump, Shot Caller With All The Keys at December 24, 2025 12:54 PM (R/m4+)

141
Today is the real holy day.

Christmas Eve is where it's at.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 24, 2025 12:55 PM (nlneO)

142 is California capturing any of this rain in reservoirs for the future, or is it all flushing into the Pacific as usual?

Let's play another round of Ask Newsom.

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 24, 2025 12:55 PM (Kt19C)

143 Asparagus strudel?

I thought someone was making a joke.

As a side, I'd try it. As a dessert? I'd riot and overthrow a small country's government.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 24, 2025 12:55 PM (dK+Kv)

144
We should have a Midnight Mass, tonight.

Ace can be our alter boy.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 24, 2025 12:55 PM (nlneO)

145 I get into ecstatic trances, where I channel Andy Rooney, and that nice man Morley Safer. Fortunately they are brief.
Posted by: gp
=====
Hope you get a nose hair, eyebrow, and ear hair trimmer set for Christmas if you are channelling Andy.

He resembled a hairy elf toward the end of Sixty Minutes.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 12:55 PM (WDjG6)

146 116 "Asparagus strudel" I'll try it.
Posted by: gp at December 24, 2025 12:47 PM (GHIyr)

Some ham or bacon would be good in it.

Posted by: m at December 24, 2025 12:55 PM (RuTUS)

147 I'm mostly going to be nestling.

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

Between a couple of "soft pillows," amirite?

Merry Christmas Ace & Hordelings!

Posted by: ShainS -- A DEI Kakistocracy, If You Can Keep It at December 24, 2025 12:56 PM (4dxWO)

148 I am starting to believe that we are not going to get off of this island...

Posted by: Gilligan at December 24, 2025 12:56 PM (Bo9Yf)

149 Don't get your hopes up for the midterms, we're going fuck it up like monkeys on crack.
Posted by: Mike Johnson at December 24, 2025 12:53 PM

Could you leave us out of it for once?

Posted by: Footballs at December 24, 2025 12:56 PM (0sNs1)

150 What I think would also work out well for strippers beyond the boring old pole:

- Floor Exercise, which I think they already do

- Balance Beam, jello involved somehow

- Vault, which would be incredibly awesome

Olympics for full grown women, plus the undressing. It would be super classy. And the guys would be judges. 10! 10! 10!...

Posted by: banana Dream at December 24, 2025 12:56 PM (3uBP9)

151 Yeah Alec well you took all the years off someone's life.

Posted by: steevy at December 24, 2025 12:57 PM (YwEeS)

152 130 101 100

Posted by: m at December 24, 2025 12:43 PM (RuTUS)

I'll regift my 100 to you. 'Tis the season.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 24, 2025 12:50 PM (dK+Kv)

Thank you, Comrade Flounder.

Posted by: m at December 24, 2025 12:57 PM (RuTUS)

153 Some ham or bacon would be good in it.
Posted by: m

Bacon tends to improve anything, ham is hit or miss unless using bones or fatty ham for seasoning.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 12:58 PM (WDjG6)

154 I've had my fill of bad news over the last week. Tonight I'm going to have dinner with my besties. Haven't seen them in months and it will be a blast.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 24, 2025 12:58 PM (viF8m)

155 It's amazing how many people think that it is self-evident that Putin's successor will be better than Putin.

History seems to indicate that unless something happens that makes the current Russian system collapse, his successor will arise from his system and most likely be less skillful and consequently more brutal.

Posted by: Azjaeger at December 24, 2025 12:58 PM (3/XaG)

156
Hollywood is STILL blaming the Wuhan Flu for people not seeing their shitty movies.

Remember all the fake excuses Fake News made for obama & biden? Blaming the weather was a favorite.

Posted by: Soothsayer at December 24, 2025 12:58 PM (mON3e)

157 Strudel is the same kind of pastry as phyllo, right? I make a killer casserole of phyllo with artichoke hearts and three different kinds of cheese.

I'm with nurse.

Posted by: Wenda at December 24, 2025 12:58 PM (FRS+s)

158 110 I may lose the Texas Senate race, but I'm positioning myself for the VP slot along side the dreamy Gavin Newsom for 2028!

Posted by: Jasmine C. from Dallas

Oh, please, please, please...

Posted by: Vance '28 at December 24, 2025 12:59 PM (Riz8t)

159 Didn't Alec also put an expensive SUV up a tree this Fall? He's on a winning streak.

Posted by: Just Desserts at December 24, 2025 01:00 PM (oftw2)

160 Alec Baldwin says tragic Rust shooting 'took 10 years off my life'

That's not even tone deaf, that's flat out gloating that he got away with murder.

Posted by: Ian S. at December 24, 2025 01:00 PM (QZThv)

161 Everybody in America really, really despised Rob Reiner.

Except the liberal political intelligentsia, of course.

Posted by: Simple Reality at December 24, 2025 01:00 PM (HJUJ8)

162 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Covina_massacre

Flamethrower Santa !

Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 24, 2025 01:01 PM (Kt19C)

163
I am starting to believe that we are not going to get off of this island...
Posted by: Gilligan

Heaven Knows, Mister Gilligan

Posted by: Zombie Debra Kerr at December 24, 2025 01:01 PM (pkeXY)

164 Merry Christmas Eve everyone!!!

Will be leaving work in another hour or so and finish up at home.
The off to one of my brothers where we will have the 7 fishes.
In the past his wife would do it the Italian way but those days are gone so we just do sushi. LOL

Posted by: Scuba_Dude at December 24, 2025 01:01 PM (4q/mG)

165 136 Don't get your hopes up for the midterms, we're going fuck it up like monkeys on crack.
Posted by: Mike Johnson

Actually, House and Senate appropriations chairs have come to agreement on the last nine appropriation bills for January, the top line amounts have been released to all committee chairs and ranking members according to news release. The GOP can, if they wish, go reconciliation on spending bills which sidesteps the filibuster in the Senate but puts in play the Byrd rule on spending bill language.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 01:01 PM (WDjG6)

166 Hundreds of Hindus protested on Tuesday in the Indian capital of New Delhi after a Hindu man was lynched and burned alive by a mob in Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, demanding justice for the slain man, and accusing Bangladesh of not doing enough to protect its Hindu minority. Similar protests were held in other Indian cities, including Hyderabad and Kolkata.

The government of Bangladesh was alarmed enough by the demonstrations to summon the Indian ambassador on Tuesday and complain about inadequate security for Bangladeshi consulates in India.

Representatives for zombie Rodney King of "Can't we all just get along?" fame were not available at press time for comment.

Posted by: AoSHQ Celebrity News Bureau and Rumour Centre at December 24, 2025 01:02 PM (0sNs1)

167 8 And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

9 And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

10 And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

Posted by: Luke 2 at December 24, 2025 01:03 PM (OUE/9)

168 I think that Laocoon, like Cassandra, warned the Trojans not to take the horse into the city, and that’s why one of the gods sicced the snakes on him.
Posted by: Bulg at December 24, 2025 12:35 PM (XJtJW

I never really thought about the connection, but it's plain as day. She warned and was ignored, he warned, and got bitten by vipers. Fate.

Posted by: Yudhishthira's Dice at December 24, 2025 01:04 PM (BI5O2)

169 It's amazing how many people think that it is self-evident that Putin's successor will be better than Putin.

History seems to indicate that unless something happens that makes the current Russian system collapse, his successor will arise from his system and most likely be less skillful and consequently more brutal.

Putin's probably close to a best case given Russia's history. There is no world in which Russia is magically transformed into middle America.

Posted by: Ian S. at December 24, 2025 01:04 PM (QZThv)

170 Gunsmoke is on. Matt Dillon must be a foot taller than Burt Reynolds.

Posted by: fd at December 24, 2025 01:04 PM (vFG9F)

171 157 Strudel is the same kind of pastry as phyllo, right? I make a killer casserole of phyllo with artichoke hearts and three different kinds of cheese.

I'm with nurse.
Posted by: Wenda
=======
Artichokes are underused in cooking but their lemony flavor goes well with white wine based sauces and seafood.

Have used them in red Italian sauces as well if you are aiming at lightening the heavy tomato flavor.

I prefer asparagus as roasted and we have some planted that yield some asparagus every now and then.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 01:04 PM (WDjG6)

172 >>For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And that's what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 24, 2025 01:04 PM (viF8m)

173 Judging by the crowded shops and absolutely gridlocked roads in my NJ Town, the economy is rocking and the people can't wait to SPEND MORE $$$$$.

Merry Christmas to Ace and all this fine group!!!

All the best for 2026!!!

Posted by: jocon307 at December 24, 2025 01:05 PM (EuROc)

174 >>> It's amazing how many people think that it is self-evident that Putin's successor will be better than Putin.

History seems to indicate that unless something happens that makes the current Russian system collapse, his successor will arise from his system and most likely be less skillful and consequently more brutal.
Posted by: Azjaeger at December 24, 2025 12:58 PM (3/XaG)

It's hard to say if medved is the kind of guy that always pretends to be a bulldog on a leash but when released is reserved. They all project this aura of just being barely constrained by their boss. Maybe that's a russian thing though. I honestly can't read them at all.

Russia, China, mideast, latin america, africa, it sure seems like all of that could have been handled better than it was. I mean, what would really bad statecraft look like if that's not what we've had? Yeah, I guess it could be worse. But there sure were a lot of people in the west in charge who only cared about wetting their own beak.

Posted by: banana Dream at December 24, 2025 01:06 PM (3uBP9)

175 Neverenoughcaffeine,

Who is your vet here in Bozeman, if you don't mind my asking?

Posted by: Wenda at December 24, 2025 01:06 PM (FRS+s)

176 Gunsmoke is on. Matt Dillon must be a foot taller than Burt Reynolds.

Did you just deadname Turd Ferguson?

Posted by: Ian S. at December 24, 2025 01:06 PM (QZThv)

177 I laugh at the libs for their concern over the loss of the drug boats (29 so far) and the 104 fishermen who have died. At one ton per boat, that's 58,000 pounds of drugs coming here to kill Americans.
The concern of the dems is noted...my ballot will reflect that.

Posted by: Diogenes at December 24, 2025 01:07 PM (2WIwB)

178 The government of Bangladesh was alarmed enough by the demonstrations to summon the Indian ambassador on Tuesday and complain about inadequate security for Bangladeshi consulates in India.

Representatives for zombie Rodney King of "Can't we all just get along?" fame were not available at press time for comment.
Posted by: AoSHQ

Pakistan is meddling in Bangladesh again with their damn fundamentalists/terrorists. India and Pakistan went to war back in the 70's IIRC over Bangladeshi independence.

That is the problem with Islam, when a Islamic dominated state seems to be leaving medieval practices behind, the fundies come out to drag that country back down into violence, stagnation, and terror.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 01:07 PM (WDjG6)

179 Made it home

Posted by: Skip at December 24, 2025 01:07 PM (Ia/+0)

180 The off to one of my brothers where we will have the 7 fishes.
In the past his wife would do it the Italian way but those days are gone so we just do sushi. LOL

Posted by: Scuba_Dude at December 24, 2025 01:01 PM (4q/mG)

7 fishes as sushi is adventurist. I've only had about 4 as sushi. They have to be pretty mild.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 24, 2025 01:08 PM (dK+Kv)

181 177 I laugh at the libs for their concern over the loss of the drug boats (29 so far) and the 104 fishermen who have died. At one ton per boat, that's 58,000 pounds of drugs coming here to kill Americans.
The concern of the dems is noted...my ballot will reflect that.
Posted by: Diogenes
========
Their cocaine and fentanyl prices are going up. And put quotations around fishermen to denote sarcasm.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 01:08 PM (WDjG6)

182 Remember all the fake excuses Fake News made for obama & biden? Blaming the weather was a favorite.
Posted by: Soothsayer at December 24, 2025 12:58 PM (mON3e)

Best was when they’d blame cold weather in February for bad economic news. Yeah cuz that’s so unusual.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 24, 2025 01:08 PM (UJWr0)

183 If it's not that, I'm stumped.

-----------

ISWYDT

Posted by: ShainS -- A DEI Kakistocracy, If You Can Keep It at December 24, 2025 01:09 PM (4dxWO)

184 We haven't had any defecation or potty talk today-so that's a plus!

Posted by: The Mighty Ferguson at December 24, 2025 01:09 PM (oftw2)

185 At one ton per boat, that's 58,000 pounds of drugs coming here to kill Americans.

I still suspect given how upset the Democrats are about it that they're either using those drugs or somehow skimming money from them. Or both.

Posted by: Ian S. at December 24, 2025 01:09 PM (QZThv)

186 AtC is threatening to "use the puppets" about people not understanding this, LOL.
Posted by: Ian S. at December 24, 2025 12:49 PM (QZThv)

Really, I love it when she does this, because I don't understand legalize very well, and she makes it make sense for me.

Posted by: Dash my lace wigs! at December 24, 2025 01:09 PM (h7ZuX)

187 Merry Christmas Everyone!

Thankyou to Ace and the COBs for all you do everyday year-round!

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at December 24, 2025 01:09 PM (QGaXH)

188 It's amazing how many people think that it is self-evident that Putin's successor will be better than Putin.

It's amazing that Zelensky thinks that the people of Ukraine would be wishing for Putin to perish as opposed to someone closer to home.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 24, 2025 01:09 PM (ExV1e)

189 Whig, I worked in a cooking school at one point, and the trick with asparagus is getting the big fat supposedly tough stalks and peeling them. Then the asparagus is sweet and tender.

The same thing is true of broccoli. I've even started peeling celery and fennel.

Posted by: Wenda at December 24, 2025 01:09 PM (FRS+s)

190 177 One shot of a drug boat getting "interdicted" had a lot of secondary explosions, more than would happen with just extra fuel.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at December 24, 2025 01:09 PM (gm9Sb)

191 163 I am starting to believe that we are not going to get off of this island...
Posted by: Gilligan

Heaven Knows, Mister Gilligan
Posted by: Zombie Debra Kerr at December 24, 2025 01:01 PM (pkeXY)

It do be like that, Mistah Gilligan.

Posted by: m at December 24, 2025 01:09 PM (RuTUS)

192 >>That is the problem with Islam, when a Islamic dominated state seems to be leaving medieval practices behind, the fundies come out to drag that country back down into violence, stagnation, and terror.

Scary thought for the day. If trends continue in Europe it won't be that long until a muslim is running at least one of the countries. A nuclear armed country.

Posted by: JackStraw at December 24, 2025 01:10 PM (viF8m)

193 Judging by the crowded shops and absolutely gridlocked roads in my NJ Town, the economy is rocking and the people can't wait to SPEND MORE $$$$$.

Had to go to the WalMark to get a last minute item or two. Walking around and seeing the disgusting sea of humanity as it washed to and fro with their pajama type clothes on and their monster children hopping in and on the shopping carts and the land whales zooming around in their fat sleds...shudder. People walk like they drive, too fast and don't look where they are going and really don't care.

Posted by: Jacob Marley at December 24, 2025 01:10 PM (R/m4+)

194 Most surprising thing I learned from that Mark Felton video is that there were SS dentists. I guess there would have to be, right?

SS Dentist: Tell me, do you floss regularly?
Prisoner: ((whimpers)) Sure! Sure I do!
SS Dentist: ((cracks riding crop)) Why must you turn this chamber into a HOUSE OF LIES?!?!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 24, 2025 01:10 PM (kpS4V)

195 The same thing is true of broccoli. I've even started peeling celery and fennel.

Posted by: Wenda at December 24, 2025 01:09 PM (FRS+s)

Interesting. Thanks. Also thanks to Whig on the artichoke lightening heavy tomato dishes. Generally I am a fan of heavy tomato, but I am always on the lookout to diversify, as I am told that is a strength.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 24, 2025 01:11 PM (dK+Kv)

196 Troll caught Alaskan King salmon with raspberry sauce
Asparagus strudel
Salad with toasted nuts, Stilton and blueberries
Rice spiked with saffron

Homemade pie by my niece. Also homemade ice cream.
Posted by: nurse ratched at December 24, 2025 12:19 PM (IhIKR)

You cut up aliassmithsmith and used him for bait? You go, girl!

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 24, 2025 01:12 PM (npFr7)

197 Scary thought for the day. If trends continue in Europe it won't be that long until a muslim is running at least one of the countries. A nuclear armed country.
Posted by: JackStraw
========
Kind of out of our hands. US is not up for fighting for NATO when those countries (leaving aside Hungary and Poland) will not fight for themselves.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 01:12 PM (WDjG6)

198 >>Most surprising thing I learned from that Mark Felton video is that there were SS dentists. I guess there would have to be, right?

Is it safe?

Posted by: JackStraw at December 24, 2025 01:12 PM (viF8m)

199 177 I laugh at the libs for their concern over the loss of the drug boats (29 so far) and the 104 fishermen who have died. At one ton per boat, that's 58,000 pounds of drugs coming here to kill Americans.

—

Blacks have the highest rate of fentanyl deaths per capita. You’d think the party of “diversity” would applaud Trump for making an effort to stop fentanyl deaths.

Posted by: Its Go Time Donald at December 24, 2025 01:12 PM (UJWr0)

200 Who responds to polls anymore anyways? Never answer a number, I do not know

Posted by: Jonah at December 24, 2025 01:12 PM (YCxFk)

201 This morning there was a brief bit of excitement because the letter from the mentally ill person about Trump liking "nubile" women also said he raped everything that moved when you removed the sloppy redactions.

Then someone else pointed out that if you remove all the redactions it also says that Hillary blew up the federal building in Oklahoma.

Posted by: Ian S. at December 24, 2025 01:13 PM (QZThv)

202 Is it safe?
----

My first thought!

Posted by: All Hail Eris, She-Wolf of the 'Ettes 'Ettes at December 24, 2025 01:13 PM (kpS4V)

203 The cartels are partners or bosses of Democrats. That's why they fight it. That's why they cry.

Posted by: ... at December 24, 2025 01:13 PM (IuFEo)

204 Most surprising thing I learned from that Mark Felton video is that there were SS dentists.

Of course there were SS dentists. It's not like they're British.

Posted by: Ian S. at December 24, 2025 01:14 PM (QZThv)

205 When you are trolling for sharks, you need really fast boats.

It is an old Venezuelan custom.

Posted by: thug dolphin at December 24, 2025 01:14 PM (EyfuW)

206 I have to get off my butt and bake an Eggnog Poundcake for tomorrow.

Posted by: JuJuBee, fact checker hammered by events at December 24, 2025 01:14 PM (2HLsC)

207 In Mexico the criminals run everything. How did it get there? People like the Democrats and half of Republicans. They would be happy to let the street enforce law and keep the citizenry in check. Right here. That's what they are engineering. Nothing less.

Posted by: ... at December 24, 2025 01:15 PM (IuFEo)

208 22 "Troll" caught Alaskan King salmon

Posted by: nurse ratched at December 24, 2025 12:19 PM (IhIKR)

Holy Cow! Nurse caught one of the trolls and put him to work catching fish for her?

I always suspected she had a mean streak but dayuumm.....

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at December 24, 2025 01:15 PM (QGaXH)

209 When I was out earlier it looked like a lot of people were making a list and checking it twice. Trouble is the dumb fuckers were doing it while driving twenty over.

Posted by: bill in arkansas, not gonna comply with nuttin, waiting for the 0300 knock on the door at December 24, 2025 01:15 PM (gm9Sb)

210 Whig, I worked in a cooking school at one point, and the trick with asparagus is getting the big fat supposedly tough stalks and peeling them. Then the asparagus is sweet and tender.

The same thing is true of broccoli. I've even started peeling celery and fennel.
Posted by: Wenda at December 24, 2025 01:09 PM (FRS+s)

This country is getting soft. Peel asparagus? Peel broccoli? In my day we served them in an oak box especially made for the meal and you had to gnaw through it to get to the vegetable.

Posted by: I used to have a different nic at December 24, 2025 01:15 PM (ExV1e)

211 I don't want to be near a retail store today.

Posted by: Case at December 24, 2025 01:16 PM (G1OIb)

212 I know you guys don't like poll posts but can I reply that days before a holiday are very slow news days and I have had a case of Senioritis since before Thanksgiving?

Poll posts always stir memories of my yewt and a young lass named Rose who was very adept at using polls to display her delightful rose.
May our Lord bless you with renewed strength and peace in this coming year.

Posted by: Sock Monkey * sporting my Andrew Breitbart attitude at December 24, 2025 01:16 PM (55cF/)

213 Big story in Chi-town today, is the Chicago pope pleading with pig Gov Pritzker not to sign the suicide bill last week. Jaba of course signed it.

New Pope of course has given a Vatican audience to every Hollywood. Marxist and pro abortionist who wants it. Sighhh

Posted by: Jonah at December 24, 2025 01:16 PM (YCxFk)

214 Who needs a 15 minute city when the gang is right outside your door? That's a 1 minute city. And the Democrats are aching to put you in one.

Posted by: ... at December 24, 2025 01:16 PM (IuFEo)

215 Scary thought for the day. If trends continue in Europe it won't be that long until a muslim is running at least one of the countries. A nuclear armed country.
Posted by: JackStraw at December 24, 2025 01:10 PM (viF8m)

======

South Africa set the example for Europe by dismantling their nuclear weapons before handing over power to the ANC.

Posted by: Oglebay at December 24, 2025 01:16 PM (2ap+5)

216 Wenda. We’re at Bridger Veterinary Specialists. Their sister location in Missoula couldn’t see us til 1/6. Missoula is 20 minutes, this one is 4 hours from home. Any port in a storm.

Posted by: neverenoughcaffeine at December 24, 2025 01:18 PM (rf2Yc)

217 I'm conflicted regarding the new trend of Sydney Sweeney dentists. I mean yeah, it's Sydney Sweeney, great, but I do not ever enjoy dentist visits and I don't think this would help.

Posted by: banana Dream at December 24, 2025 01:18 PM (3uBP9)

218 I don't want to be near a retail store today.

Posted by: Case at December 24, 2025 01:16 PM (G1OIb)

Me neither, but I am going to have to go to the grocery store. It will be worse than Alec Baldwin surviving a murder.

Posted by: Comrade Flounder, Disinformation Demon at December 24, 2025 01:18 PM (dK+Kv)

219 Worst polls ever, are by FOX. Member in 2020, when their final in WI was Biden by 15%. Trump lost by only a trunk full of votes in Milwaukee

Posted by: Jonah at December 24, 2025 01:18 PM (YCxFk)

220 Interesting. Thanks. Also thanks to Whig on the artichoke lightening heavy tomato dishes. Generally I am a fan of heavy tomato, but I am always on the lookout to diversify, as I am told that is a strength.
Posted by: Comrade Flounder

I find artichokes useful particularly for adding to caprese and arriabiata sauces with clams, shrimp, etc.

Also, I usually use pinot grigio with a tad of butter for a lot of white wine sauces as a base and artichoke hearts go well with items like shrimp or scallop scampi.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 01:19 PM (WDjG6)

221 Holy Cow! Nurse caught one of the trolls and put him to work catching fish for her?

I always suspected she had a mean streak but dayuumm.....
Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at December 24, 2025 01:15 PM

Ahem.

Posted by: zombie Woodie Woodpecker XXXIX at December 24, 2025 01:19 PM (0sNs1)

222 33 What are your plans? I'm mostly going to be nestling.

Channel 5 shows hours of a yule log in a fireplace while Christmas carols play.
Posted by: Commissar of plenty and festive little hats at December 24, 2025 12:21 PM (pieWX)

Channel 5 KTLA in Los Angeles

Merry Christmas to you and all our fellow California morons!

Posted by: Anonymous Rogue in Kalifornistan (ARiK) at December 24, 2025 01:19 PM (QGaXH)

223 @78 Adam Baldwin was awesome as Animal Mother in Full Metal Jacket

Posted by: Smell the Glove at December 24, 2025 12:43 PM (2vrAX)

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

Thanks, had forgotten that (and didn't know who he was when I last saw it in the late 80s); need to watch that again sometime ...

Posted by: ShainS -- A DEI Kakistocracy, If You Can Keep It at December 24, 2025 01:20 PM (EAgl+)

224 nood

EU

Posted by: banana Dream at December 24, 2025 01:21 PM (3uBP9)

225 219 Worst polls ever, are by FOX. Member in 2020, when their final in WI was Biden by 15%. Trump lost by only a trunk full of votes in Milwaukee
Posted by: Jonah

Since Obama's Second term, Fox News polling director Arnon Mishkin, is a hard core Democrat and former Dem staffer.

From wiki,
"Mishkin got his start in politics working in New York under political consultant David Garth. Garth's team first mainly worked for Democratic Party candidates (the party to which Mishkin is a registered member),[9] including the campaigns of Jay Rockefeller for governor and then Senator from West Virginia, as well as the Senate campaign of Mark Dayton in Minnesota.[7] "

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 01:21 PM (WDjG6)

226 @215 Jonah, Fox's pollsters used to work for Hillary. This is Paul Ryan's doing

Posted by: Smell the Glove at December 24, 2025 01:22 PM (2vrAX)

227 U nas yest' NOOD.

Posted by: Bulg at December 24, 2025 01:24 PM (77rzZ)

228 Whig, I worked in a cooking school at one point, and the trick with asparagus is getting the big fat supposedly tough stalks and peeling them. Then the asparagus is sweet and tender.

The same thing is true of broccoli. I've even started peeling celery and fennel.
Posted by: Wenda
======
Thanks. To be honest, our crowns produce irregularly so most of the asparagus I get is store bought. My wife and I both like asparagus so I will pass the tip on to her. She will be thrilled to be my scullery maid peeling vegetables (j/k).

My issue nowadays is a lot of manual prep, I can no longer do because of arthritic and nerve damage to my hands. I tend the minimize prep work nowadays.

Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 01:25 PM (WDjG6)

229
I don't want to be near a retail store today.
Posted by: Case

Or Friday. Or Saturday. Or Sunday...

Posted by: Bertram Cabot, Jr. at December 24, 2025 01:25 PM (pkeXY)

230 Their cocaine and fentanyl prices are going up. And put quotations around fishermen to denote sarcasm.
Posted by: whig at December 24, 2025 01:08 PM (WDjG6)

Coast Guard should board one of those boats, and do an inventory for the cameras: "fishing gasoline, eight barrels, fishing fentanyl, 12 barrels, fishing AK-47, three, fishing Glock, two. fish hook, one"

Posted by: Alberta Oil Peon at December 24, 2025 01:29 PM (npFr7)

231 I'm a bit late, Ace, but I want to thank you for everything you do and to wish you a very Merry Christmas!!!

Posted by: Moonbeam at December 24, 2025 01:38 PM (rbKZ6)

232 Neverenoughcaffeine, I'm glad you have some kind of connection with them. Hard to turn your baby over to strangers. I hope all goes well.

Posted by: Wenda at December 24, 2025 01:40 PM (FRS+s)

233 Fentanyl prices in the USA are dropping current price is 50 to 80 cents per pill wholesale price. There is an oversupply. Venezuela is a transshipment point to Europe Fentanyl is made in Mexico. Trump realizes he can't touch those production labs

This is all theater

Posted by: Aliassmithsmith at December 24, 2025 01:47 PM (upAiA)

234 Grok AI says:

The reference is a humorous classical allusion to the famous ancient sculpture Laocoön and His Sons (also called the Laocoön Group), a marble statue from the Hellenistic period (widely known and displayed in the Vatican since the Renaissance). It depicts the Trojan priest Laocoön and his two sons in extreme agony and contortion as they are entangled and attacked by giant sea serpents coiled around their bodies (sent by the gods as punishment, per Virgil's Aeneid and Greek myth).

https://grokipedia.com/page/Laoco%C3%B6n_and_His_Sons

Wikipedia has a photo:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Laoco%C3%B6n_and_His_Sons

Posted by: mr_jack at December 24, 2025 01:54 PM (LNPSJ)

235 Trump slowed the great Biden economy he was given from 2.8% to 4.3%.

Posted by: Kamalla Harris, Dick Sucker and Economic Genius at December 24, 2025 02:18 PM (xvV+O)

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