I was reading a story about the ongoing Penn State/Jerry Sandusky affair. It turns out – stop me if you find this simply unbelievable – that more people might have known, far earlier, that something terrible was going on between Sandusky and the young people he was supposedly helping through his charity.
One of them was a member of the coaching staff. Supposedly, he “came into his office white as a ghost and said he just saw Jerry doing something to a boy in the shower.”
I thought what I’ve thought often since that story broke: This is the difference between men and women. A man scurries away and turns white as a ghost. A woman, pretty much any woman I know, especially the ones who are mothers, walks up to that asshole, grabs him by the ear and starts twisting.
Or maybe not. Women can abuse children as terribly as men can. But we’re hard-wired to protect them, and every time I hear one of these stories, I think of what a terrible thing fraternity can be, how loyalty to a team can lead otherwise good people to ignore something so evil, literally right in front of their faces.
Not to start with a bummer, though! Comedy, dead ahead!
Here’s my old newspaper, on the prospect of Mike Pence behind Trump’s veep choice:
At the risk of sounding like knee-jerk cheerleaders for the favorite-son candidate, we think Pence would be a good choice because he complements Trump in so many ways. He will balance Trump’s flamboyance with his quiet and even-tempered thoughtfulness. He has all the political experience Trump lacks, bringing both executive and legislative experience to the ticket. He has impeccable conservative credentials that would immediately add to Trump’s support from that bloc of the GOP.
As the kids say: Facepalm.
Now here’s Politico, on the same subject:
A firestorm around a 2015 law known as the Religious Freedom Restoration Act placed the state center stage in the culture wars, leading to intense backlash from the business community. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce called the law “a tremendous hit” to Indiana’s “national identity as a welcoming and hospitable state,” and Pence delivered a memorably bad performance on ABC’s “This Week,” in which he declined to answer whether or not it should be legal to discriminate against gays and lesbians.
He was also embarrassed by — and forced to abandon — a plan to create a state-run news service, an idea that drew national ridicule. All of it took place against the backdrop of rumblings that Pence had ambitions of his own for the Oval Office.
…He’s facing a tough rematch against Democrat John Gregg, a former state legislator who lost to Pence by three percentage points in 2012, even as Mitt Romney won the state by 10 points.
Pence’s job approval rating is underwater at 40 percent, according to a May poll, and even among Republicans only six-in-10 supported his re-election.
And people wonder why my resume now has a line that reads: “1984-2004: In a coma.”
Finally, this, from this year’s Nordstrom anniversary sale catalog. I love this sale; I usually buy one or two trinkets to jumpstart the fall wardrobe and feel, in my old-hag skin, just a touch…fashionable. But not at this cost:
Can you believe this ugly-ass shit? Whose idea is flared denim cropped pants? Not mine. Ring me up next year.
Finally-finally, an oral history of “Magic Carpet Ride.” Because the world was waiting for this, right?
Happy hump day.
Sherri said on July 13, 2016 at 2:21 am
The head of the Seattle Police union resigned after yet another offensive Facebook post, which seems to be par for the course for police union heads. This guy was less of an asshole than the guy he replaced, but it was a low bar.
http://www.thestranger.com/slog/2016/07/12/24337587/seattle-police-guild-president-resigns
324 chars
Crazycatlady said on July 13, 2016 at 2:49 am
I spend so much time in Indiana I know what Pence has been up to. He targets women. He targets LGBT people.He listens to the Extreme Religious Right. He is a GOP tool who will follow the party line and run roughshod over anyone not like him. I think Indiana has deep roots with the KKK and the people never forgot. It’s not good to have this guy in power.
356 chars
Dexter said on July 13, 2016 at 2:51 am
Loved the lowdown on the song’s history.
Papa Joe was forced out, his statue removed ala Saddam Hussein, because first suspicion, then what I called “vague certainties” surfaced: Paterno knew what Sandusky was doing to those children…maybe? I know the statue is no longer there by the stadium.
300 chars
ROGirl said on July 13, 2016 at 5:12 am
Ugly-ass shit, indeed. Vogue has been on it from the beginning, apparently — almost 2 years ago. The hinterlands are just catching up.
http://www.vogue.com/1413511/forget-mom-jeans-cropped-flare-denim/
205 chars
Suzanne said on July 13, 2016 at 5:50 am
I had forgotten about Pence’s attempt at a state run news agency, which Trump would love! They really are perfect for each other.
129 chars
adrianne said on July 13, 2016 at 5:52 am
Thanks, Crazycatlady, for summing up the odious legacy of Mike Pence. He and Trump would be perfect for one another, but it now appears that Newt is the fave. Great, a Republican ticket with six marriages between them. Family values, y’all!
240 chars
Deborah said on July 13, 2016 at 6:15 am
“…six marriages between them” ha ha, good one.
48 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on July 13, 2016 at 6:33 am
FYI for those wondering why young people are suddenly leaving their homes and AC and walking about, with a smartphone in one hand but often in clumps excitedly talking to each other . . .
http://www.vox.com/2016/7/11/12129162/pokemon-go-android-ios-game
257 chars
Sandy said on July 13, 2016 at 6:55 am
Jeff, count my two teenagers amongst those caught up in the Pokemon craze. Playing the game does encourage physical activity; all the neighborhood kids are out. But I really think they are bored and ready to go back to school. They would beg to differ, of course.
266 chars
alex said on July 13, 2016 at 7:45 am
Here’s the passage I find even more laughable than the one about Pence’s supposed “even-tempered thoughtfulness”:
One thing Pence must be thinking about is what a rough playing field presidential politics can be for a little-known conservative from flyover country. Dan Quayle could tell him a thing or two about the unfairness of relentless negativity unleashed by the national press corps.
Pence has already been capturing the national limelight as a moron for years and makes Dan Quayle sound like Albert Einstein by comparison. Last anyone heard from Quayle, he was opposed to abortion but would make an exception for his own daughter if she got knocked up because it’s just different when you’re rich.
719 chars
Julie Robinson said on July 13, 2016 at 8:18 am
I came here straight from reading the Penn State story, and my white as a ghost moment was the mention of John Doe #150. Cripes, how many hundreds was it going to take before someone had the basic human decency to intervene? They have a special place in hell waiting for them.
In grade school one of our kids told us the teacher had used physical force, and the next morning we were in a meeting with the teacher and the principal. The teacher was told (politely but firmly) to never touch our child again, or we would take all appropriate action. It never happened again. Keeping our kids and all kids safe is our #1 job as adults, and it grieves me that no one intervened.
As for Pokemon, I see it as a ploy to drive up data usage, thus phone bills.
757 chars
Deborah said on July 13, 2016 at 8:59 am
Why are hospital waiting rooms so fricking cold?
As I said at the end of yesterday’s thread I saw a group of people playing PokemonGo last night as we were driving home. The people playing looked very engaged and it seemed fun.
230 chars
Dorothy said on July 13, 2016 at 9:10 am
Those pants are hiddy, as the kid say. Not wild about the boots but perhaps if they were paired with better jeans, then I could possibly approve. Maybe Lil’ Abner is in charge of that fashion spread at Nordstrom.
214 chars
Minnie said on July 13, 2016 at 10:10 am
You don’t have to be Tom or Lorenzo to see that those pants’ proportions are off kilter.
88 chars
Julie Robinson said on July 13, 2016 at 10:28 am
TLoo always mention FMO–for models only. These don’t even look good on the models.
Dorothy, how did your appointment go yesterday? Deborah, how is Little Bird? Sounds like you should take a pashmina to the hospital for the waiting rooms.
241 chars
Mark P said on July 13, 2016 at 11:23 am
Newt would be too good to be true. I saw a picture of the two and thought that they epitomize the modern Republican Party: two old, tubby, white-haired white guys. They also span the range of Republican politics from extreme right wing to completely daft, and from a parody of intellectualism to fascist hate.
309 chars
Mark P said on July 13, 2016 at 11:24 am
I should note, of course, that Trump’s hair is orange rather than white, but we all know on the inside it’s white.
114 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on July 13, 2016 at 11:40 am
Julie: third ring of the Seventh Circle, according to Dante.
60 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on July 13, 2016 at 11:41 am
Mark P – on the inside, it’s pink. That stuff’s gotta be fiberglas insulation.
78 chars
Deborah said on July 13, 2016 at 12:09 pm
Little Bird’s surgeon just came out to tell me everything went well. So it’s all good. She was hungry before she went in to the OR, she’s looking forward to getting some fries on the way home.
192 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on July 13, 2016 at 12:26 pm
Huzzah! Healing mercies her way.
32 chars
Julie Robinson said on July 13, 2016 at 12:30 pm
Glad to hear that, Deborah, and a speedy recovery to you, Little Bird.
D’oh, that’s TLo, not TLoo.
Apropos of nothing, I’ve wasted too much time looking at vintage aerial photos the last few days. So far I’ve found my childhood home as well as our neighbors’, my paternal grandparents’ second farm, my maternal grandparents’ farm, second farm, and church. Here’s the farm my mom grew up on, SunnyCrest, in Monticello, Iowa, home of countless prize Holsteins: https://vintageaerial.com/photos/iowa/jones/1972/PJO/25/21.
524 chars
Jenine said on July 13, 2016 at 12:34 pm
Good to hear that it’s good news, Deborah. French fries for everyone!
69 chars
Jeff Borden said on July 13, 2016 at 12:46 pm
I think many Hoosiers of my acquaintance would love to see Pence take the veep slot, if only to get him out of Indiana. But just as Paul “Empty Suit” Ryan retained his Congressional seat after running alongside Mitt Romney, I guess Pence would have the same option.
My guess is tRump will opt for Christie or Gingrich. Both are political brawlers –Christie more of a bully– and would be useful to him in attacking Clinton and her running mate. Attack mode is tRump’s default setting. Pence is a heartless dick, but I’ve never heard him on the attack in the ways that Christie and Gingrich revel in.
That said, man, both Newtie and Chris have some huge problems. Bridgegate has never gone away –despite what Christie claims– and his popularity in New Jersey is on a par with herpes. He’ll also be seen as yet another East Coast loudmouth. Gingrich, memorably described by someone as a dumb person’s idea of a smart person, left Congress in disgrace. He’s not only on his third wife, but his third religion, having converted to Catholicism so, I guess, he could use confession as the car wash for his soul. Not sure how the evangelicals will warm to him. Their hatred of Clinton will probably trump any religious issues. Hell, if Falwell, Dobson and other holy rollers can endorse tRump, that’s probably enough.
The GOP base would certainly get what they want with either choice: angry old white men. One of tRump’s campaign managers ruled out a woman or a person of color months ago, saying it would be “pandering.” Sorry, Joni Ernst and Ben Carson.
1562 chars
Julie Robinson said on July 13, 2016 at 12:52 pm
Jeff, under Indiana law he can’t run for both at the same time, and the decision deadline is Friday.
100 chars
basset said on July 13, 2016 at 1:19 pm
and there’s a countdown:
http://www.adweek.com/tvspy/will-indiana-governor-be-trumps-vp-wrtv-starts-the-clock/174283?utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=tvspy&utm_campaign=dailynewsletter20160713
204 chars
Little Bird said on July 13, 2016 at 1:34 pm
Thanks guys! I’ve gotten my fries, and a burger! I’m doing fine now, but then they have the good drugs at the hospital. Now it’s just a mega splint for the next two weeks.
173 chars
Dorothy said on July 13, 2016 at 1:52 pm
Doctor thinks it’s superficial phlebitis but to be sure, I’m getting an ultrasound on the leg tomorrow at 3:30. Fingers crossed it’s not a deep vein clot. It’s still a little tender but the redness has lessened considerably. Now if only my washing machine is fixable and we don’t have to replace it. Can you believe I had to put $385 on a credit card (my share of the expense) before I even stepped foot in the fu**ing hospital for the ultrasound tomorrow?! I’ll get it back from my health savings account that I contribute to via my paycheck. Still …. it’s galling to me.
580 chars
Peter said on July 13, 2016 at 2:02 pm
Little Bird – enjoy those burgers and fries! I am so happy for you and Deborah and I hope for the bast.
I’m not surprised about Newt, Governor Crisco, and our man Pence. Fritz von Papen whored himself out to Hitler and added some gravitas to the Nazi ticket because he needed the paycheck. And that turned out OK, other than a few years at Nurnberg.
355 chars
Jeff Borden said on July 13, 2016 at 2:17 pm
Thanks, Julie.
That ought to be a rule for all. A politician should risk something if they want to pursue another office, rather than return to their cozy little sinecure if they are defeated.
195 chars
Sherri said on July 13, 2016 at 2:26 pm
A football program is generally the ultimate in authoritarianism. The players aren’t children to be protected, they’re serfs to be exploited. You don’t question the actions of coaches higher in the hierarchy than you, or you’ll never get another job, so turning a blind eye to child abuse becomes easier to rationalize when your paycheck depends on it. Had Sandusky been a low-level graduate assistant coach, he would have quietly been blackballed from the coaching fraternity because the possibility for scandal was too high. But he was the defensive coordinator for one of the best defenses on one of the best teams in the country; he was protected as long as the press didn’t find out and he didn’t pick the wrong kid.
If Paterno didn’t know, it was only because Paterno chose plausible deniability.
806 chars
MichaelG said on July 13, 2016 at 4:35 pm
Great news, Little Bird!
Geez, Mark P. Easy on us “old, tubby, white-haired white guys”.
96 chars
Heather said on July 13, 2016 at 5:27 pm
This morning on our local NPR station a reporter was talking about how some Illinois Republican delegates for Trump aren’t going to the convention–one said “well Governor Rauner isn’t going, so why should I?” And then also apparently a bunch of them didn’t realize they’d have to pay their own way. One guy didn’t get a room with the convention block because he wanted to wait for the prices do go down (???) and of course they didn’t, they went up, and of course now he can’t find anything . . . I was torn between schadenfreude and horror.
542 chars
Deborah said on July 13, 2016 at 5:30 pm
I read somewhere on the intertubes just now that Hillary is only 3 points ahead of Trump in the latest polls. How can that possibly be? What is wrong with people? Is it too soon? What’s going on? Is the media just trying to keep this a horse race?
Little Bird’s splint goes from mid-thigh to almost to her ankle and she has to wear it constantly to keep her from bending her knee. It’s thick and must be hot as hell. She’s only supposed to remove it when she showers.
I actually took a nap this afternoon, since I had to get up at 4:30am and now I’m grumpy. I hardly ever nap anymore. Weird things happen when you get old.
629 chars
Jeff Borden said on July 13, 2016 at 5:34 pm
MichaelG,
I hesitate to note that when our local news ran a video of Pence walking in a parade, his man boobs were on full display. The man should not wear tightly fitted golf shirts.
186 chars
LAMary said on July 13, 2016 at 6:03 pm
Not only six marriages between them, but an astonishing number of infidelities. Astonishing not just because neither of them is what you’d call a hunk, they both have terrible personalities. I can’t even.
205 chars
Kristen said on July 13, 2016 at 6:06 pm
For crying out loud, those pants are hideous. Having that much space between the top of your boot and the hem of your pants puts me in mind of someone in the Great Depression who hasn’t been able to afford new clothing while growing taller!
241 chars
MichaelG said on July 13, 2016 at 6:06 pm
I’m not sure what that has to do with me, Jeff.
47 chars
beb said on July 13, 2016 at 6:16 pm
All this stuff about Sandusky is coming out because the insurance company doesn’t want to pay Penn State’s liability bill. They’re arguing that because Paterno had to have known about Sandusky’s proclivities and did nothing he, and thus the university should foot the bill.
As for woman having a natural instinct to put a stop to this behavior… I would say that’s more because woman don’t have anything invested in football. All the men who saw Sandusky assaulting boys have well-paying sports jobs. Everyone of them had to ask was it worth their job to complain?
It’s hard to imagine who Trump will pick for VP. I suspect he wants to pick someone totally unexpected so that he remains unpredictable. Meanwhile the RNC wants him to pick someone predictable. Someone they can rely on and control.
805 chars
Scout said on July 13, 2016 at 6:21 pm
Deborah, maybe this will make you feel a little better.
http://projects.fivethirtyeight.com/2016-election-forecast/
119 chars
alex said on July 13, 2016 at 6:42 pm
Funny First World problems…
May not have mentioned it before, but our landline number is similar to that of a local ob/gyn clinic if you transpose two of the first three digits, which a lot of callers apparently do. Voice mail occasionally has messages from patients who don’t listen to our outgoing message before talking about their medical issues. Just had another one today.
I can’t get too worked up about election-year polling derp. Just as was the case with Romney four years ago, the lamestream media have to pretend that there’s a horse race even though it’s a dead horse they’re beating.
606 chars
Sherri said on July 13, 2016 at 6:48 pm
PokemonGo is quite the craze. I almost was run over by a gaggle of girls rushing out of a building when I was going to get my haircut yesterday, all with their cellphones in front of their faces, clearly looking for that elusive Pokemon. There have been a few hiccups though; I saw that the Holocaust Museum and Arlington National Cemetery both put out requests for people to stop playing the game at those locations. The Redmond PD has received several 911 calls about suspicious activity, and put out a reminder for people to be aware of their surroundings, don’t enter private property without permissions, don’t drive/skateboard/bicycle while playing, etc.
Evidently churches were in the default location database, which has probably created some grumpiness in some corners. Not my priest; in the service Sunday, he asked the kids if there were any Pokemon at the church (there were.) He’d probably put more if it would attract more people!
947 chars
Deborah said on July 13, 2016 at 6:52 pm
Scout, yes that makes me feel better.
37 chars
Jolene said on July 13, 2016 at 7:37 pm
The salmon are really hopping right now in this view of Brooks Fallsin Alaska. If you were there with a net, you’d have the makings of a feast in moments.
306 chars
Jolene said on July 13, 2016 at 7:38 pm
Shoot! Screwed that up. Here’s the link.
http://explore.org/live-cams/player/brown-bear-salmon-cam-brooks-falls?nl=cooking&em_pos=large&emc=edit_ck_20160713
168 chars
Jolene said on July 13, 2016 at 9:10 pm
From four NBA stars, an impressive statement at tonight’s ESPY awards.
236 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on July 13, 2016 at 10:00 pm
My church location is a Pokemon Go gym. This is a fringe benefit of optimizing our Google Maps info when I arrived four years ago that I did not see coming . . . but it’s turning out to be quite the draw for young people!
221 chars
MarkH said on July 14, 2016 at 2:56 am
Yes, but then there’s this, Scout and Deborah:
http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/how-i-acted-like-a-pundit-and-screwed-up-on-donald-trump/
143 chars
Danny said on July 14, 2016 at 7:55 am
Interesting read, MarkH. I don’t think Nate should be too hard on himself. Even the GOP is quite unsure how all this happened.
126 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on July 14, 2016 at 8:12 am
Pence not on list. This could mean something, or nothing.
https://twitter.com/Phil_Mattingly/status/753543302822191104/photo/1
Tebow is supposedly on the list, but not scheduled yet, so . . .
198 chars
adrianne said on July 14, 2016 at 10:02 am
This just in…Former Chairman of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey set to plead guilty today to a felony in manipulating the agency for political purposes in Bridgegate. David Samson is “extremely close” to Christie, his law firm was basically one-stop shopping for Chris. This should put a dagger through the heart of Christie being named to the ticket.
Here’s a link to the New York Times story:
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/07/15/nyregion/david-samson-chris-christie-george-washington-bridge-scandal.html
521 chars
Bitter Scribe said on July 14, 2016 at 10:23 am
Maybe the world wasn’t waiting for a history of “Magic Carpet Ride” and Steppenwolf, but I was. Fascinating stuff.
To me, the funniest line was the last one, where John Kay shoots down rumors that MCR was about an acid trip by revealing that he’s colorblind: “If I had dropped acid, I would have been hallucinating in vivid black and white. I doubt that would have helped me or the song much.”
396 chars
MarkH said on July 14, 2016 at 10:35 am
Exactly, Danny. Silver has an impressive record, but this presidential election (specifically Trump) has proven that things can still happen that no one will see coming. The morning of November 9 looks like the only tell-tale at this point.
BTW, Jeff, CBS This Morning has the final list down to Pence, Christie and Newt, FWIW.
330 chars
Danny said on July 14, 2016 at 11:30 am
Holy crap people can be idiots:
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/2016/jul/13/pokemon-go-encinitas-cliff-fall/
I liked the meme I saw on FB yesterday, a picture of Heath Ledger’s Joker saying, “When I was a kid, we didn’t have Pokeman Go. If you wanted to wander around looking for things that weren’t there, you had to drop acid like a normal person.”
365 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on July 14, 2016 at 11:55 am
MarkH, Pence was not on the speaker list released yesterday — which could indicate he’s already pencilled in as Veep, speaking in a slot not named on the list. He does appear on multiple levels* to be the front runner.
* Excluding the “common sense” level.
260 chars
Mark P said on July 14, 2016 at 12:41 pm
I’m not really down on old, white guys, I am one. But like most of the old white guys here, I’m not like most (or at least many) of the old, white guys who aren’t here.
168 chars
alex said on July 14, 2016 at 12:43 pm
So says Major Gerritt, so you’d better believe it:
http://wane.com/2016/07/14/sources-trump-picks-pence-as-running-mate/
123 chars
adrianne said on July 14, 2016 at 12:55 pm
As Kevin Corcoran said in his FB post, he’s all yours, America!
Donald J. Trump’s campaign has signaled strongly to Republicans in Washington that he will pick Mike Pence, the governor of Indiana, as his running mate, though Republicans caution the party’s mercurial presidential candidate may still backtrack on his apparent choice.
340 chars
Dave said on July 14, 2016 at 1:21 pm
Would’ve been more fun to have Newt, although Indiana is now rid of Pence. Who steps in to run as Republican candidate for governor against Gregg now? I suppose this is Trump’s effort to reach out to the evangelicals, I sure hope that backfires, as others learn about him. His family shouldn’t be as embarrassing as Palin’s, but he will surely be dwarfed by the national spotlight, as he was in his short-lived presidential ambitions.
437 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on July 14, 2016 at 1:21 pm
In other words, Pence is picked, but depending on how Trump feels at 9 pm, who knows what will happen overnight.
Indiana had better keep the champagne on ice until 11:01 am tomorrow.
185 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on July 14, 2016 at 1:32 pm
Lots to mull over in this data-rich analysis: the shorter version — it’s about demographics.
http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2016/07/the-eclipse-of-white-christian-america/490724/
And as one of my seminary professors said back in the 80s: it’s not about faithfulness or orthodoxy, it’s about birth rates. Our people in the late 1800s saw a mother with eight kids have about four stay churched, four leave the church. Today, our people have one kid, and it’s about fifty-fifty if they stay with the church. And I have bad news for the conservatives . . . there’s an absolute correlation between women’s level of education, and how many children she has. That’s not modern medicine entirely, it’s a historic fact. And those growing conservative church bodies? Their women are going to college, and I can already tell you what’s coming next.
Back then, the idea that the Southern Baptists would see a decline in growth in our lifetimes, let alone an absolute decline in total numbers, was a wild eyed prophecy. And that quiet historian is being proven right.
1077 chars
alex said on July 14, 2016 at 1:43 pm
Indiana had better keep the champagne on ice until 11:01 am tomorrow.
What champagne? This is Indiana.
112 chars
Bitter Scribe said on July 14, 2016 at 1:48 pm
Jeff @24: I think Joni Ernst is too smart to go down with the Good Ship Trump. As for Carson, there’s probably too much residual hard feeling from the primaries.
161 chars
Julie Robinson said on July 14, 2016 at 2:01 pm
Keeping it corked until I see Pence’s replacement; unbelievable as it seems, there are many worse.
98 chars
Deborah said on July 14, 2016 at 2:10 pm
I bet Christie and Newtie are crying in their beer right now. I was hoping it would be Newt, the 6 marriages between them and all.
As Borowitz said, RBG’s regret is the first time I’ve disagreed with her.
208 chars
Peter said on July 14, 2016 at 2:21 pm
My prediction is that next week’s convention, with the possible exception of the coronation address, will trend toward the boring and banal instead of loopy and bizarre.
I think a lot of Trump delegates are not True Conservatives and if it doesn’t involve Der Trump then it’s not worth their time.
I don’t think you’re going to see a Nelson Rockefeller at the ’64 convention or Abraham Ribicoff at the ’68 convention fireworks.
435 chars
adrianne said on July 14, 2016 at 2:33 pm
C’mon, Peter, Benghazi night? Former President Clinton getting blow jobs from women whom he’s not married to? The mind reels…
127 chars
Jakash said on July 14, 2016 at 2:35 pm
Tweet from James Poniewozik, NYT TV critic:
“If Trump does not tell each VP candidate that he’s the pick & have them all show up for the reveal, I don’t even know why he’s running.”
188 chars
Scout said on July 14, 2016 at 3:09 pm
An Oily Ball of Rage… with the Vulgar Punch-Me-Face Toddler as the Belle of the Ball.
http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/an-oily-ball-of-rage
148 chars
Dexter said on July 14, 2016 at 3:14 pm
I was waiting a little bit before I mentioned it, and now it’s old news here at nn dot com…the next VP candidate for the Repugnants is your own guv’ner, Mike Pence…and as soon as his name was first bandied about a few weeks ago, I called it. So I win. I guess.
This 2016 Le Tour de France has had thrilling sprints and two incidents so ridiculous nobody possible could have scripted the scenarios: a few days ago the one kilometer kite/banner fell onto speeding cyclist Yates, nasty sight to behold.
Then today Richie Porte was forced to crash into an abruptly stopped motorbike (camera bike) when the crowd closed in and shoehorned the cyclists’ way so narrow they closed the roadway off. Right behind Porte was the maillot jaune, the man in yellow, race leader Chris Froome. His bike was wrecked so he panicked and began running up Mont Ventoux…normally a disqualification move…but this was such a disgusting mess caused by malfeasance by race directors, I am not sure the incidents were sorted out. A neutral service car provided Froome with a totally worthless bike until Froome’s people made it to him with his own bike. When coverage ended, Froome was dropped from 12st to 6th place, and commentators, fans, and cyclists were in unison calling foul. God, I love Le Tour! Tomorrow…individual time trials…that, boring to mot, me included.
1367 chars
LAMary said on July 14, 2016 at 3:41 pm
I love that image, Jakash. I want a reveal like America’s Next Top Model rather than an Apprentice reveal. Or maybe a Bachelor reveal with the rose ceremony.
157 chars
Jolene said on July 14, 2016 at 3:51 pm
Hard to see the ostentatiously religious Midwestern conservative and the thrice-married Manhattan sybarite really getting along. We can hope that their differences cause their campaign to blow up. Clinton needs whatever help she can get.
237 chars
Kirk said on July 14, 2016 at 4:02 pm
The first Pokemon Go casualties came a little later than I expected. First fatality should be any minute now.
109 chars
Dave Bell said on July 14, 2016 at 4:20 pm
I heard on a news show today that if Pence were made VP, the Koch brothers (and others) would open up their wallets to help Trump.
I saw a cartoon a few years back with Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich on the golf course. Newt said, “Rush, I’m afraid same sex marriage will ruin the sanctity of our marriages.” Rush replies, “Right, all seven of them.”
355 chars
Jolene said on July 14, 2016 at 4:44 pm
On TV tonight: A townhall meeting with President Obama at 8PM EDT on ABC.
“The President will host a town hall where he’ll hear from officers, parents, students, and families affected by the violence of recent weeks. Participants will raise important questions, search for answers together, and most critically, seek to understand the different realities each of us face.”
377 chars
Heather said on July 14, 2016 at 4:48 pm
I don’t think Trump feels he has to get along with anybody. He makes orders and others are expected to carry them out. Simple.
126 chars
adrianne said on July 14, 2016 at 5:18 pm
Trump is basically being held at gunpoint by GOP elders to pick Pence, for all of the above cited reasons. He would really prefer Newt, and may still surprise people with his “fuck all of y’all” ways. So I’ll stay tuned Friday.
227 chars
Sherri said on July 14, 2016 at 5:33 pm
Dahlia dives into the subtext of Notorious RBG’s blast at Trump, beyond just the existential threat of a Trump presidency: http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/jurisprudence/2016/07/ruth_bader_ginsburg_s_improper_attacks_on_donald_trump.html
252 chars
alex said on July 14, 2016 at 5:53 pm
You’d have to be absolutely shameless to joint Trump’s ticket, and it looks like Pence might not be such a bad fit in that regard. For all his straight-laced religious phoniness, at rock bottom he’s even more soulless than Gingrich or Christie.
352 chars
beb said on July 14, 2016 at 5:58 pm
Lately I’ve been getting an interventionist vibe from Trumps adult children. But they’re not trying to get him out of the race, it’s like they want him to shape-up and make a serious stab at this thing.
202 chars
Suzanne said on July 14, 2016 at 6:08 pm
Trump and Pence. Tweedledee and Tweedledum. Frick and Frack. Dumb and Dumber.
I’m sure Pence is too dim to realize he was chosen by Trump precisely because he is so dim. Once he’s memorized his talking points, he isn’t easily thrown off course. When a head is as empty as his, there aren’t coherent thoughts in there to muck up the waters. Garbage in > Garbage out.
372 chars
Scout said on July 14, 2016 at 6:27 pm
Pence is a perfect nothingburger who will soothe the butt hurt of much of the right, while remaining well out of the mangled apricot hellbeast’s limelight. Well played, hellbeast.
179 chars
David C. said on July 14, 2016 at 6:32 pm
I can’t see Pence making any difference as far as the Koch Bros. are concerned. The VP candidate hasn’t made a hill of beans of difference probably since Kennedy picked Johnson. Pence is the pick because tRump needs someone who won’t take any of the spotlight off his ugly orange mug. Pence seems just the cipher for the job.
325 chars
MichaelG said on July 14, 2016 at 7:16 pm
Truck runs into crowd in Nice, 60 dead. WTF????
48 chars
Sherri said on July 14, 2016 at 7:32 pm
Gee thanks, Bernie, for raising this man’s profile by naming him to the platform committee, just so he could screw over Democrats: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/287829-sanders-ally-cornel-west-backs-green-candidate
Meanwhile, Charlie Pierce has a message for all the idiots like Cornell West: http://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/news/a46695/donald-trump-candidacy-american-democracy/
421 chars
Julie Robinson said on July 14, 2016 at 7:39 pm
Daughter in Italy right now. Gulp.
34 chars
Danny said on July 14, 2016 at 7:46 pm
I leave for a biz trip to Germany and France on Saturday.
57 chars
Danny said on July 14, 2016 at 8:40 pm
Socks for whomever you support!
https://youtu.be/oBJhAQZOMV0
63 chars
MichaelG said on July 14, 2016 at 8:44 pm
I’m looking to head back to Spain in Sept depending on what the doc says next week. I seem to remember the term “biz trip” from somewhere in my dim past. Trying to forget it, though.
You can’t let this stuff make you curl up in the fetal position. Life has to go on.
273 chars
Danny said on July 14, 2016 at 8:55 pm
MichaelG, we just had a round of early retirement offers where I work and though I wasn’t eligible nor inclined, I have started thinking about my transition in a decade or so. It seems daunting.
As far as the travel, the biggest pain is that since the whole world, even domestically, is considered in play for these terror incidents, I have to make sure our travel tracking system is up to date for my trip. Just a other thang.
431 chars
Julie Robinson said on July 14, 2016 at 8:56 pm
Definitely, Michael. She’s been all over the world and I would never try to limit her or clip her wings. It’s just a little too close for comfort.
146 chars
Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on July 14, 2016 at 9:06 pm
Lots of Notorious RBG fans here, so . . . Andy Borowitz, the humor guy for The New Yorker said on Facebook:
Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she is sorry, and that is the first time I have ever disagreed with Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
224 chars
Deborah said on July 14, 2016 at 9:28 pm
Yeah Jeff, at #92, that’s what I said at #65.
45 chars