I guess this is where we are now, right? The president incites a mob to chant “send her back” about an immigrant whose story bears absolutely no resemblance to the one now accepted as fact. The next day, he tells an outright, obvious lie about how bothered he was by the whole incident, how he tried to shut it down immediately, as though the whole incident wasn’t on national television, as though the tape can’t be consulted with a few clicks, and already I’ve seen a couple of apparently intelligent people saying, “He said he disapproves, and tried to shut it down.”
That’s where we are now. The barrel, it has no bottom.
Next month — hell, maybe next week, maybe tomorrow — we’ll be in a different, worse place. Something to look forward to.
With that in mind, we limp to the end of a pretty awful week. Tomorrow it will be in the mid 90s, with humidity to match. When I swam Wednesday, I pulled up wheezing at the end of a piece and said, “I can’t breathe,” and the person in the next lane said, “I thought it was just me.” And this at 6:30 a.m. It’s thick out there.
First, this bit of bloggage: What you have to believe to believe the president.
And this: Why you want to work in a newsroom.
A good weekend, all. Stay cool.
Linda said on July 18, 2019 at 9:27 pm
Re: believing everything Trump says. I know lots of devoted Trumpers. Some people believe everything, but not the smarter ones. They believe that everybody lies all the time anyway, and they would rather side with the liar who hates the same people they do.
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Jeff Borden said on July 18, 2019 at 9:36 pm
The next 16 months are going to be the ugliest political shitfest since the early 19th century, when a candidate for the presidency, at one point, accused his opponent of being a hermaphrodite.
I pretty much despise George Will, but his recent column noting that the Orange King has rung bells that cannot be unrung is, unfortunately, correct. We’re in a much worse place than we were prior to his presidency on virtually every level from income inequality to degradation of our environment to the flooding of the lower federal court with Justice Beer Bong clones from the Federalist Society to our abrogation of longstanding alliances to our embrace of brutal dictators who cater to the ever needy lout in orange. Ousting him will not cure all the ills, all the viruses, all the poisons he has unleashed in the body politic. They will be with us for decades.
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basset said on July 18, 2019 at 9:39 pm
What you have to believe… brilliant. And exactly true.
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Suzanne said on July 18, 2019 at 10:08 pm
Linda that is a great description of the Trump voter mentality. It’s right up there with the people who say they don’t really like him, but the alternative was simply too awful to consider.
It makes me sicker every day. I truly believe there will be bloodshed before it’s over.
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Mark P said on July 19, 2019 at 12:20 am
Whom the gods would destroy …
We’ve completed part one.
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Dexter Friend said on July 19, 2019 at 1:35 am
<> I am going to remember that,as it is ever so true. What woman could vote for Trump’s re-election? That 1992 scene at Trump’s Florida party-party-fuck palace, showing close friends Epstein & The Donald sizing up pro football cheerleaders shaking their asses for Trump, Epstein, and maybe some other sex seekers, was appalling, revealing Trump and Epstein on tape, so now we all could see what goes on, for sure. It was a meat market, bought and paid for…some will call those cheerleaders whores, as they were surely paid hundreds of dollars for sex…likely, some very young girls were in the mix, the ones dubbed Epstein’s favorites. I have made an opinion: Trump is a lying bastard. I saw the tapes from Wednesday, all day long on replays. His denials of racism , damn, he knows he’s doing that with a wink and a nod: “send them back to Africa ” is the chant I heard all throughout my life. Trump is energizing his base…people are pouring in cash to his campaign…clamoring for more racism, more hatred…one guy posted on Facebook it is time to lock and load and hunt down immigrants at the border and shoot them dead.
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Sherri said on July 19, 2019 at 1:38 am
Rick Perlstein says smart things about the Squad vs. Pelosi: https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/the-pelosi-versus-squad-paradigm
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Connie said on July 19, 2019 at 9:09 am
Thanks for the updates on the Roger B Chaffee assorted memorials. I am reminded that it has been many years since I lived near GR.
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Heather said on July 19, 2019 at 9:24 am
I’m going to my extended family reunion next week and my racist cousin has already sent out a few emails with gibes and then had the gall to add, “Please, no politics next week.” I’m going to try to just not react to things he says, which seems to be the family MO these days, and if goaded, just say, “I guess I just don’t find incipient genocide and the rise of fascism something to joke about.” If I have learned anything, it’s that arguing with these sad people is a waste of time.
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Deborah said on July 19, 2019 at 9:45 am
I don’t go to family reunions anymore. I used to wonder why some of my cousins never showed up and some I had never even ever met. Now I get it.
I do envy people who have big extended families that have a lot of respect for each other. My husband’s immediate family (mother and siblings) are that way, his father’s (who died before I knew him) family including his uncle J are that way. On my mother’s side I only have one cousin who is a royal asshole. On my father’s side I have lots and lots of cousins.
Dorothy, you seem to have a good natured extended family.
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Heather said on July 19, 2019 at 9:46 am
To be clear, it’s just the one cousin who is a total racist and Trump supporter (and his wife, but she is less vocal about it). Most of us in our family are liberals, some more than others. I’m lucky in that sense.
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susan said on July 19, 2019 at 11:20 am
I sat next to a woman Wednesday, on a 3 hour flight. She already reeked of alcohol when she sat down. Oh boy, I thought, this won’t be fun. Too close for comfort. I really, really have a hard time with drunks. But she was friendly and outgoing, and immediately started talking. (She never stopped talking.) She looked at the tee shirt I was wearing, which was this one. “What’s on your tee-shirt?” she asked. I turned so she could see it. She paused and chortled a bit. Then she said, “That’s funny! I really like Trump.” Oh shit, now this truly will not be a fun ride. “Honestly?” I replied. “How could you? I don’t understand how any woman could like that ignorant racist misogynist somofbitch?” “Oh I think he is funny!” she exclaimed. “Funny? That guy has hurt so many people, lies his ass off, is the narcissist from hell. How could you think that he’s funny??” “Oh he is. He says such funny things!” Then I told her that, you know what? I don’t want to talk about Trump, he is so disgusting, so I’m not going to talk about him anymore. It will get no where.
And we didn’t, to her credit. But I soon learned what a sad troubled woman she is. She lives in Alaska, but was on her way to the Betty Ford Clinic in Hazelden, MN. She kept talking about the trouble she was in, all the mistakes she has made in the last two and half years. Once her two girls grew up and left home, she had nothing to do. She had had no interests other than raising her two daughters. She started drinking. And got into trouble. She showed me the terrible bruises and welts on her arm. “Those are from drinking. No, my husband did not do this. I get drunk and fall down. People think maybe my husband abuses me. No! He is the most loyal and kind man. We’ve been married 23 years. I get drunk and fall down hard.” I did NOT pursue this line. I did not want to talk about any that or know about this. I wanted her to stop talking. But in the course of our flight she had four rum and cokes. She only talked more. About how useless and lost she was.
She kept insisting I come up to Alaska, I could stay at her very nice big house, and show me around. I could teach her a lot about archaeology and geology and plants. I told her I have no interest in going to Alaska, and never have. It’s not a place I want to visit. Oh, but it’s so beautiful! All the mountains and water and wildlife. “I am a desert rat,” I said. “Going to Alaska has never appealed to me.” She wrote down her name and phone number on a scrap of paper and handed it to me. “Really, you must come up and stay with me, and I’ll show you around. You can see Denali from our house. It’s so beautiful. Really, you need to come. I’ll pay for your ticket! You’re such a nice and interesting lady. Please…. No one ever takes me up on that…”
She actually was a sweet and open person, but very troubled and screwed up. I wondered how many other Trumpanzees have that profile? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZvT2r828QY
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Colleen said on July 19, 2019 at 11:39 am
Ugh. I just read the comments on Fort Wayne’s right radio station’s FB regarding whether the POTUS tweets were racist. You can guess what the consensus is. Of course not, and libtards call everything they don’t like racist. Expressed with the usual fine grammatical and spelling skills found among their commentators.
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Jakash said on July 19, 2019 at 12:09 pm
The fact that he floated the idea that he “disagreed” with the “send her back” chant, despite the obvious evidence that he did nothing to suppress it at the time, is interesting, while pathetic.
“One of the many reasons to directly antagonize Trump is that contrary to popular imagination he doesn’t like confrontations. He is an insecure coward who seeks to please whoever is in front of him.”
https://twitter.com/johnknefel/status/1151909465035300864
I don’t doubt that Il Douche knows that stirring up his base is his only route to continuing in office. But, he’s so lacking in foresight and judgment that I wonder whether he even realizes how dangerous what he’s doing and has been doing is for the country. I doubt he gives much thought to what the effects beyond folks cheering on their favorite reality TV celebrity, while demonizing other people whose lives are actually much more like their own, might be.
The potential quote from the future that I can imagine is “Who knew fascism could be so complicated?”
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Colleen said on July 19, 2019 at 12:22 pm
He doesn’t care about what’s good for the country. At least with George W, I felt like he cared about the country and was doing what he thought best, even though I usually disagreed with him. Now I get the feeling that Trump and McConnell don’t really give a crap about what’s good for the country, only what’s good for them.
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Jakash said on July 19, 2019 at 12:28 pm
Can’t argue with that, Colleen.
Yesterday provided yet another opportunity to produce a succinct 51-second video of the Graham cracker arguing with himself about his perceptions of the xenophobic, bigoted Kook-in-Chief. Btw, if “kook” had one extra “k”, it might really capture the essence of Il Douche’s appeal.
https://twitter.com/DustinGiebel/status/1151873388408922112
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Julie Robinson said on July 19, 2019 at 12:53 pm
If you really want to feel outraged, watch this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtSd844cI7U&feature=share. Cats, the movie. OMFG. And y’all know I love musicals.
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Deborah said on July 19, 2019 at 1:47 pm
On the flight back from Paris I watched 4 movies, the best one was Vice, about Dick Cheney. That guy has the perfect first name, what a dick. Maybe this was discussed when the movie first came out. I found it infuriating, not because of the quality of the movie, but what they showed about white men completely drunk on power. I didn’t realize Cheney was a drunkard in his youth. He obviously switched from booze to power in the movie. That’s the way I think of McConnell too, and of course our racist current president. All those guys care about is power, and with Trump add money. They couldn’t care less about the good of the country unless it gives them power. The lot of the Republicans, it’s all about obtaining and retaining power.
Oh, and Rumsfeld comes off in the movie as almost being a bigger dick than Cheney. Lynn Cheney comes off as a pretty big dick too, also Liz.
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Dexter Friend said on July 19, 2019 at 3:28 pm
What the hell is blinding decent GOPers, so they just have no desire to boot Trump the hell off the 2020 ticket? Not only is it a sure thing Trump and his baggage of lies, whoring, and crimes will head the ticket in 2020, there is zero commentary leaning towards dumping the bastard. They love the asshole. What a national crisis.
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JodiP said on July 19, 2019 at 3:57 pm
Deborah, thanks for the reminder about Vice. I missed it in the theaters.
I have to share that my day is going really well with work. I found out today that I helped prevent a client from going to our short-term prison by educating her probation officer that this would result in her losing services. She hadn’t been in touch with her PO for months. We have a huge problem in our state with many people going to prison for the these types of technical violations.
I also helped a client get a civil court date re-scheduled. The conciliation court staff were super helpful, and the client was relieved. If all goes well, he’ll get nearly $3000 in the settlement.
I’m so pleased for my clients!
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Jenine said on July 19, 2019 at 4:48 pm
@ JodiP: That’s so excellent! I’m glad you were there to make those connections for your clients.
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Julie Robinson said on July 19, 2019 at 4:58 pm
Jodi, that’s fantastic. Your job would probably get me down, and I’m so grateful there are people like you.
Vice made me angry all over again about the entire 43 administration. It looked so light-hearted and amusing, and it did start that way. But all too soon Cheney was proving he didn’t have a heart even before his was removed.
I’ve been going to physical therapy for my knee, which was a lot worse after our trip, but after today’s session I am pain-free. This is a big freaking deal for me. I still have a few more sessions to go and am hoping I’ll be able to ride my bike again. Physical therapists rate very high in my book.
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Deborah said on July 19, 2019 at 5:07 pm
Jodi P, good for you, it must feel good to directly help marginalized people like you do in your work.
I’d love to talk to you about what my husband is trying to do for Uncle J’s “grandson” who is an ex-con. He served 16 years in prison from the time he was 16 until 32. He’s turning over a new leaf now but he needs lots of help. His father who was murdered was Native American. It’s complicated and confusing about how to handle things. Can I DM you through FB at some point in the future about this? Or maybe you can advise about a good source for advice.
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Jeff Borden said on July 19, 2019 at 7:15 pm
The Republican Party is the party of white nationalism, if not overt racism. Prove me wrong. The evidence is overwhelming and irrefutable. Only five GOP House members voted for the resolution criticizing the racism of the Orange King. One hundred and eighty seven others did not. Look at the eliminationist language thrown around by Josh Hawley, the great white hope from the Show Me State. Bask in the statement of the Republican rep in Pennsylvania who says he understands people of color because he is one…white.
I believe I will never again cast a vote for a Republican candidate for any position at any level of government. This has everything to do with the moral cowardice of grown men and women in the face of a vicious, racist demagogue. I won’t listen to so-called “conservative” arguments when they are proferred by racists or those who tolerate racists. I dread the coming months. They will be among the darkest since the Depression.
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Andrea said on July 19, 2019 at 7:37 pm
Those of us who are either fans of Laura Lippman or a woman of a certain age will appreciate this: https://longreads.com/2019/07/16/whole-60/
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Dexter Friend said on July 19, 2019 at 10:33 pm
jeff b. : I think I voted for one repugg in my life, for county treasurer, when I was first able to vote, because he was a good guy our family knew. Since, nada. And never again. I could be in Canada in a little over two hours, easily. Maybe I should go and never come back. It would make Trump happy…another “never trumper” off his back. Sheesh….
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Jeff (the mild-mannered one) said on July 19, 2019 at 10:59 pm
After reading the Stu Bykofsky column about Thai sex workers, why do I suspect he’s a Trump supporter? Or at least an Epstein apologist.
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Suzanne said on July 19, 2019 at 11:21 pm
I concur, Jeff Borden. I voted for plenty of Republicans in my lifetime but no more. Even for local offices. Never.
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alex said on July 20, 2019 at 10:12 am
Even as a man of a certain age I can appreciate the Laura Lippman essay. I used to go to Waldenbooks too and stand while reading things I was too embarrassed to buy. I was in the middle of The Joy of Sex when a matronly clerk snatched it out of my hands and said “That’s not for you. Our children’s section is over there.”
I’ve also done yoyo dieting all of my life and arrived at a point where I don’t give a fuck.
Just received my new passport in the mail. Just in time. Taking a long weekend in Canada next month.
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Deborah said on July 20, 2019 at 12:45 pm
I’m happy to be in NM again where it’s hot but dry. Hopefully I won’t be taking another flight anywhere until after Labor Day.
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Jakash said on July 20, 2019 at 1:31 pm
On the journalism downer front, this Eric Zorn column is about the Ann Arbor News, but ends with these dispiriting figures:
“A 99-page report released last October from Abernathy’s office said that more than 2,000 of the nation’s 3,143 counties have no daily paper, and 171 counties are not served by any local newspaper at all. It further identified an increase in the number of so-called ghost newspapers, publications that still technically exist, such as the Ann Arbor News, but through cutbacks and mergers are mere shades of their former selves.
Ten years ago, freshly unemployed journalists in Ann Arbor wore black T-shirts that read ‘No News is bad news.’
It seems they were right.”
https://tinyurl.com/y45kvyo4
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Jeff Borden said on July 20, 2019 at 5:30 pm
Jakash, Talked today to a pal of mine who lives in Pittsburgh. The Post-Gazette just told its readers it will move to publishing just three times per week. He’s decided he’ll cancel his home delivery subscription and buy the paper at a convenience store on Sunday. My sister lives in the Cleveland area, where the Plain Dealer took the same path a few years ago. The only daily paper they get is the WSJ. As these local watchdogs die off or are whittled into irrelevance, corrupt politicians will have carte blanche. It’s scary.
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Julie Robinson said on July 20, 2019 at 5:46 pm
Our local paper just switched
to driveway delivery, unless you pay an extra $5/month. If it’s raining your paper will be wet. Or maybe they won’t even bother.
This is after coming home to 10 days of papers in the driveway. So much for the vacation hold.
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Dexter Friend said on July 20, 2019 at 5:57 pm
Nobody but newspaper junkies remember the green streak. I don’t know if other papers did this, but 50 years ago Chicago Today published a late afternoon edition just after the markets were closing and the Cubs day games were ending. I remember leaving Wrigley Field, walking to the el to the Loop-bound trains, and by the time the train got to The Loop, the game’s stats had already been published and the hawkers were screaming “green streak!” In my travels,I could never pass by a newsstand or a news-hawker without buying a late edition. The only papers here in Bryan, Ohio now are The Defiance Crescent City News and The Bryan Times. I never buy them. 🙁
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Bob (not Greene) said on July 22, 2019 at 5:24 pm
Dexter @34, I delivered the Green Streak after school on weekdays when I was in seventh or eighth grade. Delivered the Daily News on Saturday and the Trib on Sunday. Some people have fond memories of their paper routes. I thought it sucked, especially the one April, probably 1975 or so, where it snowed about a foot and I had to drag my damn newspaper bag around behind me because the snow came so fast no one had time to shovel the sidewalks.
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