Open Thread January 3 2025

 Posted by at 9:11 am  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Jan 032026
 

Yesterday, I learned that on New Year’s Day Zohran Mamdani had been sworn in twice. The first time was recorded in the video I posted yesterday with Tish James, and that was the official one. The second one was with Bernie Sanders, which was purely ceremonial, but which also included his (roughly 25 minutes) inauguration speech. Just in case anyone wants to hear it, I’m sharing the link. There isn’t a lot right now to generate enthusiasm, but this appears to be one – to judge from the audience responses. )Don’t scorn it because it’s Fox – it’s not Fox corporate, it’s a local fox affiliate, and they can be surprisingly rational and even honest.)

So this is what Keith Ellison is doing now. Good for him, though I could wish he didn’t need to. One thing the current regime has done which, if they realize that they have done it, I’ll bet they wish they hadn’t – is to make it very, very obvius how important to a state its Attorney General is. Democratic AGs seeking reelection in 2026 will have a lot to campaign on.

Robert Reich on some things that some of us can do in 2026 to help make things better for all of us.

TC used to enjoy joking about how Andy was no satirizing but instead reporting straight news – and it often seems as though he could be dong just that. But in this column, he’s being serious (though it isn’t news at all.) He is following up on a previous column about surviving 2026 by sharing reader comments and additions. I’m sure not everything here will work for everyone – and possibly not anything will work for everyone. But, even though there is repetition, it’s highly likely that there will be something that may stand out and be worth remembering.

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Open Thread October 21 2025

 Posted by at 10:23 pm  Open Thread, Personal, Politics
Oct 202025
 

Yesterday, I was exhausted so slept in. But here’s what I know about the projection project:

This link goes to an Act Blue page with a couple of pix of physical posters. I haven’t yet found pix of any projections..

And here’s what I know about No Kings Day: the initial total participation nationwide was estimated at over 7 million. On the spot estimates are kind of rough, so that may change. I did the math, and to meet the three and a half percent rulr, we would need just under 12 million nationwide. Some events did over perform. Theres a little town in Colorado with 500 population which brought out 150 people. That’s 30%, and impressive.

As for the No Kings Day signs – they were many unique, all creative, and some surprising. Meidas Touch complied a Top 40 List, which needs four links because Substack can only post up to 10 images in one article. I found a couple at Steve Schmidt’s The Warning that made me smile – one said “There will be hell toupée” and the other “They’re eating the Checks, They’re eating the balances.

Here’s Meidas Touch, in reverse order because it was presented as a countdown.
Meidas 31-40
Meidas 21-30
Meidas 11-20
Meidas 1-10\

And here’s Steve Schmidt’s

If you think you have to be brave to go out and protest when you are white – think for a minute about how brave you have to be to go out and protest when you are Black. Or LatinX. The Root shared a list of Black celebrities who took part (not all were physically present, and I get that – but f the regime decides it wants to find them, it will.) I expect Jasmine Crockett will surprise no one.

I enjoy Jeff Tiedrich quotes when I run into them, but generally don’t go to his site. This time I did for his massive, mostly pictorial report on No Kings – and I don’t think I’ll need to tell you which publication referred me.

This is not a “No Kings” report. Harry Litman thinks it might be possible for the State of New York to overturn the commutation of George Santos’s sentence, and I see his point. Unfrotunately, that does not nexesssarily mean it would be easy.

There is less than usual in this about The Week Ahead, and more about last week. But the section on Abrego Garcia caught my eye – and hopefully it will illuminate not just this week but also future court cases – depending on how it is decided, which of course reflects and depends on judicial ethics.

One piece of last-minute good news which shouldn’t have to wait for Sunday.

I clicked the arong button and posted this last night, but am leaving it – it’s long and took more time than usual to put together.

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Trump: World’s Biggest Liar! George Santos: “Hold My Beer”

 Posted by at 4:24 pm  Politics
Jan 012023
 

The last time I can recall a politician breakout as fast as this was Sarah Palin.  And we all know how THAT ended!

If I were going to do a background report on Santos, it would not be a matter of knowing where to start – it’d be which LIE is the most outrageous to start with.

SANTOS:

“To get down to the nit and gritty, I’m not a fraud. I’m not a criminal who defrauded the entire country and made up this fictional character and ran for Congress.”

 

But I decided to use his prevarications as a springboard to showcase how the internet has handled it.

(I particularly got a kick out of the “Disinfo+”)

One of the better summaries of Santos’ “embellishments” (as he likes to call them) is this Tweet:

Or if you prefer a more literary approach, this poem from a Comment in WaPo should work:

My name is Santos,

And I’m a Jew,

A financial wizard,

And a Catholic, too.

I’m all that,

And so much more,

A gay, a straight,

Who’s keeping score?

 

It’s not all lies,

I like to embellish,

Like topping a wiener,

With pickle relish.

You know who likes me?

Kevin McCarthy!

(He even makes ME a little barfy)

I’ll take my seat,

I may as well,

The GOP has gone to HELL!

But not every Twitter poster has been unkind – some were actually quite sympathetic on learning of the death of his Mom … TWICE:

 

We all are scratching our heads about why the GQP is acting so upset by a con man winning an election.  Hell, the entire party has become one big grift that has stood by a liar, cheat, fraud and rapist for years.

Seems like Santos is a perfect fit for the party.  Lord knows that unlike the colleges he NEVER attended, he has the actual sheepskin credentials from a well-qualified source:

Perhaps his best known whopper is where he claims he NEVER said he was “Jewish” – but instead “Jew-ISH”.

As a Public Service for Santos, I’m going to provide an update:

Since time and space is limited, I’ll just share a bit of what the memes are concerning Santos by way of books, TV and movie titles:

I would be remiss if I didn’t include what has to be about the best example of irony I’ve ever come across – courtesy of a Tweet from Santos a little over a year ago:

If Santos were actually capable of telling the truth, well …

Looks like Santos is going to be seated this Tuesday as the incoming republican representative from New York’s 3rd District (which is going to make for a tight schedule given that he has that eulogy to give for Pope Emeritus Benedict in Rome on Thursday).  This, at least, proves Will Rogers, the folksy humorist from Oklahoma, was right:

“You can’t fool all of the people all of the time.  But it isn’t necessary.”

 

 

 

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