Month: May 2018

Athenae, Race, Uncategorized4 Comments

Color Blindness

Allison Hantschel

It drives me crazy when I see white women raising their Black children to be “color-blind.” As the Black daughter of a white mother who prepared me for the world by talking about race and racism, I can tell you that you are doing your children a disservice. — Imani Gandy (@AngryBlackLady) May 15, 2018 I remember the first time Kick directly identified someone’s race. It wasn’t long ago. I’d waved to a neighbor through the window while we were having breakfast and she asked who I was waving at. “Mr. M-, honey. He’s out in his yard.” She turned, … Continue reading Color Blindness

Athenae, Stupid Republican Tricks1 Comment

I Should Feel Good and I Don’t

Allison Hantschel

No matter how many NYT op-eds get run slobbing the knobs of every Trump voter in existence, they are gonna tell you how much liberals hate them, and you can’t argue with that:  I agree that Nancy Pelosi probably shouldn’t spend her days going on MSNBC and calling conservative voters stupid racist shitwhistles. Also Nancy Pelosi does not do that. Nor do the liberal hosts on MSNBC as far as I am aware of. Nor does anyone except cranky people on twitter (in the old days this was cranky people on blogs, but blogs don’t exist anymore). It’s absolutely immaterial … Continue reading I Should Feel Good and I Don’t

Adrastos, Political Crack, Stupid Republican Tricks, Teabaggery, The Darnold, Twitter1 Comment

The Latest Etiquette Food Fight

Peter Adrastos Athas

You’ve surely all heard about the latest Trump administration controversy. There was a leak of a bad “joke” by a communications staffer, Kelly Sadler, who said that what John McCain thought about the Haspel nomination was irrelevant because “he’s dying anyway.” The national knickers immediately went into a twist because of this latest example of bad manners by Team Trump. Hence the post title. Here’s the real question about the latest etiquette food fight: why is anyone surprised and why should anyone expect an apology from an administration headed by the vulgarian-in-chief? There’s a reason I call the president* the … Continue reading The Latest Etiquette Food Fight

Campaign Notes, Free Republic, Tommy T2 Comments

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – “You sank my Blankenship!” edition

Tommy T

Sometimes I hate sitting on these things until the next Monday…

This is one of those times.

Two West Virginia Internal Campaign Polls Show Blankenship Narrowly Edging GOP Rivals
Weekly Standard ^ | 05/07/2018 | John McCormack

Posted on 5/7/2018, 10:04:51 AM by GIdget2004

Republicans are panicking as internal polls show Don Blankenship, a coal baron who spent time in jail for a mining disaster that killed 29 workers, surging into the lead in the West Virginia Senate GOP primary over Attorney General Patrick Morrissey and Congressman Evan Jenkins.

The results of an internal campaign poll conducted for one rival Senate campaign on Saturday and Sunday were: Blankenship 31 percent, Jenkins 28 percent, Morrissey 27 percent.

The results of another internal poll conducted Friday and Saturday were: Blankenship 28 percent, Morrissey 27 percent, Jenkins 14 percent. Two weeks earlier, the same rival campaign found Blankenship at 14 percent, Morrissey at 29 percent, and Jenkins at 26 percent.

Politico reported Saturday night that internal polling showed Blankenship surging, but the specific numbers are being reported for the first time by THE WEEKLY STANDARD.

President Donald Trump, who overwhelmingly carried the state in 2016, weighed in on Twitter Monday morning: “To the great people of West Virginia we have, together, a really great chance to keep making a big difference. Problem is, Don Blankenship, currently running for Senate, can’t win the General Election in your State…No way! Remember Alabama. Vote Rep. Jenkins or A.G. Morrisey!”

“If it’s truly a two-point race, that Trump tweet is going to make a difference,” one West Virginia Senate campaign official tells THE WEEKLY STANDARD. What explains the Blankenship surge? “The debate [Monday on Fox News] helped him because Morrissey and Jenkins did what’s kind of playing out on TV–they’re slicing each other up,” says the campaign official. “Don got to be a one-liner folksy guy.” Second, Blankenship has taken up all the news coverage in the race by labeling Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell as “cocaine Mitch” and launching racist attacks against McConnell for creating jobs for “China people.”

1 posted on 5/7/2018, 10:04:51 AM by GIdget2004
Of course, we all know how the primary turned out, but let’s not let that get in the way of a little retroactive “Be careful what you wish for” action, shall we?
To: GIdget2004

 

If Blankenship wins the primary, u can write WV off as a GOP gain.

2 posted on 5/7/2018, 10:06:25 AM by tennmountainman (“Prophet Mountainman” Predicter Of All Things RINO…for a small fee.)

But – he’s Trumpier than Trump!
To: tennmountainman

And how frustrating would that be. West Virginia has been becoming increasingly Republican in recent years. Hate to see Manchin get re-elected by default, because of a flawed GOP candidate.

WE can get snakebit so to speak, can’t we?

Well, when you do political snake-handling, you’re gonna get bit. Just sayin’…

Alabama is a strong Republican state too, yet Democrat Doug Jones won the special election there.Blog Posts

6 posted on 5/7/2018, 10:10:33 AM by Dilbert San Diego

 That’s right, readers. The BASE of the GOP has suddenly gotten all antsy about realizing that they’ve stuck the electric prod of hate into the ground, and more crazy worms than they were prepared to handle have squirmed up out of the ooze.
.
That’s right. These scum-sucking pigs are suddenly nervous about their candidates abandoning their dog-whistles for foghorns.
To: GIdget2004

 

This says it all from the article:

“If Blankenship manages to win despite Trump’s opposition, it will be a strong data point for Kentucky congressman Thomas Massie’s theory that many Republican primary voters are simply “voting for the craziest son of a bitch in the race.”

7 posted on 5/7/2018, 10:12:58 AM by chuckee

.
I prefer to think of it as “Peak Tea Party”.
.
So – who’s responsible for this shitshow, anyway?

To: GIdget2004

Didn’t  DJT   iDJiT

FIFY.

 

carry WV by something like 70-25? If so he should be getting behind someone who can actually win in November…and do it loudly.If we can’t win WV we’re in deep poop.

8 posted on 5/7/2018, 10:13:00 AM by Gay State Conservative (You Say “White Privilege”…I Say “Protestant Work Ethic”)

TRUMP’S FAULT!!!
Stupid GOP voters!!!
43 posted on 5/7/2018, 11:01:21 AM by KavMan
STUPID GOP VOTERS’ FAULT!!!
Wait, whut?
To: tennmountainman

 

If Blankenship wins the WV GOP primary, WV will be a “sinking ship” for the Republicans. Are West Virginians that stupid? Oh, wait a minute … Wasn’t this the home of KKK Grand Klegal, Senator Robert Byrd?

9 posted on 5/7/2018, 10:13:11 AM by JME_FAN (uired to)

DEAD ROBERT BYRD’S FAULT!!!
.
And, speaking of the KKK….

To: GIdget2004

I support Blankenship. Like Senator-in-Exile Roy Moore, he is a GODLY man who has been unfairly persecuted by the DEEP STATE and the ENVIRONMENTAL TERRORISTS. He is a blood and soil white warrior for the TRUMP

Is he, now?

BloodAndSoil

and speaks in the tribal REALTALK. I deem any disapproval coming from THE TRUMP – all by “unnamed sources”, y’know – to be the FAKE NEWS.

25 posted on 5/7/2018, 10:32:30 AM by Max Tactical (MAGA Style!)

Wait for it…
To: Max Tactical

I deem any disapproval coming from THE TRUMP – all by “unnamed sources”, y’know – to be the FAKE NEWS.

So a tweet posted publicly by President Trump himself is an “unnamed source” for the quote in your book?

Trollin’, trollin’, trollin’…

83 posted on 5/7/2018, 11:05:41 PM by Republican Wildcat
To: Republican Wildcat

 

Obviously hacked. THE TRUMP would say no such thing.

86 posted on 5/8/2018, 12:23:53 AM by Max Tactical (MAGA Style!)

And there ya have it.
.
Continue reading at the “continue reading”….
.

Continue reading “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – “You sank my Blankenship!” edition”

Athenae, Diary, Fuck The Mommy Wars4 Comments

I Do Not Want a Grateful Child Today

Allison Hantschel

Happy Mommy Martyr Day! Sunday is Mother’s Day.  I know this because I have been to the mall three times in the past few weeks (through no fault of my own).  You can’t walk past a single shiny window without being bombarded with the certain way to make your mother happy come this Sunday morning —  BUY THIS.  Mom needs that.  IF YOU LOVE HER, YOU WILL SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON HER. I hate this stupid holiday. I hate the flower commercials and I hate the greeting cards and I hate the “spa day” thing and I hate … Continue reading I Do Not Want a Grateful Child Today

Adrastos, Album Cover Art, Art, Books, Comedy, Diary, Film, Fog Of History, Music, New Orleans, Odds & Sods, Political Crack, R.I.P., Race, Television

Saturday Odds & Sods: In The Still Of The Night

Peter Adrastos Athas
Contrasting Sounds by Wasilly Kandinsky.

It’s been an eventful week in New Orleans. The city celebrated its 300th anniversary and inaugurated our first woman mayor. I expressed my reservations about Mayor LaToya Cantrell on ye olde tweeter tube:

The slogans included “We are woke” and “We will be intentional.” I’m uncertain if that’s intentional grounding or an intentional walk. I dislike the latter baseball tactic as much as exclamation points. I still wish the new mayor well. Her propensity to mangle the language is good for the satire business, and there’s no business like giving a politician the business. I believe in taking care of business, every day, every way.

This week’s theme song, In The Still Of The Night, was written by Cole Porter in 1937 for the MGM movie musical, Rosalie. It was first sung by Nelson Eddy who was in a shit ton of hokey costume movie operettas with Jeanette MacDonald. I am not a fan of the duo but I am a die-hard Cole Porter fan as evinced by the frequent appearance of his work as Odds & Sods theme songs. I considered counting them but I’m feeling as lazy as the president* today. Where did all my executive time go?

We have two versions of the Porter classic for your entertainment. First, the elegant jazz-pop baritone Billy Eckstine aka the Voice of God.

Second, the Neville Brothers featuring some gorgeous sax playing by Charles Neville. He was an acquaintance of mine. Charles died recently at the age of 79. He was a lovely man with a kind word for everyone he met.

It’s time for a journey to Disambiguation City. Fred Parris wrote *his* In The Still Of The Night for his doo-wop group The Five Satins in 1956.

Yeah, I know, Boyz II Men also had a hit with the Parrisian song but I’m not going there. Instead, let’s jump to the break. Now where the hell did I put my parachute?

Continue reading “Saturday Odds & Sods: In The Still Of The Night”

Adrastos, Americans Recaps, Fog Of History, Television2 Comments

The Americans Thread: Philip The Axeman

Peter Adrastos Athas

There are only three more episodes remaining in the final season of The Americans. Harvest may well have been the best episode of the season thus far. There was action, revelations, and Philip and Stan both staring off in to space at the conclusion of their scenes. In Philip’s case, it’s a spy stare; in Stan’s case it’s a cop stare. Enough staring.

I try to learn something new everyday. In Harvest I learned about food combining, which was apparently big with rich ladies in 1987. It sounds like something that the rich ladies on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills aka Rich Ladies Doing Things should know about. They could combine food combining with shopping, lunching, and fighting.

The episode title gave me an earworm. I might as well post it before the spoiler break. I could combine it with something but I’d rather not.

Continue reading “The Americans Thread: Philip The Axeman”

Adrastos, Iran, Political Crack, The Darnold2 Comments

Trump’s War On Obama

Peter Adrastos Athas

The Current Occupant’s obsession with his predecessor reached an apogee of absurdity yesterday. The Iran nuclear deal is not only one of the Obama administration’s greatest accomplishments, it is working. Trump’s foreign policy actions continue to impact and alienate our allies and give aid and comfort to some dubious characters such as Bibi Netanyahu and the Saudis. Who’da thunk Saudi “reformers” and Israeli wingnuts would be in bed together? It’s the whole “enemy of my enemy “mind-set writ large. Trump has done many terrible things as president* but this is the worst because it could lead to war. He’s pulling … Continue reading Trump’s War On Obama

Athenae

We Don’t Need a Man

Allison Hantschel

Look, about this Schneiderman stuff:  Perhaps Schneiderman’s most significant role in Trump’s presidency, though, has to do with Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation — and particularly, the case against Paul Manafort. Given that a president can only pardon someone for federal crimes, Schneiderman is viewed as something of a backstop — the guy who could take up the case against Trump’s former campaign chairman for state crimes if Trump effectively wipes Manafort’s federal slate clean. Schneiderman has been investigating Manafort, and he has even leaned into the pardon situation pretty publicly. Last month, he asked lawmakers to change the state’s double jeopardy law to … Continue reading We Don’t Need a Man

Athenae, Happy Democrat Photo3 Comments

John Kerry is Still Trying to Save Your Stupid Asses

Allison Hantschel

We don’t deserve him. We didn’t get him as president because we suck too much:  With the Iran deal facing its gravest threat since it was signed in 2015, Kerry has been on an aggressive yet stealthy mission to preserve it, using his deep lists of contacts gleaned during his time as the top US diplomat to try to apply pressure on the Trump administration from the outside. President Trump, who has consistently criticized the pact and campaigned in 2016 on scuttling it, faces a May 12 deadline to decide whether to continue abiding by its terms. Kerry also met … Continue reading John Kerry is Still Trying to Save Your Stupid Asses

Free Republic, The Darnold, Tommy T1 Comment

Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Rudy Tooty Fresh and Fruity edition

Tommy T

My, my, my.

It appears that The Darnold’s new legal advisor has all of his OTHER legal advisors ready to take drastic action.

GunInMouth

Well, maybe not that drastic…

Giuliani: Trump repaid Cohen $130K for payment to porn star
Yahoo ^ | 5-2-18 | Catherine Lucey and Jill Colvin

Posted on 5/2/2018, 10:52:23 PM by Angels27

In a startling revelation, President Donald Trump’s new lawyer said Wednesday that Trump repaid his personal attorney $130,000 in a deal made just before the 2016 election to keep porn star Stormy Daniels quiet about her tryst with the president, directly contradicting Trump’s past statements about the hush money.

During an appearance on Fox News Channel’s “Hannity,” Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani said the money to repay Michael Cohen had been “funneled … through the law firm and the president repaid it.”

Asked if Trump knew about the arrangement, Giuliani said: “He didn’t know about the specifics of it, as far as I know. But he did know about the general arrangement, that Michael would take care of things like this, like I take care of things like this for my clients. I don’t burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people.” Trump told reporters several weeks ago that he didn’t know about the payment to Daniels as part of a non-disclosure agreement she signed days before the 2016 presidential election.

Asked aboard Air Force One whether he knew about the payment, Trump said flatly: “No.” Trump also said he didn’t know why Cohen had made the payment or where he got the money.

*****************

Not good at all.

Lying to the press on Air Force One is seldom good.

And he has a lovely, beautiful wife. Why would risk losing her because of a skanky porn star?

1 posted on 5/2/2018, 10:52:23 PM by Angels27

That’s a trick question, right?
To: Angels27

 

Cheaper to pay than defend even false charge. Do not ever assume when it comes to allegations.

2 posted on 5/2/2018, 10:55:45 PM by amihow

Um – he wasn’t charged with anything, this was a payoff.
.
So – Freeperati – Begin The Spin!
To: Angels27

 

Obviously, Mueller already knew that Cohen had been repaid by Trump. So Rudy’s exposing it now, prevents Mueller from using this issue as a perjury trap later.

6 posted on 5/2/2018, 10:59:30 PM by txrefugee

That ship, as they say, has pretty much sailed.
To: Angels27
“…”Mr. Trump evidently has participated in a felony and there must be serious consequences for his conduct and his lies and deception to the American people,” …” 

….. If the President participated in an alleged felonious act, if indeed this is, then he could very well be in deep legal excrement. Well … We now know what the next hundred or so news cycles will be about.

9 posted on 5/2/2018, 11:00:44 PM by R_Kangel ( “A Nation of Sheep ….. Will Beget ….. a Nation Ruled by Wolves.”)
Thinkest thou?
To: Angels27

 

His new attorney just violated the number one ethics rule for lawyers. Trump is not being served well.

11 posted on 5/2/2018, 11:01:31 PM by P-Marlowe (Freep mail me if you want to be on my Fingerstyle Acoustic Guitar Ping List)

And of course:
To: Angels27
Hey Yahoo, so freakin’ what.
I speak only for me, but I bet there are many who say the same thing. 

To tell the truth, after my daughter was born, I did not feel like being cozy. Barron was only months old. And President Trump is a very considerate man.

I sense a great disturbance in the Force – as if five hundred thousand divorce lawyers all screamed out in agony.

So, again, who cares, except the perverts from the press.

16 posted on 5/2/2018, 11:03:35 PM by Maris Crane

The Special Prosecutor?
To: Angels27

 

There is nothing here. You do understand?

27 posted on 5/2/2018, 11:11:38 PM by Red Steel

AllIsWell
To: Maris Crane
‘To tell the truth, after my daughter was born, I did not feel like being cozy. Barron was only months old. And President Trump is a very considerate man’ 

Your(sic) complimenting Trump for sleeping with a porn star while his wife takes a break from child birth?

33 posted on 5/2/2018, 11:17:51 PM by Theoria (I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive)
But he did it CONSIDERATELY, so there’s that.
More after the considerate “read more”…
.

Continue reading “Today on Tommy T’s Obsession with the Freeperati – Rudy Tooty Fresh and Fruity edition”

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media

America First

Allison Hantschel

Look, I have seen the Miracle on Ice game 457 times. I own three books about it, I own the game on DVD, I have met the majority of the team in person and Jim Craig put his arm around me and Mark Wells kissed my hand, and I almost died of joy the day I met Herb Brooks and he signed a box of Cheerios for me. My point is, if you want someone to bag on Russia I am generally your girl. But I feel like we’re missing something here:  Michael Hayden, speaking on MSNBC’s Morning Joe podcast, chalked … Continue reading America First

Adrastos, Comedy, Diary, Fog Of History, Law/Justice, Music, New Orleans, Odds & Sods, Political Crack, Television3 Comments

Saturday Odds & Sods: Hanging Upside Down

Peter Adrastos Athas
Self Portrait with Halo by Paul Gaugin.

Early summer has arrived in New Orleans. This week featured temperatures in the 80’s as well as the return of Formosan termite swarms who are more annoying than the average tourist. I realize I write a lot about the weather in this space. I became weather obsessed after a certain event in August, 2005. Can you blame me?

This week’s theme song comes from the David Byrne songbook. We saw him at Jazz Fest last Sunday. I’ll review it after the jump. He didn’t play Hanging Upside Down but it’s one of my favorite tunes from his salsa influenced period. It rocks with a jazzy Brazilian beat.

Now that I’ve hung you upside down to dry or some such shit, let’s jump to the break.

Continue reading “Saturday Odds & Sods: Hanging Upside Down”

Adrastos, Americans Recaps, Diary, Film, Fog Of History, Television

The Americans Thread: Rififi

Peter Adrastos Athas

There are only 4 episodes left in the final season of The Americans. I’m excited to see the finish but will mourn the series when it concludes. Life will be empty without Elizabeth’s spy glower, Philip’s spy frown, and Paige’s hideous baby spy wallpaper.

I nearly called this the DVR edition because it’s coming a day late as I was under the weather yesterday. I’m sticking with the episode title Rififi because there’s an Adrastos-Zelig story attached to it. Elizabeth meets a young cinephile at a showing of Jules Dassin’s caper classic. It’s a honey trap operation meet cute as he works for Senate Armed Services Committee chairman Sam Nunn.

Here’s my story: I met the blacklisted American director in Athens at a party at a family friend’s flat. Unfortunately, it was *before* I’d seen Dassin’s great late Forties film noirs: Brute Force, The Naked City, Thieves Highway, and Night and the City. All I knew at the time was that he was married to the Greek actress Melina Mercouri and had directed her in Never On A Sunday.  A lost opportunity for an even better Adrastos-Zelig story. So it goes.

Instead of posting a period appropriate rock song before the spoiler break, here’s the trailer for Brute Force, one of the best prison movies ever made. It features a brilliant performance by Hume Cronyn as a sadistic albeit diminutive prison guard:

Continue reading “The Americans Thread: Rififi”

Athenae, Catblogging1 Comment

Tuesday Catblogging

Allison Hantschel

Fierce predator Slade: These cats have been the best decision we’ve ever made. They’re cozy warm nap-buddies who like to snuggle up and watch TV with us and then run off to chase each other up and down the stairs every night at 10:42 p.m. on the dot. Ada is incredibly patient with Kick, who wants to carry her around like a big fuzzy stuffy and spent a solid hour on Sunday trying to “put Ada down for her nap,” as in lay the cat down in her bed and cover her up and read stories to her. “If she claws … Continue reading Tuesday Catblogging

Athenae, So Called Liberal Media

Run, Hamsters, Run

Allison Hantschel

How many times do you have to see this before it becomes too embarrassing to fall for it one more time? Is an attack on one woman an attack on all women, or does it matter who the woman (women) are? https://t.co/hmQe9UQOJ8 — Kellyanne Conway (@KellyannePolls) May 1, 2018 Do you have to be reminded about ACORN? About Shirley Sherrod? About Howard Dean? About John Kerry? About Van Jones? About Paul Wellstone’s funeral, or Coretta Scott King’s? About Planned Parenthood, NPR, and probably six dozen other wheels onto which you jumped and ran in the past 15 years? Over and … Continue reading Run, Hamsters, Run