So I went on a bit of a tear on Sunday because I am sick of this shit. To which Whet responded by showing me this: Texas Monthly bears the tagline “The National Magazine of Texas”–and it has lived up to the billing. Since its founding in 1973, the magazine has won 13 national magazine awards for public interest, politics, feature writing, and general excellence. It was a mantle embraced by former owner Emmis Communications Corp, which sold the magazine in October 2016 to Genesis Park, a private equity firm co-founded by Paul Hobby, grandson of former Texas governor William … Continue reading This Thing is Working. Let’s Kill It.
As the kids say, read the thread: 1. There is rightful frustration in media that many people don’t trust them. Yet that is partly because media doesn’t speak to many people — Chris Arnade (@Chris_arnade) February 17, 2017 Okay, we’ve covered before the idea that this media hate is something new, either for Trump or the Republican party, but one thing we haven’t talked about is the money behind the media hate, the money that made it happen. I’m not talking about the financing of Fox News. I’m talking about the money that left Fox News the only game in … Continue reading On Enemies, and Their People
We’re back on the weather roller coaster in New Orleans. One day it’s unseasonably warm, the next it’s colder than average. It’s almost as crazy as the Current Occupant of the White House. Did you see that insane press conference by the least racist and anti-Semitic person ever? In response to the crazy, I tweeted this:
Trump did everything but howl at the moon and chew on the carpet at that press conference. He looks ready for the straitjacket.
I hope all the Busters and Steiners are happy right now. They insisted that there was no difference between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. They were wrong. She’s sane.
Did y’all see the cartoon that was based on the Norman Rockwell painting that’s this week’s featured image? Here it is on the Tweeter Tube. I refuse to upload it:
On Sunday, the Belleville News-Democrat published this cartoon by Glenn McCoy. It appears to equate Betsy DeVos, Trump’s controversial pick for secretary of education, with Ruby Bridges, the first black child to attend an all-white school in the South.
Ruby Bridges *was* the first black student to attend an all-white elementary school in New Orleans in 1960. She was not the first overall: that honor belonged to the Little Rock Nine in 1957. The last I heard New Orleans was in the South. Y’all should spend less time cutting and pasting tweets and more time on research.
This week’s theme song fits both my mood and the temper of the times. The Forecast (Calls For Pain) comes from Robert Cray’s brilliant 1990 album Midnight Stroll:
It’s time to take a midnight stroll to the break. The forecast is for more mirth than pain on the other side.
One of my former students became a science reporter a few years out of school and once found himself on a trip to Chernobyl. A group of researchers were collecting stool samples from people who lived adjacent to the old Russian nuclear reactor, trying to see if they were suffering from any radioactive poisoning nearly three decades after the meltdown. He sent me a post card from the area with a final line I still love: “Journalism. It’s a shitty job but somebody has to do it.” I thought about him and that trip today when I was trying to … Continue reading Journalism: A shitty job in a nuclear winter
I’d like to thank everyone who donated to VAYLA’s New Orleans East Tornado Relief fund. They’ve exceeded their original goal and have raised nearly $20K. Here’s another chance to give: What would a post like this be without some musical gratitude? Stanton Moore is a New Orleans musician so I decided to let the exclamation point slide. Continue reading Thanks, Y’all
Dystopian fiction is hot right now. I cannot imagine why. Brave New World was one of the first dystopian novels. It has remained in print since its initial publication in 1932. Here are two of the many covers Huxley’s book has … Continue reading Pulp Fiction Thursday: Brave New World
Keep pretending Trump doesn’t hate you and maybe it will magically be true! The White House Correspondents’ Association dinner is not a mood ring. It doesn’t care if President Trump — or any president — likes, dislikes, celebrates, scorns or ignores White House reporters. The annual gala does not indicate, illustrate or represent the relationship between the White House and the reporters who cover it. It is an institution that celebrates one bedrock American value, the First Amendment, and two journalistic goals: to highlight excellent reporting and to award scholarships to the next generation of American journalists. That has always … Continue reading Today in Things That Were Always Bullshit: WCHA Dinner
Republicans were always gonna be okay with it: In effect, congressional Republicans have sought to compartmentalize Mr. Trump’s presidency, adopting a cafeteria-style approach. They reach for the more appealing offerings, such as the Supreme Court nominee, Judge Neil M. Gorsuch, and avert their gaze from less appetizing or, to some, downright indefensible elements (America is not so different from Vladimir V. Putin’s Russia), which would have surely drawn relentless rebukes if uttered by President Barack Obama. Some lawmakers take comfort knowing that the president’s behavior last year didn’t hurt their campaigns, and they have used the electoral result as a … Continue reading But They’ll Let Me Cut Taxes, Mom!
I thought you guys were calling Fox “fake news” these days?
To: sheikdetailfeather
In case of a loss on this issue, can Trump make other orders which are similar? Can he ban all immigration in the interestof National Security?
13 posted on 2/9/2017 4:23:50 PM by DrDude (To the Victor go the spoils! Kick A$$ Trump.)
Only if he wants the U.S. to declare war against a country. And the way that crazy son of a bitch is going, that just might be on his fuckit list.
To: sheikdetailfeather
I’m going to be positive and say they will support Trump’s Executive Order.My reason….They don’t want to be put down by the Supremes.
16 posted on 2/9/2017 4:25:25 PM by Sacajaweau
.
(tune in next week to see “sheikdetailfeather” and “Sacajaweau” call Elizabeth Warren “Pocohontas” – fun for the whole family!)
To: sheikdetailfeather
Probably 2-1 against. The Obama and Carter judges will go against Trump, the Bush one in his favor.Despite that, I do have a respect for the Carter-appointed judge that heard this case. He has the right temperament for a judge; the Obama one is a huge hack.
17 posted on 2/9/2017 4:26:01 PM by Trump20162020
To: sheikdetailfeather
This is about an hour away now.The answer better be: Yep, President Trump has the authority.
Or what? You’ll un-appoint them?
Robart, shut up.
22 posted on 2/9/2017 4:28:30 PM by backwoods-engineer (Trump won; I celebrated; I’m good. Let’s get on with the civil war now.)
“Let’s get on with the civil war now”?
How did that civil war thingy work out for you guys the LAST time you tried it?
.
To: sheikdetailfeather
Hmm Red Meat for the protesters
Or a bucket of Ice water down their skivvies?
57 posted on 2/9/2017 4:43:23 PM by Gasshog (Clinton denies… Expect to see a lot of this)
I hope you’re wearing thermal undershorts.
.
To: eyeamok
I know! Sickening Huh?! Why even bother to have an election for president or senators – congressman when these asses have more power and control the trashing of the constitution by making up their own laws and enforcing the people to abide by their rules!
This is so F!
59 posted on 2/9/2017 4:44:23 PM by RoseofTexas
Ugh, peak “both sides:” Republicans are getting an unexpected jolt from both the left and their own anxious base at these town halls — and it’s a moment that looks like a mirror image of the national mood almost a decade ago. The common thread between then and now: One party in control of Washington undertaking a massive change to Americans’ health care. When Democrats were in Republicans’ situation in 2010, they lost control of Congress and haven’t regained it since. Let’s back up. In 2009, Democrats had large majorities in Congress and controlled the White House. They quickly drew … Continue reading ‘only the players are flipped’
Ladies, stop agreeing with your husbands only when you … agree with them: Alpha women aren’t exactly new, but they were once a rarer breed. Today they abound. There are several reasons why, but it’s in large part due to women having been groomed to be leaders rather than to be wives. Simply put, women have become too much like men. They’re too competitive. Too masculine. Too alpha. Strangely, this is never a problem faced by a human male. Every relationship requires a masculine and a feminine energy to thrive. I have some questions. How is such energy measured and quantified? Is … Continue reading ‘your husband will do anything for you—slay the dragons, kill the beast’
Oh for fuck’s sake: A Central Michigan University registered student organization apologized via social media late Wednesday night after an anti-Semitic Valentine’s Day card apparently handed out by a member of the group sparked anger among students and community members. The Valentine features a photo of Adolph Hitler on the front and the words, “My love 4 u burns like 6,000 Jews,” and is signed “XOXO, Courtney.” I’m waiting for Sean Duffy to find the “good things” that came out of this whole Holocaust deal, now that it’s clear we can always find a silver lining in whatever stupid shit … Continue reading Dear CMU Republicans, Hitler was never fucking funny.
A record-setting tornado ripped through New Orleans East on February 7th. Mercifully, there were no fatalities, but there’s a lot of damage. Our readers have always been generous and I’m asking you to help again. It’s an excellent way to ward off the Trumper blues, after all. A progressive New Orleans East based community group, VAYLA (Vietnamese-American Young Leaders Association) is raising money to help their neighbors in their time of need. I’m donating and I hope you will too. Thanks in advance. Continue reading New Orleans East Tornado Relief
Angus Johnston, who you should be reading if you are not: Even if you believe that fascists have free speech rights worthy of defense, it doesn’t follow that YOU have to defend them. — Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) February 5, 2017 //platform.twitter.com/widgets.js Here’s why I’m not defending them. I don’t care about them. And I think most of the people who do, with the exception of true, TRUE civil libertarians like the fucking saints at the ACLU, are just showing off. Here’s my problem with wanking all day on Twitter about if we should punch Nazis or not, if Milo should … Continue reading Defending a Nazi Won’t Get You Into Free Speech Heaven
Good morning, faithful readers – let’s get suited up and hit the ISO chamber, shall we?
The Freeperati have been taking The Darnold’s “fear of the other” football and running with it like Tony Dorsett on a good day. What could possibly go wrong?
First, there was this:
Shooting at Quebec City mosque, reports of multiple wounded (Several dead)
I’m sure the Freeperati can be depended upon to treat this horror with the somber gravity they reserve for all mass murders.
To: SouthernerFromTheNorth
Okay, whose daughter dared to show some ankle?
2 posted on 1/29/2017 8:45:11 PM by 2ndDivisionVet (You cannot invade the mainland US. There’d be a rifle behind every blade of grass.)
Yep.
To: SouthernerFromTheNorth
There can be only one decent response to this “tragedy”
Tragedy. In quotation marks.
…Canada must increase the number of refugees to be granted asylum to 100,000.
5 posted on 1/29/2017 8:46:53 PM by Gay State Conservative (Deplorables’ Lives Matter)
To: RummyChick
This is exactly what we need to flush out of the US.
Sorry if anyone is offended…
9 posted on 1/29/2017 8:48:04 PM by Eric in the Ozarks (Baseball players, gangsters and musicians are remembered. But journalists are forgotten.)
Oh, I’m not offended at all.
In fact, I agree with you.
.
.
“NowApproachingStupidityMidnight” has the inside scoop:
To: SE Mom
Unconfirmed, but here are the suspects names:
Bashir al-Taweed and Hassan Matti, two Syrians who entered Canada as refugees last week.
60 posted on 1/29/2017 10:03:12 PM by NowApproachingMidnight (Civilizations die from suicide, not murder.)
I KNEW IT!!!
.
Then, there was this :
Report: Quebec City Mosque shooter yelled, “Allahu Akbar”
A story in a bunch of tweets from last week: //storify.com/Athenae/trump-supporters-don-t-care/embed?header=false&template=slideshow[View the story “Trump Supporters Don’t Care” on Storify] I keep seeing all these bewildered reactions whenever some massive Trump scandal or screwup or conspiracy is exposed. Why doesn’t this “stick?” Why doesn’t this change anyone’s mind? He’s going to let Paul Ryan gut their Medicare. Why doesn’t that matter? He’s hiring the entirety of the financial crisis and letting it run the economy. Why aren’t Trump voters feeling betrayed? Why isn’t THIS or THIS or THIS the breaking point for anyone who voted for him? Because none of that … Continue reading You Can’t Argue with the Need to Perform
