Not surprised by Navalny being detained. I do worry about his fate.

Twitter is full of video of massive protests all over Russia. I hope it doesn't end in bloodshed.

I agree, Lamplighter. We need two, if not more, parties to hash out ideas. I'm not convinced the Democrats know everything. But under Trump, the Republicans were not worth even talking to. They have shown a hunger for power that outpaces the country's best interest. To put it mildly.

Biden has been President for 7 hours now. Are we Communist yet or does that start tomorrow?

#102 | POSTED BY BARTIMUS AT 2021-01-20 06:53 PM | FLAG:

Have you forgotten already, comrade? The Communism starts after our Thursday morning committee meeting/potato surrender.

I was working and only saw bits and pieces, but I must admit, my eyes got a little misty watching the ceremony, especially during Biden's speech and Lady Gaga's anthem. Corky nailed it above - Biden said all the right things, and meant them.

For the first time in far too long, I felt proud to be an American. The inauguration was beautiful despite everything.

According to Trump, he's been the victim of numerous hoaxes:

Enabled insurrection, fake
Russia, hoax
Covid, hoax
Biden election, fraud
News media, fake
Obama's birth certificate, fake

None of his followers and very few of the leaders of his party noticed anything odd about this long list. Everyone else was lying, not Donald.

I look forward to the day when we find out what dirt it is Trump has on Graham. I imagine it's something much bigger than just who he invites into his bedroom.

#17 | Posted by johnny_hotsauce at 2021-01-18 11:39 AM | Reply | Flag:

You know, I used to think about Graham too, but after reading Rolling Stone's profile of him last year, I think he's just a weak person who has no true north on life's compass. He just sails with the wind and says whatever comes to mind. It may or may not be true.

Trump is absolutely not normal. He is not mentally healthy. I suppose one could argue about how many of the recognized mental disorders he has, but to say he is merely an entertainer trivializes the serious damage he has done to the state of our democracy, as well as to the physical and emotional well-being of our fellow Americans. I have no doubt that our country would not have gone through even half the pain and suffering it did in 2020 with even the next-worst choice, such as Pence, in office instead of Trump.

Dating back to her catty Sue Ann character on the Mary Tyler Moore Show in the 1970s, few people have made me laugh more than Betty White has.

She's in good company with some other finely aged laugh-makers, such as Dick Van ----, Bob Newhart, Mel Brooks, Cloris Leachman. Too bad we lost Carl Reiner a few months back at age 98.

The GOP is destroying the GOP from within. QAnon is just one of the tools. So is Donald Trump.

The mission creep is an authoritarian regime, and one party rule forever ~

#4 | Posted by Twinpac at 2021-01-17 03:03 PM | Reply | Flag:

I think you're right, QAnon is just a means to an end. Party leaders see a shrinking base because of demographic changes, along with a sense that many Fox-fed Republican Party members perceived mainline Republicans as weak and too willing to compromise with the evil Democrats. So they have to keep their base riled, even if it's based on lies from liars such as QAnon, Alex Jones and Trump. Eventually there will be a reckoning, or at least a split into two parties, but God only knows how long it will take.

I remember one time my little brother was caught playing with matches next door, trying to light some grass on fire. When asked why he did it, he denied doing it at all, even while standing there with matches in his hand. Of course, he was 8 at the time.

That's what Lindsey Graham reminds me of. Nothing is a Republican's fault, even when we watch them do it.

To sweeten the deal, Rudy has offered to revisit Four Seasons Total Landscaping, stick his hands down his pants, and fart - all at no charge.

Giuliani has no pride. Trump already said he wasn't going to pay him for his time nor reimburse his expenses and now he is willing to defend him? Does he think Trump will suddenly have a change of heart and actually pay his bills?

#4 | Posted by danni at 2021-01-17 12:51 PM | Reply | Flag:

It's mind-blowing. As if Colludy Fooliani hadn't embarrassed himself a thousand times already. No matter what happens right in front of their eyes, the Trump cult remains undeterred.

My guess is he's lying for clout. If he was sincere, then he could buy similar hard drives and do block-level cloning and then gain extra attempts to access the data - at least in theory.

#2 | Posted by GOnoles92 at 2021-01-17 12:37 PM | Reply | Flag:

I have no idea what you're talking about, but hell yeah!

Looks like Mr. Pillow Humper managed to swing through the drive-thru and pick up a Treason Trumpuccino before dropping in on his comrade.

Since his supposed wealth is all a mirage, maybe he would qualify for a public defender.

Whaaa! I did all this terrible stuff and none of you guys rescued me! Why do you think I hire lawyers? Whaaaa!

Humtake's "both sides" fetish is on display yet again. Jeebus Cripes, get a new shtick.

Advising people to "lightly" threaten members of congress is still advising people to threaten members of congress. Cawthorn is part of the new generation of GOP militants polluting our political landscape. Disgusting but not surprising.

Good God. America has a sickness worse than Covid. I'm convinced that basically all the crises facing us today have their roots in lack of empathy for fellow humans and, to a great degree, in racism.

So to Trumpist extremists, masks are off the table because of the giant hoax that somehow keeps killing our citizens, and carrying guns is a non-negotiable right at the very location where an attempted government overthrow they incited took place a few days ago. Got it.

Anyone still think we're going to be able to "unite" with this deranged cult of death and belligerence?

I've been civil and have offered what I thought was persuasive, fact-based information and analysis from a variety of sources. But even then, the primary reaction has been one of anger and dismissal. Frustrating.

#6 | POSTED BY CBOB AT 2021-01-14 11:14 AM | FLAG:

Let me follow up to that with some clarification. When I talk about the information and analysis, I am referring specifically to the Trump effect on the GOP, and my belief that the party is seriously damaged and might not survive without wholesale change - most importantly dumping Trumpism. But again, their reaction is mostly, oh you're just a Democrat who wants to find fault with the other party. When in reality I am trying to discuss strategy for the party to survive.

I've had ongoing conversations with Republicans I've known for a long time. People who have been what I would consider principled, just more conservative than I.

I've been civil and have offered what I thought was persuasive, fact-based information and analysis from a variety of sources. But even then, the primary reaction has been one of anger and dismissal. Frustrating.

One chamber down, one to go. Now is not the time to dither or watch Trump desperation videos. Now is the time to convict and remove from office the most vile occupant of the Oval Office there ever was - before he has a chance to walk out at the scheduled end of his term. Deny him the dignity he has denied all of us over these past four years of madness.

For many of these wannabe warriors, they really didn't know what they were going to do once they got there. Can't remember if someone posted this already or I saw it elsewhere, but it's a hell of a read.

He died in his basement.
He had two semi-automatic SKS rifles.
(Soviet semi-automatic carbine chambered for the 7.6239mm round)
He was a father.
"He loved cutting his own grass."
His wife said there was "blood everywhere."

#6 | POSTED BY YAV AT 2021-01-13 08:36 AM | REPLY | FLAG:

Horrible. I take no glee in a man's suicide.

Still, I can't understand how anyone could make decisions to participate in an insurrection and not wonder about possible repercussions. I think much of this mindset is the result of living in a self-imposed information bubble. No matter where you land in the political or cultural spectrum, there are going to be people who don't share your views. You can still disagree with those people, and you can prefer to be with like-minded people, but you do yourself a disservice not to expose yourself to the reality that exists outside your echo chamber.

Do the people shown in this video, having broken into the Capitol, illegally accessed potentially classified information and ransacked offices, and now planning their next move, look like Antifa?