Sunday Stuff

Joy Reid talks with Michael Beschloss about this horrible recent interview given by Generalissimo Trump with Michael Schmidt of the New York Times (more here, here, and here)…



…and I have to admit that I’m still pondering these recent words from Howard Dean about the Democratic Party fielding younger political candidates (here); yes, I think he has a point, but I wonder if some of this isn’t to keep people like Bernie quiet – yes, he’s in his 70s, but so is Dear Leader, remember? And I believe that when Bernie talks, his supporters don’t hear a septuagenarian…they hear someone speaking to the issues that matter to them (and I don't believe that Dean included Elizabeth Warren in the list of potential candidates; if so, I think that's an interesting omission)…

If Congress does not get its act together, we're going to have 800,000 bright young people with no legal status who will be subject to deportation and thrown out of the only country they have ever known. We must protect the DREAMers and move them towards citizenship. pic.twitter.com/owIUzkw3My

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 29, 2017

…and I think Kyle has some of the names of the Koch Brothers messed up (Bill?), but yeah, I think that video of the Koch son is beyond parody…can’t blame Kyle for being a bit flummoxed here (NSFW)…



…and what the hell – I might as well close the year with another installment of Hasan Piker vs. Ben Shapiro, because why not (NSFW again...and I still think it’s unintentionally funny to hear men talk about abortion – if we got pregnant instead of women, there would be so many “morning after” pills on the market you wouldn’t be able to turn around without seeing an ad for at least one of them, and in Maxim Magazine and on ESPN of course.)…

Instead of a year end review @HasanTheHun delivers another takedown exposing the dumb arguments @BenShapiro fans love. pic.twitter.com/Pc7vE5MkEm

— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) December 29, 2017

…and when it comes to milestones, I know I’ve recognized some notable departures, but let’s now recognize the opposite, and that would be the recent 70th birthday of Jeff Lynne…



…and every year, it gets more and more challenging to do this – I wish I had a nickel when I thought to myself, “Hey, I’d like to do a blog post like I used to do on this subject instead of putting up a video instead,” but that’s pretty much impossible anymore; if circumstances ever change somehow and I CAN do that again, I certainly will. And sometimes, I barely have time to find the video for the topic I want, but fortunately, there is usually someone on our side of the political spectrum doing that and I can find something.

Now as always, all I’m trying to do here is promote informed dialogue somehow, however imperfectly I go about trying to do that.

And with that boring “meta” stuff out of the way, I’d like to thank anyone who has spent any time at this site whatsoever over the past year, and I wish you all good things in 2018, a year in which we will have our work cut out for us like never before, but also one where we could reap huge rewards too. It’s up to us (a theme echoed in the birthday video for Patti Smith to close out 2017).

Friday Stuff

If nothing else, 2017 turned out to be a good year for these women in politics (we need many more – hate to say this, but collectively as a gender, men have blown it in this arena)…

These women politicians from around the world made their mark in 2017 pic.twitter.com/NNFoh4FkF2

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 28, 2017

…and “purge” the Justice Department? Like, in those movies? And alleging a “deep state” conspiracy? And $84 million in allegedly illegal campaign contributions to Hillary Clinton (here)? Damn, just how big of a wackadoodle is this Francis Rooney character anyway?

Fortunately, as noted here, it looks like Rooney has at least 2 declared Democratic Party challengers for next year (more here)…

WATCH: GOP Rep. Francis Rooney calls for 'purge' of FBI, accuses some in the agency of being a part of the 'deep state' pic.twitter.com/kkJTBPFeui

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) December 26, 2017

…and Sam Seder talks to Rooney’s fellow wingnut U.S. House Rep Kevin Brady, who typically tries to tell us fairy tales about the utterly ruinous tax bill passed by his party and signed into law by the Gropenfuhrer (more here)…



…and Cenk and Ana of TYT discuss former President Obama’s warning about getting too wrapped up in social media (yes, I've read a lot of the wingnutosphere sites and tried to unpackage their BS, but I'm sorry - I don't see an equivalency, though we lefties are hardly perfect; besides, the answer is independent, objective journalism, and Obama was my guy, but he wasn't innocent when it came to going after whistle blowers)...



…and I’ve recently recalled Chuck Berry and Butch Trucks/Gregg Allman in videos to recognize their passing this year, but as far as I’m concerned, the loss of Tom Petty was the most shocking of all…



…and since 2017 is almost done, I should wrap up my informal retrospective of sorts for the year 1967 (not sure if I want to do this next year or not), and I should probably end this with the granddaddy of a tune from the most popular recording of the year (and for years beyond that).

Thursday Stuff

Boy, am I going to be laughing my ass off at our Tiny Handed Treasonous Orange Delusional Dictator while he's carted off to the gray bar hotel without a pot to piss in…

Trump is straight up mocking the American citizens who disagree with him pic.twitter.com/Lj1KIxIIwS

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 11, 2017

...and we should give thanks that people such as the Rev. Dr. William Barber are in our midst...

‘When you’re willing to push a reform that will hurt poor people, and hurt public schools, and hurt children, and health care, you are resisting, not listening to the voice of God.’ — Rev. Dr. William J Barber is calling out Republican congresspeople for their tax plan hypocrisy pic.twitter.com/PZtds6ae7E

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 26, 2017

…and kudos to everyone standing up in response to that terrible tax bill (now a law of course), including Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Ady Barkan…

GOP donors are popping champagne over the #GOPTaxScam tonight. It’s shameful – and people are right to be angry. To everyone who made their voices heard: Thank you. Stay in this fight – we need you. pic.twitter.com/IGI03EuZT6

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) December 20, 2017

...and returning to the Russia stuff, Joy Reid, sitting in for Rachel Maddow, tells us the history of our former ol’ buddy Vlad Putin’s antics in trying to re-assert his country's dominance, discussing with reporter Del Quentin Wilber of the Murdoch Street Journal (you can detect Reid trying to lure Wilber into talking about collaboration between the Russians and pro-Trump media and politicians, but Wilber didn’t go for it – not a criticism of anyone, just an observation…this presents more testimony to the fact that Louie Gohmert remains the stupidest life form in the entire universe; Robert Mueller has more integrity in his cuticle than Gohmert has in his entire body)…



...and I think it's hilarious sometimes when the truth actually sneaks out...

A newspaper accidentally printed this Walmart ad that says the retail giant screws people over pic.twitter.com/WHE4qbm5Qz

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 27, 2017

…and I’m trying to include some videos here from some particularly prominent musicians who left us during the prior year, and with that in mind, it should be noted that both Butch Trucks and Gregg Allman departed in 2017, so I think that calls for hearing this tune once more.

Wednesday Stuff

Looks like former Sixer Charles Barkley once again spoke truth on the GOP tax scam (and of course, leave it to the ESPN announcer to more or less laugh it off); following that, Joy Reid talks to former Reaganite Bruce Bartlett, who has definitely seen the light – he makes a good point that the Repugs are slobbering all over Generalissimo Trump because they don’t want an “ultra-right” primary opponent…paging Dean Malik vs. Bri-Fi on that one)…



…and speaking of guns, kudos to NY Gov Andrew Cuomo for this, as Kyle K. points out (I have issues with Cuomo on other matters, but I think he’s spot-on here when it comes to keeping guns out of the hands of domestic abusers…NSFW)…



…and leave it to Dave Chappelle to cut right to the heart of the matter when it comes to supporters of the Gropenfuhrer (very NSFW)…



…and with the prior clip in mind, I give you the latest installment of “This Day In Doomsy History” (more or less) from 12/26/13, in which unemployed workers got the shaft from congressional Republicans this time of the year; of course, now, it’s them and damn near everybody else (here and here)…



…and gosh, it looks like Preznit Tiny Handed Orange Treasonous Egomaniac may have a melt down over the invitation his predecessor will likely receive to next spring’s royal wedding in the UK – pass the popcorn…

The UK is worried Trump will throw a temper tantrum if Obama is invited to the Royal Wedding and he isn't pic.twitter.com/wJmtvwb3cy

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 27, 2017

…and I’m not 100 percent sure of how I’m going to finish up the year when it comes to video selections, but I should remind us that, among other notables, we lost Chuck Berry this year – I didn’t get to this video when I featured others by Berry in a tribute, so please allow me to do so now.

Tuesday Stuff

I automatically like this better than the Madonna cover – actually, I like almost anything better than the Madonna cover…

“Mueller Baby” is the impeachment carol we’ve been waiting for pic.twitter.com/KwQAFHhFjn

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 25, 2017

…and boy, I’d love to disagree with this, but sorry, I can’t…

America’s real religion is still greed. #Resist #Materialism #MerryChristmas pic.twitter.com/oUjyRGy9y8

— Bill Maher (@billmaher) December 24, 2017

…and here is some welcome news as the year winds down…

The world’s largest artificial sun is being used to find clean energy solutions pic.twitter.com/YvT2QXWRy3

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 24, 2017

…and yeah, Heaven forbid that anyone note that Special Counsel Robert Mueller is a Republican, huh (NSFW)…



…oh, and it looks like Preznit Tiny-Handed Orange Egomaniac is apologizing for the way he has acted…well, then again, maybe not…



…and I can’t conclude the seasonal selections without this number also.

Merry Christmas 2017

Merry Christmas to one and all; here are some closing seasonal tunes beginning with a number from 1967.

Sunday Stuff

Seth Meyers tells us of the utterly disgusting, servile compliance by the “party of Lincoln” to Generalissimo Trump, who continues to behave exactly as he did during the campaign (no, actually, I take that back – if anything, he’s worse)…



…and I think it’s absolutely hilarious that Tennessee Republicans are actually using sunshine laws as a supposed rationale to fight the removal of Confederate statues (but a typically stupid tactic all the same, I realize)…

Two Confederate statues were removed from public parks in Memphis—now Republicans are calling for an investigation into the decision pic.twitter.com/6yXuXtArKr

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 22, 2017

…and we’re winding down with the holiday selections – here are 4 more.

Saturday Stuff

Truth (but again, we all need to work to make it happen)...

.@EzraLevin of @IndivisibleTeam reacts to Democrats leading on generic midterm ballots: "Money doesn't vote. People vote. And the people know this is a bad bill and they’re mobilizing all over the country." #LastWord

Watch: https://t.co/3MpNtAv7ii pic.twitter.com/nuMHgeJUj5

— The Last Word (@TheLastWord) December 21, 2017

…and yeah, I think Cenk and John of TYT are pretty spot-on here concerning that utter joke of a speech at the UN by Nikki Haley regarding the recent idiocy of the Trumpsters on Jerusalem and Israel…



...and here are more seasonal selections.

Friday Stuff

(And for PA-08 folk, never forget that Brian Fitzpatrick voted for this atrocity; to let him know what you think of him, click here. Also, if you want to do something even more substantive about it, click here.)

In response, it should be noted indeed that Dems have to help themselves (and that includes running against the aforementioned Bri-Fi, who is now at least as big of a fraud as his brother...in his statement supporting this fleecing from his web site, he refers to the estate tax as the "death tax," which should tell you all you need to know)...

"Republicans are doing a lot of damage to themselves, but Democrats have to help themselves, too." MoveOn's @AnnaGalland explains why just opposing the GOP isn't enough. #DreamActNow pic.twitter.com/zaVk6QNWny

— MoveOn.org (@MoveOn) December 21, 2017

Update 12/25/17: And you own THIS too, Bri Fi!

…and potty mouth Kyle K. tells us here that the Gropenfuhrer is now officially the most unpopular president for his 1st year in the history of polling (yeah, but those 30 percent or so dead enders think he can do no wrong of course - NSFW; good stuff starting at about 4:30)...



…and while we do our best to restrict Internet access in this country, the Brits move in exactly the opposite (and in a much better) direction (another aspect of our deteriorating infrastructure that the “party of Lincoln” steadfastly refuses to do anything about)…

As the U.S. ends net neutrality, the UK just made fast internet a right for all citizens pic.twitter.com/kcqHl1vfFp

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 22, 2017

...and God, I thought this was funny - can't imagine why they cut it from the show (you can always count on those utterly saccharine Hallmark specials particularly at this time of year – yeah, maybe saying that makes me a Grinch, but am I wrong?)...



…and I’m throwing some new seasonal selections into the mix, though I’m saving an “evergreen” one for the end.

Thursday Stuff

(And yeah, either this guy or this guy would be awful for their own reasons also, but at least they wouldn't have "the attention span of a gnat on meth," as Repug strategist Rick Wilson so correctly put it. And it wouldn't lessen the motivation of "the resistance" either, or it certainly shouldn't anyway.)

(Oh, and by the way, DSC and DCCC, I know you’re trying to get ready for next year, but when you send me your leech-like fundraising emails, it REALLY isn’t a good idea to begin your screeching by telling me how many times you’ve already emailed me trying to suck some $$$ out of me – “Nancy Pelosi Emailed. Steny Hoyer Emailed. Ben Ray Lujan Emailed. Tom Perez Emailed. Zasu Pitts (Google her) Emailed…” I don’t appreciate being talked to like I’m some kind of a f*cking deadbeat!).

And speaking of next year (which I realize we need to do, even though we’re in the midst of the holidays), this 45-second clip should be put in a time capsule and replayed as frequently as possible (“have fun storming the castle,” according to a line from a favorite movie)…

Maddow: GOP says they can't find the money to fund children's health insurance — but they wrote a real estate loophole for Pres. Trump that will cost $414 billion. pic.twitter.com/JOm5xx3mcz

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) December 20, 2017

…and here is a related Nail. Hammer. Head. video from Robert Reich…

We know what comes next. Trump and Republican leaders will continue to lie about how great their new tax law is. Then they’ll turn their attention to using the hole it blows in the federal budget to push for cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security. pic.twitter.com/uydsopmvDA

— Robert Reich (@RBReich) December 20, 2017

…and when it comes to health care, I would say that our friends up north continue to get it right as a country, as opposed to us…

‘It is a human right to be able to know that if you are at your most vulnerable, you’re going to get the care you need.’ - Canadian leader Kathleen Wynne explains why she just doesn’t understand the U.S. health care debate pic.twitter.com/kXa5sHEs0z

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 21, 2017

…and I know, one day, we’ll have another president capable of basic human decency – just a reminder that Generalissimo Trump’s predecessor knows how to spend the holiday season…

Obama spread some holiday cheer at this Boys & Girls Club — and it will melt your heart pic.twitter.com/Ct0S9qqYOc

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 21, 2017

…and I know I’ve cut back on the holiday videos largely because of other stuff competing for my time, but here are four that I definitely don’t want to forget about (including the one where I’m STILL looking for a bicarbonate of soda).

Wednesday Stuff

(Make sure you read the caption - fits as far as I can tell...sorry if you have to view it on desktop.)

Kudos to Ady Barkan for this,and Godspeed in his courageous struggle (as far as I know, Sen. John McCain won’t be voting and will remain in Arizona for his cancer treatment)…

I filmed this message to @MeghanMcCain and her father @SenJohnMcCain - Please take a look and share. pic.twitter.com/cEhOEYb3Qf

— Ady Barkan (@AdyBarkan) December 17, 2017

…and with everything else going on, we also need these assclowns on Capitol Hill to the right thing on DACA…

Christmas Cards for Congress from Funny Or Die

…and when it comes to Net Neutrality, TYT’s Hasan Piker has some choice words for conservative shill Ben Shapiro (NSFW)…

.@BENSHAPIRO’S SILLY #NETNEUTRALITY ARGUMENT DESTROYED by @hasanthehun pic.twitter.com/5VVYWlKCQv

— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) December 19, 2017

…and to me, this is a Godly man who, I believe, has seen the error of his ways at long last…

This Republican pastor once thanked God for Trump — now he's leaving the GOP and denouncing the president pic.twitter.com/7qGWiyKbRq

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 17, 2017

...and here are a couple of more seasonal selections.

Tuesday Stuff

Seth Meyers brings us up to date on the latest tax bill carnage and the other typical nonsense from Generalissimo Trump…



…and uh huh, it looks like the “blue wave” is indeed coming next year, though we all have to do our part to make that happen; I would guess that the only metaphorical card, as it were, that the Repugs have to play on this are more voter disenfranchisement tricks, though they know a lot of them to be sure…



…and here are a couple of more seasonal selections.

Monday Stuff

So what is the #CorkerKickback all about, vis-a-vis the thoroughly ruinous tax bill in Congress? David Sirota explains…



…and yeah, what Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders say here in response – true dat…

With a government funding deadline looming, GOP leadership face a choice. Will they spend the week trying to deliver tax breaks for the rich? Or work with Dems to pass a budget that supports working people? pic.twitter.com/7Q3SeeWLTP

— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) December 18, 2017

…and here are a couple of more seasonal selections (once again, cutting back on the tunes this year).

Friday Stuff

Um, Bri-Fi, I would say that you need to step up and do the right thing here…

Retweet to tell @RepBrianFitz that it's his last chance stop tax hikes on Pennsylvanians. VOTE "NO" on the tax bill that cuts SALT! pic.twitter.com/HRK5k4RAfr

— No Double Taxation (@NoDoubleTax) December 13, 2017

…and I think this provides more of the proper context…

This millionaire is revealing his taxes to show just how much the GOP tax plan favors the wealthy pic.twitter.com/ajOLxLeoR4

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 15, 2017

…and kudos to New York AG Eric Schneiderman for this (re, Net Neutrality – and yeah, Ajit Pai is nothing but a typical Trump regime liar)…



…and kudos also to Elizabeth Shackleford, speaking to CNN’s Christiane Amanpour about what Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is doing to the U.S. State Department…



…and John Iadarola tells us that Repug U.S. House Rep Blake Farenthold is leaving under the proverbial cloud (NSFW)…



…and here’s another installment of “This Day In Doomsy History” (more or less) from 12/16/08, in which “Santa” Bush rewarded his cronies pretty much like Generalissimo Trump is now: I’m including this for at least two reasons…first, as far as I’m concerned, this is how ANY Republican in high federal office is likely to act, and second, this should be a response to any attempts at image rehabilitation on behalf of Number 43 (actor doesn’t look a lot like him, but he does have the voice down pat I believe)…



…and here are a couple of seasonal selections – likely cutting back on the holiday tunes this year.

Thursday Stuff

God, I can’t believe it’s actually been five years (here – and on a federal level, not a goddamn thing happened in response)…

Five years ago today, 20 first-graders and six school staffers were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.

An emotional President Obama made these remarks on this day in 2012: "As a country, we have been through this too many times" pic.twitter.com/FbxPOlLYnE

— NBC News (@NBCNews) December 14, 2017

…and as expected, the corporate criminals of the regime of Generalissimo Trump voted to kill Net Neutrality today (here and here); way too little too damn late for some of the “R” party clowns in the video noted by Cenk and Ana (and again, I thoroughly detest the wingnutosphere, but I’ll never say that they shouldn’t have a voice)…



…and in light of this highly interesting news, I thought it was appropriate to revisit this great “Rewrite” clip from Lawrence O’Donnell (more here on Ryan’s one-time hero)…



…and potty mouth Kyle K. tells us that the Gropenfuhrer has a new accuser, this time from Fix Noise (and I agree with Kyle about the Dems “weaponizing” accusations – going back and forth on whether or not Al Franken should have stepped down prior to completion of the Ethics Committee investigation; Chris Hayes, who I sincerely thought knew better, recently tried to draw an equivalency on “All In” between what Franken and #45 did; not condoning either, but to me, that’s what you should expect from The Comcast Network given that Franken was their chief antagonist – NSFW)…



…and given this awful anniversary, here are a couple of more muted seasonal selections.

Wednesday Stuff

(I’m going to try and get this thing fired up again after a bit of an unplanned shutdown.)

Congratulations to Dem U.S. Senator Doug Jones in Alabama; yeah, you could argue that it took a confluence of a lot of factors coming into play the right way, especially given the fact that Roy Moore somehow “ran the table” with white voters in spite of it all (which is pretty sickening as far as I’m concerned), but I agree with the assessment that Charles Barkley was pretty damn spot-on here…



…and oh yeah, we still have to fight that garbage Repug tax bill, as Bernie reminds us; keep calling 877-650-0039…

There has not been one public hearing, no opportunity to hear from economists, governors, mayors or ordinary Americans who will be impacted by this tax bill. This is a sham. pic.twitter.com/YBHBMXkLEN

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 13, 2017

…and here are a couple of more seasonal selections.

Tuesday Stuff

(Posting may be sporadic for a little while – not sure at the moment…)

Today is the day in Alabama, people (I think Cenk takes it a little too easy on Monica Whatsername in this clip, but I guess we should be even-handed for real here)…



…and do you want to be reminded of what a real leader sounds like? Watch it and weep like I just about did…

‘Just because you have the right to say something doesn’t mean the rest of us shouldn’t question those who would insult others in the name of free speech.’ — President Obama in a nuanced 2015 speech about what religious freedom means in America pic.twitter.com/WmKKPA7TVo

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 11, 2017

…and this goes out to everyone celebrating the festival of lights…



…and since it’s this guy’s birthday today, I thought this was appropriate.

Friday Stuff

Keep calling 877-650-0039, folks; the only way the “one percent” will pay their fair share is if they’re MADE to pay for it, dragged kicking and screaming into the cold light of day as it were…

Corporate America doesn't want to reduce their tax rate down to 20 percent. They want it down to zero. And that's a burden that will fall on the backs of the middle class. pic.twitter.com/x4oMUK3vYK

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 7, 2017

…and while we should do what we can to assist the folks out west victimized by the hellacious wildfires out west if we are able to, let’s not forget the following (also related to that wretched tax bill congressional Repugs are trying to pass over to our Tiny Handed Treasonous Orange Dictator)…

The GOP tax plan is going to screw over people affected by the California wildfires pic.twitter.com/EuAkFpHjfR

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 8, 2017

…and leave it Repug PA State House Rep Daryl Metcalfe to embarrass our beloved commonwealth once again, as noted here (more here – fourth bullet)…



…and in light of the Gropenfuhrer’s recent announcement on Jerusalem, I’ll bet you KNEW this was coming, right? (more here)…

Governments across the world have condemned President Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital pic.twitter.com/oAHmPluRck

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 7, 2017

…and I thought this was a pretty well done, NSFW analysis of the recent Franken/Roy Moore stuff by Hasan Piker (the one exception I can think of on the Repug side is the thoroughly bilious life form known as Trent Franks, who apparently realized that asking his staffers to serve as his baby mamas, or something, was going just a tad too far and has resigned, as noted here)…

Conservatives Love @AlFranken Resignation But Won’t Clean House w @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/SWYptTcTEM

— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) December 8, 2017

…and playing off of the previous video a bit, Sam Bee reminds us of the shitty behavior women in public life have had to deal with from men in the media, among other professions (NSFW also)…

Men were able to shape the media's coverage of Hillary with one hand, while holding their dicks in the other. #SamanthaBee pic.twitter.com/SDL4F28yCp

— Full Frontal (@FullFrontalSamB) December 7, 2017

…and here is another seasonal selection…



…and since it’s December 8th, it’s time for this tune once more.

Thursday Stuff

Yeah, it looks like Not Your Father’s Republican Party is willing to help elect someone accused of sexual misconduct with underage girls for the U.S. Senate – indeed, as long as Roy Moore has that “magic R” after his name, all is apparently forgiven (to do something about it, click here...and yeah, I don't think the difference between Moore, Our Tiny Handed Treasonous Dictator and his playmates and the "D" team could be more obvious based on this...more to come I'm sure)…



…and there’s still time to protest this garbage GOP tax bill – keep jamming up the phone lines…877-650-0039…

These faith leaders were arrested after vociferously protesting the Senate tax bill pic.twitter.com/i4V0CznhO3

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 6, 2017

…and I realize that we have to keep going after Citizens United (which is DEFINITELY related to the tax scam) even though it’s pushing the proverbial Rock of Sisyphus (you can Google it – thanks once more, High Court of Hangin’ Judge JR!), but do so we must (and kudos to Oregon Dem Sen. Jeff Merkley for reminding us)…

What the #GOPTaxScam is really about: a vast cycle of corruption rigged for the richest and most powerful Americans. pic.twitter.com/GG1WjyKOm4

— Senator Jeff Merkley (@SenJeffMerkley) December 5, 2017

…and Lawrence O’Donnell tells us about the “deep state” private spies weighed by the Gropenfuhrer (and no, this isn’t a headline from The Onion, though it would be I’m sure if we were talking about any other preznit…oh and speaking of nuttiness from Number 45, more to come on this I’m sure as well)…



...and I feel obligated to bring you another seasonal selection, so here it is...



...and happy recent 85th birthday to the one and only Richard Penniman.

Tuesday Stuff

Oh, and let it be known for the record that, in addition to voting for that utterly disgusting and craven, ruinous tax bill, “Bri Fi” voted to send it to conference too of course (here...call 877-650-0039 to do something about it, and if you live in PA-08 and want to let Bri-Fi know personally, call 202-225-4276)…

The GOP's "tax" bill:

❌Is also an anti-abortion bill
❌Is also an anti-environment bill
❌Is also an anti-Obamacare bill pic.twitter.com/U3LkYJNBAN

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 5, 2017

…and 1600 showing up to protest in Berks County, which went for Generalissimo Trump by 10 points, as Rachel Maddow notes? I call that a sign o’the times, all right…



…and yeah, this is some lame ass excuse to get rid of Sam Seder at MSNBC…

Update 12/6/17: Oh, and by the way, in light of the pic above, I think that lame ass MSNBC network ought to read this from one of their contributors (try spelling the name of our political party correctly for starters).

Update 12/7/17: They're still clowns, MSNBC I mean (here).

...and here is another holiday selection.

Monday Stuff

There’s still time to protest this disaster (more here)…

… and yes, what Bernie tells us here; of course, he’s calling out somebody with the attention span of a gnat on meth, as Repug strategist Rick Wilson once observed…

.@realDonaldTrump, I have a challenge for you: pic.twitter.com/i51O9st290

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 4, 2017

..and Jerry Greenfield of Ben and Jerry’s weighs in also (call 877-650-0039)…

We got Ben & Jerry's co-founder @yobencohen into a wolf/sheep costume. What else do we have to do to get you to call Congress to oppose the GOP tax plan? Here's their number: (877) 650-0039 pic.twitter.com/Louwgkw9kV

— MoveOn.org (@MoveOn) December 4, 2017

…oh, and let’s not forget the sickeningly servile role our Repug U.S. Senator played in trying to obtain a tax writeoff for the family of Betsy DeVos – Will Bunch explains better than I can here…makes me recall this clip…



...and for some reason, I had a heck of a time finding this...



…and Kyle K. weighs in on the Roy Moore/Jimmy Kimmel dustup (NSFW)…



..and turning to the seasonal stuff…no, it really doesn’t have to be that way (ie., that horrible tax bill).

Friday Stuff

Apparently they are actually nearing a vote on this atrocity – keep fighting, for the reasons noted by Sen. Elizabeth Warren - (202-224-3121)…

via GIPHY

…and it looks like Bernie busted Marco Rubio on this also…

Today Senator Rubio tried to tell me he wouldn't cut Medicare or Social Security. That's not what he said yesterday morning. pic.twitter.com/Dt7onRXEcD

— Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) December 1, 2017

…and when I find myself actually sympathetic to Joe Scar, then I KNOW we’re officially through the looking glass, as they say…



…and I suppose there is a bit of déjà vu between now and the antics of ‘60s people like, say, Abbie Hoffman when you look at what that guttural miscreant James O’Keefe and Project Veritas are doing (different goals of course – probably more sophisticated now for the reasons Chris Hayes and his panel point out, including Joy Reid and Rick Hertzberg, with today’s culprits trying to wreck journalism itself…a pox on our corporate media for letting that happen, and us too as citizens a bit I guess)…



…and yeah, I would call this more than a bit of karma (more here)…

Michael Flynn was convicted today for lying to the FBI.

"If I did a tenth of what [Hillary Clinton] did, I would be in jail today." pic.twitter.com/v5lIMYNK02

— Victor Stoddard (@VicStoddard) December 1, 2017

…and when it comes to holiday tunes, I guess this matches my mood at the moment with everything going on.

Thursday Stuff

Now’s the time to jam the phone lines, people - (202) 224-3121 or click here (more here)...

Rachel Maddow tells us of all of the Russian connections to the White House of Generalissimo Trump (and apparently, Erik Prince, Betsy DeVos’s brother and former head of Blackwater, just met with somebody new to the list)…



…and it looks like Huckleberry Graham is “showing a little leg” on the issue of North Korea firing off missiles (and when has our Tiny Handed Treasonous Orange Dictator ever shown an impulse for a diplomatic solution about ANYTHING? And I agree with Sam – our corporate media is just itching for the “pageantry” of another war, kind of like this fraud did not too long ago)…



…and I think it’s long past time for our Treasonous Orange Maniac to be booted off Twitter once and for all (more here - my theory, for what it’s worth, is that this was an attempt at distraction in an effort to get that disgusting tax bill to pass)…



…and kudos to the Archbishop of Canterbury for this (and yes, that’s in the UK, for anyone who somehow doesn’t know that – NSFW...and in a similar vein, I give you this)…



...and it looks like our neighbor to the north is becoming pretty cannabis-friendly, though that won't happen overnight I know; definitely a bit of a slippery slope, but I agree with the reason why David Pakman is jealous of what they're doing (and by the way, I think David makes a great point about the US ending up behind the 8-ball related to pot and research kind of like the way we are as a nation with renewable energy, and kind of like the way we were under Dubya when it came to embryonic stem cell research…anybody besides me remember that one? That’s what happens when you put Repugs in charge, people)…...



…and with a nod to a wonderful Canadian export, if you will, I don’t think this seasonal tune has ever hit home as much as it does right now.

Wednesday Stuff

Rachel Maddow brings us the very latest on the Repugs’ utterly ruinous tax scam bill; some of the protests are admittedly amusing, but some are deadly serious, as well they should be (all of the Senate Repugs on the committee voting Yes are beneath contempt, but Mike Enzi may be the most execrable of all – why do I have a sickening feeling that this could be part of the end game of movement conservatism in this country, and that they’re trying to enshrine this disgusting garbage and make it incredibly hard to unwind? Maybe it’s because that’s exactly what’s going on...to do something about this, click here)…



…and yeah, I think this is pretty damn shameless too (more here)…



…and Seth Meyers chimes in also…



…and as if we needed more proof of the scam the “one percent” is trying to run on us, Former Clinton Labor Secretary Robert Reich reminds us again here…

The Trump-Republican tax plan would be one of the biggest trickle-down disasters in our nation's history. Don't let them get away with it. pic.twitter.com/c2P5LDfao3

— Robert Reich (@RBReich) November 27, 2017

…and I know I included a clip from Thom Hartmann yesterday featuring the sterling words of our 35th president, and in a similar vein as the prior video, I include this item featuring the words of our 32nd president (audio is a little goofed up again – sorry; yep, fighting the same battles today as we fought back then…FDR was hated like no other because he was considered a traitor to his class, and he consistently beat the Repugs except in 1937, when – you could argue – policies of the Federal Reserve and the Treasury Department led to a recession that lasted about a year within the Depression)...



…and Farron Cousins points out the stupendously obvious fact that the Gropenfuhrer is really, REALLY bad at being preznit (needs to be pointed out, though - uh, yep)…



…and to me, this is what true leadership looks like, and it’s Canadian PM Justin Trudeau apologizing for his country’s abuses against LGBTQ2 individuals – of course, if Obama had done something like this, he would have been vilified forever by Fix Noise and the rest of the wingnutosphere…

‘We were wrong. We apologize. I am sorry. We are sorry.’ — Justin Trudeau’s apology to the Canadian LGBTQ+ community will move you to tears pic.twitter.com/UAJAMB2z8S

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) November 29, 2017

…and here’s another seasonal tune (trying to find a reason to smile amidst this horror show...thanks once more, all of you who did ANYTHING to inflict us with our Tiny Handed Treasonous Orange Dictator).

Tuesday Stuff

John Iadarola and Cenk of The Young Turks tells us about that human waste named James O’Keefe and Project Veritas trying to malign the WaPo for reporting on Roy Moore; it looks like O’Keefe and his pals tried to make the paper look bad with some “sting” operation that pretty much ended in hilarity…



…and It looks like Number 44 understands the importance of preserving Net Neutrality from the Trumpsters all right (to do more about that, click here)…

President Obama said repealing net neutrality would ‘end the internet as we know it’ pic.twitter.com/n5wn3JMgpu

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) November 27, 2017

…and Thom Hartmann tells us about the untrustworthiness of the Repugs (taxes, war, etc.), as well as JFK’s vision versus our current hideous reality (“completely a-historic” indeed...have to play with the volume a bit here)…



…and K.O. signs off – I wish he were staying around, but I definitely can’t blame him (surprised he forgot about the 25th Amendment as a way to get rid of Generalissimo Trump, which is unlikely I know – yes, Trump needs to go of course, but the Dems had better have a strategy in place if he’s gone for Wolf vs. Wagner and Casey vs. Barletta next year; harder to scapegoat somebody if they’re in prison)…



…and what do you say to a little holiday funk?...



…and it should be noted that yesterday marked what would have been the 75th birthday of James Marshall Hendrix.

Monday Stuff

I thought this was a good analysis by Lawrence O’Donnell, Eugene Robinson and Adam Serwer of The Atlantic over Serwer’s column called “The Nationalist’s Delusion,” about voters who supported our Tiny Handed Treasonous Orange Dictator (and still do, mostly, which beggars belief I know)…



…and Kyle K. tells us about the Gropenfuhrer and dropping bombs and related costs vs. what we should be spending to rebuild this country – NSFW of course...



…and Seth Meyers brings us some news headlines from last week, including the FCC/Net Neutrality stuff (and yeah, apparently another Congress-person is having some personal issues, you might say, as noted here)…



…and I know Thanksgiving was last week (as noted in the Meyers clip), but I don’t think it’s too late for a re-interpretation of the holiday (pointy-headed liberal that I am I guess)…

'America is a myth and the United States is on stolen land.' pic.twitter.com/0NDgCV4A8v

— NowThis (@nowthisnews) November 27, 2017

…and Cenk and Ana give us the latest on the “F*ck Trump” bumper sticker saga (Karen Fonseca ROCKS; LOVE the fact that the donations will help register elderly voters – and yeah, I would say Sheriff Troy Nehls overstepped his bounds a bit too)...



…and speaking of law enforcement (yeah, I’m sure you saw this one coming from a mile away, as they say, right?)...