237 Comments
User's avatar
Joe King's avatar

It's telling that no Republicans want to join a group that champions reason-based policy, church-state separation, and freedom of thought. One would think they are against such things.

Expand full comment
Bagat's avatar

They are against these things. Their gods are authoritarian and dictatorial monsters. They grow up being told Big Brotrhe er, god, is watching. It is judging every thought, word, action and dream constantly. It is total mind-fuck.

Expand full comment
wreck's avatar

Against? More like allergic.

Expand full comment
Len Koz's avatar

Allergic like vampires to wooden stakes.

Expand full comment
Troublesh00ter's avatar

Good news, especially in the light of all the religious craziness going on on the other side of the aisle. Welcome, Ms. Friedman! We're glad you joined us!

Expand full comment
Age of Reason's avatar

Hemant. 

Here is a copy of my message to Jeff Tiedrich, was important to get this message out to save the GOPpers should your guy "donnie" proceed with his plan to adopt Canada as his 51st state.   

Attention all GOPpers!

Poor fucking demented Donny, pleading for Canada to become his 51st State ....... What?

Has he or his minions not thought this out?  

What would 'merica look like with 51 states, the latest one even larger than all the other 50 combined ...... What

The first step for your new state is to State-Divide (verb), a new process to fix BIG problems.  Canada would of course be state-divided into a bunch of states, if done using geographical criteria the 10 provinces and 3 territories would shake down to at least 8 states.

8 states ....... that means 16 new senators ........ What?

Camera pans to live meeting in the GOP senate subcommittee:   "16 new senators ......... from Canadas ......... they're all commies!"   There goes any chance of a GOPper majority ...... ever.

Camera pans to live meeting of GOP house subcommittee:  "Somebody call Trump, we need a riot at the gates to stop the voting, we can't win anything."

Not only are most of them socialists (by 'mercan standards) most are also atheists ........ What?

If any Friendly Atheist knows a ranking GOPper you might want to give them a heads up. 

From a kind gentle Canadian atheist

Expand full comment
larry parker's avatar

The US is not going to annex Canada. It's a distraction.

Expand full comment
Age of Reason's avatar

Thank you for that, of course it's a distraction, now the American public must know that in this matter too, your president is unfit to govern. I have no access to public media, Hemant is the closest I could find. However, this is another clue to the fact that Trump is clueless. Gracias.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

America tried invading Canada before. It didn’t go so well for the United States. :)

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

Something about the White House being on fire, IIRC.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

That was one the consequences.

To this day, Americans still think we never lost a war before Vietnam. They seem to forget about this bit of history. And the Civil War? Southern-based Americans sure lost that one.

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

I’m not sure anyone wins a civil war. You survive it and try to put the pieces back together according to the vision of the ones who didn’t give up.

Of course, this generation may soon have first hand experience.

Expand full comment
Vanity Unfair's avatar

...and the Library of Congress: that was unforgivable.

Expand full comment
Straw's avatar

I don't get what you are writing about. Please enlighten me.

Expand full comment
Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

As if the magats known their history!

Expand full comment
ericc's avatar

Larry is right that Trump is engaging in political theater.

You are right that Canada becoming 3-6 states would give the Dems a massive legislative advantage.

But what you forget is, *even if* Trump's wildest dreams came true, the GOP controlled Congress would likely make it into a territory with no legislative voting representation. After all, the US already has a few of those, what's a few more? Basically, Republicans would turn it into one or more giant Washington DCs.

And if you counter that Canada would never agree to that, well they'd never agree to becoming part of the US at all, so this whole fantastic scenario assumes a hostile takeover where Canada has no say in how it turns out. So...nonvoting territory or territories it would be.

Expand full comment
Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

They have trump-humpers in Canada too, mostly in the prairies.

Expand full comment
Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

Today is opening night!!! I will likely not be on much for the rest of the day, I need to keep running lines during any free time I get.

Here’s a link to the theater if you are interested in donating and there will be a live streaming 2/8/25, so look out for that.

https://bstonline.org/

Expand full comment
Zizzer-Zazzer-Zuzz's avatar

Hemant totally needs to do a streaming watch party.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

🎵It's time to play the music. It's time to light the lights...🎵

Expand full comment
Troublesh00ter's avatar

Can I say, "Break a leg?" 😁

Expand full comment
Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

Only if you do it with gusto!

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

And if Gusto can't make it? Belt it out, anyway!

Expand full comment
Matri's avatar

How about with Guido?

Expand full comment
Guerillasurgeon's avatar

The ticket prices are great – the airfare's a bit much though.😇

Expand full comment
Matri's avatar

In my case, it’ll be the deportation fine that’ll kill me.

Expand full comment
larry parker's avatar

You'll have to wait for the show to go on tour. You probably won't see Val though. The big stars usually aren't part of the touring company.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

Well, sure. I mean. who here DIDN'T get their introduction to classical musical/opera from that Oscar-winning rabbit?

Expand full comment
Len Koz's avatar

I've never gone to see "The Barber of Seville" because I always figured it couldn't be any better than the Bugs Bunny version.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

And I wouldn’t be able to attend Wagnerian opera without hearing Elmer Fudd singing 🎵Bwuuunnhilde, my wuuuuuv…🎵

Expand full comment
Len Koz's avatar

🤣

Expand full comment
Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

🎶"Kill the Wabbit, kill the wabbit."🎶

Expand full comment
Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Yep, by the time I heard the commercial for "hooked on classics" I knew most of them, just not the names.

Expand full comment
Mary Maguire's avatar

Brought my son to the Orson Welles in Cambridge MA in the 1970s to see Beauty and the Beast (1946 film) by Cocteau. Didn't realize we missed it by a day. We were subjected to "The 10 most wanted Looney Tunes." That's a LOT of Looney Tunes, he asked to leave halfway through the 2nd cartoon.

Expand full comment
Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

"Break a leg toots!"

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

🎵Another opening, another show...🎵

Expand full comment
Bagat's avatar

22 members who will end up cussed at, vilified, threatened with physical harm to them and their familis by people claiming a "loving" jesus.

Expand full comment
Straw's avatar

First I "liked" your post, but then I thought about it. I just can't like it. I can't like the possibility of people being harassed because they don't believe the same as the rest does.

Expand full comment
Matri's avatar

Unfortunately, that’s reality now.

Expand full comment
Straw's avatar

I really really worry for all the people who now are targeted by TYG and his owner EM and their minions. This is people who get off by scaring children, nonbinary people, women, homoswxuals and anyone they can harassing.

Expand full comment
Bagat's avatar

Religious superstitions began as groups to protect one's group against any other group. Today we see that is still the case

Expand full comment
Matri's avatar

The Trumpistani Tribe are even more religiously superstitious than most.

Expand full comment
John Smith's avatar

And violent, must not forget violent. The Rednecks will resort to violence on the flimsiest of reasons. They expect deference, respect and obedience from those they think are inferior, and to question or show any resistance to their (in their mind) god given position is just enough of a reason to set them off. Rednecks think that white (read European descent), straight (read heterosexual, only female/male), Christian (read evangelical, maybe other Protestant sect are accepted), conservative (read fascism), Republicans are the only one with god given rights (read Human Rights and civil liberties). All others are fit to be used, abused, and killed (on a whim or in their minds a just cause), and not to be held responsible or accountable for their actions towards others.

Expand full comment
Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

Yep, like in the article I posted yesterday: 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐖𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦 𝐈𝐬 𝐒𝐨 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐞𝐥.

https://theologyandthecity.com/2018/03/12/why-white-evangelicalism-is-so-cruel/

Expand full comment
Joan the Dork's avatar

Nothing says "we're the good guys!" like using federal agents to lay ambushes for schoolchildren, amirite?

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

"Vere are your papers?" 6-year-olds having to carry proof of citizenship, if they can find a document that will actually be accepted.

Expand full comment
Joan the Dork's avatar

I don't know how common it is for kids to carry IDs today (what with security in schools tightening in the wake of our unending murder spree epidemic), but I didn't carry a photo ID on my person until I got my learner's permit from the DMV. I have my doubts that the sort of goons who'd go along with orders like these are the sort who'd diligently check IDs in any case.

I have a niece and a nephew who have Mexican ancestry and a Hispanic last name from the other side of the family, and their skin is 𝘫𝘶𝘴𝘵 brown enough to be noticeably 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳. They live in a red state. Restful sleep is a thing of the past, I think.

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

I'm pretty sure the states still don't issue photo IDs to anyone under the age of 15 1/2. Kids may carry a School ID with their photos, but schools don't currently check immigration documents. (And that tends to be older kids, AIUI) And so far, he hasn't been able to revoke birthright citizenship, so he's going to terrorize children who are U.S. citizens.

Even if we accepted his assertion that illegal immigration is a war, targeting children is a war crime. I'd love to see him arrested for setting foot in Europe for example.

Expand full comment
Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

You know he’ll ignore it, I know he’ll ignore it but we shouldn’t let it go. We need to demand we do our best to keep the Universal Declaration of Human Rights a priority. He’s already managed to break a few in his first few days.

https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights

Expand full comment
Matri's avatar

It took him days? I thought they would have pushed him to break them in hours.

Expand full comment
Val Uptuous NotAgain's avatar

Most schools have student IDs, starting pretty young, I think the intermediate school had them (5-6th grades). Not that those are prof of citizenship.

Regarding who they’re detaining and harassing — yesterday I heard about a raid that held a US Army veteran. They did not believe his military documentation was real. They did release him eventually, but if you think these demands for documents will not affect you, you have another think coming. If you have dark hair, your pale skin can be ignored because some Mexicans are pale. Blonde hair, Mexicans are blonde too. Or they dye their hair or bleached their skin to avoid the ICE, whatever it takes to justify the detention. And who’s to say they’re stopping with Hispanic/latino people? It will be a requirement to provide documents everywhere for everyone. Your MAGAt hat won’t protect you. Maybe the face Trump tat, but then more likely they’ll tattoo the unwanted rather than themselves. Are we ready, folks?

Expand full comment
Matri's avatar

IIRC, the last time they did a public roundup like this, they very nearly deported the CEO of either BMW or Mercedes, I forget which.

A German national.

Because like a sane person, he wasn’t carrying his passport with him at all times.

The fucking Trumpistanis and their legion are fucking out of their tiny little fucking minds.

Expand full comment
Troublesh00ter's avatar

Can you say, "Due process," boys and girls? I KNEW that you could!

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

Let's start with probable cause. Millions of U.S. citizens are 3rd-4th generation Latinx. Large parts of the country used to belong to Mexico and were settled by Latinx.

Expand full comment
Whitney's avatar

I had questions after looking at that pic, so I went digging a bit. Here's the AP story on it:

https://apnews.com/article/immigration-enforcement-sensitive-locations-trump-ab0d2d2652e9df696f14410ebb52a1fc

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

As I recall, the Catholic church has a long history of offering sanctuary. I wonder if ICE/CBP have the balls to go into a church with guns drawn and bring the weight of the entire Catholic church down on their heads.

(C'mon, they have to be good for something besides harboring pedophiles)

Expand full comment
Vanity Unfair's avatar

The lights really are going out in Massachusetts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgxjcIqCpRM

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

CFC has not one Republican in its ranks. I'd like to think that after Trump's tirade against Rev. Budde the other day that at least one Republican who isn't a complete MAGAt would finally step up and join.

Expand full comment
Joan the Dork's avatar

All of the Republicans who'd have had the backbone to defy Dear Leader are either dead, or their careers in politics are. What's left of that party is a putrid, shambling corpse with no will of its own, nor any sense of ethics and decency.

Expand full comment
Bagat's avatar

That is about as likely as my cat reading books to me, saving me eyestrain.

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

Are there winged horses flying over your Seattle?

Expand full comment
larry parker's avatar

Seattle is a saddle for sea horses.

Expand full comment
Joe King's avatar

Republicans who aren't complete MAGAts? I don't think there are any left.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

I had to edit my post when I realized I'd started off by saying what you said the way you said it. Sorry for the unintentional copycat.

Expand full comment
Straw's avatar

Do you often hallucinate like this?

Expand full comment
Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

OT - Gee who didn't see this coming

… NBC is reporting that Mexico refused permission prior to takeoff to a request by a US military flight with deported migrants to land in their country yesterday, which resulted in the flight being canceled. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said she opposes Trump’s attempt to take “unilateral actions” to deport migrants, and will not give consent for any US flights to land in her country unless the deportations have been coordinated with her government.

https://www.meidasplus.com/p/today-in-politics-bulletin-56-12425

Expand full comment
Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

OT - Hee hee

… Scottish comic Steve Blair: “Trump’s furious, because as a Bishop, Budde can move as far as she wants diagonally, but as a Russian pawn he can only move one square at a time.”

https://www.meidasplus.com/p/today-in-politics-bulletin-56-12425

Expand full comment
Guerillasurgeon's avatar

Anti-trans people are still commenting on the last trans post. As if I'm going to go back there and reply.😁

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

Got one yesterday. Thought about replying but I'm not going to argue on a 6 day old article with someone who futzes with the truth.

Expand full comment
Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

That's what they used to do at Wonkette. Wait until a post was dead, and have the last word with their stinky effluent sliming the post.

Expand full comment
larry parker's avatar

I've gotten several, all from the same person. Nothing of substance.

I also got two upvotes from an article back in August.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

I noticed that one of the anti-trans people commented here today. In fact, they were the first to post on this article. They got 3 upvotes.

Expand full comment
larry parker's avatar

Buckner has been around awhile.

Expand full comment
Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

Yeah, I noticed that too.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

I got one just yesterday. They sure have one-track minds.

I sent the transphobe's comment right into "Delete" unanswered.

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

249 years was a nice run for a democracy.

Expand full comment
Guerillasurgeon's avatar

You can't be a democracy unless you give women the vote. :)

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

249 years without a monarch. :)

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

King Potatohead.

Expand full comment
John Smith's avatar

Trump would be call emperor asshole, or supreme asshole for life, asshole for eternity, asshole king of kings, ruler of all assholes in America and around the world, the flying monkey’s asshole and co., etc. Please add others to the list!

Expand full comment
Bagat's avatar

Seen on that site that allows memes

THEY FINALLY SAID IT ALOUD.

THEY voted for this. I DID NOT.

Expand full comment
Daniel Rotter's avatar

OT, but ever notice how the same people who justify deportations of even non-dangerous illegal immigrants (including children) based on how they cause overcrowding in schools, in emergency rooms, etc. are the same folks who are crowing about how underpopulated America (and the world) is and that people need to have more babies?

Expand full comment
Zorginipsoundsor's avatar

More white babies.

Expand full comment
Bagat's avatar

zackly

Expand full comment
Bagat's avatar

Hypocrisy is a feature, not a bug.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

OT

The station I'm listening to right now just played Don Henley's "The End of the Innocence." Recorded during the Reagan Years but still applies to Trump...

"O' beautiful, for spacious skies

But now those skies are threatening

They're beating plowshares into swords

For this tired old man that we elected king..."

Expand full comment
Daniel Rotter's avatar

5 days in, and the Dude's already violated the Constitution (14th Amendment).

Expand full comment
larry parker's avatar

The Insurrectionist in Chief violated it when he was sworn in.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

He's that "domestic enemy" we were told about in the Oath of Office.

He's so hellbent on destroying this country that Homeland Security should be listing him as a domestic terrorist.

Expand full comment
cdbunch's avatar

Maybe California should stop sending all that tax money to the federal government and put it in their own disaster fund.

Expand full comment
Troublesh00ter's avatar

He was that eight years ago. He's still that now. He's just gotten worse.

Expand full comment
Matri's avatar

Back then he made the mistake of putting people who still had a smidgen of conscience in them into his cabinet.

Now he has picked people who are completely devoid of any.

Expand full comment
Len Koz's avatar

The only requirement is loyalty to his smelly diaper-wearing orange ass.

Expand full comment
NOGODZ20's avatar

A loyalty he in no way returns.

Expand full comment