The Nail-Biter

Shelly Simonds won her election to the Virginia House of Delegates.

But no she didn't. Not if The Republican Guard has anything to say about it.

There are at least 3 real possibilities on what this voter intended - and 2 of them tilt the race to Simonds.

• First, the voter intended what the Repubs are claiming - straight GOP.
• Second, the voter went with all GOP, but maybe they know Simonds and they were making an exception. Whatever the reason, people split their ballots all the time.
• Third, the strike-thru on the Simonds bubble means the same as the strike-thru on the Gillespie bubble.

This thing was tossed out on the first accounting, and again on the recount, but suddenly, it's magically resurrected when Yancey needs just one more vote.

It's a classic Under-Vote.

Simonds is challenging the decision in court, and I guess we don't find out what happens next for several more days.

Not That It'll Matter

I seem to recall the Wingnut Dis-Infotainment Industry screaming about "the war on cops unleashed by crazed hordes of Black Lives Matter and blah blah blah".

Brett Samuels, The Hill:

The number of police officers who died in the line of duty decreased in 2017 and nearly hit its lowest number in 58 years, USA Today reported Thursday.

As of Thursday, 128 officers died in the line of duty this year, down from 135 in 2016. Since 1959, only 2013 saw fewer officers die while on duty, when 116 were killed, according to data from the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
So if you're scoring at home - or even if you're alone (thanks Keith), that's:

• Cops killed with guns - 47
• Civilians killed by cops - 971 (so far in 2017)

That's a kill ratio of 20:1, fellas - I don't think you're losing this one.

Today's Tweet

And a very good quote too

.@JoyAnnReid: "If you think of the presidency as a national avatar, Obama is who we hope we are, and Donald Trump is who we fear we are." #LastWord https://t.co/nS3G9DOIUE pic.twitter.com/UYxBbZmQKW

— The Last Word (@TheLastWord) December 28, 2017

 

btw - Joy Reid might be the smartest of the bunch at MSNBC right now

Today's Tweet

I'd sue for whiplash if I could figure out who to go after

(follow the thread)

BREAKING NEWS: The Washington Post reports that Trump's plan is to frantically call Flynn a liar if it's found Flynn gave Mueller any incriminating evidence on Trump or his aides (which, by definition, he did). In other words, CHRISTMAS CONTINUES.

Link: https://t.co/ODZzfTdsFp pic.twitter.com/b9rgu51S75

— Seth Abramson (@SethAbramson) December 27, 2017

 

Let's Make It A Trend

By ASSOCIATED PRESS

(COLTONS POINT, Md.) — Police in southern Maryland say a man killed his father in a Christmas Eve shootout in the son’s home.

The St. Mary’s County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Wednesday that 66-year-old Roger Allen Bruce of New Market, Virginia, was visiting his son and other relatives in the son’s home in Coltons Point, Maryland.

Deputies say Bruce and the son, 45-year-old Michael Allen Bruce Sr., got into an argument and the elder Bruce began shooting at the younger man.

Police say Michael Bruce returned fire, striking his father. Roger Bruce was pronounced dead at the scene.

Deputies are still investigating the shooting. No charges have been filed.
We can't count on them all just shooting each other - although it does seem possible, given the current state of the rubes' intellectual development, but we might be able to facilitate the process.

Allow me to reiterate my previously proposed plan:

1. Media saturation with PSAs encouraging Open-Carry in all places at all times
2. Amp up the paranoia - make sure they're even more suspicious and distrustful than usual. eg: "There are armed left-wing gangs and crazed lone wolf Libruls everywhere - they're clever too - they could be disguised as your closest gun club buddy, etc etc etc" 
3. Let it build until everybody's giving everybody the stink eye
4. Set it all in motion saying, "They're all out there now, and George Soros has told them to start the shit today, so anybody you see with a gun - shoot 'em!"

I figure if we just stay inside for a while, this is no longer a problem by about next Tuesday.

The Great Debate

PATRIARCHAL: Whatever position the toilet seat is in when I'm done is the position I leave it.

MATRIARCHAL: Put the seat down or die.

EGALITARIAN: Close the goddamned lid, ya filthy animals.

Today's Pix

Hope y'all had a great Christmas. So - let's get back to our normal weirdness.

Today'sTweet

We can only wish the prick was this eloquent

The president won't apologize to women so I did it for him. pic.twitter.com/Y4GGnWu4FU

— Liz Plank (@feministabulous) December 21, 2017

 

Biden Brief

Adm James Winnefeld, USN (Ret'd) talks about oipioids and addiction.

As published at The Atlantic, via Biden's Brief:

(I'm struggling a little with make this thing work)

Today's Today

But all seriousness aside - Merry Christmas

Here We Go A-Carloing

Hope this works

Today's GIF

Bubble porn

A Little Nature Porn

Pretty kitty

Rottweiler, Inc

Repubs keep indicating (ie: insisting) that their basic function is to protect 45*. So I think it's time to start referring to the GOP as The Republican Guard.

Why the increased attacks on @FBI’s McCabe? Looks like someone has figured out he corroborates Comey against Trump. This is targeted. As were @POTUS’s Comey tweets. As is anti-Mueller campaign.https://t.co/1Up5OUZeXw

— Sheldon Whitehouse (@SenWhitehouse) December 23, 2017

 

Today's Buzz

Pointing up some shitty shit that's been flying under the radar.