Open Thread - 01-07-22 - Happy Birthday c99

On this day, seven years ago at precisely 7:17 PM Central time, c99 was born. Born of the orange and clad in blue. The labor was long, the birth was intense and the baby was initially very unruly. Some pondered on the future. Some fell out on the floor. Some nested in their new home.

The first year of life was a learning adventure. Then in year two great growing pains overwhelmed the newborn. Subsequent years saw a seesaw of ups and downs, but c99 still stands, in defiance of the status quo, with a middle finger in the air to all detractors. The light, it still shines.

A behind the scene historical reenactment of the moment c99 was born.
MonkeyTeam.png

Over the years I've poured my heart and soul into this project. I've been asked many times why I keep on keeping on. Well:

guilty.jpg

Thank you folks for making c99 what it is. It would be nothing without you all.

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36 users have voted.

Comments

Keep truckin' on, my friends.

I'll answer any questions, if you have any.

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17 users have voted.

@JtC Congratulations.

A time of sanity may be approaching. The Joe Rogan Interviews get 11 million views these days.

Caucus 99 is similarly a sane intelligent bulwark against the madness. I thank you and fellow participants for providing accurate information about the world as it unfolds, collapses, whatever it's doing.

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18 users have voted.

NYCVG

@NYCVG
a tip of the java backatcha'! And thank you for joining us here on our little life boat. You have definitely enhanced the discourse. Keep on truckin', sister!

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Lookout's picture

...for your persistence, patience, and devotion to the community and the C99 project.

One by friend Tina Liza Jones...sung by John.
It your 7th birthday wish us many more, health, wealth, and friends by the score. So cut the cake and let's eat some more, Happy Birthday to you!
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATrVhT7eB3Q]

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17 users have voted.

“Until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a mighty stream.”

@Lookout
Happy Birthday to you as well.

The exodus from the orange side of the mountain to the blue side was rocky, but well worth the trek.

That is Chris Stapleton singing lead vocals.

BTW, I received your letter, thank you very much, mi amigo!

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14 users have voted.

Perish the thought(most times I do).

Whomever extended the invite to me(regret it yet?), thanks!

Many is the time this life raft kept me afloat in an ocean of insanity.
Still no land in sight. . .

JtC send me your new(ish) snail mail address to my email or a pm.

Thanks again for all you do in putting up with all of us.

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19 users have voted.

Ya got to be a Spirit, cain't be no Ghost. . .

Explain Bldg #7. . . still waiting. . .

If you’ve ever wondered whether you would have complied in 1930’s Germany,
Now you know. . .
sign at protest march

@Tall Bald and Ugly
of the unruly from time to time. I also cut off the tags on new mattresses being the agitator that I am. I expect a visit from the alphabets for that disclosure.

ride.jpg

PM with new address sent.

Thanks, my friend.

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dystopian's picture

Happy Congrats jefe!

Amazing! Top drawer stuff here bro! Job well done! I am soooo thankful for this place, and its collection of strangely similar 'misfits'. Wink Love you people!

There are no words to express my appreciation.

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19 users have voted.

We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.
Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better.
both - Albert Einstein

@dystopian
really glad to have you aboard this ship of misfits. As long as we all don't gather on one side or the other we shouldn't capsize. Even keel is the trick.

Have a good one, old buddy, and thanks for the tune.

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12 users have voted.

Thanks for the years of sanity here at this place. A special shoutout to those who write the “Open Threads”! A lot of hard work and great exchange of ideas takes place there. Nice to have a place to go and find thoughtful reporting on issues for today!

To early for wine so raising my cup of coffee!

Thanks JtC

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23 users have voted.

Life is what you make it, so make it something worthwhile.

This ain't no dress rehearsal!

@jakkalbessie
I only wish divineorder was here to celebrate with us. I miss him so.

I will tip a glass of cheers your way this evening, my dear "South of Round Rock" friend.

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zed2's picture

Smile

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14 users have voted.

@zed2
for joining us here at our little Hideaway.

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It's my other one that I sort of try to forget...
Anyway, this is a great gathering of ideas and as much freedom of speech anyone will find on a blog existing today.
Prost!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

@on the cusp
I'm glad we get to spend it together. Biggrin

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@JtC

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10 users have voted.

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

But as of today I begin to count my years backward, just so I’m sure to have some good news, at least on this particular date. I’ll be in my sixties again in a couple more years!

Happy Birthday C99, my home away from home!

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“ …and when we destroy nature, we diminish our capacity to sense the divine,and understand who God is, and what our own potential is and duties are as human beings.- RFK jr. 8/26/2024

@ovals49 I am to the point of maybe lying about my age, except to the Social Security folks.
I hope your youth was not misspent, and that your looming second youth will be as cool as that first go around!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

@ovals49
ovals! You're going back in time? Take me with you, I miss it!

Thanks, my brother.

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10 users have voted.

@ovals49
It's funny. For years my birthday was known for it being Little Christmas.
Now it's known as the anniversary of 1/6.

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@gjohnsit
and I hope many more to come.

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enhydra lutris's picture

Gracias ever so mucho for creating this site, keeping it up and running, vetting the incoming and busting your butt on it constantly and assiduously. Thanks most especially for riding herd on the motley assemblage of entities that populate it, whether they hang out or are merely passing through.

So, hey, Feliz Cumpleaños, compadre!

be well and have a good one

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That, in its essence, is fascism--ownership of government by an individual, by a group, or by any other controlling private power. -- Franklin D. Roosevelt --

@enhydra lutris
to you as well, mi hermano!

Your steady hand as moderator reflects the c99 ideals to a tee. Thank you for all you do here.

Aprecio tu trabajo aquí, viejo amigo.

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snoopydawg's picture

From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU! It’s good to see that the reason this site was created is still going strong. I still remember the day I got my invite to the blue blog and thought how great it was that my viewpoints had been noticed and I was going to get to sit at the big kid’s table. Thanks for the invite CSTM!

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19 users have voted.

@snoopydawg
glad you're here as well. Please keep your great writing up! We need you here.

Thanks, my friend, and give Sam a good scritchin' from Uncle JtC, OK?

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snoopydawg's picture

@JtC

Just so you know now that you have admitted that you are related to the Sam dawg I’m appointing you 2 her dawg parents in case something happens to me. I’ll put it in my will that care of her will transfer to you on my death.

Thanks!

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@snoopydawg
sounds like a plan!

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The Liberal Moonbat's picture

...better watch out, though, I'm comin' for ya!

HigherBeing.jpg

In the meantime:

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11 users have voted.

In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.

Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!

Cthulu doesn't scare me. Now that Flying Spaghetti Monster, that's a different story.

Thanks for the Weird Al, hadn't heard that like forever.

Thanks for being here, my friend.

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QMS's picture

acquiring an astute understanding of the wild world
and not yet wise enough to swallow misgivings
shout out the truth for the grups instead
listen to us youngsters, we may learn a thing or two
about the future. Gratis to DKMich for turning me on to this
project, way back when. Thanks for all you do! You must be
proud of this accomplishment. Delayed gratification may get you
into heaven some day ..

cheers!

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13 users have voted.

question everything

@QMS
yes, I am proud of c99, of both it's accomplishments and the folks that hang out here.

Thank you for all you do, especially with the OTs, good stuff, my friend.

I miss John Prine, got to see him twice in Chicago, what a super human being.

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joe shikspack's picture

thanks for keeping the pixels twinkling!

cheers!

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The Liberal Moonbat's picture

@joe shikspack ...and thought you said "pelvis".

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8 users have voted.

In the Land of the Blind, the One-Eyed Man is declared mentally ill for describing colors.

Yes Virginia, there is a Global Banking Conspiracy!

@joe shikspack
Happy Birthday to you as well, sir!

Many if not most folks here know the story of how c99 was founded as a concept (I'm looking at you CStMS), but not many may know that it was you and I, in our own diabolical noggins, that actually thought up the practical premise of the website itself, behind the scenes, both in PMs at DKos and emails. It took a while but we got here.

Many kudos to you, old friend, it was you and the Evening Blues that inspired me to undertake the physical construct that became c99. It was the combination of the good folks at The Evening Blues (DKos) and Cant Stop's original Google Group that formed the ground floor of this site.

The best to you and yours, sir.

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CB's picture

for truly open debate. But one thing has me puzzled for a long time now. Where did you learn your exemplary skills in cat herding?
[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b6c5h-imFXI]

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13 users have voted.

@CB hoping for that! Thanks!

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"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." ---- William Casey, CIA Director, 1981

@CB

But one thing has me puzzled for a long time now. Where did you learn your exemplary skills in cat herding?

Well, It wasn't and isn't easy. First off, it's really tough to lasso those little critters with a tiny rope while on horseback. Roping and hog tying aren't easy with those razor sharp claws. You definitely don't want to ride drag behind a herd of cats, the litter box is a foregone conclusion on the open range. Just when you think the little doggies, er kitties, are settled down for a calm night of relaxation, up jumps a mouse and it's stampede time, it's hell trying to out run them to turn the herd. I don't even want to mention hairballs and catnip. Other than that it's all good.

Thanks my, friend.

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snoopydawg's picture

@JtC

You should get hazard pay.

Which reminds me folks, if you can throw a little money in the kitty so JtC can keep this place up and running.

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10 users have voted.
polkageist's picture

But especially to JtC and all the moderators past and present. I was new at the orange place when I heard what was going on here. I've never regretted jumping ship there for a nice berth here. Thanks Johnny and everyone else.

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16 users have voted.

-Greed is not a virtue.
-Socialism: the radical idea of sharing.
-Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable.
John F. Kennedy, In a speech at the White House, 1962

@polkageist
Great to have you here with us and glad you jumped the ship of orange. Their loss, our gain.

Congrats, old friend!

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10 users have voted.
ggersh's picture

At 7 and this place still has an itch too scratch.

Thanks for keeping the dream going JtC!

And PM me your snail mail, I tried Paypal and not at all surprised it failed
but at least w/snail it you can count on it.

BTW I'm hoping Texas is treating well, Illinois keeps on deteriorating at a
rapid pace and Chicago is almost uninhabitable Sad

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13 users have voted.

I never knew that the term "Never Again" only pertained to
those born Jewish

"Antisemite used to be someone who didn't like Jews
now it's someone who Jews don't like"

Heard from Margaret Kimberley

@ggersh
I don't miss Illinois at all. Texas has been a pleasant surprise. I must say that a lot of folks have the wrong impression of the Lone Star State. There's plenty of room here if you ever decide to escape.

I noticed the PayPal problem. My guess is it's something wrong with the credit card you used. I bet if you go into your account you'll find out that you typed in the wrong number/s. Or your card expired since you opened the account. Take a look at that and if you can't reconcile it, I'll send you my new address.

Thanks, old buddy, and keep warm!

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mimi's picture

Other than being thrown out in a NY minute from the orange folk's bar, after I declared I go on my own will, I don't remember anything. Just that I followed someone with the name of Rusty. I think that was the best run after a man I ever did.

Other than that I remember nobody, even not Joe Shikspack from the orange site. Well, what do I remember correctly these days. (For example I claimed to have known Joe Lauria, but after checking it was a Joe Macquire)

I just remember Armando. Boy he/dhe did hate me, but 'liebe Deinen Nächsten wie dich selbst'. Even I take the bible sometimes literally.

I never ordered Rusty's book. Author is Steven Edward Rustad, Well, it is about time. I will have to start reading before I get blind.

And I pour a little eggnogg in your direction, JtC.

Happy birthday to you and all and the blog c99P.

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@mimi
Rusty 1776 was/is a really good writer. He got booted from DKos early on and I befriended him subsequently at DocuDharma and writingintheraw.

No comment about Armando.

A little eggnogg back at you, my dear.

Prost!

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9 users have voted.
mimi's picture

@JtC

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I am continuously grateful and humbled to be in the company of so many independently critical thinkers at this site. Even if I don't comment a lot, I do visit almost every day. I am also thankful for whomever it was that led me from the orange Satan during the hilbot pogrom of 2016, first to r/kossacksforsanders then to here.

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14 users have voted.

@BORG_US_BORG
for the kind words and your presence here.

We're small but we're feisty!

Happy Birthday, my friend.

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Forever grateful for this place. Thank you, everyone.

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11 users have voted.

@crescentmoon
John_Belushi,_SNL_Vulcan_salute.jpg

Happy Birthday, cm!

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8 users have voted.

Hope that you are able to find a little time within dealing with this site to read the Sagan book.

On to 2022.

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11 users have voted.

"Without the right to offend, freedom of speech does not exist." Taslima Nasrin

@Fishtroller 02
which Sagan book? I think I have them all. Maybe not.

Happy Birthday, my friend.

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@JtC

"The Varieties of Scientific Experience". It's a compilation of his lectures on the issue of "God", mostly given in Edinburgh Scotland.... edited by his widow Anne Druyan.

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"Without the right to offend, freedom of speech does not exist." Taslima Nasrin

@Fishtroller 02
I must have forgot. I'll look it up.

Thanks fish.

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@gjohnsit
too bad the New Deal is being dismantled. We need a Newer Deal, and more competent leaders.

Happy Birthday, g.

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Socialprogressive's picture

Seven internet years old! How many is that in human years?
Keep up the great work, JtC.

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14 users have voted.

I'm great at multi-tasking. I can waste time, be unproductive, and procrastinate all at the same time.

@Socialprogressive
well, let's see:

Using the formula a2 – b2 = (a – b)(a + b)
where a = 5 and b = 3
(a – b)(a + b)
= (5 – 3)(5 + 3)
= 2 \(\times\) 8
= 16

Does 16 sound right? I hope so 'cause that made my head hurt. Now where's my spliff?

Thanks for stopping by, my friend.

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mimi's picture

@JtC
I wish you lots of human years to come. That way we would have lots and lots of dog years. Are there other years which I should know of?

I am not sure I learn something here, because I feel dumber every day, but I think that it is how it goes.

Happy Birthday again.
Drinks

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earthling1's picture

And thanks JtC for all you do here.
Kudos to Joe and CSTMS for their efforts to make this place happen.
Seven years from The Great Orange Satan? My how time flys.

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Neither Russia nor China is our enemy.
Neither Iran nor Venezuela are threatening America.
Cuba is a dead horse, stop beating it.

@earthling1
Time? Like this?

Thank you, mi amigo.

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CB's picture

@JtC
Here's the version I first heard when I was 16:

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eljU_o7zS28&list=RDeljU_o7zS28&start_rad...

How in hell did I get to be 3/4 of century old????

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9 users have voted.
usefewersyllables's picture

many thanks for still letting me hang out here. Your efforts are much appreciated, especially amongst us survivors of the various virtual pogroms over the years!

It's like the old song goes: "Hutu, Tutsi, Goodbye..." (;-)

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11 users have voted.

Twice bitten, permanently shy.

@usefewersyllables
glad to hang out with ya, my friend. Someday maybe we'll get to tip a few glasses together.

Thank you, amigo.

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EyeRound's picture

Thank you to JTC, OT posters, and commenters at C99%. I mostly lurk and do that often, and when not I usually arrive late, but that doesn't diminish my best wishes for a l o n g continuation of these pages!

Happy Birthday C99%!

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@EyeRound
Better late than never. I'll hang out as long as you all let me.

Thank you, my friend.

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wendy davis's picture

of existence!

someone upthread had mentioned 'the seven year itch':

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@wendy davis
seven years, wow! Your site's been up a while longer that that, no?

Thanks for the clip and thanks for hanging with us.

Cheers.

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studentofearth's picture

Feel fortunate to have found a place to learn, think, write a little and get some feedback. The community was an unexpected bonus. Appreciation keeps growing.

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Still yourself, deep water can absorb many disturbances with minimal reaction.
--When the opening appears release yourself.

@studentofearth
I confess to learning quite a bit from your writing and I want to thank you for that and all that you do here. You're greatly appreciated here as well.

Cheers!

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janis b's picture

Thank you defiant one and all who contribute to making this a special place. I look forward to many more years here in the company of each other.

[video:https://youtu.be/CiXNIjGX1hY]

ps. I love your 'wanted' photo.

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10 users have voted.

@janis b
I photoshopped that image a couple of years ago. I was bored and messing around.

Great video!

Thank you Janis, you've been a good friend for a long time.

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janis b's picture

@JtC

I'd be happy to see any future images you come up with when you're bored ; ).

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thanatokephaloides's picture

And indeed, "what a long, strange trip it's been" !!

I take considerable pride in being a c99er from before the "Ides of March Decree of 2016". (User 339) My first essay here was a warning that the "Decree" was coming, and that it would breed the largest spike in our population ever -- all of which came to pass as I predicted. (As did Donald Trump's Presidency.)

I have always been proud to be a c99er. And I have always been grateful to you for your ongoing efforts to keep the old place going. Thank You!

And to many more years!! Smile

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"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

snoopydawg's picture

@thanatokephaloides

It’s good to see you. Where you been and how the hell are you?

Great essay too. Hell of a rip to see all those names that have become absent. Wish them all the best.

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snoopydawg's picture

@snoopydawg

Did anyone ever make kos eat those words?

On the flip side, if you think Clinton can’t win against Donald Trump, you are a fucking moron. Seriously, you are as dumb as rocks. “But!” you yell, “Her unfavorables are 54 percent!” Yes, they are! But a big chunk of that is Sanders supporters. Check out the chart below: see that inflection point when Clinton’s unfavorables overtook her favorables? That was April 2015. You know what month Bernie Sanders entered the campaign? April 2015. Most will come home after Sanders bows out.

And for the record Hillary only won the primary cuz she cheated. Polls showed that if Bernie had ran against Trump he would be on his 2nd term.

This is excellent from Jimmy. He asks if we’d be stuck with Biden Harris if Bernie supporters had withheld their vote for HerHeinous? Democrats think that people have nowhere else to go. Voters keep proving them right.

I however don’t think we can vote ourselves out of this nightmare because it’s the people we don’t vote for who are running the country.

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thanatokephaloides's picture

@snoopydawg

On the flip side, if you think Clinton can’t win against Donald Trump, you are a fucking moron. Seriously, you are as dumb as rocks.

"Dumb as rocks" -- and right!!

kos always hated my prediction that if Herheinous got the nomination, Trump would become President in 2017. Well, Herheinous got the nomination, all right; and who got sworn in as President on January 20, 2017? Donald J. Trump, exactly as I had predicted! Diablo

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4 users have voted.

"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

thanatokephaloides's picture

@snoopydawg

It’s good to see you. Where you been and how the hell are you?

Always good to see you, too!! About as well as can be expected. Still bed-bound, pain in the ass.

Got a Juror Summons in today's mail. Answering it is going to be what we call in the trade
"too much fucking fun" !!

Wink

Great essay too. Hell of a rip to see all those names that have become absent. Wish them all the best.

Indeed. Should have published that essay earlier (see JtC's remarks below). And so many names I miss, too. (Anybody hear from detroitmechworks lately??_

Do please pet your puppies for me.

Smile

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3 users have voted.

"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

@thanatokephaloides
glad to see you around, my friend.

I remember that essay and that stampede from DK. I got caught with my pants down and had to hustle my butt off. It was frantic!

I've been damn proud having you a c99er all these years as well.

Thanks old buddy.

BTW, I might be up Denver way some time next year.

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6 users have voted.
thanatokephaloides's picture

@JtC

glad to see you around, my friend.

Always good to be here, amice!!

I remember that essay and that stampede from DK. I got caught with my pants down and had to hustle my butt off. It was frantic!

I'm sorry the rest of us couldn't do more to alleviate your burden just then.....

I've been damn proud having you a c99er all these years as well.

Thanks old buddy.

BTW, I might be up Denver way some time next year.

Thank you!

And please do keep me apprised as to your Denver plans. I live in Colorado Springs, about 90 - 120 minutes' drive south. It'd be great to meet you!!

Smile

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3 users have voted.

"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar

"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides

@thanatokephaloides
I wish I'd known. I was in Colorado Springs about three months ago. Stayed there for a week. We go to Walsenburg quite often, about an hour and a half south.

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3 users have voted.
mimi's picture

I just tried to find out, when I joined C99p. Well it was a hell to do. In any case, I am an oldie, CB in comparison is a newbie.

I settle for an in-between-bie.

And I wanted to say that I feel guilty to not have reacted to one of the pms, I got from you, way back. I just was too frigging dumb to do this appropriately.

So, if you know to which pm I relate to, then accept the apology, please, otherwise forget about it - as I did - . I was reminded of it, because I strolled through old pms.

I am not up to handle anything on this site the way it should, All of it confuses me so much, I wonder now if I am a boy or a gal. To me that's important to know. Wink

God knows ...

I pray to God that you take a break from the twitter. We need you here healthy.

Be well, and give a little scritch to Sam. Great doggie.I wished I could have a dog. But they make yellos stains on the perfect lawn my sister insists of having. O well, that too shall pass.

How many times do you think I use my dumbness as an excuse?
a. not nearly enough times
b. around about right times
c. way too often.

Anyhow I don't care.

I have heartfeld best wished to you and your health. So I pray you can make it a bit longer.

Air kiss

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janis b's picture

@mimi

because there's never enough mimi Dummheit ; ).

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mimi's picture

@janis b
Air kiss

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Many, many thanks JtC.

And thanks to all for the ideas, the conversations, the arguments, the art, the music, the companionship, and the possibilities. It's a wide open vista.

West Texas dance.

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8 users have voted.

@randtntx
now that was one cool song and act. Great stuff!

Thanks, my friend.

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JekyllnHyde's picture

You made it in the nick of time. Keep on truckin'.

[video:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2WAkHuEVHQ]

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A riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma

@JekyllnHyde
I've been in Indiana Jone's shoes several times over the years. That metaphorical ball almost got me a couple of times.

Thanks for stopping by and hanging in there with us all these years. I deem that a real pleasure.

Have a great one, mi hermano!

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QMS's picture

@JtC

not mistaken

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7 users have voted.

question everything

@QMS
it works.

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7 users have voted.

Without you we would still be babbling in Orange-speak and marching in wokestep, at least those who weren't banned outright. We may not always agree with each other, but that's a feature not a bug.

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