Fantastic Bill. What truly shocks me is you haven’t read Trollope. I predict you will love the Warden. If so you will also almost certainly love Barchester Towers. And from there you could go on to the four additional novels in that series. (John Major listed the bittersweet Small House at Allington” as his favorite Trollope, a very unconventional choice). And then of course there are the 6 Palliser novels, which focus to varying degrees on the workings of Parluament. Phineas Phinn is the best in my opinion. Then there is the long but timely The Way We Live Now about a a Bernie Madoff like con artist. And finally Orly Farm, a legal thriller of sorts and in its own way as cynical a portrait of the law as Bleak House. That could take you a year depending on what else you read and do. And then there are 30 odd more after that.
There may well be other comments to this effect, but I haven't had a chance to read through yet. Nikki Haley - I'm so furious at her. She DID speak the truth about Trump on the campaign trail. Then, in an effort to save her career and seeing full well that her run to usurp Trump was failing, she changed course and kissed the ring. Only to be smacked away and hard. SHE MISSED A CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING - endorse Kamala and instead tried to salvage her career.
Had she acted with integrity, her voters MAY have been enough (depending on where they lived) and we would be talking about the upcoming presidency of Kamala Harris. I loathe Haley.
As far as that new 'presidential' picture: if there was only one word to describe Trump - though many to choose from like criminal, idiot, shameless, shallow - I would have to go with BUFFOON. How can his worshippers take him seriously? I know ten-year-olds with more self-awareness.
I’ve got good books, good shows, my two computer games to shield me. Now the faux orange flatulent felon’s “yuuuuge” day will be…indoors. While I will avoid most news, and all that is not in print (mainly the Guardian, BBC and Substack), I will take advice all of us appalled at what is happening should take, coming as it does from the source: “Stand back and stand by.” If they can do it, SO CAN WE.
I think of the Trump voter in one of Sarah's focus groups who said that there was a bait and switch with Biden, that he promised a bunch of things and then none of it panned out. I don't know what he had in mind in particular that Biden didn't deliver, but I start to feel like swing voters wanted to hold Biden and Democrats accountable for every word that came out of their mouth, but Trump somehow got a pass for all of the things that he promised and didn't or couldn't deliver.
Bill, you are going to love The Warden. The Chronicles of Barsetshire are delightful in their entirety, but Septimus Harding is a tiny slice of wonderful, and a perfect antidote to the Trump inauguration.
Rather than TV time this weekend, except for All Creatures Great and Small, I will try to spend my time outside in the non-burning, but windy today, northern half of the great state of California. Maybe long strolls along the local waterfront, or in wooded valleys, with camera in tow. One part of the weekend will be dedicated to the pursuit of an activity that people of all ages, from 6 to 96 in my experience, can do together, making music, in a Sunday afternoon orchestral rehearsal. There are other things to do rather than despair.
William Kristol I read and respect your opinion and believe you and I have a common sense. Now totally linked with our streaming habits. I just watched Shetland’s last episode and beginning Vera season 14.
MAGA America- take a good look at the mugshot that Trump chose for his official picture. That cartoon character is your hero, the guy you want to lead the US and the free world. Way to go.
Considering all the deranged social media posts and other unhinged public pronouncements and superhero NFTs and Trump Bible hawking etc. that have not embarrassed MAGAs out of their reverence, I don't think an official portrait styled as an angry mugshot will make a dent.
My Monday plans involve taking my new rescue dog, Carter, to a doggie birthday party across the way, and later watching the Villanova/Georgetown game and at least some of the CFP championship game between Ohio St and Notre Dame. On the skycam alternate broadcast, which is awesome. It requires some guessing along, but a lot less distraction by the game announcers and hearing the two school bands much better than you will on the regular broadcast.
And avoiding the inauguration as much as humanly possible. I'm still hoping much of DC closes its doors for the weekend, literally leaving the Trumpanzees out in the cold.
Having trouble keeping track of the layer upon layer upon layer of Trump's brazen corruption, self-dealing and grifting? The length, breadth and sheer volume of it all is absolutely staggerIng.
Well, as a public service, Karen Yourish, Eric Lipton and Lazaro Gamio of The New York Times are today offering this handy, albeit jaw-dropping, interactive guide:
Somebody needs to keep track of Trump accomplishment claims. He routinely takes credit for what is already done. This has become a feature of hos PR.
Now… fentanyl deaths have decreased significantly. Trump PR is starting to promote the fentanyl problem as a precursor to claiming his threats against Mexico and Canada solved the problem.
I'm looking forward to next week when he starts claiming that any economic upward bumps are due to his election and any downturns are the leftovers from Biden. Win-Win in MAGA land.
Fantastic Bill. What truly shocks me is you haven’t read Trollope. I predict you will love the Warden. If so you will also almost certainly love Barchester Towers. And from there you could go on to the four additional novels in that series. (John Major listed the bittersweet Small House at Allington” as his favorite Trollope, a very unconventional choice). And then of course there are the 6 Palliser novels, which focus to varying degrees on the workings of Parluament. Phineas Phinn is the best in my opinion. Then there is the long but timely The Way We Live Now about a a Bernie Madoff like con artist. And finally Orly Farm, a legal thriller of sorts and in its own way as cynical a portrait of the law as Bleak House. That could take you a year depending on what else you read and do. And then there are 30 odd more after that.
Sonny's piece is great, loved it.
Aww, come on, Bill. Did you not forget the College Football National Championship is that night?
I'll be watching! Go Irish!
There may well be other comments to this effect, but I haven't had a chance to read through yet. Nikki Haley - I'm so furious at her. She DID speak the truth about Trump on the campaign trail. Then, in an effort to save her career and seeing full well that her run to usurp Trump was failing, she changed course and kissed the ring. Only to be smacked away and hard. SHE MISSED A CHANCE TO DO THE RIGHT THING - endorse Kamala and instead tried to salvage her career.
Had she acted with integrity, her voters MAY have been enough (depending on where they lived) and we would be talking about the upcoming presidency of Kamala Harris. I loathe Haley.
As far as that new 'presidential' picture: if there was only one word to describe Trump - though many to choose from like criminal, idiot, shameless, shallow - I would have to go with BUFFOON. How can his worshippers take him seriously? I know ten-year-olds with more self-awareness.
I haven't seen that take yet and it's a good one. I was SO WRONG (admittedly) when I actually thought she had turned the corner with Trump.
So many "patriots" in Trump's wake aren't there?
“Night Train” Lane… Love it!!!
I’ve got good books, good shows, my two computer games to shield me. Now the faux orange flatulent felon’s “yuuuuge” day will be…indoors. While I will avoid most news, and all that is not in print (mainly the Guardian, BBC and Substack), I will take advice all of us appalled at what is happening should take, coming as it does from the source: “Stand back and stand by.” If they can do it, SO CAN WE.
Shock & Awe (2025): The Oath-Breaking SoB glowers...which 49% of 2024 U.S. voters try to emulate while 47.4% of 2024 U.S. voters expectorate.
What a mandate...
I think of the Trump voter in one of Sarah's focus groups who said that there was a bait and switch with Biden, that he promised a bunch of things and then none of it panned out. I don't know what he had in mind in particular that Biden didn't deliver, but I start to feel like swing voters wanted to hold Biden and Democrats accountable for every word that came out of their mouth, but Trump somehow got a pass for all of the things that he promised and didn't or couldn't deliver.
That's been the entire story for the MAGAs. Microscopes for the Dems: Blinders for Trump.
Bill, you are going to love The Warden. The Chronicles of Barsetshire are delightful in their entirety, but Septimus Harding is a tiny slice of wonderful, and a perfect antidote to the Trump inauguration.
Rather than TV time this weekend, except for All Creatures Great and Small, I will try to spend my time outside in the non-burning, but windy today, northern half of the great state of California. Maybe long strolls along the local waterfront, or in wooded valleys, with camera in tow. One part of the weekend will be dedicated to the pursuit of an activity that people of all ages, from 6 to 96 in my experience, can do together, making music, in a Sunday afternoon orchestral rehearsal. There are other things to do rather than despair.
William Kristol I read and respect your opinion and believe you and I have a common sense. Now totally linked with our streaming habits. I just watched Shetland’s last episode and beginning Vera season 14.
I use cc nearly all the time
See you in the funny papers
Charlie Huntley
MAGA America- take a good look at the mugshot that Trump chose for his official picture. That cartoon character is your hero, the guy you want to lead the US and the free world. Way to go.
Considering all the deranged social media posts and other unhinged public pronouncements and superhero NFTs and Trump Bible hawking etc. that have not embarrassed MAGAs out of their reverence, I don't think an official portrait styled as an angry mugshot will make a dent.
My Monday plans involve taking my new rescue dog, Carter, to a doggie birthday party across the way, and later watching the Villanova/Georgetown game and at least some of the CFP championship game between Ohio St and Notre Dame. On the skycam alternate broadcast, which is awesome. It requires some guessing along, but a lot less distraction by the game announcers and hearing the two school bands much better than you will on the regular broadcast.
And avoiding the inauguration as much as humanly possible. I'm still hoping much of DC closes its doors for the weekend, literally leaving the Trumpanzees out in the cold.
Having trouble keeping track of the layer upon layer upon layer of Trump's brazen corruption, self-dealing and grifting? The length, breadth and sheer volume of it all is absolutely staggerIng.
Well, as a public service, Karen Yourish, Eric Lipton and Lazaro Gamio of The New York Times are today offering this handy, albeit jaw-dropping, interactive guide:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/01/17/us/politics/trump-conflicts-of-interest.html
The new "official portrait" of Trump is a visual confirmation of what we've all known for a long time. He's a thug and, now, a convicted felon.
To paraphrase Bertrand Russell, "it's 'hail to the thief' all the way down."
Somebody needs to keep track of Trump accomplishment claims. He routinely takes credit for what is already done. This has become a feature of hos PR.
Now… fentanyl deaths have decreased significantly. Trump PR is starting to promote the fentanyl problem as a precursor to claiming his threats against Mexico and Canada solved the problem.
I'm looking forward to next week when he starts claiming that any economic upward bumps are due to his election and any downturns are the leftovers from Biden. Win-Win in MAGA land.
Exactly. Lower migration rates are due to yapping at Mexico and zcina too.