Patrick McLaughlin
@mclpatrick.bsky.social
Unitarian Universalist minister. Historian. Anti-fascist. 3rd Culture kid. Gamer, reader, gardener. Animal lover. Nature lover. Maker of gingerbread cathedrals. Trouble-maker.
They aren’t that smart (and not nearly as smart as they think they are).
November 13, 2025 at 7:30 PM
They aren’t that smart (and not nearly as smart as they think they are).
Try “centrist” instead.
And remember Hightower’s observation that there’s nothing in the center of the road except yellow stripes and dead armadillos.
And remember Hightower’s observation that there’s nothing in the center of the road except yellow stripes and dead armadillos.
November 10, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Try “centrist” instead.
And remember Hightower’s observation that there’s nothing in the center of the road except yellow stripes and dead armadillos.
And remember Hightower’s observation that there’s nothing in the center of the road except yellow stripes and dead armadillos.
Correction: After a bloc of moderate Dems dropped everything.
They got nothing. No substance.
There is no there there.
And the promise of a vote about ACA subsidies is empty several ways — including that the new rates will be out and locked in before that hollow vote comes to any fruition.
They got nothing. No substance.
There is no there there.
And the promise of a vote about ACA subsidies is empty several ways — including that the new rates will be out and locked in before that hollow vote comes to any fruition.
November 10, 2025 at 5:45 AM
Correction: After a bloc of moderate Dems dropped everything.
They got nothing. No substance.
There is no there there.
And the promise of a vote about ACA subsidies is empty several ways — including that the new rates will be out and locked in before that hollow vote comes to any fruition.
They got nothing. No substance.
There is no there there.
And the promise of a vote about ACA subsidies is empty several ways — including that the new rates will be out and locked in before that hollow vote comes to any fruition.
The Vichy Caucus.
November 10, 2025 at 5:38 AM
The Vichy Caucus.
To be clear, you betrayed the people of New Hampshire and the nation.
A “promise of a vote” is meaningless. We both know there are ways that the GOP and Trump WILL ensure nothing will come of that vote.
Worse, the GOP and use that vote in the elections to cover their asses from our rage.
A “promise of a vote” is meaningless. We both know there are ways that the GOP and Trump WILL ensure nothing will come of that vote.
Worse, the GOP and use that vote in the elections to cover their asses from our rage.
November 10, 2025 at 5:38 AM
To be clear, you betrayed the people of New Hampshire and the nation.
A “promise of a vote” is meaningless. We both know there are ways that the GOP and Trump WILL ensure nothing will come of that vote.
Worse, the GOP and use that vote in the elections to cover their asses from our rage.
A “promise of a vote” is meaningless. We both know there are ways that the GOP and Trump WILL ensure nothing will come of that vote.
Worse, the GOP and use that vote in the elections to cover their asses from our rage.
Once again, We the People have been betrayed by centrists.
November 10, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Once again, We the People have been betrayed by centrists.
As a guess, Dementia Don remembered that the name started with P. And (if it’s really going to be built), it’s in Portsmouth. Which is to say, Kittery, ME.
October 31, 2025 at 8:31 PM
As a guess, Dementia Don remembered that the name started with P. And (if it’s really going to be built), it’s in Portsmouth. Which is to say, Kittery, ME.
I recall him being PM while I was living there.
October 31, 2025 at 8:28 PM
I recall him being PM while I was living there.
How many Scaramuccis will it be? (What’s the betting?)
Hopefully less than a Friedman.
Hopefully less than a Friedman.
October 24, 2025 at 10:44 PM
How many Scaramuccis will it be? (What’s the betting?)
Hopefully less than a Friedman.
Hopefully less than a Friedman.
There were more people who wanted in on offering him fat bribes.
And how could he say no to that?
And how could he say no to that?
October 24, 2025 at 10:32 PM
There were more people who wanted in on offering him fat bribes.
And how could he say no to that?
And how could he say no to that?
Particularly when you (apparently) then refer to it by its German (Nazi) name.
Yeah, because the Grateful Dead were a famous German band.
Yeah, because the Grateful Dead were a famous German band.
October 22, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Particularly when you (apparently) then refer to it by its German (Nazi) name.
Yeah, because the Grateful Dead were a famous German band.
Yeah, because the Grateful Dead were a famous German band.
Clearly not the sharpest knife in… the spoon drawer.
October 21, 2025 at 3:41 AM
Clearly not the sharpest knife in… the spoon drawer.
Bondi appears to have. FWIW.
October 21, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Bondi appears to have. FWIW.
I believe my grandfather was just 18 when he moved north to volunteer and join the Royal Canadian Air Force. He flew for Canada until the US finally got into the war.
Some of these fascists are closer to two decades older than he was. Not kids. Cowards, not honorable people.
Some of these fascists are closer to two decades older than he was. Not kids. Cowards, not honorable people.
October 17, 2025 at 10:48 PM
I believe my grandfather was just 18 when he moved north to volunteer and join the Royal Canadian Air Force. He flew for Canada until the US finally got into the war.
Some of these fascists are closer to two decades older than he was. Not kids. Cowards, not honorable people.
Some of these fascists are closer to two decades older than he was. Not kids. Cowards, not honorable people.
I don’t think she’s smart enough to know that she could look them up (much less that she should).
One of the very reliable markers for these folks is that they’re not nearly as smart and clever as they think they are.
One of the very reliable markers for these folks is that they’re not nearly as smart and clever as they think they are.
October 9, 2025 at 5:29 AM
I don’t think she’s smart enough to know that she could look them up (much less that she should).
One of the very reliable markers for these folks is that they’re not nearly as smart and clever as they think they are.
One of the very reliable markers for these folks is that they’re not nearly as smart and clever as they think they are.
And “salacious remarks,” Pam?
Salacious: "Appealing to or stimulating sexual desire.”
Ummm.
Salacious: "Appealing to or stimulating sexual desire.”
Ummm.
October 8, 2025 at 1:38 AM
And “salacious remarks,” Pam?
Salacious: "Appealing to or stimulating sexual desire.”
Ummm.
Salacious: "Appealing to or stimulating sexual desire.”
Ummm.
Apparently everything about Texas IS bigger.
October 8, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Apparently everything about Texas IS bigger.
Have they let people know precisely how dark someone’s skin has to be before skin color justifies a Kavanaugh Stop?
October 2, 2025 at 1:36 AM
Have they let people know precisely how dark someone’s skin has to be before skin color justifies a Kavanaugh Stop?
This seems like a very stupid negotiating tactic.
After they fire tens of thousands, fueling outrage (and unemployment…), who’s going to want to just fold and give the regime what they want?
After they fire tens of thousands, fueling outrage (and unemployment…), who’s going to want to just fold and give the regime what they want?
October 2, 2025 at 1:32 AM
This seems like a very stupid negotiating tactic.
After they fire tens of thousands, fueling outrage (and unemployment…), who’s going to want to just fold and give the regime what they want?
After they fire tens of thousands, fueling outrage (and unemployment…), who’s going to want to just fold and give the regime what they want?
It’s only different in *details* from how Russia is recruiting meat to send to Ukraine.
It’s how imperial states work; I can point all the way back to how Roman legions became increasingly drawn from non-Latin (and non-Italic) populations — people whose peoples were subjects of that empire.
It’s how imperial states work; I can point all the way back to how Roman legions became increasingly drawn from non-Latin (and non-Italic) populations — people whose peoples were subjects of that empire.
September 27, 2025 at 7:39 PM
It’s only different in *details* from how Russia is recruiting meat to send to Ukraine.
It’s how imperial states work; I can point all the way back to how Roman legions became increasingly drawn from non-Latin (and non-Italic) populations — people whose peoples were subjects of that empire.
It’s how imperial states work; I can point all the way back to how Roman legions became increasingly drawn from non-Latin (and non-Italic) populations — people whose peoples were subjects of that empire.
Well, that’s a huge steaming pile of crap.
September 18, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Well, that’s a huge steaming pile of crap.
Yes, they do.
Qui tacet consentire videtur.
(He who is silent is taken to agree.)
Qui tacet consentire videtur.
(He who is silent is taken to agree.)
September 14, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Yes, they do.
Qui tacet consentire videtur.
(He who is silent is taken to agree.)
Qui tacet consentire videtur.
(He who is silent is taken to agree.)
I think the headline’s wrong.
Maybe “waits with bated breath”.
Maybe “waits with bated breath”.
September 12, 2025 at 9:08 PM
I think the headline’s wrong.
Maybe “waits with bated breath”.
Maybe “waits with bated breath”.