Bathroom Bouncers

By Zamboni

Representative-elect Sarah McBride of Delaware, who will be the first transgender person to serve in Congress, is classier than House Republicans deserve.

Mike Johnson and his bigoted minions like Nancy Mace are slamming the doors of Capitol Hill women's restrooms (and the women's gym) in McBride's face, but she refuses to give them the satisfaction of enraging her. She's staying focused on meeting her colleagues, Republicans and Democrats alike, and, of course, on serving her constituents. She's ready to do the job that the voters of Delaware gave her.

As Harvey Milk famously said, people may label you as "other" — but when they get to know you, you'll be able, "for once and for all, [to] break down the myths. Destroy the lies and distortions. For your sake. For their sake." We cats salute Sarah McBride, and we PURR.

Woof Woof

 

By Baxter

Here's another dog-themed commentary on the vomit-inducing bilge that makes up today's news. For our sanity's sake, we've been shielding ourselves from most of the awful headlines, but somehow this one sneaked through. Of course, "Joe" and "Mika" are not journalists, but entertainers. Still and all, their bending the knee at Mar-a-Lago is a chilling reminder of the dangers of obeying in advance. For more helpful hints on authoritarianism, here is a link to On Tyranny by Timothy Snyder. We cats HISS at The Morning Schmoes and MSNBC.

(IMAGE: Mike Luckovich, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)

Citizen Bill

 

By Sniffles

It's interesting that former President Clinton thinks he'll see a woman President in his lifetime. (He's certainly followed a strict health regimen since his 2004 heart surgery, so maybe he'll give 100-year-old Jimmy Carter a run for his money.) Sadly, he may also be right that America's first woman President could be a conservative Republican. Ugh. Aside from that, this interview was a reassuring experience for all of us trying to dig out from the wreckage of November 5. We cats PURR.

Now, That's A Doggie Bag

Unlike dogs, we cats are fastidious souls and use litter boxes for our business. So we wouldn't have run across this fabulous poop-bag box ourselves — we have BlueSky to thank! It's a pretty nifty sight on the day that President Biden authorizes Ukraine to hit Russia with our long-range Army Tactical Missile Systems. Take that, Vlad. We cats PURR.

A Sign Spotted In Ireland

We don't have any immediate plans to visit Europe, but we completely get this. We cats apologize to the world, and we PURR.

"The Only Way Out Is Through"

"I have faced fascism before, in this very country. I was one of 120,000 Japanese Americans summarily rounded up and expelled from our homes at gunpoint, all for the crime of looking like the people who bombed Pearl Harbor. I spent my childhood behind barbed wire. My parents lost everything.

"But we did not give up on this country. We rebuilt our lives, and we worked to ensure that something like this never happened again in America. Now, I fear there are echoes from that dark chapter of our history. They are speaking once again of camps to hold people, this time for the crime of being undocumented.

"We must not repeat the mistakes of the past. We can learn from them. I know it feels bleak out there. I know it feels hopeless. But I am living proof that out of that darkness can rise great hope and optimism.

"I will fight for the principles of this country until my very last breath. I ask you to join me in that fight. It is a noble one. It is a worthy one. And it is one we fight on behalf not just of ourselves, but of generations to come. When you are my age, you will be able to look back upon this time and be proud of what you did, what you stood for.

"So don’t give up hope. Do not despair. That is what they want, and we shall not give them that satisfaction.

"In Japanese, there is a word my mother used to say to me. 'Gaman, Georgie,' she’d say. It means to endure with fortitude and dignity. We all could benefit the spirit of Gaman. Look to community. Look to friends and family who stood with us and who suffer the grief of this loss with us. In their company find comfort. And when you are ready to stand up and fight, I will be with you, too.

"We will prevail. For the light always defeats the darkness."

–George Takei, actor, writer, and activist

Looking For A Day-Brightener?

By Hubie and Bertie

Yes, things are generally terrible, but the news is not all bad. Check this out: "Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, the two Georgia poll workers defamed by Rudolph W. Giuliani after the 2020 election, received his watch collection, a ring, and his vintage Mercedes-Benz on Friday," The New York Times reports.

If we're not mistaken, that Mercedes was previously owned by Lauren Bacall. Since Betty was a devoted Democrat, she must be smiling somewhere. We cats approve, and we PURR.

Here's To Hadji

By Miss Kubelik

Every now and then a cat makes a headline that nearly everybody sees. Larry the Cat, who serenely presides over 10 Downing Street as chief mouser, is one. World leaders who visit Prime Minister Keir Starmer consider themselves lucky if Larry photobombs their arrivals at No. 10.

Another such cat was Hadji, the 22-year-old sidekick of legendary New York Mets first baseman Keith Hernandez. (If you're not a Mets fan, or even into baseball, pro tip: Hernandez was a guest star on that brilliant two-part Seinfeld episode, "The Boyfriend" — which we can watch and laugh at again and again, even in the darkest times.)

Hernandez announced yesterday that Hadji had crossed the Rainbow Bridge. "It was his time to go," Hernandez said. "He passed painlessly and with dignity. See you in another life, my old buddy. I know you'll be waiting for me with open paws." We cats salute Hadji, and we PURR.

Brittlestar Reacts

Sometimes we just don't know what we'd do without our Canadian friends. We cats PURR.

"The Wars They Will Be Fought Again"

By Zamboni

Want a small pick-me-up? Here's Vice President Harris playing a game with her grand-nieces last week — enjoying her family (and some wine!) and recharging her batteries for whatever lies ahead. Good for her!

 

Yes, the news is upsetting. Probably best to avoid it for a while. And let's all resist the urge to bash or condemn one another or to assign blame. Votes are still being counted, so until we have all the information, we must wait. But if you're looking for a friendlier slice of the world online, there's something you can do right now.

Create an account on BlueSky. Twitter refugees have been stampeding to it since the election — so you'll probably find lots of people you like there. Plus, you no longer need an invitation to join. Check it out — BlueSky could very well emerge as the alternative to Elon Musk's cesspool of hate and misinformation. We cats PURR.