Republicans In Ruins

By Miss Kubelik

If the word "disarray" began with an "R," journalists would never write another line about Democrats being in — well, you know. They love the alliteration so much, and it lets them do another lazy story about how our side is consumed with infighting.

Well, political haggling over Build Back Better is nothing compared to what the Republican Party is going through now. The split was underlined tonight by a "60 Minutes" interview in which Liz Cheney went after Kevin McCarthy and the insurrectionists in terms that the media would go nuts over if any of us said them about our fellow Democrats. McCarthy, she said, should be ashamed of himself. So true.

She also listed the many, many issues on which we seriously disagree with her. (Sorry, Liz, but waterboarding is torture.) So we're still not sending her any money. But we wish her well in her campaign to defend the Constitution. And since repealing marriage equality is obviously next on the right wing's agenda, it's significant that she had the balls to say tonight that she was wrong to oppose it. Good for her. We cats PURR.

Tidbits And Cat Treats: Survival Of Democracy Edition

By Zamboni

Ah, Friday night! We can all relax — except for those humans who have to work tomorrow, and for cats, who never work. But it's the end of a busy week, so we have some thoughts. Here they are.

Right wingers up in Canada are bitching about a snap election that cost $600 million to produce similar results to the election in 2019. First, if Erin O'Toole and the Conservatives had won, they wouldn't be saying a word. Second, do you know how much the Cyber Ninjas' "audit" of Arizona cost? And how many more Republican-controlled states are rushing to uselessly spend money doing the same? Please.

We don't know about you, but we love waking up to headlines that Trump lost...again. How many times is it now — 78? We've lost count.

We would comment on Marjorie Taylor Greene's latest shenanigans, except she's been removed from all committees and marginalized, so we're not going to give oxygen to her otherwise. If you love her so much, you can look her up on the Google machine.

By the way, on the subject of self-determination, it's worth noting that the Quebec National Assembly — which styles itself as a "national assembly" even though it's the legislature of a Canadian provincial government, and which has traditionally gone against the status quo for that very reason — has just unanimously passed a bill outlawing anti-COVID-vaccine demonstrations within 50 meters of a hospital, school, or healthcare or vaccination clinic. So there.

Finally, why can nobody on the other side in the US (the other side being anti-democracy, un-American autocrats) spell? Lauren Boebert tweeted today that she wanted to "imeach" Biden. Gee, nobody proofreads any more, do they? We cats HISS.

Make America The Greatest Again

By Baxter

We cats saw most of Ken Burns's eight-hour PBS documentary on Muhammad Ali this week. Eight hours! With that amount of time devoted to a single human, it would have been nice if Burns had included a little less about Ali himself — we've seen enough boxing to last our nine lifetimes — and a little more about what he meant culturally. Because the story of Ali morphing from despised draft dodger to national hero is a microcosm of contemporary America.

Well, never mind. Maybe Burns covered that in the first episode, which we missed. But we saw nearly all of the last three episodes, and one thing leaped out, big time. Ali's behavior at the height of his fame and talents — the Sixties and early Seventies — was so very Trumpy.

Or maybe Benedict Donald has been mimicking Ali. Whatever: The similarities are striking.

As even his biggest fans admitted to Burns, Ali was cruel. He belittled his opponents constantly, even calling handsome boxers like Joe Frazier "ugly" and stupid. He gave them nicknames. He was always unpredictable in interviews, which guaranteed compelling copy. If journalists disliked his conduct, they still couldn't afford not to cover him because he'd never fail to say something that would make a good headline or lede. (All in the prehistoric era before the Internet and social media. Imagine!)

So, out there in America, a lot of white people hated Ali: because of his brashness, his calling things like he thought they were, his refusal to go to Vietnam — and make no mistake, because of his race. How interesting that a black man trash-talking and mocking opponents was anathema to them — but let a white guy from Queens do the same things today, and it's not only acceptable, but the MAGAts love him for it. "Trump speaks for me!"

Perhaps it's better that Trump, who cheated his way through the University of Pennsylvania, is too much of a dummkopf to speak in poetry. And he's too old and fat to float like a butterfly. But what he's done to this country continues to sting like a bee. We cats HISS.

And Again!

 

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

Luckovich Strikes Again

 

Timely commentary, since the US has just surpassed the estimated death toll of the 1918 influenza epidemic. Will Abbott, DeSantis, et. al., be made to pay at the ballot box next year? It might depend on whether they kill enough of their voters by Election Day. We cats HISS.

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

Bien Fait, Canada

By Sniffles

Canadian broadcasters are projecting a Liberal win tonight, but it's unclear whether it will be a majority or minority. Considering how much the talking heads have dumped on Justin Trudeau this election, we cats consider it a victory to even have whispers of a majority happening now.

It wouldn't be unheard of, however, if some of the western provinces surprise. The COVID pandemic is so terrible in Alberta and Saskatchewan right now that we wouldn't be shocked if the Liberals rack up some interesting numbers there.

Also, the other issue that's resonating tonight is climate change. Young voters are having their say.

So, more tomorrow. In the meantime, PMJT will still be PMJT come tomorrow. We cats PURR.

UPDATE, September 21: Talking heads are calling it the status quo election, and big-picture-wise, it was. But look at some of the individual ridings. The Conservative Party lost two seats in Alberta, with a third race too close to call. "There's such a symbolic value when a riding shifts in Alberta," a pollster said. We cats PURR.

Why Vote?

 

This argument transcends countries and political systems. In fact, it's timeless! We cats PURR.

Tomorrow's The Day

By Hubie and Bertie

On the eve of the 2021 Canadian election, let's take a trip into the past.

Specifically, the fabulous White House state dinner that the Obamas threw for Justin and Sophie Trudeau in March of 2016. We knew the 44th President was on his way out — but we had great Hillary Hopes for the future, and had no idea of the nightmare that awaited. Still, we look back on that dinner fondly.

We're also thinking even farther back. Especially after we saw a conversation on Twitter about how Trumpy Canadian men find Justin Trudeau enraging. Said one, "There is something about Justin Trudeau that infuriates weak men, and men who seem unsettled in their masculinity. It is a psychosexual thing, a fury of envy. It is especially strong among men who don't have what it takes to partner with beautiful, strong women."

What a blast from the past. Pierre Trudeau, a longtime Canadian Prime Minister whose attractiveness was based (we think) in intelligence, inspired the same outrage. But his contemporaries — if they were men of sharp intellect who were secure in long-term relationships with strong women — thought Pierre was the bee's knees.

As Jimmy Carter, husband of Rosalynn, has written: "There are multiple entries in my personal White House diaries that refer to Pierre Trudeau, almost every one ending with 'I like him very much,' or words to that effect. My first visit with him was in January 1977, when I had been in office only a few days. It was a state visit, and his beautiful young wife, Margaret, came with him.

"The subsequent big news story in The Washington Post the following day was that she had worn a very short skirt to a formal banquet. I agreed with Rosalynn and Pierre that it was very attractive. To ease any mutual discomfort, he and I agreed that we would approve of Margaret's dress if the Canadians would approve our daughter Amy reading a book during the Prime Minister's official toast at the banquet."

Canada, you have a tremendous and accomplished family representing you to the world. We hope you keep them. We cats PURR.

A Year Ago Today

The best way to honor RBG is to expand the Court. That is all.

This Is The Only Ronald Reagan Movie We Can Stand

Today we cats had the opportunity to be reminded that there's one — and only one — film with Ronald Reagan in it that doesn't make us hack up a hairball. (Dark Victory doesn't count.) Even if the title isn't wry commentary on your current reality, you'll enjoy this movie. Jack Carson, Patricia Neal, Edward Arnold — what's not to love? We cats still and always will hate Ronald Reagan, but we PURR.