With this fennec fox I shall honor Skepti's memory and her big-hearted love of all animal-kind. She was a frequent commenter on the morning Tabs gifs posts, such as this one about a watchful fennec fox showing off those big ears.
Hey, everybody needs some time off to regroup. It's been a week and we are still dealing with yesterday's very sad news. Rest in power, SkeptiKC. You will always have a special place in our hearts. We'll leave the light on for you, Paul.
The Fitzgerald, approximately 35 miles north of Copper Harbor, MI, makes its last routine weather report, indicating 35-knot winds and 10-foot waves. No sign of immediate distress yet, but Captain McSorley reports a delayed arrival due to the worsening weather conditions.
The danger is to think we have a mandate. People voted against Trump, not necessarily for Democrats. The good news is we can play crime and punishment with his administration. The bad news is we have to be humble about our policy agenda, which is going nowhere anyway until we get rid of President Veto.
Been looking at various center-left critiques of Medicare for All to understand barriers, options, and so on.
Generally even the party centrists want Medicaid expansion (that's expansion AFTER undoing the BBB Medicaid Cuts, btw) so that is a good start. They also want a lot of the Problems With Medicare addressed before we try to sell putting everyone on it (poor reimbursement rates meaning few doctors take it, complaints about reduced care compared to prior plans including prior federal plans, billing snafu issues, the long wait times on fixing things for customers are generally the top 4). Sensible. So those could be some good first steps along the way to universal healthcare, whether it be M4A or some other system. I have been concerned that some on our left flank have gotten potentially too attached to M4A as the ONLY solution when we might have other options but that's a fight for another day.
There's also the growing issue of Generic Drug Quality Control which ProPublica has reported extensively upon and we might be able to get bipartisan support on working on if only because GOP might be pissy about the manufacturing being outsourced to India (where then the quality control inspections are next to nil). But yeah. It's getting bad.
We really also just...need more doctors. In general. Putting back student loan forgiveness for going into nursing and less profitable medical fields is probably a good idea. Primary care is REALLY needed but also doesn't really make a lot of money. Maybe some kind of federal subsidy if you specifically do 5-10 years in a medical care desert? Idk, just ideas. There was also SOMETHING about Congress having a say on like, how many medical school spots are even available at the top line which I did not fully understand but if they are, yeah, raise that shit and FAST. Fuck the AMA wanting to keep #s down for money reasons. WE NEED MORE DOCTORS.
Yesterday was first day for new bills to be filed in the Texas Legislature. For non-Texans, the state lege meets for 140 days once every two years. Next session starts in mid-January. Anyhow, here’s some of the bills filed by the Democrats (yay!).
Expand Medicaid. Boost the minimum wage. End tax breaks for data centers. Ban Flock cameras. Legalize marijuana.
Repeal state law requiring sheriffs to partner with ICE goons. Forbid border wall construction at state parks. End the school voucher program. Increase per-pupil funding for public schools.
Republicans (boo!) have so far filed bills repealing property tax, making English the official language and picking a new state bird.
Massie: "I hope Hegseth addresses the 8 articles of impeachment, and doesn‘t get up and misquote the Bible in Quentin Tarantino fashion and do some pull-ups and call everybody fat and gay. I may have just given you half his speech, I don't know."
Y'know, I was just saying to Partner last night that I *probably* disagree with Massie on ... almost everything. But I can respect him. Like Kinzinger, or late stage Liz or MTG. They're not friends, but we could be the best of enemies. Okay, I'm still not sold that late stage MTG isn't having us on, but the enemy of my enemy and all that.
As of now, the ONLY seat the GOP flipped was Jared Golden's, which he did warn was a possibility when he retired given the district. And the primary did end up picking someone decently on the left so now we get the return of Paul LePage. Bleh.
That is a good point (Golden is a diiiiiick) but it does stand that maybe we didn't match our candidate to our district for this round and will need to keep that in mind for '28.
Your hed gif info (oops, ed: I forgot the link the first time 'round): https://martiniambassador.substack.com/p/fennec-aint-feelin-it-today
With this fennec fox I shall honor Skepti's memory and her big-hearted love of all animal-kind. She was a frequent commenter on the morning Tabs gifs posts, such as this one about a watchful fennec fox showing off those big ears.
https://wonkette.substack.com/p/the-finest-funerary-trucker-cap-tabs?r=angu9&utm_campaign=comment-list-share-cta&utm_medium=web&comments=true&commentId=225183230
There is, of course, also a meme chat for today, where you may post your pictures and memes and such: https://open.substack.com/chat/posts/5cfa5a6e-1628-498b-a3b3-d5da9b2382a0
With those ears, a predator has no chance to approach.
SkeptiKC?? In past tense? What the everlasting fuck?
https://www.wonkette.com/p/good-riddance-nice-times-of-your/comment/382595863
ETA: Not sure how I wound up with the wrong link. I thought it was this one:
https://substack.com/profile/155631131-paul/note/c-383120457
I hadn’t read his first post so I’m glad you reposted it. Our hearts are heavy.
With apologies for my one-track mind … we need monitoring like that for the Republican Party and their oligarchs. Those ears!
Good morning.
OMG, SkeptiKC? SAY IT AINT SO‼️‼️😩💔😩😩😩
Hey, everybody needs some time off to regroup. It's been a week and we are still dealing with yesterday's very sad news. Rest in power, SkeptiKC. You will always have a special place in our hearts. We'll leave the light on for you, Paul.
What happened??
🎶 What does the fox hear? 🎶
Hendrix?
https://youtu.be/ThkRVTd-tPc?si=Dw76_-oFQlMmzLqj
I don't even need to look...
"You got to be all mine..."
With those ears, just about everything.
The best pocket surveillance system ever. Cuddly too. Every home and apartment balcony should have one.
Fennecs is cute.
Lovely tribute to Skepti.
Judging by my VPN set for Chicago, the auto manufacturers are really trying to sell those big ass trucks. Good luck with $7 diesel GMC!
@EdmundFitzAt50 1h
The Fitzgerald, approximately 35 miles north of Copper Harbor, MI, makes its last routine weather report, indicating 35-knot winds and 10-foot waves. No sign of immediate distress yet, but Captain McSorley reports a delayed arrival due to the worsening weather conditions.
The danger is to think we have a mandate. People voted against Trump, not necessarily for Democrats. The good news is we can play crime and punishment with his administration. The bad news is we have to be humble about our policy agenda, which is going nowhere anyway until we get rid of President Veto.
Hegseth now at Navy College: Study war, not literature
On “people who left blue states because they were being oppressed” being oppressed again:
Hahahahahahahahhahaa
Get used to having nice things, bitches.
Whiskey Pete’s presser is about what you’d expect - defiance, whataboutism and puffery.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/first-cnn-whistleblowers-tell-democrats-110015784.html
Trump says "first things first" the asshole.
Been looking at various center-left critiques of Medicare for All to understand barriers, options, and so on.
Generally even the party centrists want Medicaid expansion (that's expansion AFTER undoing the BBB Medicaid Cuts, btw) so that is a good start. They also want a lot of the Problems With Medicare addressed before we try to sell putting everyone on it (poor reimbursement rates meaning few doctors take it, complaints about reduced care compared to prior plans including prior federal plans, billing snafu issues, the long wait times on fixing things for customers are generally the top 4). Sensible. So those could be some good first steps along the way to universal healthcare, whether it be M4A or some other system. I have been concerned that some on our left flank have gotten potentially too attached to M4A as the ONLY solution when we might have other options but that's a fight for another day.
There's also the growing issue of Generic Drug Quality Control which ProPublica has reported extensively upon and we might be able to get bipartisan support on working on if only because GOP might be pissy about the manufacturing being outsourced to India (where then the quality control inspections are next to nil). But yeah. It's getting bad.
We really also just...need more doctors. In general. Putting back student loan forgiveness for going into nursing and less profitable medical fields is probably a good idea. Primary care is REALLY needed but also doesn't really make a lot of money. Maybe some kind of federal subsidy if you specifically do 5-10 years in a medical care desert? Idk, just ideas. There was also SOMETHING about Congress having a say on like, how many medical school spots are even available at the top line which I did not fully understand but if they are, yeah, raise that shit and FAST. Fuck the AMA wanting to keep #s down for money reasons. WE NEED MORE DOCTORS.
Impeach Hegseth. Now.
Good morning!
Hegseth about to give a press conference. Should be good :/
And by good, you mean hilarious.
Watch him live:
https://youtu.be/fF1r_jGkImI
Kegsbreath must have started drinking early today.
I never really hated anyone until these people. They are disgusting.
SAME!
Same here, and I resent it.
I don't like hating people. I don't like not feeling sad for stupid people. Turnip and his ilk have changed me.
still up from an all-night bender?
Good morning. From The Commonplace Book:
“Men do their broken weapons rather use than their bare hands.” – William Shakespeare, 𝘖𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘰, 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘰𝘰𝘳 𝘰𝘧 𝘝𝘦𝘯𝘪𝘤𝘦 1.3
https://tetmancallis.substack.com/p/november-10-2026
Yesterday was first day for new bills to be filed in the Texas Legislature. For non-Texans, the state lege meets for 140 days once every two years. Next session starts in mid-January. Anyhow, here’s some of the bills filed by the Democrats (yay!).
Expand Medicaid. Boost the minimum wage. End tax breaks for data centers. Ban Flock cameras. Legalize marijuana.
Repeal state law requiring sheriffs to partner with ICE goons. Forbid border wall construction at state parks. End the school voucher program. Increase per-pupil funding for public schools.
Republicans (boo!) have so far filed bills repealing property tax, making English the official language and picking a new state bird.
WTF do Republicans have against mockingbirds? Do they think changing the state bird will get us to stop mocking them? HA!
I figured they don't like that it's the NORTHERN Mockingbird.
I have no idea. I mean. Mockingbirds are cool.
OT: PSA: Pete H!cseth press conference getting ready,
It'll be a fillip, he'll double down, shots will be fired, a real pick me up...
Mid culture war harangue right now.
Massie: "I hope Hegseth addresses the 8 articles of impeachment, and doesn‘t get up and misquote the Bible in Quentin Tarantino fashion and do some pull-ups and call everybody fat and gay. I may have just given you half his speech, I don't know."
Y'know, I was just saying to Partner last night that I *probably* disagree with Massie on ... almost everything. But I can respect him. Like Kinzinger, or late stage Liz or MTG. They're not friends, but we could be the best of enemies. Okay, I'm still not sold that late stage MTG isn't having us on, but the enemy of my enemy and all that.
MTG is trying to stay relevant. She has no principles, she just got mad that the cult turned on her.
I guess it's good they grew spines in the end...MTG is playing SOME game but it's not because she can be trusted.
<gets mute button ready>
🙄🙄🙄
Yeah. Entertainment value only.
Christopher Pohlhaus
Christopher Pudpull
Christishe Pullingit?
By the way, miss Neo Nazi piece of shit whack fodder, you keep Iron Maiden's name out of your dirty mouth!
As of now, the ONLY seat the GOP flipped was Jared Golden's, which he did warn was a possibility when he retired given the district. And the primary did end up picking someone decently on the left so now we get the return of Paul LePage. Bleh.
Difference, Paul LePage is a nobody in the House while Senator Frowny McConcernsNot who was the chair on the Appropriations.
Oh he'll be a loud bully nobody, but won't affect legislation like Frowny did.
That is a good point (Golden is a diiiiiick) but it does stand that maybe we didn't match our candidate to our district for this round and will need to keep that in mind for '28.
Or judicial confirmations. That's the thing I'll never forgive Our Lady of Perpetual Concern for.
It is implied to be what tanked her even with all the chaos on the Dem side in the Senate race.
I thought they flipped 3. Or were the other two open seats?
I am unsure. They might just have been redistricted to where it was unclear if they leaned red or blue?