By David Futrelle
Today’s big news day began before sunrise, with FBI officers pounding on the door of Roger Stone’s home in Florida. And now Trump has surrendered on the shutdown, allowing the government to reopen, at least temporarily, without funding for the wall.
So it’s been a pretty good day, so far. Discuss. Or discuss anything else you want to discuss. No trolls, though.
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Btw, if anyone is interested, Laws and Sausages, written by SMBC’s Zach Weinersmith and his pol-sci professor brother Greg Weiner, is IMO a good resource for introducing people to the USA’s system of government (speaking as a non-American).
Of course, its main message is that the system as designed is pretty solid, which many may disagree with.
Trump folded like a kleenex umbrella. Pelosi slapped him like a pancake.
Since the rethugs rammed through their stupid tax code fuckery I’ve been dreading the start of tax season – I’m really worried that a lot of people are going to end up underwithheld for 2018. I got my first frantic tax call yesterday. I don’t know all the details and there could be many other issues at play, but if this is a sign of things to come a lot of people are going to be seriously fucked.
Stone’s lawyer has a vanity-published political thriller, and someone has tweeted some of it – hilariously:
https://twitter.com/erinscafe/status/1088958995677638656
It’s taken me a day to actually look at any pictures of Stone, so I’ve only just realized he’s the guy Stephen Colbert described in a monologue last month as “man screaming ‘You’ll never catch me, Batman!’”
Can a sitting vice president be indicted? What about senators and representatives?
My dream is that Mueller indicts a bunch of Trump enablers, including Pence. Then impeach the orange asshole and inaugurate President Pelosi.
Trump painted himself into a corner – quite the feat, as it is the Oval Office – and had allegedly been looking for an out that would allow him to “win” the shutdown he created. No such opportunity existed, public sentiment was quickly turning on the GOP, GOP senators were turning on each other like fighting dogs, so he collapsed like a house of cards. Somehow I thought that winning would look vastly different from what I’d call a spectacular self-own.
@Moggie
From that blurb, I was half expecting a gay romance novel.
@Lunzie Mespil
Sadly, unless trump was removed at the same time, he would have ample time to appoint a replacement VP. (That’s how Ford became president, in fact)
About those tax cuts…. sigh,
It will be unfortunate that many might likely owe, as people generally expect refunds, and do not have funds laying about to pay tax bills. However, perhaps such unwelcome surprises will shake loose some (more?) of Orange Foolius’s fan club. As with the shutdown, even ardent supporters’ devotion wears thin when they are personally affected by something their Dear Leader caused. Displeasure is likely increased exponentially when their pocketbooks are involved. Perhaps they will decide that the racism, xenophobia, misogyny and all-around wankerism is quite literally not worth the price.
@Moggie
Randomly popping in to say thanks for the goat picture, it reminded me to drink water
Back OT, I’m pretty shocked to see (an infinitesimally small amount of) accountability actually happening.
Dear Diary,
I hate my existence. I want to die but I’m too weak and cowardly to actually do anything about it. And at the same time I no longer have any idea how to keep going. I do what I can to help other people, even when I really don’t have the energy, but somehow I never seem to rate a second thought. Even on the few occasions I’ve made my pain plain to see, my emotional bullshit only ever seems to piss people off. I try to stay strong and keep it to myself, I do my best to not be a burden to anyone, but is it really too much to ask for acknowledgement and understanding of my pain/issues and maybe a little reassurance? Obviously that’s a rhetorical question, if I were worth any emotional bandwidth I wouldn’t be typing this now.
What is even the point of existing when life is pointless and full of pain? Why am I unable to end an existence that’s so empty and broken? I don’t know how to keep going, and I don’t think I can
pretend anymore that things will get better. I don’t know what to do. I could isolate myself even more, but that won’t make the pain go away, nor will it stop more pain from accumulating. I could try to keep going until everything crashes and burns completely and hope that that gives me the strength to finally end things. If there are any other options, they seem to be hidden from me.
I wish this existence was just a bad dream I could wake up from. But I’ve made that wish so many times, so yeah, I know this isn’t just a bad dream. Or if it is, it’s not the kind you can ever wake up from, no matter how much you beg and scream inside.
Jes Lin
Jesalin – if you are on twitter, click my nym. DM’s are open and I am available for as long as you need.
Jessalin,
You’re not a burden. If you need us, we’re all here for you. I’m going to bed soon, but thanks to the polar vortex, I will not be able to go to work again tomorrow. I’ll be around all day if you need anything.
Jesalin,
I’m sorry you’re dealing with so much pain but I’m glad you’ve reached out. People care, and there are many people here, including me, who would be happy to help in any way they can. A lot of us have been in some pretty dark places, so we can feel at least to some degree what you are dealing with. It’s rough, but I know you can get through it. Let us know what we can do. Email me if you’d like. I will be up for a while.
Jes
Please please please check out your private messages bit on Discord.
Jesalin – please hold on. You’re not a burden, and I am so, so sorry I missed this.
You are a sister of mine, and I badly want you to survive, and be with us when better times come. Please.
offers many, many hugs
@Jes
We love you and are here for you. I know you’re going through some really difficult stuff right now, and I know when that eases up these underlying feelings it’s pushed to the surface won’t go away. But know that you matter, that you’re worth the emotional bandwidth, and you can reach out if you need anything.
@Jes – I’m sorry you’re hurting so much right now. I know things are difficult right now, but please know that people care and are ready to help.
I know it isn’t much, but here’s a cute kitten –
and one that’s booping a dog’s nose
@Jes
Adding to the messages of support ^^^^^
@Jesalin, I’m so sorry you’re hurting this badly. We’re all here for you and sending massive support. Like a giant Mammoth hug to hold you up.
Same as Shadowplay said, please just click on my nym if you’re on Twitter at all and dm me.
There are so many friends here who care about you. ???
jes,
I don’t know what to say that the others didn’t already say better but I think you’re really cool and a good person. I always enjoy talking to you in discord and all the jokes and stuff you like to make. you are a good person and there are people who admire you and care about you, I am one of them! ??????????
@Jes,
I know it’s tough to feel good sometimes; sometimes feeling bad is default and then circumstances conspire to make it worse.
There are lots of people who care about you a great deal. You don’t have to talk about what’s bothering you if you don’t want to; you don’t have to talk at all. Your presence is enough.
You’ll make it through <3
@Jes
Nthing what the others have said. You’re valid, valuable, and worthwhile.
*love and hugs* I’m on Discord most of the time to talk.
@Jes,
Nthing what the others here have already said, since I’m bad when it comes to saying the right thing to offer comfort to others. Best thing I have right now to offer you is a bit of escapism in the form of a Pern roleplaying game I’m on, that lets players play gender-fluid / non-binary dragons if they want to. And play humans like that, too.
Don’t know if you’d be interested in a place like that, but even if all you’d want to do is not join but just read the posts others write, I can give you a link to it. Hit me up on Discord DM, and I can give you more details about the game, and a link.
Hi all, if anyone is in touch with Jesalin (via Discord or elsewhere), could you let us know if you have a moment?
Obviously our concerns are a very, very distant second to her wellbeing, which is paramount – but a lot of us are sorely worried, so if anyone has news, please post if you can, when you can.
Jesalin, if you’re reading, you’ve been in many people’s thoughts today. We’re wishing you well from all over the world. Please take care of yourself <3 <3 <3