I can remember, before 2016, how much I used to disagree with Jennifer Rubin. It’s gratifying how - once her eyes were opened - she has followed truth as she knows it as relentlessly as she has, becoming one of the most effective advocates for the question “Are you a believer in democracy and our democratic constitutional republic, and willing to fight to defend it?”
To the one making Thanksgiving dinner for She Who Can’t Participate Anymore, and to you, Jurate, the kitties, the TAFMers, Americans, Ukrainians, and to all the people of the world.
MaryPat, you are the sun before it rises. Until seeing your name, I was thinking about our abandoned children on the streets, in no good foster homes, neglected and abused elsewhere. An image of the pets in Ukraine - the other victims of the war -came to mind. Why did I connect these images to the sweet beauties in FABULOUS FELINE FRIDAY - the lucky kitties? Thinking of the children and animals we throw away; so were my Black Friday thoughts. Then the sun came out with MaryPat. I'm going to make breakfast now, smiling because you dropped by. Wishing you a good day, my friend. Salud.
Although it's early for New Year's resolutions, one of mine is to figure out why your posts almost always make me start weeping (I realize this could be a function of old age).
Meanwhile, I am exceptionally grateful that I had the good sense to follow you from your comments on HCR right into your living room. Believe me, I'm not known for my good sense.
I, too, am grateful for Donald Trump. During the course of his candidacy, presidency, and the aftermath, I have learned more about how this government works than I would have under other circumstances. When we need to learn to survive, we learn. It has been a Civics lesson.
I am grateful for all the hope that the mid-terms hold out.
I am, in general, grateful for all the political energy on the right side of history.
Mostly, though, I am brought to my knees with gratitude for people.
For my beautiful 7-year-old grandson, with his brilliant, eccentric mind and for our deep bond, forged almost from the day he was born.
For my 52-year-old son who is the same kind of adoring and flawed parent I was and who, at 52, with his first and only child, is exhausted most of the time.
For the unconditional support I exchange daily with the recovering alcoholics with whom I have kept company for 36 years. Wounded healers all.
For my legions of cousins, even those I don't like.
For Zoom that has made it possible for me to spend time every week with an old colleague who is dying.
For my dear cat, Isaac, who died over a year ago and whose life and death changed everything.
For Feline Fridays.
For every name I see, every personality I encounter here every day. How quickly we get to know each other.
TC, I am very grateful for the Substack writers that I enjoy reading online. I especially look forward to your newsletter which comes across very straightforward and sometimes salty. I often think I wish I had said what you wrote. I also appreciate the tender care for She who Cannot Participate of which you give little glimpses. Only love does such things; I know this from personal experience. May you have a lovely, peaceful Thanksgiving.
Nice work. I used to struggle to tell Jennifer Rubin from Megan McArdle, but now I follow her column with the same enthusiasm I follow Sally Jenkins, Alexandra Petri and Leonard Pitts — which is a lot. Thanks for your work; you shouldn’t have hesitated, you always deliver. Much appreciated!
Woke Jennifer Rubin is the best Jennifer Rubin. Let's also acknowledge Bill Kristol, who used to be spectacularly wrong about everything, who also woke up and has been speaking up for democracy first and partisanship (a distant) second. We need more of them, but this is a good start.
Rather ironic that 45 doing a massive disservice to the nation may end up being a service to our nation. Look at how young voters turned out this last cycle, in a way that I've never seen before President Biden listening to their concerns and acting on them was a big contributor as well, but I believe in the end that the 30 and unders best understand what's at stake, because it will be they who have the longest lifespans in whatever system we end up with. They're learning that fighting for our democracy is not easy, and we don't always win, but that it is rewarding, and it is the only way we will keep it.
We should also thank Herr Reichkanzler Rick Scott, one of our Florida senators (ugh), who burned through NRSC money early in the cycle, leaving the R's with a slate of shit candidates and no money to support them. That helped the D's keep the majority in the Senate. Hopefully Rev. Warnock can finish off Herschel Walker's misbegotten political career next month and get the D's an actual majority. We will need it because the 2024 cycle for the Senate is going to be heavy lifting.
Your statement that you get to know someone from a forum like this is spot on. Some of my best friends today I met on a motorcycle forum.
We started a “girly ride” in 2008, and made it an annual event for about 10 years. Year 2, my wife and I rode to Redding, overnighted at a woman’s house I’d never met, and the three of us rode to Visalia to stay with yet another stranger. You do learn about people long term on a site like this.
I am thankful for my on line communities from Substack to Tuba/Motorcycle fora. Y’all keep me sane...... ish.
TC, I feel that I've grown to know you just a bit, and to like your personality quite a lot. I've learned some history and how some government gears grind, and I've learned you are good people. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Lots of being thankfuls here - good ones. I'm so thankful for your posts on HCR which brought me here. Many other familiar folks here too. I hope (& pray) that the next couple years (after the Rs stomp their tiny feet & whine & cry) turn out as well as the past two. Maybe it will awaken more of the non-voters to the next election. Hope you & yours have a great Thanksgiving.
TC, I am grateful for you, your stepping out beyond your fear of failure, your amazingly inventive vocabulary, your willingness to say it all out loud, your years of experience in a variety of arenas which you use to shed light on current issues, your winning me over on airplanes, ships and battles, (not to mention felines) and, for being the catalyst for a new link for me and my nephew, who is now a subscriber and who has read all your books!
Mostly I am thankful for your love for all in your care and for your faithful attending to us, your growing community. Lots of heavy lifting on your part. Lots for us to be thankful for. ( though I cannot yet use the word "thank"and "Trump" in the same sentence!) Happy Thanksgiving! May it be a good day in America.
Thanksgiving to you, TC. I appreciate you sharing your insights and rejoinders, your wealth of knowledge about so many subjects. I look forward to the new year and your continued columns.
Thanks to you, your partner, the kitties, and everyone who works to preserve our democracy. Each of us has a reason to give thanks - and may we all be glad together.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Tom, I am absolutely thankful for so much not the least of which is knowing that they got it all and I don’t need chemo or radiation. Thank you for sharing Jennifer’s list and your own!
To the one making Thanksgiving dinner for She Who Can’t Participate Anymore, and to you, Jurate, the kitties, the TAFMers, Americans, Ukrainians, and to all the people of the world.
Ditto!! And Happy Thanksgiving Fern!
MaryPat, you are the sun before it rises. Until seeing your name, I was thinking about our abandoned children on the streets, in no good foster homes, neglected and abused elsewhere. An image of the pets in Ukraine - the other victims of the war -came to mind. Why did I connect these images to the sweet beauties in FABULOUS FELINE FRIDAY - the lucky kitties? Thinking of the children and animals we throw away; so were my Black Friday thoughts. Then the sun came out with MaryPat. I'm going to make breakfast now, smiling because you dropped by. Wishing you a good day, my friend. Salud.
I am so happy for your "thanks-giving" Fern!! Thanks right back atcha, I'm smiling, too, and wishing you the most delicious holiday!
A near-perfect balance again, TC.
Although it's early for New Year's resolutions, one of mine is to figure out why your posts almost always make me start weeping (I realize this could be a function of old age).
Meanwhile, I am exceptionally grateful that I had the good sense to follow you from your comments on HCR right into your living room. Believe me, I'm not known for my good sense.
I, too, am grateful for Donald Trump. During the course of his candidacy, presidency, and the aftermath, I have learned more about how this government works than I would have under other circumstances. When we need to learn to survive, we learn. It has been a Civics lesson.
I am grateful for all the hope that the mid-terms hold out.
I am, in general, grateful for all the political energy on the right side of history.
Mostly, though, I am brought to my knees with gratitude for people.
For my beautiful 7-year-old grandson, with his brilliant, eccentric mind and for our deep bond, forged almost from the day he was born.
For my 52-year-old son who is the same kind of adoring and flawed parent I was and who, at 52, with his first and only child, is exhausted most of the time.
For the unconditional support I exchange daily with the recovering alcoholics with whom I have kept company for 36 years. Wounded healers all.
For my legions of cousins, even those I don't like.
For Zoom that has made it possible for me to spend time every week with an old colleague who is dying.
For my dear cat, Isaac, who died over a year ago and whose life and death changed everything.
For Feline Fridays.
For every name I see, every personality I encounter here every day. How quickly we get to know each other.
Thank you, TC and everyone.
TC, I am very grateful for the Substack writers that I enjoy reading online. I especially look forward to your newsletter which comes across very straightforward and sometimes salty. I often think I wish I had said what you wrote. I also appreciate the tender care for She who Cannot Participate of which you give little glimpses. Only love does such things; I know this from personal experience. May you have a lovely, peaceful Thanksgiving.
Nice work. I used to struggle to tell Jennifer Rubin from Megan McArdle, but now I follow her column with the same enthusiasm I follow Sally Jenkins, Alexandra Petri and Leonard Pitts — which is a lot. Thanks for your work; you shouldn’t have hesitated, you always deliver. Much appreciated!
A friend/mentor told me 40 years ago that 90% of accomplishing anything creative was overcoming the fear you'd fail.
McArgleBargle is still clueless, but balefully amusing reading (at times).
Woke Jennifer Rubin is the best Jennifer Rubin. Let's also acknowledge Bill Kristol, who used to be spectacularly wrong about everything, who also woke up and has been speaking up for democracy first and partisanship (a distant) second. We need more of them, but this is a good start.
Rather ironic that 45 doing a massive disservice to the nation may end up being a service to our nation. Look at how young voters turned out this last cycle, in a way that I've never seen before President Biden listening to their concerns and acting on them was a big contributor as well, but I believe in the end that the 30 and unders best understand what's at stake, because it will be they who have the longest lifespans in whatever system we end up with. They're learning that fighting for our democracy is not easy, and we don't always win, but that it is rewarding, and it is the only way we will keep it.
We should also thank Herr Reichkanzler Rick Scott, one of our Florida senators (ugh), who burned through NRSC money early in the cycle, leaving the R's with a slate of shit candidates and no money to support them. That helped the D's keep the majority in the Senate. Hopefully Rev. Warnock can finish off Herschel Walker's misbegotten political career next month and get the D's an actual majority. We will need it because the 2024 cycle for the Senate is going to be heavy lifting.
Yes, Kristol - who amazed me, but his "woke" was very educational to me.
Kristol and Wolfowitz were two that I regularly put a hex on
TFG - a blessing in very heavy disguise.
Halloween, horror, and Tammy Faye
Trolls get exterminated here. He's been reduced to his component electrons.
Thank you for the proper use of electron.😂TFG: “ They stole the electron from Blake Masters”.
Your statement that you get to know someone from a forum like this is spot on. Some of my best friends today I met on a motorcycle forum.
We started a “girly ride” in 2008, and made it an annual event for about 10 years. Year 2, my wife and I rode to Redding, overnighted at a woman’s house I’d never met, and the three of us rode to Visalia to stay with yet another stranger. You do learn about people long term on a site like this.
I am thankful for my on line communities from Substack to Tuba/Motorcycle fora. Y’all keep me sane...... ish.
Why am I unsurprised that Sheriff Ally is a biker?
🏍️
TC, you are unique. Your analysis is as eye opening as it is irreverent; the brawler who gives everyone pause
As I forward your “James Fell-ish commentary to my FB acquaintances, some complain re your combativeness, as I respond, “its about fucking time”
The Battle for the Soul continues
May David Lindley Rule
It’s way past f***ing time
TC, I feel that I've grown to know you just a bit, and to like your personality quite a lot. I've learned some history and how some government gears grind, and I've learned you are good people. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.
Lots of being thankfuls here - good ones. I'm so thankful for your posts on HCR which brought me here. Many other familiar folks here too. I hope (& pray) that the next couple years (after the Rs stomp their tiny feet & whine & cry) turn out as well as the past two. Maybe it will awaken more of the non-voters to the next election. Hope you & yours have a great Thanksgiving.
TC, I am grateful for you, your stepping out beyond your fear of failure, your amazingly inventive vocabulary, your willingness to say it all out loud, your years of experience in a variety of arenas which you use to shed light on current issues, your winning me over on airplanes, ships and battles, (not to mention felines) and, for being the catalyst for a new link for me and my nephew, who is now a subscriber and who has read all your books!
Mostly I am thankful for your love for all in your care and for your faithful attending to us, your growing community. Lots of heavy lifting on your part. Lots for us to be thankful for. ( though I cannot yet use the word "thank"and "Trump" in the same sentence!) Happy Thanksgiving! May it be a good day in America.
PS I also want to thank you for bringing out my sassy smarty pants side 😹
Sending lots of love to She Who Can’t Participate Anymore, and to you and the kitties.
Thanksgiving to you, TC. I appreciate you sharing your insights and rejoinders, your wealth of knowledge about so many subjects. I look forward to the new year and your continued columns.
Thanks to you, your partner, the kitties, and everyone who works to preserve our democracy. Each of us has a reason to give thanks - and may we all be glad together.
(Native Texan ready to tee up the Aggie Jokes)
Eagerly Await!!!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours, Tom, I am absolutely thankful for so much not the least of which is knowing that they got it all and I don’t need chemo or radiation. Thank you for sharing Jennifer’s list and your own!
That's a huge "thanks"
You're giving Chris. Thank you for making me smile. Salud!
💞