DRW50

If they'd acknowledged his past (in a way that didn't involve Debbie Rush hissing MONSTER like something out of Manos Hands of Fate) and not brought him back in a tedious ripoff of Hillman, I think it would have helped. This is one of those stories where people have to look like morons to keep the plot moving, and really there IS no plot - nothing will come of the flat scam, and nothing will come of Michael's death because no one cared about Michael. Nothing will come of Eileen looking like a moron yet again. And Todd, who had the potential of finally coming into his own, is basically spinning his wheels because Kate Oates sees Phelan as her ticket to make Corrie into Emmerdale - a show full of amoral characters that just about gets away with it because Emmerdale has been chock-full of amoral characters for at least a decade so viewers have come to expect it and the show has more freedom, and Emmerdale has no identity and hasn't in many many years. Corrie is not Emmerdale. Adam Barlow is another generic Emmerdale ripoff, with no real hint of the vague complexity that always defined Mike, even as they keep saying he's the new Mike. He's really just a dull prick. And Sam Robertson still can't act. I find the show unwatchable in a way I didn't even with Blackburn...in a way I did with that wretched Phil Collinson. I didn't watch much of it but they did address the last part - she nearly hit him or did hit him at one point, but felt guilt-ridden because she was supposed to be his mother.

She's one of Mitch's favorite characters... No seriously, I think she just seemed very wan and as a result it was difficult to care. Likely one of the reasons Shannon went on to also play interloper for a while before the reunion. It likely didn't help with viewers at the time that she'd also tried to be an issue between Casey and Lyla. I think with Hal the chemistry between Benjamin and HBS made viewers more torn, especially as Tom was away for much of 1987 and Holmes didn't have the chemistry with HBS that Gregg Marx did.

There was an article out earlier this year about how Fidel was stirring backlash against Obama's visit and any new US-friendly policy. I guess that was one of his last gasps. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/06/cuba-fidel-castro-raul-castro-barack-obama-us-cuban-relations-foreign-policy-213953 I saw some joke tweets saying the CIA had tried to kill Castro hundreds of times, and taunted 2016 that it couldn't do it. And sure enough 2016 did... I was reading a bit about the 1980 boatlifts that brought over 100K to Miami. They sure were lucky Carter was President then. I can't imagine what the reaction would be today.

I think there's always been a big divide between older Cubans and other Latinos. With that said I know some claim Trump never was as unpopular with Latinos as most major Republican candidates. I find that hard to believe, given the vile things he said, but I don't know. I understand Fidel was a monster to many who fled Cuba, but I wonder if it's just symbolism for them at this point, as his reign seemed to be over a long time ago. Doesn't his brother run the country now? I saw a few comments saying it's ironic he died on the main day that celebrates captalism...

Democrats tend to cave a lot, especially Schumer and Hoyer. Harry Reid wouldn't let this happen, but he's retiring. Democrats have 48 seats in the Senate - the real question is if this comes up to a vote (or some variation of it), will all Democrats hold firm? Or will the Joe Manchin types cave? Will the Republicans who try to give the impression they have half a brain (Collins, McCain, Heller, Flake, among others) go along? Anyway, not to take away from the above, but this is a writeup on the continued Secretary of State battles and how it may lead Trump to pick Patraeus instead: http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/trumps-team-of-rivals-fighting-spills-into-public-231841 Something will have to give with this mess of two very divided camps - I have a feeling in the long run the Breitbart group will lose clout, but not until after all the damage is done. And of course Pence and that ilk are as bad, or worse, just in a less blatant way. I guess at least Pence has the sense to see that Rudy is a ridiculous idea. I'm not surprised to hear that Rudy's ego and big mouth are dragging him down. I hope it keeps on coming.

That Democrats are relying on tired on catchphrases from activist Republicans tells you again why the party is seen as so inept and worthless by many: http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/chuck-schumer-responds-republicans-medicare-overhaul

When I saw this woman's name as the latest Trump appointment I thought it sounded familiar from some crazy thing involving Hillary, and sure enough... http://talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/hillz-helicopters-spied-on-me

Sadly, I'd guess a lot of people, many of whom opened their wallets. She's a narcissist and a con artist. I truly hope that no one who donated was hurting financially. Shame on her.

He'll say anything for money and he has ties to some of the dictators who wanted Trump in the first place. He's also a sycophant, whereas Romney was not "loyal." I imagine it will be Rudy in the end. If the Senate had any backbone I'd imagine they would give him a foot in the ass, but we know that isn't likely.

The man who said it is someone who drove the party to the right in purity contests galore (no new taxes ever). Part of the joke of Reagan worship with these types is that Reagan did raise taxes. They usually say that Reagan had to because Democrats controlled the House, but even with that, I don't believe Reagan would agree with most of what the GOP has become, even if he started all of this (the racist dog whistles, the "Reagan Democrats"). He was pretty extreme himself at various points, especially his first few years in office, but he did want to actually get something done. The Republicans in charge now just want to burn it all down. They lie to themselves by acting like it's for St. Ronnie, and it discomfits them that the Breitbart group don't even bother to hide their true goals - total destruction.

Merkel's problem isn't so much world leaders as it is the uprising in Germany due to the refugee backlash and the general struggles of anyone who has been in power for such an extended period of time. Well that and the EU being headed by what seems to be a pompous fool. I think Merkel will always be a strong check to Trump on a global stage but the stage she's on is steadily being sawed away. The next big election will be in France, where the choice is between an extreme right wing quasi-establishment figure who unexpectedly made the final round of voting instead of that toxic Sarkozy, a weaker quasi-centrist-leftist, and the terrifying Le Pen dynasty. The best case scenario is the first guy wins, but even that shows how much has changed and is changing in Europe. Frankly I was surprised to read anyone was bothering with the briefs, even Pence. That crazy guy (Flynn) mouthing off during security briefings sort of said it all. The best I can hope for is someone relatively sane will have some sort of say. I know some seem to trust Mattis, the guy Trump may pick for Defense. Of course that likely means he won't pick him now...

This article lays out various points of view about Jill Stein and her recount. I especially agree with the part about focusing on the Louisiana Senate race instead, futile as that is. Reading that Stein is using this to further her poisonous "pox on both parties" mentality, with (yet again) active help from the Russian media, makes me even more wary of so many people supporting it. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-politics/wp/2016/11/24/why-are-people-giving-jill-stein-millions-of-dollars-for-an-election-recount/ Between this and the Ivanka stuff it feels like George Takei keeps getting distracted by shiny objects. I'd expected better for some reason.

I never knew Vivica A Fox was on 90210. I guess it was just for the liberal guilt storyline of the week - it's too bad as she and Jason Priestly had chemistry here.

I still don't think Trump will pick Romney for SoS (I'm back to expecting that old Fooliani or a minion of his) but clearly some of his moochers are panicking at the prospect. http://www.politico.com/blogs/donald-trump-administration/2016/11/kellyanne-conway-attacks-mitt-romney-231830

Very sobering article about just how much will be lost if Paul Ryan's plans to gut so many social programs succeed. http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/11/new-congress-trump-lbj-214480

I'm more worried about Jill Stein potentially conning money out of vulnerable people than anything else.

Vernee Watson and Beverly Archer are both in this Lysol ad that starts around 5 minutes in. It jumped out at me as they were both in the Katherine/Jill mansion story...although I think they missed each other onscreen by about 6 months...

When I saw one of those interviews with Ellen Dolan, she mentioned that originally at the end she was supposed to die and Tom would get her heart. And that it changed. So they gave that to Reid instead? I thought the story was a hoary old shitpile no matter who had it, but giving it to Reid was a crass, homophobic wretched choice that made the last weeks of ATWT even poorer.

They were great together. And they looked like sisters.

It definitely seemed to be in transition. I wish they hadn't spent so much money on new sets and had instead had better writers.

Thanks. I think the diner set with Carlotta was different. I never knew about Al.

And it looks like DeVos' brother has ties to a name I never wanted to hear again - Blackwater. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/trump-picks-billionaire-betsy-devos-school-voucher-advocate-as-education-secretary/2016/11/23/c3d66b94-af96-11e6-840f-e3ebab6bcdd3_story.html Do you ever feel like the present is just one long acid trip version of the past?

Thanks. Sorry about that.

I've heard Carson really did help people as a doctor, and was well-respected until the last few years. I'd like to believe he will not just destroy and hurt people who are struggling. I really would. Anyway...it looks like Betsy DeVos will be Education Secretary. Compared to some names I saw, like Jerry Falwell Jr, there could be worse choices, although she's big on charter schools. Her husband is also one of the big Amway people. http://www.politico.com/story/2016/11/betsy-devos-education-secretary-trump-231804 More about her here: http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/us/2016/11/22/what-a-betsy-devos-appointment-would-tell-us-about-donald-trumps-education-plans/ Nikki Haley has agreed to be the UN ambassador, I guess for Trump's version of "look I can hire people who trash me." That makes me even less likely to believe he'll pick Romney for SoS, although that old smirky windbag Gingrich pushing back against it on Faux News makes me hope he does just for the rictus grins that ilk will have. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/23/us/politics/nikki-haley-donald-trump-un-ambassador.html?_r=0