Khan

Well, I'm not surprised that the Senate pushed through their s****y tax bill. From day one, the GOP has been determined to do two things: erase Obama's legacy, and redistribute wealth back to the rich; and after the fiasco in trying to repeal and/or replace the ACA, they DESPERATELY needed a "win," even if it had to come at the expense of their voters. Same. I'm not counting on Republican voters to "turn blue." Don't get me wrong -- I suspect that, come 2018 and 2020, a not-insignificant number of Republican voters will turn their backs on the GOP, who they feel truly does not represent them. However, even if Republican voters are as outraged about the Senate tax bill as the rest of us are, I believe the majority will remain loyal to their party no matter what. (As a matter of fact, I think that's one reason why Mitch McConnell and others were as brazen as they were about pushing through the bill in the middle of the night. They're confident that their base won't go anywhere, regardless of how the bill will impact them eventually.) If there's any hope for a real revolution in this country, then more Democratic and Independent voters are gonna have to step up. The past year has shown us all that complacency is no longer an option. Meanwhile: it appears ABC News got their facts wrong -- Trump asked Flynn to give the Russians "happy endings" after, and not before, the election -- and everyone who's paying attention is losing his and her respective [!@#$%^&*] over the blunder. Or am I reading THAT wrong? (That's why I'm not posting any links, because I'm not entirely clear on this development.)

"This is Washington, D.C., at its worst." And considering all the abuses and gross miscarriages of justice that occurred under Nixon and Reagan, that's truly saying something.

That's good...but is that good enough? Given not just Lauer's behavior but also the "old boys club" sentiment at NBC that allowed him to behave as he did for so long, I say the network should be made, somehow, to donate at least a portion of that $20 million to organizations that benefit and advocate for victims of sexual harassment and abuse. Lauer, as well, should be made to make restitution to his victims. Then, and only then, will I feel like justice is being served here.

I guess Cobb wanted to speak directly to fans of "The Simpsons."

Yes. Actually, she filed for disability about twelve years ago, due to complications from diabetes. Then, after Papa Khan's death, she started receiving his SS benefits, since his was the larger of the two.

RE: Farenthold -- Using taxpayer funds to settle a dispute like that is not only unethical but country-ass dumb as well. (How do any politicians think that kind of [!@#$%^&*] won't be uncovered one way or the other?) Not Jerry-Springer-paid-with-a-check dumb, but pretty damn close.

That's what I tell Mama Khan, who saw her IRA account (set up by my dad shortly after his retirement, and before his untimely death back in '12, and then left to her) dry up this year, thanks to bad investments (and, I suspect, unscrupulous actions) on the part of her investment adviser. She panics daily at the thought of subsisting solely on Social Security, as well at the thought of not having enough money to pay off the mortgage on the house we've lived in for over thirty years. But, I keep telling her not to panic or feel embarrassed about her situation. Millions are in the same boat as she, and millions more are about to join them if this awful tax bill becomes reality. Same. I don't even get into political discussions anymore with Mama Khan, who is basically listening to everything InfoWars and Fox News is telling people. It never serves any purpose to tell one's mother they're being brainwashed by right-wing propaganda or that everything they're hearing (including that Obama and HRC smell like sulphur, that Hillary is suffering from Parkinson's disease and Bill Clinton's on his deathbed, and that all these people who are being exposed as sexual predators is because of Trump exacting revenge on all his enemies on the left and far-left) is flat-out wrong. So, I just wait for her to finish talking and then change the subject. Like Bobby Womack once said, "Oh, ain't it funny how the tables turn / When things aren't goin' your way?" Sounds like another trip to the doctor's office for me, lol! But seriously. I am sorry to hear about this, marceline. I hope you're taking care of yourself today. You are definitely in my prayers, girl.

You mean, when he asked Flynn to contact the Russians in the hopes of working together to defeat ISIS? That's illegal? (By the way, Vee, I'm not arguing with you. I guess I'm just trying to wrap my head around all this.) Well, not ALL the time. Boy, I'd sure love for this to end with Donald, Flynn and the rest of the conspirators performing "Hello, Dolly!" for the other inmates at their prison's annual talent show. But I just don't want to count my chickens before they hatch. Know what I mean? Hey, that fat [!@#$%^&*] didn't get to be governor on his looks and charm alone.

Sorry to hear the day's been lousy for you, Julia. A wise man once said, "There is no honor among thieves." I guess Michael Flynn proves that point. How so? Because, all I'm reading is that Trump election officials, rather than Trump himself, were the ones who put him up to lying to the authorities about Russian collusion.

Bloop.

People on the Far Left: "If Hillary were president, this country would be firmly in the hands of Wall Street and the self-entitled rich." Me: "Which is different from where we are today, because...?" From Larry Kudlow: “Just give us a chance, and in three or four years, if it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work; we all go back to the drawing board [...] I get that. But it’s our turn.” But seriously. The GOP is in a no-win situation. If they lose their precious tax bill, then their backers promise to sever the financial bloodlines. If they don't, then they risk the wrath of voters, who are making it clear already that they think the bill is [!@#$%^&*]. They KNOW the odds of this succeeding even a little are slim, but rather than concede to the other side, they're going to cross their fingers and pray. I'd laugh about that if it weren't so damn serious.

Which just proves what I said earlier (although, not on this board): that Matt Lauer's act of contrition was just that. An act. If he were truly remorseful over what he'd done, and not just sorry that he got caught, he would walk away and forget about the money. A truly remorseful person would realize he doesn't deserve the money (and in fact, he would give money to whatever charities are out there to advocate for victims of sexual abuse).

Dear God, if we end up in a war with Great Britain....

I apologize if this has been posted already. WH Plans Tillerson Ouster from State Dept., To Be Replaced by Pompeo

Same.

I think David Jacobs, an avowed movie buff, would appreciate your drawing such an analogy. IA with Soaplovers: KNOTS always had stories that, for whatever reason, didn't work, but the lowest the show ever reaches in terms of quality is the front half of S13. By that point, the Lechowicks (and later, James Stanley) had left to work on "Homefront." (Mimi Kennedy, who had served as one of KL's story editors, left for "Homefront" as well, but as an actress.) Their successor, John Romano, who had worked previously on "Hill Street Blues," was just all wrong for KNOTS. A number of story threads that the Lechowicks and their team had left behind veered WAY off-track; and what Romano himself was responsible for...well...let's just say, prepare to hear the words "Tidal Energy" a lot. (I mean, A LOT.) According to Ann Marcus' autobiography, things got so bad under Romano that Jacobs was forced to shut down production temporarily in an attempt to reverse course. Marcus, who had been one of the chief architects of the Ciji Dunne story, was brought back. The show stabilized, and the back half of S13 was good, if not a full return to classic form for KNOTS. CBS renewed KNOTS for a 14th season. However, in order to stay under budget, the episode order was reduced (to 19) and cast members' episode guarantees were cut as well. (Michele Lee was the ONLY regular cast member to appear in every episode in that season.) In turn, budget constraints, as well as the absence of another, veteran cast member (won't say who), hamstrung the overall storytelling, IMO. To quote TV Guide, KNOTS, in S14, just seemed to be very limp. Subsequently, when the finale did air, I was sad to see it go, but I also knew it was time. Of the four major primetime soaps from the '80's -- DALLAS, DYNASTY, FALCON CREST and KNOTS -- I've always felt that KNOTS was the most like their daytime counterparts in terms of its' emphasis on character over plot or spectacle. DALLAS emphasized characters and relationships as well; however, with some exception, DALLAS was a pretty static show. (J.R. vs. Bobby, J.R. vs. Sue Ellen, J.R. vs. Pam and Cliff, J.R. vs. everybody else; lather, rinse, repeat.) KNOTS, on the other hand, always appeared willing to remain fresh and be different, and to grow, without sacrificing the core that Jacobs had established at the start. Sometimes, the growth was good for the show; and sometimes, the growth wasn't. But, as one book suggests, it was that "willingness to evolve" that kept KNOTS as a viewer favorite long after the other primetime soaps had faded. As for why LML ultimately failed at Y&R...? You COULD argue that she needed her husband to work alongside her as a Co-HW, since her track record without him is spotty, IMO. But I think it actually boils down to these basic facts: not every writer is capable of doing great work in every medium; and not every TV writer is cut out for every show.

I didn't even consider Brian Williams, but no, I wouldn't be surprised either. Williams could return from the "Siberia" of cable news with the narrative of being the humbled anchorman seeking a chance at redemption. He might not regain the evening spot, but he could use the surprising and unlikely "Today" gig as the springboard toward becoming a sort of male Barbara Walters for NBC, hosting and producing news and interview specials and the like. You know, I'd actually welcome that? Bryant Gumbel is a prick, but he (and Jane Pauley) also lent "Today" a certain gravitas that, IMO, they've never quite recaptured.

Just think: Carson Daly could end up being the new co-host at "Today." Carson. [!@#$%^&*]. Daly.

Tell 'em, Bette! I hated how that [!@#$%^&*] got swept under the old rug when this interview first appeared...and I hate it now.

Agree. Exactly. For that matter, why is it so awful to say "Happy Holidays" in case someone is not a Christian? Or are Christian holidays the only ones that matter in this country? (Don't answer, it's a rhetorical question, lol.)

Allow me to echo Julia's sentiments, Amy, and express how bad I feel for you. Hearing these allegations about all these men cannot be easy for you. I just hope you're taking care of yourself throughout all this.

I've got to hand it to these people. The switch appears absolutely seamless. God, I hope so, lol.

Garrison Keillor? As in, "Prairie Home Companion"? As in, Lake Wobegon and Guy Noir? THAT Garrison Keillor? REALLY??

I always feel like people have to feign shock in order to cover their proverbial asses. They can't say, "Well, I knew this would happen sooner or later," because, if they do, then others will ask, "Well, if you KNEW, then why didn't you say something before now?"

You know, if I were one of the 17,000 male co-anchors on GMA, I'd be worried af right now.