and on a side note, Bovino... doesn't that mean... Bull?

Heh. Yes, definitely when used as a noun.

Used as an adjective regarding people: Bovino, lerdo, estupido
cow-like, dull/slow-witted/sluggish, stupid

At least an honorable mention should go to my Senator, Mark Kelly. First and foremost for standing up to a bully.

Good for the Arizona Astronaut.

His lawsuit against Sec. of Defense Hegseth has not only shown that he will not be intimidated into silence. It has also reaped financial rewards for his re-election campaign.

You do realize that Kelly isn't up for reelection in 2026 but not unlike Rafael Cruz is seriously considering a run for the presidency in 2028. Right?

I will never understand why the political Left enjoys attacking - even when justified - a Republican politician who is NOT UP FOR REELECTION.

Are you unaware that Rafael Cruz is highly likely to announce a run for the presidency of the United States (not for the first time) maybe shortly after the midterms this very year or in 2027?

Sen. Cruz was re-elected in 2024, AFTER his first "Mexican vacation" during a life-threatening winter storm. Clearly what he does in Jan 2026 will have zero impact on his eventual re-election chances in 2030.

So you're definitely not from Texas. :)

TX voters have already demonstrated that they just don't care how callous Rafael shows himself towards their suffering; the "R" after his name on the ballot pretty much ensures his re-election - especially when Democrats support weak candidates like his opponent in 2024.

Texas voters do not register by political Party. You simply choose a ballot in the primaries and vote. Righties who wish to vote in the Democratic primaries are free to do so, and Lefties who wish to choose the Republican candidates are likewise free to do so. Independents and those favoring any number of various assorted of the political Parties can vote in whatever primaries they choose.

Texas doesn't require voters to choose a political Party, and voters are allowed to vote in whatever primary they choose. I used to do work for a guy who introduced me to John Cornyn; very nice guy (Cornyn, not the other guy). I hardly recognize what the Senator has become; it is somewhere between pathetic and simpering. Don't tell John, but there are a large number of Independents and Democrats who will be voting in the Republican primary for his opponent, Ken Paxton. Whomever wins it, I would be lying if I said it wouldn't be great good times watching them tear each other to shreds.

If Paxton wins the primary, it'll be hysterical if Republicans get the blame for that. :)

Until the last few days, when I told them about Iceland, they loved me.... They're not there for us on Iceland. That I can tell you. I mean, our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland. So Iceland's already cost us a lot of money.

I'd be seriously interested to know why you omitted the psychotic part where Trump prattles fondly about being referred to as "daddy":

But in doing it, I'm helping Europe. I'm helping NATO, and until the last few days when I told them about Iceland, they loved me. They called me ‘daddy’ right, last time. Very smart man said, ‘He's our daddy. He's running it.’ I was like running it. I went from running it to being a terrible human being.

But now what I'm asking for is a piece of ice, cold and poorly located that can play a vital role in world peace and world protection. It's a very small ask compared to what we have given them for many, many decades. But the problem with NATO is that, we'll be there for them 100%, but I'm not sure that they be there for us. If we gave them the call, ‘Gentlemen, we are being attacked. We're under attack by such and such a nation.’ I know them all very well, I'm not sure that they'd be there. I know we'd be there for them. I don't know that they'd be there for us. So, with all of the money we expend, with all of the blood, sweat and tears, I don't know that they'd be there for us. They're not there for us on Iceland, that I can tell you. Our stock market took the first dip yesterday because of Iceland. So, Iceland has already cost us a lot of money. But that dip is peanuts compared to what it's gone up, and we have an unbelievable future in that stock, that stock market is going to be doubled.

~ Donald Trump, Davos, Switzerland, January 2026

Got that? "Stock market is going to be doubled." Got a timeline for that? Two weeks. *laughs* Actually, the markets closed down significantly on Tuesday (Monday was a holiday), deepening losses suffered at the outset of trading, after Fat Donny threatened tariffs on multiple European countries as part of a push for U.S. control of Greenland (not Iceland). The DJIA closed down 1.7% (870 points), S&P 500 declined 2%, and the NASDAQ dropped 2.3%. It was Trump who tanked the markets in a rant on social media and definitely not Iceland or even Greenland (not to be confused with Iceland).

Can you imagine the right wingnuts losing their ever-loving shit if Joe Biden (or any Democrat for that matter) ever uttered anything near (or approaching) that prattling sick lunatic utter nonsensical garbage that Trump spoke on the world stage at Davos? Grandpa says market is going to double after single-handedly threatening tariffs and causing them to dive and also enjoys being referred to as "daddy" and doesn't have a scintilla of a freaking clue that the only time the Article 5 collective defense clause was invoked by NATO allies was following the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and was in support of the United States.

Does it get any more psychotic and imbecilic than Fat Donny whining on the world stage about being called "daddy" while dripping with sweat and reeking embarrassingly with the stench of ignorance?

My Spanish is somewhat (forty years) rusty but I think it means “Short Bull”
(rimshot)

” All it would take to end the murder of American citizens by an untrained government goon squad is 16 Repugs in Congress voting with Dems to defund ICE (or 23 to impeach and remove Trump—3 in House & 20 in Senate). That’s it. 23 Americans can END THIS.”

Re: MIDOTW perhaps it would prove a slippery slope but is there some way that we can temporarily designate such stellar players on the world stage as Honorary Democrats? Or perhaps M-I-d-O-T-W small-democracy “d”?

Re: MDDOTW I think Republican Wing of the Democratic Party Award it’s modestly catchy and is self evident. Or Manchinema Award?

and on a side note, Bovino... doesn't that mean... Bull?

'Kelly made more than $1 million in direct contributions and transfers to Democrats across the country, bringing his total direct contributions to more than $1.4 million for 2025. ... Kelly also made direct contributions to approximately 30 state parties, including in potential early nominating 2028 states like Iowa, Michigan, South Carolina and New Hampshire.'
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/01/23/mark-kelly-fundraising-midterms-00743357

I will never understand why the political Left enjoys attacking - even when justified - a Republican politician who is NOT UP FOR REELECTION. Sen. Cruz was re-elected in 2024, AFTER his first "Mexican vacation" during a life-threatening winter storm. Clearly what he does in Jan 2026 will have zero impact on his eventual re-election chances in 2030.

TX voters have already demonstrated that they just don't care how callous Rafael shows himself towards their suffering; the "R" after his name on the ballot pretty much ensures his re-election - especially when Democrats support weak candidates like his opponent in 2024.

I recall many "progressives" who criticized Garland's Justice Dept for taking "too long" to go after Trump and the Jan 6 perpetrators.

Because Jack Smith "dotted his 'i's and crossed his 't's", he can honestly assert that the investigation and indictments were based on fact.