I read the whole (excellent) column before I went back to see the boys, with special emphasis on baby Eli and sweet Pete. I’m working on self-discipline.
A video of Moses splashing would be welcome also, I’m just saying.
Although Noem is a psychopath - I give equal odds whether the story is truth or pure fiction. But why she included it in her book is crystal clear.
It’s her high-volume public ‘dog whistle’ to Trump: “ Unlike Pence, as your VP, I won’t shrink from whatever tasks, however odious or unconstitutional, you ask of me. “
I have no doubt in my mind that it’s true. Even if I had wavered on Cricket (I did not), throwing the (clearly intact, because neutering solves smell and behavior) goat into the mix, adding the work crew and her bewildered child are just the sort of random details that make a witness effective.
Eli and Auggie are regal pals! Ah, Pete. Thank you for these much needed palate cleanser. Thank you for this lesson in history. The jury is out on whether we can save our democracy this election. I’m worried and weary. This list of cowards in the Republican Party is too long. I’ll start with Barr and McConnell.
I don’t think the question is why she put in her book. We can be pretty sure just to impress Trump. I think the question is how in God’s name could this beast do that to her dog and the goat!! Psycho.
I have to admit that I have always been a little suspicious of Noem ... the stock picture of her I usually see seems to me to have the cold dead eyes of a serial killer or a death camp administrator. That's putting a lot of faith in my ability to judge character from a picture, but the feeling is hard to shake.
That said, telling this story really takes the cake. Along with the huge community of politically informed animal lovers out here, I question what the heck she was thinking when she decided to share this incident. I think that both the "political suicide" and the "trying to appeal to Trump's penchant for cruelty" theories have a lot to commend them...
But in the end I come back to her cold, dead eyes. It's hard for me not to believe that Noem really is -- and, moreover, wants to be seen as -- a sociopath with a violent streak.
I hunt, and I've raised "hunting" dogs on and off for my whole life. Most of them, including the one curled up on the couch with me this morning, are mostly hunting for an easier way of life...but I have the self-awareness to realize that their shortfalls as bird dogs are in the main the fault of my own lack of diligence in training them. I do realize that, historically, breeders and trainers have often had to dispose of dogs that "won't hunt", and in the past that probably took forms we don't like to think too much about.
Today, I hope more of these "failures" are adopted out than destroyed, but I wouldn't want to speculate on just how much better we are without some actual data. I suspect that both of my last two rescued English Setters were hunting training washouts, but they went on to graduate cum laude in the school of being loving and beloved companions...and the setter before them, who went blind at the age of 2 (progressive retinal degeneration -- no, Marge, that's NOT a disease God visits on the dogs of progressives as a punishment for the sins of the nation), lived to be 14 as a beloved pet.
Even if these dogs had been declared surplus by the breeders/trainers (in the case of my rescues) or by me (in the case of the blind dog), I have to believe that at no point would the euthanasia have been colored by the hate that Kristi seems to brag about. She didn't do something that was tough but needed to be done; she shot a puppy because she hated it. That's a huge difference. I do feel sorry for the daughter; I remember the pain of sharing the news about the dogs we've put down with my boys and can't imagine how that would have gone if I had shot the dogs because I "hated" them.
It is a sad reflection of the dangers of factionalism that Hamilton and Washington warned us against that one faction now champions the cause of a pathological puppy killer because they think it will "own" the other side.
Those are lovely pictures, of you with your two handsome boys, and Pete enjoying some sun. They warm the heart.
This is the first time I have read all the gory details of what Kristi Noem did in lieu of giving away two animals who had the temerity to displease her. Most normal people would be ashamed to have people find out they acted so cold-heartedly. She may be actually proud of it, in which case it’s a wonder she didn’t wait til the kids were home from school and make them watch. Roy Cohn used to say Donald Trump “pisses ice water”, and if Noem hopes to be in the running as his veep, this might just impress him as literally Being a Killer.
It’s just incredible to me that the likes of Bill Barr, Chris Sununu and Mitch McConnell will STILL vote for Trump as long as he has an “R” after his name. Trump has absolute contempt for Republicans, even over Democrats, and they are prime examples why.
Charlie as you have mentioned before, brutality and cruelty and posing as being "tough" is the essence of today's MAGA. And Trumpster complains about it being too cold in the NY courthouse.
Charlie,many years ago I heard this quote that perfectly sums up our current politics of the last 20 years or so. I don't know who said.Here it is; " I may not like my side, but I hate your side more. And your side is the enemy". This is the essence of us politically. Bill Barr and Chris Sununu are the very essence of that quote.As you rightly point out Lizz Cheney is Hamilton.
If China declines a substantial payment for selling Tiktok, or strips out its algorithms, that will be telling about how they have viewed its application all along.
I read the whole (excellent) column before I went back to see the boys, with special emphasis on baby Eli and sweet Pete. I’m working on self-discipline.
A video of Moses splashing would be welcome also, I’m just saying.
Thoughtful read; it' great to have your writing on substack again. Love the dog pictures (especially Pete)!
I love reading your work, but I think I love looking at Eli’s face even more. ❤️
Although Noem is a psychopath - I give equal odds whether the story is truth or pure fiction. But why she included it in her book is crystal clear.
It’s her high-volume public ‘dog whistle’ to Trump: “ Unlike Pence, as your VP, I won’t shrink from whatever tasks, however odious or unconstitutional, you ask of me. “
I have no doubt in my mind that it’s true. Even if I had wavered on Cricket (I did not), throwing the (clearly intact, because neutering solves smell and behavior) goat into the mix, adding the work crew and her bewildered child are just the sort of random details that make a witness effective.
It happened. And she’s proud of it.
Eli and Auggie are regal pals! Ah, Pete. Thank you for these much needed palate cleanser. Thank you for this lesson in history. The jury is out on whether we can save our democracy this election. I’m worried and weary. This list of cowards in the Republican Party is too long. I’ll start with Barr and McConnell.
Amen Mr. Sykes. And I can confidently say that no one will ever, ever break into your house! (Beautiful pups!)
I don’t think the question is why she put in her book. We can be pretty sure just to impress Trump. I think the question is how in God’s name could this beast do that to her dog and the goat!! Psycho.
I have to admit that I have always been a little suspicious of Noem ... the stock picture of her I usually see seems to me to have the cold dead eyes of a serial killer or a death camp administrator. That's putting a lot of faith in my ability to judge character from a picture, but the feeling is hard to shake.
That said, telling this story really takes the cake. Along with the huge community of politically informed animal lovers out here, I question what the heck she was thinking when she decided to share this incident. I think that both the "political suicide" and the "trying to appeal to Trump's penchant for cruelty" theories have a lot to commend them...
But in the end I come back to her cold, dead eyes. It's hard for me not to believe that Noem really is -- and, moreover, wants to be seen as -- a sociopath with a violent streak.
I hunt, and I've raised "hunting" dogs on and off for my whole life. Most of them, including the one curled up on the couch with me this morning, are mostly hunting for an easier way of life...but I have the self-awareness to realize that their shortfalls as bird dogs are in the main the fault of my own lack of diligence in training them. I do realize that, historically, breeders and trainers have often had to dispose of dogs that "won't hunt", and in the past that probably took forms we don't like to think too much about.
Today, I hope more of these "failures" are adopted out than destroyed, but I wouldn't want to speculate on just how much better we are without some actual data. I suspect that both of my last two rescued English Setters were hunting training washouts, but they went on to graduate cum laude in the school of being loving and beloved companions...and the setter before them, who went blind at the age of 2 (progressive retinal degeneration -- no, Marge, that's NOT a disease God visits on the dogs of progressives as a punishment for the sins of the nation), lived to be 14 as a beloved pet.
Even if these dogs had been declared surplus by the breeders/trainers (in the case of my rescues) or by me (in the case of the blind dog), I have to believe that at no point would the euthanasia have been colored by the hate that Kristi seems to brag about. She didn't do something that was tough but needed to be done; she shot a puppy because she hated it. That's a huge difference. I do feel sorry for the daughter; I remember the pain of sharing the news about the dogs we've put down with my boys and can't imagine how that would have gone if I had shot the dogs because I "hated" them.
It is a sad reflection of the dangers of factionalism that Hamilton and Washington warned us against that one faction now champions the cause of a pathological puppy killer because they think it will "own" the other side.
It all comes back to her eyes...
Those are lovely pictures, of you with your two handsome boys, and Pete enjoying some sun. They warm the heart.
This is the first time I have read all the gory details of what Kristi Noem did in lieu of giving away two animals who had the temerity to displease her. Most normal people would be ashamed to have people find out they acted so cold-heartedly. She may be actually proud of it, in which case it’s a wonder she didn’t wait til the kids were home from school and make them watch. Roy Cohn used to say Donald Trump “pisses ice water”, and if Noem hopes to be in the running as his veep, this might just impress him as literally Being a Killer.
It’s just incredible to me that the likes of Bill Barr, Chris Sununu and Mitch McConnell will STILL vote for Trump as long as he has an “R” after his name. Trump has absolute contempt for Republicans, even over Democrats, and they are prime examples why.
Charlie as you have mentioned before, brutality and cruelty and posing as being "tough" is the essence of today's MAGA. And Trumpster complains about it being too cold in the NY courthouse.
Charlie,do you walk the dogs or do they walk you? :) :)
Charlie,many years ago I heard this quote that perfectly sums up our current politics of the last 20 years or so. I don't know who said.Here it is; " I may not like my side, but I hate your side more. And your side is the enemy". This is the essence of us politically. Bill Barr and Chris Sununu are the very essence of that quote.As you rightly point out Lizz Cheney is Hamilton.
"The Conscience of Bill Barr" would be a slim volume of blank pages.
- Charlie Sykes
Thank you for this, Sir.
In dark, yet perhaps realistic moments, I think Trump will choose his VP based on “fake” breast size. N.B. Nancy Mace or Kirsti Noem.
Trump in the White House is Bill Barr’s Get Out Of Jail Free Card. Nothing else. Pure, vile, unadulterated self-interest.
If China declines a substantial payment for selling Tiktok, or strips out its algorithms, that will be telling about how they have viewed its application all along.