One of my cardinal rules is to use “I” language… for example “I think that...” rather than “I think we all agree that...”. However, as 2016 draws to a close I am in fact pretty sure we DO all agree it’s about effing time and good riddance already. Between the seemingly high rate of famous-in-one-way-or-another deaths, the catastrophic clusterfuck that caused the impending presidency of OCOTUS (Orange Cheeto OTUS), the continuing tragedy that is Syria, and too many more even to begin to count, it’s been a rough year. That’s not this diary, however… so please grab a glass of champagne, sparkling juice, hot cocoa, or whatever sounds appropriate, and join me below this word from our sponsor:
Here at Top Comments we welcome longtime as well as brand new Daily Kos readers to join us at 10pm Eastern. We strive to nourish community by rounding up some of the site's best, funniest, most mojo'd & most informative commentary, and we depend on your help!! If you see a comment by another Kossack that deserves wider recognition, please send it either to topcomments at gmail or to the Top Comments group mailbox by 9:30pm Eastern. Please please please include a few words about why you sent it in as well as your user name (even if you think we know it already :-)), so we can credit you with the find!
I believe that something good always happens, even if infrequently. Somewhere in this extra-long year (not only was it a Leap Year, in a cruel coup de grâce, we must endure a Leap SECOND before ringing in 2017), I hope there were moments of Happiness. Of Joy. Of Accomplishment, Grace,or Love. Something that in the morass of difficult to swallow news (whether it be global, national, local and personal) made you smile, or stand a little taller, or gave you Hope. Please feel free to share in the comments anything that fits this description as you reflect on 2016, and your hopes for the upcoming New Year.
I have a list of Good from 2016. I watched K1 graduate from high school with honors, and begin her freshman year at her first choice college (ObParentShare: she made Dean’s List). I saw K2 finish elementary school and make the transition to middle school rather smoothly, doing well both academically and socially. Out of a tough medical diagnosis, I’ve lost 35lbs, discovered a whole host of foods I didn’t know I liked, and am learning new ways to satisfy my old pre-diabetes cravings (She Calls Me Hobbit, I’m looking at you). I was blessed to be able to attend not one but TWO conferences that feed my soul: Unitarian Universalist General Assembly last June in Columbus OH, and Netroots Nation in Saint Louis. In both cases I connected (or even reconnected!) with friends and had truly transformative moments.
I could go on, but you want to finish reading this before midnight! There is absolutely no denying 2017 is going to be brutal, and is going to hurt. We will get through it together, as we always do… and I hope you’ll grace this and other community diary series every day, nurturing and building the connections that will enable us all to stay strong and fight for our beliefs.
As another year draws to a close, I’d like to thank all of the members of the Top Comments family- all of our writers both current and former, our behind the scenes wizards mik and jotter who make the Top Mojo and Top Picture magic happen, and all of you who send in those comment nominations and visit nightly. Lastly, to my dear friend and collaborator BeninSC, who I had the pleasure of finally meeting at Netroots Nation last summer, and who closes out 2016 by bringing you what you’re looking for… the trio of Top Comments, Mojo and Pictures that form our backbone!!
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down.
Note: Especially during this passionate primary season, please remember that comment inclusion in Top Comments does not constitute support or endorsement by diarist, formatter, Top Comments writers or DailyKos. Questions, complaints or comments? Contact brillig.
From Canadian Reader:
This is from yesterday, but in response to Farlfoto's question "Why aren’t the dems screaming at the top of their lungs? We should be talking about Trump University, about his shitty appointees, The Russian Connection, Taxes, and the Fucking Foundation….non-stop!! Why aren't Dems screaming?"
...Vega gave this succinct response which says it all.
From BeninSC:
I have to submit this comment by jan4insight. It contains some great tweets, and a Mike Luckovich cartoon I hope you enjoy!
Highlighted by OldCootess:
Is this comment by Shotput8 with a link (click the second one) to a hilarious slideshow about the tiny-fingered president-elect. (Ed. note: I almost never include articles based on links, but this one is worth it! Some of the captions are just magnificent!)
Highlighted by The grouch:
Is this comment by dadadata on Trump’s only-by-lying-achievable golf success.
Highlighted by PoliticalSteve90:
Is this comment by Empty Vessel on what a fine model the LGBT Rights movement has provided for political change.
Highlighted by Diana in NoVa:
Is this comment by bfitzinAR on the emblems of Russia and the US, and thoughts about M.A.D (mutually assured destruction) in the era of Drumpf.
From yours truly, brillig:
Jeff Y nails it in this description of the GOP thought process on cyber security.
For Friday, December 30, 2016, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on the subject.
2016-12-31, courtesy of jotter!