Now and then He allows us a glimpse of it, not in a “smiting” sort of way but in a more or less benevolent one. Might this be one of those times…?

Update! Via Glenn, further evidence, p’raps possibly.

And another, via Stephen.

Perfectly accurate, I’d imagine.

To the only ZZ Topper who, to my knowledge, never sported a full beard.

As per usual, I really can’t remember where I spotted this one, but no way could I not snag it and run it here. Apologies to whoever for being unable to give proper credit.

Shitlibs, take note. Not that you ever will, natch.

Watch: Friend and Fellow SC Sen. Tim Scott Sends Off Lindsey Graham With Lovely In Memoriam
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina was one of those members of Congress you figured would live forever, like the late Sen. Bob Dole of Kansas or someone else of that generation of elder statemen in the GOP. It seems like he’s always been around Washington to this Gen Xer. But as readers likely know, he passed away on Sunday at age 71 after a brief, sudden illness. (Later in the day, we got a little more information on Graham’s death, in case you missed it.)

Senator Tim Scott (R-SC) appeared on CNN’s State of the Union program on Sunday morning, in part to send off his fellow SC senator – and friend – with a beautiful and poignant in memoriam. It’s worth watching in full, but I’ll share some excerpts below.

Vidya at the link, excerpts from Scott’s segment below.

…[O]ne of the most important stories about Lindsey Graham is that, when I was a new senator, he welcomed me in.

He knew that my path was different. He understood the power of change in South Carolina and how much our state had changed. But he was one of the first folks in the Senate to welcome me in with open arms. And I will say that I do a South Carolina prayer breakfast there every year in D.C.

And I called Lindsey the first time. And Lindsey says: “Tim, if this thing starts before 10:00 a.m., I’m not coming, because I’m not going even if Jesus comes back before 10:00 a.m.”

And I just laughed out loud, and, of course, it started at 8:30. And he [sic] walked in the door at 8:31? Lindsey Graham. He was just the kind of committed person that you don’t really appreciate how much — how committed he was to America.

Because of the pain of his past, his father dying of a massive heart attack at I think it was 69 years old, his mother dying of cancer, Lindsey Graham had a passion for so many of the important issues around cancer research and around taking care of people.

He didn’t want anyone to feel invisible in his presence. And he used levity and wit to help people go through really hard times. And I got to tell you, it’s just a devastating loss for our state of South Carolina, and, frankly, for me as an individual.

Scott goes on from there to discuss Graham’s relationship with Trump, which was quite rocky in the beginning but later matured into a very cordial friendship as…go on, take a wild guess…uhhh, GOLF BUDDIES?!?

…[A] lot of times, friendships happen not at a kitchen table, not, frankly, in the Oval Office, but, for them, it happened on the golf course. And these two guys loved golf. I think Lindsey would say, the president wins more than I do, but he played pretty aggressively against the president.

And I think it was that competitive spirit that they both loved and admired about each other. And Lindsey was super smart and witty. He had the ability to make you laugh, but he was making a point in the midst of it.

And President Trump really understood that, and their relationship over the next 10 years, so to speak, from the time they were running against each other, became something that Lindsey could count on, and President Trump could count on too.

I can tell you, they played golf together more than any two other folks in public office at any time of, I think, in history.

Well, whatever floats your boat, I suppose. Good for them.

Update! Another eulogy from Kruiser:

Lindsey Graham is the man who launched a thousand opinions. Nobody was neutral when it came to Graham, which I think is one of the highest compliments that anyone can receive. You could find the full gamut of opinions among just Republicans. He could be infuriating at times, then he could be the GOP pitbull that you needed to send after the Democrats.

I Will freely admit that I never much cared for the guy, by and large considered him just another all-sizzle-no-steak Vichy GOPe blowhard, and didn’t hold back on ripping him to kibble and/or bits here many times over the years. Then again, though, there was his stellar performance during the Kavanaugh dustup:

Graham was absolutely on fire during the Brett Kavanaugh confirmation hearings in the summer of 2018. The Democrats were frothing at the mouth with their “Believe All Women” nonsense, and Graham was having none of it. At one point, he refused to yield his time and UNLOADED on the Democrats.

Matt wrote about it in detail and summed it up well here:

Make no mistake about it, Graham aimed that speech at three audiences at once. President Trump was watching, and Trump responds to the fighters. Undecided Republican senators needed cover after Ford’s performance rattled the room. The American public needed someone to say out loud what everyone on the right was thinking.

It worked. Kavanaugh’s odds of confirmation had been sinking before Graham spoke. Afterward, it looked like he had a chance again, and sure enough, he ended up on the Supreme Court. Graham deserves as much credit as anyone for that outcome.

I remember exactly what it felt like watching that hearing live: Kavanaugh looked cooked, and then, in less than five minutes, Graham changed everything. He stopped Democrats from smearing a good man out of a seat he’d earned.

Whatever misgivings any Republicans may have had about Lindsey Graham prior to that vanished right then. As Matt said, it was his “greatest moment.”

I don’t expect to have to agree with any politician all of the time. It was easy to overlook any disagreements I had with Graham after that, because the wave of goodwill he was riding after the Kavanaugh confirmation was so big. I remember how spitting mad that I was back then, and the “HELL YEAH!” feeling after Graham teed off on the thoroughly evil Democrats.

Greatly to his credit, for sure and certain. Godspeed, Sen Graham.

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Error happened.

The great Robert DuVall, thespian extraordinaire, has departed this vale of tears.

‘Godfather’ star Robert Duvall dead at 95
Robert Duvall won an Oscar for his role in the ’83 film ‘Tender Mercies’

Robert Duvall died Sunday, according to his wife, Luciana Pedraza Duvall. He was 95.

Circumstances surrounding his death were not immediately made available.

“Yesterday we said goodbye to my beloved husband, cherished friend, and one of the greatest actors of our time,” his wife shared online. “Bob passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by love and comfort.”

“To the world, he was an Academy Award-winning actor, a director, a storyteller. To me, he was simply everything. His passion for his craft was matched only by his deep love for characters, a great meal, and holding court. For each of his many roles, Bob gave everything to his characters and to the truth of the human spirit they represented.”

She continued, “In doing so, he leaves something lasting and unforgettable to us all. Thank you for the years of support you showed Bob and for giving us this time and privacy to celebrate the memories he leaves behind.”

He will surely be missed; they simply aren’t making ’em like Duvall anymore.

I’ve told the story before here, and also ran the pics if I remember right. But the sorrowful occasion calls for a rerun, I do believe.

Pictured above are Robert Duvall, captured on celluloid in mid-dip with his tango instructor. Onstage, in no particular order, are the BPs, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, Jessi Coulter, and June Carter. Also in attendance were Tom Cruise and Randy Quaid. Never will I forget that extraordinary night.

God rest ye, Robert Duvall. I am fortunate indeed to have met you, and am deeply grateful for your awe-inspiring gift.