Instead of Gun Violence, Republicans Want to Talk About ‘Mental Health’

So let’s do it.
Politics • Views: 25,374
Photo: Brittany Randolph via Flickr.com

This post originally appeared at NationalMemo.com.

In the wake of a mass shooting, the National Rifle Association goes silent as its members and fans spew insults they learned from the movie Mean Girls at anyone who would dare talk about gun safety.

This is typically followed in the ensuing days by Republicans bringing up the myth that mass shootings only happen in “gun-free zones” — which doesn’t quite work when the shooting occurs at the U.S. Navy Yard — and demanding that we talk about mental health!

What they don’t mention is that they oppose the few ways we can address mental health that might prevent future mass shootings.

The first is improving background checks. Currently, an estimated 20 to 40 percent of firearms in this country are purchased without a check because of loopholes in the existing law. And where the checks are implemented, there are few limits on gun purchasers.

Mother Jones’ Sydney Brownstone and Erika Eichelberger explained this after the Newtown massacre:

The law also defines disqualifying mental illness narrowly. It only forbids gun sales to people who have been determined by a court to be seriously mentally ill, or who have been involuntarily committed to a mental institution. This means that the system often overlooks dangerous and disturbed people who don’t have a paper trail.

But one of the biggest issues with the current background check system is that many states submit little to no mental health data to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS). Only 27 states authorize or require reporting pertinent mental health data to NICS, according to Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Nearly half the states in the country submitted fewer than 100 records between 2004 and 2011. Seventeen states have submitted fewer than 10 records in total.

Bipartisan improvements to the nation’s background check system proposed earlier this year were filibustered in the U.S. Senate, even though 54 senators voted for them and an estimated 80 to 90 percent of Americans support universal background checks.

The second way we can address mental health is to make help more widely available. And that, in fact, is about to happen, thanks to the Mental Health Parity law — one of the last big bipartisan bills to come out of Congress — and something Republicans like to call “Obamacare.”

Yes, the Affordable Care Act will expand health insurance to include mental health coverage for tens of millions of Americans. The law’s Medicaid expansion will also take away the need for those in poverty to stay in poverty in order to maintain their mental health coverage.

Instead of talking about how to improve mental health, Republicans have proposed slashing the slender safety net that exists now.

Medicaid is the “single largest payer for mental health services” in the United States.

“In 2010, Medicaid financed 28 percent of all mental health services, spending over $31 billion, but accounted for only 17 percent of total health care outlays; these statistics demonstrate the program’s comparatively significant commitment to funding mental health treatments,” according to a recent Yale Law School study that called the program a “model of mental health service delivery.”

And what do Republicans want to do to this system that effectively delivers mental health services to those who need them most? Slash it.

Not only would Paul Ryan’s budget cut 11 million people from Medicaid by eliminating Obamacare, but he’s proposing $750 billion in cuts to the program that the Congressional Budget Office estimates would “probably require states to reduce payments to providers, curtail eligibility for Medicaid, provide less extensive coverage to beneficiaries, or pay more themselves than would be the case under current law.” In other words, fewer people would get mental health care.

So, yes! We can talk about mental health. But we can’t have a very good discussion about it, thanks to the NRA.

The gun lobby successfully lobbied for a provision in the Affordable Care Act that prevents doctors or insurance companies from asking about firearms, continuing their pattern of making it impossible to collect accurate data about gun violence and public health.

All gun rights advocates have to do is drop their opposition to reforming background checks, implement Obamacare, let doctors ask their patients about guns and stop trying to gut Medicaid. Then the conversation they claim they want to have will actually make America safer.

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369 comments
1 missliberties  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 3:53:21pm

I’m feeling a little depressed.

2 nines09  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 3:54:09pm

Then they should talk to their money men at the NRA who think “mental health” is of no concern in your ability to purchase all the weapons and rounds you can carry.

3 EPR-radar  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 3:55:10pm

Can we get “US gun nut” added to the DSM?

4 Shiplord Kirel  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:11:46pm

Mental health? I for one am glad to see the GOP finally willing to acknowledge that its base has serious problems with delusional thinking, paranoia, and sociopathic behavior in general. Finally we can get something…….

What?

That isn’t the mental health crisis they’re talking about?

Never mind.

5 darthstar  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:14:30pm

When Republicans say they’re concerned about the mentally ill, they really mean they just care for their base.

6 freetoken  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:14:41pm

Tackling mental health problems and tackling gun buyer backgrounds, ought not be an either-or problem.

7 Justanotherhuman  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:18:48pm

The thing is, the program that would open up mental health care to millions of people is exactly what the Rs want to repeal.

Yeah, they really care about “mental health.”

Instead, they’re driving half the country as crazy as they are.

8 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:20:11pm

If Coulter’s latest rant is any indication, they seem to think the problem we have with mental health care in this nation is that we can’t do things like the old days and slap a straightjacket on you at the drop of a hat. You know, like back in the “good ol’ days” when admitting to be homosexual could get you time in a padded room until you promised you only liked the opposite sex and would abide by marriage “as the good Lord intended.”

9 Internet Tough Guy  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:20:24pm

I’m glad the GOP is willing to discuss getting serious about mental health care.

Oh wait, that might mean government spending for mental health….

10 calochortus  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:20:32pm

re: #7 Justanotherhuman

The thing is, the program that would open up mental health care to millions of people is exactly what the Rs want to repeal.

Yeah, they really care about “mental health.”

Instead, they’re driving half the country as crazy as they are.

This.
If I thought the Republicans would actually be interested in improving mental health care in this country, I’d be dancing a jig on the nearest table.

11 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:20:52pm

You can’t talk about mental health as any kind of a solution without universal background checks.

12 A Mom Anon  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:21:02pm

re: #7 Justanotherhuman

They’re full of shit. If they cared at all, they’d be doing everything they could to expand the ACA, ESPECIALLY the mental health benefits. Not trying to repeal a law that’s already been deemed constitutional. Over 40 times.

Assclowns.

13 b.d.  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:21:42pm

Squirrel!

14 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:22:36pm

re: #11 goddamnedfrank

You can’t talk about mental health as any kind of a solution without universal background checks.

You can’t really talk about it period, because the moment you suggest that mental health care improvements are pointless without a means of keeping people who might go off their meds from getting hold of a gun, their heads spin around and they start screaming about how you can’t put anything into the law that might keep people from owning guns!

15 Justanotherhuman  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:24:14pm

re: #14 Targetpractice

You can’t really talk about it period, because the moment you suggest that mental health care improvements are pointless without a means of keeping people who might go off their meds from getting hold of a gun, their heads spin around and they start screaming about how you can’t put anything into the law that might keep people from owning guns!

And the 2nd Amendmenters will say that it doesn’t contain anything about being of sound mind.

16 ObserverArt  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:27:18pm

This is crazy. Let’s talk about Republican wingnut mental health. Gohmert!

17 nines09  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:28:27pm

GOP to you and me; “Allow us to show our concern. Your leg is wet because it’s raining.”

18 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:29:51pm

re: #15 Justanotherhuman

And the 2nd Amendmenters will say that it doesn’t contain anything about being of sound mind.

No, my favorite screaming fit of theirs is the suggestion that if you put anything the law that puts a psychologist between them and guns, then all them liberal doctors will turn out to be anti-gun and find ways to keep them from getting a gun!

19 Iwouldprefernotto  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:33:15pm

We can spend more on mental health if we spend less on food stamps,, (and lower the taxes on the rich).

20 Justanotherhuman  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:34:35pm

But they managed to get thousands of tourists out, not the people who served them.

Looting hits Acapulco as Mexico storm death toll reaches 80

worldnews.nbcnews.com

Non-edible goods might be traded for food and water. I’d trade a TV for some if I was desperate.

This is so reminiscent of NOLA, damn it.

21 dog philosopher  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:35:23pm

re: #16 ObserverArt

wingnut mental health

they ain’t got it

22 The Ghost of a Flea  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:36:49pm

My guess is that they want to go back to model of mental illness where non-conformity is pathologized and punished, and “crazy” people are policed harder.

Talking seriously about mental health as it relates to violence would mean talking about anger and control issues, paranoia, and the manner in which environment shapes ideas about application of violence. Ideas about masculinity and aggression, ideas about individualism and moral action, ideas about how an environment of sustained fear and conspiracist special-snowflake delusions interact with individual’s mental pathologies. None of these things are stuff that conservatives want to actually address, because social conservatism doesn’t recognize most of these things as issues.

So rather than address the subject of violence, they’ll generalize violence onto all mental health issues…and, coincidentally, onto non-pathological non-normative behavior…while conveniently setting the boundaries such that their paranoia, their love of violence, and their irrational beliefs are Acceptable.

23 OhNoZombies!  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:39:28pm

WingNUTS talking about mental health, is like letting the Joker run Arkham.

24 Charles Johnson  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:41:18pm
25 ObserverArt  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:45:14pm

re: #24 Charles Johnson

[Former Guantanamo prisoner killed in Syria after joining Islamist brigade ]

That’s a very interesting article. Especially some of the timeline.

26 Decatur Deb  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:50:03pm

re: #25 ObserverArt

That’s a very interesting article. Especially some of the timeline.

Was he a ‘good’ Islamist, or a ‘bad’ Islamist?

27 Justanotherhuman  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:51:47pm

Wow, talk about delusional…

Assad: Syria not in civil war, but attacked by Qaeda

news.yahoo.com

And, of course, we didn’t gas anyone. It’s all on them.

28 urbanmeemaw  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:54:18pm

re: #3 EPR-radar

Or “Republican”?

29 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:54:21pm

re: #18 Targetpractice

No, my favorite screaming fit of theirs is the suggestion that if you put anything the law that puts a psychologist between them and guns, then all them liberal doctors will turn out to be anti-gun and find ways to keep them from getting a gun!

One thing New Zealand does is require two referees for a basic firearms license, one must be related to the applicant and one must be unrelated. There’s also an interview with police who will also interview all members of the household. The right wing here would never go for it but strictly speaking such a scheme bypasses psychiatrists / psychologists while implementing several independent and redundant checks.

Of course the real advantage of the New Zealand system is that it implements additional, high hurdles for the endorsements needed to own pistols and military style semi-autos. Basically you have to be a bona fide member of a club and spend a year or more competing with them, and have a very, very serious TL rated safe bolted to the floor in a highly specific manner, locks on all windows and doors and preferably an alarm system.

The vast majority of gun owners there are content with the standard A license, and since silencers aren’t regulated at all rural owners can hunt and target shoot without bothering their neighbors. It’s time the US realized what the rest of the world knows, statistically it’s pistols that are the problem.

30 Justanotherhuman  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:55:24pm

Manuel about to hit Los Cabos and the Baja peninsula.

nhc.noaa.gov

31 Justanotherhuman  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 4:59:23pm

No wonder Assad is denying there is a civil war in Syria.

U.S. war crimes ambassador: Assad ‘absolutely’ should be tried for war crimes

news.yahoo.com

“And the United States has, in a way, already started to build a case against him by training Syrians to collect information and analyze incidents on the ground in the country’s bloody civil war — evidence to use against Assad if that day comes.

“Enormous crimes have been committed that can be traced directly to the highest levels of the Syrian regime,” Stephen Rapp, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for war crimes issues, said in an exclusive interview Wednesday.

“Without question, there are credible, very credible allegations of crimes against humanity, murder, rape, mutilation, other crimes,” Rapp said. “And, of course, since we now have a civil war these become war crimes as well.”

32 Kragar  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:02:53pm

I realized I can make a Matt Berry channel on Pandora.

Awesomeness achieved.

Youtube Video

33 Killgore Trout  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:07:05pm

Al Qaeda group captures town near Syria-Turkey border, eyes key crossing

Al Qaeda-linked militants were on the verge of capturing a strategic border gate between Turkey and opposition-controlled northern Syria late Wednesday night.

Hardline Islamist fighters from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) made their advance toward the Turkish border hours after they attacked and pushed more moderate Syrian rebels out of the nearby Syrian town of Azaz.
….

The advance of the jihadist fighters threatens the main entry point for international aid on the main highway linking the Turkish city of Gaziantep and the divided Syrian northern metropolis of Aleppo.

In recent months, deliveries of U.S. humanitarian and nonlethal assistance to the opposition-held north have been trucked through the Bab el Salama gate. This was also the border crossing used by U.S. Sen. John McCain when he made a brief surprise visit to Syria to meet the commander of the Free Syrian Army.

Important to note that they took the town from moderate rebels, not Assad’s forces. This is why tipping the balance against Assad now is a bad idea.

34 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:07:27pm

The naval shipyard shooting illustrates swiss cheese theory in a kind of graphic manner. Think of all the fuckups and missed opportunities the authorities had to red flag Alexis as a potential threat. He had been arrested in two separate shooting incidents for which no prosecutions were even attempted, a piss poor record in service but was granted an honorable discharge, and called the cops in RI complaining about hearing voices.

If all those holes didn’t line up neatly he’s almost certain to have lost his right to own guns (which I admit isn’t a huge obstacle to acquiring them in this country.)

I understand Texas ignoring the negligent discharge, that’s what Texas does. But the Seattle and Rhode Island incidents make no sense whatsoever, how he could have dodged the consequences for his behavior in those two jurisdictions is just impossible to fathom.

35 Randall Gross  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:08:43pm

The GOP House is prepping to jerk off in voters’ faces one more time in an attempt to see how much Benghazi Bukkake they can take.

36 Arrrr, matey!  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:17:45pm
37 Kragar  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:19:20pm

re: #36 Pavlovian Hive Mind

Image: video-game-chart-no-trendline.jpg

Obviously we need to devote billions of dollars and create a registry of which specific games cause the US to spike like that.
/

38 Stanley Sea  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:26:27pm

I’ve said this before and it’s all I can see as a slightly possible hope. If you know someone who’s troubled, check out their gun usage and ownership.

39 lawhawk  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:26:50pm

re: #13 b.d.

Point!

40 lawhawk  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:29:13pm

And to rebut those numbnuts who think that President Clinton made military bases gun-free zones, the fact is that the DoD promulgated the rules in 1992 when GHW Bush was still president, and then became effective in 1993. The reason was to reduce accidents.

41 Kragar  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:30:25pm

re: #40 lawhawk

And to rebut those numbnuts who think that President Clinton made military bases gun-free zones, the fact is that the DoD promulgated the rules in 1992 when GHW Bush was still president, and then became effective in 1993. The reason was to reduce accidents.

Its almost like the DOD knows how to promote gun safety.

42 Charles Johnson  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:36:10pm
43 sattv4u2  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:41:01pm

re: #33 Killgore Trout

Al Qaeda group captures town near Syria-Turkey border, eyes key crossing

Important to note that they took the town from moderate rebels, not Assad’s forces. This is why tipping the balance against Assad now is a bad idea.

Hard to back “The Rebels” when the rebels don’t even back the rebels!!

44 sattv4u2  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:45:00pm

On the Golf/ vacation front

I hit a tremendous drive today. Landed perfectly dead middle of the 10th fairway!

Trouble is, I was teeing off from the 3rd hole!!!

45 lawhawk  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:50:49pm

Been reading around a bit (such as here) and it appears that base gun-free zones were applied even before 1992; the policy was made official DoD wide. Some bases were gun-free before the policy was made official by Bush Administration officials in 1992.

And at least among the sites I’ve read through (this being one) folks commenting about firearms on base note that this is a sound policy, not arguing for anyone to carry.

Why was the policy enacted? It’s right there in the directives (and the directives that reference it):

[T]he necessity to carry a firearm shall be… weighed against the possible consequences of accidental or indiscriminate use of firearms.”

46 Iwouldprefernotto  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:50:53pm

re: #44 sattv4u2

On the Golf/ vacation front

I hit a tremendous drive today. Landed perfectly dead middle of the 10th fairway!

Trouble is, I was teeing off from the 3rd hole!!!

Is it too soon to do a Tiger Woods joke?

47 sattv4u2  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:52:48pm

re: #46 Iwouldprefernotto

Is it too soon to do a Tiger Woods joke?

Too late !!!

littlegreenfootballs.com

48 Lidane  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:54:29pm

re: #44 sattv4u2

On the Golf/ vacation front

I hit a tremendous drive today. Landed perfectly dead middle of the 10th fairway!

Trouble is, I was teeing off from the 3rd hole!!!

Pfft. That’s easy to spin. Just say you’re such an awesome golfer that holes 3-9 played themselves and saved you the time.

49 sattv4u2  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 5:58:30pm

re: #48 Lidane

Pfft. That’s easy to spin. Just say you’re such an awesome golfer that holes 3-9 played themselves and saved you the time.

I feel bad for those guys that shoot par or under

For as much as these places charge for a round of golf, i want to take as many shots as possible to get my dollars worth!!!!

50 dog philosopher  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:00:11pm

re: #44 sattv4u2

On the Golf/ vacation front

I hit a tremendous drive today. Landed perfectly dead middle of the 10th fairway!

Trouble is, I was teeing off from the 3rd hole!!!

what’s that about getting perfectly dead in the middle of the 10th century what what?

(goes back to sleep)

51 sattv4u2  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:02:10pm

re: #50 dog philosopher

what’s that about getting perfectly dead in the middle of the 10th century what what?

(goes back to sleep)

plague

52 Decatur Deb  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:03:23pm

re: #45 lawhawk

Been reading around a bit (such as here) and it appears that base gun-free zones were applied even before 1992; the policy was made official DoD wide. Some bases were gun-free before the policy was made official by Bush Administration officials in 1992.

And at least among the sites I’ve read through (this being one) folks commenting about firearms on base note that this is a sound policy, not arguing for anyone to carry.

Why was the policy enacted? It’s right there in the directives (and the directives that reference it):

In the 60s i was in the Fighting Finance Corps, handing out huge gobs of cash for agent officers to pay their units. We had a very secure building for disbursement, and required the pay teams to clear their weapons before entering. One 2LT didn’t know how to get the magazine out of his .45, and jacked the rounds through the chamber and all over the entrance floor. It is better now, but still.

53 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:04:58pm

You gotta just step back for a sec and marvel at the audacity of one Mr. John Boehner. The man would rather gamble his party’s future than give up his speakership. He’d rather the whole party go down than find himself the subject of an Ides of March reenactment on the steps of Congress. Rather the whole nation get shut down and possibly default on its debt than be seen as giving in to Obama.

It’s rather like a slow-motion trainwreck, so horrible you want to look away but so amazing that you can’t tear your eyes from it.

54 dog philosopher  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:05:28pm

reblogged from another blog

Former New Hampshire state Sen. Jim Rubens is jumping into the race to defeat Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen Wednesday. Before he even reaches the starting blocks, Democrats are questioning his ability to reach women voters.
The reason? A 2009 post on his website that connects the rise of working women with what he says is a rise in mass shootings and other violence perpetrated by men.
“The collaborative, flexible, amorphously-hierarchical American economy is shutting out ordinary men who were once the nation’s breadwinners in living-wage labor and manufacturing jobs,” Rubens wrote. “Because status success is more vital to the male psychology, males are falling over the edge in increasing numbers.”
A “collaborative” and “flexible” economy is one that has opened the door to more women working, Rubens wrote. And the nature of the changing economy has had a detrimental effect on men, including an increase in violence.
“The collapsing number of male jobs in the increasingly female-centric economy just adds to the already harsher impact of OverSuccess on males,” he wrote, referring to the title of his 2008 book.
It’s a view Rubens still holds today, and he seemed surprised in an interview Wednesday that anyone would care about it.
“The point of this, if you read the whole thing, is that manufacturing jobs, which have been the basis for higher-wage working men during the post-World War II era have been in decline,” he said. “Men are more sensitive than women to external indicators of status, which is one of the points in my book — which you might want to read so you can understand the whole point of this — and it’s very important to all people, women and men, to have jobs, functions, and roles in life that are fulfilling and productive and engaging.”
The loss of manufacturing jobs that men often held in favor of “collaborative” jobs that favor women, Rubens said, “has increased stress in males.”
“It’s a tiny fraction of males that become stressed for whatever reason and engage in acts of extreme violence,” he said. “If you look through individual psychology of mass shooters over the past 10-20 years, you can see that in the profile. Often its a person who has been subjected to extreme stress in the form of social rejection, job loss and associated mental health issues.”
Tweaking the tax code to add manufacturing jobs would be one way to reduce this “stress” on men, Rubens said.

i jest knew i hed a fatally fragile man psyche thet hev come right apart

55 Decatur Deb  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:07:34pm

re: #53 Targetpractice

You gotta just step back for a sec and marvel at the audacity of one Mr. John Boehner. The man would rather gamble his party’s future than give up his speakership. He’d rather the whole party go down than find himself the subject of an Ides of March reenactment on the steps of Congress. Rather the whole nation get shut down and possibly default on its debt than be seen as giving in to Obama.

It’s rather like a slow-motion trainwreck, so horrible you want to look away but so amazing that you can’t tear your eyes from it.

Seen this movie before. GOP will fold at the last minute, after the President throws them a face-saving bone. At that , there will be some damage to the economy, and millions will change pockets on Wall Street.

56 dog philosopher  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:12:06pm

re: #55 Decatur Deb

Seen this movie before. GOP will fold at the last minute, after the President throws them a face-saving bone. At that , there will be some damage to the economy, and millions will change pockets on Wall Street.

i don’t take it for granite granted that the gop wants the economy to recover

i still predict that the high unemployment will continue until american wage structure is ahem ‘competitive’ with say china that’s the idea i think

57 Stanley Sea  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:15:55pm

re: #53 Targetpractice

You gotta just step back for a sec and marvel at the audacity of one Mr. John Boehner. The man would rather gamble his party’s future than give up his speakership. He’d rather the whole party go down than find himself the subject of an Ides of March reenactment on the steps of Congress. Rather the whole nation get shut down and possibly default on its debt than be seen as giving in to Obama.

It’s rather like a slow-motion trainwreck, so horrible you want to look away but so amazing that you can’t tear your eyes from it.

Our future. I blame McCain/Palin for their lie of “Country First”

58 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:17:17pm

re: #55 Decatur Deb

Seen this movie before. GOP will fold at the last minute, after the President throws them a face-saving bone. At that , there will be some damage to the economy, and millions will change pockets on Wall Street.

I honestly don’t see it this time. There’s no concession that Obama could give that would appease the unruly children. Boehner and McConnell have to decide which promise they’re going to hold to: that they will not allow this nation to default on its debts or that they will not allow the debt ceiling to be raised without the ACA’s repeal.

59 HappyWarrior  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:19:43pm

Sure let’s talk mental health. How about we not cut mental health services party of Reagan. Nah, those stupid crazies have to fend for themselves.//

60 Decatur Deb  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:20:01pm

re: #58 Targetpractice

I honestly don’t see it this time. There’s no concession that Obama could give that would appease the unruly children. The Boehner and McConnell have to decide which promise they’re going to hold to: that they will not allow this nation to default on its debts or that they will not allow the debt ceiling to be raised without the ACA’s repeal.

I don’t expect much of a bone—should have called it a fig leaf. TPGOP still hasn’t realized that Obama will never face the electorate again. From now on he answers to the historians.

61 Killgore Trout  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:21:51pm

OMG! Wingunts!
Former Defense Secretaries Criticize Obama on Syria

President Obama’s first two defense secretaries publicly questioned the administration’s handling of the Syrian crisis on Tuesday night and expressed skepticism about whether Russia can broker a deal to remove Syria’s chemical weapons.

62 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:22:51pm

re: #60 Decatur Deb

I don’t expect much of a bone—should have called it a fig leaf. TPGOP still hasn’t realized that Obama will never face the electorate again. From now on he answers to the historians.

What could he offer that would equal the appeal of even a one-year delay of the ACA? To agree to tax reform? That would break down as soon as the GOP realizes that he’s not going to bend from insistence for higher taxes on the rich. “Entitlement reform”? The Dems would skin him alive. No, Obama’s not going to save their asses this time. And really, why should he, when as you say, he’s not going before the voters again?

63 b_sharp  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:23:17pm

I see a new font.
Nice.
More readable.

64 Kragar  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:23:31pm

re: #63 b_sharp

I see a new font.
Nice.
More readable.

Lies.

65 sattv4u2  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:24:19pm

re: #61 Killgore Trout

OMG! Wingunts!
Former Defense Secretaries Criticize Obama on Syria

Mr. Gates, the only cabinet member from the administration of George W. Bush whom Mr. Obama asked to stay


Heh,,,, or something!!!

66 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:24:34pm

re: #58 Targetpractice

I honestly don’t see it this time. There’s no concession that Obama could give that would appease the unruly children. Boehner and McConnell have to decide which promise they’re going to hold to: that they will not allow this nation to default on its debts or that they will not allow the debt ceiling to be raised without the ACA’s repeal.

The last time we played this game, these guys (the GOP) were fully expecting Romney to wipe the floor with Obama, so they figured, sure, we’ll give a bit, but when the bill comes due, they’ll be a new guy in the WH and all of this shit won’t matter. Now, they’re completely in “fuck it” mode, they’ll burn it all down and they don’t care, can’t honor agreements, can’t put the needs of the country first, it’s all ideology and how do I keep my ass on the gravy train. I expect there may be a few guilt stricken R’s who may even realize what they’re doing and attempt to get off the tiger, but let’s face it, they’re Republicans, they’ll keep dancing with the girl that brought them, never mind that she’s a mean spirited bigoted bitch with a helluva projection issue.

67 dog philosopher  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:24:57pm

re: #63 b_sharp

I see a new font.
Nice.
More readable.

stop mumbling and speak up, son

68 b.d.  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:25:42pm

Dennis Kucinich interviewed Assad for Fox News?

69 Decatur Deb  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:25:43pm

re: #62 Targetpractice

What could he offer that would equal the appeal of even a one-year delay of the ACA? To agree to tax reform? That would break down as soon as the GOP realizes that he’s not going to bend from insistence for higher taxes on the rich. “Entitlement reform”? The Dems would skin him alive. No, Obama’s not going to save their asses this time. And really, why should he, when as you say, he’s not going before the voters again?

He doesn’t have to offer much more than the chance not to be Newt Gingrich. Anything he gives them is just decency and gamesmanship, though it might help them over last-minute cold feet.

70 Idle Drifter  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:25:48pm

re: #52 Decatur Deb

You said 2ndLt. That’s enough for me.

71 b_sharp  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:26:46pm

re: #67 dog philosopher

stop mumbling and speak up, son

Do I have to?

72 dog philosopher  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:27:35pm

ok i stole this from sumboddy who stole it from dkos

“It all makes sense now. Gay marriage and marijuana are being legalized at the same time. Leviticus 20:13 says if a man lays with another man, he should be stoned. We were just misinterpreting it.”

73 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:27:54pm

re: #69 Decatur Deb

He doesn’t have to offer much more than the chance not to be Newt Gingrich. Anything he gives them is just decency and gamesmanship, though it might help them over last-minute cold feet.

One thing to remember is that any deals Obama may work out with Boehner or McConnell are dependent on them actually being able to get those deals in writing and passed. Let’s be honest, there’s only thing both men are leading right now: Jack and Shit. That’s why Boehner has jumped aboard the Crazy Train this week and McConnell’s keeping quiet, because both know its their asses on the line this time.

74 Idle Drifter  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:28:01pm

re: #36 Pavlovian Hive Mind

Correlation does not mean causation.

75 b.d.  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:28:29pm

re: #68 b.d.

Dennis Kucinich interviewed Assad for Fox News?

Oh for the love of God:

Palkot and Kucinich, a Fox News contributor, conducted the interview in Damascus during the visit of an American delegation that included former Attorney General Ramsey Clark and former congresswoman Cynthia McKinney.

politico.com

Poor Assad.

76 Kragar  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:28:33pm

2nd Lt: A pfc with authority to break things

77 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:28:50pm

re: #67 dog philosopher

stop mumbling and speak up, son

stop doing Foghorn Leghorn, you don’t have the drumsticks for it… I swear that poster has a mind like a steel trap, nothing gets in, nothing gets out… I say speak up son, I can’t hear ya over there with all those marbles in your mouth…. /////

78 Killgore Trout  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:29:02pm

re: #68 b.d.

Dennis Kucinich interviewed Assad for Fox News?

Yeah, it wasn’t as nutty as I was expecting. I suspect it was probably heavily edited.

79 Decatur Deb  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:29:23pm

re: #70 Idle Drifter

You said 2ndLt. That’s enough for me.

Yeah, and these were Viet era shake n’ bakes. Professionalism really was much higher, even for butterbars, by the time I retired.

80 Romantic Heretic  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:29:30pm

re: #18 Targetpractice

No, my favorite screaming fit of theirs is the suggestion that if you put anything the law that puts a psychologist between them and guns, then all them liberal doctors will turn out to be anti-gun and find ways to keep them from getting a gun!

I suspect even conservative doctors would keep them from their guns in this scenario. Screaming fits are indicative of severe mental instability.

81 dog philosopher  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:31:34pm

re: #77 piratedan

stop doing Foghorn Leghorn, you don’t have the drumsticks for it… I swear that poster has a mind like a steel trap, nothing gets in, nothing gets out… I say speak up son, I can’t hear ya over there with all those marbles in your mouth…. /////

he’s a nice boy but he ain’t i say he ain’t too bright

82 sattv4u2  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:31:51pm

re: #78 Killgore Trout

Yeah, it wasn’t as nutty as I was expecting. I suspect it was THEY WERE probably heavily edited.

MEDICATED

ftfy

83 Lidane  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:32:50pm

re: #77 piratedan

Youtube Video

84 prairiefire  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:36:53pm

re: #35 Randall Gross

Randall! Some sounds agitated! For what it’s worth, I live in MO.

85 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:37:49pm

re: #81 dog philosopher

he’s a nice boy but he ain’t i say he ain’t too bright

That GOP is just full of fellers who think a Mexican Border is someone who pays rent….. ///

86 Decatur Deb  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:51:53pm

Rep Cantor taking the House to the mattresses.

talkingpointsmemo.com

87 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 6:52:05pm

Too of the folks expecting a negotiated end to the debt ceiling standoff are assuming that there’s anybody for Obama to negotiate with. But there isn’t, because Boehner is nutless and McConnell’s got a “true believer” running against him. What point is there to negotiations when neither of them can guarantee enough votes to pass the damned thing?

88 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:02:15pm

re: #87 Targetpractice

Too of the folks expecting a negotiated end to the debt ceiling standoff are assuming that there’s anybody for Obama to negotiate with. But there isn’t, because Boehner is nutless and McConnell’s got a “true believer” running against him. What point is there to negotiations when neither of them can guarantee enough votes to pass the damned thing?

In any event Obama can simply claim the debt ceiling to be null and void under the 14th Amendment, forcing Congressional Republicans to sue him explicitly seeking default as a remedy.

The validity of the public debt of the United States, authorized by law, including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion, shall not be questioned.

This is one of the few things that could immediately and irrevocably break the GOP.

89 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:04:07pm

re: #88 goddamnedfrank

In any event Obama can simply claim the debt ceiling to be null and void under the 14th Amendment, forcing Congressional Republicans to sue him explicitly seeking default as a remedy.

This is one of the few things that could immediately and irrevocably break the GOP.

you might get to see impeachment proceedings for it, but they would have to pass a budget for the special investigator to do it…. :-)

90 Decatur Deb  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:05:12pm

re: #89 piratedan

you might get to see impeachment proceedings for it, but they would have to pass a budget for the special investigator to do it…. :-)

And get the President to sign it.

91 sagehen  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:06:05pm

Oh, sure… I can just picture the impeachment proceedings, during an election year, House Republicans saying they want to throw out the President because he OMG wants to pay the bills Congress ran up…

92 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:06:43pm

re: #90 Decatur Deb

And get the President to sign it.

at this point Obama might just do it for the possibility that a few of the GOP pranksters could code out in glee while pontificating on the floor…. since he’s such an evil bastard…..

93 Decatur Deb  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:07:34pm

re: #91 sagehen

Oh, sure… I can just picture the impeachment proceedings, during an election year, House Republicans saying they want to throw out the President because he OMG wants to pay the bills Congress ran up…

No sane politician would suggest such a…GOHMERT!!

94 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:08:14pm

re: #89 piratedan

you might get to see impeachment proceedings for it, but they would have to pass a budget for the special investigator to do it…. :-)

Impeaching the President for honoring US debt as demanded by the Constitution would also destroy the GOP. The ratings agencies aren’t going to be so cryptic in their reasoning for the next round of downgrades, S&P already explicitly blamed GOP intransigence against raising revenue for the forecast recalculation at the root of the last one.

95 sagehen  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:08:58pm

for fuck’s sake.

All tax revenue happens at rates decided upon and passed by the House. All expenditures are pursuant to appropriation bills that originate in the House. If the House really wants a no-deficit budget… write one and pass it, then send it to the Senate for consideration. (may I remind them, the Paul Ryan budget they passed added another $5T in deficit spending before eventually workings its way back down to balance in ten years or so).

96 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:10:54pm

re: #95 sagehen

for fuck’s sake.

All tax revenue happens at rates decided upon and passed by the House. All expenditures are pursuant to appropriation bills that originate in the House. If the House really wants a no-deficit budget… write one and pass it, then send it to the Senate for consideration. (may I remind them, the Paul Ryan budget they passed added another $5T in deficit spending before eventually workings its way back down to balance in ten years or so).

of course the Ryan budget did, by that time, they’ll get credit for all of that sweet pork and have either retired to safe little K Street sinecures or be busy running for the Senate.

97 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:11:05pm

Basically, in the end the money men are going to get their message through. The GOP is playing chicken with a concrete abutment.

98 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:13:12pm

re: #97 goddamnedfrank

Basically, in the end the money men are going to get their message through. The GOP is playing chicken with a concrete abutment.

But they’re positively sure that if they slam into the concrete, it won’t matter if they’re killed in the impact, they’ll be remembered as heroes for standing on their “principles.”

99 Kragar  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:14:48pm

re: #97 goddamnedfrank

Basically, in the end the money men are going to get their message through. The GOP is playing chicken with a concrete abutment.

100 Lidane  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:17:34pm

re: #99 Kragar

The moment that we default on our debts, the GOP will face a virtual storming of the Bastille from everyone that’s not a complete raving wingnut loon. NOBODY is going to be happy if their money is suddenly worthless.

101 lawhawk  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:19:34pm

re: #87 Targetpractice

Too of the folks expecting a negotiated end to the debt ceiling standoff are assuming that there’s anybody for Obama to negotiate with. But there isn’t, because Boehner is nutless and McConnell’s got a “true believer” running against him. What point is there to negotiations when neither of them can guarantee enough votes to pass the damned thing?

Boehner would have to drop the Hastert rule (which he’s already done enough times to indicate that he’d do it again if he has to, but which would also cripple him in dealings within his own caucus).

Frankly, reasserting the Gephardt rule would make a whole lot sense - that when the Congress passes appropriations, it automatically extends the debt ceiling to cover all appropriations that aren’t covered by the revenues (allowing deficit spending and allowing government to operate). But the GOP is so far beyond rationality here that they’d rather scream into the darkness than compromise on anything.

Heck, their Plan A, B, and C all relates to linking defunding, delaying, or repealing Obamacare as part of the deal to pass the budget that begins October 1 and the debt ceiling, which is expected to once again reach the limit some time in October.

With the sitting President being the guy who had the legislation these cretins are seeking to defund, delay, and destroy named after, the chances of this happening is nil, but apparently the GOP thinks that the Democrats and Obama are the obstructionists.

The GOP got most of the Bush tax cuts made permanent, but they claim this is a loss because the richest of the rich saw their rates climb imperceptibly. Now, they’re back at it with the debt ceiling and Obamacare.

102 lawhawk  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:22:06pm

re: #100 Lidane

The money wont be worthless, but interest rates and the costs of doing business will rise as all the interest rates reset to deal with lower credit ratings for all levels of government, all the bonding that they do, etc., and those costs will ultimately be borne by taxpayers.

Fischer is economically illiterate (well, he might be illiterate on a whole lot of other things). So, it’s no surprise that he has no clue what goes into the annual budget, and while the budget increases (or can decrease).

103 lawhawk  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:22:57pm

That’s no space station! It’s just the moon. Up close.

104 Bubblehead II  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:28:41pm

Night Lizard.

Been interesting. See you tomorrow.

Sleep well.

105 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:29:54pm

Folks don’t really seem to get the danger of a default, but that’s likely because there’s never been one in our nation’s history. But I’m sure if you use the GOP’s favored analogy and asked them what would happen to their asses if they defaulted on their credit card debt. Some how, I think even the most brain dead bastard would understand what that would do to their credit, not to mention the shit that will come down on their heads when the debt holders take their asses to court.

106 Kragar  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:31:15pm

re: #105 Targetpractice

Folks don’t really seem to get the danger of a default, but that’s likely because there’s never been one in our nation’s history. But I’m sure if you use the GOP’s favored analogy and asked them what would happen to their asses if they defaulted on their credit card debt. Some how, I think even the most brain dead bastard would understand what that would do to their credit, not to mention the shit that will come down on their heads when the debt holders take their asses to court.

“So, we stand on the porch with a shotgun and yell at the revenuers?”
/

107 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:33:03pm

re: #105 Targetpractice

Folks don’t really seem to get the danger of a default, but that’s likely because there’s never been one in our nation’s history. But I’m sure if you use the GOP’s favored analogy and asked them what would happen to their asses if they defaulted on their credit card debt. Some how, I think even the most brain dead bastard would understand what that would do to their credit, not to mention the shit that will come down on their heads when the debt holders take their asses to court.

would love to see Obama use their intransigence to bring the lads home from Afghanistan early….and then he could shut down the FAA and TSA right when Congress wants to leave for their next round of vacations.

108 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:35:49pm

re: #107 piratedan

would love to see Obama use their intransigence to bring the lads home from Afghanistan early….

Couldn’t even do that. Wouldn’t be able to pay the pilots to fly them back, whether it be on military carriers or commercial ones. Fact of the matter is, if we have a shutdown and a default atop each other, those troops are going to be flapping in the wind.

109 sagehen  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:40:05pm

re: #108 Targetpractice

Couldn’t even do that. Wouldn’t be able to pay the pilots to fly them back, whether it be on military carriers or commercial ones. Fact of the matter is, if we have a shutdown and a default atop each other, those troops are going to be flapping in the wind.

Our troops can do anything!! If they have to swim home, they’ll swim home… but most of them walk on water, so it’ll just be an 8000 mile hike. They don’t even need to eat.

110 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:51:18pm

You’d think they’d know better than to put the troops in the position of the Ten Thousand of Xenophon in The Anabasis. Of course, they don’t really have a whole lot of educated GOP congress critters right now but could someone rent them a copy of The Warriors at least?

111 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:52:50pm

re: #110 William Barnett-Lewis

You’d think they’d know better than to put the troops in the position of the Ten Thousand of Xenophon in The Anabasis. Of course, they don’t really have a whole lot of educated GOP congress critters right now but could someone rent them a copy of The Warriors at least?

I wouldn’t mind seeing The Grammercy Riffs up against the GOP, might be fun…..or even the Turnbull AC’s

112 Gus  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:54:47pm

Nano, nano.

113 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:55:16pm

re: #110 William Barnett-Lewis

You’d think they’d know better than to put the troops in the position of the Ten Thousand of Xenophon in The Anabasis. Of course, they don’t really have a whole lot of educated GOP congress critters right now but could someone rent them a copy of The Warriors at least?

“Cannn youuu dig it?!”

114 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 7:56:25pm

re: #113 Targetpractice

“Cannn youuu dig it?!”

yeah I could see the GOP as Ajax, can’t you?

115 dog philosopher  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 8:03:49pm

i would think the british 1842 retreat from kabul would be more apposite

116 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 8:07:47pm

re: #115 dog philosopher

yeah, but we got nobody named Elphinstone…..

117 Targetpractice  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 8:10:31pm

GOP doesn’t realize that if the economy craters again, it’s on them. They demanded budget cuts and got them, such that the deficit is less than half of what it was when Obama took office. They’ve demanded “entitlement reform,” but every time Obama has offered them what they explicitly said they wanted, they’ve upped the ante while criticizing him for the negative effects of the “reforms” they wanted. They’ve demanded tax reform, but only if it keeps their campaign donors from paying a single cent more in taxes annually. And they’ve demanded that Obama balance the budget, but they can’t even write appropriation bills that fit such demands.

In short, the GOP has nowhere else to run. They’ve got their backs against a wall and this time, there’s no room to wriggle out. If things go south, it’s on them, because he doesn’t have to run for reelection but they do.

118 Arrrr, matey!  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 8:40:06pm

Good evening.
Youtube Video

119 Killgore Trout  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 8:48:07pm

Call me crazy but maybe if you’re hearing evil voices in your head maybe you shouldn’t be able to buy a gun.

120 prairiefire  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 8:48:24pm

How about epidermal health? I have to deal with a pre skin cancer growth on the end of my nose. Incredibly sexy./
Your epidermal layer is the largest organ.

121 Arrrr, matey!  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 8:48:55pm

re: #119 Killgore Trout

Call me crazy but maybe if you’re hearing evil voices in your head maybe you shouldn’t be able to buy a gun.

Totally batshit, man….
;)

122 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 8:50:01pm

re: #119 Killgore Trout

Call me crazy but maybe if you’re hearing evil voices in your head maybe you shouldn’t be able to buy a gun.

well you know, this has been stated as a pretty low bar to clear, yet the R’s wouldn’t even bring it up for a vote on the floor of the house, chickenshit bastards that they are

123 Killgore Trout  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 8:50:36pm

Bryan Fischer tweets may or may not be considered an evil voice.

124 dog philosopher  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 8:56:25pm

9pm at nite here in the software cube farm at big telecom and there are three other engineers here besides my nerdass self

whut price glory????

125 Gus  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 8:57:53pm

Kind of weird looking at so much politics at once now.

126 Gus  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 8:58:54pm
127 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:00:38pm

re: #126 Gus

[Embedded content]

Goldkitty…… No Mr. Bond, I expect you to open me a can of that shredded chicken over there on the counter and then I expect you to die….

128 Gus  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:04:07pm

re: #127 piratedan

Goldkitty…… No Mr. Bond, I expect you to open me a can of that shredded chicken over there on the counter and then I expect you to die….

I was thinking, “you woke me up for that?”

129 Arrrr, matey!  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:05:35pm

re: #126 Gus

[Embedded content]

“I am Kitty. You woke me up. Prepare to die.”

130 dog philosopher  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:08:16pm

re: #129 Pavlovian Hive Mind

“I am Kitty. You woke me up. Prepare to die.”

whenever i wake ignatz cat up all he says is


“mertz?”

131 Gus  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:08:22pm
132 krypto  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:08:51pm

Alexis, according to his former roommate in Texas, carried a hand gun because be believed that people were out to get him and might kill him otherwise.

This should have been a warning.

Wait a sec, most Texans have similar ideas.

133 Arrrr, matey!  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:09:24pm

re: #131 Gus

Lolwhut.

134 Gus  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:09:27pm

Good night.

135 piratedan  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:11:14pm

re: #131 Gus

in other words, we’ll never run a story from Balko ever again…..

136 simoom  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:18:36pm

washingtonpost.com

White House shooter Oscar Ortega-Hernandez pleads guilty, faces up to 27 1 / 2 years in prison

No one was injured, but two members of President Obama’s family were there when Oscar R. Ortega-Hernandez began shooting, according to court documents filed Wednesday. Ortega-Hernandez admitted firing eight rounds from a semiautomatic assault rifle into the second and third floors of the White House.

In the months leading up to the White House shooting, Ortega-Hernandez had become agitated, authorities said. He told friends that the federal government was seeking to control Americans by implanting global positioning chips in children, according to the plea agreement.

Acquaintances told authorities that Ortega-Hernandez had told them that he “needed to kill” the president that Obama was “the antichrist.”

In October 2011, he recorded two videos of himself in which he called for a revolution, according to the statement of offense signed by Ortega-Hernandez. He then drove 2,200 miles from his home in Idaho Falls to Washington.

137 ContraryLemming  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:18:45pm

re: #114 piratedan

Tea Party … come out to PLAY-ay!!
(… *clink* *clink* *clink* …)

138 Arrrr, matey!  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:30:54pm
139 prairiefire  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:32:30pm

re: #138 Pavlovian Hive Mind

Varek, you Swede! Who is the actor in your avatar?

140 dog philosopher  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:37:15pm

two steps from hell

i always thought the two-step was from hell

a stupid old fashioned dance fit only for parents and grandmothers

141 Arrrr, matey!  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:40:19pm

re: #139 prairiefire

Varek, you Swede! Who is the actor in your avatar?

en.wikipedia.org

142 Kragar  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:40:33pm

re: #139 prairiefire

Varek, you Swede! Who is the actor in your avatar?

Kane from Command & Conquer, Joseph Kucan

143 prairiefire  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:48:54pm

Almost a Walter White look, only with a lot more weight!

144 Arrrr, matey!  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 9:52:38pm
145 prairiefire  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 10:06:42pm

re: #144 Pavlovian Hive Mind

Well, if Walter were younger and more Slavic.

146 Arrrr, matey!  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 10:09:43pm

re: #145 prairiefire

Well, if Walter were younger and more Slavic.

Kane’s backstory.
cnc.wikia.com

147 Kragar  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 10:59:12pm

North Carolina school board bans Ralph Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man’

The Asheboro Courier-Tribune reported that the Randolph County Board of Education voted 5-2 to remove the book following a complaint by a parent, Kimiyutta Parson.

“This novel is not so innocent; instead, this book is filthier, too much for teenagers,” Parson wrote in a 12-page statement to the board. “You must respect all religions and point of views when it comes to the parents and what they feel is age appropriate for their young children to read, without their knowledge. This book is freely in your library for them to read.”

OFFS

148 Arrrr, matey!  Wed, Sep 18, 2013 11:35:29pm
149 freetoken  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 12:07:47am
150 dog philosopher  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 12:17:45am

John McCain Publishes A Sulfurous And Worthwhile Condemnation Of Putin’s Government In Pravda

They write laws to codify bigotry against people whose sexual orientation they condemn. They throw the members of a punk rock band in jail for the crime of being provocative and vulgar and for having the audacity to protest President Putin’s rule.

151 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 12:47:52am

re: #147 Kragar

Banning books is a right-wing* hobby. “If my child can’t read it, then no one else can either!”

Fittingly, we are just days away from Banned Books Week, which runs September 22−28 this year. It’s sponsored by the American Library Association annually, to call attention to challenges to books in libraries and schools and successful bans of the use of them.

Oddly, Ellison’s Invisible Man is not one that is frequently challenged. Judy Blume, on the other hand, has no friends among RW banners. You can check the lists of the 100 most frequently challenged books, 1990-1999 and for 2000-2009, and see how many of these trashy books you’ve read. //

Your local public library will probably have a Banned Books Weeks display or activity beginning Sunday.

* Sometimes also left-wing, for reasons of “political correctness,” see which, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.

152 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 12:56:03am

re: #131 Gus

[Embedded content]

Quite amazing, coming from a Murdoch owned rag.

Will the same happen at Faux Ne—

Never mind.

153 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 1:15:22am

re: #150 dog philosopher

John McCain Publishes A Sulfurous And Worthwhile Condemnation Of Putin’s Government In Pravda

They write laws to codify bigotry against people whose sexual orientation they condemn. They throw the members of a punk rock band in jail for the crime of being provocative and vulgar and for having the audacity to protest President Putin’s rule.

Putin generally only generates content for his domestic audience, he must be snickering up his sleeve (if he is wearing a shirt) at the sight of the American right wing lapping up his drool.

154 freetoken  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 1:19:48am
155 wrenchwench  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 1:22:08am

My new shirt. They forgot the ‘wench’ part. Oh well.

156 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 1:23:23am

Ted Cruz acknowledges reality:

House Republicans are fuming at Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) for conceding that the party’s efforts to repeal Obamacare aren’t going anywhere in the Senate — and leaving the House to keep fighting over it anyway.

Cruz, a tea party favorite, is one of the most vocal proponents of defunding the Affordable Care Act, President Barack Obama’s health care reform law. He’s spent months championing the cause. But on Wednesday, as House Republican leaders unveiled their latest plan for sinking Obamacare — tying a measure to defund the law to a must-pass resolution that keeps the government running — Cruz thanked House Republicans for their fight, and said they’re on their own.

“[Democratic Senate Majority Leader] Harry Reid will no doubt try to strip the defund language from the continuing resolution, and right now he likely has the votes to do so,” Cruz said in a statement. “At that point, House Republicans must stand firm, hold their ground, and continue to listen to the American people.”

So basically he’s just saying what everyone knows, Reid and the Senate leadership haven’t caved to this insanity the first 42 times it’s been passed in the House and they aren’t going to cave to it this time. If House Republicans want to hold the economy hostage out of pure spite they’re on their own.

Aides to top Republicans in the House, where GOP leadership has already been struggling to keep the party together on the measure, were beside themselves. And once granted anonymity, they didn’t mince their words.

“We haven’t even taken up the bill and Ted Cruz is admitting defeat?” fumed one senior GOP aide. “Some people came here to govern and make things better for their constituents. Ted Cruz came here to throw bombs and fundraise off of attacks on fellow Republicans. He’s a joke, plain and simple.”

First, I love that they needed to be granted anonymity before they were willing to talk shit, the 4chanization of american politics continues. Second, everyone knows this sisyphean dumbshittery isn’t going anywhere, ever. They’re pissed at Cruz because as a member of the Senate he doesn’t really have to do much in support of it except vote against closure on whatever bill the Senate does pass. There are enough semi-sane GOP Senators still left that in the end the filibuster will be broken and the House GOP aides know it’s going to be their bosses who get hung out to dry if they don’t pass a debt limit increase.

They also know how thoroughly this entire farce has fucked them. If and when they cave they’re basically guaranteed to get primaried by mutants. On the other hand if they end up actually shutting down the government the moderates and business conservatives will shut down the money supply and fund more level headed primary opponents. Either way the GOP House members are completely boned.

157 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 1:31:01am

re: #155 wrenchwench

My new shirt. They forgot the ‘wench’ part. Oh well.

I’d have gone with the classic Hozan C-200. Best pedal wrench I’ve ever used.

159 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 1:40:27am

re: #158 Pavlovian Hive Mind

Creationist: Nye wrong about moonlight because Beethoven said so

there is no arguing or discussing with these people. we can only hope to limit the amount of damage they can do

160 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 2:03:51am

This country’s pathetic track record of solving our society’s problems is prophetic to their intentions. We would declare a “war on mental health” where all the usual suspects would pocket billions of dollars locking up the less fortunate. Solving nothing. Any real solution would be drown out in a sea of bullshit enabled by a media that has no intention of informing our electorate of facts.

161 freetoken  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 2:07:03am
162 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 2:07:31am

re: #156 goddamnedfrank

Ted Cruz acknowledges reality:

They also know how thoroughly this entire farce has fucked them. If and when they cave they’re basically guaranteed to get primaried by mutants. On the other hand if they end up actually shutting down the government the moderates and business conservatives will shut down the money supply and fund more level headed primary opponents. Either way the GOP House members are completely boned.

Yeah, but how do they get the unruly “base” to believe this?

They’ve dug their own graves. The biz types usually don’t buy into their social nuttery, and are trying to push the “libertarian” side of that, which the raving religionists will never buy into (same sex love and marriage, pot,etc). But the racism remains, the profits at all costs—even when it’s taking wages out of the base’s pockets.

The Rs are just not as clever as they think they are. The more Americans are educated politically, the more they fight this kind of fascism, whether it comes from a political, economic, or religious POV.

The Rs haven’t been able to make, and sustain, a convergence of all 3 of those elements. I think we’re too much of an open society for that to happen.

163 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 2:18:48am

IDK. What about this scenario. Government shuts down. The press, not interested in reporting facts will support the narrative that Obama is a tyrant unwilling to negotiate. Markets fall, services cut. It is proven that facts really don’t matter (see blaming Obama for Katrina) it’s who controls the narrative that matters most. Couple this with deliberate sabotage of the ACA, which several officials have said they have every intention of doing, further cementing the ideal that government can’t do anything right. I see a danger of the tide turning against the democrats. Then again I’ve been on a losing side for so long it’s better for me to be pleasantly surprised than yet again disappointed.

164 Arrrr, matey!  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 2:26:24am
165 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 2:38:07am

re: #163 Amory Blaine

IDK. What about this scenario. Government shuts down. The press, not interested in reporting facts will support the narrative that Obama is a tyrant unwilling to negotiate.

Doesn’t line up with current reality.

But there is one issue on which independents part ways with the GOP.

Some 58 percent oppose defunding the Affordable Care Act if that risks even a temporary government shutdown compared to just 30 percent who don’t oppose defunding the unpopular law, according to the poll.

That’s not the mainstream press, that’s Newsmax! That’s Newsmax reporting actual facts and quoting Karl Rove, trying to turn the lemmings away from the cliff. That they’re willing to report the fact that risking a shutdown is horribly unpopular now with independents, before it’s actually occurred, speaks volumes about how frightened the money men are of the practical consequences.

Of course the commenters aren’t having any of it, because they’re the Tea Party monster that the GOP created.

166 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 2:44:47am

The nuts in the house are cemented in place by gerrymandering.

167 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 2:49:23am

re: #163 Amory Blaine

By “officials” are you referring to the elected slackjaws on the right? That goes back to goddamnfrank’s comment. And I don’t think they can pull it off.

They’re like Sarah Palin—yesterday’s politicians. People are getting fucking tired of these idiots. If there weren’t more of us than them, I might share your negative outlook, but while you’re right about who controls the narrative, all that bleating day after day gets on people’s nerves. Some people, esp younger ones, just don’t watch or listen to the news, period, much less the right wing blowhards. They get their news from the internet, from various sources. It’s hard work to know whether or not you’re getting facts and “truth” anymore.

I wouldn’t even be surprised if Chuckles Todd’s faux pas yesterday doesn’t get him into hot water, because there is so much self-serving careerism in “journalism” any more, it suffers from the same narcissism that some politicians have. When someone like David Gregory can imply that “fact checking” doesn’t matter, you might as well kiss real journalism goodbye. It’s all corporate now, and corporations do what corporations do—control the narrative with “personalities” not real journalism. Until this is pointed out repeatedly, why even pay the MSM much attention?

Hard to believe that deep down, the majority of people see the MSM and the rightwing talkers as much more than “info-tainment” anymore. Faux News may be “leading” in viewership, but for other news organization to follow their lead is going to kill them. FN viewers tend to have one foot in the grave, such is their demographic—and those are people who were around when Ed Murrow, Walter Cronkite, etc ruled the airways—go figure.

168 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 2:50:34am
About 42 percent of the people who say they disapprove of health reform think that public officials “should do what they can to make the law fail,” while a narrow majority — 51 percent — actually believes that lawmakers should do what they can to make Obamacare work.

And that’s just among the people who don’t like Obamacare to begin with. When put into context of the general population, researchers found that amounts to just 23 percent of Americans who want to undermine the health law to make it fail.

Even when the results are broken down by party lines, there isn’t necessarily widespread GOP support for sabotaging Obamacare. About 85 percent of Republican and Republican-leaning voters say they don’t like the law, but just 43 percent of that group actually want their lawmakers to work to make it fail. On the other hand, 37 percent think the law’s opponents should try to make it work as best as possible.

The Pew/USA Today poll does find one pocket of broad support for undermining Obamacare, however: Tea Party Republicans. A big contrast emerges between those far-right conservatives and more mainstream GOP voters. Sixty four percent of Tea Partiers who oppose the law want elected officials to try to make it fail — an approach that’s favored by just 31 percent of the Republican voters who say they don’t align themselves with the Tea Party.

If the House GOP members dig in and push a government shutdown they’ll be forever fucked. It’s already an unpopular idea within their own party and that’s now, while it’s still purely hypothetical. There’s no way in hell that the press is going to be able to spin this as Obama’s failure, too many House members and Tea Party politicians have gone on record demanding a shutdown in explicit terms.

169 Romantic Heretic  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 2:54:37am

re: #97 goddamnedfrank

Basically, in the end the money men are going to get their message through. The GOP is playing chicken with a concrete abutment.

Head first.

Poor concrete abutment.

170 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 2:55:10am

Yeah I can go along with that I’m just offering up an alternative scenario. In my meat world, there are no moderate republicans. The gerrymandered nutjobs have solid backing by the entire party faithful. So they don’t shut it down. OK. Doesn’t mean they don’t have a backup plan. They will still use their power to destroy the ACA and by looking at the data the american public is so uninformed on it that they won’t know what’s a feature and what’s a bug.

171 freetoken  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 2:56:43am

re: #168 goddamnedfrank

What matters is who votes, and as we saw recently in Colorado with the unseating of two politicians because they dared to have a position on guns not in accord with the gun-worshipping far right, the far right in this country is highly motivated to vote.

The mid term election in 2014 is going to be a test case for whether so called “progressives” and gen Y will actually vote to change Congress. I suspect the GOP has nothing to worry about.

172 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:02:43am

re: #171 freetoken

What matters is who votes.

If they go through with a shutdown the money will dry up. That matters just as much as turnout.

173 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:06:27am

Scott Walker should be tanking in the polls. His jobs creation record is failure by even his own standard, party operatives he has surrounded himself with have gone to jail as felons. As I type he’s involved in pay for play scandal that drops right on his doorstep, yet the press hails him as a hero (too lengthy to get into, but here’s a link to get you started if you’re bored). Yet he is exactly where he stood when he got elected and why? Total control of the narrative. The only voices against him are the singers being arrested in the capital. They have no power and many of the democrats are chiding them to comply with Walkers demands. The democrats have totally ceded in Wisconsin and almost the entire state press is in right wing control.

174 freetoken  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:07:07am

The GOP controlled House had a hearing on climate change yesterday - few people appear to have noticed, given the lack of coverage on American media.

The Guardian picks up the story:

Obama climate change plan gets first airing in front of House sceptics

[…]

Despite the outreach efforts, however, the hearing soon reverted to familiar battle lines, with Democrats reaffirming the science behind climate change and the urgent need for action, and Republicans firmly in denial.

[…]

Others disputed scientific findings on global temperature rise, Arctic sea ice, human drivers of climate change, and even whether Obama’s plan would be effective in curbing greenhouse gas emissions.

Only yesterday WaPo writer Greg Sargent meekly suggested:

So it seems possible we may see a display of climate skepticism, as the euphemism has it, at tomorrow’s hearing. At the same time, though, GOP leaders have plainly worried that displays of climate denialism aren’t good for the party.

As I indicated yesterday, the “possible” was essentially guaranteed, and my curmudgeonly cynicism has been shown on the money.

175 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:14:40am

Well, as long as there are people like Chuck Todd (NBC) who are “political news directors” at major MSM stations, any information about ACA is not going to get out anyway.

The WH is doing its job, if you go to the .gov websites; it’s the news organizations that are not reporting it.

What is the WH supposed to do, a series of expensive public announcements and run them on 50 channels and in every other major news outlet? They would be criticized for spending money for that, too.

Unfortunately, in the Information Age, people get the “information” they want, which in too many cases is opinion, not fact, and not necessarily what they need.

176 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:16:25am

Apparently Todd never graduated college either.

177 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:20:03am

re: #176 Amory Blaine

Apparently Todd never graduated college either.

Nope, he didn’t; apparently he was at GW 4 yrs and must have partied hearty the entire time. It shows. He used his “connections” and privilege to get where he is.

178 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:22:50am

re: #163 Amory Blaine

Democrats have an uncanny knack for salvaging defeat from the jaws of victory…

179 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:26:42am

Now, just how fucking hard is it to get info on ACA?

healthcare.gov

And if the press wasn’t lazy… hhs.gov

Fact checking, how does that work?

180 freetoken  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:27:26am

Glenn Kessler will claim to be the anti-ChuckTodd, for sure.

Kessler gives Obama four Pinocchios:

Obama’s claim that non-budget items have ‘never’ been attached to the debt ceiling

181 goddamnedfrank  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:31:15am

re: #172 goddamnedfrank

If they go through with a shutdown the money will dry up. That matters just as much as turnout.

The GOP doesn’t crowd-source like Obama and the Dems have been able to in the last few elections. The conservative base are certainly suckers, but they’re far more likely to buy into infomercial gold scams and kitsch - fake parakeets, singing fish, commemorative plates/coins. The GOP has always gotten it’s money from a few incredibly rich people who think they’re acting in their own best interests on tax policy.

If the tea party monster manages to tank the economy again that money will disappear forever, and whatever husk of the GOP is left won’t be able to organize beyond the most limited, local level without it.

182 freetoken  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:34:50am

Jindal knows who greases his palms:

The Giant Big Oil Lawsuit That Bobby Jindal Wants to Make Disappear

[…]

The 11 board members, the majority of whom are registered Republicans, voted unanimously to go ahead with the suit. Although the board only serves New Orleans and its suburbs, a victory would move other parts of the Gulf Coast to follow in their path. Or so the thinking went.

But Jindal’s response has been swift. He pledged to fight the lawsuit in court by asserting that the board didn’t have the power to take such an action (the state has not, however, filed for summary judgment to the dismiss the case). When that didn’t dissuade the board from bringing the suit, Jindal informed the legislature that opposition to the lawsuit would be a litmus test for any new nominee to the board. And then his administration went one step further—Graves hinted that the legislature would craft a new statute, when it next reconvenes, that explicitly prohibits the flood board from pursuing the matter any further: “I don’t see any scenario where this levee district doesn’t get gutted—or, say, ‘reformed’—in the next legislative session.” To members of the levee board, the culprit is clear.

“It would be crass to say that it was something like you hear people say, ‘Oh, they’re in the oil company’s pocket’—I don’t think that’s it at all,” Estopinal says. “I just think [oil money] has kind of blinded some people to the really dramatic changes that are happening that aren’t being addressed.”

[…]

183 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:36:58am

re: #174 freetoken

It’s not Chuck Todd’s job to report that GOP ideals are rooted in fantasy and that elementary concepts have to be repeatedly explained to them like children. His job is to just ask “questions”. >_

184 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:48:31am

re: #180 freetoken

Glenn Kessler will claim to be the anti-ChuckTodd, for sure.

Kessler gives Obama four Pinocchios:

Obama’s claim that non-budget items have ‘never’ been attached to the debt ceiling

Actually, POTUS was right: ACA has nothing to do with the budget or debt because it is self-sustaining in practice. The other examples Kessler mentions would have ultimately impacted the debt ceiling.

185 Decatur Deb  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 3:57:31am

Red on Red fratricide: House Republicans question Cruz’s Obamacare-defunding fervor

“It is disappointing to see that Wendy Davis has more balls than Ted Cruz,”

politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com

186 A Mom Anon  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 4:10:39am

re: #184 Justanotherhuman

Oh hell, most of the people who see that will just see”The President LIED!!!Eleventy!! and not bother to look any further than that. And Kessler knows that, so do his bosses.

187 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 4:12:35am

Oh, for crying out loud.

Exclusive: Iran president blames Israel for ‘instability,’ calls for peace

worldnews.nbcnews.com

“Rouhani described Israel as “an occupier and usurper government” that “does injustice to the people of the region, and has brought instability to the region, with its warmongering policies.”

“He added Israel “shouldn’t allow itself to give speeches about a democratically and freely elected government.”

“Netanyahu has previously hinted at the possibility of Israeli military strikes on Iran over the country’s controversial nuclear program if Western sanctions and diplomacy fail.”

So, he thinks Israel doesn’t have the right to defend itself? Even if it has to do a little sabre-rattling?

188 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 4:21:51am

re: #186 A Mom Anon

Oh hell, most of the people who see that will just see”The President LIED!!!Eleventy!! and not bother to look any further than that. And Kessler knows that, so do his bosses.

Not only that, but Kessler doesn’t even check his own link. This is what popped up for “a comprehensive 1993 study”, one written by bankers at the NY Federal Reserve. themonkeycage.org

189 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 4:32:03am

Oh, fuck me!

Ron Paul was invited to Morning Jerk again. Who the hell is producing this crap?

190 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 4:35:15am

The Austrian School is the best.

Sure it is, RP, sure it is—an economic theory that has been discredited more times than you have.

191 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 4:35:18am

re: #185 Decatur Deb

Yes he is not conservative enough. Purge the RINO.

192 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 4:35:57am

re: #189 Justanotherhuman

Oh, fuck me!

Ron Paul was invited to Morning Jerk again. Who the hell is producing this crap?

Probably Chuck Todds drinking buddy. ;)

193 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 4:36:23am

re: #192 Amory Blaine

Probably Chuck Todds drinking buddy. ;)

Oddly, Chuckles isn’t there…

194 freetoken  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 4:39:23am

Ah yes, Congress at work…

Here is the video of the climate change policy hearing yesterday:

Youtube Video

If you go to 2:01:30 you can see a WV Congressman start, and a minute later claim that temperature hasn’t really gone up in the last 40 years. At 2:02:40 he claims Arctic ice is increasing. And more.

195 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 4:39:57am

RP going on and on about home schooling (he claims they home schooled their kids, but it’s public knowledge, at least about Rand, that he went to public HS).

He’s simply talking about parents brainwashing their kids to their way of thinking and “conservatism”, not about intellectual development.

196 Decatur Deb  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 4:57:33am

Aarrrgghhh.

google.com

197 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:03:06am

McKinley, the Wilfred Brimley lookalike from WV sure has his big coal talking points down.

198 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:08:27am

“Better off this way” and “My ELF weapon” were scratched on the shotgun Alexis carried into the Naval Yard and used. Officials say they don’t know what “ELF” means. Perhaps this? en.wikipedia.org

Navy Yard opened today except for Bldg 197.

199 ObserverArt  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:08:56am

re: #167 Justanotherhuman

By “officials” are you referring to the elected slackjaws on the right? That goes back to goddamnfrank’s comment. And I don’t think they can pull it off.

They’re like Sarah Palin—yesterday’s politicians. People are getting fucking tired of these idiots. If there weren’t more of us than them, I might share your negative outlook, but while you’re right about who controls the narrative, all that bleating day after day gets on people’s nerves. Some people, esp younger ones, just don’t watch or listen to the news, period, much less the right wing blowhards. They get their news from the internet, from various sources. It’s hard work to know whether or not you’re getting facts and “truth” anymore.

I wouldn’t even be surprised if Chuckles Todd’s faux pas yesterday doesn’t get him into hot water, because there is so much self-serving careerism in “journalism” any more, it suffers from the same narcissism that some politicians have. When someone like David Gregory can imply that “fact checking” doesn’t matter, you might as well kiss real journalism goodbye. It’s all corporate now, and corporations do what corporations do—control the narrative with “personalities” not real journalism. Until this is pointed out repeatedly, why even pay the MSM much attention?

Hard to believe that deep down, the majority of people see the MSM and the rightwing talkers as much more than “info-tainment” anymore. Faux News may be “leading” in viewership, but for other news organization to follow their lead is going to kill them. FN viewers tend to have one foot in the grave, such is their demographic—and those are people who were around when Ed Murrow, Walter Cronkite, etc ruled the airways—go figure.

I fired off an email to NBC News’ headquarters yesterday saying basically everything you typed in your comment.

I also emailed Johnny Boehner and congratulated him on making sure he goes down in history possibly remembered as the worst Speaker of the House ever. A truly notable career achievement. I also mentioned that as an Ohioan I was proud of his many achievements, but I was having trouble remembering what he actually achieved.

I can be a bad boy, but it was all well written and no nasty or derogatory words. I believe on sticking with facts not shock or outright bitching.

200 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:09:14am

Any question the MSM is in the right wings pocket? Everyone of them refer to the ACA as Obamacare.

201 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:11:15am

re: #199 ObserverArt

Thanks, glad you appreciated it. : )

202 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:11:24am

re: #198 Justanotherhuman

“Better off this way” and “My ELF weapon” were scratched on the shotgun Alexis carried into the Naval Yard and used. Officials say they don’t know what “ELF” means. Perhaps this? en.wikipedia.org

Navy Yard opened today except for Bldg 197.

Given the Navy and some conspiracy theories up here, my bet is “Extremely Low Frequency” en.wikipedia.org It was mainly opposed by anti-nuke peace activists but there were some conspiracy types claiming it would cause cancer or was part of HAARP or other such drivel.

203 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:11:39am

Staten Island trio poses as cops to cut Grand Theft Auto V line

Three fans of the new Grand Theft Auto game are under arrest for an alleged crime you might find in the game itself.

The trio is accused of impersonating police officers just to score a copy of the fifth installment of the action thriller video game before everybody else.

Kirolos Abdel Sayed, 19, Matthew Kirshen, 20, and Frank Santanastoso, 19, were picked up after jumping the line at the Staten Island Mall Tuesday.

Police say the three drove to the mall in an unmarked police car with lights and sirens that was purchased at an auction.

One of them told a mall worker he was with the NYPD, and they were allowed entry.

They used their fake authority to jump the line of about 500 gathered outside the Gamestop store, purchased the game and left in the car.

204 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:13:41am

re: #202 William Barnett-Lewis

Except Alexis worked in “IT”, not sure how much into those conspiracies he was; OTOH, if he thought people were talking to him from his microwave oven, could be.

205 Decatur Deb  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:19:16am

re: #202 William Barnett-Lewis

Given the Navy and some conspiracy theories up here, my bet is “Extremely Low Frequency” en.wikipedia.org It was mainly opposed by anti-nuke peace activists but there were some conspiracy types claiming it would cause cancer or was part of HAARP or other such drivel.

Also a component of the electrical transmission line/brain cancer panic of the 80s. Related to the 60 hz frequency, I guess.

206 ObserverArt  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:19:27am

re: #196 Decatur Deb

Aarrrgghhh.

google.com

Thank ye fer th’ reminder bucko. Arrrrrr!

207 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:20:12am

Feline research groups are busily working on the hoo-man version of the parasite. Not that anything is needed to supplement purring - but there is always need for additional staff who will *want* to clean the litter box.

nbcnews.com

208 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:20:52am

Anyone remember this song ?

Youtube Video

209 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:20:53am

Arrr, it’s Pretzel Day in Philly as well!

210 Arrrr, matey!  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:26:58am

re: #209 Feline Fearless Leader

Arrr, it’s Pretzel Day in Philly as well!

Aye, matey!

211 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:28:24am

re: #209 Feline Fearless Leader

Arrr, it’s Pretzel Day in Philly as well!

I’ll take one of those Philly pretzels smeared with mustard, please. : ) Even after we moved, my son treasured those things. It was the thing he loved about Philly the most, except for the Philly steak subs, which he still eats to this day (luckily, there are delis in Charlotte that actually do them right, but no pretzel vendors, alas, unless that’s changed in recent years).

212 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:31:53am

re: #211 Justanotherhuman

I’ll take one of those Philly pretzels smeared with mustard, please. : ) Even after we moved, my son treasured those things. It was the thing he loved about Philly the most, except for the Philly steak subs, which he still eats to this day (luckily, there are delis in Charlotte that actually do them right, but no pretzel vendors, alas, unless that’s changed in recent years).

Germans think I am nuts when I ask for mustard on my pretzel…

213 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:35:12am

Outrage over death of Yemeni child bride, 8, on wedding night

worldnews.nbcnews.com

Yeah, Yemen is really taking this seriously. They haven’t even arrested this guy.

“Yemeni rights campaigner Arwa Othman said earlier this week that the girl, identified as Rawan, died after intercourse that ruptured her uterus following her wedding to a man five times her age. Residents in the town of Meedi in Hajjah province in northwestern Yemen confirmed the incident.

“Othman said no action had been taken against the man.”

I don’t care if it is a “cultural norm”—it’s pedophilia, and should be treated as a crime.

214 b.d.  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:40:45am

Missed Morning Joe this morning, did Chuck Todd rail against God for not explaining plate tectonics well enough to the American people?

215 Decatur Deb  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:48:00am

re: #212 Sol Berdinowitz

Germans think I am nuts when I ask for mustard on my pretzel…

A senfless attitude on their part.

216 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:49:16am

re: #215 Decatur Deb

A senfless attitude on their part.

a bunch of moutards

217 HypnoToad  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:49:55am

Had a couple of minor rattlers here in So Cal. A magnitude 3.7 at 4:44, and a 3.8 twenty minutes later. No big deal but I was almost directly above the epicenter so I felt them distinctly. First ones here in quite some time…

218 Decatur Deb  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:52:34am

re: #216 Sol Berdinowitz

a bunch of moutards

A bit of Kentucky, pronounced ‘Moody Deer’, takes it’s name from a pioneer family (Moutardier).

219 Decatur Deb  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:53:44am

re: #218 Decatur Deb

Corrected: Moutardier

220 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:54:16am

re: #218 Decatur Deb

A bit of Kentucky, pronounced ‘Moody Deer’, takes it’s name from a pioneer family (Moutardier).

I thought moutard was the term for a stupid cow…

221 ObserverArt  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 5:57:12am

re: #214 b.d.

Missed Morning Joe this morning, did Chuck Todd rail against God for not explaining plate tectonics well enough to the American people?

I missed Morning Joke on purpose. I’m thinking of making a daily thing.

222 b.d.  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 6:07:49am

re: #217 HypnoToad

Had a couple of minor rattlers here in So Cal. A magnitude 3.7 at 4:44, and a 3.8 twenty minutes later. No big deal but I was almost directly above the epicenter so I felt them distinctly. First ones here in quite some time…

Better not go into work today, just in case. You should probably be in a safe open area like a golf course, park or a beach. One can’t be too careful.

223 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 6:30:54am
224 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 6:43:10am

More UK arrests of Syria terrorism suspects

Two more people have been arrested as part of a Metropolitan Police investigation into suspected terrorism in Syria involving Britons.

bbc.co.uk

“A man, 27, and a woman, 26, were arrested at an address in Essex on Wednesday.

“This followed the arrest of two men, aged 29 and 22, in Dover, Kent, on arrival from France on Monday. A quantity of ammunition was seized.

“Police searches of properties in east London and Lancashire are taking place.”

225 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 6:48:26am

I awoke to find that Christmas had come early:

Boehner Gets Primary Challenger

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has a challenger in the 2014 Republican primary for his House seat.

Businessman Eric Gurr is challenging Boehner for the speaker’s congressional seat, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Gurr told the paper he decided to run against Boehner after he backed U.S. military action in Syria.

“It was a tipping point,” Gurr said. “I’m not a big fan of getting involved in the internal politics of another country.”

Gurr also took issue with Boehner’s approach to immigration reform, which the Speaker said needed a more incremental approach than the bipartisan Senate bill.

“They keep saying the immigration system is broken,” Gurr told the Enquirer when asked about his opposition to the Senate bill. “That’s absolute nonsense.”

Gurr, the CEO of computer consulting firm the Best & Brightest Inc., admits that his chances of beating Boehner are slim given the speaker’s influence and deep fundraising resources. Boehner has repeatedly easily won reelection in Ohio’s 8th congressional district.

Pass the popcorn!

226 darthstar  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 6:51:34am

re: #223 Backwoods_Sleuth

Fire, Explosions At Danlin Chemical Plant Near Thomas, Okla.

Chemical plants are largely unregulated, yet manage to explode soon after a lone gunman kills a bunch of innocent people. Of course, this can only mean one thing…we must do something about video games.

227 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 6:55:42am

re: #226 darthstar

Chemical plants are largely unregulated, yet manage to explode soon after a lone gunman kills a bunch of innocent people. Of course, this can only mean one thing…we must do something about video games.

Does that apparent correlation mean that if a chemical plant explodes and there has not been a mass shooting by a lone gunman reported previously than the media and police missed discovering the shooting?
/

228 lawhawk  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:01:41am

re: #227 Feline Fearless Leader

If only.

Fact is that there’s a mass killing as defined by the FBI once every 2-3 weeks. It’s like clockwork that someone guns down at least three other people in a single incident.

Active shooter incidents are on the rise as well. That includes mass killing incidents like the Navy Yard and Sandy Hook massacres.

229 lawhawk  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:10:27am

re: #225 Targetpractice

What that means is that Boehner will tack even more to the right to undermine the claims that he’s too soft or too open to bipartisanship.

230 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:11:04am

re: #225 Targetpractice

I awoke to find that Christmas had come early:

Boehner Gets Primary Challenger

Pass the popcorn!

Boehner did not knee-jerkedly oppose anything and everything Obama supported. Therefore he must be unseated…

231 ObserverArt  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:14:10am

re: #230 Sol Berdinowitz

Boehner did not knee-jerkedly oppose anything and everything Obama supported. Therefore he must be unseated…

That’s right. He didn’t do nothing enough. So, dump his orange butt.

232 b.d.  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:15:50am

re: #230 Sol Berdinowitz

Boehner did not knee-jerkedly oppose anything and everything Obama supported. Therefore he must be unseated…

BOEHNER DID NOTHING TO DEFUND OBAMACARE!!1!

233 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:20:34am

Gets more hilarious. Cruz himself is now actually being found wanting by the unruly mob, declared not dedicated enough to the cause for suggesting that the House will not successfully pass a bill to defund Obamacare, depriving the Senate Republicans of the opportunity to vote for defunding as well.

No telling who’s next to be marched off to the guillotine.

234 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:23:28am

re: #233 Targetpractice

Gets more hilarious. Cruz himself is now actually being found wanting by the unruly mob, declared not dedicated enough to the cause for suggesting that the House will not successfully pass a bill to defund Obamacare, depriving the Senate Republicans of the opportunity to vote for defunding as well.

No telling who’s next to be marched off to the guillotine.

I thought it was Cruz essentially saying that anything the House did along those lines would be DOA in the Senate, so why waste time and effort attempting it in the first place.

235 b.d.  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:24:22am

re: #233 Targetpractice

Gets more hilarious. Cruz himself is now actually being found wanting by the unruly mob, declared not dedicated enough to the cause for suggesting that the House will not successfully pass a bill to defund Obamacare, depriving the Senate Republicans of the opportunity to vote for defunding as well.

No telling who’s next to be marched off to the guillotine.

There are mobs and there are unruly mobs. Try and cultivate the former.

236 Stanley Sea  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:25:29am

Ahoy Mateys!

237 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:26:29am

re: #234 Feline Fearless Leader

I thought it was Cruz essentially saying that anything the House did along those lines would be DOA in the Senate, so why waste time and effort attempting it in the first place.

That’s being twisted into a suggestion that defunding is a wasted effort, which is viewed as undermining the campaign against the ACA. Thus he is being viewed as insufficiently committed to the revolution.

238 Dr. Matt  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:26:34am

re: #221 ObserverArt

I missed Morning Joke on purpose. I’m thinking of making a daily thing.

x2. I’m tired of the partisan bullshit in the morning “news” programming. I’ve switched to Robin Meade for my morning infotainment. I’m a sucker for funny hot brunettes.

239 lawhawk  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:29:11am

re: #233 Targetpractice

The TP is pulling off the rarely used, but always destructive circular firing squad maneuver with great aplomb. In their attempt to destroy Obama by any means necessary and at all costs, they’re going after anyone who understands the political reality that Obamacare will not be defunded, delayed, or destroyed since the Senate is controlled by Democrats and the White House is controlled by the guy whose name is on the legislation that the TP/GOP is seeking to destroy.

Boehner and Cruz are extremists, but they realize the political reality. That’s more than can be said of their TP brethren. And for that, the TP are seeking their heads on a platter.

Yet, these same TP/GOP are claiming Obama lost in dealing with Syria even though the public supports the moves all while understanding that Syria and Assad may still try to get away with having CW. It’s the same TP/GOP who claim that they lost the tax rate fight, even though they won extending permanent tax cuts for everyone but the top 1% of taxpayers.

240 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:34:12am

re: #237 Targetpractice

That’s being twisted into a suggestion that defunding is a wasted effort, which is viewed as undermining the campaign against the ACA. Thus he is being viewed as insufficiently committed to the revolution.

Or the realization that Cruz is willing to let the House GOP be the kamikazes and risk being thrown to the curb while Cruz can continue to preach the TP gospel from his safe Senate seat.

241 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:36:30am

re: #239 lawhawk

The TP is pulling off the rarely used, but always destructive circular firing squad maneuver with great aplomb. In their attempt to destroy Obama by any means necessary and at all costs, they’re going after anyone who understands the political reality that Obamacare will not be defunded, delayed, or destroyed since the Senate is controlled by Democrats and the White House is controlled by the guy whose name is on the legislation that the TP/GOP is seeking to destroy.

Boehner and Cruz are extremists, but they realize the political reality. That’s more than can be said of their TP brethren. And for that, the TP are seeking their heads on a platter.

Yet, these same TP/GOP are claiming Obama lost in dealing with Syria even though the public supports the moves all while understanding that Syria and Assad may still try to get away with having CW. It’s the same TP/GOP who claim that they lost the tax rate fight, even though they won extending permanent tax cuts for everyone but the top 1% of taxpayers.

Their campaign is one for the complete and utter defeat of Barack Obama, so anything short of attained 100% of their demands is a failure in their eyes. Remember that they turned on Boehner with his “Plan B” because he proposed raising the point at where the tax increases came in at $1M and they refused to accept any tax increases at all. They simply refuse to accept any sort of scenario where Obama could possibly claim a win.

The crusade to see the ACA repealed is going to lead to ruination, that’s been an on-going prediction for awhile now. Every time they’ve been told that public support is at marginally in favor of the law, that the voting blocs they need to win elections support the law, and that the public is not in favor of destroying the government just to see the law undone, they’ve put more coal on the fire and declared “Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!” Boehner and McConnell have been able to string them along for awhile now, keep them convinced there’s some chance that the law could be undone. But the time has run out and now the monster they created has turned on them.

242 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:38:26am

Can’t wait to see the ruling in this case.

Tom DeLay verdict overturned by Texas appellate court

khou.com

243 Dr. Matt  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:44:35am

re: #242 Justanotherhuman

Can’t wait to see the ruling in this case.

Tom DeLay verdict overturned by Texas appellate court

khou.com

I absolutely loathe DeLay. He is simply a vile creature likely born from a Dick Cheney stool sample.

244 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:55:08am

re: #243 Dr. Matt

I absolutely loathe DeLay. He is simply a vile creature likely born from a Dick Cheney stool sample.

Oh, I agree. That’s why I want to see the ruling, and who was sitting at the time.

245 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:55:17am

Gail Collins writes today in the NYT:

Seriously, people, why do you think the Republicans have gone so completely lunatic when it comes to this issue? Why do they behave as if, once the health law begins to roll out, it will be cemented in place like an amendment to the Constitution?

True, it would be a pain to repeal the whole thing if it doesn’t work out. But not a pain sufficient to wreak havoc on the global economy like, say, refusing to raise the debt ceiling. Senator Ted Cruz of Texas has been leading the push to shut down the government unless Congress repeals Obamacare. But have you ever heard him vow that if Congress doesn’t repeal Obamacare there will be … elections and then a new Congress that will repeal Obamacare?

Actually, Ted Cruz has an answer for this. Once the law goes into effect, he told the Web site The Daily Caller, the public will be overwhelmed by its sugary sweetness — “hooked on the subsidies.” It’s the duty of Congress to take it back before people can taste it, just the way New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg tried to whisk away high-calorie Big Gulps.

So, the message is clear. The new health care law is going to be terrible, wreaking havoc on American families, ruining their lives. And they are going to love it so much they will never have the self-control necessary to give it up.

I used to believe, as Cruz appears to suggest, that once Obamacare was fully implemented, that the GOPteabag wouldn’t be able to repeal it. I don’t believe that anymore. I don’t believe that the John Birchers running today’s GOP care one whit about taking benefits away from people. That would be a feature, not a bug, as we say. And I doubt they’d stop at repealing Obamacare. They’ve got Obamacare Derangement System burned on the brain. So whether it’s not until 2017, 2019, 2021 or whenever, they’ll never stop. It’s become their anti-Communism crusade, as has been mentioned recently.

246 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:58:46am

re: #245 Bulworth

And that in pursuit of their new “anti-communist” campaign substitute that they have embraced Putin is almost humorous.

247 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 7:58:51am

re: #245 Bulworth

Gail Collins writes today in the NYT:

I used to believe, as Cruz appears to suggest, that once Obamacare was fully implemented, that the GOPteabag wouldn’t be able to repeal it. I don’t believe that anymore. I don’t believe that the John Birchers running today’s GOP care one whit about taking benefits away from people. That would be a feature, not a bug, as we say. And I doubt they’d stop at repealing Obamacare. They’ve got Obamacare Derangement System burned on the brain. So whether it’s not until 2017, 2019, 2021 or whenever, they’ll never stop. It’s become their anti-Communism crusade, as has been mentioned recently.

Nah, after it goes into effect, they’ll take up the same fight they’ve been waging against SS and Medicare for decades: “Privatization.”

248 Eventual Carrion  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:01:32am

re: #247 Targetpractice

Nah, after it goes into effect, they’ll take up the same fight they’ve been waging against SS and Medicare for decades: “Privatization.”

Which in effect would make it the same as it was before ACA.

249 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:04:29am

re: #248 Eventual Carrion

Which in effect would make it the same as it was before ACA.

Pretty much. The idea is that if they can’t kill the law outright, they’ll instead promote “fixes” and “common sense ideas” aimed at prying the law out one bit at a time. “We’re not taking it away,” they’ll declare, “We’re fixing the problems that Democrats created!”

250 wrenchwench  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:08:39am

re: #157 goddamnedfrank

I’d have gone with the classic Hozan C-200. Best pedal wrench I’ve ever used.

I love my Hozan ‘Rock Ring Wrench’. It’s collectible, because in the next production run, they changed it to ‘Lock Ring Wrench’.

Check out this pedal wrench:

Youtube Video

I got the shirt he’s wearing too. Actually, not the same one, a smaller one.

251 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:13:48am

re: #245 Bulworth

Gail Collins writes today in the NYT:

I used to believe, as Cruz appears to suggest, that once Obamacare was fully implemented, that the GOPteabag wouldn’t be able to repeal it. I don’t believe that anymore. I don’t believe that the John Birchers running today’s GOP care one whit about taking benefits away from people. That would be a feature, not a bug, as we say. And I doubt they’d stop at repealing Obamacare. They’ve got Obamacare Derangement System burned on the brain. So whether it’s not until 2017, 2019, 2021 or whenever, they’ll never stop. It’s become their anti-Communism crusade, as has been mentioned recently.

Actually, ACA will trim the insurance giants in many ways and regulate them as never before, and will trim overall medical costs (people will be able to see a primary care dr rather than the ER, for example). It may take some time for people to get used to this, but overall, I see it as a positive step for people to start taking charge of their own health. Every single demographic you can think of will benefit—as a senior, I’ve already seen benefits (and I don’t have a supplemental health care policy), such as certain procedures being included w/o cost.

At Stake: What the Affordable Care Act Means for Middle Class Families

Already, the House of Representatives has voted almost 40 times to repeal this law. Here is what’s at stake if Congressional Republicans succeed in repealing the Affordable Care Act:

hhs.gov

252 Lidane  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:14:53am

And the GOP minority outreach continues:

253 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:15:23am

re: #242 Justanotherhuman

Wow that’s….just wow.

254 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:17:49am

Putin now saying he can’t be “100% sure” Syria will give up all its CWs.

Per MSNBC. This comes as the same time as McCain’s “letter to the editor” in Russia, saying that he is more Russian than Putin. Bwahahahaha!

255 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:18:55am

Ted Cruz is a RINO. We need a real conservative.

256 Lidane  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:20:05am

re: #254 Justanotherhuman

Putin now saying he can’t be “100% sure” Syria will give up all its CWs.

Per MSNBC. This comes as the same time as McCain’s “letter to the editor” in Russia, saying that he is more Russian than Putin. Bwahahahaha!

Which is why POTUS never ordered a stand-down and why we still have warships in or close to firing range.

257 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:21:29am

re: #254 Justanotherhuman

Putin now saying he can’t be “100% sure” Syria will give up all its CWs.

Per MSNBC. This comes as the same time as McCain’s “letter to the editor” in Russia, saying that he is more Russian than Putin. Bwahahahaha!

Yeah, color me shocked. Putin thinks he’s in a position of strength, so is now trying to slowly draw things off the table until he gives the very minimum away.

258 Lidane  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:24:39am

My surprise, etc. —

259 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:25:08am

re: #251 Justanotherhuman

Oh I support the ACA and heartily agree with its having been passed and validated by the SCOTUS. I’m just saying I doubt that today’s pack of teabaggers are going to care whether people benefit under the law. They’ve convinced themselves, or their fevered supporters have so convinced them, that they must repeal it or defund it or whatever no matter what.

260 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:28:11am

But Putin’s so big and strong. He found ancient Greek vases in the Black Sea in his spare time surely he can find the weapons.

261 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:29:18am

re: #254 Justanotherhuman

Soon Putin will demand that PBO defund Obamacare before he agrees to make Syria comply with chemical weapons ban. //

262 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:36:19am

Pope Bluntly Faults Church’s Focus on Gays and Abortion

Pope Francis, in the first extensive interview of his six-month-old papacy, said that the Roman Catholic church had grown “obsessed” with preaching about abortion, gay marriage and contraception, and that he has chosen not to speak of those issues despite recriminations from some critics.

In remarkably blunt language, Francis sought to set a new tone for the church, saying it should be a “home for all” and not a “small chapel” focused on doctrine, orthodoxy and a limited agenda of moral teachings.

“It is not necessary to talk about these issues all the time,” the pope told the Rev. Antonio Spadaro, a fellow Jesuit and editor in chief of La Civiltà Cattolica, the Italian Jesuit journal whose content is routinely approved by the Vatican. “The dogmatic and moral teachings of the church are not all equivalent. The church’s pastoral ministry cannot be obsessed with the transmission of a disjointed multitude of doctrines to be imposed insistently.

263 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:37:37am

Pope Francis is a CINO. We need a real Catholic.

264 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:37:59am

Orange Man on TV right now: “Obamacare a ‘train wreck’.”

You sorry MF.

265 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:38:44am

Yes the talking point “train wreck” is everywhere.

266 wrenchwench  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:39:10am

re: #264 Justanotherhuman

Orange Man on TV right now: “Obamacare a ‘train wreck’.”

You sorry MF.

And something to the effect of, ‘Obama will negotiate with Putin, but not Congress…’ Sounds like projection to me.

267 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:39:36am

re: #264 Justanotherhuman

Orange Man on TV right now: “Obamacare a ‘train wreck’.”

You sorry MF.

Only train wreck I’ve seen in recent days is the slow-motion one in the House GOP ranks.

268 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:40:23am

There will be more chemical inspectors in Syria than in Texas.

269 sattv4u2  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:41:57am

re: #264 Justanotherhuman
re: #265 Amory Blaine

Yes the talking point “train wreck” is everywhere.

1st uttered by that RWNJ, Max Baucas

270 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:41:57am

Boehner at this point is practically begging Obama to save his ass. “Give me something, anything, I can use to fight these savages off!!!”

271 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:43:37am

What the fuck is Marsha Blackburn going on about “scoring” and CBO not doing it right? Idiot.

And this—stupidest remark yet on the “debt”.


You don’t “pay off” the Federal debt.

272 sattv4u2  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:44:55am

Fill up your car(s) today, before the price hike!!

hosted.ap.org

benchmark oil for October delivery was up 29 cents to $108.36 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

273 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:46:04am

Sounds to me like they’re trying to “turn” the Senate to the House bullshit.

This is why Cruz is out there.

They’ll fail, majorly.

274 Amory Blaine  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:47:19am

re: #269 sattv4u2

Youtube Video

275 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:47:44am

re: #262 Amory Blaine

Pope Bluntly Faults Church’s Focus on Gays and Abortion

Were he the rule rather than exception, I’d be tempted to “swim the Tiber” as we Anglicans call it. But I’ll keep praying that he lives long enough to make a real difference as that would bring significant good into the world.

276 Lidane  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:48:25am

re: #271 Justanotherhuman

You don’t “pay off” the Federal debt.

Boehner knows that. I hope. He’s just having to appeal to the teabagger fuckwits that make up his party’s base. They think that the federal budget functions exactly the same way as their checkbooks.

277 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:50:32am

re: #271 Justanotherhuman

What the fuck is Marsha Blackburn going on about “scoring” and CBO not doing it right? Idiot.

And this—stupidest remark yet on the “debt”.

[Embedded content]


You don’t “pay off” the Federal debt.

The US has successfully paid off all federal debt exactly once in US history. Happened under Andrew Jackson, who hated debt so much that he made paying off the federal debt the lynchpin of his presidency. And it worked, after six years of vetoing spending bills and selling off government land out West like it was going out of style. The US was debt-free for all of a year…and then immediately crashed into a massive depression that lasted for six years.

278 Political Atheist  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:51:02am

A Page this morning somewhat relevant-

What is not self defense? This case.

279 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:52:38am

The Dow is already down 30 pts since the Rs’ rant about Obamacare.

bloomberg.com

280 Bubblehead II  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:52:46am

re: #265 Amory Blaine

Yes the talking point “train wreck” is everywhere.

Well, it’s also being compared to the Titanic.

politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com

Washington (CNN) - Red state-blue state governors Rick Perry and Martin O’Malley debated job creation and healthcare on Wednesday, with Perry equating adding people to Medicaid via Obamacare with “putting tens of thousands on the Titanic knowing how it’s going to turn out.”

281 blueraven  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:54:12am

somebody just shoot me now

I am watching yet another House hearing on Benghazi!!

The republican members have to be the thickest imbeciles I have seen and heard in recent memory.

282 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:54:55am

re: #281 blueraven

somebody just shoot me now

I am watching yet another House hearing on Benghazi!!

The republican members have to be the thickest imbeciles I have seen and heard in recent memory.

Look over there! Something shiny!!!

283 lawhawk  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 8:57:43am

re: #279 Justanotherhuman

The Dow is already down 30 pts since the Rs’ rant about Obamacare.

bloomberg.com

Correlation is not causation. The markets were up significantly yesterday, so today’s drop can be attributed to profit taking and not necessarily to the nuts in the GOP ranting on about Obamacare or the debt ceiling.

284 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:00:50am

re: #283 lawhawk

Correlation is not causation. The markets were up significantly yesterday, so today’s drop can be attributed to profit taking and not necessarily to the nuts in the GOP ranting on about Obamacare or the debt ceiling.

True, though I am curious as to how close we’ll get to the deadline before the market gets nervous. Last time around they waited til virtually the last minute, figuring there’d be an 11th hour deal. This time, I’m not so sure they’ll bank on the GOP giving in.

285 lawhawk  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:02:59am
286 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:03:51am

re: #283 lawhawk

Correlation is not causation. The markets were up significantly yesterday, so today’s drop can be attributed to profit taking and not necessarily to the nuts in the GOP ranting on about Obamacare or the debt ceiling.

True enough. Or it could also be the price of oil. At any rate, when has the Dow been over 15,000? Not in my lifetime. Look at what it was at the end of 2008.

Can you imagine where we’d be if the govt wasn’t spending? A lot of those profits are coming from overseas as well, so it’s not as though we “little people” are benefiting that much, esp JOBS.

Brokers and investment bankers are a hell of a lot more spooked by what the stock market is doing than I’ll ever be. It’s capitalism, and there will always be fluctuations.

I’ve been through half a dozen recessions in my lifetime. We’ve always pulled through, somehow, but not without govt spending.

287 lawhawk  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:05:57am

re: #284 Targetpractice

It’s tough for Boehner to let the debt ceiling go without a fix when he’s on the record as recognizing the damage done if they don’t act. His only answer is to relent on the Hastert rule and let the House vote even if the GOP caucus isn’t totally behind the measure. It would mean the Democrats in the House would get a debt deal done with much of the GOP in opposition.

At the same time, that kind of vote would identify those other GOPers who the TP would target for elimination (primarying, GOTV, etc.)

288 sattv4u2  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:06:52am

re: #279 Justanotherhuman

The Dow is already down 30 pts since the Rs’ rant about Obamacare.

bloomberg.com

The DOW being down has nothing to do with a “rant”

Its due to an unexpected announcement from the FED causing currency fluctuations and a spike in crude prices

bloomberg.com

hosted.ap.org

289 lawhawk  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:06:54am

re: #286 Justanotherhuman

290 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:10:25am

re: #287 lawhawk

It’s tough for Boehner to let the debt ceiling go without a fix when he’s on the record as recognizing the damage done if they don’t act. His only answer is to relent on the Hastert rule and let the House vote even if the GOP caucus isn’t totally behind the measure. It would mean the Democrats in the House would get a debt deal done with much of the GOP in opposition.

At the same time, that kind of vote would identify those other GOPers who the TP would target for elimination (primarying, GOTV, etc.)

This is a fight for the future of the GOP and it looks like, no matter which way they turn, they’re fucked.

291 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:12:06am

re: #289 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Tell me about it.

292 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:14:50am

re: #288 sattv4u2

The DOW being down has nothing to do with a “rant”

Its due to an unexpected announcement from the FED causing currency fluctuations and a spike in crude prices

bloomberg.com

hosted.ap.org

Yes, I was trying to make a funny, which evidently went over like a lead balloon.

293 sattv4u2  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:18:46am

And on that note, the long short quite drive walk home to the beach beckons

294 Political Atheist  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:18:58am

Let’s say the GOP might just shut it down. How did that go last time? Gingrich and Clinton both got bruised. the economy took an unnecessary hit. Amd more.

Wiki
Event

On November 14, major portions of the federal government suspended operations.[4] The Clinton administration later released figures detailing the costs of the shutdown, which included payments of approximately $400 million to furloughed federal employees who did not report to work.[6]

The first budget shutdown concluded with Congress enacting a temporary spending bill, but the underlying disagreement between Gingrich and Clinton was not resolved, leading to the second shutdown.

A 2010 Congressional Research Service report summarized other details of the 1995-1996 government shutdowns, indicating the shutdown impacted all sectors of the economy. Health and welfare services for military veterans were curtailed; the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stopped disease surveillance; new clinical research patients were not accepted at the National Institutes of Health; and toxic waste clean-up work at 609 sites was halted. Other impacts included: the closure of 368 National Park sites resulted in the loss of some seven million visitors; 200,000 applications for passports and 20,000 to 30,000 applications for visas by foreigners went unprocessed each day; U.S. tourism and airline industries incurred millions of dollars in losses; more than 20% of federal contracts, representing $3.7 billion in spending, were affected adversely.[7]
Result

Clinton’s approval rating fell significantly during the shutdown. According to media commentators, this indicated that the general public blamed the President for the government shutdown.[8] However, once it had ended his approval ratings rose to their highest since his election.

During the crisis, Gingrich made a complaint at a press breakfast that, during a flight to and from Yitzhak Rabin’s funeral in Israel, Clinton had not taken the opportunity to talk about the budget and Gingrich had been directed to leave the plane via the rear door. The perception arose that the Republican stance on the budget was partly due to this “snub” by Clinton,[9] and media coverage reflected this perception, including an editorial cartoon which depicted Gingrich as an infant throwing a temper tantrum.[10] Opposing politicians used this opportunity to attack Gingrich’s motives for the budget standoff.[11][12] Later, the polls suggested that the event damaged Gingrich politically[13] and he referred to his comments as the “single most avoidable mistake” as Speaker.[14]


Daily News cover illustrated by Ed Murawinski

295 Political Atheist  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:19:47am

re: #292 Justanotherhuman

Yes, I was trying to make a funny, which evidently went over like a lead balloon.

Hate it when that happens.

296 wrenchwench  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:20:14am
297 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:20:39am

re: #289 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

GHW Bush’s most honest public moment - calling supply side/trickle down “Voodoo Economics”.

298 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:23:09am

Why yes, yes it is.


All that hot air an hour ago should have been put in balloon futures.

299 Lidane  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:24:55am

The party of forced transvaginal ultrasounds is now using forced transvaginal ultrasounds to rail against Obamacare:

300 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:25:55am

re: #298 Justanotherhuman

Why yes, yes it is.

[Embedded content]


All that hot air an hour ago should have been put in balloon futures.

Boehner knows that. But he figures that, like last time, passing such a bill will take the problem off his desk. Upon passage, he’ll demand the Senate now take up the bill “with haste” and pass it as is.

301 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:29:46am

Judge orders Kevin Trudeau jailed for basically being a douche

How do you make a slippery late-night TV pitchman sit still and behave? If you’re a federal judge fed up with Kevin Trudeau’s shenanigans you put him in jail. Trudeau has reportedly flouted court orders to pay millions in fines stemming from fraudulent infomercials, and now the judge says he’s been spending money on stuff like cigars and fancy meat when he shouldn’t be.

The Chicago Tribune says U.S. District Judge Robert Gettleman is holding a hearing today after ordering Trudeau into custody yesterday, after the informercial king apparently incurred expenses that were “far beyond ordinary and necessary.”

This came about after a Federal Trade Commission filing revealed Trudeau had shelled out thousands of dollars from an undisclosed Australian bank account he wasn’t supposed to have, spending $894 at a liquor store, $780 at Whole Foods, $359 on haircuts, $1,058 on high-end meat products and $921 on cigars. Which begs the question — what kind of meat party was he having and is it on Pinterest?

Trudeau is in the doghouse because Gettleman had ordered him to transfer all hidden assets to a court-appointed receiver or risk going to jail back in July, and to only spend money on life’s bare necessities.
“Incarceration is necessary to coerce defendant to provide complete and accurate information regarding the assets he possesses or controls,” Gettleman wrote Wednesday.

Trudeau’s claim to fame is a multi-million dollar business he built selling pain-relief adhesive tape and a cancer cure, among other things. He also made a whole load of dough off his book, The Weight Loss Cure “They” Don’t Want You to Know About.

Infomercials touting that book fell afoul of FTC regulators who said his claims that it was chockfull of “easy” techniques was a lie, as it actually called for prescription hormone injections, a month of colon hydrotherapy and a 500-calorie-a-day diet.

The judge fined Trudeau nearly $38 million based on the number of those books sold. But instead of forking over the cash, Trudeau asked his followers to email the judge and endorse his products, crashing Gettleman’s email account and ticking him off severely, it seems.

302 lawhawk  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:30:10am

re: #300 Targetpractice


Boehner’s hoping that the Senate GOP can save him from ignominious defeat. Except the Senate GOP is in no position to throw life preservers. They aren’t facing the TP in the way that the House GOP is.

303 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:33:36am

re: #302 lawhawk

[Embedded content]


Boehner’s hoping that the Senate GOP can save him from ignominious defeat. Except the Senate GOP is in no position to throw life preservers. They aren’t facing the TP in the way that the House GOP is.

It’s what he’s done every previous time: Fast-track a bill packed with goodies to get conservative votes through the House, then demand the Senate pick up the slack if only to save his ass. If the bill gets bounced back to the House with the goodies ripped out, he proceeds to whine about the Senate leadership while quietly whipping enough votes into line to get the revised bill passed.

304 brennant  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:36:20am

re: #303 Targetpractice

It’s what he’s done every previous time: Fast-track a bill packed with goodies to get conservative votes through the House, then demand the Senate pick up the slack if only to save his ass. If the bill gets bounced back to the House with the goodies ripped out, he proceeds to whine about the Senate leadership while quietly whipping enough votes into line to get the revised bill passed.

Exactly. They will strip out the Obamacare bit and send it back. Boehner will get the few sane Rs and the rest of the Dems to pass it. Another massive waste of time by the House. Per usual.

305 Arrrr, matey!  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:37:30am

DIE IE, DIE!

Ahem.
There. I feel better.

306 Dr. Matt  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:37:36am

re: #283 lawhawk

Correlation is not causation. The markets were up significantly yesterday, so today’s drop can be attributed to profit taking and not necessarily to the nuts in the GOP ranting on about Obamacare or the debt ceiling.

Bullshit. Everytime dubyah farted and the DOW climbed, Fox News said it was because of his magic, capitalism-loving flatulence.

307 b.d.  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:38:38am

re: #302 lawhawk

[Embedded content]


Boehner’s hoping that the Senate GOP can save him from ignominious defeat. Except the Senate GOP is in no position to throw life preservers. They aren’t facing the TP in the way that the House GOP is.

Mitch McConnell is not going to commit to anything or take any stand until his re-election bid is done. Good luck, I think McConnell ceded the Senate Minority Leader job to Cruz.

308 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:41:10am

re: #304 brennant

Exactly. They will strip out the Obamacare bit and send it back. Boehner will get the few sane Rs and the rest of the Dems to pass it. Another massive waste of time by the House. Per usual.

He’s under pressure not to do so, to the point that some are muttering pretty loudly that if he does agree to such, he can kiss his speakership goodbye. He must be 100% committed to the cause, else they’ll cover him in molasses and plant him over a red ant hill.

309 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:42:54am

re: #305 Pavlovian Hive Mind

You still use IE? I feel your pain.

310 Arrrr, matey!  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:43:46am

re: #309 Eclectic Cyborg

You still use IE? I feel your pain.

Nope.
But a client still does.
Spent the past 2 + hours fixing their pc because of it.
I had a rage.

311 Lidane  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:46:00am

I loathe these people with the fire of a thousand suns:

312 brennant  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:46:05am

re: #308 Targetpractice

He’s under pressure not to do so, to the point that some are muttering pretty loudly that if he does agree to such, he can kiss his speakership goodbye. He must be 100% committed to the cause, else they’ll cover him in molasses and plant him over a red ant hill.

They can bluster all they want, and continue this expert level dumbfuckery. Dems and moderate Rs will avoid a shut down.

313 Arrrr, matey!  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:46:20am
314 Lidane  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:48:00am

More gun related derp on FB this morning. I keep having people bleat at me that the AR-15/shotgun mistake on CNN is just part of a larger conspiracy to turn the US into a communist country and TAKE AWAY ALL MAH GUNZ.

Never mind the fact that gun sales have increased lately. Somehow we’re going to round up all the guns and take them away. WTF.

315 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:49:46am

re: #312 brennant

They can bluster all they want, and continue this expert level dumbfuckery. Dems and moderate Rs will avoid a shut down.

They’ll avoid a shutdown, provided Boehner is willing to override the “Hastert Rule” yet again. Like I said, it’s been made clear to him that he does so at his own peril. But we have to keep in mind that there’s actually two separate attempts by the House to foist this on the Senate. The continuing resolution contains a defund measure, the debt ceiling one contains a delay measure. Breaking the “Rule” twice? I don’t see it happening.

316 darthstar  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:50:16am
317 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:51:47am

re: #312 brennant

Not sure any moderate R’s are left.

318 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:52:45am

re: #311 Lidane

Yup, times 7.

319 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:54:03am

re: #310 Pavlovian Hive Mind

My employer does not issue paper pay stubs. The only way to review and/or get a paper copy is go to a website and access one.

The site ONLY WORKS in IE. It’s infuriating.

320 brennant  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:54:16am

re: #315 Targetpractice

They’ll avoid a shutdown, provided Boehner is willing to override the “Hastert Rule” yet again. Like I said, it’s been made clear to him that he does so at his own peril. But we have to keep in mind that there’s actually two separate attempts by the House to foist this on the Senate. The continuing resolution contains a defund measure, the debt ceiling one contains a delay measure. Breaking the “Rule” twice? I don’t see it happening.

A good point. Shutting the gov down now to save face for the debt ceiling?

321 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:54:53am

re: #316 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Okay, I’ll give it to Ted, that’s a slam that I actually agree with.

322 brennant  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:55:24am

re: #317 Bulworth

Not a lot. Boehner will need to dig them out to keep the economy from falling apart.

323 funky chicken  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:56:22am

re: #53 Targetpractice

You gotta just step back for a sec and marvel at the audacity of one Mr. John Boehner. The man would rather gamble his party’s future than give up his speakership. He’d rather the whole party go down than find himself the subject of an Ides of March reenactment on the steps of Congress. Rather the whole nation get shut down and possibly default on its debt than be seen as giving in to Obama.

It’s rather like a slow-motion trainwreck, so horrible you want to look away but so amazing that you can’t tear your eyes from it.

If I were in his position I’d resign the speakership and let the inmates loose. They would rampage for a short time but would likely either exhaust themselves (kind of like a raging toddler) or lose their seats in next year’s elections. Either way, a semblance of sanity would probably return to the House GOP. I don’t know what he’s thinking, but clearly his current strategy ain’t working.

324 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:57:14am

re: #320 brennant

A good point. Shutting the gov down now to save face for the debt ceiling?

I’m fairly certain that’s Boehner’s hope at this point, that he avoids default while blaming a shutdown on Obama and gambling on public opinion supporting the GOP.

325 Arrrr, matey!  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:58:16am

re: #324 Targetpractice

I’m fairly certain that’s Boehner’s hope at this point, that he avoids default while blaming a shutdown on Obama and gambling on public opinion supporting the GOP.

Because that worked so well the last time the GOP tried that tactic.

326 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 9:59:42am

re: #271 Justanotherhuman

we just want to find a way to pay it off”

Except by raising taxes. Or cutting defense spending. /

327 brennant  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:00:11am

re: #324 Targetpractice

I’m fairly certain that’s Boehner’s hope at this point, that he avoids default while blaming a shutdown on Obama and gambling on public opinion supporting the GOP.

I just don’t see Obama buckling this time on anything. The debt ceiling fight is going to be something to watch.

328 darthstar  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:01:05am
329 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:01:54am

re: #327 brennant

I suspect it will be the same as last time, coming right down to the wire before a deal happens averting a shutdown.

330 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:01:55am

re: #325 Pavlovian Hive Mind

Because that worked so well the last time the GOP tried that tactic.

They’re high on their own supply. Their self-perpetuating derp has them convinced that poll numbers are in favor of killing the ACA to the point that risking economic catastrophe is a small price to pay. That the public will blame Obama for refusal to kill his major domestic accomplishment for the shutdown/default.

331 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:03:15am

re: #329 Eclectic Cyborg

I suspect it will be the same as last time, coming right down to the wire before a deal happens averting a shutdown.

The previous deals relied in large part on McConnell working magic in the Senate as a negotiator because Boehner has virtually no control in the House. But this time, the TPers have him so afraid of his primary opponent that he’s not willing to take any role, whether it be as negotiator or as proponent of shutdown.

332 makeitstop  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:04:19am
333 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:04:39am

re: #329 Eclectic Cyborg

I have a hard time imagining what the deal could be this time. Maybe PBO agrees to larger cuts somewhere in the budget.

334 Eclectic Cyborg  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:06:57am

I really hope Obama doesn’t end up conceding changes to the ACA in exchange for a debt ceiling increase.

335 brennant  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:07:02am

re: #333 Bulworth

I have a hard time imagining what the deal could be this time. Maybe PBO agrees to larger cuts somewhere in the budget.

Why would he give up anything at this point?

336 ProTARDISLiberal  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:08:00am

re: #262 Amory Blaine

Pope Francis is a pretty awesome dude in my book. We need a high-profile Muslim leader like him.

337 bratwurst  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:09:50am

I had to re-read this to make sure it wasn’t The Onion:

Ralph Ellison’s ‘Invisible Man’ banned in North Carolina

“I didn’t find any literary value,” said school board member Gary Mason before the board voted 5-2 to ban the book.

338 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:10:54am

re: #334 Eclectic Cyborg

I really hope Obama doesn’t end up conceding changes to the ACA in exchange for a debt ceiling increase.

I don’t see it happening. He’s made it pretty clear that he will not negotiate, period. Doing so on the ACA, even if its to avoid a default, would be seen as a stepping stone towards eventual repeal.

339 ObserverArt  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:14:32am

re: #267 Targetpractice

Only train wreck I’ve seen in recent days is the slow-motion one in the House GOP ranks.

I think that is what Johnny Boy is saying, he just can’t bring himself to carry out the complete thought. Let’s help him.

“Obamacare is a train wreck for my party and I happen to be the one standing on the tracks right in front of the train!”

340 lawhawk  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:14:35am

Want to solve the health care crisis? Take Chris Rock’s advice and tax the bejeebus out of bullets. Have all the firearms you want, but if you want the bullets (cartridges for shotguns and any other implement fired from a firearm of any variety), you’re going to have to pay a federal tax that goes directly to fund health care.

$10 a round. Heck, even $1 a round would raise some significant coin.

341 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:15:00am

Good job losing your job, asshole.

Foul-mouthed Pa. police chief fights for his job

bigstory.ap.org

342 darthstar  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:16:39am

Former Amazon CFO killed bicycling yesterday.

halfmoonbay.patch.com

I lived on Skyline for four years before buying in Half Moon Bay. Nice, windy road popular with road bikers as it’s about a 1600 foot climb from the coast to the summit. Very narrow, however, with lots of blind curves. Scared the crap out of me when I rode it - I don’t go up there much at all anymore.

343 ObserverArt  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:17:07am

re: #271 Justanotherhuman

What the fuck is Marsha Blackburn going on about “scoring” and CBO not doing it right? Idiot.

And this—stupidest remark yet on the “debt”.

[Embedded content]


You don’t “pay off” the Federal debt.

Aww, he’s just throwing red meat again. But he is out of the good cuts and is slinging pink slime.

344 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:17:52am

re: #341 Justanotherhuman

Good job losing your job, asshole.

Foul-mouthed Pa. police chief fights for his job

bigstory.ap.org

Where’s the “free market” advocates to declare that the city council has a right, as his employers, to fire his ass if they feel that keeping him on the job is detrimental to doing business?

345 Minor_L  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:18:24am

Off topic: my boss sent us all a link to an article about Drop Box (which some of us use), and most of the comments are some variation of: zOMG, teh government is reading every, single document you produce so don’t trust cloud storage!” with various links to Greenwald articles. One literally said that the government is reading everything anyone produces.

Gah.

346 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:18:47am

re: #340 lawhawk

So the 2nd amendment is only for those rich enough to pay the taxes?

347 darthstar  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:19:12am
348 piratedan  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:19:15am

Looks like someone finally bought enough judges to overturn and acquit Tom DeLay of money laundering…..

349 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:20:28am

Cruz, apparently under pressure to keep the crazy train on track, is delving into Paulian territory:

Cruz Hints At Filibuster Over Defund Obamacare Bill

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) suggested Thursday that he would stage a talking filibuster to block a Senate government spending bill that funds Obamacare.

“I will do everything necessary and anything possible to defund Obamacare,” Cruz told repoters. When asked about a talking filibuster specifically, a la Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and drones, he said: “Yes, and anything else, any procedural means necessary.”

Go for it, Ted. I’ll have the popcorn ready.

350 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:22:28am

re: #335 brennant

Because the teabag House is willing to shutdown the gov and default.

351 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:23:16am

re: #350 Bulworth

I hope I’m wrong, that Obama will refuse to negotiate any delays to Obamacare and the House will blink. But I’m not sure that will happen.

352 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:25:04am

re: #351 Bulworth

I hope I’m wrong, that Obama will refuse to negotiate any delays to Obamacare and the House will blink. But I’m not sure that will happen.

I think Obama will refuse, but I don’t think the House will blink. At least not until we’ve gone over the cliff. We’ve had more than one Republican actually go to the press and smugly declare that he’s sure that Obama will fold.

353 b.d.  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:26:57am

MSNBC was saying that now Cantor wants to tie the Keystone XL pipeline into the debt ceiling negoiations. The “liberal” opinion spouer said that was probably something Obama would fold on.

*headdesk*

355 Bulworth  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:28:01am

re: #352 Targetpractice

Yeah a govt shutdown for at least some limited time might be of some value to the teabaggers even if that is all it produces. Not that that makes any sense, but…

356 darthstar  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:30:22am

I got a speeding ticket yesterday…fortunately, someone caught it on tape.

Image: i2Z85jB.gif

357 lawhawk  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:30:52am

And like that, the old playbook comes out. Iran blames Israel for regional instability.

Arab Spring: Israel’s fault.
Syrian civil war: Israel’s fault.
Turkey firing on Syrian military incursions: Israel’s fault
Iran killing its own protesters going back the past couple of years: Israel’s fault
Egypt protests and Mubarak coup: Israel’s coup.

Thing is, Israel would rather have Mubarak in power because they had a common understanding and fear of the MB. Same thing with Syria. Predictability is key, and Israel would rather have predictable neighbors than lawless failed states.

But for many in the Middle East, all woe can be laid at Israel’s doorstep … .because.

358 ObserverArt  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:30:54am

re: #311 Lidane

I loathe these people with the fire of a thousand suns:

[Embedded content]

I don’t know how she missed the scum ring left around the bathroom tub/shower whenever “Bugs” DeLay used it?

359 Targetpractice  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:31:12am

re: #353 b.d.

MSNBC was saying that now Cantor wants to tie the Keystone XL pipeline into the debt ceiling negoiations. The “liberal” opinion spouer said that was probably something Obama would fold on.

*headdesk*

Too many are hopeful for some sort of negotiated settlement at this point because the alternative is to accept that the GOP are being unreasonable and that’s just not done when you want to keep the appearance of being “unbiased.”

360 Killgore Trout  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:38:12am

Leftists really excited about Assad’s healthcare and use of human shields.
Former Congresswoman Praises Syrian Regime’s Free Health Care

Cynthia McKinney is on a fact-finding mission to Syria with Ramsey Clark. h/t: Max Blumenthal

“I am in Syria now with former Attorney General Ramsey Clark, where residents enjoy free education and free healthcare,” McKinney wrote on Facebook on Tuesday. “Visited a Damascus hospital, the Grand Mufti, a school that has been turned into residences for Internally Displaced Persons. Ended the Day with Ogarit Dandash who founded “Over Our Dead Bodies,” a group of young people who climbed atop Mount Qasioun and dared U.S. bombs to target them. They are still there in defiant resistance to any war against Syria. Mount Qasioun should be the site of a peace party, not bombing strikes.”

361 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:46:34am

re: #360 Killgore Trout

Citing Cynthia McKinney as an emblem of ‘leftists’. Moronic.

362 blueraven  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 10:51:04am

re: #360 Killgore Trout

Leftists really excited about Assad’s healthcare and use of human shields.

Where is the “excitement” KT?

363 Killgore Trout  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 11:04:06am
According to the write-up of the Flounders interview on globalresearch.ca, a conspiracy theory website, the delegation attended a forum called the Arab International Forum Against U.S. Aggression on Syria organized by a group called the Arab International Centre for Communication and Solidarity. The Anti-Defamation League has described the Arab International Centre for Communication and Solidarity as an “international anti-Israel organization” and detailed a similar 2010 forum in which Hezbollah’s Secretary General Hassan Nasrallah addressed the audience via video.

This forum included British member of Parliament and Assad apologist George Galloway as well as “ambassadors of Russia, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Nicaragua and many leading organizations from Europe, North Africa and Western Asia,” according to globalresearch.ca.

They seem nice.

364 Killgore Trout  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 11:14:25am

Here’s the ADL article on the group that organized the Syria trip: “Resistance” Conference in Beirut Draws Far Left American and International Activists

The conference consisted of speeches by Hamas and Hezbollah leaders calling for increased support for “resistance” against Israel and calls for the destruction of Israel. Many of the conference speakers addressed the need to unite the Palestinian and Lebanese resistance forces, an objective that was accomplished at a meeting between top Hamas and Hezbollah officials during the conference. Its importance was underscored in a final statement issued at the end of the conference.

Among those in attendance were representatives from Iran, Syria and Venezuela. The Venezuelan delegation consisted of approximately 30 people, including members of Parliament. While not in attendance, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez sent “messages of support” through their representatives.

365 klys  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 11:18:06am

When it looks like the moonbats have any chance of achieving actual power in the Democrat party, I will worry about the moonbats.

In the meantime, I’m going to worry about the actually-in-power wingnuts, who are doing much, much more to try and restrict my choices and turn me into a second-class citizen.

366 Killgore Trout  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 11:20:37am

This guy spoke at the conference with Hamas, Hezbollah and American “Peace Activists”

Stanley Cohen, a Jewish American lawyer who has served as the defense lawyer in several high-profile terrorism cases, presented at a workshop on the legal aspects of resistance. He expressed support for Palestinian resistance on the grounds that it is comparable to a situation wherein someone “invaded his home and killed his children.” In a statement on the last day of the conference, Cohen said, “It is always with great pain and great shame as a Jew and as an American to come to this land which has suffered so long by my people. Every time I come, I walk away with hope, for the resistance will be the road to victory.” He concluded his statement with, “Inshalla, next year we meet in Al Quds.” (“God-willing, next year we meet in Jerusalem.”)

He also appears to be on Barrett Brown’s legal team.
facebook.com

367 Decatur Deb  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 11:22:40am

re: #366 Killgore Trout

This guy spoke at the conference with Hamas, Hezbollah and American “Peace Activists”

He also appears to be on Barrett Brown’s legal team.
facebook.com

IIRC, Archie Bunker also used him in an auto accident liability case against a group of nuns.

368 funky chicken  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 11:39:25am

re: #353 b.d.

MSNBC was saying that now Cantor wants to tie the Keystone XL pipeline into the debt ceiling negoiations. The “liberal” opinion spouer said that was probably something Obama would fold on.

*headdesk*

Huh. Maybe Obama should “cave” on Keystone XL in exchange for a 5% increase in the top income tax rate. All the profits from the pipeline will go to those in the top bracket anyway, so what’s 5%?

369 funky chicken  Thu, Sep 19, 2013 11:40:26am

re: #360 Killgore Trout

Crazy people are crazy.


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