New ABC/WaPo Poll: 70% of Americans Disapprove of GOP’s Shutdown Games

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Poll • Views: 45,137

The latest ABC News/Washington Post poll shows the public is not falling for the GOP’s attempts to blame their own extortionary actions on President Obama; no less than 70% of Americans disapprove of the GOP’s tactics.

Seventy percent in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll disapprove of how the Republicans in Congress are handling the budget negotiations, up 7 percentage points from a week ago. Far fewer, 51 percent, disapprove of Obama’s approach, essentially unchanged in the past week.

See PDF with full results, charts and tables here.

The Democrats in Congress remain between the two: Sixty-one percent disapprove of their handling of the budget breakdown, up 5 points in this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates.

In another way to look at the results, Obama’s gone from 41-50 percent approve-disapprove last week to 45-51 percent now - a 9-point negative margin then, a similar 6-point negative margin today. The Democrats likewise show little change overall (from a 22- to a 26-point negative gap). But the Republicans have gone from 26-63 percent approve-disapprove to 24-70 percent, an initial 37-point difference widening now to a 46-point negative result.

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359 comments
1 Ian G.  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 12:53:08pm

Wow, things are so bad for the GOP that they’ve dropped below the 27% crazification factor.

2 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 12:53:28pm

But the GOP doesn’t believe in polls, unless they’re unskewed…

3 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 12:54:07pm

re: #1 Ian G.

Wow, things are so bad for the GOP that they’ve dropped below the 27% crazification factor.

Hell, it’s about time people woke the fuck up. Ignorance and stupidity are terrible ways to go through life.

4 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 12:55:49pm

The wingnuts are likely to pull the drop in Obama’s approval out of this and go “See, this is hurting him, we can win!!!”

5 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 12:57:03pm

re: #3 Justanotherhuman

Hell, it’s about time people woke the fuck up. Ignorance and stupidity are terrible ways to go through life.

I could certainly live with the GOP losing the House in 2014 and the GOP presidential candidate in 2016 being a nut that fails to get more than 30% of the popular vote.

I’ll believe it when I see it, however. Both events would require mass defection from the GOP of pretty much every remaining reliable (R) voter that is capable of rational thought.

6 aagcobb  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 12:57:33pm

re: #4 Targetpractice

The wingnuts are likely to pull the drop in Obama’s approval out of this and go “See, this is hurting him, we can win!!!”

Yep, this will hurt him so much, he probably won’t even try to run for reelection in 2016./

7 lawhawk  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 12:57:46pm

The polling will not sway the GOP one iota. They believe so totally in trying to wrest control of government, slice and dice federal spending, and kill the ACA that they’ll pursue this disastrous course of action until the bitter end.

And that end may be just a few days from now. The shutdown is insignificant when compared to the disastrous effects of default (what happens when the debt ceiling isn’t raised). The GOP clearly doesn’t know or care what happens if their demands aren’t met.

The President and Democrats are standing firm against the GOP efforts to extract further cuts in spending, chopping the ACA, etc. and the GOP has no exit strategy - no fallback position if they can’t get any kind of concession.

Thing is, they already have concessions from the Democrats that they choose to overlook since they’re greedy bastards. The Democrats are working off CRs/appropriations that are based on sequester levels - not pre-sequester levels. They’re essentially making those cuts permanent, regardless of the utility of the program and spending impacts.

A rational GOP would take this and call it a day, but the GOP isn’t rational. They’re after Obama’s legacy, and they’re going to destroy the economy if that’s what it takes.

So the polling will not affect them. In fact, they’ll wear it like a badge of honor, use their pigheadedness in campaign mailers to solicit donations from GOP/TPers, and they will have a case of smug knowing that gerrymandering leaves them with advantages in the House because nearly all of their TP seats are safe. And more extremists are waiting in the wings to go after those GOPers who they deem insufficiently extreme.

8 Charles Johnson  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 12:58:13pm

Here’s the chart:

Image: ZZ37169B4D.jpg

9 lawhawk  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 12:59:43pm
10 Kragar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:00:33pm

Unskewed, this poll clearly shows that Americans believe Obama is a gay Muslim who leads Al Qaeda, and that the GOP is the Chosen of Jesus, come to lead us into a new age of Biblical Revelation.

The data doesn’t lie.
/

11 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:00:43pm

re: #9 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Yoho? Oh, no!

13 Kragar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:02:53pm

Jay Carney smacks down ABC’s Jonathan Karl: ‘I’m sure you’ll represent’ GOP talking points

During Monday’s White House briefing, Carney was telling Reuters correspondent Mark Felsenthal about Boehner’s insistence over the weekend that Republicans would not pass a clean bill to raise the debt ceiling when Karl broken decorum and interrupted.

“That’s not what he said, Jay,” Karl objected. “I’m telling you that’s not what he said.”

“I’m having a conversation here,” Carney shot back. “I’m sure you’ll represent what the Speaker’s saying in a minute.”

And when the ABC reporter’s turn came, he did exactly that.

14 Mentis Fugit  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:03:52pm

Wanna bet a significant chunk of the disapproval of Obama and the Dems is because they’re not being tough enough on the Gaggle of Oligarchic Plutocrats, much as a lot of the much-touted disapproval of the ACA was because it didn’t go far enough?

15 Kragar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:04:20pm
16 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:04:52pm

re: #12 Charles Johnson

I read that earlier.

More like “Truckers plan to get arrested by DC and Capitol Hill police in futile and meaningless political gesture”.

It’s apparently all based off one of these “citizen grand juries” that the hardcore RWNJ’s are so fond of.

17 Ian G.  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:05:36pm

re: #12 Charles Johnson

‘Truckers for the Constitution’ Plan to Slow D.C. Beltway, Arrest Congressmen.

lolwut

Slow down the hideously traffic-clogged Beltway? How would they accomplish that, make it go backwards?

Methinks this wasn’t thought out too well.

18 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:06:10pm

re: #12 Charles Johnson

‘Truckers for the Constitution’ Plan to Slow D.C. Beltway, Arrest Congressmen.

lolwut

I’m sure they’re all dues-paying Teamsters. NOT.

Just a bunch of fucksticks driving Silverados and F-150’s as their POVs. (NTTAWWT)

19 Kragar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:06:45pm

“The District of Columbia thanks the trucker for the contributions to the city they will be making to get their trucks out of impound.”

20 erik_t  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:06:47pm

re: #12 Charles Johnson

‘Truckers for the Constitution’ Plan to Slow D.C. Beltway, Arrest Congressmen.

lolwut

The truckers circling I-495 will keep the left lane open for emergency vehicles, Conlon said, but “everybody that doesn’t have a supporter sticker on their window, good luck: Nobody in, nobody out.” The trucks will be going the 55 mile-per-hour speed limit.

D.C. commuters who wish to be allowed past the convoy must have “T2SDA” - an acronym for the event’s original name, “Truckers to Shut Down America” - written on their vehicle, he said.

Their grand act of stupefyingly glorious civil disobedience will be to… drive the speed limit?

21 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:07:35pm

re: #20 erik_t

Their grand act of stupefyingly glorious civil disobedience will be to… drive the speed limit?

I assume two abreast so that nobody can get around or through them

22 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:08:26pm

re: #14 Mentis Fugit

Wanna bet a significant chunk of the disapproval of Obama and the Dems is because they’re not being tough enough on the Gaggle of Oligarchic Plutocrats, much as a lot of the much-touted disapproval of the ACA was because it didn’t go far enough?

There must be all sorts of interesting contingency plans from when reconstruction ended and the South was again free to send arbitrarily disruptive Representative and Senators to Congress.

I do hope some research is being done along these lines.

23 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:08:32pm

re: #20 erik_t

Their grand act of stupefyingly glorious civil disobedience will be to… drive the speed limit?

Actually, they’re going to attempt to arrest Congresscritters on charges of “treason” as found by a “citizens grand jury”.

More wingnut bullshit, in other words.

24 Kragar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:09:08pm

re: #20 erik_t

Their grand act of stupefyingly glorious civil disobedience will be to… drive the speed limit?

And apparently block lanes and exits as much as possible.

Because screwing over as many people as possible is the way to gain supporters.

25 b_sharp  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:09:15pm

re: #21 Sol Berdinowitz

I assume two abreast so that nobody can get around or through them

Sounds like the highways around here during harvest.

26 erik_t  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:09:16pm

How do you arrest someone while driving a truck?

I admit, I’m a little unclear on how popular revolts work in this day and age ///

27 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:09:50pm

re: #23 Dr Lizardo

Actually, they’re going to attempt to arrest Congresscritters on charges of “treason” as found by a “citizens grand jury”.

More wingnut bullshit, in other words.

I predict this will be as successful as the “2 Million Bikers”

28 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:11:05pm

The strategy is going to be to provoke the government into taking measures to ensure safety and free movement and then use that response as proof that they are out to crack down on us and put all dissenters into FEMA camps.

29 Kragar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:11:12pm

So technically, couldn’t another citizen’s grand jury find the people who engage in this sort of activity be members of a criminal organization, subject to citizen’s arrest?

30 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:11:21pm

re: #23 Dr Lizardo

Actually, they’re going to attempt to arrest Congresscritters on charges of “treason” as found by a “citizens grand jury”.

More wingnut bullshit, in other words.

“I think that this situation absolutely requires a really futile and stupid gesture be done on somebody’s part!”

“And we’re just the ones to do it!”

31 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:11:56pm

re: #27 Vicious Babushka

I predict this will be as successful as the “2 Million Bikers”

Most likely. Attempting to “arrest” a member of Congress would simply get them arrested on charges of attempted kidnapping, most likely.

Total dumbasses.

You know, I say we let the South secede; it’s their dream. Of course, first, they will have to completely de-industrialize. A Morgenthau Plan for the former Confederate states, if you will.

32 erik_t  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:12:45pm

re: #29 Kragar

So technically, couldn’t another citizen’s grand jury find the people who engage in this sort of activity be members of a criminal organization, subject to citizen’s arrest?

No, because socialist Kenyo-Muslim homosexual fifth column FEMA tanks.

33 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:13:07pm

re: #23 Dr Lizardo

Actually, they’re going to attempt to arrest Congresscritters on charges of “treason” as found by a “citizens grand jury”.

More wingnut bullshit, in other words.

Soon enough the wing nuts will have spent so much time chanting in Cthulhuese among themselves that their attempts to communicate will be indecipherable to all but the most learned non-wingnut experts.

Already we have “citizen’s grand jury” as a synonym for “the voices in my head”.

34 aagcobb  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:13:12pm

re: #29 Kragar

So technically, couldn’t another citizen’s grand jury find the people who engage in this sort of activity be members of a criminal organization, subject to citizen’s arrest?

Except sane people don’t waste their time on bullshit like that.

35 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:13:17pm

Citizens’ Grand Juries already exist. We call them ‘Grand Juries’.

Fucking fuckheaded fuckwits fail to grasp the whole ‘government of the people by the people, and for the people’ concept.

36 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:13:44pm

re: #12 Charles Johnson

‘Truckers for the Constitution’ Plan to Slow D.C. Beltway, Arrest Congressmen.

lolwut

The alleged organizer in this story:

37 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:14:38pm
38 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:14:55pm

WE TEH PEOPLE MEANS WE TEH PEOPLE BUT NOT TEH BLAH PEOPLE AND TEH BROWN PEOPLE AND TEH VAGINA PEOPLE AND AND TEH JUICE PEOPLE AND TEH MUSLIM PEOPLE AND TEH LIBRUL PEOPLE JUST ONLY TEH PEOPLE WITH TEH MOAST GUNZ!!!11!!!1!!!!

39 sagehen  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:15:23pm

Fallows gets the best letters:

theatlantic.com

I’m currently in Japan attending an international technical conference and a number of us from the Anglophone countries (in this case: Australia, Canada, UK and USA) gathered for dinner. We’ve all known each other for years and have developed some pretty strong friendships, so we all speak very candidly about politics when we’re all out together.

We were discussing the current governance crisis in the US, when one of my colleagues put it quite blunty and said, “The single biggest threat to the current peace and prosperity of my country is the United States. You’re all lucky you can hide behind your military because the actions of your government warrant a military intervention to protect the rest of us from your foolish actions.” The rest of the group all nodded their heads in agreement.

Now, I don’t want to make too much of this statement and claim it represents the consensus view of their countrymen, but the fact that our three closest allies all view the United States as the biggest single threat they face should make any sober-minded person stop dead in their tracks and reflect upon the extreme damage this Republican-lead temper tantrum is causing. I should say that these are all proudly conservative voters in their home countries.

40 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:16:01pm
41 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:16:58pm

re: #33 EPR-radar

Soon enough the wing nuts will have spent so much time chanting in Cthulhuese among themselves that their attempts to communicate will be indecipherable to all but the most learned non-wingnut experts.

Already we have “citizen’s grand jury” as a synonym for “the voices in my head”.

Hahaha, I read that as the “vacation in my head”.

42 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:16:59pm

re: #37 Gus

Bestselling author Jim Marrs exposes shadow gov’t arms deals fueling wars across the world.

If only there were some organization of united nations looking for ways to bring peace, and they had agreed to some kind of treaty to limit the sale of arms in such cases….
///

43 sagehen  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:17:13pm

re: #31 Dr Lizardo

You know, I say we let the South secede; it’s their dream. Of course, first, they will have to completely de-industrialize. A Morgenthau Plan for the former Confederate states, if you will.

But this time, empty the armories first.

44 DisturbedEma  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:17:16pm

re: #40 Lidane

Dammit I could have gone 2 lifetimes without hearing from this odious asshat ever again!

45 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:17:36pm

re: #33 EPR-radar

Soon enough the wing nuts will have spent so much time chanting in Cthulhuese among themselves that their attempts to communicate will be indecipherable to all but the most learned non-wingnut experts.

Already we have “citizen’s grand jury” as a synonym for “the voices in my head”.

Yep; pretty soon, Sarah Palin and all the wingnuts will be saying, “Iä! Iä! Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn!”

46 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:17:40pm

re: #40 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Oh, go fuck yourself, Bauer, you perennial loser.

47 DisturbedEma  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:17:42pm

re: #44 DisturbedEma

Dammit I could have gone 2 lifetimes without hearing from this odious asshat ever again!

I mean Gary, not YOU my dear Lizard:)

48 DisturbedEma  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:18:15pm

re: #45 Dr Lizardo

Yep; pretty soon, Sarah Palin and all the wingnuts will be saying, “Iä! Iä! Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn!”

With a side of Ranch natch!

49 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:18:49pm

re: #45 Dr Lizardo

Yep; pretty soon, Sarah Palin and all the wingnuts will be saying, “Iä! Iä! Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn!”

Makes as much sense as anything she normally says….

50 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:18:57pm


So basically, Boehner thinks he can wait until the last possible minute to try and prevent a default.

We’re fucked.

51 Kragar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:19:12pm

re: #40 Lidane

[Embedded content]

HIPPIES!

52 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:19:35pm

re: #48 DisturbedEma

With a side of Ranch natch!

I’ll just have the Word Salad with ranch dressing.

53 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:21:10pm

re: #42 GeneJockey

If only there were some organization of united nations looking for ways to bring peace, and they had agreed to some kind of treaty to limit the sale of arms in such cases….
///

Image: truckbookmats2009.jpg

54 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:21:22pm

re: #43 sagehen

But this time, empty the armories first.

That goes without saying.

Also, all current US military bases will be closed, any nuclear weapons or facilities on Southern soil removed, no air bases, nothing.

They will also have to agree to forego acquisition of any and all military hardware or materiel beyond small combat arms.

Reparations will be accomplished by the removal of all industrial facilities in the South - they shall be remade as a strictly pastoral/agricultural society.

55 Ian G.  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:21:39pm

re: #40 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Wait, there are still people who complain about hippies unironically?

If that’s the case, let me tell you about the frisbee that almost hit me in the head when I was walking home from work past the Barclays Center when Furthur was playing there a few months ago….

56 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:21:50pm

re: #51 Kragar

HIPPIES!

[Embedded content]

They are still fighting the 1960s, with Communists, Hippies, Bra-Burners, and Uppity Niggrahs. That’s when It All Went Horribly Wrong, in their estimation.

57 Decatur Deb  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:22:02pm

One of these could put a truck anyplace it wants. The Prez has a bunch of them to loan to DC.

Image: b1_1758.jpg

58 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:22:08pm

re: #48 DisturbedEma

With a side of Ranch natch!

And a Big Gulp!

59 Jolo5309  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:22:14pm

re: #25 b_sharp

Sounds like the highways around here during harvest.

Less combines in Washington

60 DisturbedEma  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:23:45pm

re: #55 Ian G.

Wait, there are still people who complain about hippies unironically?

If that’s the case, let me tell you about the frisbee that almost hit me in the head when I was walking home from work past the Barclays Center when Furthur was playing there a few months ago….

And I would like to support my local hippies…impossible to get really good plant holders without 1960s-70s macramé…my mom bought some in circa 1976…I still use them… that and my beloved pair of sandals that got me through all my pregnancies…:)

61 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:23:54pm

re: #50 Lidane

[Embedded content]


So basically, Boehner thinks he can wait until the last possible minute to try and prevent a default.

We’re fucked.

Costa is correct, actually; Boehner will wait until the last possible moment to capitulate, or he would indeed be accused of cowardice by the Teahadis.

62 Bulworth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:24:24pm

re: #20 erik_t

but “everybody that doesn’t have a supporter sticker on their window, good luck: Nobody in, nobody out.”

“This is the Zodia speaking. I am very disappointed you people are not wearing nice Zodiac buttons I requested in my last message…”

63 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:24:36pm

Truckers Unite for Freedom & Liberty

I am Not just calling all truckers to this protest. I am calling the BIKERS, the FARMERS, the WORKERS, the BUSINESS OWNERS. any one who believes in the Constituion and the rights given to us by GOD!

We MUST make a stand or face WORLD WAR 3 right here in the U.S.A.

if we allow this Government/president to keep going, WE WILL LOOSE IT ALL!

we MUST shut off the DC area (495) and keep it shut down until ARREST ARE MADE and our Demands are met!

as well as shutting off each and every state Capitol and also having the corrupt Politicans ARRESTED. We can NO longer afford to sit on our ASSES and watch.. WE MUST ACT or Loose it all in a WW3.

JOIN US AND LET’S DO AS OUR DELCARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SAYS: “It is our RIGHT and our DUTY to throw down such Government and replace it with new gaurds for future secuirty!”

64 DisturbedEma  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:24:40pm

re: #58 Dr Lizardo

And a Big Gulp!

Of course!

65 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:25:24pm

re: #61 Dr Lizardo

Costa is correct, actually; Boehner will wait until the last possible moment to capitulate, or he would indeed be accused of cowardice by the Teahadis.

I know he’s right. That’s the problem. Boehner is going to wait until the last possible minute to try and prevent a default. Then what happens when the teabaggers still say no to a debt limit hike?

Like I said — we’re fucked. We’re going to go over the cliff into default for no goddamn reason. Screw the GOP.

66 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:25:27pm

re: #32 erik_t

No, because socialist Kenyo-Muslim homosexual fifth column FEMA tanks.

Well, if we have surplus MRAPs I’m fine with converting them for use as paddy wagons to haul away any wingnuts dumb enough to try a ‘Coup de DERP’

67 Bulworth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:25:32pm

re: #13 Kragar

But Boner’s GOP won’t vote on or pass a clean CR. So what is Karl’s problem?

68 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:25:36pm

re: #61 Dr Lizardo

Costa is correct, actually; Boehner will wait until the last possible moment to capitulate, or and he would will indeed be accused of cowardice by the Teahadis.

FTFY.

Unless the bus goes over the cliff and everyone dies, they won’t be satisfied.

69 b_sharp  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:25:50pm

re: #59 Jolo5309

Less combines in Washington

I wish there were fewer combines here. At least on the 2 lane highways.

70 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:26:06pm

Cue the dudebro outrage:

71 DisturbedEma  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:26:17pm

re: #68 GeneJockey

FTFY.

Unless the bus goes over the cliff and everyone dies, they won’t be satisfied.

The Lemmings have become homicidal…scary shit

72 ProTARDISLiberal  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:26:42pm

re: #54 Dr Lizardo

I got a different idea.

Drown them out. Encourage immigration to shove them aside. Colonize the South, and deprive them of a voice politically.

After all, what would happen to the African Americans in the South if you were to do that. No, they just need to be pushed away from levers of power. This can easily be done by simply overwhelming them number wise. It would only take the equivalent of 10-15% of the Current US Population in Immigrants to do this to every Red State.

73 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:26:54pm
74 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:27:12pm

re: #54 Dr Lizardo

That goes without saying.

Also, all current US military bases will be closed, any nuclear weapons or facilities on Southern soil removed, no air bases, nothing.

They will also have to agree to forego acquisition of any and all military hardware or materiel beyond small combat arms.

Reparations will be accomplished by the removal of all industrial facilities in the South - they shall be remade as a strictly pastoral/agricultural society.

WELL THEN Y’ALL WON’T CARE IFFEN WE JIST GO AHEAD AN REPOSSESS ALL ARE [NWORD]S

75 Bulworth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:27:19pm

re: #63 Gus

JOIN US AND LET’S DO AS OUR DELCARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SAYS: “It is our RIGHT and our DUTY to throw down such Government and replace it with new gaurds for future secuirty!”

Did they sleep through the last election?

76 BongCrodny  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:27:22pm

re: #7 lawhawk

The polling will not sway the GOP one iota.

I don’t know why it would. They’re not running too far behind Congressional Democrats on this and yet they bear the full responsibility.

It’s like somebody holds up a bank, and almost half the eyewitnesses say “I think it was the guy standing over there writing out the deposit ticket.”

It’s not that some people in this country are stupid, it’s that some people are stupid2.

77 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:27:59pm

re: #65 Lidane

I know he’s right. That’s the problem. Boehner is going to wait until the last possible minute to try and prevent a default. Then what happens when the teabaggers still say no to a debt limit hike?

Like I said — we’re fucked. We’re going to go over the cliff into default for no goddamn reason. Screw the GOP.

If the Teahadis are still saying no, he’ll suspend the Hastert Rule at that point.

The Teahadis will be livid, but life is hard, and then you die. They’ll howl like all get out, though.

Let ‘em.

78 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:28:03pm

re: #71 DisturbedEma

The Lemmings have become homicidal…scary shit

Well, shit, if you strap a bomb to your chest and set it off, and don’t kill a lot of civilians, what kind of terrorist freedom fighter are you?

79 Decatur Deb  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:28:07pm

re: #63 Gus

Truckers Unite for Freedom & Liberty

‘Till i hit the link, I thought you had made that bullshit up.

80 Bulworth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:29:09pm

re: #79 Decatur Deb

‘Till i hit the link, I thought you had made that bullshit up.

It’s getting harder and harder to tell the difference between The Onion and RWNJ.

81 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:29:27pm

re: #74 Vicious Babushka

WELL THEN Y’ALL WON’T CARE IFFEN WE JIST GO AHEAD AN REPOSSESS ALL ARE [NWORD]S

Heh.

I forgot to mention the demolition of all port facilities in the South as well, supervised by the US Army Corps of Engineers.

82 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:29:57pm

re: #75 Bulworth

JOIN US AND LET’S DO AS OUR DELCARATION OF INDEPENDENCE SAYS: “It is our RIGHT and our DUTY to throw down such Government and replace it with new gaurds for future secuirty!”

Did they sleep through the last election?

This is where any democracy founders: if enough people refuse to recognize and acknowledge the results of free and fair elections they can alwayws find a justification to disobey or even overthrow the elected government.

And there are no grounds to belive that the elections held in this country are not overwhelmingly free and fair.

83 Mattand  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:30:43pm

re: #63 Gus

Truckers Unite for Freedom & Liberty

A few notes:

1) I’m having a hard time being scared a revolution lead by huggyboo2u@hotmail.com

2) Said huggyboo2u is worried about Americans fighting other Americans in a World War 3 fought in America.

3) The copyright date on the page is for the year 2023.

84 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:31:24pm

re: #82 Sol Berdinowitz

This is where any democracy founders: if enough people refuse to recognize and acknowledge the results of free and fair elections they can alwayws find a justification to disobey or even overthrow the elected government.

And there are no grounds to belive that the elections held in this country are not overwhelmingly free and fair.

OF COURSE THERE ARE!!! NOBAMA WON THE ELECTION!!! WHAT MORE PROOF DO YOU NEED!?!?!?!?

85 ProTARDISLiberal  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:32:06pm

re: #72 ProTARDISLiberal

That would be, what, 30-50 million people?

And the nations in question we mooch people from?

Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestinian Refugees, the Shia Coast in SA, Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.

I’m sure we can scrounge 30-50 million from those nations.

86 darthstar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:32:14pm

Winning! Must be Ted Cruz’s tiger blood.

87 DisturbedEma  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:32:48pm

re: #78 GeneJockey

Well, shit, if you strap a bomb to your chest and set it off, and don’t kill a lot of civilians, what kind of terrorist freedom fighter are you?

I admit it- I failed to see the lemmings, that is the TP, ever getting this amount of power, ever being able to take my way of life down their rabbit hole… I was certain that these nutjobs would eventually be overpowered or at least neutralized by the “saner” members of their party- that sinking feeling I have is from my own embarrassment at my lack of foresight…

88 darthstar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:33:40pm
89 darthstar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:34:19pm

That’s $10,000,000 they could have given to GOP candidates to do their bidding. Hats off to them.

90 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:34:52pm

re: #87 DisturbedEma

I admit it- I failed to see the lemmings, that is the TP, ever getting this amount of power, ever being able to take my way of life down their rabbit hole… I was certain that these nutjobs would eventually be overpowered or at least neutralized by the “saner” members of their party- that sinking feeling I have is from my own embarrassment at my lack of foresight…

That’s OK. Alfred Hugenberg, Franz von Papen and Kurt von Schleicher no doubt felt the same way you do many, many years ago.

I’m pretty sure that’s where “D’oh!” actually originated.

91 darthstar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:35:39pm
92 Ian G.  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:35:54pm

re: #63 Gus

Truckers Unite for Freedom & Liberty

Are we sure this isn’t “Christwire”-style parody? It’s pretty much impossible to tell these days with the right.

93 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:36:26pm

re: #63 Gus

Truckers Unite for Freedom & Liberty

From that article:

Trucker-specific grievances behind the protest include Environmental Protection Agency fuel efficiency standards and the high cost of diesel fuel. State and local anti-idling laws as well as insurance companies purportedly requiring technological updates are among the irritations, as is the perceived deterioration of Fourth Amendment rights protecting truckers’ cabs.

How high fuel costs equate to ‘crimes’ I do not understand at all. Recent prices have not been caused by anything Barack Obama has done, and anyone who thinks they have is either misinformed or a chowderhead.

As for anti-idling laws, those are not the province of the federal government. The laws in question were not passed by Congress, nor does the federal government have the power to override them.

The free market and federalism: How do they work?

/facepalm

94 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:36:52pm

re: #87 DisturbedEma

I admit it- I failed to see the lemmings, that is the TP, ever getting this amount of power, ever being able to take my way of life down their rabbit hole… I was certain that these nutjobs would eventually be overpowered or at least neutralized by the “saner” members of their party- that sinking feeling I have is from my own embarrassment at my lack of foresight…

I was trying to explain this to my family, who wondered how it is possible for a crazy core of idiots to have so much power. It boils down to only the hardcore showing up for Primaries, followed by ‘team players’ who vote for their team no matter what in the General, combined with low-information voters who can’t believe the GOP candidate is really that crazy.

95 Danack  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:37:12pm

re: #1 Ian G.

Wow, things are so bad for the GOP that they’ve dropped below the 27% crazification factor.

That’s actually the best evidence I’ve seen so far that the Republican party is actually splintering.

Ignoring all the alleged stories of the ‘moderate’ Republicans being upset with Ted Cruz and the other Teahadists, the fact that the GOP now has fewer than the crazification number of people approving of their tactics, even while Fox News and practically every Republican talking on TV approves of those tactics, means that there’s an actual split in between what the GOP are doing, and what their base approves of.

My only question is will the ‘moderate’ Republicans be able to reclaim the GOP or will it belong to the TeaParty at least until the 2018 election cycle? My guess - based on the allegiance of sites like RedState and FreeRepublic (i.e. sites that GOP grassroot members frequent) is that the GOP will belong to the Tea Party for quite some time.

96 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:37:30pm

re: #93 Dark_Falcon

From that article:

How high fuel costs equate to ‘crimes’ I do not understand at all. Recent prices have not been caused by anything Barack Obama has done, and anyone who thinks they have is either misinformed or a chowderhead.

As for anti-idling laws, those are not the province of the federal government. The laws in question were not passed by Congress, nor does the federal government have the power to override them.

The free market and federalism: How do they work?

/facepalm

I’m gonna have to go with chowderhead on this one.

97 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:38:27pm

re: #90 Dr Lizardo

Sorry, but I have to downding you for the Godwin’s Law violation.

98 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:38:41pm

re: #96 Dr Lizardo

I’m gonna have to go with chowderhead on this one.

You know, though, ‘misinformed’ and ‘chowderhead’ are not mutually exclusive.

99 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:38:44pm
100 Internet Tough Guy  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:39:46pm

re: #88 darthstar

Why are these socialists enabling the moochers by keeping Head Start open?

/TP

101 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:39:48pm

re: #45 Dr Lizardo

Yep; pretty soon, Sarah Palin and all the wingnuts will be saying, “Iä! Iä! Ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn!”

Which translates to “tax cuts only for the 1%”, of course.

102 lawhawk  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:40:21pm

Fun with math. Philip Klein claims that CT ACA rates have gone up by more than double for his hypothetical male 30 yr old nonsmoker who makes $37k or less.

Well, let’s see your work, because when I entered in the same data he purports to have done, I get a substantially different outcome. Namely that the pre-ACA rates are at best just a few dollars cheaper, but also range to more than 3 times more expensive.

Hardly the claim of doubling the costs he’s claiming.

103 Mattand  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:40:43pm

re: #94 GeneJockey

I was trying to explain this to my family, who wondered how it is possible for a crazy core of idiots to have so much power. It boils down to only the hardcore showing up for Primaries, followed by ‘team players’ who vote for their team no matter what in the General, combined with low-information voters who can’t believe the GOP candidate is really that crazy.

The problem, at least here, is that certain posters will read the bolded line and go “Well, he can’t possibly be referring to me.”

104 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:40:46pm

re: #95 Danack

My guess - based on the allegiance of sites like RedState and FreeRepublic (i.e. sites that GOP grassroot members frequent) is that the GOP will belong to the Tea Party for quite some time.

We can only hope that at some point the Tea party packs up its marbles and goes to play elsewhere and leaves the GOP a chance to recover and become a party with sane people in it again.

105 sagehen  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:40:51pm

re: #85 ProTARDISLiberal

That would be, what, 30-50 million people?

And the nations in question we mooch people from?

Indonesia, Malaysia, Burma, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestinian Refugees, the Shia Coast in SA, Yemen, Egypt, Tunisia, Algeria, and Morocco.

I’m sure we can scrounge 30-50 million from those nations.

I’m sure it’s just a coincidence that you listed a bunch of countries full of your co-religionists, and didn’t mention a single one of the countries *right here in our own hemisphere, within walking distance* whose people have already shown a predisposition to want to be here. And then there’s the whole caribbean… most of them even speak our language already, and we love their music.

106 Ian G.  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:41:14pm

re: #93 Dark_Falcon

From that article:

How high fuel costs equate to ‘crimes’ I do not understand at all. Recent prices have not been caused by anything Barack Obama has done, and anyone who thinks they have is either misinformed or a chowderhead.

As for anti-idling laws, those are not the province of the federal government. The laws in question were not passed by Congress, nor does the federal government have the power to override them.

The free market and federalism: How do they work?

/facepalm

Whenever the free market does something the wingnuts hate, it’s “socialism” and the fault of the President.

I once saw a truck with tons of teabagger bumper stickers, including one that said “why the hell do I have to press 1 for English?”. I wanted to kindly explain to this gentleman how the free market works, and how companies want as many customers as possible, including Spanish-speaking ones. I’m sure the irony would have gone over his pin head.

107 b_sharp  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:42:04pm

re: #102 lawhawk

Fun with math. Philip Klein claims that CT ACA rates have gone up by more than double for his hypothetical male 30 yr old nonsmoker who makes $37k or less.

Well, let’s see your work, because when I entered in the same data he purports to have done, I get a substantially different outcome. Namely that the pre-ACA rates are at best just a few dollars cheaper, but also range to more than 3 times more expensive.

Hardly the claim of doubling the costs he’s claiming.

Your link to rates ran away.

108 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:42:09pm

re: #101 EPR-radar

Which means tax cuts only for the 1%, of course.

Cthulhu is the 1%?

109 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:42:51pm

re: #103 Mattand

The problem, at least here, is that certain posters will read the bolded line and go “Well, he can’t possibly be referring to me.”

Good point, though I was actually thinking of a gay FB friend of mine who just buried the longtime partner that his party would never let him marry, yet remains a Republican because, you know, free market.

110 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:45:25pm

re: #97 Dark_Falcon

Sorry, but I have to downding you for the Godwin’s Law violation.

Heh. That’s OK.

111 b_sharp  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:45:32pm

re: #109 GeneJockey

Good point, though I was actually thinking of a gay FB friend of mine who just buried the longtime partner that his party would never let him marry, yet remains a Republican because, you know, free market.

The Dems are against the free market?
News to me.

112 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:45:49pm

Why does it still feel like January 21, 2009?

113 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:45:56pm

re: #109 GeneJockey

Good point, though I was actually thinking of a gay FB friend of mine who just buried the longtime partner that his party would never let him marry, yet remains a Republican because, you know, free market.

Gay people are generally less interested in raising families, they are less likely to be looking for houses in neighborhoods with good schools, have fewer deductions for mortgages or dependents, that would make them a lot more open to the GOP’s low-tax, less-government approach.

And yes, there are still some gays who can look past their blatant homophobia because they want to save some money on their tax bills.

114 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:46:36pm

re: #106 Ian G.

Whenever the free market does something the wingnuts hate, it’s “socialism” and the fault of the President.

I once saw a truck with tons of teabagger bumper stickers, including one that said “why the hell do I have to press 1 for English?”. I wanted to kindly explain to this gentleman how the free market works, and how companies want as many customers as possible, including Spanish-speaking ones. I’m sure the irony would have gone over his pin head.

Of course, under Bush the same folks were sensibly resisting suggestions that the President controls the price of oil.

Then there was the guy who claimed that the reason the global price of oil dropped so precipitously at the end of 2008 had nothing to do with the world economy being on the verge of total collapse, but rather because Bush said he was going to open up more of the Gulf of Mexico to oil exploration.

115 celticdragon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:49:34pm

re: #2 Backwoods_Sleuth

But the GOP doesn’t believe in polls, unless they’re unskewed…

This is all good news for Mitt Rmoney.

116 klys  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:49:38pm

I wish President Obama was as powerful as francis thinks he is.

This whole mess would be long over if that was the case.

117 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:50:09pm

re: #113 Sol Berdinowitz

Gay people are generally less interested in raising families, they are less likely to be looking for houses in neighborhoods with good schools, have fewer deductions for mortgages or dependents, that would make them a lot more open to the GOP’s low-tax, less-government approach.

And yes, there are still some gays who can look past their blatant homophobia because they want to save some money on their tax bills.

Not raising a family gets double-edged as one gets older.

More generally, the GOProud and Log Cabin fools have no excuses. GOP ‘fiscal policies’ these days are quadruply distilled evil before one even gets to the sick urges of the so-con nutcases.

118 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:52:09pm

re: #88 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Arnold is a billionaire from seed money he made at Enron used to open his own hedge fund, Centaurus. He received the highest paid bonus in history while at Enron. He is 39 yrs old. Laura Arnold is a former oil co exec and lawyer. The Arnolds have also had a hand in funding charter schools through their foundation. $10M is a drop in the bucket since they give hundreds of millions to various charities, mostly their own foundation.

Notice the statement doesn’t place blame where it belongs—on the Rs.

119 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:53:52pm

A U.S. Default Seen as Catastrophe Dwarfing Lehman’s Fall

“in lehman’s fall, we sinned all”

(gop version of new england primer)

120 celticdragon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:54:16pm

re: #12 Charles Johnson

‘Truckers for the Constitution’ Plan to Slow D.C. Beltway, Arrest Congressmen.

lolwut

Never underestimate the power of blue collar derp and a pair of trukk nutz…

This kind of thing happens a lot in France…but it is leftie truck drivers who do it.

121 Ian G.  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:55:59pm

Obamacare Will Lead To ‘Systematic Genocide’

“Hitlercare”? I have to admit, I chuckled at the utter insanity of it all.

At least the loon got the right country where universal healthcare was birthed. Except that it was Bismarck, who understood the need to have a safety net under the working class, lest his policies be upended by violent revolution.

122 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:57:08pm
123 Mattand  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:57:33pm

re: #109 GeneJockey

Good point, though I was actually thinking of a gay FB friend of mine who just buried the longtime partner that his party would never let him marry, yet remains a Republican because, you know, free market.

I just don’t get gay Republicans. They’re aligning themselves with a political party that could not be more open about their out-and-out hatred of homosexuals.

Condolences to your friend.

124 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:57:48pm

re: #122 Lidane

125 Amory Blaine  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:58:01pm

Well the press has certainly been successful with their false equivalence BS pushing the dems numbers up as well.

126 Kragar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:58:09pm

re: #115 celticdragon

This is all good news for Mitt Rmoney.

Once Romney takes a lead in the polls, I don’t think he’s going to give it up.

127 GOPHostage#25698724  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 1:58:50pm

re: #8 Charles Johnson

So why do so many blame Obama at all? At least the Dems actually are legislators. Obama can only appeal from the podium and lobby. Really powerful willful ignorance going on here.

128 Kragar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:00:07pm

re: #124 Lidane

129 piratedan  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:00:36pm

re: #124 Lidane

well stated Senator Lee, now if you’d only take responsibility for your actions in doing exactly what you just tweeted.

130 erik_t  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:04:04pm

re: #126 Kragar

Once Romney takes a lead in the polls, I don’t think he’s going to give it up.

That could technically be correct, since I don’t think Romney has yet taken the aforementioned lead in the polls.

131 A Mom Anon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:04:42pm

re: #72 ProTARDISLiberal

And exactly how are you going to get anyone to move down here? There aren’t enough jobs, our schools are overwhelmed and underfunded and our infrastructure is falling apart. We have school bus drivers being underpaid or not at all. We do have jobs for skilled trades people, but beyond that unless you want a retail job, a service job or the scattered IT or talk center job there isn’t anything that pays worth a damn.

My husband and I have lived down here for 27 yrs. We both came during the construction boom then. He has worked in maintenance management and building maintenance for his entire adult life. Since 2008 he has been laid off 4 times and each new job pays less than the one before it for the same job. And we’re in Metro Atlanta, it’s better here than it is in much of the South. An influx of minorities/immigrants won’t do a damned thing but piss off an already agitated population that’s overly armed.

132 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:05:02pm

re: #123 Mattand

I just don’t get gay Republicans. They’re aligning themselves with a political party that could not be more open about their out-and-out hatred of homosexuals.

Condolences to your friend.

Sufficiently rich gay republicans are easy to understand —- they correctly believe that their money will save them from so-con pogroms.

Some gay republicans have to work for a living. Now that is truly hard to understand.

133 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:06:51pm

i’m almost finished developing my theory of GOP-Platonism, wherein it is seen that democrats are fooled by the mere earthly accidents of things - “reality” - which are but imperfect reflections of the platonic ideals

for example, democrats and libberals are often fooled by the imperfect historical reagan, who was merely the corrupted earthly manifestation of the platonic reagan, who is the only true perfect reagan

134 Kragar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:08:22pm
135 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:09:14pm

Pfft. What would other countries know about the consequences of US default? We should listen to a bunch of tebagger legislators that are telling their constituents it’s no big deal:

136 BongCrodny  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:09:57pm

re: #134 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Let me just piss in the punch bowl.

Nothing bad will happen.

137 GOPHostage#25698724  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:10:25pm

re: #132 EPR-radar

Sufficiently rich gay republicans are easy to understand —- they correctly believe that their money will save them from so-con pogroms.

Some gay republicans have to work for a living. Now that is truly hard to understand.

Edit I met some of the California gay republicans who simply put the gun rights issue above the rest. See “Pink Pistols” shooting club. Of course California is a long way from Texas or Georgia culturally. So the level of hate is less. Or at least less overt and legislative.

138 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:11:27pm


So basically, we’re fucked. The Republicans are going to destroy the American economy for no goddamn reason.

139 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:11:31pm

re: #134 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Because as we all know, destroying your credit rating automatically makes your debt go away.

140 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:12:02pm

re: #133 dog philosopher

i’m almost finished developing my theory of GOP-Platonism, wherein it is seen that democrats are fooled by the mere earthly accidents of things - “reality” - which are but imperfect reflections of the platonic ideals

for example, democrats and libberals are often fooled by the imperfect historical reagan, who was merely the corrupted earthly manifestation of the platonic reagan, who is the only true perfect reagan

This is a good way of looking at it. Presumably the basis of this are the Platonic ideals of:

1) conservatism, perfect and incorruptible, source of all good, and

2) liberalism, always and everywhere mistaken, source of all evil.

141 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:12:23pm

re: #139 Targetpractice

Because as we all know, destroying your credit rating automatically makes your debt go away.

Yeah, and it doesn’t make it any harder to borrow money when you need it, either.

142 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:13:07pm

re: #135 Lidane

Pfft. What would other countries know about the consequences of US default? We should listen to a bunch of tebagger legislators that are telling their constituents it’s no big deal:

[Embedded content]

Especially if that foreign country is the largest foreign holder of US debt.

143 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:13:48pm

re: #138 Lidane

[Embedded content]


So basically, we’re fucked. The Republicans are going to destroy the American economy for no goddamn reason.

They honestly seem to believe that their position is good and only going to get better as we near the 17th. That the President will have to deal, because they won’t accept anything less.

144 kirkspencer  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:13:49pm

re: #131 A Mom Anon

And exactly how are you going to get anyone to move down here? There aren’t enough jobs, our schools are overwhelmed and underfunded and our infrastructure is falling apart. We have school bus drivers being underpaid or not at all. We do have jobs for skilled trades people, but beyond that unless you want a retail job, a service job or the scattered IT or talk center job there isn’t anything that pays worth a damn.

My husband and I have lived down here for 27 yrs. We both came during the construction boom then. He has worked in maintenance management and building maintenance for his entire adult life. Since 2008 he has been laid off 4 times and each new job pays less than the one before it for the same job. And we’re in Metro Atlanta, it’s better here than it is in much of the South. An influx of minorities/immigrants won’t do a damned thing but piss off an already agitated population that’s overly armed.

five years. Or maybe I should say five more years.

I figure it’s going to take that long, but I think it’s pretty much inevitable. At five years the ACA will have been in, tested, and had its first improvement. By the end of five years every state will have the full program, including the bottom (medicaid for all the poor).

And THAT is when people will be willing to take the risk of doing their own business. When even if it all falls in the soup they will have somebody to pay for their daughter’s appendectomy or the surgery for a broken leg without condemning themselves to bankruptcy and years of poverty while they pay the doctors.

The slow effect after that will echo another time in our past, and you’ll see a lot of new businesses. Sure, only one in five, maybe one in ten, will succeed. But when it’s thousands instead of hundreds of businesses starting that’s still a huge start. And in turn that’ll pull power from big single blocks because a small boss and a big boss are both still bosses while a boss and a big employee are still boss and employee.

That in turn will put cracks in some of the other problems. Not sunshine and roses, but opportunities.

and people will move for opportunity. in five more years or so.

145 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:14:58pm

re: #142 EPR-radar

Especially if that foreign country is the largest foreign holder of US debt.

Along with Japan, the UK (the 2nd and 3rd largest US debt holders) and others.

146 kirkspencer  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:15:09pm

re: #143 Targetpractice

They honestly seem to believe that their position is good and only going to get better as we near the 17th. That the President will have to deal, because they won’t accept anything less.

And Romney was a shoo-in.

147 GOPHostage#25698724  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:15:18pm

re: #143 Targetpractice

They honestly seem to believe that their position is good and only going to get better as we near the 17th. That the President will have to deal, because they won’t accept anything less.

Want to avoid disaster on the 17th? Use the 14th amendment.

148 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:15:24pm

re: #143 Targetpractice

They honestly seem to believe that their position is good and only going to get better as we near the 17th. That the President will have to deal, because they won’t accept anything less.

So, what does Obama do? Ignore the debt ceiling with the argument that a Constitutional requirement trumps a statutory limitation, then dare the house to impeach him?

149 Amory Blaine  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:15:45pm

I hope these truckers realize the fickle nature of their teabag fans. Heroes one minute, traitors the next.

150 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:16:25pm

re: #148 GeneJockey

So, what does Obama do? Ignore the debt ceiling with the argument that a Constitutional requirement trumps a statutory limitation, then dare the house to impeach him?

At this point, I honestly think we might end up in default. It might be the only way that the White House avoids setting a negative precedent either way.

151 Eclectic Cyborg  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:17:31pm

re: #138 Lidane

So basically, we’re fucked. The Republicans are going to destroy the American economy for no goddamn reason.

Of course they have a reason. There’s a black man in the White House.

152 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:18:41pm

re: #150 Targetpractice

At this point, I honestly think we might end up in default. It might be the only way that the White House avoids setting a negative precedent either way.

It’s not an easy choice. If I were in Obama’s shoes, I could see both abiding by the debt ceiling and blowing it off as being consistent with the oath of office.

153 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:19:16pm

re: #150 Targetpractice

At this point, I honestly think we might end up in default. It might be the only way that the White House avoids setting a negative precedent either way.

I fear you’re right, but it just boggles the mind that a minority within one party can hold so much power. And if that does happen, what does it mean for any President and Congress from now on?

154 Eclectic Cyborg  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:19:36pm

I would love to see President Obama address the nation sometime between now and the 17th. I’d also like to see him invoke the 14th amendment and arbitrarily raise the debt ceiling. Not only would that cause an ungodly amount of wingnut howling and a likely impeachment vote in the House, but it would allow us to get out of this mess before too late.

I think a lot of Republicans think that things will still be peachy if they cut a deal say, a day or two after the 17th.

155 kirkspencer  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:19:50pm

re: #148 GeneJockey

So, what does Obama do? Ignore the debt ceiling with the argument that a Constitutional requirement trumps a statutory limitation, then dare the house to impeach him?

Oh, the house will impeach him. Frankly at this point I think that he’s going to reach the point of no choice - violate this ‘law’ and face trial for the ‘crime’.

But the Senate won’t remove him.

And these idiots can’t see what that does to our whole governmental system where the president basically ignores Congress and does what has to be done.

What a nasty fork they appear to have created. Destroy the nation by creating an unfettered dictator, or destroy the nation by destroying its economy.

156 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:19:52pm

re: #147 GOPHostage#25698724

Want to avoid disaster on the 17th? Use the 14th amendment.

And then vote as many of these Republican assholes out as possible in 2014.

The GOP have proven they’re not a serious party anymore. They’re in thrall to the tea party idiots and always will be. Bounce their traitorous asses out of office and let the GOP either rebuild itself as a party of adults or let them die in their demographic irrelevance.

157 jogiff  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:19:58pm

re: #55 Ian G.

Wait, there are still people who complain about hippies unironically?.

Yep. I think that the old hippies in Berkeley might be some of the rudest people in the world. You don’t get to start screaming at me because I walked past you on the sidewalk or because I stop my bike at the stop sign instead of running into busy traffic.

You definitely don’t get to cuss me out because I am listening to my headphones while walking my bike; you were the one who crashed into me while yelling at the cars who came to a screeching halt because you don’t look before crossing the street. And don’t call me a “Republican asshole” because I am not buying your books on Buddhism.

I really, really hate hippies. They’re more reactionary than most conservatives in many ways.

158 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:21:08pm

re: #157 jogiff

WTF?!?

159 GOPHostage#25698724  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:21:40pm

re: #156 Lidane

Agreed. Thanks to the hostage takers we can not afford to wait for elections. They need to be thwarted this week.

160 erik_t  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:21:45pm

Huh.

I apparently have never seen a hippy in my decades on this earth.

And I’ve spent at least a week in both Berkeley and Eugene, OR.

161 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:22:23pm

re: #153 GeneJockey

I fear you’re right, but it just boggles the mind that a minority within one party can hold so much power. And if that does happen, what does it mean for any President and Congress from now on?

Personally, I think if the GOP drives the country into default, triggering one of the worst economic fallouts since the Great Depression, they may cease being a viable political party. Or at least will cease being more than a regional one, confined to the darkest red portions of the South and Midwest. PPP’s latest polling already shows that they’re in danger of losing the House due to fallout over the shutdown.

162 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:23:01pm

re: #158 Sol Berdinowitz

WTF?!?

Forget it Jake Sol, it’s Chinatown Berkeley.

I often describe Berkeley as a place so liberal that San Francisco is embarrassed by it.

163 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:24:01pm

re: #154 Eclectic Cyborg

I would love to see President Obama address the nation sometime between now and the 17th. I’d also like to see him invoke the 14th amendment and arbitrarily raise the debt ceiling. Not only would that cause an ungodly amount of wingnut howling and a likely impeachment vote in the House, but it would allow us to get out of this mess before too late.

That’s what I’m hoping for. Have Obama blatantly call the Republican party out on their extremism and idiocy, invoke the 14th Amendment and say that he’s not going to allow a bunch of economic terrorists to destroy America over a law they don’t like.

What crime are they going to charge him with? Making sure the American economy doesn’t collapse, taking the rest of the world with us?

I think a lot of Republicans think that things will still be peachy if they cut a deal say, a day or two after the 17th.

Because they’re stupid. That’s why.

164 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:24:33pm

re: #138 Lidane

So basically, we’re fucked. The Republicans are going to destroy the American economy for no goddamn reason.

i can’t really bring myself to believe it

boehner is i think facing a ‘profiles in courage’ moment, where he is faced with preserving his own job vs bringing a clean CR and a clean vote on the death debt limit and saving the country from a serious crisis

i want to believe that in the end he’ll do the right thing

165 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:25:39pm

re: #162 GeneJockey

Forget it Jake Sol, it’s Chinatown Berkeley.

I often describe Berkeley as a place so liberal that San Francisco is embarrassed by it.

I live in a country (Germany) that is so ardently anti-fascist that they are, well, downright fascist about it…

166 Mattand  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:26:05pm

re: #157 jogiff

Yep. I think that the old hippies in Berkeley might be some of the rudest people in the world. You don’t get to start screaming at me because I walked past you on the sidewalk or because I stop my bike at the stop sign instead of running into busy traffic.

You definitely don’t get to cuss me out because I am listening to my headphones while walking my bike; you were the one who crashed into me while yelling at the cars who came to a screeching halt because you don’t look before crossing the street. And don’t call me a “Republican asshole” because I am not buying your books on Buddhism.

I really, really hate hippies. They’re more reactionary than most conservatives in many ways.

That was similar to the most painful lesson I took from art school: the people who talk the most about how open minded they are, generally are the first ones to shit all over you for violating their standard of “cool”.

167 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:26:54pm

re: #164 dog philosopher

i can’t really bring myself to believe it

boehner is i think facing a ‘profiles in courage’ moment, where he is faced with preserving his own job vs bringing a clean CR and a clean vote on the death debt limit and saving the country from a serious crisis

i want to believe that in the end he’ll do the right thing

As do I. If default was the alternative, he might have to risk losing the speakership simply to keep his seat.

168 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:27:19pm

re: #154 Eclectic Cyborg

I would love to see President Obama address the nation sometime between now and the 17th. I’d also like to see him invoke the 14th amendment and arbitrarily raise the debt ceiling. Not only would that cause an ungodly amount of wingnut howling and a likely impeachment vote in the House, but it would allow us to get out of this mess before too late.

I think a lot of Republicans think that things will still be peachy if they cut a deal say, a day or two after the 17th.

No doubt. Listening to them now about the shutdown, it’s obvious that they figure that any damage done isn’t that significant. No doubt there are many in the TP ranks who think if we go until the 19th without a debt ceiling deal and the sky doesn’t fall, that they’ve “proven their point.”

169 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:27:31pm

i don’t want to end up reading something in the history books about america in the year 2013 that resembles the descriptions of how the austria, germany, russia, france, and england all felt compelled to start WWI because they didn’t know what else to do

170 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:28:18pm

re: #164 dog philosopher

i can’t really bring myself to believe it

boehner is i think facing a ‘profiles in courage’ moment, where he is faced with preserving his own job vs bringing a clean CR and a clean vote on the death debt limit and saving the country from a serious crisis

i want to believe that in the end he’ll do the right thing

He won’t. He’s too much of a spineless weasel for that.

Boehner has the votes now for a clean CR and a clean debt hike, but he’s clinging to the “Hastert Rule”, which even Hastert thinks is bullshit.

Sir John of Orange is more interested in keeping his job than he is in saving this country from economic disaster. We’re going to end up in default because he’s a fucking coward.

171 Mattand  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:28:52pm

re: #164 dog philosopher

i can’t really bring myself to believe it

boehner is i think facing a ‘profiles in courage’ moment, where he is faced with preserving his own job vs bringing a clean CR and a clean vote on the death debt limit and saving the country from a serious crisis

i want to believe that in the end he’ll do the right thing

Well, if JFK purposely piloted PT-109 into Tokyo Harbor and then said “We’re not leaving because Ensign Frank is pissed he wasn’t made Admiral”, then, yeah: Boehner is just like JFK.

172 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:29:52pm
173 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:30:45pm

re: #160 erik_t

Huh.

I apparently have never seen a hippy in my decades on this earth.

And I’ve spent at least a week in both Berkeley and Eugene, OR.

hippie doesn’t seem to mean the same thing that it did in 1968

then, if you wore blue jeans, had long hair, smoked dope, and listened to ‘rock music’, you were fer sure a hippie

these days it seems to mean what we would have called “hippie-dippy”, as in “i’m putting my crystals out in the moonlight to purify them”

174 Mattand  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:30:47pm

re: #167 Dark_Falcon

As do I. If default was the alternative, he might have to risk losing the speakership simply to keep his seat.

Doing the right thing would have been avoiding this whole fucking farce in the first place, by standing up to the Tea Baggers that are currently leading him around by his dick.

175 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:31:08pm

re: #172 Gus

That’s helpful.

/////

176 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:31:14pm

re: #169 dog philosopher

i don’t want to end up reading something in the history books about america in the year 2013 that resembles the descriptions of how the austria, germany, russia, france, and england all felt compelled to start WWI because they didn’t know what else to do

That’s how it’s starting to feel. The GOP came into this without a contingency plan. They had no plan beyond making a ridiculous demand. No fallback plan, no agreed-upon list of what they absolutely need in order to acquiesce. It’s just like Stutzman said - they don’t even know what they need to get out of it in order to not kill the hostage.

They’re making this up on the fly, and they don’t know what they’re doing.

177 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:31:31pm

re: #172 Gus

[Embedded content]

Because closing parks and monuments is just like sending people to concentration camps.

[headdesk]

178 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:31:56pm

re: #171 Mattand

Well, if JFK purposely piloted PT-109 into Tokyo Harbor and then said “We’re not leaving because Ensign Frank is pissed he wasn’t made Admiral”, then, yeah: Boehner is just like JFK.

well i was thinking about the stories in jfk’s ‘profiles in courage’ where politicians did the right thing at the expense of their careers

179 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:33:25pm

re: #176 GeneJockey

They’re making this up on the fly, and they don’t know what they’re doing.

All the teabaggers care about is sticking it to POTUS. The rest is details.

The Republican party is determined to burn this country to the ground because Barack Obama got elected POTUS twice over their objections, and because SCOTUS didn’t rubber stamp their deranged bleating on the individual mandate. That’s it.

If they can’t run this country, they’ll burn it all down and rule the ashes. The GOP are a bunch of traitorous bastards.

180 Ian G.  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:33:29pm

re: #173 dog philosopher

hippie doesn’t seem to mean the same thing that it did in 1968

then, if you wore blue jeans, had long hair, smoked dope, and listened to ‘rock music’, you were fer sure a hippie

these days it seems to mean what we would have called “hippie-dippy”, as in “i’m putting my crystals out in the moonlight to purify them”

I think of the people I saw outside the Furthur show: big blond dreadlocks, tossing the frisbee around, some without shoes, etc.

181 Mattand  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:33:48pm

re: #178 dog philosopher

well i was thinking about the stories in jfk’s ‘profiles in courage’ where politicians did the right thing at the expense of their careers

I know. Not mad at you, just sick of Boehner.

I won’t be around for it, but I’d love to be there 75-100 years from now when historians look at guys like Boehner and just shake their heads with disgust.

182 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:33:59pm

re: #174 Mattand

Doing the right thing would have been avoiding this whole fucking farce in the first place, by standing up to the Tea Baggers that are currently leading him around by his dick.

No shit. Boehner’s been asking for months now where they buried the mason jar they put his nuts in. Remember back in December, when he said that the decision had been made, the ACA was the law of the land, and folks had to make peace with that? Within months, he was backing to putting repeal votes out there. Why? Because the backbenchers who’d been elected last year whined that they hadn’t had a chance yet to earn their “Repeal Obamacare!” merit badge.

183 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:34:03pm

re: #148 GeneJockey

So, what does Obama do? Ignore the debt ceiling with the argument that a Constitutional requirement trumps a statutory limitation, then dare the house to impeach him?

sometimes i think that the teabagger endgame is exactly that

184 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:34:10pm

re: #173 dog philosopher

these days it seems to mean what we would have called “hippie-dippy”, as in “i’m putting my crystals out in the moonlight to purify them”

One of my students does that. She’s a real believer in crystals, pyramid-power, the whole enchilada of kooky. She’s nice enough, but when I walk into class and the first thing I hear is, “Your chi seems disturbed; I can see your aura spiking” while she looks at me clutching a crystal with a bovine expression on her face, it takes a lot out of you.

185 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:34:17pm

re: #176 GeneJockey

They’re making this up on the fly, and they don’t know what they’re doing.

There are people in the party who know exactly waht thery are doing, cynical bastards who are poised to make another financial killing out of wrecking the economy for the rest of us normal working, bill-paying people, and then dumping the blame on Obama for his “intrasigency”

186 piratedan  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:35:58pm

re: #177 Dark_Falcon

I’m sure she was part of the budgetary jihad that closed the state parks in our fine state as well but until I can be bothered to check on her voting record, I can’t quite call her a hypocrit just yet…. but maybe she can have a sit down with Governor Brewer and have a discussion about how altruistic it was of her to kick AHCCESS patients off of the organ transplant rolls versus accepting Federal Stimulus money.

187 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:36:13pm

re: #170 Lidane

He won’t. He’s too much of a spineless weasel for that.

Boehner has the votes now for a clean CR and a clean debt hike, but he’s clinging to the “Hastert Rule”, which even Hastert thinks is bullshit.

Sir John of Orange is more interested in keeping his job than he is in saving this country from economic disaster. We’re going to end up in default because he’s a fucking coward.

i have to imagine that most teabaggers think the hastert rule is in the constitution, if they’re informed enough to have heard of it at all

188 Mattand  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:37:03pm

re: #187 dog philosopher

i have to imagine that most teabaggers think the hastert rule is in the constitution, if they’re informed enough to have heard of it at all

The Hastert rule or the Constitution?

189 erik_t  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:37:11pm

re: #187 dog philosopher

i have to imagine that most teabaggers think the hastert rule is in the constitution, if they’re informed enough to have heard of it at all

I’m relatively sure most teabaggers are not well-enough informed to have heard of the Constitution.

/half

190 ProTARDISLiberal  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:37:13pm

re: #179 Lidane

This is why Immigrants will be the salvation of the US.

We need to simply drown them out and push them to the margins of society. They don’t want to act civilized? Then we can treat them as the barbarians they are. I think colonization of the South is a reasonable solution to this crisis.

191 erik_t  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:37:22pm

EIGHT SECONDS, DANGIT

192 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:37:37pm

re: #188 Mattand

The Hastert rule or the Constitution?

heh

193 thedopefishlives  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:38:11pm

Afternoon Lizardim from the beautifully clear wild north country. After a weekend full of rain and hard mechanical work, the sun has come back to play and the car is fixed, as well. Makes for a wonderful day. How go things among the lizardfolk?

194 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:38:35pm
195 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:38:48pm

re: #184 Dr Lizardo

One of my students does that. She’s a real believer in crystals, pyramid-power, the whole enchilada of kooky. She’s nice enough, but when I walk into class and the first thing I hear is, “Your chi seems disturbed; I can see your aura spiking” while she looks at me clutching a crystal with a bovine expression on her face, it takes a lot out of you.

Yeah, I knew some hippies back in the day, and if they even thought about starting that shit, I backed waaaay off. Most back then were just kids, students, and hadn’t made it a real lifestyle—most went on to finish school and had a regular life if they didn’t allow drugs to screw them, and their prospects, up.

196 erik_t  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:38:52pm

re: #190 ProTARDISLiberal

This is why Immigrants will be the salvation of the US.

We need to simply drown them out and push them to the margins of society. They don’t want to act civilized? Then we can treat them as the barbarians they are. I think colonization of the South is a reasonable solution to this crisis.

Seriously, this rhetoric out of the 1820s. It’s legitimately distressing to read it here.

197 Sol Berdinowitz  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:38:58pm

re: #189 erik_t

I’m relatively sure most teabaggers are not well-enough informed to have heard of the Constitution.

/half

Like this guy

198 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:39:01pm

re: #176 GeneJockey

That’s how it’s starting to feel. The GOP came into this without a contingency plan. They had no plan beyond making a ridiculous demand. No fallback plan, no agreed-upon list of what they absolutely need in order to acquiesce. It’s just like Stutzman said - they don’t even know what they need to get out of it in order to not kill the hostage.

They’re making this up on the fly, and they don’t know what they’re doing.

The situation in the House makes me think so much of those action movies where the more sensible hostage takers are starting to have second thoughts about the plan, but the crazy fuckers with the guns are declaring that they’re gonna see this through to the end or they’re going to be the ones who get shot first.

199 Mattand  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:39:49pm

re: #191 erik_t

EIGHT SECONDS, DANGIT

LOL, 8 seconds. My birthday is tomorrow, on the 8th.

Coincidence?

YES.

200 Dr. Matt  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:40:14pm

Your move, Sinclair Lewis:

201 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:40:25pm

re: #199 Mattand

LOL, 8 seconds. My birthday is tomorrow, on the 8th.

Coincidence?

YES.

Happy BD! Many more. : )

202 ProTARDISLiberal  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:41:50pm

re: #196 erik_t

Well, what else do you suggest? They are about 10 days away from bringing down the United States. Even if we avert a default, we need to make sure this doesn’t happen again for a long time.

These are the same people who are vilely racist to the minorities in their midst. We don’t need to them. I am suggesting a path to ignoring them.

203 Decatur Deb  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:41:51pm

re: #181 Mattand

I know. Not mad at you, just sick of Boehner.

I won’t be around for it, but I’d love to be there 75-100 years from now when historians look at guys like Boehner and just shake their heads with disgust.

Who was Speaker of the House in 1913? Good Speaker or bad, they don’t make it out of Wonk Trivia.

204 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:42:27pm

re: #194 Lidane

[Embedded content]

How cute, they still think that if they present a “sensible compromise,” the President will agree to it.

205 Decatur Deb  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:43:02pm

re: #190 ProTARDISLiberal

This is why Immigrants will be the salvation of the US.

We need to simply drown them out and push them to the margins of society. They don’t want to act civilized? Then we can treat them as the barbarians they are. I think colonization of the South is a reasonable solution to this crisis.

Why in the hell would they stay in the Confederacy?

206 BongCrodny  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:43:19pm

The problem with getting the teabaggers out of congress is that gerrymandering has pretty much prevented that from happening. Louie Gohmert, basically ran unopposed in 2008 and 2010 (except for an Independent in 2008 and a Libertarian in 2010); his Democratic Party opponent in 2012 managed 27% of the vote.

Those Congressional districts that haven’t been gerrymandered beyond all reason are subject to tons of wingnut welfare dollars.

According to opensecrets.org, Koch Industries gave nearly $6 million in political contributions, with 83% going to Republicans; they spent some $50 million during that time on lobbying efforts.

A couple weeks ago I overheard a couple guys at a poker game complaining that there was no money out there to be made. I bit my tongue — rage and poker do not mix together well — but I wanted to yell “you help elect people that enact policies that benefit nobody but the rich — what the fuck did you think was going to happen?”

207 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:44:34pm

re: #197 Sol Berdinowitz

Like this guy

“Dad’s great, but listening to all that talk radio has put some weird ideas into his head,” said daughter Samantha, a freshman at Reed College in Portland, OR

:-) :-)

it’s not really true that the school motto is “communism, atheism, free love”

208 Mattand  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:45:01pm

re: #203 Decatur Deb

Who was Speaker of the House in 1913? Good Speaker or bad, they don’t make it out of Wonk Trivia.

Heh, they do if they precipitate one of the worst global economic disasters ever.

Here’s hoping he’s relegated to Wonk Trivia forever!

209 darthstar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:45:05pm
210 darthstar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:46:31pm

Somebody always has to go first. This is the beginning of the end for the teabaggers in the Senate.

211 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:47:22pm

re: #209 darthstar

[Embedded content]

These GOPers need to walk the walk before they get any credit at all for making favorable (i.e., not completely insane) noises.

212 Mattand  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:47:24pm

re: #209 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the problem the House?

213 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:47:28pm

re: #198 Targetpractice

The situation in the House makes me think so much of those action movies where the more sensible hostage takers are starting to have second thoughts about the plan, but the crazy fuckers with the guns are declaring that they’re gonna see this through to the end or they’re going to be the ones who get shot first.

Bingo.

214 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:47:31pm

re: #203 Decatur Deb

Who was Speaker of the House in 1913? Good Speaker or bad, they don’t make it out of Wonk Trivia.

Champ Clark. Both Senate and House were Dem majorities. en.wikipedia.org

215 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:47:37pm

re: #209 darthstar

[Embedded content]

If that’s the case, then Boehner’s gonna be between a rock and a hard place. He’ll then have two “clean” bills that he’s refusing to bring to a vote, versus the House debt ceiling wish list which may not even get passed. Can you imagine the egg on his face if he tries for a debt ceiling deal without either a defund or delay portion and the TPers revolted?

216 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:48:01pm

re: #79 Decatur Deb

‘Till i hit the link, I thought you had made that bullshit up.

It’s a spoof site from the future. (Look at copyright logo on the very bottom of the screen)

You can’t make this stuff up.

217 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:48:15pm

re: #210 darthstar

Somebody always has to go first. This is the beginning of the end for the teabaggers in the Senate.

If this plays out as advertised, Mark Kirk (R) will have done some good.

218 Dr. Matt  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:48:21pm

re: #209 darthstar

RINO!!!!!

219 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:49:59pm

re: #210 darthstar

Somebody always has to go first. This is the beginning of the end for the teabaggers in the Senate.

This will no doubt increase the siege mentality we see on far right.

220 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:50:23pm

re: #212 Mattand

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the problem the House?

True, but this is a plan to get a clean debt ceiling raise through the Senate, further highlighting the House as the source of all the trouble.

It would also kill off a GOP bullshit talking point that ‘a clean debt ceiling increase can’t pass in the Senate’.

221 A Mom Anon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:50:33pm

re: #202 ProTARDISLiberal

Your plan isn’t going to work. No one is going to want to come here for exactly the reasons you give for some imaginary influx of immigrants. There are much more open, prosperous and welcoming parts of the country.

222 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:50:58pm

re: #194 Lidane

[Embedded content]

“America is going to be destroyed by Obamacare, so whatever deal is put together must at least reschedule the implementation of Obamacare,” he says. “This law is going to destroy America and everything in America, and we need to stop it.”

You know what fucking sucks about Republicans, even the so called sane ones are so utterly fucking chickenshit and worthless that they’re quietly going along with this shit.

“I think you’d see at least 50 to 60 Republicans break with Boehner if he went for something small,” predicts a House GOP aide who works closely with conservative members. “They’re also reluctant to even give Boehner a short-term debt-limit extension unless he gets something big in return. But that’s the one area where Boehner may have room to maneuver. He could tell them, ‘I’m with you fighting, but let’s just extend the fight a few weeks.’”

Wow, 50 or 60? That’s a tacit admission that the Hastert rule doesn’t even apply here. So why is Boehner going along with them, why is the rest of the Party voluntarily walking through the Valley Death in lockstep with them. Lemmings.

This is what it means whenever anybody continues calling themselves a Republican, it means they’re among the most worthless, ganged in bitches to threaten this country from within since the Confederacy.

223 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:51:20pm

re: #190 ProTARDISLiberal

This is why Immigrants will be the salvation of the US.

We need to simply drown them out and push them to the margins of society. They don’t want to act civilized? Then we can treat them as the barbarians they are. I think colonization of the South is a reasonable solution to this crisis.

Srsly dude chill. You sound like Pamela.

224 ProTARDISLiberal  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:51:35pm

re: #221 A Mom Anon

The hilarity of this being, the people who have been in power there for 200 years is why it is an economic mess.

225 BongCrodny  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:51:36pm

re: #199 Mattand

LOL, 8 seconds. My birthday is tomorrow, on the 8th.

Coincidence?

YES.

Congratulations!

I got you beat by one day.

That’s right: October 7, 19mumblemumble

Happy Birthday To Me

Youtube Video

226 darthstar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:51:45pm

re: #212 Mattand

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the problem the House?

Yes, but we don’t need the 46 starting shit again.

227 Decatur Deb  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:52:48pm

re: #214 Justanotherhuman

Champ Clark. Both Senate and House were Dem majorities. en.wikipedia.org

You win Wonk Trivia. I went to his school, UK, and never heard of him. Obviously didn’t play basketball.

228 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:53:04pm

re: #226 darthstar

Yes, but we don’t need the 46 starting shit again.

It’s important that the Senate GOP caucus show no solidarity with the House GOP caucus. Let ‘em hang there and “twist, slowly, slowly in the wind”.

229 Justanotherhuman  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:53:16pm

re: #225 BongCrodny

Congratulations!

I got you beat by one day.

That’s right: October 7, 19mumblemumble

Happy Birthday To Me

[Embedded content]

Happy, happy BD! And many more to you, too. : )

230 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:53:35pm

re: #212 Mattand

Correct me if I’m wrong, but isn’t the problem the House?

Yes. But if the Senate R’s make it clear they’re going to vote for a clean CR and a clean debt limit hike, it makes Boehner’s position in the House even more untenable.

At that point he can either man up and find his spine, standing up to the teabaggers, or he can continue being a fucking coward and watch the country burn down around him.

231 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:54:27pm

re: #223 Vicious Babushka

Srsly dude chill. You sound like Pamela.

Reminded me more of Ann Coulter and her famous, “Invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity” - such a forward-looking, 12th Century approach!

232 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:55:25pm

re: #230 Lidane

Yes. But if the Senate R’s make it clear they’re going to vote for a clean CR and a clean debt limit hike, it makes Boehner’s position in the House even more untenable.

At that point he can either man up and find his spine, standing up to the teabaggers, or he can continue being a fucking coward and watch the country burn down around him.

What would it profit a man to lose the whole world, AND his soul.

Or his balls. One or the other.

233 Decatur Deb  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:56:30pm

re: #216 Vicious Babushka

It’s a spoof site from the future. (Look at copyright logo on the very bottom of the screen)

You can’t make this stuff up.

Now you’re spoofing, right? The book is real.

234 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:56:33pm

re: #210 darthstar

Somebody always has to go first. This is the beginning of the end for the teabaggers in the Senate.

Too bad the Senate’s not really the problem. We need a House leadership revolt now, and that’s not going to happen because Hosue Republicans are trash. The only reason that Boehner is refusing to bring the clean CR to the floor is that that would end his speakership. He’s literally choosing his position over what’s best for the country, and the irony is no matter how this ends his speakership is probably over. The rest of the rank and file Republicans who support him are choosing party loyalty over what’s best for the country because they’re gutless, worthless trash.

Hell, it’s generous in the extreme to phrase it as what’s best for the country. At this point it’s about what’s isn’t catastrophically terrible for the country and the world.

235 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:57:05pm
236 Mattand  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 2:58:08pm

re: #225 BongCrodny

Congratulations!

I got you beat by one day.

That’s right: October 7, 19mumblemumble

Happy Birthday To Me

[Embedded content]

Happy B’Day! You’ve earned a mumble or three.

Today is also the birthday of a friend of mine from art school. We were literally born a day apart in the same hospital, destined to meet 18 years later.

Small world, wouldn’t want to paint it, etc. etc.

237 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:00:20pm

re: #235 Vicious Babushka

[Embedded content]

She is such a liar.

238 A Mom Anon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:01:01pm

re: #224 ProTARDISLiberal

It’s not hilarious, really it’s not. And let me say this again, outside of some distinct areas around larger cities where immigrants have gathered in numbers, you aren’t going to see an influx of immigrants here, not gonna happen. Because of the racism, because of the shitty revenue collecting that results in shitty schools and shitty opportunities unless you are already in some way privileged and it doesn’t matter where you live. You have experience with OK, red state, but not overly populated. Travel around the Deep South, observe WTF is happening here and then get back to me. Hell, you can drive from NC to SC and tell when you’ve reached the latter just by the condition of the roads. These states won’t invest in their people and refuse to raise taxes or take federal money (as in expanding Medicare, or for transportation projects), you really think people would flock here for voting purposes? Really?

239 bratwurst  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:02:46pm

Here is a guy who loves to drape himself in the Israeli flag insulting the memory of Holocaust victims pretty much every single day:

240 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:03:20pm

re: #223 Vicious Babushka

Srsly dude chill. You sound like Pamela.

This is progress (small steps). At least the modest proposal of a Union military dictatorship for however long it would take to completely 100.000% de-Confederate the South has been dropped.

241 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:06:52pm
242 ProTARDISLiberal  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:08:07pm

re: #238 A Mom Anon

Yes, I do see the point. I really don’t want to see this become the norm though, that once a year we have a default fight.

And I am really tired of hearing these nuts, and want them drowned out.

243 b_sharp  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:08:10pm

What’s the chance we can get the smart people to move up to Canada and leave the red states to become the abandoned zones the tea party seems to want?

244 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:09:14pm
245 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:12:58pm

mental health break:

Halloween Tree

246 b_sharp  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:13:28pm

Post faster
You must post faster.

247 thedopefishlives  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:14:12pm

re: #246 b_sharp

Post faster
You must post faster.

*twitch*

248 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:15:24pm

re: #244 Lidane

[Embedded content]

‘It would really be a bad thing to shoot these hostages, but I don’t see that we have any choice.’

How about this one? DON’T SHOOT THE HOSTAGES.

That seems pretty simple and straightforward, doesn’t it? You don’t make threats you’re not willing to carry out, so if your hostage isn’t some one you’re willing to shoot, you don’t take them hostage.

249 b_sharp  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:15:32pm

re: #245 Backwoods_Sleuth

mental health break:

Halloween Tree

I think there is a cat in your tree.

250 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:16:34pm

re: #190 ProTARDISLiberal

This is why Immigrants will be the salvation of the US.

We need to simply drown them out and push them to the margins of society. They don’t want to act civilized? Then we can treat them as the barbarians they are. I think colonization of the South is a reasonable solution to this crisis.

You never game out where these immigrants are supposed to come from and the attendant consequences of importing enough of them to have a demographic impact on the South. A Mom Anon already pointed out why getting people to move to the South is going to be difficult, at best, so you’re going to need to import desperately impoverished people used to to living in squalor.

Where are these people going to come from, and how are women viewed in those places? Are you just going to be substituting one hardcore belief set and targets of entrenched bigotry for another? You don’t address the obvious economic consequences, importing impoverished people to a country that’s exported its manufacturing infrastructure means they’re going to have difficult time supporting themselves.

Maybe we could just nationalize all the farms, that always ends well.

Anyway, if you’re going to indulge yourself in this fantasy nonsense try to anticipate and deal with the most predictable consequences and obstacles. I have a recurring fantasy that involves a teleportation device and a giant prison tunneled into the Moon, but I don’t present it here as a rational option for what should be obvious reasons.

251 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:16:43pm

re: #245 Backwoods_Sleuth

mental health break:

Halloween Tree

I think that little girl is about to cross umpteen black cats’ trails. Who gets the bad luck then.

252 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:16:57pm

re: #249 b_sharp

I think there is a cat in your tree.

yep…guess I shouldn’t have sprayed water on the seedling last night…

253 darthstar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:18:38pm
254 darthstar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:19:05pm
255 A Mom Anon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:19:57pm

re: #242 ProTARDISLiberal

I get the frustration, trust me, I LIVE here and have a tea party asshole for a rep who runs unchallenged every two years. It’s going to be slow incremental change here. Sam Nunn’s daughter Michelle is running as a Dem for Saxby Chambliss’ seat, she’d be good I think, a conservative Dem, but not a Blue Dog. What really needs to happen is people have to begin running for local offices and take them back from the wingnuts. That is exactly how they rose to power over 30 yrs ago, they started small, with the schools and local commissions and mayoral offices. If there’s ever a hope of taking things away from a far swing to the right, that’s where the answer is, locally. Support local dems in local offices in the states you think need help. Much more constructive and more likely to work, if not right away. The time is right to start, Democrats got too complacent about this shit, and now we see the result of that.

256 BeenHereAwhile  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:20:10pm

re: #214 Justanotherhuman

re: #203 Decatur Deb

‘Who was Speaker of the House in 1913? Good Speaker or bad, they don’t make it out of Wonk Trivia.’

Champ Clark. Both Senate and House were Dem majorities. en.wikipedia.org

“makes no difference if he is a hound, you gotta quit kicking my dog around.” Champ Clark campaign song.

257 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:20:18pm

re: #250 goddamnedfrank

Anyway, if you’re going to indulge yourself in this fantasy nonsense try to anticipate and deal with the most predictable consequences and obstacles.

That kinda defeats the whole purpose of fantasy nonsense, doesn’t it?
//

258 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:23:18pm

re: #255 A Mom Anon

I get the frustration, trust me, I LIVE here and have a tea party asshole for a rep who runs unchallenged every two years. It’s going to be slow incremental change here. Sam Nunn’s daughter Michelle is running as a Dem for Saxby Chambliss’ seat, she’d be good I think, a conservative Dem, but not a Blue Dog. What really needs to happen is people have to begin running for local offices and take them back from the wingnuts. That is exactly how they rose to power over 30 yrs ago, they started small, with the schools and local commissions and mayoral offices. If there’s ever a hope of taking things away from a far swing to the right, that’s where the answer is, locally. Support local dems in local offices in the states you think need help. Much more constructive and more likely to work, if not right away. The time is right to start, Democrats got too complacent about this shit, and now we see the result of that.

You know the other thing? Dems and others who aren’t crazy have got to start taking this shit as seriously as the craziest wingnut teabagger drones out there. At the very least, they need to get out there and fucking VOTE!! We are where we are largely because a bunch of folks who voted for Obama thought they were done, that it was all they needed to do.

259 b_sharp  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:23:48pm

I registered the wrong vehicle online last month so I’ve been driving an unregistered uninsured car for month.

I just figured that out today.

Smart people sure can be stupid.

260 A Mom Anon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:24:34pm

re: #237 goddamnedfrank

She’s a millionaire is she not? I thought her ex left her a ton of money when he passed. Plus I’m sure she gets wingnut welfare in some form or fashion. She’s full of shit, she’s never gone without anything in her life, let alone healthcare.

261 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:25:23pm

Been a while since I looked at wingnut Tweets, websites, etc. Man are these people freaking crazy and stupid. They’re still stuck in 2009. Haven’t decided if they’re getting worse or if it’s just my hiatus from following their lunacy. All in all though I do agree that the lunatic fringe right is far more mainstream with Republicans/conservatives than the lunatic fringe left is with Democrats/liberals. The fringe right is part of the GOP fabric. Hook. Line. And sinker.

262 bratwurst  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:26:14pm

re: #250 goddamnedfrank

I have a recurring fantasy that involves a teleportation device and a giant prison tunneled into the Moon, but I don’t present it here as a rational option for what should be obvious reasons.

Unless we get a handle on the prison-industrial complex in this country, the second part of that will eventually have to be considered!

263 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:26:55pm

re: #254 darthstar

God I hope so. It would be nice to see the Senate R’s stick it to the idiots like Lee, Paul and Cruz and vote for a clean debt limit hike and call for an end to all this shit.

I want some sane adults to put their feet down and make it clear to the teabagger economic terrorist wing of the GOP that this isn’t their country to destroy just because they don’t like the ACA.

264 jaunte  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:27:08pm
265 jaunte  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:28:13pm

“Rather than seeing this as a negative, we need to rejoice, Maranatha Come Lord Jesus, His day is at hand,” Bachmann added later.

266 A Mom Anon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:28:18pm

re: #258 GeneJockey

Exactly! It’s not just they thought electing Obama was enough, there’s a certain contingent of morons who got all pissy because they didn’t get their unicorn that farts glitter fast enough in regards to LGBT rights, single payer health care, etc, etc. So they stayed home in the 2010 midterms. That may not have been totally responsible for the tea party takeover, but it sure as hell didn’t help. At all.

267 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:29:45pm

re: #263 Lidane

God I hope so. It would be nice to see the Senate R’s stick it to the idiots like Lee, Paul and Cruz and vote for a clean debt limit hike and call for an end to all this shit.

I want some sane adults to put their feet down and make it clear to the teabagger economic terrorist wing of the GOP that this isn’t their country to destroy just because they don’t like the ACA.

Figure that, this time, Harry will make it clear to Ted that he doesn’t have the votes for a filibuster, and no he will not give him another day to entertain the cheap seats. We’ve spent enough time on this insanity and now we’re going to move towards a swift end to it.

268 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:31:24pm

re: #262 bratwurst

Unless we get a handle on the prison-industrial complex in this country, the second part of that will eventually have to be considered!

Would you like to subscribe to my newsletter?

269 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:31:46pm

re: #266 A Mom Anon

Exactly! It’s not just they thought electing Obama was enough, there’s a certain contingent of morons who got all pissy because they didn’t get their unicorn that farts glitter fast enough in regards to LGBT rights, single payer health care, etc, etc. So they stayed home in the 2010 midterms. That may not have been totally responsible for the tea party takeover, but it sure as hell didn’t help. At all.

Motivated and crazy beats unmotivated and pissy any day.

270 jaunte  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:32:17pm
271 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:33:36pm

FYI Giant Prison on the Moon is just a stopgap measure until I can find Giant Prison Planet way the fuck away from here.

272 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:34:08pm
273 Jack Burton  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:35:13pm

re: #254 darthstar

is it possible we’re seeing the emergence of a “we’re-tired-of-this-shit” caucus

I’ve been in that voting block for going on 5 years now. It would be nice to see some representation in Congress.

274 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:35:15pm

re: #270 jaunte

[Embedded content]

You cannot negotiate with them.

They are demonstrably insane.

275 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:36:01pm

re: #271 goddamnedfrank

FYI Giant Prison on the Moon is just a stopgap measure until I can find Giant Prison Planet way the fuck away from here.

The great advantage of a Giant Prison Planet is that the very size of it would make the inmates heavier and thus much slower.

However, if they escaped, they’d be really strong. Kind of like weightlifting in prison on steroids, on steroids.

276 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:37:10pm

re: #272 Gus

[Embedded content]

Gee, it’s almost like they have contempt for those less fortunate than themselves.

277 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:37:44pm

foxed up news

A LOOK THROUGH the slimdown contingency plans of the federal government shows some commissions and agencies have zero employees reporting for work, prompting watchdog groups to ask the question: Why do they even exist?

that’s thinkin’ with yer kidneys

278 Jack Burton  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:39:23pm

re: #250 goddamnedfrank

Anyway, if you’re going to indulge yourself in this fantasy nonsense try to anticipate and deal with the most predictable consequences and obstacles. I have a recurring fantasy that involves a teleportation device and a giant prison tunneled into the Moon, but I don’t present it here as a rational option for what should be obvious reasons.

Giant prison on the moon is a bad idea to those of us that have read The Moon is a Harsh Mistress.

279 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:40:32pm

re: #271 goddamnedfrank

FYI Giant Prison on the Moon is just a stopgap measure until I can find Giant Prison Planet way the fuck away from here.

Lunar Max cannot hold Boris the Animal.

//(geek moment)

280 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:40:55pm

Butthurt wingnut hashtag of the day:

#PresidentStompyFoot

281 BongCrodny  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:45:23pm

re: #272 Gus

[Embedded content]

It’s not the GOP any more, it’s the GFYOP.

282 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:47:47pm

God these people are fucking stupid:


This is a non-starter. The Senate will not sign off on it. POTUS will ignore it.

Get the fuck over it, teabaggers. The ACA isn’t going to be “defunded” or delayed. That genie is out of the bottle already.

283 jaunte  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:49:30pm

Republicans talk about this with the confidence of people who can’t lose. “We’ve got more than enough cash flow, more than enough cash flow to pay interest on the public debt when it comes due and the House Republicans have passed a prioritization bill,” said Texas Rep. Joe Barton on CNBC this week. “This talk about default by the U.S. Treasury is nonsense. The president can be smart or the president can be stupid. And I would assume as smart as President Obama is, when push comes to shove, he’ll be smart. So we are not going to default on the public debt. But that doesn’t mean that we have to pay every bill the day it comes in.”

Joe Barton, who thinks harnessing wind power will cause the wind to slow down and the temperature to go up.
content.time.com

284 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:51:11pm

re: #282 Lidane

God these people are fucking stupid:

[Embedded content]


This is a non-starter. The Senate will not sign off on it. POTUS will ignore it.

Get the fuck over it, teabaggers. The ACA isn’t going to be “defunded” or delayed. That genie is out of the bottle already.

Boehner’s already started trying to walk back the demands, hauling out the old saw about how the debt ceiling can’t go up unless Republicans get a deal to address spending and debt, but couldn’t avoid at the same time laying it out there that any deal will not include any new tax revenue.

285 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:51:21pm

Wow these people are so dumb.

286 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:52:39pm

re: #283 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Joe Barton, who thinks harnessing wind power will cause the wind to slow down and the temperature to go up.
content.time.com

Translation from Derp-ese: “We’re gonna have to stiff folks getting things like Medicare and Social Security, which we’ll quickly blame on Obama not giving into our demands.”

287 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:53:04pm

re: #277 dog philosopher

foxed up news

A LOOK THROUGH the slimdown contingency plans of the federal government shows some commissions and agencies have zero employees reporting for work, prompting watchdog groups to ask the question: Why do they even exist?

that’s thinkin’ with yer kidneys

That’s why the restrooms aren’t open… the cleaners aren’t “essential”.
Ergo, that’s why there are trees!

288 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:54:08pm

re: #283 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Joe Barton, who thinks harnessing wind power will cause the wind to slow down and the temperature to go up.
content.time.com

Joe Barton is the same dipshit who apologized to BP because he said Obama was shaking them down over the Deepwater Horizon spill.

289 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:54:52pm

They’re pushing a boycott of Ritz Crackers because of their sponsorship of Al Sharpton… that is MSNBC. Claiming that Ritz is paying for Sharpton’s salary. But they fail to realize that the real money is coming from MSNBC owner Comcast. Perhaps they should boycott Comcast instead. Whatever though these are the same mouth breathing knuckle draggers circa 2004-2008.

290 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:55:38pm

re: #282 Lidane

God these people are fucking stupid:

[Embedded content]


This is a non-starter. The Senate will not sign off on it. POTUS will ignore it.

Get the fuck over it, teabaggers. The ACA isn’t going to be “defunded” or delayed. That genie is out of the bottle already.

Oh, and another thing to the “honorable” Mr. Garrett, what happened to the GOP being all in favor of negotiation? Saying you’ll not accept anything less than defunding or delaying is not how you negotiate.

291 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:55:51pm

re: #222 goddamnedfrank

I can’t believe I have to upding your post, but I read the same Costa piece as you and try as I might I cannot reach a conclusion that does not involve telling off the die-hards like Steve King and Paul Broun. I don’t really like what that shunting aside is going to do, but I’m willing to support it because it beats default.

292 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:56:39pm

re: #284 Targetpractice

Boehner’s already started trying to walk back the demands, hauling out the old saw about how the debt ceiling can’t go up unless Republicans get a deal to address spending and debt, but couldn’t avoid at the same time laying it out there that any deal will not include any new tax revenue.

It’s like watching the operation of a leaky blender full of shit. The splash marks on the walls change, but that does not make any real difference.

293 erik_t  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 3:59:44pm

re: #282 Lidane

This is a non-starter. The Senate will not sign off on it. POTUS will ignore it.

Get the fuck over it, teabaggers. The ACA isn’t going to be “defunded” or delayed. That genie is out of the bottle already.

Delay? It’s here. People have already signed up for it, and made life plans around it. You can’t delay what’s done.

What, you’re just going to walk back the contract you’ve made with those Americans, because your vision of the US government, by and for the people, will just sort of ignore legal agreements it’s already made with those people and fuck them over sideways for a cheap political thrill?

Oh.

Ooooooooh.

I’m beginning to, dare I say it, see a pattern.

294 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:00:31pm

slimdown

i’m beginning to get the idea that the plan is to never re-open the government

another sneaky ‘please-don’t-throw-me-into-the-brier-patch’ ploy like the sequester

295 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:02:34pm

re: #291 Dark_Falcon

I can’t believe I have to upding your post, but I read the same Costa piece as you and try as I might I cannot reach a conclusion that does not involve telling off the die-hards like Steve King and Paul Broun. I don’t really like what that shunting aside is going to do, but I’m willing to support it because it beats default.

DF, perhaps you are now finally realizing that these people are NOT Republicans. They prefer to burn down the country for the greater glory of the Tea Party. They have NO solutions. They have NO concept of “the greater good”. It’s all about scoring points with a bunch of sore losers.
The Republican Party deserves better than this but as long as these annoying ignorant snots are allowed to run things to inevitable complete and total scorched earth destruction I for one, as a Republican, refuse to support them or give them one iota of legitimacy.
The sane grownups in the party need to get a spine and say enough is enough.

296 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:03:29pm

re: #293 erik_t

Delay? It’s here. People have already signed up for it, and made life plans around it. You can’t delay what’s done.

Exactly! To quote Jon Stewart, “It’s a fucking LAW.” And it’s one that has already gone into effect with people signing up for it and everything.

There’s no more “delay” to the ACA. “Defunding” is a joke because the ACA falls under the mandatory spending column alongside Medicare and SS.

What, you’re just going to walk back the contract you’ve made with those Americans, because your vision of the US government, by and for the people, will just sort of ignore legal agreements it’s already made with those people and fuck them over sideways for a cheap political thrill?

Oh.

Ooooooooh.

I’m beginning to, dare I say it, see a pattern.

Yeah, pretty much. The Republicans don’t care who they have to hurt. They just want to stick it to Obama, even if they have to burn the country down to do it.

297 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:03:56pm

re: #294 dog philosopher

slimdown

i’m beginning to get the idea that the plan is to never re-open the government

another sneaky ‘please-don’t-throw-me-into-the-brier-patch’ ploy like the sequester

At RedState, Erickson’s latest thought is passing a clean debt ceiling increase, and never giving up on the shutdown.

Teabagger extremism will probably kill off this rather dangerous idea before it becomes a threat.

298 Danack  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:05:26pm

re: #144 kirkspencer

five years. Or maybe I should say five more years.

And THAT is when people will be willing to take the risk of doing their own business. When even if it all falls in the soup they will have somebody to pay for their daughter’s appendectomy or the surgery for a broken leg without condemning themselves to bankruptcy and years of poverty while they pay the doctors.

and people will move for opportunity. in five more years or so.

That’s not going to take five years.

There’s people out there right now who have a plan for a business, have enough capital to launch the business, but don’t have enough capital to to be able to cope with an unforeseen medical events.

Although startup businesses probably won’t have a measurable effect on a State’s economic performance within 1 year, they will probably have a measurable effect within 3 years, and definitely will within 5 years.

i.e. This is going to boost the economies of the States that have fully implemented Obamacare and the medicaid expansion somewhat before the 2016 election cycle, and a lot before the 2018 cycle. What that actually means for the politics - I have no idea, because herp derp death panels, but you’ve got to hope this helps flush the remaining TeaPartiers out.

299 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:06:24pm

re: #297 EPR-radar

At RedState, Erickson’s latest thought is passing a clean debt ceiling increase, and never giving up on the shutdown.

Teabagger extremism will probably kill off this rather dangerous idea before it becomes a threat.

So hike the debt ceiling but keep the WW2 memorial closed?

I’m sure that will go over well for the RWNJs.

300 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:08:24pm
301 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:08:54pm

re: #295 Backwoods_Sleuth

DF, perhaps you are now finally realizing that these people are NOT Republicans.

What does it matter. All the Republican politicians that Republican voters have elected are willing to go along with this insane extortion scheme out of pure gang mentality loyalty. The Party is now complete dog shit, the brand is worthless. I’m sorry Republican’s but the people you chose to represent you fucked you all over, utterly. They destroyed your identity out of a mixture of ignorance, personal pride, hatred of the other and a myopic inability to predict the most obvious consequences of their actions.

Time to move on.

302 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:09:09pm

re: #295 Backwoods_Sleuth

DF, perhaps you are now finally realizing that these people are NOT Republicans. They prefer to burn down the country for the greater glory of the Tea Party. They have NO solutions. They have NO concept of “the greater good”. It’s all about scoring points with a bunch of sore losers.
The Republican Party deserves better than this but as long as these annoying ignorant snots are allowed to run things to inevitable complete and total scorched earth destruction I for one, as a Republican, refuse to support them or give them one iota of legitimacy.
The sane grownups in the party need to get a spine and say enough is enough.

Must Concur.

Youtube Video

303 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:11:20pm

re: #301 goddamnedfrank

What does it matter. All the Republican politicians that Republican voters have elected are willing to go along with this insane extortion scheme out of pure gang mentality loyalty. The Party is now complete dog shit, the brand is worthless. I’m sorry Republican’s but the people you chose to represent you fucked you all over, utterly, they destroyed your identity out of a mixture of ignorance, personal pride, hatred of the other and a myopic inability to predict the most obvious consequences of their actions.

Time to move on.

Hell, I thought that WAS their brand identity.

304 Targetpractice  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:11:37pm

re: #297 EPR-radar

At RedState, Erickson’s latest thought is passing a clean debt ceiling increase, and never giving up on the shutdown.

Teabagger extremism will probably kill off this rather dangerous idea before it becomes a threat.

I’ve considered the possibility that they might go for that, but it doesn’t really work. The idea is that the default is the best chance they have at forced a deal to be made. If they give up on the default, then the shutdown becomes a matter of how long they expect to drag out this farce. Even if they truly wanted to engage in this joke about how they’re going to summarily fire 15% of the government, there’s still over a million workers who are not taking home a paycheck due to this shutdown.

305 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:11:53pm

re: #289 Gus

They’re pushing a boycott of Ritz Crackers because of their sponsorship of Al Sharpton… that is MSNBC. Claiming that Ritz is paying for Sharpton’s salary. But they fail to realize that the real money is coming from MSNBC owner Comcast. Perhaps they should boycott Comcast instead. Whatever though these are the same mouth breathing knuckle draggers circa 2004-2008.

The whole BOYCOTT AL SHARPTON!!!11!!! is a reaction to the #StopRush boycott. The difference is that Rush has about a gazillion times more listeners than Al.

Also you can buy generic Ritz crackers for half the price of the name brand.

306 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:12:35pm

Pamela you ignorant dipshit. They already have JRRBZ at Walmart.

307 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:12:55pm

re: #301 goddamnedfrank

What does it matter. All the Republican politicians that Republican voters have elected are willing to go along with this insane extortion scheme out of pure gang mentality loyalty. The Party is now complete dog shit, the brand is worthless. I’m sorry Republican’s but the people you chose to represent you fucked you all over, utterly. They destroyed your identity out of a mixture of ignorance, personal pride, hatred of the other and a myopic inability to predict the most obvious consequences of their actions.

Time to move on.

Which is why I have been voting D, other than local elections.

308 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:13:43pm

re: #305 Vicious Babushka

The whole BOYCOTT AL SHARPTON!!!11!!! is a reaction to the #StopRush boycott. The difference is that Rush has about a gazillion times more listeners than Al.

Also you can buy generic Ritz crackers for half the price of the name brand.

Can one use generic Ritz crackers to make a mock apple pie, or is that too many removes from reality?

BTW, why in hell would anyone have ever come up with ‘mock apple pie’? Surely apples are cheaper than crackers?

309 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:15:02pm

re: #306 Vicious Babushka

Pamela you ignorant dipshit. They already have JRRBZ at Walmart.

[Embedded content]

So, take the next step, Pamela? What group in society doesn’t have enough money to buy goods, and create those jobs?

310 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:17:17pm

re: #308 GeneJockey

Can one use generic Ritz crackers to make a mock apple pie, or is that too many removes from reality?

BTW, why in hell would anyone have ever come up with ‘mock apple pie’? Surely apples are cheaper than crackers?

I think apples were hard to get in some areas of the country during the Depression or something.

Anyway, whatever, here’s the recipe.

I have never tried it and never will.

311 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:17:51pm

re: #304 Targetpractice

I’ve considered the possibility that they might go for that, but it doesn’t really work. The idea is that the default is the best chance they have at forced a deal to be made. If they give up on the default, then the shutdown becomes a matter of how long they expect to drag out this farce. Even if they truly wanted to engage in this joke about how they’re going to summarily fire 15% of the government, there’s still over a million workers who are not taking home a paycheck due to this shutdown.

The difficulty with forcing the issue on the debt ceiling is that, if the Democrats hold the line, GOP leadership is going to be getting calls that must be answered from the Great Old Ones that would be pissed at having to take action openly to prevent default.

If an indefinite government shutdown would not awaken the Great Old Ones, that might look like a pretty good deal to desperate GOP politicians.

312 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:18:48pm

Ritz Freedum Crackers!

313 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:19:32pm

re: #307 Backwoods_Sleuth

Which is why I have been voting D, other than local elections.

Might I gently suggest that changing your registration may also have an impact? And since you are a sentient being, can I interest you in a party that bases its economic policies on empirically verifiable principles, which understands that Capitalism works best when the weakest are protected or the machine tears itself apart; that recognizes that America becomes stronger by inclusion than exclusion; and that two guys marrying affects your own marriage not at all?

The Republicans of yore still exist. They’re called the Democratic Party.

314 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:20:05pm

re: #309 GeneJockey

So, take the next step, Pamela? What group in society doesn’t have enough money to buy goods, and create those jobs?

Pamela has never had a JRRB, she married a rich guy for a living and now she hates Muslims for teh lulz and she gets money for that too.

315 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:22:20pm

re: #310 Vicious Babushka

I think apples were hard to get in some areas of the country during the Depression or something.

Anyway, whatever, here’s the recipe.

I have never tried it and never will.

Good choice.

Apple sauce, apple juice, and apple pie filling fed me and clothed me during my childhood, put a roof over my head, and put me through college. I’ll reserve Ritz crackers for snacking on in front of the TV.

316 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:22:54pm

re: #314 Vicious Babushka

Pamela has never had a JRRB, she married a rich guy for a living and now she hates Muslims for teh lulz and she gets money for that too.

“Why don’t all these unemployed young people just marry rich guys?”

317 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:23:33pm

re: #313 GeneJockey

The Republicans of yore still exist. They’re called the Democratic Party.

THIS x a billion. Exhibit A? The Affordable Care Act, which started life as a Heritage Foundation idea.

The fact that the GOP are now so rabidly against what used to be the Republican alternative to Hillarycare that they’re willing to burn the country down over it should be a wakeup call for people. The Democrats are now the center-right party. The Republicans are in far-right loony land.

318 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:23:54pm

Hey Prudence, Jay Leno is a COMEDIAN!
Also, he’s a Democrat.

319 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:25:55pm

It does appear that Sen. Mark Kirk does at least understand the sort of fire Ted Cruz is playing with, since he just laid down a relevant marker:

320 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:26:21pm

*HEADDESK*

These wingnuts srsly have NO FREAKING IDEA about the debt limit and what not raising it will do to the country.

WELL MY GRANNY PINCHED PENNIES AND NEVER BOUGHT NUTHIN’ SHE COULDN’T PAY FOR CASH DOWN ON THE BARRELHEAD. THAT’S HOW WE SHOULD BE RUNNIN’ THIS COUNTRY NOT SPENDING ALL KINDSA MONEYS ON THAT DAMN OBAMACARE AND FUUD STAMPZ!!11!!!

321 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:26:42pm

re: #311 EPR-radar

The difficulty with forcing the issue on the debt ceiling is that, if the Democrats hold the line, GOP leadership is going to be getting calls that must be answered from the Great Old Ones that would be pissed at having to take action openly to prevent default.

If an indefinite government shutdown would not awaken the Great Old Ones, that might look like a pretty good deal to desperate GOP politicians.

Hmmmm………….Goldmansachslarthotep? BofA-Sototh? The fearsome Merrill-Lynchthulu?

322 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:27:01pm

So yeah. Ritz Crackers. Al Sharpton. The CEO of the parent company (owner) of Ritz:

Irene Blecker Rosenfeld (born May 3, 1953) is an American executive who is the current Chairman and CEO of Mondelēz International…

Rosenfeld was born in Westbury, New York to parents Seymour and Joan Blecker, a Jewish couple. Her father’s parents were Romanian Jews, her mother’s grandparents were German Jews.

323 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:27:05pm

re: #317 Lidane

THIS x a billion. Exhibit A? The Affordable Care Act, which started life as a Heritage Foundation idea.

The fact that the GOP are now so rabidly against what used to be the Republican alternative to Hillarycare that they’re willing to burn the country down over it should be a wakeup call for people. The Democrats are now the center-right party. The Republicans are in far-right loony land.

The ACA is also to the right of the healthcare bill Nixon was pushing back around 1970.

324 lawhawk  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:27:13pm

re: #264 jaunte

Lunatic fringe, I know you’re out there…

Bachmann: ‘End Times’ Are Coming Because Obama Is Supporting Al-Qaeda

Because nabbing one of the al Qaeda bigwigs responsible for the 1998 African embassy bombings and killing OBL shows the president supports al Qaeda. Rectal-cranial inversions. That’s what these people are.

325 erik_t  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:27:25pm

I’ll believe Mark Kirk’s vote when I see it.

326 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:28:00pm

re: #306 Vicious Babushka

Pamela you ignorant dipshit. They already have JRRBZ at Walmart.

wingnut vicious stupid cycle

1. if peoples wants insurance, get a jobz
2. gummint can’t make jobz, obama should help business make jobz by lowering minimum wage and biz taxes stop making business buy health insurance and by the way make minimum wage pay income taxes
3. peoples who haz gots jobz now have no insurance & they’re even moar broke
4. profit!

327 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:29:14pm

re: #316 GeneJockey

“Why don’t all these unemployed young people just marry rich guys?”

where is that rich lawyer chick who was gonna make me a pampered house-husband?

all those years learning how to cook & clean out the window…

328 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:30:05pm

re: #327 dog philosopher

where is that rich lawyer chick who was gonna make me a pampered house-husband?

all those years learning how to cook & clean out the window

How do you clean out a window? Vacuum up the dead bugs?

329 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:30:41pm

re: #325 erik_t

I’ll believe Mark Kirk’s vote when I see it.

‘Trust but verify’ used to be the old arms control formula for dealing with the Soviets. How ironic that it applies so well to dealing with this GOP.

330 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:31:08pm

re: #313 GeneJockey

Might I gently suggest that changing your registration may also have an impact? And since you are a sentient being, can I interest you in a party that bases its economic policies on empirically verifiable principles, which understands that Capitalism works best when the weakest are protected or the machine tears itself apart; that recognizes that America becomes stronger by inclusion than exclusion; and that two guys marrying affects your own marriage not at all?

The Republicans of yore still exist. They’re called the Democratic Party.

Actually, no, changing my registration won’t make any difference. My county is so entrenched that all local offices are decided in the Republican primary in May. November is just a rubber stamp. (Primaries are closed here in Kentucky.)
OTOH, it would help if the Democratic Party here would put up viable candidates, but they don’t. Last election they did put up one candidate for the top county office and she did very well in the general (even though she lost).
Baby steps, I suppose.

331 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:31:37pm

re: #325 erik_t

I’ll believe Mark Kirk’s vote when I see it.

He’ll cast it as he said he will. He represents Illinois, and the financial interests here would turn on him if he were to court default.

332 piratedan  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:32:29pm

re: #320 Vicious Babushka

ahhh yeah, Senator Tom, who in good faith helped former Senator Ensign broker his payoff to his former staffer that he was shtupping, good christian soul that he is. Also in charge for the prayathon hoping for divine intervention to prevent Senator Byrd from showing up for the key ACA cloture vote.

I really hope that when Senator Tom meets his maker, that whatever functionary of perpetual and divine bliss can give him a suitable laundry list of his transgressions while he toiled on this mortal coil.

333 austin_blue  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:32:39pm

You’ve gotta love this:

nytimes.com

The meat and veg:

“Early this year, it turns out, some of the usual suspects — the Koch brothers, the political arm of the Heritage Foundation and others — plotted strategy in the wake of Republican electoral defeat. Did they talk about rethinking ideas that voters had soundly rejected? No, they talked extortion, insisting that the threat of a shutdown would induce President Obama to abandon health reform.

This was crazy talk. After all, health reform is Mr. Obama’s signature domestic achievement. You’d have to be completely clueless to believe that he could be bullied into giving up his entire legacy by a defeated, unpopular G.O.P. — as opposed to responding, as he has, by making resistance to blackmail an issue of principle. But the possibility that their strategy might backfire doesn’t seem to have occurred to the would-be extortionists.

Even more remarkable, in its way, was the response of House Republican leaders, who didn’t tell the activists they were being foolish. All they did was urge that the extortion attempt be made over the debt ceiling rather than a government shutdown. And as recently as last week Eric Cantor, the majority leader, was in effect assuring his colleagues that the president will, in fact, give in to blackmail. As far as anyone can tell, Republican leaders are just beginning to suspect that Mr. Obama really means what he has been saying all along.”

Good stuff!

334 erik_t  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:33:01pm

re: #329 EPR-radar

‘Trust but verify’ used to be the old arms control formula for dealing with the Soviets. How ironic that it applies so well to dealing with this GOP.

No, no. Just “verify”.

Trust has been dead for a while. The entire concept of defaulting on our debts is an explicit admission that the GOP considers America to be unworthy of trust.

335 lawhawk  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:33:18pm

re: #306 Vicious Babushka

Overburdened on mom and dad’s insurance. As opposed to going without insurance at all because they’re barely making by in/just out of college, working entry level jobs that aren’t providing insurance.

336 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:33:30pm

re: #328 GeneJockey

How do you clean out a window? Vacuum up the dead bugs?

Somebody has to do it.
I hate it when it’s my job…

337 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:33:34pm

re: #319 Dark_Falcon

It does appear that Sen. Mark Kirk does at least understand the sort of fire Ted Cruz is playing with, since he just laid down a relevant marker:

[Embedded content]

You know he lied right, about Obama being afraid of people experiencing the ACA? Kirk’s statement at the War Memorial was the worst kind of pandering, bullshit, nonsensical lie.

I get why you’ve been desperate to avoid dealing with this for days, because at this point Kirk represents the one branch of the GOP you’re desperately clinging to so that a flood stage river of rational thought won’t sweep you away.

338 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:33:46pm

re: #331 Dark_Falcon

He’ll cast it as he said he will. He represents Illinois, and the financial interests here would turn on him if he were to court default.

I would so very much like to read a transcript of a conversation between Boehner and the real rulers of the US, where it is made crystal clear to Boehner what will happen to him if he screws up and defaults.

339 dog philosopher  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:34:03pm

re: #328 GeneJockey

How do you clean out a window? Vacuum up the dead bugs?

that is onna my supersekrit househusband mad skillz!!

340 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:35:22pm

re: #334 erik_t

No, no. Just “verify”.

Trust has been dead for a while. The entire concept of defaulting on our debts is an explicit admission that the GOP considers America to be unworthy of trust.

It’s not like we ever trusted the Soviets very much back in the day (i.e., as applied, it was about 0% trust and 100% verify).

341 thedopefishlives  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:36:08pm

re: #322 Gus

So yeah. Ritz Crackers. Al Sharpton. The CEO of the parent company (owner) of Ritz:

My father is a recent retiree of her company.

342 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:36:16pm

re: #329 EPR-radar

‘Trust but verify’ used to be the old arms control formula for dealing with the Soviets. How ironic that it applies so well to dealing with this GOP.

Actually, ‘trust but verify’ was popularized by Ronald Reagan in response to earlier arm control treaty monitoring that had not been up to par. The Soviets balked at his requirements for a time, but they accepted them ultimately and that acceptance was critical in making the IRBM Treaty that saw the SS-20s and Pershing IIs scrapped viable.

But the other thing to know here was that Reagan was as good as his word on his ‘zero option’. Once the treaty was signed and the deal done, he made sure the US lived up to its commitments and did not attempt to change the agreed upon rules.

343 erik_t  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:37:02pm

re: #340 EPR-radar

It’s not like we ever trusted the Soviets very much back in the day (i.e., as applied, it was about 0% trust and 100% verify).

Well, both the Soviet Union and the GOP have their own little version of MAD. One economic, one nuclear, but both very much a cut-off-nose-to-spite-face option.

The Soviets never pushed that button. We’ll see if the Republican Party can resist the temptation.

344 Dr Lizardo  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:37:32pm

re: #338 EPR-radar

I would so very much like to read a transcript of a conversation between Boehner and the real rulers of the US, where it is made crystal clear to Boehner what will happen to him if he screws up and defaults.

I’d very much like to read - at some future date - the transcript of the afternoon when the Wall Street boys came to Capitol Hill and read the GOP the Riot Act over the potential of a debt default.

I suspect that little chat will be happening in the next few days.

345 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:37:48pm

re: #343 erik_t

Well, both the Soviet Union and the GOP have their own little version of MAD. One economic, one nuclear, but both very much a cut-off-nose-to-spite-face option.

The Soviets never pushed that button. We’ll see if the Republican Party can resist the temptation.

I’m afraid that they’re all Curtis LeMay.

346 Lidane  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:37:57pm

But remember, kids— the real tragedies are that people can’t take their fishing boats out to the Florida Bay and the WW2 Memorial is closed.

347 EPR-radar  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:38:00pm

re: #343 erik_t

Well, both the Soviet Union and the GOP have their own little version of MAD. One economic, one nuclear, but both very much a cut-off-nose-to-spite-face option.

The Soviets never pushed that button. We’ll see if the Republican Party can resist the temptation.

The Soviet apparatus was certainly more capable of acting in rational self-interest than the US Teabaggers.

348 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:39:14pm

re: #336 Backwoods_Sleuth

Somebody has to do it.
I hate it when it’s my job…

I believe that the advent of longer-lived CFL and other light bulbs will lead to an increase over time in the number of dead bugs in America’s ceiling fixtures.

349 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:39:16pm

re: #346 Lidane

[Embedded content]

and food stamps cut off…

350 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:39:44pm

re: #346 Lidane

[Embedded content]

But remember, kids— the real tragedies are that people can’t take their fishing boats out to the Florida Bay and the WW2 Memorial is closed.

Not telegenic enough.

351 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:40:15pm

re: #348 GeneJockey

I believe that the advent of longer-lived CFL and other light bulbs will lead to an increase over time in the number of dead bugs in America’s ceiling fixtures.

OK, those are WORSE than windows…trying to carefully remove said ceiling fixtures NEVER end well…

352 Dark_Falcon  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:40:35pm

BBL

353 goddamnedfrank  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:41:21pm

re: #337 goddamnedfrank

I’m not trying to be a dick about this (it just comes naturally.) But you should know Dark that as long as you avoid dealing with this issue every single time Kirk comes up in conversation, even tangentially, it’s going to come up.

Kirk lied. That’s not even remotely controversial. All you have to do is come out and acknowledge it and that he did it out of political expediency. It’s obvious to everyone that on some level Kirk is just as terrified of the Tea Party as every other Republican politician, so he told a blatant, nonsensical lie to try and appease them.

354 Gus  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:41:36pm

re: #341 thedopefishlives

My father is a recent retiree of her company.

Good or bad? Mixed?

355 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:41:58pm

re: #351 Backwoods_Sleuth

OK, those are WORSE than windows…trying to carefully remove said ceiling fixtures NEVER end well…

Because dead bugs on window sills don’t fall onto your face, into your hair, or get in your eyes.

356 Amory Blaine  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:43:23pm

Boehner should sell his own brand of bourbon.

357 Backwoods_Sleuth  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:44:31pm

re: #356 Amory Blaine

Boehner should sell his own brand of bourbon.

Wouldn’t work out well because his business model would require taste testing every bottle for quality control purposes…

358 GeneJockey  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:48:41pm

re: #357 Backwoods_Sleuth

Wouldn’t work out well because his business model would require taste testing every bottle for quality control purposes…

“Zisss onezz too goodta sell. Le’ss ge’ some BIG glassezz an’ drinkit!”

359 Vicious Babushka  Mon, Oct 7, 2013 4:55:45pm

re: #335 lawhawk

Overburdened on mom and dad’s insurance. As opposed to going without insurance at all because they’re barely making by in/just out of college, working entry level jobs that aren’t providing insurance.

WE SHUD ALL BE LIKE TEH WALTONS!!11 THEY ARE TEH FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE ONEZ!!11!! THEY ARE WORKING HARDER & SMARTER THEN EVERYWUN BUY OFFERING ONLY TEH BEST VALEWS FOR TEH CHEAPEST PRICE!!!! AND THEY ARE KIND AN GENEROUS CREEYATIN JRRBZ FOR ALL THEM UNSKILLED UNEXPERIENCED STARTIN OUT IN THE JRRB WORLD, TEACHIN EM TEH VALEW OF WORKIN A HARD DAY!!!111 WALTON CREYATE TEH MOAST JRRBZ OF ALL!!!!!1 HOW MENY JRRBZ HAS YEW CREEYATED U LIBRUL YOONYUN THUG?? HOW MENNY?? NOT AS MENY AS TEH WALTONS SO YOU AIN’T WERTH AS MUCH AS THEM!!!!! I WURK AT WALMART AN I NEVER TOOK NO FOOD STAMPZ NOSIREE!!!!!!*

*Based on an actual Twitter exchange I had with an angry Walmart shill.


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