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1 Amory Blaine  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 4:57:35pm

I love Colbert. I roll with laughter at his mile-a-minute snark.

2 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 4:58:19pm

“DNA will determine your social class”

Says the guy who owes his whole career to being Ron Paul’s son.

3 Balfour Rage  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:04:09pm

Rand Paul, for the love of God would you get a decent haircut?

4 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:04:46pm
5 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:05:39pm

Next up, Rand Paul warns in the not too distant future, scientists will abduct citizens at random, fire them into space and force them to watch terrible movies with only robots at their companions.

6 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:05:45pm

re: #2 Kragar

“DNA will determine your social class”

Says the guy who owes his whole career to being Ron Paul’s son.

Somehow, I think there are those who already think this is the truth and that those libruls are going against G-d’s determined order of the world.

Rand—aren’t you one of those?

7 William of Orange  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:06:41pm

Haven’t seen a Democrat this mad since… ever, really!

Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) rose from his seat on Tuesday during a congressional hearing into the Affordable Care Act’s problematic roll-out. He accused his Republican colleagues in the House of dishonestly seeking to identify the problems with the ACA because they would prefer to see it repealed entirely.

Pascrell began by insisting that, even though Democrats opposed Medicare Part D in the Bush Era, they worked to make sure that the program was a success.

He became animated as he said that Democrats put aside their opposition to Bush in order to make a policy objective work for the good of the American public. “And how many of you stood up to do that?” Pascrell said, exploding out of his chair. “None. Zero.”

“What are you going to do about the approximately 17 million children with preexisting conditions who can no longer be denied health insurance coverage?” Pascrell asked his Republican colleagues. “We want to go back and want to say you are no longer covered any longer. Are you going to tell the parents of those kids?”

Pascrell blew up at Rep. Tim Griffin (R-AR)* who insisted that the GOP has put forward a number of proposals to ensure that low-income people in need of care receive it.

“Are you really serious?” Pascrell shot back. “After what we’ve gone through and what we’ve gone through in the last three and a half years?”

“We’ve gone through 44 votes, 48 votes now of you trying to dismantle the legislation,” he concluded. “You call that cooperation?”

Refreshing stuff! It’s about time someone told the truth on CSPAN, short of “Are you fuckin’ kidding me??”


Youtube Video

Edit:
Oops, bad manners from me. Forgot the source.
Crooks &Liars.com

8 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:08:29pm

I don’t know about the whole eugenics things, but this damn life clock in my hand itches like crazy. Oh well, Carousel.

9 freetoken  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:09:45pm
Increasingly, it seems like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert are doing the best reporting on television.

Given how much of so called serious “news” is really about filling time by finding ever more extravagant ways of repeating themselves and others, it’s up to the comedians to tell the truth.

Consider this HuffPo sensational headline:

Americans Don’t Think More Minorities In Congress Would Be ‘A Good Thing’

GASP!

But… wait.

Let’s look at what the actual poll said:

Poll Finds Vast Gaps in Basic Views On Gender, Race, Religion and Politics


3. If more [ITEM] were elected to the U.S. Congress, do you think that would be a good
thing, a bad thing or does it make no difference to you? Do you feel that way
strongly, or somewhat?
10/20/13 – Summary Table
---- Good thing ----- ----- Bad thing ----- Makes no No
NET Strngly Smwht NET Smwht Strngly difference op.
a. Women 43 32 11 4 2 2 53 1
b. Nonwhites 23 16 6 3 1 2 73 1


4. Thinking about the latest budget dispute in Washington – if there were more women
and nonwhites in Congress, do you think budget issues would be (easier) to settle,
(harder) to settle, or would it make no difference?
Easier Harder No difference No opinion
10/20/13 25 6 66 3

Note that the HuffPo headline writer misleads, in that the actual question has three possible answers, it was not a binary question. That is, the “no difference” category could include people checking it for a very wide variety of reasons, not because they think more minorities in Congress would be bad.

Furthermore, I copied the next question on the list, the results of which suggest that the sampled pool of Americans are skeptical that any of the changes offered by the pollsters really matters.

I wonder what would happen if the pollsters added an option under questions 3 and 4, along the lines of (d) “This is fucking stupid poll”. I wonder how many of the pollees would have chosen that one?

10 wrenchwench  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:11:59pm

re: #3 Balfour Rage

Rand Paul, for the love of God would you get a decent haircut?

There’s some hair that all you can do with it is grow it out and put it in a pony tail. But for Rand, that goes with the Aqua Buddha, and he had to give that up, so….. Bad hair.

11 dog philosopher  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:12:32pm

If more [ITEM] were elected to the U.S. Congress

this is good news for all us [ITEM]s!

12 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:14:00pm
13 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:14:42pm

re: #11 dog philosopher

If more [ITEM] were elected to the U.S. Congress

this is good news for all us [ITEM]s!

I’m a huge fan of [localsportsteam].

14 Amory Blaine  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:19:44pm

Did anyone see the rainbow confederate flag on The Daily Show last night? I couldn’t see if it had hello kitties on it though.

15 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:22:46pm
16 freetoken  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:27:15pm

re: #15 FemNaziBitch

I see there’s that re-messaging at work again.

17 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:29:05pm
18 Charles Johnson  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:34:20pm
19 piratedan  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:35:37pm

re: #18 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

I’d say it’s our current standard……

for example…. see the WH Press Corps

20 Lidane  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:37:27pm

re: #18 Charles Johnson

Fact checking what our sources tell us before we go on the air — is that a good thing or a bad thing?

/CNN

21 Lidane  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:40:16pm
22 piratedan  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:45:31pm

re: #21 Lidane

[Embedded content]

that’s cool how communists have evolved from being godless atheists that persecuted those practitioners of Russian Orthodoxy into being compliant henchmen implementing Sharia Law….betting that they have some Jewish Nazi’s working with them too.

23 freetoken  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:52:50pm

If this Page is anything to go by as far as predicting what the 2016 election participants will be, we ought to be in for a really doozy of an election cycle.

EUGENICS!!

24 Suranis  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:54:55pm

re: #21 Lidane

Wow, good thing the USA are not allies with any countries that have Sharia as their law then, isn’t it. And good thing no REPUBLICAN president was ever close with the ruling family of a country with communist Sharia law. Republican Presidents are real Americans!

25 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:56:06pm

re: #13 Kragar

I’m a huge fan of [localsportsteam].

Tell me, how do the locals carry port steam?

26 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:56:48pm

re: #21 Lidane

[Embedded content]

Communist Shariah. Makes perfect sense if you’re a derpfuck.

27 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:56:52pm

re: #17 FemNaziBitch

Sci-Fi Swan

Carrier has arrived.

28 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:58:19pm

re: #25 Feline Fearless Leader

Tell me, how do the locals carry port steam?

In a steamboat.

29 Targetpractice  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 5:59:52pm

Don’t know which is funnier, hearing wingnuts act as cheerleaders for shitty insurance policies or getting irate over the President telling people to “shop around” for better policies.

30 Lidane  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:01:05pm

The new Arcade Fire album kicks ass. That is all.

31 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:01:12pm

re: #29 Targetpractice

Don’t know which is funnier, hearing wingnuts act as cheerleaders for shitty insurance policies or getting irate over the President telling people to “shop around” for better policies.

The latter. Them shilling for shitty insurance policies is somewhat predictable. Them getting irate at the president telling people to shop around the market place all the while they call him a Marxist is pure comedy gold in my book.

32 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:01:52pm

re: #30 Lidane

The new Arcade Fire album kicks ass. That is all.

Going to listen to it tomorrow when I work out. Appreciate the quick review. Speaking of new albums, I really enjoyed the new Arctic Monkeys’ LP.

33 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:04:13pm

OT, but it’s about food. :)

Stuffed Pumpkin V 2.0
This is a sweet version - “stuffing” is pecan pieces, dried cranberries, raisins, diced apple (Granny Smith), butter, brown sugar, plus cinnamon, nutmeg, and a dash of ground cloves. Along with 3/4 cup of apple cider.

Image: Stuffed_Pumpkin_II.jpg

Image: Stuff_Pumpkin_II_-_inside.jpg

Image: Stuffed_Pumpkin_II_-_serving.jpg

Not overly sweet, nice smell and texture. Something missing since I immediately thought doing it a’la mode would improve it.

I think pecans are the right nut, but maybe have to use less. The fruit mix might be the main thing to tweak, keep the cranberries and apple, but maybe go for something different other than raisins.

Also would want to see what I could do to get more flavoring into the pumpkin flesh itself without carrying out explicit blending after cooking. Perhaps scoring the inside and rubbing the spice mixture there.

I am also tempted to add just the barest touch of vanilla extract the next go round as well.

34 ObserverArt  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:06:07pm

re: #21 Lidane

[ Right Wing Watch @RightWingWatch

Rick Wiles warns that “Marxist Muslim” Obama will “dismantle the US” and impose communist Sharia bit.ly

Well he better damn well hurry up. He is awfully slow for a power hungry dictator. Does he even have a good group of out of control scary jackbooted thugs in place yet?

35 wrenchwench  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:06:56pm

re: #33 Feline Fearless Leader

Looks like you stuffed a mince meat pie into a pumpkin. Which also sounds like a good idea…..

36 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:07:44pm

Next on the list of wingnut fears:
Communist monarchs
Secular Islamists
Violent peaceniks

37 Targetpractice  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:08:31pm

re: #36 HappyWarrior

Next on the list of wingnut fears:
Communist monarchs
Secular Islamists
Violent peaceniks

Militant wing of the Salvation Army?

38 122 Year Old Obama  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:08:32pm

re: #36 HappyWarrior

Next on the list of wingnut fears:
Secular Islamists

BillO already warned us about this one.

39 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:08:44pm

re: #34 ObserverArt

Well he better damn well hurry up. He is awfully slow for a power hungry dictator. Does he even have a good group of out of control scary jackbooted thugs in place yet?

Lazy bastard won’t even imprison his detractors. The nerve of him to think that his opponents shouldn’t have any repercussions.

40 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:09:03pm

re: #38 122 Year Old Obama

BillO already warned us about this one.

I thought it was Newt.

41 ObserverArt  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:09:17pm

re: #36 HappyWarrior

Next on the list of wingnut fears:
Communist monarchs
Secular Islamists
Violent peaceniks

Shoot. I thought Occupy Wallstreet had the violent peaceniks covered.

/

42 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:09:19pm

re: #37 Targetpractice

Militant wing of the Salvation Army?

My favorite Austin Powers gag.

43 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:10:30pm

Or the worst of them all
KenyanbywayofKansasKeynesians.

44 wrenchwench  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:12:57pm
45 ObserverArt  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:14:16pm

Maybe Obama can turn the Salvation Army into the jackbooted thugs.

Look. Your gonna take this food and these clothes. Is good for country.

46 122 Year Old Obama  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:14:27pm

re: #40 HappyWarrior

I thought it was Newt.

Was it? Hm. Can’t remember exactly, and I’m too lazy to look it up.

47 Political Atheist  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:15:04pm
48 ObserverArt  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:16:25pm

re: #44 wrenchwench

Later, lizards.

Ram Paul!

49 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:22:37pm

bbl

50 dog philosopher  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:32:13pm

ok trying a little brooot force search here…

51 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:33:17pm

re: #50 dog philosopher

ok trying a little brooot force search here…

bro*t force you say?

/why yes we just hit the regular expressions portion of the homework.

52 darthstar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:33:51pm
53 dog philosopher  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:35:34pm

re: #51 klys

bro*t force you say?

/why yes we just hit the regular expressions portion of the homework.

ok ok try this

write a regular expression that matches any palindrome

54 darthstar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:35:50pm
55 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:38:29pm

re: #53 dog philosopher

ok ok try this

write a regular expression that matches any palindrome

hahahaha, not until I finish the ones actually on the homework.

so far assuming the language is (a,b), I have eliminated ba and bb as substrings.

56 b_sharp  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:39:12pm

re: #52 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Holy chapstick Rootman.

It burned my mind out.

57 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:46:08pm

re: #52 darthstar

[Embedded content]

No great drive home - but some good sunsets around here every so often.
;)

Image: Philly_Sunset.jpg

58 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:48:04pm

re: #57 Feline Fearless Leader

No great drive home - but some good sunsets around here every so often.
;)

Image: Philly_Sunset.jpg

City sunsets. Mmm.

From the Tokyo Tower with Fuji-san in the background.

59 b_sharp  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:51:44pm

Did you know the motto of my province is The Land of the Living Skies?

60 Donna Ballard  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:56:33pm

Hi Kids, whats shakin?

61 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:57:56pm

re: #58 klys

City sunsets. Mmm.

From the Tokyo Tower with Fuji-san in the background.

And here we can go with the one sunset I would have killed to have been able to photograph. (Photo by husband about 3 years before we met.)

62 Charles Johnson  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 6:59:56pm
63 Political Atheist  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:01:30pm

re: #62 Charles Johnson

A traitor at heart. Truly. Dude just hates his home.

64 Dave In Austin  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:02:45pm

Buried very very deep…..

Faux Bidness Neuze

65 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:03:53pm

re: #60 Donna Ballard

Hi Kids, whats shakin?

Looks like Boston will in a few hours.

66 Donna Ballard  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:04:32pm

re: #63 Political Atheist

Well, even the lowest scum at the bottom of the gene pool gets to have a say these days. No big surprise there!

67 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:05:04pm

re: #61 klys

Not a sunset, but I have a beach in the morning.

Image: Kure_Beach.jpg

68 ObserverArt  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:06:09pm

re: #63 Political Atheist

A traitor at heart. Truly. Dude just hates his home.

Does he hate his home more than he is enjoying his “power” over it? I think the dude has a huge ego he needs to feed.

I still believe he is going to get his. You can’t be that drunk on power not to get yourself into something you will regret.

69 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:06:11pm

Kids are busy gutting pumpkins.

70 Stanley Sea  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:08:01pm

re: #65 Feline Fearless Leader

Looks like Boston will in a few hours.

Hoping so.

71 Political Atheist  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:09:33pm

re: #68 ObserverArt

Does he hate his home more than he is enjoying his “power” over it? I think the dude has a huge ego he needs to feed.

I still believe he is going to get his. You can’t be that drunk on power not to get yourself into something you will regret.

Time wounds all heels.

72 freetoken  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:12:16pm

re: #66 Donna Ballard

Well, even the lowest scum at the bottom of the gene pool gets to have a say these days. No big surprise there!

Are we not waiting for our Eugenicist Overlord to cull the population?

73 CuriousLurker  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:12:45pm

re: #21 Lidane

[Embedded content]

OFFS, saying “communist Sharia” makes about as much sense as saying “totalitarian anarchy”. I give up—I’m gonna go to bed and try again tomorrow.

G’nite, lizards.

74 compound_Idaho  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:13:05pm

re: #29 Targetpractice

Don’t know which is funnier, hearing wingnuts act as cheerleaders for shitty insurance policies or getting irate over the President telling people to “shop around” for better policies.

I did shop.

I have had the same individual policy for 22 years (Time/Assurant). My agent laughs every time he sees the policy number. I left my job for a government contractor 23 years ago. I have been self employed for 23 years. My HSA policy has suited my family very well. New baby, more than a few trips to the emergency room, all the normal stuff, one ambulance ride and one major hospital bill.

It is not substandard insurance. They have always lived up to the terms of the agreement with no debate.

The last letter from the carrier tells me I am grandfathered in. Hope it stays that way. Near as I can tell a comparable ACA compliant policy will run about 40% more.

I know, I know, just one anecdotal example.

75 Stanley Sea  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:20:04pm

Anyone know the ACA standards that are causing these policies to be dropped? My understanding is that the policies do not meet them, so they are not in compliance. Yearly out of pocket?

76 Political Atheist  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:23:52pm

re: #75 Stanley Sea

From reports, it varies widely. Hard to sort wheat from chaff. I think individuals with lesser coverage are most impacted. Sometimes it’s a little more money sometimes it’s a lot, at least by the standards of a small biz middle class kinda situation.

77 sagehen  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:25:22pm

re: #75 Stanley Sea

Anyone know the ACA standards that are causing these policies to be dropped? My understanding is that the policies do not meet them, so they are not in compliance. Yearly out of pocket?

Lifetime caps, huge deductibles, no coverage for preventive care, knock kids off the family policy at age 18…

78 compound_Idaho  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:25:27pm

re: #75 Stanley Sea

Anyone know the ACA standards that are causing these policies to be dropped? My understanding is that the policies do not meet them, so they are not in compliance. Yearly out of pocket?

Higher mental health/substance abuse coverage is one common sticking point.

79 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:28:04pm

re: #74 compound_Idaho

I did shop.

I have had the same individual policy for 22 years (Time/Assurant). My agent laughs every time he sees the policy number. I left my job for a government contractor 23 years ago. I have been self employed for 23 years. My HSA policy has suited my family very well. New baby, more than a few trips to the emergency room, all the normal stuff, one ambulance ride and one major hospital bill.

It is not substandard insurance. They have always lived up to the terms of the agreement with no debate.

The last letter from the carrier tells me I am grandfathered in. Hope it stays that way. Near as I can tell a comparable ACA compliant policy will run about 40% more.

I know, I know, just one anecdotal example.

What’s all the “normal stuff” actually mean, how are you judging “comparable”? Does it cover one preemptive office visit per year at no cost? What’s the office visit copay? Prescription generic vs. brand name copay? What’s the deductible and is or was there a yearly/lifetime benefit cap? What’s the coverage on x-rays, labs, CT/MRI/PET imaging, specialists and urgent care? What’s the difference in max out of pocket?

Also importantly, when you’re saying that the comparable ACA compliant plan will cost 40% more are you factoring in the tax penalty equal to 1% of your gross household income? Because that amount needs to be added to your old insurance policy costs for FY 2014, 2% for 2015, and 2.5% for 2016 and beyond.

80 darthstar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:29:01pm

re: #62 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Greenwald is a dick.

81 ObserverArt  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:29:06pm

re: #75 Stanley Sea

Anyone know the ACA standards that are causing these policies to be dropped? My understanding is that the policies do not meet them, so they are not in compliance. Yearly out of pocket?

Here is a pdf file (I hope it links) that explains the 10 minimum standards as mentioned in article and quote linked below.

Link

Came from this site which I was looking at earlier today.

Link

Failure to Meet Minimum ACA Standards

The Affordable Care Act requires insurance plans to meet the law’s 10 minimum standards, such as maternity care, emergency visits, and mental health treatment, reports The Christian Science Monitor. Plans that don’t meet those requirements are being dropped.

Many of the affected plans are quite cheap, but come with high deductibles or offer coverage only for catastrophic events. If it’s not exempted as a grandfathered-in plan, such a plan may not meet these new rules and may be cancelled.

As a result, health insurance companies are sending scores of cancellation letters to people who buy their own coverage under plans that aren’t up to snuff under the minimum ACA standards.

Edit…I knew I’d blow that link to the pdf. This one should work…

Link

82 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:31:32pm

re: #75 Stanley Sea

Anyone know the ACA standards that are causing these policies to be dropped? My understanding is that the policies do not meet them, so they are not in compliance. Yearly out of pocket?

Yes, yearly / lifetime benefit caps, a lot of the cheap old plans were predicated on limiting their liability to a specific amount, that’s been outlawed. Also pre-existing conditions. None of the old plans cover them and none of them will add coverage for them in at the same old grandfathered rates.

83 Vicious Babushka  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:32:10pm

South Park had a Healthcare.gov/Canada/Miley trifecta!

84 freetoken  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:33:38pm

That a question like the following can even be asked in our society is probably enough to damn us:

Does Cher have the ballroom cred to judge ‘Dancing With the Stars’?

85 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:40:34pm

Also, a big reason that ACA plans cost more in red states is because most of them refused the Medicaid expansion. So the insurance company actuarials working in those states had no choice but to forecast higher healthcare costs for everyone based on the predicted number of poor people receiving care at hospital ERs but being unable to pay for it.

Then add on the higher average rates of obesity, diabetes and tobacco usage in red states and you’ve gone a long way towards explaining any disparities you may be noticing.

86 freetoken  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:42:27pm

Well, look here at who’s whining about “witch hunts”:

The Obamacare whiners

By RICH LOWRY

Henry Waxman made a plea at the end of Wednesday’s House hearing grilling of Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. The California Democrat and liberal lion asked Republicans to reach across the aisle to work with Democrats to improve Obamacare.

Yes, Henry Waxman, who has made a career of ideological witch hunts and smash-mouth partisanship, wants a cease-fire over Obamacare, or so he says.

Waxman was picking up a common liberal theme: It’s not fair that Republicans continue to oppose the president’s eponymous health care law and pick at its failures, deceits and irrationalities. If only they were more reasonable, Obamacare could be tightened up around the edges with a few technocratic fixes and go on to its glorious destiny.

[…]

Yes, that’s right, Rich Lowry, the editor of National Racists, is complaining about a Democrat going on “witch hunts”.

87 Amory Blaine  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:42:57pm

The problem with all these comparisons is they are meaningless. The HC market is extremely complicated and no two policies seem to be alike. The shitty little clinic I go to (cough Cadillac insurance) has an office completely devoted to sorting through everyones insurance to determine what is covered. And in the end? I still get denials of claims. But I’m a dick and I’ll burn my whole mother fucking world down to throw a rock at Goliath so I fight everything. Unless you truly have a life event of some kind you really don’t know how good the insurance is.

88 Stanley Sea  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:43:37pm

That was beautiful!!!!! Go Sox!

89 Stanley Sea  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:44:30pm

re: #77 sagehen

Lifetime caps, huge deductibles, no coverage for preventive care, knock kids off the family policy at age 18…

Not mentioned. Just wish someone would say IT’S BECAUSE YOUR POLICY IS SHIT AND YOU WERE BEING RIPPED OFF!

90 compound_Idaho  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:45:34pm

re: #79 goddamnedfrank

What’s all the “normal stuff” actually mean, how are you judging “comparable”? Does it cover one preemptive office visit per year at no cost? What’s the office visit copay? Prescription generic vs. brand name copay? What’s the deductible and is or was there a yearly/lifetime benefit cap? What’s the coverage on x-rays, labs, CT/MRI/PET imaging, specialists and urgent care? What’s the difference in max out of pocket?

Also importantly, when you’re saying that the comparable ACA compliant plan will cost 40% more are you factoring in the tax penalty equal to 1% of your gross household income? Because that amount needs to be added to your old insurance policy costs for FY 2014, 2% for 2015, and 2.5% for 2016 and beyond.

Well let’s see. Normal stuff? annual checkups, colds, ear infections ….. (wife) baby - I assume that was my fault, He looks like me although he seems a bit slow at times. (son) Bicycle accident. (son) snowboard accident. (daughter) swallowed a staple. (daughter) gallbladder (>$100K). (wife) boob job, wait, I paid for that myself.

I pay the first $5K every year. Assurant pays everything thereafter. I have about 75K in my HSA . Why is it so hard to believe that I am happy with my health insurance.

91 freetoken  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:50:45pm

So, why is Politico featuring an editorial by National Review Racists senior editor?

Oh, it’s right in the explanation of their business:

We created POLITICO with a simple promise: to prove there’s a robust and profitable future for tough, fair and fun coverage of politics and government. To do this, we cling to a simple principle: always hire the most talented editors, reporters and newsroom staff and then set them loose on many platforms for modern media consumption: print, online, mobile, video and events.

We break down the traditional journalistic conventions that make stories dull, predictable and often unreadable. Instead, while holding tightly to principles of fairness and accuracy, we have created a distinctive brand of journalism that drives the conversation—a conversation absolutely essential for readers and advertisers alike. We never lose sight of our most important audience—the political and government decision makers nationwide—and focus relentlessly on beating our competition to the big stories, emerging trends and sharpest analysis of Congress, the White House and public policy.

[…]

In other words: the masses are too stupid for serious journalism, so we’re going to entertain them, and besides we’re only really interested in getting invited to free dinners in Georgetown with the power players in DC, so there.

92 Stanley Sea  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:51:11pm
94 jaunte  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 7:58:28pm

re: #91 freetoken

We break down the traditional journalistic conventions that make stories dull, predictable and often unreadable.

Sounds like just a coupl’a steps away from “Good thing or bad thing?”

95 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:12:59pm

re: #90 compound_Idaho

Well let’s see. Normal stuff? annual checkups, colds, ear infections ….. (wife) baby - I assume that was my fault, He looks like me although he seems a bit slow at times. (son) Bicycle accident. (son) snowboard accident. (daughter) swallowed a staple. (daughter) gallbladder (>$100K). (wife) boob job, wait, I paid for that myself.

I pay the first $5K every year. Assurant pays everything thereafter. I have about 75K in my HSA . Why is it so hard to believe that I am happy with my health insurance.

So is the $5K deductible is per person or combined across the entire family? Am I understanding this right, you pay a monthly premium but get zero benefits until after $5K in medical bills is paid out of pocket? Then the plan covers everything except for the things it obviously don’t cover at all or you wouldn’t need $75K in your HSA account. So on top of mental health coverage, which you’ve stated, what else doesn’t your plan pay out for?

96 darthstar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:13:37pm
97 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:19:19pm

re: #96 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Ha!

98 jamesfirecat  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:23:04pm

RED SOX WIN!

99 Stanley Sea  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:23:22pm

OH HELL YEAH!!!!!!

100 HappyWarrior  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:25:03pm

Aw man wanted it to go 7 but congrats to the Red Sox.

101 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:27:54pm
102 jaunte  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:29:59pm

re: #101 Kragar

I hope for his clients’ sake he’s not a litigator.

103 jaunte  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:31:01pm

“America’s states, labelled by an Australian who’s never been there and knows nothing about its geography”
Image: tumblr_mvdkh4QXi51qm7oolo1_1280.jpg

104 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:31:32pm

re: #90 compound_Idaho

Well, to be fair: you pay the first $5k plus whatever you’re paying for the insurance. And you have the right to contribute to an HSA pre-tax, and that money can be used tax-free for health care expenses, so you are saving money there.

I don’t think that anyone was disputing that some people were happy with their insurance pre-ACA. I might argue that in most of those cases, these were people who hadn’t run into one of the all-too-common edge cases that will, in fact, cause one to be dropped by their insurance company.

The problem is you seem to be trying to take your anecdotal data and extrapolating it out when it clearly doesn’t fit. The ACA was not put into law to make your life easier, although I’m sure there will be some ripple effects that will touch you, good and bad. The ACA is law so that millions of Americans who didn’t have health insurance can now afford it. Because of the desire to have this measure be somewhat tied to the free market, you get things like the individual mandate. It’s how insurance works.

105 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:40:38pm

How many libertarians does it take to screw in a light bulb?

LIGHT BULBS ARE A CONSPIRACY TO GET YOU TO LINE THE POCKETS OF THE GOVERNMENT AND CORPORATIONS, DUDE!

106 darthstar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:42:29pm

Pitchers and Catchers report in 3 1/2 months. Congratulations, Boston.

#GoGiants

107 darthstar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:48:11pm
108 jaunte  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:50:20pm
109 darthstar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:50:36pm
110 jamesfirecat  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:51:59pm

re: #109 darthstar

Image: 969154_10152024121799343_1928634830_n.jpg

Huh and here I thought Bruce Wayne might be a Yankees fan…

Or in the never ending quest to make Bruce Wayne’s backstory more tragic are we going to say that his parrent’s were shot dead after leaving the World Series game where Bill Buckner comitted his famous error?

111 freetoken  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 8:52:25pm

re: #108 jaunte

We have to put that into a 2013-style headline:

Everything You Need To Know About Why Your Shit Is Not Going Down the Toilet

112 Ed E. Lishus  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 9:16:18pm

So my wife has commandeered the TV the last few days and has been catching up on this show called “Covert Affairs.” To call it unrealistic would be kind. Really implausible third grade fantasies about espionage and intelligence.

(Cue the GG jokes)

113 dog philosopher  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 9:28:06pm

re: #103 jaunte

“America’s states, labelled by an Australian who’s never been there and knows nothing about its geography”
Image: tumblr_mvdkh4QXi51qm7oolo1_1280.jpg

alaska should now forever be know as ‘left canada’

114 Mattand  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 9:35:30pm

re: #7 William of Orange

>Haven’t seen a Democrat this mad since… ever, really!

Refreshing stuff! It’s about time someone told the truth on CSPAN, short of “Are you fuckin’ kidding me??”

[Embedded content]

Edit:
Oops, bad manners from me. Forgot the source.
Crooks &Liars.com

About fucking time.

115 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 9:36:24pm
116 Amory Blaine  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 9:38:13pm

Scott Walker, Marco Rubio to stump for Ken Cuccinelli

Scott Walker, Marco Rubio and Ron Paul will campaign with Ken Cuccinelli in the final days of the Virginia governor’s race, sources told POLITICO.
The Wisconsin governor will spend Saturday with the Republican candidate for governor in Spotsylvania and Prince William counties.


The Florida senator has committed to appear Monday, on the eve of the election, in Warrenton and Culpeper.
The former Texas congressman will speak at a rally that evening in Richmond.

117 GlutenFreeJesus  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 9:39:44pm

re: #112 Ed E. Lishus

So my wife has commandeered the TV the last few days and has been catching up on this show called “Covert Affairs.” To call it unrealistic would be kind. Really implausible third grade fantasies about espionage and intelligence.

(Cue the GG jokes)

She’d really enjoy Finding Bigfoot too. ;)

118 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 9:49:35pm

re: #117 GlutenFreeJesus

She’d really enjoy Finding Bigfoot too. ;)

I’ve been watching “Flashpoint” lately. Its pretty good.

119 austin_blue  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 9:51:33pm

re: #85 goddamnedfrank

Also, a big reason that ACA plans cost more in red states is because most of them refused the Medicaid expansion. So the insurance company actuarials working in those states had no choice but to forecast higher healthcare costs for everyone based on the predicted number of poor people receiving care at hospital ERs but being unable to pay for it.

Then add on the higher average rates of obesity, diabetes and tobacco usage in red states and you’ve gone a long way towards explaining any disparities you may be noticing.

Oh, you and your goddamnedfacts!

120 piratedan  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 9:52:47pm

re: #71 Political Atheist

uptick for the Nick Lowe shoutout

121 Mattand  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 9:55:11pm

re: #112 Ed E. Lishus

So my wife has commandeered the TV the last few days and has been catching up on this show called “Covert Affairs.” To call it unrealistic would be kind. Really implausible third grade fantasies about espionage and intelligence.

(Cue the GG jokes)

We refer to it around the house as “Cutie Pie Spy”.

It’s okay for what it is.

122 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 9:59:28pm

re: #103 jaunte

“America’s states, labelled by an Australian who’s never been there and knows nothing about its geography”
Image: tumblr_mvdkh4QXi51qm7oolo1_1280.jpg

I just laughed so hard my husband needed to come see what was wrong.

123 dog philosopher  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:03:37pm

ignatz cat wants to be cuddled up under my arm so practicing an instrument is not happening as scheduled tonite

125 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:10:53pm

Review: Ender’s Game

If the true measure of intelligence is being able to hold two conflicting ideas in your head at the same time, try this on for size: novelist Orson Scott Card has written extensively about the immorality of homosexuality, even going to so far as to advocate insurrection against the American government if marriage equality is upheld. But he also wrote Ender’s Game, a rich and complex sci-fi novel on which one of the best films of the year is based, one that preaches utter compassion for all beings while simultaneously acting as an intense sci-fi action tale, one that effectively challenges François Truffaut’s long-standing assertion that anti-war stories are impossible to tell in the cinematic medium.

But being able to accept these two contrary ideas is one thing, deciding what to do about it is another. As a film critic, one has certain responsibilities: to discuss a film as fairly as possible on its own merits, and also to help interested readers decide how to spend their hard-earned money. The second responsibility, in the end, is also yours. You are free to buy a ticket to Gavin Hood’s laudable sci-fi picture Ender’s Game, and if you do you are bound to see the most faithful and dramatically impactful adaptation that fans of the novel could hope for. But if you are one of the many who have decided to boycott Ender’s Game on principle (it’s been reported that Orson Scott Card won’t make a dime from ticket sales; although sales of the book have indeed recently spiked), that’s your call too, but I am required to inform you that - in my estimation - you will be missing out on a truly fantastic motion picture.

126 Amory Blaine  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:10:57pm

Report: Scott Walker decisions drove insurance rates much higher in Wisconsin than in Minnesota

A consumer advocacy group said Wednesday that Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s rejection of federal Medicaid money and the state’s hands-off approach to rate regulation has pushed health care exchange rates up to 99 percent higher than in neighboring Minnesota.

Robert Kraig, the executive director of Citizen Action of Wisconsin, said a report he co-authored shows that “rates are much higher in Wisconsin than in Minnesota, despite having similar geographies and similar underlying medical costs.”

Kraig said Wisconsin insurance exchange premiums for a single person are an average of 79 percent to 99 percent higher than premiums in Minnesota, before tax credits are applied. He said the average Wisconsinite will pay $1,800 more annually for health care.

127 sagehen  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:15:13pm

re: #103 jaunte

“America’s states, labelled by an Australian who’s never been there and knows nothing about its geography”
Image: tumblr_mvdkh4QXi51qm7oolo1_1280.jpg

I like that the only one he’s sure of is “texas, this is definitely texas.”

128 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:18:32pm

re: #127 sagehen

I like that the only one he’s sure of is “texas, this is definitely texas.”

I’m a fan of “I’m not even gonna try with these lil ones.”

129 sagehen  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:19:39pm

re: #112 Ed E. Lishus

So my wife has commandeered the TV the last few days and has been catching up on this show called “Covert Affairs.” To call it unrealistic would be kind. Really implausible third grade fantasies about espionage and intelligence.

(Cue the GG jokes)

It has Oded Fehr. Your argument is invalid.

Image: images3.jpg

130 piratedan  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:21:56pm

re: #125 Kragar

enjoyed the book, but it was well before he went completely nutso in regards to his faith driven ideology permeating everything he currently does.

plenty of other authors I can give my money to….

131 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:22:05pm

re: #128 Kragar

I’m a fan of “I’m not even gonna try with these lil ones.”

I died somewhere around “Why did I think this was a good idea” AKA Kansas.

132 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:23:03pm

re: #130 piratedan

enjoyed the book, but it was well before he went completely nutso in regards to his faith driven ideology permeating everything he currently does.

plenty of other authors I can give my money to….

I feel like OH JOHN RINGO NO should be adapted to include Orson Scott Card.

I kind of lump the scifi authors like that in with the dudebros, because the privilege that reeks off of them is very similar.

133 sagehen  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:26:52pm

Posted without comment.

s225.photobucket.com

s120.photobucket.com

134 austin_blue  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:30:27pm

Well, it’s raining like a cow pissing on a flat rock right now in Austin. This should be a good thing, but my 15,000 gallon rainwater collection system was filled by an 8.8” rain bomb we got two weeks ago. So every drop is running off.

But hey! We were in a drought, so everything is cool, right?

Not so much. Our reservoirs, which are at historically low levels, are 15 to 40 miles west of town. Take a look at where the rain is falling:

radar.weather.gov

Fucked. Well and truly fucked.

135 Amory Blaine  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:30:36pm

Wisconsin geologist at center of Gogebic Taconite mine controversy resigns

A geologist with the Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey who found himself in the middle of a controversy over a proposed open-pit mine in the north woods says he’s resigning after enduring weeks of on-the-job pressure over a rock containing asbestos-like material found at the mine site.

Jason Huberty says the pressure of working in a politically charged atmosphere has taken a toll on his health and emotional state.

“I really feel like I can’t speak freely without losing my job,” says the 37-year-old iron ore specialist.

The GOP attacked this guy right out of the gate. As if finding asbestos in the rocks is a liberal conspiracy. He is right to resign I think. The right wing is ruthless and nasty and will destroy his life.

136 ausador  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:31:28pm

A little bit of humor.

Bad Wingnut pickup line…

What?

Bad Techie pickup line…

Huh?

137 freetoken  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:34:57pm
138 piratedan  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:36:25pm

re: #132 klys

I feel like OH JOHN RINGO NO should be adapted to include Orson Scott Card.

I kind of lump the scifi authors like that in with the dudebros, because the privilege that reeks off of them is very similar.

have to admit, I like a lot of Ringo’s earlier stuff too… don’t like his politics (and he’s actually a nice guy in person, at least when I met him over a couple of days at a con), his later stuff, not as much… and I try to be careful about pigeonholing folks and try to take their work at face value. Sometimes these guys evolve and change and morph styles as the stories find their own voices. Sometimes it’s me that’s grown and evolved and as such their style doesn’t match with what I’m looking for.

know that Ringo is a vet who has been there, done that and that lends an authenticity to his military genre/science fiction stuff but while he’s done good stuff (imho) he’s also done some crap too (just turns out that a lotta people like crap… see earlier discussions on Dancing With The Stars). As far as most guys go, not many would allow themselves the OH NO, JOHN RINGO, NO!!!! to be taken in stride and turn it into a good thing. That whole Kildar thang is someone else’s idea of a guilty pleasure, not mine.

139 Ed E. Lishus  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:38:48pm

re: #124 Kragar

I love it when the Onion hits the right note.

140 austin_blue  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:49:52pm

Two inches in the last twenty minutes. Your Suburban will NOT get over that low water crossing just because it’s big and heavy. Mercy, but idiots will die tonight.

Evolution in action.

141 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:50:10pm

re: #138 piratedan

I’m not really in the military scifi bent, so that tends to flavor my view. (I like characters, not tactics.)

As for John Ringo being a nice person, well, I watched his reaction to Scalzi’s Hugo win this year. He may be polite enough to potential fans at a convention, but throwing that kind of temper tantrum in public generally precludes being a ‘nice’ person in my book. I’m glad he was able to take the OH JOHN RINGO NO thing in a good sense of humor, and I’ll grant that if he wants to at least be honest with his politics in the books that may in some way be better than the dichotomy between the world Card presents and his personal beliefs, but…in either case I won’t give them my money. Why should I, when they are both willing to support the enforcement of their personal beliefs on me?

(And believe me, I get having nonstandard fantasies. The difference really does come down to being outspoken in supporting the politicians who would work to make that fantasy a reality. I believe anyone is welcome to live by their own code of beliefs as long as it doesn’t hurt others. I just draw the line at having them enforce that code of beliefs on me.)

142 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:50:50pm

re: #140 austin_blue

Two inches in the last twenty minutes. Your Suburban will NOT get over that low water crossing just because it’s big and heavy. Mercy, but idiots will die tonight.

Evolution in action.

What is this water from the sky you speak of? We don’t have this in CA.

143 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:51:59pm
144 Ed E. Lishus  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:52:12pm

re: #142 klys

What is this water from the sky you speak of? We don’t have this in CA.

Nonsense! Why we had rain last…wait, what year is it again?

145 ausador  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:53:58pm

An intriguing theory???

Titanic and Terminator linked?

146 austin_blue  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:57:27pm

re: #135 Amory Blaine

Wisconsin geologist at center of Gogebic Taconite mine controversy resigns

The GOP attacked this guy right out of the gate. As if finding asbestos in the rocks is a liberal conspiracy. He is right to resign I think. The right wing is ruthless and nasty and will destroy his life.

They found Grunerite deposits in the immediate area. Not good. It’s a rock source associated with the amphibole flavor of asbestos ores:

en.wikipedia.org

Amphoboles and associated asbestos sources are bad juju. If you were razing a building containing these materials, you would be required to encapsulate the entire structure to prevent the fibers from being released to the local air shed. There is NO safe exposure level to these fibers.

None.

But there’s $1.5 billion at stake, so you must attack the science.

Pitiful.

147 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:58:34pm

re: #144 Ed E. Lishus

Nonsense! Why we had rain last…wait, what year is it again?

I ask this question all the time. Damn grad school.

148 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:59:28pm

re: #146 austin_blue

They found Grunerite deposits in the immediate area. Not good. It’s a rock source associated with the amphibole flavor of asbestos ores:

en.wikipedia.org

Amphoboles and associated asbestos sources are bad juju. If you were razing a building containing these materials, you would be required to encapsulate the entire structure to prevent the fibers from being released to the local air shed. There is NO safe exposure level to these fibers.

None.

But there’s $1.5 billion at stake, so you must attack the science.

Pitiful.

Pfffffffffffffffffffft, everyone knows geology is a sham science.

/////////

149 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 10:59:38pm
150 piratedan  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 11:01:03pm

re: #141 klys

I’m not really in the military scifi bent, so that tends to flavor my view. (I like characters, not tactics.)

As for John Ringo being a nice person, well, I watched his reaction to Scalzi’s Hugo win this year. He may be polite enough to potential fans at a convention, but throwing that kind of temper tantrum in public generally precludes being a ‘nice’ person in my book. I’m glad he was able to take the OH JOHN RINGO NO thing in a good sense of humor, and I’ll grant that if he wants to at least be honest with his politics in the books that may in some way be better than the dichotomy between the world Card presents and his personal beliefs, but…in either case I won’t give them my money. Why should I, when they are both willing to support the enforcement of their personal beliefs on me?

(And believe me, I get having nonstandard fantasies. The difference really does come down to being outspoken in supporting the politicians who would work to make that fantasy a reality. I believe anyone is welcome to live by their own code of beliefs as long as it doesn’t hurt others. I just draw the line at having them enforce that code of beliefs on me.)

hey, not a problem, I read Scalzi too and thought that Ringo’s reaction was out of line.

151 austin_blue  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 11:02:20pm

re: #142 klys

What is this water from the sky you speak of? We don’t have this in CA.

It’s the deluge. It’s just falling in the wrong place for our drinking water sources. There are various animals, lining up two by two, in my back yard. They are looking molto nervoso.

152 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 11:02:21pm

re: #150 piratedan

hey, not a problem, I read Scalzi too and thought that Ringo’s reaction was out of line.

Don’t mind my wall of text. I have 3ish homework problems still to go, plus a lecture, before I get to go to bed. And then the pile of shit to do before we leave tomorrow.

But hey, my Surface Pro 2 just shipped, apparently!

153 piratedan  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 11:03:38pm

re: #152 klys

congrats on that! I was thinking about treating myself to a completely unnecessary purchase on Amazon soon….

154 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 11:04:21pm

re: #153 piratedan

congrats on that! I was thinking about treating myself to a completely unnecessary purchase on Amazon soon….

We leave tomorrow. Of course. For the weekend. -_-

The rep did upgrade me to free overnight shipping, but I’m not sure that means it shipped now and will show on my doorstep tomorrow…

155 piratedan  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 11:08:41pm

re: #154 klys

We leave tomorrow. Of course. For the weekend. -_-

The rep did upgrade me to free overnight shipping, but I’m not sure that means it shipped now and will show on my doorstep tomorrow…

I would imagine that means it will show up on Friday… because it would be the most inconvenient date for it to arrive

156 piratedan  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 11:10:12pm

bbiab, gonna go play a few rounds of geoguessr and rehumble myself :-)

157 klys  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 11:11:40pm

re: #155 piratedan

I would imagine that means it will show up on Friday… because it would be the most inconvenient date for it to arrive

That’s my guess.

Fortunately, the cat-care person shows on Friday, and I can always ping the neighbors in case UPS just leaves it at the front door too.

I’ll know for sure if there’s a scheduled delivery in a bit, thanks to the e-mails we get if there is.

(The original estimated ship by date was December 15th and I ordered it yesterday.)

158 Kragar  Wed, Oct 30, 2013 11:45:10pm

Libertarians: The “I’m with stupid” of political ideologies

159 Good Morning  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 12:14:04am

Can you plagiarize Wikipedia? There’s no original work, and the articles are basically a bland rehash of press releases and what was written elsewhere. It is a nice resource, but not original writing.

160 klys  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 12:17:16am

re: #159 Good Morning

Can you plagiarize Wikipedia? There’s no original work, and the articles are basically a bland rehash of press releases and what was written elsewhere. It is a nice resource, but not original writing.

Well, if the definition of plagiarize is to “pass someone else’s off work as one’s own” then yes, you can plagiarize Wikipedia unless you are the original article of the article or one of the primary contributors.

That being said, very few politicians write their own speeches, and one sentence in one speech isn’t something I would harp on.

161 Kragar  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 12:17:31am

re: #159 Good Morning

Can you plagiarize Wikipedia? There’s no original work, and the articles are basically a bland rehash of press releases and what was written elsewhere. It is a nice resource, but not original writing.

If you try to pass what someone else wrote as your own, its plagiarizing.

162 Kragar  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 12:27:30am

Not one, but 2 Libertarian morons defending the GG, oh joy.

163 Kragar  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 12:30:45am

When exactly did “classified” become synonymous with evil to some idiots?

164 piratedan  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 12:48:09am

re: #163 Kragar

“information longs to be set free” - Libertarian Galt Gulch resident

“cool, then give us your address, SSN and checking account number…” - us

“you can’t have that!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” - Them, outraged…..

“why not? your bank and everyone you’ve done business with online already has it….” - us and so much for information longing to be free…..

165 ausador  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 12:52:27am

re: #158 Kragar

Libertarians: The “I’m with stupid” of political ideologies

Definition of Libertarian:

A political philosophy that believes that politics are unnecessary.
The basic argument of Libertarian thinking is “Trust in the people, they are actually better and smarter than you think they are. Together we can run a 21st century country of 300 million people and maintain its economy with no government, no taxes, no regulations, no financial institutions, only a handful of negotiable “laws,” and complete freedom for everyone!”

Libertarianism is known to manifest itself in manic-depressives, especially naive college students, sociopaths, anarchists, and disgruntled ex-members of other political parties with an axe to grind.

Any realistic assessment of the effect of a widespread implementation of Libertarianism usually invokes comparison to the effect of the dark ages on human civilization, only with the dark ages being somewhat less damaging.

166 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 1:05:09am

re: #159 Good Morning

Can you plagiarize Wikipedia? There’s no original work, and the articles are basically a bland rehash of press releases and what was written elsewhere. It is a nice resource, but not original writing.

It is just laziness, not plagiarism, like John McCain discussing the war in (ex-Soviet) Georgia using lines taken right out of Wikipedia.

Colbert is brilliantly funny, but you can see that he is straining at the end to stay in character.

167 piratedan  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 1:05:26am

so….as a point of idle conversation, was the last, truly sane Republican John Anderson of Indiana?

168 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 1:08:49am

re: #167 piratedan

so….as a point of idle conversation, was the last, truly sane Republican John Anderson of Indiana?

He was about the last Republican I would have considered voting for. There was a time when i would at least look at a Republican candidate’s record, and there were times that i did vote for GOP candidates in isolated cases.

169 piratedan  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 1:23:05am

re: #168 Sol Berdinowitz

He was about the last Republican I would have considered voting for. There was a time when i would at least look at a Republican candidate’s record, and there were times that i did vote for GOP candidates in isolated cases.

yeah, was my thought too Sol, I heard him speak during his Presidential run and I think he may have pulled more people from the Carter column than the Reagan one. After Anderson, it seems like it’s been an endless line of grifters and/or folks of dubious judgement. I mean Bush the older was tolerable, but Quayle, really?

170 ausador  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 1:26:26am

So…anyone have a good “tried and true” potato pancake recipe?

My grandmother used to make some really good ones and I have tried about a dozen different recipes I found online that all turned out to be pretty bad.

171 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 1:27:16am

re: #169 piratedan

My problem with the GOP was always on their social policies, which used to be a bit lower-key and less extreme thatn the current GOP. And there was a time when I sort of agreed with some of their economic policies.

But since they have gone full-on Family Values and Drown-the-Government-in-a-Bathtub Free Market, I have abandoned them entirely

172 ausador  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 1:36:24am

Stick with it until the last paragraph, it is much, much worse than it sounds at first.

Of course, this is no mystery to the theoreticians of Game. As women achieve a higher level of education, their hypergamy cause them to increasingly focus on a dwindling pool of men with whom they are also competing. Those who cannot score an Alpha or a Beta tend to elect to remain single and devote themselves to their careers rather than settle for a Delta or Gamma as their mothers and grandmothers did. In reaction to their disdain, the lesser men are not only less attractive to these educated women, they are also less attracted to them as they learn there is no possibility of satisfying relationships with them.

Why is the problem more distinct in Japan than in the USA, where even more women are highly educated? Because Japan is a more rigidly traditional society and its people are less willing to embrace an equality paradigm that has already failed in the West.

Ironically, in light of the strong correlation between female education and demographic decline, a purely empirical perspective on Malala Yousafzai, the poster girl for global female education, may indicate that the Taliban’s attempt to silence her was perfectly rational and scientifically justifiable. - Vox Day

(BTW…you really shouldn’t read any of the comments there unless you want to lose what little faith you have left in humanity.)

173 urbanmeemaw  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 1:43:15am

re: #10 wrenchwench

PETA would object - cruelty to the dead ferret, you know.

174 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 1:43:30am

re: #172 ausador

I lost it in the first paragraph..assigining people a relative value based on their earning potential is sick shit.

The model has not “failed” in the West, it has made great progress, but it still needs to be developed. The Taliban are sick fuckers and even an indirect justificatino of their methods reminds us of the fact that Fundamentalism is Fundamentalism, no matter what religion or ideology it cloaks itself in.

175 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 1:48:52am

re: #170 ausador

So…anyone have a good “tried and true” potato pancake recipe?

My grandmother used to make some really good ones and I have tried about a dozen different recipes I found online that all turned out to be pretty bad.

Are you talking about taste or consistency? Try this latke recipe and be sure to strain & dry the potatoes well (I would use russets). I love black pepper, so would have to add to this recipe. Also, I would use my food processor which grates the same as a hand grater, putting each grated potato in water, then removing and draining as I grated another. And use a clean kitchen towel, not paper towel—you’ll be sorry if you do, for obvious reasons. Put ice cubes into tap water to get a really cold water wash.

epicurious.com

176 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 2:00:07am

Rachel Maddow exposing another incident of Rand Paul’s plagiarism quoting about the “Stand and Deliver” movie from Wikipedia.

Jorge takes him to the woodshed in an interview, putting him on the spot for both instances. RP calls his plagiarism “foot notes”. Says Rachel is not a legitimate news source and she’s just picking on him.

msnbc.com

177 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 2:01:43am

It is not plagiarism, it is just intellectual laziness and a total disregard for the audience in assuming they will be too dense to double-check where he lifted his quotes.

178 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 2:06:09am

re: #177 Sol Berdinowitz

It is not plagiarism, it is just intellectual laziness and a total disregard for the audience in assuming they will be too dense to double-check where he lifted his quotes.

It’s plagiarism, not a single word or commonly used phrase.

pla*gia*rize
verb ˈplā-jə-ˌrīz also -jē-ə-

: to use the words or ideas of another person as if they were your own words or ideas

It doesn’t matter whether or not it’s from Wikipedia. Someone else wrote those words, not Rand Paul.

179 ausador  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 2:07:23am

re: #175 Justanotherhuman

Are you talking about taste or consistency?

Both really, I like them a bit firmer than any of the recipes I have yet tried, when made according to directions they have all turned out very mushy. Also most of the recipes I have tried have had an abundance of weird spice combinations that just did not come off well with me.

I realize that with something like potato pancakes trying to match a specific remembered taste is pretty much a fools errand considering the thousands of recipes out there. Still I am hoping to at least find something closer to what I enjoyed in the past.

I’ll try the one you linked to, potatoes are still very cheap so it isn’t like experimenting with multiple recipes costs very much. ;)

180 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 2:29:53am

Exclusive: Syria has destroyed chemical production facilities - watchdog

reuters.com

“Under the disarmament timetable, Syria was due to render unusable all production and chemical weapons filling facilities by November 1 - a target it has now met. By mid-2014 it must have destroyed its entire stockpile of chemical weapons.”

Of course, Syria doesn’t have to mfg its own…

181 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 2:36:45am

Just looking at this obscene thing makes me wanna barf. This is true punishment.

Philly Restaurant Unveils Deep-Fried Twinkie Burger

abcnews.go.com

And a ramen burger? You’d be flushing salt for a week.

182 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 2:46:04am

re: #181 Justanotherhuman

Just looking at this obscene thing makes me wanna barf. This is true punishment.

Philly Restaurant Unveils Deep-Fried Twinkie Burger

abcnews.go.com

And a ramen burger? You’d be flushing salt for a week.

Americans are fixated on anything that goes in or comes out of any orifice, a sort of national pre-adolescent obsession. Reports on anything to do with food, sex or any sort of excretion or secretion lead to really hilarious over-reactions on the part of a lot of people.

183 ausador  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 2:49:25am

re: #180 Justanotherhuman

Exclusive: Syria has destroyed chemical production facilities - watchdog

reuters.com

“Under the disarmament timetable, Syria was due to render unusable all production and chemical weapons filling facilities by November 1 - a target it has now met. By mid-2014 it must have destroyed its entire stockpile of chemical weapons.”

Of course, Syria doesn’t have to mfg its own…

Syria already got almost everything they have from Russia, which is where they agreed to return them to if not destroyed onsite. Syria does/did not have production facilities for complex chemical weapons. But it did have facilities (built by Soviet Bloc engineers) for filling binary (mixed) chemical weapon warheads “safely.”

It seems as though even though they waited until the last possible second they kept the Russian brokered agreement and destroyed the filling facilities according to the timetable.

The next stage will be seeing that the chemicals themselves actually make it onto Russian airplanes and are returned to Russia before the next deadline expires.

184 Lancelot Link  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 3:32:22am

re: #172 ausador

Ted “Vox Day” Beale really is the single most foul human being on the internet, isn’t he?

185 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 3:33:33am

re: #184 Lancelot Link

Ted “Vox Day” Beale really is the single most foul human being on the internet, isn’t he?

He simply made it clear that a woman’s uterus is much more valuable to society than her mind.

/

186 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 3:53:34am

re: #184 Lancelot Link

Ted “Vox Day” Beale really is the single most foul human being on the internet, isn’t he?

And a little schadenfreude for everyone, too.

Ted Beale (“Vox Day”) Expelled from SFWA

sensuouscurmudgeon.wordpress.com

187 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 3:59:33am

re: #177 Sol Berdinowitz

It is not plagiarism, it is just intellectual laziness and a total disregard for the audience in assuming they will be too dense to double-check where he lifted his quotes.

It is plagiarism. I offered the operational definition elsewhere in a comment to a page. Anytime you use someone else’s words without attribution you have plagiarized the other author. Paul could have just said, “according to a well-known online encyclopedia, blah blah blah.” Or he could have taken a few minutes and offered his own summary … assuming he’s even seen the movie.

I’m an English teacher now. I read my students the riot act before every writing assignment. And I make it clear I will fail with a zero any assignment that violates the rules.

Rand would have failed that assignment, at least if I were his public speaking instructor.

188 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 4:04:58am

re: #187 wheat-dogghazi

You have made your point, although RP is not an English student, I just find it intellectually lazy and an affront to the intelligence of anyone listening.

Obviously he is coiunting on ther being very little intelligence among his audience to insult, or simply such ideological blinderedness that they don’t care if it is a lifted quote from a review of a bad science-fiction movie

189 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 4:12:13am

re: #188 Sol Berdinowitz

You have made your point, although RP is not an English student, I just find it intellectually lazy and an affront to the intelligence of anyone listening.

Obviously he is coiunting on ther being very little intelligence among his audience to insult, or simply such ideological blinderedness that they don’t care if it is a lifted quote from a review of a bad science-fiction movie

Using a work of fiction to support an argument is weak sauce, too. I agree with you that Paul figures his audience is clueless, which it is, so why strain himself writing an intellectually honest, cogent speech?

This is the same guy who just a few days ago told medical students that misinformation and misdirection were keys to their success. And who has a self-certification as an opthamologist. I’m not sure hard work is in his DNA.

190 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 4:15:33am

Snowden Gets Job in Russia, Says Lawyer

stream.wsj.com

If this is Snowjob, that photo isn’t recent because the female (Sarah Harrison?) has bare arms. Although this actually could be his attempt at disguise.

lifenews.ru

The Google translated caption:

“Former NSA and CIA Edward Snowden got into the camera lens while walking around Moscow. Photo taken at the center of the capital and a half months ago, argues that the former U.S. intelligence officer or a permanent resident of the white stone, or regularly travels to Moscow.”

So, he’s not living in Moscow?

191 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 4:39:35am

re: #189 wheat-dogghazi

Using a work of fiction to support an argument is weak sauce, too. I agree with you that Paul figures his audience is clueless, which it is, so why strain himself writing an intellectually honest, cogent speech?

This is the same guy who just a few days ago told medical students that misinformation and misdirection were keys to their success. And who has a self-certification as an opthamologist. I’m not sure hard work is in his DNA.

There was a Twitter image going around showing a cartoon image of a futuristc world with the caption “This is society without government intervention” and a real-life picture of a Detroit whoeing “this is what government does” and nobody seemed to grasp the point that the former was a drawing.

192 Romantic Heretic  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 4:42:31am

re: #72 freetoken

Are we not waiting for our Eugenicist Overlord to cull the population?

That’s Mother Nature’s job.

193 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 4:44:10am

re: #191 Sol Berdinowitz

There was a Twitter image going around showing a cartoon image of a futuristc world with the caption “This is society without government intervention” and a real-life picture of a Detroit whoeing “this is what government does” and nobody seemed to grasp the point that the former was a drawing.

The Wingnut meme is that Detroit is an apocalyptic hellscape where packs of wild dogs feast on starving homeless toddlers.

I drive through Detroit every day, if there are any roving packs of wild toddler-eating dogs I can run them over in my SUV.

194 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 4:45:40am

WTFITS

195 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 4:49:03am

re: #193 Witches BaBOOshka

The Wingnut meme is that Detroit is an apocalyptic hellscape where packs of wild dogs feast on starving homeless toddlers.

I drive through Detroit every day, if there are any roving packs of wild toddler-eating dogs I can run them over in my SUV.

And that a nation without a government will be a sci-fi utopia.

196 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 4:49:39am
197 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 4:58:49am

This is the bridge in the photo purporting to be of Snowjob. Doing the tourist thingy? And who is the other woman with him?

moscow-photos.com

198 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:01:27am

re: #197 Justanotherhuman

This is the bridge in the photo purporting to be of Snowjob. Doing the tourist thingy? And who is the other woman with him?

moscow-photos.com

I don’t see Snowflake in any of those pictures.

199 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:02:07am
200 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:03:03am

I hope South Park does a Ted Cruz episode, in which he is portrayed as a Canadian with beady eyes and a split head that pops when he talks.

201 Flounder  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:04:38am

This is a kinda dumb article, but I found myself chucklng, Inappropriate Halloween costumes for children.

timesunion.com

I really don’t see how zombie girl from Walking Dead is inappropriate, but maybe I am just jaded. The other costumes are kinda dumb, part of dressing up is hoping other people know who you are dressing up as.

Happy friggin Halloween lizards!!

202 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:05:03am

re: #198 Witches BaBOOshka

I don’t see Snowflake in any of those pictures.

It’s in my previous comment.

lifenews.ru

203 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:06:25am

re: #202 Justanotherhuman

That’s because it’s in the previous post.

lifenews.ru

OK, didn’t see that.

204 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:08:57am

I couldn’t fit into my old shop coat, so I took off the name tag and attached it to a blue work shirt so I am “Rosie The Riveter” or “Some Random Blue-Collar Union Worker” or maybe “Wrench Wench” from LGF .

205 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:11:26am

re: #190 Justanotherhuman

Snowden Gets Job in Russia, Says Lawyer

stream.wsj.com

If this is Snowjob, that photo isn’t recent because the female (Sarah Harrison?) has bare arms. Although this actually could be his attempt at disguise.

lifenews.ru

The Google translated caption:

“Former NSA and CIA Edward Snowden got into the camera lens while walking around Moscow. Photo taken at the center of the capital and a half months ago, argues that the former U.S. intelligence officer or a permanent resident of the white stone, or regularly travels to Moscow.”

So, he’s not living in Moscow?

The temperature in Moscow today at 4 pm local time was 8 Celsius, or about 46 F. A bit brisk for bare arms and a polo shirt. It could be a shot from weeks ago. As for Snowden being in Moscow, I seem to recall some Russian saying he would be relocated to another city for some unexplained reasons.

OK I read the article after using Google Translate. It’s from earlier this month, so maybe it was a warm day.

206 Weet  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:12:29am

I know the government has filed suit against USIS for failure in its security clearance processes, but this takes the cake:

“USIS, now the subject of a federal grand jury probe, also performed the background check of ex-NSA contractor Edward Snowden, failing to interview any personal references other than his girlfriend. Nor did the firm investigate a reported security violation in his past, according to a report by the Office of Director of National Intelligence.

USIS has denied any wrongdoing, saying its background checks in both instances met federal standards and that it is cooperating with the federal investigation. “

Seriously, his girlfriend is the only personal reference they interviewed?

Link

207 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:12:34am

re: #205 wheat-dogghazi

The temperature in Moscow today at 4 pm local time was 8 Celsius, or about 46 F. A bit brisk for bare arms and a polo shirt. It could be a shot from weeks ago. As for Snowden being in Moscow, I seem to recall some Russian saying he would be relocated to another city for some unexplained reasons.

Minsk. He can have Lee Harvey Oswald’s shitty job & shitty apartment.

208 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:14:36am

LOLWUT
Turnspeak at its finest

209 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:14:39am

re: #205 wheat-dogghazi

The temperature in Moscow today at 4 pm local time was 8 Celsius, or about 46 F. A bit brisk for bare arms and a polo shirt. It could be a shot from weeks ago. As for Snowden being in Moscow, I seem to recall some Russian saying he would be relocated to another city for some unexplained reasons.

Relocated because Moscow is far too expensive? That bridge is in the southern part of the city inside the Ring Rd and it’s insanely expensive to rent there. So he’s probably out in the suburbs somewhere.

210 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:20:48am

Here is English translation of Russian article. voiceofrussia.com

I was wrong. Early October sighting was of him leaving supermarket wearing long sleeve shirt.

211 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:25:35am

Comrade lizards,

Here is August Guardian news report suggesting Snowdenov not living in Moscow.
theguardian.com

212 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:25:59am

Lol@Matt Lauer.

213 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:29:09am
214 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:41:56am

re: #191 Sol Berdinowitz

There was a Twitter image going around showing a cartoon image of a futuristc world with the caption “This is society without government intervention” and a real-life picture of a Detroit whoeing “this is what government does” and nobody seemed to grasp the point that the former was a drawing.

IIRC, the futuristic cartoon was actually German.

215 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:45:36am

re: #143 Kragar

[Embedded content]

What is this “mega data” that has James all outraged?
derp

216 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:54:41am

Morning Lizards.

217 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:55:04am

re: #208 Witches BaBOOshka

LOLWUT
Turnspeak at its finest

Why is it the obvious objective of liberal policies to make poor people always be that way?

Any successful program has to be a bit of both stick and carrot. Liberals don’t like to use sticks, Conservatives are opposed to dangling free carrots.

218 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 5:59:55am

re: #204 Witches BaBOOshka

I couldn’t fit into my old shop coat, so I took off the name tag and attached it to a blue work shirt so I am “Rosie The Riveter” or “Some Random Blue-Collar Union Worker” or maybe “Wrench Wench” from LGF .

My uniform is a t-shirt with a gray zip-up hoodie.

Roll up your sleeves, tie a bandana in your hair, flex that bicep and be Rosie!

219 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:00:31am

re: #218 wrenchwench

My uniform is a t-shirt with a gray zip-up hoodie.

Roll up your sleeves, tie a bandana in your hair, flex that bicep and be Rosie!

I have a wrench.

220 BongCrodny  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:01:45am

re: #200 Witches BaBOOshka

I hope South Park does a Ted Cruz episode, in which he is portrayed as a Canadian with beady eyes and a split head that pops when he talks.

Just like in real-life.

221 Decatur Deb  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:08:10am

Medieval Help Desk

Youtube Video

222 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:08:32am
223 freetoken  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:11:13am

re: #222 Witches BaBOOshka

Don’t hold your breath waiting for an apology.

224 aagcobb  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:16:56am

Here is a little something for your nightmares, a horseman of the apocalypse.

225 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:18:20am

re: #68 ObserverArt

Does he hate his home more than he is enjoying his “power” over it? I think the dude has a huge ego he needs to feed.

I still believe he is going to get his. You can’t be that drunk on power not to get yourself into something you will regret.

Greenwald will get his just reward, if not in this life then in the next:

Youtube Video

226 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:18:49am
227 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:19:23am

Pretty bad flooding in Austin…

228 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:21:02am

re: #226 Witches BaBOOshka

[Embedded content]

I hope its hoax, but if it was supposed to be joke it isn’t funny. It’s actually seriously obnoxious.

229 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:26:20am

re: #228 Dark_Falcon

I hope its hoax, but if it was supposed to be joke it isn’t funny. It’s actually seriously obnoxious.

Again, Americans are obsessed with orifices and what we stuff into them, it is a truly pre-adolescent fixation on a national level.

230 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:28:09am

re: #219 Witches BaBOOshka

I have a wrench.

My t-shirt will be orange today.

231 makeitstop  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:28:15am

‘Morning, Lizards.

A quick scan of Facebook this morning reveals just about all of the wingnuts I’m friends with bleating about how Obama ‘lied’ to them. One is demanding that Obama be impeached because he lies.

They all seem to forget how the last guy (and key players in his administration) relentlessly, purposefully lied for months on end in order to get us entangled in Iraq. And anyone who brings that up is ‘blaming Bush.’

I’ve pretty much given up on engaging them at all. You just can’t put a dent in the wall of butthurt. They’re so hurt that a president would lie to them - and of course, Obama is the first president ever in the history of presidents to do that to them.
///

232 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:28:56am

Here’s a well-done opinion piece from the Guardian on government information gathering and censorship. It’s about China, though. But Monica Tan is the kind of writer a good newspaper should have, supporting her case with links, sticking to her argument, and not getting hyperbolic or shrill. This obviously not the sort of piece Glenn Greenwald would write, but it is what proper journalism looks like to me,

Chinese censorship’s dangerous subtlety

Earlier this year, while in the southern Chinese city of Kunming, I had the fortune to witness first-hand two sides of the nation’s internet revolution. In August I attended a thousand-person protest against plans to build a petrochemical refinery and by-product paraxylene (PX) plant just 30km away. The protest had no central organisers; it was the organic escalation of an online discussion thread in which a small group of concerned citizens gathered to share information about the plant’s possible environmental and health hazards.

Many of the participants I talked to that day said that it was their first time taking part in a protest, and I was surprised at how well informed they seemed to be. Be they office workers, middle-aged mothers or young students, they could rattle off facts about air pollution and talk fervently about the importance of environmental impact assessment reports. In the days preceding the protest I had witnessed the stream of messages and posts being shared on the Chinese phone app WeChat, full of data, stats, pleas, declarations and poetry, designed both to inform and incite.

And in response came the heavy hand of the provincial government. There had been a mainstream media blackout on the protests, and posts on the microblog Weibo were being censored. I watched the frenzied posting of participants cease as one by one they were invited by the police to “drink tea” - a euphemism for being brought in for questioning. One woman who had participated in the original online discussions was interrogated for hours and warned me that “the police know everything”, before abruptly breaking off communication.

Yet incidents like this, in which the push and pull between Chinese “netizens” and the government’s control over public discourse erupt in such a confrontational manner, are rare. Mostly the hand of the government remains hidden. With close to 600 million users, the internet has become too integral to Chinese for the government ever to consider hitting the kill switch. Instead their manipulation of the online dialogue has grown subtler, and thus more dangerous.

233 Mike Lamb  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:30:16am

re: #143 Kragar

[Embedded content]

“mega data”? I think I see the problem.

234 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:31:52am

re: #233 Mike Lamb

“mega data”? I think I see the problem.

Megaolodata, this Saturday on ScyFy.

235 Political Atheist  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:32:19am

California State Senator Ron Calderone has been caught by the FBI taking bribes. Kudos and congratulations to some hard working investigators.

236 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:32:41am

re: #229 Sol Berdinowitz

Again, Americans are obsessed with orifices and what we stuff into them, it is a truly pre-adolescent fixation on a national level.

No, what America has, and has always had, is busybodies who think they should be allowed to mind other people’s business. They may be allied to the left or to the right, or maybe not to either, but they think they know what’s best for you and they won’t take “No, thank you.” for an answer.

237 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:35:30am

re: #232 Dark_Falcon

Earlier this year, while in the southern Chinese city of Kunming, I had the fortune to witness first-hand two sides of the nation’s internet revolution.

That’s where my brother is right now. He sent this yesterday:

I get internet at hotel (Skype & gmail, no FB or Twitter), but not during the day… there’s wifi but mostly theoretical.

238 Good Morning  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:37:12am

re: #160 klys

“Well, if the definition of plagiarize is to “pass someone else’s off work as one’s own” then yes, you can plagiarize Wikipedia unless you are the original article of the article or one of the primary contributors.”

The problem is there is no author of a Wikipedia article. How do you cite the author(s)? Do you cite their screen names, IP addresses. What if the article changes after you cite it. Claiming someone plagiarized Wikipedia is like claiming someone plagiarised the internet. Ideally if you are doing research you would cite the sources of the Wikipedia article (assuming they are not dead links by the time you used them).

But in short Wikipedia deserves no citation, the authors do not expect one.

239 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:38:02am

re: #235 Political Atheist

California State Senator Ron Calderone has been caught by the FBI taking bribes. Kudos and congratulations to some hard working investigators.

Another California Democrat falls. And from the way that article reads, this is liable to be more than one legislator. I’m hoping for something Abscam-level bad for the Cali Dems, some thing that hurts them electorally next year and gives the Golden State’s Grand Old Party an influx of sane people.

240 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:38:20am

re: #238 Good Morning

“Well, if the definition of plagiarize is to “pass someone else’s off work as one’s own” then yes, you can plagiarize Wikipedia unless you are the original article of the article or one of the primary contributors.”

The problem is there is no author of a Wikipedia article. How do you cite the author(s)? Do you cite their screen names, IP addresses. What if the article changes after you cite it. Claiming someone plagiarized Wikipedia is like claiming someone plagiarised the internet. Ideally if you are doing research you would cite the sources of the Wikipedia article (assuming they are not dead links by the time you used them).

But in short Wikipedia deserves no citation, the authors do not expect one.

[citation needed]

241 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:40:33am

Lots of folks on twitter deciding that the latest polling spells doom and gloom for President Obama, except let’s see it for what it is - the past month has witnessed an implosion of the GOP standing:


And the GOP acts as though this is winning the policy battle. So, they’re back at it with their claims that the ACA is spelling the end of America.

The ACA will be doing no such thing, but that nonsensical argument plays well with red meat GOPers.

That isn’t to say the ACA website implementation is doing well. It isn’t. It’s been a mess, but one that can be fixed with sufficient time and resources. The GOP will be doing what it can to starve it of resources, so the Administration will have to do what it can in a limited period of time to make this work.

Meanwhile, media outlets are headlining that college students are getting squeezed out of insurance because of the odd way that the law works. This article is just one example of the kind where the headline scare-mongers the claim that thousands of college students will lose coverage.

Facts to bear in mind when reading the article:
1) The ACA allows parents to keep their dependents on their insurance through age 26. That means most post-high school graduates and even some grad students would be able to maintain coverage through undergrad, and even part of grad school.

2) Those students who supposedly lose insurance and face higher premiums would generally be eligible for subsidies since they’re in all likelihood not making enough to shoulder the entire cost. This is a key fact not emphasized in the article. A person making up to 400% of the poverty level (which would include many students if filing single and not treated as dependent on parent’s return) would be eligible for subsidies to bring the cost down to no more than a fraction of their annual income.

3) The report notes up front that the policies being eliminated are bare-bones and don’t cost much because they’re not actually providing much in the way of coverage. Those old policies are essentially catastrophic care only policies so preventative care and routine health issues are ignored. The new policies cost more, but also cover so much more, including birth control, physicals, etc. and do more to cover emergency room and other medical expenses with more affordable deductibles.

4) The article notes that the new care will better protect people from stuff like routine falls - where a broken bone and trip to ER can cost thousands out of pocket or an ailment can run up thousands in test bills.

Instead of scaremongering in the headlines, a more balanced report would indicate that the policies being phased out weren’t really worth the cost, and ignored routine health issues all while saddling those who have medical issues with huge bills that those old plans simply ignored or didn’t cover.

242 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:41:19am
243 Ian G.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:42:06am

bloomberg.com

Hmm, so a developing new industrial sector goes through a bubble phase, followed by the bubble popping, followed by a lot of bankruptcies, as the good companies are sorted from the bad, followed by renewed growth on a more stable track.

Could describe the E-Commerce world from about 1999-2003. Or the solar energy world, as this article does.

And of course, the right will continue to scream “Solyndra!” over and over and over again. Which is kind of like screaming “Pets.com!” over and over again in 2003.

244 Political Atheist  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:43:29am

re: #239 Dark_Falcon

California can not afford corruption. Did you see what the LA City Council did?

(BRB commute time)

245 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:44:03am

re: #244 Political Atheist

California can not afford corruption. Did you see what the LA City Council did?

(BRB commute time)

Yeah, I read that.

246 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:44:13am

re: #238 Good Morning

Wikipedia is increasingly accepted as valid source material in legal cases, so claiming that it isn’t a valid source to cite to simply ignores reality. It’s an online source used by millions of people, and plagiarism is plagiarism, regardless of the material source.

If you copypasta this comment somewhere else and treat it as your own, it’s still plagiarism, even though I’m anonymous and posting it on a web-board.

The same goes with Wikipedia. There are page versions and other ways to identify and date-stamp changes to that site, so there’s some level of accountability on changes to information there. You can go back and look at edit-histories, so it’s not as though someone can anonymously edit a page and no one would know. That’s just not how the site works.

But again, the definition of plagiarism doesn’t change just because of the source material.

247 darthstar  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:44:20am

Mornin’ gang…happy halloween.

248 darthstar  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:44:30am

boo

249 darthstar  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:45:15am

An unusually okay read from Dana Milbank this morning.

washingtonpost.com

250 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:45:37am

Dim Jim’s all butthurt this morning that the Cards lost.

251 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:47:34am

re: #243 Ian G.

bloomberg.com

Hmm, so a developing new industrial sector goes through a bubble phase, followed by the bubble popping, followed by a lot of bankruptcies, as the good companies are sorted from the bad, followed by renewed growth on a more stable track.

Could describe the E-Commerce world from about 1999-2003. Or the solar energy world, as this article does.

And of course, the right will continue to scream “Solyndra!” over and over and over again. Which is kind of like screaming “Pets.com!” over and over again in 2003.

The thing is that Obama aligned himself visibly with solar energy and the federal government did pour good money into Solyndra after it clearly had become imprudent to do so. That gave those who want to go after Obama an angle and they don’t want to give it up.

252 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:49:30am

re: #250 Witches BaBOOshka

Dim Jim’s all butthurt this morning that the Cards lost.

[Embedded content]

Once again St. Louis tries, and once again Beantown stuffs ‘em.

253 darthstar  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:51:57am
254 Ian G.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:53:17am

re: #250 Witches BaBOOshka

Dim Jim’s all butthurt this morning that the Cards lost.

[Embedded content]

Aren’t the Cardinals Rush Limbaugh’s team too?

There are a lot of reasons to loathe the Cardinals, and the fact that they seem to be the favorite team of a lot of wingnuts is another. Glad Boston won.

255 Ian G.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:55:23am

re: #251 Dark_Falcon

The thing is that Obama aligned himself visibly with solar energy and the federal government >did pour good money into Solyndra after it clearly had become imprudent to do so.

Solyndra’s performance says nothing about the solar industry as a whole any more than MySpace says anything about social media. The right, however, in the pockets of the carbon energy industry forever, harp hysterically about Solyndra as if it represents the solar industry as a whole. And for good reason: as solar energy represents an existential threat to carbon-based energy.

256 darthstar  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 6:58:47am
257 aagcobb  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:01:13am

re: #253 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Well it certainly isn’t the reporter’s job to dig into the facts to find out this women could actually get better coverage for less money.///

258 darthstar  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:10:29am
259 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:11:10am

re: #250 Witches BaBOOshka

Dim Jim’s all butthurt this morning that the Cards lost.

[Embedded content]

So let’s judge a whole city and fanbase because of the actions of few. Read a story last night about a St. Louis fan threatening Boston on twitter. I’m sure DimJim will be bashing St. Louisans any minute now.//

260 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:12:23am

re: #253 darthstar

[Embedded content]

From the way she looks today on that show vs 4 yrs ago, I’d say this 60 yr old is probably spending more on personal maintenance than health care since she looks much younger on the CNBC interview.

Oh well, in less than 5 yrs she’ll be eligible for Medicare. I was uninsured for 7 yrs before I finally got Medicare. I simply could not afford insurance, or a $5,000 deductible, which would have been 1/3 of my yrly income. There are many, many others in the same position.

Youtube Video

261 iossarian  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:12:39am

re: #256 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Poor people don’t already clip coupons or try other ways to stretch their budgets, obviously.

This right-wing myth that there’s a ton of slack out there that can easily be taken in - where does it come from?

262 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:13:07am

Honestly, this was the last group of teams in the WS I wanted. I hate the Red Sox being an Orioles fan and while I don’t hate the Cardinals. They’ve won twice in the last decade. Me? I was hoping for a “boring” World Series between the Pirates and Athletics at the start of the playoffs.

263 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:14:06am

Gee, I wonder why Idaho needs a year delay on the ACA?

Otter asks for one year delay on insurance deadline

“BOISE — Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter wants the requirement for everybody to have insurance by 2014 delayed 12 months amid glitches in Internet health care exchanges across the nation, including Idaho.”

Gee, could it be because you and the Idaho Legislature drug your fucking feet on implementing the exchange until the last minute?

/// Nah, It couldn’t be that.

264 iossarian  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:14:26am

re: #254 Ian G.

There are a lot of reasons to loathe the Cardinals, and the fact that they seem to be the favorite team of a lot of wingnuts is another. Glad Boston won.

I am not entirely proud to say that, home team preferences aside, I will always root for west coast/north east teams over the “heartland” and the south for precisely this reason.

265 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:14:46am

re: #257 aagcobb

Well it certainly isn’t the reporter’s job to dig into the facts to find out this women could actually get better coverage for less money.///

Actually, she could have done it herself if she didn’t have the attitude.

266 darthstar  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:14:49am

re: #261 iossarian

Poor people don’t already clip coupons or try other ways to stretch their budgets, obviously.

This right-wing myth that there’s a ton of slack out there that can easily be taken in - where does it come from?

Arrogance and ignorance.

267 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:15:24am

re: #263 Bubblehead II

Gee, I wonder why Idaho needs a year delay on the ACA?

Otter asks for one year delay on insurance deadline

“BOISE — Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter wants the requirement for everybody to have insurance by 2014 delayed 12 months amid glitches in Internet health care exchanges across the nation, including Idaho.”

Gee, could it be because you and the Idaho Legislature drug your fucking feet on implementing the exchange until the last minute?

/// Nah, Icouldn’t be that.

Obama’s fault?//

268 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:15:37am

re: #262 HappyWarrior

Honestly, this was the last group of teams in the WS I wanted. I hate the Red Sox being an Orioles fan and while I don’t hate the Cardinals. They’ve won twice in the last decade. Me? I was hoping for a “boring” World Series between the Pirates and Athletics at the start of the playoffs.

I wanted the Tigers in the WS again this year because they sucked so hard last year against the Giants.

269 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:17:19am

re: #268 Witches BaBOOshka

I wanted the Tigers in the WS again this year because they sucked so hard last year against the Giants.

Once the Buccos got eliminated, I was hoping for the Tigers to return and for the Dodgers to win the NL. It’s interesting. With all the history those two have. They’ve never played against each other.

270 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:17:46am

re: #267 HappyWarrior

Obama’s fault?//

// Why of course.

271 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:18:13am

re: #238 Good Morning

“Well, if the definition of plagiarize is to “pass someone else’s off work as one’s own” then yes, you can plagiarize Wikipedia unless you are the original article of the article or one of the primary contributors.”

The problem is there is no author of a Wikipedia article. How do you cite the author(s)? Do you cite their screen names, IP addresses. What if the article changes after you cite it. Claiming someone plagiarized Wikipedia is like claiming someone plagiarised the internet. Ideally if you are doing research you would cite the sources of the Wikipedia article (assuming they are not dead links by the time you used them).

But in short Wikipedia deserves no citation, the authors do not expect one.

Says who, genius?

re: #246 lawhawk

What lawhawk said.

If you look harder, you can find out who contributed to every wikipedia article. Click on “View history,” and there will be a list of each edit by a contributing editor. Click on the contributor name, and you can find his or her wiki page

As I said elsewhere, violating copyright is not the same as plagiarism. WIkipedia text is freely available under Creative Commons license, so using it does not violate copyright. But using it without attribution is plagiarism.

Or to put in simpler terms for the intellectually challenged, if you copy a Wikipedia article and hand it in without any citations to a teacher, you will get a zero. if you copy an article from a copyrighted journal, newspaper, magazine, etc., without citations (it’s still plagiarism), and it gets published, you will get a nasty letter from the owner’s lawyers demanding lots of money.

272 darthstar  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:18:40am
273 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:20:34am

re: #272 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Idiots.

274 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:22:43am

Evidently, Ms. Cavallaro is going around to other stations giving interviews on how mean Obamacare is.

nrcc.org

275 makeitstop  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:23:12am

Here’s a nice, creepy David Bowie video for Halloween.

Youtube Video

I love the sly musical reference to ‘Ashes To Ashes’ once the band kicks in. Nobody does self-reference better than DB.

276 BongCrodny  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:23:21am

re: #238 Good Morning

“Well, if the definition of plagiarize is to “pass someone else’s off work as one’s own” then yes, you can plagiarize Wikipedia unless you are the original article of the article or one of the primary contributors.”

The problem is there is no author of a Wikipedia article. How do you cite the author(s)? Do you cite their screen names, IP addresses. What if the article changes after you cite it. Claiming someone plagiarized Wikipedia is like claiming someone plagiarised the internet. Ideally if you are doing research you would cite the sources of the Wikipedia article (assuming they are not dead links by the time you used them).

But in short Wikipedia deserves no citation, the authors do not expect one.

We haul stuff over from Wiki all the time.

“According to Wikipedia…”

It’s really not that hard.

277 Ian G.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:23:57am

re: #262 HappyWarrior

Honestly, this was the last group of teams in the WS I wanted. I hate the Red Sox being an Orioles fan and while I don’t hate the Cardinals. They’ve won twice in the last decade. Me? I was hoping for a “boring” World Series between the Pirates and Athletics at the start of the playoffs.

I wanted an Oakland-Pittsburgh World Series too. Sigh….

278 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:25:43am

re: #277 Ian G.

I wanted an Oakland-Pittsburgh World Series too. Sigh….

Oh well. When I don’t get my wish, I just hope for non sweeps.

279 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:26:17am

re: #274 Justanotherhuman

Evidently, Ms. Cavallaro is going around to other stations giving interviews on how mean Obamacare is.

nrcc.org

Her name is derived from the Spanish word for ‘horseman’ and she’s going to ride this horse till it dies.

280 BongCrodny  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:26:29am

re: #250 Witches BaBOOshka

Dim Jim’s all butthurt this morning that the Cards lost.

[Embedded content]

My god, they’re climbing a traffic signal pole!

Have they no shame?

281 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:26:56am

re: #280 BongCrodny

My god, they’re climbing a traffic signal pole!

Have they no shame?

THUGSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

282 prairiefire  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:28:35am

Halloween! The one day of the year I blend in!

283 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:29:15am

Well it’s Halloween. First time I’ll be wearing a costume in years and only the second time I’ll ever have dyed my hair.

284 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:30:12am

If this woman knows so much about real estate, investing, blah, blah, blah—why can’t she figure out she’ll get better medical coverage under Obamacare? I think she probably has more income than she lets on, too.

A Republican plant who lives in Westchester?

kw.com

285 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:31:11am

We also find out today whether my first niece or nephew will be one of those two. Gut says I’m having a niece.

286 Romantic Heretic  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:33:23am

re: #217 Sol Berdinowitz

Any successful program has to be a bit of both stick and carrot. Liberals don’t like to use sticks, Conservatives are opposed to dangling free carrots.

Unfortunately by today’s standards stick is considered best because sticks are cheap and the carrots can then be eaten by the person holding the stick. semi/

287 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:34:22am

re: #246 lawhawk

Wikipedia is increasingly accepted as valid source material in legal cases, so claiming that it isn’t a valid source to cite to simply ignores reality. It’s an online source used by millions of people, and plagiarism is plagiarism, regardless of the material source.

If you copypasta this comment somewhere else and treat it as your own, it’s still plagiarism, even though I’m anonymous and posting it on a web-board.

The same goes with Wikipedia. There are page versions and other ways to identify and date-stamp changes to that site, so there’s some level of accountability on changes to information there. You can go back and look at edit-histories, so it’s not as though someone can anonymously edit a page and no one would know. That’s just not how the site works.

But again, the definition of plagiarism doesn’t change just because of the source material.

My brother and his department do not accept Wikipedia as a valid reference in submitted papers. For the research I see using Wikipedia as a starting point to *find* references, but it’s not a valid end point.

288 iossarian  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:35:11am

re: #283 HappyWarrior

Well it’s Halloween. First time I’ll be wearing a costume in years and only the second time I’ll ever have dyed my hair.

I’m planning to be the ghost of William the footman from Downton Abbey. White makeup, white tie and tails.

289 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:36:29am

re: #287 Feline Fearless Leader

I totally get that. In many instances, it’s a starting point for further research, such as using whatever links/cites are provided in the article as a way to get into the topic more fully.

But for something like a synopsis of a book or movie or the history of a local restaurant or landmark, Wikipedia’s page is more than sufficient as a citation in and of itself. It’s going to depend on the issue involved, but courts are recognizing the site’s validity.

290 prairiefire  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:37:54am

re: #288 iossarian

I’m planning to be the ghost of William the footman from Downton Abbey. White makeup, white tie and tails.

Awesome.

291 Decatur Deb  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:39:02am

Somehow, I don’t think copping a wiki quote for his speech is Rand’s biggest flaw.

292 iossarian  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:39:40am

re: #290 prairiefire

Awesome.

Why thank you!

293 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:41:02am

re: #291 Decatur Deb

Somehow, I don’t think copping a wiki quote for his speech is Rand’s biggest flaw.

No, it is just intellectually lazy and shows a great deal of disregard for his audience. But I guess he assumes them to be so rabidly conservative that they do not care as long as it fits into their world view.

294 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:42:30am

re: #288 iossarian

I’m planning to be the ghost of William the footman from Downton Abbey. White makeup, white tie and tails.

Neat I’m going as a leprechaun. Instead of looking for gold, I’ll be looking for beer.

295 Romantic Heretic  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:42:45am

re: #261 iossarian

Poor people don’t already clip coupons or try other ways to stretch their budgets, obviously.

This right-wing myth that there’s a ton of slack out there that can easily be taken in - where does it come from?

From their asses.

296 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:43:50am

re: #287 Feline Fearless Leader

My brother and his department do not accept Wikipedia as a valid reference in submitted papers. For the research I see using Wikipedia as a starting point to *find* references, but it’s not a valid end point.

This is what pretty much every professor has told me. - Use wikipedia as the starting point and then use academic journals and such for your actual research. Worked out pretty well seeing as I was never accused of plagiarism.

297 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:44:11am

I didn’t bring a bandana to tie around my hair, so I’m just “Random Blue-Collar Worker” instead of “Rosie The Riveter”

298 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:44:19am

re: #291 Decatur Deb

Somehow, I don’t think copping a wiki quote for his speech is Rand’s biggest flaw.

I agree- having the economic views of a 1920’s reactionary is.

299 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:46:22am

re: #298 HappyWarrior

As well as most of the social views.

Both he and daddy dearest try to underplay their social reaction by being “anti-war” (actually isolationists) and pro-drugs, but they are deeply conservative on everything else, including abortion, same sex marriage, women’s rights, race, immigration, etc.

300 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:48:08am


The church was destroyed on 9/11 and it’s taken years before the church and the Port Authority struck a deal on where and how to rebuild. It’s going to be built near its original location, but moved to accommodate the Port Authority’s construction.

Despite that history, people, namely atheists, are complaining about the construction of a church on the site - we just have to ignore that the church predated the WTC and was destroyed on 9/11. They deserve to be rebuilt, and the site will include a nondenominational bereavement center open to all.

Then, there are some folks who are ignorant about the history of architecture complaining that the renderings look too much like a mosque.

It would ignore that many of the structures these folks identify as mosques, were originally churches, including the Haiga Sophia, which was built as the Church of Holy Wisdom by Emperor Justinian I in 532 on the site of several previous churches. After the fall of Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque. It is now a museum.

The design mixes traditional church styles across the ages and blends them into a modern mix that offsets the glass and steel of the nearby WTC and WFC.

301 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:48:28am

re: #297 Witches BaBOOshka

I didn’t bring a bandana to tie around my hair, so I’m just “Random Blue-Collar Worker” instead of “Rosie The Riveter”

I was going to skip costume thing today at work, but then realized I had an apron (with company logo) on it and a chef hat from a company training event a few years back. So I put on a white shirt, black pants, tied a bandanna around my neck and put on the apron and hat to do a chef costume. And brought a small pumpkin as a prop since I am pretty sure carrying a large carving knife would not be considered appropriate.

:)

302 Backwoods_Sleuth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:49:08am

Since it’s a gloomy, rainy day here, I plan to stay in my jammies and drink coffee while sitting in front of my computers.

I shall be the dreaded Liberal Blogger.

Sadly, I do not own a pair of Crocs to complete the costume…

303 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:50:06am

re: #299 Justanotherhuman

As well as most of the social views.

Both he and daddy dearest try to underplay their social reaction by being “anti-war” (actually isolationists) and pro-drugs, but they are deeply conservative on everything else, including abortion, same sex marriage, women’s rights, race, immigration, etc.

That too. And they’re not even really pro drug legalization. They have a problem with the feds being involved. Hypothetically, if the state of Kentucky passed a law that would send people who possessed an ounce of drugs to life in prison, Rand Paul would be okay with that because it was done on a state level.

304 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:50:09am

re: #299 Justanotherhuman

As well as most of the social views.

Both he and daddy dearest try to underplay their social reaction by being “anti-war” (actually isolationists) and pro-drugs, but they are deeply conservative on everything else, including abortion, same sex marriage, women’s rights, race, immigration, etc.

And they are not really pro-drugs. They are pro “states decide the drug laws”, which is not the same thing. The accurate statement would be that they are “anti-federalist”.

Oh, ninja’d by three seconds. (edit)

305 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:50:55am

re: #301 Feline Fearless Leader

I was going to skip costume thing today at work, but then realized I had an apron (with company logo) on it and a chef hat from a company training event a few years back. So I put on a white shirt, black pants, tied a bandanna around my neck and put on the apron and hat to do a chef costume. And brought a small pumpkin as a prop since I am pretty sure carrying a large carving knife would not be considered appropriate.

:)

There are some guys walking around here in full, elaborate costumes. Also they turned their cubicles into a pirate ship.

Some people don’t have enough to do.

306 blueraven  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:51:59am

re: #238 Good Morning

“Well, if the definition of plagiarize is to “pass someone else’s off work as one’s own” then yes, you can plagiarize Wikipedia unless you are the original article of the article or one of the primary contributors.”

The problem is there is no author of a Wikipedia article. How do you cite the author(s)? Do you cite their screen names, IP addresses. What if the article changes after you cite it. Claiming someone plagiarized Wikipedia is like claiming someone plagiarised the internet. Ideally if you are doing research you would cite the sources of the Wikipedia article (assuming they are not dead links by the time you used them).

But in short Wikipedia deserves no citation, the authors do not expect one.

This is ridiculous. Before the internet, if one used an encyclopedia as a reference it was noted. Just because you cant cite one author doesn’t mean you can lift whole passages without crediting the source.

307 Decatur Deb  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:52:10am

Wife and I are going as ACA Naviagators—oh, wait. We are Navigators. We’ll be joining an HQ rep and other locals for a working lunch, to see if we can get this pig to fly. BBL.

308 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:53:07am

re: #304 Feline Fearless Leader

And they are not really pro-drugs. They are pro “states decide the drug laws”, which is not the same thing. The accurate statement would be that they are “anti-federalist”.

Precisely. They’re not saying that the “state shouldn’t be telling people what they can put in their bodies.” They’re saying “The federal government shouldn’t.” It’s easy to look at that being pro-pot and think ZOMG RAND and RON PAUL ARE ON MY SIDE but they’re not. Any drug legalization proponent who sees Rand Paul as an ally is delusional.

309 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:56:13am

re: #302 Backwoods_Sleuth

Since it’s a gloomy, rainy day here, I plan to stay in my jammies and drink coffee while sitting in front of my computers.

I shall be the dreaded Liberal Blogger.

Sadly, I do not own a pair of Crocs to complete the costume…

Sending you virtual Crocs with a lining.

crocs.com

Wow, I always thought Crocs were really cheap. Not these. I can get nice athletic shoes for that price at the discount shoe store.

Of course, at my age, you run the risk of falling off footware like these.

310 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:57:49am

re: #303 HappyWarrior

re: #304 Feline Fearless Leader

And they are not really pro-drugs. They are pro “states decide the drug laws”, which is not the same thing. The accurate statement would be that they are “anti-federalist”.

Oh, ninja’d by three seconds. (edit)

Yes, true. I should have put “pro-drugs” in quotation marks. : ) That’s just to suck the dudebros in, I think.

311 Gus  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:58:18am

Byzantine Emperors are all the rage in 2013.

312 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 7:59:00am

re: #300 lawhawk

Religion sure brings out the Stoopid in people…

313 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:00:18am

re: #310 Justanotherhuman

Yes, true. I should have put “pro-drugs” in quotation marks. : ) That’s just to suck the dudebros in, I think.

I wouldn’t say it’s to suck them in itself but it does deceive them.

314 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:00:33am

re: #311 Gus

Byzantine Emperors are all the rage in 2013.

Bring back Justinian!

315 Gus  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:00:50am

[Sound of record skipping.]

316 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:01:05am

re: #300 lawhawk

[Embedded content]


The church was destroyed on 9/11 and it’s taken years before the church and the Port Authority struck a deal on where and how to rebuild. It’s going to be built near its original location, but moved to accommodate the Port Authority’s construction.

Despite that history, people, namely atheists, are complaining about the construction of a church on the site - we just have to ignore that the church predated the WTC and was destroyed on 9/11. They deserve to be rebuilt, and the site will include a nondenominational bereavement center open to all.

Then, there are some folks who are ignorant about the history of architecture complaining that the renderings look too much like a mosque.

It would ignore that many of the structures these folks identify as mosques, were originally churches, including the Haiga Sophia, which was built as the Church of Holy Wisdom by Emperor Justinian I in 532 on the site of several previous churches. After the fall of Constantinople, it was converted into a mosque. It is now a museum.

The design mixes traditional church styles across the ages and blends them into a modern mix that offsets the glass and steel of the nearby WTC and WFC.

Screamers love to do their screaming. Frankly, I think the proposed design a good one and the rebuilding of the church an important part of putting right the wrongs done by Al Qaeda on that dreadful day.

317 Gus  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:01:32am

re: #314 HappyWarrior

Bring back Justinian!

INORITE. Just don’t bring back Christopher Columbus. Everyone else is cool. //

318 Absalom, Absalom, Obdicut  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:01:48am

re: #239 Dark_Falcon

Another California Democrat falls. And from the way that article reads, this is liable to be more than one legislator. I’m hoping for something Abscam-level bad for the Cali Dems, some thing that hurts them electorally next year and gives the Golden State’s Grand Old Party an influx of sane people.

How on earth would that lead to the GOP getting an influx of sane people? Do you really, really not understand that for the GOP to attract sane people it has to have sane positions?

319 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:02:07am
320 Gus  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:03:08am

Religious zealots from the south: bad. Religious zealots dating back to Roman emperors and based in NYC: good.

321 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:04:13am

re: #315 Gus

Bing!

322 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:04:18am

re: #319 Witches BaBOOshka

[Embedded content]

Image: chappelle-player-haters-ball.jpg
Unavailable for comment.

323 BongCrodny  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:05:30am

re: #319 Witches BaBOOshka

[Embedded content]

Rand will be giving out martyr cookies for Halloween.

324 Gus  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:06:22am

It’s ironic how much the USA really is like Russia.

325 piratedan  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:06:41am

re: #239 Dark_Falcon

Another California Democrat falls. And from the way that article reads, this is liable to be more than one legislator. I’m hoping for something Abscam-level bad for the Cali Dems, some thing that hurts them electorally next year and gives the Golden State’s Grand Old Party an influx of sane people.

have you seen what the California GOP has been saying and doing while the Dems have been doing the heavy lifting to pull the state’s nads out of the fire? Put your pom-poms away because today’s GOP bears little resemblance to the party that you remember.

326 Political Atheist  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:07:00am

re: #245 Dark_Falcon

Oh sorry I see you did. Thanks. Checks and balances matter. It is supposed to be a two party system.

327 Ian G.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:07:18am

re: #300 lawhawk

I’m an atheist and I have no problem with the church being re-built there. I mean, it was destroyed on 9/11 too. I also had no problem with the so-called “ground zero mosque”, FWIW.

328 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:07:20am

rawstory.com
For a man who fled a dictatorship, Rafael Cruz sure is hungry for his son to be one.

329 Gus  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:07:59am

[Looks at monitor over glasses and logs out.]

330 Charles Johnson  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:08:56am
331 Ian G.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:10:21am

re: #328 HappyWarrior

rawstory.com
For a man who fled a dictatorship, Rafael Cruz sure is hungry for his son to be one.

Rafael Cruz only fled because Cuba was the “wrong” kind of dictatorship. Cruz would have been perfectly happy in Franco’s Spain.

332 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:11:45am

re: #331 Ian G.

Rafael Cruz only fled because Cuba was the “wrong” kind of dictatorship. Cruz would have been perfectly happy in Franco’s Spain.

Yes, I’m starting to think that too the more I learn about him and his desire to have his equally batshit insane son depose Obama and place himself in charge.

333 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:13:01am

re: #320 Gus

Religious zealots from the south: bad. Religious zealots dating back to Roman emperors and based in NYC: good.

Cool it, Gus. Wanting your church rebuilt after terrorist assholes destroy it is not ‘zealotry’, it’s a demand for freedom and justice. The 1st Amendment confirms Americans’ right to worship as they see fit, so long as they do not harm others. Al Qaeda hates and rejects that freedom and the destruction of St. Nicholas was part of an act of terrorism intended to further the terror network’s aim of forcing the entire world to worship God exactly how they want and exact as they see Him. To try to prevent the church from being rebuilt would be to allow their act of destruction to stand, and it must not stand.

334 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:13:18am

Steve u mean the Texas regulations on abortion providers?

335 Political Atheist  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:16:12am

re: #300 lawhawk

So we have an atheist/anti Muslim convergence over this church? That’s really sad. By what right do the atheists or anyone else think they should stop the reconstruction of any church, temple, mosque etc? It’s not as if it’s new to the neighborhood. And nobody is forcing anyone to attend or pay attention.

IMO-The whole “looks like a mosque” thing reflects far more on the critics bigotry than the architecture or architect. I supported the mosque construction and I sure do support the reconstruction of the church.

336 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:16:56am

re: #325 piratedan

have you seen what the California GOP has been saying and doing while the Dems have been doing the heavy lifting to pull the state’s nads out of the fire? Put your pom-poms away because today’s GOP bears little resemblance to the party that you remember.

Some Dems having been doing heavy lifting, while as RWC pointed out, others are simply lining their pockets and letting the state sink in the Stygian mire of debt.

I’m hopeful a Democratic scandal could spark renewed interest in the Republican Party in Cali. I think out party figures could help by supplying money and working to attract sane people and candidates. I’m thinking how a base can be built to oppose the crazies from within the party.

337 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:19:13am

re: #327 Ian G.

Ground Zero mosque that isn’t in Ground Zero, but several blocks to the north (and which also suffered some damage, and part of the landing gear was found wedged behind it in just the past couple of years). Geller and others have claimed it would tower over the WTC and Ground Zero, and yet it’s not even going to be the tallest building on its own street. 30 Park Place, a Silverstein property, is going to be one of the tallest residential buildings in NYC and far taller than the squat Cordoba House /Park51 project, which is still in development limbo.

338 piratedan  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:19:35am

re: #336 Dark_Falcon

Some Dems having been doing heavy lifting, while as RWC pointed out, others are simply lining their pockets and letting the state sink in the Stygian mire of debt.

I’m hopeful a Democratic scandal could spark renewed interest in the Republican Party in Cali. I think out party figures could help by supplying money and working to attract sane people and candidates. I’m thinking how a base can be built to oppose the crazies from within the party.

good luck with that

339 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:19:38am

re: #334 Witches BaBOOshka

Maybe he means regulation of teh gay sex. /

340 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:20:50am

Obviously GG thinks it’s fine for govt employees themselves to leak secret info to news reporters and then be given even more info.


Why should Kim have access to other govt secrets? This is a prosecution for what he’s already done, not a way for his defense to have wholesale access to govt documents.

341 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:21:37am

re: #330 Charles Johnson

C’est impossible! Zut alors!

How can this be? Greenwald is wrong? Again. I should bust out a new shocked face for Halloween, but it’s in the shop getting upgrades.

No wait, he’s not wrong, it’s everyone who criticized him who thinks that the intel services wouldn’t lie are wrong.

It’s that everyone’s out to get him, so it must be true.

342 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:22:32am

re: #262 HappyWarrior

Honestly, this was the last group of teams in the WS I wanted. I hate the Red Sox being an Orioles fan and while I don’t hate the Cardinals. They’ve won twice in the last decade. Me? I was hoping for a “boring” World Series between the Pirates and Athletics at the start of the playoffs.

I’m a Boston fan, but I will say I’d really like to have seen the Pirates in the WS this year (whether or not Boston was the AL team).

343 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:23:46am

re: #342 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi

I’m a Boston fan, but I will say I’d really like to have seen the Pirates in the WS this year (whether or not Boston was the AL team).

I am just glad to see them relevant again. They’ve got great fans, a beautiful stadium, and I like seeing the homecity of my grandparents succeed.

344 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:24:16am

I don’t know WTF Bryan is even talking about.

345 Ed E. Lishus  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:25:14am

The California GOP pretty much looks like the GOP across the nation. The problem for them is that the demographics in the state overall doesn’t favor their brand, but they don’t seem to want to temper their talk about immigration and infrastructure modernization. And so they continue to lose. There will not be a viable opposition party in CA until that party decides it needs to get out in front on issues people (read: majority of people, not just the red counties) care about.

346 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:25:42am

re: #344 Witches BaBOOshka

I don’t know WTF Bryan is even talking about.

[Embedded content]

Uh Bryan, the 150th anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg was in July. I know you’re hungover from drinking hate syrup but if you’re seriously suggesting that Obama is scared because he didn’t point out that racism exists in our society then you’re a sad little man. Seek help immediately.

347 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:26:17am

re: #345 Ed E. Lishus

Welcome, hatchling.

348 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:26:53am

re: #300 lawhawk

Despite that history, people, namely atheists, are complaining about the construction of a church on the site

Nice broad brush you’ve got there.

349 iossarian  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:27:28am

re: #346 HappyWarrior

hungover from drinking hate syrup

Lol. Also serves as a cautionary reminder to stay away from the Spooky Green Punch Bowl.

350 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:27:34am

re: #333 Dark_Falcon

Cool it, Gus. Wanting your church rebuilt after terrorist assholes destroy it is not ‘zealotry’, it’s a demand for freedom and justice. The 1st Amendment confirms Americans’ right to worship as they see fit, so long as they do not harm others. Al Qaeda hates and rejects that freedom and the destruction of St. Nicholas was part of an act of terrorism intended to further the terror network’s aim of forcing the entire world to worship God exactly how they want and exact as they see Him. To try to prevent the church from being rebuilt would be to allow their act of destruction to stand, and >it must not stand.

Listen, I know 2 wrongs don’t make a right, but I can tell you of a lifetime of being shunned and criticized for not wanting to “worship”, also.

Too many people in this country want “freedom” for themselves and for no others. That is the problem we face more and more these days.

We have too often come very close to violating the separation of church and state. Cultural practices, when in violation of the First Amendment, shouldn’t be embraced by the State.

Having said that, though, if they have the land and the resources, without govt help, to rebuild, they should be able to do it.

351 Lidane  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:27:43am

re: #336 Dark_Falcon

I’m hopeful a Democratic scandal could spark renewed interest in the Republican Party in Cali.

If a Democratic scandal is the only thing that could possibly get people interested in the California GOP again, the Republican party is doing it wrong.

352 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:27:44am

re: #344 Witches BaBOOshka

353 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:28:16am

re: #344 Witches BaBOOshka

Insert photo of Obama laughing.

354 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:28:20am

re: #340 Justanotherhuman

Obviously GG thinks it’s fine for govt employees themselves to leak secret info to news reporters and then be given even more info.

[Embedded content]


Why should Kim have access to other govt secrets? This is a prosecution for what he’s already done, not a way for his defense to have wholesale access to govt documents.

I just wish the prosecutions gets to haul in some people from Fox News to testify, because I’d like to see FNC put through the wringer about the way it carries on at times.

Question I’d like asked of Fox News person: “You opposed this sort of leak when George W. Bush was president, only to blacktrack when Barack Obama took office. Why should we believe anything you say?”

355 Charles Johnson  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:28:22am
356 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:29:10am

The problem I’m seeing with the GOP as the torch transfers to a new generation of leaders is that the insanity remains the same or arguably has gotten worse. Cruz, Rand Paul, Cuccinnelli, etc are all under 50. Not old guys by any stretch of the word but they’re still stuck in the old so-con ways. Or hell I’d say they’re even more so-con than the old ones. Even Reagan who they worship at a political altar signed what was one of the more liberal laws on abortion in the nation and opposed firing teachers because they were gay. Gerald Ford was pro choice and gay rights too. Both men who were old enough to be Ken Cuccinnelli’s grandfather yet more progressive than him on things like that. The GOP’s problem is their positions appeal to a shrinking part of the electorate but at the same time, those views dominate the GOP primary electorate so they have to at the very least pander to those views to first get nomination and then renomination. It’s their own fault though. They decided to pander to bigotry.

357 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:29:35am

re: #355 Charles Johnson

Doesn’t matter. They could do those things. Don’t you see???@@2

//

358 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:30:00am

The California GOP is too busy hating on transgendered people.
They ain’t going to get any ‘renewed interest’ because they are fucking bigots.

359 Lidane  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:30:19am

re: #353 Bulworth

Insert photo of Obama laughing.

Image: umadbrah.jpg

360 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:30:22am

re: #348 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi

It’s a group of atheists who have repeatedly sued the Port Authority and WTC memorial/museum over this and other religious symbols being included in the museum. How else do you want me to identify them? It’s a group of atheists who are complaining about the construction of the church on the site.

That’s who’s complaining…

Then there are the people who are complaining about the design.

361 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:30:40am
362 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:30:42am

re: #351 Lidane

If a Democratic scandal is the only thing that could possibly get people interested in the California GOP again, the Republican party is doing it wrong.

Yep, if the California GOP wants to be relevant, they need to give the people of that state something worth voting for. Haven’t Republicans learned anything from 2012? Simply running as not Obama isn’t enough. They need real and viable alternatives.

363 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:31:58am

re: #358 Varek Raith

The California GOP is too busy hating on transgendered people.
They ain’t going to get any ‘renewed interest’ because they are fucking bigots.

Yep, the Republican Party nationwide is too obsessed with social issues. That’s not going to fly in California.

364 iossarian  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:31:59am

re: #361 Witches BaBOOshka

Is that the king of right-wing trolling?

Why yes, yes it is.

365 Ian G.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:32:31am

re: #344 Witches BaBOOshka

I had no idea the Battle of Gettysburg happened in late October. Also, America won the Civil War, and Gettysburg was the turning point. It was racist traitors who lost. Not sure why Obama would point out that as an example of American racism.

Fischer is really losing it, not that he ever really had it.

366 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:32:36am

re: #355 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

I wonder if a person can die of retraction retention.

367 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:33:10am

Wingnuts are going to FREAK OUT from the POTUS Halloween picture. I can already imagine the captions.

368 b.d.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:33:31am

re: #355 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

I’m sure Greenwald will do the right thing and blame an intern or a poor translation.

369 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:33:42am

re: #349 iossarian

Lol. Also serves as a cautionary reminder to stay away from the Spooky Green Punch Bowl.

TEQUILLLLLLLLLLLLA. But yeah, Fischer is hungover from hate. He’s going to be so sad when Obama leaves because then he won’t have anything to bitch about especially if there’s a Republican in the WH and he just has to be their cheerleader.

370 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:33:43am

re: #350 Justanotherhuman

There’s a land swap deal involved - the church is being built on a platform over the vehicle security center for the WTC complex (where the former Deutsche Bank building once stood). The Church couldn’t rebuild without getting the land deal worked out since the PANY needed the church’s property to stage and build the rest of the WTC complex.

The construction of the church is coming out of its own pocket (and proceeds from insurance from the destruction of the site). It had to work out a deal with the PANY over when/how and where to rebuild.

371 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:34:39am

re: #364 iossarian

Is that the king of right-wing trolling?

Why yes, yes it is.

If I were a winger it wouldn’t have taken me so long to figure out what you meant.

372 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:35:31am

re: #367 Witches BaBOOshka

Wingnuts are going to FREAK OUT from the POTUS Halloween picture. I can already imagine the captions.

They’ll call Michelle Obama a ‘Wookie’ again, I imagine, thus proving themselves to be Imperial Stormtroopers: A bunch of stompdicks who can’t shoot straight.

/Stay on Target!

373 Ian G.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:35:55am

re: #367 Witches BaBOOshka

Wingnuts are going to FREAK OUT from the POTUS Halloween picture. I can already imagine the captions.

Well, there’s a stormtrooper over there. A little bit of photoshopping could turn the President into Darth Vader or the Emperor. Actually, that’s probably too clever for most wingnuts. They’d prefer the imperial stormtrooper to be an SS stormtrooper so they can continue the oh-so-original Hitler analogies.

374 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:36:08am

re: #361 Witches BaBOOshka

[Embedded content]

I just can’t seem to get into the the wingnut mode right now, but I I’ll give it a try.

STORM TROOPERS!

WOOKIES!

MOOCHERS!

375 piratedan  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:36:51am

re: #374 Bubblehead II

I just can’t seem to get into the the wingnut mode right now, but I I’ll give it a try.

STORM TROOPERS!

WOOKIES!

MOOCHERS!

YOU Didn’t Make Those Baskets!

376 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:37:14am

re: #356 HappyWarrior

Post has a story today about Cooch’s newsletters*, from his days as a state senator, a few years ago. Really fun stuff.

*What is it with the RWNJ and their newsletters? They know there’s an Internet, right?

Some quotes:

“These left-wing, anti-rule of law, politically correct folks,” wrote then-Sen. Ken Cuccinelli II, referring to the organizers. He deployed an all-capital-letter flourish to denigrate their planned boycott of businesses as a way to “show how much we need ILLEGAL aliens.”

Cuccinelli proposed his own response to the demonstration, which he noted fell on May Day, “an old international socialist holiday — coincidence?”

“We’re going shopping, of course!” he wrote. “Shopping is the perfect free market answer to this absurd protest. It will also give you the chance to see which retailers are cheating by employing ILLEGAL aliens.

“Let’s help take back our country with our wallets.”

—-

The Cuccinelli Compass is where Cuccinelli presented himself as an unbridled firebrand, venting about the “left-leaning media,” “gun-grabbing liberals” and “liberals wigging out” over, say, his proposal to allow employers to fire workers for speaking inadequate English.

“We are a beachhead of conservatism in mushy, moderate Fairfax County,” he announced in 2005. At another point, he described himself in the newsletter as a “2nd Amendment supporting Christian Right-to-Life home school dad.”

—-

His targets included Hillary Rodham Clinton (a.k.a. “Scary-Liberal Lady”) and, when he was alive, Ted Kennedy (“past his prime/over the hill wonder-liberal”), along with then-Gov. Mark R. Warner, whose spending initiatives prompted Cuccinelli to refer to him as “Governor Warbucks.”

—-

In 2007, Cuccinelli focused his ire on state Sen. Henry L. Marsh III (D-Richmond), who had criticized proposed changes to the way capital punishment is implemented. Cuccinelli used the opportunity to ridicule Marsh for supporting abortion rights.

“He declared (please note, this is NOT a joke . . . ), ‘I have respect for all human life,’ ” Cuccinelli wrote. “Oh yeah, except for the unborn. Oh yeah, and only if you’ve been convicted of CAPITAL MURDER.”

—-

He sounds nice.

377 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:39:15am

Is that Valerie Jarrett in the orange vest?

378 b.d.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:39:22am

re: #361 Witches BaBOOshka

Don’t dare call them racists!!!!

379 iossarian  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:39:51am

re: #371 wrenchwench

If I were a winger it wouldn’t have taken me so long to figure out what you meant.

Maybe I’m a secret winger to have spotted it so fast ;)

380 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:40:13am

re: #367 Witches BaBOOshka

Wingnuts are going to FREAK OUT from the POTUS Halloween picture. I can already imagine the captions.

They started freaking out about that one a long time ago.

381 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:40:52am

re: #376 Bulworth

Post has a story today about Cooch’s newsletters*, from his days as a state senator, a few years ago. Really fun stuff.

*What is it with the RWNJ and their newsletters? They know there’s an Internet, right?

Some quotes:

—-

—-

—-

—-

He sounds nice.

Henry Marsh is also a civil rights hero. But yeah I heard about this newsletter that he had. It shows how unbelievably petty and hateful the motherfucker is. I think he’s done for. He may have been more viable in the days when Virginia was less diverse politically and culturally but he’s done for in now purple Virginia.

382 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:41:34am

re: #361 Witches BaBOOshka

What’s it an image of?

(for reasons unknown, pics from pic.twitter.com don’t load on my Android. Any suggestions from the techies here?)

383 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:42:10am

re: #377 Witches BaBOOshka

Is that Valerie Jarrett in the orange vest?

I think it’s Michelle’s mother.

384 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:42:15am

re: #378 b.d.

Don’t dare call them racists!!!!

[Embedded content]

Libs are the real racist. My proof is where the political parties stood in the 1860’sssssssssssssssssssss!

385 b.d.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:42:17am

re: #377 Witches BaBOOshka

Is that Valerie Jarrett in the orange vest?

That is the FMIL, Michelle’s mother.

386 iossarian  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:42:33am

re: #380 wrenchwench

They started freaking out about that one a long time ago.

OBAMA TOO CHEAP TO UPDATE HALLOWEEN PICTURE OUTRAGE

387 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:42:51am

re: #383 wrenchwench

I think it’s Michelle’s mother.

I thought so too.

388 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:42:55am

re: #361 Witches BaBOOshka

[Embedded content]

Kitty kitty!

389 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:43:12am

re: #382 Bulworth

What’s it an image of?

(for reasons unknown, pics from pic.twitter.com don’t load on my Android. Any suggestions from the techies here?)

See here.

390 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:43:38am

re: #386 iossarian

OBAMA TOO CHEAP TO UPDATE HALLOWEEN PICTURE OUTRAGE

You should have wingnuted that. :-)

391 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:43:44am

re: #380 wrenchwench

This story from the new book on the Obamas by New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor is lighting up the Internets today:

That story and book is what totally killed Obama’s re-election. //

392 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:45:04am

re: #272 darthstar

[Embedded content]

It’s extremely inelegant, but I don’t think it’s racist or intended as such. It’s merely an extension of the longstanding practice of comparing abortion to slavery, and Roe v. Wade to Dred Scott. The idea is that if you believe that a group of people is suffering a severe injustice (be it abortion or slavery), it’s not enough simply to refrain from inflicting that injustice personally.

Whatever one thinks of the validity of the comparison, it’s not intrinsically racist. In fact, the comparison makes no sense at all without the assumption that slavery was a great evil.

393 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:46:47am

Oh and my shock that Cuccinnelli home-schools his kids while he and wife live in what is regarded as one of the best public school systems in the country. Nil. I’ve known people like the Cuccinellis. They are and I realize the term is technically inaccurate but “Catholic fundies.”

394 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:47:09am

re: #378 b.d.

Don’t dare call them racists!!!!

[Embedded content]

That tweet is now toast. I wonder how flak the hater got for it.

395 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:47:12am

re: #381 HappyWarrior

He reminds me of one of those evil kids from the book/movie Lord of the Flies.

396 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:47:17am

re: #391 Bulworth

This story from the new book on the Obamas by New York Times reporter Jodi Kantor is lighting up the Internets today:

That story and book is what totally killed Obama’s re-election. //

Once Romney takes the lead, he’s not going to give it back.//

397 b.d.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:47:44am

re: #393 HappyWarrior

Oh and my shock that Cuccinnelli home-schools his kids while he and wife live in what is regarded as one of the best public school systems in the country. Nil. I’ve known people like the Cuccinellis. They are and I realize the term is technically inaccurate but “Catholic fundies.”

The number of people “more catholic than the pope” has certainly grown over these past few months.

398 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:48:02am

re: #392 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi

It’s extremely inelegant, but I don’t think it’s racist or intended as such. It’s merely an extension of the longstanding practice of comparing abortion to slavery, and Roe v. Wade to Dred Scott. The idea is that if you believe that a group of people is suffering a severe injustice (be it abortion or slavery), it’s not enough simply to refrain from inflicting that injustice personally.

Whatever one thinks of the validity of the comparison, it’s not intrinsically racist. In fact, the comparison makes no sense at all without the assumption that slavery was a great evil.

It is EXTREMELY OFFENSIVE to the descendants of actual victims of slavery and the Holocaust to co-opt these events for their own agenda.

399 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:49:18am

re: #395 Bulworth

He reminds me of one of those evil kids from the book/movie Lord of the Flies.

To my regret, I’ve never read it. He reminds me a lot politically speaking though of Rick Santorum. Very similar background in fact. Italian-American ultra-conservative Catholic lawyers who got elected despite being ultra right wing in fairly moderate areas. In Cucci’s case it was Fairfax County which he even admits is moderate and in Ricky’s case, the Pittsburgh suburbs.

400 iossarian  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:49:25am

re: #396 HappyWarrior

Once Romney takes the lead, he’s not going to give it back.//

Hahaha Romney. Whenever I get down about the political system I picture him in his California manse, making the car elevator go up and down, up and down as he stares out over the turbulent ocean.

401 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:49:32am

Looks like Snowden has a job in the gulag.

402 chadu  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:49:46am

re: #361 Witches BaBOOshka

[Embedded content]

Bet you a nickel someone derps “Look at Obummer’s costume: he’s pretending to be President! hurr-durr!”

403 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:50:05am

re: #399 HappyWarrior

I’ve never read it. Saw the movie many years ago.

404 Hercules Grytpype-Thynneghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:50:27am

re: #360 lawhawk

It’s a group of atheists who have repeatedly sued the Port Authority and WTC memorial/museum over this and other religious symbols being included in the museum. How else do you want me to identify them? It’s a group of atheists who are complaining about the construction of the church on the site.

That’s who’s complaining…

Then there are the people who are complaining about the design.

You originally identified them as “people, namely atheists”. That’s a broad brush. Now you say “a group of atheists”. That’s narrower.

If you don’t see the difference then try it with some other noun, like for example “Muslims” or “Jews”.

405 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:51:13am

Right on schedule:

406 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:51:21am

re: #397 b.d.

The number of people “more catholic than the pope” has certainly grown over these past few months.

Yeah I imagine Ken’s not a big fan of Francis. I haven’t heard any word if he’s Opus Dei. Opus Dei has a church here in NoVa that many of its famous congregants i.e. Robert Hanssen, Robert Bork, and Clarence Thomas have been seen at. He’s definitely the kind of Catholic that scared me away from religion when I was coming of age though. All fire and brimstone but without the compassion.

407 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:52:32am

re: #400 iossarian

Hahaha Romney. Whenever I get down about the political system I picture him in his California manse, making the car elevator go up and down, up and down as he stares out over the turbulent ocean.

I imagine him talking to a mirror: “Do, you think this is a good tie to wear Mr. President” “Gee, I don’t know.” “I think you look awfully presidential Willard.” And then he weeps knowing that he’s only going to be visiting the WH on a tour bus.

408 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:52:57am

Graham Wellington’s Twitter avi is designed to make you think he is African-American but if you look at it closely, he’s a white guy.

409 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:53:02am

From yesterday’s monkey court:

Otherwise, Sebelius, in a gray pinstriped jacket, her white hair well-coiffed and her fingernails manicured, was generally poised, keeping her voice measured even though Republican lawmakers took photos of her with their phones, and their staff members, lined up against a wall, laughed and applauded when their bosses scored points.

Behold the next generation of RWNJ kooks.

410 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:53:26am

re: #407 HappyWarrior

I imagine him talking to a mirror: “Do, you think this is a good tie to wear Mr. President” “Gee, I don’t know.” “I think you look awfully presidential Willard.” And then he weeps knowing that he’s only going to be visiting the WH on a tour bus.

HAHA NO MOAR WHITE HOUSE TOURS BECAUSE SEQUESTER!!!

411 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:53:57am

re: #410 Witches BaBOOshka

HAHA NO MOAR WHITE HOUSE TOURS BECAUSE SEQUESTER!!!

That’s true. Oh well, he’s loaded. Maybe he can build a replica?

412 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:55:07am

So sometimes my pic.twitter loads on my Android, and some times it doesn’t. Weird. Time for another trip into my AT&T store to find out why.

413 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:56:41am

re: #408 Witches BaBOOshka

Graham Wellington? Sounds very elitist. /

414 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:57:37am

re: #405 Witches BaBOOshka

Right on schedule:

[Embedded content]

There are sometimes when I’m right that I wish I wasn’t. This is one of those times.

415 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:57:44am

re: #405 Witches BaBOOshka

He seems nice.

416 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 8:57:56am

re: #413 Bulworth

Graham Wellington? Sounds very elitist. /

It’s just a cracker in rubber boots.

417 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:00:06am

re: #401 Bulworth

Looks like Snowden has a job in the gulag.

And even on his ID picture he manages to look like a smartass little punk. I feel sorry for anyone who ends up having to work with him.

418 kirkspencer  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:03:58am

re: #369 HappyWarrior

TEQUILLLLLLLLLLLLA. But yeah, Fischer is hungover from hate. He’s going to be so sad when Obama leaves because then he won’t have anything to bitch about especially if there’s a Republican in the WH and he just has to be their cheerleader.

(late, but…) Nah, having a Republican in the WH isn’t going to be a problem for a while.

OK, a touch of reality here - it’s too early to tell for sure. But I think we’re going to see another attempt to shut down government in 2014 - either in February or August or both. If August we might see a near-open civil war in the Republican party between competing principles: tea party vs re-election. February, however, will be late enough to keep the Republican behavior in mind.

Either way it gives the Democrats a good shot at winning some House seats and definitely lets them keep the Senate.

And that makes 2016 the year we see the battle for the Republican soul, because as everyone here knows conservativism doesn’t fail, it can only be failed. Which means conservatives of 2015-2016 must even MORE PURE and extending the curve of madness.

I do not know what will come out of that on the Republican party - anyone who claims to know what will come of the chaos is fooling themselves, their listeners, or both. All I can say is that it’s probable the GOP of post-2016 will not look the same as today, and that barring an extraordinarily poor Democratic candidate and campaign that party will continue to hold the White House.

419 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:04:40am

re: #406 HappyWarrior

. All fire and brimstone but without the compassion.

Opus Dei? They aren’t that nice. Remember they started in Spain and were always happy to help the Franco Falangist/Fascist & Pinochet dictatorships murder people for thought crimes (thinking unions are good, thinking women are equal, thinking that the poor should be fed and housed - the usual thought crimes to the right wing).

420 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:07:17am

HORRIBLE CONDITIONS!!!
The corridor is 1/4” too narrow!
The janitor closets 1sq.” too small!
The Dr. from Colorado doesn’t have admitting to TX hospitals!

421 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:07:25am

re: #419 William Barnett-Lewis

Opus Dei? They aren’t that nice. Remember they started in Spain and were always happy to help the Franco Falangist/Fascist & Pinochet dictatorships murder people for thought crimes (thinking unions are good, thinking women are equal, thinking that the poor should be fed and housed - the usual thought crimes to the right wing).

No, I am not saying OD is nice at all. I’m saying, I don’t know if Cuccinelli is a member or not. The fire and brimstone sans compassion was a remark at what Cuccinelli stands for. Apologies for the confusion.

422 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:08:19am

Jesus, Prudence WTF

423 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:08:33am

re: #420 Witches BaBOOshka

Is the same guy who just a few tweets ago was railing against regulations?

424 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:09:17am

re: #359 Lidane

Image: umadbrah.jpg

obligatory companion images:
Image: AW5rtlN.jpg
Image: FxKZzn5.jpg

425 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:09:20am

re: #422 Witches BaBOOshka

We are. We just don’t like Kenny.
Deal with it.

426 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:09:22am

What is this…I can’t even…

427 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:09:23am

re: #421 HappyWarrior

No, I am not saying OD is nice at all. I’m saying, I don’t know if Cuccinelli is a member or not. The fire and brimstone sans compassion was a remark at what Cuccinelli stands for. Apologies for the confusion.

Oh, I know what you said. I was merely taking my complaint about them to the next step. It was I that was unclear in my wording.

428 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:09:46am

re: #422 Witches BaBOOshka

Jesus, Prudence WTF

[Embedded content]

Probably worried about ACORN. Because you know ACORN is why Cuccinelli is seen as toxic to the majority of Virginians.

429 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:09:58am

re: #426 Witches BaBOOshka

Breaking Bad.

430 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:10:35am

re: #427 William Barnett-Lewis

Oh, I know what you said. I was merely taking my complaint about them to the next step. It was I that was unclear in my wording.

Yeah, I’ve read about the Spanish Civil War some. Need to read more but I found Antony Beevor’s book on the subject a great introduction to the subject. I have plans to travel to Spain next summer.

431 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:10:56am

Dear wingnuts,
Virginia ain’t the red state you think it is anymore.

432 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:11:14am

re: #429 lawhawk

Breaking Bad.

The earliest costume picture of me is in a Felix the Cat costume. This just makes me sad.

433 lawhawk  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:11:47am

re: #423 Bulworth

Regulations are bad, except when it comes to women’s naughty bits, in which case, there can’t possibly be enough of those regulations, because they are designed to preserve the life of the zygote, embryo, or fetus, they’re carrying, and the woman’s life is secondary.

434 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:11:48am

re: #432 William Barnett-Lewis

The earliest costume picture of me is in a Felix the Cat costume. This just makes me sad.

Batman for me.

435 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:12:03am

re: #429 lawhawk

Breaking Bad.

Yeah I know it’s Breaking Bad but Baby Walter?

436 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:12:13am

re: #426 Witches BaBOOshka

They should have come up with a Saul Goodman kid.

“Don’t drink and drive on Halloween, but if you do, better call Saul.”

437 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:12:27am

Next year I am going as Penelope from Criminal Minds.

438 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:12:43am

re: #434 Varek Raith

Batman for me.

I know I had some other earlier ones, but Batman is the first one I can remember feeling really cool to be in.

439 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:13:09am

re: #422 Witches BaBOOshka

STOP PEOPLE FROM VOTING!!111

440 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:14:40am

After five years in China, I decided to wear a costume to class for the first time. I bought a mask and a hooded cloak online for a grand total of $12 including shipping.

I was a big hit. Halloween costuming is in its infancy in China.

Image: me-halloween1.jpg

441 EmmaAnne  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:14:52am

re: #140 austin_blue

Two inches in the last twenty minutes. Your Suburban will NOT get over that low water crossing just because it’s big and heavy. Mercy, but idiots will die tonight.

Evolution in action.

We had a couple of kids die in the Colorado flooding because they tried to drive their car through water and then got out when it died. :-( Don’t drive your car through water, especially flowing water. And especially don’t try to walk in it.

442 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:15:17am

re: #431 Varek Raith

Dear wingnuts,
Virginia ain’t the red state you think it is anymore.

It is out west, towards the KY/TN border. The east coast is pretty purple on account of it basically being one big military installation from the VA/NC border up to the northernmost point of Chesapeake Bay, while northern VA might as well be lower D.C.

443 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:16:21am

re: #431 Varek Raith

Dear wingnuts,
Virginia ain’t the red state you think it is anymore.

Seriously. I can remember the days when Democrats would lose in Fairfax County. Now even candidates who get crushed elsewhere (Hey Creigh Deeds) can win FC. Did you hear what Tom Davis said though Varek? He said all the Republicans needed to do was nominate a mammal for governor and they would have be winning. I wager to think he’s right. It’s not like McAuliffe has exactly wowed me here. The stupid Republicans could have gotten most of what they wanted with Bolling but they decided the lunatic was better. This is going to go down as another Akin, Mourdock, etc story.

444 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:17:00am

re: #440 wheat-dogghazi

After five years in China, I decided to wear a costume to class for the first time. I bought a mask and a hooded cloak online for a grand total of $12 including shipping.

I was a big hit. Halloween costuming is in its infancy in China.

Image: me-halloween1.jpg

I’ve been wanting to ask you:

Does this really say ‘space pumpkin’ in Chinese?

445 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:17:19am

re: #442 Targetpractice

It is out west, towards the KY/TN border. The east coast is pretty purple on account of it basically being one big military installation from the VA/NC border up to the northernmost point of Chesapeake Bay, while northern VA might as well be lower D.C.

Problem for them is the brightest red part of the state is also the least populated. I’ve heard that Cucci’s had some problems out there too though.

446 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:17:33am

OK I walked around to look at some of the Engineering Teams Halloween cubicle themes.

There is a “Walking Dead” team
A “Duck Dynasty” team

The “Lincoln Engineering Team” all dressed as Abe Lincoln, that’s a win.

WTF is this, “Zombie Christmas” and trees decorated with meat cleavers?

447 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:18:45am

re: #446 Witches BaBOOshka

OK I walked around to look at some of the Engineering Teams Halloween cubicle themes.

There is a “Walking Dead” team
A “Duck Dynasty” team

The “Lincoln Engineering Team” all dressed as Abe Lincoln, that’s a win.

WTF is this, “Zombie Christmas” and trees decorated with meat cleavers?

My kid brother will hate me for this but I’m sick of zombies. Downding away. I still want to get into Walking Dead though.

448 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:20:17am

re: #443 HappyWarrior

And the lesson they will learn is that Ken wasn’t conservative enough.

449 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:20:21am

re: #447 HappyWarrior

My kid brother will hate me for this but I’m sick of zombies. Downding away. I still want to get into Walking Dead though.

I don’t like zombies either, I think I will vote for Lincoln.

450 Sol Berdinowitz  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:20:45am

re: #447 HappyWarrior

My kid brother will hate me for this but I’m sick of zombies. Downding away. I still want to get into Walking Dead though.

I liked Shawn of the Dead, mostly for the writing and acting, and read the book of World War Z which I liked not for the zombies but how it describes how we totally fail to cope with any approaching catastrophe until it is too late, often then undertaing half-measures that only exacerbate the situation.

In no hurry to see the film version, though…

451 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:21:00am

re: #445 HappyWarrior

Problem for them is the brightest red part of the state is also the least populated. I’ve heard that Cucci’s had some problems out there too though.

That seems to be the national phenomenon, that the darkest red regions are also those where the livestock outnumber the humans.

452 Bubblehead II  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:21:36am

re: #446 Witches BaBOOshka

“WTF is this, “Zombie Christmas” and trees decorated with meat cleavers?”

Tim Burton fans?

(Original 1993) The Nightmare Before Christmas Trailer

453 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:21:53am

re: #450 Sol Berdinowitz

I liked Shawn of the Dead, mostly for the writing and acting, and read the book of World War Z which I liked not for the zombies but how it describes how we totally fail to cope with any approaching catastrophe until it is too late, often then undertaing half-measures that only esacerbate the situation.

In no hurry to see the film version, though…

The movie’s basically, as I heard it described, 2 hours of watching Brad Pitt get other people killed while his white ass always manages to get away.

454 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:21:54am

Right-Wing Media Use SpongeBob SquarePants’ Firing To Attack Social Safety Net
WTF….

keanry • 2 hours ago
Using Spongebob Squarepants in your argument about economic policies makes you wrong and downright stupid.

Also, Lol

455 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:22:11am

re: #448 Varek Raith

And the lesson they will learn is that Ken wasn’t conservative enough.

They’re already claiming that. Maybe Tom Davis will finally leave the trainwreck that is the GOP. He can be a little bit of a Republican hack at times but I respect the man.He’s one of the few prominent Republicans to realize the big problem lies with the so-con whackjobs. I had some friends who took his class at GMU too. Him and Jim Moran get along.

456 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:24:31am

re: #451 Targetpractice

That seems to be the national phenomenon, that the darkest red regions are also those where the livestock outnumber the humans.

Yep, that’s been my observation as well. It’s why you saw the dimwits in our legislature try to do that proportional vote crap. Fortunately, McDonnell has some sense and put a stop to those plans but that’s something I think Cuccinelli would sign. McDonnell I think at his his core is a bit of a wimp. He really thinks he can be president some day so he knows not to go too far.

457 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:25:46am

re: #454 Varek Raith

Right-Wing Media Use SpongeBob SquarePants’ Firing To Attack Social Safety Net
WTF….

Also, Lol

To which the stoners and kids who watch Spongebob responded “Dude, it’s a fucking cartoon.” Oh and Mr. Krabs’ labor practices are a good argument for unions but that’s another story.

458 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:27:54am

re: #435 Witches BaBOOshka

Yeah I know it’s Breaking Bad but Baby Walter?

Yeah, I know and I agree. A kid in a ‘Hollywood or toy villain’ costume is one thing, but Walter White is quite another. The whole series is a character study in a previously good man becoming evil.

459 Teukka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:27:54am

re: #172 ausador

Stick with it until the last paragraph, it is much, much worse than it sounds at first.

(BTW…you really shouldn’t read any of the comments there unless you want to lose what little faith you have left in humanity.)

Yeah. I figured decades ago that the above is the true reason for the many ideologies worldwide which are opposed to education of females, opposed birth control and opposed to access to safe abortions.
Basically, it’s about keeping birth numbers up, so you have more minions to do your bidding. Or so their thinking goes.

Now for the loosing faith in humanity part. We all know that this planet is nearing the roof on how many inhabitants it can sustain, and ideologies such as the above will cause the world to slam into it head-on (for biology lizardim, see “S” and “J” population growth curves, as well as the other characteristics of the latter).

Then, take it one step further, ask the question: Who would benefit the most from humanity slamming into the population limit?

And what will really make you go “f**k humanity” is when you realize that the population issue is far from the only one where certain elements *cough* on the religio-political spectrum *cough* wants us to head into a solid brick and reinforced concrete wall.

460 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:33:14am

re: #456 HappyWarrior

Yep, that’s been my observation as well. It’s why you saw the dimwits in our legislature try to do that proportional vote crap. Fortunately, McDonnell has some sense and put a stop to those plans but that’s something I think Cuccinelli would sign. McDonnell I think at his his core is a bit of a wimp. He really thinks he can be president some day so he knows not to go too far.

I think that is largely why McDonnell didn’t go a lot of that shit while he was in office, he’s trying to tee himself up for a White House run in ‘16. I don’t see it happening, mostly because he’s likely to be seen as insufficiently dedicated to the cause, but we can take solace that his vain hope saved us a lot of grief in the future.

461 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:33:53am

re: #454 Varek Raith

Right-Wing Media Use SpongeBob SquarePants’ Firing To Attack Social Safety Net
WTF….

Also, Lol

I’m just glad this episode didn’t come out in 2012, because Mitt Romney would have been compared to Mr. Krabs so fast you’d think the Obama campaign was in a time warp. It would’ve be a clean hit, though Dick Morris would have decried it as “dirty” and “Liberal Hollywood acting to save Obama!!1”.

462 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:36:12am

re: #461 Dark_Falcon

I’m just glad this episode didn’t come out in 2012, because Mitt Romney would have been compared to Mr. Krabs so fast you’d think the Obama campaign was in a time warp. It would’ve be a clean hit, though Dick Morris would have decried it as “dirty” and “Liberal Hollywood acting to save Obama!!1”.

I really doubt the Obama campaign would have compared Romney to a cartoon character. Besides Romney’s own record wrote itself. He didn’t need Mr. Krabs to act in for him, his own words of “I like to fire people” were good enough.

463 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:36:26am

re: #460 Targetpractice

McDonnell’s policy problem is that he raised a tax to pay for transportation improvements. Given the traffic situation in Northern Virginia, these were needed but it still lead to a good deal of anti-tax teabaggery.

464 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:36:49am

re: #444 wrenchwench

Yes it does. Tai kong nan gua = outer space pumpkin. Supposedly, Chinese scientists have found that seeds launched into orbit “mutate” and can grow ginormous vegetables.

dailygalaxy.com

I am skeptical.

465 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:37:41am

re: #460 Targetpractice

I think that is largely why McDonnell didn’t go a lot of that shit while he was in office, he’s trying to tee himself up for a White House run in ‘16. I don’t see it happening, mostly because he’s likely to be seen as insufficiently dedicated to the cause, but we can take solace that his vain hope saved us a lot of grief in the future.

I think so too and I agree with you that McDonnell’s not likely to be nominated. I think he’s too bland and I think the Republicans will be looking for a different type of candidate in 2016. McDonnell reminds me of Romney. Classic panderer but then there’s the scandals which you know his opponents would have a field day with. I think he may try for VP though.

466 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:38:02am

re: #463 Dark_Falcon

McDonnell’s policy problem is that he raised a tax to pay for transportation improvements. Given the traffic situation in Northern Virginia, these were needed but it still lead to a good deal of anti-tax teabaggery.

No, his problem is he’s crooked.

467 Varek Raith  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:38:23am

re: #463 Dark_Falcon

Conservatives here hate NoVa.

468 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:39:17am
469 Lidane  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:39:29am

re: #465 HappyWarrior

The 2016 GOP primaries will come down to the teabaggers trying to decide between Santorum, Paul, and Cruz, while the establishment GOP will be begging and bribing anyone who hides their lunacy better to run so they don’t get shellacked by the Dems.

470 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:39:58am

re: #467 Varek Raith

Conservatives here hate NoVa.

Yep anything that may help NoVa, the cons here freak out.

471 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:40:12am

I’d bet that Eddie is managing a major pr0n site.

472 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:40:21am

re: #469 Lidane

The 2016 GOP primaries will come down to the teabaggers trying to decide between Santorum, Paul, and Cruz, while the establishment GOP will be begging and bribing anyone who hides their lunacy better to run so they don’t get shellacked by the Dems.

I agree.

473 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:41:05am

re: #464 wheat-dogghazi

Yes it does. Tai kong nan gua = outer space pumpkin. Supposedly, Chinese scientists have found that seeds launched into orbit “mutate” and can grow ginormous vegetables.

dailygalaxy.com

I am skeptical.

Hmmmm. Looks like a selective breeding program with a little super-high-altitude vacation inserted.

Thanks for the info!

474 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:41:19am

re: #463 Dark_Falcon

McDonnell’s policy problem is that he raised a tax to pay for transportation improvements. Given the traffic situation in Northern Virginia, these were needed but it still lead to a good deal of anti-tax teabaggery.

Have to disagree, McDonnell’s greatest sin in the TPers eyes is that choosing not to take a side several times when they thought they had the upper hand, such as with the much maligned anti-abortion bill that Cucci has said he’d support if brought up again, the refusal to sign off on the state GOP’s attempt to rig the deck in their favor by ramming through redistricting on Inauguration Day while a state Dem legislator and former Civil Rights activist was in D.C. as a guest of the White House, and of course the tax business.

475 jaunte  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:41:29am

Cute, after he voted to waste all that money on the government shutdown.

476 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:42:08am

re: #450 Sol Berdinowitz

In no hurry to see the film version, though…

I can confirm this is an accurate assessment:

Image: wwz.png

477 wheat-dogghazi  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:42:51am

re: #473 wrenchwench

Hmmmm. Looks like a selective breeding program with a little super-high-altitude vacation inserted.

Thanks for the info!

不用谢 bu yong xie = You’re welcome!

478 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:42:55am

re: #474 Targetpractice

Have to disagree, McDonnell’s greatest sin in the TPers eyes is that choosing not to take a side several times when they thought they had the upper hand, such as with the much maligned anti-abortion bill that Cucci has said he’d support if brought up again, the refusal to sign off on the state GOP’s attempt to rig the deck in their favor by ramming through redistricting on Inauguration Day while a state Dem legislator and former Civil Rights activist was in D.C. as a guest of the White House, and of course the tax business.

He also backed out of the proportional awarding of the EVs. Again, McDonnell’s a wuss when it comes down to it and he’s got ambitions larger than our fine state. I suspect if he does run for president, we’ll see a different Bob who will sound more like the guy who wrote the sexist term paper while he was attending Regent.

479 Dr Lizardo  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:42:58am

re: #467 Varek Raith

Conservatives here hate NoVa.

From what I’ve glanced at on some Cuccinelli threads over at FR, the VA Freepers pretty much universally attribute a MacAuliffe victory to NoVA.

480 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:43:20am

re: #467 Varek Raith

Conservatives here hate NoVa.

Not a good way to win elections. Better to find ways to appeal to suburban voters, since you’re not going to be able to run them off.

481 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:43:30am

re: #475 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Cute, after he voted to waste all that money on the government shutdown.

Yeah who needs a judiciary. I mean it’s not like we need it to function.

482 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:44:01am

re: #468 Witches BaBOOshka

[Embedded content]

He’ll be paid 62 rubles per hour, not $62?

Teehee.

483 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:45:35am

re: #480 Dark_Falcon

Not a good way to win elections. Better to find ways to appeal to suburban voters, since you’re not going to be able to run them off.

That’s the thing DF. They refuse to consider our concerns ehre in NOVA. They treat us as if we’re some foreign entity since a lot of us are transplants and that in their eyes makes us not “real Virginians.” You remember George Allen? That kid he called a macaca was a Virginian through and through but because he was Indian-American, he knew he could get away with making that kid out to be some foreign outsider to his more rural audience who probably have met few if any Indian-Americans. They had people like Tom Davis and John Warner but they’ve been replaced with Cuccinelli and other nuts. That’s the problem.

484 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:46:15am

re: #482 Justanotherhuman

He’ll be paid 62 rubles per hour, not $62?

Teehee.

62 rubles and all the pr0n he wants to watch (as long as it’s not Teh Ghey Pr0n)

485 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:46:42am

re: #479 Dr Lizardo

From what I’ve glanced at on some Cuccinelli threads over at FR, the VA Freepers pretty much universally attribute a MacAuliffe victory to NoVA.

They like to believe that the only Democrats in the state are all in NoVa, and then sneer that it’s because they all work for D.C. and so are living off “OUR TAX DOLLARS!!!.”

Meanwhile, Hampton Roads is increasingly turning purple while they assure themselves that military folk are universally Republican.

486 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:48:14am

re: #479 Dr Lizardo

From what I’ve glanced at on some Cuccinelli threads over at FR, the VA Freepers pretty much universally attribute a MacAuliffe victory to NoVA.

Well, that’s where a large chunk of our population lives including Cucci himself. I mean maybe conservatives should try something other than the same crap they’ve been shoving down our throats for the past few generations. We in NOVA don’t want to hear about how abortion is the worst thing in the history of ever or want our AG trying to criminalize consentual forms of sex. Despite what people believe, NOVA isn’t liberal, it’s more moderate than anything. We’re turned off big time by the state and national GOP’s rigid social conservatism. There was a reason where NOVA used to have 2 Republican representatives and why John Warner was popular here.

487 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:48:46am

re: #485 Targetpractice

They like to believe that the only Democrats in the state are all in NoVa, and then sneer that it’s because they all work for D.C. and so are living off “OUR TAX DOLLARS!!!.”

Meanwhile, Hampton Roads is increasingly turning purple while they assure themselves that military folk are universally Republican.

Well NoVa and Richmond city but yes.

488 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:48:58am
489 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:49:35am

re: #488 Witches BaBOOshka

[Embedded content]

But don’t call them sexist.

490 Ian G.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:50:15am

re: #467 Varek Raith

Conservatives here hate NoVa.

Tried and true method of right-wing demagoguery dating back hundreds, if not thousands of years: blame them city dwellers, those “rootless cosmopolitans” who aren’t “real” sons of the fatherland anyway.

You hear it from Upstate NY wingnuts like Carl Paladino sometimes too. if it weren’t for those latte-sipping Ivy League elitists from Manhattan running NY State into the ground, Buffalo would be Utopia instead of Detroit lite!

491 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:50:17am

re: #485 Targetpractice

They like to believe that the only Democrats in the state are all in NoVa, and then sneer that it’s because they all work for D.C. and so are living off “OUR TAX DOLLARS!!!.”

Meanwhile, Hampton Roads is increasingly turning purple while they assure themselves that military folk are universally Republican.

Shutdowns and continuing resolutions wreck havoc on Navy yards. The nation really needs a regular budget.

492 Lidane  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:51:21am

re: #486 HappyWarrior

We in NOVA don’t want to hear about how abortion is the worst thing in the history of ever or want our AG trying to criminalize consentual forms of sex. Despite what people believe, NOVA isn’t liberal, it’s more moderate than anything. We’re turned off big time by the state and national GOP’s rigid social conservatism.

So what you’re saying is that NOVA is filled with a bunch of liberals and RINOs.

////

493 Dr Lizardo  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:52:25am

re: #486 HappyWarrior

Well, that’s where a large chunk of our population lives including Cucci himself. I mean maybe conservatives should try something other than the same crap they’ve been shoving down our throats for the past few generations. We in NOVA don’t want to hear about how abortion is the worst thing in the history of ever or want our AG trying to criminalize consentual forms of sex. Despite what people believe, NOVA isn’t liberal, it’s more moderate than anything. We’re turned off big time by the state and national GOP’s rigid social conservatism. There was a reason where NOVA used to have 2 Republican representatives and why John Warner was popular here.

It looks to me like the SoCons are well on their way to alienating pretty much every other potential constituency aside from themselves.

494 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:52:57am

re: #491 Dark_Falcon

Shutdowns and continuing resolutions wreck havoc on Navy yards. The nation really needs a regular budget.

It does, but we’re not going to have one so long as “geniuses” like Paul Ryan are at the helm. He just spent this week putting the kibosh on the idea of working out a functioning budget before the next fiscal deadline. Why? Because the GOP refuses to entertain the idea that taxes are too low and the nation’s wealth distribution is top-heavy.

495 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:53:45am

re: #490 Ian G.

Tried and true method of right-wing demagoguery dating back hundreds, if not thousands of years: blame them city dwellers, those “rootless cosmopolitans” who aren’t “real” sons of the fatherland anyway.

You hear it from Upstate NY wingnuts like Carl Paladino sometimes too. if it weren’t for those latte-sipping Ivy League elitists from Manhattan running NY State into the ground, Buffalo would be Utopia instead of Detroit lite!

Yeah, it’s not unique at all from what I’ve heard from other people who live in states that have a big population center that leans Democratic in elections and has to hear crap from the more rural part of the state. I think that was the thing that amused me most about Mitt Romney’s utterly stupid comment about the “47%.” Mitt Romney actually lost here in Loudoun County- one of the nation’s richest counties by a larger margin than he did nationwide. Mitt did his best here in Virginia not in the wealthy areas but in the more poor parts of the state. I feel bad for any poor person who thinks the Republican Party cares about their interests because they simply don’t. They use these people’s moral concerns about gay marriage and choice and use that as a means to vote for them all the while they cut programs that could help these people out and then when they do cut those programs, they blame the left and Democrats for it. It’s a fuckign racket.

496 jaunte  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:54:08am

re: #488 Witches BaBOOshka

“Some people like to drive a Ford, not a Ferrari,” said Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee. “And some people like to drink out of a red Solo cup, not a crystal stem. You’re taking away their choice.”

This country was built on crappy products!

497 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:54:16am

re: #492 Lidane

So what you’re saying is that NOVA is filled with a bunch of liberals and RINOs.

////

Heh pretty much.

498 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:55:33am

re: #399 HappyWarrior

To my regret, I’ve never read it. He reminds me a lot politically speaking though of Rick Santorum. Very similar background in fact. Italian-American ultra-conservative Catholic lawyers who got elected despite being ultra right wing in fairly moderate areas. In Cucci’s case it was Fairfax County which he even admits is moderate and in Ricky’s case, the Pittsburgh suburbs.

Ah yes. The eastern Pittsburgh suburbs that first put Santorum in the House.

They gerrymandered his district to make it more Democratic following the 1990 census - and that added where I lived to the district. And he won re-election anyways.

499 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:55:54am

re: #496 jaunte

This country was built on crappy products!

Pretty much what I’ve been hearing for weeks now, the suggestion that living on crappy insurance is a choice, nay a right, that all Americans should have.

500 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:56:34am

re: #496 jaunte

This country was built on crappy products!

Ford is not a crappy product!

501 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:57:25am

re: #488 Witches BaBOOshka

John Stossel: Dudebro.

502 Justanotherhuman  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:57:39am

Toront-oh!

Toronto police say they have Ford drug video

en.wikipedia.org

Isn’t there some process to get rid of this rich, over-privileged asshole?

503 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:57:42am

re: #493 Dr Lizardo

It looks to me like the SoCons are well on their way to alienating pretty much every other potential constituency aside from themselves.

I think so yeah. I mean the problem to me with the Republicans here is they have to be purer than thou. Tip O’Neill always said all politics is local. Well a longtime delegate here was knocked off in a primary and now it’s a competitive race. I got some literature from the Democratic candidate. She may as well been a mid 90’s Republican here. She emphaisized her work on a nearby town’s town council, how they managed to balance the budget, and provide good funding for the town’s necessities like the fire department. Her opponent meanwhile opposes abortion in all cases and just says I’m a businessman so lower taxes har har. If Republicans want to know why their name brand sucks to most people, look at here in Virginia and you’ll get a good idea why.

504 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:58:37am

re: #499 Targetpractice

Our Founders risked their lives for our right to buy crappy insurance and endure medical cost bankruptcies. American Exceptionalism. ///

505 Ian G.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:58:57am

re: #500 Witches BaBOOshka

Ford is not a crappy product!

True. Let’s fix Blackburn’s analogy so that it fits better with what ACA is doing to the insurance market:

“Some people like to drive a broken-down Pinto, not a brand-new Fusion hybrid,” said Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee.

506 jaunte  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:59:04am

re: #500 Witches BaBOOshka

Ford is not a crappy product!

This is true. I own one.

507 Bulworth  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:59:12am

re: #499 Targetpractice

Pretty much what I’ve been hearing for weeks now, the suggestion that living on crappy insurance is a choice, nay a right, that all Americans should have.

Teapartierism is making great intellectual strides these past few months. //

508 William Barnett-Lewis  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:59:37am

re: #500 Witches BaBOOshka

Ford is not a crappy product!

Maybe not these days but after a couple of 90’s Taurus’ I can remember I’d have to be paid to take one.

509 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:59:42am

SO MUCH STUPID.
East Germany had NOTHING from “previous generations” because the PREVIOUS GENERATION lost a fucking war!

510 jaunte  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 9:59:59am

I did start out with a Pinto.

511 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:00:04am
512 Ian G.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:00:33am

re: #511 Dark_Falcon

Tea-Party Activists Push David Barton to Primary Cornyn

[headdesk]

Please proceed.

513 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:00:42am

re: #498 Feline Fearless Leader

Ah yes. The eastern Pittsburgh suburbs that first put Santorum in the House.

They gerrymandered his district to make it more Democratic following the 1990 census - and that added where I lived to the district. And he won re-election anyways.

I talked to some friends who worked on the campaign of the person who ran against Cuccinnelli in 2009 or maybe it was 2010. Anyhow, they got within a squeaker of beating him. We’ve had some amazingly tight races here. McDonnell nearly lost to Creigh Deeds when the two of them first ran against each other for AG in the year that Kaine became governor. But anyhow as for Santorum and Cucci, they really do remind me a lot of each other. And now I read that Ken homeschools his kids too like Rick does.

514 jaunte  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:01:15am

That’s all we need. More Bartons in Congress.

515 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:01:37am

re: #509 Witches BaBOOshka

SO MUCH STUPID.
East Germany had NOTHING from “previous generations” because the PREVIOUS GENERATION lost a fucking war!

[Embedded content]

And it didn’t fall, it jumped. Over the wall.

516 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:01:47am

Tell us, Bryan, what Luther said about Teh Juice.

517 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:01:50am

re: #511 Dark_Falcon

Tea-Party Activists Push David Barton to Primary Cornyn

[headdesk]

Oh my, it’s going to get crowded in there since I hear GOHMERT! may run. How sad is it that Cornyn may be the least nutty of that bunch.

518 Lidane  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:02:02am
519 Dark_Falcon  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:02:04am

re: #494 Targetpractice

Cite source regarding the budget remarks by Chairman Ryan, please.

520 wrenchwench  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:02:05am

re: #510 jaunte

I did start out with a Pinto.

I graduated to a Pinto after my Falcon.

521 Dr Lizardo  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:02:22am

re: #503 HappyWarrior

I think so yeah. I mean the problem to me with the Republicans here is they have to be purer than thou. Tip O’Neill always said all politics is local. Well a longtime delegate here was knocked off in a primary and now it’s a competitive race. I got some literature from the Democratic candidate. She may as well been a mid 90’s Republican here. She emphaisized her work on a nearby town’s town council, how they managed to balance the budget, and provide good funding for the town’s necessities like the fire department. Her opponent meanwhile opposes abortion in all cases and just says I’m a businessman so lower taxes har har. If Republicans want to know why their name brand sucks to most people, look at here in Virginia and you’ll get a good idea why.

Heh. And tie that in what the quest for ever greater “purity” and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

522 Ian G.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:03:04am

re: #516 Witches BaBOOshka

Tell us, Bryan, what Luther said about Teh Juice.

[Embedded content]

Isn’t this just a re-wording of what Falwell and Robertson said after 9/11: that it’s punishment for abortion, homosexuality, feminism, and secularism?

523 Targetpractice  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:04:09am

re: #519 Dark_Falcon

Cite source regarding the budget remarks by Chairman Ryan, please.

Paul Ryan Waits Five Whole Minutes Before Killing Grand Bargain

In his opening remarks, the Wisconsin congressman and chairman of the House budget committee laid down a firm marker against new taxes, which are essential to any major deficit reduction proposal that can pass Congress and be signed into law.

“Taking more from hardworking families just isn’t the answer. I know my Republican colleagues feel the same way,” Ryan said. “So I want to say this from the get-go: If this conference becomes an argument about taxes, we’re not going to get anywhere. The way to raise revenue is to grow the economy.”

524 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:04:19am

re: #522 Ian G.

Isn’t this just a re-wording of what Falwell and Robertson said after 9/11: that it’s punishment for abortion, homosexuality, feminism, and secularism?

Yeah but that was “different.” How Robertson didn’t get blacklisted from the air for that but Bill Maher who said something a lot less offensive got booted off is beyond me. And the right who always called the left the “blame America” first crowd after 9/11 said nothing to Pat either.

525 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:05:06am

re: #521 Dr Lizardo

Heh. And tie that in what the quest for ever greater “purity” and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.

Seriously, they’re making Western Loudoun purple. I think the last time this area was Democratic was the 40’s.

526 jaunte  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:05:38am

re: #516 Witches BaBOOshka

“The Turk is the rod of the wrath of the Lord our God…”

9/11 was an attack by the Turks?

527 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:05:54am

re: #523 Targetpractice

Paul Ryan Waits Five Whole Minutes Before Killing Grand Bargain

“Taking more from hardworking families just isn’t the answer. I know my Republican colleagues feel the same way,” Ryan said. “So I want to say this from the get-go: If this conference becomes an argument about taxes, we’re not going to get anywhere. The way to raise revenue is to grow the economy.”

GIVE MOAR TAX BREAKS TO THE 1% SO THEY CAN CREATE MOAR MINIMUM WAGE PART TIME JRRBS!!!!1!!!!!!

528 b.d.  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:06:20am

re: #501 wrenchwench

John Stossel: Dudebro.

Old school dudebro.

529 Vicious Babushka  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:06:35am
530 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:06:49am

re: #526 jaunte

9/11 was an attack by the Turks?

All brown people are the same to Bryan.

531 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:07:08am

re: #513 HappyWarrior

I talked to some friends who worked on the campaign of the person who ran against Cuccinnelli in 2009 or maybe it was 2010. Anyhow, they got within a squeaker of beating him. We’ve had some amazingly tight races here. McDonnell nearly lost to Creigh Deeds when the two of them first ran against each other for AG in the year that Kaine became governor. But anyhow as for Santorum and Cucci, they really do remind me a lot of each other. And now I read that Ken homeschools his kids too like Rick does.

Santorum’s first House run was a pretty much standard “outsider against the entrenched interests” run. He upset a 7-term Democrat incumbent that had pretty much fossilized in place. The 1992 run was part of the whole “we will change Washington thing” and he essentially rode the Republican legislative resurgence into the Senate in 1994.

And often overlooked is how much of a political opportunist he is:

Having been groomed by Kirkpatrick & Lockhart, Santorum decided Democratic congressman Doug Walgren was vulnerable, and took up residence in Walgren’s district. Needing money and political support, he courted GOP activist and major donor Elsie Hillman, the chair of the state Republican Party and a member of the fifth richest family in the United States. Santorum had not yet established his political platform, and Hillman was strongly pro-choice, so Santorum entered politics as a pro-choice Republican. Upon discovering that his district was strongly pro-life—so strongly that a pro-choice candidate had no chance—he had a conversion and became pro-life, claiming both scientific and religious reasons. On record as supporting a right to abortion, he became increasingly strident in order to obliterate that record.

In 1990, at age 32, Santorum was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives to represent Pennsylvania’s 18th congressional district, located in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh. He scored a significant upset in the heavily Democratic district, defeating seven-term Democratic incumbent Doug Walgren by a 51%-49% margin. During his campaign Santorum repeatedly criticized Walgren for living outside the district for most of the year. Although the 18th District was redrawn for the 1992 elections, and the new district had a 3:1 ratio of registered Democrats to Republicans, Santorum still won re-election with 61% of the vote.

532 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:09:37am

re: #531 Feline Fearless Leader

Santorum’s first House run was a pretty much standard “outsider against the entrenched interests” run. He upset a 7-term Democrat incumbent that had pretty much fossilized in place. The 1992 run was part of the whole “we will change Washington thing” and he essentially rode the Republican legislative resurgence into the Senate in 1994.

And often overlooked is how much of a political opportunist he is:

Santorum was pro-choice? Wow, I did not know that. You’re right. He is an opportunist. I always saw him as more of a true believer type which is by no means a compliment.

533 Feline Fearless Leader  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:11:58am

re: #532 HappyWarrior

Santorum was pro-choice? Wow, I did not know that. You’re right. He is an opportunist. I always saw him as more of a true believer type which is by no means a compliment.

He got married in 1990 as well as running for the House at that time. So possibly a combination of personal and political factors at play. That it just happened to play well for heavily Catholic district could be happenstance.

534 HappyWarrior  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:14:23am

re: #533 Feline Fearless Leader

He got married in 1990 as well as running for the House at that time. So possibly a combination of personal and political factors at play. That it just happened to play well for heavily Catholic district could be happenstance.

1990. He got married relatively late. He’s around the same age as my mom. The thing that bugs me most about that guy though how self-righteousness he is.

535 Romantic Heretic  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:29:42am

re: #422 Witches BaBOOshka

Jesus, Prudence WTF

[Embedded content]

She means, “Republicans! Stand outside voting locations and make sure, by whatever means necessary, non-Republicans are kept form voting. Otherwise evil will destroy America!”

536 Romantic Heretic  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:32:40am

re: #432 William Barnett-Lewis

The earliest costume picture of me is in a Felix the Cat costume. This just makes me sad.

re: #434 Varek Raith

Batman for me.

Headless man for me.

Yes, I was a sick, twisted puppy even as an child.

537 BeenHereAwhile  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 10:40:06am

re: #340 Justanotherhuman

Obviously GG thinks it’s fine for govt employees themselves to leak secret info to news reporters and then be given even more info.

[Embedded content] Glenn Greenwald ✔ @ggreenwald
US justice: judge allows DOJ to brief her in secret in its leak prosecution of Stephen Kim washingtonpost.com … [Embedded content]


Why should Kim have access to other govt secrets? This is a prosecution for what he’s already done, not a way for his defense to have wholesale access to govt documents.

As a criminal defense attorney friend used to say:
“There’s no party like an Ex Parte.”

538 BeenHereAwhile  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 11:01:42am

re: #450 Sol Berdinowitz

I liked Shawn of the Dead, mostly for the writing and acting, and read the book of World War Z which I liked not for the zombies but how it describes how we totally fail to cope with any approaching catastrophe until it is too late, often then undertaing half-measures that only exacerbate the situation.

In no hurry to see the film version, though…

If you liked “Shawn of the Dead,” suspect you’ll like, “Zombieland”

Rule #1: Always double tap.

539 Romantic Heretic  Thu, Oct 31, 2013 11:23:50am

re: #502 Justanotherhuman

Toront-oh!

Toronto police say they have Ford drug video

en.wikipedia.org

Isn’t there some process to get rid of this rich, over-privileged asshole?

Same as elsewhere. He can be voted out, and will be eventually. He’ll do a lot of damage before that.

Toronto is a strange place. It used to be ‘Metropolitan Toronto’. It was four large cities and several small ones that shared geography. The only way you’d notice you’d left one and entered another was if you noticed a sign.

‘Metro’, as it was called, handled a few things that affected the whole area such as police and public transit. The places inside Metro did the rest; schools and fire departments for the most part.

Then a ‘conservative’ became Premier of Ontario. (Canada’s equivalent of a state governor) He ran on the usual bullshit and it worked.

One of his first acts was to ‘amalgamate’ Toronto, essentially getting rid of the lower levels of government in Metropolitan Toronto. This had nothing to do with ‘small government’ or ‘efficiency’ though he claimed those things.

Toronto tends to vote Liberal (Canada’s equivalent of the Dems) or NDP (No American equivalent and they’d be hunted to extinction if there was). In addition they form a huge part of the Ontario electorate. Thus they were a major obstacle for Premier Harris’s plans

Amalgamation meant chaos in city politics as people fought for power. So, for over five years, there was little opposition to Mr. Harris while he damaged our province, perhaps beyond repair as we’re still struggling with the problems he left and he’s been gone for over a decade.

Can you tell I hate Mike Harris?

Now Toronto is a province in miniature. the city centre tends to vote centre and left, the outer edges, conservative. The inner city looks at the ‘burbs with befuddlement while the ‘burbs wish the inner city would go away because ‘those people’ are just leeches who use the hard earned money taken from them in taxes.

Rob Ford won by appealing to the ‘burbs. I suspect unless he’s found in bed with a dead girl or live boy, he’ll be there until he decides to leave.

Damn it!


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