Pat Robertson Fondly Recalls the Days When Gays Were Stoned to Death

Plus, paranoid Satan fantasies
Wingnuts • Views: 19,188

YouTube

Pat Robertson is a one-man right wing religious rebranding effort, and today on the 700 Club he helpfully explained to those deluded souls who say Jesus would have been charitable toward gays that no, he wouldn’t have, because the gays were all stoned to death in Jesus’ time.

So there wouldn’t have been any gay people for Jesus to be nice to, see. It just wouldn’t have even been an issue.

“I think you got to remember from the Bible, if you look carefully at the Bible what would have happened in Jesus’ time if two men decided they wanted to cohabit together, they would have been stoned to death,” Robertson said. “So Jesus would not have baked them a wedding cake nor would he have made them a bed to sleep in because they wouldn’t have been there. But we don’t have that in this country here so that’s the way it is.”

There’s such a sense of longing in that last sentence.

And of course, it all comes down to His Nibs. The Horned One. The Lord of Light. Lucifer. Beelzebub and the gays — they’re like this.

“What is it about gays? What is it about abortion? Have you ever thought why they’re on the forefront right now? Both of them deny the reproduction of human species,” Robertson said, adding that homosexuality is “a meaningless exercise because it doesn’t go anywhere.”

“The Devil is trying to say, ‘I’m going to destroy your progeny any way I can. If you will kill your babies, that’s fine, I’m with you; if you will deny the chance of having babies, that’s fine too; but I want to destroy your opportunities to reproduce,’” he said. “It’s a very serious thing and we’re not talking about it, and we need to as a society, we have to realize where the attack is coming because it is definitely an attack.”

Jump to bottom

510 comments
1 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:18:16pm

Wait till this gets blended in with the pro-castration party.

2 Testy Toad T  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:18:57pm
Pat Robertson Fondly Recalls the Days When Gays Were Stoned to Death

Of course he fondly recalls it! That old fossil was probably there.

///

3 Kragar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:19:00pm

Let he who is something something sin something stone.

4 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:21:36pm

And some of us look fondly on the days where crackpots like Pat Robertson weren’t given a soapbox to yearn for the days of where murdering people because of their sexuality was okay.

5 The Ghost of a Flea  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:21:47pm

re: #1 freetoken

Wait till this gets blended in with the pro-castration party.

The message is the same: your junk is not your own.

It belongs to Free Market Jesus and his duly-appointed earthly representatives.

6 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:22:13pm
… because the gays were all stoned to death in Jesus’ time.

Is there any record of even just one gay person being stoned at that time?

I know of no such record.

7 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:23:37pm

You know, it’s times like this where I remind those who don’t know this fact but Pat Robertson’s father was an arch-segregationist. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree here.

8 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:23:38pm

The most disturbing thing about this weird statement is that Robertson actually seems to believe he’s making a good point.

9 Kragar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:24:51pm

I wonder what Jesus would say about someone running a fake charity as cover to export blood diamonds.

10 b.d.  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:25:54pm

So I guess the Roman Catholic nun’s and priest’s vows of celibacy is nothing but a nasty trick of the devil to destroy their opportunities to reproduce?

Right Pat?

11 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:28:00pm

Speaking of the horned one:

Franklin Graham: Some Administration Officials Are ‘Anti-Christ’

Some of the people working in the Obama administration and in the White House are trying to “completely secularize our military” and are “hostile to Christians,” to the point that they “are anti-Christ in what they say and in what they do,” said Christian evangelist Franklin Graham, the son of world-renowned preacher Rev. Billy Graham.

[…]

Earlier in the interview, Perkins had briefly discussed religious liberty in the military and spoke of moral decline in America. He had also asked Graham, “what will it take for America to come back to our moral principles?”

Graham said, “This is a good question. When you look at scripture, when Israel turned their backs on God - and that’s what we as a nation have done and are doing - there was usually some type of calamity. There was a famine, there was a persecution from their neighbors, nations would come in and overrun them and destroy them.”

[…]

12 Decatur Deb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:28:04pm

It’s only fair. In the good old days of the 16th Cent, the inquisitors of my old seminary order would have turned a heretic like Robertson over to the secular authorities to be burnt. In a loving-kindness sort of way. For the good of his soul.

13 Kragar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:28:30pm
14 Justanotherhuman  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:28:46pm

That’s the kind of shit that’s just infuriating. He knows better, too. These people weren’t born yesterday, and they’re not unsophisticated. This is for the rubes and the money.

Meanwhile, I’m making pudding for my little great-grandson who’s sitting on the counter watching, and he says, I want to be you when I grow up. I said, You want to be like me when you grow up? He says, No, I want to be you when I grow up.

I feel so honored and loved. : )

15 dog philosopher  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:28:50pm

ah, the gay old bronze age!

i only had four wives then

good times, good times…

16 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:34:05pm

re: #10 b.d.

Strangely, or not, castration has a history in religion and in particular the Christian church:

Castrati

The lost voice: a history of the castrato.

I wonder what Pat thinks of the castrati. I think we know where Joni Ernst and Sarah Palin sit on this issue.

17 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:35:06pm

Pat would not approve:

If you’re interested in evolution and archeo-genomics, Nature today published an overview ancient DNA retrieval:

Human evolution: The Neanderthal in the family

18 Decatur Deb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:35:35pm

re: #16 freetoken

Strangely, or not, castration has a history in religion and in particular the Christian church:

Castrati

The lost voice: a history of the castrato.

I wonder what Pat thinks of the castrati. I think we know where Joni Ernst and Sarah Palin sit on this issue.

One of the Vatican voci bianchi lived long enough to be audio-recorded.

19 Decatur Deb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:37:23pm

re: #18 Decatur Deb

One of the Vatican voci bianchi lived long enough to be audio-recorded.

Ah, it’s mentioned at the end of Freetoken’s second link.

20 darthstar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:39:54pm

I wish Pat Robertson was more like Fred Phelps.

21 The Ghost of a Flea  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:39:57pm

re: #16 freetoken

I wonder what Pat thinks of the castrati.

I’m pretty sure the answer would involve the words “popery” and “Babylon religion.”

Catholics: not Real, True Christians TM

22 Backwoods_Sleuth  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:40:46pm

re: #10 b.d.

So I guess the Roman Catholic nun’s and priest’s vows of celibacy is nothing but a nasty trick of the devil to destroy their opportunities to reproduce?

Right Pat?

Catholics aren’t “real Christians” in Pat’s theology.

23 Justanotherhuman  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:41:18pm

re: #11 freetoken

Speaking of the horned one:

Franklin Graham: Some Administration Officials Are ‘Anti-Christ’

FG isn’t as popular as Daddy, and has to figure out some schtick to impress people and keep the loot rolling in. He was a real piece o’ work in his younger days, a hell raiser, until Daddy clamped down and told him he’d be written out of the will.

And remember what Anne Graham Lotz said about flight 370 being a mini-rapture?

They’re all nutz.

24 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:41:45pm

re: #13 Kragar

He is the only person in Teh Internets who uses this acronym. I can’t figure out what it’s supposed to mean.

Eat Shit And Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms Motherfucker???

25 Egregious Philbin  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:42:02pm

You have to figure that there will be a coup and Pat will end up like Jerry Lewis did with the telethon.

Or, maybe god will take his ass from us.

One seriously messed up clown.

26 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:42:17pm

re: #22 Backwoods_Sleuth

Catholics aren’t “real Christians” in Pat’s theology.

That’s a common attitude amongst Protestant fundies.

Also, “The Pope is the Antichrist” or the Catholic Church is “The Beast” spoken of in Revelations.

27 Bubblehead II  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:42:26pm

re: #20 darthstar

I wish Pat Robertson was more like Fred Phelps.

Dead? I could live with that.

28 wrenchwench  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:42:31pm

re: #2 Testy Toad T

Thou hast been graced by the ding of BrainSurfer. Welcome to the club.

29 Mike Lamb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:42:32pm

Word-motherfucking-salad. I mean…what exact point does he think he’s making (other than apparently being completely cool with stoning gays)? Is the Devil making more gays? Is the Devil also “with” paralyzed folks that get married? Impotent/menopausal folks? Is this in some bazaar context of gay marriage? Because I am reasonably confident that marriage and procreation are very far from being in lock step.

The sad part is that there is some rube sitting on his couch listening, thoughtfully stroking his chin and saying “Preach, brother Pat, preach!”

30 Backwoods_Sleuth  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:45:25pm

re: #24 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

He is the only person in Teh Internets who uses this acronym. I can’t figure out what it’s supposed to mean.

Eat Shit And….????

Eat Shit And Bark At The F*****G Moon

31 Varek Raith  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:45:27pm

Obdi, you have the patience of a saint.
:)

32 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:46:25pm

re: #24 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

He is the only person in Teh Internets who uses this acronym. I can’t figure out what it’s supposed to mean.

Eat Shit And Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms Motherfucker???

Eat Shit And Be At The Fancy Masquerade?

33 Mike Lamb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:47:31pm

Also, too, has a guy like Robertson that is preaching some variant of “Natural Law” re: procreation/gays/marriage, etc., ever run the numbers on how many gay male couples there would need to be (obviously, sperm banks plus women = ability to reproduce) coupled with the number of abortions necessary to come within shouting distance of endangering the continued existence of the species?

34 Backwoods_Sleuth  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:47:50pm

Really, ESABATFM:

allacronyms.com

I guessed the “F” part.

35 Kragar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:48:57pm

ESABATFM

Easily
Swayed
Assholes
Bring
Acrimony
To
Facile
Meanderings

36 wrenchwench  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:49:44pm

Look what misogynistic slimy asshole got retweeted into my timeline:

37 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:50:01pm

Emily Said, “Are Bats Always This Fucking Moronic?”

38 wrenchwench  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:52:08pm

re: #33 Mike Lamb

Also, too, has a guy like Robertson that is preaching some variant of “Natural Law” re: procreation/gays/marriage, etc., ever run the numbers on how many gay male couples there would need to be (obviously, sperm banks plus women = ability to reproduce) coupled with the number of abortions necessary to come within shouting distance of endangering the continued existence of the species?

Rampant unchecked procreation is more likely to be the death of the species. I think the devil knows that and has Pat fooled.

39 darthstar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:52:20pm
40 dog philosopher  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:54:11pm

re: #38 wrenchwench

Rampant

i’m getting too old to be rampant

41 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:54:36pm

Eastern Societies Are Better At Training Food Mavens

42 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:55:42pm

I dare anyone to find an actual record of execution by lapidation for homosexuality, outside of Islamic nations.

Is Pat saying he wants to live in Saudi Arabia?

43 Backwoods_Sleuth  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:57:13pm
44 b.d.  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:58:44pm

re: #43 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

I’ll be looking at CNN to show that as pictures of Malaysia flight 370 wreckage.

45 wrenchwench  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:58:55pm

re: #40 dog philosopher

i’m getting too old to be rampant

You can still be unchecked, or checked if you want. Just not with stripes at the same time.

46 BongCrodny  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:59:01pm

re: #36 wrenchwench

Look what misogynistic slimy asshole got retweeted into my timeline:

[Embedded content]

Sorry, Kevin — she specifically said “honest.”

47 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:59:13pm

re: #43 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Wait, does that mean we’re back up to 9? I mean, we used to have the Nine Planets, then it became Eight Planets And Whatever The Fuck Pluto Is.

48 wrenchwench  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 3:59:34pm

re: #46 BongCrodny

Sorry, Kevin — she specifically said “honest.”

My thought exactly.

49 Decatur Deb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:00:18pm

re: #43 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

That’s no dwarf planet. It’s a space station.

50 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:00:46pm

re: #43 Backwoods_Sleuth

Just think, it is so far out that it may not have had the time to orbit the sun even once, since it was created 6000 years ago.

51 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:00:47pm

re: #49 Decatur Deb

That’s no minor planet. It’s a space station.

I regret that I have but one upding, etc.

52 darthstar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:01:44pm

re: #43 Backwoods_Sleuth

53 The Ghost of a Flea  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:02:18pm

re: #42 freetoken

I dare anyone to find an actual record of execution by lapidation for homosexuality, outside of Islamic nations.

Is Pat saying he wants to live in Saudi Arabia?

Now, now.

I’m sure he’d settle for one of those Christian countries where gays are just attacked at random, arrested and tortured in prison, and occasionally disappeared or murdered.

54 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:03:20pm

re: #53 The Ghost of a Flea

Now, now.

I’m sure he’d settle for one of those Christian countries where gays are just attacked at random, arrested and tortured in prison, and occasionally disappeared or murdered.

Like we used to be in The America I Grew Up In?
//

55 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:03:32pm

re: #53 The Ghost of a Flea

Now, now.

I’m sure he’d settle for one of those Christian countries where gays are just attacked at random, arrested and tortured in prison, and occasionally disappeared or murdered.

e.g., America in the good old days.

56 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:05:08pm

re: #54 GeneJockey

Like we used to be in The America I Grew Up In?
//

re: #55 EPR-radar

e.g., America in the good old days.

12 seconds.

57 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:05:33pm

Great minds, same gutter.

58 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:06:23pm

re: #43 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

While I’m binge-posting, I suggest we either name this planet Tyrion, or Billy Barty.

59 Varek Raith  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:06:23pm

re: #43 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

I say we call it Bill O’Reilly’s Ego.

60 RadicalModerate  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:06:42pm

re: #42 freetoken

I dare anyone to find an actual record of execution by lapidation for homosexuality, outside of Islamic nations.

Is Pat saying he wants to live in Saudi Arabia?

Maybe Pat wants us to be like this guy.

Police: Killer invoked Old Testament in ‘stoning’ death

John Joe Thomas, 28, of the first block of Sunshine Road in Upper Darby, allegedly told police he killed Murray Joseph Seidman, 70, because the older man had made sexual advances and that the Old Testament spelled out stoning as the punishment for homosexuality.

“I stoned Murray with a rock in a sock,” Thomas said to police, according to court documents.

edit:
Or this one (who DID have the tacit support of the so-called mainstream religious right), with financial and logistical assistance:

en.wikipedia.org

61 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:06:52pm

re: #44 b.d.

More images here, including a gif:

home.dtm.ciw.edu

62 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:07:01pm

re: #59 Varek Raith

I say we call it Bill O’Reilly’s Ego.

Dunno. I think a gas giant might be more appropriate for that.

63 Kragar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:07:12pm
64 Varek Raith  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:07:57pm

re: #62 GeneJockey

Dunno. I think a gas giant might be more appropriate for that.

Think in terms of orbit.
;)

65 The Ghost of a Flea  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:08:19pm

re: #62 GeneJockey

Dunno. I think a gas giant might be more appropriate for that.

Until we find a planet made of boiling rat shit, it’ll have to do.

66 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:08:22pm

re: #60 RadicalModerate

Yes, but technically that was classified as a murder, as his society did not recognize John Thomas’ authority to judge and execute.

67 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:08:42pm

re: #64 Varek Raith

Think in terms of orbit.
;)

I’d rather think in terms of OBIT, but my Dad told me not to speak death of the ill.
//

68 Dark_Falcon  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:13:58pm

The Copenhagen Zoo’s tin ear for PR continues:

(CNN) — A Danish zoo that made international headlines last month when it killed a healthy giraffe is once again in the news after it killed four lions to make way for a new male.

The lions were killed Monday, said Tobias Stenbaek Bro, a spokesman for the Copenhagen Zoo.

Two of those were young lions that were not old enough to survive by themselves and would have been killed by the new male lion if it had the chance, Bro told CNN. He said the zoo had tried to place them elsewhere, “but unfortunately there wasn’t any interest.”

The other two are the youngsters’ parents, described by the Copenhagen Zoo as a “very old” breeding pair.

The new male lion was brought from Givskud Zoo, also in Denmark, to form a breeding group with the Copenhagen Zoo’s two 18-month-old females, born on site in 2012.

Pleasing the public: YOU”RE DOING IT WRONG!

69 RadicalModerate  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:14:15pm

re: #66 freetoken

Yes, but technically that was classified as a murder, as his society did not recognize John Thomas’ authority to judge and execute.

This is true, we don’t have state-sponsored oppression of minorities, be it by religion, sexual orientation, gender, or race, at least for the past 40 years - just over one generation. That being said, there is a serious resurgence in efforts to return to those days.

70 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:18:05pm

re: #68 Dark_Falcon

The Copenhagen Zoo’s tin ear for PR continues:

Pleasing the public: YOU”RE DOING IT WRONG!

That’s fucking depressing.

71 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:19:09pm

re: #69 RadicalModerate

This is true, we don’t have state-sponsored oppression of minorities, be it by religion, sexual orientation, gender, or race, at least for the past 40 years - just over one generation. That being said, there is a serious resurgence in efforts to return to those days.

“Return with us now to the thrilling days of yesteryear…”

72 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:19:53pm

Most WTF meme I have seen all day.

73 Skip Intro  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:20:16pm

re: #24 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

He is the only person in Teh Internets who uses this acronym. I can’t figure out what it’s supposed to mean.

Eat Shit And Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco & Firearms Motherfucker???

Florida Man. That’s all you need to know.

74 Kragar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:21:21pm

re: #72 Pie-onist Overlord

Most WTF meme I have seen all day.

[Embedded content]

So George Washington had a spanking fetish? I did not know that.

75 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:21:52pm

re: #74 Kragar

So George Washington had a spanking fetish? I did not know that.

Slave owner.

76 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:24:00pm

Fucking compensation packages, how do they work?

It seems like Inez has got even stupider. Heritage must make her pay for her internship.

77 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:28:41pm

It must take 6-8 years for kids to finish High School where Stompy Foot lives.

78 Kragar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:30:00pm

re: #77 Pie-onist Overlord

It must take 6-8 years for kids to finish High School where Stompy Foot lives.

[Embedded content]

Especially if the HS kids are making beer money.

79 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:30:19pm

re: #76 Pie-onist Overlord

Fucking compensation packages, how do they work?

It seems like Inez has got even stupider. Heritage must make her pay for her internship.

[Embedded content]

I’d say the Right have been remarkably effective in getting people to forget that health insurance = compensation = something you paid for with your work, and instead they now see it as some sort of nice present that your beneficent employer gives you out of the goodness of its* heart.

*since most people work for big companies.

80 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:31:20pm

re: #77 Pie-onist Overlord

It must take 6-8 years for kids to finish High School where Stompy Foot lives.

[Embedded content]

If only all those women would just take all those higher paying jobs that are going begging.
//

81 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:32:25pm
82 Political Atheist  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:32:25pm

All spokesmen for god on our televisions and media are strictly self declared. This presumption that they speak for other people let alone god is staggering presumption.

I am a humble person of faith and I understand that those who claim to truly speak for god or jesus are one of two things only. Liars or dangerously deluded.

83 Kragar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:32:51pm
84 wrenchwench  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:34:06pm

I don’t know what happened to Jamelle Bouie when he moved to Slate this week. He defended Rand Paul and Donald Rumsfeld, then today he tweeted The American Conservative Magazine with a recommendation. Granted, it was a response to his writing, so that’s legit, but then

so

It would be nice if Bouie acknowledged it too, but at least I educated one.

And I haven’t given up on Bouie yet.

85 Varek Raith  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:34:08pm

Cat just took my chicken and ran off with it.

86 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:34:20pm

re: #79 GeneJockey

I’d say the Right have been remarkably effective in getting people to forget that health insurance = compensation = something you paid for with your work, and instead they now see it as some sort of nice present that your beneficent employer gives you out of the goodness of it’s* heart.

*since most people work for big companies.

Of course you have just described how the hard right sees compensation itself.

The little people are supposed to be wage slaves who are given a few scraps from the master’s table as a matter of charity.

Oddly enough, at some point high enough on the corporate ladder, this viewpoint reverses and only then does it become a matter of recruiting and retaining the best talent by providing high compensation.

87 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:35:02pm

re: #83 Kragar

[Embedded content]

No, she supports the privilege of the employer to dictate how the employee spends her compensation. One cannot help but wonder if a Sikh could prohibit his employees from spending their salaries on shaving cream and razors.

EDIT: Not that they would.

88 Dr Lizardo  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:37:11pm

Goodnight, Lizards.

89 Kragar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:39:02pm
90 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:40:38pm
91 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:41:36pm

re: #86 EPR-radar

Of course you have just described how the hard right sees compensation itself.

The little people are supposed to be wage slaves who are given a few scraps from the master’s table as a matter of charity.

Oddly enough, at some point high enough on the corporate ladder, this viewpoint reverses and only then does it become a matter of recruiting and retaining the best talent by providing high compensation.

Not only that, but if you pay poorly paid people even less, they’ll work harder, whereas if you pay well paid people less, they’ll work less. Conversely, if you pay poorly paid people more, they’ll work less, but if you pay well paid people more, they’ll work harder.

Similarly, if you simply keep people from starving, freezing in the street, and dying of untreated illness and injury, they’ll lose any motivation to work, whereas giving someone a salary in the hundreds of millions annually won’t motivate them to bank the cash and fuck off till they get fired and live the rest of their lives on more money than most Americans will see in a lifetime.

92 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:42:21pm

re: #89 Kragar

IIRC, “capitalism” was a term coined by Marx, who hoped it would become a term of abuse as shorthand for ‘capital above all’. That ended up not happening, but it is amusing that Inez here is basically using Marx’s definition of the term.

93 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:44:05pm

re: #89 Kragar

[Embedded content]

If it were about capitalism, HL would stop offering insurance, pay the penalties, and pocket the different. They pay over $450 million annually to provide health insurance to all full-time employees, when they’d only pay a little under $3 million in penalties for ending that coverage. Or they’d keep the coverage and support contraceptives being provided at no co-pay because it means their female employees are able to work at full strength instead of dealing with unwanted pregnancies.

94 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:47:54pm

re: #91 GeneJockey

We’re starting to see $500 million payouts to some CEOs and hedge fund types.

Assuming that this is for 1 years work, that works out to $250,000 per hour (assuming 8 hour days and 250 working days per year).

So the more common $50 million executive payouts come to $25,000 per hour.

This is totally obscene.

95 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:49:45pm

Of course, if it were about capitalism, then one would ask why HL suddenly reversed course on contraceptives after the ACA became law. Why the four contraceptives that were covered under their previous policy that HL had to drop when the ACA became law and why they had no problem with paying for those “abortificants” before the ACA mandated it be so.

96 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:49:59pm

re: #86 EPR-radar

Of course you have just described how the hard right sees compensation itself.

The little people are supposed to be wage slaves who are given a few scraps from the master’s table as a matter of charity.

Oddly enough, at some point high enough on the corporate ladder, this viewpoint reverses and only then does it become a matter of recruiting and retaining the best talent by providing high compensation.

Basically wingnuts see any wage earner, from Walmart associate to high-tech salaried professional, as a lower caste than the JRRB CREEYATER even if that includes some marginal law office with a pair of unpaid interns. Government employees, including teachers, police & firefighters, are not only worthless but YOONYUN THUGS!!!!

They claim to respect and honor the military, as long as they don’t expect to be paid more than minimum wage when they return from service, or even while they are in service (just to be a useful club to beat civilian minimum wage workers).

CEO’s are the only salaried professionals who get respect from them. Except for Mary Barra.

97 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:57:08pm

re: #94 EPR-radar

We’re starting to see $500 million payouts to some CEOs and hedge fund types.

Assuming that this is for 1 years work, that works out to $250,000 >per hour (assuming 8 hour days and 250 working days per year).

So the more common $50 million executive payouts come to $25,000 per hour.

This is totally obscene.

The thing is, a lot of wingers will tell you that how much one of those guys makes has no effect on how much YOU make. I disagree, for the following reason -

First, hedge fund managers are at best commensal, and more likely parasitic on the economy at large, since what they do doesn’t actually create anything of value to the economy at large, and is really just gambling. Yet, they pay a much lower tax rate because of how unearned income is taxed.

Second, CEOs are evaluated on the profitability and stock price of their companies, so naturally anything they can do to increase profit is in their interest. Increasing automation, offshoring, outsourcing are all ways to cut the cost of what is for most companies their biggest expense. Their compensation literally depends on reducing their employees compensation.

98 Kragar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:57:22pm
99 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 4:58:17pm

Inez is even MOAR of an entitled, whiny little bitch than she was last year. Heritage has trained their interns well.

100 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:01:19pm

Read her bio, she works at a call center. Her jrrb could be sent to India in a nanosecond, then she’d be a wingnut with no jrrb.

101 Varek Raith  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:02:08pm

re: #100 Pie-onist Overlord

Read her bio, she works at a call center. Her jrrb could be sent to India in a nanosecond, then she’d be a wingnut with no jrrb.

[Embedded content]

Funny, I’m a liberal and have those things.

102 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:03:38pm

re: #97 GeneJockey

…

Second, CEOs are evaluated on the profitability and stock price of their companies, so naturally anything they can do to increase profit is in their interest. Increasing automation, offshoring, outsourcing are all ways to cut the cost of what is for most companies their biggest expense. Their compensation literally depends on reducing their employees compensation.

You’re being kinder to the CEOs than I am. My default assumption for any particular publicly held BigCorp is that executive compensation is carefully calibrated to be a level of legalized embezzlement that is almost but not quite enough to cause a shareholder lawsuit at the outrage.

Meanwhile, the CEO as king and god and almighty job creator propaganda gets pushed year after year to move the needle on the lawsuit threshold.

CEO performance is completely irrelevant.

103 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:07:01pm

re: #102 EPR-radar

You’re being kinder to the CEOs than I am. My default assumption for any particular publicly held BigCorp is that executive compensation is carefully calibrated to be a level of legalized embezzlement that is almost but not quite enough to cause a shareholder lawsuit at the outrage.

Meanwhile, the CEO as king and god and almighty job creator propaganda gets pushed year after year to move the needle on the lawsuit threshold.

CEO performance is completely irrelevant.

I’m somewhat less cynical, but I would note that executive compensation is decided by Boards of Directors, which are largely composed of the same kind of people, often CEOs at other companies. Naturally, they see the CEO as worthy of such high pay. Not coincidentally, raising the CEO’s salary at another company makes it easier to argue for their own to increase.

104 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:07:22pm

WHAT A FUCKING TOOL. I AM EMBARRASSED FOR ALL TEH JUICE.

105 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:10:10pm

re: #90 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Yeah, I’m just a blithering moonbat. //

106 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:10:55pm

Damn, I’m so far to the left I just get besides myself sometimes. //

107 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:13:58pm

re: #103 GeneJockey

I’m somewhat less cynical, but I would note that executive compensation is decided by Boards of Directors, which are largely composed of the same kind of people, often CEOs at other companies. Naturally, they see the CEO as worthy of such high pay. Not coincidentally, raising the CEO’s salary at another company makes it easier to argue for their own to increase.

Good point. Even though I think executive compensation as practiced is legalized embezzlement, I also think there aren’t many executives (or even many workers) that see it that way. The system comes with all sorts of ways to disguise what is happening from the executives and from all others.

That’s why income inequality is so difficult to address —- there aren’t just a few mustache-twirling villains to expose and deal with. Instead there’s an entire system that really has truly awful outcomes in terms of rewarding a tiny fraction of the population beyond all reason while exploiting those who work for a living and excluding from society those who can’t efficiently be exploited (i.e., chronic unemployment and under-employment).

108 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:14:49pm

re: #103 GeneJockey

I’m somewhat less cynical, but I would note that executive compensation is decided by Boards of Directors, which are largely composed of the same kind of people, often CEOs at other companies. Naturally, they see the CEO as worthy of such high pay. Not coincidentally, raising the CEO’s salary at another company makes it easier to argue for their own to increase.

See my post from the wee hours of this morning.

109 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:15:25pm

re: #104 Pie-onist Overlord

WHAT A FUCKING TOOL. I AM EMBARRASSED FOR ALL TEH JUICE.

[Embedded content]

Kind of how I feel about the Log Cabin and GOProud fuckwits.

110 RealityBasedSteve  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:15:40pm

re: #103 GeneJockey

I’m somewhat less cynical, but I would note that executive compensation is decided by Boards of Directors, which are largely composed of the same kind of people, often CEOs at other companies. Naturally, they see the CEO as worthy of such high pay. Not coincidentally, raising the CEO’s salary at another company makes it easier to argue for their own to increase.

The problem is growing at an exponential rate too…

The ratio of CEO-to-worker pay has increased 1,000 percent since 1950, according to data from Bloomberg. Today Fortune 500 CEOs make 204 times regular workers on average, Bloomberg found. The ratio is up from 120-to-1 in 2000, 42-to-1 in 1980 and 20-to-1 in 1950.
huffingtonpost.com

Of course back in the 50’s the country was in an economic tail spin, we had no production, and people were doomed to live and die without improving their lot in life.

Oh wait… my bad.

RBS

111 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:16:53pm

otter puppies!!!!!

112 Archangelus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:18:11pm

re: #104 Pie-onist Overlord

WHAT A FUCKING TOOL. I AM EMBARRASSED FOR ALL TEH JUICE.

[Embedded content]

Dictionary Definition of the Day
Shmuck. Noun
See: ‘Ben Shapiro’

113 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:18:41pm

re: #111 FemNaziBitch

otter puppies!!!!!

114 RealityBasedSteve  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:19:20pm

re: #111 FemNaziBitch
Too Cute.

otter puppies!!!!!

Waz Up??? I’m Otter Here!!!

RBS

115 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:20:34pm

Oops. Forgot. I’m an atheist. Pro-choice. Believe in rights for LGBT. Think gay marriage should be legal in all 50 states. Believe in environmental regulations… therefore… I’m a COMMUNIST.

116 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:20:42pm

re: #110 RealityBasedSteve

Time for a few modest proposals. E.g., to get the benefits of corporate organization, a business should be required to have a bottom to top hourly compensation ratio of 100 or less.

If an executive wants to use a company as his own personal cash dispenser, then he can accept the liability risk of a partnership or proprietorship.

117 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:22:15pm

How is it now?

118 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:23:07pm

re: #115 Gus

Oops. Forgot. I’m an atheist. Pro-choice. Believe in rights for LGBT. Think gay marriage should be legal in all 50 states. Believe in environmental regulations… therefore… I’m a COMMUNIST.

Do you believe in a Iron Clad Central Government and an economy based on need?

119 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:23:23pm

re: #118 FemNaziBitch

Do you believe in a Iron Clad Central Government and an economy based on need?

Nope. :D

120 calochortus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:24:49pm

re: #76 Pie-onist Overlord

Fucking compensation packages, how do they work?

It seems like Inez has got even stupider. Heritage must make her pay for her internship.

[Embedded content]

So I can’t buy a new bed with my paycheck?

121 wrenchwench  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:25:22pm

I think they’re going to make it to 500.

/downstairs

122 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:26:32pm

re: #90 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Gonzo is a bad thing?

123 RealityBasedSteve  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:27:40pm

re: #116 EPR-radar

Time for a few modest proposals. E.g., to get the benefits of corporate organization, a business should be required to have a bottom to top hourly compensation ratio of 100 or less.

If an executive wants to use a company as his own personal cash dispenser, then he can accept the liability risk of a partnership or proprietorship.

That would be attractive, the better the people down the pipeline are compensated, the better the compensation of the person at the top.

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve been told that the CEO has a fiducuary obligation to maximize the return for the shareholders, and that, to some degree, is what drives the emphasis on short term performance and market specific metrics. If this is true, then perhaps something needs to be changed, so that a more long-term view can be adopted.

RBS

124 Aqua Obama  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:28:36pm

Somewhere on the internet, it’s always 2004.

125 RealityBasedSteve  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:28:46pm

re: #118 FemNaziBitch

Do you believe in a Iron Clad Central Government and an economy based on need?

I believe in aluminum clad cookware and an economy based on cheese.

RBS

126 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:31:14pm

Obviously it’s more complex than that.

127 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:31:34pm

re: #125 RealityBasedSteve

I believe in aluminum clad cookware and an economy based on cheese.

RBS

Fromage according to his abilities…

(See that, Obdi? I ended with an ellipsis!!! BWAAAHAHAHAHA…)

128 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:32:35pm

I always love it when a guy on Twitter with a Benghazi twibbon, a picture of Andrew Breitbart for their avatar and an American flag with an eagle as their background image tells me I’ve “lost all credibility.”

Dude. Losing credibility with people who idolize Sarah Palin is a good thing.

129 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:32:43pm

Oh, for the multiplicity of hidden meanings in Ann Coulter’s latest headline:

SCREW YOU, MICKEY KAUS

130 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:33:28pm

I guess there’s some kind of big fight going on somewhere? I think sometimes these things just need to run their course.

131 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:33:32pm

re: #126 Gus

Obviously it’s more complex than that.

Communist = the opposite of what I believe

What I believe = the opposite of whatever I think Obama believes

132 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:34:05pm
“God bless Justice Antonin Scalia, Clarence Thomas,” Gohmert said. “It is extraordinary if you spend time with Justice Thomas, you find out just how brilliant he is. He didn’t need Affirmative Action to get him into Yale Law School.”

also Paged

133 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:34:23pm

re: #123 RealityBasedSteve

That would be attractive, the better the people down the pipeline are compensated, the better the compensation of the person at the top.

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve been told that the CEO has a fiducuary obligation to maximize the return for the shareholders, and that, to some degree, is what drives the emphasis on short term performance and market specific metrics. If this is true, then perhaps something needs to be changed, so that a more long-term view can be adopted.

RBS

I think this fiduciary duty is real, but I don’t think it is an important driver of the presently dysfunctional BigCorp governance.

1) Enforcing this duty would involve a lawsuit against the executives, and those don’t win unless the executives were really careless (e.g., Conrad Black).

2) The more important factor, IMO, is that executives tends to compensate themselves with company stock. At that point, the ‘fiduciary duty’ merges with blatant self-interest in a way that makes it impossible for me to take this duty seriously.

3) Even if we take this duty at face value, that does not necessitate a lot of the stupid short term thinking we are seeing.

134 RealityBasedSteve  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:34:34pm

re: #127 GeneJockey

Fromage according to his abilities…

(See that, Obdi? I ended with an ellipsis!!! BWAAAHAHAHAHA…)

ROFLMAO. You’re a wild man, a rebel without a clue.

RBS

135 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:36:37pm
136 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:36:40pm
137 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:37:21pm
138 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:37:27pm

re: #130 Charles Johnson

I guess there’s some kind of big fight going on somewhere? I think sometimes these things just need to run their course.

I will no longer squabble with people. I remember staying up well past sunrise fighting with people here or egging them on. Kind of yucky memories.

139 wrenchwench  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:38:09pm
140 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:38:49pm

re: #138 Gus

I will no longer squabble with people. I remember staying up well past sunrise fighting with people here or egging them on. Kind of yucky memories.


Someone on the internet is wrong!

141 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:39:31pm

re: #123 RealityBasedSteve

That would be attractive, the better the people down the pipeline are compensated, the better the compensation of the person at the top.

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’ve been told that the CEO has a fiducuary obligation to maximize the return for the shareholders, and that, to some degree, is what drives the emphasis on short term performance and market specific metrics. If this is true, then perhaps something needs to be changed, so that a more long-term view can be adopted.

RBS

Maybe a decent chunk of his compensation being in stock or some other device along with limitations causing him to have to hold the stock for an extended term before potentially cashing it in?

142 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:39:44pm

re: #138 Gus

I will no longer squabble with people. I remember staying up well past sunrise fighting with people here or egging them on. Kind of yucky memories.

I pretty much got that out of my system years ago in the Usenet era.

143 The Ghost of a Flea  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:40:07pm

re: #128 Charles Johnson

“Bob no longer joins us in our weekly worship of the giant rooster that lives on Hailey’s Comet. And he won’t join in our sojourns driving cross country, depositing honeycomb tripe in mailboxes. Worst of all, he’s divorced his squid.

…He’s lost all credibility.”

144 wrenchwench  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:40:21pm

Arg. Now one of the smartest people I follow is RTing a Before It’s News dude.

145 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:40:26pm

re: #137 FemNaziBitch

[Embedded content]

“Just going to ram my ovipositor down your throat and lay my eggs in your chest depict the black POTUS and FLOTUS as chimpanzees, but I’m not an alien racist!”

146 RealityBasedSteve  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:40:47pm

re: #130 Charles Johnson

I guess there’s some kind of big fight going on somewhere? I think sometimes these things just need to run their course.

Just a debate on the relative merits and strengths of the new theme song for Sarah Palin’s show.

Youtube Video

Actually a number of us would appreciate and value your opinion on it as a professional musician.

RBS

147 RadicalModerate  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:41:18pm

re: #129 freetoken

Oh, for the multiplicity of hidden meanings in Ann Coulter’s latest headline:

SCREW YOU, MICKEY KAUS

Of course, Ann is lying thru her teeth when she says that you have to create an account and provide personal information to see quotes on the healthcare.gov website. This big-ass button is prominently displayed on the main page, right next to the “Apply now” button.

148 Minor_L  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:41:23pm

I was born in 1977. I grew up believing, not only that I had the right to an abortion if I needed one, but that the right to birth control was so entrenched and obvious that there would never be anyone who would challenge it. Watching this country move backwards on this topic is insane. That Ben Shapiro thinks that it’s a sin to have sex out of wedlock is a mainstream thought just boggles my mind.

Also, since insurance is a risk pool, won’t rates be lower if there are less pregnancies? Shouldn’t they worship anything that saves a corporation money? It’s funny watching these people attempt to get their economic greed to coincide with their insane religious beliefs.

149 nines09  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:42:48pm

I can see Pat at the stoning, at the stake, and at the lynching. All for “god’. His “god”. The “real” “god” like he imagines him. Pat’s in all the paintings and pictures if you look hard enough. Upper right in red with Bible

150 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:42:56pm

Meanwhile, on Noah watch:

Ray Comfort Releases His Own ‘Noah’ Movie Days Before Aronofsky’s Film

Evangelist Ray Comfort released “Noah - And the Last Days” days before the upcoming Hollywood epic starring Russell Crowe hits theaters. Comfort maintains that his version is “based on truth.”

“Hollywood’s [version] is listed as ‘fantasy, while ours is based on the truth,” Comfort contended. “Theirs is entertainment that will cost you. Ours is life-changing and will be freely available on YouTube.”

[…]

Umm… Ray, it’s all fantasy.

151 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:43:08pm

re: #138 Gus

I will no longer squabble with people. I remember staying up well past sunrise fighting with people here or egging them on. Kind of yucky memories.

Way to go. You must learn to find a still place in your aura, grasshopper. And also find the block button before you’re tempted to reply.

152 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:43:37pm

re: #138 Gus

I will no longer squabble with people. I remember staying up well past sunrise fighting with people here or egging them on. Kind of yucky memories.

I think we’ve all done that. Consider it a learning experience. There is value in debate. Squabbling, not so much.

153 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:43:58pm

re: #151 Charles Johnson

Way to go. You must learn to find a still place in your aura, grasshopper. And also find the block button before you’re tempted to reply.

That and now I typically just run away! :D

154 RealityBasedSteve  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:44:11pm

re: #147 RadicalModerate

Of course, Ann is lying thru her teeth when she says that you have to create an account and provide personal information to see quotes on the healthcare.gov website. This big-ass button is prominently displayed on the main page, right next to the “Apply now” button.

[Embedded image]

Actually, when I first visited it when it came on line, that was a problem, I had to provide all my info before I could see plans. That was my first WTF moment with it. They have changed it since then. (not that I’m defending Coulter, the pale thin witch of the north)(not to demean witches)

RBS

155 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:44:11pm

re: #146 RealityBasedSteve

Beyond heinous.

156 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:44:20pm

Plus. No booze.

157 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:44:51pm

This sounds like a BS story.

U.S. intel assessement: greater likelihood Russia will enter eastern Ukraine

A new classified intelligence assessment concludes it is more likely than previously thought that Russian forces will enter eastern Ukraine, CNN has learned.

Two administration officials described the assessment but declined to be identified due to the sensitive nature of the information.

The officials emphasized that nothing is certain, but there have been several worrying signs in the past three to four days.

“This has shifted our thinking that the likelihood of a further Russian incursion is more probable than it was previously thought to be,” one official said…

158 wrenchwench  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:45:28pm

re: #148 Minor_L

I was born in 1977. I grew up believing, not only that I had the right to an abortion if I needed one, but that the right to birth control was so entrenched and obvious that there would never be anyone who would challenge it. Watching this country move backwards on this topic is insane. That Ben Shapiro thinks that it’s a sin to have sex out of wedlock is a mainstream thought just boggles my mind.

Also, since insurance is a risk pool, won’t rates be lower if there are less pregnancies? Shouldn’t they worship anything that saves a corporation money? It’s funny watching these people attempt to get their economic greed to coincide with their insane religious beliefs.

That’s why the insurance companies want to offer birth control for FREE.

159 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:45:53pm

re: #157 Gus

“Eastern Ukraine” - is that near Perth?

160 RealityBasedSteve  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:47:01pm

re: #155 Charles Johnson

Beyond heinous.

I made a comment downstairs that we’d have to pull the stainless steel skewers out of your ears after you had listened to it. It so reminds me of a low budget kids cartoon show, maybe late 70’s…

RBS

161 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:47:09pm

LOLWUT

162 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:47:34pm

re: #159 freetoken

“Eastern Ukraine” - is that near Perth?

Ha!

163 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:47:42pm

re: #152 Killgore Trout

I think we’ve all done that. Consider it a learning experience. There is value in debate. Squabbling, not so much.

I can’t count the number of times over the last few years I’d get into the third paragraph of explaining, with data and links, just how wrong some bonehead Conservative was about something, and just say, “Screw it.” and hit the ‘Back’ button.

Nowadays I prefer the snarky rejoinder, like when my Cousin in West Virginia posted something on Facebook about “How You Know You’re From West Virginia!”

I said, “You complain about government overreach and can’t drink your own tap water?”

164 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:47:58pm

re: #161 Pie-onist Overlord

LOLWUT

[Embedded content]

The convictions that only became a problem a couple years ago when they had to switch policies because of the ACA?

165 Decatur Deb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:48:10pm

re: #154 RealityBasedSteve

Actually, when I first visited it when it came on line, that was a problem, I had to provide all my info before I could see plans. That was my first WTF moment with it. They have changed it since then. (not that I’m defending Coulter, the pale thin witch of the north)(not to demean witches)

RBS

Even then, the Kaiser Foundation website was providing the same (rough) estimates. Note that to get an accurate quote, the site needs age, county, and tobacco use. That is wiggle room enough for her bs, I suppose.

166 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:48:17pm
167 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:48:50pm

re: #146 RealityBasedSteve

Just a debate on the relative merits and strengths of the new theme song for Sarah Palin’s show.

[Embedded content]

Actually a number of us would appreciate and value your opinion on it as a professional musician.

RBS

It makes Rebecca Black’s “Friday, Friday” sound like Beethoven’s Ninth.

168 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:49:06pm

Various Fox outlets, well aware of their target audience, has plenty on Noah:

A message for my fellow Christians: chill out, ‘Noah’ is just a movie

169 Decatur Deb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:49:46pm

re: #161 Pie-onist Overlord

LOLWUT

“You can negotiate. But it’s doubtful you can negotiate away someone’s religious convictions”.

Torquemada begs to differ.

170 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:50:11pm

Wait a second. It’s from congress! Hahaha!

As a result, Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee late Wednesday sent a classified letter to the White House expressing concern about unfolding developments.

An unclassified version obtained by CNN said committee members feel “urgency and alarm, based on new information in the committee’s possession.”

171 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:50:47pm

She’s even dumber than last year, and spewing the same bullshit talking points.

172 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:52:14pm

Inez is the reason we can’t have nice things.

173 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:52:22pm

I was kind of ready to hate this going in, but David Byrne’s article on Internet privacy and security is actually pretty thought-provoking.

The NSA Is Burning Down the Web, but What if We Rebuilt a Spy-Proof Internet? | David Byrne | Comment Is Free | theguardian.com

174 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:53:07pm

re: #171 Pie-onist Overlord

She’s even dumber than last year, and spewing the same bullshit talking points.

When she was in college, she probably interacted with non-Conservatives, but at Heritage she’d be totally immersed in bullshit, tightly held but mutually exclusive beliefs, logical fallacies presented as sound arguments, confirmation bias and groupthink, not to mention what passes for humor among Conservatives.

175 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:53:26pm

re: #157 Gus

The officials emphasized that nothing is certain, but there have been several worrying signs in the past three to four days.

“This has shifted our thinking that the likelihood of a further Russian incursion is more probable than it was previously thought to be,” one official said.

The buildup is seen to be reminiscent of Moscow’s military moves before it went into Chechnya and Georgia in both numbers of units and their capabilities.

U.S. military and intelligence officials have briefed Congress on the assessment.

At face value I think it looks legit but they could also be thinking back to warnings of the incursion into Crimea that were dismissed. I have read some analysis that if Putin wants to take other parts of Ukraine it would be best for him to move quickly.

176 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:53:47pm
177 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:54:12pm

It’s based on this:

ARMED SERVICES LEADERS URGE PRESIDENT TO ACT ON UKRAINE
Writing “with urgency and alarm, based on new information in the committee’s possession”

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Buck McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, along with the seven subcommittee Chairmen on the Armed Services Committee, sent the following letter to the President regarding the crisis in the Ukraine. An additional classified letter was sent Wednesday afternoon. The letter is signed by Rep. Buck McKeon, Rep. Mac Thornberry, Rep. Randy Forbes, Rep. Joe Wilson, Rep. Michael Turner, Rep. Mike Rogers, Rep. Rob Wittman, and Rep. Joe Heck.

Chairman McKeon said on the release of the letters: “Russia’s war on Ukraine has already started. It is time to stop speculating about possibility, and start dealing with reality. Europe will unite behind American leadership. It’s time we demonstrate it. Continued inaction by the President in the face of Mr. Putin’s invasion will make further Russian aggression more - not less - likely. Any show of resolve from the White House will have my full support.”

Dear Mr. President,

We write today with urgency and alarm, based on new information in the committee’s possession. We are gravely concerned about the aggressive posture of Russian forces along the eastern border of Ukraine, as well as reports that Moscow may be making threatening moves towards allies in the Baltics. We urge your administration, working with our NATO allies, to share available intelligence information with the government of Ukraine that would enable it to take prudent and timely measures to protect the very “sovereignty and territorial integrity” that you have committed to maintain. We also believe it is imperative that the United States take precautionary steps to improve the posture and readiness of U.S. military forces in the region, and pursue additional measures to bolster the security of our eastern and central European allies and partners.

While the details informing our concerns remain classified and will be outlined in an accompanying classified letter sent through appropriate channels, we would point to multiple unclassified reports and comments by senior officials within your administration, highlighting the tens of thousands of Russian troops massed near the eastern border of Ukraine conducting “military exercises,” the presence of Russian Spetsnaz special forces in eastern Ukraine fomenting civil unrest and chaos, and the large footprint of Russian naval forces and coastal troops in the Baltics. There is deep apprehension that Moscow may invade eastern and southern Ukraine, pressing west to Transdniestria, and also seek land grabs in the Baltics.

Both the commander of U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and the NATO Secretary General are raising the alarm. Earlier this week in Brussels, EUCOM Commander, General Philip Breedlove, stated, “The [Russian] force that is at the Ukrainian border now to the east is very, very sizeable and very, very ready.” He also stated, “There is absolutely sufficient [Russian] force postured on the eastern border of Ukraine to run to Transdniestria if the decision was made to do that and that is very worrisome.” NATO Secretary General Rasmussen has also emphasized, “We are very much concerned about the Russian military build-up along the borders of Ukraine.”

Mr. President, you have stated that you “are in close communication with the Ukrainian government.” We would expect this communication to immediately include any intelligence on Russian troop movements and possible attack scenarios into Ukraine, and to provide such information with sufficient time to allow the Ukrainian government to take prudent defense measures to protect its people, sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

We also believe it is crucial that you direct the Secretary of Defense to increase and enhance the alert posture and readiness of U.S. forces in Europe without delay, including maintaining forward-deployed U.S. quick reaction forces. A failure to take such deterrent actions in the face of continued Russian aggression will certainly risk the very diplomatic and peaceful outcome that we all desire. Inaction by the U.S. and NATO will only further embolden Russian military planners, making further escalation more-not less-likely.

As we have learned in previous crises elsewhere, if U.S. forces are not positioned in advance to respond to foreseeable threats, the options for senior decision makers become severely limited. To that end, we further call on you to convene an emergency session of the North Atlantic Council, to be led by Secretary Hagel and Chairman Dempsey, and to request that our NATO allies also enhance their force readiness in the event that an Article V response is required.

Mr. President, we still have opportunity to deter Russia aggression, but President Putin must see our commitment to Ukraine and to our European allies and partners. He must visibly see our resolve, including our military resolve, and clearly understand the costs.

178 Decatur Deb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:54:49pm

re: #174 GeneJockey

When she was in college, she probably interacted with non-Conservatives, but at Heritage she’d be totally immersed in bullshit, tightly held but mutually exclusive beliefs, logical fallacies presented as sound arguments, confirmation bias and groupthink, not to mention what passes for humor among Conservatives.

Then, for Personal Development, they’d send he to the Leadership Institute.

179 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:55:28pm

re: #148 Minor_L

I was born in 1977. I grew up believing, not only that I had the right to an abortion if I needed one, but that the right to birth control was so entrenched and obvious that there would never be anyone who would challenge it. Watching this country move backwards on this topic is insane. That Ben Shapiro thinks that it’s a sin to have sex out of wedlock is a mainstream thought just boggles my mind.

Also, since insurance is a risk pool, won’t rates be lower if there are less pregnancies? Shouldn’t they worship anything that saves a corporation money? It’s funny watching these people attempt to get their economic greed to coincide with their insane religious beliefs.

I think it’s scary as shit.

180 GeneJockey  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:55:37pm

re: #176 FemNaziBitch

[Embedded content]

That’s a reasonable point. It’s acceptable in more places in America to hate Muslims than blacks.

181 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:56:22pm

TEH STUPID, I JUST CAN’T EVEN. THESE PEOPLE ARE JUST FUCKED UP.

182 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:56:39pm

Russian Government Officials Dump IPads Over Spying Fears
No iTunes for you, Comrade!

183 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:57:02pm

CNN:

Committee members noted that Gen. Philip Breedlove, head of the U.S. European Command and NATO military chief, noted the Russians had sufficient forces to make moves into those areas.

The House ASC letter:

Both the commander of U.S. European Command (EUCOM) and the NATO Secretary General are raising the alarm. Earlier this week in Brussels, EUCOM Commander, General Philip Breedlove, stated, “The [Russian] force that is at the Ukrainian border now to the east is very, very sizeable and very, very ready.” He also stated, “There is absolutely sufficient [Russian] force postured on the eastern border of Ukraine to run to Transdniestria if the decision was made to do that and that is very worrisome.” NATO Secretary General Rasmussen has also emphasized, “We are very much concerned about the Russian military build-up along the borders of Ukraine.”

184 Internet Tough Guy  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:57:15pm

re: #177 Gus

No, “Buck”. We’re not going to DefCon 2. Deal with it.

185 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:57:55pm

I’m gonna watch “Criminal Minds” and feast my eyes on some Shemar Moore.

186 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:58:32pm

re: #181 Pie-onist Overlord

Atheists pay taxes, some of which goes to the military to pay not only for chaplains but for religious symbols, such as grave markers.

Vegetarians pay taxes, some of which goes to support farmers involved in the livestock industry.

187 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:58:47pm

re: #184 Internet Tough Guy

No, “Buck”. We’re not going to DefCon 2. Deal with it.

Somehow I find this part of Buck’s letter impossible to believe: “Any show of resolve from the White House will have my full support.”

188 Single-handed sailor  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:58:47pm

re: #177 Gus

It’s based on this:

ARMED SERVICES LEADERS URGE PRESIDENT TO ACT ON UKRAINE
Writing “with urgency and alarm, based on new information in the committee’s possession”

Ah, a strongly worded letter.

189 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 5:58:57pm

That’s hilarious. So basically CNN is making part of the access to this story up.

190 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:00:16pm

re: #189 Gus

That’s hilarious. So basically CNN is making part of the access to this story up.

It gives CNN something to do while they pulse the blender again on the missing airplane story.

191 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:00:52pm

The brouhaha over Noah demonstrates how a non-trivial fraction of our society are still unable to tell reality from fantasy.

192 wrenchwench  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:00:56pm

Later, lizards.

193 RadicalModerate  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:00:57pm

I’m having difficulty wrapping my mind around what type of sociopath would be so depraved as to do something like this.

People Across the QCA React to Razor Blades Found at Playground

People across the QCA are still reacting to Monday’s discovery of razor blades at a children’s playground in East Moline.

On Monday afternoon, East Moline Police said a two-year-old boy cut his hand while playing on the playground at Millennium Park in East Moline. Police then responded to the park and found about a dozen razor blades attached to equipment at the playground.

The boy was treated at his home and now police are investigating the situation.

194 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:00:57pm

re: #177 Gus

We also believe it is crucial that you direct the Secretary of Defense to increase and enhance the alert posture and readiness of U.S. forces in Europe without delay, including maintaining forward-deployed U.S. quick reaction forces. A failure to take such deterrent actions in the face of continued Russian aggression will certainly risk the very diplomatic and peaceful outcome that we all desire. Inaction by the U.S. and NATO will only further embolden Russian military planners, making further escalation more-not less-likely.

Meh, that’s not gonna happen. Obama’s not doing the usual “all options are on the table” thing, he’s been very clear that there’s no chance of a military option in the foreseeable future.

195 aagcobb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:01:36pm

re: #138 Gus

I will no longer squabble with people. I remember staying up well past sunrise fighting with people here or egging them on. Kind of yucky memories.

196 Kragar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:01:38pm

re: #128 Charles Johnson

I always love it when a guy on Twitter with a Benghazi twibbon, a picture of Andrew Breitbart for their avatar and an American flag with an eagle as their background image tells me I’ve “lost all credibility.”

Dude. Losing credibility with people who idolize Sarah Palin is a good thing.

A Benghazi ribbon on twitter is the code for “too stupid to be taken seriously”

197 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:03:02pm

re: #173 Charles Johnson

I was kind of ready to hate this going in, but David Byrne’s article on Internet privacy and security is actually pretty thought-provoking.

The NSA Is Burning Down the Web, but What if We Rebuilt a Spy-Proof Internet? | David Byrne | Comment Is Free | theguardian.com

I think this is the sort of discussion we should be having rather than the Greenwald-Snowden circus.

198 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:03:04pm

Also.

199 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:03:11pm

re: #194 Killgore Trout

Meh, that’s not gonna happen. Obama’s not doing the usual “all options are on the table” thing, he’s been very clear that there’s no chance of a military option in the foreseeable future.

What the US and Europe can do is set up trip wires for a military response if Russia decides to proceed further, especially in relation to the Baltic states which are NATO members.

200 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:03:40pm

Brazil To Ban Racist Fans From World Cup

RIO DE JANEIRO, March 26 (Bernama) — Football fans with a track record of racist abuse will be barred from entering Brazil during the 2014 World Cup due to start in June, China’s Xinhua news agency reported.

Sports minister Aldo Rebelo warned international fans will be scrutinised when entering the country while Brazilians guilty of previous race-based charges will be denied entry at stadiums.

bernama.com.my

that means the duck dynasty folks cant go watch english footy.

201 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:03:45pm

re: #198 Gus

This is why we can’t have nice things.

202 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:05:34pm

NeoconWarmonger!
Pres. Jimmy Carter: U.S. should provide military support to Ukraine

Mora: So should we support Ukraine militarily?

Carter: I think so, yes. I do believe we should. And I also announced to [Soviet leader Leonid] Brezhnev on public television and all that if he moved out of Afghanistan to any adjacent country, we would respond militarily and not spare any weapons that we had at our disposal. And he never did. And as you know, the freedom fighters were ultimately successful and under [Soviet leader Mikhail] Gorbachev, they withdrew from Afghanistan. So I think we need to be very forceful now, making sure that Putin doesn’t go into eastern Ukraine militarily.

203 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:06:20pm

re: #199 EPR-radar

What the US and Europe can do is set up trip wires for a military response if Russia decides to proceed further, especially in relation to the Baltic states which are NATO members.

Red lines ain’t what they used to be.

204 RadicalModerate  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:06:43pm

re: #184 Internet Tough Guy

No, “Buck”. We’re not going to DefCon 2. Deal with it.

Sort of reminds me of a certain “General Buck”.

205 Feline Fearless Leader  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:07:01pm

Oh look. Danny Trejo as Machete on the Sundance Channel. Time to watch brain-free violence for a while.

206 Decatur Deb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:09:32pm

re: #203 Killgore Trout

Red lines ain’t what they used to be.

But “Spheres of Influence” still are.

207 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:09:36pm

re: #202 Killgore Trout

NeoconWarmonger!
Pres. Jimmy Carter: U.S. should provide military support to Ukraine

Boom! Or, something.

208 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:10:32pm

Crap, it’s a rerun.

209 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:10:44pm

Apparently World Vision is no longer a Christian organization, because they don’t stone gays or something:

The Collapse of Christianity at World Vision

210 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:11:00pm

re: #208 Pie-onist Overlord

Crap, it’s a rerun.

Welcome Back Carter? //

211 aagcobb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:11:21pm

re: #194 Killgore Trout

Meh, that’s not gonna happen. Obama’s not doing the usual “all options are on the table” thing, he’s been very clear that there’s no chance of a military option in the foreseeable future.

Which is as it should be. we took no military action when Hungary was invaded in ‘56 and Czechoslovakia was invaded in ‘68. Not every dictator is Hitler, and every foreign crisis isn’t 1938.

212 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:13:34pm

re: #209 freetoken

Apparently World Vision is no longer a Christian organization, because they don’t stone gays or something:

The Collapse of Christianity at World Vision

They’ve already flip-flopped on the issue calling it a mistake.

npr.org

213 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:13:35pm

Denny Burke is essentially a mouthpiece for Mullah Mohler, head of the central seminary of the largest fundamentalist denomination in America. However, Mullah Mohler did his own article too:

Pointing to Disaster — The Flawed Moral Vision of World Vision

Because the last thing we want is teh ghey feeding starving people.

214 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:14:02pm

re: #193 RadicalModerate

I’m having difficulty wrapping my mind around what type of sociopath would be so depraved as to do something like this.

People Across the QCA React to Razor Blades Found at Playground

I smell Munchausen by proxy.

215 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:15:14pm

Breaking!

Barack Obama showed up at his meeting with Dutch PM Mark Rutte with his usual caravan of armored limousines and the like.

Dutch leaders not only are better at republican manners than ours are — no caesaropapist trappings for Mr. Rutte — but also offer a standing rebuke to American cultural practices by reminding us that it is possible to ride a bicycle without special shoes, a helmet, or spandex.

216 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:15:30pm

re: #212 William Barnett-Lewis

They’ve already flip-flopped on the issue calling it a mistake.

npr.org

See, they really don’t want teh ghey feeding staring people.

217 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:16:59pm
218 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:17:08pm

re: #216 freetoken

See, they really don’t want teh ghey feeding staring people.

but hey - it is the left who hate the gays and keep them on the gay plantations with all the giraffe humping…

219 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:17:18pm

re: #212 William Barnett-Lewis

It’s not a coincidence that World Vision reversed their policy the day after the various fundamentalists leaders started to whine.

220 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:17:43pm

I’m curious, Killgore, who is it you think is gonna help us fight the Russians? The Ukrainians who you were saying just the other day would fold up in the face of a Russian invasion and surrender to avoid being slaughtered? Our European “allies” who have not lifted a finger to so much as slap Putin on the wrist, for fear that he’ll turn off the gas? How is it we’re to threaten Russia with any credible force in the time it would take him to drive to Kyiv?

221 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:17:47pm

re: #217 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

ouch! but beautiful, but ouch.

222 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:17:50pm

re: #37 GeneJockey

Emily Said, “Are Bats Always This Fucking Moronic?”

Don’t diss bats.

223 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:19:02pm

re: #37 GeneJockey

Emily Said, “Are Bats Always This Fucking Moronic?”

Re: not dissing bats:

224 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:19:33pm

re: #223 chadu

Re: not dissing bats:

[Embedded image]

aweee soo ugly but ugly cute

225 The Ghost of a Flea  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:20:04pm

re: #215 Gus

BICYCLYEPROMPTER

226 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:20:16pm

re: #58 GeneJockey

While I’m binge-posting, I suggest we either name this planet Tyrion, or Billy Barty.

Billy Barty.

227 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:21:46pm

re: #207 Gus

Boom! Or, something.

Yeah, not sure how to make use of that one but somebody or everybody will be outraged.

228 CuriousLurker  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:21:52pm

Drive-by: No time to hang out today, but I wanted to come by and drop this off for anyone who might be into 3D stuff and doesn’t want to shell out $500 for Poser Pro.

BTW, if you look at the download page you’ll see that in addition to being open source, MakeHuman also offers Blender tools that allow you “to import MakeHuman models in Blender 2.69, or to create new MakeHuman assets.”

Later, lizards.

229 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:23:35pm
230 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:24:11pm

re: #227 Killgore Trout

Yeah, not sure how to make use of that one but somebody or everybody will be outraged.

Probably get ignored.

231 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:24:59pm

re: #229 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

paul ryan “its ok - they just steal the office supplies anyways. equity. folks”

232 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:25:53pm

re: #229 Pie-onist Overlord

Conservatives have figured out that wage slavery for the lower classes is more cost-effective than tracking down runaway slaves.

233 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:26:55pm

Yep, real men don’t wear bicycle helmets or life jackets while boating.

234 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:27:03pm

re: #220 Targetpractice

I’m curious, Killgore, who is it you think is gonna help us fight the Russians? The Ukrainians who you were saying just the other day would fold up in the face of a Russian invasion and surrender to avoid being slaughtered? Our European “allies” who have not lifted a finger to so much as slap Putin on the wrist, for fear that he’ll turn off the gas? How is it we’re to threaten Russia with any credible force in the time it would take him to drive to Kyiv?

I think threatening them would be a bad idea unless we’re prepared to fight them. I think rushing military aid to the Ukrainians might not be such a great idea if the Russians just move in and take our newly gifted gear.
Putin probably has a pretty good idea of how far he can push before we start thinking about a military response. If he wants other parts of Ukraine he’ll take them and we’ll let him. No sense in making empty threats or throwing away money. It sucks for Ukraine and it sucks for other countries in the region that might soon be in the crosshairs but we aren’t going to fight the Russians and pretending at a military deterrent would just end up being embarrassing.

235 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:27:43pm

Real men also don’t wear seatbelts. If you get into an accident just put your hand up against the dashboard.

236 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:27:55pm

logic with a 3 year old : “why am i the mean one when i am the one having to wipe your butt”

237 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:28:05pm

re: #230 Gus

Probably get ignored.

“Does not compute”
/beep

238 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:28:59pm

re: #235 Gus

Real men also don’t wear seatbelts. If you get into an accident just put your hand up against the dashboard.

In case of emergency your cigar will act as an airbag.

239 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:29:42pm

re: #238 Killgore Trout

In case of emergency your cigar will act as an airbag.

Yep. Also doubles as a cauterizing instrument.

240 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:29:52pm

re: #233 Gus

Yep, real men don’t wear bicycle helmets or life jackets while boating.

at least pink looks good on men. bicycle helmets not so much.

241 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:30:28pm

re: #234 Killgore Trout

I think threatening them would be a bad idea unless we’re prepared to fight them. I think rushing military aid to the Ukrainians might not be such a great idea if the Russians just move in and take our newly gifted gear.
Putin probably has a pretty good idea of how far he can push before we start thinking about a military response. If he wants other parts of Ukraine he’ll take them and we’ll let him. No sense in making empty threats or throwing away money. It sucks for Ukraine and it sucks for other countries in the region that might soon be in the crosshairs but we aren’t going to fight the Russians and pretending at a military deterrent would just end up being embarrassing.

All very true. I don’t figure that Putin really wants all of Ukraine, doesn’t want to deal with months or even years of occupation that will follow. Because the Ukrainian people are not going to simply give in and accept being occupied, they’re going to rebel and it’s going to be very difficult for Putin to put them down without further infuriating the world. Putin very likely would have preferred a bloodless coup orchestrated by Yanuk, where Russia could take control of Ukraine in one piece. If he decides he wants to drive to the Polish border, then he’s looking at the cost of rebuilding, something that’s not going to be cheap to an economy that’s already moribund.

242 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:31:27pm

Military Cuts Render NATO Less Formidable as Deterrent to Russia

President Obama and European leaders pledged Wednesday to bolster the NATO alliance and vowed that Russia would not be allowed to run roughshod over its neighbors. But the military reality on the ground in Europe tells a different story.

The United States, by far the most powerful NATO member, has drastically cut back its European forces from a decade ago. European countries, which have always lagged far behind the United States in military might, have struggled and largely failed to come up with additional military spending at a time of economic anemia and budget cuts.

243 aagcobb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:33:27pm

re: #242 Killgore Trout

Military Cuts Render NATO Less Formidable as Deterrent to Russia

Well the Russian military isn’t exactly the Red Army of Soviet days, either.

244 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:34:27pm

Wingnuts spamming this fake chart
They don’t subtract all the manufacturing jobs that Reagan facilitated sending overseas, jobs lost forever.

245 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:34:47pm

Hard to believe that it’s 2014 and we still have anti-bike helmet idiots around.

246 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:35:21pm

Real men don’t wear high viz orange clothing when hunting.

247 BrainSurfer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:35:38pm

After reading most of the comments, I looked at Robertson’s video expecting something entirely different, given Charles’s comments.

Considering the overall context of what Robertson says, I do not have a problem with what he says. He is a Christian leader, believes deeply in his faith, and believes abortion and homosexuality is wrong. Why would anyone expect him, or Pope Francis, to say differently,

And “paranoid Satan fantasies”????? I have seen too much evil first hand, and spooky evil as well, to think Satan is a fantasy.

248 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:35:38pm

Real men never use their gun safety.

249 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:35:40pm

re: #245 Gus

Hard to believe that it’s 2014 and we still have anti-bike helmet idiots around.

We still have people who think the whole planet was destroyed by a flood 4000 years ago.

250 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:36:21pm

re: #249 freetoken

We still have people who think the whole planet was destroyed by a flood 4000 years ago.

Hardhats are for sissies! //

251 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:36:28pm

re: #246 Gus

Real men don’t wear high viz orange clothing when hunting.

dick Cheney?

252 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:36:35pm

re: #241 Targetpractice

All very true. I don’t figure that Putin really wants all of Ukraine, doesn’t want to deal with months or even years of occupation that will follow. Because the Ukrainian people are not going to simply give in and accept being occupied, they’re going to rebel and it’s going to be very difficult for Putin to put them down without further infuriating the world. Putin very likely would have preferred a bloodless coup orchestrated by Yanuk, where Russia could take control of Ukraine in one piece. If he decides he wants to drive to the Polish border, then he’s looking at the cost of rebuilding, something that’s not going to be cheap to an economy that’s already moribund.

From what I can tell I think Putin is looking for bits and pieces of various properties. Little breakaway regions, A few days ago there were reports that some Serbs were talking about inviting the Russians for annexation. Meanwhile, Putin is going to make trouble areas he doesn’t want (bribes, social unrest, ethnic division) to make life difficult for those who don’t want to join the new improved USSR. This could drag on a while.

253 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:37:15pm

OK, don’t wear a bike helmet. Get into a stupid accident, hit your head on a concrete curb and then wait 10 years before you can talk close to normal again.

254 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:37:51pm

Vocabulary Word of the Day:

Caesaropapism /ˌsiːzəroʊˈpaɪpɪzəm/ is the idea of combining the power of secular government with the religious power, or making it superior to the spiritual authority of the Church; especially concerning the connection of the Church with government. The term caesaropapism (Cäseropapismus) may first have been coined by Justus Henning Böhmer,[1] and was later defined by Max Weber as “a secular, caesaropapist ruler… exercises supreme authority in ecclesiastic matters by virtue of his autonomous legitimacy”. According to Weber’s political sociology, caesaropapism entails “the complete subordination of priests to secular power.”[2]

In its extreme form, caesaropapism is a political theory in which the head of state, notably the Emperor (‘Caesar’, by extension an ‘equal’ King), is also the supreme head of the church (‘papa’, pope or analogous religious leader). In this form, it inverts theocracy (or hierocracy in Weber) in which institutions of the Church control the state. However, both Caesaropapism and Theocracy are systems in which there is no Separation of Church and State and the two form parts of a single power structure.

255 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:38:42pm

Better yet. Don’t wear a helmet. Collide with a car. Hit your head on the pavement. Then die within the next 30 minutes from a subdural hematoma. Because. Helmets are for queers!

256 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:38:49pm

Did we ever learn what Russia is going to do with the Ukrainian Navy? Do they keep the ships? Give them to independent Crimea? Is there any sort of restitution involved. Even a small navy isn’t cheap.

257 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:38:52pm

re: #216 freetoken

See, they really don’t want teh ghey feeding staring people.

Personally, I don’t like feeding staring people.

It’s kinda creepy.

258 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:38:54pm

re: #243 aagcobb

Well the Russian military isn’t exactly the Red Army of Soviet days, either.

The Russian military has upgraded in fits and starts. Most of their naval fleet that isn’t laid up or rusting in dock is being refitted piecemeal. Their air force has only really begun to upgrade in the last few years and anybody who points to the Sukhoi 5th gen fighter prototype should be laughed at. As for the Russian Army, they’re about the only branch that has really been kept up to date, and even they are still relying largely on tanks that were “new” when Andropov was in office.

259 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:38:55pm

re: #247 BrainSurfer

After reading most of the comments, I looked at Robertson’s video expecting something entirely different, given Charles’s comments.

Considering the overall context of what Robertson says, I do not have a problem with what he says. He is a Christian leader, believes deeply in his faith, and believes abortion and homosexuality is wrong. Why would anyone expect him, or Pope Francis, to say differently,

And “paranoid Satan fantasies”????? I have seen too much evil first hand, and spooky evil as well, to think Satan is a fantasy.

lolwut

260 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:39:48pm

O.o

261 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:40:11pm

Spooky evil is the worst kind.

262 Testy Toad T  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:40:21pm

re: #259 Charles Johnson

lolwut

I need a stiff fucking drink for what is about to befall us, and I don’t mean Stan’s powers.

263 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:40:26pm

re: #228 CuriousLurker

>Drive-by: No time to hang out today, but I wanted to come by and drop this off for anyone who might be into 3D stuff and doesn’t want to shell out $500 for Poser Pro.

BTW, if you look at the download page you’ll see that in addition to being open source, MakeHuman also offers Blender tools that allow you “to import MakeHuman models in Blender 2.69, or to create new MakeHuman assets.”

[Embedded content]

Later, lizards.

So, can I use this to make a mannequin of myself for the purpose of sewing my own clothes?

264 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:40:30pm

Even the Israelis gave back that stupid Gaza Flotilla boat. We gave back the Nork oil ship near Lybia last week. You can’t just go around stealing boats. That’s piracy!

265 RealityBasedSteve  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:40:31pm

re: #246 Gus

Real men don’t wear high viz orange clothing when hunting.

Real men don’t have GFI outlets near the sink.

RBS

266 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:41:19pm

re: #253 Gus

OK, don’t wear a bike helmet. Get into a stupid accident, hit your head on a concrete curb and then wait 10 years before you can talk close to normal again.

Or, become a donor cyclist. All those on transplant lists will thank them for their stupidity.

267 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:41:37pm

re: #252 Killgore Trout

From what I can tell I think Putin is looking for bits and pieces of various properties. Little breakaway regions, A few days ago there were reports that some Serbs were talking about inviting the Russians for annexation. Meanwhile, Putin is going to make trouble areas he doesn’t want (bribes, social unrest, ethnic division) to make life difficult for those who don’t want to join the new improved USSR. This could drag on a while.

That’s pretty much the situation as it stands, Putin is not making major land grabs, he’s picking off bits here and there. Very Sudetenland of him.

268 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:42:55pm

In other news, I’ve gone and posted the first of my Southern Utah photos. Night over Arches.

Daytime shots and a trip roundup will be coming shortly.

269 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:43:02pm

re: #247 BrainSurfer

After reading most of the comments, I looked at Robertson’s video expecting something entirely different, given Charles’s comments.

Considering the overall context of what Robertson says, I do not have a problem with what he says. He is a Christian leader, believes deeply in his faith, and believes abortion and homosexuality is wrong. Why would anyone expect him, or Pope Francis, to say differently,

And “paranoid Satan fantasies”????? I have seen too much evil first hand, and spooky evil as well, to think Satan is a fantasy.

Robertson is a jackass, bigot and hater. His status as a religious preacher is no defense against these charges.

270 Teukka  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:43:09pm

re: #266 lawhawk

Or, become a donor cyclist. All those on transplant lists will thank them for their stupidity.

Real men don’t use spacers to ensure a minimum distance between a plutonium sphere and a beryllium reflector. Those spacers are for wusses.

271 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:43:14pm

I’m OK with evil, pretty much, as long as it isn’t spooky.

272 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:44:23pm

re: #266 lawhawk

Or, become a donor cyclist. All those on transplant lists will thank them for their stupidity.

273 Political Atheist  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:44:24pm

re: #256 Killgore Trout

Did we ever learn what Russia is going to do with the Ukrainian Navy? Do they keep the ships? Give them to independent Crimea? Is there any sort of restitution involved. Even a small navy isn’t cheap.

Armed robbery is as armed robbery does.

274 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:45:21pm

re: #244 Pie-onist Overlord

And it doesn’t take into account that the GOP actively sought to kill the economy - both to thwart any kind of Obama domestic success, and to attempt to strangle Obamacare. The GOP shutdown was a culmination of that asinine policy, but it goes to include the failure to pass UI as well as not passing any kind of jobs bill to create new jobs.

275 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:45:26pm

re: #265 RealityBasedSteve

Real men don’t have GFI outlets near the sink.

Real men don’t fart around on the Internet, you nerds!

276 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:45:53pm

re: #270 Teukka

Real men don’t use spacers to ensure a minimum distance between a plutonium sphere and a beryllium reflector. Those spacers are for wusses.

Tickling the devil core are we?

277 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:46:09pm

re: #267 Targetpractice

That’s pretty much the situation as it stands, Putin is not making major land grabs, he’s picking off bits here and there. Very Sudetenland of him.

It’s something nobody really talks about but Putin can take much more than he actually wants. He could send tanks into the rest of Ukraine and a few other places if he really wanted to. We aren’t going to stop him.

278 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:46:11pm

re: #275 chadu

Real men don’t fart around on the Internet, you nerds!

real men do not drive hybrids.

279 BrainSurfer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:46:28pm

re: #269 EPR-radar

Robertson is a jackass, bigot and hater. His status as a religious preacher is no defense against these charges.

Exactly why is he a jackass, bigot, and hater? Because he is against abortion and homosexuality?

280 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:46:33pm

re: #270 Teukka

Real men don’t use spacers to ensure a minimum distance between a plutonium sphere and a beryllium reflector. Those spacers are for wusses.

Real men don’t put up with that wishy-washy shit: you’re either a wave or a particle, photon!

281 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:46:51pm

I really don’t know if I want to read this.
The Certainty of Donald Rumsfeld (Part 1)

282 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:47:25pm

re: #271 Charles Johnson

I’m OK with evil, pretty much, as long as it isn’t spooky.

I hear there are oreos in hell.

Oh wait, that’s the sekrit bunker.

is there a difference?

283 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:47:25pm

re: #272 Gus

Of course, your employer will not allow you to get a needed transplant though, because they’ve got a religious belief that transcends your medical necessity. /Hobby Lobby rule

284 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:47:31pm

re: #279 BrainSurfer

Exactly why is he a jackass, bigot, and hater? Because he is against abortion and homosexuality?

Bigotry is the state of mind of a bigot: someone who, as a result of their prejudices, treats or views other people with fear, distrust, hatred, contempt, or intolerance on the basis of a person’s opinion, ethnicity, race, religion, national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, socioeconomic status, or other characteristics.

285 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:47:32pm

Fuck the dolphins
Ukraine Was Never Crazy About Its Killer Dolphins, Anyway

In fact, the Ukrainian Navy was reportedly planning to shutter its program next month. In February, a naval source told RIA Novosti, “We haven’t decided yet what to do with the dolphins—whether to set them free or to sell them to aqua parks.” The Russians, apparently, are more than happy to take the creatures off their hands. “The Sevastopol State Aquarium resumes activities to train combat dolphins in the interests of the Russian Navy,” the Russian news site pravda.ru declared on Wednesday. “The work will save unique scientific developments that were abandoned due to Ukraine’s reluctance to finance the research in the field.” In other words: Silly Ukraine, you didn’t realize how valuable your dolphins were!

286 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:47:40pm

re: #278 palmerskiss

real men do not drive hybrids.

Real men do not just walk into Mordor.

287 Teukka  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:47:46pm

re: #276 lawhawk

Tickling the devil core are we?

Demon Core aye. Or “tickling the dragons tail”.

It did not end well.

288 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:47:55pm
289 Testy Toad T  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:48:00pm

re: #279 BrainSurfer

Exactly why is he a jackass, bigot, and hater? Because he is against abortion and homosexuality?

Yes. That makes him a jackass bigot hater.

Thanks for playing!

290 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:48:08pm

re: #277 Killgore Trout

It’s something nobody really talks about but Putin can take much more than he actually wants. He could send tanks into the rest of Ukraine and a few other places if he really wanted to. We aren’t going to stop him.

Could, but not going to, because the cost would not equal the reward. He’s already got enough problems in Chechnya to deal with. If he invaded and occupied all of Ukraine, he couldn’t simply drop back and shell the rebels into submission when he got tired of them shooting and blowing up his troops.

291 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:48:16pm

re: #286 chadu

Real men do not just walk into Mordor.

mmmm but viggo does. thank you for the memory

292 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:48:24pm

re: #280 chadu

Real men don’t put up with that wishy-washy shit: you’re either a wave or a particle, photon!

Hah. Real men know whether the cat’s alive or dead. None of this Schrödinger’s cat nonsense.

293 BrainSurfer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:48:34pm

re: #271 Charles Johnson

I’m OK with evil, pretty much, as long as it isn’t spooky.

If you are OK with evil, you have fooled me.

(Although the spooky kind is really really scary!)

294 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:49:05pm

re: #286 chadu

That’s what hobbits are for. They’re tricksey.

295 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:49:54pm

re: #288 FemNaziBitch

[Embedded content]

if men could get pregnant - they would not be ‘stretch marks’ - they become ‘battle scars’

296 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:49:59pm
297 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:50:10pm

re: #292 lawhawk

Hah. Real men know whether the cat’s alive or dead. None of this Schrödinger’s cat nonsense.

Real men never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.

298 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:50:31pm

re: #291 palmerskiss

mmmm but viggo does. thank you for the memory

Actually Aragorn (Viggo) did not go anywhere near Mordor.

299 BrainSurfer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:50:52pm

re: #289 Testy Toad T

Yes. That makes him a jackass bigot hater.

Thanks for playing!

Only thing I can add is that he has his opinions, you have yours. Doesn’t bother me either way.

300 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:51:00pm

re: #297 chadu

Real men never go in against a Sicilian when death is on the line.

preposterous

301 Chrysicat  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:51:22pm

re: #279 BrainSurfer

Exactly why is he a jackass, bigot, and hater? Because he is against abortion and homosexuality?

You really believe in “love the sinner, hate the sin, but loving the sinner means treat him like he’s already in Hell, so that he’ll change his ways to be treated better and become a nice cishet daddy”, don’t you?

No, being against homosexuality is enough. As for abortion, it’s not like he can have one of his own, and making it illegal is taking over ownership of a stranger’s body. No can haz.

302 Testy Toad T  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:51:29pm

re: #293 BrainSurfer

If you are OK with evil, you have fooled me.

(Although the spooky kind is really really scary!)

Does a penis going into an anus make you feel all icky and sinful?

It’s okay to admit it.

Penis. Anus. Together. Going in and out.

Yikes, right?

303 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:51:33pm

IRS commissioner dares House GOP to hold him in contempt over Tea Party

304 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:51:54pm

re: #298 Pie-onist Overlord

Actually Aragorn (Viggo) did not go anywhere near Mordor.

i knew that was true the moment i posted it - but i was clouded with viggo’s beauty. i feign momentary lapse of sanity.

305 RealityBasedSteve  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:51:57pm

Real men are still on GeoCities.

RBS

306 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:52:12pm

Gus, just remember this:

307 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:52:44pm

re: #279 BrainSurfer

Exactly why is he a jackass, bigot, and hater? Because he is against abortion and homosexuality?

Some of Robertson’s greatest hits:

Many of Robertson’s views mirror those of fellow evangelical activist pastor Jerry Falwell, who made frequent appearances on The 700 Club. He agreed with Falwell when Falwell stated that the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks were caused by “pagans, abortionists, feminists, gays, lesbians, the American Civil Liberties Union and the People For the American Way.”

The June 8, 1998 edition of his show, where Robertson denounced Orlando, Florida and Disney World for allowing a privately sponsored “Gay Days” weekend, also drew criticism from Americans United for Separation of Church and State. Robertson stated that the acceptance of homosexuality could result in hurricanes, earthquakes, tornadoes, terrorist bombings and “possibly a meteor,” prompting Americans United to criticize Robertson, saying it was “deplorable that Robertson is using the tragedy of these fires to promote his religious and political agenda.”

QED.

308 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:53:11pm

re: #298 Pie-onist Overlord

Actually Aragorn (Viggo) did not go anywhere near Mordor.

Wait, didn’t he chop off the Voice of Sauron’s head right at the gates?

Oh, spoiler. Sorry.

309 Charles Johnson  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:54:14pm

EVIL!

Youtube Video

310 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:54:19pm

re: #308 chadu

Wait, didn’t he chop off the Voice of Sauron’s head right at the gates?

Oh, spoiler. Sorry.

yeah you like orlando i can tell..

311 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:54:47pm

re: #301 Chrysicat

You really believe in “love the sinner, hate the sin, but loving the sinner means treat him like he’s already in Hell, so that he’ll change his ways to be treated better and become a nice cishet daddy”, don’t you?

No, being against homosexuality is enough. As for abortion, it’s not like he can have one of his own, and making it illegal is taking over ownership of a stranger’s body. No can haz.

QuickHipster: Cisthet Daddies; genre=electro-swing; openedfor=Squirrel Nut Zippers; venue=Roxy; shit=tight.

312 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:55:09pm

re: #309 Charles Johnson

EVIL!

[Embedded content]

charles - grinderman is not evil. just spooky.

313 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:55:27pm

re: #307 EPR-radar

Some of Robertson’s greatest hits:

QED.

Or when he claimed feminism was about women divorcing their husbands to become lesbians. Such a thoughtful individual this guy.

314 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:55:29pm

re: #310 palmerskiss

yeah you like orlando i can tell..

Sean Bean was Agent 006!

315 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:55:56pm

re: #303 FemNaziBitch

IRS commissioner dares House GOP to hold him in contempt over Tea Party

Misread as:

IRS commissioner dares IHOP to hold him a Tea Party

316 Chrysicat  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:56:20pm
317 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:56:34pm

re: #314 FemNaziBitch

Sean Bean was Agent 006!

u cant like sean bean - he dies! - spoiler!

318 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:57:16pm

re: #310 palmerskiss

yeah you like orlando i can tell..

(whistles idly)

straight but not narrow

319 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:57:18pm

re: #317 palmerskiss

u cant like sean bean - he dies! - spoiler!

I’m a Bean Girl.

320 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:57:41pm

Image: 028_viggo_mertensen_theredlist.jpg

eyes. those eyes.

321 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:57:52pm

re: #317 palmerskiss

u cant like sean bean - he dies! - spoiler in everything, ever!

FTFY.

322 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:58:08pm

re: #319 FemNaziBitch

I’m a Bean Girl.

a bean sprout?

323 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:58:34pm

real men have eyes.

324 Belafon  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:58:42pm

re: #321 chadu

He didn’t die in National Treasure.

325 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:59:01pm

Another gem by “Family values” Robertson is when he said husbands should leave their wives if they develop Alzheimers or dementia. Honestly, I think it’s pretty sad that this guy was able to gain any kind of national influence but that’s just another shitty legacy of Reagan’s pandering to bigots for votes.

326 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:59:10pm

re: #302 Testy Toad T

Does a penis going into an anus make you feel all icky and sinful?

It’s okay to admit it.

Penis. Anus. Together. Going in and out.

Yikes, right?

OMG, can anyone find the video of that Montana or somewhere up north county board member stating the obvious?

327 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:59:52pm

What Conservatives really think about the economy:

328 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 6:59:55pm

re: #323 palmerskiss

real men have eyes.

Oculo-normative. Sheesh.

Mole rats need love too.

329 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:00:07pm

Pat Robertson = #timetoretire

330 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:00:11pm

re: #308 chadu

Wait, didn’t he chop off the Voice of Sauron’s head right at the gates?

Oh, spoiler. Sorry.

That wasn’t in the book.

331 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:00:27pm

re: #328 chadu

Oculo-normative. Sheesh.

Mole rats need love too.

nekkid mole rats?

332 BrainSurfer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:00:30pm

re: #301 Chrysicat

You really believe in “love the sinner, hate the sin, but loving the sinner means treat him like he’s already in Hell, so that he’ll change his ways to be treated better and become a nice cishet daddy”, don’t you?

No, being against homosexuality is enough. As for abortion, it’s not like he can have one of his own, and making it illegal is taking over ownership of a stranger’s body. No can haz.

As for what I believe - no, you are incorrect. How about - some of my best friends are gay, or will you go all politically incorrect on me for that.

I do not like abortion, period. Wish abortion was the exception rather than the much glorified rule.

333 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:00:41pm

re: #328 chadu

Oculo-normative. Sheesh.

Mole rats need love too.

sorry i am an evil person. not spooky tho. just evil.

334 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:00:59pm

re: #329 FemNaziBitch

Pat Robertson = #timetoretire

He should have been a silent monk.

335 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:01:15pm

re: #324 Belafon

He didn’t die in National Treasure.

336 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:01:35pm

re: #332 BrainSurfer

As for what I believe - no, you are incorrect. How about - some of my best friends are gay, or will you go all politically incorrect on me for that.

I do not like abortion, period. Wish abortion was the exception rather than the much glorified rule.

It is the exception believe it or not. Most pregnancies are carried thru the end. That is why we have so many people on the planet. More than there have ever been before.

337 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:01:52pm

re: #334 HappyWarrior

He should have been a silent monk.

he enjoys fish taco too much. dambed seafood laws.

338 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:02:06pm

re: #331 FemNaziBitch

nekkid mole rats?

bow-chikka-wow!

Naked Mole Rat porn: an underserved need, an industry waiting to blossom!

339 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:02:07pm

Getty Image

340 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:02:16pm

re: #337 palmerskiss

he enjoys fish taco too much. dambed seafood laws.

Grin. Ha.

341 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:02:58pm

Another fucking idiot heard from.

342 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:03:17pm

re: #338 chadu

bow-chikka-wow!

Naked Mole Rat porn: an underserved need, an industry waiting to blossom!

real men do not need mole rat porn.

343 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:03:24pm

re: #332 BrainSurfer

As for what I believe - no, you are incorrect. How about - some of my best friends are gay, or will you go all politically incorrect on me for that.

I do not like abortion, period. Wish abortion was the exception rather than the much glorified rule.

I have never understood how allowing abortion to be legal is so much worse than the alternative of women being forced to remain pregnant against their will.

344 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:03:42pm

Scary and Evil

345 The Ghost of a Flea  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:03:48pm

re: #336 FemNaziBitch

It is the exception believe it or not. Most pregnancies are carried thru the end. That is why we have so many people on the planet. More than there have ever been before.

Reductio ad sslutsssssssssss

346 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:04:31pm

re: #330 Pie-onist Overlord

That wasn’t in the book.

Ghosts flooding out of pirates ships weren’t either, but I dug that one too.

;)

I’m media-flexible when it comes to stuff like that. I blame Billy Shakes for that: any producible interpretation of a work (even in a different medium) gets me hot, if it’s halfway decent.

347 RealityBasedSteve  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:04:47pm

re: #342 palmerskiss

real men do not need mole rat porn.

But they are really man enough to still enjoy it.

RBS

348 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:04:52pm

This song ended Sunday’s episode of Walking Dead. They pick some good music
Bill Fay - Be not so Fearful
Youtube Video

349 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:04:55pm

re: #343 EPR-radar

I have never understood how allowing abortion to be legal is so much worse than the alternative of women being forced to remain pregnant against their will.

Which they don’t do. Abortion will not go away because it is illegal. This is the idiocy of the Whackos.

350 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:05:06pm

it is not that hard to find countries where abortion is illegal. want me to name a few?

351 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:05:06pm

re: #327 Pie-onist Overlord

What Conservatives really think about the economy:

[Embedded content]

And I’m willing to bet the fellow posting that hasn’t worked a minimum wage job in ages or ever.

352 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:05:24pm

re: #333 palmerskiss

sorry i am an evil person. not spooky tho. just evil.

I’m spooky, but good.

We should team up and fight crime!

353 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:06:03pm

re: #345 The Ghost of a Flea

Reductio ad sslutsssssssssss

horny dicks

354 Decatur Deb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:06:08pm

re: #334 HappyWarrior

He should have been a silent monk.

Or a Thelonius Monk

Youtube Video

355 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:06:16pm

re: #352 chadu

I’m spooky, but good.

We should team up and fight crime!

with our powers combined we are captain planet (plus we scare charles)

356 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:06:37pm

re: #342 palmerskiss

real men do not need mole rat porn.

Right. Real men make mole rat porn!

357 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:06:42pm

re: #152 Killgore Trout

I think we’ve all done that. Consider it a learning experience. There is value in debate. Squabbling, not so much.

You should spend some time actually debating, then.

358 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:07:07pm

Whatever I am, I know I am going to Hell.

Well, not really. I don’t believe in an afterlife. But it’s fun to play the game.

359 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:07:08pm

re: #354 Decatur Deb

Or a Thelonius Monk

[Embedded content]

Well honestly anything but a religious or social commentator. Guy fancies himself a Christian but for all the talk about Christian love, Robertson is one of the most hateful people I’ve ever seen in the public sphere.

360 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:07:19pm

re: #355 palmerskiss

with our powers combined we are captain planet (plus we scare charles)

You don’t scare Charles.

361 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:07:35pm

re: #356 chadu

Right. Real men make mole rat porn!

mole rat porn is entirely the market of men who have not found viagra yet.

362 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:08:19pm
363 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:08:23pm

I have an interview tomorrow for a business manager position at my hometown library!

I’m tentatively hopeful!

364 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:08:26pm

re: #360 Pie-onist Overlord

You don’t scare Charles.

right cuz i am just evil. not spooky. ask obdi.

365 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:08:51pm

re: #363 chadu

I have an interview tomorrow for a business manager position at my hometown library!

I’m tentatively hopeful!

then you will be a libratarian.

366 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:08:52pm

re: #364 palmerskiss

right cuz i am just evil. not spooky. ask obdi.

You’re not evil. What the fuck are you talking about?

367 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:09:01pm

re: #363 chadu

I have an interview tomorrow for a business manager position at my hometown library!

I’m tentatively hopeful!

best of luck.

368 RealityBasedSteve  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:09:12pm

For your Dining and Dancing Pleasure… The LGF Club is pleased to present…

Naked Mole Rats
Youtube Video

RBS

369 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:09:36pm

re: #358 FemNaziBitch

Whatever I am, I know I am going to Hell.

Well, not really. I don’t believe in an afterlife. But it’s fun to play the game.

Why are you going to Michigan?

370 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:09:42pm

re: #366 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

You’re not evil. What the fuck are you talking about?

i could be evil. i have evil devol bunnies,

371 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:10:10pm

re: #369 chadu

Why are you going to Michigan?

When I do, it’s to see my wife’s relatives. The plus side is great middle-eastern food.

372 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:10:33pm

re: #349 FemNaziBitch

Which they don’t do. Abortion will not go away because it is illegal. This is the idiocy of the Whackos.

An abortion ban would not be completely ineffective —- some would choose to abide by the ban or be deterred by the difficulties of self-aborting or finding an illegal provider. Many more would not abide by an abortion ban, bringing back the horrors of the illegal abortion era.

However, forced pregnancy is the ideal of an abortion ban, so it is also fair to criticize an abortion ban on the basis that forced pregnancy is an abomination.

373 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:10:34pm

Saladin Ahmed is one of the kewlest SF-FI/Fantasy writers out there, in case you didn’t know.

374 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:10:49pm

re: #370 palmerskiss

i could be evil. i have evil devol bunnies,

That’s nice.

I’d appreciate it if you don’t say weird shit like “I’m evil, just ask Obdi”, please.

375 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:11:12pm

re: #373 FemNaziBitch

Saladin Ahmed is one of the kewlest SF-FI/Fantasy writers out there, in case you didn’t know.

[Embedded content]

I didn’t actually know. I’ll have to check him out.

376 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:11:15pm

re: #369 chadu

Why are you going to Michigan?

I might decide to go to Norway instead. I haven’t decided.

377 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:11:41pm

re: #366 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

You’re not evil. What the fuck are you talking about?

There is much butthurt.

378 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:11:50pm

re: #362 FemNaziBitch

“WHY SHOULD YOUR BOSS PAY FOR YOUR BIRTH CONTROL?”

WHY SHOULD YOUR BOSS PAY FOR YOUR VIAGRA, OLD MAN?

(I almost said “DICK PILLS” but I dint, but just dood now, so, yeah. Hi.)

379 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:12:03pm

re: #374 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

That’s nice.

I’d appreciate it if you don’t say weird shit like “I’m evil, just ask Obdi”, please.

i was being light-hearted - give it a try .

380 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:12:52pm

re: #376 FemNaziBitch

I might decide to go to Norway instead. I haven’t decided.

Michigan is closer yet Norway probably more alluring(assuming you’ve already been to Michigan as your state shares a border.)

381 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:13:02pm

re: #372 EPR-radar

An abortion ban would not be completely ineffective —- some would choose to abide by the ban or be deterred by the difficulties of self-aborting or finding an illegal provider. Many more would not abide by an abortion ban, bringing back the horrors of the illegal abortion era.

However, forced pregnancy is the ideal of an abortion ban, so it is also fair to criticize an abortion ban on the basis that forced pregnancy is an abomination.

I don’t know about that. I think forced pregnancy would entail denial of contraception, rape and monitoring of all fertile women.

The idea of an abortion ban, IIRC is to control female sexuality.

382 Decatur Deb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:13:17pm

re: #363 chadu

I have an interview tomorrow for a business manager position at my hometown library!

I’m tentatively hopeful!

Keep your voice low—they like that.

383 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:13:21pm

I think the wingnuts who support HL’s position might be more honest if they just admitted that HL could drop health insurance and thus be in compliance with the law, but doesn’t because then it might actually have to pay its employees more in order to keep them.

384 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:13:53pm

re: #379 palmerskiss

i was being light-hearted - give it a try .

Oh geeze, give me a break. Just don’t do this kind of weird shit, okay? I fully accept you mean it ‘light-heartedly’ and are just being tone-deaf right now, but I’m not going to start making jokes involving you, so keep me out of your ‘ighthearted’ ness, okay?

385 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:14:05pm

re: #378 chadu

WHY SHOULD YOUR BOSS PAY FOR YOUR VIAGRA, OLD MAN?

(I almost said “DICK PILLS” but I dint, but just dood now, so, yeah. Hi.)

Why should my boss pay for your pregnancy? Did he get you pregnant?

Really, isn’t that the argument?

386 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:14:14pm

re: #383 Targetpractice

I think the wingnuts who support HL’s position might be more honest if they just admitted that HL could drop health insurance and thus be in compliance with the law, but doesn’t because then it might actually have to pay its employees more in order to keep them.

Also if HL dropped the healthcare benefit from its compensation package it would lose all those sweet tax breaks.

387 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:14:41pm

re: #384 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Oh geeze, give me a break. Just don’t do this kind of weird shit, okay? I fully accept you mean it ‘light-heartedly’ and are just being tone-deaf right now, but I’m not going to start making jokes involving you, so keep me out of your ‘ighthearted’ ness, okay?</blockquote

absolutely.

388 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:14:53pm

re: #367 palmerskiss

best of luck.

Thanks.

On the downside, I’m underqualified for the job.

On the upside, they’re offering something between diddly and squat.

So, yeah.

(Actually, with the MS but no bookkeeping experience, they’re still interested in seeing me and even giving me a shot at developing the skills; they seemed more afraid I’d reject it out of hand given the pay. My internal response: “Graduate degree gotta eat.”)

389 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:14:54pm

re: #378 chadu

WHY SHOULD YOUR BOSS PAY FOR YOUR VIAGRA, OLD MAN?

(I almost said “DICK PILLS” but I dint, but just dood now, so, yeah. Hi.)

I covered that earlier. ‘Why should I be paying because you can’t get hard on your own anymore?’.

390 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:14:57pm

re: #380 HappyWarrior

Michigan is closer yet Norway probably more alluring(assuming you’ve already been to Michigan as your state shares a border.)

Grew up for a time in Michigan. Near Baba’s tromping grounds.

Not really interested in going back. I’m having idealogical differences right now with Michigan.

391 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:15:21pm

re: #386 Pie-onist Overlord

Also if HL dropped the healthcare benefit from its compensation package it would lose all those sweet tax breaks.

Exactly. HL’s position has nothing to do with “religious beliefs” and everything to do with the financial hit it’d take if it dropped health benefits.

392 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:15:21pm

re: #382 Decatur Deb

Keep your voice low—they like that.

Have you seen “Philadelphia Story”? The library scene there is one of my favorites of all time in its simplicity.

“What is thee wish?”

393 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:15:33pm

re: #388 chadu

Thanks.

On the downside, I’m underqualified for the job.

On the upside, they’re offering something between diddly and squat.

So, yeah.

(Actually, with the MS but no bookkeeping experience, they’re still interested in seeing me and even giving me a shot at developing the skills; they seemed more afraid I’d reject it out of hand given the pay. My internal response: “Graduate degree gotta eat.”)

you’ll do fine. - project confidence :)

394 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:15:36pm

palmerkiss

I’ll give you some advice.

don’t argue with Obdi. He has a Phd in arguing.

395 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:16:20pm

re: #381 FemNaziBitch

I don’t know about that. I think forced pregnancy would entail denial of contraception, rape and monitoring of all fertile women.

The idea of an abortion ban, IIRC is to control female sexuality.

By “forced pregnancy” I mean more specifically “forced to remain pregnant once pregnancy has started” (which is the specific aim of an abortion ban).

These days there is enough creepy RW crap about denial of contraception that a broader reading of “forced pregnancy” is certainly possible.

396 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:16:29pm

re: #390 FemNaziBitch

Grew up for a time in Michigan. Near Baba’s tromping grounds.

Not really interested in going back. I’m having idealogical differences right now with Michigan.

Never been to either. Hear Oslo’s a fun city but a pint goes for ten bucks. Yikes.

397 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:16:38pm

re: #371 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Why are you going to Michigan?

When I do, it’s to see my wife’s relatives. The plus side is great middle-eastern food.

Spiffy!

For those who don’t get my earlier geographic joke:

en.wikipedia.org

398 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:16:44pm

re: #394 FemNaziBitch

I actually only have a Masters in Wrangling.

399 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:16:47pm

re: #394 FemNaziBitch

palmerkiss

I’ll give you some advice.

don’t argue with Obdi. He has a Phd in arguing.

i have been agreeing with him for hours.

400 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:18:04pm

re: #382 Decatur Deb

Keep your voice low—they like that.

You mean like Barry White?

401 BrainSurfer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:18:07pm

re: #336 FemNaziBitch

It is the exception believe it or not. Most pregnancies are carried thru the end. That is why we have so many people on the planet. More than there have ever been before.

Hi FemNaziBitch - you got me wondering how accurate your statement was. Quick google check brought me to the Guttmacher Institute website, which seems to be prestigious enough (that is, not far-right) to consider the abortion stats it provides as being accurate enough for me right now -

• Half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion.[1]

•Twenty-one percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion.[2]

• In 2011, 1.06 million abortions were performed, down 13% from 1.21 million in 2008. From 1973 through 2011, nearly 53 million legal abortions occurred.[2]

53 million abortions. 21% of all pregnancies end in abortion. Not exactly the exception in my opinion. (It is not my intention to start another abortion debate - don’t have time tonight.)

Link here to the Guttmacher Institute:
guttmacher.org

402 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:18:27pm

sorry guys didnt mean to bring my private debate with obdi here - wont happen again.

403 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:18:28pm

re: #399 palmerskiss

i have been agreeing with him for hours.

Don’t suck-up either.

It irritates him.

404 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:18:34pm

re: #397 chadu

When I do, it’s to see my wife’s relatives. The plus side is great middle-eastern food.

Spiffy!

For those who don’t get my earlier geographic joke:

en.wikipedia.org

I want to go here just because I’m infantile. en.wikipedia.org
Have to admit though, that talk of good Middle Eastern food gets me hungry.

405 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:19:39pm

re: #401 BrainSurfer

Hi FemNaziBitch - you got me wondering how accurate your statement was. Quick google check brought me to the Guttmacher Institute website, which seems to be prestigious enough (that is, not far-right) to consider the abortion stats it provides as being accurate enough for me right now -

• Half of pregnancies among American women are unintended, and four in 10 of these are terminated by abortion.[1]

•Twenty-one percent of all pregnancies (excluding miscarriages) end in abortion.[2]

• In 2011, 1.06 million abortions were performed, down 13% from 1.21 million in 2008. From 1973 through 2011, nearly 53 million legal abortions occurred.[2]

53 million abortions. 21% of all pregnancies end in abortion. Not exactly the exception in my opinion. (It is not my intention to start another abortion debate - don’t have time tonight.)

Link here to the Guttmacher Institute:
guttmacher.org

How do you feel about Comprehensive Scientifically correct Sex Education and Cost Free Contraception?

406 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:19:45pm

re: #403 FemNaziBitch

Don’t suck-up either.

It irritates him.

i get it - dont argue with him, dont agree with him. forgive me if i wander off course a bit.

407 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:19:49pm

re: #399 palmerskiss

i have been agreeing with him for hours.

This is not, actually, a true or complete statement.

408 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:19:56pm

re: #385 FemNaziBitch

Why should my boss pay for your pregnancy? Did he get you pregnant?

Really, isn’t that the argument?

Why should my boss pay for your insulin? Did he eat all that candy*?

* Or born with a genetic issue? Huh? Was he? MOOCHER.

409 palmerskiss  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:20:23pm

re: #407 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

This is not, actually, a true or complete statement.

ok

410 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:20:44pm

re: #389 HappyWarrior

I covered that earlier. ‘Why should I be paying because you can’t get hard on your own anymore?’.

Because it’s hot?

411 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:20:53pm

re: #409 palmerskiss

ok

Yes, I think you are beginning to understand.

412 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:21:52pm

I have to hit the hay. Here’s a doucheball for Kragar to play with.

413 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:22:00pm

re: #410 chadu

Because it’s hot?

Ha!

414 Pie-onist Overlord  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:23:21pm

HURR HURR!!!! WALMART HELPS TEH POOR WITH THERE LOW LOW PRICES & JRRBS!!!!!

415 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:23:33pm

Maybe this will bake your noodle:

Mesa Verde
Double Arch

416 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:24:09pm

re: #412 Pie-onist Overlord

I have to hit the hay. Here’s a doucheball for Kragar to play with.

[Embedded content]

Oh yes, all the popular talking points: Minimum wage increases lead to higher prices even thought McDonald’s dollar menu has been around for-fucking-ever, only unions support higher minimum wages because it means a pay increase for them, and the way to bring down prices is to cut wages.

417 William Barnett-Lewis  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:24:10pm

Any gun nuts around? Ordered an old classic today from an online seller - 1972 production S&W Model 10 4” barreled revolver. For those of us old enough to remember the police being armed with revolvers, this was THE classic old police service weapon.

“Original wood grips in G+ to VG condition. Metal finish 70% overall. 4” inch barrel, fixed sights, DAO. Bore has VG++ lands, grooves have mirror shine. $250” Even with the rough finish, that’s a steal for a mechanically good example of the longest continuous production firearm in the world (since 1899. Still being made by S&W.).

He’ll send it by UPS from his online store to my local brick & mortar gunstore (FFL) and we do the official paperwork and background check there. With Wisconsin’s additional 48 hour “cooling off” period, if I’m lucky, I should be at the range with it a week from tomorrow.

418 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:24:11pm

re: #247 BrainSurfer

Considering the overall context of what Robertson says, I do not have a problem with what he says. He is a Christian leader, believes deeply in his faith, and believes abortion and homosexuality is wrong. Why would anyone expect him, or Pope Francis, to say differently,

I very much do not expect to hear Pope Francis bringing up stoning to bolster his arguments.

re: #332 BrainSurfer

I do not like abortion, period. Wish abortion was the exception rather than the much glorified rule.

Who glorifies it? How in the hell is it the rule?

In this country live births currently outnumber induced abortions by more than 4 to 1.

You might actually be the dumbest motherfucker imaginable.

419 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:24:27pm

re: #415 lawhawk

But if Walmart sold those they would cost less because Walmart can pay lower wages.

420 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:25:23pm

re: #332 BrainSurfer

I do not like abortion, period. Wish abortion was the exception rather than the much glorified rule.

Does this include spontaneous abortions or are those okay for some reason?

421 kirkspencer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:25:54pm

re: #362 FemNaziBitch

Why should my boss get to decide what I spend my money on?

That’s the thing these idiots forget. That health insurance they provide? It’s part of my salary. Pay me enough and I’ll buy my own. But there are several tax breaks made by paying part of my salary as benefits, so we play this game.

But bottom line, they are paying me for my labor. So why do they get to decide what I do or do not purchase with my money?

422 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:26:17pm

re: #418 goddamnedfrank

Really there is no point to rational conversation. Troll is only here to be irritating.

423 Decatur Deb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:26:50pm

re: #400 chadu

You mean like Barry White?

Yeah—that too.

424 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:27:03pm

re: #412 Pie-onist Overlord

Math is hard. The incremental cost increase of bringing wages up to $10 an hour minimum would raise the price of a burger at McDs by about a quarter. That’s $.25.

And that’s the most infuriating part of the whole exercise. People don’t realize how much money the company makes, and how they’ve driven personnel costs down by refusing to pay absolutely more than they have to, and as a result pushing those people on to public support for health care, food stamps, and public housing in many instance. Those are costs we all pay - or defer. All for the almighty cheap burger.

425 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:27:11pm

re: #421 kirkspencer

Why should my boss get to decide what I spend my money on?

That’s the thing these idiots forget. That health insurance they provide? It’s part of my salary. Pay me enough and I’ll buy my own. But there are several tax breaks made by paying part of my salary as benefits, so we play this game.

But bottom line, they are paying me for my labor. So why do they get to decide what I do or do not purchase with my money?

Becawse Gawd sed-so!

426 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:27:18pm

re: #415 lawhawk

My grandparents took me (and my 2 male cousins) out there when they were 10 and 9, and I was 8.

Visited both Mesa Verde, the Double Arch, Bryce Canyon, Royal Gorge, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, all that jazz.

It was magical.

Also, it was when we realized I was tragically nearsighted (20/400 vision) and needed glasses.

In retrospect, I saw nothing. However, I took a whole lot of pictures, and had some sort of preternatural gift/guardian angel focus puller, because those photos are FANTASTIC shots.

So now I can see what I saw, as ‘twere.

427 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:28:23pm

re: #416 Targetpractice

Oh yes, all the popular talking points: Minimum wage increases lead to higher prices even thought McDonald’s dollar menu has been around for-fucking-ever, only unions support higher minimum wages because it means a pay increase for them, and the way to bring down prices is to cut wages.

I give him a F for originality. But yeah I would like it explained why prices and wages weren’t a problem in the 50’s and 60’s when we had a decent minimum wage. Here’s the other thing though. People like this guy and many like him have a problem with government assistance programs yet they want to keep down minimum wage or in some case have none at all. They’re basically encouraging government dependence- the very thing they claim to despise. Your average union man isn’t going to benefit directly from a minimum wage increase.

428 Targetpractice  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:28:36pm

re: #424 lawhawk

Math is hard. The incremental cost increase of bringing wages up to $10 an hour minimum would raise the price of a burger at McDs by about a quarter. That’s $.25.

And that’s the most infuriating part of the whole exercise. People don’t realize how much money the company makes, and how they’ve driven personnel costs down by refusing to pay absolutely more than they have to, and as a result pushing those people on to public support for health care, food stamps, and public housing in many instance. Those are costs we all pay - or defer. All for the almighty cheap burger.

And then, to further fuck the poor over, the wingnuts argue that welfare is “too generous” and call for cuts because without desperation, it’s hard as hell to get people to work for the wages most businesses wish to pay.

429 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:28:44pm

re: #421 kirkspencer

Why should my boss get to decide what I spend my money on?

That’s the thing these idiots forget. That health insurance they provide? It’s part of my salary. Pay me enough and I’ll buy my own. But there are several tax breaks made by paying part of my salary as benefits, so we play this game.

But bottom line, they are paying me for my labor. So why do they get to decide what I do or do not purchase with my money?


Because the boss owns you and your labor. Your wages are given to you out of the goodness of the job creator’s heart.

It is entirely right and proper for the job creator to control how his money is spent by his minions.

This has been another edition of simple answers to simple questions, US wingnut 2014 edition.

430 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:29:37pm

re: #420 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Does this include spontaneous abortions or are those okay for some reason?

I glorify spontaneous abortions every day.

I’m working on a Hallmark card design/Reality Show/line of yoga pants/music video for them.

///

431 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:29:56pm

Here’s the rest of the pictures, including a mysterious sighting of the lawhawk in its preferred habitat.

432 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:30:11pm

re: #421 kirkspencer

Why should my boss get to decide what I spend my money on?

That’s the thing these idiots forget. That health insurance they provide? It’s part of my salary. Pay me enough and I’ll buy my own. But there are several tax breaks made by paying part of my salary as benefits, so we play this game.

But bottom line, they are paying me for my labor. So why do they get to decide what I do or do not purchase with my money?

Why should my boss stop me from buying guns?

433 lawhawk  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:30:48pm

re: #429 EPR-radar


Because the boss owns you and your labor. Your wages are given to you out of the goodness of the job creator’s heart.

It is entirely right and proper for the job creator to control how his money is spent by his minions.

This has been another edition of simple answers to simple questions, US wingnut 2014 edition.

You forgot the If you don’t like the health benefits this employer provides, you can just find another job super duper easy peasey. No worries. No problem.

434 chadu  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:30:52pm

re: #423 Decatur Deb

Yeah—that too.

Interview to sexual harassment suit: 0.75 seconds.

435 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:30:54pm

re: #426 chadu

My grandparents took me (and my 2 male cousins) out there when they were 10 and 9, and I was 8.

Visited both Mesa Verde, the Double Arch, Bryce Canyon, Royal Gorge, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, all that jazz.

It was magical.

Also, it was when we realized I was tragically nearsighted (20/400 vision) and needed glasses.

In retrospect, I saw nothing. However, I took a whole lot of pictures, and had some sort of preternatural gift/guardian angel focus puller, because those photos are FANTASTIC shots.

So now I can see what I saw, as ‘twere.

It’s good thing we have digital photography now. Makes it so much easier to preserve photographs. When I was 8 and 11, I had overnight field trips to Williamsburg, Va and Philadelphia. Took a lot of pictures with one of those old disposable cameras since my folks obviously didn’t trust me going overnight with the expensive family one. Wish I still had some of those old photos. Was real sad to hear that the state doesn’t do that anymore. Great experience for the kids.

436 Gus  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:31:14pm

More Twitter outrage about WH messaging about one Tweet that got 90 RTs. Whatever.

437 Petero1818  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:31:32pm

re: #43 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

You know Jesus would not have baked a cake for this new planet because he wouldn’t have known about it, and therefore it must be of satan.

438 HappyWarrior  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:31:38pm

re: #433 lawhawk

You forgot the If you don’t like the health benefits this employer provides, you can just find another job super duper easy peasey. No worries. No problem.

They use that same argument with shitty state laws. Just move to another state. As if uprooting yourself is so easy and simple.

439 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:31:51pm

I’d trade away minimum wage laws for 90% top tax rates on individuals and corporations, with elimination of numerous tax write-offs.

440 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:32:22pm

re: #395 EPR-radar

By “forced pregnancy” I mean more specifically “forced to remain pregnant once pregnancy has started” (which is the specific aim of an abortion ban).

These days there is enough creepy RW crap about denial of contraception that a broader reading of “forced pregnancy” is certainly possible.

Yep, it’s a slippery slope history has travelled before.

441 Floral Giraffe  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:33:05pm

re: #431 lawhawk

I like your “only the shadow knows” shot! Well, and the arches too!

442 Political Atheist  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:33:30pm

Hey Charles I think you missed the wrong justified episode. Heh. Could this be Nick Searcys last episode?

443 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:35:02pm

re: #439 freetoken

I’d trade away minimum wage laws for 90% top tax rates on individuals and corporations, with elimination of numerous tax write-offs.

If we were to return to 90% marginal tax rates, we’d also need a lot more than the five or so tax brackets we currently have. Getting the estate tax back on track is another big part of any tax reform.

444 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:35:26pm

re: #405 FemNaziBitch

How do you feel about Comprehensive Scientifically correct Sex Education and Cost Free Contraception?

waiting …

445 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:37:31pm

re: #443 EPR-radar

If we were to return to 90% marginal tax rates, we’d also need a lot more than the five or so tax brackets we currently have. Getting the estate tax back on track is another big part of any tax reform.

Your iPhone has far more processing capability than all the IRS had back when 90% rates were popular.

We don’t need “brackets” anymore. We can optimize tax revenues with dynamically (yearly updated) curves.

446 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:37:34pm

What is this? I missed it?

447 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:40:03pm
448 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:40:40pm

re: #445 freetoken

Your iPhone has far more processing capability than all the IRS had back when 90% rates were popular.

We don’t need “brackets” anymore. We can optimize tax revenues with dynamically (yearly updated) curves.

Brackets aren’t complicated to begin with, so even back in the day the IRS wouldn’t have needed computing power to deal with the brackets.

As a matter of process, I think having the rates enacted into law is better than having some adjustable rate mechanism in play.

449 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:41:20pm

How do you take a picture like this with no blur?

450 Petero1818  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:41:26pm

re: #446 FemNaziBitch

This is an older picture of a prayer session outside white house in prayer for a Christian being persecuted in Iranian prison.

451 BrainSurfer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:42:50pm

re: #405 FemNaziBitch

How do you feel about Comprehensive Scientifically correct Sex Education and Cost Free Contraception?

I am wary of the former, not too keen on the latter.

My three kids grew up in Hong Kong, went to preschool at age three and half for five and half days a week, and the open toilets (no doors or walls - just a bunch of little toilets in a room) were one for all - everyone boy or girl sitting on the pot doing their thing when they had to. No big deal for the kids. Learning - slowly - about sex was ongoing as age appropriate in the school system there. Here in the States, the reason I said ‘wary” is that I do not believe our system, or our society in general, is set up to easily bring comprehensive sex education into the curriculum without some teachers having an agenda or enjoying the shock value of teaching sex. I think we (teachers and students) are generally too prudish to teach and learn about sex without being overly embarrassed or self-conscious. We are moving in that direction, thanks to the internet, but are not there yet.

As for free contraceptives, they are cheap enough as it is - why make everyone pay for them when those who specifically need them can easily obtain them. It would be nice if all medical expenses were free, but someone has to pay for them as all medical expenses, including contraceptives, have costs.

452 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:42:54pm

re: #448 EPR-radar

I didn’t mean to imply that:

iPhone
therefore no brackets.

Rather, that brackets are artificial in a sense that yes, the are simple and that’s why we have them.

I’m saying that if we went to a continuous curve that was adjusted yearly to cover government spending, each of us today have the processing capability to figure our taxes owed rather easily without the simplification of brackets.

453 Decatur Deb  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:43:01pm

re: #449 FemNaziBitch

How do you take a picture like this with no blur?

[Embedded content]

Raid.

454 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:44:41pm

re: #451 BrainSurfer

I am wary of the former, not too keen on the latter.

My three kids grew up in Hong Kong, went to preschool at age three and half for five and half days a week, and the open toilets (no doors or walls - just a bunch of little toilets in a room) were one for all - everyone boy or girl sitting on the pot doing their thing when they had to. No big deal for the kids. Learning - slowly - about sex was ongoing as age appropriate in the school system there. Here in the States, the reason I said ‘wary” is that I do not believe our system, or our society in general, is set up to easily bring comprehensive sex education into the curriculum without some teachers having an agenda or enjoying the shock value of teaching sex. I think we (teachers and students) are generally too prudish to teach and learn about sex without being overly embarrassed or self-conscious. We are moving in that direction, thanks to the internet, but are not there yet.

As for free contraceptives, they are cheap enough as it is - why make everyone pay for them when those who specifically need them can easily obtain them. It would be nice if all medical expenses were free, but someone has to pay for them as all medical expenses, including contraceptives, have costs.

Which do you think is a more effective strategy at reducing abortions. Criminalizing it or comprehensive sex ed and cost-free contraception?

455 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:44:54pm

re: #451 BrainSurfer

Hey, you never really pointed out where abortions are being ‘glorified’, or how they’re not already the exception.

456 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:44:58pm

re: #453 Decatur Deb

Raid.

I never thought of that.

457 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:45:50pm

Can you say this three times, backwards?

458 Killgore Trout  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:46:32pm

re: #436 Gus

More Twitter outrage about WH messaging about one Tweet that got 90 RTs. Whatever.

[Embedded image]

They should have used the 25 year old guy in pajamas drinking coco.

459 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:46:44pm
460 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:46:46pm

re: #452 freetoken

I didn’t mean to imply that:

iPhone
therefore no brackets.

Rather, that brackets are artificial in a sense that yes, the are simple and that’s why we have them.

I’m saying that if we went to a continuous curve that was adjusted yearly to cover government spending, each of us today have the processing capability to figure our taxes owed rather easily without the simplification of brackets.

My point is that the simplification of brackets is important in a practical sense. Enough anti-tax morons don’t understand (or pretend to not understand) simple tax brackets that this kind of ‘black-box’ approach would be more trouble than it’s worth, IMO.

Plus I do think there is value in knowing for sure what the tax rates are in advance.

461 Chrysicat  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:47:23pm

Little old, but I spent too much time after saying it, playing FFX.

462 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:47:46pm

re: #460 EPR-radar

It wouldn’t be a black box. I don’t think that you could really increase the misconceptions about taxation, even if I agree that politically there’s no way we could do anything that makes as much sense as really having a mathematically progressive income tax.

463 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:48:18pm
464 freetoken  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:50:43pm

re: #460 EPR-radar

Plus I do think there is value in knowing for sure what the tax rates are in advance.

Well, in my scheme you would, but just for the next year. The following year could change a little bit.

I think this might help the citizenry get a more immediate sense of the relationship they have to the decisions Congress makes.

Right now, the “black box” is Congress, and how what gets decided in both the budget and tax laws.

465 Chrysicat  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:51:16pm

re: #443 EPR-radar

If we were to return to 90% marginal tax rates, we’d also need a lot more than the five or so tax brackets we currently have. Getting the estate tax back on track is another big part of any tax reform.

Owwww! Now you’re condemning unemployable-but-with-rich-parents me to poverty! :( ;)

466 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:53:56pm

re: #465 Chrysicat

:( ;)

Is that like a yin-yang smiley?

467 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:54:08pm

re: #462 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

It wouldn’t be a black box. I don’t think that you could really increase the misconceptions about taxation, even if I agree that politically there’s no way we could do anything that makes as much sense as really having a mathematically progressive income tax.

The brackets are a discrete approximation to some continuous taxation curve that is itself the construct of policy (preferably a progressive tax policy).

Of all the woes in the taxation world, the discreteness of the brackets is pretty low on the list (provided there are enough brackets, which we don’t presently have).

However, I think there is value in putting a variable rate formula in place for the top bracket. Wealth concentration is so extreme these days that no fixed rate bracket is going to make sense up there.

468 Belafon  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:55:45pm

re: #451 BrainSurfer

As for free contraceptives, they are cheap enough as it is - why make everyone pay for them when those who specifically need them can easily obtain them.

Because if we don’t pay for the free contraceptives, we end up paying more for them not being there. Increase costs due to unwanted pregnancies, increase costs due to medical conditions not being treated (remember, some contraceptives have uses outside of birth control).

469 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:56:02pm

re: #467 EPR-radar

The brackets are a discrete approximation to some continuous taxation curve that is itself the construct of policy (preferably a progressive tax policy).

Except that they end.

Of all the woes in the taxation world, the discreteness of the brackets is pretty low on the list (provided there are enough brackets, which we don’t presently have).

Well, it’d solve the ‘enough brackets’ problem.

However, I think there is value in putting a variable rate formula in place for the top bracket. Wealth concentration is so extreme these days that no fixed rate bracket is going to make sense up there.

Then… you kind of agree, you just want it non-variable at lower levels because— you know what? This isn’t going to happen, so we probably don’t need to hash it out. I’m having a beer.

470 BrainSurfer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:57:38pm

re: #418 goddamnedfrank

In this country live births currently outnumber induced abortions by more than 4 to 1.

You might actually be the dumbest motherfucker imaginable.

Geez, goddamnedfrank. If you think a 4 to 1 ratio, or 20%, is the “exception”, then you are the dumb motherfucker. You are a million abortions a year short of being a math wizard.

471 EPR-radar  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:58:53pm

re: #469 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

…

Then… you kind of agree, you just want it non-variable at lower levels because— you know what? This isn’t going to happen, so we probably don’t need to hash it out. I’m having a beer.

I want to have brackets in place for lower income levels just to keep things simple for most people.

472 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:58:59pm

re: #470 BrainSurfer

Geez, goddamnedfrank. If you think a 4 to 1 ratio, or 20%, is the “exception”, then you are the dumb motherfucker. You are a million abortions a year short of being a math wizard.

You forgot to include all the spontaneous abortions—another issue where you haven’t actually bothered to comment. Are they all something that makes you unhappy too?

473 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 7:59:33pm

going upstairs————————>

474 Chrysicat  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:00:01pm

re: #466 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Just a frown followed by a wink.

475 Lidane  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:01:12pm

re: #332 BrainSurfer

476 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:03:25pm
477 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:04:51pm

re: #470 BrainSurfer

Geez, goddamnedfrank. If you think a 4 to 1 ratio, or 20%, is the “exception”, then you are the dumb motherfucker. You are a million abortions a year short of being a math wizard.

Abortion Statistics in the United States.

2009 = 784,507

Live births per year in the United States.

2009 = 4,131,019

4,131,019 / 784,507 = 5.26

Meaning that 5.26 pregnancies proceed to a live birth for every single induced abortion performed in the modern United States.

You fucking moron.

478 Belafon  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:05:50pm

re: #470 BrainSurfer

I think you need to go take a look at the photo in this comment from yesterday before you start making any more comments about abortions. They didn’t just start in 1973. The only thing making them illegal does is make them dangerous.

479 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:07:28pm
480 BrainSurfer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:09:56pm

re: #472 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

You forgot to include all the spontaneous abortions—another issue where you haven’t actually bothered to comment. Are they all something that makes you unhappy too?

Does a spontaneous abortion make anyone happy?

481 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:11:33pm

re: #480 BrainSurfer

Does a spontaneous abortion make anyone happy?

Definitely, if it’s a woman who really doesn’t want to have a baby.

Does the concept of a woman who doesn’t want to have a baby confuse you or something?

482 gwangung  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:12:26pm

re: #480 BrainSurfer

Does a spontaneous abortion make anyone happy?

Might want to work on your math skills before you troll more.

483 Lidane  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:13:42pm

re: #480 BrainSurfer

Yep. You’re definitely trolling.

Either that or you require a crash helmet in order to function in your daily life, and things like clothing and feeding yourself are a challenge.

484 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:19:44pm
• There are 62 million U.S. women in their childbearing years (15-44). [1] About 43 million of them (70%) are at risk of unintended pregnancy—that is, they are sexually active and do not want to become pregnant, but could become pregnant if they and their partners fail to use a contraceptive method correctly and consistently.

784,507 / 62,000,000 means that on average 1.2% of US women in their childbearing years have an abortion in any given year. Except that the numbers of abortions has been falling steadily for over two decades, so that percentage decreases every single year.

I have a M.S. degree, but it really doesn’t take one to understand that you need to put numbers in some kind of a useful framework before spouting off about what is the exception and what is the rule. The fact that hundreds of thousands of induced abortions are performed every year sounds like a lot, because that’s how assholes and idiots like to use raw numbers, without understanding, absent from any useful context.

485 BrainSurfer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:20:00pm

re: #481 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Definitely, if it’s a woman who really doesn’t want to have a baby.

Does the concept of a woman who doesn’t want to have a baby confuse you or something?

You have a point. A woman who does not want a baby who has a miscarriage has to be relieved. My only reference are the women I know who had miscarriages and who were severely depressed as a result. But all of them were looking forward to having a baby.

486 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:20:44pm

re: #485 BrainSurfer

You have a point. A woman who does not want a baby who has a miscarriage has to be relieved. My only reference are the women I know who had miscarriages and who were severely depressed as a result. But all of them were looking forward to having a baby.

Okay, so get this: If a woman doesn’t want to have a baby, thanks to medical science, she doesn’t just have to hope for a spontaneous abortion, she can just get a medical abortion.

Isn’t that great?

487 goddamnedfrank  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:30:25pm

re: #485 BrainSurfer

You have a point. A woman who does not want a baby who has a miscarriage has to be relieved. My only reference are the women I know who had miscarriages and who were severely depressed as a result. But all of them were looking forward to having a baby.

ALL of the women you know who’ve miscarried were looking forward to having a successful pregnancy and yet you somehow still think that abortion is the rule, and not the exception.

This is a perfect an example of cognitive dissonance. You have first hand evidence, (albeit imperfect and anecdotal) that pregnant women tend to want to remain pregnant. You’ve never met one, ever, who was happy when a spontaneous miscarriage occurred, and yet you still think that induced abortion is somehow the rule in this country, that it is actually celebrated, and that live births are the exception.

488 wheat-dogghazi  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:32:06pm

re: #426 chadu

My grandparents took me (and my 2 male cousins) out there when they were 10 and 9, and I was 8.

Visited both Mesa Verde, the Double Arch, Bryce Canyon, Royal Gorge, Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, all that jazz.

It was magical.

Also, it was when we realized I was tragically nearsighted (20/400 vision) and needed glasses.

In retrospect, I saw nothing. However, I took a whole lot of pictures, and had some sort of preternatural gift/guardian angel focus puller, because those photos are FANTASTIC shots.

So now I can see what I saw, as ‘twere.

I have the same affliction, diagnosed when I was in the first grade. My teacher realized that I couldn’t read anything on the blackboard, no matter where I was sitting. My vision is about the same as yours. After wearing glasses for years, I switched to contact lenses in 2001. I see better and feel more free.

489 BrainSurfer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:42:34pm

re: #484 goddamnedfrank

784,507 / 62,000,000 means that on average 1.2% of US women in their childbearing years have an abortion in any given year. Except that the numbers of abortions has been falling steadily for over two decades, so that percentage decreases every single year.

I have a M.S. degree, but it really doesn’t take one to understand that you need to put numbers in some kind of a useful framework before spouting off about what is the exception and what is the rule. The fact that hundreds of thousands of induced abortions are performed every year sounds like a lot, because that’s how assholes and idiots like to use raw numbers, without understanding, absent from any useful context.

What? You have an M.S. degree? I thought you were a math genius, but I now find out you are just, as you so like to put it, a fucking moron, furiously typing words with little meaning (like all of us here).

In math, an “exception”, is an outlier case, a not normal action in a normal process; in computer programming an error message or condition. The 20% figure for the abortion rate is certainly not an “exception”. But then again, what do I know? I am just a fucking moron, too.

490 Ming  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:43:35pm

re: #472 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

You forgot to include all the spontaneous abortions…

I’ve read that of all fertilized human eggs, more than half fail to attach to the uterus, and don’t survive. So if you believe in a god, you would have to say that she (or he, whatever) is the most prolific abortionist of all.

Of course, we all know this is an emotional issue. But on the question of abortion, I’m very interested in a person’s position on contraception. I’m pro-choice (except in the very late stages of pregnancy), but I can honestly sympathize with someone who’s pro-life and is also enthusiastically pro-contraception. After all, contraception is what reduces the need for abortion.

But if a person says they’re pro-life, and also says they’re opposed to contraception, I stop giving them the benefit of the doubt right there. They’re opposed to the one thing whose purpose is to REDUCE the need for abortions! Whatever their motive, it’s NOT the improvement of human life, or the reduction of human suffering.

491 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:47:06pm

re: #480 BrainSurfer

Does a spontaneous abortion make anyone happy?

Often, yes they do. They can be a great relief if the women is unhappy about the pregnancy.

492 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:49:14pm

Lets make this very clear.

If a woman is unhappy about her pregnancy, very few if any men besides her doctor are going to know about it.

She may not even tell her husband.

Therefore, if you are a man, your knowledge of such things is next to nil.

493 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:51:20pm

re: #489 BrainSurfer

In math, an “exception”, is an outlier case, a not normal action in a normal process;

Not a factual statement.

Abortions happen at a much, much lower rate than live births. So… what’s your problem, exactly?

And don’t you think it’s swell that women, if they don’t want to have a baby, can get an abortion rather than just hoping for a spontaneous abortion?

494 gwangung  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:53:57pm

re: #489 BrainSurfer

What? You have an M.S. degree? I thought you were a math genius, but I now find out you are just, as you so like to put it, a fucking moron, furiously typing words with little meaning (like all of us here).

In math, an “exception”, is an outlier case, a not normal action in a normal process; in computer programming an error message or condition. The 20% figure for the abortion rate is certainly not an “exception”. But then again, what do I know? I am just a fucking moron, too.

Dude, told you…need to work on your math skills.

Yes, you are a moron to bring out 20% again.

495 BrainSurfer  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:56:35pm

re: #490 Ming

I’ve read that of all fertilized human eggs, more than half fail to attach to the uterus, and don’t survive. So if you believe in a god, you would have to say that she (or he, whatever) is the most prolific abortionist of all.

Of course, we all know this is an emotional issue. But on the question of abortion, I’m very interested in a person’s position on contraception. I’m pro-choice (except in the very late stages of pregnancy), but I can sympathize with someone who’s pro-life and is also enthusiastically pro-contraception. After all, contraception is what reduces the need for abortion.

So if a person says they’re pro-life, and also says they’re opposed to contraception, I stop giving them the benefit of the doubt right there. Whatever their motive, it’s NOT the improvement of human life, or the reduction of human suffering.

I pretty much agree with what you say. But I do have one question, which I could not easily answer if I were asked. You are pro-choice, except in the late stages of pregnancy, when you could be called pro-life. That flip-over point in the problem for me - exactly when and exactly why can this be done.

496 Ming  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:58:37pm

re: #492 FemNaziBitch

Lets make this very clear.

If a woman is unhappy about her pregnancy, very few if any men besides her doctor are going to know about it.

She may not even tell her husband.

Therefore, if you are a man, your knowledge of such things is next to nil.

In all seriousness, I’m absolutely willing to take your word on this. I must say, I was struck today, in the Hobby Lobby case, how radically different the questions were from the 3 female Supreme Court Justices, compared with the 6 male Justices. The 3 female Justices went after the Hobby Lobby lawyer with great intensity.

497 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 8:58:51pm

re: #495 BrainSurfer

The number of extremely-late-term abortions is a tiny percentage of all abortions, and are usually done for severe medical necessity. Abortions have been getting later because of assholic, idiotic, counterproductive GOP attempts to limit access to them with stuff like waiting periods, multiple doctor visits, etc.

498 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 9:00:42pm

re: #496 Ming

In all seriousness, I’m absolutely willing to take your word on this. I must say, I was struck today, in the Hobby Lobby case, how radically different the questions were from the 3 female Supreme Court Justices, compared with the 6 male Justices. The 3 female Justices went after the Hobby Lobby lawyer with great intensity.

THE social punishment of being unhappy about a pregnancy are harsh on a woman.

499 Ming  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 9:05:21pm

re: #495 BrainSurfer

I pretty much agree with what you say. But I do have one question, which I could not easily answer if I were asked. You are pro-choice, except in the late stages of pregnancy, when you could be called pro-life. That flip-over point in the problem for me - exactly when and exactly why can this be done.

I don’t know exactly where the flip-over point is. I assume that as medical knowledge increases, we’ll be able to define the flip-over point with more meaning. In my opinion, it’s better to have a vague flip-over point, e.g. “the 8th month”, than no flip-over point at all. In an imperfect world, some guidance is better than none.

This lack of precision won’t satisfy someone who wants to be obedient, and wants someone (or some book) to give them a “flip-over point” that’s precise. I believe that it will be helpful to someone who honestly wants to reduce human suffering.

Also, I’ve said a few months ago on LGF that I was pro-choice except near the end of a pregnancy, and other commenters assured me that in real life, at least in the United States, abortions past (if I recall) 24 weeks are VERY rare.

500 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 9:08:12pm

re: #499 Ming

Also, I’ve said a few months ago on LGF that I was pro-choice except near the end of a pregnancy, and other commenters assured me that in real life, at least in the United States, abortions past (if I recall) 24 weeks are VERY rare.

Fewer than 2% occur after 21 weeks.

cdc.gov

501 Ming  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 9:14:05pm

re: #500 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Fewer than 2% occur after 21 weeks.

cdc.gov

Thanks! That’s good info.

502 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 9:19:30pm

re: #501 Ming

Thanks! That’s good info.

That number is shifting now thanks to the anti-abortion crusade of the GOP, which is ironically causing more abortions to occur later.

503 FemNaziBitch  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 9:40:42pm
504 Ming  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 9:44:06pm

re: #502 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

That number is shifting now thanks to the anti-abortion crusade of the GOP, which is ironically causing more abortions to occur later.

Thanks again; more good info! And that’s a shame. Of course, the later the abortion, the worse the tragedy.

This is why I keep coming back to the motivations of people who identify as “pro-life”. If someone is sincerely pained and horrified by abortion, the last thing in the world they would want to do is anything that causes it to occur any later in the pregnancy than necessary.

505 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 9:45:29pm

re: #504 Ming

Unless their objection is actually on religious grounds, and they believe a mystical ‘soul’ enters the zygote at the moment of conception. Then it really doesn’t matter, logically. Though I’d agree nobody actually acts like zygotes are the same as children.

506 Ming  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 9:56:33pm

re: #505 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Unless their objection is actually on religious grounds, and they believe a mystical ‘soul’ enters the zygote at the moment of conception. Then it really doesn’t matter, logically. Though I’d agree nobody actually acts like zygotes are the same as children.

It’s hard to believe, but as you say, there really are people who think that it’s EQUALLY tragic to abort a day-old zygote with the morning-after pill, compared with, e.g. an abortion at 24 weeks.

I think of such people in terms of their being obedient, e.g. to a religious authority, simply because I can’t imagine how anyone could arrive at such a preposterous conclusion on his or her own.

If someone believes the soul enters the zygote at the moment of conception, I’d love to ask them how they feel about in-vitro fertilization. Almost 20 years ago, I used to work with someone who was pro-life, and very much a religious conservative. But I remember when she and her husband decided to start a family, they spent a lot of money on in-vitro fertilization (IVF). They were both intelligent enough that I assume they knew about the “throwaway” zygotes in IVF.

507 sagehen  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 10:14:19pm

re: #495 BrainSurfer

I pretty much agree with what you say. But I do have one question, which I could not easily answer if I were asked. You are pro-choice, except in the late stages of pregnancy, when you could be called pro-life. That flip-over point in the problem for me - exactly when and exactly why can this be done.

Women who just don’t want to be pregnant… try to terminate as early as possible. Nobody in their eighth month ever says “oh where did the time go, forgot to get that abortion, gotta do it now!”

Late term abortions happen when a woman who wanted very much to be pregnant, who had every intention of taking it to term, suddenly develops some medical problem that makes it dangerous for her to continue the pregnancy, or she gets some hideously bad news from the 22-week sonogram, followed up by detailed amnio genetic testing, and realizes she’s not going to be taking home a baby with any sort of life expectancy.

It’s unspeakably cruel to demand she finish those last couple months gestation, and go through labor and delivery, for what she already knows is going to be either a stillbirth or a profoundly damaged baby that can only live a few days or weeks.

508 gwangung  Wed, Mar 26, 2014 10:29:21pm

re: #507 sagehen

Women who just don’t want to be pregnant… try to terminate as early as possible. Nobody in their eighth month ever says “oh where did the time go, forgot to get that abortion, gotta do it now!”

Late term abortions happen when a woman who wanted very much to be pregnant, who had every intention of taking it to term, suddenly develops some medical problem that makes it dangerous for her to continue the pregnancy, or she gets some hideously bad news from the 22-week sonogram, followed up by detailed amnio genetic testing, and realizes she’s not going to be taking home a baby with any sort of life expectancy.

It’s unspeakably cruel to demand she finish those last couple months gestation, and go through labor and delivery, for what she already knows is going to be either a stillbirth or a profoundly damaged baby that can only live a few days or weeks.

Not to mention medically dangerous to the woman in some cases. Women can and HAVE died because they weren’t allowed to abort when they started bleeding.

509 Pie-onist Overlord  Thu, Mar 27, 2014 5:33:05am

re: #450 Petero1818

This is an older picture of a prayer session outside white house in prayer for a Christian being persecuted in Iranian prison.

It’s a photo from Sept. 2013 when Ted Cruz & a bunch of his entourage “prayed” to end Obamacare.

510 Ming  Thu, Mar 27, 2014 8:17:00am

re: #508 gwangung

Not to mention medically dangerous to the woman in some cases. Women can and HAVE died because they weren’t allowed to abort when they started bleeding.

You make a very good and important point. Legal abortion is one of the safest medical procedures of all. What the religious right wants, put plainly, is to deny 21st-century medical care to 21st-century American women.

This reminds me of their desire to deny the HPV vaccine to American women, even though I think HPV kills about 5,000 women every year in the United States.


This article has been archived.
Comments are closed.

Jump to top

Create a PageThis is the LGF Pages posting bookmarklet. To use it, drag this button to your browser's bookmark bar, and title it 'LGF Pages' (or whatever you like). Then browse to a site you want to post, select some text on the page to use for a quote, click the bookmarklet, and the Pages posting window will appear with the title, text, and any embedded video or audio files already filled in, ready to go.
Or... you can just click this button to open the Pages posting window right away.
Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT LGF User's Guide RSS Feeds

Help support Little Green Footballs!

Subscribe now for ad-free access!Register and sign in to a free LGF account before subscribing, and your ad-free access will be automatically enabled.

Donate with
PayPal Cash.app
Recent PagesClick to refresh
The Pandemic Cost 7 Million Lives, but Talks to Prevent a Repeat Stall In late 2021, as the world reeled from the arrival of the highly contagious omicron variant of the coronavirus, representatives of almost 200 countries met - some online, some in-person in Geneva - hoping to forestall a future worldwide ...
Cheechako
Yesterday
Views: 87 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1
Texas County at Center of Border Fight Is Overwhelmed by Migrant Deaths EAGLE PASS, Tex. - The undertaker lighted a cigarette and held it between his latex-gloved fingers as he stood over the bloated body bag lying in the bed of his battered pickup truck. The woman had been fished out ...
Cheechako
2 weeks ago
Views: 258 • Comments: 0 • Rating: 1