And Now, a Brilliant Animated Short: Agent 327 in “Operation Barbershop”

Arts • Views: 46,492

Vimeo

This three-minute teaser for a full-length animated feature is based on Dutch artist Martin Lodewijk’s classic comics series Agent 327. The Blender Animation Studio is currently developing the story and seeks for funding to bring this adventurous comedy animation film to an international audience.

More information: agent327.com

Entirely made in Blender, released as Creative Commons for Blender Cloud subscribers.
Join blender.cloud today, get 10 years of film production history, tutorials, and help us making more!

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268 comments
1
Anymouse  May 27, 2017 • 9:17:58pm

From the last thread:

re: #289 Joe Bacon

The major obstacle to a manned Mars mission is dealing with radiation. Current technology can’t sheild a crew from constant radiation over 18 months. How could a Mars mission succeed if everyone dies from radiation sickness on the way?

That’s why Elon Musk’s idea to send an exploratory mission to Mars is regarded as a suicide mission.

I have nothing against manned exploration - humans out there exploring captures the imagination in a way robots or probes don’t.

But the idea that Mars is Earth 2.0? Nope. The amount of money they want to spend on such a mission would go a long way here for mitigating climate change, education, even infrastructure investment.

2
Joe Bacon  May 27, 2017 • 9:24:11pm

re: #1 Anymouse

Well, I wouldn’t shed a tear if Musk’s vehicle is manned by a bunch of Republicans…

3
Unshaken Defiance  May 27, 2017 • 9:26:55pm

re: #1 Anymouse

Just for discussion-What’s the better candidate for our first colony? The moon with less gravity and no atmosphere at all?

4
Kragar  May 27, 2017 • 9:29:54pm
5
Blind Frog Belly White  May 27, 2017 • 9:32:33pm

re: #3 Unshaken Defiance

Just for discussion-What’s the better candidate for our first colony? The moon with less gravity and no atmosphere at all?

Close enough for resupply, plus any way you slice it you’re gonna be wearing pressure suits and living in enclosed pressurized environment.

6
Joe Bacon  May 27, 2017 • 9:33:58pm

Well, we knew this was coming from President Asshole!

Trump will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accords.

U.S. President Donald Trump has told “confidants,” including the head of the Environmental Protection Agency Scott Pruitt, that he plans to leave a landmark international agreement on climate change, Axios news outlet reported on Saturday, citing three sources with direct knowledge.

reuters.com

Watch the GOP base celebrate by “burning coal” on their diesel trucks…

7
Blind Frog Belly White  May 27, 2017 • 9:36:56pm

re: #6 Joe Bacon

Well, we knew this was coming from President Asshole!

Trump will withdraw from the Paris Climate Accords.

U.S. President Donald Trump has told “confidants,” including the head of the Environmental Protection Agency Scott Pruitt, that he plans to leave a landmark international agreement on climate change, Axios news outlet reported on Saturday, citing three sources with direct knowledge.

reuters.com

Watch the GOP base celebrate by “burning coal” on their diesel trucks…

Honestly, it comes as no surprise, but still I’ll wait till he actually does it to be outraged. And even then, I’m damn near out of outrage.

8
jaunte  May 27, 2017 • 9:39:59pm
9
JordanRules  May 27, 2017 • 9:41:42pm

re: #8 jaunte

That’s like the 2nd spy he’s forgotten​ he met with.

10
Unshaken Defiance  May 27, 2017 • 9:41:56pm

re: #5 Blind Frog Belly White

Either way also needs to be less dependent on direct resupply though. Mars is the stepping stone to the great resources further out. A lot of the difference between practical and unpractical travel is whether you start from the ground or orbit.

11
Joe Bacon  May 27, 2017 • 9:42:56pm

re: #8 jaunte

Fox News will still endlessly bullshit about Hillary’s e-mails no matter what. And so will the rest of the GOP 24/7 Bullshit Machine!

12
Targetpractice  May 27, 2017 • 9:43:41pm

I’m old enough to remember when wingnuts were arguing that there was no evidence that the Trump campaign had had any contact with the Russians.

Then when they started to argue that talking with the Russians was “no big deal” because there was nothing illegal about it.

Now they’re moving onto excusing unethical and illegal behavior done involving the Russians because “Well, Obama…”

So when people ask “what will it take,” I suspect the answer is “a city going up in a mushroom cloud.” And even then, there will be those who insist the CIA planted it.

13
Shiplord Kirel  May 27, 2017 • 9:45:55pm
14
wheat-dogg  May 27, 2017 • 9:47:28pm

re: #1 Anymouse

I disagree that current technology cannot shield the crew, given my reading of this report by NASA. science.nasa.gov

The problem is not the tech, but the spacecraft design we’ve used so far. The material of choice has been aluminum, since it is lightweight and strong. All of our manned spacecraft have been necessarily launched from the ground, so saving weight has been a major design consideration.

I would assume that a manned mission to Mars would require the spacecraft to be assembled in orbit, simply because of its likely size. So, conceivably other, more absorptive materials than Al could be used. The NASA article mentions plastics and even liquid H2, at least for the crew quarters. Engineers could probably develop some other materials besides those.

But, anyone signing up for such a mission would have to know in advance that their chances of radiation damage would be substantially higher than just hanging around Earth. I’m pretty sure most would still take the risks. While not addressed in the linked NASA report, another issue would be the radiation exposure on the Martian surface. Mars has a very thin atmosphere and a very weak magnetic field, so anyone walking around on the surface would still be exposed to potentially harmful radiation. Again, I assume space engineers could design suitably shielded EVA suits to help minimize the damage.

15
Blind Frog Belly White  May 27, 2017 • 9:50:33pm

re: #10 Unshaken Defiance

Either way also needs to be less dependent on direct resupply though. Mars is the stepping stone to the great resources further out. A lot of the difference between practical and unpractical travel is whether you start from the ground or orbit.

The moon is the stepping stone to Mars. Anything we can make/grow there won’t have to be lifted out of Earth’s gravity well.

16
covfefe  May 27, 2017 • 9:52:37pm

We used to live on Mars. Then we fucked it up and escaped to here. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

17
Targetpractice  May 27, 2017 • 10:02:10pm

re: #14 wheat-dogg

I disagree that current technology cannot shield the crew, given my reading of this report by NASA. science.nasa.gov

The problem is not the tech, but the spacecraft design we’ve used so far. The material of choice has been aluminum, since it is lightweight and strong. All of our manned spacecraft have been necessarily launched from the ground, so saving weight has been a major design consideration.

I would assume that a manned mission to Mars would require the spacecraft to be assembled in orbit, simply because of its likely size. So, conceivably other, more absorptive materials than Al could be used. The NASA article mentions plastics and even liquid H2, at least for the crew quarters. Engineers could probably develop some other materials besides those.

But, anyone signing up for such a mission would have to know in advance that their chances of radiation damage would be substantially higher than just hanging around Earth. I’m pretty sure most would still take the risks. While not addressed in the linked NASA report, another issue would be the radiation exposure on the Martian surface. Mars has a very thin atmosphere and a very weak magnetic field, so anyone walking around on the surface would still be exposed to potentially harmful radiation. Again, I assume space engineers could design suitably shielded EVA suits to help minimize the damage.

Correct, any ventures past Earth orbit are going to be reliant upon craft constructed in the vacuum of space rather than on the surface of the planet. Unless we figure out how to build a reliable space elevator, we are going to be dependent upon rockets to move materials into orbit. And even our mightiest rockets have limits on their lift capacity. So unless we adopt some sort of space drydock where we can manufacture items in orbit, we’re going to have to move them up in pieces and put them together.

18
William Lewis  May 27, 2017 • 10:05:43pm

re: #16 GlutenFreeJesus

We used to live on Mars. Then we fucked it up and escaped to here. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

So is the Venusian Hot Bath next? /////

19
William Lewis  May 27, 2017 • 10:07:12pm

Plus there are promising technologies like VASIMIR that could radically shorten the trips duration.

20
Shiplord Kirel  May 27, 2017 • 10:08:04pm

Lunar water: en.m.wikipedia.org
The evidence so far is promising but not definitive. More research is needed. If there is usable water on the Moon, that is absolutely the way to go. Except for the accursed Apollo denialist goblins, we KNOW we can get there and back safely and at a cost that is probably two orders of magnitude lower than sending humans to Mars and back. If Elon Musk is to be believed, a human return to the Moon (though not a landing) is imminent.

21
Anymouse  May 27, 2017 • 10:11:06pm

re: #12 Targetpractice

I’m old enough to remember when wingnuts were arguing that there was no evidence that the Trump campaign had had any contact with the Russians.

Then when they started to argue that talking with the Russians was “no big deal” because there was nothing illegal about it.

Now they’re moving onto excusing unethical and illegal behavior done involving the Russians because “Well, Obama…”

So when people ask “what will it take,” I suspect the answer is “a city going up in a mushroom cloud.” And even then, there will be those who insist the CIA planted it.

See also 9/11. Even Hurricane Katrina got wingnuttery about “HAARP Weather Control” by the government, as did the Moore, Okla. tornado.

No one can explain why if the government has such super-secret weather control programs how wingnuts “know” about them, or why the government wouldn’t test these alleged weapons on the nation’s rivals rather than its own cities.

22
Shiplord Kirel  May 27, 2017 • 10:15:01pm

re: #18 William Lewis

So is the Venusian Hot Bath next? /////

I nominate Venus as the final, all-inclusive location of Galt’s Gulch.

23
wheat-dogg  May 27, 2017 • 10:29:26pm

re: #17 Targetpractice

Or until we create some kind of anti-gravity or repulsor tech.

Somewhat off topic, having the USS Enterprise being constructed in Iowa, of all places, really bothered me when I saw the Star Trek reboot. A ship that size would be better built in orbit, especially given ST canon that the Enterprise was not designed for planetary landings.

I’m doubtful the USA will be the ones going to Mars, though. The current administration is fervently anti-science. More likely, it will be the ESA or the Chinese getting there first.

24
William Lewis  May 27, 2017 • 10:34:34pm

re: #23 wheat-dogg

Or until we create some kind of anti-gravity or repulsor tech.

Somewhat off topic, having the USS Enterprise being constructed in Iowa, of all places, really bothered me when I saw the Star Trek reboot. A ship that size would be better built in orbit, especially given ST canon that the Enterprise was not designed for planetary landings.

I’m doubtful the USA will be the ones going to Mars, though. The current administration is fervently anti-science. More likely, it will be the ESA or the Chinese getting there first.

Oh, I have no doubt it’ll be China and the Shenzhou program’s descendents.

25
freetoken  May 27, 2017 • 10:51:04pm

re: #23 wheat-dogg

IIRC, in the reboot movies, when they show Iowa, isn’t there a large ravine, a scar from something?

In the ill-fated last series, Enterprise, the Earth is attacked and Florida is devastated by a giant rip of the upper crust. I wondered if in the reboot movie if the giant ravine in Iowa was supposed to be a call-back to that story. Never bothered to search the trekkie sites to see if someone had worked this out.

In the ST universe there is an alternate physics, in regards to gravity, there from the very beginning. The real universe doesn’t work the way Roddenberry envisioned it, so the very basis of ST is that of fantasy.

Given that, then if indeed one does have a sort of anti-gravity device, one could construct a spaceship on the planet’s surface.

Now this does conflict with the first few movies of the original storyline… where the Enterprise replacement is being built in space.

But that’s the thing with re-boots: the new producers/directors do what they want. The whole point of a reboot is to make more money off of nostalgia.

26
freetoken  May 27, 2017 • 10:54:31pm

“A surrender of slavery is a surrender of everything.”

That is a line taken from a column in a TN newspaper in 1865: chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

It’s in the third column, under “Letters from Richmond.”

Every time some neo-confederate tries to make the Civil War not about slavery, we need to pull out these quotes.

27
Eclectic Cyborg  May 27, 2017 • 10:54:54pm

re: #23 wheat-dogg

Or until we create some kind of anti-gravity or repulsor tech.

Somewhat off topic, having the USS Enterprise being constructed in Iowa, of all places, really bothered me when I saw the Star Trek reboot. A ship that size would be better built in orbit, especially given ST canon that the Enterprise was not designed for planetary landings.

In the later series there are spaceborne shipyards. Both the Enterprise D and USS Voyager were built at one, as was the Enterprise A from the original Star Trek movie series.

However the original warp ship Phoenix from ST First contact is built on earth. Apparently in the time between when Kirk took command of his first Enterprise and his second one Starfleet switched to spaceborne construction.

Yes, I’m a trekker.

28
wheat-dogg  May 27, 2017 • 10:58:10pm

re: #25 freetoken

IIRC, in the reboot movies, when they show Iowa, isn’t there a large ravine, a scar from something?

In the ill-fated last series, Enterprise, the Earth is attacked and Florida is devastated by a giant rip of the upper crust. I wondered if in the reboot movie if the giant ravine in Iowa was supposed to be a call-back to that story. Never bothered to search the trekkie sites to see if someone had worked this out.

In the ST universe there is an alternate physics, in regards to gravity, there from the very beginning. The real universe doesn’t work the way Roddenberry envisioned it, so the bery basis of ST is that of fantasy.

Given that, then if indeed one does have a sort of anti-gravity device, one could construct a spaceship on the planet’s surface.

Now this does conflict with the first few movies of the original storyline… where the Enterprise replacement is being built in space.

But that’s the thing with re-boots: the new producers/directors do what they want. The whole point of a reboot is to make more money off of nostalgia.

Presumably, the ST universe scientists have learned how to control gravity, since the ships all have “artificial gravity”, so anti-gravity would be a thing. Still, constructing a deep-space exploratory ship armed to the teeth with weapons and powered by a matter-antimatter core on the Earth’s surface seems very unwise. I guess in the future industrial accidents have been eliminated.

That ravine does seems peculiar. I also have not delved into the fansites to learn why Iowa has a big canyon. Either the film makers know nothing about Iowa, or it’s some subtle reference to a cataclysm of the past.

29
Targetpractice  May 27, 2017 • 10:58:16pm

re: #27 Eclectic Cyborg

In the later series there are spaceborne shipyards. Both the Enterprise D and USS Voyager were built at one, as was the Enterprise A from the original Star Trek movie series.

However the original warp ship Phoenix from ST First contact is built on earth. Apparently in the time between when Kirk took command of his first Enterprise and his second one Starfleet switched to spaceborne construction.

Yes, I’m a trekker.

The Phoenix was perched atop a Titan IV (fictional) nuclear missile because that was the only launch vehicle that the post-WWIII scientists had available. And after that, Earth had access to various technologies from the Vulcans, so building space drydocks would probably have been a trivial matter.

30
Kragar  May 27, 2017 • 10:59:52pm

re: #25 freetoken

31
freetoken  May 27, 2017 • 11:00:40pm

re: #28 wheat-dogg

That ravine does seems peculiar. I also have not delved into the fansites to learn why Iowa has a big canyon. Either the film makers know nothing about Iowa, or it’s some subtle reference to a cataclysm of the past.

That’s why I thought it was a call back to the Enterprise series. Since that series dealt with a time-war it already opened up the idea of alternate timelines, and of course the re-boot films went full in on this idea.

32
Targetpractice  May 27, 2017 • 11:03:09pm

re: #30 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Stargate: We use this big metal hoop that connects one planet to another using science…stuff.

33
wheat-dogg  May 27, 2017 • 11:05:31pm

re: #31 freetoken

That’s why I thought it was a call back to the Enterprise series. Since that series dealt with a time-war it already opened up the idea of alternate timelines, and of course the re-boot films went full in on this idea.

I read a reddit thread about the grand canyon of Iowa, and the prevailing opinions were JJ Abrams knows noting about Iowa’s geography and it was created by a Xindi weapon. Another explanation was driving a vintage Corvette into a cornfield would not be especially dramatic.

***
And another fan notes elsewhere that the “canyon” is really a quarry, and they really do have quarries in Iowa.

Boy, I am so glad we resolved THAT issue!

34
Kragar  May 27, 2017 • 11:16:22pm

Starship size comparison chart

Image: 3fc8ed408a36d3564d4ef4d3abb87410.jpg

35
Dave In Austin  May 27, 2017 • 11:24:42pm

Still Funny……

36
wheat-dogg  May 27, 2017 • 11:32:43pm

re: #35 Dave In Austin

SCROTUS is too tired from his first international trip of fools. So, no Iowa rally. Low energy! Sad!

37
Anymouse  May 27, 2017 • 11:45:38pm

A telecom firm backed by the RNC wants the FCC to rescind rules preventing robocalls to cell phones. Their argument is they use technology to provide a ringless voicemail message, so it’s not really a call that would annoy anyone.

The firm in question is already in trouble for using this during the 2014 elections; they are also asking the FCC to rescind legal liability in that case.

recode.net

The RNC claims the rule is a violation of political parties’ I Amendment rights.

Consumer advocates argue that robocalls is one of the things that helped kill off landline service (though convenience of cell phone technology in places where they put it also helped).

The company and the RNC fail to acknowledge that “pay as you go” cell phone service like TracFone charge for receiving voice mail messages. As such, a customer of one of those companies would be charged for push messages to cell phones (the principal reason it was made illegal in the first place).

38
Ubiq  May 27, 2017 • 11:49:36pm
39
prairiefire  May 27, 2017 • 11:52:25pm

re: #37 Anymouse

In the weeds, I’m afraid. At least I am happy the FCC didn’t prosecute Colbert.

40
Targetpractice  May 27, 2017 • 11:53:19pm

re: #38 Ubiq

[Embedded content]

Or perhaps the Treaty of Paris in 1898 that ended the Spanish-American War by giving us Cuba and the Philippines? Or the Paris Peace Accords that ended American involvement in the Vietnam War?

41
prairiefire  May 27, 2017 • 11:56:59pm

re: #40 Targetpractice

Oh my gosh, I remember when as Americans we were all so relieved by the Paris Peace accord. “We can cauterize the wound?”

42
Anymouse  May 28, 2017 • 12:03:26am

re: #39 prairiefire

In the weeds, I’m afraid.

How so?

Though I only use it when I am somewhere where there is cell service, I own a TracFone. That’s why I own a TracFone, because there is no cell service here, so pay as you go makes more sense. Why should I have to pay for the RNC to push political messages to my cell phone? Then businesses? Then charities?

43
freetoken  May 28, 2017 • 12:14:19am

Reading the Memphis Daily from 1865:
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov

Lots of demonizing the negroes in those newspaper columns. Oh, and the newly elected governor of MS warning about miscegenation, etc.

44
sagehen  May 28, 2017 • 12:33:03am

re: #1 Anymouse

But the idea that Mars is Earth 2.0? Nope. The amount of money they want to spend on such a mission would go a long way here for mitigating climate change, education, even infrastructure investment.

The money they spent on the moonshot wasn’t burned in a bonfire, it wasn’t just for a public relations victory.

It was a practical engineering lab whose discoveries and inventions and open-source patents gave us *everything* that’s advanced the world in any way since. Also, the economic payoff was the biggest return-on-investment since the transcontinental railroad.

The only reason other countries have been able to catch up to us is because we backed off on those kinds of investments.

45
sagehen  May 28, 2017 • 12:36:49am

re: #13 Shiplord Kirel

[Embedded content]

Incitatus? Or the man on his back?

46
sagehen  May 28, 2017 • 12:43:32am

re: #34 Kragar

Starship size comparison chart

Image: 3fc8ed408a36d3564d4ef4d3abb87410.jpg

And why does your chart not include any puddlejumpers, or star furies, or Minbari or Vorlon or Shadow vessels, or or or or or or

47
Targetpractice  May 28, 2017 • 12:49:24am

re: #46 sagehen

And why does your chart not include any puddlejumpers, or star furies, or Minbari or Vorlon or Shadow vessels, or or or or or or

Compensating.

/

48
Anymouse  May 28, 2017 • 12:51:23am
49
Single-handed sailor  May 28, 2017 • 12:52:09am

re: #47 Targetpractice

Compensating.

/

Somebody is trying to make Warhammer something-k ‘a thing’.

50
Kragar  May 28, 2017 • 1:00:07am

re: #46 sagehen

I only included the relevant ones.

51
Anymouse  May 28, 2017 • 1:02:47am
52
freetoken  May 28, 2017 • 1:04:54am

The river horses doing their thing by their favorite rock:

African Watering Hole Camera powered by EXPLORE.org

53
Anymouse  May 28, 2017 • 1:05:25am

Due to tax slashing in Oklahoma, many school districts have balloon class sizes, cut art or other classes, and have cut school days to four days a week.

washingtonpost.com

54
Targetpractice  May 28, 2017 • 1:19:19am

re: #53 Anymouse

Due to tax slashing in Oklahoma, many school districts have balloon class sizes, cut art or other classes, and have cut school days to four days a week.

washingtonpost.com

“We’ll cut taxes and make up the difference in revenue from oil and gas! There’s no possible way that can…wait, both markets have taken a dive? FUCK!!!!”

55
Anymouse  May 28, 2017 • 1:22:36am

re: #54 Targetpractice

“We’ll cut taxes and make up the difference in revenue from oil and gas! There’s no possible way that can…wait, both markets have taken a dive? FUCK!!!!”

They also cut taxes on oil and gas companies, and the state income and property taxes.

Oklahoma now has nearly a billion dollar budget deficit; they are trying to compete with Louisiana and Kansas.

56
Targetpractice  May 28, 2017 • 1:26:31am

re: #55 Anymouse

They also cut taxes on oil and gas companies, and the state income and property taxes.

Oklahoma now has nearly a billion dollar budget deficit; they are trying to compete with Louisiana and Kansas.

But yet, I bet you if you asked the folks who live in these states, they’re absolutely convinced that what’s keeping their states from being veritable utopias is federal government taxes and regulations.

57
Anymouse  May 28, 2017 • 1:26:40am

Well, goodnight y’all. 11AM remembrance service at the village cemetery; I need to catch some shut eye. I still don’t know who they are having as a speaker … hopefully it won’t be the divisive hot mess it was last year.

58
teleskiguy  May 28, 2017 • 1:31:38am

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

59
teleskiguy  May 28, 2017 • 1:32:42am

re: #58 teleskiguy

10 years ago this Labor Day.

60
Grunthos the Flatulent  May 28, 2017 • 1:50:00am

re: #16 GlutenFreeJesus

We used to live on Mars. Then we fucked it up and escaped to here. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Speak for yourself, Solarian.

61
freetoken  May 28, 2017 • 1:50:18am
62
Targetpractice  May 28, 2017 • 1:54:24am

“Why won’t Hillary stand up and lead us?! She’s abandoned the fight! She never cared about the resistance!”

*Hillary gives speech*

“ZOMG! Shut up and go away! Nobody wants you around anymore! The resistance doesn’t need you!!!”

63
Dave In Austin  May 28, 2017 • 2:02:00am

Such a sad sad song…

64
Dave In Austin  May 28, 2017 • 2:11:07am
65
piratedan  May 28, 2017 • 2:29:39am

just idly wondering here…

okay, lets say that our worst fears are realized…

We find that not only are the actions of this President are found to be treasonous, but we also discover that the majority of his cabinet, his family and many among the leadership of the GOP are also involved, i.e. complicit or aiding and abetting said treason.

By treason, I am basing it on the findings of illegal acts of working for a foreign power. Failure to disclose those ties or exchange of quid pro quo of financial assistance in return for favorable policies that run counter to the best interests of the United States..

Say the same is true for VP Pence, AG Sessions, Chief of Staff Bannon, Presidential aide Kushner, NSA Flynn and those involved in the campaign (Manafort, Lewandoski, Guiliani, Christie, Stone, Page, etc)

Say we also find that the GOP leadership was also complicit in that they used intel provided illegally from a foreign power to get themselves elected and to fund their campaigns…

Who has the authority to charge and prosecute them?

Does it come from the associate AG who drafted Mueller since Sessions is recused (if not fucking guilty)?
Do we have to rely on a State prosecution, (Schneiderman in NY State) in order to prevent the President from pardoning the players before we get too far down the Fedearl route?

If following the money also leads us also to RW media, say Faux News and the NYT, what happens then?

Sorry, the potential scope of this is simply staggering and trying to calculate out the trajectory is frightening (as if what’s going on isn’t bad enough and the thoughts about what might happened in wounded mode aren’t any better)

66
Teukka  May 28, 2017 • 2:33:59am

re: #65 piratedan

Thinking out loud here:
[tinfoil]
The justice system makes a move, but the other side does a semi-successful power grab in order to prevent it, leading to a civil war.
European allies, possibly with evidence uncovered by their own investigation of course choose the side of the justice system.
[/tinfoil]

Yeah. Scary territory indeed.

67
William Lewis  May 28, 2017 • 2:49:00am

I’ve have occasionally wondered if a NATO invasion South across the Canadian border isn’t a possibility. It would certainly make the breakup of the former Yugoslavia look pleasant by comparison… M1s fighting Leopard IIs across the Dakota wheat fields before turning east towards Washington…

68
Anymouse  May 28, 2017 • 2:55:03am

Congratulations to my representative; he made the top article on Huffington Post.

GOP Congressman Declines to Say whether Every American Is Entitled to Eat

The article refers to his interview on NPR.

69
William Lewis  May 28, 2017 • 2:57:07am

Meanwhile our other former allies could split the US forces by a simultaneous move north from Mexico. Wouldn’t that be an interesting turn after all that “anticommunist” military aide since WWII?

70
Anymouse  May 28, 2017 • 3:04:50am

+zuhpKrZo2DhLOBRIzf/GaMgRv5JWCzSFMzci+EIWc4RohJExUk2IfXxIlFzsSPn1rYwDj+0HyU7lHjHYb+x09YN2ADcR5tAJB/kN0RBvNdSLZeufNU3Al2U3AfK5zxkXEWSMLGId7knJwGReIEY35vcTNJuDLfALiafd6uGmtO8O/w/orfg9/ellXNFkzzxji9ahzTTF5vX1fHSPXQKWpvPUpGh5PIu1Wb1qNS0HGSUelhmP2P/AqnW/FOowUWehCLu5LffWVTkjJ3rLbRoF1GDG6E8MiHcQ6q323PBWtxe4fr5+4x3bztPt3TtgxUax676EX4HLXEpnJZOaDW4BTmgiXNbiB0tJZzr2C5Lb8pLB+Dq4W2yQSWOv091HAY2QYOLaN63arU=

71
Anymouse  May 28, 2017 • 3:07:41am

re: #67 William Lewis

I’ve have occasionally wondered if a NATO invasion South across the Canadian border isn’t a possibility. It would certainly make the breakup of the former Yugoslavia look pleasant by comparison… M1s fighting Leopard IIs across the Dakota wheat fields before turning east towards Washington…

Such forces in a pincer movement from Canada and Mexico would meet up somewhere around my house.

The bad part of such an invasion would be all the ICBMs that would be between two putative salients. I’m guessing it would come down to “use em or lose em,” which is precisely why no sane nation would try to invade us even if they had the wherewithal to do it. (The numbers of amphibious forces that would have to come from Europe and or Asia to North America would be staggering and rather quickly detected by our military.)

72
William Lewis  May 28, 2017 • 3:19:20am

re: #71 Anymouse

Such forces in a pincer movement from Canada and Mexico would meet up somewhere around my house.

The bad part of such an invasion would be all the ICBMs that would be between two putative salients. I’m guessing it would come down to “use em or lose em,” which is precisely why no sane nation would try to invade us even if they had the wherewithal to do it. (The numbers of amphibious forces that would have to come from Europe and or Asia to North America would be staggering and rather quickly detected by our military.)

“Iron Rain” aka “Rods from God”. Orbital tungsten rods, a dozen per silo. The ESA has all the ability needed.

73
Anymouse  May 28, 2017 • 3:20:49am

re: #65 piratedan

just idly wondering here…

okay, lets say that our worst fears are realized…
(cut for brevity)

Both treason and misprison of treason (not reporting it) are state crimes in every state as well as a Federal crime.

That said, to prosecute the state crime it would have needed to be committed in that state. Thus, if it were shown the Alfa Bank/Trump Tower server was in fact passing information that could be considered treasonous, Nebraska couldn’t prosecute that crime but New York could.

Misprison as a crime is not normally prosecuted. It is usually used as a lever to get someone higher up. (For example, in a case of misprison of armed robbery, a person known to be holding information about that robbery but refusing to give it up could be charged with misprison. That threat could cause the person to reconsider their life choices. Misprison as a crime is sometimes argued against by civil libertarians.)

The other problem of a state charge of treason is the person would either have to be in the state to arrest, or the state they are in is willing to extradite under a warrant.

(I’m not a lawyer. Your mileage may vary.)

As a practical matter, treason is so difficult to prosecute it is never done. A much simpler prosecution would be under the Espionage Act (we had this discussion yesterday). Since espionage, conspiracy to commit espionage, &c are easier to prove than treason but also carries the death penalty, it is a sufficient lever to get information. Moreover, misprision of espionage is also easier to prove (particularly if the FBI has you on tape.)

74
Anymouse  May 28, 2017 • 3:22:41am

re: #72 William Lewis

“Iron Rain” aka “Rods from God”. Orbital tungsten rods, a dozen per silo. The ESA has all the ability needed.

Would Europe be willing to lose only one major city because they were not 100% perfect in disabling ICBMs? That also doesn’t include our SSBN submarines or bomber forces.

“Gee Cologne, you’re going to be destroyed in a rain of nuclear fire but it’s for the good of the rest of the EU” probably wouldn’t play well in Germany.

75
William Lewis  May 28, 2017 • 3:41:58am

re: #74 Anymouse

Would Europe be willing to lose only one major city because they were not 100% perfect in disabling ICBMs? That also doesn’t include our SSBN submarines or bomber forces.

“Gee Cologne, you’re going to be destroyed in a rain of nuclear fire but it’s for the good of the rest of the EU” probably wouldn’t play well in Germany.

Depends on how big a threat a Fascist US is to them. As for the boomers, there are other nuke & diesel attack boats in the world.

76
Anymouse  May 28, 2017 • 3:46:35am

re: #75 William Lewis

Depends on how big a threat a Fascist US is to them. As for the boomers, there are other nuke & diesel attack boats in the world.

Sure there are other nations with boomers and such. Flinging nukes back and forth isn’t going to do much other than bring the religious wingnuts’ dreams of Armageddon. (That and we have far more nukes than Britain and France.)

There are no real good answers here; the USA is going to have to pull its own chitlins out of the fire. As for Europe, they would be better off simply cutting relations and trade.

77
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 3:49:17am

re: #76 Anymouse

Sure there are other nations with boomers and such. Flinging nukes back and forth isn’t going to do much other than bring the religious wingnuts’ dreams of Armageddon. (That and we have far more nukes than Britain and France.)

There are no real good answers here; the USA is going to have to pull its own chitlins out of the fire. As for Europe, they would be better off simply cutting relations and trade.

They will probably become closer economically to China and India. Trump’s idiocy and isolationalism is only going to harm the USA long-term. China is more than willing to step in wherever the USA loosens its connections.

78
Timothy Watson  May 28, 2017 • 3:51:56am

re: #77 wheat-dogg

They will probably become closer economically to China and India. Trump’s idiocy and isolationalism is only going to harm the USA long-term. China is more than willing to step in wherever the USA loosens its connections.

Trump already surrendered half of Asia to China by withdrawing from the TPP.

79
BlueSpotinAL  May 28, 2017 • 3:53:26am

re: #77 wheat-dogg

How many Americans know what the Belt and Road Initiative is. Conspicuously absent: the USA.

80
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 4:01:59am

re: #79 BlueSpotinAL

How many Americans know what the Belt and Road Initiative is. Conspicuously absent: the USA.

I would guess maybe a couple of dozen. China is working on knitting together an economic sphere of influence stretching across Asia toward Europe. Meanwhile, it’s expanded into Africa, funding projects there in return for generous land grants and contracts. (And access to natural resources.) It’s not just an effort to become a geopolitical powerhouse. It’s an effort in self-preservation. The Party needs a strong economy to keep 1.4 billion people happy and relatively complacent. If the Chinese economy goes sour, the people will get restive, and the government values political stability above all else.

This lesson is one the GOP ignores at its own peril. Skewing the US economy to favor only the top dogs will lead voters to ask (demand) answers to awkward questions. It’s already happened with the public pushback against repealing the ACA. If the GOP screws up Social Security, Medicare and the rest of the safety net programs, even Trumpistas are going to get angry.

81
Teukka  May 28, 2017 • 4:03:55am

re: #80 wheat-dogg

I would guess maybe a couple of dozen. China is working on knitting together an economic sphere of influence stretching across Asia toward Europe. Meanwhile, it’s expanded into Africa, funding projects there in return for generous land grants and contracts. (And access to natural resources.) It’s not just an effort to become a geopolitical powerhouse. It’s an effort in self-preservation. The Party needs a strong economy to keep 1.4 billion people happy and relatively complacent. If the Chinese economy goes sour, the people will get restive, and the government values political stability above all else.

This lesson is one the GOP ignores at its own peril. Skewing the US economy to favor only the top dogs will lead voters to ask (demand) answers to awkward questions. It’s already happened with the public pushback against repealing the ACA. If the GOP screws up Social Security, Medicare and the rest of the safety net programs, even Trumpistas are going to get angry.

And the GOP and the Christian right wing cannot afford some questions being asked, let alone answered. But it looks like they’re bringing it on themselves.

82
Timothy Watson  May 28, 2017 • 4:06:14am

re: #80 wheat-dogg

They’re expanding into the Americas too, having meetings with Chile (an erstwhile TPP member) a couple months ago
money.cnn.com

83
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 4:10:50am

re: #82 Timothy Watson

They’re expanding into the Americas too, having meetings with Chile (an erstwhile TPP member) a couple months ago
money.cnn.com

Yup. Mexico was considering abandoning trade with the USA for trade with China for some commodities.

84
Renaissance_Man  May 28, 2017 • 4:13:02am

re: #80 wheat-dogg

What is most likely is, as you say, the rest of the world, especially developing nations, aligning more closely with China and Russia. The sad part is that the US has made its aid and economic partnership dependent on cleaning up human rights and increasing freedoms. China is a generation away at least from similar enlightenment. The world as a whole becomes a much darker place when China takes over as the world superpower.

We are very unlikely to see a war between major powers directly. I don’t doubt a small war expanding to include major powers though. I don’t think Trump is all that hawkish - ultimately he is a coward, and even verbal confrontation scares him. He could easily be egged on or goaded into something dumb, though, and the lavish media praise that would come would encourage him to continue.

85
451_Montag  May 28, 2017 • 4:17:41am

Oh joy. Gaming getting political, and not just an examination of ethics in gaming journalism.

gamespot.com

New Far Cry to be set in rural ‘Murikkka with a Guns and God rural militia/cult as the protagonist.

Lots of RW snowflakes gettin’ triggered already in the comments. Expect Fox “News” to take this up as a fight against……. something.

Redneck Dawn

86
Renaissance_Man  May 28, 2017 • 4:27:01am

re: #81 Teukka

That’s really the unanswered question in my mind for the next thirty years. Previously, when the top 0.1% have hurt everyone else too much, there is restlessness and a correction of some kind, whether revolution or political or cultural change that progresses humanity until the next neo-feudal nobility finds a way to accumulate more at the expense of everyone else again. They have tried so many methods of control of the populace to keep their power over the centuries - religion, authoritarianism, bread and circuses, etc. Ultimately all have failed.

I wonder, however, in this new connected world, is there now a way to brainwash enough people all of the time to maintain permanent control? That’s the ultimate endpoint of the current media model as it evolves. No more corrections, just the overlords in their ivory towers and the stinking masses, forever.

Alternatively, as automation takes over and the production power of people is no longer required to maintain the elite, will they just stop caring if the populace starves and dies, leaving more resources for the wealthy? That’s also possible, but less likely I think. Mostly because it is in human nature to want to lord over someone. If there’s nobody to rule over, all that wealth and power doesn’t mean much when everyone has as much as you.

87
sagehen  May 28, 2017 • 5:27:34am

re: #80 wheat-dogg

This lesson is one the GOP ignores at its own peril. Skewing the US economy to favor only the top dogs will lead voters to ask (demand) answers to awkward questions. It’s already happened with the public pushback against repealing the ACA. If the GOP screws up Social Security, Medicare and the rest of the safety net programs, even Trumpistas are going to get angry.

Nick Hanauer:
Beware, fellow plutocrats, the pitchforks are coming

ted.com

88
Barefoot Grin  May 28, 2017 • 5:27:50am

re: #20 Shiplord Kirel

Lunar water: en.m.wikipedia.org
The evidence so far is promising but not definitive. More research is needed. If there is usable water on the Moon, that is absolutely the way to go. Except for the accursed Apollo denialist goblins, we KNOW we can get there and back safely and at a cost that is probably two orders of magnitude lower than sending humans to Mars and back. If Elon Musk is to be believed, a human return to the Moon (though not a landing) is imminent.

The good news is that there will already be a Chinese restaurant when we get there.

89
JordanRules  May 28, 2017 • 5:36:47am

Hmmmmmm….more qualified and moderated than usual. Squares with a story that someone may review them now.

90
JordanRules  May 28, 2017 • 5:37:51am

Or…

91
Joe Bacon  May 28, 2017 • 5:38:33am

92
Barefoot Grin  May 28, 2017 • 5:43:13am

I read in the paper this morning that Team Trump is going to set up a Clinton-style crisis management “war room” featuring the talents of people like Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie. I wonder if anyone in the media will point out how different the situations are between Bill Clinton and Trump.

93
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 5:46:01am

94
Dr Lizardo  May 28, 2017 • 5:47:05am

The UK snap election is getting interesting. Labour is now about only six points behind the Tories. The election is Thursday, June 8.

I don’t think Labour is going to win, but six points is striking distance and a remarkable reversal of fortune for the Conservative Party. This election was supposed to be PM May’s coronation; the Tories had forecast a 200-seat majority - they’ve pared that down to 80.

If, on the slim chance that Labour pulls off a victory, that would qualify as one of the most stunning come-from-behind political victories I’ve ever seen. Like I said, I don’t think it’ll happen, but hell, nowadays, I’ve concluded nothing is impossible.

95
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 5:51:31am

re: #94 Dr Lizardo

The UK snap election is getting interesting. Labour is now about only six points behind the Tories. The election is Thursday, June 8.

I don’t think Labour is going to win, but six points is striking distance and a remarkable reversal of fortune for the Conservative Party. This election was supposed to be PM May’s coronation; the Tories had forecast a 200-seat majority - they’ve pared that down to 80.

If, on the slim chance that Labour pulls off a victory, that would qualify as one of the most stunning come-from-behind political victories I’ve ever seen. Like I said, I don’t think it’ll happen, but hell, nowadays, I’ve concluded nothing is impossible.

Cameron risked his reputation and the UK’s with that stupid referendum. Then he quit, rather than see it through. Then May decides to follow through with Brexit, and calls for a new election to show she has popular support for it.

I’m a shitty poker player, but I bet I could clean both of them out in a game.

96
HappyWarrior  May 28, 2017 • 5:53:27am

nbcnews.com
Ireland is about to elect its first gay Taoiseach, not only is he openly gay, he’s only 38 and the son of an Asian immigrant as well.

97
HappyWarrior  May 28, 2017 • 5:56:24am

re: #94 Dr Lizardo

The UK snap election is getting interesting. Labour is now about only six points behind the Tories. The election is Thursday, June 8.

I don’t think Labour is going to win, but six points is striking distance and a remarkable reversal of fortune for the Conservative Party. This election was supposed to be PM May’s coronation; the Tories had forecast a 200-seat majority - they’ve pared that down to 80.

If, on the slim chance that Labour pulls off a victory, that would qualify as one of the most stunning come-from-behind political victories I’ve ever seen. Like I said, I don’t think it’ll happen, but hell, nowadays, I’ve concluded nothing is impossible.

Between Corbyn and May. I really hope someone else emerges. I liked Nick Clegg of the Liberal Dems.

98
JordanRules  May 28, 2017 • 5:58:01am
99
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 5:59:40am

re: #98 JordanRules

Samantha Power and I have the same analysis. I knew I should joined the foreign service when I had the chance! //

100
HappyWarrior  May 28, 2017 • 6:01:18am

re: #98 JordanRules

[Embedded content]

Agh.

101
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 6:01:52am
102
Joe Bacon  May 28, 2017 • 6:04:08am

re: #101 darthstar

“SORRY ABOUT THAT, CHIEF!”

103
HappyWarrior  May 28, 2017 • 6:04:09am

re: #101 darthstar

[Embedded content]

He’s leaving to spend more time with his attorneys.

104
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 6:07:29am

re: #103 HappyWarrior

He’s leaving to spend more time with his attorneys.

Remember when Bush’s team was dropping like flies…every week we’d hear the ‘He just wants to spend more time with his family’ as if quitting to avoid public scrutiny over ethics violations was some kind of family value.

105
Dr Lizardo  May 28, 2017 • 6:08:20am

re: #101 darthstar

[Embedded content]

Looks like maybe they’re gearing up to throw Jared under the bus.

106
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  May 28, 2017 • 6:08:35am

re: #86 Renaissance_Man

Alternatively, as automation takes over and the production power of people is no longer required to maintain the elite, will they just stop caring if the populace starves and dies, leaving more resources for the wealthy? That’s also possible, but less likely I think. Mostly because it is in human nature to want to lord over someone. If there’s nobody to rule over, all that wealth and power doesn’t mean much when everyone has as much as you.

The elites will maintain that by humiliating the masses: forcing them to take drug tests and subjecting them to all sorts of arbitrary and meaningless violations of their rights

107
Ming5000  May 28, 2017 • 6:10:18am

re: #105 Dr Lizardo

Looks like maybe they’re gearing up to throw Jared under the bus.

The problem is, they are all so complicit that thread pulling will involve them all. Any one goes down, they all go down.

108
Dr Lizardo  May 28, 2017 • 6:11:06am

re: #107 Ming5000

The problem is, they are all so complicit that thread pulling will involve them all. Any one goes down, they all go down.

Yes, but are they smart enough to recognize that?

109
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 6:11:47am
110
Ming5000  May 28, 2017 • 6:12:02am

re: #108 Dr Lizardo

lol, cripes, no.

111
jeffreyw  May 28, 2017 • 6:12:58am

Imgur
Good morning!

112
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  May 28, 2017 • 6:13:01am

re: #105 Dr Lizardo

Looks like maybe they’re gearing up to throw Jared under the bus.

That will at least play well with the anti-Semite faction…while at the same time somehow implying that evil liberals forced this nice young Jewish fellow out of his job and livelihood. Because these guys can talk out of both sides of their mouth without fearing anybody calling them out on it…

113
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 6:13:29am

re: #105 Dr Lizardo

Looks like maybe they’re gearing up to throw Jared under the bus.

As soon as the bus gets out of the shop…

114
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 6:14:15am

re: #112 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

That will at least play well with the anti-Semite faction…

But enough about Don Jr. and Eric…

115
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  May 28, 2017 • 6:14:40am

re: #114 darthstar

But enough about Don Jr. and Eric…

And Steve Bannon

116
Joe Bacon  May 28, 2017 • 6:18:49am

re: #115 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

And Steve Bannon

…and Breitbart…and Gateway Pundit…and Richard Spencer…and Chuck C Johnson…and Kim Dotcom…

117
Ming5000  May 28, 2017 • 6:19:28am

Interesting article on Politico:
General McMaster, Step Down—and Let Trump Be Trump
Save your reputation while you still can. The country will be fine.
By THOMAS E. RICKS May 28, 2017

Two things I didn’t know:
1. McMaster is still on active duty and is still subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
2.

he wrote one of the best books about the Vietnam War, “Dereliction of Duty,” about the failures of senior American leaders during that war. Consider the two concluding sentences of that book: “The disaster in Vietnam was not the result of impersonal forces but a uniquely human failure, the responsibility for which was shared by President Johnson and his principal military and civilian advisers. The failings were many and reinforcing: arrogance, weakness, lying in the pursuit of self-interest, and, above all, the abdication of responsibility to the American people.”

118
Ming5000  May 28, 2017 • 6:29:49am

Thinking about the news item about the 8th grade class trip to D.C.. It is surprising to me that so many students are aware of who Paul Ryan is and half had strong enough opinions to prefer not to join in a group photo.

119
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 6:30:24am

Thread:

120
Ming5000  May 28, 2017 • 6:32:58am

re: #119 darthstar

Thread:

[Embedded content]

Long list. Powerful.
Also from Lee:

funny that the people who have a problem with this thread have “trump supporter” in their bio…these people are terrorists, deal with it 😂

121
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 6:47:36am
122
Amory Blaine  May 28, 2017 • 6:47:38am

re: #107 Ming5000

The problem is, they are all so complicit that thread pulling will involve them all. Any one goes down, they all go down.

Weezer - Undone — The Sweater Song

123
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 6:53:34am
124
jaunte  May 28, 2017 • 6:56:03am
125
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 6:56:38am

LOX HIM UP!
(stolen from a friend who got it from a friend)

126
jaunte  May 28, 2017 • 6:58:48am

re: #125 darthstar

127
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 6:59:38am
128
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 7:05:26am
129
jaunte  May 28, 2017 • 7:09:39am
130
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 7:13:12am

re: #128 darthstar

From the guy who’s prone to saying, “Many people are saying …”

131
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 7:13:29am
132
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 7:14:36am

Fuck

133
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 7:15:06am

Suspect in custody - so he was white.

That was meant as sarcasm but here’s the story…

134
Teukka  May 28, 2017 • 7:16:37am

re: #133 darthstar

Suspect in custody - so he was white.

“Mentally disturbed” in 10 … 9 … 8 …

135
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 7:17:53am

re: #133 darthstar

Suspect in custody - so he was white.

He’ll be a distraught white guy with a weapons permit who just went a little crazy, (nothing to worry about folks) and is now being treated respectfully by the local cops, even though he just shot a deputy.

136
jaunte  May 28, 2017 • 7:18:13am

re: #134 Teukka

“He told The Clarion-Ledger reporter he did it because he loved his wife and children and he loves Bogue Chitto.”
clarionledger.com

Looks like it.

137
jaunte  May 28, 2017 • 7:18:47am

“Suicide by cop was my intention.”

138
Myron Falwell  May 28, 2017 • 7:22:22am

re: #129 jaunte

Analogous to Jim Jones offering the laced Flavor-Aid.

Only they won’t be dying.

139
Amory Blaine  May 28, 2017 • 7:29:44am

John Kelly is on tv lying about Kushners backchannel. It’s normal, nothing to see here.

140
Ace Rothstein  May 28, 2017 • 7:34:18am

re: #134 Teukka

“Mentally disturbed” in 10 … 9 … 8 …

“Troubled youth.”

141
jaunte  May 28, 2017 • 7:36:57am
142
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 7:40:22am
143
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 7:46:16am

re: #142 darthstar

I am surprised McGahn refused, because he’s been pretty tight with The Donald for years. I guess the lawyer force in him is strong.

144
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 7:50:29am
145
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 7:51:28am

re: #144 darthstar

Assange is feeding the nutjobs the Deep State conspiracy theory.

146
FormerDirtDart  May 28, 2017 • 7:52:13am
147
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 7:52:23am

re: #143 wheat-dogg

I am surprised McGahn refused, because he’s been pretty tight with The Donald for years. I guess the lawyer force in him is strong.

It’s a slippery slope…next thing he knows he’s reviewing clothing contracts with Chinese manufacturers for Ivanka.

148
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 7:57:13am

re: #147 darthstar

It’s a slippery slope…next thing he knows he’s reviewing clothing contracts with Chinese manufacturers for Ivanka.

He’s not stupid. He’s worked with this family before, IIRC. If he doesn’t set some boundaries, he’ll end up making coffee and babysitting Ivanka’s kids.

149
FormerDirtDart  May 28, 2017 • 7:58:06am
150
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 7:58:58am

Ouch

151
Dr Lizardo  May 28, 2017 • 7:59:35am

This is one of the few things the UK’s Daily Mail gets right - a nice photoset of an apartment, a private suite in Radio City Music Hall, with its Art Deco interior, pretty much untouched since 1936.

dailymail.co.uk

152
Dr Lizardo  May 28, 2017 • 8:00:24am

re: #150 darthstar

Ouch

[Embedded content]

Angela Merkel - leader of the free world.

153
Barefoot Grin  May 28, 2017 • 8:01:08am

I recently saw Bob Woodward claim that Trump told him, “I hate to use this word, but power comes from ‘fear’.”

154
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 8:02:07am

re: #152 Dr Lizardo

Angela Merkel - leader of the free world.

I’ve been saying that for a while. The US is about to become a world hanger-on.

155
Dr Lizardo  May 28, 2017 • 8:06:55am

re: #154 darthstar

I’ve been saying that for a while. The US is about to become a world hanger-on.

And I’m pretty sure someone is happy about that.

Image: giphy.gif

156
PhillyPretzel  May 28, 2017 • 8:07:21am

re: #154 darthstar

I agree. I am not happy about saying that but Ms Merkel is right.

157
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 8:07:54am
158
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  May 28, 2017 • 8:12:33am

re: #157 darthstar

Merkel just declared the American century dead and buried and said Trump killed it.

America killed its own century by electing Trump…

159
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 8:12:54am

This would be a good time to short a few US stocks.

160
covfefe  May 28, 2017 • 8:14:55am

re: #89 JordanRules

161
jaunte  May 28, 2017 • 8:15:18am
162
FormerDirtDart  May 28, 2017 • 8:17:12am

re: #152 Dr Lizardo

Angela Merkel - leader of the free world.

163
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 8:17:38am
164
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 8:19:59am

Has it occurred to Republicans that one of the reasons we’re considered a global power is we have the entire western world supporting that idea?

This is so fucked.

165
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  May 28, 2017 • 8:21:09am

re: #164 darthstar

Has it occurred to Republicans that one of the reasons we’re considered a global power is we have the entire western world supporting that idea?

This is so fucked.

Because they once looked on us a a guarantor of democracy and stability. They are now looking elsewhere.

166
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 8:23:34am

re: #164 darthstar

Has it occurred to Republicans that one of the reasons we’re considered a global power is we have the entire western world supporting that idea?

This is so fucked.

I’m sure they don’t know and don’t care. They’ve bought into the myth of American Exceptionalism, which teaches the USA doesn’t need the rest of the world to be great. By the time they realize the colossal errors they’ve made, it will be too late.

See also, the British Empire.

167
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  May 28, 2017 • 8:25:44am

re: #166 wheat-dogg

I’m sure they don’t know and don’t care. They’ve bought into the myth of American Exceptionalism, which teaches the USA doesn’t need the rest of the world to be great. By the time they realize the colossal errors they’ve made, it will be too late.

See also, the British Empire.

They believe that America should be exempt from the rules and convention of international diplomacy and relations. That we are special and deserve special treatment.

168
Amory Blaine  May 28, 2017 • 8:28:05am

Europe cuts us loose and China gets all the big advantages from the TPP, what’s next? The dollar as the reserve currency?

169
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 8:30:17am
170
Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis  May 28, 2017 • 8:30:58am

re: #90 JordanRules

171
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 8:31:35am

re: #168 Amory Blaine

Europe cuts us loose and China gets all the big advantages from the TPP, what’s next? The dollar as the reserve currency?

Remember, before we invaded Iraq in 2003 Saddam Hussein wanted to base oil prices on the Euro and not the dollar. This is not a new idea.

172
Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis  May 28, 2017 • 8:33:04am

re: #98 JordanRules

173
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 8:33:44am
174
Ace Rothstein  May 28, 2017 • 8:35:23am

re: #159 darthstar

This would be a good time to short a few US stocks.

This would be a good time for Trump to release his tax returns.

175
Dr Lizardo  May 28, 2017 • 8:35:32am

re: #171 darthstar

Remember, before we invaded Iraq in 2003 Saddam Hussein wanted to base oil prices on the Euro and not the dollar. This is not a new idea.

If I’m remembering right, the BRICS nations have proposed a currency basket as an international reserve currency to the US Dollar. That proposal’s been floated over the years.

176
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 8:36:32am
177
Teukka  May 28, 2017 • 8:36:39am

re: #160 GlutenFreeJesus

[Embedded content]

Must … not … goad … Donnie … with … “And whatever you do, don’t piss off the DGSE”

178
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 8:38:59am
179
Teukka  May 28, 2017 • 8:39:31am

re: #172 Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis

[Embedded content]

180
FormerDirtDart  May 28, 2017 • 8:39:56am

Most troubling is that it takes a prolonged internal debate to decide whether it’s serious or satire…

181
Ace Rothstein  May 28, 2017 • 8:40:37am
182
Joe Bacon  May 28, 2017 • 8:41:21am

re: #164 darthstar

Has it occurred to Republicans that one of the reasons we’re considered a global power is we have the entire western world supporting that idea?

This is so fucked.

Republicans do not care since they collectively sold their souls to Putin!

184
Joe Bacon  May 28, 2017 • 8:42:37am

re: #168 Amory Blaine

Europe cuts us loose and China gets all the big advantages from the TPP, what’s next? The dollar as the reserve currency?

That will be next on the list. And watch what happens when Wall Street melts down after the dollar gets the boot!

185
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 8:45:05am

re: #184 Joe Bacon

That will be next on the list. And watch what happens when Wall Street melts down after the dollar gets the boot!

I see some Obama blame coming.

186
Dr Lizardo  May 28, 2017 • 8:45:07am

re: #184 Joe Bacon

That will be next on the list. And watch what happens when Wall Street melts down after the dollar gets the boot!

It’s been said the the Twentieth Century was “the American Century”. Maybe we’ll now see the beginnings of “the Asian Century” as the locus of world power pivots to the Far East.

187
Joe Bacon  May 28, 2017 • 8:46:19am

re: #185 darthstar

I see some Obama blame coming.

Goes without any question that the Republican 24/7 Bullshit Machine will blame Obama the same way they blamed Carter and Clinton!

188
jaunte  May 28, 2017 • 8:46:47am

Festung Amerika

189
Patricia Kayden  May 28, 2017 • 8:48:40am

re: #53 Anymouse

Due to tax slashing in Oklahoma, many school districts have balloon class sizes, cut art or other classes, and have cut school days to four days a week.

washingtonpost.com

Oklahoma voters really don’t care about their children’s future, do they? Otherwise they’d vote for politicians who cared enough to raise taxes so that schools could be adequately funded. Such idiots.

While I feel sorry for the children, I have zero sympathy for their parents who keep voting Republican even when it hurts them.

190
JordanRules  May 28, 2017 • 8:48:45am

The NATO visit and speech were bad. Europe is now acting accordingly. This is so damn FUBAR.

191
Teukka  May 28, 2017 • 8:51:51am

re: #190 JordanRules

The NATO visit and speech were bad. Europe is now acting accordingly. This is so damn FUBAR.

Wait until backing out of the Paris accord gets official.
*chuckles maniacally*

192
Joe Bacon  May 28, 2017 • 8:53:00am

re: #189 Patricia Kayden

Oklahoma voters really don’t care about their children’s future, do they? Otherwise they’d vote for politicians who cared enough to raise taxes so that schools could be adequately funded. Such idiots.

While I feel sorry for the children, I have zero sympathy for their parents who keep voting Republican even when it hurts them.

I’m not surprised since so many of the fools who call my office from this state love to say, “Who needs anything else when you have Jesus?”

100 years ago, the state with the largest and most radical Socialist Party was Oklahoma but add 100 years of Right Wing Je$u$ and…POOF!

193
Dr Lizardo  May 28, 2017 • 8:53:10am

re: #191 Teukka

Wait until backing out of the Paris accord gets official.
*chuckles maniacally*

That actually did, in fact, make me chuckle maniacally.

194
Teukka  May 28, 2017 • 8:54:17am

re: #193 Dr Lizardo

That actually did, in fact, make me chuckle maniacally.

My hunch is that the reaction will, as the saying goes, leave quite some mark.

195
Unshaken Defiance  May 28, 2017 • 8:54:26am

I can’t watch this train wreck.
On a lighter note I’m going to indulge my annual time out for the Indy 500. My mom loved the sport and we would always watch. In ‘68 she took us to a (now long gone) Cinerama Dome and watched on closed circuit on a big theater screen. Bobby Unser won that year.

Hoosier Hoops just in case you are lurking today…

196
caseyjr  May 28, 2017 • 8:54:33am

re: #168 Amory Blaine

Europe cuts us loose and China gets all the big advantages from the TPP, what’s next? The dollar as the reserve currency?

the idjits who like to crow about the US saving Europe for no compensation probably never heard of Bretton Woods.

197
Joe Bacon  May 28, 2017 • 8:55:39am

Good Christian Men Rejoice when Your Anointed By Gawd President pulls out of the Paris Climate Accords…

Let’s hear it for that Rolling Coal Shit, Folks! Praise Je$u$!
198
FormerDirtDart  May 28, 2017 • 8:58:05am
199
Jay C  May 28, 2017 • 9:01:47am

re: #185 darthstar

I see some Obama blame coming.

Well, I’m sure they are going to TRY - but one thing about economic upturns/downturns? The public tend to blame whoever is in office at the time. However “bad” the domestic economy may have been in the Obama years, a crash virtually as soon as Trump gets in is going to look pretty bad for the incumbents. Especially as The Asshole made it a big theme of his campaign that the economy would take off into a Utopia of prosperity as soon as the GOP got in and worked their supply-side magic.

President Obama’s big win in 2008 wasn’t due entirely to his eloquent rhetoric or cheery personality…..

200
jaunte  May 28, 2017 • 9:01:52am
201
Varek Raith  May 28, 2017 • 9:01:58am

re: #16 GlutenFreeJesus

We used to live on Mars. Then we fucked it up and escaped to here. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Oh god dammit.
Just tell them everything, why don’t ya?!

202
Belafon  May 28, 2017 • 9:02:01am
203
caseyjr  May 28, 2017 • 9:02:41am

re: #188 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Festung Amerika

I get the feeling we will eventually turn our devices over to a border control guard at departure, and be issued identical devices upon arrival, with all our files having been e-transfered. The actual nuts & bolts would be a new private enterprise, owned by Trumputinsange Corporation.

204
Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis  May 28, 2017 • 9:03:50am

re: #198 FormerDirtDart

205
jaunte  May 28, 2017 • 9:05:12am

re: #203 caseyjr

Or someone is going to build a business on cheap devices to access encrypted information in the cloud. Rent one when you arrive at your destination, wipe it and turn it in when you leave.

206
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 9:08:59am

re: #203 caseyjr

I get the feeling we will eventually turn our devices over to a border control guard at departure, and be issued identical devices upon arrival, with all our files having been e-transfered. The actual nuts & bolts would be a new private enterprise, owned by Trumputinsange Corporation.

There are several tutorials online now showing how to encrypt your phone and your laptop in such a way that the border cops can’t even see the folders and files. One even suggests cloning your hard drive to an external device, then reinstalling the OS on your laptop, but not copying over files or programs.

That’s a bit extreme, especially if you use your laptop or phone for banking and other financial transactions.

207
Amory Blaine  May 28, 2017 • 9:12:13am

Is it legal to deny them passwords for encrypted files?

208
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 9:12:40am

re: #205 jaunte

Or someone is going to build a business on cheap devices to access encrypted information in the cloud. Rent one when you arrive at your destination, wipe it and turn it in when you leave.

In fact, one of the latest ideas in the blockchain world is exactly that, a low cost, decentralized encrypted cloud storage service. Files would be split up among various locations so that no one server would have a complete file. Look up Golem Sia, Storj, and iex.ec on teh googles.

Corrected to strike out Golem, which is a decentralized “supercomputer” project.

209
wheat-dogg  May 28, 2017 • 9:14:29am

re: #207 Amory Blaine

Is it legal to deny them passwords for encrypted files?

The Bill of Rights is nullified within 100 miles of an international border. So, you could refuse to provide passwords, and they could detain or arrest you if they were being pissy about it.

Or if you’re brown and come from certain countries.

210
Nyet  May 28, 2017 • 9:22:29am

Even better, Germany is the leader of the free world. How times have changed.

211
Joe Bacon  May 28, 2017 • 9:25:27am

re: #210 Nyet

Even better, Germany is the leader of the free world. How time have changed.

China will not only get to the moon and build a moonbase, they may lick the radiation exposure problem with solutions listed above and get to Mars…while America regresses backwards with endless Bible studies…

212
Joe Bacon  May 28, 2017 • 9:39:20am

In his own handwriting…

213
Varek Raith  May 28, 2017 • 9:40:47am

re: #212 Joe Bacon

[Embedded content]

Yeesh.

214
steve_davis  May 28, 2017 • 9:43:27am

re: #151 Dr Lizardo

This is one of the few things the UK’s Daily Mail gets right - a nice photoset of an apartment, a private suite in Radio City Music Hall, with its Art Deco interior, pretty much untouched since 1936.

dailymail.co.uk

Albert Hitchcock? Alfred’s younger, smarter brother?

215
Amory Blaine  May 28, 2017 • 9:44:18am

re: #139 Amory Blaine

Homeland security chief defends Kushner’s alleged proposal for ‘back channel’ to the Russians as ‘a good thing’

Homeland Security Secretary John F. Kelly, the lone administration official to speak out publicly about reports that Jared Kushner sought a back channel to communicate with the Russian government, defended the move, saying it was a “good thing” for the U.S. government.

“It’s normal, in my opinion, and acceptable,” Kelly said of the reports that Kushner made the request for a secret communications channel to the Russian ambassador during the presidential transition. “Any way that you can communicate with people, particularly organizations that are not particularly friendly to us, is a good thing.”

217
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  May 28, 2017 • 9:46:00am

re: #215 Amory Blaine


Homeland security chief defends Kushner’s alleged proposal for ‘back channel’ to the Russians as ‘a good thing’

The problem is the association with private business ventures and the extent to which they influence policy decisions. If only there were some, you know, official documents Trump could release to dispel any such notions…

218
Amory Blaine  May 28, 2017 • 9:47:00am

I’m a broken record at this point, but the US is being run by criminals.

219
PhillyPretzel  May 28, 2017 • 9:49:29am

re: #218 Amory Blaine

You are not a broken record. Many people agree with you.

220
Dr Lizardo  May 28, 2017 • 9:50:40am

re: #214 steve_davis

Albert Hitchcock? Alfred’s younger, smarter brother?

And less portly. :p

221
lawhawk  May 28, 2017 • 9:53:16am

So, Trump’s back on US soil and tweeting up a shit storm of fact-free nonsense. In other words, a day ending in Y. He thinks that his trip was a success?

Success for what country? Not the US.

Our EU allies and NATO partners are actively working to minimize the damage Trump did to their national security and US national security. They no longer consider the US to be a leader. Trump has undermined US national security, and the GOP continues to act as though all this is normal, let alone acceptable.

Had anyone else said and done the things Trump did, especially if it were someone named Hillary or Obama, you can believe that the GOP would be instituting articles of impeachment. This isn’t a mere policy dispute. It’s actively ignoring the oath of office and the obligations to protect and defend the nation against threats foreign and domestic. Right now, the GOP is ignoring their oaths as well, and trying to defend the indefensible and incomprehensible Trump statements.

The only one benefiting from Trump turning US-European and US-Israeli relations to hash is Putin. Not the US. Not our NATO allies. Not Israel. Putin.

Also benefiting? China.

Russia benefits from the chaos, and China gets to flex its muscles without even having to do a damned thing, all because Trump has ceded US foreign policy to Putin’s goals to disrupt the US-European alliance and worldview.

222
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 9:55:50am

Banjo’s happy to have me home from Mexico…the harbor seals seem to enjoy getting back to the routine as well.

223
Joe Bacon  May 28, 2017 • 9:56:50am

re: #221 lawhawk

This is all going the way Putin and his pals planned it. The Republicans sold their souls to Russia for pure political gain and if the continue unchecked the United States is going to completely collapse and break into pieces.

224
Birth Control Works  May 28, 2017 • 9:58:30am

drive-by

225
lawhawk  May 28, 2017 • 10:01:25am

re: #224 Birth Control Works

They’re just bitching that they couldn’t get to see the early screening so they could complain that her outfit/uniform isn’t sufficiently Wonder Woman-y. Or that her cleavage isn’t sufficiently superhero-ish.

226
jaunte  May 28, 2017 • 10:03:53am

Fake president, fake history.

227
jaunte  May 28, 2017 • 10:04:24am

“Many great American soldiers’

228
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 10:04:27am
230
Joe Bacon  May 28, 2017 • 10:06:37am
231
lawhawk  May 28, 2017 • 10:08:42am

re: #226 jaunte

Trump tore down a stand of trees on a section of riverbank because he wanted the view. There was no river crossing there and there was no battle. It’s pure unadulterated BS, but that’s how Trump operates.

Meanwhile, while claiming that Trump’s spawn sons aren’t involved in the political side of things, they were meeting with the GOP to discuss policy. That again shows that they’re all thinking they’re above the law and Mueller needs to consider subpoenas against the lot of them for what they knew, and to preserve records, including phone calls and emails.

The whole lot of them reeks.

232
Amory Blaine  May 28, 2017 • 10:09:10am

Even his fake plaque has exclamation points. Sad!

233
lawhawk  May 28, 2017 • 10:09:40am

re: #228 darthstar

Not weird news. It’s that those 8th graders are more aware of what Ryan and the GOP are doing than most Americans. They wont abide by a photo op that benefits Ryan by their presence.

234
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 10:11:22am

re: #233 lawhawk

Not weird news. It’s that those 8th graders are more aware of what Ryan and the GOP are doing than most Americans. They wont abide by a photo op that benefits Ryan by their presence.

Just a tweet from WeirdNews - links to ABC. Bravo to those kids. Apparently, Speaker Ryan wasn’t told that half the class refused to see him.

235
Varek Raith  May 28, 2017 • 10:14:08am

re: #218 Amory Blaine

I’m a broken record at this point, but the US is being run by criminals.

You are not a broken record.
This country is.

236
Backwoods_Sleuth  May 28, 2017 • 10:14:44am
237
Blind Frog Belly White  May 28, 2017 • 10:23:00am

re: #228 darthstar

[Embedded content]

But, you know, Nancy Pelosi is why Democrats lose.

238
Blind Frog Belly White  May 28, 2017 • 10:25:09am

re: #218 Amory Blaine

I’m a broken record at this point, but the US is being run by criminals.

Well, we know how much Trump admires Russia….

EDIT: Oligarchs, Organized Crime, and the Government in Russia are kind of like the Trinity in Christianity - three aspects of the same entity.

239
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 10:25:51am

Her sweet look. Really, I think the only words she knows in English are ‘fuck you daddy’

240
stpaulbear  May 28, 2017 • 10:26:34am

re: #234 darthstar

Apparently, Speaker Ryan wasn’t told that half the class refused to see him.

I think it’s great that Ryan doesn’t find out until it’s already viral news.

241
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 10:26:59am

re: #239 darthstar

Her sweet look. Really, I think the only words she knows in English are ‘fuck you daddy’

[Embedded content]

She’s still lying on my legs…enjoying the warmth but wondering when she should draw blood.

242
Blind Frog Belly White  May 28, 2017 • 10:29:27am

re: #241 darthstar

She’s still lying on my legs…enjoying the warmth but wondering when she should draw blood.

I suggest you wear chaps.

243
darthstar  May 28, 2017 • 10:30:09am

re: #242 Blind Frog Belly White

I suggest you wear chaps.

A stainless steel cup would be helpful

244
ObserverArt  May 28, 2017 • 10:33:10am

Well, I was going to greet everyone and say have a happy holiday. But after reading through some of this thread I’m not feeling too happy.

Have a nice day and extended weekend. Remember all who died to defend and save this country.

Hopefully we right the ship before what all those that gave their lives for is lost by the Republican Party and the Orange Fool they seem to want to support to the detriment of this country.

I sure hope Merkel’s statements wake some of the GOP up so they realize the only hope we have is for them to start working with Democrats and put a “Save America” caucus together that goes around political party for the good future of America.

245
Blind Frog Belly White  May 28, 2017 • 10:33:41am

re: #243 darthstar

A stainless steel cup would be helpful

Yeah, but funnily enough, a cat stepping on his junk is what led my brother to discover he had testicular cancer.*

*Cancer free for 25 years now!)

246
JordanRules  May 28, 2017 • 10:41:34am

Wow. Nope Cory, nope. Clearance should have been suspended already for the first criminal lie

247
PhillyPretzel  May 28, 2017 • 10:45:02am

re: #246 JordanRules

He is trying to be careful. But I agree with you, it should have been revoked when he first lie.

248
ObserverArt  May 28, 2017 • 10:45:29am

re: #246 JordanRules

Wow. Nope Cory, nope. Clearance should have been suspended already for the first criminal lie

[Embedded content]

Booker is often a disappointment. I’m not a big fan. This is nothing but politics and it stinks.

249
covfefe  May 28, 2017 • 10:45:55am

Comey is boned too.

cnn.com

On Wednesday, The Washington Post reported that the FBI received a document detailing a supposed email from Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was at the time the head of the Democratic National Committee, where she said someone in the Department of Justice told her Attorney General Loretta Lynch was containing the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s email practices as secretary of state. The report said the details came from “a dubious Russian document” and that this document influenced Comey’s decision to make his thinking on the case public. On Friday, CNN reported that Comey acted on this document, even though he knew it to be fake.

No sympathy for him at all.

250
austin_blue  May 28, 2017 • 10:49:22am

Well, you will see one of the most spectacular racing accidents ever tonight on the Norts Spews.

Scott Dixon got caught up with a car bouncing off the wall, went airborne, and came down on a catch fence that tore his car in half. Red-flagged the race for repairs.

No injuries, but, boy, that was just wild.

251
Blind Frog Belly White  May 28, 2017 • 10:49:28am

re: #249 GlutenFreeJesus

Comey is boned too.

cnn.com

No sympathy for him at all.

I read a more subtle reading of this, that even if he were sure it was fake, if he couldn’t PROVE it was fake without revealing ‘sources and methods’, he needed to take into account that it might come out.

To me, it’s another piece of the puzzle in how effective Russia’s campaign to ruin our election was. And with the fallout from Trump’s disastrous trip abroad starting to come in, clearly money and effort well spent on Putin’s part.

252
JordanRules  May 28, 2017 • 10:52:22am

re: #248 ObserverArt

That’s been my take on him from years past. I’d really been appreciating him more lately though. And now well… this stinks horribly.

253
stpaulbear  May 28, 2017 • 10:54:38am

re: #250 austin_blue

Well, you will see one of the most spectacular racing accidents ever tonight on the Norts Spews.

Scott Dixon got caught up with a car bouncing off the wall, went airborne, and came down on a catch fence that tore his car in half. Red-flagged the race for repairs.

No injuries, but, boy, that was just wild.

It’s already posted multiple times on YouTube.

BIG CRASH - 2017 INDY 500 - SCOTT DIXON - JAY HOWARD

254
Timothy Watson  May 28, 2017 • 10:55:16am

re: #246 JordanRules

Wow. Nope Cory, nope. Clearance should have been suspended already for the first criminal lie

[Embedded content]

The SF-86, which Jared signed, specifically states:

The U.S. Criminal Code (title 18, section 1001) provides that knowingly falsifying or concealing a material fact is a felony which may result in fines and/or up to five (5) years imprisonment. In addition, Federal agencies generally fire, do not grant a security clearance, or disqualify individuals who have materially and deliberately falsified these forms, and this remains a part of the permanent record for future placements. Your prospects of placement or security clearance are better if you answer all questions truthfully and completely. You will have adequate opportunity to explain any information you provide on this form and to make your comments part of the record.

255
JordanRules  May 28, 2017 • 10:59:11am

re: #254 Timothy Watson

I tend to agree with Sarah that this Jared thing may be especially instructive.

256
allegro  May 28, 2017 • 11:01:14am

re: #248 ObserverArt

Booker is often a disappointment. I’m not a big fan. This is nothing but politics and it stinks.

He’s had some iffy moments for me over the years but I remained hopeful of a positive future for him. This just took him off my list. He’s willing to excuse a fucking felony and provide cover for this corrupt family that’s taking us all down?

Nope.

257
lawhawk  May 28, 2017 • 11:03:36am

re: #246 JordanRules

Indeed.

258
Pawn of the Oppressor  May 28, 2017 • 11:05:11am

re: #253 stpaulbear

It’s already posted multiple times on YouTube.

[Embedded content]

Video

Good gods. He missed three common killers of racing drivers right in a row: striking the wall, being hit by a tire, and rollover. That is mind-boggling, and a credit to the safety engineers who made a cockpit that can land on top of a wall at speed, and not break. (Reacting especially to watching the car’s side pod collapse against the top of the wall)

Edit: OK, I thought his loose tire came near the cockpit, but it was well down-field. Still though… “Holy crap”.

259
I Would Prefer Not To  May 28, 2017 • 11:05:36am

Trump is such a fucking coward. Why didn’t he tell the Europeans directly to their face that he is going to drop out of the Paris Climate agreement?

Probably why he didn’t ask the President of Mexico to pay for the wall when he went to visit. He’s a wimp.

260
JordanRules  May 28, 2017 • 11:06:27am

In no sane reading of current circumstances should certain folks still have clearance. This remains nuts to me!

261
ObserverArt  May 28, 2017 • 11:07:26am

re: #256 allegro

He’s had some iffy moments for me over the years but I remained hopeful of a positive future for him. This just took him off my list. He’s willing to excuse a fucking felony and provide cover for this corrupt family that’s taking us all down?

Nope.

I think it is a NJ/NY thing. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had dealings with Trump and Gang in the past.

262
Timothy Watson  May 28, 2017 • 11:08:33am

re: #260 JordanRules

Even if they’re ousted, think of the damage Trump, Kushner, Sessions, and others implicated can do have done with classified intel. Same with Flynn.

FTFY. Trump’s already burned an Israeli intelligence source to the Russians. God only knows what’s going on behind other closed doors.

263
allegro  May 28, 2017 • 11:11:25am

re: #261 ObserverArt

I think it is a NJ/NY thing. It wouldn’t surprise me if he had dealings with Trump and Gang in the past.

So he’s proving himself to be as corrupt as they. Fuck him.

264
ObserverArt  May 28, 2017 • 11:12:27am

Doing my best to not say anything negative about the Indy 500. And yes, I like racing and was involved in CART/IndyCar racing for years.

Let’s just say racing politics plays a role in my concerns for the sport…and the drivers.

265
JordanRules  May 28, 2017 • 11:12:38am

re: #262 Timothy Watson

Right! Not letting that slide out of memory is important.

I’m glad I’m still outraged by this, as are others here, but I’m growing so damn frustrated with the lack of overall real and urgent national security concern from a lot of folks who know better.

This continues to be crazy and threatening to the free world with each minute that passes.

266
Bass Reeves  May 28, 2017 • 11:22:34am

re: #257 lawhawk

There is a difference between suspension and revocation. His clearance could easily be suspended (it involves hitting a button a website), and in the unlikely scenario he is cleared of wrongdoing, easily reinstated. Complete revocation is appropriate in my opinion, but considering the President’s role in the handling of classified information, I don’t see suspension or revocation having a functional impact. President says ‘share it’, you pretty much have to ‘share it’. Legally, I don’t think I could even call it an unlawful order before the investigation is done. But you are the lawyer, not I.

re: #251 Blind Frog Belly White

I read a more subtle reading of this, that even if he were sure it was fake, if he couldn’t PROVE it was fake without revealing ‘sources and methods’, he needed to take into account that it might come out.

To me, it’s another piece of the puzzle in how effective Russia’s campaign to ruin our election was. And with the fallout from Drumpf’s disastrous trip abroad starting to come in, clearly money and effort well spent on Putin’s part.

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

267
Ming5000  May 28, 2017 • 12:00:52pm

re: #245 Blind Frog Belly White

Yeah, but funnily enough, a cat stepping on his junk is what led my brother to discover he had testicular cancer.*

*Cancer free for 25 years now!)

I wonder how you can discern regular “cat stepped on my junk” pain from “huh, that’s not right”.
(glad it worked out)

268
Blind Frog Belly White  May 28, 2017 • 12:54:11pm

re: #267 Ming5000

I wonder how you can discern regular “cat stepped on my junk” pain from “huh, that’s not right”.
(glad it worked out)

According to Bro, intensity, duration, and pervasiveness.


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