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332 comments
1
Stanley Sea  Jun 20, 2017 • 12:48:02pm
2
Dr. Matt  Jun 20, 2017 • 12:49:16pm

This is not normal:

3
Kragar  Jun 20, 2017 • 12:49:37pm
4
Stanley Sea  Jun 20, 2017 • 12:52:50pm

Repost from below

5
Charles Johnson  Jun 20, 2017 • 12:53:05pm
6
Belafon  Jun 20, 2017 • 12:53:13pm

re: #2 Dr. Matt

This is not normal:

Nope.

Can we also, though, make sure that “this is not normal” doesn’t become normal.

7
Dr. Matt  Jun 20, 2017 • 12:53:53pm

Nothing to see. Move along. All is well.

8
Belafon  Jun 20, 2017 • 12:54:21pm

re: #5 Charles Johnson

Just think how many fewer white men there would be if the military walked around America.

10
Charles Johnson  Jun 20, 2017 • 12:56:48pm
11
MsJ  Jun 20, 2017 • 12:59:02pm

re: #9 Stanley Sea

But McCain will still vote for it.

12
Jay C  Jun 20, 2017 • 12:59:43pm

re: #9 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

And does anyone seriously think Grampy McMaverick’s qualms about this hideous bill mean in any way shape or form that he wouldn’t vote for it anyway?

13
freetoken  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:02:01pm

re: #2 Dr. Matt

FAKE!!

14
Charles Johnson  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:02:22pm
15
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:04:28pm

Man, for guys who supposedly don’t believe they’ve done anything wrong, the administration seems to be adding lawyers to the payroll like crazy. At this point, I’m surprised Bullshit Spice hasn’t hired a lawyer.

16
FormerDirtDart  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:05:17pm
17
Aucun pays pour les vieux ennemis  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:09:00pm
18
FormerDirtDart  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:10:22pm

“For me, not for thee”
Yeah, we all want Louie Gohmert walking around the country with a loaded firearm…

19
darthstar  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:10:50pm

re: #2 Dr. Matt

This is not normal:

[Embedded content]

It is now.

20
Stanley Sea  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:11:50pm

It’s 102 here.

21
darthstar  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:13:18pm

I don’t mind getting corrected when I’m wrong, but getting corrected when I said that exact thing?

22
Le Coquí Résistance  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:13:40pm

re: #15 Targetpractice

Man, for guys who supposedly don’t believe they’ve done anything wrong, the administration seems to be adding lawyers to the payroll like crazy. At this point, I’m surprised Bullshit Spice hasn’t hired a lawyer.

It might be a pre-requisite for working with this administration.

23
darthstar  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:15:49pm

re: #20 Stanley Sea

It’s 102 here.

71 here…had a nice swim at lunch again. I picked the right time to get back in the habit of going to the pool. Pleasant, warm, and I’ve adjusted my schedule at work to get there early so it’s not crowded with masters swimmers and their young healthy bodies churning up the water like a gam of sharks.

24
FormerDirtDart  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:16:04pm
25
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:16:26pm

re: #22 Le Coquí Résistance

It might be a pre-requisite for working with this administration.

I am sure that DT was disappointed to find out he could force the entire government to sign lifetime NDAs

26
Belafon  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:16:29pm

re: #18 FormerDirtDart

“For me, not for thee”
Yeah, we all want Louie Gohmert walking around the country with a loaded firearm…

Someone needs to ask them how having guns would have stopped that. I would have assumed something like that would have had some form of police presence.

27
lawhawk  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:16:38pm

re: #24 FormerDirtDart

That’s fortunate.

It appears that the Rift opened in Brussels instead of Cardiff.

28
whitebeach  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:17:09pm

re: #14 Charles Johnson

Truth on a freakin shingle.

29
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:18:08pm

The wingnuts keep insisting that this scandal is a hoax, it’s less important than any “scandal” they wish to name during the Obama years. But the difference is that the Obama admin never hired outside lawyers to represent members of the administration during those investigations. And they agreed again and again to testify before Congress, instead of making excuses for why they had to dodge the questions.

30
covfefe  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:18:23pm

re: #18 FormerDirtDart

Gee. They didn’t propose this after Gabby was shot in the head…

31
wrenchwench  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:19:55pm

re: #30 covfefe

Gee. They didn’t propose this after Gabby was shot in the head…

Her husband would have them on the next space-shot if they had.

32
KGxvi  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:20:39pm

re: #22 Le Coquí Résistance

It might be a pre-requisite for working with this administration.

YOU WANT TO WORK FOR ME? OF COURSE, YOU DO, WHO WOULDN’T? IT’S THE GREATEST ADMINISTRATION EVER, YOU’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT, BELIEVE ME.

On the advise of my counsel, I am going to have to decline the job offer and invoke my Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN? SELF INCRIMINATION?

Um, it’s just… well, everyone who works for you ends up under investigation, so I’m just invoking my right preemptively.

33
makeitstop  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:24:18pm

What to make of this…

34
Belafon  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:26:27pm

re: #33 makeitstop

What to make of this…

Maybe Trump can inform Vlad that Top Gun was a movie.

35
CongoJack  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:27:13pm

From the thread downstairs that likened ‘Firefly’ to the confederate south fighting the union (which would make Mal a confederate). I disagree. According to to Joss Whedon the ‘central planets’ (or in the former analogy - the union) was actually an all power corporation that only wanted to help the rich (central planets). Those out on the fringes were not being cared for my the ‘corporation(s)’ thus they resisted the corporate overlords rule since they were only being used as items and not taken care of as people.

*spoiler alert*

From what I’ve read the direction of season 2 and 3 were more anti-corporate plots and drawing the idea that the central planet government was just large corporation that wanted to control all aspect of everyday life (thus the reavers and the story line that comes full circle in the movie as they are the byproduct of the attempt to control people through chemical means).

Nerd-rage contained :).

36
darthstar  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:27:39pm

re: #21 darthstar

He was kind enough to apologize, though that wasn’t necessary…it is twitter.

37
Dr. Matt  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:28:11pm

Your feel good moment of the day

38
Belafon  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:29:50pm

re: #35 CongoJack

From the thread downstairs that likened ‘Firefly’ to the confederate south fighting the union (which would make Mal a confederate). I disagree. According to to Joss Whedon the ‘central planets’ (or in the former analogy - the union) was actually an all power corporation that only wanted to help the rich (central planets). Those out on the fringes were not being cared for my the ‘corporation(s)’ thus they resisted the corporate overlords rule since they were only being used as items and not taken care of as people.

*spoiler alert*

[Embedded content]

Nerd-rage contained :).

As my art teacher would say, the artist provides one possible interpretation. A lot of times, they may be influenced by things they aren’t consciously considering. Also, analogies, not being perfect, might apply in more than one situation.

39
Dr. Matt  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:30:08pm
40
FormerDirtDart  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:30:21pm

re: #26 Belafon

Someone needs to ask them how having guns would have stopped that. I would have assumed something like that would have had some form of police presence.

Plus, it’s hard to imagine them “concealed carry”-ing their guns while on the field at baseball practice.

41
KGxvi  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:30:52pm

re: #35 CongoJack

I think I’m glad I missed that discussion. I loved Firefly, and to compare the browncoats to confederates is to completely miss the point of the show.

42
Belafon  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:31:18pm

re: #30 covfefe

Gee. They didn’t propose this after Gabby was shot in the head…

Us men are such delicate flowers that we need protection that women obviously don’t need.

43
KGxvi  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:31:29pm

re: #40 FormerDirtDart

Plus, it’s hard to imagine them “concealed carry”-ing their guns while on the field at baseball practice.

Louie is just looking for a better way to break up a double play at second.

44
A hollow voice says, Covfefe.  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:32:33pm

re: #35 CongoJack

From the thread downstairs that likened ‘Firefly’ to the confederate south fighting the union (which would make Mal a confederate). I disagree. According to to Joss Whedon the ‘central planets’ (or in the former analogy - the union) was actually an all power corporation that only wanted to help the rich (central planets). Those out on the fringes were not being cared for my the ‘corporation(s)’ thus they resisted the corporate overlords rule since they were only being used as items and not taken care of as people.

*spoiler alert*

[Embedded content]

Nerd-rage contained :).

The issue isn’t what it is, it’s what RWNJs will make of it. (I hear they’ve been making some… interesting… interpretations of a Shakespeare play recently.)

45
A hollow voice says, Covfefe.  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:34:05pm

Off to phone bank for Jon Ossoff again One More Time.

I hate phone banking.

46
CongoJack  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:35:43pm

re: #38 Belafon

As my art teacher would say, the artist provides one possible interpretation. A lot of times, they may be influenced by things they aren’t consciously considering. Also, analogies, not being perfect, might apply in more than one situation.

To paraphrase Tim Minchin,
Go get an art degree so that one can fine meaning where there is none.

Also Joss Whedon stated more or less the item I wrote about previously in the special features of the season 1 DVDs (and only season sadly… but you knew that already).

And if we want to go full ‘Firefly’ … has anyone read the ‘biography’ of Shepard Book? I have it on my wish-list on Google.

47
Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:37:55pm

re: #38 Belafon

As my art teacher would say, the artist provides one possible interpretation. A lot of times, they may be influenced by things they aren’t consciously considering. Also, analogies, not being perfect, might apply in more than one situation.

You mean like people who think Born in the USA is a patriotic song?

48
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:40:52pm

re: #18 FormerDirtDart

“For me, not for thee”
Yeah, we all want Louie Gohmert walking around the country with a loaded firearm…

Adam Kredo ✔ @Kredo0
BREAKING: Congress seeks right to carry concealed firearms anywhere in the US after Scalise shooting freebeacon.com
3:37 PM - 20 Jun 2017

So, next year when they are out at their baseball game, they are all going to wear holsters with their guns in them while wearing their game uniforms?

Yeah, right.

And there is still that thing about surprise. Oh wait, they are armed congressmen so they will shoot anyone they suspect of no good just because they can.

Congressman Gohmert, you just shot and killed a man. “I know, I got the drop on him”

Uh, Mr. Ghomert, he was a Republican lobbyist. “Well, he ain’t gonna hurt me now is he?”

49
lawhawk  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:42:28pm

re: #48 ObserverArt

What good is having a concealed weapon if a guy’s using a rifle and has an extended clip? Or is firing from at a distance? Yeah, the problem is solved by arming the Congress critters and not doing more to keep guns out of people who shouldn’t have them - like people who engage in domestic violence?

50
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:42:44pm

re: #43 KGxvi

Louie is just looking for a better way to break up a double play at second.

not to mention putting a complete stop to all of that base-stealing.

51
KGxvi  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:43:42pm

re: #38 Belafon

As my art teacher would say, the artist provides one possible interpretation. A lot of times, they may be influenced by things they aren’t consciously considering. Also, analogies, not being perfect, might apply in more than one situation.

Every reader/viewer brings their own experiences and biases to a work, how they interpret that work will be governed as much by those experiences and biases as it will by the words of the writer.

52
KGxvi  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:44:55pm

re: #50 Backwoods_Sleuth

not to mention putting a complete stop to all of that base-stealing.

Obligatory:

Hook - 1991 - Baseball Scene

53
Charles Johnson  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:45:07pm

WTF Twitter.

54
Stanley Sea  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:46:40pm
55
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:47:07pm

re: #14 Charles Johnson

[Embedded content]

Encore/followup;

Jackson Browne - Lawyers in Love (lyrics)

56
Belafon  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:47:08pm

re: #47 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

You mean like people who think Born in the USA is a patriotic song?

The difference there would be in paying attention vs not getting beyond the title.

I read an interesting interpretation of the Wizard of Oz, that it was an allegory for 1900s industrial America.

57
Cheechako  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:48:06pm

I’m surprised someone hasn’t invented a jock strap/gun holster for concealed carriers who want to participate in sporting activites while carrying. Of course, an “accidental discharge” might trim down the gene pool a bit.

58
Belafon  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:48:19pm

re: #51 KGxvi

Every reader/viewer brings their own experiences and biases to a work, how they interpret that work will be governed as much by those experiences and biases as it will by the words of the writer.

Thanks. That actually sounds closer to what he said. It’s just been 17 years since I heard it.

59
The Vicious Babushka  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:48:21pm

re: #47 Wendell Zurkowitz ((slave to the waffle light))

You mean like people who think Born in the USA is a patriotic song?

Hannity used “Independence Day” by Martina McBride as the bumper music for his radio show. Apparently he has never listened to the song and doesn’t know that it’s about domestic violence, not July 4th.

60
Belafon  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:49:02pm

re: #57 Cheechako

I’m surprised someone hasn’t invented a jock strap/gun holster for concealed carriers who want to participate in sporting activites while carrying. Of course, an “accidental discharge” might trim down the gene pool a bit.

Every congresscritter gets an armed drone that is free to shoot at anyone it deems dangerous.

61
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:49:40pm

re: #20 Stanley Sea

It’s 102 here.

And it’s 75 here—go figure.

62
makeitstop  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:52:19pm

Oxymoron of the Day: Sealed ‘Public’ Records

A proliferation of court records online on PACER—the pay-per-page portal run by the courts—-and smartphones have made it easier for criminal gangs to find files that could expose cooperators, according to judges and lawyers.

“Anonymous remote public access to PACER is a source of much of the information that gets into prisons about who is cooperating,” U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan of Manhattan told the Judicial Conference’s criminal rules committee in April, citing anecdotal and other evidence.

Federal inmates are restricted from accessing PACER themselves, but it is easy for them to ask people outside the prison to search the online system and report the information back into the prison by phone, according to judges.

Forgive my cynicism, but I’m sure that there’s no ulterior motive here.

//////////

63
freetoken  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:55:37pm

It’s 90F here.

But it’s a dry heat.

64
Cheechako  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:57:23pm

If it makes anyone feel better, it’s 52 and raining up here.

65
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:57:38pm

*sigh*

So my favorite pet “serious” conservative is now waving around an “independent study” from a glibertarian outfit that claims proof of “MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD!!!” to the order of 5.7 million noncitizen votes in the ‘08 election. This report is (of course) being used to claim that not only has Trump been “vindicated,” but that it totally “erases” the ‘16 popular vote/EC vote in his favor.

66
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:57:51pm

re: #61 BeachDem

And it’s 75 here—go figure.

BeachDem,

I saw where Skip Intro was asking if we (LGF) knew there was an election in South Carolina today too in the last thread.

I got your back on that one. I did a CL end of live thread post.

You’ve only been posting articles, videos and images about it and the Democratic candidate for a couple months, so I don’t know where Skip was on all that.

I guess he doesn’t read through the threads. But if you don’t keep up with it all, then you shouldn’t make a claim like that not knowing.

Bad Skip.

Just wanted to let you know, some of us read your comments and try to keep up.

67
Belafon  Jun 20, 2017 • 1:59:58pm

re: #65 Targetpractice

*sigh*

So my favorite pet “serious” conservative is now waving around an “independent study” from a glibertarian outfit that claims proof of “MASSIVE VOTER FRAUD!!!” to the order of 5.7 million noncitizen votes in the ‘08 election. This report is (of course) being used to claim that not only has Trump been “vindicated,” but that it totally “erases” the ‘16 popular vote/EC vote in his favor.

Considering we know about the woman in Des Moines who voted twice, the TV would catch on fire from all the reports of that much voter fraud.

68
The Vicious Babushka  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:01:15pm

Deplorables are losing their shit over this Moby video

Moby & The Void Pacific Choir - In This Cold Place (Official Video)

69
Brother Holy Cruise Missile of Mild Acceptance  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:02:29pm

Saw this on Twitter regarding Sessions lawyering up:

#MAGA = Making Attorneys Get Attorneys.

70
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:02:37pm

re: #66 ObserverArt

BeachDem,

I saw where Skip Intro was asking if we (LGF) knew there was an election in South Carolina today too in the last thread.

I got your back on that one. I did a CL end of live thread post.

You’ve only been posting articles, videos and images about it and the Democratic candidate for a couple months, so I don’t know where Skip was on all that.

I guess he doesn’t read through the threads. But if you don’t keep up with it all, then you shouldn’t make a claim like that not knowing.

Bad Skip.

Just wanted to let you know, some of read your comments and try to keep up.

Thanks. So the old “if BD posts Archie’s House of Cards video and nobody watches it, does it make a sound?” question has been answered!

]

71
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:04:54pm

re: #67 Belafon

Considering we know about the woman in Des Moines who voted twice, the TV would catch on fire from all the reports of that much voter fraud.

It’s the usual narrative: “There’s a lot more voter fraud than libruls acknowledge!”. But the hilarious bit is that the 5.7 million is the high-end of (wait for it) the estimated number of fraudulent votes. The low end? 594,000. In other words, it’s a wild-assed guess based upon somebody else’s data. Yes, that’s right, the “study’s” authors didn’t do the footwork themselves, they’re basing this BS upon a Harvard/YouGov biannual poll of voters.

72
Cheechako  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:05:06pm

To prevent voter fraud we should just use our National ID Cards we already have in order to vote. You know those pesky Social Security Cards. Bar codes and photos could be added so they could be scanned at the poll. Could save quite a bit of time voting.

///

73
451_Montag  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:05:57pm

CNN reporting that the Senate investigation is starting to follow the money. Treasury releasing financial documents.

74
Ace-o-aces  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:06:25pm
75
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:08:52pm

re: #71 Targetpractice

It’s the usual narrative: “There’s a lot more voter fraud than libruls acknowledge!”. But the hilarious bit is that the 5.7 million is the high-end of (wait for it) the estimated number of fraudulent votes. The low end? 594,000. In other words, it’s a wild-assed guess based upon somebody else’s data. Yes, that’s right, the “study’s” authors didn’t do the footwork themselves, they’re basing this BS upon a Harvard/YouGov biannual poll of voters.

600k to 5.7 million? That’s one hell of an error bar.

76
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:09:41pm

More members of the Leopards Eating People’s Faces Party

“The threat of deportation and the potential loss of our workforce has been very terrifying for all of us businesses here,” Trista Priest, chief strategy office for Cattle Empire, a massive cattle operation that overwhelmingly employs Latinos.

Seventy-seven percent of people in county where Cattle Empire operates voted for Trump, but according to Bloomberg, Priest and others “complained that the immigration policies emanating from Washington, 1,500 miles away, clash with the needs of local businesses.”

rawstory.com

What in the pluperfect fuck did they think was going to happen?

77
Belafon  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:12:02pm

re: #76 BeachDem

Assuming they thought, they thought it would only affect other people.

78
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:12:10pm

re: #76 BeachDem

More members of the Leopards Eating People’s Faces Party

“The threat of deportation and the potential loss of our workforce has been very terrifying for all of us businesses here,” Trista Priest, chief strategy office for Cattle Empire, a massive cattle operation that overwhelmingly employs Latinos.

Seventy-seven percent of people in county where Cattle Empire operates voted for Trump, but according to Bloomberg, Priest and others “complained that the immigration policies emanating from Washington, 1,500 miles away, clash with the needs of local businesses.”

rawstory.com

What in the pluperfect fuck did they think was going to happen?

Same thing that every other “economically anxious” white voter thought: “Those criminal immigrants will be the only ones thrown out! But the ‘good ones’ like Julio will be spared!”

79
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:15:41pm

re: #78 Targetpractice

Same thing that every other “economically anxious” white voter thought: “Those criminal immigrants will be the only ones thrown out! But the ‘good ones’ like Julio will be spared!”

Like the Iraqi Christians who voted for Trump, thinking that their status as Christians would protect them. No, folks, you’re still “brown people” to the giant talking yam, and that means DEPORTATION!!!!!

80
Stanley Sea  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:17:16pm
81
mmmirele  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:17:38pm

My new Alexa toy says it’s 115 degrees outside here in Mesa. It also insists on telling me there’s a heat warning in effect until Sunday night before it gives me the temp.

82
I Would Prefer Not To  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:19:34pm

re: #81 mmmirele

My new Alexa toy says it’s 115 degrees outside here in Mesa. It also insists on telling me there’s a heat warning in effect until Sunday night before it gives me the temp.

Ask Alexa if she wants to go outside.

83
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:19:58pm

The other thing that a lot of these “WWC” fuckwits are learning is how many of those “criminal immigrants” they have known and befriended but didn’t know were “Illegals.” Finding out that “those people” are their neighbors, their friends, their coworkers, the owner of that restaurant they really like, the guy running the bait shop, etc, etc. But you can be sure that after the initial flash of shock, they’ll just quietly shrug and tell themselves “It’s better this way.”

84
IngisKahn  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:20:08pm

re: #81 mmmirele

Ya, my Alexa says 115, but my Nest says 117. Who to believe??

85
Stanley Sea  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:21:40pm
86
freetoken  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:23:03pm

Apparently all of us who accept that the Earth is a sphere, and the evolution is real, are part of the “Cult of Pythagoras”.

Well, ok, I’ll hang with Pythagoras.

87
Stanley Sea  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:24:07pm
88
mmmirele  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:24:54pm

re: #82 I Would Prefer Not To

Ask Alexa if she wants to go outside.

“I don’t have an opinion on that.”

89
Jay C  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:25:51pm

re: #75 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

600k to 5.7 million? That’s one hell of an error bar.

Also: Isn’t even that lower figure highly suspect?
ISTR some study published a little while back that examined the actual number of “voter fraud” cases that made it as far as the legal system (nationwide), and the number - stretching back many years (20?) - was measured in the dozens, rather than “hundreds of thousands”: out of literally hundreds of millions of votes.

Of course, these studies don’t take into account the modern Republican Party’s universally accepted definition of “voter fraud”, which, naturally, translates to: “any vote NOT cast for a Republican

90
mmmirele  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:28:52pm

re: #84 IngisKahn

Ya, my Alexa says 115, but my Nest says 117. Who to believe??

Weather Underground has stations reporting from 115 to 126 around Mesa. That’s why they have the one official station out at the airport, I guess.

91
calochortus  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:29:04pm

re: #80 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

I’m going to take issue with the “hasn’t bothered trying to cure” statement. Maybe not enough has been done, but there is research and some progress.

92
Belafon  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:30:28pm

re: #86 freetoken

Apparently all of us who accept that the Earth is a sphere, and the evolution is real, are part of the “Cult of Pythagoras”.

Well, ok, I’ll hang with Pythagoras.

Shouldn’t we be part of the Cult of Autolycus (I had to look it up)?

93
calochortus  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:34:52pm

re: #90 mmmirele

Weather Underground has stations reporting from 115 to 126 around Mesa. That’s why they have the one official station out at the airport, I guess.

I’m trying to figure out why weather.com and Weather Underground both have been underestimating the temperatures when it gets hot here by 10° to 15°. Consistently, starting last summer. When we start a string of hotter days than predicted, they show the actual temperature and may or may not correct for that day’s prediction, but make no changes for the following day. (Oh look, it’s actually 90° today, not 79° like we said, but don’t worry, tomorrow will be 85° not 95°.) National Weather Service is much closer to reality and crucially it is generally off by a small but consistent amount because microclimates.

94
piratedan  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:35:22pm

re: #90 mmmirele

only 110 here on the West side of Tucson

95
IngisKahn  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:36:32pm

Pool temperature - rising.
Likelihood of buying pool chiller - rising.

96
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:36:47pm

Chuck Todd (yeah, I don’t know why I am watching…) had a guy on talking about the Georgia District 6 election and he said it was raining buckets in the district and that could hurt the Handel backers as they might not go out in the weather.

He thought it wouldn’t hurt Ossoff too much since he was counting on early votes.

Let’s hope he is right…it’s going to be close, if we can believe the polls. If.

97
Stanley Sea  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:37:30pm

Annnnnnnnnnd Palm Springs has tied the record at 122 deg

98
whitebeach  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:39:10pm

re: #59 The Vicious Babushka

Hannity used “Independence Day” by Martina McBride as the bumper music for his radio show. Apparently he has never listened to the song and doesn’t know that it’s about domestic violence, not July 4th.

Was watching something the other night (forget exactly what because who cares) and they were using Creedence’s “Fortunate Son” as if it were some kind of superpatriotic anthem, apparently solely because of the line “oh that red white and blue, y’all.” It seems to me that these clowns never even get to the third lines of Hallmark greeting cards. How can you communicate with folks like that?

99
piratedan  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:42:25pm

re: #98 whitebeach

shallow souls with a patina of humanity

100
calochortus  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:42:34pm

re: #97 Stanley Sea

Annnnnnnnnnd Palm Springs has tied the record at 122 deg

Congratulations. I think.

101
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:43:21pm

Oh look…David Brooks is concerned again.

I’m thinking David is trying to water this whole thing down. He probably doesn’t want to see the potential blow-back on Grand Ol’ Party if solid facts do come out.

NYT Opinion - David Brooks - Let’s Not Get Carried Away

I was the op-ed editor at The Wall Street Journal at the peak of the Whitewater scandal. We ran a series of investigative pieces “raising serious questions” (as we say in the scandal business) about the nefarious things the Clintons were thought to have done back in Arkansas.

Now I confess I couldn’t follow all the actual allegations made in those essays. They were six jungles deep in the weeds. But I do remember the intense atmosphere that the scandal created. A series of bombshell revelations came out in the media, which seemed monumental at the time. A special prosecutor was appointed and indictments were expected. Speculation became the national sport.

In retrospect Whitewater seems overblown. And yet it has to be confessed that, at least so far, the Whitewater scandal was far more substantive than the Russia-collusion scandal now gripping Washington.

There may be a giant revelation still to come. But as the Trump-Russia story has evolved, it is striking how little evidence there is that any underlying crime occurred — that there was any actual collusion between the Donald Trump campaign and the Russians. Everything seems to be leaking out of this administration, but so far the leaks about actual collusion are meager.

There were some meetings between Trump officials and some Russians, but so far no more than you’d expect from a campaign that was publicly and proudly pro-Putin. And so far nothing we know of these meetings proves or even indicates collusion.

I’m not saying there shouldn’t be an investigation into potential Russia-Trump links. Russia’s attack on American democracy was truly heinous, and if the Trump people were involved, that would be treason. I’m saying first, let’s not get ahead of ourselves and assume that this link exists.

Second, there is something disturbingly meta about this whole affair. This is, as Yuval Levin put it, an investigation about itself. Trump skeptics within the administration laid a legal minefield all around the president, and then Trump — being Trump — stomped all over it, blowing himself up six ways from Sunday.

Now of course Trump shouldn’t have tweeted about Oval Office tape recordings. Of course he shouldn’t have fired James Comey.

But even if you took a paragon of modern presidents — a contemporary Abraham Lincoln — and you directed a democratically unsupervised, infinitely financed team of prosecutors at him and gave them power to subpoena his staff and look under any related or unrelated rock in an attempt to bring him down, there’s a pretty good chance you could spur even this modern paragon to want to fight back. You could spur even him to do something that had the whiff of obstruction.

Donald Trump rose peddling the politics of scandal — oblivious to policy, spreading insane allegations about birth certificates and other things — so maybe it’s just that he gets swallowed by it. But frankly, on my list of reasons Trump is unfit for the presidency, the Russia-collusion story ranks number 971, well below, for example, the perfectly legal ways he kowtows to thugs and undermines the norms of democratic behavior.

… complete article at link.

102
KGxvi  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:44:41pm

re: #62 makeitstop

Oxymoron of the Day: Sealed ‘Public’ Records

Forgive my cynicism, but I’m sure that there’s no ulterior motive here.

//////////

There are a lot of reasons why court filings are sealed. I’ve also been in hearings where the moving attorney can ask that the court room be cleared. I actually had one of those in the last year due to the sensitive nature of the matter at issue. The rules are likely a bit different for criminal cases, but if publicly available court records could lead to death or serious injury to potential witnesses, then sealing those records makes absolute sense.

103
majii  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:44:53pm

re: #76 BeachDem

“What in the pluperfect fuck did they think was going to happen?”

They knew he wasn’t talking about them in his campaign speeches, and that made it OK to vote for him for POTUS. What they didn’t consider was the fact that those he was talking about formed the backbone of their businesses. I just posted on Facebook about this, with the added comment that I hope that those who have been screaming about immigrants taking jobs from Americans find it within themselves to help these farmers by filling the void of jobs left by these deportation lock ups. For some Americans, things have to get personal before they begin to act in their own best interests.

104
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:48:15pm

re: #98 whitebeach

Was watching something the other night (forget exactly what because who cares) and they were using Creedence’s “Fortunate Son” as if it were some kind of superpatriotic anthem, apparently solely because of the line “oh that red white and blue, y’all.” It seems to me that these clowns never even get to the third lines of Hallmark greeting cards. How can you communicate with folks like that?

You can’t. And that is why the Democrats struggled so much last election.

Conservatives come pre-wound-up and are easy to trigger. They buy the big easy symbols on sight or upon hearing without even looking at all the other images and words around what they know.

It is also why they are so easily taken by cons. Cons love ignorance.

105
whitebeach  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:48:42pm

re: #101 ObserverArt

Oh look…David Brooks is concerned again.

I’m thinking David is trying to water this whole thing down. He probably doesn’t want to see the potential blow-back on Grand Ol’ Party if solid facts do come out.

NYT Opinion - David Brooks - Let’s Not Get Carried Away

Jesus Christ, there’s more weaseling in these few paragraphs than in the entire North Woods.

106
sagehen  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:49:16pm

re: #23 darthstar

71 here…had a nice swim at lunch again. I picked the right time to get back in the habit of going to the pool. Pleasant, warm, and I’ve adjusted my schedule at work to get there early so it’s not crowded with masters swimmers and their young healthy bodies churning up the water like a gam of sharks.

At my pool, early is *exactly* when it’s crowded with master swimmers and their young healthy body (the pre-work crowd).

If I want to be surrounded by housewives and retirees, late morning to early afternoon (by late afternoon, it’s the after-school crowd.)

107
majii  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:49:43pm

re: #101 ObserverArt

“… complete article at link.”

Thanks for the excerpt, but I won’t be clicking on a link to anything Brooks writes. He has a serious problem with facts, which is why Charles Pierce at Esquire dumps on him quite often.

108
Stanley Sea  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:51:41pm

I’d do anything to be able to afford the beach.

109
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:52:26pm

re: #101 ObserverArt

Oh look…David Brooks is concerned again.

I’m thinking David is trying to water this whole thing down. He probably doesn’t want to see the potential blow-back on Grand Ol’ Party if solid facts do come out.

NYT Opinion - David Brooks - Let’s Not Get Carried Away

… complete article at link.

Or, since it’s David Brooks—complete bullshit at link.
/

110
EPR-radar  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:53:05pm

re: #101 ObserverArt

David Brooks is still pretending that tr*mp dropped into the White House from outer space, in some mysterious manner completely disconnected from the Republican party.

In reality, tr*mp is where he is because millions of Republicans voted for him, first in the GOP primary and then in the general election. tr*mp is the Republican party.

111
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:53:31pm

re: #107 majii

“… complete article at link.”

Thanks for the excerpt, but I won’t be clicking on a link to anything Brooks writes. He has a serious problem with facts, which is why Charles Pierce at Esquire dumps on him quite often.

I gave everyone a good taste of Brook’s deep concerns. No need really to read the rest.

Did I mention David is so concerned there is no there there?

I think David would be very used to no there there since that has been his whole damn career.

112
The Vicious Babushka  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:54:06pm

re: #101 ObserverArt

Oh look…David Brooks is concerned again.

I’m thinking David is trying to water this whole thing down. He probably doesn’t want to see the potential blow-back on Grand Ol’ Party if solid facts do come out.

NYT Opinion - David Brooks - Let’s Not Get Carried Away

disturbingly meta

The entire tl;dr stupid essay was written around this phrase, which David thought up and then fellated himself for being so bigly clever!

113
Unshaken Defiance  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:54:47pm

re: #2 Dr. Matt

This is not normal:

[Embedded content]

In a sane country it would be cause to impeach.

114
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:54:48pm

We warned these people. They called us snowflakes, cucks, etc. I’m sorry but my sympathy for Trump voters is really thin at this point. I don’t want anyone hurt but I have no problem mocking them as idiots who repeatedly vote for a party and ideology that only cares about the wealthy and using social scapegoats i.e. illegal immigrants, gays, etc to distract from the former.

115
Hecuba's daughter  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:55:03pm

re: #101 ObserverArt

Oh look…David Brooks is concerned again.

I’m thinking David is trying to water this whole thing down. He probably doesn’t want to see the potential blow-back on Grand Ol’ Party if solid facts do come out.

NYT Opinion - David Brooks - Let’s Not Get Carried Away

The fact that he was the op-ed editor at the WSJ should discredit his views completely for all time, especially his completely ridiculous statement that the Whitewater allegations were more substantive than the charges against Trump after his admitting he really didn’t understand the details of the allegations against Clinton

116
Shiplord Kirel  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:55:13pm

95 degrees here at the Conspiracy Compound. Not a good day for fence mending and the like. It’s bone dry and I am kind of worried about the fire hazard. Probably need to clear some breaks.

117
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:55:23pm

re: #101 ObserverArt

Oh look…David Brooks is concerned again.

I’m thinking David is trying to water this whole thing down. He probably doesn’t want to see the potential blow-back on Grand Ol’ Party if solid facts do come out.

NYT Opinion - David Brooks - Let’s Not Get Carried Away

Brooks is another those “serious” pundits who thinks that the way to kill the entire scandal is to keep hammering on the word “collusion.” As if the entire key to making it go away is to “prove” that Trump never colluded with the Russians. He only tangentially acknowledges that the investigation has moved to obstruction of justice, a far easier charge to support, for the same reason they all do: They want to go back to “Both Sides” and this scandal is totally ruining that narrative. This scandal keeps the focus on just how much of a criminal Trump is when they want to talk about how “both sides” need to tone down rhetoric and “both sides” are full of fanatics.

118
Romantic Heretic  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:56:19pm

re: #18 FormerDirtDart

After the bill is passed it will be about a week before another Congressperson is shot.

The shooter will be a GOP Congressman. The victim will be a Democrat and most likely a woman.

Sigh.

119
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:56:55pm

re: #108 Stanley Sea

I’d do anything to be able to afford the beach.

[Embedded content]

ZC3hvg9uRfuSnyaNnflt9rcEZciwEhlJHgubsghU7ZjPqwFeOWG2MtI2wp7AvP4EKoRfOtkynOCUBBZsTvNfCVpsAVH4yYe7U9vkcF4fYoQ5YgFGNzLeTtAvTA529kAObPnuIJkQ3/nm/c+jlpG2qNCv35b0O9zqQEt5CEucXapnsyge2lehAQ==

120
Unshaken Defiance  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:57:06pm

re: #117 Targetpractice

They forget the GOPs extremists are their leadership vs the Dems & Indy… well really just the loud ineffectual fringe.

121
Hecuba's daughter  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:57:37pm

re: #114 HappyWarrior

We warned these people. They called us snowflakes, cucks, etc. I’m sorry but my sympathy for Trump voters is really thin at this point. I don’t want anyone hurt but I have no problem mocking them as idiots who repeatedly vote for a party and ideology that only cares about the wealthy and using social scapegoats i.e. illegal immigrants, gays, etc to distract from the former.

It would be great if the harm could be limited to those who voted for Trump. Unfortunately many innocent people are being injured in the process

122
Brian J.  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:57:56pm

re: #114 HappyWarrior

We warned these people. They called us snowflakes, cucks, etc. I’m sorry but my sympathy for Trump voters is really thin at this point. I don’t want anyone hurt but I have no problem mocking them as idiots who repeatedly vote for a party and ideology that only cares about the wealthy and using social scapegoats i.e. illegal immigrants, gays, etc to distract from the former.

Mine is completely nonexistent. No more paved roads or schools or hospitals for these folks. Let their white power sustain them and their kids.

123
makeitstop  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:58:26pm

re: #107 majii

“… complete article at link.”

Thanks for the excerpt, but I won’t be clicking on a link to anything Brooks writes. He has a serious problem with facts, which is why Charles Pierce at Esquire dumps on him quite often.

Driftglass has made a career (such as it is) by skewering Brooks on the regular.

124
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:58:31pm

re: #115 Hecuba’s daughter

The fact that he was the op-ed editor at the WSJ should discredit his views completely for all time, especially his completely ridiculous statement that the Whitewater allegations were more substantive than the charges against Trump after his admitting he really didn’t understand the details of the allegations against Clinton

Whitewater is the well the “Both Sides” crowd keeps going back to, trying to use it as a “serious” scandal yet at the same time again and again admitting that it was a multi-year nothingburger that they supported at the time because they wanted some counterweight against the rise of the Wingnut Right under the authority of Gingrich.

125
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:58:42pm

re: #122 Brian J.

Mine is completely nonexistent. No more paved roads or schools or hospitals for these folks. Let their white power sustain them and their kids.

Problem with that is you can’t do that without hurting other people.

126
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:59:20pm

re: #112 The Vicious Babushka

disturbingly meta

The entire tl;dr stupid essay was written around this phrase, which David thought up and then fellated himself for being so bigly clever!

Yep—I would call David “disturbingly pretentious,” but why restate the obvious.

127
Brian J.  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:59:35pm

re: #125 HappyWarrior

Problem with that is you can’t do that without hurting other people.

Those other people need to move, then; there’s no reason for them to hurt themselves by sustained contact with those who wish them dead.

128
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 2:59:41pm

re: #121 Hecuba’s daughter

It would be great if the harm could be limited to those who voted for Trump. Unfortunately many innocent people are being injured in the process

Right. Just tired of hearing the media profile them all the time. They ain’t victims. They’re idiots. They had a candidate who could have helped them but they went with the guy who re-enforced their bigotries.

129
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:01:01pm

re: #114 HappyWarrior

We warned these people. They called us snowflakes, cucks, etc. I’m sorry but my sympathy for Trump voters is really thin at this point. I don’t want anyone hurt but I have no problem mocking them as idiots who repeatedly vote for a party and ideology that only cares about the wealthy and using social scapegoats i.e. illegal immigrants, gays, etc to distract from the former.

Your sympathy is thin; mine is non-existent. (I’m old and cranky)

Stupid or hateful or both. Not one of the angst-ridden articles I’ve read has changed my perspective on yam voters.

130
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:01:08pm

It’s late 80’s here I guess. Not bad. Got a dip in at the pool today since I din’t have to go to the office.

131
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:01:16pm
132
Brian J.  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:01:21pm

re: #123 makeitstop

Driftglass has made a career (such as it is) by skewering Brooks on the regular.

Problem is that most of the folks like Driftglass are/ were Sandbaggers and self-conscious lefties, which is the same taurine excrement in a different bag.

133
calochortus  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:02:26pm

re: #114 HappyWarrior

We warned these people. They called us snowflakes, cucks, etc. I’m sorry but my sympathy for Trump voters is really thin at this point. I don’t want anyone hurt but I have no problem mocking them as idiots who repeatedly vote for a party and ideology that only cares about the wealthy and using social scapegoats i.e. illegal immigrants, gays, etc to distract from the former.

We (all humans, to varying degrees) are pre-programmed to follow someone who is very sure of himself, even if we’re not sure that he’s right. (And I use “him/he” intentionally-women can lead this way as well, but it seems easier for men.) We are likely to revise our opinions to match those of our peers and believe that’s what we really believed all along.

Trump was very, very good at projecting that confidence and assuring a lot of people with disparate interests that he understood their individual needs. He was all things to all people.

134
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:02:37pm

re: #129 BeachDem

Your sympathy is thin; mine is non-existent. (I’m old and cranky)

Stupid or hateful or both. Not one of the angst-ridden articles I’ve read has changed my perspective on yam voters.

What we probably agree on is the articles need to stop portraying these people as victims. Honestly, I’m just tired of hearing other white people complain about “How come we can’t say that anymore” Really, are you so fucking pathetic that your entire world revolves around your resentment over not being able to say certain shit without backlash?

135
Barefoot Grin  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:03:31pm

re: #118 Romantic Heretic

After the bill is passed it will be about a week before another Congressperson is shot.

The shooter will be a GOP Congressman. The victim will be a Democrat and most likely a woman.

Sigh.

“She was makin’ me nervous.”

136
Unshaken Defiance  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:05:14pm

re: #133 calochortus

I forget who posted it here recently, if you I’m about to be a lil embarrassed. But the cartoon from the New Yorker says it best

“These smug pilots have lost touch with regular passengers like us. Who thinks I should fly the plane?”
December 27, 2016

137
Decatur Deb  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:05:58pm

Only 74 degrees in S. Alabama, but we do have a flash flood notice with 4-6 more inches of rain expected. TS Cindy at play even this far away.

138
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:05:59pm

Oh, and don’t miss how Brooks is trying to nip the obstruction charge in the bud by suggesting that Trump’s actions are totally natural, he’s just acting out in his defense, and we could not expect the best exemplar of the presidency to have avoided the same actions.

Not said: Obama never engaged in such behavior, even when the “Both Sides” crowd thought the evidence so strong of his criminality that they expected indictments “any day now.”

139
Romantic Heretic  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:07:36pm

re: #35 CongoJack

I stopped caring for Firefly after this became a popular meme among the anarchists, I mean libertarians and other RWNJ.

Seriously, they want to live in a place where an interaction with a stranger is likely to end in deadly violence? And that that violence will be a quick draw contest face to face?

Screw that. I like living in a peaceful country, and if I need to kill someone they will not see me do it.

140
Cheechako  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:09:33pm

Rough weekend up here in the Last Frontier:

‘Really odd’: 2 fatal maulings in 2 days by Alaska black bears

141
calochortus  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:10:33pm

Oh look. You can now get a Ken doll with a man bun. Just what we all need.

142
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:11:19pm

re: #133 calochortus

We (all humans, to varying degrees) are pre-programmed to follow someone who is very sure of himself, even if we’re not sure that he’s right. (And I use “him/he” intentionally-women can lead this way as well, but it seems easier for men.) We are likely to revise our opinions to match those of our peers and believe that’s what we really believed all along.

Trump was very, very good at projecting that confidence and assuring a lot of people with disparate interests that he understood their individual needs. He was all things to all people.

All it took was a little familiarization of his past to have understood how bad he was as a candidate for president. The info was there, but they wanted to believe without doing any fact checking. And yes that goes to your point, but it shows how people get conned.

I followed Trumpisms since the early 80s as he was always in the news and always an arrogant ass. Through the late 80s and into the 90s all news about him was about failures and bankruptcies. How all that was glossed over I’ll never know.

I, as did others that knew of Trump, was quick to say he would never be nominated. Then too quick to say he would never be elected. My mistake. I had given too much credit for people knowing about someone that was in the news for decades. I’m never going to count on familiarity again. People are just too ignorant and too willing to forget and/or lie to themselves about what they really know or should know.

143
Decatur Deb  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:11:46pm

re: #141 calochortus

Oh look. You can now get a Ken doll with a man bun. Just what we all need.

I’d be more likely to give the grandkids a stuffed New York Rat.

144
calochortus  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:12:32pm

re: #143 Decatur Deb

I’d be more likely to give the grandkids a stuffed New York Rat.

It would probably be more fun.

145
I Would Prefer Not To  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:14:18pm

I can’t even.

My UPS driver (love the man, hate his politics) just informed me that the young Muslim woman in VA was killed by an illegal immigrant. I love the guy, but can’t deal with his Rush/Hannity/Levin talking points. He always asks me why I’m so glum. Perhaps because it’s been a long day and the people I like have been poisoned by hate. Send help to Brooklyn.

146
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:15:56pm

re: #133 calochortus

Trump was very, very good at projecting that confidence and assuring a lot of people with disparate interests that he understood their individual needs. He was all things to all people.

Just like there’s a yam tweet for every occasion, there’s usually a Hamilton lyric as well.

[BURR]
Don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for…

[HAMILTON]
If you stand for nothing, Burr, what’ll you fall for?

(Hamilton) Aaron Burr, Sir - Lyrics

147
sagehen  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:19:16pm

re: #140 Cheechako

Rough weekend up here in the Last Frontier:

‘Really odd’: 2 fatal maulings in 2 days by Alaska black bears

The bears have learned to read. They know it’s now legal to kill them while they hibernate. They’re not going to take it lying down.

148
Stanley Sea  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:20:12pm

re: #140 Cheechako

Rough weekend up here in the Last Frontier:

‘Really odd’: 2 fatal maulings in 2 days by Alaska black bears

Wow

149
Decatur Deb  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:22:27pm

re: #144 calochortus

It would probably be more fun.

150
wrenchwench  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:23:12pm

re: #143 Decatur Deb

I’d be more likely to give the grandkids a stuffed New York Rat.

Pizza? Or bag of trash?

Pizza.

Pineapple? Or…no?

151
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:24:54pm

re: #147 sagehen

The bears have learned to read. They know it’s now legal to kill them while they hibernate. They’re not going to take it lying down.

I’m no animal scientist, but would warming mess with a bear’s hibernation routine? Maybe they are not getting enough of a hibernation and just like human on little sleep can get really cranky and mean.

And now I am thinking about what global warming means to all kinds of animals and their natural tendencies if nature goes all crazy from what was intended.

152
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:25:28pm
153
makeitstop  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:26:22pm

re: #150 wrenchwench

Pizza? Or bag of trash?

Pizza.

Pineapple? Or…no?

In New York? They’d toss you in the trunk and dump you out in Jersey somewhere.

154
Brian J.  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:26:36pm

re: #152 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

And the Great Pumpkin will appear in this pumpkin patch any minute now!

155
Shiplord Kirel  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:27:09pm

I think a lot of right wing media are sweating bullets over what the ongoing investigation might incidentally reveal about their own dealings with the Russians. Actual collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians is really only the tip of the iceberg. It is obvious, from hundreds of pieces of evidence, that the Russians have been running a massive influence campaign among right wing media and activists for quite a few years. Some of this happens right out in the open.

mFmrrTidN4y2eXsNUyTndd2fyEJNH1K1Z4KByeoTzO9smdqCb2NISezQLBTHT5CrtTrqHlyLe+13EopARODyD69gOEd/c5/fWzg1fhel7/rph5dj4wkyYcvdBfn0qghbdtHfVPTyXQefmAdTNKK4yET4kRohFhC0x7DdB+M8VtArsWnVyjRIXzM6JtKD1GHdSJvCcaK7IQcx5Iyhs5QVJC38YKe+GHNoPHg5kskyPw4KbSjOkXIhB97BIsEonZ3DaksbPsBmH+gCaIf+UrPfEwYSX+V75cYgVvtu8cQ05sge+/Mq0tCNmA==

Michael Flynn was quite openly working for RT before he joined the Trump campaign. The chairman of the California Secession campaign actually, literally fled to Russia when the movement collapsed. Texas secession was a running joke for 40 years, until the Russians started to take an interest in 2013. Then, suddenly, it was a serious, astonishingly well funded cause. Half the Texas county GOP platforms, and a great many candidates, endorsed it. NYT found and exposed the Kremlin’s enormous troll farm operation back in 2015.
It’s not impossible that the entire rightwing, right down to local tea party groups, is infested with Kremlin stooges and rotten with Kremlin money.

156
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:27:10pm
157
Romantic Heretic  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:28:14pm

re: #88 mmmirele

So, still not actual AI.

If Alexa really was intelligent the reply would be, “Do I look stupid? Don’t answer that!”

158
Brian J.  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:28:39pm

re: #156 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Just in time for Tropical Storm Cindy to pay SW Louisiana and East Texas a visit. Oh well. Nothing of value will be lost.

nhc.noaa.gov

159
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:29:57pm

re: #152 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Come on Robby Portman…make my emails to you mean something. I know you are getting hammered here in Ohio.

Plus, I really really don’t want to write more of them.

But I will.

(Got one started in a Word file…waiting)

160
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:31:29pm

re: #152 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Yeah, like I’ve been saying, let’s cut the bullshit. All but perhaps 2 of them will suddenly “decide” in favor of the bill the moment it’s brought to the floor. This “undecided” horseshit is for the rubes who want to believe there might be a chance the bill will be too unpopular to pass.

161
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:31:35pm

re: #156 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Might be the first yam appointee who’s actually qualified to do his job.

162
darthstar  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:31:36pm

re: #53 Charles Johnson

WTF Twitter.

[Embedded content]

Because we can’t all claim to be Clinton’s illegitimate black son that way?

163
Cheechako  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:32:03pm

re: #151 ObserverArt

I’m no animal scientist, but would warming mess with a bear’s hibernation routine? Maybe they are not getting enough of a hibernation and just like human on little sleep can get really cranky and mean.

And now I am thinking about what global warming means to all kinds of animals and their natural tendencies if nature goes all crazy from what was intended.

I’ve heard some reports that the relatively warm winter permitted more new born cubs to survive. We have several sows in town that have three cubs. I’m sure having to care for 3 cubs would make any mother more cranky.

164
Cheechako  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:33:50pm

re: #160 Targetpractice

Yeah, like I’ve been saying, let’s cut the bullshit. All but perhaps 2 of them will suddenly “decide” in favor of the bill the moment it’s brought to the floor. This “undecided” horseshit is for the rubes who want to believe there might be a chance the bill will be too unpopular to pass.

Murkowsky and Collins are the designated Republican “Nay” voters. Pence will break the tie.

165
calochortus  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:34:18pm

re: #155 Shiplord Kirel

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

166
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:35:50pm

I’d sooner believe that Cruz or Paul held out for an even more needlessly cruel bill than I would that there’s any chance the “moderates” will get a bill that holds back on how much it will bleed the country dry.

167
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:36:27pm

re: #164 Cheechako

Murkowsky and Collins are the designated Republican “Nay” voters. Pence will break the tie.

Yep. Collins will have “concerns” and Murkowski will get to show her
“fierce independent streak” just when they don’t need their votes.

168
danarchy  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:36:27pm

re: #151 ObserverArt

I’m no animal scientist, but would warming mess with a bear’s hibernation routine? Maybe they are not getting enough of a hibernation and just like human on little sleep can get really cranky and mean.

And now I am thinking about what global warming means to all kinds of animals and their natural tendencies if nature goes all crazy from what was intended.

Black bears have a huge range and go all the way down to Mexico so warmer temperatures just mean they don’t have to hibernate as long. Warming may mean they are active for more of the year and there are more opportunities for human interaction, but I don’t think they would be any more cranky.

169
darthstar  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:37:24pm
170
allegro  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:38:52pm

re: #166 Targetpractice

I’d sooner believe that Cruz or Paul held out for an even more needlessly cruel bill than I would that there’s any chance the “moderates” will get a bill that holds back on how much it will bleed the country dry.

I’m pretty sure Cruz is on the committee. So… ?

171
darthstar  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:39:33pm

Shorter McCain: I LIKE PUDDING.

172
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:40:12pm

re: #160 Targetpractice

Yeah, like I’ve been saying, let’s cut the bullshit. All but perhaps 2 of them will suddenly “decide” in favor of the bill the moment it’s brought to the floor. This “undecided” horseshit is for the rubes who want to believe there might be a chance the bill will be too unpopular to pass.

I know it is easy to take your view, but I’m going to count on some damn humanity out of a couple Republicans.

Also, remember all those townhalls over the spring months and all the dancing Republicans were doing to try to prevent the heat they were taking back home? Not all of those people demonstrating and calling out Congresspeople were Democratic Resistors.

Some of the politicians even tried to regulate who got in and still got some heat. It is why they started doing call-in town halls or just plain hiding by not taking calls, refusing to open their office doors or bullshitting.

The other thing…this IS about health and everyone of every political position needs insurance coverage. So they can talk all kinds of shit, but this means real stuff. Health can overcome politics is my hope.

173
whitebeach  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:40:28pm

re: #146 BeachDem

Just like there’s a yam tweet for every occasion, there’s usually a Hamilton lyric as well.

[BURR]
Don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for…

[HAMILTON]
If you stand for nothing, Burr, what’ll you fall for?

[Embedded content]

There’s an old country lyric that “if you don’t stand for nothin’, you’ll fall for anything.” To me this was and is complete horseshit. The people who are all ingrained principles and lifelong faith are the ones who inevitably fall for all the con games. The cynical nonbelievers rarely do. Look at the people who fell and still fall for Trump.

174
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:40:31pm

re: #171 darthstar

Shorter McCain: I LIKE PUDDING.

[Embedded content]

It’s always sad to watch that slide into dementia.

175
Hecuba's daughter  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:41:31pm

re: #161 BeachDem

Might be the first yam appointee who’s actually qualified to do his job.

And General Mattis isn’t?

176
Brian J.  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:42:40pm

re: #172 ObserverArt

I know it is easy to take your view, but I’m going to count on some damn humanity out of a couple Republicans.

Also, remember all those townhalls over the spring months and all the dancing Republicans were doing to try to prevent the heat they were taking back home? Not all of those people demonstrating and calling out Congresspeople were Democratic Resistors.

Some of the politicians even tried to regulate who got in and still got some heat. It is why they started doing call-in town halls or just plain hiding by not taking calls, refusing to open their office doors or bullshitting.

The other thing…this IS about health and everyone of every political position needs insurance coverage. So they can talk all kinds of shit, but this means real stuff. Health can overcome politics is my hope.

Your naivete is rather depressing to watch. And rural white people don’t need insurance coverage, health care, or anything government does or can provide. Just ask them.

177
Decatur Deb  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:42:58pm

re: #175 Hecuba’s daughter

And General Mattis isn’t?

We’ll know if Mattis is qualified when he resigns in protest.

178
darthstar  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:43:22pm
179
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:43:44pm

re: #172 ObserverArt

I know it is easy to take your view, but I’m going to count on some damn humanity out of a couple Republicans.

Also, remember all those townhalls over the spring months and all the dancing Republicans were doing to try to prevent the heat they were taking back home? Not all of those people demonstrating and calling out Congresspeople were Democratic Resistors.

Some of the politicians even tried to regulate who got in and still got some heat. It is why they started doing call-in town halls or just plain hiding by not taking calls, refusing to open their office doors or bullshitting.

The other thing…this IS about health and everyone of every political position needs insurance coverage. So they can talk all kinds of shit, but this means real stuff. Health can overcome politics is my hope.

The bolded is what I’m saying, that a couple (i.e. 2) Republicans will “break ranks” to oppose the bill, giving Sen. Yertle and Vizier Pence the margin they need to pass the bill. The secrecy it’s being crafted in will then be used as an excuse by vulnerable Republicans to insist they had no idea what it was they were voting for, they’re totally against the least popular parts of the bill, and they’ll “fix” it at some unspecified future date. The rest will just shrug their shoulders and say “You wanted me to kill Obamacare and I did it. What’s your beef?”

180
darthstar  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:43:54pm

re: #174 Targetpractice

It’s always sad to watch that slide into dementia.

Slide? It’s been a fuckin’ swan dive in the last few months.

181
whitebeach  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:44:19pm

re: #158 Brian J.

Just in time for Tropical Storm Cindy to pay SW Louisiana and East Texas a visit. Oh well. Nothing of value will be lost.

nhc.noaa.gov

I like you pretty well in general, but you’re about to piss me off. You sound like Barbara Bush when she was saying how much better off “these people,” meaning Katrina refugees, were living on cots in the Astrodome than in their own lifelong homes in New Orleans.

182
Brian J.  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:45:19pm

re: #181 whitebeach

I like you pretty well in general, but you’re about to piss me off. You sound like Barbara Bush when she was saying how much better off “these people,” meaning Katrina refugees, were living on cots in the Astrodome than in their own lifelong homes in New Orleans.

This treatment is what the people of the area want, in their own words. It’s what they voted for by overwhelming margins.

183
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:46:28pm

re: #175 Hecuba’s daughter

And General Mattis isn’t?

OK—I’ll give you Mattis.

(But that’s it—don’t ask for anything else/////)

184
whitebeach  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:49:00pm

re: #182 Brian J.

This treatment is what the people of the area want, in their own words. It’s what they voted for by overwhelming margins.

You’re saying they voted for tropical storms and hurricanes to hit their homes? I almost never downding anybody, but you’re stretching it.

185
Brian J.  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:50:24pm

re: #184 whitebeach

You’re saying they voted for tropical storms and hurricanes to hit their homes? I almost never downding anybody, but you’re stretching it.

Yes. Remember, Hurricane Rita hit this same area in 2005, which wasn’t that long ago. They know that serious damage from tropical storms is possible in any hurricane season. If they fail to prepare and reject those who would try to, their problems are self-inflicted.

186
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:51:06pm

re: #176 Brian J.

Your naivete is rather depressing to watch. And rural white people don’t need insurance coverage, health care, or anything government does or can provide. Just ask them.

Nearly 63 years old and called naive. Nice.

I’ve held back on what I think of your comments. I will continue to do so.

If being optimistic is naive then I am naive. If I am wrong I am wrong. It has happened before. I’ve been right too. Part of the definition of naive is being unaware. I am far from unaware of what could happen.

187
Eclectic Cyborg  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:52:13pm

re: #182 Brian J.

This treatment is what the people of the area want, in their own words. It’s what they voted for by overwhelming margins.

I happen to live in that area and I assure we did not all vote for the Orange Monster.

188
EmmaAnne  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:52:29pm

re: #182 Brian J.

This treatment is what the people of the area want, in their own words. It’s what they voted for by overwhelming margins.

So the children deserve it too? Drown already?

189
alloutofcrazyhere  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:55:00pm

re: #186 ObserverArt

I prefer the term guardedly optimistic.

190
wrenchwench  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:55:51pm
191
Brian J.  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:55:59pm

re: #187 Eclectic Cyborg

I happen to live in that area and I assure we did not all vote for the Orange Monster.

Calcasieu Parish: 65% for Trump.
Allen Parish: 74%.
Jefferson Davis Parish (yuck): 75%.
Acadia Parish: 77%.
Vermilion Parish: 78%.
Sabine Parish: 80%.
Vernon Parish: 81%.
Beauregard Parish: 81%.
Cameron Parish: 88%.

192
freetoken  Jun 20, 2017 • 3:57:22pm

While we’re all frustrated with the malicious incompetence of Trump, it is important to keep in mind that the World keeps turning and issues new and old exist that are marching one direction or another, with or without Trump.

Much has been made even today of Trump’s naivete wrt China.

Hitting the book tour circuit is author Graham Allison who has written a book about American and Chinese policies wrt each other.

Here’s a recent video of him:

Graham Allison “Destined for War” Book Event

And discussions of the book:

America’s Collision Course With China

‘Destined For War’ Explores How To Avoid Unnecessary Future Conflicts

What strikes me in the video is his entrenched colonial mindset. He is easy to paint into a certain corner - a war hawk of sorts. In the video he admits that he would have advocated invading NK back when he was involved in foreign policy. (About 46 minutes into the video.)

Several times in the first part of the interview he drops perspectives that I think are so highly-colored by the white-male-American-privilege that having gone uncriticized by the interlocutor, undermines some of his arguments.

Notice how Allison implies that it’s up to the US whether or not to stay in SK. He mentions “we” fought a war there… as if that means SK is our toy for us alone.

This is what is scary: The Allison crowd is the default backup for the Republicans when Trump fails, wrt Korea and China.

It’s back to Clash of Cultures.

This is what is scary about Trump: not his malevolent forethoughts, but his absence of depth to fight back against the interventionists who will eventually try to steer the ship of state.

193
Stanley Sea  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:01:12pm
194
wrenchwench  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:02:39pm

re: #187 Eclectic Cyborg

I happen to live in that area and I assure we did not all vote for the Orange Monster.

Give a [well-deserved] downding, get an upding.

It’s my self-compensation for not downdinging all over the place.

You’ll get one too, cofefe. [upding, that is]

195
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:04:33pm

re: #193 Stanley Sea

[Embedded content]

Has Mike Pompeo hired a lawyer yet?

I wonder, are their political career chaser lawyers? You know, like ambulance chaser lawyers?

196
freetoken  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:04:37pm

These Stanford Hoover types - they are not what I want for the future of this country. They’ve become too entrenched in the old ways. Probably why they don’t kick out racists like VDK.

197
Decatur Deb  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:05:22pm

re: #193 Stanley Sea

The C.I.A. feared Michael Flynn could be blackmailed but continued briefing him on government secrets

Probably had no choice. They might have been the first institution to encounter the deadly contradiction that sloppily-applied democracy had created.

198
KGxvi  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:07:08pm

re: #192 freetoken

This is what is scary: The Allison crowd is the default backup for the Republicans when Trump fails, wrt Korea and China.

I think a lot of the DC conventional wisdom on foreign policy is more in line with Allison than just the GOP. A lot of US foreign policy is built around the soft empire built by the military-industrial complex.

199
freetoken  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:08:36pm

Here’s the real problem with the Stanford Hoover academics - they are in love with the era of the formation of American foreign dominance - basically 1900-1950. They want to analyze it over and over, and I think romanticize the policy processes.

But I think that is woefully narrow minded. It really does have on an Americana blindfold, found in the same dresser-drawer as the other blindfolds which dominate the Trump crowd and the allied War Hawk crowd.

200
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:09:18pm

I was getting ready to make an edit on my last comment and when I hit the edit pencil icon the site went away. Came back in about a minute. Must have run out of hamster food for a bit and then generators went down.

201
Decatur Deb  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:10:03pm

re: #199 freetoken

Here’s the real problem with the Stanford Hoover academics - they are in love with the era of the formation of American foreign dominance - basically 1900-1950. They want to analyze it over and over, and I think romanticize the policy processes.

But I think that is woefully narrow minded. It really does have on an Americana blindfold, found in the same dresser-drawer as the other blindfolds which dominate the Trump crowd and the allied War Hawk crowd.

50 Shades of Policy.

202
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:11:36pm

re: #197 Decatur Deb

Probably had no choice. They might have been the first institution to encounter the deadly contradiction that sloppily-applied democracy had created.

Haven’t studied the time line on it all yet, but does it seem that may have been one of the real triggers into this whole investigation. The CIA was concerned and may ahve started paying attention and it spread from their. Could get to why Trump was so early in the protective denial mode.

203
Decatur Deb  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:13:06pm

re: #202 ObserverArt

Haven’t studied the time line on it all yet, but does it seem that may have been one of the real triggers into this whole investigation. The CIA was concerned and may ahve started paying attention and it spread from their. Could get to why Trump was so early in the protective denial mode.

I’m not keying that specifically to the CIA, but to the whole alphabet of secret-keepers.

204
whitebeach  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:13:45pm

re: #185 Brian J.

Yes. Remember, Hurricane Rita hit this same area in 2005, which wasn’t that long ago. They know that serious damage from tropical storms is possible in any hurricane season. If they fail to prepare and reject those who would try to, their problems are self-inflicted.

Son, I rode out Rita (had evacuated in front of Katrina a few weeks before). I’ve been through a half dozen hurricanes and more tropical storms than I can count. I’m old enough to remember when Hurricane Audrey killed more than 500 people in Cameron and Calcasieu parishes in the 1950s. I don’t give a fuck if they drowned wearing Klan robes, which, being mainly Catholic, they probably weren’t.

Try to act and talk like a human being.

205
Dave In Austin  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:15:41pm

Anyone know what time the polls close in GA.?

206
freetoken  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:16:01pm

They can never escape the Peloponnesian War. Allison keeps referencing it. All those Hoover types are in love with ancient Greece. It really boxes in their thinking.

207
Eventual Carrion  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:16:49pm

re: #74 Ace-o-aces

[Embedded content]

That was Chuckie Johnson asking. He wanted to find that PBO had pooped on the floor too so he wouldn’t feel so bad.

208
Blind Frog Belly White  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:18:58pm

re: #197 Decatur Deb

Probably had no choice. They might have been the first institution to encounter the deadly contradiction that sloppily-applied democracy had created.

I suspect that even in the case of spies who got caught and convicted, there was a period during which some in their agencies had concerns that they could not yet act on, either because they didn’t have enough data to be sure, or because they didn’t want to spook the spook.

209
The Vicious Babushka  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:19:01pm

Who remembers this stupid-as-shit meme from 5 years ago?

Yes, wingnuts want you to believe that the richest 1%, if they don’t get their tax cuts, ARE EXACTLY LIKE PEOPLE WHO WERE OWNED AS PROPERTY.

210
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:19:07pm

re: #203 Decatur Deb

I’m not keying that specifically to the CIA, but to the whole alphabet of secret-keepers.

Oh yeah, but wouldn’t the CIA be more in contact with Flynn then some of the others? They are the international investigation body more so than FBI, NSA, etc.

And we all know how once “police” have a sniff they want more.

Also makes one think they do have a lot on Flynn. I can see why people are saying Flynn may be talking already. Things sure are tight on what the agencies may know.

211
KGxvi  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:19:50pm

re: #199 freetoken

Here’s the real problem with the Stanford Hoover academics - they are in love with the era of the formation of American foreign dominance - basically 1900-1950. They want to analyze it over and over, and I think romanticize the policy processes.

But I think that is woefully narrow minded. It really does have on an Americana blindfold, found in the same dresser-drawer as the other blindfolds which dominate the Trump crowd and the allied War Hawk crowd.

If the market doesn’t crash in 1929, creating a situation where the US can’t offer loans to Germany to pay its debts under the Treaty of Versailles, it’s entirely possible that Hitler doesn’t rise to power (or for that matter, the fascists in Italy and Spain), which means the European theater of WWII doesn’t happen, meaning the European powers have a chance to rebuild after WWI and it’s entirely possible that the US doesn’t become the default leader of the west in the 1950s. Now, it’s still entirely possible that Imperial Japan tries to invade the Asian mainland, and there’s likely still colonial fighting in Africa and the Mideast, but the power dynamics everywhere are completely different.

But all of that aside, there’s also the obvious fact that the US suffered the fewest casualties of both wars and didn’t have any infrastructure damage, which really put us in the unique position to lead in the new post-war alignment. Unfortunately, the world has changed a lot since then. Applying the same logic to today’s world makes about as much sense as applying the same logic as the Roman Empire.

212
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:20:11pm

re: #207 Eventual Carrion

That was Chuckie Johnson asking. He wanted to find that PBO had pooped on the floor too so he wouldn’t feel so bad.

Speaking of Rage Furby, somebody needs to educate Newsweek’s Greg Price about the Furb’s true nature.

At WeSearchr, a site devoted to funding the answering of questions and not necessarily charity causes, a bounty was started to help Freeman pay for his medical bills…
Claiming the suspects are Armenian, the bounty also states that violence against Trump supporters and whites is increasing around the country…Anti-Trump and anti-white violence is escalating in the United States of America,” it reads. “From eggs, to fists, to bike locks, and now knives, everyday Trump supporters seem to be in real danger in their own country.”

rawstory.com

213
Brian J.  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:20:46pm

re: #211 KGxvi

If the market doesn’t crash in 1929, creating a situation where the US can’t offer loans to Germany to pay its debts under the Treaty of Versailles, it’s entirely possible that Hitler doesn’t rise to power (or for that matter, the fascists in Italy and Spain), which means the European theater of WWII doesn’t happen, meaning the European powers have a chance to rebuild after WWI and it’s entirely possible that the US doesn’t become the default leader of the west in the 1950s. Now, it’s still entirely possible that Imperial Japan tries to invade the Asian mainland, and there’s likely still colonial fighting in Africa and the Mideast, but the power dynamics everywhere are completely different.

But all of that aside, there’s also the obvious fact that the US suffered the fewest casualties of both wars and didn’t have any infrastructure damage, which really put us in the unique position to lead in the new post-war alignment. Unfortunately, the world has changed a lot since then. Applying the same logic to today’s world makes about as much sense as applying the same logic as the Roman Empire.

Mussolini had already risen to power in 1922. On the other hand, perhaps he’s just an isolated crank in this ATL.

214
Decatur Deb  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:23:19pm

re: #210 ObserverArt

Oh yeah, but wouldn’t the CIA be more in contact with Flynn then some of the others? They are the international investigation body more so than FBI, NSA, etc.

And we all know how once “police” have a sniff they want more.

Also makes one think they do have a lot on Flynn. I can see why people are saying Flynn may be talking already. Things sure are tight on what the agencies may know.

Approaching from the assumption that they knew Flynn and the Trump incoming administration were dodgy as hell, they still didn’t have a charter that lets the intelligence agencies block info from a rightfully-elected president. It’s not their call.

215
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:23:41pm

re: #209 The Vicious Babushka

Who remembers this stupid-as-shit meme from 5 years ago?

Yes, wingnuts want you to believe that the richest 1%, if they don’t get their tax cuts, ARE EXACTLY LIKE PEOPLE WHO WERE OWNED AS PROPERTY.

[Embedded content]

More accurate right side: “It’s my right to get rich at your expense.”

216
Blind Frog Belly White  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:24:54pm

re: #211 KGxvi

If the market doesn’t crash in 1929, creating a situation where the US can’t offer loans to Germany to pay its debts under the Treaty of Versailles, it’s entirely possible that Hitler doesn’t rise to power (or for that matter, the fascists in Italy and Spain), which means the European theater of WWII doesn’t happen, meaning the European powers have a chance to rebuild after WWI and it’s entirely possible that the US doesn’t become the default leader of the west in the 1950s. Now, it’s still entirely possible that Imperial Japan tries to invade the Asian mainland, and there’s likely still colonial fighting in Africa and the Mideast, but the power dynamics everywhere are completely different.

But all of that aside, there’s also the obvious fact that the US suffered the fewest casualties of both wars and didn’t have any infrastructure damage, which really put us in the unique position to lead in the new post-war alignment. Unfortunately, the world has changed a lot since then. Applying the same logic to today’s world makes about as much sense as applying the same logic as the Roman Empire.

Simply put, the prevailing powers of the era spent 2 wars pounding the living hell out of each others’ industrial base, while we were not only largely unscathed, but also in WWII, we poured tons of money into ours while it sat safely behind our oceans. Coming out of WWII dominant was almost impossible to prevent.

But we’ve also worked hard to maintain that position of dominance while the rest of the world recovered its strength. Now we have an idiot at the wheel who seems intent on wrecking all of that, based on the assumption that everyone has to kiss our asses, which we’ll soon find out isn’t the case.

217
Blind Frog Belly White  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:26:23pm

re: #215 Targetpractice

More accurate right side: “It’s my right to get rich at your expense.”

Hey, look - the top 0.001% clearly DESERVE to get 6 times as much real income as they did in 1980, while the bottom 50% deserve no raise at all.

//////////////////////////////

218
austin_blue  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:26:27pm

re: #185 Brian J.

Yes. Remember, Hurricane Rita hit this same area in 2005, which wasn’t that long ago. They know that serious damage from tropical storms is possible in any hurricane season. If they fail to prepare and reject those who would try to, their problems are self-inflicted.

You know what’s a good human attribute? Empathy. You should try it.

Some people are too poor to move. Some people have no vehicles and live in small towns without public transportation. Some people will refuse to leave their pets behind and choose to stay.

TS Alison destroyed the Houston Symphony’s instruments and music library, the Houston Opera’s costume shop, and tons of the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center’s underground research labs.

219
freetoken  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:27:47pm

re: #211 KGxvi

That’s all good, but again, my point is that Allison and his interlocutor keep going on about the Peloponnesian War. Why do they do this? Because that’s what all those Hoover types end up doing (see VDK in this racist idealism.)

If you’re mind is stuck on the Peloponnesian War when discussing the US and China in the 21st century then you are out of date.

And out of context.

There is such a depth of history in China and the western Pacific that if you’re not thinking of that, then you’re not thinking right.

The key for us wrt China isn’t some Greek war 2.5k years ago. Rather, it’s the resource requirements of 1.2 billion people trading with the other 6 billion people on the planet.

There’s so much that is wrong with Allison, his Hoover interlocutor, and some of that crowd who is showing up to his book tour and writing articles about his book, that I think if it weren’t for the ongoing Shakespearean tragedy that is Caesar MacBeth Trump, we’d be spending a whole lot more time on what has gone wrong with foreign policy.

220
Brian J.  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:28:13pm

re: #218 austin_blue

You know what’s a good human attribute? Empathy. You should try it.

Some people are too poor to move. Some people have no vehicles and live in small towns without public transportation. Some people will refuse to leave their pets behind and choose to stay.

Rita destroyed the Houston Symphony’s instruments and music library, the Houston Opera’s costume shop, and tons of the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center’s underground research labs.

What you call empathy I call getting ripped off by people who’d just as soon shoot me as look at me. And liberals need to stop getting manipulated and start getting real about protecting what they have, not enriching opponents or following fools’ dreams.

221
wrenchwench  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:29:00pm

re: #206 freetoken

They can never escape the Peloponnesian War. Allison keeps referencing it. All those Hoover types are in love with ancient Greece. It really boxes in their thinking.

I went to the Peleponnesian peninsula. On the train ride back to Athens, I spoke with a Greek man who lamented the way the Greeks were all fighting each other now, as opposed to their ‘glorious past’. I avoided the ‘well, actually…’ discussion, being just a student of all that.

222
covfefe  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:29:25pm

re: #185 Brian J.

Yes. Remember, Hurricane Rita hit this same area in 2005, which wasn’t that long ago. They know that serious damage from tropical storms is possible in any hurricane season. If they fail to prepare and reject those who would try to, their problems are self-inflicted.

I suppose it’s the fault of gun violence victims in Chicago for not “preparing”, huh?

223
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:29:48pm

re: #214 Decatur Deb

Approaching from the assumption that they knew Flynn and the Trump incoming administration were dodgy as hell, they still didn’t have a charter that lets the intelligence agencies block info from a rightfully-elected president. It’s not their call.

I agree. I didn’t intend my comments to disagree they couldn’t keep Flynn from hearing in his position at the time.

What I mean is once they were suspicious of Flynn, they could watch him and the info they did give him and the reactions and use of that info and use it in their investigation.

It would be like having the police knowing someone is a criminal and they let him hang around the police station so they can show him how they work. Wink. Wink.

And that investigation may not have been official, but once a cop has a clue and they can surveil, record and even maybe do a little misdirection they will be on it.

224
austin_blue  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:30:15pm

re: #220 Brian J.

What you call empathy I call getting ripped off by people who’d just as soon shoot me as look at me. And liberals need to stop getting manipulated and start getting real about protecting what they have, not enriching opponents or following fools’ dreams.

I erred. It was TS Allison.

And you are still a putz.

225
wrenchwench  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:31:00pm

re: #220 Brian J.

What you call empathy I call getting ripped off by people who’d just as soon shoot me as look at me. And liberals need to stop getting manipulated and start getting real about protecting what they have, not enriching opponents or following fools’ dreams.

You’re giving me reason to think they would be showing good judgement.

226
Decatur Deb  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:32:03pm

re: #223 ObserverArt

I agree. I didn’t intend my comments to disagree they couldn’t keep Flynn from hearing in his position at the time.

What I mean is once they were suspicious of Flynn, they could watch him and the info they did give him and the reactions and use of that info and use it in their investigation.

It would be like having the police knowing someone is a criminal and they let him hang around the police station so they can show him how they work. Wink. Wink.

And that investigation may not have been official, but once a cop has a clue and they can surveil, record and even maybe do a little misdirection they will be on it.

Oh yeah. It’s quite possible they were the tripwire, but I hope they handed off quickly to the FBI as the domestic agency.

227
TedStriker  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:32:39pm

re: #185 Brian J.

Yes. Remember, Hurricane Rita hit this same area in 2005, which wasn’t that long ago. They know that serious damage from tropical storms is possible in any hurricane season. If they fail to prepare and reject those who would try to, their problems are self-inflicted.

228
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:34:06pm

re: #220 Brian J.

What you call empathy I call getting ripped off by people who’d just as soon shoot me as look at me. And liberals need to stop getting manipulated and start getting real about protecting what they have, not enriching opponents or following fools’ dreams.

I can now see your thinking. It’s tough for you to get through the day. I can see why you would call me naive. But hey, you never need sunglasses.

229
EPR-radar  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:34:44pm

re: #209 The Vicious Babushka

Who remembers this stupid-as-shit meme from 5 years ago?

Yes, wingnuts want you to believe that the richest 1%, if they don’t get their tax cuts, ARE EXACTLY LIKE PEOPLE WHO WERE OWNED AS PROPERTY.

[Embedded content]

God that is idiotic. US plutocrats are the richest plutocracy in history, and they have an entire political party that will destroy the nation for more tax cuts for the rich.

The really ridiculous part of all this is that most Republicans aren’t rich enough to benefit from these tax cuts, and they aren’t even holding out for decent bribes for their votes to make other people richer.

230
TedStriker  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:36:14pm

re: #220 Brian J.

What you call empathy I call getting ripped off by people who’d just as soon shoot me as look at me. And liberals need to stop getting manipulated and start getting real about protecting what they have, not enriching opponents or following fools’ dreams.

Once again:

Suffice it to say, I think that you’d be better off not becoming what you despise.

231
Patricia Kayden  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:36:59pm

re: #65 Targetpractice

Why do you torture yourself and waste your limited brain cells on such nonsense? It’s not even worth responding to. It’s like a Republican Congress Critter claiming that President Clinton threatened Loretta Lynch’s life. Sigh.

joemygod.com

232
Decatur Deb  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:38:21pm

All but a few polling places have closed in GA.

233
sagehen  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:38:26pm

re: #179 Targetpractice

The secrecy it’s being crafted in will then be used as an excuse by vulnerable Republicans to insist they had no idea what it was they were voting for, they’re totally against the least popular parts of the bill, and they’ll “fix” it at some unspecified future date. The rest will just shrug their shoulders and say “You wanted me to kill Obamacare and I did it. What’s your beef?”

23 R senators are up for reelection in 2018. Quite a few of those are in states Clinton won.

234
MsJ  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:38:33pm

Polls are closed in GA. Here’s a link to updates.

thehill.com

235
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:38:46pm

re: #226 Decatur Deb

Oh yeah. It’s quite possible they were the tripwire, but I hope they handed off quickly to the FBI as the domestic agency.

Sure thing. But the CIA would continue the Russian half of the puzzle at the same time. Now every alphabet agency is in the process. even the IRS.

And the big question still remains. If Flynn was the only thing dirty Trump would have to worry about why wouldn’t he have ejected him pronto and be done with it?

There lies the investigation and what people may not be seeing yet because they need concrete evidence and facts.

236
EPR-radar  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:39:34pm

re: #220 Brian J.

What you call empathy I call getting ripped off by people who’d just as soon shoot me as look at me. And liberals need to stop getting manipulated and start getting real about protecting what they have, not enriching opponents or following fools’ dreams.

Setting aside the morality of wishing an indiscriminate natural disaster on people, how does this bit of applied assholism help the cause?

237
MsJ  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:40:14pm

And the NYT.

Karen Handel leads by 2.8 percentage points over Jon Ossoff with less than 1 percent of precincts reporting. Jump to estimate of final result ↓

CANDIDATE PARTY VOTES PCT.
Karen Handel Rep. 37,140 51.4%
Jon Ossoff Dem. 35,111 48.6
<1% reporting

238
Blind Frog Belly White  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:40:20pm

re: #230 TedStriker

Once again:

[Embedded content]

Suffice it to say, I think that you’d be better off not becoming what you despise.

He’s getting that GIF a lot these days.

239
Patricia Kayden  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:40:21pm

re: #209 The Vicious Babushka

That meme is quite ironic given how supportive of the Confederacy (and its defense of slavery) modern-day Republicans are.

240
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:40:50pm

re: #237 MsJ

And the NYT.

Karen Handel leads by 2.8 percentage points over Jon Ossoff with less than 1 percent of precincts reporting. Jump to estimate of final result ↓

CANDIDATE PARTY VOTES PCT.
Karen Handel Rep. 37,140 51.4%
Jon Ossoff Dem. 35,111 48.6
<1% reporting

We should know pretty quickly. Hopefully Ossoff pulls this off.

241
Patricia Kayden  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:41:09pm

re: #237 MsJ

And the NYT.

Karen Handel leads by 2.8 percentage points over Jon Ossoff with less than 1 percent of precincts reporting. Jump to estimate of final result ↓

CANDIDATE PARTY VOTES PCT.
Karen Handel Rep. 37,140 51.4%
Jon Ossoff Dem. 35,111 48.6
<1% reporting

Sad to hear this but it is a very red district. Oh well.

242
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:41:17pm

re: #239 Patricia Kayden

That meme is quite ironic given how supportive of the Confederacy (and its defense of slavery) modern-day Republicans are.

The Right: Taxation is slavery.

Also the right: Actual slavery wasn’t so bad.

243
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:41:31pm

re: #241 Patricia Kayden

Sad to hear this but it is a very red district. Oh well.

It’s very early yet.

244
EPR-radar  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:41:46pm

re: #235 ObserverArt

I think it’s certain that tr*mp has been laundering Russian mob money for decades. That is what any real investigation will find, if it is allowed to proceed.

245
MsJ  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:41:52pm

re: #241 Patricia Kayden

Sad to hear this but it is a very red district. Oh well.

Less than one percent in those results.

246
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:42:43pm

Rooting particularly hard for Ossoff as he’s my age. I wanted Quist to win too obviously but rooting hard for Jon.

247
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:42:55pm

re: #234 MsJ

Polls are closed in GA. Here’s a link to updates.

thehill.com

Here’s the NYT link:

nytimes.com

And if anybody but me cares, with one+ precinct reporting, Archie is up 70% to 29% in the SC-5 race! (I think it might be his home precinct.)

hosted.ap.org

248
ObserverArt  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:43:58pm

And with the polls closed, I am out. Gonna let all this dust settle a bit.

I think it may be a wrist slashing night and I don’t like blood.

Stay safe everybody! Please don’t die politically on us. I like everyone, even BrianJ.

It’s that old optimistic naivety in me.

Good luck Jon Ossoff.

249
EPR-radar  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:44:17pm

re: #242 HappyWarrior

The Right: Taxation is slavery.

Also the right: Actual slavery wasn’t so bad.

Therefore taxation isn’t so bad. WTF???!???!? Daddy Rush, please tell me what to think. When I do it myself, scary things happen.

250
calochortus  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:44:28pm

re: #220 Brian J.

What you call empathy I call getting ripped off by people who’d just as soon shoot me as look at me. And liberals need to stop getting manipulated and start getting real about protecting what they have, not enriching opponents or following fools’ dreams.

This portion of the comment could go to either Austin Blue’s comment or yours: Empathy actually cuts both ways. Someone who doesn’t understand how a person reacts to them isn’t going to do a good job conning anyone.

I’m not going downding you for anything you’ve said, because it sounds like you’ve been burned pretty badly somewhere along the line.
I’m sorry for that, but I’m going to keep on trying to be optimistic within reason because I function better that way.

251
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:44:37pm

re: #249 EPR-radar

Therefore taxation isn’t so bad. WTF???!???!? Daddy Rush, please tell me what to think. When I do it myself, scary things happen.

Hahahha well played.

252
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:45:31pm

re: #247 BeachDem

Here’s the NYT link:

nytimes.com

And if anybody but me cares, with one+ precinct reporting, Archie is up 70% to 29% in the SC-5 race! (I think it might be his home precinct.)

hosted.ap.org

This is for Mulvaney’s seat right?

253
MsJ  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:46:19pm

In case you have questions about the district. This from the NYT.

254
ipsos  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:48:26pm

If I’m reading the returns on the NYT site correctly, it’s a bad night for Ossoff.

The “less than 1%” numbers that are up there represent early voting out of Fulton County, which is the more urban core of the district. Ossoff MUST win Fulton, because he sure as hell isn’t going to win in Cobb or DeKalb*, which are the red suburbs.

And that’s not really less than 1% of the vote, either. It’s about 70,000 total votes, which should be the entirety of the early vote, and which is close to a third of the total votes cast in the last few elections in the district.

Ossoff would need a huge wave of election-day votes going his way in Fulton, and much weaker than expected performance from Handel in both early and election day voting in Cobb and DeKalb, to have any prayer.

(*EDIT - based on what the Times is predicting, maybe DeKalb is better than I’m expecting it to be. But still.)

255
calochortus  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:49:10pm

re: #247 BeachDem

Here’s the NYT link:

nytimes.com

And if anybody but me cares, with one+ precinct reporting, Archie is up 70% to 29% in the SC-5 race! (I think it might be his home precinct.)

hosted.ap.org

Why yes, I care. In fact, in answer to the question you asked in (I think) the last thread-I even knew about it. But that’s because I’m a left coast elitist NPR listener. ;)

256
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:54:28pm

re: #252 HappyWarrior

This is for Mulvaney’s seat right?

Yep.

It’s a total long shot, but I love Archie. He’s good, he’s smart and people like him (wish there were enough of them…)

3% counted—Archie 61%/Norman 39%
(all from Sumter County—Archie’s home county, but hey—a few minutes of optimism never hurt anybody, right?)

257
The Vicious Babushka  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:55:19pm

Why do Democrats always assume they will lose?

I hate this defeatist shit.

258
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:56:05pm

re: #256 BeachDem

Yep.

It’s a total long shot, but I love Archie. He’s good, he’s smart and people like him (wish there were enough of them…)

3% counted—Archie 61%/Norman 39%
(all from Sumter County—Archie’s home county, but hey—a few minutes of optimism never hurt anybody, right?)

Good luck to him.

259
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:56:14pm

re: #255 calochortus

Why yes, I care. In fact, in answer to the question you asked in (I think) the last thread-I even knew about it. But that’s because I’m a left coast elitist NPR listener. ;)

Welcome to my world.

I did send some $ to Ossoff, but in recent weeks, it’s all gone to Archie. Even if he doesn’t win, I wanted him to know there were people behind him.

260
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:56:16pm

re: #257 The Vicious Babushka

Why do Democrats always assume they will lose?

I hate this defeatist shit.

Damn good question.

261
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:56:20pm

re: #257 The Vicious Babushka

Why do Democrats always assume they will lose?

I hate this defeatist shit.

Ossoff might lose.
Ossoff might win.
Archie might lose.
Archie might win.

You know what I think? Let’s just see what happens, and continue planning for the long game. Winning a couple of special elections would be good. Winning several regular elections in the long term would be much, much, much better.

262
Jack Burton  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:56:52pm

re: #249 EPR-radar

Therefore taxation isn’t so bad. WTF???!???!? Daddy Rush, please tell me what to think. When I do it myself, scary things happen.

Norman, coordinate!

263
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:57:24pm

I say this much. Ossoff is doing a solid job against someone who has been elected statewide in Georgia before, in a district that’s reliably Republican, etc.

264
austin_blue  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:57:33pm

re: #257 The Vicious Babushka

Why do Democrats always assume they will lose?

I hate this defeatist shit.

Well, they are either delightfully surprised or fatalistic about the result.

Try living in Texas, where we haven’t won a state-wide seat since ‘94.

265
EPR-radar  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:58:46pm

re: #261 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

Ossoff might lose.
Ossoff might win.
Archie might lose.
Archie might win.

You know what I think? Let’s just see what happens, and continue planning for the long game. Winning a couple of special elections would be good. Winning several regular elections in the long term would be much, much, much better.

Beefing up team (D) at the state and local level is the key to just about everything. It’s scary how close the Republicans are to being able to unilaterally change the constitution into some wingnut perversion by controlling enough state legislatures.

266
calochortus  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:58:51pm

And now I’m an elitist, left coast NPR listener who needs to go start dinner. Tilapia with pesto (OK, so Costco did all the work there) rice and broccoli. A bit of watermelon for dessert.)

267
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:59:11pm

I think people are just hungry for a victory and honestly don’t want to hear the told ya so crap coming form the purer than thou who insist Ossoff isn’t pure enough. I’m of this opinion. Either we can be the lefty pure party they want or we can work for a majority in Congress and in our state legislatures but we can’t have both.

268
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 4:59:22pm

re: #258 HappyWarrior

Good luck to him.

Thanks.

And while I have everyone’s attention, one more posting of Archie’s House of Cards ad—you GOTTA love the guy. (I promise I will never post it again)

Archie Parnell: A Matador For You (HOC)

269
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:00:14pm

I wonder if the mindfuck of losing the general election to Donald J. Trump, of all people, has broken some people on the left. It’s kind of like the Battle of France; the French may have been able to pull victory from the jaws of defeat, if they had reacted swiftly and maintained their morale. But instead, they let the shock of defeat color their attitude, and by the time they were capable of decisive action, it was (strategically) already all over. We need to snap out of it and get our fucking game in gear, or we’re going to be the political equivalent of what the right wing gleefully maligns as “the cheese-eating surrender monkeys”.

270
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:01:27pm

re: #268 BeachDem

Thanks.

And while I have everyone’s attention, one more posting of Archie’s House of Cards ad—you GOTTA love the guy. (I promise I will never post it again)

[Embedded content]

Video

Okay, that’s brilliant. Too bad he’s a long shot because he seems like a good candidate and I love his sense of humor.

271
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:02:12pm

re: #269 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

I wonder if the mindfuck of losing the general election to Donald J. Trump, of all people, has broken some people on the left. It’s kind of like the Battle of France; the French may have been able to pull victory from the jaws of defeat, if they had reacted swiftly and maintained their morale. But instead, they let the shock of defeat color their attitude, and by the time they were capable of decisive action, it was (strategically) already all over. We need to snap out of it and get our fucking game in gear, or we’re going to be the political equivalent of what the right wing gleefully maligns as “the cheese-eating surrender monkeys”.

Yeah I think a lot of people still aren’t over that. And it still stings 7 months later.

272
Barefoot Grin  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:02:26pm
273
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:03:17pm

re: #271 HappyWarrior

Yeah I think a lot of people still aren’t over that. And it still stings 7 months later.

Of course it stings. I mean, look at all the crooked shit he’s done. We all wish we had the smart lady in the pantsuit running the show. But like a bad ex-girlfriend, we’ve got to get over it and move on. Let that pain motivate us to elevate ourselves.

274
Decatur Deb  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:03:23pm

re: #272 Barefoot Grin

[Embedded content]

Frum seems to want to save his soul.

275
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:03:32pm

Whatever happens tonight I do feel good about the midterms in 2018 but we need to vote.

276
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:04:20pm

re: #273 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

Of course it stings. I mean, look at all the crooked shit he’s done. We all wish we had the smart lady in the pantsuit running the show. But like a bad ex-girlfriend, we’ve got to get over it and move on. Let that pain motivate us to elevate ourselves.

Yep, that sting is why I worked for two campaigns. Both my candidates lost but I’m not going to be brat about it and refuse to support the winners of the primary. I’m instead grateful that the primaries were competitive.

277
austin_blue  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:04:32pm

First votes in from DeKalb. Ossoff up by 1.4%.

278
klys (maker of Silmarils)  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:07:16pm

So glad to see someone ready and willing to carry on the legacy of “we should collectively punish people who live in red areas because they’re all idiots” that’s been missing since PLL got banned for it.

////

I’m really tired. Not physically. Just …empathy feels like it’s missing a lot these days. A lot of people happy to be assholes to one another because “being nice doesn’t produce results” or whatever. Or it’s Twitter, so being an asshole is expected. Or whatever.

Not that it says anywhere that this is that it has to be like. But being the change is harder than bitching about the fact that reality isn’t how you want it to be, I guess.

Even if you’re on my side, if you’re an asshole, you’re part of the problem. I’m not going to say you can’t be you or whatever, because there is a limited amount of energy and time in the day and everyone uses different tactics, but don’t be surprised if we’re not friends.

Anyway I guess I am off to lurk some more and try to get shit done because life doesn’t exactly stop even when you desperately want/need a break. I wish coming to LGF felt more like one but these days it’s less a break and more an exercise in fighting off depression and anger. (And I’m not talking about the stream of news either.)

279
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:08:35pm

re: #278 klys (maker of Silmarils)

So glad to see someone ready and willing to carry on the legacy of “we should collectively punish people who live in red areas because they’re all idiots” that’s been missing since PLL got banned for it.

////

I’m really tired. Not physically. Just …empathy feels like it’s missing a lot these days. A lot of people happy to be assholes to one another because “being nice doesn’t produce results” or whatever. Or it’s Twitter, so being an asshole is expected. Or whatever.

Not that it says anywhere that this is that it has to be like. But being the change is harder than bitching about the fact that reality isn’t how you want it to be, I guess.

Even if you’re on my side, if you’re an asshole, you’re part of the problem. I’m not going to say you can’t be you or whatever, because there is a limited amount of energy and time in the day and everyone uses different tactics, but don’t be surprised if we’re not friends.

Anyway I guess I am off to lurk some more and try to get shit done because life doesn’t exactly stop even when you desperately want/need a break. I wish coming to LGF felt more like one but these days it’s less a break and more an exercise in fighting off depression and anger. (And I’m not talking about the stream of news either.)

I thought about PLL too. But yeah as frustrated as I get with these voters, I hate the punish them mindset.

280
ipsos  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:09:41pm

re: #265 EPR-radar

Beefing up team (D) at the state and local level is the key to just about everything. It’s scary how close the Republicans are to being able to unilaterally change the constitution into some wingnut perversion by controlling enough state legislatures.

School boards. Town councils. All the things.

It’s a shame that so much of the coordination (such as it isn’t) and money (such as it is) comes through organizations such as the DCCC and DSCC that aren’t designed to do anything downticket, and that there’s not really a national DNC ability to focus on that kind of grassroots rebuilding of a national party.

281
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:09:43pm

re: #270 HappyWarrior

Okay, that’s brilliant. Too bad he’s a long shot because he seems like a good candidate and I love his sense of humor.

Turnout is REALLY low—not sure if that helps him or not—

COLUMBIA — Turnout is generally low to non-existent today in the 5th Congressional District special election to decide who will replace Mick Mulvaney, President Donald Trump’s new budget director.

In York County, home to the population center of Rock Hill, as of 1 p.m., some precincts were as low as 6 percent of registered voters while others ran as high as 25 percent, said elections spokeswoman Beth Covington.

This (below) makes me wonder though…because Archie’s doing well is Sumter County, so maybe it’s the Dems who are fired up.

It was worse in Sumter County, at the bottom end of the district. “One precinct has zero voters so far,” said Sumter County elections director Pat Jefferson. One of the bigger precincts had only 86 voters, she said.

postandcourier.com

282
allegro  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:11:07pm

re: #271 HappyWarrior

Yeah I think a lot of people still aren’t over that. And it still stings 7 months later.

Can’t get over something until it’s, yanno, over. This isn’t over by a long shot.

283
The Vicious Babushka  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:11:31pm

re: #275 HappyWarrior

Whatever happens tonight I do feel good about the midterms in 2018 but we need to vote.

Whoever wins tonight has to run again in 2018.

284
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:11:58pm

re: #282 allegro

Can’t get over something until it’s, yanno, over. This isn’t over by a long shot.

Yeah very true.

285
ipsos  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:12:15pm

The early DeKalb voting for Ossoff looks good, and Cobb doesn’t look as bad as I’d expected. There could yet be hope.

286
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:12:18pm

re: #283 The Vicious Babushka

Whoever wins tonight has to run again in 2018.

Yeah I know.

287
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:15:01pm
288
EPR-radar  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:15:32pm

re: #280 ipsos

School boards. Town councils. All the things.

It’s a shame that so much of the coordination (such as it isn’t) and money (such as it is) comes through organizations such as the DCCC and DSCC that aren’t designed to do anything downticket, and that there’s not really a national DNC ability to focus on that kind of grassroots rebuilding of a national party.

I don’t know how this stuff really works in practice, and it’s certainly clear that the DNC can’t just airdrop money/people into any part of the country and get good results, but if the DNC isn’t in the business of strengthening the party’ foundations at the grassroots level all across the nation, they damn well need to find a way to do that.

289
Teukka  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:17:08pm

I wonder, has the video of the fire dept driving to the Grenfell Tower fire site being released?

290
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:17:35pm

Not sure honestly what the key is. I’ve met a lot of organizers. Hard working people who truly do care but I wonder if the solution should be to look for willing and knowledgeable people who know these districts and states rather than people who could be dismissed as mercs.

291
William Lewis  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:20:25pm

re: #68 The Vicious Babushka

Thank you.

292
stpaulbear  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:21:00pm

re: #281 BeachDem

That turnout is incredibly pathetic. What the heck does it take to get people to give a shit?

293
stpaulbear  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:23:21pm

re: #289 Teukka

I wonder, has the video of the fire dept driving to the Grenfell Tower fire site being released?

What’s that about? A video that shows how fast the fire spread? I haven’t heard about it.

294
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:23:35pm

re: #280 ipsos

School boards. Town councils. All the things.

It’s a shame that so much of the coordination (such as it isn’t) and money (such as it is) comes through organizations such as the DCCC and DSCC that aren’t designed to do anything downticket, and that there’s not really a national DNC ability to focus on that kind of grassroots rebuilding of a national party.

I will eventually do a page on this, but since it seems we need some inspiration, let me briefly mention a group that is doing some great things. Emerge America—now in 22 states (we just certified them for South Carolina in the past few days) is

recruiting, training, and providing a powerful network for Democratic women to run for office.

52% of Emerge alumnae have run for office or been appointed to local boards or commissions;
In the 2016 election, 70% of our 214 alumnae on the November ballot won their elections
In addition, we have a strong record of diversity: 39% of our alumnae are women of color.

2016 election wins:
emergeamerica.org

And for 2017-2018 elections:
2017-2018 Emerge Candidates
196 women as of June 2017
(163 women in 2017 and 33 women in 2018)

emergeamerica.org

I went to the organizing meeting last Friday. The excitement in the room was palpable. We didn’t put our meeting together until a few days before and had more than 20 people show up. Some of the other meetings had 75-100.

THIS is how we’ll win.

295
MsJ  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:25:13pm

Georgia special election candidate (Handel) says journalism has fueled ‘lack of civility’.

theguardian.com

Why she do declare (fanning herself).

The comments are unkind to Ms. Handel.

296
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:26:18pm

re: #295 MsJ

Georgia special election candidate (Handel) says journalism has fueled ‘lack of civility’.

theguardian.com

Why she do declare (fanning herself).

The comments are unkind to Ms. Handel.

You belong to Donald Trump’s party, Karen.

297
Targetpractice  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:26:41pm

I’m gonna laugh my ass off if poor turnout gives Ossoff the win.

298
MsJ  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:27:22pm

re: #293 stpaulbear

What’s that about? A video that shows how fast the fire spread? I haven’t heard about it.

I’m unfamiliar, to. Fire folks were said to have shown up within six minutes.

299
Teukka  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:27:42pm

re: #293 stpaulbear

What’s that about? A video that shows how fast the fire spread? I haven’t heard about it.

No, the firefighters responding to the site.

‘RARE’ FIRE FIGHTERS ON CALL OUT TO GRENFELL TOWER CAPTURE THE BLAZE ON CAMERA

300
MsJ  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:28:59pm

re: #297 Targetpractice

I’m gonna laugh my ass off if poor turnout gives Ossoff the win.

I’ll take a win any way it comes in.

301
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:29:55pm

re: #300 MsJ

I’ll take a win any way it comes in.

Me too. If Republicans can actually work to lower turnout to make victory easier for them, no complaints from me if they lose that way.

302
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:31:07pm

re: #292 stpaulbear

That turnout is incredibly pathetic. What the heck does it take to get people to give a shit?

Really—voter turnout under 7%. What is wrong with people?

303
MsJ  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:31:42pm

From NYT.

Jon Ossoff leads by 0.7 percentage points over Karen Handel with 4 percent of precincts fully reporting. Jump to estimate of final result ↓

CANDIDATE PARTY VOTES PCT.
Jon Ossoff Dem. 59,727 50.4%
Karen Handel Rep. 58,862 49.6
4% reporting (8 of 208 precincts)

304
lawhawk  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:32:05pm

re: #302 BeachDem

Really—voter turnout under 7%. What is wrong with people?

People don’t give a shit?

People buy the crap line that both parties are all alike; that all candidates are all alike?

Apathy? Ignorance?

Difficulty in getting to the polls during a work day/work week?

305
MsJ  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:32:42pm

re: #302 BeachDem

Really—voter turnout under 7%. What is wrong with people?

Die hard Republicans that can’t bring themselves to vote dem but can’t stand Republicans right now?

306
Backwoods_Sleuth  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:32:54pm

jeebus, when even OANN thinks you’re too toxic:

307
HappyWarrior  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:32:55pm

re: #303 MsJ

From NYT.

Jon Ossoff leads by 0.7 percentage points over Karen Handel with 4 percent of precincts fully reporting. Jump to estimate of final result ↓

CANDIDATE PARTY VOTES PCT.
Jon Ossoff Dem. 59,727 50.4%
Karen Handel Rep. 58,862 49.6
4% reporting (8 of 208 precincts)

So slow.

308
CleverToad  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:33:05pm

re: #145 I Would Prefer Not To

I can’t even.

My UPS driver (love the man, hate his politics) just informed me that the young Muslim woman in VA was killed by an illegal immigrant. I love the guy, but can’t deal with his Rush/Hannity/Levin talking points. He always asks me why I’m so glum. Perhaps because it’s been a long day and the people I like have been poisoned by hate. Send help to Brooklyn.

Heard the same thing this morning from one of the little old ladies in my mom’s quilt group — Fox News viewer, of course. Kept my mouth shut on that one because I’d already shot it off over her statement that there were different opinions about whether global warming is happening. (“No, there are different opinions about what we should do about it. There is only one set of FACTS that show it is happening.”)
*sigh*

309
garzooma  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:35:35pm

re: #206 freetoken

They can never escape the Peloponnesian War. Allison keeps referencing it. All those Hoover types are in love with ancient Greece. It really boxes in their thinking.

Actually, studying the Peloponnesian War, in particular the Athenian disaster in Sicily, should dissuade you from foreign adventures.

310
austin_blue  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:36:36pm

re: #299 Teukka

No, the firefighters responding to the site.

[Embedded content]

Video

Jesus Fucking Christ.

“It’s a fucking Towering Inferno, innit?”

311
Teukka  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:36:39pm

re: #309 garzooma

Actually, studying the Peloponnesian War, in particular the Athenian disaster in Sicily, should dissuade you from foreign adventures.

Is that the place where the expression “Pyrrhic victory” comes from?

312
stpaulbear  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:36:47pm

I get some excitement at work on Thursday. I need to visit a project in the far NW corner of the state. I found out that I can hitch a ride on a small jet (I think it’s a Cessna Jet 525) to get me close to the project and back again the same day. It’ll still be 5 hours of driving but it beats 15 hours of driving and at least one overnight stay. The flight is free for me because it was already a scheduled trip.

313
ipsos  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:37:03pm

Meanwhile in SC-5, more than a third of the vote is in and Archie Parnell is still ahead. And there are some good counties for him (Union, for instance) that still haven’t delivered most of their votes.

hosted.ap.org

Go Archie!

314
Teukka  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:37:05pm

re: #310 austin_blue

Jesus Fucking Christ.

“It’s a fucking Towering Inferno, innit?”

“How is that even possible?”

315
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:37:44pm

re: #311 Teukka

Is that the place where the expression “Pyrrhic victory” comes from?

No, that would be Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, who took on the Romans in a foolhardy adventure during their early wars.

316
austin_blue  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:39:25pm

re: #315 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

No, that would be Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, who took on the Romans in a foolhardy adventure during their early wars.

Won the battle, lost the war and his kingdom.

317
Quoth the raven, Covfefe.  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:40:32pm

re: #316 austin_blue

Won the battle, lost the war and his kingdom.

Won several battles, actually. However, as per the term which was coined after his name, those battles were “won” only in an academic sense - it completely depleted his army and the Romans, after replenishing their legions, steamrolled him the same way they did everything else in the ancient world: Thoroughly.

318
Blind Frog Belly White  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:41:26pm

re: #317 Quoth the raven, Covfefe.

Won several battles, actually. However, as per the term which was coined after his name, those battles were “won” only in an academic sense - it completely depleted his army and the Romans, after replenishing their legions, steamrolled him the same way they did everything else in the ancient world: Thoroughly.

Yeah? What have the Romans ever done for us?

319
austin_blue  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:42:18pm

re: #318 Blind Frog Belly White

Yeah? What have the Romans ever done for us?

E Pluribus Unum!

320
EPR-radar  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:45:48pm

re: #319 austin_blue

E Pluribus Unum!

These days, that motto is more what you’d call a guideline than an actual rule.

321
BeachDem  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:45:51pm

re: #305 MsJ

Die hard Republicans that can’t bring themselves to vote dem but can’t stand Republicans right now?

Well, not getting my hopes up too much, but 42% of votes in and Archie’s still ahead. Couple of Dem counties still out, but the biggest (number-wise) red cesspool is only 1/3 counted.

322
teleskiguy  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:45:54pm

Music.

323
teleskiguy  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:46:29pm
324
retired cynic  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:48:15pm

Watching live updates on 538 politics. Georgia 6 has 20% reporting, Handel 50.7, Ossoff 49.3. South Carolina 5 has 72% reporting, Norman 50.5, Parnell 48.5.

Fingers crossed.

325
teleskiguy  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:49:38pm
326
CBGB  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:51:09pm

re: #299 Teukka

Good God.

“How the fuck is that even possible?”

It shouldn’t be. If people don’t go to jail over this, I’m out.

327
teleskiguy  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:55:18pm

re: #326 CBGB

I’ve read that they may never know how many people died in that building. The owners of the property need to be held criminally negligent and do serious time in prison. The likelihood of that is slim to nil.

328
austin_blue  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:56:52pm

re: #326 CBGB

Good God.

“How the fuck is that even possible?”

It shouldn’t be. If people don’t go to jail over this, I’m out.

Prepare to be out. This is the Chelsea and Kensington borough of London, which includes Notting Hill. Drop dead filthy rich. The tower was reclad to make it look “nice”.

They cheaped out on the (flammable) exterior cladding, didn’t install sprinkler systems, and never upgraded the fire alarm system. It was a death trap.

329
Jebediah, RBG  Jun 20, 2017 • 5:58:37pm

re: #209 The Vicious Babushka

330
Charles Johnson  Jun 20, 2017 • 6:00:49pm

I think Ossoff might lose, because America obviously isn’t finished being stupid yet.

331
Blind Frog Belly White  Jun 20, 2017 • 6:05:38pm

re: #330 Charles Johnson

I think Ossoff might lose, because America obviously isn’t finished being stupid yet.

A lot of stupids are still in the “I meant to do that!” stage, where they have to defend their stupidity by continuing to be stupid. You know, like “I meant to paint myself into this corner, so I can guage how dry the paint is when I have to walk over it to get out.”

332
retired cynic  Jun 20, 2017 • 6:09:52pm

From 538:

GA-6 “I think a lot of us are confused because we’re unsure of how to read the vote that’s in so far. Will Ossoff do better or worse in precincts that haven’t fully reported? Well, as Nate noted, precincts that have fully reported show Ossoff running closer to Handel than the results as a whole. And when there is confusion, folks are rightly slow to project a winner. And that means a late night.”

SC-5 “All but York County has reported in South Carolina 5, and Norman is up by just 3 points. He should widen that margin as more of York comes in, but Dave is right — this looks to be tighter than any public poll showed.”


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