Glenn Beck: The White House Correspondents Dinner Is Like Being “Raped”

“They don’t get the tattoos, they give the tattoos”
Wingnuts • Views: 20,279

YouTube

I admit the White House Correspondents’ Dinner thing isn’t my favorite event to watch, although it’s not the worst, either (that might be the Grammys). But Glenn Beck will never forget the one time he went to the dinner, because, he says, it was just like being raped.

And if you thought that Joe Biden video was pretty funny, Beck wants you to know you were basically laughing at Nazis getting ready to put us all in concentration camps.

Doesn’t seem so funny now, does it?

Beck insisted that the video he had not seen was definitely “not hilarious” as “only the blind, deaf, dumb or those in the administration think it is hilarious.”

He proceeded to discuss a clip from the video in which Louis-Dreyfus and Biden walk in on Pelosi — whom Beck mocks as wearing “a giant clown jumpsuit” — in a tattoo parlor. “Why are they getting tattoos?” Beck asked. “Don’t they know that they’re the ones that are going to be running the camps? They don’t get the tattoos, they give the tattoos,” he said, alluding to the tattoos that prisoners were given at Nazi concentration camps.

P.S. This is another of those strange areas of overlap in which the opinions of the two Glenns (Beck and Greenwald) coincide:

“Versailles on the Potomac!” That Greenwald is such a card.

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471 comments
1 Gus  May 5, 2014 5:14:39pm

Glenn Beck. Glenn Greenwald. Coincidence? I think not.

2 Cheechako  May 5, 2014 5:15:20pm

I wonder how Glenn Beck knows how it feels to be raped? Just asking questions.

3 makeitstop  May 5, 2014 5:15:52pm

As I said earlier - I’m guessing that Beck is getting close to an out-of-court settlement to his lawsuit, and he feels relaxed enough to go back to portraying the Bull Goose Loony.

4 jaunte  May 5, 2014 5:17:36pm
“…while he hasn’t actually seen the White House Correspondents Dinner video with Julia Louis-Dreyfus featuring Joe Biden, Michelle Obama and John Boehner, he knows for a fact that it wasn’t funny and is outraged that his own website, The Blaze, ran an article with the headline: “Biden Mocks Himself in Hilarious Comedy Skit for White House Correspondents Dinner.”

Beck, scoring the difficult three-cushion butthurt shot.

5 Varek Raith  May 5, 2014 5:18:59pm

What a sick bastard.

6 Belafon  May 5, 2014 5:19:24pm

Because a woman, after getting raped, goes “That felt just like the president’s correspondent’s dinner.”

(Copied from previous thread because it was a reply to this topic.)

7 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 5, 2014 5:19:43pm

I posted this at the bottom of the last thread, but it seems like it would be of interest, so I’m going to repost it here in this fresh thread. Apologies if that’s a no-no:

Someone on another site mentioned Yves Smith and Naked Capitalism, a site I haven’t visited in a long time because they seemed to go full moonbat at some point during Obama’s first term. Anyway, I sauntered back over there to take a look at how things are, and found this interesting article that might be worth a read:
How Milton Friedman Fomented the Barmy “Corporations Exist to Maximize Shareholder Value” Myth

I have always taken the “maximize shareholder value” line to be a given in publicly-traded companies, and often see it used in online comment arguments regarding unionization, worker protections, etc.

Anyway, some possible ammunition for future debates.

Disclaimer: I make no claims about the rest of the site and how it operates now. Smith’s post is based upon other sources, so it seems pretty straightforward.

8 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 5, 2014 5:20:28pm

re: #3 makeitstop

I’m guessing that Beck is getting close to an out-of-court settlement to his lawsuit, and he feels relaxed enough to go back to portraying the Bull Goose Loony.

That or he’s off his meds again.

9 Justanotherhuman  May 5, 2014 5:21:40pm

I would like to torture Glenn Beck for several hours to let him know what it really is like to be raped. Well, not really; that’s just hyperbole on my part because as a former rape victim, I’m enraged at his extra-loose conflation.

What a shit stain this excuse for a human being is.

10 makeitstop  May 5, 2014 5:22:10pm

re: #8 Rev_Arthur_Belling

That or he’s off his meds again.

Could be both.

11 The Ghost of a Flea  May 5, 2014 5:23:20pm

Glen Beck is worried about the global conspiracy of secularist progressives that are degrading traditional values, souring art and culture with vulgarity, and ultimately looking to kill and enslave anyone they can’t co-opt. His wishes to solve this problem by gathering an ideologically pure front of believers that will scour anyone suspiciow from the halls of power, leaving behind a morally pure, culturally authentic society.

…just like the Jews in 1930s Germany, right?

12 jaunte  May 5, 2014 5:25:50pm

re: #11 The Ghost of a Flea

souring art and culture with vulgarity

Time for him to fight back against ‘degenerate art’ by building a McNaughton museum.

13 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 5, 2014 5:26:02pm

To the topic at hand, I will repost something I posted in the last thread when backwoods-sleuth asked “someone make this stop” about someone who said women who wore yoga pants were “partly responsible” for rape:

To be serious for a moment, I don’t really know how anyone can make that shit stop. It festers and boils, and when exposed to the sunlight, it shrinks back into its hole and bubbles up somewhere else. And there’s always a congregation of like-minded assholes to listen to it and then foist it on their offspring as “the right way.”

We can talk all we want about more education, more equality, more justice, more opportunity, more, more, more, but there is something deeply ingrained in the religious/cultural milieu of these types that will never go away.

All we can do, I think, is do all the more and keep pushing society toward a time when such attitudes will be held silently, as something to be whispered, for they know society condemns their piggishness.

But know that they will push back every inch of the way. It’s maddening, but I really can’t think of any other alternatives in a free society. If someone has any, please step up.

Same with racism, homophobia, etc.

14 b.d.  May 5, 2014 5:26:31pm

Glenn must be trying to get his FoxNews job back.

15 EPR-radar  May 5, 2014 5:26:32pm

re: #11 The Ghost of a Flea

Glen Beck is worried about the global conspiracy of secularist progressives that are degrading traditional values, souring art and culture with vulgarity, and ultimately looking to kill and enslave anyone they can’t co-opt. His wishes to solve this problem by gathering an ideologically pure front of believers that will scour anyone suspicion from the halls of power, leaving behind a morally pure, culturally authentic society.

…just like the Jews in 1930s Germany, right?

This x100. It’s really stupid for right wing nut jobs to go Godwin when their lunatic fringe is much closer to the Nazis than anything else in US politics.

16 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 5, 2014 5:26:38pm

re: #12 jaunte

They can put it next to that Ark playground in Kentucky.

17 HappyWarrior  May 5, 2014 5:26:41pm

Yeah just like rape. What the hell is it with right wingers like Beck and the idiot who said the Dems being proud of ACA increased enrollment is like the Holocaust. These aren’t uncommon thoughts on the right either. Something deeply wrong with the conservative mindset if you ask me.

18 jaunte  May 5, 2014 5:26:55pm

Oh, forgot link: jonmcnaughton.com

19 JustMark  May 5, 2014 5:32:02pm

re: #18 jaunte

Oh, forgot link: jonmcnaughton.com

Wow…

20 jaunte  May 5, 2014 5:33:08pm

re: #19 JustMark

Poe’s Law on canvas.

21 Stinky Beaumont  May 5, 2014 5:33:34pm

re: #18 jaunte

McNaughton is a real weirdo. He’s actually a pretty talented artist, but wingnut to the bone.

22 Single-handed sailor  May 5, 2014 5:34:19pm

Reading The Blaze is just like being sodomized.

23 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 5, 2014 5:34:25pm

re: #20 jaunte

That link should come with a NSFL (Not Safe For Life) warning. I’ve seen his “art” before, so I knew better.

24 Varek Raith  May 5, 2014 5:34:43pm

re: #17 HappyWarrior

Yeah just like rape. What the hell is it with right wingers like Beck and the idiot who said the Dems being proud of ACA increased enrollment is like the Holocaust. These aren’t uncommon thoughts on the right either. Something deeply wrong with the conservative mindset if you ask me.

Speaking of…

Tucker Carlson: Hot teachers sexually harassing teen boys ‘greatest thing that ever happened’

25 wrenchwench  May 5, 2014 5:35:48pm

re: #18 jaunte

Oh, forgot link: jonmcnaughton.com

He tweets.

Mostly he links to Facebook.

26 jaunte  May 5, 2014 5:37:06pm

re: #25 wrenchwench

We’ll wait a long time to see his painting of “welfare rancher.”

27 Justanotherhuman  May 5, 2014 5:38:18pm

Hey, I found a new picture of Glenn Beck with some of his disciples.

Image: turd.gif

28 wrenchwench  May 5, 2014 5:38:31pm

Later, lizards.

29 sagehen  May 5, 2014 5:40:08pm

OT: anybody watching 24?

Chloe is The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and/or Julian Assange/Edward Snowden. Drones are a major plotline. And President Heller (William Devane) was President Hayes on Stargate, making my SG/24 crossover fanfic SO MUCH BETTER.

30 Justanotherhuman  May 5, 2014 5:40:47pm

Former pastor accused of child rape arrested at graveside service

wmctv.com

HENNING, TN -

(WMC) - The former pastor of Victory Baptist Church in Henning, Tenn. was arrested at a funeral in Covington on Monday.

(snip)

“Berkley has reportedly been living in Arkansas, but he still has family in Covington.

“Berkley was picked up on a warrant out of the Circuit Court of Boone County Arkansas. The indictment charges him with one count of sexual assault in the first degree, one count of sexual assault in the second degree, five counts of knowingly supplying alcohol to minors, three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor, one count of sexual solicitation, and two counts of loaning pornography to a minor.” More

31 Pie-onist Overlord  May 5, 2014 5:41:59pm

re: #7 Rev_Arthur_Belling

I posted this at the bottom of the last thread, but it seems like it would be of interest, so I’m going to repost it here in this fresh thread. Apologies if that’s a no-no:

Someone on another site mentioned Yves Smith and Naked Capitalism, a site I haven’t visited in a long time because they seemed to go full moonbat at some point during Obama’s first term. Anyway, I sauntered back over there to take a look at how things are, and found this interesting article that might be worth a read:
How Milton Friedman Fomented the Barmy “Corporations Exist to Maximize Shareholder Value” Myth

I have always taken the “maximize shareholder value” line to be a given in publicly-traded companies, and often see it used in online comment arguments regarding unionization, worker protections, etc.

Anyway, some possible ammunition for future debates.

Disclaimer: I make no claims about the rest of the site and how it operates now. Smith’s post is based upon other sources, so it seems pretty straightforward.

32 darthstar  May 5, 2014 5:42:58pm

Because #Jesus loves a good three-way.

33 Gus  May 5, 2014 5:44:36pm

re: #25 wrenchwench

He tweets.

[Embedded content]

Mostly he links to Facebook.

He also follows Alex Jones, Paul Joseph Watson, and World Nut Daily.

34 Pie-onist Overlord  May 5, 2014 5:45:28pm

re: #29 sagehen

OT: anybody watching 24?

Chloe is The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo and/or Julian Assange. Drones are a major plotline. And President Heller (William Devane) was President Hayes on Stargate, making my SG/24 crossover fanfic SO MUCH BETTER.

I quit watching the season they nuked LA.

35 Pie-onist Overlord  May 5, 2014 5:47:58pm

re: #34 Pie-onist Overlord

I quit watching the season they nuked LA.

You know what sucked the most about that season? Even more than nuking LA?

Because after the episode where they nuked LA, and the episode immediately after it, THE NUKING IS NOT MENTIONED AGAIN.

25,000 people vaporized for a plot point and they fucking TOTALLY FORGET ABOUT IT “2 HOURS” LATER.

36 klys  May 5, 2014 5:50:39pm

re: #35 Pie-onist Overlord

You know what sucked the most about that season? Even more than nuking LA?

Because after the episode where they nuked LA, and the episode immediately after it, THE NUKING IS NOT MENTIONED AGAIN.

25,000 people vaporized for a plot point and they fucking TOTALLY FORGET ABOUT IT “2 HOURS” LATER.

What, you don’t think that’s realistic?

///

37 Charles Johnson  May 5, 2014 5:52:57pm

The article’s inaccurate in places, but “imperial spokesman?” Gimme a break.

38 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 5:53:28pm

Release of the final report has been delayed because they keep adding new schools to be inspected…
British PM David Cameron says ‘concerned about alleged Islamist extremism spreading across schools’

The Prime Minister’s comments came as the chief inspector, Sir Michael Wilshaw, put the finishing touches to a damning letter accompanying emergency inspection reports into 21 Birmingham schools.

According to ‘The Sunday Times’, which had first exposed the so-called ‘Operation Trojan Horse’ to infiltrate Britain’s schools back in March, Wilshaw is understood to be “deeply concerned” by the inspector’s findings.

He will call for changes to the rules for appointing and monitoring school governors nationwide, a source told the newspaper.

The UK’s schools inspectorate OFSTED’s reports, which were due to be published this week, have been delayed until June, after inspectors were asked to investigate three more primary schools in Birmingham.

39 Pie-onist Overlord  May 5, 2014 5:55:22pm

re: #37 Charles Johnson

The article’s inaccurate in places, but “imperial spokesman?” Gimme a break.

[Embedded content]

Glenn refers to himself in 3rd person now? You might say it’s delusions of grandeur but after all he is TEH GREATEST JOURNALIST IN TEH WHOLE HISTORY OF EVER!!!!!!
//

40 Gus  May 5, 2014 5:56:13pm

re: #37 Charles Johnson

The article’s inaccurate in places, but “imperial spokesman?” Gimme a break.

[Embedded content]

Who’s that?

41 Charles Johnson  May 5, 2014 5:59:10pm

re: #40 Gus

Who’s that?

Max Fisher.

42 Gus  May 5, 2014 5:59:19pm

Ah. Max Fisher.

43 Charles Johnson  May 5, 2014 6:00:02pm
44 Charles Johnson  May 5, 2014 6:01:28pm

Working at The Intercept looks like the ultimate creepy nightmare job.

45 Gus  May 5, 2014 6:01:59pm

re: #41 Charles Johnson

Max Fisher.

Impassioned and devoted imperial spokesmen!!!!!!!!!!!

46 Shazam  May 5, 2014 6:03:25pm

Beck was Glenn before it was cool.

47 dog philosopher  May 5, 2014 6:03:51pm

Missouri man allowed to skip prison sentence after 13 years of good behavior

i think 13 years of good behavior would just about kill me

48 Charles Johnson  May 5, 2014 6:04:07pm

Notice that Greenwald didn’t actually mention Max Fisher by name. That’s his passive-aggressive style.

49 Decatur Deb  May 5, 2014 6:06:16pm

Finding out you bought Dos Equis beer/margarita shit instead of just XX Beer is like being crucified upside down.

50 Charles Johnson  May 5, 2014 6:06:28pm

The Portrait of Dorian Greenwald.

51 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 6:08:10pm

Dkos is outraged that assaulting police is still a felony
Woman Sexually Assaulted by NYPD Convicted of Felony Assault

If you have not been following the story of Cecily McMillan, you might suspect the above headline to be either exaggerated or tasteless satire. Tragically, it is neither.

Meanwhile, back in reality…
Occupy Wall Street Protester Is Found Guilty of Assaulting Officer

OWS supporters seem to overlook the video evidence
Youtube Video
Sorry, but that’s illegal no matter who does it.

52 dog philosopher  May 5, 2014 6:09:22pm

re: #15 EPR-radar

This x100. It’s really stupid for right wing nut jobs to go Godwin when their lunatic fringe is much closer to the Nazis than anything else in US politics.

well the technique is to pre-empt all criticism by proactively aiming almost identical criticisms at the other side, no matter how much you need to deform logic to do it, named ‘fuzzing the message’ by lee atwater

basically as has been noted just a sophisticated form of the ‘i know you are but what am i’ defense

53 jaunte  May 5, 2014 6:12:39pm

re: #49 Decatur Deb

54 klys  May 5, 2014 6:12:48pm

55 makeitstop  May 5, 2014 6:13:43pm

56 GeneJockey  May 5, 2014 6:13:48pm

re: #7 Rev_Arthur_Belling

I posted this at the bottom of the last thread, but it seems like it would be of interest, so I’m going to repost it here in this fresh thread. Apologies if that’s a no-no:

Someone on another site mentioned Yves Smith and Naked Capitalism, a site I haven’t visited in a long time because they seemed to go full moonbat at some point during Obama’s first term. Anyway, I sauntered back over there to take a look at how things are, and found this interesting article that might be worth a read:
How Milton Friedman Fomented the Barmy “Corporations Exist to Maximize Shareholder Value” Myth

I have always taken the “maximize shareholder value” line to be a given in publicly-traded companies, and often see it used in online comment arguments regarding unionization, worker protections, etc.

Anyway, some possible ammunition for future debates.

Disclaimer: I make no claims about the rest of the site and how it operates now. Smith’s post is based upon other sources, so it seems pretty straightforward.

Hey, and I responded to it there, too! Basically that that is what I’ve been told at every company where I’ve ever worked.

A business is a tool to make money. Period.

57 GeneJockey  May 5, 2014 6:14:18pm

re: #45 Gus

Impassioned and devoted imperial spokesmen!!!!!!!!!!!

[Embedded image]

Looks like ‘Bob’ from That Seventies Show.

58 Pie-onist Overlord  May 5, 2014 6:18:23pm

WTFITS I just can’t even…

59 Pie-onist Overlord  May 5, 2014 6:19:49pm

If u can’t handel the truth it will come bach to bite u!

60 CuriousLurker  May 5, 2014 6:20:45pm

re: #38 Killgore Trout

Funny how the tone from your Indian news source is much more dramatic that of the BBC, which you claim is one of the sources you trust. Weird—I thought you didn’t like the Chicken Little, drama llama outrage stuff. //

I’m following this story, so don’t try to pull any bullshit with it, mkay?

‘Trojan Horse’: Head teachers’ fears over six schools

The head teachers’ union, NAHT, has been working with about 30 members in 12 Birmingham schools over claims of a plot known as Operation Trojan Horse.

General secretary Russell Hobby said he had serious concerns about events in half of these schools. […]

Letter ‘fake’

He said he believed the Trojan Horse letter was fake but it did refer to some incidents that appeared to have happened in some schools.

He added that nothing so far had confirmed the letter’s authenticity - but what it had done was to trigger an investigation.

“We’ve been supporting about 30 members in the city. We have been doing detailed casework for schools and we have serious concerns about what’s been going on in about half a dozen schools.”

He added: “In a small number of cases the association believes the actions may have broken the principles of governance, contravened good employment practices and risk eroding the basic entitlement of children to a rounded education.”

Mr Hobby will address the matter in his speech this weekend, saying that it is neither a cause for panic nor a cause for comfort.

He will say: “A tight network of religious leaders of the Islamic faith has made a concerted effort to get involved in the running of schools, and to strengthen the power of governing bodies to have a dominant influence in shaping the character of local schools.

“It is not clear that they have done anything wrong just by doing this. Indeed, such actions are officially encouraged.”

Mr Hobby also told reporters that concerns had been raised that some staff appointments had been made on the basis of faith rather than suitability for the job.

He was also concerned about claims that children were denied access to key parts of education, such as dance, drama and music classes and sex and relationship education. […]

In a separate development, Ofsted announced on Friday that reports on forced inspections on 18 Birmingham schools would be delayed until the beginning of June while inspectors gathered additional evidence.

bbc.com

61 GeneJockey  May 5, 2014 6:20:49pm

re: #58 Pie-onist Overlord

WTFITS I just can’t even…

[Embedded content]

Robert E Lee called. He wants you to stop saying stupid shit while pretending to be him.

62 ObserverArt  May 5, 2014 6:21:25pm

I wonder. Since Glenn sees himself as so witty and funny, does he have an altar to honor his own awesomeness set up in his bedroom? That dude really loves himself. No wonder why he would never find anyone else entertaining.

And poor Tucker Carlson. Never grew up and still has his Penthouse magazine collection around so he can read the Forum submissions over and over. I guess he still wants that lap dance he never got.

63 Decatur Deb  May 5, 2014 6:22:18pm

re: #53 jaunte

[Embedded content]

Cool. We’re a bit light polluted, but I plan to drive out if we wake up before dawn.

64 aagcobb  May 5, 2014 6:23:10pm

Glenn, listening to your show is just like being lobotomized.

65 GeneJockey  May 5, 2014 6:24:38pm

re: #62 ObserverArt

I wonder. Since Glenn sees himself as so witty and funny, does he have an altar to honor his own awesomeness set up in his bedroom? That dude really loves himself. No wonder why he would never find anyone else entertaining.

And poor Tucker Carlson. Never grew up and still has his Penthouse magazine collection around so he can read the Forum submissions over and over. I guess he still wants that lap dance he never got.

Yeah. You know, I never believed those letters were real, till one summer, at band camp……

66 ObserverArt  May 5, 2014 6:32:08pm

re: #65 GeneJockey

Yeah. You know, I never believed those letters were real, till one summer, at band camp……

It’s always at band camp…and it is always the girl you never thought would give you the time of day.

Oh Tucker…your bow tie is, well, growing!

: )

67 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 6:34:36pm

re: #60 CuriousLurker

Your BBC article is out of date. 3 new schools added to the investigation bringing the total to 21.
Trojan Horse: Ofsted to inspect three more Birmingham schools as probe widens

OFSTED has revealed it has inspected three more Birmingham schools as part of the Trojan Horse probe - taking the total number to 21.

This article also has the Prime Minister’s quote.

68 freetoken  May 5, 2014 6:35:05pm

I find it increasingly silly the over-hyped assertions by the far right that the “media” coddles the Obama administration and that the “media” are some bastion of ultra-left ideologues.

Especially the WaPo.

Consider the Editorial Board of that paper’s latest editorial, starting with the headline:

What Obama botched in Libya

REPUBLICANS HAVE a potentially strong case to make against the Obama administration’s handling of Libya, as the latest political developments there underline. On Sunday, a disputed vote in parliament led to the swearing-in of a new prime minister — the sixth since former dictator Moammar Gaddafi was overthrown in 2011 with the help of U.S. and NATO air forces. The new leader, an Islamist from the city of Misurata, replaced pro-Western prime minister Ali Zeidan, who was driven out of the country this year after his government proved unable to stop a militia from filling a tanker with stolen oil.

[…]

The Obama administration and its NATO allies bear responsibility for this mess because, having intervened to help rebels overthrow Gaddafi, they then swiftly exited without making a serious effort to help Libyans establish security and build a new political order. Congress might usefully probe why the administration allowed a country in which it initiated military operations to slide into chaos.

Instead, House Speaker John Boehner announced Friday that he would ask the House to create a select committee to investigate the Benghazi attack and the administration’s alleged attempt to cover up how and why Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed. To the extent that it zeroes in on the behavior of White House aides and other U.S. officials in Washington following the Benghazi attack — as it appears likely to do — the investigation will address the least substantial and blameworthy aspect of the Libya record.

[…]

Republicans may calculate that scandal-mongering about a Benghazi cover-up may rally the base before the fall’s elections. What it’s not likely to do is hold the Obama administration accountable for its actual failings in Libya.

The Overton Window seems to apply to media headlines also. The so called main-stream media, and that term would apply to the WaPo as much as any organization, seem to be triangulating their headlines to be more like the hate-right’s angry and delusions screamings.

69 Cheechako  May 5, 2014 6:37:01pm

How to Weigh Yourself

70 Gus  May 5, 2014 6:38:47pm

Speaking of Trojan Horses.

71 freetoken  May 5, 2014 6:40:30pm

How about this, from the Tribune Company’s Chicago Tribune:

Congress should press for answers on Benghazi

Everyone has learned from Rupert Murdoch that the way to make money in “news” in America is to tack to “the right”. That’s where the money is. Talk radio or TV or online or the little bit of print media left.

These companies make money by getting attention. Those who can scream the loudest will get eyes and make money.

72 Pie-onist Overlord  May 5, 2014 6:41:40pm

What a dumb shit:
“Knowladge” is this a parody acct?

73 Stanley Sea  May 5, 2014 6:41:42pm
74 freetoken  May 5, 2014 6:43:23pm

The Tribune Company had to fight off a possible takeover from a right-wing new owner. The Chicago Tribune and the LA Times are two of the very few news outlets that still have their own staff, albeit the organizations are smaller. I don’t know how long they can exist without them succumbing to the some wingnut who’ll buy them to turn the editorial boards into Fox-like, as what happened here to the San Diego Union.

75 Skip Intro  May 5, 2014 6:47:59pm

re: #58 Pie-onist Overlord

The hate is especially strong with that one. Love that he uses the flag of the traitors. It just completes the picture.

76 aagcobb  May 5, 2014 6:48:04pm

re: #71 freetoken

How about this, from the Tribune Company’s Chicago Tribune:

Congress should press for answers on Benghazi

Everyone has learned from Rupert Murdoch that the way to make money in “news” in America is to tack to “the right”. That’s where the money is. Talk radio or TV or online or the little bit of print media left.

These companies make money by getting attention. Those who can scream the loudest will get eyes and make money.

The Right very, very much wants this select Committee investigation to lead to impeachment proceedings.

77 dog philosopher  May 5, 2014 6:48:05pm

stuck in repo fetch hell… 7% (26/358)

WHAT FETCH HELL IS THIS???

78 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 6:48:35pm

re: #70 Gus

Speaking of Trojan Horses.

[Embedded content]

Here’s the NYT: Town Meetings Can Have Prayer, Justices Decide

The decision built on one from 1983 that allowed prayers at the start of legislative sessions. The two sides on Monday disagreed about whether town board meetings, which include not only lawmakers and spectators but also citizens seeking to do business with the government, are meaningfully different from legislative sessions.

I’m not that worked up about it. As an atheist I can easily see the case against prayer in legislative sessions and “in god we trust” on money. But to me it’s jibberish anyways and I don’t feel harmed by it. It seems the issue before the court is what difference does the audience make? Is there a different legal standard if the are citizens in the gallery?
Maybe someday the courts will overturn these rules until then I’m not too worked up about it.

80 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 6:51:24pm

I can’t vouch for the legal basis but I do like Kagan’s opinion…

She did not propose banning prayer, Justice Kagan said, but only requiring officials to take steps to ensure “that opening prayers are inclusive of different faiths, rather than always identified with a single religion.”

81 Skip Intro  May 5, 2014 6:51:29pm

re: #70 Gus

Speaking of Trojan Horses.

[Embedded content]

Well, it only applies to Christians, just like Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore says, so just become a Christian and quit you bitching.

82 b_sharp  May 5, 2014 6:51:40pm

re: #77 dog philosopher

stuck in repo fetch hell… 7% (26/358)

WHAT FETCH HELL IS THIS???

Change repository.

83 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 6:51:53pm

Maybe we should make Unitarianism the state religion.

84 Charles Johnson  May 5, 2014 6:52:02pm

It’s kind of obvious that the SCOTUS decision advances the cause of the religious right.

85 Skip Intro  May 5, 2014 6:52:33pm

re: #83 Killgore Trout

Maybe we should make Unitarianism the state religion.

Still unclear on the concept, I see.

86 Kragar  May 5, 2014 6:56:15pm

re: #84 Charles Johnson

It’s kind of obvious that the SCOTUS decision advances the cause of the religious right.

So I trust when I invoke the Chaos Gods at the next city council meeting, no one will object.

87 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 6:56:32pm
But Justice Kennedy said legislative prayers may have sectarian content and need not “be addressed only to a generic God.” He added that it would be perilous for courts to decide when prayers crossed a constitutional line and became impermissibly sectarian.

“To hold that invocations must be nonsectarian,” he wrote, “would force the legislatures that sponsor prayers and the courts that are asked to decide these cases to act as supervisors and censors of religious speech, a rule that would involve government in religious matters to a far greater degree than is the case under the town’s current practice of neither editing or approving prayers in advance nor criticizing their content after the fact.”

He’s got a point too.

88 klys  May 5, 2014 6:56:49pm

re: #84 Charles Johnson

It’s kind of obvious that the SCOTUS decision advances the cause of the religious right.

I look forward to hearing all about how people are needlessly outraged over this.

///

89 Belafon  May 5, 2014 6:57:28pm

re: #78 Killgore Trout

Here’s where you have to worry: It can become a test for whether you are part of the group. Imagine that if a council meeting has been called for an issue you are concerned about, say banning books at the library. And when you get up to speak, they ask you to pray. And when you refuse they ask someone else, who gets to speak after the prayer.

There’s kind of history on this kind of decision. In 1940, the Supreme Court ruled that schools could force people to say the pledge. Jehovah witnesses did not want to. Some of them were beaten for this. Ultimately, the Supreme Court reversed their decision in 1943.

There’s a good reason for this, even though it doesn’t affect you personally.

90 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 5, 2014 6:57:48pm

re: #56 GeneJockey

Yeah, the thread jumping is pretty quick around here :) It’s a different take, and I always wondered about the “maximize shareholder value” bit and how it morphed from the 50s to the 80s.

It’s like learning that all those red letters denoting Jesus’ voice in the New Testament of modern Bibles aren’t really in the original Greek manuscripts.

91 Belafon  May 5, 2014 6:58:04pm

re: #86 Kragar

I’m thinking of carrying a colander with me at all times.

92 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 6:58:29pm

re: #86 Kragar

So I trust when I invoke the Chaos Gods at the next city council meeting, no one will object.

ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn!
/amen

93 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 5, 2014 6:59:16pm

re: #45 Gus

Needs a Star Wars helmet, a la Rick Moranis.

94 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 6:59:20pm

re: #89 Belafon

Here’s where you have to worry: It can become a test for whether you are part of the group. Imagine that if a council meeting has been called for an issue you are concerned about, say banning books at the library. And when you get up to speak, they ask you to pray. And when you refuse they ask someone else, who gets to speak after the prayer.

There’s kind of history on this kind of decision. In 1940, the Supreme Court ruled that schools could force people to say the pledge. Jehovah witnesses did not want to. Some of them were beaten for this. Ultimately, the Supreme Court reversed their decision in 1943.

There’s a good reason for this, even though it doesn’t affect you personally.

They can’t do that.

95 Skip Intro  May 5, 2014 6:59:36pm

Well, this didn’t take long.

Roanoke County supervisor ready to strike prayer policy after Supreme Court ruling

The freedom of religion doesn’t mean that every religion has to be heard,” said Bedrosian, who added that he is concerned about groups such as Wiccans and Satanists. “If we allow everything … where do you draw the line?”

roanoke.com

Them heathen bastards are just lucky we don’t just string them up.

96 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 5, 2014 7:00:07pm

re: #74 freetoken

I don’t know how long they can exist without them succumbing to the some wingnut who’ll buy them to turn the editorial boards into Fox-like, as what happened here to the San Diego Union.

The Chicago Tribune edit board has always been right leaning (you should read some of their stuff about public employee unions). IIRC, Obama was the first Democrat they had endorsed for president in ages.

97 Gus  May 5, 2014 7:00:34pm

re: #95 Skip Intro

Well, this didn’t take long.

Roanoke County supervisor ready to strike prayer policy after Supreme Court ruling

roanoke.com

Them heathen bastards are just lucky we don’t just string them up.

Nothing to see here.

98 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 5, 2014 7:00:40pm

re: #49 Decatur Deb

Finding out you bought Dos Equis beer/margarita shit instead of just XX Beer is like being crucified upside down.

It could have been worse. You could have ordered pineapple on your pizza.

99 klys  May 5, 2014 7:01:20pm

re: #97 Gus

Nothing to see here.

Needless outrage, no possible room for slippery slopes, move along.

100 Belafon  May 5, 2014 7:01:23pm

re: #94 Killgore Trout

Why can’t they? You can refuse. They can’t make you pray, but they can ask you.

101 Kragar  May 5, 2014 7:01:24pm

re: #92 Killgore Trout

ph’nglui mglw’nafh Cthulhu R’lyeh wgah’nagl fhtagn!
/amen

“BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD! SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!”

“Now, our first topic for tonight is the parks budget.”

102 Mentis Fugit  May 5, 2014 7:02:50pm

re: #59 Pie-onist Overlord

If u can’t handel the truth it will come bach to bite u!

@knowladgeispwr:

[…] proving that liberals can’t handel even a small task! […]

Yeah, time to either go for baroque or face the music, libtards.

103 Belafon  May 5, 2014 7:03:18pm

I’m thinking my prepared prayer will be “Dear Jesus, when you said to go into the closet and pray, did you really mean it? Amen.”

104 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 7:03:58pm
When asked if he would allow representatives from non-Christian faiths and non-faiths, including Jews, Muslims, atheists and others, the Hollins District supervisor said he likely would not.

He’s a douchebag

105 Skip Intro  May 5, 2014 7:04:19pm

re: #95 Skip Intro

I should add this to the story. Same link.

When asked if he would allow representatives from non-Christian faiths and non-faiths, including Jews, Muslims, atheists and others, the Hollins District supervisor said he likely would not.

In case anyone is still unclear on what’s happening here.

106 Gus  May 5, 2014 7:04:25pm

It’s pretty simple you know. People have 24 hours a day and 7 days a week to pray. That’s 168 hours a week or 8,736 hours a year. Surely they can find time to pray in those 8,736 hours per year. Bonus points for not having to “accommodate” anyone’s religion during political BUSINESS hours.

107 klys  May 5, 2014 7:04:35pm

re: #105 Skip Intro

I should add this to the story. Same link.

In case anyone is still unclear on what’s happening here.

But hey, there’s nothing to worry about here!

108 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 7:04:38pm

re: #100 Belafon

Why can’t they? You can refuse. They can’t make you pray, but they can ask you.

Nope, I don’t think they can.

109 dog philosopher  May 5, 2014 7:04:45pm

re: #94 Killgore Trout

They can’t do that.

i see you have never been the ONLY PERSON IN THE ENTIRE ROOM not praying or even kneeling

“ah, actually, i’m jewi-”

“oh oh oh i see i’m so sorry! i mean, not about you being jewish!! i mean um oh i mean i um”

110 CuriousLurker  May 5, 2014 7:05:03pm

re: #67 Killgore Trout

Your BBC article is out of date. 3 new schools added to the investigation bringing the total to 21.
Trojan Horse: Ofsted to inspect three more Birmingham schools as probe widens

This article also has the Prime Minister’s quote.

I’m well aware that my article is older, however it says that there were “serious concerns” in only half of the original 12 schools. There is a difference between “concerns” and “inspections” and actual wrongdoing.

Why is no one leaking a copy of the text of the “damning letter” allegedly written by the chief inspector, Wilshaw, that is supposed to accompany the “emergency” inspection reports?

At present, the whole thing is about allegations made in an anonymous “leaked” letter sent last year, and additional reports have been mostly by (as yet) unnamed individuals:

The inquiry has become known as Trojan Horse because this was the name of a plan for an organised take over of schools in an anonymous letter.

It has not been established whether the letter is authentic or a hoax.

The Department for Education, in a statement this weekend, said investigations into the “very serious” allegations must be “carried out impartially, without pre-judgement” and as such it would be “inappropriate to comment further”.

bbc.com

You’ll just have to excuse me if all the hyperbole and ZOMG-Trojan-Horse-Creeping-Sharia hysteria generated in the media doesn’t move me after what I’ve seen here in the U.S.

I’m going to wait for the report in June. In the meantime, if the BBC goes into hair-on-fire panic mode then I might get concerned, however since they haven’t posted any updates on the story lately I assume British Christendom is safe for now. //

111 Skip Intro  May 5, 2014 7:05:22pm

re: #104 Killgore Trout

He’s a douchebag

Yeah, that happens when you declare that only Christians have First Amendment rights.

112 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 5, 2014 7:06:10pm

re: #104 Killgore Trout

Hey, I thought you said we shouldn’t get too worked up about this?

Why yes! Yes, you did!

The decision was 5-4 Conservatives win. If you didn’t see where this was heading, you have only yourself to blame.

113 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 7:07:17pm

Just when you thought meetings couldn’t suck more…

If a non-Christian wished to pray during a meeting under his idea for the prayer policy, Bedrosian said, he or she would be able to do so during the allotted time for citizen comment.

Sounds like a nightmare

114 Kragar  May 5, 2014 7:07:20pm

re: #109 dog philosopher

i see you have never been the ONLY PERSON IN THE ENTIRE ROOM not praying or even kneeling

“ah, actually, i’m jewi-“

“oh oh oh i see i’m so sorry! i mean, not about you being jewish!! i mean um oh i mean i um”

I remember in Boot Camp, we had a period set aside for evening prayers.

“Catholics, over there. Protestants on the other end. KRAGAR! WHY ARE YOU AT YOUR BUNK?”

“I’m Agnostic.”

“GET YOUR ASS DOWN THERE WITH THE PROTESTANTS THEN!”

115 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 7:07:55pm

re: #110 CuriousLurker

Yes, the early leaks of the report indicated that 6 schools had serious problems.

116 jaunte  May 5, 2014 7:08:58pm

If you want to have your petition considered by the Board, you’d better bow your head like everyone else.

117 BongCrodny  May 5, 2014 7:09:25pm

re: #89 Belafon

Here’s where you have to worry: It can become a test for whether you are part of the group. Imagine that if a council meeting has been called for an issue you are concerned about, say banning books at the library. And when you get up to speak, they ask you to pray. And when you refuse they ask someone else, who gets to speak after the prayer.

There’s kind of history on this kind of decision. In 1940, the Supreme Court ruled that schools could force people to say the pledge. Jehovah witnesses did not want to. Some of them were beaten for this. Ultimately, the Supreme Court reversed their decision in 1943.

There’s a good reason for this, even though it doesn’t affect you personally.

Spot on.

We just read that story about Dobson calling Obama the “abortion President” at a supposedly non-partisan event.

I don’t know how it’s possible to argue that these “prayers” won’t become more and more contentious, and if you don’t agree with the content of the message, your only option will be to “sit down and shut up it” if you want to remain a participant in such town meetings.

This is just an awful ruling, and the fact that the Supreme Court’s creepy five were all in favor of it doesn’t surprise me in the least.

118 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 5, 2014 7:09:54pm

Again, why, oh why can’t these morons just go with a Moment of Silence (tm) and stop with their deity dick measuring?

Everyone gets time to mouth whatever supplications to whatever sky or earth deity of their choice, and nobody gets huffy.

Idiots.

119 Feline Fearless Leader  May 5, 2014 7:10:47pm

Penguins shut out Rangers again; 2-0.

120 Belafon  May 5, 2014 7:11:04pm

re: #113 Killgore Trout

Yeah, we had an amendment for that particular reason. Until the people you agree with gutted it today.

121 Pie-onist Overlord  May 5, 2014 7:11:05pm

Who made the raciest comment? Was it Kragar? U naughty thing.

122 Pie-onist Overlord  May 5, 2014 7:11:31pm

I’m calling Poe’s Law on Tina.

123 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 5, 2014 7:12:12pm

re: #118 Rev_Arthur_Belling

Again, why, oh why can’t these morons just go with a Moment of Silence (tm) and stop with their deity dick measuring?

Everyone gets time to mouth whatever supplications to whatever sky or earth deity of their choice, and nobody gets huffy.

Idiots.

Because the purpose of spoken prayer is to show one’s piety to others.

124 Gus  May 5, 2014 7:12:23pm

Today’s SCOTUS decision WRT 1st Amendment is a Trojan Horse.

125 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 7:12:35pm

re: #112 Rev_Arthur_Belling

Hey, I thought you said we shouldn’t get too worked up about this?

Why yes! Yes, you did!

The decision was 5-4 Conservatives win. If you didn’t see where this was heading, you have only yourself to blame.

I think it’s an interesting issue, I can see some decent points on both sides. I don’t think it’ll lead to our downfall as a nation. Sure some people, like the dick in Roanoke will try to take advantage of the situation. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with this one.

126 klys  May 5, 2014 7:12:56pm

re: #120 Belafon

Yeah, we had an amendment for that particular reason. Until the people you agree with gutted it today.

He doesn’t think it’s a problem.

Consumer boycotts of companies, however, that’s a major problem, huge slippery slope. And possible Islamist actions in like 6 schools in Britain, based on a report that hasn’t been released yet.

127 klys  May 5, 2014 7:13:41pm

re: #126 klys

He doesn’t think it’s a problem.

Consumer boycotts of companies, however, that’s a major problem, huge slippery slope. And possible Islamist actions in like 6 schools in Britain, based on a report that hasn’t been released yet.

Also, potato, and have a cat. Just so we can get that over with.

Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.

128 Skip Intro  May 5, 2014 7:14:41pm

What religion is it that these people pretend to believe in? It sure can’t be the one about this guy.

Whenever you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, because they love to pray while standing in synagogues and on street corners so that people can see them. Truly I say to you, they have their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father, who sees in secret, will reward you” - (Matthew 6:5-6).

129 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 5, 2014 7:15:14pm

re: #125 Killgore Trout

Boilerplate comment.

I think it’s an interesting issue, I can see some decent points on both sides. I don’t think it’ll lead to our downfall as a nation. Sure some people … will try to take advantage of the situation. It’ll be interesting to see what happens with this one.

Do you have these quips stored on your hard drive for ready use?

130 Gus  May 5, 2014 7:15:49pm

Derp.

131 William Barnett-Lewis  May 5, 2014 7:16:38pm

re: #129 wheat-doggha — oo bird outside my window

Boilerplate comment.

Do you have these quips stored on your hard drive for ready use?

Probably has them assigned macros or to his F keys all the easier to show how concerned some issue has him.

132 jaunte  May 5, 2014 7:16:42pm

re: #128 Skip Intro

Truly I say to you, they have their reward.

133 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 7:17:27pm

re: #130 Gus

Interesting

134 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 7:17:57pm

Now I want a breakfast burrito

135 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 5, 2014 7:18:07pm

re: #129 wheat-doggha — oo bird outside my window
I was thinking the same thing, something along the lines of “they will, or they won’t.”

I don’t see any decent points on the victorious side. Stop praying before meetings. Easy Peasy. The Roberts Court is going to go down as one of the most hacktacular in history, and it won’t be because of the liberal side of the bench.

136 CuriousLurker  May 5, 2014 7:18:39pm

re: #115 Killgore Trout

Yes, the early leaks of the report indicated that 6 schools had serious problems.

No, it said there were serious concerns.

Try yo be accurate—concerns ≠ problems. When the reports are published in June, then we’ll know if there were actual problems.

Do you have a report from a reliable news source about serious concerns at more than 6 schools, or are there just more schools being inspected now? How does a school end up on the inspection list—do you know? I don’t.

137 Rightwingconspirator  May 5, 2014 7:18:51pm

re: #124 Gus

Today’s SCOTUS decision WRT 1st Amendment is a Trojan Horse.

Why? Even Kagans dissent says it’s about inclusion of various religions in prayer.

Is any of the following factually incorrect?

Justice Kennedy said traditions starting with the first Congress supported the constitutionality of ceremonial prayers at the start of legislative sessions. Both Houses of Congress, he said, have appointed and paid for official chaplains almost without interruption ever since. Legislative prayer, he said, is “a practice that was accepted by the framers and has withstood the critical scrutiny of time and political change.”

So both Houses can and a simple town hall meeting must not?

As long as many religions are welcome, I’m fine with it. Bring the priest, he rabbi, the rest just the same.

138 Feline Fearless Leader  May 5, 2014 7:19:57pm

re: #127 klys

Also, potato, and have a cat. Just so we can get that over with.

Caaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat.

You said ‘potato’

139 Gus  May 5, 2014 7:20:02pm

Look! A bee!

140 klys  May 5, 2014 7:20:07pm

re: #137 Political Atheist

Why? Even Kagans dissent says it’s about inclusion of various religions in prayer.

Is any of the following factually incorrect?

So both Houses can and a simple town hall meeting must not?

As long as many religions are welcome, I’m fine with it. Bring the priest, he rabbi, the rest just the same.

I’d really rather there weren’t prayers before any of them. At most, I could agree to a moment of silence.

141 Skip Intro  May 5, 2014 7:21:42pm

re: #137 Political Atheist

Why? Even Kagans dissent says it’s about inclusion of various religions in prayer.

Is any of the following factually incorrect?

So both Houses can and a simple town hall meeting must not?

As long as many religions are welcome, I’m fine with it. Bring the priest, he rabbi, the rest just the same.

Many religions will be welcome, as long as all of them are Christian.

When asked if he would allow representatives from non-Christian faiths and non-faiths, including Jews, Muslims, atheists and others, the Hollins District supervisor said he likely would not.

142 Skip Intro  May 5, 2014 7:22:50pm

re: #140 klys

I’d really rather there weren’t prayers before any of them. At most, I could agree to a moment of silence.

I’d prefer lie detector tests of the supervisors myself. I think it would be much more beneficial.

143 jaunte  May 5, 2014 7:24:02pm

re: #142 Skip Intro

Based on the effectiveness of the Rick Perry drought-prayer extravaganza, I think you’re right.

144 Kragar  May 5, 2014 7:24:29pm

re: #121 Pie-onist Overlord

Who made the raciest comment? Was it Kragar? U naughty thing.

[Embedded content]

Not I.

145 dog philosopher  May 5, 2014 7:25:42pm

re: #137 Political Atheist

Why? Even Kagans dissent says it’s about inclusion of various religions in prayer.

Is any of the following factually incorrect?

So both Houses can and a simple town hall meeting must not?

As long as many religions are welcome, I’m fine with it. Bring the priest, he rabbi, the rest just the same.

oh oh oh can i give the atheist prayer invocation?

“now let us contemplate the meaninglessness of the universe, and remind ourselves that our task is to act morally and with kindness in a world that rewards neither and never will. neither let us fall into the trap of hoping that some celestial father figure will take care of it all so that we can indulge the luxury of concentrating only on our own individual, personal fates”

146 Killgore Trout  May 5, 2014 7:29:08pm

re: #140 klys

I’d really rather there weren’t prayers before any of them. At most, I could agree to a moment of silence.

Personally I don’t even care for the moment of silence. I say cut out all the nonsense and ceremony and get to work. The bonus of my no-nonsense agenda is that it would probably pass Constitutional muster.

147 William Barnett-Lewis  May 5, 2014 7:29:39pm

re: #137 Political Atheist

No, I have to disagree.

“There never was a union of church and state which did not bring serious evils to religion.”

The Right Reverend John England, first Roman Catholic Bishop of Charleston SC, 1825.

As a devout Episcopalian I firmly believe that religion has no place in government and should not be allowed at all. No invocations. No prayers. No days of prayer. No bibles at inaugurations. The only thing I would allow is chaplains for service members. The houses of congress don’t need them - plenty of churches in DC.

Religious and secular life should be kept scrupulously separate from one another. Both will be better for that.

148 Decatur Deb  May 5, 2014 7:30:15pm

re: #137 Political Atheist

Why? Even Kagans dissent says it’s about inclusion of various religions in prayer.

Is any of the following factually incorrect?

So both Houses can and a simple town hall meeting must not?

As long as many religions are welcome, I’m fine with it. Bring the priest, he rabbi, the rest just the same.

Just pull a hard vacuum in the meeting room for my deity.

149 Belafon  May 5, 2014 7:30:35pm

re: #137 Political Atheist

Because that’s the history we have in this country.

It’s like the ad I see for John Cornyn that asks “Do you believe that people should have a valid ID to vote?” In the abstract, yes. In reality, we have a Constitutional amendment against a poll tax because of how it is used to keep certain people from participating in government. And that is how this ruling will be used.

150 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 5, 2014 7:31:57pm

re: #141 Skip Intro

Many religions will be welcome, as long as all of them are Christian.

Which reminds me of a bad joke.

Back in the days when there was sectarian violence in Northern ireland, some boyos were in a pub having a heated discussion about religion. They noticed a young fellow sitting quietly in the corner sipping his brew.

“You there!” said one of the men. “What do you think about Sinn Fein?”

“I don’t have any opinion worth mentioning now,” the quiet fellow said.

“Well, then, are you a Catholic or a Protestant?”

“I’m a Jew,” was the reply.

The man paused. “All right, then, but are you a Catholic Jew or a Protestant Jew?”

151 Dark_Falcon  May 5, 2014 7:43:06pm

re: #22 Single-handed sailor

Reading The Blaze is just like being sodomized.

Without lube.

152 CuriousLurker  May 5, 2014 7:57:33pm

re: #136 CuriousLurker

No, it said there were serious concerns.

Try yo be accurate—concerns ≠ problems. When the reports are published in June, then we’ll know if there were actual problems.

Do you have a report from a reliable news source about serious concerns at more than 6 schools, or are there just more schools being inspected now? How does a school end up on the inspection list—do you know? I don’t.

I guess KT doesn’t have answers for those last two bits, so allow me to summarize before I check out for the night:

1) An anonymous letter written last year was made public in March. It “claimed to be a template illustrating how state schools could be taken over and pushed into adopting a more Islamic culture.” It is unknown if the letter was real or a hoax, nonetheless authorities are taking it seriously.

2) There are ongoing inspections at 21 Brighton schools, 6 of which we know authorities have serious concerns about. We have no idea about the exact nature of those concerns except that they involve Muslims.

3) We have no idea how/why a school that wasn’t previously on the inspection list gets added to it, nor do we know if any actual problems have been found.

Later, lizards.

153 Rightwingconspirator  May 5, 2014 7:57:34pm

re: #141 Skip Intro

Many religions will be welcome, as long as all of them are Christian.

Now we see the proper fix, as Justice Kagan indicated. Inclusive would be the requirement. Require including the Muslim the atheist. If they want to drop them all so be it. if they go for fair inclusiveness, hey their choice.

We agree they don’t get to pick one. Keep that in mind.

154 Varek Raith  May 5, 2014 8:00:00pm

re: #153 Political Atheist

Now we see the proper fix, as Justice Kagan indicated. Inclusive would be the requirement.

Which won’t happen.
And it it was, it would be ignored.

155 Lidane  May 5, 2014 8:00:19pm

So I’m thiscose to adding an entry to my LinkedIn profile declaring myself a freelance writer in both English and Spanish. I’m also calling one of my recruiters tomorrow and seeing what I can get ASAP. I’m going to take my angst at the company that blew me off and turn it into something better.

I also plan on buckling down on my friend’s website. She asked me to build a simple WordPress site for her jewelry shop. I’ll focus on that until something comes my way.

156 Romantic Heretic  May 5, 2014 8:09:40pm

re: #59 Pie-onist Overlord

If u can’t handel the truth it will come bach to bite u!

[Embedded content]

I wonder how Texas will handle it when the oil runs out?

157 freetoken  May 5, 2014 8:14:08pm

It’s amazing how persistent in time and across the net some of the phishing scams can be. Just tonight I got in my email one of these:

spamfighter.com

These are the ticks of the internet.

158 Romantic Heretic  May 5, 2014 8:16:10pm

re: #86 Kragar

So I trust when I invoke the Chaos Gods at the next city council meeting, no one will object.

They might object to you collecting blood and skulls for Khorne.

159 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 5, 2014 8:17:00pm

re: #156 Romantic Heretic

I wonder how Texas will handle it when the oil runs out?

I think they may run out of water first.

160 Zamb  May 5, 2014 8:17:12pm

re: #156 Romantic Heretic

I imagine by blaming Mexicans and wandering bands of portly old men armed to the teeth

161 Kragar  May 5, 2014 8:17:14pm

re: #158 Romantic Heretic

They might object to you collecting blood and skulls for Khorne.

Why are they obstructing me from exercising my religious liberty?

162 darthstar  May 5, 2014 8:18:31pm

I fucking love this.

163 William Barnett-Lewis  May 5, 2014 8:18:46pm

re: #161 Kragar

Why are the obstructing me from exercising my religious liberty?

Perhaps the Native American churches that aren’t allowed to use Peyote in their traditional ways can tell you? ///

165 freetoken  May 5, 2014 8:20:06pm

This story is drawing in the expected derp in the comments:

Study examines achievement gap between Asian American, white students

166 BongCrodny  May 5, 2014 8:26:09pm

re: #153 Political Atheist

Now we see the proper fix, as Justice Kagan indicated. Inclusive would be the requirement. Require including the Muslim the atheist. If they want to drop them all so be it. if they go for fair inclusiveness, hey their choice.

We agree they don’t get to pick one. Keep that in mind.

Here’s a question: who decides what’s not an appropriate religion or belief system?

Will they allow Hindus? Buddhists?

Druids? Santeria?

Pretty sure I’d be leery of the “Chief Religious Officer,” the guy who says “okay, this guy can give the prayer…but this other guy can’t.”

167 Jocko's Rocket Ship  May 5, 2014 8:26:11pm

Does anyone here know anything about movie scriptwriting? A semi-legit movie producer contacted my girlfriend a few months ago about adapting her recently published book. It’s an academic work, but the subject matter is really interesting culturally and could easily be compellingly adapted to film with a fiction element.

It’s a fun project for us in her summer “off”, but we’d like to give it a go. Anyone ever done this and has advice?

168 palomino  May 5, 2014 8:26:34pm

re: #59 Pie-onist Overlord

If u can’t handel the truth it will come bach to bite u!

[Embedded content]

Besides high rates of gun ownership, high rates of medically uninsured citizens, and an economic race to the bottom, what exactly does Texas do so well?

“Real” Texans actually have a profound inferiority complex. They constantly want to prove that they could make it on their own as an independent republic. And they’re very sensitive about being the butt of so many jokes, especially jokes about rednecks and the toothless and trailer parks. And, like most conservative southerners, there’s a resentment that goes back to the civil rights days and even the Civil War.

169 Dark_Falcon  May 5, 2014 8:27:36pm

re: #165 freetoken

This story is drawing in the expected derp in the comments:

Study examines achievement gap between Asian American, white students

That was as predictable as the sunrise. Stories on news sites about achievement gaps between people of different ethnic origins should never have an open comments thread. Doesn’t matter what the articles say, the comments thread rapidly becomes full of trolls spewing various forms of bile. Even if the thread is moderated, the trolls will just keep coming and they’ll find ways to spew. It’s just not worth it to allow comments on such a article.

170 Charles Johnson  May 5, 2014 8:29:23pm
171 jamesfirecat  May 5, 2014 8:29:40pm

re: #158 Romantic Heretic

They might object to you collecting blood and skulls for Khorne.

Please, they’d be most upset with the what you have to do to praise Slaanesh, especially if you’ve put on weight recently.

173 Romantic Heretic  May 5, 2014 8:32:59pm

re: #167 Jocko’s Rocket Ship

Does anyone here know anything about movie scriptwriting? A semi-legit movie producer contacted my girlfriend a few months ago about adapting her recently published book. It’s an academic work, but the subject matter is really interesting culturally and could easily be compellingly adapted to film with a fiction element.

It’s a fun project for us in her summer “off”, but we’d like to give it a go. Anyone ever done this and has advice?

I can’t give you advice, but I’m sure you can find people here who can.

174 Kragar  May 5, 2014 8:33:32pm

re: #171 jamesfirecat

Please, they’d be most upset with the what you have to do to praise Slaanesh, especially if you’ve put on weight recently.

Khorne: “Blood for the Blood God!”

Slaanesh: “Hookers and Blow!”

175 jamesfirecat  May 5, 2014 8:35:22pm

re: #174 Kragar

Khorne: “Blood for the Blood God!”

Slaanesh: “Hookers and Blow!”

Now there’s more to worshiping Slaanesh than hookers and blow, like rubber and whips!

176 Kragar  May 5, 2014 8:37:11pm

re: #175 jamesfirecat

Now there’s more to worshiping Slaanesh than hookers and blow, like rubber and whips!

That comes in later.

177 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 5, 2014 8:39:44pm

re: #171 jamesfirecat

Please, they’d be most upset with the what you have to do to praise Slaanesh, especially if you’ve put on weight recently.

I think public meetings should start with a toast and shot of whiskey all around.

178 calochortus  May 5, 2014 8:40:38pm

re: #147 William Barnett-Lewis

No, I have to disagree.

“There never was a union of church and state which did not bring serious evils to religion.”

The Right Reverend John England, first Roman Catholic Bishop of Charleston SC, 1825.

As a devout Episcopalian I firmly believe that religion has no place in government and should not be allowed at all. No invocations. No prayers. No days of prayer. No bibles at inaugurations. The only thing I would allow is chaplains for service members. The houses of congress don’t need them - plenty of churches in DC.

Religious and secular life should be kept scrupulously separate from one another. Both will be better for that.

I also got the feeling that this prayer was deemed A-OK by the 5 justices precisely because it was pretty much meaningless.
I’m not religious myself, but if I were, that wouldn’t really recommend the practice to me.

179 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 5, 2014 8:48:17pm

re: #178 calochortus

I also got the feeling that this prayer was deemed A-OK by the 5 justices precisely because it was pretty much meaningless.
I’m not religious myself, but if I were, that wouldn’t really recommend the practice to me.

Most of the time, opening prayers are just a pro forma way of starting a session, like half-hearted blessings before dinner. “Thank you Father for this meal. … Pass the potatoes, please.”

My worry is the SCOTUS ruling will embolden the zealots to turn opening prayers into mini-sermons.

180 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 5, 2014 8:50:03pm

Very close to pumpkin hour here.
Niters, lizards!

181 calochortus  May 5, 2014 8:58:27pm

re: #179 wheat-doggha — oo bird outside my window

Most of the time, opening prayers are just a pro forma way of starting a session, like half-hearted blessings before dinner. “Thank you Father for this meal. … Pass the potatoes, please.”

My worry is the SCOTUS ruling will embolden the zealots to turn opening prayers into mini-sermons.

Sometimes I think we should declare a state religion-any one will do. It seems to relieve the majority of the population of the obligation to actually practice religion.

182 NJDhockeyfan  May 5, 2014 9:04:37pm

Evening lizards!

What’s new?

183 NJDhockeyfan  May 5, 2014 9:08:06pm
184 NJDhockeyfan  May 5, 2014 9:10:54pm

What a stupid assignment. WTF?.

…The Rialto Unified School District assignment asked eighth-graders to argue whether the Holocaust “was an actual event in history or merely a political scheme created to influence public emotion and gain wealth,” according to a copy obtained by NBC4.

185 freetoken  May 5, 2014 9:12:29pm

re: #183 NJDhockeyfan

“It’s like asking students to make an argument that the world is flat,” said Matthew Friedman, associate regional director of the Anti-Defamation League. “It’s just a patently false argument and there’s really no educational value there.”

I disagree with Friedman. There are good reasons for an assignment like this, in order to get students to research and be able to present evidence.

And, it would be a very good exercise for students to learn why some used to think the Earth was flat, and ask the students to prove that it isn’t.

This is pedagogy - requiring students to understand how previous people came to the conclusions they did.

186 Lidane  May 5, 2014 9:13:04pm

re: #183 NJDhockeyfan

A friend of mine from high school raised holy hell when her daughter was in a history class where the teacher decided that teaching the Holocaust involved separating some students with yellow stars. My friend and her family are Jewish. She was NOT amused. The teacher and the school both ended up apologizing for it.

187 Jocko's Rocket Ship  May 5, 2014 9:14:21pm

re: #173 Romantic Heretic
Thanks for that. The internet is very cluttered with this subject and this narrows it down.

188 NJDhockeyfan  May 5, 2014 9:17:55pm

re: #186 Lidane

A friend of mine from high school raised holy hell when her daughter was in a history class where the teacher decided that teaching the Holocaust involved separating some students with yellow stars. My friend and her family are Jewish. She was NOT amused. The teacher and the school both ended up apologizing for it.

It’s like having the students question whether slavery was an actual event. There would be equal outrage if that happened.

189 NJDhockeyfan  May 5, 2014 9:23:54pm

Oh, brother…

The one-page instruction sheet stated: “When tragic events occur in history, there is often debate about their actual existence. For example, some people claim the Holocaust is not an actual event, but instead is a propaganda tool that was used for political and monetary gain.”

“You will read and discuss multiple, credible articles on this issue, and write an argumentative essay, based upon cited actual textual evidence, in which you explain whether or not you believe this was an actual event in history, or merely a political scheme created to influence public emotion and gain wealth. Remember to address counterclaims (rebuttals) to your stated claim,” it continued.

Students were asked to read three articles provided in the assignment, including one that stated, “Even The Diary of Anne Frank is a hoax,” and, “It is time we stop sacrificing America’s welfare for the sake of Israel and spend our hard-earned dollars on Americans.”

190 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 5, 2014 9:27:56pm

re: #189 NJDhockeyfan

Credible articles. Riiighht!

191 calochortus  May 5, 2014 9:29:09pm

re: #185 freetoken

I agree that there are very good reasons for this type of assignment. I don’t think it was necessarily a good choice of subject matter.

192 sagehen  May 5, 2014 9:30:36pm

re: #167 Jocko’s Rocket Ship

Does anyone here know anything about movie scriptwriting? A semi-legit movie producer contacted my girlfriend a few months ago about adapting her recently published book. It’s an academic work, but the subject matter is really interesting culturally and could easily be compellingly adapted to film with a fiction element.

It’s a fun project for us in her summer “off”, but we’d like to give it a go. Anyone ever done this and has advice?

I know only a little, but here’s some starter tips:

In proper script format, assume approximately 1 minute per page. Anything over 120 minutes is a no go; aim for 90-105.

Avoid “as you know, Bob” scenes — whatever academic information needs to be imparted to the audience shouldn’t come from one character explaining it to another. Show, don’t tell.

The Bechdel test:
Are there more than two named female characters;
who have a conversation with each other;
about something other than a man.

Stunts and explosions are expensive.

Chekhov’s Rule:
If there’s a gun over the mantelpiece in Act I, somebody has to be shot in Act III. (the gun can be literal or metaphoric; subtle foreshadowing beats anvils to the head)

Your POV character needs a Hero’s Journey

193 NJDhockeyfan  May 5, 2014 9:41:23pm
194 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 5, 2014 9:51:04pm

re: #167 Jocko’s Rocket Ship

Does anyone here know anything about movie scriptwriting? A semi-legit movie producer contacted my girlfriend a few months ago about adapting her recently published book. It’s an academic work, but the subject matter is really interesting culturally and could easily be compellingly adapted to film with a fiction element.

It’s a fun project for us in her summer “off”, but we’d like to give it a go. Anyone ever done this and has advice?

Many producers will shop the premise around to find a scriptwriter themselves, or they may have someone in mind. Is this producer expecting you to write the script?

195 Jocko's Rocket Ship  May 5, 2014 9:51:58pm

re: #192 sagehen

hah, it’s a Russian story and we actually talked about Chekhov’s rule yesterday.

196 NJDhockeyfan  May 5, 2014 9:56:29pm
197 Jocko's Rocket Ship  May 5, 2014 10:24:42pm

re: #194 wheat-doggha — oo bird outside my window

She was asked to write scene outlines, not a screenplay. We haven;t decided which we will do. He’s trolling for ideas but the fact that he came upon her obscure book so soon says he’s interesting to us. We’re going to play along for fun for now.

And it’s great fun for us; We get to merge my knowledge of movie plots with her knowledge of the period and culture and create our own story. It’s really fun and bonding.

198 Floral Giraffe  May 5, 2014 10:29:39pm

re: #197 Jocko’s Rocket Ship

She needs an agent to protect her interests. Yeah, they take a percentage, but they also know the minefields that her work is facing. It’s exciting! And major congratulations!

199 Amory Blaine  May 5, 2014 10:31:47pm

1:1 scale of Denmark in Minecraft blown up by players

Last week the Danish government revealed its 1:1 scale replica of Denmark in Minecraft, the map was later put online to let curious players explore the country. However, things started going wrong pretty quickly when gamers were joining servers just to blow up Danish towns and rebuild American flags and tanks on top of the rubble.
Chris Hammeken, Chief Press Officer at the Danish GeoData Agency, gave a statement to state media outlet, DR (translated by The Register): “Several large Danish towns have been levelled to the ground and a lot of new things have been built all over the place. We don’t have a complete overview yet, but we’ll probably choose to reconstruct Copenhagen and the other cities.”

The Danish government are good sports about it though.

cont…”We consider that as a nature of playing Minecraft - elements are broken down and new are being created.Therefore we will not reboot the demonstration of Denmark in Minecraft. But occasionally we will rebuild minor areas if buildings are removed and nothing new is being created. We are very happy to see so many players around the world creating fancy nice things and have fun.”

200 Jocko's Rocket Ship  May 5, 2014 10:47:27pm

re: #198 Floral Giraffe

Thanks for the advice. She’ll get a rep before we present anything.

201 sagehen  May 5, 2014 11:11:56pm

re: #197 Jocko’s Rocket Ship

She was asked to write scene outlines, not a screenplay. We haven;t decided which we will do. He’s trolling for ideas but the fact that he came upon her obscure book so soon says he’s interesting to us. We’re going to play along for fun for now.

And it’s great fun for us; We get to merge my knowledge of movie plots with her knowledge of the period and culture and create our own story. It’s really fun and bonding.

There’s a union scale payment for a treatment… mid-5 figures. Don’t let him pick her brain for what he might later claim was his work.

202 freetoken  May 5, 2014 11:58:04pm

MP3 Audio

203 Justanotherhuman  May 6, 2014 2:24:51am

Things are heating up in Ukraine…

Ukrainian Interior Minister claims 30 pro-Russia insurgents killed during security operations - @AP
end of alert

2h
All flights in and out of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk have been suspended, airport authorities say - @AFP
end of alert

204 Justanotherhuman  May 6, 2014 2:32:43am

Oh, for fuck’s sake. Putin really is a war-mongering prig.

Putin Bans the F-Word From Movies and Plays

themoscowtimes.com

“President Vladimir Putin has signed a law on Monday prohibiting swearing in public performances, including cinema, theater and other forms of art.

“The law will come into effect on July 1, and afterwards swearing in films, plays and concerts will incur penalties of up to 2,500 rubles ($70) for individuals and up to 50,000 rubles for companies and organizations.

“A similar measure was passed in April 2013, banning swearing in media.” More

205 Justanotherhuman  May 6, 2014 2:41:58am

Kremlin-backed soldiers speaking non-Russian language at Sloviansk roadblock (VIDEO)

11:50 a.m. - A YouTube video apparently taken on May 3 of a pro-Russian rebel-controlled checkpoint in Sloviansk shows two soldiers speaking what appears to be a language other than Ukrainian or Russian, fueling suspicions that Chechen soldiers have been sent to eastern Ukraine to cause further unrest. Two armed militants engage in a brief exchange in the 57th second of the video that doesn’t resemble the Russian or Ukrainian language. - Mark Rachkevych

kyivpost.com

Youtube Video

206 Wendell Zurkowitz (slave to the waffle light)  May 6, 2014 3:09:56am

re: #204 Justanotherhuman

Oh, for fuck’s sake. Putin really is a war-mongering prig.

This is part of his (un)holy alliance with the Orthodox Church: in exchange for their moral support in appealing to the Russian masses within (and especially outside) Russia, he lets them dictate what is “immoral” in public discourse and popular entertainment.

207 Romantic Heretic  May 6, 2014 3:37:12am

re: #187 Jocko’s Rocket Ship

Thanks for that. The internet is very cluttered with this subject and this narrows it down.

You’re quite welcome.

Stay out of their Politics & Current Event forum though. It’s been degenerating into wingnut-ism for years. The mods won’t kick out the ‘legacies’, most of whom are wingnuts.

208 Romantic Heretic  May 6, 2014 3:40:10am

re: #199 Amory Blaine

1:1 scale of Denmark in Minecraft blown up by players

The Danish government are good sports about it though.

Makes me think of this.

209 Justanotherhuman  May 6, 2014 3:59:58am

Now the Russians are just coming right out and admitting what they’re doing in Ukraine.

Russian commander says he lost only five men; Donetsk airport closed as casualties mount in Sloviansk (LIVE UPDATES)

kyivpost.com

210 Dark_Falcon  May 6, 2014 4:16:46am

re: #205 Justanotherhuman

Kremlin-backed soldiers speaking non-Russian language at Sloviansk roadblock (VIDEO)

11:50 a.m. - A YouTube video apparently taken on May 3 of a pro-Russian rebel-controlled checkpoint in Sloviansk shows two soldiers speaking what appears to be a language other than Ukrainian or Russian, fueling suspicions that Chechen soldiers have been sent to eastern Ukraine to cause further unrest. Two armed militants engage in a brief exchange in the 57th second of the video that doesn’t resemble the Russian or Ukrainian language. - Mark Rachkevych

kyivpost.com

[Embedded content]

That might also be to ensure his troops will fight. Chechens have a reputation as fierce fighters, and sending them to Ukraine avoids having the problem of them being approached by Islamic Radicals, as might happen closer to home. Deployed in small numbers per unit in Ukraine such fierce and endurant men can act as force multiplier, providing examples to their comrades of bravery and skill.

211 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 6, 2014 4:17:02am

re: #94 Killgore Trout

They can’t do that.

I know that you prefer to remain ignorant and not even engage in the most cursory investigation of anything you talk about, but the Supreme Court case on public prayer was about a case where the leader of the prayer did in fact ask people to stand in prayer. It’s trivially obvious that someone would feel pressure to go along with that if they wanted a fair hearing.

212 Justanotherhuman  May 6, 2014 4:25:01am

Where is our Man in China, Wheat? Is this kind of attack getting more common?

Attackers wound 6 people in an attack at a railway station in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, police and state media say - @Reuters
end of alert

Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) is the third largest city in China. It looks quite modern, big and bustling with over 12M people residing within the city proper, according to the 2010 census, and up to 40M within the area surrounding it in the Pearl River delta. That’s more than 10% of the entire US population within an area of about 7,700 sq miles.

The entire Black population of the US is 39,623,138, as of 2012. factfinder2.census.gov

en.wikipedia.org

213 Justanotherhuman  May 6, 2014 4:40:10am

re: #210 Dark_Falcon

That might also be to ensure his troops will fight. Chechens have a reputation as fierce fighters, and sending them to Ukraine avoids having the problem of them being approached by Islamic Radicals, as might happen closer to home. Deployed in small numbers per unit in Ukraine such fierce and endurant men can act as force multiplier, providing examples to their comrades of bravery and skill.

So you approve? Why did you bring up “Islamic Radicals”, btw? This is becoming a civil war in which Russia should butt out and take its mercenaries with it. I think they have tipped their hand, esp with these kinds of announcements:

Russia’s Sergei Lavrov says holding new talks in Geneva on Ukraine crisis are pointless now because 1st agreement not implemented - @Reuters
end of alert

214 Dark_Falcon  May 6, 2014 4:40:27am

re: #212 Justanotherhuman

Where is our Man in China, Wheat? Is this kind of attack getting more common?

Attackers wound 6 people in an attack at a railway station in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, police and state media say - @Reuters
end of alert

Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) is the third largest city in China. It looks quite modern, big and bustling with over 12M people residing within the city proper, according to the 2010 census, and up to 40M within the area surrounding it in the Pearl River delta. That’s more than 10% of the entire US population within an area of about 7,700 sq miles.

The entire Black population of the US is 39,623,138, as of 2012. factfinder2.census.gov

en.wikipedia.org

Back in the 18th century (and lasting into the 19th), then-Canton was the only Chinese port at which European traders were permitted. Thus it has long been a center of trade. Sadly, though, that same trade later came to involve opium brought in by the British, leading to the ugly events that were the Opium Wars.

215 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 4:42:26am

re: #159 Backwoods_Sleuth

I think they may run out of water first.

Then they’ll have to buy water from Michigan.

216 Dark_Falcon  May 6, 2014 4:43:01am

re: #215 Pie-onist Overlord

Then they’ll have to buy water from Michigan.

And ship it through Illinois.

217 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 6, 2014 4:46:03am

re: #212 Justanotherhuman

Where is our Man in China, Wheat? Is this kind of attack getting more common?

Attackers wound 6 people in an attack at a railway station in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou, police and state media say - @Reuters
end of alert

Guangzhou (formerly known as Canton) is the third largest city in China. It looks quite modern, big and bustling with over 12M people residing within the city proper, according to the 2010 census, and up to 40M within the area surrounding it in the Pearl River delta. That’s more than 10% of the entire US population within an area of about 7,700 sq miles.

The entire Black population of the US is 39,623,138, as of 2012. factfinder2.census.gov

en.wikipedia.org

Even we lizards in China have to go to work once in a while. But I am back from teaching.

To answer your questions, jah, I live in western Hunan, which is well north of Guangzhou.

There have been several knife attacks in railway stations this year. A couple of years ago, it was knife attacks at schools. There seems to be a trend with copycat crimes here. The school incidents were by solo attackers, generally by frustrated, angry or mentally disturbed men. The railway attacks seem to be by Uyghur separatists. At least the attack in Kunming, Yunnan province, several weeks ago was. The Beijing government is trying to suppress Uyghur unrest in Xinjiang province, and the Uyghurs in other parts of China are fighting back. Or so the official word goes.

I wouldn’t say they are becoming especially common, any more than school shootings in America are common. I do tend to stay more alert in railway stations now, even in my sleepy “little” city of 300,000.

218 Justanotherhuman  May 6, 2014 4:46:31am

re: #214 Dark_Falcon

Actually, I find the census results even more fascinating. We, as a country, have managed to decimate almost the entire Native population over our 238 yrs of existence.

American Indian and Alaska Native 2,563,505
Native Hawaiian 175,299

factfinder2.census.gov

219 Dark_Falcon  May 6, 2014 4:47:17am

I’ve not got long here this morning, as work beckons, so I’m going to post this now. It’s a photo of a good looking woman with a gun that is not gun fucking porn. It’s deadly serious in fact:

gunrunnerhell.tumblr.com

Caption: Masked

An armed woman at a Ukrainian checkpoint. Her affiliation is not known but the presence of the Ukrainian flags would seem to contradict the possibility of being a Pro-Russian supporter. Rifle in her hands is an AK-74M; you can see the cut-out in the stock where it would fold against the receiver and side mounted scope rail. (GRH)

220 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 4:51:37am

A graphic meme that I made has gone viral. :)

221 Dark_Falcon  May 6, 2014 4:52:01am

BBL

222 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 6, 2014 5:07:09am

re: #219 Dark_Falcon

I’ve not got long here this morning, as work beckons, so I’m going to post this now. It’s a photo of a good looking woman with a gun that is not gun fucking porn. It’s deadly serious in fact:

gunrunnerhell.tumblr.com

Caption: Masked

She looks like she means business.

223 Justanotherhuman  May 6, 2014 5:16:09am

re: #217 wheat-doggha — oo bird outside my window

Even we lizards in China have to go to work once in a while. But I am back from teaching.

To answer your questions, jah, I live in western Hunan, which is well north of Guangzhou.

There have been several knife attacks in railway stations this year. A couple of years ago, it was knife attacks at schools. There seems to be a trend with copycat crimes here. The school incidents were by solo attackers, generally by frustrated, angry or mentally disturbed men. The railway attacks seem to be by Uyghur separatists. At least the attack in Kunming, Yunnan province, several weeks ago was. The Beijing government is trying to suppress Uyghur unrest in Xinjiang province, and the Uyghurs in other parts of China are fighting back. Or so the official word goes.

I wouldn’t say they are becoming especially common, any more than school shootings in America are common. I do tend to stay more alert in railway stations now, even in my sleepy “little” city of 300,000.

Thanks! Hmmm. Hunan cuisine. : )

224 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 6, 2014 5:24:11am

re: #223 Justanotherhuman

Thanks! Hmmm. Hunan cuisine. : )

Oh, yeah! You know it. Nom nom nom

225 Justanotherhuman  May 6, 2014 5:30:32am

Model perfect, wearing a plain $1500 Burberry wool coat, fancied up with a wide belt. I could never get my old arms into those skinny sleeves, though, and they’d probably be too long. Fashion for the long and lean, not the short and stocky. : )

Apple’s New Retail Leader Angela Ahrendts Is Due To Make Over $68 Million

Read more: businessinsider.com

Most of that is in stock, so she’d better perform. A step down, though, from CEO of Burberry to a Sr VP. An American, she was the highest paid CEO in the UK in 2012.

money.cnn.com

226 ObserverArt  May 6, 2014 5:32:08am

I know Dark just took off…but damn, his love of war and military just bugs the crap outta me.

So, if there are Chechen soldiers involved in this Ukraine crap, they would be invaders and really to me mercenaries in this instance going to Russia to stir shit up.

I hesitate using words like ‘brave’ in that instance. To me, the brave ones would be the fighters that are taking on Russia and their henchmen to help fight them off and keep Ukraine whole.

Dark seems to look upon war as if he is reading a novel of great military history. He sees it all as some form of glorious ideal. Books don’t spill blood and guts all over. Books don’t have the stench of burning buildings and bodies. Books don’t capture the fear of displaced people.

War fucking sucks. There is nothing good about it. And to me, really there is nothing brave about it, especially if you are a mercenary.

227 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 5:33:36am

I haz a smiles now that a Nice Juice is CEO of Henry Ford’s company. Henry haz a sad.

228 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 5:36:11am

Hmmm, just like being raped?

229 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 5:39:57am

re: #211 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

I know that you prefer to remain ignorant and not even engage in the most cursory investigation of anything you talk about, but the Supreme Court case on public prayer was about a case where the leader of the prayer did in fact ask people to stand in prayer. It’s trivially obvious that someone would feel pressure to go along with that if they wanted a fair hearing.

Which is exactly what happened to the child of Vashti McCollum and the reason she took the issue to the Supreme Court.

230 darthstar  May 6, 2014 5:43:03am
231 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 5:45:59am

Why are the cops involved in this at all?

232 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 5:48:50am

re: #231 FemNaziBitch

Why are the cops involved in this at all?

I meeaaannn, isn’t prostitution LEGAL in that part of the world?

233 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 5:51:34am

It’s actually not so rare.
If the sun is at a certain angle, and there is standing water on the road, a vehicle driving through a puddle will throw up a spray which will form a rainbow. I’ve seen it happen while driving and it can be distracting.

Either that, or the guy in the SUV kidnapped a leprechaun.

234 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 5:55:07am
They’re confirmation bias given human form. Their predominant operating theory is that the Earth is flat simply because it looks that way when you go outside. It feels flat.

And now they have the internet!!!

Also Paged

235 darthstar  May 6, 2014 5:56:56am
236 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 5:58:29am

Thanks! anti-vaxxers.

Pakistan is in the spotlight, accounting for more than a fifth of the 417 cases reported globally in 2013.

Also Paged

237 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 5:59:07am

re: #235 darthstar

[Embedded content]

I get the SEC emails and it’s been like this since I started getting them. Sometime after 2004.

238 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 6:02:38am
Per capita health care spending growth for males outpaced females, while the oldest continued to spend the most from 2002-2010. David Lassman of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and colleagues examined personal health care spending in the United States for selected years from 2002-2010 and found that the average elderly person spent $18,424—three times more than working-age adults and five times more than children. Yet the annual growth in spending for people ages sixty-five and older increased at the slowest annual rate (4.1 percent) and for children it was the fastest (5.5 percent). Growth in spending for males outpaced females, driven by a closing of the gender gap across most payers and goods and services, but most dramatically for prescription drug spending. The researchers also discussed the impacts of aging baby boomers, the recession, and the implementation of Medicare Part D during this period.
239 Justanotherhuman  May 6, 2014 6:06:46am

re: #232 FemNaziBitch

I meeaaannn, isn’t prostitution LEGAL in that part of the world?

Actually, no. Prostitution is illegal in Clark County (Las Vegas). It’s isolated in those “bunny farms” we’ve all heard about.

en.wikipedia.org

Actually, I think this police officer way overstepped her bounds, but also, I think there is a big difference between young teen girls and adult women who work as prostitutes as well. Just because you can be enticed to make money doing something doesn’t mean you always should. I’ve always been of the opinion that prostitution doesn’t “empower” women, it restricts them.

I’m more for any woman being “empowered” by getting a higher comprehensive education that opens up options for their futures, using their brains. Being “sexually active” and being a prostitute don’t conflate in my book.

240 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 6:10:08am

re: #239 Justanotherhuman

Actually, no. Prostitution is illegal in Clark County (Las Vegas). It’s isolated in those “bunny farms” we’ve all heard about.

en.wikipedia.org

Actually, I think this police officer way overstepped her bounds, but also, I think there is a big difference between young teen girls and adult women who work as prostitutes as well. Just because you can be enticed to make money doing something doesn’t mean you always should. I’ve always been of the opinion that prostitution doesn’t “empower” women, it restricts them.

I’m more for any woman being “empowered” by getting a higher comprehensive education that opens up options for their futures, using their brains. Being “sexually active” and being a prostitute don’t conflate in my book.

I think it’s sending a very conflicting message.

241 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 6:10:21am

242 darthstar  May 6, 2014 6:11:44am
243 Bubblehead II  May 6, 2014 6:12:03am

There are now two chicks. Will the other two hatch today?

Stay tuned and find out.

244 darthstar  May 6, 2014 6:13:33am

File under no-shit, Sherlock:

245 darthstar  May 6, 2014 6:15:15am
246 NJDhockeyfan  May 6, 2014 6:16:34am
247 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 6:17:11am
248 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 6:19:58am

Gunmen in northeast Nigeria abduct 8 more girls - police

249 darthstar  May 6, 2014 6:20:33am
250 Feline Fearless Leader  May 6, 2014 6:21:14am

re: #249 darthstar

They got drunk on tequila and then started making racist rants?
//

251 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 6:21:27am

I need Baba on this one.

252 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 6:22:13am

re: #249 darthstar

[Embedded content]

So, are they convicted felons (of non-immigrantion crimes) or assumed felons because they are in the country without documentation?

253 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 6:22:59am
254 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 6:28:12am
255 Bulworth  May 6, 2014 6:30:06am

“Why are they getting tattoos?” Beck asked. “Don’t they know that they’re the ones that are going to be running the camps? They don’t get the tattoos, they give the tattoos,” he said, alluding to the tattoos that prisoners were given at Nazi concentration camps.

No, Glenn, they don’t know that “they’re the ones that are going to be running the camps” because there aren’t any “camps”, nor are there going to be any such “camps”, despite your feverish desire for these camps to exist. You wouldn’t be projecting now, would you? /

256 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 6:31:47am

Videos: Pilot Brian Veatch crashes a plane into a house he used to own

It was plenty weird enough when a plane crashed into a house in a suburban neighborhood in Northglenn (Colorado) yesterday. But even stranger is word that pilot Brian Veatch, who survived the incident (no one on the ground was hurt, either), once owned the house he struck.

257 Rightwingconspirator  May 6, 2014 6:33:48am

re: #233 Pie-onist Overlord

It’s actually not so rare.
If the sun is at a certain angle, and there is standing water on the road, a vehicle driving through a puddle will throw up a spray which will form a rainbow. I’ve seen it happen while driving and it can be distracting.

Either that, or the guy in the SUV kidnapped a leprechaun.

[Embedded content]

Hey it’s obvious-the leprechaun is driving the SUV.

258 NJDhockeyfan  May 6, 2014 6:34:08am
259 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 6:38:25am

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. Derpers are out in force as usual.

This one caught my attention:

Global warming might give the US an advantage because we’re wealthier than many other countries that would be adversely affected by the higher temperatures and all the mayhem that would cause, so we could profit from that discrepancy, but we’re going to see widespread droughts (already underway in California and much of the Southwest).

Heck, there are places in Texas where local water supplies are so thin that they’re building toilet to tap water purification systems because there simply is no more water. Locals are claiming that they wont drink the water and would otherwise use bottled water. The drought affects everyone across the country since it means higher agricultural prices, less of certain products, and shifting planting seasons/crops.

But it’s the GOP/conservatives at NRO, so their short-sightedness is all based on nothing more than short term profit and screw the future.

260 Feline Fearless Leader  May 6, 2014 6:40:17am

re: #259 lawhawk

Greets and saluts from the NYC metro area. Derpers are out in force as usual.

This one caught my attention:

Global warming might give the US an advantage because we’re wealthier than many other countries that would be adversely affected by the higher temperatures and all the mayhem that would cause, so we could profit from that discrepancy, but we’re going to see widespread droughts (already underway in California and much of the Southwest).

Heck, there are places in Texas where local water supplies are so thin that they’re building toilet to tap water purification systems because there simply is no more water. Locals are claiming that they wont drink the water and would otherwise use bottled water. The drought affects everyone across the country since it means higher agricultural prices, less of certain products, and shifting planting seasons/crops.

But it’s the GOP/conservatives at NRO, so their short-sightedness is all based on nothing more than short term profit and screw the future.

Texas, soon to be a budding market for still-suits. And the worms are already larger there since it’s Texas.
O_O

261 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 6:41:32am

re: #259 lawhawk

The Emperor has no clothes!!!!!

262 De Kolta Chair  May 6, 2014 6:41:33am

re: #196 NJDhockeyfan

[Embedded content]

“We fought the Battle of Puebla and all we got was this lousy gringo drinking room temperature Corona.”

263 iossarian  May 6, 2014 6:42:30am

re: #259 lawhawk

The “OK, global warming is happening but it’s actually a good thing” line is the obvious next step as the evidence piles up.

If Texans ramp up their bottled water consumption it’ll become something of a wealth transfer between the south and the north (thinking of the Great Lakes region in particular).

264 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 6:43:09am

“When you have government deciding who gets health insurance and who doesn’t,” he insisted, “what services they get and what services they have to provide, they’re really deciding who lives and who dies.”

BUT WHEN PRIVATE INSURANCE COMPANIES DECIDE THAT, IT’S FREEDOM!!!!!!!

265 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 6, 2014 6:43:42am

re: #259 lawhawk

I have a friend in Wichita Falls who says they’ve seriously started discussing what they would do if they had to basically abandon the city. Shit is real there. Edit: by they, I mean city officials.

But, hey, maximize that shareholder value, baby! //

266 Feline Fearless Leader  May 6, 2014 6:43:44am

Good morning Lizards. A slightly overcast and cool Tuesday in Philadelphia. Supposed to get rainy in the next few days, and then thunderstorms over the weekend.

Younger cat started a drug regime for his asthma today. Steroid pills for a number of days while drug levels from an inhaler build up in his system. Pilling so far has not been bad since he likes the Greenies treats you can hide pills in.

And I knew my wallet was gonna be hurting when I picked up the inhaler prescription yesterday and the pharmacist said, “No insurance?”

267 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 6:43:50am

re: #263 iossarian

The “OK, global warming is happening but it’s actually a good thing” line is the obvious next step as the evidence piles up.

If Texans ramp up their bottled water consumption it’ll become something of a wealth transfer between the south and the north (thinking of the Great Lakes region in particular).

All you Texans will become Michigan’s bitches.

268 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 6:45:09am

re: #263 iossarian

Well, that wealth transfer has been going on for decades, if only in slightly different form. Northern states like NY, NJ and Connecticut have been sending billions of dollars more to the feds than they’ve gotten back in return.

What that means is states like Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and other Southern states have been able to keep their state and local tax rates abnormally low while the feds were funding all kinds of local development projects. If the states got back what they paid in, NY and NJ would have billions of dollars more that they could turn into new development projects, or reduce their high tax burdens.

269 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 6:45:37am

re: #259 lawhawk

I wasn’t joking last night when I said Texas was more likely to run out of water before it runs out of oil.

270 NJDhockeyfan  May 6, 2014 6:45:51am
271 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 6:46:34am

re: #265 Rev_Arthur_Belling

272 Bulworth  May 6, 2014 6:48:35am

“When you have government deciding who gets health insurance and who doesn’t,” he insisted, “what services they get and what services they have to provide, they’re really deciding who lives and who dies.”

Yes, that’s what universal healthcare is all about, making sure that people don’t get the universal healthcare, which is universal. /

Sigh.

First they whine that universal healthcare amounts to “free stuff” for people, then they claim that universal healthcare is about denying people healthcare.

I just give up.

273 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 6:48:48am

Higher temperatures means more ozone alerts will be issued (and that means higher health care costs as more people are adversely affected by poor air quality).

274 iossarian  May 6, 2014 6:49:09am

re: #268 lawhawk

Well, that wealth transfer has been going on for decades, if only in slightly different form. Northern states like NY, NJ and Connecticut have been sending billions of dollars more to the feds than they’ve gotten back in return.

What that means is states like Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, and other Southern states have been able to keep their state and local tax rates abnormally low while the feds were funding all kinds of local development projects. If the states got back what they paid in, NY and NJ would have billions of dollars more that they could turn into new development projects, or reduce their high tax burdens.

Oh, I know all about net federal contributions, believe me. Still, it’ll be a step in the other direction if Texas has to import larger amounts of water.

275 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 6, 2014 6:51:45am

re: #271 lawhawk

Yeah, I talked to my friend in March at a convention. He’s not usually the most excitable alarmist type, and his tone of voice when discussing the water situation there told me he was really worried. And he’s also not someone who keeps his head buried in the sand about political stuff, either, so he generally knows what’s what.

276 Feline Fearless Leader  May 6, 2014 6:54:18am

re: #274 iossarian

Oh, I know all about net federal contributions, believe me. Still, it’ll be a step in the other direction if Texas has to import larger amounts of water.

Maybe they’ll push to fund NASA in order to go grab a big chunk of ice from space. You know, the Texan Way.
/

277 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 6, 2014 6:56:19am

re: #271 lawhawk

From the article:

“No outside irrigation whatsoever with potable water,” he says. “Car washes are closed, for instance, one day a week. If you drain your pool to do maintenance you’re not allowed to fill it.”

Barham says citizens have cut water use by more than a third, but water supplies are still expected to run out in two years.

Emphasis mine.

My great-grandparents lived near W-F when I was growing up. It was always arid land, but this type of stuff is sad for the people who live there.

278 Bulworth  May 6, 2014 6:56:28am
TN Republican who compared Obamacare to Nazi death camps says we missed his point t.co
— Eric W. Dolan (@EWDolan) May 6, 2014

So this guy pushed for his state to expand Medicaid, right?

////

279 ObserverArt  May 6, 2014 6:56:56am

Does anyone get the feeling that only when real drastic stuff starts occurring that is clearly outside the boundaries of what anyone can consider ‘normal’ weather will the overall American public and their government representatives admit the climate is a mess?

What do I mean by drastic? Well, when coastal cities start losing major areas due to rising ocean levels. When Texas and much of the Southwest is nothing but inhabitable dust. When California is completely burnt to a crisp in raging fires. When the sand bar known as Florida washes away both due to ocean levels and rain like Pensacola occur daily. Then they might consider it isn’t normal and there is a problem.

But this is the American public we are talking about, so instead of doing anything now, they will go until it affects them and then they will bitch and blame the reps, the government and the president for allowing it to happen.

Sigh.

280 Bubblehead II  May 6, 2014 6:58:02am

re: #276 Feline Fearless Leader

Maybe they’ll push to fund NASA in order to go grab a big chunk of ice from space. You know, the Texan Way.
/

Naw, they’ll just send a couple of tugboats down to Antarctica and tow a iceberg or two back.

//

281 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 6:58:37am

re: #279 ObserverArt

Does anyone get the feeling that only when real drastic stuff starts occurring that is clearly outside the boundaries of what anyone can consider ‘normal’ weather will the overall American public and their government representatives admit the climate is a mess?

What do I mean by drastic? Well, when coastal cities start losing major areas due to rising ocean levels. When Texas and much of the Southwest is nothing but inhabitable dust. When California is completely burnt to a crisp in raging fires. When the sand bar known as Florida washes away both due to ocean levels and rain like Pensacola occur daily. Then they might consider it isn’t normal and there is a problem.

But this is the American public we are talking about, so instead of doing anything now, they will go until it affects them and then they will bitch and blame the reps, the government and the president for allowing it to happen.

Sigh.

282 Kilroy01  May 6, 2014 6:58:40am

re: #271 lawhawk

Someone in Texas must have seen:

283 FemNaziBitch  May 6, 2014 6:59:49am

bbl

284 kirkspencer  May 6, 2014 7:00:58am

re: #279 ObserverArt

Does anyone get the feeling that only when real drastic stuff starts occurring that is clearly outside the boundaries of what anyone can consider ‘normal’ weather will the overall American public and their government representatives admit the climate is a mess?

What do I mean by drastic? Well, when coastal cities start losing major areas due to rising ocean levels. When Texas and much of the Southwest is nothing but inhabitable dust. When California is completely burnt to a crisp in raging fires. When the sand bar known as Florida washes away both due to ocean levels and rain like Pensacola occur daily. Then they might consider it isn’t normal and there is a problem.

But this is the American public we are talking about, so instead of doing anything now, they will go until it affects them and then they will bitch and blame the reps, the government and the president for allowing it to happen.

Sigh.

Nope. I’m already seeing the response. Paraphrasing:

Used to be when there were political problems at home, The leaders would stir up a foreign threat. Obama? He points at the climate change.

285 NJDhockeyfan  May 6, 2014 7:01:15am
286 Eventual Carrion  May 6, 2014 7:02:31am

re: #251 FemNaziBitch

[Embedded content]

I need Baba on this one.

If you make owning a gun criminal, only criminals will accidentally shoot their children.

// Paraphrased from something I heard years ago.

287 Skip Intro  May 6, 2014 7:04:40am

re: #272 Bulworth

“When you have government deciding who gets health insurance and who doesn’t,” he insisted, “what services they get and what services they have to provide, they’re really deciding who lives and who dies.”

Yes, that’s what universal healthcare is all about, making sure that people don’t get the universal healthcare, which is universal. /

Sigh.

First they whine that universal healthcare amounts to “free stuff” for people, then they claim that universal healthcare is about denying people healthcare.

I just give up.

This is one totally confused asshole. The old system (you know, the one where you could be refused coverage for damn near any reason, like once having been sick) was the one that decided who got healthcare and who didn’t. The new system fixes that.

Are there any sane Republicans left anywhere?

288 Feline Fearless Leader  May 6, 2014 7:06:17am

re: #280 Bubblehead II

Naw, they’ll just send a couple of tugboats down to Antarctica and tow a iceberg or two back.

//

That assumes there will be one there to find.
/

289 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 6, 2014 7:09:34am

re: #263 iossarian

The “OK, global warming is happening but it’s actually a good thing” line is the obvious next step as the evidence piles up.

If Texans ramp up their bottled water consumption it’ll become something of a wealth transfer between the south and the north (thinking of the Great Lakes region in particular).

Interstate water transport has enabled urban and suburban development to occur in places that otherwise would never be able to support that kind of population density. No one then imagined the spigot running dry, or if anyone did, politicians and developers ignored the warnings. Now the people living in those areas are paying the price for over-development.

290 Killgore Trout  May 6, 2014 7:09:47am

Syrian Activists: Bomb Kills Local Al-Qaida Leader

The attack came after Nusra fighters seized a controversial Western-backed Syrian military commander, Ahmad al-Nuaimi last Friday. It is unclear if the two men are related — the al-Nuaimi is a large tribe in the area. Also, it wasn’t immediately clear if the two incidents were connected.

The bombing and the abduction risk igniting rebel infighting in the south between more moderate Syrian opposition fighters and the hard-line Nusra Front.

291 De Kolta Chair  May 6, 2014 7:10:29am

re: #285 NJDhockeyfan

Only one guy with a full beard? Wake up, HuffPo, this is 2014!

292 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 7:10:33am

Something many people don’t realize about the Great Lakes is that the water is NOT there free for anyone to take.
The Great Lakes Compact strictly controls how the water is distributed. Very simply put, except in very rare instances, GL water is only approved for use within the GL Basin/watershed.
I knew about this many, many years ago when Greater Chicago had a massive population/development explosion to the south and Illinois & Indiana communities in and near the Kankakee River watershed started eying Lake Michigan for supplemental water supplies.
That proposal got smacked down very quickly.
I just did a quick search and found that the Compact was updated and renewed in 2008.

edited to add “not” in the first sentence.

293 Killgore Trout  May 6, 2014 7:10:55am

Interesting…

The activists said Tuesday that Iranian and Russian representatives have been attending the meetings in Homs. They said they were there because they were negotiating a prisoner exchange as part of the Homs deal that would free at least three Iranians and a Russian who were seized by rebels in the northern province of Aleppo.

Russian and Iranian government officials were not immediately available for comment. The two countries are staunch allies of Syrian President Bashar Assad’s government.

Activists provided The Associated Press with a video showing an Iranian woman they claimed was being held captive by the rebels. The video was uploaded on March 8 this year, but it wasn’t clear when the Iranians and the Russian were seized.

294 Feline Fearless Leader  May 6, 2014 7:11:41am

re: #292 Backwoods_Sleuth

Something many people don’t realize about the Great Lakes is that the water is there free for anyone to take.
The Great Lakes Compact strictly controls how the water is distributed. Very simply put, except in very rare instances, GL water is only approved for use within the GL Basin/watershed.
I knew about this many, many years ago when Greater Chicago had a massive population explosion to the south and Illinois & Indiana communities in and near the Kankakee River watershed started eying Lake Michigan for supplemental water supplies.
That proposal got smacked down very quickly.
I just did a quick search and found that the Compact was updated and renewed in 2008.

War on Canada! Water Hogs!
///

295 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 6, 2014 7:13:12am

Dog befriends disabled kitten (via Gawker)
Youtube Video

296 Killgore Trout  May 6, 2014 7:15:13am

West fears Iran is supplying chlorine bombs to Syria

Allegations that Iran ordered 10,000 chlorine canisters from China and loaded them on to flights to Syria investigated by Western officials

299 Bubblehead II  May 6, 2014 7:22:17am

Well the SSM case has been heard. Now it’s only a matter of time.

Judge promises ruling soon on Idaho gay marriage

Monday morning’s proceedings lasted about two hours and unfolded in a packed courtroom.

The hearing involved three motions — the state filed to dismiss the case and both sides filed for summary judgments.

Here’s hoping the Judge rules this ban unconstitutional

300 wheat-doggha -- oo bird outside my window  May 6, 2014 7:23:00am

re: #297 Killgore Trout

Kentucky in fact has one of the best run health insurance exchanges in the country, no thanks to RaPaul and his elder turtlehead colleague.

302 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 7:26:04am

When penguins go heavy metal.

303 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 7:30:45am
304 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 7:33:03am

re: #302 Backwoods_Sleuth

Joe: You’re Mr. Pink.
Mr. Pink: Why can’t we pick our own colors?
Joe: No way, no way. Tried it once, doesn’t work. You got four guys all fighting over who’s gonna be Mr. Black, but they don’t know each other, so nobody wants to back down. No way. I pick. You’re Mr. Pink. Be thankful you’re not Mr. Yellow.
Mr. Pink: How ‘bout if I’m Mr. Purple? That sounds good to me. I’ll be Mr. Purple.
Joe: You’re not Mr. Purple. Some guy on some other job is Mr. Purple. Your Mr. PINK.
Mr. White: Who cares what your name is?
Mr. Pink: Yeah, that’s easy for your to say, you’re Mr. White. You have a cool-sounding name. Alright look, if it’s no big deal to be Mr. Pink, you wanna trade?

305 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 7:34:58am

re: #301 Feline Fearless Leader

Rand Paul lies. Film loop at 11. Yawn.

Heh true but this one’s a stupid lie since it’s so over the top.

306 Feline Fearless Leader  May 6, 2014 7:36:21am

re: #305 HappyWarrior

Heh true but this one’s a stupid lie since it’s so over the top.

How’s this?

GOP Outrage!
Rand Paul lies. Film at 11.
Just another day.

;)

307 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 7:37:28am

re: #306 Feline Fearless Leader

How’s this?

GOP Outrage!
Rand Paul lies. Film at 11.
Just another day.

;)

Yep true. See that the GOP asshole who likened Obamacare to the Holocaust “clarified” his point. Someone should smack that guy for comparing a policy he dislikes to mass murder.

308 NJDhockeyfan  May 6, 2014 7:45:11am

They have wifi in the caves of Syria in the middle of a war yet I couldn’t get high speed Internet or cell coverage at my house in Virginia. What wrong with that picture?

309 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 6, 2014 7:47:16am

re: #307 HappyWarrior

Apparently, Campfield has a long history as a GOP troll, according to Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog

310 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 7:48:52am

re: #309 Rev_Arthur_Belling

Apparently, Campfield has a long history as a GOP troll, according to Steve M. at No More Mister Nice Blog

Sounds like every state legislature has a clown like this. Mine ended up becoming AG and the GOP nominee for governor.

311 Skip Intro  May 6, 2014 7:49:16am

re: #297 Killgore Trout

Rand Paul says 40 times more Kentuckians have gotten health-insurance cancellation notices than signed up for Obamacare

Right after hanging out with Rupert Murdoch at the Kentucky Derby.

Coincidence? I think not.

312 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  May 6, 2014 7:52:30am

re: #271 lawhawk

That’s how it starts.

Youtube Video

313 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 7:59:20am

RETWEET THIS TO ANNOY A LIBRUL!!!!!!
RETWEET THIS SO LIBRULS CAN HAVE SOMETHING TO LAUGH AT & MAKE MEMES OUT OF.

314 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 8:02:03am

re: #313 Pie-onist Overlord

RETWEET THIS TO ANNOY A LIBRUL!!!!!!
RETWEET THIS SO LIBRULS CAN HAVE SOMETHING TO LAUGH AT & MAKE MEMES OUT OF.

[Embedded content]

By annoy mean “laugh at a has been rocker who over-compensates by posing with guns all the time” then call me annoyed!

315 Romantic Heretic  May 6, 2014 8:02:27am

re: #294 Feline Fearless Leader

War on Canada! Water Hogs!
///

You can try, but I know how to beat the U.S. in a war. //

It’s unnecessary though as the TPGOP is already implementing my strategy without any help from Canada. not//

316 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 8:03:15am

re: #313 Pie-onist Overlord

Oh look! Self-admitted draft dodger. At first via student deferments, and then found unfit for military service (4F)

317 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 8:05:13am

re: #316 lawhawk

Oh look! Self-admitted draft dodger. At first via student deferments, and then found unfit for military service (4F)

Or a “family values” man who slept with an underaged girl and wrote a song about it. Really Ted doesn’t annoy me, if anything he’s the poster child for modern conservatives, a hypocritical gas bag who thinks he’s a lot more badass than he actually is. A real bad ass doesn’t need to pose with guns all the time.

318 Justanotherhuman  May 6, 2014 8:06:39am

re: #313 Pie-onist Overlord

RETWEET THIS TO ANNOY A LIBRUL!!!!!!
RETWEET THIS SO LIBRULS CAN HAVE SOMETHING TO LAUGH AT & MAKE MEMES OUT OF.

[Embedded content]

Note to gun nutz:

Hillary Clinton speaking at the National Council for Behavioral Health: ‘We’ve got to rein in what has become almost an article of faith that almost anybody can have gun anywhere’ - @aseitzwald
end of alert

319 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 8:07:40am

Fuck you Amy for telling American Jews what to think.
Sincerely, A Jewish American.

320 Gus  May 6, 2014 8:08:27am
321 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 8:10:37am

re: #320 Gus

[Embedded content]

Oh joy.//

322 Bulworth  May 6, 2014 8:11:56am

Happy Warrior posted:

“Yep true. See that the GOP asshole who likened Obamacare to the Holocaust “clarified” his point.”

Hey, it’s all our faults for not getting his “point”. Besides, he was just asking questions and how come libtards has no sense humor??? /////

323 Gus  May 6, 2014 8:12:13am

re: #321 HappyWarrior

Oh joy.//

Benghazi.

324 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 8:12:30am

re: #318 Justanotherhuman

Note to gun nutz:

Hillary Clinton speaking at the National Council for Behavioral Health: ‘We’ve got to rein in what has become almost an article of faith that almost anybody can have gun anywhere’ - @aseitzwald
end of alert

What we need to do something about is this increasing mentality of firing one’s gun over the most petty bullshit whether it’s texting in a movie theater, egging a house, or “looking suspicious.” I tell you, it really does test my faith in the second amendment with all these nutters out there who think they can just shoot anyone who bothers them.

325 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 8:13:14am

re: #322 Bulworth

Happy Warrior posted:

“Yep true. See that the GOP asshole who likened Obamacare to the Holocaust “clarified” his point.”

Hey, it’s all our faults for not getting his “point”. Besides, he was just asking questions and how come libtards has no sense humor??? /////

I’m just not a politically correct person! Or how every wingnut tries to excuse being an insensitive prick.

326 Bulworth  May 6, 2014 8:13:42am

Cheechako posted:

“I wonder how Glenn Beck knows how it feels to be raped? Just asking questions.”

Hey, Glenn Beck has had more persecutions than any other American born ever. Enslaved Americans even had it better than poor Beck has had. ///

327 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 8:14:49am

re: #319 Pie-onist Overlord

Fuck you Amy for telling American Jews what to think.
Sincerely, A Jewish American.

[Embedded content]

Ask her what she thinks about the actual GOP elected official likening ACA to the Holocaust? Betcha you get nothing but crickets.

328 NJDhockeyfan  May 6, 2014 8:14:57am
329 Justanotherhuman  May 6, 2014 8:16:28am

re: #324 HappyWarrior

What we need to do something about is this increasing mentality of firing one’s gun over the most petty bullshit whether it’s texting in a movie theater, egging a house, or “looking suspicious.” I tell you, it really does test my faith in the second amendment with all these nutters out there who think they can just shoot anyone who bothers them.

Yes, being pissed off is not self-defense, not matter how they slice it.

It’s very, very scary these days. Even flipping someone off when they dangerously cut you off in traffic can get you shot. So, basically, the gun toters are controlling behavior with fear. It’s not the way I want to live.

330 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 8:18:48am

re: #329 Justanotherhuman

Yes, being pissed off is not self-defense, not matter how they slice it.

It’s very, very scary these days. Even flipping someone off when they dangerously cut you off in traffic can get you shot. So, basically, the gun toters are controlling behavior with fear. It’s not the way I want to live.

It really is disturbing to read about stuff like that. As I said, it really does test my faith in the second amendment because there seem to be too many gun owners out there who think that this kind of behavior is rational or justified. And it doesn’t help that you got groups like the NRA and GOA feeding their paranoia.

331 makeitstop  May 6, 2014 8:19:47am

Did anybody watch Miss Lindsey on Fox? What’s the latest on Benghazi?

(Not that I expect anything even remotely ‘new’ - I’m just interested in how high they ratchet up the hype.)

Oh, and - Good Morning, Lizards! Hope everyone has a great day.

332 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 8:23:39am

MEME OF THE DAY

333 Skip Intro  May 6, 2014 8:25:05am

re: #331 makeitstop

I don’t know, but in my local rag this morning there were two letters to the editor from Fox News viewers complaining about the total lack of coverage of the biggest scandal this century: Benghazi.

So I expect it will be just more of the same to keep the mouth breathers keyed up.

334 calochortus  May 6, 2014 8:25:49am

re: #271 lawhawk

Just a drive by, but where do all these people think their water was before it arrived in their tap?
If you pull water from a river, you can bet someone else has dumped something upstream. Even if you get your water delivered ‘fresh from the mountains’ it sits in a reservoir somewhere. What do you think the fish and birds are doing in the meanwhile?

It’s why we have water treatment facilities.

335 Bulworth  May 6, 2014 8:26:11am

“Will be speaking with .@FoxNews in just a few minutes about the latest on #Benghazi. — Lindsey Graham (@GrahamBlog”

We can’t wait….

336 Romantic Heretic  May 6, 2014 8:27:21am

re: #330 HappyWarrior

It really is disturbing to read about stuff like that. As I said, it really does test my faith in the second amendment because there seem to be too many gun owners out there who think that this kind of behavior is rational or justified. And it doesn’t help that you got groups like the NRA and GOA feeding their paranoia.

The basic problem is that due to a complete misunderstanding of what freedom is these people have separated power and responsibility. To them freedom means the ability to do whatever the fuck they want because they believe they are never ever responsible for their actions.

I’ve been reading recently at places on the net that psychopathy is a continuum where people range from not to very psychopathic. The gun nuts are closer to the very end of the spectrum, in my opinion.

337 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 8:27:56am

re: #333 Skip Intro

I don’t know, but in my local rag this morning there were two letters to the editor from Fox News viewers complaining about the total lack of coverage of the biggest scandal this century: Benghazi.

So I expect it will be just more of the same to keep the mouth breathers keyed up.

What amuses me is when Fox complains about the media not covering it. I just love how Fox and their fans claim that Fox is the most popular news network on television yet try to portray themselves as this scrappy underground news network pushing stories that the “lamestream media” doesn’t want you to hear. Because you know a network owned by Rupert Murdoch and run by George H.W Bush’s former campaign manager are the “little guy.”

338 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 8:28:42am
339 Gus  May 6, 2014 8:30:21am

What can be asserted without evidence can be dismissed without evidence.

340 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  May 6, 2014 8:31:08am

re: #313 Pie-onist Overlord

Ugly aftermarket stocks on Ruger 10/22’s are pretty annoying, that’s true.

341 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 8:32:21am

re: #334 calochortus

Yup. Most water is sourced from somewhere else - usually upstream, where the water was consumed/used, and then disposed and treated (hopefully) before being taken in and treated (hopefully) before consumption and use.

The toilet to tap process is just a sped up process of purification that reduces/eliminates impurities/contaminants.

342 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 8:33:29am

I’m relieved about this. I don’t agree with Jack all the time, but I like him a lot.

343 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 8:33:35am
344 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 8:35:00am

Ridiculous.

345 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 8:36:48am

re: #344 lawhawk

[Embedded content]

Ridiculous.

Well that’s what happens when 90% of your budget is devoted to “How can we blame Obama for every last damn thing?”

346 Gus  May 6, 2014 8:38:54am
347 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 6, 2014 8:39:51am

re: #346 Gus

Relax, Gus. Killgore Trout told us it’s nothing to get worked up over, just an interesting case that we should be interested in how it goes. ///

348 William Barnett-Lewis  May 6, 2014 8:40:16am

re: #340 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

Ugly aftermarket stocks on Ruger 10/22’s are pretty annoying, that’s true.

Why does anyone buy a 10/22 anyway? Buy a $200 rifle, put $300 of aftermarket cruft on it to get it to shoot as well as my $120 Marlin did out of the box…

349 kirkspencer  May 6, 2014 8:43:36am

re: #94 Killgore Trout

They can’t do that.

I wish I had been here for this.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!

KT? I do not know what dream world you are in, but yes they can. Unless there are rules specifically prohibiting it, the leader of just about every council from township to congress can control who speaks at all and how long they can speak. They can, indeed, make various requirements, such as dress and opening statement requirements. And the phrasing of this decision now means that they can make one of the opening statement requirements a prayer or moment of public reflection.

Will most of them do so? No, probably not. But we don’t make rules for ‘most’. If men were angels no rules would be necessary.

350 Gus  May 6, 2014 8:45:52am
351 Gus  May 6, 2014 8:47:37am

Why Christians Get Sick

Christians appear to suffer from the same maladies as nonbelievers or members of other faiths. Does God’s plan for our lives really include sickness — or is it God’s will that we be healthy? And if so, why doesn’t our faith protect us?

352 Gus  May 6, 2014 8:48:22am
353 Ian G.  May 6, 2014 8:48:53am

re: #344 lawhawk

Maybe FOX will next cover news of the tornadoes that his Arkansas and Mississippi by showing random sad Bolivians. I mean, Asians are all the same, and people of the Americas are all the same too, right?

The stupid, it burns.

354 Feline Fearless Leader  May 6, 2014 8:49:06am

re: #331 makeitstop

Did anybody watch Miss Lindsey on Fox? What’s the latest on Benghazi?

(Not that I expect anything even remotely ‘new’ - I’m just interested in how high they ratchet up the hype.)

Oh, and - Good Morning, Lizards! Hope everyone has a great day.

Benghazi Chorus
Obama’s fault! He must go!
Hillary also!

355 kirkspencer  May 6, 2014 8:49:38am

re: #353 Ian G.

Maybe FOX will next cover news of the tornadoes that his Arkansas and Mississippi by showing random sad Bolivians. I mean, Asians are all the same, and people of the Americas are all the same too, right?

The stupid, it burns.

eh. They’re still silent about the Oklahoma Earthquake Watch Warning.

(edited - Keep getting watch and warning confused even having been in tornado zones for most of my life.)

356 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 8:51:57am

re: #350 Gus

[Embedded content]

He just made himself look like a bigger asshole. Sorry asshole but when you compare Obamacare a policy you dislike to one of the biggest mass genocides in history, you’er showing a total lack of respect for the Jewish people and it’s clear that you don’t respect them by trivializing the horrors of the Holocaust to attack ACA.

357 Gus  May 6, 2014 8:53:12am
358 Gus  May 6, 2014 8:54:42am

359 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 8:55:24am

One of them resulted in the deaths of six million innocent people and destroyed generations of communities throughout Europe. The other is a health care policy that the Heritage Foundation and Mitt Romney proposed before Barack Obama did. This isn’t apples and oranges. This is apples and whale blubber.

360 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 8:55:32am
361 Gus  May 6, 2014 8:56:01am
362 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 8:59:05am

re: #360 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

Or you know, you’re not that funny. Obama married a tranny roflmao isn’t funny. It’s stupid as is the bit about “negros” and prepositions.

363 Killgore Trout  May 6, 2014 8:59:38am

re: #349 kirkspencer

I wish I had been here for this.

BWAHAHAHAHAHA!!

KT? I do not know what dream world you are in, but yes they can. Unless there are rules specifically prohibiting it, the leader of just about every council from township to congress can control who speaks at all and how long they can speak. They can, indeed, make various requirements, such as dress and opening statement requirements. And the phrasing of this decision now means that they can make one of the opening statement requirements a prayer or moment of public reflection.

Will most of them do so? No, probably not. But we don’t make rules for ‘most’. If men were angels no rules would be necessary.

I’m pretty sure government officials cannot coerce an individual citizen to pray. Read the NYT article, that’s not what this decision is about.

365 Dr. Matt  May 6, 2014 9:02:30am
Glenn Beck: The White House Correspondents Dinner Is Like Being “Raped”

Legitimate or illegitimate rape?

366 wrenchwench  May 6, 2014 9:02:44am

re: #358 Gus

[Embedded image]

I knew there had to be a down side.

367 Bulworth  May 6, 2014 9:03:27am

First he marries a transexual…

—-

Confirmed. FACT.

Are we sure this isn’t a parody account? So hard to tell these days.

368 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 9:04:43am
369 wrenchwench  May 6, 2014 9:04:52am

This guy had to apologize for tweeting too many baby bunnies over the weekend. His own photos:

370 Ian G.  May 6, 2014 9:05:13am

re: #367 Bulworth

First he marries a transexual…

—-

Confirmed. FACT.

Are we sure this isn’t a parody account? So hard to tell these days.

Yeah, I can’t tell either anymore.

371 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 9:06:23am

re: #363 Killgore Trout

I’m pretty sure that the Establishment Clause was not meant to be interpreted the way that Kennedy did in Town of Greece (in extending Marsh), but that’s what they did. And towns and localities around the country will interpret the allowance of a public prayer to inject religion in ways that can be meant to treat one religion as official.

Rather than overturning Marsh and finding this impermissible, Kennedy and the majority think that people are better than they are and wont impose their religious views on others.

It’s the same position this Court has taken on voting rights and racism, and it’s already been proven wrong on those counts.

372 Gus  May 6, 2014 9:06:24am

re: #369 wrenchwench

This guy had to apologize for tweeting too many baby bunnies over the weekend. His own photos:

[Embedded content]

373 jaunte  May 6, 2014 9:07:16am

Tarrant County Gun Group Disowned By Organization For Going ‘Too Far’

C-J. Grisham, the president of Open Carry Texas, says what the group did was in clear violation of their bylaws (one of which is to contact police before a protest), so they’ve cut off all ties with the Tarrant County chapter.

Of course the local group isn’t going to let a bunch of outsiders tell them what to do.

374 wrenchwench  May 6, 2014 9:09:12am

re: #372 Gus

[Embedded content]

Uh oh. A baby bunny eater. Pretty.

375 Dr. Matt  May 6, 2014 9:10:47am

The RWNJs are celebrating their little ‘victory’ handed to them by the SCOTUS, but the law of unintended consequences will soon bite them in their white fat asses as soon as Muslims and Buddhists start praying at Town Meetings and Public Events.

376 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce  May 6, 2014 9:14:03am

re: #348 William Barnett-Lewis

377 Gus  May 6, 2014 9:14:12am
378 Killgore Trout  May 6, 2014 9:14:26am

re: #371 lawhawk

I’m pretty sure that the Establishment Clause was not meant to be interpreted the way that Kennedy did in Town of Greece (in extending Marsh), but that’s what they did. And towns and localities around the country will interpret the allowance of a public prayer to inject religion in ways that can be meant to treat one religion as official.

Rather than overturning Marsh and finding this impermissible, Kennedy and the majority think that people are better than they are and wont impose their religious views on others.

It’s the same position this Court has taken on voting rights and racism, and it’s already been proven wrong on those counts.

I’m personally opposed to prayed at legislative sessions but the court’s decision is what it is. I know the court sometimes makes rulings based of “greater good” issues like eminent domain but their main purpose is to rule on a law’s adherence to the constitution. If this ruling becomes a problem then the best remedy is a legislative fix. I have no expectation that the court is solve problems to my liking, if this becomes a serious issue then the legislative branch needs to fix it.

379 Gus  May 6, 2014 9:14:58am

I remember talking to a client once who went bird hunting in Argentina. He said he killed about 2,000 doves. His was the low number.

380 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 9:15:54am

Here comes the I word, as though anyone with a pulse would identify with what the GOP is looking to do between now and 2016.

381 ObserverArt  May 6, 2014 9:16:14am

re: #320 Gus

Lindsey Graham
Will be speaking with .@FoxNews in just a few minutes about the latest on #Benghazi.

He’s out on the street corner selling it…

Black Tar Benghazi…The G.O.P. Drug of Choice

382 Killgore Trout  May 6, 2014 9:16:39am

re: #375 Dr. Matt

The RWNJs are celebrating their little ‘victory’ handed to them by the SCOTUS, but the law of unintended consequences will soon bite them in their white fat asses as soon as Muslims and Buddhists start praying at Town Meetings and Public Events.

Exactly. A Muslim majority district can open sessions with Muslim prayers and shouldn’t be required by the government to say Christian prayers.

383 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 9:18:01am
384 Killgore Trout  May 6, 2014 9:19:19am

After Supreme Court prayer decision, Satanist offers his own prayer

“Let us stand now, unbowed and unfettered by arcane doctrines born of fearful minds in darkened times. Let us embrace the Luciferian impulse to eat of the Tree of Knowledge and dissipate our blissful and comforting delusions of old. Let us demand that individuals be judged for their concrete actions, not their fealty to arbitrary social norms and illusory categorizations. Let us reason our solutions with agnosticism in all things, holding fast only to that which is demonstrably true. Let us stand firm against any and all arbitrary authority that threatens the personal sovereignty of One or All. That which will not bend must break, and that which can be destroyed by truth should never be spared its demise. It is Done. Hail Satan.”

385 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 9:19:41am

re: #378 Killgore Trout

What legislative remedy? We’re talking the US Constitution, and if the Court’s found this acceptable, the only fix is amending the Constitution, which is all but impossible to do. Congress might be able to pass resolutions for its own conduct, but that’s different than requiring all the nation’s political subdivisions to limit their prayers accordingly.

States might be able to limit this through their own state constitutional prohibitions, but with the federal constitution already making that difficult, you’re left with hoping the Court reversing and overruling the prior decisions in March and Greece.

386 kirkspencer  May 6, 2014 9:20:46am

re: #363 Killgore Trout

I’m pretty sure government officials cannot coerce an individual citizen to pray. Read the NYT article, that’s not what this decision is about.

Instead of the article, read the decision. In fact, read part V. Here:

This brings me to my final point. I am troubled by the message that some readers may take from the principal dissent’s rhetoric and its highly imaginative hypotheticals. For example, the principal dissent conjures up the image of a litigant awaiting trial who is asked [*24] by the presiding judge to rise for a Christian prayer, of an official at a polling place who conveys the expectation that citizens wishing to vote make the sign of the cross before casting their ballots, and of an immigrant seeking naturalization who is asked to bow her head and recite a Christian prayer. Although I do not suggest that the implication is intentional, I am concerned that at least some readers will take these hypotheticals as a warning that this is where today’s decision leads-to a country in which religious minorities are denied the equal benefits of citizenship.

Nothing could be further from the truth. All that the Court does today is to allow a town to follow a practice that we have previously held is permissible for Congress and state legislatures. In seeming to suggest otherwise, the principal dissent goes far astray.

Once more, Kennedy says “oh, it could be taken that way but it’s not the way we mean it.” Every time he does it turns out that some people do indeed take it that way. See just for the elephant in the room Citizens United where he said pretty much the same thing about hypotheticals.

Can’t ‘make them’? Please read Roberts Rules again - the rules on which almost all committee rules in the US are based. You don’t get to speak till the Chair recognizes you. And per the basic rules, the chair and the committee may establish rules for peculiar (specific) behaviors of address so as to maintain that decorum.

Normally that means they are required to begin with acknowledging all present. (M. Chairman, esteemed council, my fellow citizens, …) Some places have required what a amounts to a bit of propaganda (acknowledging the authority of the school board, declaiming the greatness of the State of Texas, etc.). Ritual ‘May be necessary to establish decorum unsettled by the subject at hand.’ (paraphrase).

Bottom line, KT, yes they can.

387 Killgore Trout  May 6, 2014 9:24:11am

re: #385 lawhawk

What legislative remedy? We’re talking the US Constitution, and if the Court’s found this acceptable, the only fix is amending the Constitution, which is all but impossible to do. Congress might be able to pass resolutions for its own conduct, but that’s different than requiring all the nation’s political subdivisions to limit their prayers accordingly.

States might be able to limit this through their own state constitutional prohibitions, but with the federal constitution already making that difficult, you’re left with hoping the Court reversing and overruling the prior decisions in March and Greece.

Congress can pass legislation doing away with prayer before congressional sessions. State senates and city councils can do the same for themselves. Just because the court rules something is permissible doesn’t make it mandatory. Legislators can take action to fix problems, especially if it’s something voters want.

388 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 9:25:33am
389 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 9:26:18am

The reason why there were flight delays at LAX and other airports last week.

FAA Confirms Spy Plane Scrambled Air Traffic Control in California

The Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed an exclusive NBC News report that a Cold War-era spy plane scrambled the computer systems of a major air traffic control system in Southern California, resulting in region-wide air travel delays affecting hundreds of flights and thousands of passengers.
In a statement, the FAA acknowledged that its air traffic system, which processes flight plan information, “experienced problems while processing a flight plan filed for a U-2 aircraft that operates at very high altitudes under visual flight rules.”
The U-2 spy plane, the same type of aircraft that flew high-altitude spy missions over Russia 50 years ago, passed through the airspace monitored by the L.A. Air Route Traffic Control Center in Palmdale, Calif., around 2 p.m. on Wednesday. The L.A. Center handles landings and departures at the region’s major airports, including Los Angeles International (LAX), San Diego and Las Vegas.
The computers at the L.A. Center are programmed to keep commercial airliners and other aircraft from colliding with each other. According to sources, the U-2 was flying at 60,000 feet, but the computers were attempting to keep it from colliding with planes that were actually miles beneath it.

390 jaunte  May 6, 2014 9:27:13am

re: #388 Pie-onist Overlord

‘Cause of Evolution teaching, mah grammar has went down the drain.

391 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 9:27:45am
392 Mattand  May 6, 2014 9:28:11am

re: #363 Killgore Trout

I’m pretty sure government officials cannot coerce an individual citizen to pray. Read the NYT article, that’s not what this decision is about.

You know, for someone who’s been metaphorically pissing their pants over the “slippery slope” of bigots and racists having to face consequences for their ignorant behavior, you’re pretty blasé about a SCOTUS ruling that allows local governments to promote a specific religion.

393 wrenchwench  May 6, 2014 9:33:07am
394 Mattand  May 6, 2014 9:34:18am

re: #380 lawhawk

Here comes the I word, as though anyone with a pulse would identify with what the GOP is looking to do between now and 2016.

Is there any actual threshold for evidence when it comes to impeaching the President, other than a bunch of old white male Republicans pissed that:

A) a ni-CLANG!!! is in the White House; or
B) a Clinton (gasp!) and a woman (GASP!!!) is a potential POTUS front runner?

395 wrenchwench  May 6, 2014 9:35:37am

re: #383 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

Ouch.

396 wrenchwench  May 6, 2014 9:36:02am

re: #395 wrenchwench

Ouch.

Also: NM.

397 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 9:36:46am

re: #395 wrenchwench

Ouch.

It looks rather frightening, especially considering the lack of water.

398 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 9:37:18am

re: #396 wrenchwench

Also: NM.

Pretty bad when “critical” isn’t so bad in comparison.

399 Mike Lamb  May 6, 2014 9:38:28am

re: #388 Pie-onist Overlord

[Embedded content]

As the kids say these days: lolwut?

400 Gus  May 6, 2014 9:39:45am

telegraph.co.uk

401 Killgore Trout  May 6, 2014 9:39:52am

re: #386 kirkspencer

I’m opposed to the ruling as well but I don’t feel the need to wildly mischaracterize what the ruling is about. Yes, there are potential problems with it and it is open to abuse but claims that government officials can now mandate private citizens publically recite a specific prayer is nonsense. There are already protections for freedom of religion and discrimination. Anyone forced to pray or discriminated against on religious grounds will win a nice court judgment. Yesterday’s court ruling hasn’t changed that.

402 Kafitrar  May 6, 2014 9:39:56am

re: #387 Killgore Trout

Congress can pass legislation doing away with prayer before congressional sessions. State senates and city councils can do the same for themselves. Just because the court rules something is permissible doesn’t make it mandatory. Legislators can take action to fix problems, especially if it’s something voters want.

And based on this ruling, this court will judge those laws unconstitutional.

403 Killgore Trout  May 6, 2014 9:42:03am

re: #402 Kafitrar

And based on this ruling, this court will judge those laws unconstitutional.

I have no doubt you may sincerely believe that but it’s simply not true.

404 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 9:47:41am

Ted chill, it’s just Todd Starnes making shit up again.

405 blueraven  May 6, 2014 9:48:50am

re: #387 Killgore Trout

Congress can pass legislation doing away with prayer before congressional sessions. State senates and city councils can do the same for themselves. Just because the court rules something is permissible doesn’t make it mandatory. Legislators can take action to fix problems, especially if it’s something voters want.

They will never do this. Anyone voting to ban prayer will be ostracized and demonized till the end of days.

What the SCOTUS has done, effectively bans the banning of prayer.

406 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 9:49:02am

re: #401 Killgore Trout

I’m opposed to the ruling as well but I don’t feel the need to wildly mischaracterize what the ruling is about. Yes, there are potential problems with it and it is open to abuse but claims that government officials can now mandate private citizens publically recite a specific prayer is nonsense. There are already protections for freedom of religion and discrimination. Anyone forced to pray or discriminated against on religious grounds will win a nice court judgment. Yesterday’s court ruling hasn’t changed that.

Here’s how it works in real life.
Local meetings in my county start with a very lengthy prayer (it can go on for many minutes) that often includes repeated references to “Lord Jesus” and asking his guidance during deliberations and decisions. And there’s a huge replica of the Ten Commandments tablets hanging on the wall.
Those attending the meeting MUST stand with clasped hands and bowed heads, and say “Amen” at the end. If you do NOT do this, you will NOT be recognized to speak during public comment or, if you are appearing to request an action, it will be tabled for “further investigation” or “later discussion”.
Welcome to tiny town intolerant America.

407 Gus  May 6, 2014 9:51:02am
408 Gus  May 6, 2014 9:51:53am
409 Gus  May 6, 2014 9:52:42am
410 Bulworth  May 6, 2014 9:53:20am

Outrageous: A teacher banned Bibles during free reading time and then shamed a student reading the Bible:

There’s such a thing as ‘free reading time’ in school? I’m going to guess the student was supposed to be reading something class-related.

411 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 9:55:12am

re: #410 Bulworth

Outrageous: A teacher banned Bibles during free reading time and then shamed a student reading the Bible:

There’s such a thing as ‘free reading time’ in school? I’m going to guess the student was supposed to be reading something class-related.

I’m going to guess this story is a bunch of bullshit like everything else from Todd Starnes.

412 klys  May 6, 2014 9:55:13am

re: #406 Backwoods_Sleuth

Here’s how it works in real life.
Local meetings in my county start with a very lengthy prayer (it can go on for many minutes) that often includes repeated references to “Lord Jesus” and asking his guidance during deliberations and decisions. And there’s a huge replica of the Ten Commandments tablets hanging on the wall.
Those attending the meeting MUST stand with clasped hands and bowed heads, and say “Amen” at the end. If you do NOT do this, you will NOT be recognized to speak during public comment or, if you are appearing to request an action, it will be tabled for “further investigation” or “later discussion”.
Welcome to tiny town intolerant America.

And if you want to bring legislation or a lawsuit in an attempt to change that, well, I hope you never need anything in the county again. From either your neighbors or the county itself.

413 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 9:55:45am

re: #412 klys

And if you want to bring legislation or a lawsuit in an attempt to change that, well, I hope you never need anything in the county again. From either your neighbors or the county itself.

Exactly.

414 Rev_Arthur_Belling  May 6, 2014 9:56:36am

re: #403 Killgore Trout

I have no doubt you may sincerely believe that but it’s simply not true.

Yeah, I think I’m going to take lawhawk’s word and Backwoods_Sleuth’s eyewitness testimony (and my own years spent as a fundamentalist SBCer) on this over yours. Stomping your feet and saying “it’s simply not true” isn’t an argument.

415 klys  May 6, 2014 9:56:51am

re: #413 Backwoods_Sleuth

Exactly.

But hey, overreaction. How dare your reality contradict what KT thinks this means.

///

416 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 9:59:17am

re: #415 klys

But hey, overreaction. How dare your reality contradict what KT thinks this means.

///

yeah. I resisted responding because it’s pointless, but….

wut?

417 Gus  May 6, 2014 9:59:54am
418 klys  May 6, 2014 10:00:11am

I don’t see it.

419 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 10:00:49am
420 Gus  May 6, 2014 10:01:22am

[x] Planes
[x] Trains
[x] Automobiles…

Ships, kittens…

421 Kragar  May 6, 2014 10:01:35am

Oh, look, Todd Starnes again

422 klys  May 6, 2014 10:01:58am

re: #420 Gus

[x] Planes
[x] Trains
[x] Automobiles…

Ships, kittens…

Fire tornadoes…

423 Gus  May 6, 2014 10:02:51am
424 sagehen  May 6, 2014 10:03:08am

re: #334 calochortus

Just a drive by, but where do all these people think their water was before it arrived in their tap?
If you pull water from a river, you can bet someone else has dumped something upstream. Even if you get your water delivered ‘fresh from the mountains’ it sits in a reservoir somewhere. What do you think the fish and birds are doing in the meanwhile?

It’s why we have water treatment facilities.

“I don’t drink water. Fish fuck in it.”
— WC Fields

425 ObserverArt  May 6, 2014 10:03:48am

Uh oh…the cats are coming out. They are the watchers of the threads!

426 Kragar  May 6, 2014 10:03:48am
427 Gus  May 6, 2014 10:04:06am

re: #418 klys

I don’t see it.

428 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 10:04:21am

re: #421 Kragar

Oh, look, Todd Starnes again

[Embedded content]

Yeah opposition to forced prayer = murdering over 10 million innocent people. Basically, you’re an asshole Todd.

429 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 10:05:11am

re: #426 Kragar

[Embedded content]

Why worry about Shariah when you’ve got people like Louie here.

430 Bulworth  May 6, 2014 10:05:39am

Kragar posted:
“Fox pundit: Atheists fighting government prayer are basically ‘Hitler’ “

Why are conservatives not all up in arms at this ‘socialized’ prayer ruling? Less Government. Individual Freedoms. //

431 klys  May 6, 2014 10:05:49am

re: #427 Gus

That would pretty much be me today, but there’s allllllllllllllllll the errands ever to run.

432 Kragar  May 6, 2014 10:06:12am

re: #429 HappyWarrior

Why worry about Shariah when you’ve got people like Louie here.

They worry about Sharia because they don’t like the idea of anyone messing up their Dominionism.

433 Gus  May 6, 2014 10:07:28am
434 wrenchwench  May 6, 2014 10:08:25am

re: #419 Backwoods_Sleuth

[Embedded content]

We were there on our cross country bike trip in 1986. Hung around the court house with the local cyclists; three 80-something men. One had a big floor pump tied onto his frame.

435 Backwoods_Sleuth  May 6, 2014 10:08:47am
436 Rightwingconspirator  May 6, 2014 10:10:48am

re: #371 lawhawk

I’m pretty sure that the Establishment Clause was not meant to be interpreted the way that Kennedy did in Town of Greece (in extending Marsh), but that’s what they did. And towns and localities around the country will interpret the allowance of a public prayer to inject religion in ways that can be meant to treat one religion as official.

Rather than overturning Marsh and finding this impermissible, Kennedy and the majority think that people are better than they are and wont impose their religious views on others.

It’s the same position this Court has taken on voting rights and racism, and it’s already been proven wrong on those counts.

Very different topic but right in your backyard-Obdi was saying the 2nd as an individual right is not permanent. Just one justice changes and it’s on the way. Now when I look and think back I have a hard time finding SCOTUS rolling back any individual right as described. They overturn themselves very rarely as far as I looked.

Setting aside the “gun debate” a second, how likely should a person think of a reversal like that? Even with a controversial decision.

437 Bulworth  May 6, 2014 10:12:13am

Kragar posted:

Louie Gohmert: Constitution only protects Americans who ‘cling to God and guns’

Oh, OK. Thanks, Louie. //

438 Kragar  May 6, 2014 10:13:45am

re: #437 Bulworth

Kragar posted:

Oh, OK. Thanks, Louie. //

“Oh, you’re not a gun humping Christian? NO RIGHTS FOR YOU!”

439 b.d.  May 6, 2014 10:14:09am
Edward Snowden, the poster child for truth-telling, answered questions live, but the audience was instructed not to record them.

Irony, much?

That was the scene at an awards ceremony held at the National Press Club last week where a watchdog group that decries government secrecy passed along this message from Snowden’s lawyer: No digital recording of Snowden’s virtual appearance.

washingtonpost.com

440 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 10:16:27am

re: #436 Political Atheist

It’s uncommon, but the Court could scale back or reverse entirely decisions rendered previously. Cases that were decided 5-4 in the Supreme Court tend to show just how narrowly the issues can be, and the change in the composition of the Court could flip the swing vote.

In other words, should Scalia, Thomas, or Alito retire, or otherwise pass away, leaving President Obama (or his successor) to nominate a replacement, he could swing the vote in favor of restricting political subdivisions like Greece from holding those prayers with the right nominee.

441 klys  May 6, 2014 10:16:35am

re: #436 Political Atheist

Very different topic but right in your backyard-Obdi was saying the 2nd as an individual right is not permanent. Just one justice changes and it’s on the way. Now when I look and think back I have a hard time finding SCOTUS rolling back any individual right as described. They overturn themselves very rarely as far as I looked.

Setting aside the “gun debate” a second, how likely should a person think of a reversal like that? Even with a controversial decision.

The Supreme Court did once rule that “separate but equal” was acceptable.

442 Mattand  May 6, 2014 10:17:59am

re: #401 Killgore Trout

I’m opposed to the ruling as well but I don’t feel the need to wildly mischaracterize what the ruling is about. Yes, there are potential problems with it and it is open to abuse but claims that government officials can now mandate private citizens publically recite a specific prayer is nonsense. There are already protections for freedom of religion and discrimination. Anyone forced to pray or discriminated against on religious grounds will win a nice court judgment. Yesterday’s court ruling hasn’t changed that.

re: #406 Backwoods_Sleuth

Here’s how it works in real life.
Local meetings in my county start with a very lengthy prayer (it can go on for many minutes) that often includes repeated references to “Lord Jesus” and asking his guidance during deliberations and decisions. And there’s a huge replica of the Ten Commandments tablets hanging on the wall.
Those attending the meeting MUST stand with clasped hands and bowed heads, and say “Amen” at the end. If you do NOT do this, you will NOT be recognized to speak during public comment or, if you are appearing to request an action, it will be tabled for “further investigation” or “later discussion”.
Welcome to tiny town intolerant America.

As an American atheist, I just don’t understand how another American atheist can sit there and pretend that there is no undercurrent of “Not a Christian, then you’re not an American” in this country.

Because that’s what you’re doing with an attitude of “No biggie on government officials incorporating prayer in the public space.” You want to pray, there’s no shortage of churches in this country.

This is the conservatives on the SCOTUS planting their crucifix in the sand and saying “We’re a Christian nation”. There’s really no other way to look at this.

443 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 6, 2014 10:18:03am

re: #308 NJDhockeyfan

They have wifi in the caves of Syria in the middle of a war yet I couldn’t get high speed Internet or cell coverage at my house in Virginia. What wrong with that picture?

[Embedded content]

The GOP has fucked over rural connectivity to try to get telcoms larger profits.

newrepublic.com

444 Kragar  May 6, 2014 10:19:21am

re: #443 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

The GOP has fucked over rural connectivity to try to get telcoms larger profits.

newrepublic.com

Not surprising in the least.

445 Feline Fearless Leader  May 6, 2014 10:20:35am

re: #415 klys

But hey, overreaction. How dare your reality contradict what KT thinks this means.

///

Frog knows.

446 Rightwingconspirator  May 6, 2014 10:22:21am

re: #441 klys

The Supreme Court did once rule that “separate but equal” was acceptable.

That stands out for two reasons-Importance and rarity.

Of course a change in judges would have to await another case to make it’s way all the way up and be accepted. Unlike say that NJ CCW stealth near ban law. As a matter of debate standing law has merit of course. By way of current facts on the ground.

Anyone hopeful for a change in Citizens V United anytime soon? Hmm, that would be all of us. Anyone expecting that to change soon? As soon as a judge or two changes?

447 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 10:23:04am

re: #387 Killgore Trout

Congress can pass legislation doing away with prayer before congressional sessions. State senates and city councils can do the same for themselves. Just because the court rules something is permissible doesn’t make it mandatory. Legislators can take action to fix problems, especially if it’s something voters want.

Congress could attempt to pass a law that the Supreme Court has already ruled unconstitutional, which would once again leave the issue to the courts, and this Court would again rule that it is unconstitutional.

Legislators can take action where it is constitutionally permissible to do so.

Heck, we saw just that with the whole ACA debate. GOPers were claiming it was unconstitutional, even though the Constitution grants wide powers to Congress for the health and welfare of the country. Nothing promotes health and welfare more than access to health insurance, but that didn’t stop the GOP from suing in multiple cases to strike it down as unconstitutional using any variety of grounds.

The Supreme Court eventually ruled in favor of the ACA being proper, but ruled the states could opt-out of expanding Medicaid, which meant that almost half of U.S. States opted out of expanding Medicaid leading to many of the nation’s poorest going without coverage. Residents of the states with the highest rates of uninsureds would have benefited tremendously from the Medicaid provision, but the Court struck it down.

What they might do is try to get around the decision on the margins, but that means they’ll have to run the inevitable gauntlet of court decisions, just to get the chance to revisit the issue.

448 NJDhockeyfan  May 6, 2014 10:23:24am

Interesting…

449 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 6, 2014 10:23:42am

re: #436 Political Atheist

Very different topic but right in your backyard-Obdi was saying the 2nd as an individual right is not permanent. Just one justice changes and it’s on the way. Now when I look and think back I have a hard time finding SCOTUS rolling back any individual right as described. They overturn themselves very rarely as far as I looked.

You haven’t actually done significant research, though, right? This is just you glancing over the subject, not an actual analysis of how many Supreme Court decisions have overturned previous decisions?

The supreme court has consistently rolled back 4th amendment protections, unfortunately, for quite awhile. Those are individual rights.

As Lawhawk says, 5-4 decisions, especially those with strong dissents, are the ones you don’t want to bet on. Hell, even Roe v. Wade, a 7-2 decision, is vulnerable.

450 Rightwingconspirator  May 6, 2014 10:25:06am

re: #449 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

You haven’t actually done significant research, though, right? This is just you glancing over the subject, not an actual analysis of how many Supreme Court decisions have overturned previous decisions?

The supreme court has consistently rolled back 4th amendment protections, unfortunately, for quite awhile. Those are individual rights.

As Lawhawk says, 5-4 decisions, especially those with strong dissents, are the ones you don’t want to bet on. Hell, even Roe v. Wade, a 7-2 decision, is vulnerable.

Would you mind defining “significant” research for this instance?

451 Feline Fearless Leader  May 6, 2014 10:25:18am

re: #448 NJDhockeyfan

Interesting…

Too late in the season for him to catch a Russian cold I guess.
//

452 Bulworth  May 6, 2014 10:27:04am

Because Christianity and gunz go together. So obvious. You can’t have one without the other. //

453 Bubblehead II  May 6, 2014 10:27:27am

Feeding Time

454 Feline Fearless Leader  May 6, 2014 10:28:20am

re: #452 Bulworth

Because Christianity and gunz go together. So obvious. You can’t have one without the other. //

Yep. Otherwise there wouldn’t be all those references in the NT to Jesus and his AR-15.
//

455 Pie-onist Overlord  May 6, 2014 10:28:32am

HURR HURR!!!! PHOTO OPS ARE TEH REAL TROOF!!!!!!

456 HappyWarrior  May 6, 2014 10:30:11am

re: #455 Pie-onist Overlord

HURR HURR!!!! PHOTO OPS ARE TEH REAL TROOF!!!!!!

[Embedded content]

It sure is, “Wingnuts care about trivial bullshit.”

457 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 6, 2014 10:32:56am

re: #450 Political Atheist

Would you mind defining “significant” research for this instance?

To actually establish if the Supreme Court has a tendency to overrule previous Supreme Courts rulings, you’d have to determine the number of Supreme Court cases that involved such cases, and then see how many times they overruled themselves and how many times they didn’t. You’d also need to know how many times they refused to hear a previous SC-ruled case, affirming it. That’d give you an idea of how often they overrule themselves.

However, this data is not necessarily that useful, since the Supreme Court is a living institution, whose behavior may or may not be consistent over time, so dividing it up into cohorts would be useful, too. The tendencies might run one way for a period of time, and then another way for another period.

Other than that, no back-of-the-envelope glance is going to actually tell you much of anything.

If you look at the list of Supreme Court cases that have overturned previous SC rulings:

en.wikipedia.org

You’ll note that there do tend to be clusters. like the spate in the 60s and 80s overturning fourth amendment cases. There’s also recently, famously, Citizens United.

So without the data I’ve talked about, how rare it is for them to overturn is an unknown, but it’s certainly something that happens.

458 Shiplord Kirel  May 6, 2014 10:33:22am

re: #376 First As Tragedy, Then As Farce

[Embedded image]

Tactical beer mug, “combines three Mil-Spec 1913 scope rails and a block of CNC-machined 6061 T6 billet aluminum with the capacity to hold a sizable 24 ounces of your favorite frothy beverage.

Each one is custom-engraved with its own unique serial number and includes a removable AR15 carry handle.”
Youtube Video

459 lawhawk  May 6, 2014 10:34:14am

re: #449 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Heck, the appellate levels are regularly reversed, which shows just how tight the decisions are - not even counting the Supreme Court rulings.

In recent years, Bowers and its progeny, was overturned by Lawrence v. Texas. That went from one direction in 1986 to the other in 2003. One of the shorter periods you’ll find on overturning stare decisis.

Except that Austin v. Michigan State Chamber of Commerce was overturned by Citizens United. 20 years separated the two decisions - 1990 and 2010. An even smaller gap involved that portion of McConnell v. Federal Election Commission that Citizens United overturned, just 7 years.

Also, consider this list of cases where the Supreme Court overruled its own prior decisions.

460 Lidane  May 6, 2014 10:36:58am

re: #455 Pie-onist Overlord

Reagan and Bush being self-sufficient and clearing things on their own while Obama does work under the direct supervision of two white overseers men.

Nope, nothing racist there at all.

461 Kragar  May 6, 2014 10:37:05am

re: #455 Pie-onist Overlord

HURR HURR!!!! PHOTO OPS ARE TEH REAL TROOF!!!!!!

[Embedded content]

I was unaware that gardening was one of the measures by which a President was supposed to be judged.

462 Skip Intro  May 6, 2014 10:39:19am

re: #421 Kragar

Notice the constant use of the word “Christian”. Not Jew, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, no.

The only religion is the one Starnes claims to believe in. I see dumbshit Louie Gohmert has chimed in as well.

Good luck to all of you non-Christians (and non correct-thinking Christians) who think you don’t have to worry about abominable SC decisions like this one.

463 Feline Fearless Leader  May 6, 2014 10:40:02am

re: #461 Kragar

I was unaware that gardening was one of the measures by which a President was supposed to be judged.

Which is why the GOP should nominate Chauncey Gardiner in 2016.

464 Rightwingconspirator  May 6, 2014 11:36:14am

re: #457 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

To actually establish if the Supreme Court has a tendency to overrule previous Supreme Courts rulings, you’d have to determine the number of Supreme Court cases that involved such cases, and then see how many times they overruled themselves and how many times they didn’t. You’d also need to know how many times they refused to hear a previous SC-ruled case, affirming it. That’d give you an idea of how often they overrule themselves.

However, this data is not necessarily that useful, since the Supreme Court is a living institution, whose behavior may or may not be consistent over time, so dividing it up into cohorts would be useful, too. The tendencies might run one way for a period of time, and then another way for another period.

Other than that, no back-of-the-envelope glance is going to actually tell you much of anything.

If you look at the list of Supreme Court cases that have overturned previous SC rulings:

en.wikipedia.org

You’ll note that there do tend to be clusters. like the spate in the 60s and 80s overturning fourth amendment cases. There’s also recently, famously, Citizens United.

So without the data I’ve talked about, how rare it is for them to overturn is an unknown, but it’s certainly something that happens.

Statistics with cohorts and all that hardly seems to undermine that for the time being, pending at least a district court win against the 2nd, it’s the law and we should discuss it in that context.

It happens sometimes. We both knew that all along and I still question the relevance of that fact. When the law is on your side you get to say so until that law changes. When the law is against your view you get to complain about it. About 121 cases overturned. But how many decisions (including letting lower courts stand) have there been in that time? 50 a year or so? Over an awful lot of years….

How many took away the individual right finding from edit any of the bill of rights? After all that is a lot different than some of the relatively minor adjustments that show up in the list.

465 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 6, 2014 12:08:34pm

re: #464 Political Atheist

Statistics with cohorts and all that hardly seems to undermine that for the time being, pending at least a district court win against the 2nd, it’s the law and we should discuss it in that context.

No idea what you mean by this. What I’m saying is that you shouldn’t depend on a 5-4 supreme court decision being permanent. You can depend on it ‘for the time being’, of course.

It happens sometimes. We both knew that all along and I still question the relevance of that fact. When the law is on your side you get to say so until that law changes. When the law is against your view you get to complain about it. About 121 cases overturned. But how many decisions (including letting lower courts stand) have there been in that time? 50 a year or so? Over an awful lot of years….

See, that sort of speculation is just useless. Even a large-scale analysis of how frequent overturns are would tell you next to nothing about how likely a specific decision is to be overturned.

If a ‘conservative’ was replaced by a ‘liberal’ on the SC, or vice versa would be the most important data. And that’s in the future, unknown.

How many took away the individual right finding from edit any of the bill of rights? After all that is a lot different than some of the relatively minor adjustments that show up in the list.

This also is a pretty useless metric, since there aren’t very many rights that might be ruled as collective rights. You seem to be trying to use statistics on past Supreme Court behavior in an area that’s so small you can’t even get useful statistics in order to try to make an argument. It’s tenuous and it doesn’t really work.

The real question is: If one of the justices who voted for Heller was replaced by a justice who people would think would vote the other way, how much would the previous ruling inhibit the court from overruling it? It’s a pretty unanswerable question, it depends on a ton of other variables, as does any other potential overturn.

I also don’t get the point of the argument that it won’t get overturned. It may or may not get overturned: I’d think that a gun rights advocate would want to actually be prepared for the eventuality of its overturn. I know as a pro-choice advocate, I fully accept that Roe v. Wade may one day get overturned. If, say, the GOP wins the next president and they either pack the court or a liberal is replaced by a conservative—and perhaps not even needing that—it might happen.

So what is the point of strenuously arguing that it won’t get overturned?

466 Rightwingconspirator  May 6, 2014 12:14:34pm

Let’s make a note to take an annual look. See if the 2nd still stands (as it has since the 1800’s) as an individual right. We’ll probably still be here.

467 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 6, 2014 12:28:18pm

re: #466 Political Atheist

Let’s make a note to take an annual look. See if the 2nd still stands (as it has since the 1800’s) as an individual right. We’ll probably still be here.

I have no idea if we probably will or won’t, or if the other regulations that the Supreme Court rules on will be to your liking or, like their most recent refusal, be contrary to what you want.

If you’re simply content to say “It’ll stand”, then why even argue about it? That’s what I’m really not understanding, what is the actual point of arguing that no future SC will rule to narrow gun rights by arguing the ‘militia’ part of the 2nd is still actually relevant and worth consideration?

468 Rightwingconspirator  May 6, 2014 12:45:15pm

re: #465 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

Hey you never even showed where I claimed it would be permanent. You made an issue of how important that (IMO) unimportant fact is day to day, week to week. And trying to answer that, we got a whole lot of comments into how likely. Which really just showed (again) where we differ rather than adding anything worthwhile to the board about the topic.

Are your stats even predictive? Who knows. Mine? Well my timing rather than stats-The law moves like a glacier. Especially at that high level.

None of that is relevant in any of my comments about the 2nd, self defense or CCW. It just is what it is until such time as it is not.

469 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 6, 2014 12:56:57pm

re: #468 Political Atheist

Hey you never even showed where I claimed it would be permanent. You made an issue of how important that (IMO) unimportant fact is day to day, week to week. And trying to answer that, we got a whole lot of comments into how likely. Which really just showed (again) where we differ rather than adding anything worthwhile to the board about the topic.

I’m saying that making a gun rights’ argument based on current rulings from the SC is inferior to being able to make an actual practical argument for gun rights, as in, how gun rights actually benefit society and individuals.

Are your stats even predictive? Who knows. Mine? Well my timing rather than stats-The law moves like a glacier. Especially at that high level.

First, I’m not making any predictions. And the law doesn’t move like a glacier. Citizens United was a huge, huge change, and that just happened.

None of that is relevant in any of my comments about the 2nd, self defense or CCW. It just is what it is until such time as it is not.

My point is that if you want to actually convince other people on gun rights, you should have an argument for why gun rights are a positive thing for the individual and society, and not, as you often do, point to the 2nd amendment.

And again, I’m less concerned with gun laws than with gun culture. If we can move away from fetishization of the gun as a self-defense weapon, the law will take care of itself or not even be necessary.

470 Rightwingconspirator  May 6, 2014 3:09:24pm

re: #469 Fairly Sure I’m Still Obdicut

My point is that if you want to actually convince other people on gun rights, you should have an argument for why gun rights are a positive thing for the individual and society, and not, as you often do, point to the 2nd amendment.

You say this as if I haven’t. How many times does it take?! Let me add another instance here.

When I say for self defense I mean for self defense. Home, work and given cause and a clean record-CCW. I have cited that as a basic human right quite apart from the Bill Of Rights. I view that as a universal right.

When I say for sport I mean for competitive safe fun sporting purposes. see World Speed Shooting Championships. Olympic Target Shooting. We deserve the right to that safe fun sport.

When I say for hunting I mean for hunting. In my view another universal right-Sustenance hunting for those in the proverbial outback. And others of course.

We disagree about the implications of guns and self defense at home. But whether you agree with me or not I have made the point time and again. You view that as a net negative by way of your personal conclusion when looking at stats. I don’t agree with your method or assessment. But again, I made the point, so saying I don’t really is silly at this point.

And yes BTW I cite the 2nd because it happens to be a law that favors my argument. As does a couple SCOTUS rulings.

471 Fairly Sure I'm Still Obdicut  May 6, 2014 5:36:42pm

re: #470 Political Atheist

You say this as if I haven’t. How many times does it take?! Let me add another instance here.

When I say for self defense I mean for self defense. Home, work and given cause and a clean record-CCW. I have cited that as a basic human right quite apart from the Bill Of Rights. I view that as a universal right.

That’s a statement of ideological commitment, but it’s not even an argument based on that, just a statement. I know that is your position. What I’m asking you is how you would go about trying to convince someone who didn’t already share your position.

When I say for sport I mean for competitive safe fun sporting purposes. see World Speed Shooting Championships. Olympic Target Shooting. We deserve the right to that safe fun sport.

Again: This is an ideological argument, not a pragmatic one.

We disagree about the implications of guns and self defense at home.

Do we? What ‘implications’? Do you mean you disagree that the average person who won’t ever actually face violence in their home needs a gun for self-defense, or that guns are hazardous items to have around the house for many people, or what?

But whether you agree with me or not I have made the point time and again. You view that as a net negative by way of your personal conclusion when looking at stats. I don’t agree with your method or assessment. But again, I made the point, so saying I don’t really is silly at this point.

I don’t think you’ve ever actually engaged with statistics, instead, you argue from an ideological position about the right to gun ownership. That won’t convince anyone who doesn’t see guns in the same special way that you do, but instead just sees them as yet another thing, not deserving of any more special protection than any other thing.


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