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Thursday Night Open Thread

A flat tire and the dentist, all in one day.

I'm working on an El Chapo post, here's a new open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Only saw the first 8 minutes (5.00 / 1) (#1)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:21:11 PM EST
    but the media analysis appears to be that Clinton just sewed up the Dem nomination.

    Had Biden not made a decision yesterday he surely would have said he wasn't running tomorrow.

    I watched it (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:35:15 PM EST
    on and off all day and I have to say that if this is what is running congress we are in really bad shape which we already knew.

    These people are so incompetent they have no understanding how government works. They have no understanding of basic things like email. I mean Hillary sounds like an email genius compared to them.

    And you want to know what the worse thing is? They don't even want to learn anything.

    Parent

    That's what gerrymandering will do (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:46:58 PM EST
    Elect a lot of not very bright people to the House and make nearly every Senator look like a genius by comparison.

    Parent
    Towards the end (none / 0) (#10)
    by fishcamp on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 09:32:05 PM EST
    I think I heard Elija Cummings refer to Hillary as Madam President.  There's some meanies on the Republican side.  And what's up with Trey Gowdy's doo?  Lame name too.

    Parent
    Trey Gowdy (5.00 / 2) (#11)
    by Ga6thDem on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 09:39:05 PM EST
    is the banjo boy from Deliverance who's mama let him sit in the big chair today.

    Parent
    Trey Gowdy and the House GOP ... (5.00 / 2) (#99)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:02:19 PM EST
    ... is what happens when you allow children to play grown-up.

    Parent
    That's just mean (none / 0) (#54)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:08:55 AM EST
    but funny too.

    Parent
    Reince Priebus, or whatever, is even weirder (none / 0) (#13)
    by Mr Natural on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 10:47:30 PM EST
    IMO, it's a name straight off a Firesign Theatre or National Lampoon album.

    Parent
    One of my Facebook friends posted (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 11:49:07 PM EST
    That it looked like he had bathed in Vaseline. And when I saw a photo of him taken at the end of the hearing tonight, he did.

    Parent
    What we did learn with absolute certainity (1.00 / 7) (#31)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:24:42 AM EST
    is.

    1. Hillary knew immediately that it was an attack, not a protest over a video.

    So Hillary, Obama and the rest of them lied because of the political implications of the attack during a political campaign.

    2. We also know that Hillary accepted responsibility for everything except for what she did not accept responsibility for.

    'But "glory" doesn't mean "a nice knock-down argument,"' Alice objected.
    'When I use a word,' Humpty Dumpty said in rather a scornful tone, 'it means just what I choose it to mean--neither more nor less.'
    'The question is,' said Alice, 'whether you can make words mean so many different things.'
    'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master--that's all.'

    Through the Looking Glass - Lewis Carroll

    From this we can conclude that Obama and Hillary did not act to dispatch troops when they knew a planned, armed and supported attack was underway.

    They left them to die on their own.

    There is no word in the English language that expresses the proper amount of disgust at the unholy trinity of Hillary, Obama and the media.

    Parent

    And here my friends (5.00 / 9) (#32)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:33:10 AM EST
    is the reaction of someone that has no grasp on reality but keeps grasping at straws. Another shining example (like yesterday) of why the GOP is in disarray.

    Parent
    Dude (5.00 / 4) (#38)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:50:09 AM EST
    Even the conservative media tuned out and said there's no "there" there.

    Pick your next battle and move on.

    Parent

    ppj (5.00 / 7) (#39)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:52:58 AM EST
    Is like that Japanese soldier hanging on in a cave in 1952

    Parent
    that Japanese soldier would (5.00 / 4) (#95)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:43:07 PM EST
    probably resent being compared to someone who never actually fought in any war..

    Parent
    Now I am supposed to (none / 0) (#138)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:16:34 PM EST
    point how I served and you didn't and shoephone will complain....

    lol

    I would never do that.

    Parent

    Don't bother (none / 0) (#143)
    by Ga6thDem on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 06:10:02 AM EST
    It would be an insult to the Japanese soldiers.

    Parent
    Say, Jim, during WWll, (none / 0) (#179)
    by fishcamp on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 05:15:02 PM EST
    My mother was a block warden for lights out in Portland, and all over the west coast, due to possible Japanese bombings.  I was about four years old but went with her every night for two or more years.  Does that count as serving?

    Parent
    Of course (none / 0) (#181)
    by CoralGables on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 05:51:30 PM EST
    but it would count as more if you were serving in a mess hall to others that were serving.

    Parent
    Btw (none / 0) (#42)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:02:32 AM EST
    The strongest hurricane ever recorded in history is about to make landfall.

    Not a good day for ppj.  Perhaps a nap would help.

    Parent

    Not to mention (none / 0) (#132)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:58:00 PM EST
    the IRS investigation revealed the far-right's paranoid persecution complex to be a delusionary fart into a stiff wind..

    Parent
    Not Even Close... (none / 0) (#45)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:21:04 AM EST
    ...those guys didn't know any better, they didn't look at the surrender flag and see war still on.

    I am sure he is diligently scouring the right wing hackery to figure how to explain how the strongest hurricane every recorded in human history, has nothing do with GW.  

    If only the GW folks could have predicted these world record setting storms...

    Parent

    My favorite (5.00 / 4) (#52)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:02:54 AM EST
    Courtesy of HuffPo (no link)

    Pompeo: "Ambassador Stevens didn't have your email, is that correct? Your personal email?"

    Clinton: "Yes, that's right."

    Pompeo: "Did he have your cell phone number?"

    Clinton: "No, but he had the 24-hour number of state operations at the State Department."

    Pompeo: "Did he have your fax number?"

    Clinton: "He had the fax number of the State Department," Clinton responded.

    Pompeo: "Did he have your home address?" he shot back.

    Clinton: "No, I don't think any ambassador has ever asked me for that," Clinton said.

    Pompeo: "Did he ever stop by your house?"

    Clinton: "No, he did not, Congressman."

    John Podhoretz, editor of the conservative Commentary magazine, mocked Pompeo on Twitter.

    John Podhoretz
    ✔@jpodhoretz
    Were you and Chris Stevens Facebook friends? Did you follow him on Instagram?

    3:18 PM - 22 Oct 2015 · Manhattan, NY, United States



    Parent
    A Close Second (none / 0) (#77)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:45:46 PM EST
    More than nine hours into Clinton's appearance Thursday before the House Select Committee on Benghazi, Rep. Martha Roby (R-Ala.) asked the former secretary of State a series of questions about the night of the attacks.

    "Who else was at your home? Were you alone?" Roby asked.

    "I was alone, yes," Clinton replied.

    After Roby asked, "The whole night?" Clinton laughed as she responded, "Yes, the whole night."

    LINK

    I was a little mystified that she did ask, "Where the F was Bill ?"

    Parent

    I think the question Roby wanted to ask was (5.00 / 2) (#82)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 02:33:19 PM EST
    "Where the F was
    Sidney Blumenthal?"

    Parent
    et al (1.00 / 4) (#86)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:21:12 PM EST
    Coral Gables - Whatever shape the GOP is in the facts are that we have the emails and video tapes.

    She lied.

    Capt - At least the Japanese soldier stood for something. Loyalty.

    She lied.

    Capt - The operative is "recorded in history." God knows how bad it was before you invented MMGW.

    lol

    She lied.

    Scott - It is called weather. Now, can you tell me why the Medieval Warming period existed??

    BTW - She lied.

    jbindc - She lied.

    Donald - She lied.

    And just as it wasn't what Nixon had done, it was the lies he told we now have the blunt truth that Hillary lied.

    And all the spin in the world won't cover it up. The lie is too large and to disgusting.

    Parent

    Jim (5.00 / 2) (#90)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:26:02 PM EST
    No she didn't

    No she didn't

    No she didn't

    No she didn't

    No she didn't

    Parent

    Warning, Warning, Warning... (5.00 / 4) (#91)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:26:27 PM EST
    ...Jim is off his medication, again.

    Parent
    That is some fantasy world you live in... (5.00 / 1) (#92)
    by Anne on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:33:07 PM EST
    might as well stick your fingers in your ears, close your eyes and sing "la-la-la-la-la" so you don't ever have to accept reality.

    Honestly, you'd think that if the lie was as big and obvious as you want it to be that, in all the investigations, panels, review boards and hearings that have been held on this, it would actually be obvious.  Gotta wonder why right-wing media is trying to pretend there was no hearing yesterday - oh, wait - I know why: Clinton handed their a$$es to them and they are humiliated.

    Give up, jim; take your bat and your ball and go home.  Please.

    Parent

    LOL....watching you folks (none / 0) (#164)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 01:34:51 PM EST
    after Hillary get caught out is like watching a wasp nest after it's been hit...all kinds of attacking and flying in circles and making claims...

    I mean really. We have the emails. We have the videos.

    Reminds me of the old joke about a guy in bed by his wife with another woman saying.... "You gonna believe me or your lying eyes?"

    In the meantime the polls show Hillary losing to Trump.... Now, some notes for your edification...

    MKS - Nope, the blame for the Benghazi attack goes to the radical islamists that Obama has chosen to ignore as a "JV team." What she does is lie. She first accepts responsibility in her opening statement but then rejects it time and time again.

    And do you think that if she was President she wouldn't be treated rudely and obnoxiously?? Look, if she is so fragile as that then she obviously isn't qualified to be prez.... Of course her tour as SecState provided that.

    Anne - Nope.... but we do have drip drip drip ;-)

    MO Blue - Yeah, very slow. Guess they were rerouted through Hillary's private email server.

    FlJoe -

    Hillary is a smart cookie, it's quite probable that she knew the truth early , but as a good soldier she could not sell the CIA down the river.

    Thanks for making the point that she is a liar.

    Where does she draw the line??

    She lied because they didn't want Obama embarrassed. He had been flitting around like a fly on a fruit plate bragging about how he had killed OBL and cured the radical islamist problem.

    It is never the deed. It is always the cover up that nails politicians.

    GA -

    It would be an insult to the Japanese soldiers.

    Thanks for defending our enemies. It was what you do best.

    MKS - It is doubtful we will never know why, in the hours and hours and hours Benghazi went on no aircraft were launched. Given the date it is remarkable that armed and ready units were not available. And yes, some military people claim that they were told to stand down.

    BTW - It is only a couple of hours flight time from bases in Sicily.

    et al - What happens when the kids figure this out?

    Parent

    Your ravings continue to make less (5.00 / 1) (#167)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 02:11:32 PM EST
    and less sense.

    The military, the CIA, and even Republican committees have said you are wrong yet you have chosen to go deeper and deeper into your delusions.

    Parent

    You know what puzzles me? (5.00 / 1) (#169)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 02:20:01 PM EST
    Why would a social liberal follow something on Facebook called "conservative videos/photos".

    I just don't understand

    /s

    Parent

    ... the hearing, please don't waste Jeralyn's bandwidth in an Open Thread by posting fact-free wingbat tripe which you're copying and pasting from elsewhere.

    Parent
    Fact free nonsense (none / 0) (#177)
    by MKS on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 04:25:30 PM EST
    You just make this stuff up......

    Parent
    Actually his entire schtick (none / 0) (#188)
    by jondee on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:10:30 PM EST
    is waiting for the geniuses at Breitbart and on talk radio to make things up and then he regurgitates it partially digested here.

    Parent
    Yes, that was the reason for (none / 0) (#197)
    by MKS on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 11:43:49 PM EST
    his delay in responding.....He didn't think up this stuff on his own.

    Parent
    Lol and yes, some military people.. (none / 0) (#187)
    by jondee on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:06:02 PM EST
    were told to stand down..

    And the Newtown massacre was a false flag..and those Girl Scouts on your front step on coming to confiscate your shot gun..

    Hey Jim, if it's not too much trouble, how about providing us with ONE NAME of any military personel who say they were told to stand down.

    One name.

    Parent

    You sound like you've dropped acid, Jim. (none / 0) (#93)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:35:15 PM EST
    jimakaPPJ: "She lied. Capt - At least the Japanese soldier stood for something. Loyalty. She lied. Capt - The operative is 'recorded in history.' God knows how bad it was before you invented MMGW. lol She lied. Scott - It is called weather. Now, can you tell me why the Medieval Warming period existed?? BTW - She lied. jbindc - She lied. Donald - She lied."

    I recommend that you turn off Fox News, just go with the flow and kick back with some Allman Brothers.

    Oh, and don't get behind the wheel until you've come down, okay?

    Parent

    You did not watch (none / 0) (#94)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:36:38 PM EST
    the hearing, did you?

    Too bad, you would have seen a person of intellect, knowledge and poise....She made the Republicans look small.......

    Parent

    Ah yes, she was just so cooooooool (1.00 / 1) (#137)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:13:43 PM EST
    She brushed off blame by saying security decisions were handled at lower levels of the State Department professional staff, not by the secretary.

    She didn't receive Ambassador Stevens' requests for more security -- implying that if only she had things might have turned out differently.

    It was a masterful performance. She showed enormous discipline and nearly super-human stamina.

    She let nothing slip. But in the end she let everything slip. She got a perfect score, but failed the test.

    She didn't mean to, but she showed us a glimpse into her soul.

    It was chilling.

    We now know that when Secretary Clinton met the plane carrying the bodies of the four Americans who died at Benghazi she lied about what happened.

    snip

    The Democrats were more disciplined.  The media helped them out.  And they had a witness, Hillary Clinton, for whom lying is standard procedure.  As Ira Gershwin wrote, "Who could ask for anything more?"

    But there is still the FBI investigation.  The story is not over.

    Link

    You folks are supposedly adults. Note the "supposedly."

    Parent

    That is a nonsense right wing (5.00 / 1) (#139)
    by MKS on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 12:09:27 AM EST
    website.  No facts, just hateful, spiteful venom.

    If you blame Hillary for Benghazi, do you blame Bush for 9/11?

    The questioning of Hillary was vicious and rude, talking over her and interrupting her.  You could never, ever get away with that in court....Starting out with an accusatory speech, then refusing to let her answer.

    Parent

    I see you finally received your talking points (5.00 / 2) (#145)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 07:59:25 AM EST
    from the Republican propaganda machine. It took them a little longer than usual to come up with a way to spin a very public Republican disaster into the drival you quoted.

    Have you ever had an original thought?

    Parent

    Yeah...there's always that next (none / 0) (#144)
    by Anne on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 06:12:32 AM EST
    investigation, right?  The one that will finally get her and maybe get her husband, too.  That will take down the entire Democratic Party and usher in a new day of repression, regression, religious dominance and economic punishment for the great unwashed.

    Ahhhh...a boy and his dreams; keep hope alive!

    Parent

    Yes, there is still the IRS "scandal" (none / 0) (#168)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 02:17:10 PM EST
     Oh, wait

    I'm happy to report that our long national nightmare is over. The Department of Justice has closed their files on the so-called IRS "scandal," with no charges being brought against anyone.

    The Justice Department notified members of Congress on Friday that it is closing its two-year investigation into whether the IRS improperly targeted the tea party and other conservative groups.

    There will be no charges against former IRS official Lois Lerner or anyone else at the agency, the Justice Department said in a letter.

    The probe found "substantial evidence of mismanagement, poor judgment and institutional inertia leading to the belief by many tax-exempt applicants that the IRS targeted them based on their political viewpoints. But poor management is not a crime," Assistant Attorney General Peter Kadzik said in the letter.

    In one week, the Benghazi and IRS scandals have blown up in Republicans' faces. What's left?



    Parent
    The Little Big Lie. (none / 0) (#157)
    by FlJoe on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 11:24:03 AM EST
    my gut feeling is the State Department and CIA knew all along that it was more organized then spontaneous.

    From all accounts the it was the "intelligence community" who started pushing the video meme almost immediately.

    If any body created and perpetuated this "lie" for the first few days it was the CIA and if anybody should be grilled endlessly it should be Patraeus,

    King said Petraeus' testimony differed from an earlier assessment the former CIA director gave lawmakers just days after the September 11 attack, which left four Americans dead, including U.S. Ambassador Chris Stevens.

    "He (Petraeus) ... stated that he thought all along he made it clear that there was significant terrorist involvement, and that is not my recollection of what he told us on September 14," King said.

    "The clear impression we were given (in September) was that the overwhelming amount of evidence was that it arose out of a spontaneous demonstration, and was not a terrorist attack," he said.

    In reality, by the time the SD issued the original statement, events on the ground were almost completely in the CIA's sphere and their "talking points" took precedence, for operational security if nothing else.

    The SD actually pointed to a terrorist attack early on

    12:07 a.m., September 12: The State Department sends an e-mail to the White House, the Pentagon and the FBI indicating the Islamic militant group Ansar al-Sharia claimed credit for the attack.
    . My impression is that "other" agencies started pushing back almost immediately.

    Hillary is a smart cookie, it's quite probable that she knew the truth early , but as a good soldier she could not sell the CIA down the river.

    By nature, the original SD statement was aimed at the international community much more then the American people, it would have been unwise and perhaps foolish for them to even try to assign blame and causation while the events were still unfolding. They instead chose to conflate it with the widespread turmoil that was a real and ongoing danger, but they were very careful not to actually make any definitive assertions. Is it coincidence that it fits into the narrative that the CIA? I think not, but by dawn on the 12th it was all CIA and FBI and the white house.

    Bottom line, if any of these fools really want answers to the Little Big Lie, they need to put Petraeus on the spit for a few hours.

    Parent

    Oh..she automatically lied and betrayed (none / 0) (#98)
    by jondee on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:55:58 PM EST
    the U.S when she became a liberal Democrat..

    But "the lie is too big" for most folks to perceive..

    It's a lie of metaphysical dimensions only perceivable by initiated members of the Great White Brotherhood of the Sacred Tea Bag.

    Parent

    Jim - Guess you've shown your expertise (none / 0) (#151)
    by Yman on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:51:31 AM EST
    You apparently know quite a bit ...

    ... about lying.

    Parent

    I thought she was going to go down the (none / 0) (#81)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 02:25:13 PM EST
    Housekeeper / Servant route to say 1) there's someone out there who overheard you talking about classified information AND 2) look how much money you have.

    Parent
    Reality vs political propaganda (none / 0) (#154)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 09:26:04 AM EST
    If that weren't bad enough, former U.S. Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul dropped a proverbial turd in the Gowdy punchbowl midway through this line of questioning:

    As ambassador in Russia, I enjoyed multiple ways to communicate with Secretary Clinton. Email was never one of them.

    Link



    Parent
    Hillary did not act to dispatch troops????? (5.00 / 4) (#58)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:17:01 AM EST
    What an absolute lie.

    First, she had no troops to dispatch.

    Second, there were no troops to dispatch in the near area who could make it on time.....

    Third, GOP led committees have found conclusively that there was no stand down order--by anyone.

    Your accusation that Hillary did not seek military assistance was something that not even the GOP clowns at the hearing attempted to accuse her of.

    You obviously did not watch the hearing.

    Parent

    Heh - our resident combat expert (5.00 / 4) (#152)
    by Yman on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:54:32 AM EST
    ... thinks that the SOS "dispatches" troops.

    Heh, heh, heh ...

    Parent

    From your very own Fox News (5.00 / 2) (#155)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 10:38:12 AM EST
    No stand down order or military missteps in Benghazi attack, GOP-controlled intel panel finds

    WASHINGTON -  A two-year investigation by the Republican-controlled House Intelligence Committee has found that the CIA and the military acted properly in responding to the 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic post in Benghazi, Libya.
    ...
    Debunking a series of persistent allegations hinting at dark conspiracies surrounding the incident, the report concludes that there was no intelligence failure, no delay in sending a CIA rescue team, no missed opportunity for a military rescue, and no evidence the CIA was covertly shipping arms from Libya to Syria.



    Parent
    No, not correct (none / 0) (#56)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:13:28 AM EST
    That was Hillary's first take--before:

    --the person taking credit for the attack said the video was used to whip up the troops.

    --the intelligence community said it was the video.

    It was a very fluid, moving assessment.....

    The requests for security went to the head of Diplomatic Security--the experts and never even made it to Hillary's immediate staff.  And many of the requests for additional security were granted.

    But, yes, the hatred and disrespect for Hillary, not even allowing her to answer many of the vicious attacks, were on display.

    Parent

    Keep digging, Jim. (none / 0) (#67)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:09:06 PM EST
    The only difference between a rut and a grave is the respective dimensions.

    Parent
    You realize that ... (none / 0) (#150)
    by Yman on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:45:32 AM EST
    ... "certainty" is not a synonym for "wingnut delusion" ...

    ... don't you?

    Parent

    I watched all but a couple of hours (5.00 / 4) (#3)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:39:42 PM EST
    I have renewed respect for Hillary.  It exhausted me just watching it.

    And yes.  It was a TKO.  A disaster for the republicans.   I have a very strong suspicion the next order of business will be how to shut it down.  Quietly.  A slink away back under their rocks.

    CaptGowdy was asked by the press on leaving if he learned anything new in 11 hours.  He could not name a single thing.

    I said before, they should have just made a gigantic contribution to her SuperPac and saved a lot of time effort and money.

    Parent

    Hillary is on Maddow (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:41:29 PM EST
    Tomorrow night.   Should be worth catching.

    Parent
    Victory lap? (none / 0) (#7)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:47:35 PM EST
    Perhaps (none / 0) (#8)
    by CaptHowdy on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:49:38 PM EST
    I know it's been scheduled for a while

    Parent
    Exudes confidence (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by CoralGables on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:55:39 PM EST
    when you schedule the championship parade before you play the game.

    Parent
    But Rachel loves Bernie (none / 0) (#53)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:07:36 AM EST
    Hillary should be ready for some tough questions about TPP, loving Wall Street, etc.....

    Parent
    We got home an hour ago (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 11:46:16 PM EST
    Husband turned on Fox News to see what they had to say. No mention of Hillary, nothing, zip. Stunning

    Parent
    Ha! (none / 0) (#17)
    by oculus on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 12:15:22 AM EST
    lol. CaptGowdy? (none / 0) (#5)
    by Mr Natural on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 08:43:03 PM EST
    On the Great Orange Satan (5.00 / 6) (#16)
    by Repack Rider on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 12:11:59 AM EST
    I had a diary that made the rec list, in which I pointed out that Ms. Clinton was not who was in trouble.  The title was Hillary Rope-a-Dopes Gowdy.

    I said Hillary could spot Trey Gowdy the first three moves and still beat him at tic-tac-toe.  I knew she would be prepared and smarter than any two of her opponents put together.

    They just gave her the opportunity to look and sound presidential, and incidentally to debate the GOP.  Hillary delivered.

    Be careful what you wish for.

    Parent

    Yeah, you faultlessly called it (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 12:33:52 AM EST
    Maybe you have the flux capacitor?

    Parent
    Unfortunately (5.00 / 1) (#40)
    by Repack Rider on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:55:33 AM EST
    ...I bet on the Cubbies to sweep.

    Parent
    Double or Nothing... (none / 0) (#51)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:58:08 AM EST
    on the Metropolitans in the Series, that'll straighten that bankroll right out Repack! ;)

     

    Parent

    Great Headline... (none / 0) (#57)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:14:22 AM EST
    Because he practically begged for it (5.00 / 2) (#47)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:41:04 AM EST
    Trouble brewing (5.00 / 3) (#55)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:12:53 AM EST
    Bush is removing some senior staffers from his campaign payroll, dropping some consultants, and cutting payroll by 40%.

    Jeb¢

    Worse than I thought (none / 0) (#111)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:47:51 PM EST
    Asking half the National headquarters staff in Miami to take a 40% cut "AND" move to another state to help the cause. He may not make it to Super Tuesday at this rate. I suspect there are some other campaigns getting phone calls about possible employment this afternoon.

    Jeb¢

    Parent

    It sounds like his campaign may not even make it to New Year's Eve.

    Parent
    New Year's Eve? (none / 0) (#128)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:54:21 PM EST
    Jeb¢ is meeting with his family in Texas on Sunday.

    Parent
    The rats must be fleeing the ship (none / 0) (#129)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:55:05 PM EST
    The guy raised nearly $200 million. (none / 0) (#141)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 02:18:43 AM EST
    How in the world do you burn through all that and run dry three months before the first caucus or primary vote is even cast? That's simply obscene.

    Parent
    Probably more (none / 0) (#131)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:34:38 PM EST
    like he's going to ask to tap into that trust fund to keep going. I doubt there is anybody there in Texas that is going to be honest with him about his chances to be president.

    I honestly can't believe some of these other goobers haven't dropped out of the GOP primary. Why is Lindsay Graham still there? Well, I know why but most people do not. He's a useful idiot as the canary in the coal mine.

    Parent

    I'm mostly shocked (none / 0) (#133)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:07:47 PM EST
    that a presidential candidate is going to meet with his mother and father and brother to see what he should do. How old is Jeb¢?

    Parent
    it does seem like Jeb! is being called (5.00 / 3) (#134)
    by caseyOR on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:30:27 PM EST
    home from school  to face the music from his parents. Is suspension far behind?

    I think Ted Cruz is hoovering up all the money from the crazoid Texans, money that in the past would have gone to a Bush, money that did go to Dubya.

    Parent

    Well, (none / 0) (#136)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:43:10 PM EST
    I know but both is father and his brother were presidents. So it kinda makes sense. The thing is they can't fix Jeb. Unless they level with him and tell him hey, unfortunately the Bush name is toxic right now due to your brother W and he ruined your chances of ever being president, I can't imagine any meeting doing any good. I mean I don't see any strategy that they could offer being any benefit to Jeb.

    Parent
    From an article in today's NYT (none / 0) (#162)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 12:59:40 PM EST
    profiling the elder former President Bush:

    This weekend, generations of Bush loyalists planned to descend on a Houston hotel for a gathering for Jeb Bush's campaign, featuring both the 41st and 43rd presidents. Strategists were eager to reassure them and highlight the campaign's relative organizational strength, fund-raising capacity and ability to endure a delegate battle that could last well into spring.



    Parent
    A meeting of the donors is a sign (none / 0) (#173)
    by CoralGables on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 02:54:15 PM EST
    of financial disaster in the making right around the corner. Only reason to have to meet with them is to keep them from bailing out on the campaign, and 7.2% in the polls does not keep the financial spigot open.

    Parent
    Heh (none / 0) (#175)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 03:44:29 PM EST

    While Bush said on Saturday that his October polling was of little concern because the party would select its nominee in February and March, once caucuses and primaries began, he also sounded a little exasperated, like a man who had had just about enough of campaigning, expressing frustration with the attacks that have dominated the presidential campaign.

    "If this election is about how we're going to fight to get nothing done, then I don't want anything, I don't want to be a part of it. I don't want to be elected president to sit around and see gridlock become so dominant that people are literally in decline in their lives," he said, according to CNN's Jake Tapper.

    "I've got a lot of really cool things I could do other than sit around, being miserable, listening to people demonize me and me feeling compelled to demonize them," Bush said. "That's a joke. Elect Trump if you want that."



    Parent
    What a contrast... and, what a whine (none / 0) (#178)
    by christinep on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 04:31:18 PM EST
    The soon-to-be-legendary fortitude and focus of HRC, as witnessed by millions, during the Benghaziii show is fresh in the mind of the public. She approached the attempted political burning by the frenzied Repubs with poise, preparedness, grace.  Today, we hear about another politician ... Jeb? does provide a contrast as a petulant, inarticulate offspring of privilege who whines when the expected slings & arrows (and curve balls) of a big political campaign first appear.  

    What a contrast ... a look at temperament, focus under pressure.  If one is apt to use the word "entitlement" to describe some in this country, look no further than Jeb? and his sense of to-the-manor-born.

    Parent

    That really is a pretty stunning quote (none / 0) (#180)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 05:51:12 PM EST
    It's literally playground level.   It sort of lets you imagine what these privileged rich boy were like as children.

    Parent
    Maybe his brother (none / 0) (#114)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:57:38 PM EST
    Can keep him safe

    Parent
    This is a good thing (5.00 / 2) (#126)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 07:12:46 PM EST
    Hillary Clinton to Stop Taking Donatiodns From Private Prisons

    Hillary Clinton has agreed to stop accepting money from private prison lobbyists and to donate the direct contributions received thus far.

    It's a big deal -- for the past 40 years, private prison companies like Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) and GEO Group have spent millions to influence politicians that control criminal justice policy so they can continue to profit off anti-Black mass incarceration.

    Regardless of the reasons behind this decision, it is a good decision. Pressure from the left is also a good thing that helps foster good decisions.

    I just watched a performance of (5.00 / 2) (#135)
    by caseyOR on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:42:02 PM EST
    the play "Billy Elliot the Musical" on Great Performances on PBS. I do not how I have not seen this before. It was great. Just really great.

    Elton John wrote the music for the stage play which was based on the movie. If you have not seen it, track it down.

    My cultural highpoint so far this year has been seeing the amazing Audra McDonald live in concert last weekend. She sang for almost two hours with no intermission., and it was spellbinding. Her vocal range is amazing, as is her ability to perform all musical genres with equal skill and artistry. Just an incredible voice. And she was so warm and funny and just, well, lovely.

    Maureen O'Hara (5.00 / 3) (#161)
    by desertswine on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 12:30:04 PM EST
    Koko the gorilla get kittens for her birthday (5.00 / 1) (#174)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 03:30:16 PM EST
    pretty darn cute

    I love "put it on my head"

    Bill Clinton suggests in Iowa today (5.00 / 1) (#184)
    by CoralGables on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 06:10:25 PM EST
    that it's about time a male is able to break the stranglehold that women have held on the job of presidential spouse.

    An example of how the media (none / 0) (#201)
    by Nemi on Sun Oct 25, 2015 at 08:12:40 AM EST
    often - and regularly, sad to say - ever so slightly manipulates their readers, and not only during elections, is today's headline in NYT, stating that: Bill Clinton Rallies Iowa for Hillary Clinton as `Honest and Trustworthy'.

    But actually that is not what he says, at least that's not what they cite him for saying, but a reference to this:

    "She's still got the best friends that she had in grade school," said Mr. Clinton, whose wife has seen a decrease in the number of voters who view her as "honest and trustworthy" in polls after a summer spent fending off questions about her use of a private email server while she was the secretary of state.

    But I'm sure they know exactly how that headline will be perceived by their anti-Clinton readers. And of course they 'forgot' to mention his call for gender equality. Which is actually pretty funny. 'First Dude'? ;)

    Parent

    RIP, Maureen O'Hara (1920-2015). (5.00 / 1) (#192)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 10:50:12 PM EST
    She died today at her home in Boise, ID at age 95. Hers was often a fiery presence onscreen, and she more than held her own with the men in an era when women were expected to be demure and subservient.

    Most probably know Maureen O'Hara her from the 1947 holiday classic "Miracle on 34th Street," while I first became acquainted with her in "Only the Lonely," an underappreciated 1991 romantic comedy for which she came out of retirement to play John Candy's loving but domineering mother.

    Her screen credits include the 1941 Best Picture Oscar winner "How Green Was My Valley," a very good film which is perhaps remembered unfairly for having denied "Orson Welles' classic "Citizen Kane" the gold statuette that year, and the 1952 romantic comedy-drama "The Quiet Man" with John Wayne.

    Aloha to one of Hollywood's grande dames.

    An El Chapo post? (none / 0) (#12)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Thu Oct 22, 2015 at 10:35:11 PM EST
    How about noting that three Mexican navy helicopter gunships recently shot up the entire village of El Verano in the last failed attempt to recapture him? I don't care how utterly vile and depraved Joaquin Guzmán is, terrorizing hundreds of residents by sending them fleeing for their lives into the mountains during the search for him is hardly going to win any hearts and minds. It's far more likely to do the exact opposite.

    At they very least... (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:18:57 AM EST
    I hope Mexico diverts all the dogs off El Chapo's trail to prepare for and respond to Hurricane Patricia, expected to hit their west coast today.  Strongest Category 5 ever recorded...this one could be real bad.  Hoping for the best for our friends down south.

    Parent
    New poll (none / 0) (#19)
    by FlJoe on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:48:26 AM EST
    Iowa: Carson 29, Trump 19.

    Playing the Christian Martyr Card plays well with the rubes.

    "I'd prefer not to talk about security issues but I have recognized -- and people have been telling me for many many months -- that I'm in great danger, because I challenge the secular progressive movement to the very core," Carson told WABC radio's Rita Cosby Show on Thursday. "You know, they see me as an existential threat but I also believe in the good lord and we take reasonable precautions."


    New Poll (none / 0) (#20)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:50:10 AM EST
    Iowa: Clinton +11

    That's a 12 point gain in Iowa since the last Q Poll in late August and this poll was before yesterday's dismantling by Clinton of the Fauxghazi Committee.

    Parent

    Re Carson/Iowa: (none / 0) (#22)
    by oculus on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:02:01 AM EST
    The retired neurosurgeon, who has suspended his campaign to promote his latest book, hasn't been to Iowa for more than 24 hours in two months. But while Carson does enjoy a strong Iowa ground-game thanks to his Super PAC, there was already a deep familiarity with the candidate.

    His book, "Gifted Hands," has been a fixture on home-school curricula since 1996. According to the Iowa Department of Education, the Hawkeye State has at least 10,000 home-schooled students.

     [Des Moines Register.]

    Parent
    "Gifted hands" - there may be something (5.00 / 2) (#46)
    by Mr Natural on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:33:44 AM EST
    to his gawd-gave-me-the-gift self-flummery.  

    I say that only because if you listen to the guy you'll see precious little evidence of an underlying cognitive superiority.

    Parent

    As spectacularly deranged, (5.00 / 1) (#105)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:59:28 PM EST
     each in his/her own way, it is evident that the Republican presidential conga line is the best the Republican party has to offer.  Just a few minutes viewing the Republican Benghazies is compelling evidence. And, frightening.

    Parent
    I love the way the media is clinging to this (none / 0) (#24)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:07:38 AM EST
    Finally FINALLY someone is ahead of Trump in a poll.  AND POSSIBLY A STATE.    OH MY GOD!!

    As I said before.  It's meaningless.  Huckabee in 08, Santorum in 12, Carson in 16.

    It's no surprise and it means largely nothing.

    IMO of course.

    Parent

    Actually, I'd rather (none / 0) (#60)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:19:56 AM EST
    see Trump atop the polls.....

    Parent
    I do not concur (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by Repack Rider on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 12:43:41 PM EST
    Dr. Carson brings nothing except his surgical skills to the table.  You have to provide some form of leadership in order to organize a campaign.  In that regard, Mr. Trump is miles ahead, if only on the basis that he has been able to organize several TV shows.

    Paraphrasing Damon Runyon, outside of neurosurgery, Carson doesn't know what time it is or which way is west.  He talks in bumper stickers, and he is exactly as deep as one.

    The more attention he gets, the more he will melt under the lights.  I would love to see Hillary "surgically" dissect him in a debate.  You thought Gowdy was a slow thinker by comparison to Hillary?

    I'm not even so much of a Hillary fan, but Carson's IQ is the square root of hers.

    Parent

    Neither will get the nomination ... (5.00 / 1) (#122)
    by Robot Porter on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:43:17 PM EST
    but I but if Carson did, he would win zero states in the general.  

    On a good day, Trump could win eight to ten.  But he'd probably only win six.

    These are not people that can mount credible national campaigns.

    And the Republican Party isn't letting either one of them anywhere near the nomination.

    Trump is the carnival barker, drawing the masses to the tent. And Carson keeps the Christian conservatives quiet.  Once those roles are no longer required they'll be gone faster than you can say "historical footnote".

    Parent

    Hmm (none / 0) (#124)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:56:02 PM EST
    what is your theory on who will get the nomination?

    Parent
    I totally agree (none / 0) (#69)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:11:48 PM EST
    but he is just this cycle's Huckabeee (and not even that able politically) and has zero chance of securing the nomination.

    Trump could actually pull it off and get the nomination.....

     

    Parent

    I would (none / 0) (#125)
    by lentinel on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:59:56 PM EST
    not trust Carson to operate on anybody.

    No-body!
    Nobody!

    Not even a cat.
    Not even a frog.

    Huh uh.

    No.

    No.

    Parent

    What? You didn't know he was running? (none / 0) (#21)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 07:53:42 AM EST
    Another victim of yesterday's Fauxghazi?

    Lincoln Chafee may be announcing later today that he is out of the Dem race. Word is his bank account has dwindled to zero with no new funds coming in from his supporter(s).

    Well that was fast (none / 0) (#23)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:05:11 AM EST
    Chafee didn't even wait until later today.

    "As you know I have been campaigning on a platform of prosperity through peace, but after much thought I have decided to end my campaign for president today."

    Would have thought a prepared line would have been better than that one. It's no wonder he struggled in the debate when asked questions.

    Parent

    Makes me a little sad (none / 0) (#25)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:08:36 AM EST
    No more comic relief.

    Parent
    I liked Chaffee (none / 0) (#130)
    by MKS on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:10:54 PM EST
    particularly when he was in the Senate....

    Parent
    Meanwhile, in other news (none / 0) (#26)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:19:16 AM EST
    Lame Duck Obama` (5.00 / 5) (#27)
    by CST on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 08:48:05 AM EST
    Is by far the best Obama

    Parent
    Obama doing what he does best (none / 0) (#149)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:45:08 AM EST
    Yeah, But... (none / 0) (#28)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:10:07 AM EST
    Iowa Poll: Carson surges to 9-point lead; Trump slides
    The pious Ben Carson has plowed past the braggadocious New York businessman to take the front-runner crown, unseating Trump as the most popular choice for president among likely GOP caucusgoers, the new Des Moines Register/Bloomberg Politics poll shows.

    Carson, a retired neurosurgeon, is the favorite choice for 28 percent -- 9 percentage points ahead of Trump's 19 percent.

    LINK

    Now I am no Capt when it comes to predictions, but I did say if Trump stops being a an obnoxious dbag, he will slide.

    I also think people might go for Bernie if Carson looks to be the guy, he is so easily beatable in that too many of own party will never vote for him.  And I think a lot of people want HRC because she can beat Trump, not because she is their first choice.

    Donald stopped being an obnoxious dbag? (none / 0) (#33)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:34:27 AM EST
    I need to pay more attention.  I missed that.

    This is what I think. For the most part Trump is not and will not attack Carsonand vice versa.  Why?  Because they both want each other's voters, 1, and two, together they can shut out the establishment.  In most polls their combined support equals 50% or more.  There is nothing at this point to be gained.  Carson will probably win Iowa.  I will "predict" that right now.  Just like presidents Pat Buchanan, Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum.  Iowa is a caucus so organization is everything and Carson is organizing hard there and it is perhaps the most heavily Christian Right wing.

    IMO.  It stops there.  Trump is 14 points ahead (avg) in New Hampshire and 15 points ahead (avg) in South Carolina.

    Then comes the South and Trump will dominate.  When the latter numbers start changing then we will talk about the absurd possibility of nominee Carson.

    Just my opinion.

    Btw
    I just saw a number that said 58% (I think) in Iowa say one of the things they like MOST about Carson is that he said Obamacare is the worst thing since slavery.
    Republicans are crazy but Iowa republicans are singularly so.

    Parent

    He Stopped... (none / 0) (#37)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:49:52 AM EST
    ...in that now he is putting his daughter out front, he asked the super PAC to dismantle, and twice he has deleted and blamed a staffer for obnoxious tweets, which until this past couple weeks, was his MO.  Also, he isn't getting any free press for saying outrageous stuff in at least the past two weeks, probably close to a month.

    He is trying to look like an actual candidate, and it's killing his chances IMO.  Which was always his rub, trying to garner support from two opposites, one that loves the un-censored idiot, and the other who wants someone that can actually win.

    Parent

    Fwiw (none / 0) (#41)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:58:07 AM EST
    I have never said (yet) Trump will be the nominee.   I have said it seems increasingly likely he will be the nominee.  I still think so and nothing in your comment alters my opinion of that.

    I have said, and will again for the record, Carson will not be the nominee.

    Parent

    Who Knows... (none / 0) (#49)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:51:27 AM EST
    ...but if he keeps up what he has been doing the past two weeks, acting like a candidate, he will not get it.  That is my prediction anyways, which I would add, I am probably less right than a coin on these matters.

    I said up and down Trump was a joke, and while true it was in the context of being a legitimate candidate, which he clearly is.

    I know you don't watch football, but I am just Bradshaw trying to catch up to JB on prediction count.

    Parent

    Well. (none / 0) (#61)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:25:36 AM EST
    The news is rife with the reported onslaught from the establishment that is imminent for Donald.  I might matter I guess.   Personally I suspect that in this case at least Donald is like Hillary in being very fortunate in his enemies.  And a massive attack from the establishment  is just what he wants.

    And I disagree about his transformation to a more serious candidate.  I think he has done it pretty well.   Hence the open and loud establishment freak out.

    With the possible exception of the Iowa tweet on the subject of Carson leading in the polls.   Which you have to admit was pretty funny and he cleaned it up pretty fast and blamed an intern.  

    The tweet for those who missed it-

    "@mygreenhippo#BenCarson is now leading in the #polls in #Iowa. Too much#Monsanto in the #corn creates issues in the brain? #Trump#GOP"
    -- Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 22, 2015



    Parent
    Dude (none / 0) (#62)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 12:12:31 PM EST
    I hate to tell you but the last thing the GOP base wants to see is another black man in the White House. There are a lot of evangelicals in places like SC but they're not going to be voting for Ben Carson. Iowa is probably the pinnacle of Carson's existence in the primary. The evangelicals in Iowa probably do not care about the color of his skin unlike the evangelicals in the rest of the country. I'm telling you it's going to be a problem for him by Super Tuesday.

    Parent
    They're gonna have to sacrifice something... (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 12:54:36 PM EST
    What Carson lacks in paleness, Trump lacks in jesus-ness...does the base sacrifice mayo or jesus when they pick their horse?

    This assumes not even the most gullible Bubba is buying Trump's recent attempts at appearing to be a bible man.

    Parent

    No sacrifice (5.00 / 2) (#66)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:07:59 PM EST
    They choose both and switch to Cruz down the road.

    Parent
    The Ivy League Canadian Hispanic? (none / 0) (#75)
    by kdog on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:42:04 PM EST
    That's as bad as being black or godless...maybe worse;)

    Parent
    Also the Reagan Redux... (5.00 / 1) (#79)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:59:51 PM EST
    ...GWB said, "I just don't like the guy."

    When Ted Cruz worked on George W. Bush's 2000 presidential campaign, Bush affectionately gave Cruz the nickname of "Theodore" because the young Texan was so serious. Now, President Bush has reportedly referred to Cruz as a guy he doesn't like.

    Politico first reported Monday that President Bush told donors supporting his brother Jeb that Cruz gets under his skin and will be formidable competitor in Texas and the south.

    "I just don't like the guy," Bush told donors according to Politico.

    LINK

    If they build an opportunistic clown will come.

    Parent

    Cruz--today--seems to be (none / 0) (#158)
    by christinep on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 11:30:11 AM EST
    a likely recipient of Trump & Carson supporters if they fall.  Certainly, that is the plan he almost telecasts.  He is quite the shrewd demagogue. Yet....

    The reason for my "yet" is that the big-boy players might prefer malleability--malleability of the type pretzel Rubio is trying to patent. Even in this rather unpredictable Repub primary campaign season, I think that a possible hint about shifts of big-$$$$ & big-time Repubs could initially be seen after the Bush family session this weekend (esp with BOTH parents expected to be there.) Is that meeting primarily about a reframing of the campaign or is it more of a decision-steps time.  IF.  If the family-time is about we-must-do-x-or-it-may-be-over, then my inclination would be to watch--to watch if the old establishment can hold it together.  OTOH, if the meeting ends on a disquieting note, I'm guessing (again) that Rubio will be the benefactor in terms of establishment influence and $$$$.

    Bottom line: With Donald Trump's outcome still unknown until, at least, NH and South Carolina ... I'd argue that a likely last twosome in terms of contenders would be Cruz and Rubio.  A special caution: So far, Rubio has a tendency over the years not to live up to expectations ... his tendency to waffle/slither tends to make him a less formidable candidate than his curriculum vitae and young man appearance would suggest.

    Parent

    Yeah (none / 0) (#70)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:19:05 PM EST
    Trump should quit being bible man. It's not working. However, you betcha they'll wipe out Jesus for the mammon. Besides Trump was doing better with evangelicals before he started trying to be bible man.

    Parent
    I Understand This... (none / 0) (#64)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 12:50:46 PM EST
    ...it's why he is the easiest to beat.

    Parent
    JB Are You An Aggie ? (none / 0) (#29)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:11:14 AM EST
    That certainly would equate as you mention of moving to Austin in another thread.

    I am (5.00 / 1) (#35)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 09:42:58 AM EST
    Graduate school '90-'93.

    Then I lived in San Antonio for a year and a half, Conroe for 9 months, and Austin (well, technically Round Rock) for about a year.

    Then I moved back home to Michigan for a while, with the only Texas saying somehow added to my vocabulary, "might coulda," as in, "I might coulda stopped at the store while I was out". (I got rid of THAT as fast as possible!)

    Parent

    Funny I Can Relate... (none / 0) (#43)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:08:40 AM EST
    ...and I know Round Rock as I have a couple friends there.  But back the post, so I would say yes, you definitely know about living in the lions den as an Aggie in Austin.

    Here, at work, there are a zillion Aggies, so much so that our last office had grey carpet with a about 2ft wide maroon strip on the borders.  I didn't care, if anything I thought it was pretty funny to see the Burnt Orange folks get all bent out of shape about it.

    The two words I need to get rid of are y'all and ain't.

    Parent

    Y'all (5.00 / 2) (#44)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:12:07 AM EST
    Is so much better than "youse guys".

    And maroon is a nicer color than burnt orange.

    And Reveille is a way cooler mascot than Bevo (may he rest in peace).

    :)

    Parent

    My Neigbor, Whose Son is Going to (none / 0) (#48)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:43:39 AM EST
    ...A&M next year was telling me about the cash he had to folk over for indoctrination camp over the summer.  He was also telling me some of the things they learned, like as a freshman he couldn't do certain things at the games everyone else can.  I forget the particulars, but I remember laughing.

    My mom says that all the time, she has a bunch of them, but I always get called out on 'stop & go lights' people literally look at me like I an nuts, of course, and 'ya know', and apparently the w drags out longer than most would like.

    Parent

    Ha ha! (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 10:57:55 AM EST
    Yeah. When I was in school there, I can't tell you how many times people told me, "But you don't talk like a Yankee!". (Um, thanks, I guess).  

    My favorite was the guy in class who told me that I didn't talk like I was from the Northeast.  When I told him that I was from the Midwest, he kind of half-argued with me and said that Michigan wasn't in the Midwest - that was Kansas, Nebraska, and such.  (Um, no, I know where I'm from and Michigan is in the Upper Midwest, and no, I don't talk like a Northeasterner - I don't have a Philly, Jersey, Brooklyn, or Boston accent!). Then I pointed out that people on TV like newscasters, get sent to school to sound like Midwesterners, because no one wants a surfer dude, or Soprano or "the cah was stolen from the yahhhd" on their TV news.

    Parent

    Oh man (none / 0) (#59)
    by CST on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 11:19:42 AM EST
    I got in arguments with people who called Pittsburgh the Northeast, because culturally it's more like the midwest, IMO.  It was always with the people from California.  But cripes - Michigan?!

    That's also around the time I learned that only people from the northeast know the correct term for sneaker.  No, rest of the country, it's not a tennis shoe unless you're playing tennis in it.

    I actually found the accent thing to be more subtle in most places.  The only place I truly got called out for my "accent" (generic Northeast, not Boston) was in the southeast.  By the time we hit Texas - we could've been people who'd recently moved from California for all they knew.

    And don't get me started on the whole "Yankee" thing.  I'm a Red Sox fan!

    Parent

    Everyone Thought I was Canadian... (none / 0) (#68)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:10:40 PM EST
    ...which was ridiculous, I used to actually say we talk like Dan Rather.  Well that came to an erupt end when several friends came down after I had been here for about 5 years, I was like these MF'ers are straight out Fargo, which for obviously reasons, was a movie I had a great disdain for.

    But it was true, and I had to concede that my accent was a lot thicker than I believed it to be.

    Parent

    I have (none / 0) (#71)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:21:26 PM EST
    family in Minnesota and tehy sound just like that movie Fargo. My aunt was so insulted and said I do not but yes, everybody else thinks that she does sound like the characters in that movie. My husband kind of was feh on the movie but I loved it because it reminded me of people I knew.

    Parent
    You really notice your own accent (none / 0) (#72)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:29:25 PM EST
    When you go back home and listen to everyone else.

    And CST, we called them sneakers (and tennis shoes too).  Maybe because my parents were from western PA.....

    Parent

    The western PA people (none / 0) (#74)
    by CST on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:33:16 PM EST
    told me I was wrong too, but glad to know you're on the right side!

    For me it was wicked.  I used to say it all the time, then I moved to Pittsburgh and had it teased out of me.  Every time I went home I thought - man, people here say wicked a lot, and inevitably I'd start saying it again too, but I still don't say it as much as I used to.  That's also when I learned that yes, Boston drivers really are the worst, it's not just a thing people say.

    Parent

    Boston drivers (none / 0) (#110)
    by Zorba on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:43:36 PM EST
    are definitely among the worst in the country.
    We have lived there, in New York, and in many other regions.  And I have spent a lot of time in Chicago, as well.
    We drive in the Washington DC area, and Baltimore too, very often.
    Bostonians are really obnoxious drivers.  And they may have the highest "honk per driver" rate of anywhere.
    I have not spent much time in the Los Angeles region, though, so I cannot speak about them.

    Parent
    Are you sure that Boston (5.00 / 1) (#147)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:14:42 AM EST
    beats Chicago in the "honk per driver rate?"

    I've never been to Boston but I've driven in Chicago. Talk about rude, obnoxious drivers - they have to be in the top ten in U.S. for sure.

    Parent

    Total number of honks, Chicago (none / 0) (#189)
    by Zorba on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:25:14 PM EST
    is absolutely the worst.  But it's much, much larger than Boston.  Chicago is over 4 times the size of Boston.
    I've driven in both, been a pedestrian in both, taken public transportation in both.
    Boston drivers are more prone to lay on the horn, IMHO.

    Parent
    Especially funny Scott (none / 0) (#80)
    by jbindc on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 02:08:45 PM EST
    Since Dan Rather is from Texas!

    Parent
    We are plagued with "fixin" (none / 0) (#102)
    by Militarytracy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:21:06 PM EST
    We are all fixin to do things around here. Even I have been caught fixin now. Tragic osmosis. When we first moved in I could barely understand what was being said around me.

    Parent
    If you had trouble understanding (5.00 / 1) (#104)
    by CoralGables on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:53:41 PM EST
    what was said in Alabama, be thankful you didn't move to Acadiana.

    Parent
    I love bad movie southern accents (5.00 / 1) (#106)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:04:04 PM EST
    Like "I will be there directly"

    As opposed to the correct dreckly

    Parent

    Rep.Lynn Westmoreland (R.GA) (5.00 / 1) (#107)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:17:36 PM EST
    spoke as if he had a mouthful of peaches.  He stated that he speaks slowly, but Mrs. Clinton said, having lived in Arkansas, she could understand him.   Guess he thought he could try, again, that Sam Erwin, folksy, deceptively dumb questioner, just speaking for "hisself."  But, there was no deception--he was dumb. And, it wasn't his accent that gave that away.

    Parent
    That shows (none / 0) (#108)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:32:48 PM EST
    you the extent of the stupidity of the GA GOP plus the national GOP. The stupidity of the GA GOP is that they haven't gotten rid of him. The stupidity of the national GOP is they actually put that moron on national TV. This is not the first time everybody in the country has laughed at Westmoreland. He was the one that got stumped by the 10 commandments question and the one that was actually sponsoring a bill to mandate the 10 commandments be put in front of every courthouse.

    Parent
    The Angina Monologues: (none / 0) (#73)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:30:17 PM EST
    If you liked yesterday's Benghazipalooza, youre going to love House Speaker John Boehner's appointment of Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) as chair the House Energy and Commerce Committee's "Select Investigative Panel on Manufactured Outrage over the Phony Planned Parenthood Scandal." He further appointed another eight Republicans (four women and four men) to the panel.

    May the Farce be with you.

    The only Republican I'm worried about right now (none / 0) (#76)
    by CST on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:44:02 PM EST
    Is Rubio.

    It used to be Rubio and Jeb, but Bush surprised us all with just how incompetent of a candidate he is and by making W. look like the smart one.

    I just hope the base isn't smart enough to go for the only electable candidate they have left.

    According to the NYT, the oddsmakers (none / 0) (#118)
    by oculus on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:09:12 PM EST
    favor Rubio.

    Parent
    Ferguson "Cover-Up" Documentary preview (none / 0) (#78)
    by McBain on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 01:54:27 PM EST
    link

    Unfortunately, this appears to be incredibly biased.  I wish someone would make an unbiased version that looks at all the evidence.

    The filmmaker blames right wing media for showing the video of Michael Brown robbing the convenience store.  However, I saw that video several times on CNN.    

    Not SUre Why You Keep Pushing... (5.00 / 2) (#83)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 02:54:49 PM EST
    ...CNN as some in the middle media outlet, it's Fox-Lite.  And for the record, that clip actually blames 'the media' and not 'right wing media', it's right there at the 0:49 mark.

    But here, I found some cops for you to defend:
     

    Three months after Florida police shot and killed a computer engineer walking with an unloaded air rifle, two of the officers involved received awards for bravery, even though the incident was still under investigation.

    Now their boss -- who stood next to them at the ceremony -- says those commendations were a mistake and plans to revise department rules.

    "The policy was violated," Broward County Sheriff Scott Israel told NBC News. "They should not have received the awards."

    Israel said he was not involved in the awards process until the evening of the semi-annual ceremony and he doesn't know who signed off on the awards -- because the paperwork was accidentally destroyed.


    LINK

    Parent
    Actually, for the record... (none / 0) (#97)
    by McBain on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:51:07 PM EST
    this HufPo article says...

    link "The 24/7 right wing media have constantly perpetuated these lies, and they were so well crafted that they tricked CNN and many other outlets into falsely reporting the issue over and over again."

    Still sounds ridiculous, but I might watch it.

    Parent

    The smart-alecky (none / 0) (#84)
    by KeysDan on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 02:59:07 PM EST
    Benghazi guy extraordinaire, and chairman of the House "Freedom Caucus" Rep. Jim Jordan (R.OH), and Paul Ryan are a marriage made in heaven. While Jordan is abrasive and Ryan is slick, the Freedom Caucus is getting a Speaker that it can come to love.

     And, there is a lot for Jordan and friends to love: Ryan wants to turn Medicare into a voucher system, cut Medicaid, undermine Social Security with privatization, and abolish corporate income, estate, and alternative minimum taxes.

     Ryan wants quality and quantity time with his family, but forget other families including those who want to eat, cutting food stamps and in opposition to family leave. And, Ryan and Jordan have a lot in common: ambitious demagogues uninterested in rational governance. Although, Jordan does seem more sincere.  

    You Forgot... (5.00 / 4) (#88)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:22:59 PM EST
    ...the part where Ryan used Social Security to go to college.

    LINK

    Parent

    Not that it Matters, But Chafee is Out (none / 0) (#85)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:17:50 PM EST
    LINK

    That is three, or 2 and a half, fewer opponents HRC had a week ago.  Bernie is literally, the last man standing.

    Say What ?

    Chafee ran a minimalist campaign, raising only $15,000 in the past fundraising period...



    Maybe (none / 0) (#87)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:22:28 PM EST
    O'Malley will start picking up some support from the Webb, Chafee and Biden voters.

    Parent
    Uggg, I Forgot About O'Malley (none / 0) (#89)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:24:23 PM EST
    Make that two men still standing.

    Parent
    Star Wars Fans... (none / 0) (#96)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 03:43:38 PM EST
    ...Looks like Russians are down with the force as well, or is it the dark side ?

    Anyways, in Odessa they turned a Lenin statue into a Darth Vader statue, it's pretty cool.

    LINK

    BTW, a parsec is a measurement of distance, not time.

    There's little or no nostalgia for either the former USSR or Russia in that country, save in the far eastern border regions. I'm actually rather surprised that Lenin's statue has remained in place there for as long as it has.

    Parent
    Yes. (5.00 / 2) (#109)
    by Zorba on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:37:24 PM EST
    Odessa is way south, on the Black Sea, and close to Moldova.
    The whole Ukrainian/Russian thing is complicated.
    I go to an Eastern Orthodox Church that has a whole lot of (traditionally) Orthodox ethnic groups attending.
    The divisions between the Ukrainian-background and the Russian-background people are particularly interesting.  The ones from eastern Ukraine, yes, they are more Russian-leaning, and the ones from other areas, very much not.
    (And then we have the Moldovans, who are very, very nervous about the Russian intrusion into the Ukraine, because they are worried that they might be next, if Putin has his way.)
    It's all very, as I said, interesting.  I stay out of those conversations.

    Parent
    Biff Based on Trump (none / 0) (#100)
    by ScottW714 on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:04:04 PM EST
    Back to the Future writer Bob Gale has revealed that the trilogy's villain Biff Tannen is based on Donald Trump, putting an end to fan speculation.
    LINK

    I had no idea, but the comb-overs are similar.

    Just filled up (none / 0) (#103)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 04:50:16 PM EST
    2.05 for unleaded

    I think we may be headed for the sacred <2

    What you are still paying so much (5.00 / 1) (#112)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:52:23 PM EST
    For gas?😃😃😃😃

    Parent
    Silly iPad hiccuped and posted (5.00 / 1) (#113)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:56:27 PM EST
    before I had finished.

    My last fill up was $1.78.

    It has gone up again but it has been under $2 several times in the last month.

    Parent

    No fair (none / 0) (#116)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 05:58:56 PM EST
    This is why we live in the sticks

    Parent
    Didn't check prices when I was out (none / 0) (#120)
    by MO Blue on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:18:47 PM EST
    and about today. According to cheap gas, the good places where smart shoppers purchase their gas were once again down to $1.79 - $1.80.


    Parent
    I don't live in the sticks (none / 0) (#140)
    by shoephone on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 12:12:45 AM EST
    I'm about two miles north of the Seattle city line and I paid a mere $2.07 a gallon this afternoon. The same Seattle that is the ridiculously overpriced, fastest growing city in the nation.

    Parent
    I just filled up at $1.87 in NJ (5.00 / 1) (#153)
    by Yman on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 09:03:33 AM EST
    A couple weeks ago, I filled up in interior Alaska at $3.69 gallon.

    Parent
    Jim says... (5.00 / 1) (#194)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 11:29:58 PM EST
    Thanks Obama! Best president evah!

    Parent
    Ever time I fill up I complain to the crazys (none / 0) (#200)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 25, 2015 at 07:29:35 AM EST
    About damn Obama and his 2 dollar a gallon gas.  It's killin me.  It's all us fault.

    (One of the major universally agreed to predictions here on his reelection was 5 dollar a gallon gas)

    Parent

    Okay. (none / 0) (#117)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:04:15 PM EST
    So now all the previous conspiracy theories have fallen flat we are back to Matt Drudge shopping conspiracy theories about Hillary's health. Since she coughed after talking for 11 hours yesterday apparently now is she is a cast member of the Walking Dead.

    I was going to comment (none / 0) (#119)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:12:03 PM EST
    About that last night.   It was so certain to be coming.

    I would love to see Ms Drudge talk for eleven hours without coughing.

    Hilariously desperate.  

    Parent

    It is (none / 0) (#121)
    by Ga6thDem on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:18:59 PM EST
    desperate. I just can't believe they are stupid enough to try to resurrect the walking dead conspiracy theory.

    Parent
    lol!~ (none / 0) (#127)
    by nycstray on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 07:15:39 PM EST
    I saw that on the 'trending' feed on FB. I was too afraid to click it though since it was kind enough to be identified as a Drudge link :P

    Parent
    And the reason she coughed (none / 0) (#146)
    by Nemi on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:07:12 AM EST
    wasn't even because of the long hours or anything, but simply because she got something in her throat. Been there, done that. Nothing serious, but damned annoying as your nose start running uncontrollably and your voice kind of disappears or sounds like you just inhaled helium. ;)

    Parent
    Speaker Ryan (none / 0) (#123)
    by CaptHowdy on Fri Oct 23, 2015 at 06:50:40 PM EST
    Says he will stick to the stupid politically destructive "rule" aptly named for a child molester.

    This ought to end really well. (none / 0) (#142)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 02:53:57 AM EST
    How terribly silly of the Portuguese people to believe that when they recently went to the polls, they were exercising their inherent right to self-governance:

    The Telegraph | October 23, 2015
    Eurozone crosses Rubicon as Portugal's anti-euro Left banned from power - "Portugal has entered dangerous political waters. For the first time since the creation of Europe's monetary union, a member state has taken the explicit step of forbidding eurosceptic parties from taking office on the grounds of national interest. Anibal Cavaco Silva, Portugal's constitutional president, has refused to appoint a Left-wing coalition government even though it secured an absolute majority in the Portuguese parliament and won a mandate to smash the austerity regime bequeathed by the EU-IMF Troika."

    When a sovereign people are denied their right to chart their own course, for fear that the technocrats at the European Central Bank in Brussels would not approve, then the Euro itself has become antithetical to the concepts of democracy and national autonomy.

    Oy.

    Watching last nights The Knick (none / 0) (#148)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:15:26 AM EST
    So great.  I did not know and just learned that in the early 1900s 98% of all cars were electric.

    What a great show.  Know what else I like.  No theme song to sit through before every episode.   What a great idea.

    Agreed. (none / 0) (#182)
    by KeysDan on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 06:04:43 PM EST
    It is a great show, on so many levels: the story line, casting, the historical renderings of medical/ hospital care, costuming and NYC scenes in 1901. The shoots are elegant.  Is that brown/white daguerreotype photography simulation?  

    Parent
    It is (none / 0) (#183)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 06:07:27 PM EST
    It's done in what's called "post".  They manipulate the images digitally.   It's what I used to do.   And yes it's beautiful.    Have you noticed they really do that to the exterior shots.

    Soderbergh.   Mans a genius.

    Parent

    Thanks, (none / 0) (#186)
    by KeysDan on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 06:36:38 PM EST
    The snow and street scenes are remarkable.  So often, in historical period pieces the sub-rosa, if not overt lesson is gee, how much has changed.  Or, sure glad we are not at that place.  There is that ,here, but, also, the lesson of much has not changed: for example, the profit basis for medical/hospital care, reliance on philanthropy for essentials,  attitudes on addiction, and short-sighted businessmen.  

    Parent
    I used to do the antique image (none / 0) (#202)
    by fishcamp on Sun Oct 25, 2015 at 09:08:04 AM EST
    to certain shots that were less than perfect, as in OOF (out of focus), to camouflage mistakes.

    Parent
    Bidens on 60 Minutes Sunday (none / 0) (#156)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 11:07:25 AM EST
    Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, will appear on CBS's "60 Minutes" on Sunday, days after the vice president he would not launch a 2016 White House bid, according to the network.

    It will be interesting to see what track he takes. Hopefully he will not persue his meme of what a great guy Cheney is and how post partisan politics is the way to go.

    President Obama (5.00 / 1) (#160)
    by KeysDan on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 12:13:59 PM EST
    "is very glad" Biden is not running for president and instead will devote his full energy to the president's agenda, said a WH spokesperson. "President Obama believes that the vice president will go down as one of the finest vice presidents this country has ever seen."

    Others are also very glad he is not running. Cheney is excluded, of course, from being among finest vice presidents, since he was only technically vice president anyhow--there was some other guy whose lips moved,but Cheney was never seen drinking  water when he did.

    Parent

    Cheney (none / 0) (#166)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 02:02:08 PM EST
    Only drinks blood

    Parent
    I know he never drinks.... (5.00 / 2) (#185)
    by desertswine on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 06:14:43 PM EST
    vine.

    Parent
    Not, (none / 0) (#190)
    by lentinel on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:27:19 PM EST
    "the finest", but "one of the finest".

    Pray tell who are the finalists among those vying for position of "the finest" among vice-presidents?

    And what, exactly, makes a "fine" vice president?

    And what, exactly, when it comes down to it, is a vice-president anyway? I don't believe that it is someone who runs the Senate - although I have heard that opinion expressed somewhere.

    Judging from recent history, it seems to me that it is someone who lurks in the background and emerges from time to time to announce support for administration policy or to emit gaffes.

    Parent

    Our country was very lucky ... (5.00 / 1) (#191)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 08:57:44 PM EST
    ... that Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Lyndon Johnson were the vice presidents waiting in the wings at the time William McKinley, Franklin Roosevelt and John Kennedy died in office.

    And one can only shudder at the thought of the thoroughly corrupt Spiro Agnew succeeding Richard Nixon in the Oval Office upon the latter's resignation in August 1974, rather than the honorable Gerald Ford.

    8 of our 44 presidents were vice presidents who were compelled to take over at midterm from the incumbent under exigent circumstances. That's why we have a vice president, and why the position is so very important.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    So, (none / 0) (#193)
    by lentinel on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 10:53:09 PM EST
    what do you think about Biden?

    Parent
    As I stated in a previous thread, ... (none / 0) (#198)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Oct 25, 2015 at 03:07:38 AM EST
    ... we Democrats owe Joe Biden a debt of gratitude for having thoroughly exposed the intellectual vacuity of now-prospective House Speaker-elect Paul Ryan in their vice presidential debate during the late 2012 presidential campaign.

    Biden's bravura performance, coming as it did in the immediate wake of President Obama's unexpected pratfall during his own first debate with Mitt Romney, blunted whatever momentum the GOP might've had at that point, and got the Obama campaign back on track during those crucial final weeks.

    He's been a good and loyal vice president. And now at age 74, it's time for him to depart the public stage both graciously and gracefully.

    Aloha.

    Parent

    Ok... (5.00 / 1) (#199)
    by lentinel on Sun Oct 25, 2015 at 06:54:38 AM EST
    So he's one of the" finest vice-presidents" because he was effective during the debate during the campaign of 2012.

    And ever since, he has been "good and loyal".

    OK. Effective during a debate in 2012. Good and loyal. Check.

    But, I don't think it is right to include, "at age 74", as a reason for welcoming his imminent departure from public life.

    There are many 74 year olds whose tenure in public life I welcome.
    Sanders is one of them.
    Biden is not.

    Parent

    DesMoines Register/Bloomberg poll, (none / 0) (#159)
    by KeysDan on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 11:56:01 AM EST
    that puts Carson 8 points ahead of Trump shows of the GOP likely caucus goers, (combining very attractive and mostly attractive positions of Carson): ACA is the worst thing since slavery (81%); Adolph Hitler would not have been as successful if the people had been armed (77%); No Muslim should be president (73%).  Having no foreign policy experience (42%) beats out having conducted fetal tissue research (31%)in the attractiveness  department.  

    No BTF diary re football. (none / 0) (#163)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 01:18:52 PM EST
    Maybe 'cause Michigan doesn't play today.

    A different topic? (5.00 / 1) (#165)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 01:56:20 PM EST
    Family is a little excited. Guess which cars are being fitted to later on become self driving?  Teslas! Josh is going to be the first family member to own one.

    Parent
    Whose $$$? (none / 0) (#170)
    by oculus on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 02:20:53 PM EST
    Model 3 (5.00 / 1) (#171)
    by CaptHowdy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 02:31:34 PM EST
    Mine (5.00 / 2) (#195)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 11:35:14 PM EST
    I made a deal with him. He's barely 4 ft tall, he is going to have to have a car outfitted like little people have. I can't even imagine what the HS insurance would be like, along with my night terrors. But all his friends are getting permits right now, it really sux to be Josh. I told him if he can be patient with having parents drive him around until he's 18, we will buy him a decent car properly outfitted.

    Parent
    I'm also looking forward (none / 0) (#172)
    by MO Blue on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 02:37:49 PM EST
    to self driving cars. To me getting in a car and going where I want to go - when I want to go - means independence.

    They will be a benefit to older folks as well as the disabled. No argument with kids about taking the keys away when they determine you should no longer be driving.


    Parent

    Me too (none / 0) (#196)
    by Militarytracy on Sat Oct 24, 2015 at 11:36:55 PM EST
    Anything that makes Josh's life safer and saner. He was interested in a Google car, but Tesla is safer.

    Parent
    Sequels (none / 0) (#203)
    by CaptHowdy on Sun Oct 25, 2015 at 10:13:41 AM EST
    Been a lot f bashing movie sequels lately.    Just wanted t mention I just saw Jurassic World on PPV and it was great.  IMO maybe the best Jurassic movie yet.   I never got around t seeng it n the theater and now I wish I had.

    Lots of great stuff.   Great performances.  Great effects, of course.  Great cameos, like Brad Bird and Jimmy Buffett.  
    We learned that the next one will most likely be about using genetically engineered dinosaurs as weapons in, most likely, the "war on terror".   That could be fertile ground for social commentary beyond ecology.

    We learned that Bryce Dallas Howard can run in heels.   I loved that part.  He makes a comment about her lasting 5 minutes in those ridiculous shoes early in the movie and she has them on in the last scene.  And she does some RUNNING.  Not fake movie running but flat out track star running close up on the shoes.  I loved that part.

    And there is Chris Pratt.  Nuff said there.

    et al (none / 0) (#204)
    by jimakaPPJ on Sun Oct 25, 2015 at 12:10:06 PM EST
    Fishcamp - Your mother, yes. You, know.

    Howdy - You can thank fracking for scaring OPEC into flooding the market. When enough US production has been shut down they'll double up and catch up.

    With all due respect, lentinel, ... (none / 0) (#205)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Oct 25, 2015 at 04:36:49 PM EST
    lentinel: "So he's one of the 'finest vice-presidents' because he was effective during the debate during the campaign of 2012. And ever since, he has been 'good and loyal'. OK. Effective during a debate in 2012. Good and loyal. Check. But, I don't think it is right to include, 'at age 74', as a reason for welcoming his imminent departure from public life."

    I never at any time said that Joe Biden was one of "the finest vice presidents." Nor did I ever say that Biden should retire because he's 74 years old. So, let's be perfectly clear, those are your words and not mine.

    Rather, given that Vice President Biden is in the final 15 months of his term, and further that he has no realistic prospects or options at this point for advancing his political career beyond the vice presidency, at 74 years of age he is obviously in the twilight of that career. Therefore, I said that "it's time for him to depart the public stage both graciously and gracefully."

    And BTW, prior to Biden's recent declaration that he would not be a candidate, Jeralyn herself broached the legitimate issue of his age which you falsely attributed to me, in an earlier post from last Monday. She was quite blunt and not at all diplomatic about it, and you might further recall that a certain someone also chimed in by calling the vice president a "malevolent relic."

    For whatever your reasons or rationale, you have this compulsion to be both contrary and argumentative, to the point where you often create your own strawmen to prove whatever you believe your point to be, as you did above. I think it's a shame that I should have had to come back here in order to clarify what otherwise should have been quite obvious to most anyone else.

    Whenever you deliberately misconstrue the words of other people in pursuit of your particular agenda, as you did with mine, you show yourself to be really no better than some of TL's resident right-wingers. And in that regard, you make me regret even the attempt on my part to engage you in a polite and respectful conversation.

    Aloha.