Tuesday, January 31
lyrics
Oh we up up up for the below show
Yea we down down here on the ground
Yea we up up up above low
Yea we up up up through the clouds
Yea we up
Yea we up
You’re gonna find a way
Find a way to be
You’ll get yourself a line with your old man
You’ll get it free
You’ll get it free
It’s the way now
Way to see
But it’s inside and out with no doubt
It’s in everything
It’s in everything
Oh we up up up for the below show
Yea we down down here on the ground
Yea we up up up above low
Yea we up up up through the clouds
Yea we up
Yea we up
Yea we up
Yea we up
You’re gonna find your way
Find your way to be
Yea you’ll get yourself a line with your spine
You’ll get it free
You’ll get it free
It’s the way now
Way to see
Bound in the moment it comes and it goes
It’s in everything
It’s in everything
We up up up for the below show
Yea we down down here on the ground
Yea we up up up above low
Yea we up up up in the clouds
Yea we up
Yea we up
Yea we up
Yea we up
Yea we up up up for the below show
Yea we down down here on the ground
Yea we up up up above low
Yea we up up up in the clouds
Yea we up up up for the below show
Yea we down down here on the ground
Yea we up up up above low
Yea we up up up in the clouds
Yea we up
Yea we up up up for the below show
Yea we down down here on the ground
Yea we up up up above low
Yea we up up up in the clouds
Yea we up
Yea we up
Yea we up
Yea we up
(audio is a teeny bit better on this one)
Phew...
The Hot flashes are now coming an hour apart. I am expecting me to deliver me the new me at any moment. Thank my goddess above! I can't imagine this going on for much longer...
I came across this piece about solar flares today. I'd like to say that I believe everything she has put forth, but due to my age and symptoms, I must conclude that all my "issues" are whimen changes. I did, however experience most of these symptoms back in the last solar cycle (I think it was '99). But we moved around then -- I had buyer's remorse big time -- so I blamed all my bodily aches and pains on that emotional mess.
Well,
What ye say. How are you all feeling?
How Recent Solar Flares Are Affecting Humans, by Heather Carlini
I came across this piece about solar flares today. I'd like to say that I believe everything she has put forth, but due to my age and symptoms, I must conclude that all my "issues" are whimen changes. I did, however experience most of these symptoms back in the last solar cycle (I think it was '99). But we moved around then -- I had buyer's remorse big time -- so I blamed all my bodily aches and pains on that emotional mess.
Well,
What ye say. How are you all feeling?
How Recent Solar Flares Are Affecting Humans, by Heather Carlini
Monday, January 30
Is it just me??
this came in my email today...
Dear Google user,
We're getting rid of over 60 different privacy policies across Google and replacing them with one that's a lot shorter and easier to read. Our new policy covers multiple products and features, reflecting our desire to create one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google.
We believe this stuff matters, so please take a few minutes to read our updated Privacy Policy and Terms of Service at http://www.google.com/policies. These changes will take effect on March 1, 2012.
Where's my red marker??? getting rid of? believe this stuff matters??? OH PulHEEEZZZE deliver me from evil right this very moment -- I really can't take this shit anymore.
Dear Google user,
We're getting rid of over 60 different privacy policies across Google and replacing them with one that's a lot shorter and easier to read. Our new policy covers multiple products and features, reflecting our desire to create one beautifully simple and intuitive experience across Google.
We believe this stuff matters, so please take a few minutes to read our updated Privacy Policy and Terms of Service at http://www.google.com/policies. These changes will take effect on March 1, 2012.
Where's my red marker??? getting rid of? believe this stuff matters??? OH PulHEEEZZZE deliver me from evil right this very moment -- I really can't take this shit anymore.
One policy, one Google experience
Easy to work across Google
Our new policy reflects a single product experience that does what you need, when you want it to. Whether you're reading an email that reminds you to schedule a family get-together or finding a favorite video that you want to share, we want to ensure you can move across Gmail, Calendar, Search, YouTube, or whatever your life calls for with ease.
Tailored for you
If you're signed into Google, we can do things like suggest search queries – or tailor your search results – based on the interests you've expressed in Google+, Gmail, and YouTube. We'll better understand which version of Pink or Jaguar you're searching for and get you those results faster.
Easy to share and collaborate
When you post or create a document online, you often want others to see and contribute. By remembering the contact information of the people you want to share with, we make it easy for you to share in any Google product or service with minimal clicks and errors.
Sunday, January 29
Castro Was Right
The Republican candidate field is down in sunny Florida, so you know red meat is going to be tossed out to the voters.
We know most of the flavors of red meat: anti-abortion sirloin, anti-tax filets, a lovely great slab of corporatist meat loaf.
For Florida, though, we have to have another strip of red meat tossed out to the usually quite conservative Cuban-Americans - the anti-Castro T-bone.
It's been a Republican mainstay in Florida to bash the hell out of Castro and predict the imminent collapse of the Communist government there. Oddly enough, we've heard that rhetoric ever since the Cuban Revolution back in 1959.
Which leads me to Fidel Castro.
Fidel has outlasted US Presidents from Eisenhower to GW Bush, and I think that his position as America's favorite bugaboo has given him a unique perspective on Presidential politics.
So in response to the usual rhetorical bashing, Fidel penned an editorial that the Cuban press duly transmitted. He stated in his editorial that "The selection of a Republican candidate for the presidency of this globalized and expansive empire is – and I mean this seriously – the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been."
I'll stress one line: " . . . the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been."
Like I said, he has an interesting perspective on matters, doesn't he?
Now, two days ago, GOP candidate Newt Gingrich opened his gaping maw to more than justify Fidel's statement.
In a statement to a group of Hispanic leaders here in Florida, Newt said, "So one of my goals would be to flood the island with enough cellphones that are video cameras that any act of oppression is filmed by 30 people, and they start posting them: this person will be on the list after the revolution. You watch the morale of the police force drop dramatically as they are no longer all powerful."
Got that? Flooding Cuba with cell phone cameras will topple the Cuban government.
If it confuses you, it also confused the hell out of the audience.
In the same article, we also have Mitt Romney talking to the same group. He sounded like he was wishing the Eighties were still here, as he gawped that Castro's Cuba and Chavez's Venezuela pose existential threats to the United States and cited possible influence by them upon Ecuador and Guatemala.
Things aren't going well for the GOP Clown Car, but you gave to agree:
Castro was right.
We know most of the flavors of red meat: anti-abortion sirloin, anti-tax filets, a lovely great slab of corporatist meat loaf.
For Florida, though, we have to have another strip of red meat tossed out to the usually quite conservative Cuban-Americans - the anti-Castro T-bone.
It's been a Republican mainstay in Florida to bash the hell out of Castro and predict the imminent collapse of the Communist government there. Oddly enough, we've heard that rhetoric ever since the Cuban Revolution back in 1959.
Which leads me to Fidel Castro.
Fidel has outlasted US Presidents from Eisenhower to GW Bush, and I think that his position as America's favorite bugaboo has given him a unique perspective on Presidential politics.
So in response to the usual rhetorical bashing, Fidel penned an editorial that the Cuban press duly transmitted. He stated in his editorial that "The selection of a Republican candidate for the presidency of this globalized and expansive empire is – and I mean this seriously – the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been."
I'll stress one line: " . . . the greatest competition of idiocy and ignorance that has ever been."
Like I said, he has an interesting perspective on matters, doesn't he?
Now, two days ago, GOP candidate Newt Gingrich opened his gaping maw to more than justify Fidel's statement.
In a statement to a group of Hispanic leaders here in Florida, Newt said, "So one of my goals would be to flood the island with enough cellphones that are video cameras that any act of oppression is filmed by 30 people, and they start posting them: this person will be on the list after the revolution. You watch the morale of the police force drop dramatically as they are no longer all powerful."
Got that? Flooding Cuba with cell phone cameras will topple the Cuban government.
If it confuses you, it also confused the hell out of the audience.
In the same article, we also have Mitt Romney talking to the same group. He sounded like he was wishing the Eighties were still here, as he gawped that Castro's Cuba and Chavez's Venezuela pose existential threats to the United States and cited possible influence by them upon Ecuador and Guatemala.
Things aren't going well for the GOP Clown Car, but you gave to agree:
Castro was right.
Saturday, January 28
Julian Assange Vs. Mark Zuckerberg
(h/t to MoMule for the Pic)
Everything You Need to Know About Facebook’s $100 Billion IPO
There are several reasons why a company typically goes public. In a recent paper by professors James Brau and Stanley Fawcett of Brigham Young University, the two outlined the usual motivations: To raise capital and to enrich the company’s founders and insiders. However, Facebook’s situation is a bit different. For Facebook, a better question might be “Why are they going public now as opposed to a couple of years ago?’”
Friday, January 27
On the Eve of the Florida Primary
Astronaut, Astro-Newt, or Astro-Nut? . . . Romney Pulls the Razor from His Sock . . . Wisdom from A Dead Roman . . . Who is Gingrich's Bagman?
Hoo boy, dear readers, it's been a fun-filled week.
We'll start with Wednesday, as bloated ethically-challenged philanderer Newton Gingrich sallied forth to speak to a friendly crowd of likely voters in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Cocoa and the rest of Brevard County has been a tad low of late ever since the Space Shuttle program ended.
But there's no need to fear! Newt Gingrich is here!
(Special No-Prize for picking out the arcane cultural reference.)
Newt roused the crowd by declaring that, by the end of his second term as President, there would be a base on the surface of the Moon, and to make it all the sweeter, it would be an American moon base.
Uh. Huh.
After screaming for the past few years that there's no money to repair decaying highways, bridge, dams, or other infrastructure (because that would increase the deficit, and as we all know, Deficits Are EVIL - unless there's a Republican in the White House), we're going to plunk down X amount of dollars - to build a base on the Moon.
Now, Man or Astroman didn't say that the Evil Gummint would fund the whole project, oh no. He'd merely gouge the NASA budget for another $2 billion in order to set up incentive prizes to lure private industry.
Jon Stewart had a bit of fun with the idea.
NASA's budget has been a favorite whipping boy. When money is need for some program or other, the Congress is all too ready to take an axe to the space program.
Newt making this statement is rather par for the course. He'll spin out a truly vast and sweeping promise in the hopes that people will be inspired. But he also framed it as a goal for the end of his second term.
I think he'd better concentrate on achieving his first term, first.
***
Speaking of which, Newt went into his second Florida debate still riding a bit of the wave of his South Carolina victory. Polling at the time showed him running more or less even with Mitt, so Romney had to retrieve the edge.
Now, way back in the mists of last October, I wondered when Romney was going to cut a bitch. Thursday night's debate was The Moment, because Romney went on an all-out attack against Gingrich.
Romney had hired Crazy-Eye Michele Bachmann's debate coach, and it showed as the well-coiffed 2x4 laced into Gingrich. Newt, for his part, looked a bit flabby and debate honors clearly went Mitt's way.
Except . . .
For some reason, Frothy Santorum started in on Romney and his health care plan for Massachusetts, comparing it to the Affordable Care Act and making Romney visibly irritated. Oh no! His carefully-crafted facade might have cracked, but the photo montage pretty much says it all.
Romney won the debate, according to the surveys done after the low-rent downer.
But Gingrich continues to rise in national polling, and the Romney camp is clearly hoping that a big win in the Sunshine State will turn that around.
We shall see Wednesday morning.
***
"Our forefathers complained, we complain, and our descendants will complain, that morals are corrupt, that wickedness holds sway, that men are sinking deeper and deeper into sinfulness, that the condition of mankind is going from bad to worse."
- Lucius Annaeus Seneca, 4 BC - 65 AD
***
Money in politics is as old as the Roman Republic, as making campaign promises is as old as Athenian democracy.
The election of 1800 between John Adams and Thomas Jefferson saw the introduction of attack ads into American political discourse.
But we're talking money here, thanks to the US Supreme Court's misguided and frankly stupid Citizens United decision. Money talks in America, and the more money you have, the louder you can speak.
This is a truism that Newt Gingrich knows in his bones, having been in the US House of Representatives before being run out of the place like a rabid ferret and then making a hint of mint in speaking fees, lobbying fees and book sales.
But he needed money in order to finance his campaign against Mitt Romney. Willard has a net worth estimated in the $250 million range, and can easily finance his run out of his own pocket. Gingrich needed a supporter who was willing to put his money where his mouth was.
Enter Sheldon Adelson. Casino magnate with a net worth at about $21.5 billion. Um, that's Billion, with a B.
Adelson and Gingrich share something in common - a deep and abiding support for Israel despite anything the Jewish State might do, while at the same time saying rather generalized but nonetheless hurtful things like the Palestinians are an invented people (and never mind the fact that Jews aren't exactly ethnically pure either - several thousand years will do that).
Adelson, when appealed to, said, "Sure!" Whereupon he scribbled out a check for $5 million that helped Gingrich run ads in South Carolina.
His wife helpfully supplied her butter and egg money - another $5 million, making them the two largest single donors to the Gingrich campaign (or, rather, to his PAC, and we all know that the campaign and the PAC have nothing to do with each other, huh yeah that's right that's the ticket nudge nudge wink wink say no more).
Taking for granted the pernicious consequences of the Supreme Court's decision, we can expect those with the most money - the Adelsons, the Trumps, the Gateses, etc. - to wield greater power and greater access and a greater voice in the electoral process.
What's a simple voter to do?
Can we PLEASE cancel prom this year?
I know, I know it's prom. How could I ask such a thing -- think such a thing?? (that was my first goog hit for "prom rite". Case Closed -- seems it's a hot essay topic too.)
Everything seems to be out of control on the home front. I need to pick my battles, but where's a mother to start these days? I have 3 children of voting age (whatever that means now) and none of them could make it on their own today without a struggle (I'm not going to go into how smart, beautiful or talented they are. Everyday I am amazed at how many smart, beautiful and talented kids there are out there). What's up with that? At 18 I had the usual grocery store job and could have easily moved out with a friend or 2 and started my life. My parents encouraged me to go to college, so I did. OK times have changed and that first option is pretty difficult to do now. The college route? Don't EVEN get me started. I can't even get a decent job now, so that I can pay for my kids to go off to college like my mother did for me. AND I HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE -- what's up with that? The only way they're going to college today is if they take the loans out (7.8%) or we take a home equity (4%). Since we don't have anymore equity, that leaves them with the only other option of 40K in debt at 7.8%. Since I refuse to fill out the Fffff FFFFFFafsa FFForm -- that's not an option either (I already know what I can "afford" to pay -- it's pretty easy to figure out. Hint: It's whatever is left after the bills are paid.)
I've decided that the best thing I can possibly do for them at this point is to empower them enough so that they have complete control of their lives (i.e., get out of my wallet now, babydoll).
In order to do this, I'm pulling the plug. I still pay for our family cell phone plan, so that will be an easy one -- no bloodshed -- I just have to call verizon and suspend their service. When they go out of the house (driving my 3 cars that I maintain & insure), they can take a cell phone with them "for emergencies" -- that's why we got them one in the first place. Remember after nine eleven? It seemed as though overnight every one had a cell phone. Now it's an iphone. The iphones aren't necessary if you can't afford to pay for it yourself. It's just a super duper high tech gadget -- I just hope there won't be too many withdrawal issues for them to deal with! I'm sure big pharma must have a medication out there if they need assistance.
Since I pay the cable teevee bill and have been threatening to blow up that corner of the room for years now -- why not? That's an easy one too!
I will keep the internet connection and the home telephone line. They all have lap tops (their HS graduation presents -- good thing we qualified for Apple Credit!) so they can still be connected through our wireless at home and at millions of other places in the world.
Since I can't control what they do "on-line", I will ask them to PLEASE consider a one month respite from facebook, twitter, tumbler, stumbler, bumbler -- whatever -- in order to reboot their lives. It seems they are all on overload. I'll tell them it's time to do some serious reflection -- step back and listen to the noise in your own brains for a while. When you're with your friends, try a serious conversation for a change -- see what happens. Bring a boom box so everyone can listen to the music. What have you got to lose?
How about we just cancel junior prom?
This rant was provoked by Charles Hugh Smith's recent post: The New American Divide
Everything seems to be out of control on the home front. I need to pick my battles, but where's a mother to start these days? I have 3 children of voting age (whatever that means now) and none of them could make it on their own today without a struggle (I'm not going to go into how smart, beautiful or talented they are. Everyday I am amazed at how many smart, beautiful and talented kids there are out there). What's up with that? At 18 I had the usual grocery store job and could have easily moved out with a friend or 2 and started my life. My parents encouraged me to go to college, so I did. OK times have changed and that first option is pretty difficult to do now. The college route? Don't EVEN get me started. I can't even get a decent job now, so that I can pay for my kids to go off to college like my mother did for me. AND I HAVE A COLLEGE DEGREE -- what's up with that? The only way they're going to college today is if they take the loans out (7.8%) or we take a home equity (4%). Since we don't have anymore equity, that leaves them with the only other option of 40K in debt at 7.8%. Since I refuse to fill out the Fffff FFFFFFafsa FFForm -- that's not an option either (I already know what I can "afford" to pay -- it's pretty easy to figure out. Hint: It's whatever is left after the bills are paid.)
I've decided that the best thing I can possibly do for them at this point is to empower them enough so that they have complete control of their lives (i.e., get out of my wallet now, babydoll).
In order to do this, I'm pulling the plug. I still pay for our family cell phone plan, so that will be an easy one -- no bloodshed -- I just have to call verizon and suspend their service. When they go out of the house (driving my 3 cars that I maintain & insure), they can take a cell phone with them "for emergencies" -- that's why we got them one in the first place. Remember after nine eleven? It seemed as though overnight every one had a cell phone. Now it's an iphone. The iphones aren't necessary if you can't afford to pay for it yourself. It's just a super duper high tech gadget -- I just hope there won't be too many withdrawal issues for them to deal with! I'm sure big pharma must have a medication out there if they need assistance.
Since I pay the cable teevee bill and have been threatening to blow up that corner of the room for years now -- why not? That's an easy one too!
I will keep the internet connection and the home telephone line. They all have lap tops (their HS graduation presents -- good thing we qualified for Apple Credit!) so they can still be connected through our wireless at home and at millions of other places in the world.
Since I can't control what they do "on-line", I will ask them to PLEASE consider a one month respite from facebook, twitter, tumbler, stumbler, bumbler -- whatever -- in order to reboot their lives. It seems they are all on overload. I'll tell them it's time to do some serious reflection -- step back and listen to the noise in your own brains for a while. When you're with your friends, try a serious conversation for a change -- see what happens. Bring a boom box so everyone can listen to the music. What have you got to lose?
How about we just cancel junior prom?
"Banish the word 'struggle' from your attitude and your vocabulary. All that we do now must be done in a sacred manner and in celebration. We are the ones we have been waiting for." — Hopi elders
This rant was provoked by Charles Hugh Smith's recent post: The New American Divide
Thursday, January 26
A friendly game of hockey - eh?
That must have been some pile-up!!
I think there is more to this story than meets the eye...
I think there is more to this story than meets the eye...
Wednesday, January 25
Tuesday, January 24
Jesus F.H. Christ!
Where the hell is the media on this! They had a field day covering Paterno.
PLEASE! I want any supposed, hypocritical, pretend Christian to hear their defense to this piece of shit's (Santorum's) ramblings. And if you support Santorum in any way for ANYTHING and you condemned Joe Paterno for his supposed "crime", then you are worse than anything he or Sandusky ever did.
Is this what all you demented Christians who support this shitty piece of anal dropping think?
From Firedoglake.com
PLEASE! I want any supposed, hypocritical, pretend Christian to hear their defense to this piece of shit's (Santorum's) ramblings. And if you support Santorum in any way for ANYTHING and you condemned Joe Paterno for his supposed "crime", then you are worse than anything he or Sandusky ever did.
Is this what all you demented Christians who support this shitty piece of anal dropping think?
From Firedoglake.com
Last Friday, CNN’s Piers Morgan asked Santorum to clarify his reasoning behind such a callous position. Insisting that “it’s not a matter of religious values,” Santorum explained that sexual assault victims should “accept this horribly created” pregnancy because it is “nevertheless a gift in a very broken way” and that, when it comes down to it, a victim just has “to make the best out of a bad situation“:
SANTORUM: Well, you can make the argument that if she doesn’t have this baby, if she kills her child, that that, too, could ruin her life. And this is not an easy choice. I understand that. As horrible as the way that that son or daughter and son was created, it still is her child. And whether she has that child or doesn’t, it will always be her child. And she will always know that. And so to embrace her and to love her and to support her and get her through this very difficult time, I’ve always, you know, I believe and I think the right approach is to accept this horribly created — in the sense of rape — but nevertheless a gift in a very broken way, the gift of human life, and accept what God has given to you. As you know, we have to, in lots of different aspects of our life. We have horrible things happen. I can’t think of anything more horrible. But, nevertheless, we have to make the best out of a bad situation.
Blondesense FIELD DAY!!!! China No Match for Dutch Plants as Philips Shavers Come Home...
via bloomberg.com
Royal Philips Electronics NV (PHIA) workers in the Dutch town of Drachten who expected to be fired were astonished when the site manager said the company was bringing production of its top-priced electric shavers home from China.
oh please DO have at it!
Royal Philips Electronics NV (PHIA) workers in the Dutch town of Drachten who expected to be fired were astonished when the site manager said the company was bringing production of its top-priced electric shavers home from China.
Rob Karsmakers, the factory manager who returned from four years working for Philips in Asia, told the baffled crowd that the consumer-electronics company would boost investment in Drachten, where it employs 2,000 staff.
“A product engineer in Shanghai now is just as expensive as in Drachten,” said Karsmakers, who has overseen the plant since 2009, in an interview. “But in China, the headcount turnover is high. That is not sustainable.” Philips, which also lights the Eiffel tower and the Olympic Stadium in Beijing, employs a total of 14,000 people in the Netherlands.
The nation, the fifth-largest economy in the euro region, has expanded its allure as a manufacturing powerhouse next to its dominant German neighbor. The Netherlands leads in areas as varied as paints and combat uniforms for the U.S. Army. Apple Inc. (AAPL) uses chips produced by machines from ASML Holding NV (ASML) for its iPhone and iPad, and TomTom NV (TOM2) help drivers navigate unfamiliar roads......
oh please DO have at it!
Sunday, January 22
South Carolina
Pray for Her Redemption ... Denatured Pig's 'Southern Strategy' Wins Where Civil War Started; Romney Faces Heavy Lifting in Florida; Dotty Grandpa Decides to Go Where He Might Have a Chance; Frothy Mixture Keeps Oozing - Pass the Moist Towelettes, Please
(First, allow me to make an historical digression.
Way back in the day, the Democrats held the Solid South, mainly as a reaction to the fact that the Republicans were in power when the Union trashed the unholy living fuck out of the Confederacy, and served them damned right, too. That all changed when the civil rights movement started up in the Fifties, and Southern Democratic anger hit a rolling boil when the 1965 Civil Rights Act was signed into law by a Democrat.
After watching third-party assholes like George Wallace feed off that anger, Richard Nixon had the idea of the 'Southern Strategy,' deliberately wooing those alienated Southern Democrats. He didn't do a very good job of it, but he laid the groundwork so he gets credit.
Enter Ronald Reagan, with his carefully-scripted talk about states' rights and welfare moms. Most of the so-called Reagan Democrats were those who never forgave Democrats like Truman, Kennedy and Johnson for letting the non-white folk think they were just as good as white. The Reagan Democrats became Republicans in the ensuing years.
Then they became, by and large, Tea Partiers. Go figure.
And thus endeth the lesson.)
However, through all the vicissitudes of recent history, two things have been abundantly clear.
These people are angry. Angry at what they perceive (such perception carefully nurtured by Fox News, the right-wing chattering classes, and conservative politicians) as a central government that doesn't care, angry at minorities sponging off them, and angry that they're paying too much in taxes.
Of course, their anger is misplaced. The Republican Caucus in Washington has done everything it can to obstruct and destroy any hope of improving America's economy, a stultifying 70% of all food stamp recipients are white, and taxes are at their lowest point since the Fifties.
So now we come to South Carolina, the Palmetto State.
The state where the Civil War began.
Willard 'Mitt!' Romney campaigned long and hard in South Carolina, netting the influential endorsement of that state's Governor. Historically, that endorsement indicated who would win the state's primary and convention delegates.
Unfortunately, Romney's not well-liked. He comes across as too stiff, polished and facile, and his assertions that he knows about the working class and poor despite his obvious wealth strikes a very tone-deaf note. Still, he enjoyed a comfortable lead over the rest of the field, including his closest rival, Newt Gingrich.
However, in two stunning debates, Gingrich stole a march on Romney. First, he blew the racist dog-whistle for all it was worth at Juan Williams, who is African-American. The debate audience lapped it up like kittens at a bowl of cream, with one later congratulating Newt for 'putting him in his place.'
The second debate started off with a bang, with Newt ripping thin strips off of CNN's John King for opening the debate with a question about his adultery. Now, you wouldn't think adultery would go down well with the highly moral Christian evangelicals in South Carolina, but while they may hate moral queasiness they hate the idea of the "liberal media elite" even more. Gingrich won that debate in the first two minutes.
Yesterday, South Carolina Republicans voted.
By the end of the night, Newt Gingrich was all like
While Mitt Romney was all like
The secessionists voted for Newt, who beat Romney 41% to 28%, with the rest of the vote going to the second-stringers.
Romney now faces an uphill climb in Florida and the rest of the primary states, with one GOP nabob opining last night that the contest may drag on into May.
Florida Governor Rick Scott, whose popularity is still down there with scabies mites, is now pondering who to endorse. I'm sure that whoever he'll endorse will be tempted to say, "Thanks but no thanks."
It's fast becoming a two-cornered race, but what of the other two corners?
Ron Paul's bypassing Florida, instead deciding to run in the four upcoming caucus states of Colorado, Minnesota, Maine and Nevada. He's going to hit the wall in Nevada, I think, because of all the Mormon money that'll slip across the border from neighboring Utah.
And Rich Santorum? What about him?
(First, allow me to make an historical digression.
Way back in the day, the Democrats held the Solid South, mainly as a reaction to the fact that the Republicans were in power when the Union trashed the unholy living fuck out of the Confederacy, and served them damned right, too. That all changed when the civil rights movement started up in the Fifties, and Southern Democratic anger hit a rolling boil when the 1965 Civil Rights Act was signed into law by a Democrat.
After watching third-party assholes like George Wallace feed off that anger, Richard Nixon had the idea of the 'Southern Strategy,' deliberately wooing those alienated Southern Democrats. He didn't do a very good job of it, but he laid the groundwork so he gets credit.
Enter Ronald Reagan, with his carefully-scripted talk about states' rights and welfare moms. Most of the so-called Reagan Democrats were those who never forgave Democrats like Truman, Kennedy and Johnson for letting the non-white folk think they were just as good as white. The Reagan Democrats became Republicans in the ensuing years.
Then they became, by and large, Tea Partiers. Go figure.
And thus endeth the lesson.)
However, through all the vicissitudes of recent history, two things have been abundantly clear.
These people are angry. Angry at what they perceive (such perception carefully nurtured by Fox News, the right-wing chattering classes, and conservative politicians) as a central government that doesn't care, angry at minorities sponging off them, and angry that they're paying too much in taxes.
Of course, their anger is misplaced. The Republican Caucus in Washington has done everything it can to obstruct and destroy any hope of improving America's economy, a stultifying 70% of all food stamp recipients are white, and taxes are at their lowest point since the Fifties.
So now we come to South Carolina, the Palmetto State.
The state where the Civil War began.
Willard 'Mitt!' Romney campaigned long and hard in South Carolina, netting the influential endorsement of that state's Governor. Historically, that endorsement indicated who would win the state's primary and convention delegates.
Unfortunately, Romney's not well-liked. He comes across as too stiff, polished and facile, and his assertions that he knows about the working class and poor despite his obvious wealth strikes a very tone-deaf note. Still, he enjoyed a comfortable lead over the rest of the field, including his closest rival, Newt Gingrich.
However, in two stunning debates, Gingrich stole a march on Romney. First, he blew the racist dog-whistle for all it was worth at Juan Williams, who is African-American. The debate audience lapped it up like kittens at a bowl of cream, with one later congratulating Newt for 'putting him in his place.'
The second debate started off with a bang, with Newt ripping thin strips off of CNN's John King for opening the debate with a question about his adultery. Now, you wouldn't think adultery would go down well with the highly moral Christian evangelicals in South Carolina, but while they may hate moral queasiness they hate the idea of the "liberal media elite" even more. Gingrich won that debate in the first two minutes.
Yesterday, South Carolina Republicans voted.
By the end of the night, Newt Gingrich was all like
While Mitt Romney was all like
The secessionists voted for Newt, who beat Romney 41% to 28%, with the rest of the vote going to the second-stringers.
Romney now faces an uphill climb in Florida and the rest of the primary states, with one GOP nabob opining last night that the contest may drag on into May.
Florida Governor Rick Scott, whose popularity is still down there with scabies mites, is now pondering who to endorse. I'm sure that whoever he'll endorse will be tempted to say, "Thanks but no thanks."
It's fast becoming a two-cornered race, but what of the other two corners?
Ron Paul's bypassing Florida, instead deciding to run in the four upcoming caucus states of Colorado, Minnesota, Maine and Nevada. He's going to hit the wall in Nevada, I think, because of all the Mormon money that'll slip across the border from neighboring Utah.
And Rich Santorum? What about him?
Saturday, January 21
Friday, January 20
Bringing Things to A Boil
The Idiot Goes Back to His Village; The Pig Finally Finds An Acorn; Hard Times for Journalism
Weep for the 2012 Republican Presidential Campaign.
Rick Perry has withdrawn from the race. A bit of a shame, really, as he was great comic relief. He didn't have a clue and didn't have a whelk's chance in a supernova of actually winning anything. His surge in the polls leading up to Iowa is easily explained when you realize that Perry was exactly what I said he was - a village idiot.
And he endorsed Newt Gingrich. not precisely what Newt may have wanted to hear, because now he's got this idiot hanging around his neck like an albatross.
Let him go back to Texas. Texas deserves him.
***
Last night the remaining Dwarfs showed up in South Carolina for yet another in an interminably long line of debates. Thank Hastur the swimsuit competition is over.
CNN and John King moderated it, and right out the gate King asked Gingrich about his second wife's interview with ABC, in which the lady alleged The Newt wanted an open marriage so he could adulterate at will.
Bad move, Johnny-Mop.
The look that came over Gingrich's face was part fury and part pure, unadulterated joy.
To quote what Huxley purportedly said at the Oxford Debate, "The Lord hath delivered him into mine hands!" He immediately jumped down King's throat and brought the audience to its feet, cheering as the pig excoriated the "liberal media."
To remind the folks playing along at home, the "liberal media" is only as liberal as the conservative corporations that own them allow them to be. Recall Keith Olbermann and his conflict with MSNBC (owned by General Electric).
But the crowd loved it, and after that the debate was Newt's to lose. According to Mark Halperin (looking a bit wiggy), Newt won the debate. The latest PPP poll indicates that Gingrich may actually win in South Carolina.
Mitt Romney was found to have certain weaknesses now, and one hopes that Obama's opposition research guys are taking notes. The Well-Coiffed Two-by-Four looked off-balance.
Which means the deal will go down in Florida, whose GOP delegate count is greater than Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina combined. Florida is the neutron bomb of primaries, causing candidates to vaporize or bleed in odd places.
It's a truism that every pig finds an acorn at least once. And Newton Gingrich may have found one. We need to wait and see how the voting goes in South Carolina.
***
John King.
A sad and sorry illustration of just how low CNN has fallen since it first scored big.
It was jokingly and woundingly named the 'Chicken Noodle Network' when it started out. I've called it the Cocksucker News Network at times, because they have started shamelessly pandering and generally lowering their standards in an effort to seize Fox's ratings. To that end, they've introduced all sorts of lights, bells and whistles to attract the Lowest Common Denominator (which is Fox's key demographic).
John, you need to hide your head in shame. Debates cover issues; you should have simply dove at Newt and demanded specifics. Asking him an out of the gate question about his serial monogamy enabled Gingrich to control the debate from then on.
You made it easy for The Degenerate Pig, John King.
Thanks a heap.
Thursday, January 19
Uh huh! Don't just listen to the words, pay attention to the hidden meaning.
From the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (a left leaning newspaper)
Before anyone gets too excited that Obama stopped the TransCanadian Pipeline from polluting the U.S., make sure you read between the lines. No where does he say he’s rejecting the Pipeline period - only that he need to re-evaluate it in more time…just like he did with NDAA. And we all know how he feels about that and how it turned out! Can you say More 2008 Election Bullshit Promises, Stupid American People?
Mr. Obama said a Feb. 21 deadline set by Congress as part of the two-month payroll tax-cut extension had made it impossible to do an adequate review of the project proposed by TransCanada, but he left open the door to the possibility that a new proposal might pass regulatory muster.
"This announcement is not a judgment on the merits of the pipeline, but the arbitrary nature of a deadline that prevented the State Department from gathering the information necessary to approve the project and protect the American people," Mr. Obama said in a statement.
"The DEADLINE made me do it!" Just the fraking DEADLINE! Not the protests or the scientists or environmentalists data. Just the "arbitrary nature" DEADLINE! Like it might have been ok if the Republicans gave him until, say, November 7th instead? We just might all forget by then and won't be able to do anything about it, either, after he's the once and future king.
Further, a couple of “VERY” Blue Dog DINOS from Western Pa. have shown their complete stupidity and partiality to Big Business over the concerns of the people and environment, not to mention that they either can't read, won't read or those bought-off staffers advising them won't...or they just are too concerned that they might lose contributions from that person known as Big Business!
(The ref to Tim Murphy being a “D” by the Washington Post is a Fox News gem…Timmy's a rabid Republican and Tea Bag supporter. But someone at the PG must be a closet conservative to let that slip by!)
Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said, "President Obama has been trying to campaign against a do-nothing Congress, but he is the one who is impeding job creation adn economic growth. ..."
Similarly, Pennsylvania Reps. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, Mark Critz, D-Johnstown, and Tim Murphy, D-Upper St. Clair, all decried the potential lost jobs [temporary jobs- my insert] and "immense implications to our country's domestic energy, economic and national security needs," as Mr. Critz put it. Mr. Murphy called upon Congress to overturn Mr. Obama's decision.[The U.S. is getting virtually NO oil from this Canadian Pipeline. It's all going to China and the Middle east.]
Here’s the interesting point that shows Altmire and Critz don’t give one damn about the people. And by the way, Canada, not TransCanada, has already sold that oil to China while they plan to pipe it dangerously through the U.S. and not across "beautiful" Canadian Provinces (America's amber waves of grain and purple mountain's majesty are for business to do with as it pleases!). That Canada has business relations with numerous American Companies and investment firms and banks, there’s no way Barry is going to let Canada and by extension those American Companies, lose that money. Nice!
Here's the curious part:
The jobs issue has been a major point of contention. Ads taken out by supporters say the pipeline would create 20,000 jobs. In fact, TransCanada's Mr. Girling has said Keystone XL would create 20,000 "job-years" -- including 13,000 for direct construction and 7,000 among supply manufacturers. But construction would last two years, and the actual number of construction workers employed each year would total only 6,500, Mr. Girling has said. Moreover, TransCanada has already spent $1.9 billion buying pipeline parts, which would reduce the number of supply chain jobs created in the future.
Just another delayed double entendre lie by Obama to add to his growing cache. You have to wonder how much more room there is in his political container for lies! Maybe he uses rar to compress it.
Before anyone gets too excited that Obama stopped the TransCanadian Pipeline from polluting the U.S., make sure you read between the lines. No where does he say he’s rejecting the Pipeline period - only that he need to re-evaluate it in more time…just like he did with NDAA. And we all know how he feels about that and how it turned out! Can you say More 2008 Election Bullshit Promises, Stupid American People?
Mr. Obama said a Feb. 21 deadline set by Congress as part of the two-month payroll tax-cut extension had made it impossible to do an adequate review of the project proposed by TransCanada, but he left open the door to the possibility that a new proposal might pass regulatory muster.
"This announcement is not a judgment on the merits of the pipeline, but the arbitrary nature of a deadline that prevented the State Department from gathering the information necessary to approve the project and protect the American people," Mr. Obama said in a statement.
"The DEADLINE made me do it!" Just the fraking DEADLINE! Not the protests or the scientists or environmentalists data. Just the "arbitrary nature" DEADLINE! Like it might have been ok if the Republicans gave him until, say, November 7th instead? We just might all forget by then and won't be able to do anything about it, either, after he's the once and future king.
Further, a couple of “VERY” Blue Dog DINOS from Western Pa. have shown their complete stupidity and partiality to Big Business over the concerns of the people and environment, not to mention that they either can't read, won't read or those bought-off staffers advising them won't...or they just are too concerned that they might lose contributions from that person known as Big Business!
(The ref to Tim Murphy being a “D” by the Washington Post is a Fox News gem…Timmy's a rabid Republican and Tea Bag supporter. But someone at the PG must be a closet conservative to let that slip by!)
Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said, "President Obama has been trying to campaign against a do-nothing Congress, but he is the one who is impeding job creation adn economic growth. ..."
Similarly, Pennsylvania Reps. Jason Altmire, D-McCandless, Mark Critz, D-Johnstown, and Tim Murphy, D-Upper St. Clair, all decried the potential lost jobs [temporary jobs- my insert] and "immense implications to our country's domestic energy, economic and national security needs," as Mr. Critz put it. Mr. Murphy called upon Congress to overturn Mr. Obama's decision.[The U.S. is getting virtually NO oil from this Canadian Pipeline. It's all going to China and the Middle east.]
Here’s the interesting point that shows Altmire and Critz don’t give one damn about the people. And by the way, Canada, not TransCanada, has already sold that oil to China while they plan to pipe it dangerously through the U.S. and not across "beautiful" Canadian Provinces (America's amber waves of grain and purple mountain's majesty are for business to do with as it pleases!). That Canada has business relations with numerous American Companies and investment firms and banks, there’s no way Barry is going to let Canada and by extension those American Companies, lose that money. Nice!
Here's the curious part:
The jobs issue has been a major point of contention. Ads taken out by supporters say the pipeline would create 20,000 jobs. In fact, TransCanada's Mr. Girling has said Keystone XL would create 20,000 "job-years" -- including 13,000 for direct construction and 7,000 among supply manufacturers. But construction would last two years, and the actual number of construction workers employed each year would total only 6,500, Mr. Girling has said. Moreover, TransCanada has already spent $1.9 billion buying pipeline parts, which would reduce the number of supply chain jobs created in the future.
Just another delayed double entendre lie by Obama to add to his growing cache. You have to wonder how much more room there is in his political container for lies! Maybe he uses rar to compress it.
Wednesday, January 18
Speak now, or FOREVER hold your tongue!
If you've never done any calling to your representative to complain about ANYTHING, this is the one thing you MUST do! If you value being able to access ANYTHING on the Internet, express yourself on the Net, Twitter, Facebook or a host of others, if you want to be able to read true news from sources other than U.S. "approved" sites, if you want to be able to even share photos of your family or vacation that JUST MIGHT have a background picture in it of a business, a magazine, a movie poster, a book, a newspaper or your neighbors name(yes, his/her name IS copyrighted by law), or literally any business (mainly) or individual who feels you've infringed on their turf, you MUST call your Representative and Senator and tell them you adamantly oppose the PIPA (Senate) and SOPA (House) bills.
In addition:
This will especially affect any of you who has enrolled your child in Internet dependent charter schools. Some curricula, information, videos or pictures they use may be banned. Not so with printed media and books...yet! So far public schools are currently safe (give the MPAA and RIAA time and they will remove books that might refer to a movie or song they own) but it's only a matter of time before those legal people they employ twist the laws to suit the greed of their masters.
Call your local Representative and Senator today and tell them to keep the Internet free and open.
Below is a list where you can get more information if you need.
It's from Bad Astronomy
- Google (!)
- reddit (they also have this page with many links to help you take action)
- Adam Savage at Popular Mechanics
- Forbes (though it’s clearly not correct to say SOPA is dead, and I no longer trust Obama will do as he says after signing the NDAA)
- Mashable
- Wil Wheaton
click to enlarge
Tuesday, January 17
Semper Fi?
It’s been a few days since we’ve learned once again the morals of some of our young “soldiers” are lacking. There’s no condoning the depraved actions of these young whose mentality is matched by their organ size.
Comments have run the gamut. Most said it was disgusting. Others that it would fuel the “enemy’s” hatred for Americans. Still others including an ignorant candidate along with a CNN POS so condone the action as to saying they would join in the absurdity.
Last night in South Carolina, assembled ignorant Wingunts (no typo) chose to cheer a morally bankrupt Rick perry as he defended those military degenerates who think they represent the Marines. Yeah, the guy who had his picture taken in shiny black boots, military uniform with brownish green shirt and lately a more recent photo with arm extended stiffly in questionable pose that reminds us of the approval of atrocious acts by the military of a supposedly by-gone era, defended an act sane individuals reject.
Let’s not forget where and who cheered this rabid, room temperature I.Q. Nationalist. They are the people who most dislike being stereotyped as rednecks, hillbillies, inbred illiterates and worse who certainly lived up to those images.
But throughout this there’s a related point I haven’t seen addressed. Rational, intelligent, compassionately understanding humans are upset over what the Marines did. Yet nowhere have those people or the media written or uttered more than a couple of dismissive words over the rendition and torture carried out by OUR Government of the United States and its shadowy legions of ilk on alleged prisoners of war.
So, which is worse, desecration of corpses or torture of live humans? Yet U.S. rendition and torture continues while those in power who allow, approve and ignore those atrocities sanctimoniously condemn the actions of these Marines. Is this what Marines are taught in today’s military, and by whose orders? Do we expect more from Presidents, Senators, Congressmen and a Military who wantonly treat human beings as their own chattel to do with as they please for reasons only they decide are appropriate? If so, can and should we expect similar treatment of our own people, how soon and for what trumped up reasons?
I used to think there were limits to this and recent administration’s callousness and hypocrisy. I was wrong.
Comments have run the gamut. Most said it was disgusting. Others that it would fuel the “enemy’s” hatred for Americans. Still others including an ignorant candidate along with a CNN POS so condone the action as to saying they would join in the absurdity.
Last night in South Carolina, assembled ignorant Wingunts (no typo) chose to cheer a morally bankrupt Rick perry as he defended those military degenerates who think they represent the Marines. Yeah, the guy who had his picture taken in shiny black boots, military uniform with brownish green shirt and lately a more recent photo with arm extended stiffly in questionable pose that reminds us of the approval of atrocious acts by the military of a supposedly by-gone era, defended an act sane individuals reject.
Let’s not forget where and who cheered this rabid, room temperature I.Q. Nationalist. They are the people who most dislike being stereotyped as rednecks, hillbillies, inbred illiterates and worse who certainly lived up to those images.
But throughout this there’s a related point I haven’t seen addressed. Rational, intelligent, compassionately understanding humans are upset over what the Marines did. Yet nowhere have those people or the media written or uttered more than a couple of dismissive words over the rendition and torture carried out by OUR Government of the United States and its shadowy legions of ilk on alleged prisoners of war.
So, which is worse, desecration of corpses or torture of live humans? Yet U.S. rendition and torture continues while those in power who allow, approve and ignore those atrocities sanctimoniously condemn the actions of these Marines. Is this what Marines are taught in today’s military, and by whose orders? Do we expect more from Presidents, Senators, Congressmen and a Military who wantonly treat human beings as their own chattel to do with as they please for reasons only they decide are appropriate? If so, can and should we expect similar treatment of our own people, how soon and for what trumped up reasons?
I used to think there were limits to this and recent administration’s callousness and hypocrisy. I was wrong.
Monday, January 16
The Boring Guy Bows Out; Treachery Among the Hypocrites
There is no joy in Mudville today, as the mighty juggernaut that was the Jon Huntsman Presidential campaign finally ground to a halt. The various webmeisters started yanking every anti-Romney video and screed available as the former Governor of Utah bent over, revealing his Goatse of Concession ...
... and endorsed Mitt Romney for President.
In a way, Huntsman's departure is a sad one. Unlike the rest of the Losers and Bums on the hustings, Huntsman was pro-science and actually sounded reasonably sane most of the time. Unfortunately, these are qualities sorely lacking in the rest of the GOP candidate field.
Now, Huntsman had previously said many unkind things about The Mitt:
"... perfectly lubricated weather vane on the important issues of the day ..."
" been missing in action in terms of showing any kind of leadership ...”
"There’s a question whether he’s running for the White House or the Waffle House.”
One wonders what he expects to get from Romney if he wins.
We have to be fair here. Huntsman really never had a chance, as Mister Inevitable wielded far too much money - and therefore far too much power in terms of vote acquisition. Huntsman lagged behind everyone, managing a feeble third behind Ron Paul in New Hampshire.
Even in South Carolina, he could only manage five percent - which put him behind Stephen Colbert. Double irony points for that.
... and endorsed Mitt Romney for President.
In a way, Huntsman's departure is a sad one. Unlike the rest of the Losers and Bums on the hustings, Huntsman was pro-science and actually sounded reasonably sane most of the time. Unfortunately, these are qualities sorely lacking in the rest of the GOP candidate field.
Now, Huntsman had previously said many unkind things about The Mitt:
"... perfectly lubricated weather vane on the important issues of the day ..."
" been missing in action in terms of showing any kind of leadership ...”
"There’s a question whether he’s running for the White House or the Waffle House.”
One wonders what he expects to get from Romney if he wins.
We have to be fair here. Huntsman really never had a chance, as Mister Inevitable wielded far too much money - and therefore far too much power in terms of vote acquisition. Huntsman lagged behind everyone, managing a feeble third behind Ron Paul in New Hampshire.
Even in South Carolina, he could only manage five percent - which put him behind Stephen Colbert. Double irony points for that.
*****
Speaking of South Carolina, the Battle of the Not-Romneys rages on unabated in the days leading to the January 21st primary. Ron Paul seems to have the lunatic vote sewn up, leaving the withered rump of the Tea Party and the Whacko Jesus Faction to be fought over by Newton Gingrich and Rick Santorum.
One hundred fifty whackos met on a ranch in Texas over the weekend to quibble about who was the righteousier-than-Romney. They selected Rick Frothy Mix as Their Guy.
Then things took a turn for the silly.
The Protestants are complaining that they were fooled into going home after the second ballot so that the Catholics could stuff the ballot box in favor of Santorum, who is Catholic. The Protestants' guy is Gingrich, who's Catholic as well but not so you'd notice, considering his Mormon attitude toward wedlock.
Not that any of this foofaraw matters a whit. Mittens polls higher than Lunatic, Degenerate and Closet-Case combined in South Carolina, and looks to be given the coveted Fidel Castro Suffering All The Way To Havana Award when Florida votes on January 31st.
Despite the GOP's slutty flirtations with all of the Not-Romneys, Mitt looks as if the race is his to lose.
And the only way that can happen is if, in true Old Politics fashion, he's caught in bed with a live boy or a dead girl.
Speaking of South Carolina, the Battle of the Not-Romneys rages on unabated in the days leading to the January 21st primary. Ron Paul seems to have the lunatic vote sewn up, leaving the withered rump of the Tea Party and the Whacko Jesus Faction to be fought over by Newton Gingrich and Rick Santorum.
One hundred fifty whackos met on a ranch in Texas over the weekend to quibble about who was the righteousier-than-Romney. They selected Rick Frothy Mix as Their Guy.
Then things took a turn for the silly.
The Protestants are complaining that they were fooled into going home after the second ballot so that the Catholics could stuff the ballot box in favor of Santorum, who is Catholic. The Protestants' guy is Gingrich, who's Catholic as well but not so you'd notice, considering his Mormon attitude toward wedlock.
Not that any of this foofaraw matters a whit. Mittens polls higher than Lunatic, Degenerate and Closet-Case combined in South Carolina, and looks to be given the coveted Fidel Castro Suffering All The Way To Havana Award when Florida votes on January 31st.
Despite the GOP's slutty flirtations with all of the Not-Romneys, Mitt looks as if the race is his to lose.
And the only way that can happen is if, in true Old Politics fashion, he's caught in bed with a live boy or a dead girl.
Sunday, January 15
Saturday, January 14
A Degenerate, A Hypocrite, An Idiot and A Boring Guy Walk Into A Courtroom ...
And walk out with sores on their rectums.
Republicans, you see, despise, loathe and hate judicial activists - judges who use their position to legislate from the bench. You heard it a lot on Fox News over the years. Whenever a judge struck down a law as unconstitutional, you could count on the conservatives and Republicans and their Brain Trust* to rear up on their hind legs and howl "Judicial Activist!"
Yes, Republicans really hate judicial activists.
Unless they want a ruling in their favor.
The Virginia GOP primary is March 6, and according to that state's election laws a candidate has to file petitions by a certain date in order to get on the ballot.
The deadline came and went, and four GOP candidates immediately cried "Foul!"
They had, you see, failed to get their petitions filed. No matter, you might say; they can simply run write-in campaigns. But not so fast; Virginia election law forbids write-ins for the primaries.
So, led by Rick Perry (the Idiot), Newton Gingrich (Degenerate), Rick Santorum (Hypocrite), and John Huntsman (the Boring Guy) all trooped into the federal court system.
In search of an activist judge.
Well, guess what?
They didn't find one.
The March 6th primary will have only two names on it - Mitt Romney and Ron Paul.
This ruling must make Gingrich's flabby little black heart swell with renewed hatred, as he lives in Virginia. He moved there from Georgia when he became a full-time lobbyist - er, historian.
I expect the Feeble Foursome will continue to try and get the ballot amended, so I need to lay in more popcorn.
You can't make this stuff up, folks.
Here's a GOOD idea for you to post, Arianna...from Charles Hugh Smith: As Centralized Systems Devolve, The Solution Is Localism
Charles Hugh Smith OF TWO MINDS: Depending on Central State/central bank borrowing and spending to prop up the Status Quo is a doomed strategy.
I think the thread between these three seemingly disparate stories is clearly visible. I am indebted to longtime correspondent Joel M. for sending me these articles:
A Dimly Flickering Light in a Darkened Downtown. An Ohio mill town's once-bustling main street is now a ghost town; people are desperate to sell their family heirlooms to one of the downtown's few remaining businesses, a vintage shop, to raise cash.
A Fight for Post Offices and Towns’ Souls. Even as the number of family farms rises for the first time in decades in the U.S., long-standing services to rural communities such as post offices and schools are being slashed.
With Work Scarce in Athens, Greeks Go Back to the Land. As Greece’s economy plunges and unemployment rises, many Greeks are fleeing to the countryside and looking to the nation’s rich agricultural past as a guide to the future.
The thread that connects these stories is the devolution of centralized concentrations of control and the power of localism to fill the void.
links are available over at OF TWO MINDS
P.S. You might want to read EVERYTHING he has written, when you have time.
wt?... I just went to check out the good news huffpo, clicked on front page US, and got this...
Jmj scare me half to death this early in the morning why don't you
I think the thread between these three seemingly disparate stories is clearly visible. I am indebted to longtime correspondent Joel M. for sending me these articles:
A Dimly Flickering Light in a Darkened Downtown. An Ohio mill town's once-bustling main street is now a ghost town; people are desperate to sell their family heirlooms to one of the downtown's few remaining businesses, a vintage shop, to raise cash.
A Fight for Post Offices and Towns’ Souls. Even as the number of family farms rises for the first time in decades in the U.S., long-standing services to rural communities such as post offices and schools are being slashed.
With Work Scarce in Athens, Greeks Go Back to the Land. As Greece’s economy plunges and unemployment rises, many Greeks are fleeing to the countryside and looking to the nation’s rich agricultural past as a guide to the future.
The thread that connects these stories is the devolution of centralized concentrations of control and the power of localism to fill the void.
links are available over at OF TWO MINDS
P.S. You might want to read EVERYTHING he has written, when you have time.
wt?... I just went to check out the good news huffpo, clicked on front page US, and got this...
Jmj scare me half to death this early in the morning why don't you
Friday, January 13
Big Effing Sale
by blondesense liz
Sadly the store changed the promotion since the story hit the internets
Sadly the store changed the promotion since the story hit the internets
Japanese Department Store May Want to Look Up the Word ‘Fucking’
"-There should be some cool English words on these signs.
-How about "Fuckin' Sale?"
-What's that mean?
-Fuckin' means, like, really good. So it's a really good sale.
-And there's no other meaning to "fuckin'? Nothing at all that might embarrass us on the internet? Remember what happened with our Save-a-Shit-Ton promotion…"
Current TV 1/12/12 Lizz Winstead on Warren Buffett’s challenge to members of Congress: Reduce U.S. debt through their own donations
Lovely Lizz Winstead speaks...
“The Daily Show” co-creator Lizz Winstead comments on a report from the Pew Research Center indicating that 66 percent of Americans think there are serious conflicts between the rich and poor in the United States. Winstead also analyzes Warren Buffett’s response to a GOP-led bill that would add a space on tax forms to help pay down the debt. Buffett says he’ll match all voluntary donations made by Republican members of Congress.
links to stories here at current tv
“The Daily Show” co-creator Lizz Winstead comments on a report from the Pew Research Center indicating that 66 percent of Americans think there are serious conflicts between the rich and poor in the United States. Winstead also analyzes Warren Buffett’s response to a GOP-led bill that would add a space on tax forms to help pay down the debt. Buffett says he’ll match all voluntary donations made by Republican members of Congress.
links to stories here at current tv
Thursday, January 12
Meanwhile, In Afghanistan
What?
I do hope you didn't forget we're still at war over there.
Well, the Taliban were allowed to establish an office in Qatar back in December so that the first steps could be taken toward formal peace talks between the Taliban, the Afghan government of Hamid Karzai, and the United States. Terms were being set up.
Unfortunately, you have to admit that this is not going to make the negotiations go smoothly:
It doesn't matter that the Taliban in the video are dead.
It doesn't matter that, as the Pentagon says, the Marines in question are no longer in Afghanistan.
It doesn't even matter that no one would have heard about this if it weren't on video.
What matters is that it was done at all.
What sort of twisted, atavistic, sadistic impulse was motivating these men? It is the sort of behavior one expects of barbarians, not the warriors we see voluntarily step forward from our population.
We have been in Afghanistan over ten years now. If this is what the war is turning our sons, daughter, brothers, sisters, mother and fathers into, we need to get them all out of there now.
And rehabituate them to civilized behavior, before it's too late.
I do hope you didn't forget we're still at war over there.
Well, the Taliban were allowed to establish an office in Qatar back in December so that the first steps could be taken toward formal peace talks between the Taliban, the Afghan government of Hamid Karzai, and the United States. Terms were being set up.
Unfortunately, you have to admit that this is not going to make the negotiations go smoothly:
It doesn't matter that the Taliban in the video are dead.
It doesn't matter that, as the Pentagon says, the Marines in question are no longer in Afghanistan.
It doesn't even matter that no one would have heard about this if it weren't on video.
What matters is that it was done at all.
What sort of twisted, atavistic, sadistic impulse was motivating these men? It is the sort of behavior one expects of barbarians, not the warriors we see voluntarily step forward from our population.
We have been in Afghanistan over ten years now. If this is what the war is turning our sons, daughter, brothers, sisters, mother and fathers into, we need to get them all out of there now.
And rehabituate them to civilized behavior, before it's too late.
The Crying Rooms...
Remember those? The ones in the back of the church come to my mind. I figured out early on that this is where you go if you were being "bad" in church -- if you couldn't sit still, couldn't stop talking, couldn't stop crying or SCREAMING -- your parent would whisk you down the aisle and straight into that see through smoky glass room before a blood vessel popped.
Well now, it appears that an elementary school around my neck of the woods have a few of what we now call 'scream rooms'
You all know how passionate I am about education, and what a huge advocate I am for teachers. All my issues lie with the "Central Office" (the status quo). Over the past 20 years I have pretty much been in one of my kids schools on a daily basis as a parent volunteer (room mother, etc..) so when I read this story, it really made me bounce off the walls. I started following it on the hartford courant Facebook blog yesterday, pretty much sitting on my hands the whole time -- remembering that if I added my comment/opinion, whatever -- there's my name and there's my completely unfiltered response:
"I'll be right down with some padding for the walls -- problem solved!" thought I'd piss too many people off though (like I should care?!)
Then I contemplated responding: "kinda like the crying room concept in the back of the church -- I'll be right down with a crew to take down one of the walls and put up a window" -- thought that would be too snarky (like I should care?!!)
Then after reading the few comments at the hartford courant link above, (especially by one michael brown):
"Fire Superintendent Michael Frechette for failing to maintain humane conditions in the school system. Fire every teacher that used these rooms and those that knew and failed to report it. It's complete BS that an issue isn't addressed until it hits the news. Congratulations Middletown, you're in the national news now for your treatment of the children under your care. Before the excuses start flying, let's make it clear that teachers in CT make above the national average for pay yet work several less months per year than the rest of us."fire the superintendent...fire the teachers"
I thought about replying to him with this link -- Are You Tired of Highly Paid Teachers?
I am so supportive of teachers because I wouldn't touch that job today for ten times their salary. Besides, they wouldn't hire me -- I would be a huge liability. I'd have the kid in the corner with a big dunce cap on.
You all know I also have A LOT OF ISSUES with parents who can't seem to do their half in providing the other half (the teacher) with a ready, willing and able child.
It's like those parents who brought their kids to church even though they weren't ready to sit still -- there lies the problem.
I hope they can come to some middle ground here in Middletown, CT.
Well now, it appears that an elementary school around my neck of the woods have a few of what we now call 'scream rooms'
You all know how passionate I am about education, and what a huge advocate I am for teachers. All my issues lie with the "Central Office" (the status quo). Over the past 20 years I have pretty much been in one of my kids schools on a daily basis as a parent volunteer (room mother, etc..) so when I read this story, it really made me bounce off the walls. I started following it on the hartford courant Facebook blog yesterday, pretty much sitting on my hands the whole time -- remembering that if I added my comment/opinion, whatever -- there's my name and there's my completely unfiltered response:
"I'll be right down with some padding for the walls -- problem solved!" thought I'd piss too many people off though (like I should care?!)
Then I contemplated responding: "kinda like the crying room concept in the back of the church -- I'll be right down with a crew to take down one of the walls and put up a window" -- thought that would be too snarky (like I should care?!!)
Then after reading the few comments at the hartford courant link above, (especially by one michael brown):
"Fire Superintendent Michael Frechette for failing to maintain humane conditions in the school system. Fire every teacher that used these rooms and those that knew and failed to report it. It's complete BS that an issue isn't addressed until it hits the news. Congratulations Middletown, you're in the national news now for your treatment of the children under your care. Before the excuses start flying, let's make it clear that teachers in CT make above the national average for pay yet work several less months per year than the rest of us."fire the superintendent...fire the teachers"
I thought about replying to him with this link -- Are You Tired of Highly Paid Teachers?
Teachers' hefty salaries are driving up taxes, and they only work 9 or10 months a year! It's time we put things in perspective and pay them for what they do - babysit!
We can get that for less than minimum wage.
That's right. Let's give them $3.00 an hour and only the hours they worked; not any of that silly planning time, or any time they spend before or after school. That would be $19.50 a day (7:45 to 3:00 PM with 45 min. off for lunch and plan-- that equals 6 1/2 hours).
Each parent should pay $19.50 a day for these teachers to baby-sit their children. Now how many students do they teach in a day...maybe 30? So that's $19.50 x 30 = $585.00 a day.
However, remember they only work 180 days a year!!! I am not going to pay them for any vacations.
LET'S SEE....That's $585 X 180= $105,300 per year. (Hold on! My calculator needs new batteries).......
I am so supportive of teachers because I wouldn't touch that job today for ten times their salary. Besides, they wouldn't hire me -- I would be a huge liability. I'd have the kid in the corner with a big dunce cap on.
You all know I also have A LOT OF ISSUES with parents who can't seem to do their half in providing the other half (the teacher) with a ready, willing and able child.
It's like those parents who brought their kids to church even though they weren't ready to sit still -- there lies the problem.
I hope they can come to some middle ground here in Middletown, CT.
Wednesday, January 11
Startling news about Rick Santorum's Italian Relatives
by blondesense liz
Funny but not that long ago I asked some of my conservative relatives who actually fought in Europe during WWII, why they support fascist GOP candidates. Naturally they told me that Obama is a socialist. Can't fight Faux News.
"...On the campaign trail, Santorum often touts his grandfather’s flight from Italy “to escape fascism,” but he has neglected to publicly mention their close ties with the Italian Communist Party. “Rick’s grandfather Pietro was a liberal man and he understood right away what was happening in Italy,” Mrs. Santorum told Oggi. “He was anti-fascist to the extreme, and the political climate in 1925 was stifling so he left for America. After a few years he returned to Italy with his wife and children, including Aldo, Rick’s father, who passed away late last year. It’s a shame he won’t have the joy to see his son’s success in his bid for the White House.” She goes on to explain how the family then became pillars of the Communist Party in Italy.The matriarch lauds her distant relative as a “masterpiece” of the family, whom she calls a man of high intelligence and integrity. “He would be a great president,” she told Oggi. “But if he wants to make it, he will have to soften some of his positions. To take a stand against homosexuality or to oppose divorce is harmful. Principles count, but in politics one must have the capacity to be open-minded.”
The Oggi piece also quotes an angry cousin who preferred to voice his dissent anonymously, remembering the time when high-ranking Communist Party members frequented the Santorum household in Riva del Garda. “There are Santorums who would roll over in their graves to hear [Rick’s] rhetoric,” he said."
Funny but not that long ago I asked some of my conservative relatives who actually fought in Europe during WWII, why they support fascist GOP candidates. Naturally they told me that Obama is a socialist. Can't fight Faux News.
New Hampshire
Well-Dressed 2x4 Wins with Less than Forty Percent; Dotty Grandpa comes in Second, Boring Guy Gets Third; Death Struggle Between Degenerate Troll and Horse-Faced Hypocrite for Fourth
Yes, the New Hampshire Presidential primary is over.
Mitt Romney won - but of course he had to; the Granite State was his backyard. If he lost in NH, he might as well go to Salt Lake City and hang up his Magic Mormon Underwear. But with 95% of the vote counted, he's only got 39.4%. Not a good showing.
Still, he's the first Republican since Gerald Ford to win both Iowa and New Hampshire, so that's got to count for something. We have to remember that Ford lost, though.
Ron Paul lived up to his supporter's faith in him as America's Blithering Grandfather and showed a strong second, about ten percentage points behind Romney.
John Huntsman posted third, and I believe one guy felt his speech was greeted with a decided lackluster amount of enthusiasm.
That left Newton Gingrich and Rick Santorum duking it out for the fourth-place position. That's not even a podium finish, guys, and only about 200 votes separate you two. Pathetic, even more than usual.
Rick Perry? You ask.
Do I have to?
::sigh:: Okay.
Perry got 1709 votes, managing a sick fifth (if we assume that The Newt and Frothy Mix are statistically tied at fourth). But like a scabies infection or a case of herpes, Perry refuses to go away.
On to South Carolina, and we see just how much damage the Palmetto State can inflict on Mitt Romney's doomed campaign.
Monday, January 9
Dah dah dee dah! Laugh-in looks at the news...
It was true then and it's even truer now!
You bet your Bippy!
Wednesday, January 4
Pyrrhic Victory for Romney in Iowa; Santorum Fluffers Come Out in Force
The Iowa Caucus is now history.
After too many debates to count and a mega-avalanche of ads and pontifications from various members of the chattering class, the voters finally had their say. Twenty-five convention delegates were up for grabs.
As of now, Willard Romney won - by eight votes - but didn't manage to break 25% of the electorate. It's not surprising; Mitt's been unable to break 25% for a year now. To win by only eight votes after spending about $156 per vote must be particularly painful.
Rick Santorum experienced a late surge, and started spending big up to the wire. In terms of percentages he finished equal to Romney, with an equal number of delegates allocated (eleven). At an estimated $21 per vote, he did rather well.
Ron Paul came away with three delegates, coming in third. He still thinks he has a chance, the poor deluded dope.
Newt Gingrich was fourth, getting no delegates and moving on to New Hampshire after a rather bitter and mean-spirited concession speech. He's made no bones about his loathing of Romney, although he also conceded he would "probably" vote for him in the general.
Rick Perry spent the most ($480) per vote, and only got 10% of the votes cast. He's gone back to Texas to "reassess" his campaign. Cain did the same, and hasn't been back.
Michele Bachmann got six thousand votes, and is still in the race (for now).
John Huntsman, tied with Buddy Roemer as the sanest of the GOP field, finished behind Bachmann. John, the Republicans don't want sane this cycle, my lad.
"No Preference" and "Other" beat out Cain and Roemer.
What was pretty gut-wrenching was watching MSNBC's Morning Joe and hearing the almost cloying chatter from Scarborough, et. al. about Santorum's victory speech. Unfortunately, Rick Frothy Mixture resonates with people who think social causes are the most important issues, when it's the economy, stupid.
So, onward to New Hampshire and Romney's back yard. We'll have to see if there's such a thing as Mitt-mentum.
After too many debates to count and a mega-avalanche of ads and pontifications from various members of the chattering class, the voters finally had their say. Twenty-five convention delegates were up for grabs.
As of now, Willard Romney won - by eight votes - but didn't manage to break 25% of the electorate. It's not surprising; Mitt's been unable to break 25% for a year now. To win by only eight votes after spending about $156 per vote must be particularly painful.
Rick Santorum experienced a late surge, and started spending big up to the wire. In terms of percentages he finished equal to Romney, with an equal number of delegates allocated (eleven). At an estimated $21 per vote, he did rather well.
Ron Paul came away with three delegates, coming in third. He still thinks he has a chance, the poor deluded dope.
Newt Gingrich was fourth, getting no delegates and moving on to New Hampshire after a rather bitter and mean-spirited concession speech. He's made no bones about his loathing of Romney, although he also conceded he would "probably" vote for him in the general.
Rick Perry spent the most ($480) per vote, and only got 10% of the votes cast. He's gone back to Texas to "reassess" his campaign. Cain did the same, and hasn't been back.
Michele Bachmann got six thousand votes, and is still in the race (for now).
John Huntsman, tied with Buddy Roemer as the sanest of the GOP field, finished behind Bachmann. John, the Republicans don't want sane this cycle, my lad.
"No Preference" and "Other" beat out Cain and Roemer.
What was pretty gut-wrenching was watching MSNBC's Morning Joe and hearing the almost cloying chatter from Scarborough, et. al. about Santorum's victory speech. Unfortunately, Rick Frothy Mixture resonates with people who think social causes are the most important issues, when it's the economy, stupid.
So, onward to New Hampshire and Romney's back yard. We'll have to see if there's such a thing as Mitt-mentum.
Monday, January 2
There are none who cannot see as those who willingly wish to be blind...
Barry feels really, really bad about signing the NDAA...honest!
Of course, if he really, really felt bad, he could have let the 10 days expire without his signature and it would have become law anyway. That way he might convince some 'bots he really, really was sorry. (It's called a pocket veto and the Senate and House would have to show THEY were the culprits!)
Of course, since Con-gress was adjourned, it would effectively be a real-life veto and supposedly our military wouldn't get paid ( nor would Haliburton, KLM etc. etc, ad infinitum!) And Con-gress would have to over-ride the pocket veto and make the hostage taking more public and that would look bad.
And the 'bots think that the walls would tumble to the ground if the military and contractors didn't get paid.
Funny how that really doesn't work. You see, those in service to this country really don't have to be paid at all. They just have to be supplied with ammo and food and fight when and where told. A lot of us never got a regular paycheck when payday rolled around because we were doing something else uncle wanted. And if that meant an extended excursion for 30 or 60 days or if a base was under fire for say, 77 days, the men didn't get paid! OMG! I bet those fighting for their lives were really worried about that paycheck being late! Ammo and supplies were dropped in but somehow the fools in charge never included our paychecks! Can you imagine that callousness?
And now we have Barry supporters worrying that some of our boys won't get paid in their air conditioned, internet and facebook, McDonalds provided undeclared war if he doesn't sign this month! The nerve! From Wonkette:
From the signing statement, via TalkingPointsMemo:
Ultimately, I decided to sign this bill not only because of the critically important services it provides for our forces and their families and the national security programs it authorizes, but also because the Congress revised provisions that otherwise would have jeopardized the safety, security, and liberty of the American people. Moving forward, my Administration will interpret and implement the provisions described below in a manner that best preserves the flexibility on which our safety depends and upholds the values on which this country was founded.Hahaha, he should have just written “SIGH” in the margin next to his signature, since all these other words basically mean nothing. HOW MUCH NOTHING, you ask? Here is newly-elected Barack Obama in 2009, promising not to support this exact kind of criminally insane nonsense:
“We must have clear, defensible and lawful standards for those who fall into this category,” said Obama, speaking of protracted detention. “We must have fair procedures so that we don’t make mistakes. We must have a thorough process of periodic review so that any prolonged detention is carefully evaluated and justified. . . . And so, going forward, my administration will work with Congress to develop an appropriate legal regime.”
But just give him some more time...another couple of Friedman Units and all will be well. And...and...and it's not all his fault. After all, he can't do a thing with Congress...just like Harry couldn't, Ike couldn't, JFK/LBJ, Nixon, St. Ronnie and George the First couldn't! And it would be so very presumptuous for him to try (Even if he said he wouldn't do it to get elected...one of those necessary little bitty white lies 'cause it's not really his fault he had to sign it)!
So, grin and bare it and hope that your neighbor doesn't turn you in as a Commie symp for not cutting your grass or playing your Dixie Chicks too loudly!
And We're Off And Running!
Welcome to 2012!
And ... we have the Iowa Caucus on Tuesday.
Shit.
Coupled with that, we also had a 7-magnitude earthquake hit Tokyo. No report of damage. There was also a 4-magnitude tremor two miles northwest of Youngstown, Ohio that may or may not have had anything to do with fracking.
I tried to augur the omens and portents, but screw it.
I'm hoping that the caucus goers at Iowa voting places are bringing moist towelettes and soap with them, just in case the santorum surge washes over them. A frothy mixture like that can be ... messy.
Bear in mind, also, that Iowa actually has a fairly lackluster record when it comes to picking the eventual nominee. Remember that they picked Huckabee in the last go-around, a Pat Robertson came second in 88 as I recall.
Bachmann's already forecasting a miracle. Ho, ho. I think the miracle will be whether her campaign staff can stop her from immolating herself when the returns come in.
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