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By Big Tent Democrat, Section Off Topic
Posted on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 03:26:23 PM EST
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    Open Thread | 27 comments (27 topical)

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    That picture... (5.00 / 2) (#3)
    by desertswine on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 03:46:01 PM EST
    of Chris Mathews, over there to the right.

    It's really starting to creep me out.

    I just think (none / 0) (#15)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 04:53:04 PM EST
    that is so funny.  I looked at it yesterday and thought - eew - why is he here?  

    I just saw an interview Jon Stewart did with him for some crazy book and it was hilarious.  Mathews really came across like a dope. His whole face was different - more goofy than mean.

    Thanks for the chuckles.

    Parent

    I'm having bad weather luck (none / 0) (#1)
    by andgarden on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 03:28:46 PM EST
    I was in Miami two weeks ago and brought record lows. Today, Washington is a snow/sleet/rain mess. And of course this is more or less the south, so no one knows how to deal with it.

    so it (none / 0) (#8)
    by Jen M on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 04:18:02 PM EST
    YOUR fault!

    Tomorow morning will be better.

    Parent

    Rachael Maddow (none / 0) (#2)
    by athyrio on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 03:38:47 PM EST
    I love her and this comment she made on Keith Olbermann last night was right on.....Very succient...

    Every candidate from the beginning of time has run on the grounds that they're going to change something.  That's what they do, left right and center.  I mean, Bush has even admitted that were he running for a third term, he'd be running as the change candidate.  So the way you make it a compelling story is that you tell voters not just that you want to bring about change, but why you think change needs to happen and what needs to be changed in order for these problems that vex our nation to be brought around so that they are...so that we're in a better place.

    And I think that Obama and Clinton and Edwards are actually identifying what needs to be changed in three really different ways.  I think Hillary Clinton is saying the Republicans and Bush need to be out and Democrats need to be in.  I think John Edwards is saying the special interests and the lobbyists need to be out and the people need to be in, in the populist way.  And I think that Barack Obama is saying that he needs to be in  because he can transcend the differences across the political divide right now.  There's three very different visions of what you would do to the country if you had the reins.

    that is (none / 0) (#4)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 03:47:30 PM EST
    an interesting and positive way to look at it.

    Parent
    The Only Candidate Who Will Strengthen the Nation (none / 0) (#24)
    by alvaland on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 08:50:24 PM EST
    Voting for our president is an important matter and priviledge, I am disgusted by how many people frivoulously toss their vote to a candidate without considering the real issues and the candidates impact upon the union.  

    Anyone who votes based upon principles and in support of the US constitution  clearly sees that Mitt Romney is the only vialble candidate running for office.  See for yourself: http://www.2decide.com/table.htm

    Parent

    I dont know about viable (none / 0) (#25)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 09:11:18 PM EST
    but he sure is entertaining.

    Parent
    Wow. (none / 0) (#27)
    by DA in LA on Fri Jan 18, 2008 at 01:19:59 AM EST
    I didn't know people like this existed.

    Parent
    speaking of Nevada (none / 0) (#5)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 03:50:11 PM EST
    I have had to go to Las Vegas many times.  I have never enjoyed it.  The last time at least I thought I would get to see the white tigers...but I wasnt able to.  And now they are gone.  I amm very embittered.

    LV not for me (none / 0) (#6)
    by Jgarza on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 04:02:46 PM EST
    too artificial, bad urban design, and too expensive!

    Parent
    OMG! (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 04:06:14 PM EST
    we agree on something!!!!

    heehee

    Parent

    lol (none / 0) (#10)
    by Jgarza on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 04:34:46 PM EST
    and it has to be about something negative,
    Do you also have a distaste for Phoenix?

    Maybe we have similar city perspectives?

    Parent

    sadly (none / 0) (#11)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 04:39:17 PM EST
    I have enjoyed my visits to Arizona.  Hot as hades, but nice.

    Okay - so positive - cities you like?

    Parent

    lets see (none / 0) (#12)
    by Jgarza on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 04:43:26 PM EST
    New Orleans, DC, NYC, Austin (where i live), San Antonio (home town), I like all big California cities, even LA, Chicago is nice,

    Berlin is my fav. place ever though, it's like New York, in the 80's but safe.

    Parent

    You live in Austin? (none / 0) (#14)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 04:48:23 PM EST
    I only visted it once and I loved the people. Cool! Same with San Antonio.  

    I live in NY so I am prejudiced.

    Never been to New Orleans but my sister goes all the time - or used to - and will again.  Dc is ok - hard to get around - have family there too.  And LA is ok though I havent been there in a long time.  Mostly go to San Fran.

    Well pal, seems like we have something in common on cities we like.  That is great!  Perhaps we can find other common ground as time passes.

    Best -

    Parent

    always (none / 0) (#16)
    by Jgarza on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 04:54:32 PM EST


    Parent
    Las Vegas is (none / 0) (#19)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 05:45:28 PM EST
    one of my favorite places to visit. I've probably been there 50 times since the mid- 70's.  And, it has my favorite Mayor.

    Parent
    you must bump into (none / 0) (#20)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 05:59:33 PM EST
    a friend of mine who goes that often.  Loves the place.  Addicted.  

    Parent
    I've never been to Denver (none / 0) (#21)
    by Jgarza on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 06:06:27 PM EST
    sounds nice, I don't think this Texas boy could deal with the winter though.

    Parent
    DGA just made a deal with the studios (none / 0) (#9)
    by DA in LA on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 04:24:21 PM EST
    We writers are both worried and hopeful.  The DGA was put in a great position to make a great deal, but have a history of making very bad deals and undermining writers efforts.  

    We shall see...

    The DGA deal is bad (none / 0) (#13)
    by DA in LA on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 04:45:20 PM EST
    Hollywood is about to burn down.  Writers and directors killing each other in the streets.  Cars on fire.  Breaking windows.  Kicking dogs.  

    Or, people on message boards arguing.  The DGA deal just made things uglier.  

    Parent

    From the NYT: (none / 0) (#17)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 04:57:29 PM EST
    The accord achieves a breakthrough for union members by doubling compensation for television shows that are downloaded via the Internet, and raising by 80 percent the rate for movie downloads. In addition, directors -- for the first time -- will be compensated for advertising-supported streaming of shows.

    Over all, the agreement was designed to reflect the directors' belief, bolstered by an independent study of industry economics, that digital media will render the companies a negligible amount of revenue during the life of the contract, and will become significant only after 2010.

    Key provisions of the contract assure that its formulas governing new media will not become a precedent in the next negotiation, when the economic prospects from new delivery forms are expected to be much clearer. The deal, in effect, postpones a fight that writers are waging now.



    Parent
    Yeah, (none / 0) (#18)
    by DA in LA on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 05:33:06 PM EST
    That's exactly what they did in '88 and we ended up with the current DVD deal.

    This is why writers hate directors.  They are weak.

    Parent

    I love Jon Stewart (none / 0) (#22)
    by Judith on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 08:02:57 PM EST
    I always feel better after listen to him  - he is so intelligent and honest and he makes me laugh at all the garbage.  Thank goodness he still has high ratings - smart people are still listening to smart people.

    Hurrah!!!!

    Jon Stewart is not a nice man. (none / 0) (#23)
    by DA in LA on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 08:08:53 PM EST
    Treats his writing staff like garbage.  He attempted to fire the entire staff when they were unionizing.

    He's funny, but he's not a great guy.

    Parent

    Obama's commitment to health care efforts Illinois (none / 0) (#26)
    by Aaron on Thu Jan 17, 2008 at 10:06:21 PM EST
    Close Scrutiny of Obama's State Senate Record Shows His Commitment To Universal Health Care

    Medical History -- TNR


    [The result, according to John Bouman, director of the Shriver Center on Poverty Law, was two main compromises, including one allowing those newly eligible for Medicaid to opt for private insurance instead. It was a significant concession, since it gave the insurance industry a chance to compete for the new business. But it also undermined one of the best rhetorical arguments of critics, since it appropriated one of their favorite mantras: "choice." With that trope out of the way, Obama was able to fight for what he and the reformers thought mattered most: bringing insurance to a great many more people. And they won, prevailing over resistant conservatives. "He could not be accused of partisan aggression," says Bouman. "But he got his way."]

    [And the presence of insurance representatives on the task force may have actually bestowed it with additional legitimacy. Although those members would end up filing a dissent to the task force's final report--which was issued after Obama had moved on to the U.S. Senate--press attention focused on the majority recommendation. And that recommendation was just what many advocates hoped (and opponents feared) it would be: a comprehensive plan for universal coverage, financed and overseen by the state government. ]

    [The talent is to achieve consensus on a good compromise and then push it through." Indeed. And while Obama's history can't tell us whether, as president, he'd push hard enough, it can reassure us that he understands pushing is necessary. That should count for something, even to a wary liberal like me.]
    Open Thread | 27 comments (27 topical)

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