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Saturday Reading and Open Thread

I finally replaced my 3 year old home desktop with a brand new Dell (Windows XP, not Vista)and I'm going to be busy transferring files and loading software most of the day. I set it up last night and happily nothing was DOA.

If you're online, here's an open thread and some reading recommendations.

  • On superdelegates, William Arnone, who wrote these excellent analyses of the key states in the Democratic race, has just sent me his newest analysis -- it's on superdelegates. He crunches the numbers, not just as to who's winning in the delegate, popular vote and SD race, but also which states are top-heavy on superdelegates. He also adds electoral votes into the mix and gives a concise, unbiased and in my view, accurate history of the superdelegates, their functions and their options. I've uploaded it here.

More below:

  • Grits for Breakfast on the successful use of the necessity defense in a Texas medical pot trial.
  • Sentencing Law and Policy reports 10 year old Jaycie Yaeger died one day after being allowed to see her imprisoned father. A deluge of e-mail,letters and phone calls from the public likely helped sway the warden's mind and allow the furlough. Background here.

Democratic race notes:

  • If you must read yet more about calls for Hillary to drop out, here's Taylor Marsh's answer at HuffPo. (Remember, no personal attacks in comments.)
  • James Carville explains his "Judas" remark about Bill Richardson. Shorter version: It's about loyalty. If Richardson didn't want to endorse Hillary, he should have stayed silent.
  • Hillary says she won't drop out. If you're a Hillary supporter, go on over and contribute to her 3 day fundraising drive to make $3 million by March 1. It will help keep the PA airwaves balanced by allowing her to advertise there as well. As of now, 19,000 online donors have kicked in about $1 million.

Again, this is an open thread, please be civil and respect the comment rules. I hope some of you will read the Arnone piece and let us know what you glean from it, I know Mr. Arnone will be interested in your comments.

< Who Wouldn't You Represent? | The Folly Of The Campaign To Get Clinton To Drop Out >
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  • Display: Sort:
    jeralyn, jeralyn, jeralyn... (5.00 / 3) (#1)
    by Turkana on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 11:50:59 AM EST
    michael dell was a bush pioneer..

    seems like everyone in Texas was (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by scribe on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:02:19 PM EST
    heh (5.00 / 1) (#8)
    by andgarden on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:08:02 PM EST
    Here, here! I buy at Costco (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:08:46 PM EST
    Yes, I buy Compaq's but at least I'm giving some profit to a blue company (Costco).

    This election, however, has really muted my rabid desire to support "blue".  Many of the Democrats (e.g. Pelosi, Dean) don't feel very "blue" to me.  I'm having a bit of an identify crisis about what is right and what is wrong.

    Call me crazy, but I think voting is important.

    Parent

    I can't fault Jeralyn for that (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by stillife on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:03:30 PM EST
    I always buy Dell, too.  It's the devil you know vs. the devil you don't know.  I know Apple is politically correct and everything, but I bought my daughter a Macbook for college and it's a real pain in the a** b/c of all the software incompatibilities.  

    Also, I've heard bad things about Vista.  I got my son a new Dell laptop a year or so ago (d***, my kids are expensive!) and he complains about how slow it is.  I'm so glad that when I got my current Dell laptop, I got it with XP rather than Vista.

    Parent

    i switched to mac (none / 0) (#72)
    by Turkana on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:21:54 PM EST
    but i still have pcs. stopped buying dells, though, years ago. my dad just bought a lenovo laptop, with xp. he seems to love it.

    Parent
    Smart of Jeralyn... (none / 0) (#112)
    by AmyinSC on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 04:39:57 PM EST
    To not get Vista.  I haven't been able to use my printer for over a year - no kidding, even with downloading the drivers and all of that crapola.  It is less than worthless, and has wasted a TON of my time - it was on my new Dell before anyone knew how many problems it was going to create.  Sheesh.

    Parent
    dell pc's (5.00 / 1) (#82)
    by cpinva on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:43:48 PM EST
    make lovely door stops! lol

    Parent
    Good choice on the XP. I have Vista and I (5.00 / 0) (#3)
    by Teresa on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 11:57:43 AM EST
    hate it.

    Thanks for the feedback (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by scribe on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:04:02 PM EST
    on the crappiness of Vista.

    I'll be getting a new 'puter in the near future - going to buy a laptop to complement the desktop which continues (after a bad, bad episode with defective anti-virus software last year) to provide good, solid service.  I was pretty sure on staying XP, but this is making me certain on that decision.

    Parent

    Add another one (none / 0) (#12)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:16:13 PM EST
    A good friend of mine just got a new Dell laptop with Vista and sent it back --she say it was slow as molasses.

    Parent
    Some of us are snobby Mac users. . . (5.00 / 1) (#9)
    by andgarden on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:08:24 PM EST
    Some of us are happy Linux users (5.00 / 1) (#32)
    by badger on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:41:55 PM EST
    and have been for about 11 years.


    Parent
    Linux also (5.00 / 1) (#102)
    by Molly Pitcher on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:16:44 PM EST
    Happy with my Linux also--my second Linux OS.  Can sit and laugh while you all hunt the deadly virus.  It shared a monitor and printer with an old Win 95 for a few months, but won me over for good.

    Parent
    Linux... (none / 0) (#109)
    by white n az on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:41:28 PM EST
    Linux is software you don't have to buy but the only software you ever own.

    Even Dell now sells computers pre-loaded with Linux...imagine that.

    Parent

    And you just got your printer working? :-p (none / 0) (#44)
    by andgarden on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:49:41 PM EST
    About 11 years ago :) (none / 0) (#75)
    by badger on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:28:43 PM EST
    I have a Mac in the kitchen (none / 0) (#14)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:18:47 PM EST
    I really hate typing on it but it's great for music and video. A friend got me an Apple gift certificate for Xmas and I'm trying to decide whether to use it for the Apple TV. Anyone have one?

    Parent
    No experience w/ Apple TV myself (none / 0) (#24)
    by andgarden on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:33:31 PM EST
    If you buy one, make sure you have an HDTV to connect it to.

    Parent
    Apple: touch ipod (none / 0) (#28)
    by Stellaaa on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:36:03 PM EST
    Does everything an iPhone does, except the phone bit.  You can go wireless on the net.  I was able to read TL when in Europe from hotspots.  Great for your pictures, calendar, etc..etc.  

    Parent
    Here's smarty pants tip for all 'puter users (none / 0) (#88)
    by Ellie on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:12:54 PM EST
    I don't like Vista either, but I can choose my OS setup as needed with my organizing system of using inner drives in external hard enclosers for my different computer "lives". Also, I like Vista for certain things and XP for others, and don't always need to have, eg, my very complex softwares open when I just need a whacked out dune buggy for roaring around the inner netz.

    Smaller drives tethered to purpose is even a step beyond the elimination of a brazilian headaches by keeping a clean impression of my preferred operating system / software makup PHYSICALLY separate from my data.

    (Bundled hard drive divisions are pretty much for mental purposes anyway, ie, if your pet has fleas, they're gonna turn up everywhere.) My solution is to keep one a 500 GB external HDD divided into backups:

    • spanking clean OS/Software makeups to reload when things get slow;
    • indispensable cultural and recreational data; works in progress from the salt mines;
    • R&D etc.

    Tip: keep your backup separate from your actual system, a lesson I learned when system and backup both got crushed in severe weather.

    BUT WAIT THERE'S MORE:

    I keep smaller individual external drives for big projects and related data. It's an administrative and economical no-brainer (works for me, anyway). External drives have come way down in price, but they're still too cumbersome and expensive even on a per-project basis. They're also designed to hold too much, but DVDs and flashdrives are too small and hold too little multimedia stuff. Plus, maintaining directories for them is a pain.

    My Goldilocks solution was to geek up small laptop-sized (2.5") reformatted internal drives -- now available for next to nothing -- and put them into hard external enclosures like this one. If you know how to operate a screwdriver, you're good to go.  You get a nice, elegant, safe, organized storage system for work and play. You can tether to the inner netz, use the Operating System you like, record the crap you like and on and on.

    Storage units are smaller than the palm of a child's hand, easy to back up and/or duplicate for archival purposes. Economical too and you don't have to go thorugh computer Karma if your system blows up. You can tether drives as necessary to the desktop or lapdog via USB port.

    Great for anyone working on complex, longterm projects with a lot of background and research, and who likes / needs to keep all related stuff in one place (work in progress, data and ancillary R&D) but safe from cooties.

    It's a nice, organized solution for creative types  and their big sound/vid files, or anyone working on a magnus opus. Also good for students, lawyers and hobbyists who want to keep accumulated data and research for longterm individual projects together in one cootie-free environment.

    You can also keep a directory of each, and copy those into a master for easy reference -- who needs to go through dozens of DVDs? -- and simply copy older resources into a newer project without worrying about storage space or corruption.

    I can also keep my surfing life separate from my grownup one with just the OS/wares for surfing and goofing around.

    Collected junk is more likely to carry flea infestations and other cootification, and there's that tendency to cling to crap that matters not on second viewing (eg, My boss Mr. Harumphinton asking me why he got a copy of the "Leave Britney alonnnnne" soundbyte PLUS the same soundbyte "cleverly" mixed with sound loops from her singles when he only enjoyed the vanilla first one.)

    Also handy for making a quick and clean getaway should John "Law" ever stop persecuting Democratic rivals and decide to go after real menaces to society like moi. Getaway? Bwaahahahaha. Good luck with that evidence thingy as these can ram into the maw of a med- to large sized canine or free range front yard goat in a snap.


    Parent

    pretty good. (5.00 / 1) (#93)
    by cpinva on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:44:48 PM EST
    a couple of additional notes:

    1. large external 3.5" drives usually require an external power source, they're too big to draw sufficient amt. from the USB port. you'll need to make sure you have an available electric outlet.

    2. most new pc's and laptops come with a sata port; much faster, with less bulky/cumbersome connections than USB. if yours has one, i strongly urge you to spend the few extra bucks, and get an external HD with a sata connection.

    as well, if you want to be really, really, really geeky, you can build your own external HD's, using readily available parts (drives & housings), so you're not limited by whatever's available in the already constructed market. www.newegg.com is the site that i buy pretty much all my stuff at.

    for the not-so-geeky, i recommend western digital's bookshelf external HD's. if you can walk and breathe at the same time, you'll have no problem setting these puppies up. for those of you not able to walk and breathe simultaneously, STEP AWAY FROM THE PC, RIGHT NOW!

    Parent

    It seems to make sense, but let me try to (none / 0) (#98)
    by scribe on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:00:52 PM EST
    recapitulate, to get past the tech jargon.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but what's proposed is to:
    (1) buy the new laptop;
    (2) buy
     (a) the old-and-reconditioned 2.5 inch hard drive from some old laptop and then also (b) the neat, aluminium-looking box to fit that tiny drive in, the box being something that will connect the tiny drive to the new laptop like it were a separate port inside the new laptop; then
    (3) keep all the stuff on individual projects or areas of interest on the tiny drive-in-a-box and keep just the operating system (and maybe the usual suspects of programs, e.g., Word/WP, the browser(s), etc.) on the laptop's drive, this then
    (4) giving one
      (a) the ability to both segregate work and non-work storage of data;
      (b) the ability to keep critical files bug-free because, in the event one picks up a bug along the way, the critical files will not be connected and therefore be free of bugs;
      (c) the ability to travel without lugging all the files along;
      (d) the ability to keep the files one leaves at home free from prying eyes;  and
      (e) a faster-working laptop, since it is unencumbered by all those videos and youtubes taking up drive memory.

    Or, in so many words, the tiny-drive-in-a-box is just a bigger more sophisticated version of backing up to 3.5 disks or CD-ROMs and working from them?

    Parent

    Your very last paragraph is the golden one (none / 0) (#103)
    by Ellie on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:20:41 PM EST
    You can design the combination of backup and archiving (on a per project basis) as suits  your needs AND boutique a combination of Operating System plus only the software you'll be using, eg, to surf the inner netz and have a super fast system regardless of the kind of memory it has.

    If you're getting a new laptop, having at least one is great for one touch back up. cpinva's point about data transfer rates and tethering options is important here; I am out-geeked on that subject. My frugal and worry-free organizing system is more for administrative integrity and the freeing up of brain space that comes from having worry-free options for plug and literally play or work.

    Imagine a system that's an intelligent option between driving your house everwhere and living in your car. The former is what having everything on one computer is like, but the latter is what it's like to "live" on DVDs and flash drives.

    Repurposing discarded 2.5 drives is not only cheap-O and Eco, but I can send a whole whack of multi media stuff to fam & friends. I'm also teaching a nephew I've co-opted for as-yet-to-be- determined evil by teaching him audio mixology. A rescued, souped-up 2.5 drive

    Parent

    Oops I sent too soon (none / 0) (#106)
    by Ellie on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:28:20 PM EST
    I long-windedly didn't get to my "souped up drive" point.

    I keep a small drive with OS, browser, pared down text and multi-media viewers and communications ware. They're faster to operate and easy to replace should they get bogged down with collected crapola.

    I keep my more expensive software that has been tailor made to my liking and needs completely untethered from the inner netz.

    Of course, if you need additional volumes for your own ease of access, you can boutique those as well for a coupla few bux.

    Parent

    Just (5.00 / 4) (#4)
    by tek on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 11:57:56 AM EST
    had a huge blowout with a friend who's supporting Obama.  These people remind me of Bushies.  I know he's an Obama fan so I don't raise the topic, but at some point he'll bring it up and immediately start bashing Hillary.  At this point, I'm just not going to listen to that stuff.  He is an otherwise intelligent, educated, decent person.  But he idolizes Obama.  I can't deal with the frenzy.  I finally said maybe the party will nominate Gore and that will be the solution.  He MADE A FACE, and said Gore wouldn't be as good as Obama!

    Yes (5.00 / 4) (#7)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:06:26 PM EST
    The first thing that turned me off about Obama is that his supporters were frequently irrational.

    He's a freaking politician, not a saint.  

    Parent

    Believers (5.00 / 3) (#11)
    by sarahfdavis on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:15:12 PM EST
    Similar freaky experience with 2 friends. Usually very moderate and even emphatic about weighing other points of view. They've both got the "He will inspire the country to change" as a blanket over all of the questions and negatives. The pretzel justifications they both are able to fold themselves into is unbelievable. Freaky to see such blind loyalty because they are both really smart people. I could go on and on about their bizarro arguements and the outright aggression and even bullying I've gotten from them. And the flip side is the Clinton hatred. I really don't understand it.

    Parent
    I have a paradoxical take on it: (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by MarkL on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:25:05 PM EST
    I was visiting a friend a few weeks ago who turns out to be a big time Obama supporter.
    He's a retired French Professor (capital "P"!)---very smart.
    He was watching Obama speak at some forum, and he was just  gaga over how great Obama sounded---like when he said he would talk to foreign leaders for a change. Wow, deep stuff!
    What's the paradox? Well, I find Obama's public speeches to be very simplistic, when it comes to policy, very much like Bush (speaking  for myself only, of course). But unlike Bush, he say simple things that make sense! With Bush, it's as if an alien came to the podium and said "Polliwog gufawfle blegthic" and everyone around you (the Republicans) said "Wow, he's just fantastic".
    Obama says simple, sane things, very authoritatively. It's got to be a huge relief; however, in terms of policy, Obama, like Bush, is not much.


    Parent
    charisma? (5.00 / 3) (#29)
    by sarahfdavis on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:37:43 PM EST
    So people are just seduced by his charisma? They don't care that he has a razor thin resume? "But he was a community organizer!" And then i ask what he achieved and they don't know. I've got a list of a dozen other challenges and the answer is either "He'll inspire the country to change" or "Hillary is awful". It's absolutely mind numbing to me. His campaign is truely all about being a smooth operator and imho, he's just another politician. Actually an unlikable one because his whole brand is "i will rise above political divisions" and I honestly haven't seen one gesture that demonstrates this position. I've found him to be incredibly devisive. And his supporters can be just awful. I guess I'm blind to the charisma and so I'm still left unbamboozled.

    Parent
    If the Obama charisma and speechifying (none / 0) (#41)
    by Fabian on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:48:20 PM EST
    rubbed off on his supporters, I'd like them better.

    But as was pointed out on last night's OT, Obama supporters would be the worst references for a job applicant.

    "So, what do you think of his qualifications for CiC?"

    "Did you hear what Hillary said?  How dare she!  She's a disgrace -"

    "Um, about his qualifications?"

    "He will lead!  He will unite!  He will move us beyond bitter unproductive partisanship!"

    "Has he done so in the past?"

    "No, WE are who we have been waiting for!  We must look to the future, turn the page!"

    "Ah, yes.  Thank you for your time."

    [Well at least that one didn't reference his books or website.]

    Parent

    What makes you think Obama's (none / 0) (#45)
    by MarkL on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:50:12 PM EST
    charisma has NOT rubbed off on his supporters?
    They're likable enough, just like Obama!

    Parent
    thanks to the bush years the country is starved (5.00 / 1) (#87)
    by thereyougo on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:05:14 PM EST
    for intelligent discourse !
    the bar has been so lowered !

    I'm not on board w/O because I have a hearing loss and when he speaks frequently trails off and dips and is inaudible! I can't stand that style of speaking that chops words.

    Parent

    If you haven't read up on (5.00 / 2) (#19)
    by Fabian on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:29:11 PM EST
    Authoritarianism, just google the word.

    Authoritarians tend to be Republicans because they thrive on that kind of paternal authority.  Of course, Democrats can be authoritarians as well but it's not so common.

    The one thing that is true about authoritarians is that they crave that Strong Authority Figure and so if they 'lose' their existing one(GWBush) they'll jump quickly to a new one.  Authoritarians make great followers and cognitive dissonance is a way of life for them.  Ask them if Iraq was a mistake and they'll answer "What if Saddam DID have WMDs?  We HAD to act!".  Anything their guy does is great, even if the consequences are disastrous.  Anything their opponent is bad, even if the results are good.

    Parent

    Yes (5.00 / 1) (#33)
    by stillife on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:43:15 PM EST
    John Dean wrote an interesting book on the subject of authoritarian conservatism called "Conservatives Without Conscience".  There are leaders and followers in these types.  The followers are characterized by submission to authority, conventionality and aggressive support of authority.   The leaders are dogmatic, amoral and "tend to see the world with themselves in charge".

    I've observed the conservative personality type in real life, among the (few) Republicans that I know, and they certainly tend to be more submissive to authority than most liberals I know.  

    One of my first lessons in life, as a child of the 60's, was to always question authority figures.  I've tried to pass that down to my kids.

    Parent

    Obama nephew.... (5.00 / 3) (#20)
    by Stellaaa on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:30:23 PM EST
    I was visiting my brother in the hospital yesterday and my nephew and I managed not to get on each other.  He just drones on and on with the "outrage" and "Hillary hate", repeating all the banalities he reads on the blogs.  When I ask if he has looked at X , or Y  or Z, no, it's not in the play list.  

    This is my take.  The Bush years created such a desire for absolution and salvation, people are so hungry for some kind of "absolute goodness".  They therefore have elevated a politician to this position.   They were so used to Bush being absolutely bad, that they think there is the opposite persona in an absolutely good politician.  

    As a reaction I have had the desire to prove his politicness, his mortality.  In so many ways I am fighting the deity status.  I do think that Hillary will make a better president cause she has a grasp of how public policy is made and the lower learning curve in the transition to the White House.  

    But nonetheless this is some kind of reaction to the dark age.  

    Parent

    That's an interesting analysis (none / 0) (#56)
    by stillife on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:56:44 PM EST
    and I think you make a good point, as always.

    To provide a counterpoint, I had a lovely conversation with my son's girlfriend last night.  She's 21 and a senior at Temple University (Nick graduated last year and they live together in Philly).  That girl, bless her soul, hates Obama!  She thinks he's a big fake and she's a huge Hillary admirer.  Both my son and Fio are disgusted by the "hipsters for Obama" that they see around Philly.  They're very concerned about the economy and the war and they want a President who can offer solutions.  They believe, as I do, that Hillary is that person.

    It was a positive, life-affirming conversation.  I'm glad to see that the younger generation hasn't entirely gone to h*** in a handbasket.  ;)

    Parent

    Clarification (5.00 / 2) (#65)
    by Stellaaa on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:07:51 PM EST
    The nephew is in his 40's, my son and daughter came to their own opinion.  Very skeptical.  They don't buy the Obama hype one bit.  They also have this aversion to the newly minted: " I never liked politics but now I am inspired".  

    Someone earlier talked about authoratarian personalities and the need for an authority figure.  

    My kids have an aversion to the "followers".  

    Parent

    Well then (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by stillife on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:14:23 PM EST
    I'd say you did a good job raising your kids.

    It's not just an age thing. My 82-year-old mom is an Obama supporter and she has seriously described him as a "Christ-like" figure.  And she's not even religious (she's an extremely lapsed Catholic).  I tell her, "Mom, he's just a politician!"  When she teased me about my governor (Spitzer), I came right back at her with Blagojevich (her gov) and his corrupt connections, which may someday implicate Obama.  But she's like, "Lalala! Can't hear you!"  

    Parent

    Absolute good (none / 0) (#69)
    by Stellaaa on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:16:09 PM EST
    people are hungry for absolute goodness vs. the absolute Bush badness.  

    Parent
    I think you're onto something (5.00 / 2) (#74)
    by stillife on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:28:04 PM EST
    It really is a fascinating theory.  Obama is karmic revenge for the Bush years.  The sad irony, to me, is that Obama is just another Bush-like politician.  Lots of hype and "likability" (although personally, I'm not charmed) but short on experience and tending towards arrogance.  

    And the other irony, of course, is that the Clinton years really were good.  I have to admit that I've been longing for a Democrat teflon President.  Now it seems like we have that candidate, but the only problem is, I can't stand him!  I'll go for the war-torn workhorse, the Energizer Bunny who takes a lickin' and keeps on tickin'.

    Parent

    It's the exact irony (none / 0) (#76)
    by Stellaaa on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:32:39 PM EST
    Obama's absolute goodness is fabricated.  Cause if you look at his core, the "goodness" is just not there.  

    Parent
    God bless our mothers. (none / 0) (#70)
    by Fabian on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:21:21 PM EST
    At Easter I had to ask my mom(life long Dem) when she figured out that Reagan was no good.  Her answer "I never liked him at all.".

    Ah, but mom always was a no nonsense woman.  She's still a product of her generation though - worrying about electability for both candidates.

    Parent

    Old voices (none / 0) (#79)
    by Stellaaa on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:35:12 PM EST
    A woman I knew, in her 80's in the 80s used to say:  

    "Watch out for the 10,000 dollar Republican".  Back in the day, 10,000 dollars was a lot of money to earn.  And when folks made 10,000 they would become Republicans.  I love to use that term now a days, it has a strange quality about it.  

    Parent

    It all reminds me of Tommy's Holiday Camp.... (none / 0) (#78)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:34:41 PM EST
    Get your Tommy records,
    You can really hear him talk!
    Tommy pics and matches,
    half a knicker for the cork.
    You lucky people!
    The camp with a difference, never mind the weather,
    When you come to Tommy's, the holiday's forever!

    The part of Uncle Ernie will be played by Axelrod!

    Parent

    So when will this effect wear off? (5.00 / 2) (#15)
    by Fabian on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:19:58 PM EST
    Or is it permanent?

    I only see two outcomes.

    1. Obama wins and Those People become even more insufferable.

    2. Obama loses and Those People become even more insufferable.


    Parent
    I know, we're screwed. nt (none / 0) (#80)
    by Maria Garcia on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:36:52 PM EST
    you suggest... (none / 0) (#105)
    by white n az on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:27:03 PM EST
    that either way, Obama supporters become even more insufferable.

    That of course assumes that becoming more insufferable is possible.

    That infers that they aren't succeeding in their efforts already.

    Parent

    More Bush Bizarro World - Twisted nt (none / 0) (#110)
    by Boo Radly on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:51:08 PM EST
    Talk about entitled... (5.00 / 1) (#13)
    by americanincanada on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:17:29 PM EST
    I don't know if this was posted in last night's open thread. If it was, I'm sorry. I heard about this last night but did not see the video until just now.

    And he accuses Hillary of being entitled?

    LINK


    Bob Johnson my old friend (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:28:57 PM EST
    We'll show them how unity is done once Obama gets the nomination.

    You will write nice things about Clinton then. All will rejoice.

    Thanks for stopping by.

    How I wish (none / 0) (#26)
    by kmblue on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:34:39 PM EST
    the new Democratic President would investigate
    the heck outta Bush and Co. and haul them away
    in leg irons.
    A girl can dream...

    Parent
    I am good (none / 0) (#51)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:54:33 PM EST
    Hopeful that we can steer the ship towards victory in November.

    Do not like the minions back at the mothership know what I know about your misgivings about Obama. You'll be voted off the island.

    Parent

    Was this a threat? (5.00 / 2) (#27)
    by Andy08 on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:35:14 PM EST
    I don't know how many of you have seen Gov. Ed Rendell on CNN yesterday when he said he received a call from Sen. Obama:

    RENDELL: I had a call from Senator Obama and he said, you know I'm going to be the nominee, and I didn't argue with him, I said, sure, and he said I just want to make sure nothing happens in Pennsylvania, the campaign here, that will make it harder for us to win in the fall. And I said, senator, don't even worry about that for five seconds.

    I am stunned, outraged and
    deeply troubled that Obama had the arrogance, the nerve to make such a call.

     It surely stinks that he felt so comfortable speaking to Rendell like that (is it fixed already?)

    What is this?! Mafia politics? Because it sure sounds like a threat, and intimidation to me.

    Watch the CNN clip and get a link to the full transcripts (the Rendell part if towrds the end)


    If the reverse were true (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:52:41 PM EST
    we know how you would have written it up bob.

    Heck, we know how the FP of daily kos would have covered it.

    We saw it from you and the FP in coverage of the fundraiser letter to Pelosi.

    I agree with you, nothing wrong with Obama's call. But I KNOW how it would have been characterized by you and those like you if the situation was reversed. You protest too much.

    Parent

    Chicago style? Don't like it a bit. (5.00 / 0) (#54)
    by Joan in VA on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:56:02 PM EST
    Everyone stop with the Chicago-style (none / 0) (#115)
    by Donna Darko on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 07:28:58 PM EST
    He was in the Illinois Senate for 8 years. The Illinois General Assembly meets in Springfield, 3 1/2 hours south of Chicago.

    Parent
    Nice state you got there, Ed (5.00 / 0) (#66)
    by badger on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:07:56 PM EST
    It'd be a shame if something happened to it.

    Parent
    There will be a dead horse head (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by stillife on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:33:47 PM EST
    (or maybe donkey-head) on Ed's pillow tonight.

    Parent
    Pony (5.00 / 2) (#95)
    by waldenpond on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:51:05 PM EST
    Hee! (none / 0) (#119)
    by stillife on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 11:56:16 PM EST
    A unity pony!

    Parent
    No doubt (5.00 / 0) (#89)
    by Andy08 on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:17:00 PM EST
    the people of PA really appreciate the way that Obama is talking to their Governor ...

    Parent
    Watch out, Bob---new rules. (none / 0) (#47)
    by MarkL on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:51:53 PM EST
    We are limited to 20 comments per day now.
    Please make one  of the rest funny.. for Rex.

    Parent
    A general note about Bob Johnson (5.00 / 1) (#53)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:56:02 PM EST
    Bob is an old friend of mine. what Bob does elsewhere is to be debated elsewhere. He will be judged by his postings here.

    I will not tolerate un-TL unprovoked attacks on him. We do not do that here.

    ok, then he gets 20 (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:56:52 PM EST
    today and we'll see whether he adds some substance or just quips.

    Parent
    Sometimes they come together (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:00:20 PM EST
    But Bob, remember the rules here.

    It is different here than other places.

    Please respect that.

    And respect Jeralyn especially.

    Parent

    We can't (none / 0) (#64)
    by Big Tent Democrat on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:06:53 PM EST
    We are different here.

    Parent
    wow. your pal is quite the agitator (5.00 / 0) (#73)
    by sarahfdavis on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:25:53 PM EST
    you ask him to play nice and he pokes you in the eye.
    he's smart but man is he obnoxious.


    Parent
    wow, "bob johnson"! (5.00 / 1) (#97)
    by cpinva on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:59:33 PM EST
    assuming of course, that that's your real name! lol

    whew, methinks you've drunk deeply of the right-wingnut/obama machine's "talking points", and i use that term in its loosest sense.

    yes, of course, we all know sen. clinton tortures puppies, eats babies (rare & lean) and sacrifices virgins, to bathe in their blood. but aside from all that.........................

    have you checked the stigmata on sen. obama's wrists and ankles yet? i thought not. hint: think halloween costume shop. sadly, the apparent emptiness that is sen. obama is becoming more obvious daily, hence the tortured screams for sen. clinton to drop out. he'll not survive the run to aug. if she doesn't.

    in fact, my bet is, after the upcoming slaughter in the remaining primaries, the country's going to be saying "barack who?", which is pretty much what they were saying before IA.

    on a sort of related note: does anyone but me think it odd that "obama girl" is a young, white female, and not african american? you'd think, given his widespread popularity in the AA community and all........................

    I read the superdelgate math, pages 11-16.... (5.00 / 1) (#101)
    by Oje on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:10:43 PM EST
    The rationale for that analysis is that superdelegates do not differ from the larger popular vote, the articles he mentions at the outset. However, the basis for his allotment of superdelegates is by state. Do state votes map to superdelegate behavior? The logic is fine for many state superdelegates, but constituencies are the better contextualization for an analysis of superdelegates.

    Take, particularly, the 435 superdelegates who represent congressional districts. In California, for example, Arnone project 37-31 for Clinton based on 52%-43% state popular vote. In order for that to happen, a number of the 34 (quick count) Congressional representatives would have to defy the will of their districts. Is it likely a superdelegate with a district constituency, not a state constituency, will vote based on the state results? Looking at the county map, my guess is that Clinton won 75%+ of the congressional districts and is likely to take 22 of the 34 congressional superdelegates (if not more). That is already a larger margin than Arnone's projection. If the rest of the state superdelegates do allot themselves based on the 52-43 spread, then she will pick up a 3-4 advantage for the remaining 34 for a spread more like +16 (42-26) from California, not +6.

    Also, congressional district allocation works against Obama because his small states with 1 or 2 congressional districts will allot themselves much like state superdelegates, Arnone's current math with some slight shifts in favor of Obama. Larger states with more congressional districts (Clinton's base) should prove to be a boon to Clinton in the superdelegate math. Lastly, what if her former and current advantage actually reflects superdelegate logic based on constituency (not state) based allocations? She will continue to run a 55%-60% and 80+ superdelegate advantage. Then, Clinton only needs to make up 70 pledged delegates in the coming weeks.

    If my quick estimate is correct, what this says is that the Clinton campaign needs to adjust the rhetorical battle over the logic of superdelegates to the will of constituencies, not the will of states. A constituency argument makes sense anyway since her core voters are the blue state Democratic voters minus African-Americans and some self-fashioned "creative classists." It is a twofer that relegates Obama's voters to red-staters (unjustly gerrymandered congressional districts at that) and anomalous pockets in the blue states.

    Whatever the case, it is clear that the Clinton campaign needs to dispense with the smoke created by the Obama campaign's Tammany Hall shenanigans with "will of (state) voters" and pledged delegate counts. Arnone's background statement (page 5) on superdelegate math indicates an Obama-favored state-based allocation, with no regard for the majority of superdelegates who represent their congressional districts, not their states. Obama's memes dominate the superdelegate math right now.

    If you have a pocket drive, it goes like magic (none / 0) (#2)
    by BarnBabe on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 11:57:32 AM EST
    There are several ways of transferring with wireless, but I found that the easiest was using a 80-120g pocket drive and you do not need you have it built in on your pc. It is just a wallet size thumb/flash/jump drive. A serious wonder to have. Holds all your pictures. Like transfer 1k of them in   minutes. And instead of cut and paste if you do copy and paste, you have a back up drive of everything and it is portable and would fit in your brief case. Fits more stuff on it than just the smaller flash drives.

    Last night I spent a lot of time on my all in one as I could not get the scanner to work. Uninstall, install, uninstall, etc. You get the picture. Still not working right.

    heh, That's the best you can do? (none / 0) (#22)
    by andgarden on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:30:31 PM EST


    Rex will show you the way, no doubt (5.00 / 0) (#25)
    by andgarden on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:34:25 PM EST
    Rex should have run. (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by Fabian on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:38:51 PM EST
    Of course, he'd be impeached by the end of 2009 for taking sooshee bribes, but he'd make history as the First Canine President!

    (What's 35 convert to in dog years.)

    Parent

    Take a time out. (none / 0) (#35)
    by sarahfdavis on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:45:08 PM EST
    Your constant ranting is not helping your candidate.
    How about you not 'go on' for just one day. People like
    you are making it almost impossible for me to be able
    to support Obama in the general. But I'm sure you'll
    keep crappin' on our candidate because that's how you
    support your Unity brand.

    Parent
    Unity! (none / 0) (#31)
    by sarahfdavis on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:41:05 PM EST
    Thanks for always being such a wonderful demonstration
    of Obama's Unity Schtick®. The inspiring behavior of his supporters has brought me to the light of Obama!!!


    Nope. (none / 0) (#38)
    by sarahfdavis on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:46:36 PM EST
    You guys are the unity club. All of Obama's garbage is justified with "He'll unify the country!". You're the hypocrit. Not Taylor Marsh.

    Parent
    Bob Johnson (5.00 / 0) (#86)
    by Andy08 on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:03:45 PM EST
    you need to learn some basic logic

    "If A then B" does not imply
    "If B then A"

    Boy, are you really that bad at critical thinking?

    Parent

    Boy, are you really that rude all the time? (none / 0) (#92)
    by shoephone on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:28:01 PM EST
    shoephone (none / 0) (#104)
    by Andy08 on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:22:27 PM EST
    maybe you should take a look at the whole thread. Bob Johnson has been really snarky, baiting non-stop,  and even imo insulted
    Jeralyn by refering to her as "the top dog".
    So no, I am not being rude. Besides his line of argument above my post was indeed logically flawed.

    Parent
    Bob Johnson (none / 0) (#84)
    by Andy08 on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:00:18 PM EST
    Meanwhile, we have the top dog

    Parent
    You are insulting (none / 0) (#85)
    by Andy08 on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:01:34 PM EST
    Jeralyn now? Do you think that's being "clever".

     

    Parent

    Jeez, the only thing worse (none / 0) (#39)
    by RalphB on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:47:20 PM EST
    than your lack of substance is the downright creepiness of your right-wing talking points.

    I can't speak for anywhere else (5.00 / 0) (#81)
    by RalphB on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:37:47 PM EST
    but in my deeply red TX, he's toasty as can be and a chunk of it is due to Wright.  I haven't seen this many democrats this angry about something in a long time.


    Parent
    to Bob Johnson (none / 0) (#48)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:52:31 PM EST
    your first time here in months and you are trying to dominate the thread. Read our rules on chattering, and please limit yourself to 10 comments a day, including those you have already posted.

    Actually it's always been 4 (none / 0) (#55)
    by Jeralyn on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 12:56:06 PM EST
    but I upped it to 10 a few days ago -- for chatterers. Others are not limited, but really, no one should be posting 30 comments a day or more.

    Parent
    Anyone who's posting 30 comments (none / 0) (#62)
    by scribe on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:00:58 PM EST
    per day almost certainly* either (a) has too much time on their hands, (b) is dodging work, or (c) isn't putting much thought into their comments.

    * This hedge allows for people confined to their homes with a computer and the internet for a link to the outside world.  But, still, they could surely spend time on substantive comments....


    Parent

    first time I've read Bob and he's annoying (none / 0) (#91)
    by thereyougo on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:24:25 PM EST
    typical Obama suppporter.

    Parent
    Bob is known for his wit. (none / 0) (#111)
    by Fabian on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 04:03:46 PM EST
    But every time I post a comment inviting dkossers over here, I always say "The rules are different and strictly enforced.  Just follow the rules and you'll be fine.".  I'd hate for anyone to come here and have comments deleted because they thought the dk rules applied.

    Bob should know better.  I don't know why he bothered to come here if all he was going to do was play the troll game.  He can do that to a hugely appreciative audience any day he wants at dk.  

    Parent

    Isn't dailykos large enough for kossacks? (none / 0) (#113)
    by Oje on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 04:50:46 PM EST
    Why invite dkossers here? Do you want Obama to rulez the Internets?

    Parent
    Because there are fine people (none / 0) (#120)
    by Fabian on Sun Mar 30, 2008 at 02:28:10 AM EST
    at dk who are hanging on, trying to talk sense into people who don't want to listen.  If they want to talk sense to people who do want to listen, they can come here.

    's funny.  One dkosser posted a diary whining that BTD was mean to him and deleted his comments.  The general attitude was "He has the right to do that.  tl isn't dk.  Deal with it.".

    Ditto for Bob.  

    Parent

    Brand New Key (none / 0) (#83)
    by Peter G on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 01:48:39 PM EST
    Thanks for the clip of Melanie Safka singing her Bicycle Song (a/k/a Brand New Key), TL.  Another great version is here: http://www.myspace.com/androgynyacappella
    (ok, I admit it, it's my daughter's college a capella group, "Androgyny," at Davidson College -- but still, they're really good.  Same little school that's going to win the NCAA championship.)

    Oh, (none / 0) (#90)
    by Mary Mary on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:20:32 PM EST
    how I've loved watching that little guard, Curry.

    I picked 'em to go this far, but have them losing in the next round. Sorry!

    Parent

    More Saturday reading (none / 0) (#96)
    by Molly Pitcher on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 02:57:03 PM EST
    Check out NY Times op-ed columnist Gail Collins' comments on how well McCain is using his time to shine w/o a Dem candidate dogging him.

    County conventions to select TX delegates (none / 0) (#99)
    by Dawn Davenport on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:01:07 PM EST
    Burnt Orange Report is tracking the results, county by county, today.

    Jeralyn, re. Obama's teaching status (none / 0) (#100)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:02:28 PM EST
    Yesterday I posted about the seeming contradictions in the statement U of C posted anonymously on their website, on Thursday, regarding Obama's teaching status.

    You replied saying: "All senior lecturers are listed as profs, the regular lecturers are listed in their own category beneath it. Time to give it up."

    I get that. However, Obama was a Lecturer (not a Senior Lecturer), from 1992-96. During that time he would not have been appeared on the faculty list under the heading of "Professors". He would have been correctly listed under the heading "Lecturers in Law".

    *BTW, as you may already know, a number of, named, U of C officials redressed the question on Friday. See Lynn Sweet in the Chicago Sun Times: Obama did NOT "hold the title" of a University of Chicago law school professor. Among other things, the officials attempt to further define the original misleading statement that: "From 1992 until...2004, Barack Obama served as a professor in the Law School."

    Titles aside, Obama taught part-time and was never employed as a tenured or tenure-track Professor. While that isn't ignominious, it's also not particularly grandiose.

    The question now is what will stick: the original un-sourced statement which obviously served to confirm the perception that Obama was a full-fledged Professor; or the subsequent sourced statement which undermines that notion.

    Chances are, the original version will stick and any further attempts to set the record straight will be characterized as trivial nit-picking. If so, Obama owes a debt of gratitude to U of C.


    "trivial nitpicking" (none / 0) (#114)
    by Peter G on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 04:56:20 PM EST
    You nailed it.  That's exactly what this is.  For Gawd-sake, Obama was President (editor-in-chief) of the Harvard Law Review.  That's probably the most prestigious honor any law student in the country can achieve in a given year.  The President of the HLR routinely is offered a choice of clerkships with a Supreme Court Justice and/or tenure-track teaching positions at more than one top law school.  Whatever else you may think, the man's credentials are not padded.

    I was an assistant professor of law at Villanova from 1979 to 1981, an associate professor from 1981 to 1984, and a full professor (yet without tenure), in 1984-85 (as best I can now recall it).  I was then a Visiting Associate Professor at Whittier Law School in LA. In a narrative summary of my professional credentials (as opposed to a formal CV), I would have no hesitation in saying I was a professor at Villanova and Whittier law schools between 1979 and 1986.  That statement simply doesn't imply a precise rank; it is fairly understood only to mean that you had a job teaching courses there.  I wouldn't even say it implied that you were full time, unless the context suggested otherwise (like failure to mention any other employment during the same time period).  The titles of Associate Professor and Professor, by the way implied nothing about status.  They were conferred solely to make me eligible for a certain university pay grade.  Hence, I was a full professor at Villanova prior to consideration for tenure.

    Parent

    Peter G, you're right (none / 0) (#116)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 08:39:43 PM EST
    Obviously, you have every right to refer to yourself as a Professor at the institutions where you taught: by all accounts, you were in fact a tenure-track Professor at three successive ranks (Assistant, Associate, Full).

    You say that, at your institution, an advancement in rank "implied nothing about status" and was "conferred solely" for the purpose of an increase in pay grade.

    That has not been my experience. In every institution known to be personally, an advancement in tenure-track rank has never been something that was automatically conferred. It is a hard-earned promotion that one applies for on the basis of having accrued more expertise and stature in the areas of teaching, research, service to the institution and to the field at large.

    *As to the generic use of the term professor, it would be a stretch to apply that term to a part-time adjunct Lecturer, which is what Obama was at U of C from 1992-96. Accordingly, the U of C Faculty List places people of this rank under the category of Lecturers in Law, rather than the category of Professors.

    That's all I meant to say.

    Parent

    Vista - Macintosh - Linux (none / 0) (#107)
    by white n az on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:30:52 PM EST
    Vista, Macintosh and Linux system in hacking contest and Mac is hacked first, Vista is hacked second and the Linux system stands unhacked for 3 days.

    By the way Jeralyn, Windows XP and Vista have a software tool that allows you to connect your new computer to your old computer and transfer you files & settings somewhat automatically. So does Macintosh.

    Your New, Improved Police State at work (none / 0) (#108)
    by scribe on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 03:31:35 PM EST
    Seems the police in bucolic Westin, Wisconsin (near Wausau) thought they had the Mother of all Keggers on their hands.  10 o'clock on a Saturday night, cars and kids everywhere.

    So, they pulled 90 kids in, busted into locked rooms in the kids' parents' house, searching for who knows what, and made all the kids take breathalyzers.  Lights, sireens, the whole deal.

    There was a keg there.  But, it was full of root beer.

    The organizer decided to throw the rootbeer party after some kids in his high school got suspended from sports for being seen (in photos, mind you) drinking from red plastic cups.  I guess those were the opaque cups one sees used for beer or soft drinks, so the Mommy School wasn't happy.  And, as everyone knows, if momma ain't happy, ain't no one gonna be happy.  The school's site is here - the school name is in the main article - if you want to thank them for their vigilance.

    (video here) Doood - everyone's blowing zeros, man!

    Rush Limbaugh (none / 0) (#117)
    by RickTaylor on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 08:47:09 PM EST
    This is off topic, but I was shocked by this and wanted to draw attention to it. From Rush Limbaugh:

    "However, the second and third phases of Operation Chaos consist of exactly what you have heard happening in Texas. Our operatives actually are being named delegates to state party conventions. The third phase of Operation Chaos leads to some of these delegates actually being named delegates to the Democrat National Convention in Denver. So you Democrats and you members of the Drive-By Media, you who think that Operation Chaos is ineffective and isn't working, remember this. When we get to Denver and the Democrat National Convention, and you look around, and you're a delegate, the person next to you could be mine. The person sitting next to you in your delegation could be an Operation Chaos operative. "  http://rudepundit.blogspot.com/2008/03/why-rush-limbaugh-ought-to-be-force-fed.html

    RickTaylor, good info re Operation Chaos (none / 0) (#118)
    by FoxholeAtheist on Sat Mar 29, 2008 at 09:18:27 PM EST
    Thanks for that. It isn't off-topic. This is an open-thread so you get to choose your topic. This Rush stuff is horrific, and could very well be the way the GOP steals/dooms the election for the Dems in '08.

    Here's a 'proper format' link to the Rush Limbaugh "Operation Chaos" text. Your original one works but it might skew the thread (a tech thing), who knows.

    *Here's some instructions another commenter gave to me a while ago: To make the link work right, just type out a word, like LINK, or use some passage of text you want linked, then highlight it, then click on the 4th button right above the box you are typing in. Then paste the URL there. When you preview the link/highlighted text will show up in blue. Click on it to make sure it links properly before you post. Long links mess up the spacing on the page.

    Parent