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Sunday Morning Open Thread

By TChris, Section Other Politics
Posted on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 06:40:35 AM EST
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Brandi Carlile is still looking for a promise she can keep. Speaking of Sen. John Ensign:

He was a member of Promise Keepers, a men's Christian group that espoused devotion to family and marriage.

This is an open thread.

< I Before E ... ah ... Never Mind | Happy Fathers' Day >

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    Sunday Morning Open Thread | 78 comments (78 topical)

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    Happy Fathers Day... (5.00 / 0) (#1)
    by kdog on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 08:34:56 AM EST
    to all the dads...enjoy your day.

    I'll be heading out to one my old man's favorite spots, Belmont Park, in his honor.  Hear that Pops?  I'm honoring your arse, guide me to a winner will ya?...:)

    Well? Did he? (none / 0) (#68)
    by dead dancer on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 07:47:26 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Nope... (none / 0) (#74)
    by kdog on Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 08:01:12 AM EST
    I guess he decided to drill home his "don't bet what you can't afford to lose" mantra...cuz I didn't cash a single ticket:)

    [ Parent ]
    a good example of how out of touch (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by kenosharick on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 09:17:51 AM EST
    the far right is:  George Will on C-Span talking about how Americans are happy with the health care system as is, and there is "no clamor for change."  What planet does he live on?

    The planet where lies that are (5.00 / 1) (#5)
    by MO Blue on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 10:04:35 AM EST
    repeated often enough become facts in the minds of the citizens. It is called propaganda and it has been very successful.

    [ Parent ]
    He's talking about the "Real" (5.00 / 0) (#6)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 10:17:23 AM EST
    Americans....all the folks in his immediate circle. You know, the ones who matter. I'm trying to imagine George Will speaking to a middle class American.

    [ Parent ]
    The one that isn't warming (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Socraticsilence on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 11:59:52 AM EST
    duh!

    [ Parent ]
    Well, (none / 0) (#29)
    by bocajeff on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 01:03:21 PM EST
    all the polling I've seen (gallup,rasmussen) shows that a majority of people don't want single payer. Am I wrong? If so, please link where most people are clamoring for single payer...

    [ Parent ]
    Straw man alert!! (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 01:08:02 PM EST
    Where in this thread did anybody say "single payer" except you?

    [ Parent ]
    well, (none / 0) (#53)
    by bocajeff on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 05:16:49 PM EST
    from the posts and comments on these pages for the past few years Single Payer is the not only the best way to go but it is the only way to achieve real change. Nibbling on the edges was not the preferred manner of change. That's the strawman I was aiming at.

    Now, to say people would want any change is nonsensical because that could mean any number of things from single payer to no government interference at all.

    Straw man all you want, but I ask again, what is the current mood in this country for the single payer system as advocated on this site?

    [ Parent ]

    It is clear that people want change (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Dark Avenger on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 06:03:49 PM EST
    in the way healthcare works in this country:

    Americans overwhelmingly support substantial changes to the health care system and are strongly behind one of the most contentious proposals Congress is considering, a government-run insurance plan to compete with private insurers, according to the latest New York Times/CBS News poll.

    The poll found that most Americans would be willing to pay higher taxes so everyone could have health insurance and that they said the government could do a better job of holding down health-care costs than the private sector.

    and

    But they clearly indicate growing confidence in the government's ability to manage health care. Half of those questioned said they thought government would be better at providing medical coverage than private insurers, up from 30 percent in polls conducted in 2007. Nearly 60 percent said Washington would have more success in holding down costs, up from 47 percent.

    Sixty-four percent said they thought the federal government should guarantee coverage, a figure that has stayed steady all decade. Nearly 6 in 10 said they would be willing to pay higher taxes to make sure that all were insured, with 4 in 10 willing to pay as much as $500 more a year.

    And a plurality, 48 percent, said they supported a requirement that all Americans have health insurance so long as public subsidies were offered to those who could not afford it. Thirty-eight percent said they were opposed.

    In a follow-up interview, Matt Flurkey, 56, a public plan supporter from Plymouth, Minn., said he could accept that the quality of his care might diminish if coverage was universal. "Even though it might not be quite as good as what we get now," he said, "I think the government should run health care. Far too many people are being denied now, and costs would be lower."



    [ Parent ]
    Well played, sir. (5.00 / 2) (#60)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 06:19:08 PM EST
    If you were at Wimbledon, you could play a doubles match from both sides of the net.

    I'm all for single-payer. Unfortunately, the powers-that-be aren't, and are once again misleading people by equating single-payer with single-provider, which is not the case at all.

    [ Parent ]

    Not played at all (2.00 / 0) (#70)
    by bocajeff on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 08:40:34 PM EST
    We all want change. It's how we get there that is the biggest issue. Change it what way? What are we gaining, what are we losing? Who is going to pay? etc... Good try though

    [ Parent ]
    Elections have consequences (5.00 / 2) (#4)
    by ruffian on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 09:50:13 AM EST
    Shouldn't one of them be that John McCain gets off my TV?

    The miracle of the remote (5.00 / 1) (#7)
    by Inspector Gadget on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 10:18:46 AM EST
    Might not get things OFF your TV, but gives you the option of ignoring them by either switching to a different station, or turning it off.


    [ Parent ]
    I know...and I would have (none / 0) (#9)
    by ruffian on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 11:20:20 AM EST
    if I had not made the mistake of going into the other room and leaving the tv on as background noise. And noise it was!

    [ Parent ]
    I liked the nice (5.00 / 1) (#10)
    by ruffian on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 11:22:11 AM EST
    Prince William sound otter noises at the end of CBS Sunday...jarring transition to the inanity of Shieffer and McCain. The otters were having a more intelligent discussion.

    [ Parent ]
    That's one of my favorite (none / 0) (#11)
    by Democratic Cat on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 11:26:51 AM EST
    things on a Sunday morning--the sounds of nature at the end of Sunday Morning.


    [ Parent ]
    One of the blessings of living in the (5.00 / 1) (#16)
    by Anne on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:17:14 PM EST
    country are the sounds - and the smells and the beauty of nature: the squirrels chattering as they chase each other up and down the trees, the birds signalling dawn with their calling and chirping, the shushhhing of the leaves in the breeze...spring peepers raising a froggy racket, later in summer the cicadas electric buzzing, and the crickets chirping.  And with all this rain, the whine of the incoming mosquitos zeroing in on a blood feast, lol.  The intoxicating aroma of wild roses  and honeysuckle wafting through the air, the perfect green of grass and trees.

    Beats the Sunday morning - or any morning - gasbags on TV - hands down.  One is terrible for the blood pressure - the other is better than any medicine.

    [ Parent ]

    So true (none / 0) (#20)
    by ruffian on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:34:24 PM EST
    I don't have a lot or morning sounds where I live, but I  love the insect and frog chirping at night.

    In any event, turning off the gasbags is wonderful advice.

    [ Parent ]

    Me too. (none / 0) (#12)
    by ruffian on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 11:38:12 AM EST
    I don't know who's idea it was to start that so many years ago, but I've always loved it.

    [ Parent ]
    Is he on again? (5.00 / 0) (#13)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 11:58:31 AM EST
    I swear, McCain's like the proverbial annoying party guest who won't take the hint and call it a night.

    It's not quite 7:00am out here, and the Sunday gasbag reviews have yet to come on TV. Thanks for the heads-up. I'll use that time to wash the cars.

    [ Parent ]

    No (5.00 / 0) (#15)
    by Socraticsilence on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:00:30 PM EST
    apparently it means that his daughter now gets to come on my TV as well.

    [ Parent ]
    The curse of having perfectly ripe (5.00 / 2) (#17)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:27:27 PM EST
    peaches, plums, and nectarines on my counter is that I have such a narrow window in which to enjoy them, or they'll turn to a seeping, watery mush.

    I know what you mean (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by ruffian on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:31:08 PM EST
    They always looks and smell so good I always buy more than I can ever hope to eat before they turn to mush.  I should learn to make jam or something.

    [ Parent ]
    Start eating, andgarden! (5.00 / 1) (#21)
    by Anne on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:36:55 PM EST
    Or make fruit salad.  

    Having our daughters and their men (1 husband, 1 very significant other) over to eat steamed crabs, homemade cole slaw and potato salad, and fresh corn.  Fruit salad and chocolate chip cookies for dessert.  My husband loves steamed crabs - you really can't live in the Baltimore area and not - and it seemed like a perfect Father's Day meal.  Not a particularly inexpensive one, but what the heck - the father of my children deserves it!

    The crabs are arriving about 3:30, and I expect we will all be groaning with enjoyment in relatively short order.

    [ Parent ]

    MMMM, yum (5.00 / 2) (#25)
    by ruffian on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:39:06 PM EST
    Not for the first time, I wish I was the father of your children Anne ;-)

    [ Parent ]
    Blend the ones (5.00 / 1) (#24)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:38:43 PM EST
    you can't eat into smoothies and freeze them into ice cubes.  Then use them in summer drinks, or added back into other smoothies.

    [ Parent ]
    Requires buying and making space for a blender (none / 0) (#26)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:43:26 PM EST
    Good idea, though.

    [ Parent ]
    Extra fruit (5.00 / 1) (#30)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 01:06:46 PM EST
    Easiest, best way to deal with them is slice them up, throw some sugar on them, then heat them just through on medium heat (or in MW) and a little more, then freeze to defrost later and have over ice cream, preferably in the dead of winter.

    You don't want to really cook them to the point that they fall apart and taste cooked, just enough so that they lose their solidity.  The texture is better somehow if the heat softens them rather than the freezing breaking them down.

    Less easy but still pretty simple is to make a cobbler or crisp or some other very simple baked fruit dessert and pig out.  If you can keep from eating the whole thing, the leftovers will be fine in the fridge for three or four days.

    [ Parent ]

    Yup, if I really wanted to (none / 0) (#32)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 01:12:51 PM EST
    I'd bake a cobbler.

    But honestly, the last thing I need is more butter and sugar! In the event, I'm sure I'll manage to get through the fresh fruit I have. It's all so delicious!

    [ Parent ]

    Hmm (none / 0) (#37)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 02:46:19 PM EST
    A gadget junkie with no blender.  Now there's an anomaly.

    Food processor?

    [ Parent ]

    It's just too bulky and I'd never use it (none / 0) (#38)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 02:50:04 PM EST
    I'm a gadget junkie, not a pack rat! Now ask me about my cheese graters. . .

    [ Parent ]
    Here's an option (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by nycstray on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 03:52:29 PM EST
    I love mine

    [ Parent ]
    it's tempting, that's for sure (none / 0) (#44)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 04:03:49 PM EST
    So here's the question: can you put the whole thing in the dishwasher? The only tools that I'm willing to hand wash are knives, and the rest go in the dishwasher.

    [ Parent ]
    And I can't help but wonder (none / 0) (#45)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 04:07:09 PM EST
    whether it's worth the significant price premium over this.

    Heck, I'd never use either of them. . .

    [ Parent ]

    I think there may be a power dif? (none / 0) (#51)
    by nycstray on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 04:21:41 PM EST
    on some there are. (haven't researched since I bought it) I tend to favor KA and went with the "extras". I think you can put the beater part in the dish washer. I don't have one :) I just detach it and run it under scalding water. My fave thing is to puree soups a bit with it. I used to not make soups that required a blender, or just skipped the blending. I'm not fond of messing with pouring hot things into a blender!

    [ Parent ]
    Read the customer reviews (none / 0) (#52)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 05:13:40 PM EST
    on the less expensive Cuisinart.  The people who just bought it love it, the people who've had it for a while said it burned out or otherwise quit within a couple of months of light use.

    Plus, because it's Cuisinart, the only way to have it (or any other Cuisinart object) repaired is to ship it back to the company and pay shipping both directions to get it back.

    As I discovered to my dismay when my expensive Cuisinart microwave quit within the 1-year warranty period, that's the only way you can get anything Cuisinart repaired in or out of warranty.  I was entitled to a new MW, but the hassle and expense of trying to package up and ship a big heavy machine wasn't worth it.  I ended up having to haul it up to the county solid waste place and pay them 10 bucks to recycle it.  FEH!

    I will never buy another Cuisinart product again, no matter how good they are, because of their repair policies, which prevent any other repair place from getting parts and hit the customer for the shipping back and forth.

    [ Parent ]

    I saw that, but I'm not sure (none / 0) (#55)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 05:31:10 PM EST
    that I would rather pay 3-4x the price for the possibility of a more robust, slightly more powerful, product. And on further consideration, I've decided that I don't need one at all!

    As to your microwave, I've never heard of one failing so quickly. For my last apartment, I bought this Sharp. My current apartment has a built in (and inferior. . .) model, so I gave the Sharp to my mother's housekeeper. As far as I know, it's still going strong.

    [ Parent ]

    Not something I'd want (none / 0) (#61)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 06:38:49 PM EST
    either, but then I have an excellent regular blender and a good food processor, so don't feel the need for a hand-held at all.

    I replaced the cursed Cuisinart MW with a modest Sharp, but only after calling around to find out what brands local repair shops were permitted by their manufacturers to work on.

    Doesn't really matter much with MWs, I learned in the process of talking to numerous repair guys, because 9 times out of 10, the part that's failed isn't something cheap and quick to fix like a fuse but one of a couple of parts I forget the names of now that costs as much as or more than a new unit.  Which is why nobody repairs them anymore and they end up in landfills.

    I had a couple guys tell me that unless you buy a really high-end expensive MW these days, they will blow out at the flick of a power variation because in order to bring the price down to something people would spend, the companies use very flimsy construction for those key parts.

    [ Parent ]

    I personally think that the microwave (none / 0) (#62)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 06:41:40 PM EST
    doesn't get enough credit. if you're cooking vegetables, or cooking for one, it's hard to beat.

    [ Parent ]
    If you don't know how to cook it's (5.00 / 1) (#64)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 07:17:29 PM EST
    hard to beat too.  Nothing becomes encrusted and black with carbon....it can get too chewy to chew though :)

    [ Parent ]
    I went a month without one (5.00 / 2) (#73)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 09:10:58 PM EST
    because I was too stubborn to give in on getting the Cuisinart replaced/repaired and I nearly went nuts.  How the heck did we manage before there were MWs? I used to manage, but I can no longer remember how. It's right up there with the VCR as one of those inventions that doesn't cost much but transformed the way we managed our lives.

    (Can you even imagine the joy when washing machines became affordable for ordinary families?)

    [ Parent ]

    VCR (none / 0) (#75)
    by sj on Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 10:20:17 AM EST
    I don't know about the "didn't cost much" part.  My first VCR cost 400 hard earned, income tax refunded dollars to get a stereo unit with 4 heads (whatever those are, I still don't rightly know).  That puppy was HUGE and HEAVY, and lasted for 20 years or so.  Until my son dropped it moving it into another room.  Accidentally, he said. uh-huh.

    But it was right up there in the life-transforming department.

    [ Parent ]

    Early MWs weren't so cheap (none / 0) (#78)
    by gyrfalcon on Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 06:06:05 PM EST
    either!  But I'm talking about when they became affordable enough for everyone.

    I will never, ever forget the first couple days I had a VCR.  The idea of being about to control when I watched stuff, see it whenever I wanted, watch a movie I loved in my own house without having to wait and hope it would be reshown someday.... whew.  Absolute giddiness.

    [ Parent ]

    Interesting about the parts and power (none / 0) (#65)
    by nycstray on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 07:35:57 PM EST
    I have my kitchen electrics on those smart strips, so they detect any power trips. Never even occurred to me when I started using them even though I use the same one for my computers etc, lol!~  {grin}

    In defense of the stick blender ;) I bought it on one of those great sales. I basically wanted it for stove cooking, but use it for other things that I don't feel like cleaning a blender or processor for. Plus the whisk attachment is nice rhen you have computer enhanced wrists.

    [ Parent ]

    Computer-enhanced wrists? (none / 0) (#72)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 09:07:57 PM EST
    If I had lots of money and lots of kitchen storage, I'd get one.  I can see how it would sometimes be more convenient.  But I have neither!

    I've gotten a power strip for the MW and toaster oven, too, but it annoys the heck out of me that I have to spend the extra money just to protect their delicate innards from ordinary power ups and downs.  

    [ Parent ]

    If you buy the version without (none / 0) (#63)
    by nycstray on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 06:45:56 PM EST
    the extras (whisk attachment ets), it' $50. I like more robust appliances. Don't have to worry about burning out a motor if something is a bit more difficult for it than anticipated etc. Also, I like longevity in my kitchen items. I recently paid more for a rock solid completely stainless citrus juicer. I was able to juice about 70 pieces of citrus fruit no prob. No motor heat up etc.

    I have a Sharp MW/Convection oven. That thing ROCKS!! and gets heavy use. Convection oven is great in the summer.

    [ Parent ]

    amen to that (5.00 / 1) (#71)
    by Peter G on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 09:04:39 PM EST
    Our Sharp MW/convection oven -- which we totally love -- is just starting to lose power after 20 yrs of heavy use.  Far beyond what I would have considered life expectancy.  A great appliance.

    [ Parent ]
    It wouldn't work well (none / 0) (#46)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 04:10:15 PM EST
    on solids....unless ample liquid was added.  It would make a mess, wouldn't it?

    [ Parent ]
    Mine chops nuts (none / 0) (#49)
    by nycstray on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 04:16:59 PM EST
    mashes potatoes etc. I can't remember the last time I used my blender. I do use my food processor for some things, but mosty I find myself grabbing this. I may make a crumble in a little while and it's what I intend to do the butter sugar blend with. Or if I go the cake route, whip the whites with.

    [ Parent ]
    MMMM (none / 0) (#47)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 04:12:50 PM EST
    Uh-oh, I'm a pack rat.

    Vitamix
    Food processor
    Kitchenaid mixer
    2 breadmakers

    Thankfully, I've gotten away from buying things like juicers, and specialized contraptions etc.  My husband came home from his parent's house yesterday with an ice cream maker.  That's okay, it'll never get used and stay in the garage because I told him that homemade ice cream is made with raw eggs.....

    Yeah, I didn't think I'd use my food processor much, either....it's the most used tool in my house.

    [ Parent ]

    Umm, you cook the eggs for ice cream (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by nycstray on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 07:42:19 PM EST
    you basically heat the eggs etc in a dbl boiler, chill over night and then you're good to go.  My chocolate fudge raspberry is to die for :) Pink pepper ice cream is great with late summer fruit like pears and apples. I slice the fruit up and heat it with some honey (not much), brandy or other liquor and spices (opt). Pour over ice cream and enjoy! Also tastes great over a good natural vanilla.

    [ Parent ]
    heh (none / 0) (#48)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 04:14:20 PM EST
    Real ice cream is made without eggs at all! (Guess which city I'm from.)

    Of course, the frozen custard that many people call ice cream is made with cooked, tempered, yolks. But you didn't have to tell him that. . .

    [ Parent ]

    Low fat (none / 0) (#39)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 02:51:56 PM EST
    whole grain ginger peach/nectarine muffins....and freeze them.

    Lots of recipes online...but yes, fresh is best.

    [ Parent ]

    I had to write actual checks this morning (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by ruffian on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:38:06 PM EST
    since my bank's online bill paying was down. I haven't done that for a long time. The good news is that my handwriting is so bad now, I can write my own prescriptions!

    Heh (5.00 / 1) (#27)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:44:12 PM EST
    The checkbook I keep around has the name of my bank from three acquisitions ago.

    [ Parent ]
    One acquisition behind here (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by ruffian on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:59:05 PM EST
    on the printed checks! But I have a whole box of the suckers left, so I'm not getting new ones!

    [ Parent ]
    As long as ... (none / 0) (#76)
    by sj on Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 10:26:17 AM EST
    ... account number and routing number haven't changed they don't cause any problems.  I speak from experience.  I found a book of checks from way back that were out of sequence and from a prior acquisition and used the whole thing.

    Sure wish it was still a community bank, though.  My sister and I used to joke that with all the acquisitions going on, we would soon be talking about going to The Bank, instead of just going to the bank.

    We still say it, but now we not so sure we're joking.


    [ Parent ]

    Iran (5.00 / 1) (#41)
    by Socraticsilence on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 03:51:56 PM EST
    Am I the only one who's kind of shocked by how blatantly the Neo-con wing of the FP establishment is cheering on a Tienamen type response- I mean for godsakes when even Henry "Cheney is a piker" Kissinger says that a bellicose response or even the hint of US support for the reformers will likely facilitate their destruction you'd think that John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Marty Peretz, Wolfiwitz, Krauthammer, et al would step back and look at what the consequences of Obama taking their advice would be- but no, Obama should apparently get up and throw his support behind a movement that is only succeeding to the extent that it is because its has heretofar been seen as an organic uprising.

    Either they're profoundly (5.00 / 0) (#54)
    by gyrfalcon on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 05:19:17 PM EST
    wilfully ignorant or they're utterly amoral and willing to sacrifice the Iranian people's freedom to gain what they think is a partisan political advantage.

    Or both.  I'm guessing number 2 is the goal, and they simply don't give a flying F about the rest of it.

    Zbig Brzknwtrszitnwksi (however it's spelled...) was on Fareed Zakaria's program on CNN today, and the first thing out of his mouth was how similar the simplistic world view of the ruling clique of Iran is to U.S. neocons-- and then proceeded to refer to them as "the neocons in Iran" for the rest of the interview.

    I like it.  Hope it catches on.


    [ Parent ]

    whoops (none / 0) (#43)
    by Socraticsilence on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 03:55:25 PM EST
    I didn't think my other post showed up, you can delete the one of your choice if you guys want.

    [ Parent ]
    Noticed it, yes (none / 0) (#56)
    by Spamlet on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 05:37:57 PM EST
    Shocked--no.

    [ Parent ]
    I did like the portion of the link (none / 0) (#2)
    by Militarytracy on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 08:37:32 AM EST
    that spoke about Nevada having a forgiving nature toward its politicians.  I'd have to say that Nevada has a forgiving nature in general, now how about if Nevada Conservatives focused on real issues like unemployment, hunger, lack of healthcare, and treated gays and women like people for a change.

    Overheard in discussions across the US (none / 0) (#8)
    by pluege on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 11:09:17 AM EST
    oh you're a republican? you must be a really bad person.

    Not out here, it ain't. (5.00 / 1) (#19)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:33:17 PM EST
    We're far more polite in Honolulu, and take the time to recommend a good therapist. With a couple noted exceptions, the Republicans out here have a propensity to be live-action cartoons who are good for a laugh at their own expense, and not much else.

    My favorite story from working in the Hawaii Legislature was the time eleven years ago when  then-House Minority Leader Gene Ward, a grandstanding showboat, decided to make a cheap theatrical public statement. He came to session that day, and literally chained and locked himself to his own desk on the House floor as symbolic of his oppression by the Majority Democrats, because the Speaker had him removed from the floor by the Sgt.-at-Arms the day prior for being unduly and repeatedly disruptive of the day's proceedings. Ward called the local media to come and record the blessed event for posterity, which they did.

    However, what Ward didn'e count on was that he would lose the key, his staff upstairs wouldn't be able to find the extra one, and there would be nary a lock cutter to be found in the Capitol building -- so he was stuck on the floor for over two hours after the day's adjournment, while Capitol maintenance personnel took their own sweet time finding one from the city park district people up the road.

    The last TV shot of one station's evening newscast that day was of that buffoon sitting all alone in the House chamber as they rolled the credits, chained to his desk and waiting forlornly for assistance as the lights were clearly being partially dimmed for (unintentional?) dramatic effect. Fade to black ...

    Small wonder why, when Gene Ward ran for Congress later that year, he got almost 32% of the total popular vote.

    [ Parent ]

    That's a great story (none / 0) (#22)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 12:36:57 PM EST


    [ Parent ]
    Isn't it now ...? (5.00 / 2) (#57)
    by Donald from Hawaii on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 05:57:44 PM EST
    Remind me to tell you sometime of Ward's successor Quentin Kawananakoa, a bona fide member of the former Hawaiian royal family, who ended up in the psych ward of The Queen's Medical Center after a coke binge as HE was gearing up to make a run for Congress himself. Oh, excusez moi, I just did.

    Well, while I'm at it, let me tell you about the bonnie prince's successor, Galen Fox, a staunch and very vocal proponent of sex offender registries who subsequently had to resign his office in 2005 upon being convicted in federal court of sexual assault, for molesting a sleeping 25-year-old woman on a United Airlines red-eye to L.A. -- "Gee, your Honor, I don't know how my hand ended up inside her pants zipper, but did the pilot really have to call the FBI ...?" -- and is now a member of that very same illustrious registry.

    And then -- wait, now, I'm almost finished -- there was GOP House member Brian Blundell, a right-wing Christian (natch!) from Maui who, six days before the 2006 Election Day no less, was busted for propositioning and groping an undercover HPD vice officer atn a Kapiolani Park men's room in Waikiki at 11:30pm.

    In the interest of time, I purposely left out Gov. Lingle's chosen running mate in 2002, Dalton Tanonaka, who ended up spending almost five years with the Feds in Lompoc for political corruption, i.e., embezzling funds from his own campaign.

    Oh, and I also omitted any mention of the thrice-married Sen. Sam Slom, a devout defender of the sanctity of traditional marriage and tenacious opponent of this year's civil unions bill, who abandoned the last wife and family to take up with Malia Zimmerman, a (now formerly) married right-wing way-too-blonde Anne Coulter-wannabe who's 30-plus years his junior.

    And as for Malia, well, she's a nasty and vicious journalist who once made seriously unfounded allegations in print about former Gov. Ben Cayetano and subequently lost her job with the Pacific Business News as a result, but that's a whole 'nother story in itself.

    I tell you, this stuff practically writes itself. And some Hawaii Republicans actually wonder aloud, to anyone who will listen, why the number of GOP State House members fell from 20 in 2002 to 6 in 2008, and from 6 to 2 in the State Senate during that same period.

    "The Republican Party is deeply disappointed in the voters of Hawaii. They let us down."
    - Hawaii GOP Chair Elizabeth "Betty" Farrington on Election Night in Nov. 1954, after the Republicans lost control of the Territorial Legislature

    (Sigh!) So many stories about Hawaii Republicans, so little time ...

    Happy Father's Day, everyone. Aloha.

    [ Parent ]

    I think I asked you this before (none / 0) (#59)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 06:17:49 PM EST
    but did they flip a coin to determine who would be minority leader?

    [ Parent ]
    Oh what a difference a year makes (none / 0) (#33)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 01:15:54 PM EST
    My, how times have changed. Remember how, just a year ago, the cable channels were flooded with shows about how to do a few quick renovations and sell your house for $100,000 more? Well, "Real Estate Intervention" reflects the sea change that's occurred in the months since. No one is interested in those swat teams of chirpy professionals armed with throw pillows, plants and new appliances, intent on jacking up your asking price. Instead, we're left with Aubrey, a tough-talking bruiser of a man who has a rather unfortunate habit of referring to his male clients as "buddy."

    That said, Aubrey seems sensible, pragmatic and almost completely devoid of the usual "everything's coming up roses" bull[$h*t] that so many agents seem to serve up shamelessly throughout even the worst housing slumps. He tries to demonstrate to the show's guests a sense of the declining housing market by showing them comparable homes that sold for a lot less than they're asking for theirs. But as it turns out, nothing sends most people into a folding-chair-hurling state of rage faster than implying that their house is less welcoming or less spacious or less special than someone else's.

    Via Susie Madrak

    I might have to watch that (none / 0) (#34)
    by ruffian on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 01:24:31 PM EST
    As one who made a horrible real estate decision when I moved here to FL (should have rented for a year to see what the market was like  instead of buying right away) I can vent my rage vicariously by watching these homeowners.  I've resigned myself to my fate of owning this house for a long time longer than i had planned, and have accordingly convinced myself that I love it! But I might enjoy watching those who have less developed powers of self-deception.

    [ Parent ]
    Did you hear the one about the guy who walks into (none / 0) (#35)
    by KeysDan on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 01:49:56 PM EST
     a bar.....the stand-up comedy routine of President Obama at the Radio & TV Correspondents Dinner last Friday night seems to have received pretty good reviews. The attendees, of course, registered boisterous laughter.  Maybe it was because I did not have the benefit of their long cocktail hour, but I would respectfully demur.  The jokes ranged from lame to mean-spirited, in my view.  And, the 'good one' about the "real" story behind Secretary Clinton's fall being Richard Holbrooke spraying oil on the garage floor was anything but.   I vote for a new writer.

    It was probably his speech writer (none / 0) (#77)
    by sj on Mon Jun 22, 2009 at 10:31:32 AM EST
    John Favreau

    I've been open to a new one for a long time.

    [ Parent ]

    DiFi (none / 0) (#36)
    by andgarden on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 02:44:30 PM EST
    concern trolls healthcare reform.

    Sad (none / 0) (#50)
    by MO Blue on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 04:17:34 PM EST
    Trillions to bail out banks so that their CEOs can continue to get multimillion dollar annual salaries for failing policies. Trillions for an unnecessary war. Very few in Congress are concerned with the price tag for these items or other corporate give away items.

    Yet, we cannot afford health care for our people since we have to continue to support the insurance industry who cut services and deny claims so they can pay their executives multimillion dollar annual salaries and beat Wall Street expectations.

    Can't see anything but broken promises coming out of this endeavor.

    [ Parent ]

    Isn't the Medicare issue a good point? (none / 0) (#69)
    by nycstray on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 08:14:57 PM EST
    especially since we don't know how the public option is going to shake out, if there is one at all.  It's not just about Ca, what about NY?

    And the economic recovery hasn't played out enough, imo.

    [ Parent ]

    Iran: the only good outcome for some is death (none / 0) (#40)
    by Socraticsilence on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 03:18:24 PM EST
    I'm becoming more and more convinced that what the less reasonable members of the GOP want is for the Iranians to go all Tianamen- that's the reason they want Obama to speak out, I mean for god's sakes when even Henry Kissinger says that we need to hold back and praises the Obama approach maybe people should get a clue and realize that there is no upside for reformists from a US endorsement and indeed there is a massive downside.

    Ensign - Promise Keepers eh (none / 0) (#66)
    by cal1942 on Sun Jun 21, 2009 at 07:37:08 PM EST
    heh

    Sunday Morning Open Thread | 78 comments (78 topical)

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