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Thursday Afternoon Open Thread

By Jeralyn, Section Blog Related
Posted on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 02:49:05 PM EST
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The National Enquirer, which has been mostly correct on the John Edwards-Rielle Hunter story, reports today that Edwards has taken a DNA test and the results are he's the father of Hunter's daughter. The rag also says he's told Elizabeth and child support payments are being worked out. Take it with a grain of salt, but it's out there. Let's see if denials are forthcoming.

ABC is reporting Bernie Madoff had a mistress. And, that she spoke against him at his sentencing hearing, calling him a "beast" without revealing the affair.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

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    Thursday Afternoon Open Thread | 82 comments (82 topical)

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    NEA Head (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by squeaky on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:06:34 PM EST
    Was confirmed last week and he is coming out fighting:

    On the subject of the endowment's budget, too, Mr. Landesman did not hold back. Though he would not put a dollar figure on his own fiscal goals, he called the current appropriation of $155 million "pathetic" and "embarrassing." And he seemed to imply dissatisfaction with increases proposed by Congress and by the president, which both fall short of the agency's 1992 budget of $176 million.

    "We're going to be looking for funding increases that are more than incremental," he said.

    As for grants to individual artists -- which were eliminated in 1996 after years of complaints from conservative legislators about the financing of controversial art -- Mr. Landesman said he would reinstate them "tomorrow" if it were up to him. (It's up to Congress.)

    Mr. Landesman said that as chairman he will focus on the potential of the arts to help in the country's economic recovery.

    NYT

    Good for NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman for calling out the homophobia that undergirds opposition to federal funding for the arts. "The arts are a little bit of a target. The subtext is that it is elitist, left wing, maybe even a little gay," he tells Robin Pogrebin in today's New York Times.

    AJ

    Of course he's the father (5.00 / 2) (#8)
    by Steve M on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:14:39 PM EST
    Why would he have gone to visit the kid if he wasn't the father!  Sheesh, everyone had that pegged long ago.  Elizabeth should have broken his nose.

    Well, she still (none / 0) (#19)
    by brodie on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:29:10 PM EST
    has the opportunity to lay down the law.  

    Seems like too many major Dems have made some poor off-the-field choices of late.   Gary Hart's stupidity in getting set up, and the horrendous decision to let pictures be taken on that boat.  Bill of course, with that young blabbermouth.  

    And now Edwards not taking care either to choose a more emotionally mature person or not taking care to quietly take care of the arrangements solely with private or 3d party funding, and not using pac money.  Incredibly dumb.

    FDR, JFK and LBJ were smarter about these things, and only 2-3 of them overall spoke about it, but not until all were gone.

    Parent

    could you be more sexist? (5.00 / 2) (#22)
    by bocajeff on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:32:29 PM EST
    1. Gary Hart got "set up"? Uh, no.
    2. Bill with the young "Blabbermouth?" which one was married?
    3. Edwards for not taking care to choose a more "emotionally mature person"? Who again, was married, running for president, and had a family?

    It's the females fault?

    Parent
    Help me understand (5.00 / 0) (#26)
    by Spamlet on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:35:41 PM EST
    how Brodie's comment blames the women. What I see brodie saying is that these men all made dumb decisions, some of which had to do with the company they chose.

    Parent
    Thx, spamlet. (5.00 / 0) (#30)
    by brodie on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:42:39 PM EST
    I don't consider those remarks as anything other than a reasonable reading of each situation.

    Bill did choose a younger woman who quickly began telling all to you know who.  

    Edwards found someone who actually believed he was The Greatest Public Person in History (or some such over-the-top superlative), and further that he would soon be leaving his wife for her.  As I say, not very mature about these things.

    Hart?  Well, in recent times (over at HuffPo, iirc) he alluded to how he now thinks he might well have been set up (implying political opponents) for his fling.  Just repeating his version, nothing more.

    Parent

    Ok, we'll do it again. (5.00 / 3) (#39)
    by bocajeff on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:53:12 PM EST
    You used "blabbermouth" for a woman who had an affair. It's not like she went on tv the next day. She told friends. Now, where was your denigrating term for Bill?

    You used "emotionally unstable", but wouldn't Edwards have also been "emotionally unstable" since he was the married man running for president?

    And the whole concept of being set up is a joke. Every married man makes decisions. He may have been tempted, but that's not the same thing as acting on it.

    Parent

    Can we agree (none / 0) (#42)
    by Spamlet on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:58:14 PM EST
    that all involved, gender notwithstanding, behaved at times, and in some respects, like flaming a-holes?

    Parent
    Hart's photo op in Bimini (5.00 / 2) (#58)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:26:25 PM EST
    probably was a setup, although by his opponents, not Donna Rice. And it was his own fault for challenging the media to follow him.

    Monica was a blabbermouth. She didn't just mention it to Linda Tripp, she went on and on in telephone calls, but Tripp is the bad guy.

    As for Edwards, he did fall for Rielle's shallow new age bs but that's his fault.

    I don't see the sexism. Each woman bears some responsibility for choosing to consort with a married man who was also a highly visible public figure.

    Parent

    If the story is true, (5.00 / 6) (#29)
    by Anne on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:39:35 PM EST
    I guess Edwards is just another example of a man who listened to the little head instead of the big one, and I guess the little one wasn't interested in using condoms.

    Parent
    FDR, JFK and LBJ were smarter... (5.00 / 0) (#33)
    by squeaky on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:46:45 PM EST
    Different time, different game, imo.  

    Parent
    The press (5.00 / 2) (#35)
    by Spamlet on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:49:22 PM EST
    in those days saw politicians' affairs as off limits. For a long time, political scandals in the U.S. were only about money. You had to go to the U.K. for a good sex-n-politics scandal.

    Parent
    Different time indeed... (none / 0) (#37)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:50:38 PM EST
    the press corp knew but did not report this tabloid crap...and they were right imo, it's not news.

    Parent
    Further confirmation (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by andgarden on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:19:13 PM EST
    that blacks voted for prop 9 en masse, and would do so again. In better news, Barbara Boxer and Jerry Brown seem to be in good shape.

    Propp 8? (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by jbindc on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:21:06 PM EST


    Parent
    It goes to 10! (5.00 / 0) (#13)
    by andgarden on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:21:36 PM EST


    Parent
    We have a winner! (5.00 / 1) (#15)
    by jbindc on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:25:36 PM EST


    Parent
    Prop 8? (none / 0) (#16)
    by Spamlet on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:26:56 PM EST
    Too bad the poll didn't break out age groups and groups identified by religious affiliation. I wonder if the pro-Prop 8 vote was less monolithic among younger, nonreligious African American voters.

    Parent
    Probably to some degree (none / 0) (#17)
    by andgarden on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:27:40 PM EST
    But you don't get up into the 70s without very broad support.

    Of course, this is a small sample, so there's not much more you can do with it.

    Parent

    Another obvious question (none / 0) (#21)
    by Spamlet on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:32:27 PM EST
    is how much support for Prop 8, in absolute numbers, there would have been among African American voters if Obama had not been on the ballot, and what the percentage of African American support for Prop 8 might have been with (possibly) lower AA turnout.

    Parent
    I doubt there would have been (none / 0) (#24)
    by andgarden on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:33:49 PM EST
    much difference.

    Parent
    So what is (none / 0) (#27)
    by Spamlet on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:36:55 PM EST
    the moral of the story, so to speak?

    Parent
    Time marches on and (none / 0) (#28)
    by andgarden on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:38:48 PM EST
    the kids are alright.

    Parent
    No comprendo tu respuesta (5.00 / 1) (#31)
    by Spamlet on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:45:49 PM EST
    I'm asking what the preponderance of support for Prop 8 among African American voters points to, for you.

    Having spent many decades in LGBT communities all around the country, including many years in California, I know that white LGBTs, though often in social contact with African American LGBTs, are not necessarily less apt to hold racist attitudes than are their straight white counterparts who may not have as much casual social contact with African Americans. I also know that our community, correctly or not, has the impression that homophobic attitudes are higher in African American communities than in some others. All of which points to the need, imo, for more outreach and communication on both sides.

    Is that what you're also saying, but more elliptically?

    Parent

    All of that would be helpful (5.00 / 1) (#36)
    by andgarden on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:49:30 PM EST
    If you're asking me for a solution, I don't have one. Social conservatism is pernicious.

    Parent
    Not asking for a solution (none / 0) (#38)
    by Spamlet on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:53:07 PM EST
    Just wondering what prompted your original comment.

    There has been some effort, iirc, to walk back or even "sanitize" the notion that there was, as you put it, massive support for Prop 8 among black voters. So maybe you were just setting the record straight, with numbers to back you up?

    Parent

    Oh, sorry (5.00 / 2) (#40)
    by andgarden on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:54:31 PM EST
    Yes, pretty much. I think the exit poll is vindicated.

    Parent
    Thanks (none / 0) (#41)
    by Spamlet on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:56:01 PM EST


    Parent
    Yup on all counts. (none / 0) (#23)
    by dk on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:33:41 PM EST
    Though Gavin Newsom actually polled better than I thought he would.

    Parent
    calling him a "beast" (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:22:29 PM EST
    hmmmmmm

    no telling a book by its cover

    I saw pictures of him in Vanity Fair (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by ruffian on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:32:17 PM EST
    and he did look pretty hairy. Apparently 100 million does not buy manscaping.

    Parent
    going to be a long 8 years (5.00 / 1) (#18)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:28:42 PM EST
        Man carrying "death to Obama" sign at Maryland town hall detained by Secret Service.

        The full sign actually read: "Death To Obama, Death To Michelle And Her Two Stupid Kids"

    And on and on:

        WESTWOOD -- A man accused of making threats against the White House led officers on a wild freeway chase that ended in a standoff outside the Federal Building.

    If my taxes must pay (none / 0) (#47)
    by Fabian on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:06:24 PM EST
    for something, then I'm happy they are being used to remove some stupidity from the society.

    Parent
    Make that... (none / 0) (#64)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:50:21 PM EST
    temporary stupidity relocation...the Secret Service is only vindicating the stupidity in these cats own warped minds, not removing it.

    Though even my liberty-envangelical arse has to admit the Secret Service is doing their job here, though I hope the penalty for a sign, even what possibly is a death threat sign, isn't too harsh.  

    It is gonna be a long 4-8 years, no doubt...the white supremacist gangs in the joint are in for a serious recruitment surge.

    Parent

    Of course the historical period (none / 0) (#71)
    by jondee on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 05:11:59 PM EST
    portrayed was a time before all of KKK started hiding out in organizations that now receive faith-based government grants.

    Parent
    Delgo (5.00 / 2) (#32)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:46:05 PM EST
    is not on NetFlix and Amazon

    this film is famous for two reasons.  it was the worst "wide opening" in movie history.
    and I am the visual effects supervisor.

    one other reason (5.00 / 1) (#54)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:19:33 PM EST
    for fame.  it was Ann Bancrofts last film.

    Parent
    oops (none / 0) (#44)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:00:14 PM EST
    delgo is NOW on

    Parent
    At the risk of getting 100 Netflix recommendations (none / 0) (#45)
    by ruffian on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:01:05 PM EST
    for movies I would not usually watch, I put it on my Q!

    Parent
    appreciate knowing what you think (5.00 / 1) (#48)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:07:05 PM EST
    its an unfortunate story.  its an indy film.  the first independently financed CG animated film made in the US.
    the reason it had the worst opening in history is that there was no advertising.  none.  there was no money for it.  they guy spent every dime paying for the distribution gambling that people would just see the poster and go see it.  bad call.

    here is a truth.  Space Chimps (which came out roughly the same time) did not make more money because it was a better film but because it was advertised to death.

    Parent

    Looking forward to seeing it (none / 0) (#74)
    by ruffian on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 05:47:45 PM EST
    I believe you about the advertising. I don't remember seeing the poster for this film anyplace, but I sure saw the Space Chimps ads.

    I don't watch many CG or animated films, so I'm not sure how valuable my opinion will be - but I can tell you whether or not I am entertained!

    Parent

    Congratulations . . . (none / 0) (#46)
    by Spamlet on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:04:12 PM EST
    I guess

    Parent
    its funny (5.00 / 1) (#50)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:08:37 PM EST
    it actually became national news because of the dismal opening.  it even had a guest comedy spot on Conan Obrien.

    did Space Chimps get a spot on Conan? not it did not.


    Parent

    check (none / 0) (#51)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:09:54 PM EST
    it out

    Parent
    Perfect example of how things work (5.00 / 2) (#34)
    by ruffian on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:48:59 PM EST
    Atrios linked to this, but I want to add another layer.

    The media, when it covered this at all, covered it from the standpoint of it being rude to talk about Kennedy that way, which of course it was. So if you accuse them of ignoring a story, they will protest that of course they covered the story, when what they did was focus on the laziest part of it - the insult, which is also the part of it that could possibly result in someone engaging in their favorite exercise - demanding an apology! Now that is news they can milk for a cycle or two, whereas just pointing out the blatant factual errors takes real journalism and does not keep the story alive.

    Drives me nuts.

    It is a good (none / 0) (#49)
    by eric on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:08:16 PM EST
    point.  It sucks to have to do it, but acting like a republican has shown to work when it comes to getting media attention.

    Parent
    It would go something (none / 0) (#53)
    by eric on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:12:30 PM EST
    like, "How dare they use Kennedy's illness for political gain!  We are outraged and saddened by the Senator's comments.  We demand that Senator Grassley retract his words and immediately apologize."

    Hell, just cut and paste that crazy rant that Palin issued demanding an apology from Letterman.

    Parent

    reason #654,967 (5.00 / 1) (#43)
    by Jlvngstn on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:58:25 PM EST
    not to have an affair.  

    As far as reasons why one should not (5.00 / 7) (#52)
    by Anne on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:12:27 PM EST
    have an affair, I would think that getting your lover pregnant when you're planning to run for president, and while your wife is undergoing treatment for cancer might  - might - be at least in the top 5, if not the top 2, of one's reasons not to have an affair.

    Reason Number 654,967 is probably something like...you have to keep holding your stomach in, or, you have to make love to your wife with your eyes open to make sure you remember who you're in bed with.  By the time you've thought of more than half a million reasons, I would think they'd be getting a little less life-changing...

    ;-P

    Parent

    Thanks for the laugh.... :-) (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by vml68 on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:22:11 PM EST


    Parent
    Great. (none / 0) (#61)
    by Fabian on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:37:42 PM EST
    Now I can't remember which GOP politician dumped his wife when she was ill with cancer.

    Edwards managed to avoid sinking that low but I think a lot of people would join in the chorus of

    "While he was (in the process of) running for President?  Could he be more stupid?"

    Parent

    Newt Gingrich. (none / 0) (#62)
    by desertswine on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:39:46 PM EST


    Parent
    I cannot get over (none / 0) (#78)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 09:34:21 PM EST
    the mental image of Newtie humping his young female committee staffer in his car in the Capitol parking lot in between issuing public statements about what a degenerate Bill Clinton was for messin' with Monica.

    It is absolutely beyond me why this man isn't a widespread figure of public ridicule and completely disgraced and discredited.

    Parent

    I think it has a lot to do with the (none / 0) (#84)
    by Inspector Gadget on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 09:58:53 PM EST
    It is absolutely beyond me why this man isn't a widespread figure of public ridicule and completely disgraced and discredited.

    fact the Democrats would have had to stoop to the level of the R's. Bending that low is hard on the soul.


    Parent

    Well, that's the last time... (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by desertswine on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:35:01 PM EST
    I ever shop at Whole Foods, thanks to their idiot CEO Mackey. There are alternatives.

    Buy direct from the farmers (5.00 / 1) (#63)
    by nycstray on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:46:39 PM EST
    and farmers markets. You'll get better product and the money goes directly to them and the local economy :) And your money will go farther!

    I've never shopped there. Can't remember if I've even been in one.

    Parent

    Long Island corn.... (none / 0) (#65)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:57:29 PM EST
    like the sweetest candy and now out to market...no words for that kinda good.

    Parent
    I just got some today :) (none / 0) (#68)
    by nycstray on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 05:07:32 PM EST
    My first corn of the season (if you don't count the popcorn we got earlier!) I'm trying to decide what to cook with it since I forgot to thaw the chicken. I may just go classic rib eye/corn on the cob/baked tater and salad . . .

    Parent
    True enough (none / 0) (#81)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 09:42:36 PM EST
    but Whole Foods is pretty fantastic if you don't have access to farmers' markets, or in the wintertime when there aren't any.

    Back in the day when it was Bread & Circus, and when "natural foods" stores were a pathetic dusty collection of tired, misshapen produce and obscure herbal supplements and vitamins, the place was like stepping into Oz and suddenly seeing the world in Technicolor.

    Bread & Circus/Whole Foods made organic food appealing to foodies, not just health fanatics, and started the whole organic non-GM movement nationwide.

    Parent

    In our neck of the woods, it was called (none / 0) (#83)
    by andgarden on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 09:58:23 PM EST
    Fresh Fields. I remember other supermarkets before and after WF got big. The cheese selection alone makes all of the difference.

    There's just no comparison.

    Parent

    What? (none / 0) (#80)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 09:37:31 PM EST
    What did Mackey do?

    Parent
    Info on Mackey (none / 0) (#82)
    by MO Blue on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 09:56:51 PM EST
    Now John Mackey isn't exactly known as the workin' stiff's best friend.  Nor is he a friend of progressive causes.  Take labor for instance... it's bad enough that John Mackey once compared unions to herpes, but now he's gone and penned an op ed for the Wall Street Journal about the current health care reform debate.  He starts out with a gem of a quote from Margaret Thatcher of all folks - The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money.   (Hmmm... other people's money.   You mean like my tax dollars that have been wasted on the Iraq war?  That money?)  It gets worse...

    [W]e are rapidly running out of other people's money. These deficits are simply not sustainable. They are either going to result in unprecedented new taxes and inflation, or they will bankrupt us.

    While we clearly need health-care reform, the last thing our country needs is a massive new health-care entitlement that will create hundreds of billions of dollars of new unfunded deficits and move us much closer to a government takeover of our health-care system. Instead, we should be trying to achieve reforms by moving in the opposite direction-toward less government control and more individual empowerment.Link



    Parent
    Oh, yech (none / 0) (#85)
    by gyrfalcon on Fri Aug 14, 2009 at 09:41:41 AM EST
    Thanks.  I guess.

    Parent
    Wel, the NE has been (none / 0) (#1)
    by brodie on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:00:58 PM EST
    driving this story from the beginning, so I tend to give them some cred about the paternity.  And it makes sense given some of the peculiar goings-on that happened after the two stopped seeing each other, including the campaign aide conveniently being used/stepping forward to claim he was actually the one.

    I have little sympathy for John Edwards (the wife is a little more complicated).

    And I tend to believe that Bob Shrum (no, not my favorite Dem strategist) had Edwards pegged about right in his book of a few yrs ago ( "Clinton without all the fancy book learning", and worse).  The guy has some "character" issues, to say the least ...

    We all have character issues (5.00 / 2) (#5)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:07:04 PM EST
    But you don't go flinging while you're running for President.  I don't like comparing the whole of Edwards to the whole of Clinton either.  I like it no better than I like comparing Michelle Obama to Jackie Kennedy.  I think it is way too much of an oversimplification and sort of dehumanizing in a way.

    Parent
    Even better... (5.00 / 3) (#10)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:18:49 PM EST
    we stop caring about flinging and start caring about leading.

    Parent
    Of course it's a (none / 0) (#9)
    by brodie on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:17:08 PM EST
    simplification.  It wasn't meant as anything other than a quick to the point pol-by-pol comparison.  And it's sorta how people talk, or at least insider political pundits.  

    I think there's more than a grain of truth to it, besides it being kinda funny.

    And, if memory serves, Shrum was not referring to anything about Bill of an extracurricular nature -- just that both were promising, smart Southern Dem pols, one a well-vetted guy who'd done the hard work to make it to the top, the other a barely-known neophyte not apparently as willing or able to do the heavy intellectual lifting, who was a little too eager to get into the Oval.

    Parent

    That just makes me dislike Shrum more! (5.00 / 2) (#72)
    by sallywally on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 05:15:50 PM EST
    I liked Edwards but there's no comparison between him and Bill Clinton.

    Parent
    On the Madoff Mistress thing (none / 0) (#2)
    by scribe on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:02:33 PM EST
    Gawker reports that, in addition to her having spoken against him at sentencing without revealing the affair, she has a book deal.  For a "Quick-reading" tome of about 200 page, with a ghostwriter.

    I'd say it's getting a little late in the season for beach reading, but maybe it will reach those in the victimzed-by-Bernie set who still have some scratch left and then they can read it while in the islands or Florida this winter.

    And, no, Bernie won't appeal his sentence.  It seems he knows his omerta obligations well....

    Well stealing $50B and laundering it for the mob (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by msobel on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 07:13:47 PM EST
    is one thing but a nice Jewish boy cheating on his wife.  Priceless.  Please tell me she isn't a shikse

    Parent
    Sorry read the link and she seems to be Jewish. (5.00 / 1) (#77)
    by msobel on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 07:19:22 PM EST
    That's okay then.  

    Seriously, compared to the number of peoples lives he wrecked this is nothing.   Insert sexual assault allusion as in "she's not the only one he gerund phrased"


    Parent

    Check that out (none / 0) (#3)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:03:10 PM EST
    My rock solid candidate was having a rock solid fling.

    He coulda picked a better partner (none / 0) (#7)
    by scribe on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:13:27 PM EST
    Rielle had a rep back in her clubbing days in the late 80s-early 90s, and it weren't a good one.

    I loved Edwards' policies and voted for him in my primary, but I'm kinda gladder every day that he dropped out when he did.  Because, frankly, he'd be getting hit with the same crap Barry's getting and more, and I don't think he would be able to take it.  I don't know whether Barry will be able to weather it, but I'm 99 44/100 % sure Edwards couldn't.

    Parent

    I don't know who you (5.00 / 3) (#55)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:19:49 PM EST
    are referring to by "Barry" but if it's the President, that is not acceptable. It's not his name and it's used by the right wing as an insult. Sorry if you meant someone else.

    Parent
    I was not aware of that. (none / 0) (#70)
    by scribe on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 05:11:20 PM EST


    Parent
    go to hell (none / 0) (#6)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:08:05 PM EST
    Nice one-man looping/layering song by an indie musician

    Single Payer (none / 0) (#25)
    by bocajeff on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 03:35:25 PM EST
    Rasmussen Reports has an interesting poll on Single Payer. Not a whole lot of support for it. FWIW..

    Former (Bill) Clinton Aide Betsy Wright (none / 0) (#57)
    by daring grace on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:23:36 PM EST
    is being accused of smuggling needles into a prison according to TPM

    I thought the Cameron Douglas case was bizarre...

    TPM has court documents.

    tatoo needles (none / 0) (#59)
    by Jeralyn on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 04:29:58 PM EST
    not needles for drug use. Just making that clear.

    Parent
    Also box cutters, I think (none / 0) (#79)
    by gyrfalcon on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 09:35:52 PM EST
    Seems totally bizarre.  They were in a bag of chips or something like that, that she says she picked up from around the vending machine in the lobby.

    Parent
    Grassley is an embarrassment to Iowa (none / 0) (#73)
    by joze46 on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 05:17:27 PM EST
    The cable bunch can be very intellectually funny

    Senator Grassley so called response to death panels says he put his finger in the Dyke. Was that supposed to be like a good Dutch boy to save the farm? Or stick it to some lesbian on MSNBC that has been ripping the hell out of Grassley.

    Rachael Maddow who is an openly gay person, lesbian, has been characterizing Grassley very well. Then Lawrence O'Donnell says what does that mean? I just split a gut, what orifice is Grassley talking about certainly not her 

    From my view she, Ms Maddow is doing a good job of exposing Grassley as an ignoramus that likely can't read legislation or has no clue as to interpret the health care accurately. Is he stupid, or just a plain liar? If Grassley continues to come across this screwed so freaking much he will be an embarrassment to the people of Iowa.  

    if it were anyone but Grassley (none / 0) (#75)
    by ruffian on Thu Aug 13, 2009 at 05:51:56 PM EST
    I might believe he meant it as the double entendre regarding Maddow. But he's just dumb enough to not get it.

    So glad he has so much influence on the legislation. Real brain trust there.

    Go Rachel - I miss her radio show.

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    Thursday Afternoon Open Thread | 82 comments (82 topical)

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