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Tuesday Afternoon Open Thread

By Big Tent Democrat, Section Blog Related
Posted on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 02:37:09 PM EST
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Let the handwringing and hair pulling continue.

Also, we really need a college football playoff. Discuss.

Open Thread.

< Predictions | Early Election Results Thread >

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    Tuesday Afternoon Open Thread | 88 comments (88 topical)

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    a soothing break from election day? (5.00 / 1) (#3)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 02:52:39 PM EST
    Music of Ancient Sumeria I

    Music of Ancient Sumeria II

    Voted (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Tony on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:12:52 PM EST
    In addition to an English-as-the-official-language state question on the ballot here in Oklahoma, we have one that would deny judges the right to use Sharia Law in their decisions.

    I live in an insane state.

    why would they need Sharia Law (5.00 / 5) (#7)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:16:16 PM EST
    when they have the old testament?

    Parent
    priceless (none / 0) (#22)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:07:35 PM EST


    Parent
    Hahahaha! (none / 0) (#27)
    by Zorba on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:32:14 PM EST
    Capt H., you win the thread, as far as I'm concerned.   ;-)  

    Parent
    In India, where there are over 20 (none / 0) (#71)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:46:26 PM EST
    officially-recognized languages, a voter may select by means of symbols--party and candidate.  link  Seens very reasonable.

    Parent
    Nice satirical sign at the Colbert/Stewart Rally: (none / 0) (#85)
    by sallywally on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 08:17:00 PM EST
    "English was good enough for Jesus."

    Parent
    Idly wondering..... (5.00 / 1) (#56)
    by ruffian on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:12:44 PM EST
    When will we next see a female Speaker of the House? I must say I have enjoyed it.

    It was nice (none / 0) (#63)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:25:21 PM EST
    I went to the instructors of the year ceremony at Fort Rucker today, and a woman actually was one of them....standing up there in the testosterone from hell line.  I congratulated her and told her how happy I was to see her in that line. She utterly cracked me up because she says to me, "Yeah, I put my good bra on today too".  Probably only women understand what she is talking about there though.  When it is a special day we are throwing underwear all over the room looking for the good bra.

    Parent
    "Lucky underwear" (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:26:12 PM EST
    is not just a state of mind, it is a state of being.

    Parent
    Meanwhile, Dilma Rousseff, (none / 0) (#76)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:58:07 PM EST
    former guerrila fighter, is elected first female President of Brazil.  Maybe Bernadine Dohrn will be first female elected U.S. President?  Doubt it.

    Parent
    A Brazilian colleague voted today (5.00 / 1) (#81)
    by Cream City on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 06:27:26 PM EST
    for the first time, he and his wife having just become citizens this summer.

    So we were commiserating about all the losers that we had to vote for here, when he could have been voting for such a winner in Brazil!  She really is something; I had read up a lot on her, but my friend has been able to read much more, of course, as well as follow radio interviews, reports, etc.

    It becomes, of course, just the latest major country -- with Australia, Argentina, Chile, etc., of late -- in now well more than 150 countries in the world with women leaders.  Hmmm, which countries have not made that list of advanced cultures?

    Parent

    Add India to the list. (none / 0) (#82)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 06:34:29 PM EST


    Parent
    Pakistan and Israel (none / 0) (#84)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 06:40:15 PM EST


    Parent
    How sad (5.00 / 5) (#59)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:18:40 PM EST
    Kos has an exit poll diary up that says that voters hate the Republican party more than they hate the Dems, so this really is about people voting for what is different because what they had is intolerable.  Sorry, but Obama did this.  The nation was behind him to fight the Repubs and he didn't and he began sucking up to the same lobbyists and power that the Republicans do, and feeding at the same big money and big power troughs and he obviously thinks it is delicious.  People want someone......anyone to represent them and fight for them.  This is unbelievably sad.  And most people on the leftwing blogs really don't want to talk about this.

    Well, you and I think that, but (none / 0) (#62)
    by observed on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:25:03 PM EST
    I wonder if that will be the received wisdom on the meaning of tonight's election.

    Parent
    Not at first it won't (none / 0) (#69)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:30:55 PM EST


    Parent
    You Hillary Clinton-supporting guerilla, you. (5.00 / 3) (#77)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:59:19 PM EST


    Parent
    Wonder if HRC (none / 0) (#78)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:59:46 PM EST
    wears lucky underwear?

    Parent
    As we know, her husband would gladly (5.00 / 2) (#79)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 06:04:16 PM EST
    answer that question.  Doubt she would.

    Parent
    better than a drinking game (5.00 / 1) (#66)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:29:08 PM EST
    election night BINGO!

    hmmmm (none / 0) (#1)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 02:42:37 PM EST
    from WSJ:

    Health Benefits Appear On Rise

    The number of small businesses offering health insurance to workers is projected to increase sharply this year, recent data show, a shift that researchers attribute to a tax credit in the health law.

    According to a report by Bernstein Research in New York, the percentage of employers with between three and nine workers and which are offering insurance has increased to 59% this year, up from 46% last year.

    Stunning to me that health insurance for (5.00 / 3) (#12)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:39:44 PM EST
    employees is still not considered a standard business expense just like liability insurance, garbage pickup and the electricity bill is.

    Parent
    what r u (none / 0) (#13)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:41:24 PM EST
    some kinda socialist?

    Parent
    Must be. (none / 0) (#16)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:52:22 PM EST


    Parent
    Seems like it would be good business (none / 0) (#14)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:45:19 PM EST
    Healthy and secure employees tend to be more productive employees.

    But what do I know?

    Parent

    I'm healthy, secure and productive (none / 0) (#31)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:41:18 PM EST
    I have health insurance and that is not why I am healthy, secure and productive. It's just my work ethic, and it didn't change during those many years when I did not have health insurance.


    Parent
    Offering health insurance to workers (5.00 / 2) (#26)
    by TeresaInSnow2 on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:14:05 PM EST
    That doesn't mean it's good insurance, or how much of the premiums the employers are paying.

    Offering and providing are two different things.

    They say they're "subsidizing".  But what does that mean?

    Also, the article states that the law doesn't do anything to curb premiums.  

    ...and I'll editorialize that in fact the law has INCREASED premiums.  

    ...and at least in the case of individual insurees it has actually DECREASED benefits.  The insurance providers are increasing benefits they are mandated by law to increase, and decreasing benefits in other areas to make up for that.

    Parent

    My cousin is a contractor (5.00 / 1) (#28)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:34:23 PM EST
    on an Air Force base.  They will be switching insurance again in a few months, have only had the current coverage though for about six months.  The company he works for is trying to find something affordable though, and everytime they switch the coverage gets worse and worse.

    Parent
    If it wasn't being offered before, it's some (none / 0) (#30)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:38:15 PM EST
    improvement. Not gold star, but an improvement, none-the-less.

    Parent
    So hard to find a silver lining (none / 0) (#33)
    by christinep on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:43:12 PM EST
    when we don't want facts to intrude. C'mon Teresa, there may some good in the legislation after all.  (Advance apologies for my giving in to sarcasm. Yet, even in the bitterest of arguments over the years, most things and,certainly, most people have something to commend them.)

    Parent
    If there was some profound good (5.00 / 3) (#48)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:58:15 PM EST
    Why hasn't anyone been able to run on it?  Thems the facts right there.

    Parent
    I believe (none / 0) (#52)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:01:10 PM EST
    they could have if they were not such gutless ba$tards.

    Parent
    Sure (5.00 / 2) (#54)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:07:37 PM EST
    there was a lot of room to give Americans something wonderful, but that is not what happened and now insurance rates have gone through the roof too and good coverage is becoming something that is only for the wealthy and the CEOs.

    Parent
    You are forgetting our loyal (5.00 / 1) (#58)
    by Inspector Gadget on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:15:29 PM EST
    congressional leaders. They get to keep the Platinum policies they had without worry over rate hikes.


    Parent
    And therein (none / 0) (#53)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:05:09 PM EST
    lies the problem

    Parent
    Go figure. (none / 0) (#8)
    by Stellaaa on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:21:25 PM EST


    Parent
    Yes, we need a college football playoff system (none / 0) (#2)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 02:43:55 PM EST
    The fact that 4(?) of the current top 6 ranked programs are not eligible for the national title because of the conference they play in, even though they have perfect records, is ridiculous.

    They are eligible, (none / 0) (#4)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 02:58:14 PM EST
    but not automatic BCS bowl conference affiliated.

    Parent
    That's what I meant to say (none / 0) (#5)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:02:18 PM EST
    Thanks for the correction.

    They should be automatically eligible.  They play Division 1 (or whatever it's called now) - they should be eligible.

    I think Boise State is a good example of these teams "keeping up with the big boys".

    Parent

    Absolutely! Take the top 16 teams (none / 0) (#68)
    by Farmboy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:30:48 PM EST
    and put them in eight bowls played across a Thurs-Fri-Sat span the week after Thanksgiving. The next week play out a bowl game Thurs night, another Fri night, then two on Sat. Two more bowl games the following Sat, then championship on New Years.

    There would be a need to share out the TV revenue in some fashion, and other financial hassles with which to deal, but I'd love to see a playoff system get worked out.

    Parent

    Should Obama have focused (none / 0) (#70)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:44:51 PM EST
    his mid-term campaigning efforts on his support for a college football playoff sytem?  He did previously state he supports such a change.

    Parent
    Who will write this? (none / 0) (#9)
    by Stellaaa on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:24:45 PM EST
    I want to see a very good comparison of Netroots and Tea Party.  How  each used, wasted, or increased their power?  The power if any within the parties.  Their trajectories.  Compare the methods used and the impact of the methods.

    Did Netroots become obsolete this election?  Over shadowed by the Tea Party?  I thought we had the power, or the key to power.  

    When (5.00 / 1) (#11)
    by Ga6thDem on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:33:20 PM EST
    the netroots stopped caring about issues and moved onto Obama apologia is when they really stopped becoming relevant in many ways.

    From personal experience with Tea Partiers, i dont see that movement lasting into the next election simply because 1) they are expecting the GOP to answer to all of their demands and 2) there are no cohesive agreement on issues.

    Parent

    Gay Panic Defense? (none / 0) (#10)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:30:13 PM EST
    In August 2008, openly gay Pace University  student Jason Pravia, 19, was murdered  in his Chelsea apartment after he left a downtown party. According to reports, Pravia left the party extremely drunk and went to Union Square to score drugs. There he met Jeromie Cancel, 22, an occasional dealer and former mental patient who accompanied Pravia back to his apartment. After Pravia fell asleep, Cancel suffocated him with a plastic bag and robbed his apartment. When asked by police why he'd killed Pravia, Cancel reportedly said, "Because I wanted to. You gotta problem with that?"

    Cancel is about to go on trial for second degree murder. According to Duncan Osborne at Gay City News, his lawyers may be preparing a gay panic defense.



    More recent news reports suggest the defense (none / 0) (#15)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:52:02 PM EST
    will present "severe emotional stress," or some such, not gay panic...

    Parent
    that was joe my gods term (none / 0) (#20)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:03:28 PM EST
    but I didnt really see it in the story.

    Parent
    Should have been charged as first degree (none / 0) (#73)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:48:14 PM EST
    murder in the course of burglary.  

    Parent
    Andrew Breitbart... (none / 0) (#17)
    by Tony on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 03:52:42 PM EST
    dropped completely from ABC coverage of the election.  This should lead to a right-wing meltdown of epic and hilarious proportions.  No clue what ABC was thinking from the start on this one.

    Hahaha. Good. (none / 0) (#19)
    by lilburro on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:02:41 PM EST
    However, the right wing is always in meltdown mode.  

    Parent
    Good to know (none / 0) (#29)
    by ruffian on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:35:53 PM EST
    I can keep them on my channel rotation tonight.

    Parent
    playoff (none / 0) (#18)
    by jharp on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:00:19 PM EST
    "we really need a college football playoff"

    No we don't. The old system worked beautifully. So what if there are co-champions.

    Under the old rules you could have 3 or 4 games that could decide the title. Easily 4 teams could have a shot on New Years day.

    Hair pulling? (none / 0) (#21)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:05:42 PM EST
    I've kept my sense of humor all day.  I expect it to hold tomorrow and through the holidays as well :)  There is herding cats....and then there are cat fights :)

    NEVER (5.00 / 2) (#23)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:07:43 PM EST
    underestimate the value of a sense of humor.  and this philosophy

    Parent
    And now you drag science into it (none / 0) (#25)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:10:02 PM EST


    Parent
    BTD... (none / 0) (#24)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:09:09 PM EST
    ...here is a little something for you to plug into your little system for this Saturday.

    Iowa has never, ever won an away game on November 6th. Iowa is 0-6 on this day outside of Iowa City (hell, they're only 4-5 at home on this cursed day). Throw in that Ethan Hawke and Sally Field were both born on this day and you'd have to believe that anything short of a cataclysm on Saturday is a win for mankind. So cross your fingers and toes in hope that all Iowa endures is a loss on the field.

    If that doesn't convince you to pick Indiana, I don't know what will.  But, I would consider it a nice birthday present if you did.

    Curious. How do you know all this? (none / 0) (#74)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:50:10 PM EST
    Is this a significant day for all of Iowa or University of Iowa?  

    Parent
    Between calls to... (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 06:26:36 PM EST
    ....Medicare, UHC and various health care providers, I don't have time (or the patience) to come up with this stuff on my own.  

    I have to depend on my fellow Hawk fanatics at Black Heart Gold Pants (see the link in my original comment).  

    Here's the Michigan version of BHGP--called Maize n Brew.

    In answer to your question, my birthday is a significant day for the entire universe!

    Parent

    Ha. My Dad used to slip (none / 0) (#83)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 06:36:12 PM EST
    his birthday as a "national holiday" into a sermon once in awhile to see if his children were listening.

    Parent
    Were you? (none / 0) (#87)
    by MileHi Hawkeye on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 10:14:14 PM EST


    Parent
    Sometimes. He kind of wandered. (none / 0) (#88)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 11:34:41 PM EST


    Parent
    I predict (none / 0) (#32)
    by CST on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:42:12 PM EST
    that on December 21, 2012 - the apocalypse comes.

    So remember everyone, whomever you vote for today, is the last person that will ever hold that office.

    How do YOU want the world to look in the end?

    I'd like to see the NYG be undefeated, please. (none / 0) (#35)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:43:34 PM EST


    Parent
    sorry (none / 0) (#43)
    by CST on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:54:53 PM EST
    there are two more years of baseball ahead of us.. I doubt they go undefeated through 2 full baseball seasons :)

    Parent
    NYGiants. I'm only mildly interested (none / 0) (#86)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 08:43:08 PM EST
    in the SFGiants...

    Parent
    they will find a way (none / 0) (#36)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:43:57 PM EST
    to blame it on Obama

    Parent
    Never fear (none / 0) (#38)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:45:14 PM EST
    The Mayans calculated incorrectly.

    They're off by 50 or 100 years.

    Parent

    I guess I better stop spending all my money, (5.00 / 4) (#45)
    by honora on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:55:43 PM EST
    and eating and drinking with abandon.  

    Parent
    Let's not get COMPLETELY crazy now! (5.00 / 2) (#49)
    by jbindc on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:59:33 PM EST


    Parent
    saw that (none / 0) (#39)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:45:46 PM EST
    um, about all those discovery channel shows . . . .

    Parent
    50 years (none / 0) (#51)
    by CST on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:01:08 PM EST
    could be fun... I'm kind of curious as to how the world will end.  I've got some more living I'd like to do first though.

    Parent
    Like we are ready for Jesus (none / 0) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:55:17 PM EST
    Oh wait....is this a Jesusy end of the world?

    Parent
    not so (none / 0) (#47)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:56:45 PM EST
    much actually

    Parent
    oh my (none / 0) (#34)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:43:21 PM EST
    quoted today

    "I think actually a third-party candidate could run the government easier than a partisan  political president because the partisan political president - yeah he's got half the votes, but he can't get the others - whereas the guy in the middle may very well be able to get enough across the aisle," Bloomberg said.


    Gee, I wonder who Bloomberg (5.00 / 3) (#46)
    by MO Blue on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:55:45 PM EST
    would recommend for a third-party candidate? hehe ;-)

    Parent
    We need a C(h)rist figure.. (none / 0) (#50)
    by observed on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:00:36 PM EST


    Parent
    If I had to guess, I would think (5.00 / 3) (#55)
    by MO Blue on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:12:09 PM EST
    that Bloomberg's #1 choice for a third party candidate would be someone closer to home. Like maybe, Bloomberg.

    Parent
    da (none / 0) (#37)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:44:40 PM EST
    link

    Parent
    But, captain (none / 0) (#41)
    by christinep on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:51:52 PM EST
    if the country remains divided, polarized, and disdaining the center (where it might be considered treachery to shake hands with one of the other side), how, pray tell, is Hizzoner Bloomberg going to finesse that?

    Parent
    well (5.00 / 2) (#42)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:53:26 PM EST
    the rubes all say they want people to compromise and get stuff done.  they say that on the way to vote for Sharon Angle.

    Parent
    Da dum! You are really on today (5.00 / 1) (#60)
    by Cream City on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:23:00 PM EST
    so I hope that you do hang around tonight for more one-liners like this and others here.

    Parent
    cant (none / 0) (#64)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:26:04 PM EST
    my home computer died and I have not replaced it.
    I will miss you guys too.

    Parent
    just happy (none / 0) (#67)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:29:59 PM EST
    its been an easy day at work.

    Parent
    You can't cure stupid. (5.00 / 2) (#61)
    by MO Blue on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:23:37 PM EST
    Proposition B - Puppy Mill legislation

    Wes Mathany, 55, of south St. Louis County loves dogs, including his 3-year-old yellow labrador retriever, Josie. But he thinks adding more restrictiosn on dog breeders is the wrong way to go. He is concerned it could be extended into agriculture, posing a hardship on farmers. link

    Proposition B has nothing to do that with agriculture. MO laws do not somehow have an automatic extender provision that allows them to harm agriculture and farmers.

    Parent

    A new antonym for "severability." (none / 0) (#75)
    by oculus on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:53:44 PM EST


    Parent
    seen this everywhere today. (none / 0) (#40)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 04:46:53 PM EST
    and it is pretty hilarious.

    the worst newscast evah

    From MA-04: (none / 0) (#57)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:14:05 PM EST
    A Bielat aide emails me to report "very high" turnout across the district, which "favors us."  Also mentions that WHDH-TV (Boston's NBC affiliate) is reporting that Barney Frank's camp is "worried."
    HEY (5.00 / 1) (#72)
    by CST on Tue Nov 02, 2010 at 05:48:02 PM EST
    There will be no pre-emptive raining on this parade!  GO BARNEY!!!!!

    Parent
    Tuesday Afternoon Open Thread | 88 comments (88 topical)

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