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Monday Night Open Thread

Our earlier open thread is full, so here's another one.

In local news, Denver's Manager of Public Safety has resigned in the wake of complaints about his inadequate discipline of officers in two cases of excessive force. The videos of the beatings are very disturbing.

And Colorado Governor Bill Ritter announced plans to rebalance the budget. Among the numbers: The state expects to take in $9 million from medical marijuana licenses.

I'm off to watch "Weeds." All topics welcome.

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    Scaring Even the Wingnuts (none / 0) (#1)
    by squeaky on Mon Aug 23, 2010 at 10:29:30 PM EST
    Gingrich Won't Explain Why He's Backing Out Of Participating In 9/11 Anti-Mosque Rally

    ..... Other speakers included former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton, right-wing media tycoon Andrew Breitbart, and, notably, the far-right Dutch Parliamentarian Geert Wilders, best known for his self-described "hate" towards Islam.

    Bolton will appear.. lol

    As Digby said in the link you recommended (none / 0) (#7)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 08:50:27 AM EST
    I have a feeling that some of the people who have thrown in their lot with these creeps are going to get splashed with it themselves before this is over.

    This would not look good in Gingrich's 2012 presidential campaign, in which he would have to tack to the center eventually. He is nothing if not shrewd.

    Parent

    Yes (none / 0) (#12)
    by squeaky on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:11:52 AM EST
    But the great irony is that Gingrich has the same message as Geert Wilders, that Muslims are the equivalent of Nazis.

    Parent
    back pedal back pedal back pedal (none / 0) (#16)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:18:21 AM EST
    Who was it that said Pat Buchanan's 2000 convention speech sounded much better in the original German? Best line ever.

    I guess Gingrich's comments sound better in the original Dutch.

    Parent

    lol (none / 0) (#22)
    by squeaky on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:21:27 AM EST
    Molly Ivins (none / 0) (#37)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:37:41 AM EST
    nt

    Parent
    What's intersting is that (none / 0) (#49)
    by jondee on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 02:34:31 PM EST
    Buchanan didn't start getting tarred with the Nazi brush until he started deviating from stand-behind-everything-Israel-does party line with his "paleo-conservative" approach.

    Before that, he was just garden variety, dime-a-dozen, reactionary, red baiting conservative.

    Parent

    corporate indifference and violations (none / 0) (#2)
    by kgoudy on Mon Aug 23, 2010 at 10:38:39 PM EST
    there was a great article in the NY times today on federal judges refusing to accept settlements where corporations screwed the public, and the general ennui this strong standoff encountered

    He's Baaaaack (none / 0) (#3)
    by squeaky on Mon Aug 23, 2010 at 11:22:52 PM EST
    Mark Williams, who famously wrote,
    "Dear Mr. Lincoln," began the fictional letter posted by Williams. "We Coloreds have taken a vote and decided that we don't cotton to that whole emancipation thing. Freedom means having to work for real, think for ourselves, and take consequences along with the rewards. That is just far too much to ask of us Colored People and we demand that it stop!"
    and had to resign as tea party leader, is back.

    Politically correct Judenrats like New York Mayor Michael Boomberg and Scott Stringer (Manhattan Borough President) and domestic enemies who are supporting the mosque - with open ties to Islamic Terrorist organizations....

    When asked what does judenrat mean, he replied:

    Judenrat is essentially the same as Sonderkommando. It is a degrogatory term for the Jews who collaborated with the Nazis. Judenrats were Jews who turned in people like Anne Frank and the Sonderkommando were Jews in the Camps who led other Jews into the "showers".
    Bloomberg and Stringer are exactly that, selling out not just Jews but all Civilized Mankind to the 21 Century Nazi ideology of Radical Islam as represented by Ground Zero Mosque.

    Read a book.

    Muslims are the new Nazis.

    Sleeper Cells (none / 0) (#4)
    by squeaky on Mon Aug 23, 2010 at 11:30:43 PM EST
    SANTA FE, N.M. -- An investigation has found that a former Bureau of Land Management official in New Mexico who oversaw one of the largest onshore mineral production areas in the U.S. took gifts from an oil company and misused travel funds.

    But it is OK he just resigned:

    Steve Henke, Former BLM Director, Selected To Lead New Mexico's Oil And Gas Industry Group

    "We cannot help but view Mr. Henke's sudden hiring by NMOGA as an example of the cozy relationship between industry and government officials that Interior Secretary Salazar has committed to confronting," said the letter, which also was sent to members of New Mexico's congressional delegation.



    Hate From All Directions (none / 0) (#5)
    by squeaky on Mon Aug 23, 2010 at 11:49:55 PM EST
    I decided to look up Cordoba on the web (none / 0) (#6)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 08:14:10 AM EST
    to refresh my memory. this led to an examination of Islamic rule in Iberia, examination of the caliphates, and then delving into the various denominations (some might say sects) of islam itself.

    Some excellent sources are available online, and even a short read of dome of them reveal the simplicity of many statements about Islam in Iberea, and further, about attitudes we're seeing surrounding the Mosque in lower Manhattan.

    I won't post many links (even though squeaky showed me an easy way to do it, thanks again), but some interesting history there.

    For example: The Great Mosque of Cordova, now called Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, was a visigoth church before the conquista. the church was purchased by the emir ( from whom, haven't found out yet). The visigoths had taken Cordoba by force from the Byzantines, who took over when the Western Roman Empire failed.

    The Visigoth king was alleged to have raped the daughter of a North African Christian, who allied with the Moslems to defeat the visgoths. The visigoth king was also betrayed by some of his alleged supporters (obviously a popular guy).

    It was a place of learning, law,religion, and philosophy during Moslem rule.

    More later, as my web journey continues. having access to ebooks and journals again makes life fun.

    "learning, law,religion, and philosophy" (none / 0) (#8)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:01:05 AM EST
    well there you go.
    we cant have THAT

    Parent
    oh dear god (none / 0) (#9)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:02:24 AM EST
    Im hip

    if only they could see me today.  fluorescent pink pride tshirt, cut off bib overalls and vibrams.

    I am sure they would approve

    I knew there was a reason (none / 0) (#10)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:04:06 AM EST
    other than "Hung" that I liked Thomas Jane

    Parent
    I love that they call them 'five-fingers' shoes (none / 0) (#13)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:14:07 AM EST
    As that site says, shouldn't it be 'five-toes' ?

    I'm looking for new shoes to wear around the house, Slippers are too loose, and tennis shoes too much of a pain to take on and off. My canvas mules got too stretched out... maybe some 5-toed shoes would be good...

    Parent

    I absolutely love them (none / 0) (#15)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:16:38 AM EST
    I have not worn regular shoes in months.

    I am hoping they make a winter snow boot version.
    but probably not.

    Parent

    Do you wear socks with them? (none / 0) (#18)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:19:37 AM EST
    if not, how do you keep them clean inside the toes?

    Parent
    impossible (none / 0) (#20)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:20:41 AM EST
    unless they are toe socks.

    toss them in the washer.


    Parent

    Well (none / 0) (#19)
    by squeaky on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:19:56 AM EST
    I better get a pair before they stop making them.....

    Have not seen anyone wearing them, one of the major NYC stores listed on the vibram site has evidentially removed them from their inventory...

    Problem is that they are super unfashionable, and really geeky looking.

    Parent

    geek (none / 0) (#23)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:21:40 AM EST
    is the new hot

    Parent
    Well (none / 0) (#24)
    by squeaky on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:25:46 AM EST
    That may be... although it is not helping me.. lol

    Problem is that these don't really look geeky fashionable, they look geeky reptilian, freak feet from an experiment gone awry.. geek meets horror film...

    If they were geek fashionable, everyone would be wearing them..

    Parent

    wait (none / 0) (#25)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:29:29 AM EST
    No (none / 0) (#28)
    by squeaky on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:07:19 AM EST
    I am getting two pair now, because they will not be available much longer...

    Parent
    dont think so (none / 0) (#34)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:30:16 AM EST
    I agree with the project runway guys.
    they are not going away.
    no one can keep them in stock.  the place here I bought them says they have had more inquires about them than anything they have ever sold

    Parent
    OK (none / 0) (#36)
    by squeaky on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:33:59 AM EST
    Fashion has never been about comfort, practicability, or logic..

    Mostly fashion is about enduring physical pain, not the emotional  pain some feel every day because they are odd...

    Parent

    that's a very NY (none / 0) (#38)
    by CST on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:41:33 AM EST
    point of view about fashion.  Not that it's wrong per se - but it's also not really how it works outside of the city.

    If I were to dress up like that every day people here would definitely look at me strange.  It would be "fashion" in the "avant-garde, technical" sense.  But it wouldn't be "fashion" in the "fit in with what everyone else is wearing" sense.

    It's a much more conservative culture.  So on a practical level, "fashion" here is more about logic.  Of course many NYers say there is no "fashion" here.  So I guess it just depends on how you define the term.

    Parent

    Yes (none / 0) (#39)
    by squeaky on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:54:30 AM EST
    I agree, but the type of fashion you describe is conservative. Hush Puppies...

    These shoes are not conservative, they are radical, and stick out like a sore toe... lol

    Parent

    yes but at the same time (none / 0) (#43)
    by CST on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 11:08:41 AM EST
    I can picture my mom/dad wearing these on vacation or something.  Which on a personal level seems inherently uncool.

    Parent
    well (none / 0) (#41)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 11:03:35 AM EST
    surprisingly for a gay man I know squat about fashion and care less but these are all about comfort, practicability and logic

    Parent
    Yeah (none / 0) (#42)
    by squeaky on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 11:05:31 AM EST
    That is why I am going to buy 2 pair before they disappear...

    Parent
    bring (none / 0) (#44)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 11:10:28 AM EST
    about 200 bucks

    Parent
    heh (none / 0) (#27)
    by CST on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:03:08 AM EST
    I wonder how these look with ripped skinny jeans, plaid shirts, and bangles.

    Parent
    imagine them on a (none / 0) (#29)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:08:53 AM EST
    fat, balding, gimpy 50-something-- I might have to get a pair, just to anticool them :-P

    Parent
    yea I won't (none / 0) (#32)
    by CST on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:21:01 AM EST
    personally, I like to let my feet "breathe" as much as possible.  If my feet were hard core enough to walk around barefoot all the time I would do that as much as possible.  As it is I try to stretch flip-flop weather for a long time and even when I'm at work I try to get away with sandals or flats with no socks as long as possible.  A shoe with toes seems like the antithesis of that.

    Plus, two of my toes are somewhat... webbed... for lack of a better term.  So I don't even know if/how they would fit.

    Parent

    I've found that the knockoff (none / 0) (#33)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:25:38 AM EST
    croc-style shoes are helping me with foot and ankle pain. Also, they don't cover or hit the mis-shapen areas either. I can probably get by with them for 46-48 weeks per year here. Just the thought of putting on a shoe is kind of scary, based on what I went through.

    However, the cold ought not be as painful this year, I hope.

    Parent

    heh (none / 0) (#46)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 01:06:29 PM EST
    not sure about the webbing.  we hillbillies used to joke about flatlanders having webbed toes.  born in a flood plane?
    but the breathing would not be a problem.  they are very breathable fabric.  and mesh.
    it may look like your toes are bound up but it doesnt feel like it at all.  it feels like you are wearing nothing.
    but then I think my feet are particularly suited for them.  when I bought them I amazed the salesperson by just slipping them on.  which is what I always do.  they just pop on and off like any other slip on shoe.  but that is apparently not true for everyone.

    Parent
    Chuck Hagel endorsement of Joe Sestak (none / 0) (#11)
    by MO Blue on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:09:37 AM EST
    HARRISBURG, Pa. -- Former Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel, a Republican who has broken ranks in the past with the GOP, gave Democrat Joe Sestak his second major endorsement from moderates in a week in his bid for a hotly contested Senate seat in Pennsylvania.

    Hagel told The Associated Press on Monday that Sestak has demonstrated during his two terms in Congress that he puts the interests of the nation and his constituents ahead of his party.
    link

    Good news - bad news?

    I think its good news (none / 0) (#17)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:18:28 AM EST
    I think it's good (none / 0) (#21)
    by ruffian on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:21:03 AM EST
    If for no other reason than getting the moderate Republican stamp of approval without the baggage and lunacy of Arlen Specter.

    Parent
    I think it will help in Pennsylvania. (none / 0) (#31)
    by jeffinalabama on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:12:33 AM EST
    Fairly socially conservative, fiscally conservative, middle of the road Reagan Democrats and MOR republicans. His military rank won't hurt in Pennsylvania, either.

    Parent
    Support the Cordoba Center (none / 0) (#14)
    by MO Blue on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:14:17 AM EST
    Watch Fox News. :-)

    News Corp. is not just a beneficiary of Prince Al-waleed's dough. It has also invested $70 million in his Saudi media conglomerate. And Prince Al-Waleed is not just a $3 billion stakeholder in News Corp. He's also a backer of that same Imam Rauf. As Yahoo News reports, Prince Al-Waleed has directly funded two of Rauf's projects to the tune of more than $300,000. link

    If you haven't watched the Jon Stewart clip, take the time to watch it. It is both amusing and eye opening.

    Think traffic is bad in your area? (none / 0) (#26)
    by MO Blue on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 09:32:19 AM EST
    BEIJING (AP) -- A massive traffic jam in north China that stretches for dozens of miles and hit its 10-day mark on Tuesday stems from road construction in Beijing that won't be finished until the middle of next month, an official said.

    Bumper-to-bumper gridlock spanning for 60 miles (100 kilometers) with vehicles moving little more than a half-mile (one kilometer) a day at one point has improved since this weekend, said Zhang Minghai, director of Zhangjiakou city's Traffic Management Bureau general office.

    Some drivers have been stuck in the jam for five days.....link



    ahhh (none / 0) (#30)
    by CST on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:11:00 AM EST
    man and I thought it was bad doing the east-coast boston-NY drive.

    A half mile a day?   I would abandon my car, get out, and walk.  Why would anyone choose to drive this?

    Parent

    heh (none / 0) (#35)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:33:45 AM EST
    I just got the end of our final post production milestone moved one day from 12/20 to 12/21 so it would be exactly two years before the end of the world.

    Shirley Sherrod says No (none / 0) (#40)
    by MO Blue on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 10:54:33 AM EST
    WASHINGTON -- Shirley Sherrod, the Agriculture Department official ousted during a racial firestorm last month, declined Tuesday to return to the agency, though she said it was tempting.

    Sherrod and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said that she may work with the agency in a consulting capacity in the future to help it improve its outreach to minorities. She told reporters she did not think she could say yes to a job "at this point, with all that has happened." link



    so long whackos (none / 0) (#45)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 01:00:39 PM EST
    its been real.

    Local Web site DCRTV.com reported Monday that Preston Moon, son of the Rev. Sun Myung Moon who runs the paper, planned to break the news via press release on Friday that he planned to shutter the paper.

    In DCRTV's report, the closure was halted due to a last-minute offer from an unknown bidder to purchase the conservative newspaper. Preston Moon and his family have long been fighting over the future of the former daily. DCRTV's unnamed source told the Web site that Preston Moon has had it with the paper and isn't interested in making a deal.

    "It is now about showing Daddy Moon who has the bigger cajones," the source told DCRTV. "If this offer -- and it is a reasonable one -- is rejected, the paper could close its doors this week, just shy of 30 years in the nation's capital."




    Rangel on dignity (none / 0) (#47)
    by MO Blue on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 01:24:43 PM EST
    3 weeks ago Obama opined that he hoped Rangel could end his career with dignity. Rep. Rangel responded Monday:

    Speaking at a candidate's forum Monday night in New York City, Rangel said the president hasn't "been around long enough to determine what my dignity is."

    The 80-year-old congressman said it was more likely he would protect Obama's dignity over the next two years. link



    the wages of sin (none / 0) (#48)
    by Capt Howdy on Tue Aug 24, 2010 at 02:26:04 PM EST
    and fame
    ahhhh the poor Palins

    Between this and the Kathy Gustafson video, the "First Dude's" PR efforts are building a "Sarah Palin vs. the Lamestream Citizenry" narrative that likely doesn't help their relationship with the media. While Sarah Palin exercised restraint in this clip, she's still the one who will reap whatever press results from it, good or bad.