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    your tax dollars at work (5.00 / 1) (#2)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:30:49 AM EST
    just got this from a friend who works for NASA:

    The Constellation program funding was cut but I think someone forgot to tell the NASA team that I am contracted with. We are currently playing with two 18′ diameter aluminum domes. The idea "was" to build a common bulkhead between liquid oxygen and hydrogen and pray there would never be a leak. While this NASA team is going forward with the "experiment", NASA management has decided the cost of producing such a bulkhead will not give us the weight savings to cover the cost. So, after we finish it, it will just sit around until someone scraps it. Such is the operation of our government. But it is fun!!!!"


    sounds like fun (5.00 / 1) (#4)
    by CST on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:35:58 AM EST
    I have a hard time being outraged about random science experiments, no matter if it's eventually usefull or not in the profit sense.  Science would never go anywhere cool if it was limited to what's usefull.  You never know what you will learn in advance.  Although it does seem a bit off that they aren't aware their funding has been cut.

    10 years from now they could come back to it with some usefull purpose that we haven't thought of yet, and they'll know more or less what it takes to get this done.

    Or maybe I just like fun science.

    Parent

    Well said... (5.00 / 1) (#12)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:42:05 AM EST
    it sure beats wasting money puttin' human beings in cages, or occupying foreign countries...if all waste was science waste we'd be in good shape, at least it does no harm, which can't be said of all of our "wasteful" spending.

    Parent
    I guess (none / 0) (#5)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:38:26 AM EST
    it just seems like there are so many other things this country could be spending that money on RIGHT NOW.

    I am all for science for science sake.

    Parent

    not that I am not happy (none / 0) (#8)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:40:20 AM EST
    my buddy is employed and having fun and all.

    Parent
    NYC Tax dollars at work... (none / 0) (#3)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:35:32 AM EST
    I keep tellin' y'all to stop calling the police but nobody wants to listen to me:)

    Yep, the NYPD is at it again, this time one of their own.  Linkage

    Parent

    Just like the military (none / 0) (#15)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:43:31 AM EST
    Well not zactly, sometimes you can sell stuff and do a "budget swapping" with the National Guard, and they have to stand their with their hands on their hips wondering what in the hell they are supposed to do with this crap :)

    Parent
    a story (5.00 / 1) (#26)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:11:03 AM EST
    in the mid eighties I was hired by McDonnel Douglas. wont bore you with the specifics but it was a non weapon military contract.  they hired me and several hundred others, and put us in a building.  once there (after many had uprooted families, moved there, bought houses etc) we learned that we were in limbo because they were really just bidding on the contract.  Im serious no one was told this until we were there, that they had to hire us because to be able to bid on the contract they had to have the personal in place.
    so we waited. I was a graphics person and I did not even have a computer.  some people came in and sat all day reading or whatever.  after a month or so I started coming in at 11 having lunch and leaving at about 2. this went on for more than a year before they lost the contract and fired everyone.
    I got disgusted and quit after about three months.
     

    Parent
    You will need to stay away from my (none / 0) (#46)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:49:48 AM EST
    spouse.  He will try to recruit you for the Brit software company that is supposed to be making his training simulations.  He wants them as accurate and realistic as possible with less need to learn while being fired upon :)  When he deployed he fell of the radar of affecting all that....BUT HE'S BACK NOW.

    Parent
    Hey, i'm a flight sim sw engineer (none / 0) (#52)
    by ruffian on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:55:03 AM EST
    Which Brit company, if you are allowed to say?

    Parent
    BAE, and they are into everything right now (none / 0) (#59)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:18:23 PM EST
    where my spouse takes up space.  They are very aggressive about finding and keeping good people too.  My husband has no expertise in what you do, but when he goes to the meetings he is very good at telling them what they need to provide in order to give the military what it will most successfully use, reuse, update, and treasure.  He actually inspired two different companies to unite because one company had the vehicle simulation down very well but lacked some other things that BAE had.  Before he deployed they did offer him a spot working for them if he wanted to retire.  That was my first first hand experience with how and why that whole military industrial complex thing exists.  And some aspects are very functional and some aspects are really horrible, but fewer of them these days.  Everyone needs to be riding the edge because of the two war situation and most are.  If you want more info I can have him email it to you.  It never hurts to know where fires for irons are.

    Parent
    One of my husband's really horrible (none / 0) (#61)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:21:24 PM EST
    politically incorrect jokes when all the boys are lined up playing video games is to sigh deeply and heartfeltly and say, "The next generation of U.S. soldiers".  As technology advances though, eerily so it seems.

    Parent
    42 yrs ago this week, (5.00 / 1) (#22)
    by brodie on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:59:26 AM EST
    the infamous 1968 Dem Convo took place.  Po-leece riot, agents provocateurs among the demonstrators egging them on to confrontation, a few stupid non-agent lefty leaders acting badly, several establishment pols showing poor or no leadership, and all the rest.

    Me, I was too young to attend, but watched a good deal on the teevee -- half Walter Cronkite on CBS, half Chet and David on NBC (sponsored by Gulf Oil).  Back then -- for our younger readers -- the major networks (or two of the 3 anyway), actually covered the conventions all day and night -- literally gavel to gavel for 4 days.

    Still though would like to find a good, comprehensive documentary of that convention, one that has plenty of network video, interviews, the works, from the many angles.  Seen a few, but all were badly flawed partial glimpses, or that one sorta cinéma vérité film inside the larger fictional film that was done in real time (title escapes me -- was it "The Strawberry Statement"?), which was too quirky and not the straightforward complete picture I'm looking for.  

    it radicalized me (none / 0) (#24)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:04:15 AM EST
    I got out of high school the next year.

    Parent
    Why Democrats Will Keep The House (5.00 / 1) (#65)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:29:37 PM EST
    Cash for Clunkers (3.00 / 2) (#28)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:12:26 AM EST
    Cash for Clunkers hurts the working poor and lower middle class.

    That should not be too much of a surprise as destroying thousands of serviceable used vehicles will impact the price of those that remain.  Its so nice to have an administration that either does not understand markets, or does not care who gets hurt as long as the UAW's political spending does not take a hit.

    are you seriously (none / 0) (#32)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:25:35 AM EST
    suggesting there is a shortage of used cars in this country?

    Parent
    It appears the price is up... (5.00 / 1) (#42)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:39:28 AM EST
    which means we could use some more used cars to get the prices down to make them affordable to more people...but the government appeared to be interested in propping up new car sales at the expense of used car sales.  Rigged markets strike again...great for auto manufacturers and new car dealers, sucks for broke-d*cks trying to save for a used car.

    I thought it was a waste of perfectly good cars affordable for working people when the cash for clunkers thing went down....waste not want not is what moms always said.

    Parent

    dude (none / 0) (#43)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:42:32 AM EST
    look out the window.  if there is one thing that there is no shortage of in this country its used cars.

    Parent
    Dude... (5.00 / 2) (#51)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:53:29 AM EST
    if there were more of them, they'd be even cheaper...I think that's a good thing for broke-d*cks.

    You just don't throw away perfectly good sh*t...if anything you give it away to the needy.  You don't take a hammer to perfectly good sh*t, in my world that is a sin.

    Parent

    some people think (none / 0) (#54)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:59:12 AM EST
    that the gas they were using and the crap they were spewing into the air was a sin.

    Im sorry.  I dont believe for a second that affordable used cars are not available.  really NEW used cars may be in short supply but that is not going to effect really needy people.  they would not be buying those anyway.


    Parent

    If that is the case... (none / 0) (#55)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:06:04 PM EST
    our whole way of life is a sin...and that might not be too far from the truth:)

    Parent
    you are just (none / 0) (#56)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:09:10 PM EST
    figuring that out?
    ;-)

    Parent
    You don't believe in supply and demand? (5.00 / 1) (#80)
    by BrassTacks on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:14:24 PM EST
    You don't believe that more used cars brings down the prices?  
    I too thought it was terrible to destroy used cars that many people would be happy to purchase.  For some people, a 15 year old car would be all they could afford.

    Parent
    and you do not believe there are plenty of (none / 0) (#81)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:16:36 PM EST
    15 year old cars?

    Parent
    cars in the U.S. (none / 0) (#97)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 04:40:05 PM EST
    dropped by four million in 2009

    PRESS RELEASE:

    U.S. Car Fleet Shrinks by Four Million in 2009
    After a Century of Growth, U.S. Fleet Entering Era of Decline

    WASHINGTON, DC - Lester Brown, president of the Earth Policy Institute, will report that America's century-old love affair with the automobile may be coming to an end during a teleconference with reporters on Wednesday, January 6th at 11:00 AM EST.

    In 2009, the 14 million cars scrapped exceeded the 10 million new cars sold, shrinking the U.S. fleet by 4 million-nearly two percent in just one year. The U.S. fleet, totaling 250 million in 2008, dropped to 246 million in 2009. Brown thinks this shrinkage will continue through 2020.

    Brown says there are several reasons for this decline. "One is market saturation. The United States now has 246 million registered motor vehicles and 209 million licensed drivers-nearly 5 vehicles for every 4 drivers.

    Other reasons for the U.S. car fleet shrinkage are ongoing urbanization, economic uncertainty, oil insecurity, the prospect of higher gasoline prices, the rising costs of traffic congestion, mounting concerns about climate change, and the declining interest in cars among young people who have grown up in cities."

    This shrinkage in the national fleet combined with gains in fuel efficiency will steadily reduce U.S. oil consumption and carbon emissions. It will also largely eliminate the need for building new streets and highways, and will set the stage for increased investment in public transit and high-speed intercity rail.



    Parent
    a shortage of used cars in this country? (5.00 / 1) (#57)
    by Abdul Abulbul Amir on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:11:41 PM EST
    I am not suggesting a "shortage."  Only that a somewhat shorter supply will mean a somewhat higher price.  That's Econ 101.

    Parent
    BJ debate (none / 0) (#39)
    by waldenpond on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:36:51 AM EST
    This was the 'debate' with BJs new glibertarian Kain.  He was easily corrected.  Brought up good statistics on the reduction of gas use.

    The argument is bogus in our area.  You used to have to pay blue book for a used car, not anymore.  We're looking at getting something for our 18 year old they are so cheap.

    Parent

    The UAW.. (none / 0) (#53)
    by jondee on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:58:39 AM EST
    you guys are nothing if not consistent..

    yes, don't hurt the working poor and lower middle class; until they start trying to form unions again - because they don't understand the magic of "markets" - then it's head breaking time.

    Parent

    bump (none / 0) (#1)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:29:07 AM EST
    tell me more about how republicans dont like Palin

    Palin 76%

    Huckabee 65%

    Gingrich 64%

    Romney 54%

    so she is 10 points ahead of Huck and Newt and 20 ahead of Mittens.

    July 16, 2010

    She also has the highest (5.00 / 1) (#6)
    by Anne on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:39:31 AM EST
    unfavorable numbers, and the others have very high undecided/don't know numbers: when those  start shifting into favorable/unfavorable - and they will - as people start paying more attention, I don't think Palin's numbers will hold where she is right now.  And I think the others are going to look better as time goes by, not worse.

    Parent
    She like a Hillary for stupid people :) (none / 0) (#9)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:41:02 AM EST
    Stupid People? (5.00 / 2) (#16)
    by squeaky on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:45:10 AM EST
    If you mean uneducated, and turned off by elitism, ivy league intellectuals, most of the country is "stupid".

    Parent
    She doesn't have a very good (none / 0) (#21)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:58:15 AM EST
    winning average when it comes to candidates that she was paid to support :)  She is a great self promoter though, and most of our current President have been just about nothing but that.  She does fit neatly into that category.

    Parent
    she is being credited for (none / 0) (#23)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:02:37 AM EST
    the loss of Murkowski.
    and credited and credited.   now that we have an actual class of 2010 republican candidates I am becoming less worried about the fall.  they are a bunch of yahoos.  several who want to outlaw ALL abortions even rape and incest, they want to get rid of the department of education and privatize SS.
    and on.  and on.

    if the democrats cant run with these facts they should find another line of work.  and I guess many will.

    Parent

    The loss of Murkowski (none / 0) (#35)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:32:03 AM EST
    will likely give us two Democratic Senators from Alaska now IMO.  

    Parent
    not according to (none / 0) (#38)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:36:01 AM EST
    my local relatives.  they say our chances went from zero to slim.


    Parent
    I'm not convinced (none / 0) (#44)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:44:55 AM EST
    The new Republican wants to shut off all of their Federal funding.  Perhaps if he changes his line on that.  They do make most of their money selling their natural resources though, and such states have felt the sting of this economy less thusfar.  They are only further down the food chain though, and when the world cuts back on it's consumptions (which it will) their economy is much less mixed than most of ours are and they are off the charts horribly horribly vulnerable to complete collapse at that point.

    Parent
    waiting to see (none / 0) (#45)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:48:23 AM EST
    if she tries to run as an indie.  they say its to late to register so she would have to do a write in or something like take the place of another candidate like the green party.

    that could matter.


    Parent

    "When the world (none / 0) (#48)
    by coast on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:50:38 AM EST
    cuts back on its consumptions (which it will)"...really?  I don't see that at all.

    Parent
    I lived in Gillette WY (none / 0) (#63)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:26:37 PM EST
    when the oil and gas industry took its last nose dive.  That was ugly.  And we did have banks taken over by the FDIC too, and people screaming and crying.  That was unpleasant.  A lot of people lost their home too and eventually the banks got proactive and began to call those who were still making payments and renegotiated their payoffs with them.

    When an economy is not mixed though and relies solely on the selling of its natural resources it can be very lucrative when things are going well, but it is terribly vulnerable when things are not.

    Parent

    here ya go (none / 0) (#60)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:19:34 PM EST
    Oh how pleasing (none / 0) (#66)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:30:38 PM EST
    Alaska will collapse now (none / 0) (#62)
    by Joan in VA on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:23:23 PM EST
    if they shun Federal dollars. They're #1? or #2? among states in differential between tax dollars they receive and tax dollars they pay. #1 in pork. 1/3 of jobs supported by federal dollars. I'm down with shutting off the funding and turning the whole place into a wildlife refuge though, so go ahead and vote for the nutbar, Alaskans.

    Parent
    I did not have these figures (none / 0) (#64)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:28:05 PM EST
    So the tea party dude is talking about making one in three Alaskans jobless :)

    Parent
    yep (5.00 / 1) (#67)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:32:19 PM EST
    Alaska Primary Results: If Joe Miller Pulls Out Win Over Lisa Murkowsi, Will Alaskans Really Turn Backs on Federal Government Largess?

    link

    Parent

    and he is not ever the craziest (5.00 / 1) (#68)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:32:51 PM EST
    sea monkey in the barrel

    Parent
    Yup, most of (none / 0) (#25)
    by Wile ECoyote on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:05:42 AM EST
    the country is uneducated.  

    Parent
    Yes (none / 0) (#30)
    by squeaky on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:19:08 AM EST
    Which accounts for Bush's ability to win POTUS twice, and your fondness of Palin.

    27% of americans get a college degree. Many of the rest are suspicious of anyone who talks better than Palin or Dubya.

    Parent

    I don't think so (none / 0) (#36)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:35:10 AM EST
    The Supreme Court gave him his first presidency after he couldn't completely slay the Clenis single handedly :), and the shock of 9/11 and being "at war" gave him his second term.  Maybe God did want him to be our President :)

    Parent
    Ha. New one for the "learn something (none / 0) (#50)
    by oculus on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:52:44 AM EST
    everyday" file.  "Clenis."

    Parent
    I dont' like Palin. (none / 0) (#103)
    by Wile ECoyote on Fri Aug 27, 2010 at 05:53:53 AM EST
    I believe she is as smart as the average Democrat voter.  
    I am suspicious of people who have to tell everyone how much smarter they are than everybody else.

    Parent
    Or just "educated" enough (none / 0) (#69)
    by jondee on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:34:05 PM EST
    to be chomping at the bit waiting for the Tribulation and Rapture to commence..

    If they're not receiving celestial messages through thier "temple garments"..

    Parent

    one point (none / 0) (#13)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:42:59 AM EST
    higher than everybodys fav Mittens (as opposed to a 22 point favorable gap)
    and three points higher than Newt (as opposed to a 12 point favorable gap)

    Parent
    That poll is over a month old (5.00 / 1) (#76)
    by jbindc on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 01:29:24 PM EST
    And means nothing.

    The only people pushing Palin and who love to broadcast her every word are Obama supporters who hope she's the nominee, because that is the only way he has an easy re-election.  Anyone else runs, and he will actually have to defend his record.  If the economy is still bad, he's toast.  

    I live in a city teeming with lots of Republicans, who work for Republicans.  Of the very few who like her, they still wouldn't vote for her for president.  

    Not. Gonna. Happen.

    Parent

    denial (none / 0) (#78)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 01:35:11 PM EST
    aint just a river in egypt

    Parent
    And hope (none / 0) (#84)
    by jbindc on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:27:42 PM EST
    And fairy dust, along with crossing your fingers and closing your eyes might get you what you want in Never Never Land, but that's not reality.

    Parent
    Especially since (none / 0) (#89)
    by jbindc on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:43:33 PM EST
    She's not really all that "magic"

    WASHINGTON - It's been a summer of setbacks for Sarah Palin. Candidate "cubs" endorsed by the Mama Grizzly in Chief have been suffering a recent string of primary election losses.

    The Republicans' 2008 vice presidential nominee promised a pack of "mama grizzly" candidates would rise up and defeat Democrats in this November's elections. But office-seekers she supported in Kansas, Wyoming and Washington state lost their primaries despite her high-profile endorsements. And Karen Handel lost her runoff contest for Georgia governor a day after sharing an Atlanta stage with Palin.

    SNIP

    Her choices have included a mix of tea party favorites and other antiestablishment figures.

    • She backed former Super Bowl champion Clint Didier over establishment-recruited Dino Rossi in Washington state's GOP Senate primary. Didier lost on Tuesday.

    • She supported staunchly conservative Rep. Todd Tiahrt in the Kansas GOP Senate primary. He was defeated by Rep. Jerry Moran on Aug. 3.

    • In Wyoming, Palin-endorsed candidate Rita Meyer -- whom Palin described as "a unique blend of steel magnolia and mama grizzly" -- lost a squeaker of a gubernatorial primary to Matt Mead.

    • And she's going with former New Hampshire Attorney General Kelly Ayotte over wealthy businessmen Bill Binnie and Jim Bender in the state's Sept. 14 Senate primary -- a move that drew a page one rebuke in the state's largest newspaper.

    SNIP

    Indeed, frustration with Palin has seemed to be growing, as she has waded into state races and challenged the national party's preferred candidates. She has defied Republican campaign committees' picks in favor of longshots, such as investor Brian Murphy in Maryland. Murphy is running against former Gov. Bob Ehrlich in the Sept. 14 primary.

    SNIP

    And the money quote:

    Palin remains a unifying figure -- for Democrats.


    Parent
    And then there's this (none / 0) (#91)
    by jbindc on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:52:08 PM EST
    Bit of more recent info: (my emphasis)

    Believe it or not, the race for the 2012 Republican presidential nomination is already underway in Iowa.  Potential candidates like Tim Pawlenty, Rick Santorum, and Newt Gingrich are already making frequent visits to the state that hosts the First-In-The-Nation Caucuses.

    While most people, including most Iowans, think that there is plenty of time before the 2012 presidential campaign will be in full swing, the clock is already counting down to caucus day 2012.  What these candidates realize that most people don't comprehend yet is that the first contest is the Iowa Straw Poll, which is now less than a year away.

    The Iowa Straw Poll is an event sponsored by the Republican Party of Iowa and has historically winnowed the field the presidential candidates the summer before the actual nominating process begins.  That means that one year from now, the presidential field will probably contract, just like it did in 2007, 1999, and 1996.

    With all of that in mind, TheIowaRepublican.com polled 399 Iowa Republicans who consider themselves likely voters.  We wanted to see what they think about the potential field of candidates as the 2012 presidential nomination gets underway.

    The poll shows that the 2012 contest is going to begin right where the 2008 Iowa Caucuses left off, with Mike Huckabee leading Mitt Romney.  Huckabee comes out on top of the poll garnering 22 percent, Romney finishes second with 18 percent, and Newt Gingrich finishes surprisingly well with 14 percent in third place.  Sarah Palin finishes a disappointing fourth with 11 percent.  Texas Congressman Ron Paul garnered 5 percent, while Pawlenty, and South Dakota Senator John Thune each received 1 percent.

    Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum garnered support in the poll but it did not surpass the one percent threshold.  Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour and Texas Governor Rick Perry did not register any support in the poll.  Twenty three percent of those surveyed remain undecided.  Huckabee and Romney's strength in the poll is expected as both were able to generate a lot of interest with their 2008 campaigns.  Obviously, many people remain loyal to the candidates they supported in 2008.

    Romney has already sent signals that he will likely run again in 2012.  His leadership PAC has raised more money than any other potential candidate, and he continues to travel the county.  While he is expected to be the frontrunner nationally, Huckabee will be the frontrunner in Iowa if he decides to make another try for the Republican nomination.



    Parent
    Just the idea (none / 0) (#93)
    by CST on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:55:31 PM EST
    of watching Mitt Romney on TV again made me throw up a little in my mouth.

    He's sooooo slimy, it's not even funny.

    Honestly, he might be the front runner, I don't know, but the idea of having a super-rich, ken-doll, ceo as president right now strikes me as a bit odd.  Talk about an anti-populist.

    Parent

    I can't even picture this guy (none / 0) (#95)
    by CST on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:59:05 PM EST
    clearing brush for the cameras.  He'd get his illegal immigrant gardner to do it while threatening to deport him on tv.

    Parent
    And if the Democrats (none / 0) (#101)
    by jondee on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 05:05:22 PM EST
    hadn't nominated her for Vice-President two years ago, pushed so hard for her to get hired on at Fox and got behind the idea of making her one of the faces of the Tea Party, that poor woman wouldn't be the target for the bullying Obots that she is today..

     

    Parent

    Isn't that sort of like saying (none / 0) (#7)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:40:20 AM EST
    that among Plague Enthusiasts the Black Plague is 10 points ahead of locusts and rivers turning to blood, and 20 points ahead of the overnight death of all first borns?

    Parent
    I will say it again (5.00 / 1) (#17)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:45:43 AM EST
    the name we should fear on that list is Huck.

    personally I do not fear Mitt.

    Parent

    Neither is remotely to (none / 0) (#19)
    by brodie on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:49:56 AM EST
    be feared.

    Only thing to fear is fe ... no, is a second major economic downturn in the next 2 yrs.

    That might make the race a little closer.

    So would a Bloomberg 3d Party candidacy ...

    Parent

    I think it depends on (5.00 / 1) (#20)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:53:25 AM EST
    who the parties are.  if its Palin I am not convinced a majority of votes would come from Obama.

    I have to tell you that I would look at what Bloomberg runs on seeing as how Obama has seemed nothing but in over his head for the last two years.

    Parent

    Never understood the fasciantion (none / 0) (#75)
    by christinep on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 01:27:42 PM EST
    some have with Bloomberg? And, calling to mind the last NYC mayoral race, a number of us others were surprised that the large sums he invested in re-election allowed for any significant votes for others. Has that situation been resolved?

    Parent
    to be honest (none / 0) (#77)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 01:33:16 PM EST
    I would look at anyone (which is all I said I would do) who is not a republican.

    color me fed up.


    Parent

    No reason to fear either (none / 0) (#82)
    by BrassTacks on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:25:02 PM EST
    Because neither Mitt or Huck will be the republican's candidate.  Too many republicans consider Huck to be a hick and Mitt's health care bill in MA will sink him.  

    Watch out for Chris Christy, or someone from FL, OH, or VA.  

    If the economy doesn't get MUCH better, it doesn't matter who they run, they'll win big.  Obama's lofty speeches won't matter at all.  

    Parent

    counting chickens (none / 0) (#86)
    by CST on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:35:16 PM EST
    before they are hatched.

    I wouldn't past Obama to bring it home in 2012 no matter who he's running against.

    I mean, even G.W.B. won a second term...  It's a lot harder to kick out an incumbent president than it is to win an open election.  Not saying it can't or won't happen.  Just saying, it's certainly not a given.  I would even go so far as to consider it unlikely.

    Parent

    Check. The GOP (none / 0) (#90)
    by brodie on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:44:51 PM EST
    still has to put up a plausible candidate, and if it's still a bad economy or worse, they still need someone who won't remind the voters either of Hoover or Shrub.  

    Not sure who that would be.

    Still, with a lousy economy, there's an opening for a Gooper to sneak in.  

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    The economy belongs to the (none / 0) (#105)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Aug 27, 2010 at 08:09:39 PM EST
    Demos and their Great Leader, Obama of Chicago!

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    very much like that (none / 0) (#10)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:41:24 AM EST
    as a matter of fact

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    Interesting - Got a link? (none / 0) (#11)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:41:39 AM EST
    I'd like to see the details...

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    your glasses (5.00 / 1) (#14)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:43:27 AM EST
    are on your forehead again Jim

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    Why thank you Capt (none / 0) (#27)
    by jimakaPPJ on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:11:07 AM EST
    went right by me...

    Guess it was more fun snarking at me rather than actually helping....

    BTW - Repubs win in a walk 2012 no matter who they, or the Demos, run.

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    dont be so touchie (none / 0) (#29)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:17:46 AM EST
    it was a joke.

    the glasses thing happens to me all the time.

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    I think that jimakaPPJ's prediction (none / 0) (#96)
    by Harry Saxon on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 04:31:10 PM EST
    will probably be as accurate as his expectations for the 2006 election.

     by jimakaPPJ on Mon Nov 06, 2006 at 01:35:00 PM EST

            I think the Demos are getting worried, and I see some whistling past the graveyard.

    Click me.

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    Hello Dark Avenger (none / 0) (#104)
    by jimakaPPJ on Fri Aug 27, 2010 at 08:08:02 PM EST
    I see that you have returned. From one extreme to the other, eh?

    BTW - No quoteee the past sins of the commentators is a house rule that I disagree with but it is still a rule..

    I know, I've had my knuckles rapped.

    But I still maintain that my point was correct.

    Even more so now.

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    You are sounding a bit paranoid, (none / 0) (#106)
    by Harry Saxon on Fri Aug 27, 2010 at 08:49:56 PM EST
    was this Dark Avenger someone who had to be banned because he tended to tell the truth about you, as I did with my previous comment?

    BTW - No quoteee the past sins of the commentators is a house rule that I disagree with but it is still a rule..

    I know, I've had my knuckles rapped.

    Yes, according the archives it took a number of times before you decided to take that rule here seriously.

    I'll demonstrate a learning curve superior to yours by not quoting you or any other commentator here from now on so I don't get my knuckles rapped.

    Your excerpt is charming but irrelevant, google my screen name or even look it up in the Wiki if you like.

    Again, thanks for the misguide attempt to identify me with someone else, it defined you for who are.

    As for predictions here's mine:

    Palin/Geller 2012, that'll be the real winning Republican ticket, you heard it hear first!

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    We shall see if a lack of (none / 0) (#40)
    by Militarytracy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:36:51 AM EST
    leadership will be a larger sin than being the black plague :)

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    the revenge (5.00 / 1) (#74)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 01:11:51 PM EST
    so as not to be all gloom and doom (none / 0) (#18)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 10:49:10 AM EST
    Percy Harvin is back at practice. (none / 0) (#31)
    by oculus on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:24:32 AM EST
    See Sports Illustrated.  (Taken off field by ambulance recently due to migraines.)

    More feel good... (none / 0) (#33)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:26:55 AM EST
    an excellent articler in the new Sports Illustrated about the 5 year old kid in Jersey who can hit 119 mph in the cage.  The article lead says 85 mph, when converted to MLB mound distance it's really 119 mph.  Freakin' Amazing.  It's sad he can't play Little League right now...obviously Tee-Ball is no challenge, and he'll kill a kid playing Tee-Ball...but the local LL hasn't signed off on letting him play with the older kids.

    A story of a seemingly wonderful family, raising their boys the old fashoned way...with good commentary on how the internet has turned us into a bunch of flaming a-holes.  Well worth a read...

    16 pages? Really? (none / 0) (#70)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:50:23 PM EST
    Maybe you can give us the Reader's Digest version...

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    Print it out... (none / 0) (#71)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:56:40 PM EST
    and leave it in the crapper man, it's good stuff:)

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    I just want to know if he was really (none / 0) (#72)
    by sarcastic unnamed one on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 01:03:49 PM EST
    drinking that Coors Lite.

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    Nope... (none / 0) (#73)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 01:09:38 PM EST
    I don't think so...I let my nieces fetch me a beer too.

    It's part of what I liked about the article...sh*t we did as kids on the regular is considered "child endangerment" by the ninnies today...like batting without a helmet.  Or exploring a baseball stadium alone with your parents back at the seats.

    Parent

    Of course back then, (none / 0) (#87)
    by brodie on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:37:49 PM EST
    or as I was coming along in the 60s, most MLB hitters didn't wear helmets.  But if memory serves, in LL we always had to, no exceptions.

    And actually some things back then were safer for kids -- like playing only with wooden bats.  With the aluminum, or alloy/graphite/whatever, metal bats of today, the ball comes off much faster, putting the pitcher, only 45' away, in greater jeopardy.

    As for the beer, it was considered no big deal in our family for our father to give a couple of us the last inch or so of his can when we were that age.  Very hot summers, the ball game was on -- usually the Yankees -- and it was refreshing and unusual tasting.  

    No lasting alcohol-craving symptoms either as I grew older.  Not really a beer drinker, actually.  More your typical elitist red wine liberal blue stater ...

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    Hated the taste of beer... (none / 0) (#98)
    by kdog on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 04:45:22 PM EST
    as a kid when I got sips...it's an acquired taste, to be sure.

    And always helmets in LL, true...at the schoolyard or park with your friends, never.  Commenters on the youtube clip of the kid were bringing it up, as well as general idiocy and internet cruelty, an underlying theme of the piece.

    Parent

    Hey, gotta admit (none / 0) (#83)
    by brodie on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:27:18 PM EST
    16 pgs about a 5 yo is a little beyond the call of duty for me.  Though I was intrigued sufficiently to check out a few minutes of the Kid on YT.  

    He's got talent, natural athletic ability, and obviously someone has trained him well in the fundamentals, both at the plate and in the field.  Especially interesting was his glove work -- stayed down on the ball, wasn't afeared of it like most kids are.  Then the advanced foot work with the spins as he niftily positioned himself to toss the runner out.  Wow.

    Reminds me of those clips of the young Tiger Woods teeing off w/excellent form at about that age.

    The Kid might be the Next Great One -- in about 15 yrs time, and assuming he isn't burnt out of the sport from too much practice, or his arm isn't dead from too many fastballs too soon.

    Parent

    Planet 51 (none / 0) (#34)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:31:29 AM EST
    no idea why it took me so long to see this.  I think it totally fell off my radar.  but I saw it on Cable last night.  it is very very funny.

    highly recommended.

    Planet 51 is a galactic sized animated alien adventure comedy revolving around American astronaut Captain Charles "Chuck" Baker, who lands on Planet 51 thinking he's the first person to step foot on it. To his surprise, he finds that this planet is inhabited by little green people who are happily living in a white picket fence world reminiscent of a cheerfully innocent 1950s America, and whose only fear is that it will be overrun by alien invaders...like Chuck! With the help of his robot companion "Rover" and his new friend Lem, Chuck must navigate his way through the dazzling, but bewildering, landscape of Planet 51 in order to escape becoming a permanent part of the Planet 51 Alien Invaders Space Museum.


    Robert Blagojevich's Charges Dismissed (none / 0) (#37)
    by squeaky on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:35:20 AM EST
    Federal prosecutors announced today they have dropped all charges against Robert Blagojevich, the former governor's brother.

    Assistant U.S. Atty. Reid Schar said the government was dropping two counts of extortion conspiracy and one count each of wire fraud and extortion because of "the disparity in the roles" of the two brothers and "in the interests of justice."

    Rod Blagojevich still faces retrial on 23 counts. He was convicted last week of a single count of lying to the FBI, but jurors were deadlocked on all four counts against Robert.

    link via TPM


    now if they would just (none / 0) (#41)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:37:32 AM EST
    drop Blagos.
    I cant tell you how thrilled I am that the taxpayers of this state that is already circling the financial drain will pick up the tab for his defense.


    Parent
    I suspect we are all sharing. Federal court. (none / 0) (#47)
    by oculus on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:49:49 AM EST
    Federal tax $$$$.

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    oh (5.00 / 1) (#49)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 11:50:55 AM EST
    that makes me feel much better.

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    stay classy JD (none / 0) (#58)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 12:13:39 PM EST
    As we sat at former Senate candidate J.D. Hayworth's primary night headquarters, we found it rather odd that his opponent, Senator John McCain, gave his victory speech before Hayworth showed up to concede -- there was a reason.

    Traditionally, the loser of an election calls the winner to concede and offer their congratulations once the results become clear. That didn't happen on Tuesday night.

    By about 8:15 p.m. on Tuesday, it was clear Hayworth was the loser, but he made no call to McCain -- ever.



    its official (none / 0) (#79)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 01:46:46 PM EST
    Only 4 more to notify (none / 0) (#99)
    by republicratitarian on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 04:54:30 PM EST
    the good thing is (none / 0) (#100)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 05:04:56 PM EST
    he is apparently doing it in support of gay marriage.
    so while he may be getting the Roy Cohn award, perhaps he is taking a lesson from Roy and choosing to not die unredeemed.

    Parent
    Dan Savage (none / 0) (#102)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 07:11:27 PM EST
    just now on countdown with the best line so far on this.

    "in the gay community this is on par with Ricky Martin coming out.  wake me when Levi Johnston comes out"

    pffft

    really

    Parent

    netflix now for iPhone (none / 0) (#85)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:34:18 PM EST
    we are watching Lawrence of Arabia

    wait what?? (none / 0) (#88)
    by CST on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:38:03 PM EST
    do you know if they have this for the Droid?  I know I can order netflix movies from my phone, but I didn't know I could watch them.

    What's the name of the app?

    Parent

    called (none / 0) (#92)
    by Capt Howdy on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:54:00 PM EST
    teeny weeny tv

    I made that up.


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    d@mn (none / 0) (#94)
    by CST on Thu Aug 26, 2010 at 02:56:44 PM EST
    I was hoping it had some other "catchy" alternative name.  No Netflix yet...

    Parent